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My Fake(ish) Valentine: A Houston Pumas Sweet Romance Novella
116 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2026
About the author
Ranee S. Clark
38 books343 followersDuring her early years of reading, Ranee` S. Clark devoured fantasy books, which continued into her adulthood—since she often believes that a well-written romance novel is a delightful fantasy. Though raising three boys can sometimes hamper both romance with her own Mr. Charming and her writing, she tries to get a little of both in every day. And most of the time she succeeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 14, 2026
2.75 / 3 ⭐️
Sometimes you want emotional devastation.Sometimes you want a pastel cupcake of a romance.
This one came wrapped in pink frosting.
This is a low-angst, closed-door novella that gives us online gaming besties → fake dating at a wedding → longtime secret crush, and honestly? That combination should be illegal because it is so specifically engineered for my trope-loving brain.
What worked for me
The gamer banter was adorable! Their friendship felt believable, and I liked that their foundation wasn’t insta-lust, it was built on shared history. That always hits differently.
The wedding setting also works well for this trope. You automatically get:
• forced proximity
• nosy family members
• “Play along” couple moments that feel a little too convincing
• That subtle shift when pretending starts to blur
And because it’s low angst, it’s an easy, breezy read. No dramatic third-act implosion. No devastating betrayal. Just sweet progression from “this is pretend” to “oh… oh no.”
If you want comfort romance vibes you can finish in one sitting, this absolutely delivers.
Where it lost me a little
For me, it never quite moved beyond cute.
Because it’s a novella, the emotional shift from friendship to romance felt a bit rushed. I wanted more internal conflict from Caleb once he starts seeing Malia differently. More yearning. More panic. More “I am absolutely not equipped to process these feelings.”
Instead, it felt very smooth. Very safe. Very tidy.
The secret-successful-real-life-identity element also had potential for tension, but it didn’t hit as hard as I expected. Everything resolves neatly, gently, and with minimal emotional friction.
Which isn’t a flaw - it’s just a tone choice.
Final Verdict: This was soft, sweet, and low-stress, like the romance equivalent of a pastel Valentine’s cupcake. Cute. Pleasant. Gone quickly.
But I personally need at least one moment where I clutch my chest or yell “SIR???” at my Kindle to push it into 4-star territory.
So for me: 3 stars - very sweet, very safe.
I personally require one (1) dramatic panic about catching feelings.
Tropes & Vibes:
• Fake dating (wedding edition) + Longtime secret crush
• Friends-to-lovers (Online gaming besties → IRL chemistry)
• Closed-door romance + Low angst / comfort read
• Soft boy awakening
• One weekend timeline
• Sweet > spicy
If you’re here for cozy gamer banter and wedding romance fluff? You’ll eat.
If you’re here to spiral? You may remain emotionally stable.
Sometimes you want emotional devastation.Sometimes you want a pastel cupcake of a romance.
This one came wrapped in pink frosting.
This is a low-angst, closed-door novella that gives us online gaming besties → fake dating at a wedding → longtime secret crush, and honestly? That combination should be illegal because it is so specifically engineered for my trope-loving brain.
What worked for me
The gamer banter was adorable! Their friendship felt believable, and I liked that their foundation wasn’t insta-lust, it was built on shared history. That always hits differently.
The wedding setting also works well for this trope. You automatically get:
• forced proximity
• nosy family members
• “Play along” couple moments that feel a little too convincing
• That subtle shift when pretending starts to blur
And because it’s low angst, it’s an easy, breezy read. No dramatic third-act implosion. No devastating betrayal. Just sweet progression from “this is pretend” to “oh… oh no.”
If you want comfort romance vibes you can finish in one sitting, this absolutely delivers.
Where it lost me a little
For me, it never quite moved beyond cute.
Because it’s a novella, the emotional shift from friendship to romance felt a bit rushed. I wanted more internal conflict from Caleb once he starts seeing Malia differently. More yearning. More panic. More “I am absolutely not equipped to process these feelings.”
Instead, it felt very smooth. Very safe. Very tidy.
The secret-successful-real-life-identity element also had potential for tension, but it didn’t hit as hard as I expected. Everything resolves neatly, gently, and with minimal emotional friction.
Which isn’t a flaw - it’s just a tone choice.
Final Verdict: This was soft, sweet, and low-stress, like the romance equivalent of a pastel Valentine’s cupcake. Cute. Pleasant. Gone quickly.
But I personally need at least one moment where I clutch my chest or yell “SIR???” at my Kindle to push it into 4-star territory.
So for me: 3 stars - very sweet, very safe.
I personally require one (1) dramatic panic about catching feelings.
Tropes & Vibes:
• Fake dating (wedding edition) + Longtime secret crush
• Friends-to-lovers (Online gaming besties → IRL chemistry)
• Closed-door romance + Low angst / comfort read
• Soft boy awakening
• One weekend timeline
• Sweet > spicy
If you’re here for cozy gamer banter and wedding romance fluff? You’ll eat.
If you’re here to spiral? You may remain emotionally stable.
February 9, 2026
“When we first started this faking, it was a character I was eager to play. A game and me crossing my fingers I’d come out the winner. Now, so much more is on the line. My heart. My future.”
Sometimes you need a short and sweet Valentines novella and this one fits the bill! I’ve loved the Houston Puma books and this was a fun addition to the series with some fun cameos from characters from the other books!
Caleb and Malia were so cute! I loved that they already had a friendship from being on the same team, even though they had never met in real life—it made for the perfect fake dating scenario! Their instant chemistry was so great and I loved their flirty banter! The sibling text threads were so fun, and of course Malia meeting “G” was the best!
Favorite quotes:
“He leans forward, giving me a half-smile that’s so sexy I almost melt into my seat. The problem here is that I was already 90% gone on Caleb Gallagher before I even met him in person. The easy way he settled in to talk to me, like it was just a texting conversation brought to life, is really selling me. And the good looks? Icing on an already decadent cake.”
“Keep it professional, Caleb. Malia is beautiful and a good friend, but this is all an act to help me. I can’t cross the line and make her uncomfortable. This is just another type of mission. But I think I like her. Romantically. I think I have for a while.”
“The man watched an old romcom just because I mentioned it and then acted like it was no big deal. He’s freaking perfect.”
Sometimes you need a short and sweet Valentines novella and this one fits the bill! I’ve loved the Houston Puma books and this was a fun addition to the series with some fun cameos from characters from the other books!
Caleb and Malia were so cute! I loved that they already had a friendship from being on the same team, even though they had never met in real life—it made for the perfect fake dating scenario! Their instant chemistry was so great and I loved their flirty banter! The sibling text threads were so fun, and of course Malia meeting “G” was the best!
Favorite quotes:
“He leans forward, giving me a half-smile that’s so sexy I almost melt into my seat. The problem here is that I was already 90% gone on Caleb Gallagher before I even met him in person. The easy way he settled in to talk to me, like it was just a texting conversation brought to life, is really selling me. And the good looks? Icing on an already decadent cake.”
“Keep it professional, Caleb. Malia is beautiful and a good friend, but this is all an act to help me. I can’t cross the line and make her uncomfortable. This is just another type of mission. But I think I like her. Romantically. I think I have for a while.”
“The man watched an old romcom just because I mentioned it and then acted like it was no big deal. He’s freaking perfect.”
February 12, 2026
Reader’s Notes:
*Series or Connected Books?* this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-Caleb’s sister’s (Carlie) story was Tight Ends and True Crime
*Point Of View:* Caleb & Malia
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* None!
*Romance?* Yes, just kisses!
*Things To Know:*
–nothing I noted
Review:
This was a short and very cute read! I loved getting to see Caleb again as well as other characters from the Houston Pumas series! I enjoyed getting to know Malia and how she knew Caleb in the midst of their fake dating scheme turned more! And I loved their shared love of gaming and how it came into play with their story!
Summary:
Caleb’s sister is getting married, and knowing his mother she’ll have a high powered date at the ready for Caleb if he doesn’t bring a date for himself. But when an off-handed offer gains Caleb a fake date with his online gaming friend Malia, he didn’t know what his heart was getting into. The two of them had never met in person despite having talked to each other over the past year and becoming good friends that way. But when they finally do meet, Caleb wonders if he’ll be able to wait until after the wedding to request a real date with his online best friend.
Malia had fallen for her online friend Caleb soon after they starting talking, but it hadn’t been the right time. Now, Malia has an opportunity to show Caleb what they could be together through their fake dating scheme that’s meant to keep his mother off his back. Hopefully he’ll see the potential that she’s known of all along…
*Series or Connected Books?* this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-Caleb’s sister’s (Carlie) story was Tight Ends and True Crime
*Point Of View:* Caleb & Malia
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* None!
*Romance?* Yes, just kisses!
*Things To Know:*
–nothing I noted
Review:
This was a short and very cute read! I loved getting to see Caleb again as well as other characters from the Houston Pumas series! I enjoyed getting to know Malia and how she knew Caleb in the midst of their fake dating scheme turned more! And I loved their shared love of gaming and how it came into play with their story!
Summary:
Caleb’s sister is getting married, and knowing his mother she’ll have a high powered date at the ready for Caleb if he doesn’t bring a date for himself. But when an off-handed offer gains Caleb a fake date with his online gaming friend Malia, he didn’t know what his heart was getting into. The two of them had never met in person despite having talked to each other over the past year and becoming good friends that way. But when they finally do meet, Caleb wonders if he’ll be able to wait until after the wedding to request a real date with his online best friend.
Malia had fallen for her online friend Caleb soon after they starting talking, but it hadn’t been the right time. Now, Malia has an opportunity to show Caleb what they could be together through their fake dating scheme that’s meant to keep his mother off his back. Hopefully he’ll see the potential that she’s known of all along…
May 10, 2026
This book was the perfect ending for the series. It was low angst and just the sweetest. I’m so happy that Caleb got his HEA!! After getting his heart broken by Ivy he needed his own story. I loved Caleb and I think it’s because he goes all in from the beginning and doesn’t play games or hold back. And Malia couldn’t have been more perfect for him.
February 9, 2026
This short novella was a quick read, and at times the story felt a little rushed. While it was nice to have the characters act like actual adults and talk instead of hiding everything, there were also times where I would have liked a little more character or story development.
I didn't realize when I picked it up that it was part of a series (Goodreads makes it known in the title, but I saw the cover on my phone [and couldn't read that tiny scribble] and bought it from the author's website where it wasn't mentioned as part of a series), so there were a LOT of background characters and very little explanation of who they were. It felt like attending a friend's wedding and being introduced to everyone very quickly, with maybe a single sentence about how they know the bride oe groom, and then listening to a conversation where they talk about high school. You have no idea who the people are in the story, but everyone else does, so you just try to follow along with the basic plot. There were so many people mentioned in this book and I had no idea who they were, but it was treated as if you should know them.
And this may be a personal problem, but I really don't like the use of emojis in writing, primarily because I am reading these books on my Kindle Paperwhite. Between the fact that the emojis are too small to see, no matter how big I make the text, and the fact that my screen is black and white so I can't easily distinguish whether the face is smiling or winking or anything else, I sometimes can't follow what is happening in a text thread. This happened several times throughout this story, and I just had to shrug and hope those emojis weren't giving hints that I was missing.
The author's afterword explaining that she wrote this over the weekend simply to have a Valentine's story made me like this book a little less. Not sure if she was going for an excuse in case people wanted to pick it apart ("What do you expect? I wrote it in three days!") or a humble brag ("What did you do this weekend? I wrote a whole book") or what, but it was just a weird flex.
Other than that, it was a fun read, and I always appreciate the romance ls that are clean and romances that don't focus exclusively on how hot the other person is as an explanation of attraction ("Of course I love him -- he's hot! Why wouldn't I?"). This story was perfect on both fronts.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars. It'd probably be a 4 star book if I had read the others in the series, so perhaps it would be helpful to add some type of note or advertising or something to let others new to the author or the series know not to start with this one.
I didn't realize when I picked it up that it was part of a series (Goodreads makes it known in the title, but I saw the cover on my phone [and couldn't read that tiny scribble] and bought it from the author's website where it wasn't mentioned as part of a series), so there were a LOT of background characters and very little explanation of who they were. It felt like attending a friend's wedding and being introduced to everyone very quickly, with maybe a single sentence about how they know the bride oe groom, and then listening to a conversation where they talk about high school. You have no idea who the people are in the story, but everyone else does, so you just try to follow along with the basic plot. There were so many people mentioned in this book and I had no idea who they were, but it was treated as if you should know them.
And this may be a personal problem, but I really don't like the use of emojis in writing, primarily because I am reading these books on my Kindle Paperwhite. Between the fact that the emojis are too small to see, no matter how big I make the text, and the fact that my screen is black and white so I can't easily distinguish whether the face is smiling or winking or anything else, I sometimes can't follow what is happening in a text thread. This happened several times throughout this story, and I just had to shrug and hope those emojis weren't giving hints that I was missing.
The author's afterword explaining that she wrote this over the weekend simply to have a Valentine's story made me like this book a little less. Not sure if she was going for an excuse in case people wanted to pick it apart ("What do you expect? I wrote it in three days!") or a humble brag ("What did you do this weekend? I wrote a whole book") or what, but it was just a weird flex.
Other than that, it was a fun read, and I always appreciate the romance ls that are clean and romances that don't focus exclusively on how hot the other person is as an explanation of attraction ("Of course I love him -- he's hot! Why wouldn't I?"). This story was perfect on both fronts.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars. It'd probably be a 4 star book if I had read the others in the series, so perhaps it would be helpful to add some type of note or advertising or something to let others new to the author or the series know not to start with this one.
February 9, 2026
4.5/5
Genre: Clean Romance
🚨TW: mentions about mom trying to matchmake
Favourite Moments
🎮 They meet for the first time IRL (can’t spoil it)
🎮 Moments of his sisters and their husbands being nosey.
🎮 Them playing games together.
🎮 The wedding. (can’t spoil it)
🎮 The texts between her and also the boys. (can’t spoil it )
(and lots more)
Swoony Moments
🎮 He loves and cares for her
🎮 He love spending time with her and playing games with her.
🎮 He is great with kids.
Synopsis
Caleb
A gamer/hacker who uses his hacking skills to find out who is the culprit to save a person.
Malia
A CEO of Vire Gaming which is a gaming company. She secretly had a crush on Caleb.
They met in online gaming and have been online friends for quite some time. Things get interesting when he asks her to be a fake date to his sister’s wedding because he is tired of his mom trying to matchmake him with someone. Will they be able to convince his family? Will the fake date become real? Read My Fake(ish) Valentine to find out!!
Review:
This is such a sweet and adorable love story. They both met through online gaming and had been online friends ever since.
Love that they finally meet in real life and also him being a gentleman who will not do anything that she doesn’t want to do during the fake relationship.
Their moments together are just so sweet and they also have things in common too because their family doesn’t know what they actually do other than playing games.
Lolz… his brothers-in-law and his sisters and even his mother are just so nosy hahaha… it was
really a fun read.
Can’t spoil too much because it is a novella. Hehe…
This is a novella of the Houston Pumas Sports Romance series.
I was gifted a complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @raneesclark for the ARC copy.
Can't wait to read her other books.
Genre: Clean Romance
🚨TW: mentions about mom trying to matchmake
Favourite Moments
🎮 They meet for the first time IRL (can’t spoil it)
🎮 Moments of his sisters and their husbands being nosey.
🎮 Them playing games together.
🎮 The wedding. (can’t spoil it)
🎮 The texts between her and also the boys. (can’t spoil it )
(and lots more)
Swoony Moments
🎮 He loves and cares for her
🎮 He love spending time with her and playing games with her.
🎮 He is great with kids.
Synopsis
Caleb
A gamer/hacker who uses his hacking skills to find out who is the culprit to save a person.
Malia
A CEO of Vire Gaming which is a gaming company. She secretly had a crush on Caleb.
They met in online gaming and have been online friends for quite some time. Things get interesting when he asks her to be a fake date to his sister’s wedding because he is tired of his mom trying to matchmake him with someone. Will they be able to convince his family? Will the fake date become real? Read My Fake(ish) Valentine to find out!!
Review:
This is such a sweet and adorable love story. They both met through online gaming and had been online friends ever since.
Love that they finally meet in real life and also him being a gentleman who will not do anything that she doesn’t want to do during the fake relationship.
Their moments together are just so sweet and they also have things in common too because their family doesn’t know what they actually do other than playing games.
Lolz… his brothers-in-law and his sisters and even his mother are just so nosy hahaha… it was
really a fun read.
Can’t spoil too much because it is a novella. Hehe…
This is a novella of the Houston Pumas Sports Romance series.
I was gifted a complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @raneesclark for the ARC copy.
Can't wait to read her other books.
February 10, 2026
Sometimes when I read a story, I can’t help but wonder about a side character and if they were simply a fleeting person on the page or if they will get a chance at an HEA! I’m happy to report that Caleb got a novella and it’s wonderful!
Caleb Gallagher is seen in a couple of the Houston Puma books that Ranee S. Clark has written, but he’s yet to be the MMC until now! His sister, Carlie, who was FMC of a different book, is getting married! Yay! However, this does bring out the ever-present meddling mother who wants nothing but the best for her son and is ready to offer him a plethora of women to choose from to be his date! Thanks, but no thanks, Caleb takes matters into his hands and asks a fellow gamer he’s befriended over the last year. What could go wrong with bringing a fake date to some high-profile events?!
Malia readily agrees to accompany Caleb to the rehearsal dinner and wedding day festivities. But keeping her true feelings at bay may not be so easily done! Proving she’s a successful woman without overstating might prove to be complicated! Good luck girl!
The banter that these two exchange whether they’re playing their game ‘Shadow Heroes’ or casually meeting for the first time or being arm in arm at the events, is fantastic! Cameos from all the other Houston Pumas books and some rather timely text messages make this story even better! I have said it before, and I will say it again; Ranee S. Clark thrives in making novellas feel as complete and well-rounded as if they were full length novels! Such a great story and can’t wait to buy it! Bravo!
Caleb Gallagher is seen in a couple of the Houston Puma books that Ranee S. Clark has written, but he’s yet to be the MMC until now! His sister, Carlie, who was FMC of a different book, is getting married! Yay! However, this does bring out the ever-present meddling mother who wants nothing but the best for her son and is ready to offer him a plethora of women to choose from to be his date! Thanks, but no thanks, Caleb takes matters into his hands and asks a fellow gamer he’s befriended over the last year. What could go wrong with bringing a fake date to some high-profile events?!
Malia readily agrees to accompany Caleb to the rehearsal dinner and wedding day festivities. But keeping her true feelings at bay may not be so easily done! Proving she’s a successful woman without overstating might prove to be complicated! Good luck girl!
The banter that these two exchange whether they’re playing their game ‘Shadow Heroes’ or casually meeting for the first time or being arm in arm at the events, is fantastic! Cameos from all the other Houston Pumas books and some rather timely text messages make this story even better! I have said it before, and I will say it again; Ranee S. Clark thrives in making novellas feel as complete and well-rounded as if they were full length novels! Such a great story and can’t wait to buy it! Bravo!
February 25, 2026
I love reading novellas, so I was thrilled when I heard one of my go-to authors was writing a Valentine’s Day themed rom com novella. I mean when you combine Valentine’s Day with Ranee S. Clark and her Houston Pumas world into a bite-sized novella, you have the perfect read. My Fake(ish) Valentine was the perfect sweet escape. I adored everything about it.
The story focuses on Caleb as he tries to thwart his mother’s matchmaking schemes, by inviting his friend Malia to his sister’s wedding weekend. Although Caleb and Malia are friends they have never actually met in person. Malia has been secretly crushing on Caleb for months so she jumps at the chance to help him. When they finally meet in person, the sparks fly, but as they agree to fake a relationship, they both start to question what is fake and what is real. The story that follows is so good.
I loved Caleb and Malia both individually and together. Clark did a beautiful job of building their relationship and showing their connection from the start. It was seamless and so well done. I loved watching them both fall.
The banter and humor were on point and the chemistry between Caleb and Malia was so strong. I loved how the side characters added so much depth to the story. It was so fun to see so many familiar characters from Clark’s other books and to see them give Caleb a hard time.
I adored everything about this sweet novella. I will be reading this one again soon. It was the perfect one sitting read.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The story focuses on Caleb as he tries to thwart his mother’s matchmaking schemes, by inviting his friend Malia to his sister’s wedding weekend. Although Caleb and Malia are friends they have never actually met in person. Malia has been secretly crushing on Caleb for months so she jumps at the chance to help him. When they finally meet in person, the sparks fly, but as they agree to fake a relationship, they both start to question what is fake and what is real. The story that follows is so good.
I loved Caleb and Malia both individually and together. Clark did a beautiful job of building their relationship and showing their connection from the start. It was seamless and so well done. I loved watching them both fall.
The banter and humor were on point and the chemistry between Caleb and Malia was so strong. I loved how the side characters added so much depth to the story. It was so fun to see so many familiar characters from Clark’s other books and to see them give Caleb a hard time.
I adored everything about this sweet novella. I will be reading this one again soon. It was the perfect one sitting read.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 21, 2026
A Charming and Heartfelt Romance
My Fake(ish) Valentine, the fifth instalment in the Houston Pumas series by Ranee S. Clark, is a delightful and well-crafted addition to an already engaging series.
Clark’s writing is vivid and immersive, bringing both the characters and their world to life with ease. The story follows Caleb and Malia, online gaming friends whose relationship takes an unexpected turn when Caleb asks Malia to be his fake date for his sister’s wedding. This familiar trope is handled with warmth and originality, making the journey from friendship to something more feel both natural and compelling.
The chemistry between the protagonists is believable, and their interactions are filled with charm, humour, and emotional depth. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the relationship to develop in a satisfying and authentic way.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and heartfelt romance that will appeal to fans of the fake-dating trope and contemporary love stories. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the Houston Pumas series, to readers looking for an engaging and uplifting read.
My Fake(ish) Valentine, the fifth instalment in the Houston Pumas series by Ranee S. Clark, is a delightful and well-crafted addition to an already engaging series.
Clark’s writing is vivid and immersive, bringing both the characters and their world to life with ease. The story follows Caleb and Malia, online gaming friends whose relationship takes an unexpected turn when Caleb asks Malia to be his fake date for his sister’s wedding. This familiar trope is handled with warmth and originality, making the journey from friendship to something more feel both natural and compelling.
The chemistry between the protagonists is believable, and their interactions are filled with charm, humour, and emotional depth. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the relationship to develop in a satisfying and authentic way.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and heartfelt romance that will appeal to fans of the fake-dating trope and contemporary love stories. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the Houston Pumas series, to readers looking for an engaging and uplifting read.
February 24, 2026
I adored this novella! I really liked Caleb from previous books, and I was so excited for him to get his own HEA.
Caleb is such a sweetheart! I felt so bad for him as he navigated his parents not trusting and believing him. Both he and Malia had to learn how to stand up their families in a healthy way especially since they were already both adults. I loved how they were friends first too! They had so many inside stories, and they were so comfortable with each other. I love how they were able to truly connect with each other. For me, it made the fast turn around from friends to lovers make more sense.
This was a quick and easy story that I really enjoyed! Since it is a novella, the romance is fast, but it made sense for Malia and Caleb. I loved how low stress it was and the characters’ honest communication was so refreshing.
I loved getting to see some cameos as well! We get to see a lot of old characters come back. This is a quick novella perfect for a light read on Valentines’ Day. I would recommend reading the rest of the series because it will make this novella a lot more fun.
I received a complimentary copy
Caleb is such a sweetheart! I felt so bad for him as he navigated his parents not trusting and believing him. Both he and Malia had to learn how to stand up their families in a healthy way especially since they were already both adults. I loved how they were friends first too! They had so many inside stories, and they were so comfortable with each other. I love how they were able to truly connect with each other. For me, it made the fast turn around from friends to lovers make more sense.
This was a quick and easy story that I really enjoyed! Since it is a novella, the romance is fast, but it made sense for Malia and Caleb. I loved how low stress it was and the characters’ honest communication was so refreshing.
I loved getting to see some cameos as well! We get to see a lot of old characters come back. This is a quick novella perfect for a light read on Valentines’ Day. I would recommend reading the rest of the series because it will make this novella a lot more fun.
I received a complimentary copy
February 9, 2026
This is a quick, cute novella about Caleb and Malia who know each other online and are gaming friends but have never met in person. I really enjoyed reading about these two!
While they are both successful, their families don’t really understand their career choices and underestimate them. When Caleb needs a date for his Sisters wedding, choosing Malia seems like a safe plan for him to avoid being matched with women by his Mother. He has no idea how right Malia is for him, but that is about to change!
Being a novella, the pace is a bit faster but not rushed. While I don’t know much about gaming, I didn’t feel lost in those parts of the story, and liked seeing how their connection began in that space.
There are some characters from the Houston Pumas books, it was great to catch up with them, but this can still be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any from the series!
If you are looking for a cute Valentines read, this one would be a good pick!
While they are both successful, their families don’t really understand their career choices and underestimate them. When Caleb needs a date for his Sisters wedding, choosing Malia seems like a safe plan for him to avoid being matched with women by his Mother. He has no idea how right Malia is for him, but that is about to change!
Being a novella, the pace is a bit faster but not rushed. While I don’t know much about gaming, I didn’t feel lost in those parts of the story, and liked seeing how their connection began in that space.
There are some characters from the Houston Pumas books, it was great to catch up with them, but this can still be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any from the series!
If you are looking for a cute Valentines read, this one would be a good pick!
February 9, 2026
Caleb needs a date, or should I say buffer, for his sister’s wedding to keep his matchmaking mom at bay.
Malia is one of his gaming partners. They know each other pretty well, or least as well as they can know each other from behind a screen. She doesn’t hesitate to say yes.
I loved the first time they met each other. I think they were both pleasantly surprised by the other. Although this is a fake relationship, these two had a lot in common so the chemistry and connection was easy.
This romantic novella was the perfect tidbit to read right before Valentines Day. This sweet romance was wonderful in so many ways with great characters, a bit of humor and a few surprises along the way.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Malia is one of his gaming partners. They know each other pretty well, or least as well as they can know each other from behind a screen. She doesn’t hesitate to say yes.
I loved the first time they met each other. I think they were both pleasantly surprised by the other. Although this is a fake relationship, these two had a lot in common so the chemistry and connection was easy.
This romantic novella was the perfect tidbit to read right before Valentines Day. This sweet romance was wonderful in so many ways with great characters, a bit of humor and a few surprises along the way.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2026
I loved this cute Valentine's themed novella so very much! It's a quick, easy read that I didn't want to put down.
Caleb needs a date to his sister's wedding. His family already has some weird idea that he doesn't make enough money, and he doesn't want them thinking he can't get a date either. I love that he settles on his gamer friend, Malia. And just like that, these two are faking a relationship. Happy sigh!
What was kind of funny to me was that Malia's family also had misconceptions about what Malia did for a living and how much she made. Caleb and Malia definitely understood each other that way!
It was so fun watching Caleb and Malia fall for each other! What started out as something that was fake turned real so fast. And I loved every word!
Caleb needs a date to his sister's wedding. His family already has some weird idea that he doesn't make enough money, and he doesn't want them thinking he can't get a date either. I love that he settles on his gamer friend, Malia. And just like that, these two are faking a relationship. Happy sigh!
What was kind of funny to me was that Malia's family also had misconceptions about what Malia did for a living and how much she made. Caleb and Malia definitely understood each other that way!
It was so fun watching Caleb and Malia fall for each other! What started out as something that was fake turned real so fast. And I loved every word!
February 15, 2026
It was so fun being back with the Houston Pumas. I loved Malia and Caleb! This was a fun novella and perfect for a Valentine’s read this weekend!
Caleb and Malia have been online gaming friends and texting friends for a long time. It seems natural to ask her when Caleb needs a fake wedding date around his family. Malia has been crushing and is determined to start dating Caleb, even if she’s a CEO.
When a fake wedding date leads to real feelings, these two have to decide if it’s worth it. The geekiness of the relationship is delightful. I love their connection and they even both being successful, they can game together and it’s a part of their relationship. They don’t hide it and the ending is worth the read! It might be the cutest thing I’ve read.
Caleb and Malia have been online gaming friends and texting friends for a long time. It seems natural to ask her when Caleb needs a fake wedding date around his family. Malia has been crushing and is determined to start dating Caleb, even if she’s a CEO.
When a fake wedding date leads to real feelings, these two have to decide if it’s worth it. The geekiness of the relationship is delightful. I love their connection and they even both being successful, they can game together and it’s a part of their relationship. They don’t hide it and the ending is worth the read! It might be the cutest thing I’ve read.
February 15, 2026
This Novella is the perfect Valentine read! You can read it in a day for a short and sweet dose of warm fuzzy love.
This is Caleb's story, brother to Carlie in True Crimes and Tight Ends. He dated Ivy, Carlie's friend. Her story is found in Christmas Lights and Just Mights. Caleb is a misunderstood brother of a bunch of sisters. Not even his mom understands what he does for a living. His character is relatable in many ways.
Malia is perfect for him. She too is underestimated by her family. I love well-written novellas like this to read after a busy week because I can just relax and almost read it straight through sometimes. I highly recommend reading it.
There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV.
This is Caleb's story, brother to Carlie in True Crimes and Tight Ends. He dated Ivy, Carlie's friend. Her story is found in Christmas Lights and Just Mights. Caleb is a misunderstood brother of a bunch of sisters. Not even his mom understands what he does for a living. His character is relatable in many ways.
Malia is perfect for him. She too is underestimated by her family. I love well-written novellas like this to read after a busy week because I can just relax and almost read it straight through sometimes. I highly recommend reading it.
There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV.
February 16, 2026
This is book 5 in the Houston Pumas series. Caleb is a recurring character from previous books who has not had the best luck in love. He owns a tech company and his mom keeps trying to set him up with CEO women because she thinks he is struggling financially and in love. When Caleb’s mom calls asking if he has a date for his sister’s wedding he says he has one. He has a short time to figure out who he will take. He decides on his gaming friend Malia to fake date for his sister’s wedding. These two have the perfect mix of friendship and underlying attraction. Quickly it becomes apparent they have feelings for each other but will Caleb or Malia act on them? This will they won’t they was perfect and I so thoroughly enjoyed the happily ever after!
February 16, 2026
Perfect addition to this series!
Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Caleb and Malia’s story starts out as gaming acquaintances who text about online gaming. Caleb is forced to find a date for his sisters wedding and asks Malia to fill in. Malia, hoping for more before the ask says yes.
As they meet IRL, they find they really do have what it takes to be a couple, attraction, chemistry, tech knowledge and gaming in common, and common decency, kindness, and caring.
Fun Caleb’s sister is getting married on Valentine’s Day, lived Caleb’s card, lots of moments that were sweet, real, honest and fun. Two honest hearts finding each other is a favorite read for me.
Perfect addition to this series, and loved seeing glimpses of the other characters.
Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Caleb and Malia’s story starts out as gaming acquaintances who text about online gaming. Caleb is forced to find a date for his sisters wedding and asks Malia to fill in. Malia, hoping for more before the ask says yes.
As they meet IRL, they find they really do have what it takes to be a couple, attraction, chemistry, tech knowledge and gaming in common, and common decency, kindness, and caring.
Fun Caleb’s sister is getting married on Valentine’s Day, lived Caleb’s card, lots of moments that were sweet, real, honest and fun. Two honest hearts finding each other is a favorite read for me.
Perfect addition to this series, and loved seeing glimpses of the other characters.
April 13, 2026
What a delightful book that is Houston Pumas team adjacent. (Caleb is Carlie's twin brother, and this book is about her wedding to Law Card, famous Pumas football player.) Caleb needs a date for his sister's wedding, and ends up asking Malia. She's a friend from online gaming, and is happy to help him avoid his mom's interference of choosing him a date. So many surprises are in store for Caleb! Maria has been planning how to get Caleb's attention for awhile, so she is agreeable. It's the perfect solution and the perfect Valentine's story!
A terrific book for anytime, but especially around Valentine's Day. Full of family, friends, and romance balanced with great characters and good chemistry, I loved everything about the book.
A terrific book for anytime, but especially around Valentine's Day. Full of family, friends, and romance balanced with great characters and good chemistry, I loved everything about the book.
February 10, 2026
This is a sweet little novella! I liked that the characters already had a good friendship as a foundation, and already wanted more, so the short story/romance didn't feel too rushed. I did think it needed a bit more drama or some kind of obstacle for them, because it was a bit too simple, but there was a moment in the end with a small reveal, and they did have to get past the fake part. It was a cute, quick read, and the characters were very well developed for a novella. A great addition to the series!
Content: clean.
I received this book free from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Content: clean.
I received this book free from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to Ranee for my complimentary eArc of My Fake(ish) Valentine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an adorable fake dating/sweet romance/novella.
It is part of the Houston Puma's Series, but it may be read as a standalone. But so yourself a favor and read the entire series.
Was it a fast romance ? Yes it was.
Buuuuuuttttt…….
There is background and history and second guessing. BUT NO MISCOMMUNICATION.
If you're a gamer (or even if you're not)
you are going to love Caleb and Malia's story.
This is an adorable fake dating/sweet romance/novella.
It is part of the Houston Puma's Series, but it may be read as a standalone. But so yourself a favor and read the entire series.
Was it a fast romance ? Yes it was.
Buuuuuuttttt…….
There is background and history and second guessing. BUT NO MISCOMMUNICATION.
If you're a gamer (or even if you're not)
you are going to love Caleb and Malia's story.
February 13, 2026
I absolutely loved this short and sweet Valentine read.
Caleb and Malia have such an easy connection, having “met” each other online while developing a game. This easy connection makes it all the easier to fake a real life relationship (and bring out both their flirty sides).
This short read is filled with all the things I love. I was smiling through it all. An absolute delight.
Hilarious banter, sweet flirting, nosy friends. A definite must read!!
Thank you to Raneé S. Clark for the copy. All opinions are my own.
Caleb and Malia have such an easy connection, having “met” each other online while developing a game. This easy connection makes it all the easier to fake a real life relationship (and bring out both their flirty sides).
This short read is filled with all the things I love. I was smiling through it all. An absolute delight.
Hilarious banter, sweet flirting, nosy friends. A definite must read!!
Thank you to Raneé S. Clark for the copy. All opinions are my own.
February 14, 2026
My Fakish Valentine by Ranee S Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was the cutest story. I was hoping Caleb would get his HEA and here it is!!! I've never been a gamer but my husband is so I am familiar with how it works. I love the intentional thought Ranee put into making sure things were realistic in the gaming community.
Malia is a girl boss and I love her. Caleb is a sweetheart. I am so happy Malia is who Caleb ended up with. They're such a cute match.
🩷Kisses Only
🩷Dual POV
🩷Gamers
🩷Online Friends
🩷Valentines
🩷Group Chat
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was the cutest story. I was hoping Caleb would get his HEA and here it is!!! I've never been a gamer but my husband is so I am familiar with how it works. I love the intentional thought Ranee put into making sure things were realistic in the gaming community.
Malia is a girl boss and I love her. Caleb is a sweetheart. I am so happy Malia is who Caleb ended up with. They're such a cute match.
🩷Kisses Only
🩷Dual POV
🩷Gamers
🩷Online Friends
🩷Valentines
🩷Group Chat
April 7, 2026
📚-4 🌶️-1 🤬-0
I have to give major props to the author of this series. Usually Novella's fall so flat for me just because of how short they are. But she has two in the series and they are top-notch! I never felt like there was stuff missing from the story, the romance still builds and such a real inappropriate way - overall, they are just good! I also really appreciate that we get to see the side characters from other books find happiness.
🌶️ - closed door. Only kissing.
🤬 - clean language throughout the book.
I have to give major props to the author of this series. Usually Novella's fall so flat for me just because of how short they are. But she has two in the series and they are top-notch! I never felt like there was stuff missing from the story, the romance still builds and such a real inappropriate way - overall, they are just good! I also really appreciate that we get to see the side characters from other books find happiness.
🌶️ - closed door. Only kissing.
🤬 - clean language throughout the book.
February 13, 2026
I am so glad we get this novella. Caleb was in a previous book and definitely needed his own HEA. Malia was just the right girl! Those two had great dynamics. Caleb's brothers teasing & the family dynamic was hilarious. I enjoyed getting to revisit this series. I thought the romance was sweet & just perfect for the two main characters. That epilogue! Just fabulous and a cheery on top!!
*fake relationship
*she fell first
*hidden identity
*gamers
*fake relationship
*she fell first
*hidden identity
*gamers
February 19, 2026
I always appreciate sweet romances that are clean and that don't focus exclusively on how hot the other person is as an explanation of attraction. Caleb and Malia start off as friends attending a wedding as a fake couple, but between their chemistry and the matchmaking attempts of others, they soon find themselves falling for each other. My Fake(ish) Valentine is a cute novella perfect as a quick read over Valentine’s Day weekend.
April 15, 2026
What a fun, sweet novella. Gamers, Caleb and Malia had never met in person until he needed a date for his sister’s wedding, so his mother doesn’t set him up again. So, Malia agrees to be his “fake” date even though she has had a crush on him for a while. I loved the fun banter between them, as well as the text stream he has with his siblings. I loved how their relationship developed even as a short story. This is all around a fun, quick, sweet and swoony story, don’t miss it.
February 18, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Novellas can be hard to rate, but this one was easy! Many times I read novellas and think it wasn’t put together very well or feel like something was missing and I’m so glad this wasn’t the case for this one! I know absolutely nothing about video games so it was fun to read about their passion for it.
Caleb needed a date to his sister’s wedding so his mom wouldn’t try to set him up so he asks his online gaming friend, Malia, to be his fake girlfriend for the wedding. Malia happily agrees because she already has a crush on Caleb and wants to show him how cute they would be together. Awesome, quick Valentine’s read!
Caleb needed a date to his sister’s wedding so his mom wouldn’t try to set him up so he asks his online gaming friend, Malia, to be his fake girlfriend for the wedding. Malia happily agrees because she already has a crush on Caleb and wants to show him how cute they would be together. Awesome, quick Valentine’s read!
February 17, 2026
This was an adorable story. I loved how Caleb and Malia were close online gaming friends when he asked her to be his fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding. Their fake relationship turned into real feelings quickly. I’m glad that Caleb got his HEA after what happened with Ivy. Malia and Caleb were too cute together!
April 4, 2026
Short cute story
Nothing like two computer people getting together and hitting it off. They speak the same language! Good on her being a CEO! Even better was he was not put off about it. Lol on his mother thinking he was poor with over 4million dollars in the bank only in savings and more in investments!
Nothing like two computer people getting together and hitting it off. They speak the same language! Good on her being a CEO! Even better was he was not put off about it. Lol on his mother thinking he was poor with over 4million dollars in the bank only in savings and more in investments!
February 7, 2026
This was such a cute Valentines Day read! The chemistry between the MCs was perfect and the story flow was great! Absolutely loved this one🥰
💖Valentines Day
🎮Novella
💖Gamer MCs
🎮Fake Dating
💖Millionaires
🎮No Spice
🤬: None
🌶️: Kisses Only
💖Valentines Day
🎮Novella
💖Gamer MCs
🎮Fake Dating
💖Millionaires
🎮No Spice
🤬: None
🌶️: Kisses Only
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