Engaged to a Secret Billionaire: A Grumpy Sunshine, Mistaken Identity Romance

by Ava St. Clair

Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2026

Reviews

[Michelle Frater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lila thought she’d found a genuine connection with the guy she met on a dating app, so when he ghosted her after their date, it stung. A lot. Enough that when he later showed up at the bar where she worked and didn’t even recognize her, she briefly considered sabotaging his drink. But Carter’s disappearance isn’t quite what it seems. He didn’t intend to ghost Lila—at least not the Lila behind the bar. Because, in a twist that quickly spirals into full-blown chaos, there are two Lilas: Lila Parker (our heroine) and Lila Benson (the one Carter is actively trying to avoid). Unfortunately, Lila B moves in Carter’s social circle and she’s not shy about inserting herself into his life or sabotaging his growing connection with Lila P. And things only get messier from there. Lila (the right one) is understandably cautious. She’s been burned before by men who lie, or worse, tell the truth too late, and she can sense Carter is holding something back. While I could sympathize with why Carter didn’t reveal everything immediately, he absolutely should have been upfront about what being involved with him would mean. Especially before asking her to step into a fake girlfriend/fiancée role. That’s… not exactly a small ask. What really made Lila shine for me was how she handled Carter’s snobby, elitist world. She never tried to shrink herself to fit in, she stayed unapologetically herself. But beneath her humor and confidence is a vulnerability that felt very real; her bravado is a hard-won shield, and you can feel it crack under the weight of constant judgment. It made her incredibly easy to root for. Carter, on the other hand, doesn’t do himself many favors. His tendency to keep secrets only adds fuel to the fire, and his mother? Instant dislike. Her obsession with legacy over her son’s happiness was infuriating, and her sudden turnaround at the end felt unconvincing at best. That said, the absolute standout was Lila’s best friend, Jess. Yes, the “gay best friend” trope is familiar, but Jess completely steals the show. He’s sharp, loyal, unforgettable, and exactly the kind of ride-or-die friend everyone wishes they had. Every scene with him was a highlight. When everything inevitably blows up (and it really blows up), I felt for Lila deeply. The media circus was painful. At the same time, I appreciated Carter’s redemption arc. His quiet, desperate promise to make things right struck hit just the right note for me to earn him a second chance. What held this book back for me, though, was the execution. The story sometimes felt scattered, jumping around in a way that made it hard to stay focused. There are noticeable continuity issues, with repeated scenes playing out differently, and the epilogue could really benefit from clearer POV distinctions. There’s a strong story at the heart of this book; I could definitely see its potential. With tighter editing and a bit more polish, this could easily be a five-star read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW.... THIS IS MY FULL AND HONEST REVIEW!!


Engaged to a Secret Billionaire by Ava St. Clair absolutely swept me off my feet. This book delivered everything I crave in a grumpy sunshine romance and then turned the emotional dial all the way up.

Lila is such a refreshing heroine. She is strong without being hardened, vulnerable without being weak, and her voice feels so real. You can practically smell the whiskey and hear the chaos of her bar shifts. She has built her life on survival and self protection, so when Carter Reynolds strolls back into her world pretending they have never met, my heart hurt right along with hers.

Carter is the ultimate broody billionaire with layers. Yes, he has the money, the reputation, and the perfectly tailored life. But underneath that polished exterior is a man who does not quite know how to choose love over legacy. The fake fiancée trope is done so well here. The tension between them is electric, the chemistry is undeniable, and the intimate moments feel raw and deeply emotional rather than just flashy.

What really made this a five star read for me was the betrayal. When Lila’s world gets flipped upside down and she realizes Carter knew more than he let on, it felt like a punch to the chest. The fallout was messy and painful in the best way. I love when a romance makes you feel something real, and this one absolutely does.

The growth, the grovel, the redemption. It all lands beautifully. Ava St. Clair gives us a love story that feels hard won and worth every tear. If you adore grumpy sunshine, mistaken identity, fake engagement chaos, and a heroine who refuses to settle for less than she deserves, you need this book on your TBR immediately.

[Donna Brattain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fake Romance to a secret billionaire

Fake romance done right with a secret billionaire. Lila dived straight into it her romance her with her billionaire. I loved this story. The best part is her best friend Jess. The friend we all want.
The entire story has the best of standard tropes but done so very well and with such humor you glide right through it. I so greatly enjoyed this good story about people who change during the course of the novel. They realize love is worth more than all the lies, distance, shields, and disappearing act; just to try to end up together in and out of the lights despite it all by standing with each other.
A great smooth story. Read in one day.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This opposites attract/billionaire meets tavern girl/secret lovers story is filled with calculated scenes and situations that had my head spinning frequently . This author writes a complicated romance between two unlikely people but tends to dance all over the place at times. I found the storyline to be slightly choppy and scattered much of the time and it could use some work on continuity and story arc. Overall I understood the concept and purposed meaning for the characters. The epilogue was too “bouncy” for me with the dual pov. Mostly entertaining overall as the sincere emotion from the characters is expressed very well.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone including myself loves reading addicting billionaire romance books and Carter and Lila are definitely addicting to read about. I haven’t read very many books by Ava, but she does know how to write some magnificent stories. I suggest you grab your kindle and start reading this book. It will have you sitting with a cup of something hot to drink while enjoying this book.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaged to a Secret Billionaire is a great romance! The story was interesting, entertaining, steamy and enjoyable. The characters were wonderful, had chemistry and a best friend that everyone wants. I really enjoyed this short romance read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binged straight through couldn’t stop reading. Both Emotionally unavailable and afraid of love until he mistakenly ghosts her. Two characters you want to have a happily ever after. Interfering mother, board of directors and a woman. Another great story by Ava

[KC S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a grumpy/sunshine story that can be read in one sitting. Lila is a guarded gal who has been mistreated and watched her mother fall to pieces in a bad marriage. Carter is a billionaire who is jaded and being pushed in all directions. This book is a slow burn with little spice.

[Sandy Gutting · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book with an interesting story. It has the happy ending you want!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

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