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Faking All the Way
One gorgeous hockey player. One little lie. One fake relationship that turns my holidays upside down.
When my asshole ex ambushes me at the airport with his perfect new fiancée, I panic and claim I'm dating Asher Vaughn, the hockey star whose face I just saw on the news.
Then the actual Asher Vaughn walks into baggage claim, so I do the only logical thing I can think I march over and kiss him like my life depends on it.
But the crazy thing is… he kisses me back.
He even agrees to go along with my lie in exchange for a place to stay while he's in town dealing with his estranged father. Should be easy enough. He'll take the guest house, we'll keep up appearances in public, and after the holidays, we'll go our separate ways.
I just didn't expect Asher to be so good at pretending. He defends my dreams, kisses me under the mistletoe, and looks at me like he's been starving for my curves his whole life.
And when we get snowed in one night with only one bed, all our rules go out the window.
The next thing I know, he's tying me up with Christmas ribbon and showing me everything I've been missing. Calling me “bright eyes” like it means something, teaching me to skate, and making me scream his name where my ex might hear.
This was supposed to be temporary. Just a deal to survive the holidays.
But as we count down the days until Christmas, I don't know what scares me that our fake relationship will be ending soon… or that I want it to be real.
TROPES IN THIS
Small town
Hockey player hero
Plus sized, black cat heroine
Fake dating with benefits
Holiday romance
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Faking All the Way is a contemporary romance loaded with banter, chemistry, and all the holiday spice you've been craving.
It is a complete standalone with a HEA!
When my asshole ex ambushes me at the airport with his perfect new fiancée, I panic and claim I'm dating Asher Vaughn, the hockey star whose face I just saw on the news.
Then the actual Asher Vaughn walks into baggage claim, so I do the only logical thing I can think I march over and kiss him like my life depends on it.
But the crazy thing is… he kisses me back.
He even agrees to go along with my lie in exchange for a place to stay while he's in town dealing with his estranged father. Should be easy enough. He'll take the guest house, we'll keep up appearances in public, and after the holidays, we'll go our separate ways.
I just didn't expect Asher to be so good at pretending. He defends my dreams, kisses me under the mistletoe, and looks at me like he's been starving for my curves his whole life.
And when we get snowed in one night with only one bed, all our rules go out the window.
The next thing I know, he's tying me up with Christmas ribbon and showing me everything I've been missing. Calling me “bright eyes” like it means something, teaching me to skate, and making me scream his name where my ex might hear.
This was supposed to be temporary. Just a deal to survive the holidays.
But as we count down the days until Christmas, I don't know what scares me that our fake relationship will be ending soon… or that I want it to be real.
TROPES IN THIS
Small town
Hockey player hero
Plus sized, black cat heroine
Fake dating with benefits
Holiday romance
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Faking All the Way is a contemporary romance loaded with banter, chemistry, and all the holiday spice you've been craving.
It is a complete standalone with a HEA!
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
1225 people are currently reading
946 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
December 14, 2025
REVIEW
Rating: 4.75/5
POV: 1st, Dual
Tropes: Fake Dating; Artist FMC; Pro Athlete MMC; Forced Proximity; Found Family; Slow Burn
Heat Level: 5+/5
Kinks:Exhibitionism (maybe?); butt stuff
Likes:
* Fantastic banter and romantic build up for this couple! I imagined them as two puzzle pieces that just fit perfectly together
* I enjoyed seeing all the family moments. It just helps make a book really give off that cozy Christmas vibe
Dislikes:
* honestly it’s not even a dislike but I feel the need to mention it, the book is slightly over 400 pages, which is a lot for a Christmas book. It probably could’ve slightly been shorter with just less descriptive scenes. However I enjoyed every aspect of the book so it’s not necessarily a complaint for me!
Conclusion:
Well I just seem to be hitting the fake dating Christmas jackpot! Another wonderful story that I sort of just stumbled across! Granted it was on my TBR but I’ve been going into these books blind, not reading the synopsis before starting, and I’ve found it to really make the reading experience enjoyable.
The beginning of Asher and Kat’s fake dating might be the best one I’ve ever read! It was hilarious!! And I might just have to say Asher is A+ fake boyfriend material! To do thag with a complete stranger and how he immediately has her back was so swoon worthy. He was an incredibly romantic MMC! I think I might have a crush 🤭😂.
I enjoyed this so much that I’ll be adding this to my reread tag and can definitely see myself rereading this during the holiday season again! It was wonderfully Christmasy, very family oriented, HOT 🥵, and hilarious! What’s not to like??
Thank you for going along with my forceful self and reading this with me Lori!! ☺️😍
4.75/5
Rating: 4.75/5
POV: 1st, Dual
Tropes: Fake Dating; Artist FMC; Pro Athlete MMC; Forced Proximity; Found Family; Slow Burn
Heat Level: 5+/5
Kinks:Exhibitionism (maybe?); butt stuff
Likes:
* Fantastic banter and romantic build up for this couple! I imagined them as two puzzle pieces that just fit perfectly together
* I enjoyed seeing all the family moments. It just helps make a book really give off that cozy Christmas vibe
Dislikes:
* honestly it’s not even a dislike but I feel the need to mention it, the book is slightly over 400 pages, which is a lot for a Christmas book. It probably could’ve slightly been shorter with just less descriptive scenes. However I enjoyed every aspect of the book so it’s not necessarily a complaint for me!
Conclusion:
Well I just seem to be hitting the fake dating Christmas jackpot! Another wonderful story that I sort of just stumbled across! Granted it was on my TBR but I’ve been going into these books blind, not reading the synopsis before starting, and I’ve found it to really make the reading experience enjoyable.
The beginning of Asher and Kat’s fake dating might be the best one I’ve ever read! It was hilarious!! And I might just have to say Asher is A+ fake boyfriend material! To do thag with a complete stranger and how he immediately has her back was so swoon worthy. He was an incredibly romantic MMC! I think I might have a crush 🤭😂.
I enjoyed this so much that I’ll be adding this to my reread tag and can definitely see myself rereading this during the holiday season again! It was wonderfully Christmasy, very family oriented, HOT 🥵, and hilarious! What’s not to like??
Thank you for going along with my forceful self and reading this with me Lori!! ☺️😍
4.75/5
December 18, 2025
Super cute! Holiday book centered around hockey yay! It was a little hard though accepting that a pro hockey player would go along that quickly and in depth. Still cute!
Read
November 24, 2025DNF @64%
November 17, 2025
something about this was just lacking for me... like dnf BUT Asher's grand gesture was adorable so that added an extra half star. This read totally Hallmark into the half way mark then did a dirty, spicy 180 that seemed awkward with how the first half was. Just didn't match.
November 23, 2025
Book 185 of 2025
I loved this full-length Christmas story—fake dating, small town, hockey player…what more could you ask for? Kat & Asher’s connection was so well-written and had me wanting to come back to their story every moment I had. I look forward to going back & reading one of Lawson’s other stand alones that connect to this one!
Format: ebook (KU)
I loved this full-length Christmas story—fake dating, small town, hockey player…what more could you ask for? Kat & Asher’s connection was so well-written and had me wanting to come back to their story every moment I had. I look forward to going back & reading one of Lawson’s other stand alones that connect to this one!
Format: ebook (KU)
November 23, 2025
one name changes everything
If Nikki Lawson is writing it, I’m reading/listening to it! Faking all the way, is a super cute and steamy Christmas story! When he ex stays the night, omg Asher is the best, faking but turns out not to be faking! Whew, that’s where it all starts and when they realize that what they have is actually real, swoon and clenching of the heart! Because these two absolutely deserve each other!
If Nikki Lawson is writing it, I’m reading/listening to it! Faking all the way, is a super cute and steamy Christmas story! When he ex stays the night, omg Asher is the best, faking but turns out not to be faking! Whew, that’s where it all starts and when they realize that what they have is actually real, swoon and clenching of the heart! Because these two absolutely deserve each other!
November 24, 2025
Why even say he's a hockey player when it has nothing almost at all to do with the plot? The FMC was insecure. The dialogue was boring. I've read at least 10 of this same book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
Normally I think fake dating is a horribly overused trope, and it almost always comes out to their loved ones in the worst way. This one didn’t feel too bad. It got real for them individually pretty quickly, so there wasn’t so much of a forced aspect to their relationship.
Kat had just flown to her hometown for Christmas, where she is confronted by her ex and his new fiancée at the airport baggage claim. When he asks her if she’s seeing anyone (and yes, he asks like a smarmy douchebag), she says yes and throws out the first name that pops into her head. That name happens to belong to a famous hockey player, and he just happens to also be walking down the hall towards the baggage claim himself. This is definitely loaded with all the Christmas vibes, although it feels like it runs a big long. Overall, it was quite enjoyable.
4🌟
3.5🌶️
Kat had just flown to her hometown for Christmas, where she is confronted by her ex and his new fiancée at the airport baggage claim. When he asks her if she’s seeing anyone (and yes, he asks like a smarmy douchebag), she says yes and throws out the first name that pops into her head. That name happens to belong to a famous hockey player, and he just happens to also be walking down the hall towards the baggage claim himself. This is definitely loaded with all the Christmas vibes, although it feels like it runs a big long. Overall, it was quite enjoyable.
4🌟
3.5🌶️
December 31, 2025
I wanted to love this one. The meet cute is great and fake relationships that turn real one of the tropes I enjoy most. At times the story felt like it went fast and then there were times where an entire scene spanned multiple chapters and things sped up again.
I feel like Kat’s parents and sister were a big piece in the beginning, but then were replaced by her grandmother (which was ok just made it feel like too many characters)
One thing I did like is that there was no big family blow-up about finding out their secret, even though for most of the story I thought surely her Ex would dig up something. Turns out he was just skeevy.
Anywho - loved the nod to one of the greatest holiday rom coms of all time near the end. Then things went really fast and it was over. Some loose threads weren’t tied up as neatly as they should have been, e.g. the revelation of why Asher has been in town, and the logistics of an international flight from a remote corner of the earth to small town Virginia for a Christmas surprise
I would give this 2.5 stars.
I feel like Kat’s parents and sister were a big piece in the beginning, but then were replaced by her grandmother (which was ok just made it feel like too many characters)
One thing I did like is that there was no big family blow-up about finding out their secret, even though for most of the story I thought surely her Ex would dig up something. Turns out he was just skeevy.
Anywho - loved the nod to one of the greatest holiday rom coms of all time near the end. Then things went really fast and it was over. Some loose threads weren’t tied up as neatly as they should have been, e.g. the revelation of why Asher has been in town, and the logistics of an international flight from a remote corner of the earth to small town Virginia for a Christmas surprise
I would give this 2.5 stars.
January 1, 2026
Omg, this was such a freaking CUTE book! I love Asher and Kat, from the first page to the very last - here for it all. The 🌶️ was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, in the very best way, and the burn of both Asher and Kat falling in love, and then admitting it, made for a beautiful read.
I loved the easiness of this book, and even with the rift of Alexis showing up, it wasn’t totally gut wrenching, which I appreciated. I also love the late night texts and the signs when he finally told her he loved her. I cannot believe about his mom, wasn’t expecting that, so happy Asher and his dad ended up on a good note.
I really love Nikki Lawson, would love to see if Sam gets her own story.
I loved the easiness of this book, and even with the rift of Alexis showing up, it wasn’t totally gut wrenching, which I appreciated. I also love the late night texts and the signs when he finally told her he loved her. I cannot believe about his mom, wasn’t expecting that, so happy Asher and his dad ended up on a good note.
I really love Nikki Lawson, would love to see if Sam gets her own story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
❤️❤️❤️
November 14, 2025
I LOVE a fake dating troupe! Throw in my favorite holiday plus a one bed scene and it’s an instant favorite!
I love the writing style and how quickly I connected with the characters. Watching their relationship grow was so fun to read.
I love the writing style and how quickly I connected with the characters. Watching their relationship grow was so fun to read.
January 3, 2026
God do I love a fake dating romance add in an awkward public meet cute, I’m sold!
December 12, 2025
Giving this a two solely for the fact that I didn’t really had a strong Christmas vibe in my opinion. Also I was constantly bored.
December 2, 2025
Meh. It was okay. The spice was spicy but very unrealistic at times (one specific time especially). I just wasn’t blown away with this one but it was a cute little filler read for the holiday season.
October 28, 2025
Like another reviewer, I dnf at about 30%. I enjoyed the beginning premise, and the texting was cute, but then it got boring. It felt too formulaic and perfect. There was no pining or conflict or anything to keep the story going, especially since we get both POV there is no mystery whatsoever about whether they like each other.
January 3, 2026
4 🎧 Audiobook
December 16, 2025
So this is a holiday hockey sports romance that is part of the love and hockey series that I've read and enjoyed, but the main characters are not yet in Denver with the rest of the team and significant others for a majority of the story so there is little interaction with the other characters from the series though a few are mentioned briefly. It is another fake dating/ opposites attract type of story, which I usually enjoy and although I did like this one too I guess because they weren't interacting with characters from the other books it almost felt like it wasn't part of the same series.
Kat, the main female character, is described as a little larger fuller figured lady and lacking confidence due to struggling with her career, being self-conscious about her looks, and knowing that she will probably run into her demeaning ex who was quite toxic for her well-being as she returns home to spend the holidays with her family. So when she finds herself face to face with him flaunting his glamorous skinny fiancee in baggage claim she feels obligated to set him straight that she also has happily moved on and is dating a famous hockey player who also just happens to be at this small airport at the exact same time. Of course her ex expects an introduction so she now has to somehow convince Asher, the main male character and famous hockey player to play along and pretend that they're actually together. Luckily for her, Asher decides to go along with this. after A LOT of playing along, including meeting Kat's family, Asher agrees to be in a fake relationship while they're both in their family's town for the holidays and in return he can stay at the guest house the cabin where she is also staying has. At first they remain totally platonically fake but then as they get to know each other, it soon becomes obvious that they both have actual feelings for each other. Asher is very supportive of Kat's career and determined to be the perfect boyfriend in front of her family and her ex and very good for Kat's self esteem. eventually even though things do move forward for them, neither will admit they've developed feelings for the other since they agreed it was only temporary, she decided he would never want to be with someone like her and he was burned by both a former relationship and his parents so he has major trust issues and vowed to never fall in love again.
Of course we just have to throw in the almost the end of the story breakup before we can have a happy ending which is annoying that most romances seem to have when Asher's ex surfaces and messes with Kat's insecurities which causes Kat to ends things. By then Asher realizes he is in love with her and his parents kept a lot of things from him which changed his perspective dramatically so eventually we do finally get the HEA ending after the sweetest I love you so please be with me 'cue card' messages by the window and they both move to Denver so he can play for the Aces. Like I said since a majority of the story takes place elsewhere they don't interact with the other characters until towards the end but the story was still good and worth reading. Hopefully Katy and Asher will be in the next book along with all the rest of the team and significant others so it will feel like they are part of group.
Kat, the main female character, is described as a little larger fuller figured lady and lacking confidence due to struggling with her career, being self-conscious about her looks, and knowing that she will probably run into her demeaning ex who was quite toxic for her well-being as she returns home to spend the holidays with her family. So when she finds herself face to face with him flaunting his glamorous skinny fiancee in baggage claim she feels obligated to set him straight that she also has happily moved on and is dating a famous hockey player who also just happens to be at this small airport at the exact same time. Of course her ex expects an introduction so she now has to somehow convince Asher, the main male character and famous hockey player to play along and pretend that they're actually together. Luckily for her, Asher decides to go along with this. after A LOT of playing along, including meeting Kat's family, Asher agrees to be in a fake relationship while they're both in their family's town for the holidays and in return he can stay at the guest house the cabin where she is also staying has. At first they remain totally platonically fake but then as they get to know each other, it soon becomes obvious that they both have actual feelings for each other. Asher is very supportive of Kat's career and determined to be the perfect boyfriend in front of her family and her ex and very good for Kat's self esteem. eventually even though things do move forward for them, neither will admit they've developed feelings for the other since they agreed it was only temporary, she decided he would never want to be with someone like her and he was burned by both a former relationship and his parents so he has major trust issues and vowed to never fall in love again.
Of course we just have to throw in the almost the end of the story breakup before we can have a happy ending which is annoying that most romances seem to have when Asher's ex surfaces and messes with Kat's insecurities which causes Kat to ends things. By then Asher realizes he is in love with her and his parents kept a lot of things from him which changed his perspective dramatically so eventually we do finally get the HEA ending after the sweetest I love you so please be with me 'cue card' messages by the window and they both move to Denver so he can play for the Aces. Like I said since a majority of the story takes place elsewhere they don't interact with the other characters until towards the end but the story was still good and worth reading. Hopefully Katy and Asher will be in the next book along with all the rest of the team and significant others so it will feel like they are part of group.
December 14, 2025
4.5⭐️ “This is how it always is with her—one touch, one kiss, and I’m lost. All my control, all my careful boundaries, evaporate like they never existed.”
🏒 Asher - 29 yrs old, was recently let go from his Philly NHL team and his career is in limbo until he can land a new team. So he travels to Small Town, USA, to visit his estranged father and help him out while he is recovering from a broken leg. Asher was a confident, humble golden retriever (but could bust out a hockey enforcer move if pushed too far).
🎨 Kat - 27 yrs old, was a struggling children’s book illustrator waiting for her big break. Upon arriving back to Small Town, USA, to visit her family for the holidays, she runs into her nasty ex-boyfriend Daniel and his new fiance in the airport at the baggage claim. One little lie leads to another and after a hilarious moment of her throwing herself at a famous hockey player standing close by, she walks out of the airport with a fake boyfriend.
These two were absolutely perfect for each other. They were so very sweet, respectful and supportive of each other, they did NOT jump into bed quickly, but rather had a nice slow burn - to an eventual “no strings attached, no feelings, just… sex” - to the sweetest declaration of “I Love You” that I have read in a long time. And it was so fun to watch them fall in love.
Cute moments:
🛄 meet-cute at the airport
📣 each others biggest cheerleader
🥂 festive holiday parties and atmosphere
💬 nightly marathon texting (could see each other thru their windows)
🔥“I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours” type of texting scene
⛸️ Ice skating lessons
🛏️ only one bed - steamy fake sex scene
💦 he was constantly desperate and losing his control for her
🪧 best “I love you” declaration scene
The writing was initially a little shaky for me, but after a chapter or two I realized it was actually really descriptive. The smells, sounds, sights, everything was shown to us instead of just told to us, I noticed that many times too.
My not so cute moment:
🍑 butt stuff scene done poorly. The story was already plentiful hot without needing this scene, and the scene felt very unrealistic and just randomly added for shock-value filler.
👀 his nickname for her was Bright Eyes, and it got old towards the end.
Regardless, I will check out more from this author.
Thank you CB for finding this for us to buddy read 🎄
🏒 Asher - 29 yrs old, was recently let go from his Philly NHL team and his career is in limbo until he can land a new team. So he travels to Small Town, USA, to visit his estranged father and help him out while he is recovering from a broken leg. Asher was a confident, humble golden retriever (but could bust out a hockey enforcer move if pushed too far).
🎨 Kat - 27 yrs old, was a struggling children’s book illustrator waiting for her big break. Upon arriving back to Small Town, USA, to visit her family for the holidays, she runs into her nasty ex-boyfriend Daniel and his new fiance in the airport at the baggage claim. One little lie leads to another and after a hilarious moment of her throwing herself at a famous hockey player standing close by, she walks out of the airport with a fake boyfriend.
These two were absolutely perfect for each other. They were so very sweet, respectful and supportive of each other, they did NOT jump into bed quickly, but rather had a nice slow burn - to an eventual “no strings attached, no feelings, just… sex” - to the sweetest declaration of “I Love You” that I have read in a long time. And it was so fun to watch them fall in love.
Cute moments:
🛄 meet-cute at the airport
📣 each others biggest cheerleader
🥂 festive holiday parties and atmosphere
💬 nightly marathon texting (could see each other thru their windows)
🔥“I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours” type of texting scene
⛸️ Ice skating lessons
🛏️ only one bed - steamy fake sex scene
💦 he was constantly desperate and losing his control for her
🪧 best “I love you” declaration scene
The writing was initially a little shaky for me, but after a chapter or two I realized it was actually really descriptive. The smells, sounds, sights, everything was shown to us instead of just told to us, I noticed that many times too.
My not so cute moment:
🍑 butt stuff scene done poorly. The story was already plentiful hot without needing this scene, and the scene felt very unrealistic and just randomly added for shock-value filler.
👀 his nickname for her was Bright Eyes, and it got old towards the end.
Regardless, I will check out more from this author.
Thank you CB for finding this for us to buddy read 🎄
December 14, 2025
This is my first book by Nikki Lawson and it certainly won't be the last. I can't quite remember how I came across this book but the moment I saw the title I clicked to read more of it. The blurb had me hitting that add to cart button so damn fast. And who doesn't love a holiday romance.
I was hooked from the very first page and I'm actually quite sad that I've finished it. I tried reading slower to make it last longer but the story had me invested that I needed to know how this story was going to end. Especially when it came fake dating.
Nikki really knows how to write a main MMC because Asher Vaughn... sweet lord. This book combines pretty much everything that I love in a book. It's a hockey romance. Holiday romance. Fake dating. Slow burn. Forced proximity. A found family.
Asher is between hockey teams right now and is visiting the town where his father current lives and is waiting for his agent to work his magic on getting him a new NHL contract. Kat is visiting her hometown for the holidays and she never expects to bump into her old boyfriend who is now engaged.
So she tells him that she is dating Asher Vaughn, the pro hockey player not realizing that not only is he in the same town as her. But he is in the same airport as her. So what does she do? March over to him and kiss him. An agreement is made. He pretends to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays and he can live in the guest cabin while he is visiting his father. It gets a lot more complicated after that. But god this story was perfect. Every single word.
It was sweet and spicy. I loved the budding friendship and relationship between Kat and Asher. How she was able to help him let go off the past and how he was able to make her see her true self. That she was worth so much more than what Daniel made her out to believe. It was super sweet and super sexy. Overall an amazing story.
So many scenes in this book will stay with me. The sweetest declaration of I love you that I have ever read. I'm never going to forget that scene. And the ending was perfect. This book will definitely be on my reread list before the end of the year.
I would love to read more about Kat and Asher in any future books. I cannot recommend this book enough and I will be reading more from this author. To me this book deserves more than 5 stars.
I was hooked from the very first page and I'm actually quite sad that I've finished it. I tried reading slower to make it last longer but the story had me invested that I needed to know how this story was going to end. Especially when it came fake dating.
Nikki really knows how to write a main MMC because Asher Vaughn... sweet lord. This book combines pretty much everything that I love in a book. It's a hockey romance. Holiday romance. Fake dating. Slow burn. Forced proximity. A found family.
Asher is between hockey teams right now and is visiting the town where his father current lives and is waiting for his agent to work his magic on getting him a new NHL contract. Kat is visiting her hometown for the holidays and she never expects to bump into her old boyfriend who is now engaged.
So she tells him that she is dating Asher Vaughn, the pro hockey player not realizing that not only is he in the same town as her. But he is in the same airport as her. So what does she do? March over to him and kiss him. An agreement is made. He pretends to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays and he can live in the guest cabin while he is visiting his father. It gets a lot more complicated after that. But god this story was perfect. Every single word.
It was sweet and spicy. I loved the budding friendship and relationship between Kat and Asher. How she was able to help him let go off the past and how he was able to make her see her true self. That she was worth so much more than what Daniel made her out to believe. It was super sweet and super sexy. Overall an amazing story.
So many scenes in this book will stay with me. The sweetest declaration of I love you that I have ever read. I'm never going to forget that scene. And the ending was perfect. This book will definitely be on my reread list before the end of the year.
I would love to read more about Kat and Asher in any future books. I cannot recommend this book enough and I will be reading more from this author. To me this book deserves more than 5 stars.
November 2, 2025
Nikki does it again! This was a super cute read and had a great mix of emotional scenes, character growth, communication, general romance, angst and spice. Kat finds herself face to face with her ex and rather than admitting she's currently single, she says that she is dating a professional hockey player. Lucky for her, that player just happens to be at the same airport at the same time and went along with her fake dating scheme no questions asked. Asher is a green flag golden retriever and I loved how sweet and protective he was of Kat. I also loved how much he helped his father, even though he lived for over 20 years thinking his father didn't want him. We didn't find out until close to the end why his father actually left him, and I wish we got to see their relationship develop more after that reveal. Still, I loved their scenes and Murphy stole the show. I also loved seeing Kat become more confident in herself and how much she wanted Asher to find his happiness again. Their banter was adorable, and although the story took place over only a few weeks there was so much communication and time spent getting to know each other that it felt much longer than that. It helped to avoid the insta-love feel. I didn't love the third act conflict because it felt random and rushed, but their HEA was beautiful.
I honestly wanted to give this book 5 stars but I couldn't get past a few scenes that could have used some more editing to avoid scenarios that didn't make sense or were repeated too much through the story already. I also didn't love that almost every spicy scene had a mention of Daniel in it. He and Kat broke up years earlier. I could see mentioning him a time or two since he was a big reason why Kat had low self esteem, but almost every time was a little much.
I hope we see a little cameo of Asher and Kat in Goal Line Hearts. This author is a must read and I cannot wait for the continuation of that series to come out next year!
I honestly wanted to give this book 5 stars but I couldn't get past a few scenes that could have used some more editing to avoid scenarios that didn't make sense or were repeated too much through the story already. I also didn't love that almost every spicy scene had a mention of Daniel in it. He and Kat broke up years earlier. I could see mentioning him a time or two since he was a big reason why Kat had low self esteem, but almost every time was a little much.
I hope we see a little cameo of Asher and Kat in Goal Line Hearts. This author is a must read and I cannot wait for the continuation of that series to come out next year!
January 3, 2026
Book 1 of 2026
Oh Asher Vaughn, the man that you are! AH! I absolutely loved this book – truly, it was a holiday standout. It was exactly how I want a fake dating book to go. There was SO much to love here. Now, I have to get this out of the way – the only thing I didn’t like was the first few chapters. It was rushed and a bit clunky, how these two strangers came together at the airport. But once I got past that, and these two decided to make the fake-dating deal, I was 100% hooked and loving the entire thing from that point on. Actually, the longer the book went on, the more I was putting all my money on these two. @NikkiLawson really struck an amazing balance when it came to the emotional vulnerability. Kat and Asher both had real life issues going on that were weighing on them. The way that those came out and played out throughout the book were so well done because it was honest and relatable. BUT THEN.. the way that Asher Vaughn loved Kat was just perfection for me. She had so many real-life insecurities that he loved her through. He didn’t placate her, and he didn’t try to change her mind through empty words. It was his actions that hit her to her core, and that was so well done. I FELT the way it impacted her through the pages, and maybe because of my own personal insecurities, I loved how all those actions made Kat feel.
Do I need to even say anything about the physical chemistry here? I was being edged right along with Kat in this one. It was spicy in the absolute best way – the intimate connection these two had. AH! I honestly will be putting this at the top of my re-read list next holiday season because these two were just everything I wanted in a holiday romance.
Rating – four and a half stars
Format – kindle unlimited
Oh Asher Vaughn, the man that you are! AH! I absolutely loved this book – truly, it was a holiday standout. It was exactly how I want a fake dating book to go. There was SO much to love here. Now, I have to get this out of the way – the only thing I didn’t like was the first few chapters. It was rushed and a bit clunky, how these two strangers came together at the airport. But once I got past that, and these two decided to make the fake-dating deal, I was 100% hooked and loving the entire thing from that point on. Actually, the longer the book went on, the more I was putting all my money on these two. @NikkiLawson really struck an amazing balance when it came to the emotional vulnerability. Kat and Asher both had real life issues going on that were weighing on them. The way that those came out and played out throughout the book were so well done because it was honest and relatable. BUT THEN.. the way that Asher Vaughn loved Kat was just perfection for me. She had so many real-life insecurities that he loved her through. He didn’t placate her, and he didn’t try to change her mind through empty words. It was his actions that hit her to her core, and that was so well done. I FELT the way it impacted her through the pages, and maybe because of my own personal insecurities, I loved how all those actions made Kat feel.
Do I need to even say anything about the physical chemistry here? I was being edged right along with Kat in this one. It was spicy in the absolute best way – the intimate connection these two had. AH! I honestly will be putting this at the top of my re-read list next holiday season because these two were just everything I wanted in a holiday romance.
Rating – four and a half stars
Format – kindle unlimited
November 20, 2025
Kat and Asher's story was such a sweet read!
Kat is an illustrator for children's books. She's an independent woman who doesn't seem to stick to one place for long. She's back in her hometown for the holidays.
Asher is a hockey player, currently with no team after an injury. He's in town waiting on his agent to find him a new team and to help his injured father (who he has no relationship with) and to figure out if he even wants a relationship with him.
Kat runs into her ex and his new fiancé after a rough flight back to her hometown. When he asks what she's been up to Kat blurts out that she's been dating Asher Vaughn--Mr. hockey hottie. Of course she turns around and there he is and she has no choice but to go along with her lie in front of her pompous ex. Thankfully, Asher seems to be a good sport and goes along with it all perfectly. In exchange, he has a place to stay while he figures things out for himself.
The agreement Asher and Kat make is working out fine. They get to know each other well in order to pass off their fake relationship to family and friends. Neither is looking for anything real or long term--and their term is up after the holidays. They are able to sort of keep it all platonic until they have to kiss, under the mistletoe and things bloom from there. But an unexpected visit from his nasty ex could prove to spoil all of their fun and relationship progress.
This was such a good story! It flowed so nicely, the characters were so well done, low drama, low angst, some hot holiday spice and one of the sweetest, most heartfelt and heartwarming HEAs I've read in a while. Well written and totally recommend this.
Kat is an illustrator for children's books. She's an independent woman who doesn't seem to stick to one place for long. She's back in her hometown for the holidays.
Asher is a hockey player, currently with no team after an injury. He's in town waiting on his agent to find him a new team and to help his injured father (who he has no relationship with) and to figure out if he even wants a relationship with him.
Kat runs into her ex and his new fiancé after a rough flight back to her hometown. When he asks what she's been up to Kat blurts out that she's been dating Asher Vaughn--Mr. hockey hottie. Of course she turns around and there he is and she has no choice but to go along with her lie in front of her pompous ex. Thankfully, Asher seems to be a good sport and goes along with it all perfectly. In exchange, he has a place to stay while he figures things out for himself.
The agreement Asher and Kat make is working out fine. They get to know each other well in order to pass off their fake relationship to family and friends. Neither is looking for anything real or long term--and their term is up after the holidays. They are able to sort of keep it all platonic until they have to kiss, under the mistletoe and things bloom from there. But an unexpected visit from his nasty ex could prove to spoil all of their fun and relationship progress.
This was such a good story! It flowed so nicely, the characters were so well done, low drama, low angst, some hot holiday spice and one of the sweetest, most heartfelt and heartwarming HEAs I've read in a while. Well written and totally recommend this.
January 1, 2026
Faking All the Way ultimately felt like a relief to finish rather than a holiday romance to savor. While the fake-dating trope and festive setting promise a cozy, escapist read, the execution didn’t quite land for me. Many chapters dragged on longer than necessary, making the pacing uneven and the story feel more repetitive than engaging.
The premise centers on Kat returning home for the holidays and impulsively claiming she has a boyfriend to save face in front of her ex, Daniel. That lie snowballs when she runs into Asher Vaughn at the airport, who unexpectedly agrees to play along. What follows is a prolonged charade filled with family dinners, small-town gossip, lingering feelings, and escalating emotional (and physical) entanglements. Asher is generally likable and protective, and there are moments where their connection feels genuine, especially as both characters confront personal insecurities and past hurts.
However, the romance often leans too heavily on drawn-out scenes and repeated internal monologues, which diluted the tension instead of building it. Certain plot points felt overexplained or unnecessarily extended, and a few continuity and logic issues pulled me out of the story. By the time the narrative reached its emotional payoff, my interest had already waned.
Overall, Faking All the Way has the bones of a charming holiday romance, but the sluggish pacing and lack of tighter editing made it less enjoyable than it could have been. If you love fake-dating stories with lots of steam and don’t mind a slow burn that sometimes stalls, this might work for you, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
The premise centers on Kat returning home for the holidays and impulsively claiming she has a boyfriend to save face in front of her ex, Daniel. That lie snowballs when she runs into Asher Vaughn at the airport, who unexpectedly agrees to play along. What follows is a prolonged charade filled with family dinners, small-town gossip, lingering feelings, and escalating emotional (and physical) entanglements. Asher is generally likable and protective, and there are moments where their connection feels genuine, especially as both characters confront personal insecurities and past hurts.
However, the romance often leans too heavily on drawn-out scenes and repeated internal monologues, which diluted the tension instead of building it. Certain plot points felt overexplained or unnecessarily extended, and a few continuity and logic issues pulled me out of the story. By the time the narrative reached its emotional payoff, my interest had already waned.
Overall, Faking All the Way has the bones of a charming holiday romance, but the sluggish pacing and lack of tighter editing made it less enjoyable than it could have been. If you love fake-dating stories with lots of steam and don’t mind a slow burn that sometimes stalls, this might work for you, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
November 7, 2025
Asher and Kat are put into a predicament all because of Kat and an impulse of saying his name and claiming he was her current boyfriend to an ex. Little did she know he would be walking into the same airport as her in her small area of Virginia and he would be willing to play the part.
Asher is a professional hockey player who is trying to find a team he can sign with and while that happens he is in a small town where his father is living and recovering from a broken foot. He doesn't have much of a relationship with his father after his parents divorce and once him and his dad actually sit down and talk he soon learns he was told stories and lies. Maybe he can repair that relationship while a new one is starting?
Kat is an illustrator and returning home to spend time with family during the holidays. She runs into her condescending ex boyfriend and throws out a name of her new current boyfriend, Asher, who just happens to be a professional hockey player and walking right towards them. Luckily he plays along with the ruse and along the way they get to know each other and really connect.
Asher helps Kat with her self esteem and builds her up, while Kat really sees Asher for who he is and not what he can do for her or get for her with all of his hockey money. She truly likes him for him.
However Asher's past comes back and puts a big ripple into their relationship and is it too much for them to be able to get back on track and be what each other need?
Loved this book!! So good and great book that is set during Christnas to get you into the Christmas spirit!
Asher is a professional hockey player who is trying to find a team he can sign with and while that happens he is in a small town where his father is living and recovering from a broken foot. He doesn't have much of a relationship with his father after his parents divorce and once him and his dad actually sit down and talk he soon learns he was told stories and lies. Maybe he can repair that relationship while a new one is starting?
Kat is an illustrator and returning home to spend time with family during the holidays. She runs into her condescending ex boyfriend and throws out a name of her new current boyfriend, Asher, who just happens to be a professional hockey player and walking right towards them. Luckily he plays along with the ruse and along the way they get to know each other and really connect.
Asher helps Kat with her self esteem and builds her up, while Kat really sees Asher for who he is and not what he can do for her or get for her with all of his hockey money. She truly likes him for him.
However Asher's past comes back and puts a big ripple into their relationship and is it too much for them to be able to get back on track and be what each other need?
Loved this book!! So good and great book that is set during Christnas to get you into the Christmas spirit!
November 6, 2025
Kat tells her ex she’s dating hockey sensation, Asher Vaughn, never expecting to cross paths with him. Especially not two minutes later, when Asher shows up at the same baggage claim as her…and her ex, who is chomping at the bit to watch her humiliation. Luckily for her, when she impulsively kisses Asher and calls him her boyfriend, he plays along.
They strike up a deal: he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend through the holidays to help her save face, and she’ll give him a place to stay while he’s in town helping his father. Easy peasy. What they weren’t counting on, however, was their undeniable chemistry, nor the fact that they each might be what the other needs.
It was great watching them learn more about themselves and what they were capable of by seeing themselves through the other’s eyes. I loved the fact they drew strength and support from each other in order to be able to become the people they were meant to be before life threw them curve balls.
This is a cute story, but it’s not all fluff. There are some deep feels blended in, as well, which only adds to the satisfaction factor when you reach the end. So, if you’re wanting a feel-good, steamy, holiday read full of heart, look no further!
They strike up a deal: he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend through the holidays to help her save face, and she’ll give him a place to stay while he’s in town helping his father. Easy peasy. What they weren’t counting on, however, was their undeniable chemistry, nor the fact that they each might be what the other needs.
It was great watching them learn more about themselves and what they were capable of by seeing themselves through the other’s eyes. I loved the fact they drew strength and support from each other in order to be able to become the people they were meant to be before life threw them curve balls.
This is a cute story, but it’s not all fluff. There are some deep feels blended in, as well, which only adds to the satisfaction factor when you reach the end. So, if you’re wanting a feel-good, steamy, holiday read full of heart, look no further!
November 28, 2025
📚BOOK REVIEW📚
Faking All the Way - @nikkilawson.writes
What a fantastic read this was and a new author to me that I now want to devour everything else she has written.
Christmas came early by delivering Asher Vaughn to me! Oh my! This guy had me swooning so hard. And let me tell you, if you're a curvy girl then you deserve to be loved the way Asher loves Kat.
Asher and Kat don't exactly meet in a conventional way, but it is awkward to see the least. When Kat is confronted by her ex and his fiancé at the airport she lies and tells him she is seeing someone. Under pressure she says the first name that comes to mind which happens to be Asher Vaughn, the famous hockey player. Not expecting him to show up at that moment. He too goes along with the lie and it snowballs.
They find themselves fake dating throughout December but as time moves along they find they are well suited. They have so much fun together and Asher sees Kat for who she really is. He grounds her and never makes her feel any less than. She's been paranoid and self conscious about her weight before but he loves and adores her curves and never stops telling her so.
I really enjoyed the build up and the connection that then took them from being friends to lovers. They supported each others dreams and I loved all the Christmassy elements too. It was a great holiday read.
I loved Kat as well and felt I could relate to her so much. So I was so happy she got her happy ending.
Faking All the Way - @nikkilawson.writes
What a fantastic read this was and a new author to me that I now want to devour everything else she has written.
Christmas came early by delivering Asher Vaughn to me! Oh my! This guy had me swooning so hard. And let me tell you, if you're a curvy girl then you deserve to be loved the way Asher loves Kat.
Asher and Kat don't exactly meet in a conventional way, but it is awkward to see the least. When Kat is confronted by her ex and his fiancé at the airport she lies and tells him she is seeing someone. Under pressure she says the first name that comes to mind which happens to be Asher Vaughn, the famous hockey player. Not expecting him to show up at that moment. He too goes along with the lie and it snowballs.
They find themselves fake dating throughout December but as time moves along they find they are well suited. They have so much fun together and Asher sees Kat for who she really is. He grounds her and never makes her feel any less than. She's been paranoid and self conscious about her weight before but he loves and adores her curves and never stops telling her so.
I really enjoyed the build up and the connection that then took them from being friends to lovers. They supported each others dreams and I loved all the Christmassy elements too. It was a great holiday read.
I loved Kat as well and felt I could relate to her so much. So I was so happy she got her happy ending.
January 15, 2026
A cute little meet cute read 4.5 stars.
It was holiday themed and ended up in my Kindle unlimited account. I couldn't resist it. And it was a fun little read.
There were a few things I rolled my eyes at in the book, but more of annoyances vs full out story killing.
1. 50 yards is a decent distance... The cabin vs the guest house. Yet you can clearly see how wet someone is from across the yard? I'm trying to picture that, but just can't.
2. On that same note, when he's trying to woo her back, to create signs for AAAAAALLLLLLLL he said, that would have taken a lot of cardboard, markers, and time. So, while cute in theory. Not practical by any means.
3. I feel like Asher would have had some more turmoil overall about what his mom did. I mean, let's face it - we knew this was going to be her fault. I would have liked for there to be a confrontation and blow up there. Because she did him dirty.
5. The car scene on the way to the book signing... That was the bonus scene.... What kind of car were they in to be able to do that?! The entire time, I was thinking - based on his size and her size, that's not going to be possible in a "car" the way written. And if it is, she's not going to be comfortable like that.
Overall though, it
It was holiday themed and ended up in my Kindle unlimited account. I couldn't resist it. And it was a fun little read.
There were a few things I rolled my eyes at in the book, but more of annoyances vs full out story killing.
1. 50 yards is a decent distance... The cabin vs the guest house. Yet you can clearly see how wet someone is from across the yard? I'm trying to picture that, but just can't.
2. On that same note, when he's trying to woo her back, to create signs for AAAAAALLLLLLLL he said, that would have taken a lot of cardboard, markers, and time. So, while cute in theory. Not practical by any means.
3. I feel like Asher would have had some more turmoil overall about what his mom did. I mean, let's face it - we knew this was going to be her fault. I would have liked for there to be a confrontation and blow up there. Because she did him dirty.
5. The car scene on the way to the book signing... That was the bonus scene.... What kind of car were they in to be able to do that?! The entire time, I was thinking - based on his size and her size, that's not going to be possible in a "car" the way written. And if it is, she's not going to be comfortable like that.
Overall though, it
November 28, 2025
Faking a relationship was never in Asher’s playbook, especially not while he’s a 29-year-old NHL star recovering from an injury and freshly released from his team. But when he runs into Kat at the airport—panicked, adorable, and desperately claiming he’s her boyfriend—this man can’t say no. One quick pretend relationship? Easy. Except… it’s definitely not quick, and definitely not pretend anymore.
What starts as a spontaneous favor turns into weeks of shared moments, slow-burn tension, and chemistry that hits like a slapshot to the heart. Their lives intertwine effortlessly, and watching Asher soften (while still being able to flip into something very not soft when needed 👀🔥) is absolute perfection. This man is the definition of gentleman-on-the-streets, filthy-on-the-sheets.
Kat brings warmth, chaos, and charm; Asher brings strength, sweetness, and that quiet, simmering desire that sneaks up until it’s too late not to fall. Their connection feels natural, tender, and absolutely electric.
If you want a fake-dating romance with heart, heat, healing, and a swoony hockey hero who treats his girl like she’s the entire world? This book is it. Cute, sexy, and completely captivating.
What starts as a spontaneous favor turns into weeks of shared moments, slow-burn tension, and chemistry that hits like a slapshot to the heart. Their lives intertwine effortlessly, and watching Asher soften (while still being able to flip into something very not soft when needed 👀🔥) is absolute perfection. This man is the definition of gentleman-on-the-streets, filthy-on-the-sheets.
Kat brings warmth, chaos, and charm; Asher brings strength, sweetness, and that quiet, simmering desire that sneaks up until it’s too late not to fall. Their connection feels natural, tender, and absolutely electric.
If you want a fake-dating romance with heart, heat, healing, and a swoony hockey hero who treats his girl like she’s the entire world? This book is it. Cute, sexy, and completely captivating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Read to Kick Off 2026
Faking All the Way by Nikki Lawson was the perfect way to start my 2026 reading year. This romance hits all my favorite tropes—fake dating, a swoony hockey player, small-town charm, and a cozy Christmas setting.
When an artist heads back to her hometown for the holidays and ends up fake dating a hockey player, sparks fly in the best way. The chemistry felt natural, the emotional beats landed perfectly, and the holiday atmosphere added so much warmth to the story. I loved how the small-town setting contrasted with the hockey-world fame—it made everything feel intimate and real.
The spice level was perfect: just enough heat to elevate the romance without overpowering the story or characters. It balanced sweetness, tension, and passion beautifully.
Overall, this was a feel-good, festive romance with heart, humor, and just the right amount of steam. If you love fake dating romances—especially with a Christmas backdrop—this one is an absolute must-read.
✨ Highly recommend and easily one of my favorite holiday romances!
Faking All the Way by Nikki Lawson was the perfect way to start my 2026 reading year. This romance hits all my favorite tropes—fake dating, a swoony hockey player, small-town charm, and a cozy Christmas setting.
When an artist heads back to her hometown for the holidays and ends up fake dating a hockey player, sparks fly in the best way. The chemistry felt natural, the emotional beats landed perfectly, and the holiday atmosphere added so much warmth to the story. I loved how the small-town setting contrasted with the hockey-world fame—it made everything feel intimate and real.
The spice level was perfect: just enough heat to elevate the romance without overpowering the story or characters. It balanced sweetness, tension, and passion beautifully.
Overall, this was a feel-good, festive romance with heart, humor, and just the right amount of steam. If you love fake dating romances—especially with a Christmas backdrop—this one is an absolute must-read.
✨ Highly recommend and easily one of my favorite holiday romances!
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