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Second Chance Billionaires #1
Not A Fake Chance
It’s just business.
That’s what Alek Orlov tells himself when Rose Haliday walks back into his life with an offer he can’t afford to refuse.
Twelve years ago, he was a broke college student with big dreams. She was the untouchable heiress who crushed them.
Now, she needs his company to secure her place in her family’s empire. He needs her connections to land the investors who could launch his next venture.
The solution? A clean, professional arrangement. A few high-society appearances. Three months of pretending they’re a couple.
It should be simple. Until stolen glances turn into lingering touches. Until fake kisses start to feel real. Until they’re navigating far more than just business.
They’re juggling high society, old wounds, and the one rule they swore not to break: don’t fall in love.
That’s what Alek Orlov tells himself when Rose Haliday walks back into his life with an offer he can’t afford to refuse.
Twelve years ago, he was a broke college student with big dreams. She was the untouchable heiress who crushed them.
Now, she needs his company to secure her place in her family’s empire. He needs her connections to land the investors who could launch his next venture.
The solution? A clean, professional arrangement. A few high-society appearances. Three months of pretending they’re a couple.
It should be simple. Until stolen glances turn into lingering touches. Until fake kisses start to feel real. Until they’re navigating far more than just business.
They’re juggling high society, old wounds, and the one rule they swore not to break: don’t fall in love.
- GenresRomance
457 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Willa Drew
17 books271 followersTwo authors. Two countries. One obsession with love stories.
Willa Drew’s contemporary slow-burn romances are full of feels, playful banter, and high-stakes emotions. Their globetrotting characters fight for love as they discover who they are and where they belong.
Willa, a proud Canadian and devoted Leafs hockey fan, and Drew, a Russian-American with a lifelong love of languages, always search for the perfect words to capture heartbreak and connection.
Their books guarantee swoon-worthy kisses and happily ever afters.
Hang out with us on all the socials @willadrewauthor or get sign up for our newsletter at www.willadrew.com and get updates sent right to you.
Willa Drew’s contemporary slow-burn romances are full of feels, playful banter, and high-stakes emotions. Their globetrotting characters fight for love as they discover who they are and where they belong.
Willa, a proud Canadian and devoted Leafs hockey fan, and Drew, a Russian-American with a lifelong love of languages, always search for the perfect words to capture heartbreak and connection.
Their books guarantee swoon-worthy kisses and happily ever afters.
Hang out with us on all the socials @willadrewauthor or get sign up for our newsletter at www.willadrew.com and get updates sent right to you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
June 12, 2025
Thank you to Willa Drew for the ARC! I really enjoyed this first book of the Second Chance Billionaire series. The authors’ style was fun, easy to read, and flowed well. I found each of the main characters to be likeable, and their love story felt believable to me.
There were a couple of character points that I had trouble processing. First, the existence of any friends of Rose Haliday is never mentioned. At a certain point in the book we discover that her growing relationship with her sister Olivia is a clear source of support and friendship. I couldn’t help but wonder though how any friends (or diving further into a noted lack of friends) played into who Rose grows into as a 35 year old divorcee whose life is dictated by her mother’s career plans for her. Did she have any friends in college? Did any of them try to stop her from entering a loveless marriage with Dean before the story begins? I liked Rose’s character but I think the existence of even one friend from high school or college (bonus points if it were someone who grew up in the same social class or circle as Rose so we can see that influence on her life) would have helped me make more sense of her. Notably, Alek’s friends were a great add to the story. This is good news because the rest of the series is going to focus on each of their love stories. I enjoyed getting to know each of them briefly and found that their friendship struck an excellent balance of fun and depth to who Alek is without venturing into cheesiness or distraction from the plot.
I did also struggle with believing that Alek was a billionaire, as there were not a lot of details in the text that would insinuate that level of wealth. I think the authors wanted us to see Alek as someone that was grounded and pure in his intentions with Rose and his business pursuits, and that was certainly achieved. I did find myself though completely forgetting that he was a billionaire until it was casually mentioned by someone, or until he and Rose were flying back from Georgia in his private jet.
At times I thought maybe he wasn’t a billionaire and it was just a billion dollar company, but there are times in the text where he is explicitly referred to as a billionaire. I would have found it much more believable if he were a millionaire, or even a multi-millionaire…. Billionaires though are just dripping in wealth, to the point where they don’t always know what to do with the money because they have more than they could ever need. Alek would have been at least a little more detached from reality, or have a few more flashy possessions for this to be believable. I will also name that this lack of attention to just how rich he is made me struggle to believe that he really needed the partnership with the Menkens to ensure that Second Chance Events would be successful. Sure he wanted them for their connections, but if it were just that then their offer to use Second Chance at their next event would have been enough. Instead he wanted to pursue them as business partners, yet he had enough money to purchase the warehouse without them signing on.
Relatedly, I did find it hard to believe that Melinda Haliday had an ongoing bias toward Alek for being “lower class,” especially in present day. When he was the maintenance man in the flashbacks, I understood the through line of why she didn’t want her daughter to be with him. Even though she spouts a line of disgust about him being “new money” in present day, I found it hard to believe that a woman as career and status obsessed as Melinda wouldn’t be happy that her daughter married a man with BUCKETS of money and access (again, he is a *billionaire.*)
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I am looking forward to the rest of the series! The character development holes did not take away from the pleasantness of the writing style or the fun of the story.
There were a couple of character points that I had trouble processing. First, the existence of any friends of Rose Haliday is never mentioned. At a certain point in the book we discover that her growing relationship with her sister Olivia is a clear source of support and friendship. I couldn’t help but wonder though how any friends (or diving further into a noted lack of friends) played into who Rose grows into as a 35 year old divorcee whose life is dictated by her mother’s career plans for her. Did she have any friends in college? Did any of them try to stop her from entering a loveless marriage with Dean before the story begins? I liked Rose’s character but I think the existence of even one friend from high school or college (bonus points if it were someone who grew up in the same social class or circle as Rose so we can see that influence on her life) would have helped me make more sense of her. Notably, Alek’s friends were a great add to the story. This is good news because the rest of the series is going to focus on each of their love stories. I enjoyed getting to know each of them briefly and found that their friendship struck an excellent balance of fun and depth to who Alek is without venturing into cheesiness or distraction from the plot.
I did also struggle with believing that Alek was a billionaire, as there were not a lot of details in the text that would insinuate that level of wealth. I think the authors wanted us to see Alek as someone that was grounded and pure in his intentions with Rose and his business pursuits, and that was certainly achieved. I did find myself though completely forgetting that he was a billionaire until it was casually mentioned by someone, or until he and Rose were flying back from Georgia in his private jet.
At times I thought maybe he wasn’t a billionaire and it was just a billion dollar company, but there are times in the text where he is explicitly referred to as a billionaire. I would have found it much more believable if he were a millionaire, or even a multi-millionaire…. Billionaires though are just dripping in wealth, to the point where they don’t always know what to do with the money because they have more than they could ever need. Alek would have been at least a little more detached from reality, or have a few more flashy possessions for this to be believable. I will also name that this lack of attention to just how rich he is made me struggle to believe that he really needed the partnership with the Menkens to ensure that Second Chance Events would be successful. Sure he wanted them for their connections, but if it were just that then their offer to use Second Chance at their next event would have been enough. Instead he wanted to pursue them as business partners, yet he had enough money to purchase the warehouse without them signing on.
Relatedly, I did find it hard to believe that Melinda Haliday had an ongoing bias toward Alek for being “lower class,” especially in present day. When he was the maintenance man in the flashbacks, I understood the through line of why she didn’t want her daughter to be with him. Even though she spouts a line of disgust about him being “new money” in present day, I found it hard to believe that a woman as career and status obsessed as Melinda wouldn’t be happy that her daughter married a man with BUCKETS of money and access (again, he is a *billionaire.*)
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I am looking forward to the rest of the series! The character development holes did not take away from the pleasantness of the writing style or the fun of the story.
May 25, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
This was my first book by the Willa Drew duo and it certainly will NOT be my last!
I immediately signed up for an ARC of this book once I saw it had fake dating, which is one of my favorite tropes. Alek is sooo swoony and I loved his story of making himself something out of nothing. Rose is a hotel heiress who is constantly trying to prove herself to her self made, CEO mother. These two characters had incredible ARCs and such an emotional journey. I literally cried while reading this one because I felt all their feelings myself.
I’m normally NOT a second chance romance person but I absolutely loved this one.
Read this book if you like:
💙 fake dating
💙 college project partners
💙 past/present timeline
💙 dual POV
💙 mutual pining
💙 second chance romance
💙 real, complicated family dynamics
Not a Fake Chance releases June 12th! Thank you to Willa Drew for the eARC!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
This was my first book by the Willa Drew duo and it certainly will NOT be my last!
I immediately signed up for an ARC of this book once I saw it had fake dating, which is one of my favorite tropes. Alek is sooo swoony and I loved his story of making himself something out of nothing. Rose is a hotel heiress who is constantly trying to prove herself to her self made, CEO mother. These two characters had incredible ARCs and such an emotional journey. I literally cried while reading this one because I felt all their feelings myself.
I’m normally NOT a second chance romance person but I absolutely loved this one.
Read this book if you like:
💙 fake dating
💙 college project partners
💙 past/present timeline
💙 dual POV
💙 mutual pining
💙 second chance romance
💙 real, complicated family dynamics
Not a Fake Chance releases June 12th! Thank you to Willa Drew for the eARC!
May 28, 2025
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC read.
This book was my first WillaDrew and will NOT be my last. I was nervous about the dual POV and dual timeline being hard to track, but it is done in the most eloquent way that it would almost feel wrong any other way. Alek is absolute BAE. He’s so loveable — hockey player & blue collar boy. SIGN ME UP! The billionaire heiress was a fun twist and while sometimes I just wanted to slap Rose her f*ed up family is all too relatable. I laughed, shed a tear and did in fact yell at my kindle. Wish I could read again for the first time. Chefs Kiss!
This book was my first WillaDrew and will NOT be my last. I was nervous about the dual POV and dual timeline being hard to track, but it is done in the most eloquent way that it would almost feel wrong any other way. Alek is absolute BAE. He’s so loveable — hockey player & blue collar boy. SIGN ME UP! The billionaire heiress was a fun twist and while sometimes I just wanted to slap Rose her f*ed up family is all too relatable. I laughed, shed a tear and did in fact yell at my kindle. Wish I could read again for the first time. Chefs Kiss!
June 2, 2025
ARC reader here.
🌟 4.5. I wish good reads would do half start reviews.
🌶 2
This is such a sweet story. I loved how the meat of their history unfolded as I was reading the book. There is just something I love about a cinnamon roll/soft for her billionaire. And my second favorite trope is rekindling old flames. I wish there was a little more at the end. it just felt like the story was cut off a little fast. but that could just be me and my fantasy error at the moment. I can't wait to read more from this author.
🌟 4.5. I wish good reads would do half start reviews.
🌶 2
This is such a sweet story. I loved how the meat of their history unfolded as I was reading the book. There is just something I love about a cinnamon roll/soft for her billionaire. And my second favorite trope is rekindling old flames. I wish there was a little more at the end. it just felt like the story was cut off a little fast. but that could just be me and my fantasy error at the moment. I can't wait to read more from this author.
May 29, 2025
This was such a cute book, I’m not a big fan of second change romances but Alek and Rose have changed the game. From reading how they felt about each to them finally trying to make it all work out. They will pull at your heartstrings and show you how to love someone even when your family is trying to control everything.
This is a must read and if you didn’t get the ARC it comes out June 12!!!
This is a must read and if you didn’t get the ARC it comes out June 12!!!
July 4, 2025
"After twelve years of trying to forget him, he's still threaded through my body like wiring I can't rip out without burning the whole place down." -Rose
Rose and Alek met at her family's hotel - she's the hotel heiress and he's the overnight maintenance guy. When her mother catches them in the elevator, she puts a quick stop to their attraction. But fate has another idea when they show up in the same project class a little while later. Things are always difficult because Rose's mom has a plan for Rose and Rose is following along 100% and they do not include someone who isn't rich and famous. Alek has a lovely family who opens up their house and hearts for everyone and Alek's heart is wide open for Rose. Things happen and they are not together.
A few years later, their second chance comes barreling at them and the fun (for us) begins.
Alek is adorable as a hard working college kid and it broke me as he didn't even have time to sleep, and splurged on cheap champagne, and got his heart broken. Rose was so difficult to root for but reading in between the lines where her mom was really steering her towards being a better version of her mother, it was easy to see where the frustration was coming from. Rose had dreams too and while she thought they were the same as her mom's, her actions might be saying something else. When her mother goes to buy Alek's company and he refuses to sell to her, Rose steps in and makes a deal which leads them into fake dating to get him something he needs.
Second chance romance is such a hard trope - I always mourn the loss of YEARS of their lives and what could have been, but it's also so satisfying to see people work their way back to each other. These main characters are lovable and relatable, the side characters (mainly his friends and her sister) are fun and so supportive of them. Her mom just sucks but is such an important part of Rose's growth. His family is briefly mentioned as being a big, loving, and welcoming Russian family. And the talks of blinis makes me want to go learn how to make them!
"You touched my hand in my office and my heart beat for the first time in twelve years."
Releases on June 12th.
tropes include:
*second chance romance
*school/workplace romance
*controlling parent
*fake dating
*dual timeline
*dual POV
I received this ARC for free and this review is voluntary. Thank you Willa Drew for the opportunity!
Rose and Alek met at her family's hotel - she's the hotel heiress and he's the overnight maintenance guy. When her mother catches them in the elevator, she puts a quick stop to their attraction. But fate has another idea when they show up in the same project class a little while later. Things are always difficult because Rose's mom has a plan for Rose and Rose is following along 100% and they do not include someone who isn't rich and famous. Alek has a lovely family who opens up their house and hearts for everyone and Alek's heart is wide open for Rose. Things happen and they are not together.
A few years later, their second chance comes barreling at them and the fun (for us) begins.
Alek is adorable as a hard working college kid and it broke me as he didn't even have time to sleep, and splurged on cheap champagne, and got his heart broken. Rose was so difficult to root for but reading in between the lines where her mom was really steering her towards being a better version of her mother, it was easy to see where the frustration was coming from. Rose had dreams too and while she thought they were the same as her mom's, her actions might be saying something else. When her mother goes to buy Alek's company and he refuses to sell to her, Rose steps in and makes a deal which leads them into fake dating to get him something he needs.
Second chance romance is such a hard trope - I always mourn the loss of YEARS of their lives and what could have been, but it's also so satisfying to see people work their way back to each other. These main characters are lovable and relatable, the side characters (mainly his friends and her sister) are fun and so supportive of them. Her mom just sucks but is such an important part of Rose's growth. His family is briefly mentioned as being a big, loving, and welcoming Russian family. And the talks of blinis makes me want to go learn how to make them!
"You touched my hand in my office and my heart beat for the first time in twelve years."
Releases on June 12th.
tropes include:
*second chance romance
*school/workplace romance
*controlling parent
*fake dating
*dual timeline
*dual POV
I received this ARC for free and this review is voluntary. Thank you Willa Drew for the opportunity!
June 1, 2025
I wish Goodreads would let us rate with half stars! My rating is 4.5⭐️!
What a great book! I love a good “it was always you” story. The then & now storylines were flawless. I instantly fell in love with both Alek and Rose. I didn’t realize I liked a “cinnamon roll MMC” until this book. So, so, so glad I got to join the ARC community for this one. Willa Drew knocked knocked it out of the park with this second chance billionaire story. If you love a love-story with an intense “slow burn”, this is your book! I’m ready for more stories with all of Alek’s friends!
What a great book! I love a good “it was always you” story. The then & now storylines were flawless. I instantly fell in love with both Alek and Rose. I didn’t realize I liked a “cinnamon roll MMC” until this book. So, so, so glad I got to join the ARC community for this one. Willa Drew knocked knocked it out of the park with this second chance billionaire story. If you love a love-story with an intense “slow burn”, this is your book! I’m ready for more stories with all of Alek’s friends!
May 28, 2025
***ARC Review***
4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
✔️Dual Timeline
✔️Fake Dating
✔️Second Chance
✔️It’s Always Been You!
I loved this! Especially the fact that it was our FMC that came from money instead of the MMC! It had some drama, some tension and a good dose of finally taking what you want, and damn everyone else!
The spice was good! One chili pepper on my scale cause it was pretty tame but there was decent spice through out!
There is a bit of a third act break up HOWEVER it’s literally just a few chapters and he gets a good what for by his friends so it wasn’t too terrible! Another plus is no miscommunication trope thank goodness!
10/10 recommend and I already wish we had book two cause I definitely want more of this series!!!
4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
✔️Dual Timeline
✔️Fake Dating
✔️Second Chance
✔️It’s Always Been You!
I loved this! Especially the fact that it was our FMC that came from money instead of the MMC! It had some drama, some tension and a good dose of finally taking what you want, and damn everyone else!
The spice was good! One chili pepper on my scale cause it was pretty tame but there was decent spice through out!
There is a bit of a third act break up HOWEVER it’s literally just a few chapters and he gets a good what for by his friends so it wasn’t too terrible! Another plus is no miscommunication trope thank goodness!
10/10 recommend and I already wish we had book two cause I definitely want more of this series!!!
June 16, 2025
Got a chance to ARC read this one, and it did not disappoint.
I am usually not about second chances in books and real life billionaire or not but, this one was worth giving it a shot. Willa did such a great job getting me hooked to the characters and storyline.
Dont hesitate on reading this one, its amazing!
I am usually not about second chances in books and real life billionaire or not but, this one was worth giving it a shot. Willa did such a great job getting me hooked to the characters and storyline.
Dont hesitate on reading this one, its amazing!
May 22, 2025
I absolutely loved being weaved in and out of the heartbreak from “what was” to the current becoming of “what is, and what could be”
Alek- is everything you could ever dream of, hard working devoted dedicated smart compassionate and loyal to a fault.
Rose - is just lost, lost in what she believes is what she wants in life and what she thinks her life should be, even if she knows it’s suffocating her.
Them finding each other and grasping what could be for a short while, then losing it, only to rekindle it years later to see what it could be while revisiting what was… is a beautiful ride.
Great love story.
Alek- is everything you could ever dream of, hard working devoted dedicated smart compassionate and loyal to a fault.
Rose - is just lost, lost in what she believes is what she wants in life and what she thinks her life should be, even if she knows it’s suffocating her.
Them finding each other and grasping what could be for a short while, then losing it, only to rekindle it years later to see what it could be while revisiting what was… is a beautiful ride.
Great love story.
June 12, 2025
Willa Drew has delivered yet another incredible story!
This book beautifully explores the idea that love isn’t easy. It requires effort, second chances, and the courage to deviate from a carefully mapped-out future. With her life planned to the last detail, she doesn’t have time for distractions like love. He, on the other hand, is focused on building his future from the ground up but can he break down the barriers and prove that love is worth the risk?
There’s something undeniably powerful about a man who knows what he wants and refuses to give up, no matter how much time passes.
Willa Drew masterfully turned up the heat in this one, and it easily earns a spot as one of my favorite romance reads of 2025!
This book beautifully explores the idea that love isn’t easy. It requires effort, second chances, and the courage to deviate from a carefully mapped-out future. With her life planned to the last detail, she doesn’t have time for distractions like love. He, on the other hand, is focused on building his future from the ground up but can he break down the barriers and prove that love is worth the risk?
There’s something undeniably powerful about a man who knows what he wants and refuses to give up, no matter how much time passes.
Willa Drew masterfully turned up the heat in this one, and it easily earns a spot as one of my favorite romance reads of 2025!
May 22, 2025
This book was a great read !!!!!!! I loved it. I need more though . please give me more. I wouldn't want to post spoilers. But I need to see more of where this goes.
June 17, 2025
This was my first Willa drew book and won’t be my last. I got the chance to do the ARC read. Initially it took me a bit to get into it (my issue not the author) but once I did I was hooked. The plot was amazing. I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope with a he fell first microtrope but this was a twist, he never stopped loving her. Love seeing an FMC with a backbone!
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5 not overly done but what was there was amazing.
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5 not overly done but what was there was amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
-Second chance love
-Dual POV
-Dual Timelines
-🌶️🌶️
Not a Fake Chance stars Alek, a hockey player with head for business and a heart for charities and Rose, a hotel heiress who also loves to plan charity events. The two meet in college when they become project partners. At first, neither of them think the other could possibly get the job done, but they soon find out that they were a perfect match. Just when they think they have it all together, Rose’s mom drops a bombshell.
Twelve years of pining. Twelve years of heartbreak. Twelve years of burning for each other. When they collide 12 years later, will the love still be there? Will it be enough?
I loved having the opportunity to ARC read this book. I loved the happy ending and the fight by each of the main characters. I loved how intelligent they were and how they saw the best in each other. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the slow burn was soooo slow for me. I just wanted them to stop denying themselves. I found myself literally yelling at them in some parts.
This was my first Willa Drew book and I loved it. I’m going to wait very impatiently for Callum and Olivia’s story. Well done Willa Drew!
-Dual POV
-Dual Timelines
-🌶️🌶️
Not a Fake Chance stars Alek, a hockey player with head for business and a heart for charities and Rose, a hotel heiress who also loves to plan charity events. The two meet in college when they become project partners. At first, neither of them think the other could possibly get the job done, but they soon find out that they were a perfect match. Just when they think they have it all together, Rose’s mom drops a bombshell.
Twelve years of pining. Twelve years of heartbreak. Twelve years of burning for each other. When they collide 12 years later, will the love still be there? Will it be enough?
I loved having the opportunity to ARC read this book. I loved the happy ending and the fight by each of the main characters. I loved how intelligent they were and how they saw the best in each other. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the slow burn was soooo slow for me. I just wanted them to stop denying themselves. I found myself literally yelling at them in some parts.
This was my first Willa Drew book and I loved it. I’m going to wait very impatiently for Callum and Olivia’s story. Well done Willa Drew!
May 29, 2025
** ARC Review **
Rating: 5/5
This was SUCH a good book, it was so hard to put down! This is my first book read from the author duo and it’s definitely not my last!!
I LOVE Alek so much, he became a self made CEO from nothing and has such big passions for charities. I’m SO GLAD that Rose FINALLY stood up to her mother and is doing what she wanted for once!!
I’m so happy and thankful that I got to be an ARC reader, and I’m so happy I took the chance! I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Tropes:
🌹 fake dating
🏒 second chance romance
🌹dual POV
🏒 past/present timelines
🌹hotel heiress
🏒 grumpy CEO
Rating: 5/5
This was SUCH a good book, it was so hard to put down! This is my first book read from the author duo and it’s definitely not my last!!
I LOVE Alek so much, he became a self made CEO from nothing and has such big passions for charities. I’m SO GLAD that Rose FINALLY stood up to her mother and is doing what she wanted for once!!
I’m so happy and thankful that I got to be an ARC reader, and I’m so happy I took the chance! I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Tropes:
🌹 fake dating
🏒 second chance romance
🌹dual POV
🏒 past/present timelines
🌹hotel heiress
🏒 grumpy CEO
June 25, 2025
This was bliss with a big fat kiss! I love the premise ,the story full of gloriously devised scenes and characters supreme . A dream read from the best writing team in town ,they’re Willa Drew and they won’t let you down. They have one rule that cannot be broken but love can be a look a glance a slight touch ,a memory, a flutter of heart even when apart and not spoken. A pact that actually means nought even if at first thought they agreed to not go back but forward and on . But deep in his heart he wants her as his hon. She’s the same it’s already written ,always been smitten . So the die has been cast… well I certainly loved this book , I had a blast! So let me begin and tell you about this great book Not a Fake Chance the first book in the new series called Second Chance Billionaires by Willa Drew yahoo! Can’t wait already for book two to come along ,though I think we can be assured it won’t be long before it hits the shelves so meantime read this book ( book one ) with glee as it’s on bookshelves now. … Wow ,I can tell you’re chomping at the bit so here’s my review of it. It’s exquisite ,it’s fun and Alex has always thought her the bees knees and this book does appease. Alex Orlov was a broke college student when he fell in love twelve years ago ,but her mother put her spoke in and it was no ,don’t go there with him ,that would be grim as he’s just the hired help. Yelp! She caught them in an interlock of jaws in the elevator which made Rose morose and sad. That was harsh but what could Rose Halliday do ,to get somewhere in her life and without strife. Because she wrongly thought as her mom did and from this Alex hid. His disappointment buried.After all ,she was the untouchable heiress to a fortune and he was the maintenance guy who couldn’t afford to buy her all the things she’d love. Here we are present day and he’s blown away by her advances ,it’s not second chances she’s after but his business…well ,her mother wants that ,she wants his company but not that in the building and land sense but fake dating nonsense . It’s a win ,win for him as she can open doors to a new business venture he wants to begin . So here we are on the merry go round of love ,little they know ,they need look no more as their’s is a profound love and their second chance dance. Her mom you see wants his company but he’s not for sale at any price . He has his pride ,but with Rose by his side ,he can woe betide and give in for a price. Even if his heart is also sacrificed. Rose wants this romance pairing so that she can secure her place in her family. But what starts out as fake? Yeah right ,it was a mistake to feel that she could fake after all these lost years with him not in her life or even her bed and so she falls hard for him too instead. What or how it all turns out? Of course you’ll want to read that for yourselves and with greed as I just did . It was bliss the chef’s kiss. A perfect combination of second chance romance with a happy ending and a beautiful romance writing pairing that’s sublime every time they write this sort of prose . Hits you in your heart and do you know I can’t even tell them apart? But they both have my heart ,these authors sublime who write perfectly divine stories every single time and worth of a dime or two from you too. Well done girls ,now give us your twirls ,curtseys,bows if you will because your storytelling is compelling and give me a thrill. 🫠❤️
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June 13, 2025Not a Fake Chance is book one in the Second Chance Billionaires series and is the story of Rose and Alek. This is a friends to lovers, second chance, fake dating romance with a happily ever after worth waiting twelve years for.
Rose is the heir apparent to the Halidy Hotel empire and Alek is a broke college student working at one of Rose's hotels to make his big dreams come true. When the professor in their entrepreneur class pairs them together for a project, they must work together to succeed.
Twelve years later, Alek is a successful businessman and Rose is still working to prove to her mother that she is capable of being the next CEO of Haliday Hotels. To secure a deal that will place both of them where they want to be, they must pretend to be a couple for three months. What started out as a simple plan unravels when the stolen glances and fake kisses become all too real.
This was a unique storyline that encompasses hockey romance as well as second chances, long term pining and a love of a lifetime. Willa wrote characters that you can have a connection with, especially Rose and the relationship with her mother. There was a lot of character depth, heartfelt feelings between Rose and Alek and even Rose and her sister Olivia. Living life for and through your child can be over bearing and Willa addressed those feelings well and allowed Rose to break free and become her own person and find happiness.
I recommend this book to lovers of second chance romance with lots of pining. The writing was well done and showed the emotional growth of Rose and Alek and how their communication made them able to find one another again and embrace the people they are now compared to when they met.
Rose is the heir apparent to the Halidy Hotel empire and Alek is a broke college student working at one of Rose's hotels to make his big dreams come true. When the professor in their entrepreneur class pairs them together for a project, they must work together to succeed.
Twelve years later, Alek is a successful businessman and Rose is still working to prove to her mother that she is capable of being the next CEO of Haliday Hotels. To secure a deal that will place both of them where they want to be, they must pretend to be a couple for three months. What started out as a simple plan unravels when the stolen glances and fake kisses become all too real.
This was a unique storyline that encompasses hockey romance as well as second chances, long term pining and a love of a lifetime. Willa wrote characters that you can have a connection with, especially Rose and the relationship with her mother. There was a lot of character depth, heartfelt feelings between Rose and Alek and even Rose and her sister Olivia. Living life for and through your child can be over bearing and Willa addressed those feelings well and allowed Rose to break free and become her own person and find happiness.
I recommend this book to lovers of second chance romance with lots of pining. The writing was well done and showed the emotional growth of Rose and Alek and how their communication made them able to find one another again and embrace the people they are now compared to when they met.
June 13, 2025
Alek Orlov, his parents are Russian, and immigrated to America to give Alek a succesful future. Alek was on the UCLA Ice hockey team but, he wanted to graduate a semester early so, he left the team, and threw himself into his studies. His father is a handy man, maintance man with the Haliday Hotel group. Alek has worked with him many summers and winter breaks with him at the Haliday Hotels. Alek and Rose run into each other at the hotel a year or so before they were in the same class together.
Rose Haliday grew up a hotel heiress. Her mother has built a Haliday Hotel group with a ton of hotels. Rose is supposed to take over when her mom retires, but, she wants to do events, not run the hotel empire. Rose is a very driven individual, she wants to go after her dream of having a successful company that her mom is proud of her for. But, will her mom be there to support her when she craves that support?
When Alek, and Rose were seniors at UCLA they were paird together to work a project to creat a product / company for that semester. They became close, and even spending time with each other when they weren't working on the project.
This book does go back and forth on the timeline, back 12 yrs when they first met, and today. It is a longer book. Does have a lot of back and forth, does he love me does he not, does she love me, does she not.
I did receive a free ARC Copy of this book. I am leaving a honest review.
Rose Haliday grew up a hotel heiress. Her mother has built a Haliday Hotel group with a ton of hotels. Rose is supposed to take over when her mom retires, but, she wants to do events, not run the hotel empire. Rose is a very driven individual, she wants to go after her dream of having a successful company that her mom is proud of her for. But, will her mom be there to support her when she craves that support?
When Alek, and Rose were seniors at UCLA they were paird together to work a project to creat a product / company for that semester. They became close, and even spending time with each other when they weren't working on the project.
This book does go back and forth on the timeline, back 12 yrs when they first met, and today. It is a longer book. Does have a lot of back and forth, does he love me does he not, does she love me, does she not.
I did receive a free ARC Copy of this book. I am leaving a honest review.
June 15, 2025
I absolutely love this book. I loved the characters and their growth not only together but individually. This book was so heartwarming and I’m thankful I got to read it. It was such a quick and swooning read and I hope everyone reads this and enjoys it as much as I did. I love our MMC Alex and his hardworking attitude. He’s such a relatable character that you don’t often get to see in books. Rose was also super relatable and I found myself relating to her and falling in love with her character development so much. She such an empowering and well written female character. She’s a Hotel Heiress trying to prove to her mother that she’s ready to takeover as CEO and Alex is the son of Russian Immigrants trying to prove himself and make himself known to the Business world. These two characters shared such an emotional and compelling story not only individually but together as well. This is a Second chance romance which always tugs on my heartstrings just a bit.
🔹Fake Dating
🔷college setting
🔷Dual POV
🔷Dual Timelines
🔷Second Chance Romance
🔷He Fell First
🔷Mutual Pining, and Tension,
Thank you to Willa Drew for letting me be apart of this ARC Read
🔹Fake Dating
🔷college setting
🔷Dual POV
🔷Dual Timelines
🔷Second Chance Romance
🔷He Fell First
🔷Mutual Pining, and Tension,
Thank you to Willa Drew for letting me be apart of this ARC Read
June 5, 2025
Willa Drew's Not a Fake Chance—the debut in the Second Chance Billionaires series—delivers a heartfelt and steamy romance that fans of the fake dating trope will devour. Set against a backdrop of high society and tech entrepreneurship, this novel offers a compelling blend of emotional depth, sharp banter, and undeniable chemistry.
The story follows Rose Haliday, a poised heiress determined to secure her position in the family business, and Alek Orlov, a self-made tech CEO with a past intertwined with Rose's. A decade after their college days, they enter a mutually beneficial arrangement: a fake relationship to serve their respective ambitions. However, as their faux romance unfolds, lingering glances and staged kisses blur the lines between pretense and reality, leading to an impulsive engagement that challenges their emotional boundaries.
Drew masterfully navigates the complexities of rekindled feelings and unresolved tensions, crafting a narrative that resonates with authenticity and passion. The dual timelines enrich the characters' backstories, offering readers a deeper understanding of their motivations and vulnerabilities. Fans of slow-burn romances will appreciate the meticulous buildup of Rose and Alek's relationship, while the sizzling moments provide ample payoff.
In Not a Fake Chance, Drew has penned a romance that balances emotional nuance with engaging storytelling. It's a promising start to the series, leaving readers eager for the next installment.
Thanks to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Rose Haliday, a poised heiress determined to secure her position in the family business, and Alek Orlov, a self-made tech CEO with a past intertwined with Rose's. A decade after their college days, they enter a mutually beneficial arrangement: a fake relationship to serve their respective ambitions. However, as their faux romance unfolds, lingering glances and staged kisses blur the lines between pretense and reality, leading to an impulsive engagement that challenges their emotional boundaries.
Drew masterfully navigates the complexities of rekindled feelings and unresolved tensions, crafting a narrative that resonates with authenticity and passion. The dual timelines enrich the characters' backstories, offering readers a deeper understanding of their motivations and vulnerabilities. Fans of slow-burn romances will appreciate the meticulous buildup of Rose and Alek's relationship, while the sizzling moments provide ample payoff.
In Not a Fake Chance, Drew has penned a romance that balances emotional nuance with engaging storytelling. It's a promising start to the series, leaving readers eager for the next installment.
Thanks to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
This was my first book by Willa Drew. It’s the story of Alek and Rose. Rose is the daughter and heir to a highly successful hotel group. Alek is a maintenance worker at one of her family’s hotels but he’s way more than that. He also ends up being a college student at her same school and her partner is a pivotal project for one of their classes.
This is a second chance romance and the book alternates between twelve years in the past when they were in school and present day. And the two timelines intersect in a very emotional way.
Rose is this interesting character. She’s highly intelligent, but definitely comes across sheltered in her perception of Alek at first. There are times I want to throw my kindle at her but the more you read her story, the more you realize how human she is - filled with flaws and good intentions.
While Alek is also intelligent but there is a humility to him; there is a quiet resolve in his commitment to achieving his goals. And then there’s his love for Rose. It’s so understated but so, so cute!
If you love a second chance romance I recommend you give this book a shot.
This is a second chance romance and the book alternates between twelve years in the past when they were in school and present day. And the two timelines intersect in a very emotional way.
Rose is this interesting character. She’s highly intelligent, but definitely comes across sheltered in her perception of Alek at first. There are times I want to throw my kindle at her but the more you read her story, the more you realize how human she is - filled with flaws and good intentions.
While Alek is also intelligent but there is a humility to him; there is a quiet resolve in his commitment to achieving his goals. And then there’s his love for Rose. It’s so understated but so, so cute!
If you love a second chance romance I recommend you give this book a shot.
June 27, 2025
Alek and Rose . . .
Alek Orlov first met Rose Haliday when he provided maintenance work in her family’s hotel as he attended college. He had dreams he was determined to achieve. Rose unfortunately was tightly controlled by her mother who seemed to live her life vicariously through her daughter, not allowing her to be herself or make her own choices, but to stick to her mother’s plan without exception. And her mother quickly got Alek out of the way to make sure of it.
Alek has now become a successful tech billionaire and Rose’s mother needs Alek’s company to make their hotel empire even better. Rose offers Alek a deal where she would get what she wants and he would get access to investors for his own expansion. They would need to be a fake couple for a few months, to be seen together and make some public appearances. But Alek’s feelings had never wavered and he accepts the offer while the two of them begin to feel the attraction that is building between them. Will faking their feelings actually reflect their true feelings now? Is Rose ready to live her life for herself yet?
Alek Orlov first met Rose Haliday when he provided maintenance work in her family’s hotel as he attended college. He had dreams he was determined to achieve. Rose unfortunately was tightly controlled by her mother who seemed to live her life vicariously through her daughter, not allowing her to be herself or make her own choices, but to stick to her mother’s plan without exception. And her mother quickly got Alek out of the way to make sure of it.
Alek has now become a successful tech billionaire and Rose’s mother needs Alek’s company to make their hotel empire even better. Rose offers Alek a deal where she would get what she wants and he would get access to investors for his own expansion. They would need to be a fake couple for a few months, to be seen together and make some public appearances. But Alek’s feelings had never wavered and he accepts the offer while the two of them begin to feel the attraction that is building between them. Will faking their feelings actually reflect their true feelings now? Is Rose ready to live her life for herself yet?
June 12, 2025
Not a Fake Chance is a beautiful second chance story! I love getting to know Rose (FMC) and Alek (MMC) in their past and present POV. I love their story so much! The grand gesture at the end is so sweet and romantic, and I love how it gives this book the perfect ending.
Rose and Alek meet each other in their senior year of college, and end up partnering together on an entrepreneurship project. By the end of that semester, things changed and had to go their separate ways. After a decade, Alek became a billionaire of his own tech company and Rose is still working towards becoming CEO of her mother's hotel group. The hotel group wants to buy Alek's tech company, but Alek doesn't want to sell because of his past relationship with Rose. Rose and Alek decide to make a deal to fake date to get what each other wants for their companies. That fake dating awakens past, real feelings for each other. 5⭐ 3🌶️
This is such a beautiful romantic story! I can't wait for the next book! Thank you Willa Drew for including me as an ARC reader!!
Rose and Alek meet each other in their senior year of college, and end up partnering together on an entrepreneurship project. By the end of that semester, things changed and had to go their separate ways. After a decade, Alek became a billionaire of his own tech company and Rose is still working towards becoming CEO of her mother's hotel group. The hotel group wants to buy Alek's tech company, but Alek doesn't want to sell because of his past relationship with Rose. Rose and Alek decide to make a deal to fake date to get what each other wants for their companies. That fake dating awakens past, real feelings for each other. 5⭐ 3🌶️
This is such a beautiful romantic story! I can't wait for the next book! Thank you Willa Drew for including me as an ARC reader!!
June 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Willa Drew has done it again! Not a Fake Chance is a masterclass in slow-burn tension, filled with emotion, longing, and that irresistible mix of past meets present storytelling that makes your heart ache (in the best way, of course.)
Rose and Alek’s chemistry is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve —from a broke college maintenance worker to a powerful business partner dynamic — was both swoon-worthy and satisfying. The author perfectly paced the dual POVs and timeline shifts, building emotional tension and teasing just enough backstory to keep me completely hooked.
This is the kind of romance that lingers. It’s not just about the spice (though yes, that's definitely there —it’s about connection, and fate stepping in where the timing once failed.
If you love a well-written second-chance romance with forbidden undertones, strong emotions, and characters you’ll root for from start to finish, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I couldn’t put it down!
Willa Drew has done it again! Not a Fake Chance is a masterclass in slow-burn tension, filled with emotion, longing, and that irresistible mix of past meets present storytelling that makes your heart ache (in the best way, of course.)
Rose and Alek’s chemistry is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve —from a broke college maintenance worker to a powerful business partner dynamic — was both swoon-worthy and satisfying. The author perfectly paced the dual POVs and timeline shifts, building emotional tension and teasing just enough backstory to keep me completely hooked.
This is the kind of romance that lingers. It’s not just about the spice (though yes, that's definitely there —it’s about connection, and fate stepping in where the timing once failed.
If you love a well-written second-chance romance with forbidden undertones, strong emotions, and characters you’ll root for from start to finish, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I couldn’t put it down!
June 17, 2025
This book was exactly what I needed—a swoony, slow burn romance with characters who aren’t in their early 20s for once (bless!). I could’ve easily devoured this in a day if life (aka my kids) hadn’t interrupted, because once I started, I didn’t want to stop.
The chemistry between the leads was so well built. That slow burn tension? Immaculate. And when it finally snapped… let’s just say the spice was chef’s kiss—not just there for heat, but it added real depth to their relationship. Their banter had me grinning, and the emotional growth throughout the story made the whole romance that much more satisfying.
Willa Drew’s writing flows effortlessly, and the characters felt mature, layered, and real. I’m already counting down to book 2—bring on Rose’s sister and Callum!
Highly recommend grabbing this one if you love fake dating, slow burn tension, and characters with actual emotional depth. 👏
The chemistry between the leads was so well built. That slow burn tension? Immaculate. And when it finally snapped… let’s just say the spice was chef’s kiss—not just there for heat, but it added real depth to their relationship. Their banter had me grinning, and the emotional growth throughout the story made the whole romance that much more satisfying.
Willa Drew’s writing flows effortlessly, and the characters felt mature, layered, and real. I’m already counting down to book 2—bring on Rose’s sister and Callum!
Highly recommend grabbing this one if you love fake dating, slow burn tension, and characters with actual emotional depth. 👏
June 5, 2025
Rose is all sharp edges and ambition, determined to prove she’s more than just her CEO mom’s shadow. Alek is pure grit and charm—hustling through school, hockey, and jobs to build a future on his terms. When a college project throws them together, assumptions start to unravel, and what begins as clashing egos turns into something softer, deeper... and way more complicated than either of them expected.
I loved watching these two figure each other out. The tension? Immaculate. The character growth? Chef’s kiss. And that emotional payoff? So worth it.
It’s not just a college romance. It’s about grief, legacy, second chances, and the quiet, steady kind of love that says, “I’m in,” even when it’s hard. The emotional depth reminds you that love isn’t a formula, communication matters, assumptions can cost you everything, and money means nothing if you’re not living for yourself. It's also never too late to start living for yourself and set boundaries with the expectations people place on you.
This one’s for the overachievers, the dreamers, the ones who’ve ever tried to protect their heart with ambition. 💼🏒💘
I loved watching these two figure each other out. The tension? Immaculate. The character growth? Chef’s kiss. And that emotional payoff? So worth it.
It’s not just a college romance. It’s about grief, legacy, second chances, and the quiet, steady kind of love that says, “I’m in,” even when it’s hard. The emotional depth reminds you that love isn’t a formula, communication matters, assumptions can cost you everything, and money means nothing if you’re not living for yourself. It's also never too late to start living for yourself and set boundaries with the expectations people place on you.
This one’s for the overachievers, the dreamers, the ones who’ve ever tried to protect their heart with ambition. 💼🏒💘
June 6, 2025
What a Rollercoaster! The jumping back and forth between the past and present as well as Rose and Alek’s POV was interesting.
This is definitely a they are their own biggest obstacle romance. But it is a second chance romance with a HEA. Rose is a hotel heiress and Alek is the hotel’s overnight maintenance personnel. They’re forced together in a class for an entire semester where both desperately need to ace for their own reasons.
During this semester of forced proximity, emotions and tension (both sexual and not 😉) run high. But as the semester comes to an end, so does “Rose&Alek”.
Years later they cross paths and now Alek is a successful entrepreneur and Rose is still trying to prove herself to her mother. A pact is made once again for their own reasons. Giving them a second chance at everything they once thought they had.
There is spice! 🥵 as well. I love the hint into what the next book will be about. That one I’m soooo excited for. There’s obvious hints that something happened between Callum and Olivia and I cannot wait to see that unfold more in the next one.
This is definitely a they are their own biggest obstacle romance. But it is a second chance romance with a HEA. Rose is a hotel heiress and Alek is the hotel’s overnight maintenance personnel. They’re forced together in a class for an entire semester where both desperately need to ace for their own reasons.
During this semester of forced proximity, emotions and tension (both sexual and not 😉) run high. But as the semester comes to an end, so does “Rose&Alek”.
Years later they cross paths and now Alek is a successful entrepreneur and Rose is still trying to prove herself to her mother. A pact is made once again for their own reasons. Giving them a second chance at everything they once thought they had.
There is spice! 🥵 as well. I love the hint into what the next book will be about. That one I’m soooo excited for. There’s obvious hints that something happened between Callum and Olivia and I cannot wait to see that unfold more in the next one.
June 8, 2025
Untangling what once was with the present in a dual pov and different timelines is what kept me invested in this book. We follow along Rose and Alek who start off a forbidden romance that falls apart in their partnership with an app they develop in college.
Rose is working to impress her mother, is highly driven, and struggles to live a life she’s actually proud of instead of one her mother designs for her. Although I found her a little dramatic Rose overcomes a lot of obstacles throughout the book. Although she had to walk away from Alek 12 years ago because of her mother and it’s part of the entire plot line of the story I found myself wishing she figured out her chaos a little sooner.
Alek who got left in the shadows after Rose left him college is everything I hoped he’d be. He never stopped loving Rose but still made something of himself without the promise of ever getting her back into his life and as someone who related more to Alek in this book I found that he was the reason I kept reading.
When Alek and Rose are set up to fake date each other to sell Aleks company to Roses family buisness they quickly rekindle what was lost 12 years ago. I found the miscommunication a little frustrating but again I understood why Alek reacted the ways he does. The book needed how I hoped it would, although a little cheesy in some parts I did actually enjoy this book!
Rose is working to impress her mother, is highly driven, and struggles to live a life she’s actually proud of instead of one her mother designs for her. Although I found her a little dramatic Rose overcomes a lot of obstacles throughout the book. Although she had to walk away from Alek 12 years ago because of her mother and it’s part of the entire plot line of the story I found myself wishing she figured out her chaos a little sooner.
Alek who got left in the shadows after Rose left him college is everything I hoped he’d be. He never stopped loving Rose but still made something of himself without the promise of ever getting her back into his life and as someone who related more to Alek in this book I found that he was the reason I kept reading.
When Alek and Rose are set up to fake date each other to sell Aleks company to Roses family buisness they quickly rekindle what was lost 12 years ago. I found the miscommunication a little frustrating but again I understood why Alek reacted the ways he does. The book needed how I hoped it would, although a little cheesy in some parts I did actually enjoy this book!
June 11, 2025
Not a fake chance by Willa Drew
4.5 * out of 5 *
*ARC reader review * Fun love story that will make you have all the feelings. Rose and Alek's story is the perfect slow burn romance. The book has a dual point of view and dual timeliness. The gripping start with Rose pov is just the perfect start and will make you feel frustrated and angry at the mother. There are multiple fun interactions with other characters that will definitely make you laugh out loud. This was my first book by Willa Drew and it was so worth it. If you like a good slow burn, second chance romance and enjoy a dual POV and are okay with dual timeliness, please give this book a chance.
Romance 5*
🌶 **
4.5 * out of 5 *
*ARC reader review * Fun love story that will make you have all the feelings. Rose and Alek's story is the perfect slow burn romance. The book has a dual point of view and dual timeliness. The gripping start with Rose pov is just the perfect start and will make you feel frustrated and angry at the mother. There are multiple fun interactions with other characters that will definitely make you laugh out loud. This was my first book by Willa Drew and it was so worth it. If you like a good slow burn, second chance romance and enjoy a dual POV and are okay with dual timeliness, please give this book a chance.
Romance 5*
🌶 **
June 12, 2025
Not a Fake Chance by Willa Drew is a fresh, fun take on the fake dating and billionaire romance tropes and it delivers all the feels.
I loved the dynamic between the leads. The chemistry was undeniable, and their banter felt natural and genuinely funny. The fake dating setup was engaging without feeling overdone, and the emotional growth both characters went through gave the story real heart. It’s the kind of book that hooks you quickly and makes you root for love to win.
While a few moments felt a bit predictable, the story still kept me turning the pages. The writing is smooth, the romance is swoon-worthy, and the second chance theme adds a great emotional layer.
I loved the dynamic between the leads. The chemistry was undeniable, and their banter felt natural and genuinely funny. The fake dating setup was engaging without feeling overdone, and the emotional growth both characters went through gave the story real heart. It’s the kind of book that hooks you quickly and makes you root for love to win.
While a few moments felt a bit predictable, the story still kept me turning the pages. The writing is smooth, the romance is swoon-worthy, and the second chance theme adds a great emotional layer.
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