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The Set Piece
Smart and athletic, Amy Kimball should have it all, but her life’s in a tailspin. She’s working two menial jobs to make ends meet, barely a paycheck away from financial disaster, and women aren’t exactly lining up at her door.
Enter soccer star Diego Torres, who’s keeping a big secret: he’s gay. His manager fears that if he’s found out, his endorsements and his chance to play for the national team will evaporate into the wind.
Amy jumps at the chance to act as Diego’s fake fiancée, even though it means signing her life away in a non-disclosure agreement. On the surface, the job couldn’t be better: the money’s great; the living accommodations are luxurious, and she gets to watch her favorite soccer team from the players’ box at the stadium.
But she soon realizes that this new life is even harder to navigate than her old one. Diego’s manager is as sleazy as they come, and this easy job soon turns complicated, possibly even dangerous. More important, all the lies Amy is forced to tell are starting to eat away at her soul, especially when she finds herself attracted to Casey Palmer, Diego’s pretty assistant.
Will Amy watch from the sidelines, or will she find the courage to get back into the game?
Length: 284 pages (approx. 64,000 words)
Themes: blackmail · lesbian · soccer · sports
Enter soccer star Diego Torres, who’s keeping a big secret: he’s gay. His manager fears that if he’s found out, his endorsements and his chance to play for the national team will evaporate into the wind.
Amy jumps at the chance to act as Diego’s fake fiancée, even though it means signing her life away in a non-disclosure agreement. On the surface, the job couldn’t be better: the money’s great; the living accommodations are luxurious, and she gets to watch her favorite soccer team from the players’ box at the stadium.
But she soon realizes that this new life is even harder to navigate than her old one. Diego’s manager is as sleazy as they come, and this easy job soon turns complicated, possibly even dangerous. More important, all the lies Amy is forced to tell are starting to eat away at her soul, especially when she finds herself attracted to Casey Palmer, Diego’s pretty assistant.
Will Amy watch from the sidelines, or will she find the courage to get back into the game?
Length: 284 pages (approx. 64,000 words)
Themes: blackmail · lesbian · soccer · sports
284 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2015
10 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Lane
20 books57 followersCatherine Lane started to write fiction on a dare from her wife. She’s thrilled to be a published author, even though she had to admit her wife was right. They live happily in Southern California with their son and a very mischievous pound puppy. Catherine spends most of her time these days working, mothering, or writing. But when she finds herself at loose ends, she enjoys experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, paddling on long stretches of flat water, and browsing the stacks at libraries and bookstores. Oh, and trying unsuccessfully to outwit her dog. She has published several short stories and a novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 20, 2017
'Ylva-Publishing ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review'
Just one of those sweet typical cliche cover storyline in the sport industry where the star athlete has to hide their sexual orientation and it was nothing to salivate over plus an additional chaotic side story. Above all it is an ode to friendship whether fake and rife with secrets, and to know one person can shape the journeys and lives of those around himself by letting his 'people'(PR/lawyer) choose a 'beard'(fake girlfriend)for him in order to look presentable in public. While it may seem an easy read,it still points critically to problems in society that speaks volumes about lots of different issues that many closeted LGBTQ athletes faces on a daily and do have to deal with. Throughout each chapter Ms.Lane intersperses plenty of questions and reflections towards Diego's sexual preference that only reinforce the concepts in this story/book. Success depends on many factors out of the athletes' control for instance: his endorsements,his lifestyle upkeep,his entourage,promotions,supporting his family etc The ending is a little bit unresolved as far as all the relationships goes for all three because when it comes to both Amy & Casey they only said they will see what happen from here onward then both agree to keep on helping Diego on his appearance of not looking 'gay' in the public eye.
Just one of those sweet typical cliche cover storyline in the sport industry where the star athlete has to hide their sexual orientation and it was nothing to salivate over plus an additional chaotic side story. Above all it is an ode to friendship whether fake and rife with secrets, and to know one person can shape the journeys and lives of those around himself by letting his 'people'(PR/lawyer) choose a 'beard'(fake girlfriend)for him in order to look presentable in public. While it may seem an easy read,it still points critically to problems in society that speaks volumes about lots of different issues that many closeted LGBTQ athletes faces on a daily and do have to deal with. Throughout each chapter Ms.Lane intersperses plenty of questions and reflections towards Diego's sexual preference that only reinforce the concepts in this story/book. Success depends on many factors out of the athletes' control for instance: his endorsements,his lifestyle upkeep,his entourage,promotions,supporting his family etc The ending is a little bit unresolved as far as all the relationships goes for all three because when it comes to both Amy & Casey they only said they will see what happen from here onward then both agree to keep on helping Diego on his appearance of not looking 'gay' in the public eye.
December 8, 2022
3.25 stars
Enjoyable, but a bit too easy.
What I liked about it:
The fake relationship twist in that it's with a man, when both of them are gay. Diego is Hispanic and Lane did a good job of including his culture as part of it. This story actually has three mains - Diego, Amy and Casey. Diego is a good guy so that was fine. Narrator Abby Craden has elevated the story with her great narration. She has done some work on her accents and Spanish pronunciation so that was very pleasing. Diego wants to play for the US national team and is willing to put any sort of relationship on the back burner to achieve that. Amy and Casey are both very likeable. They have aspirations to do a good thing for youth soccer and work towards that goal. There's also a story about how this affects her closest friendship and I appreciated how that was handled.
What was iffy-er:
Everything here happens fast because the book is short. From how Diego's management "found" Amy and almost immediately decided to choose her to be Diego's beard, to how quickly they had to move on the fake relationship aspect, to Amy feeling like she can't hold up her end of the bargain because of her feelings for Casey. Definitely some insta-love happening there. And it's a bit of a stretch to believe Diego isn't exploring his sexuality at all, even though he's disciplined and it's frowned upon in his culture to be a gay man. There was a side story about a mystery Amy needed to help solve, and the villain was a bit of a caricature.
Listen. This is not a book you'd read for a dose of reality, but it's enjoyable enough. If you're looking for a shorter listen between longer ones and enjoy Craden's narration, you might appreciate this.
Enjoyable, but a bit too easy.
What I liked about it:
The fake relationship twist in that it's with a man, when both of them are gay. Diego is Hispanic and Lane did a good job of including his culture as part of it. This story actually has three mains - Diego, Amy and Casey. Diego is a good guy so that was fine. Narrator Abby Craden has elevated the story with her great narration. She has done some work on her accents and Spanish pronunciation so that was very pleasing. Diego wants to play for the US national team and is willing to put any sort of relationship on the back burner to achieve that. Amy and Casey are both very likeable. They have aspirations to do a good thing for youth soccer and work towards that goal. There's also a story about how this affects her closest friendship and I appreciated how that was handled.
What was iffy-er:
Everything here happens fast because the book is short. From how Diego's management "found" Amy and almost immediately decided to choose her to be Diego's beard, to how quickly they had to move on the fake relationship aspect, to Amy feeling like she can't hold up her end of the bargain because of her feelings for Casey. Definitely some insta-love happening there. And it's a bit of a stretch to believe Diego isn't exploring his sexuality at all, even though he's disciplined and it's frowned upon in his culture to be a gay man. There was a side story about a mystery Amy needed to help solve, and the villain was a bit of a caricature.
Listen. This is not a book you'd read for a dose of reality, but it's enjoyable enough. If you're looking for a shorter listen between longer ones and enjoy Craden's narration, you might appreciate this.
February 19, 2020
This was a very quick and easy read. Romance with a light drama/mystery. In this one I was just as clueless as the protagonist and assumed the love interest wasn't into her (yet). I was pleasantly surprised when she kissed her. Quite funny how they both assumed the other was straight and in love with Diago and their first kiss happened in a closet. An okay read overall.
June 11, 2015
Detailed score 3.25
One word review = shallow.
Shallow plot, short length for a supposedly full-length novel, shallow characters. The emotions displayed by allcharacters and their resultant conflict/angst/character hurdles seemed quite immature - something that I would expect to find in a YA novel.
It was fine. Perfectly pleasant. But light on in many ways. It's also quite expensive so I really didn't feel like I got value for money.
I was left wanting more and not in a good way.
One word review = shallow.
Shallow plot, short length for a supposedly full-length novel, shallow characters. The emotions displayed by allcharacters and their resultant conflict/angst/character hurdles seemed quite immature - something that I would expect to find in a YA novel.
It was fine. Perfectly pleasant. But light on in many ways. It's also quite expensive so I really didn't feel like I got value for money.
I was left wanting more and not in a good way.
March 1, 2022
This book is silly, borders on the "WTF??" spectrum but moves at a pace that I enjoyed and found captivating. Would be easy to give a sniffy review, but I'm happy to put it out there: I loved this! If you want an afternoon of romantic delight to take away the troubles of the world there's nothing more you can ask for. If you want something more serious and noble - well, get a life! :)
January 28, 2016
I think my biggest problem with this book is the fact that it felt so incredibly unbelievable right from the first chapter and I don't think it got any better on that front.
There was no part of the story that would lead anyone to believe that the two women at the center of the story should have any feelings for each other besides resentment and dislike and then suddenly, they're so close that secrets are shared that can't be divulged to Amy's best (and apparently only) friend in the world.
The mystery wasn't much of a mystery and the way the business situation resolved itself made me scratch my head and think, "what the hell?" Based on just about every thought and conversation in the book dealing with her feelings about the job, the way it ended up seemed to go against everything she said she wanted. I just don't get it.
The characters were very two-dimensional and by the time some information was shared about past hurts and struggles, it was too late to change my opinion of their flatness and I didn't care.
Very near the end, I started thinking, "ok, this is going to at least wrap up nicely and I can feel good about the story after all." But that's not what happened. Overall, my feeling is that it needed much more depth. The reasons behind Amy being approached and for taking the job could have been more developed. The characters could have been so much more fleshed out to really make the reader care about them and want them to be happy and succeed. If the mystery part had been dropped completely and the story focused on Amy and Diego's relationship and Amy and Casey's relationship, there would have been so much more opportunity to involve the reader. And I'm saying that as a huge fan of mysteries and someone who reads fewer and fewer romance novels.
This isn't a book I'd recommend to friends. But, as you'll be able to see from other reviews and ratings, there are loads of folks who disagree with me.
There was no part of the story that would lead anyone to believe that the two women at the center of the story should have any feelings for each other besides resentment and dislike and then suddenly, they're so close that secrets are shared that can't be divulged to Amy's best (and apparently only) friend in the world.
The mystery wasn't much of a mystery and the way the business situation resolved itself made me scratch my head and think, "what the hell?" Based on just about every thought and conversation in the book dealing with her feelings about the job, the way it ended up seemed to go against everything she said she wanted. I just don't get it.
The characters were very two-dimensional and by the time some information was shared about past hurts and struggles, it was too late to change my opinion of their flatness and I didn't care.
Very near the end, I started thinking, "ok, this is going to at least wrap up nicely and I can feel good about the story after all." But that's not what happened. Overall, my feeling is that it needed much more depth. The reasons behind Amy being approached and for taking the job could have been more developed. The characters could have been so much more fleshed out to really make the reader care about them and want them to be happy and succeed. If the mystery part had been dropped completely and the story focused on Amy and Diego's relationship and Amy and Casey's relationship, there would have been so much more opportunity to involve the reader. And I'm saying that as a huge fan of mysteries and someone who reads fewer and fewer romance novels.
This isn't a book I'd recommend to friends. But, as you'll be able to see from other reviews and ratings, there are loads of folks who disagree with me.
August 29, 2015
Lovely, easy read.
Nice characters, interesting premise and a HEA.
Well written and well edited book - excellent first published work, looking forward to more to come from this author.
Nice characters, interesting premise and a HEA.
Well written and well edited book - excellent first published work, looking forward to more to come from this author.
August 25, 2016
3.5 Stars
I played soccer as a teenager so the cover for this story totally called to me, not to mention the fact that I love a good scandal and lesbian romance.
When Diego drops the ball, over stress of being outed, his manager finds him a fake fiancée. Amy is suspicious at first, rightly so, but when it becomes clear the offer is legit she’s totally onboard. A $1,500 weekly pay check and lush surroundings would be hard for many people to pass up, especially for someone who can’t even afford to put gas in their car.
The scene when Amy quit her job, and stuck it to her pig of a boss, was classic.
My heart went out to Amy roommate, Simon. For the brief part he played he came across as a top-notch guy. The way she dropped him like a hot potato left me cold. By the time Amy tried to redeem herself the damage had been done. I’m glad Simon didn’t fall at her feet as he’s the only character who seemed to have a spine.
I didn’t care for Diego at all, he came across as a wimp. I think in part that’s due to the fact the story’s told completely from Amy’s point-of-view. There’s the hint of a scandal when pictures of Diego in compromising situations come to light, thus begins Amy and Casey’s pursuit into uncovering the ‘mole’. To me it was so clear I thought I had to be wrong, whether or not I was I’m not going to say.
The relationship between Amy and Casey, or should I say attraction, moved fast once the ladies made it known they were into each other. Amy took a huge risk by spilling her guts, and I’m surprised no lawsuits followed.
I love learning new things while reading and in this story it was soccer golf. It sounded like such fun.
Summary, while this story didn’t blow me out of the ballpark, unlike Heartwood also by Catherine Lane, I still found it an enjoyable read and am sure many others will too.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
I played soccer as a teenager so the cover for this story totally called to me, not to mention the fact that I love a good scandal and lesbian romance.
When Diego drops the ball, over stress of being outed, his manager finds him a fake fiancée. Amy is suspicious at first, rightly so, but when it becomes clear the offer is legit she’s totally onboard. A $1,500 weekly pay check and lush surroundings would be hard for many people to pass up, especially for someone who can’t even afford to put gas in their car.
The scene when Amy quit her job, and stuck it to her pig of a boss, was classic.
My heart went out to Amy roommate, Simon. For the brief part he played he came across as a top-notch guy. The way she dropped him like a hot potato left me cold. By the time Amy tried to redeem herself the damage had been done. I’m glad Simon didn’t fall at her feet as he’s the only character who seemed to have a spine.
I didn’t care for Diego at all, he came across as a wimp. I think in part that’s due to the fact the story’s told completely from Amy’s point-of-view. There’s the hint of a scandal when pictures of Diego in compromising situations come to light, thus begins Amy and Casey’s pursuit into uncovering the ‘mole’. To me it was so clear I thought I had to be wrong, whether or not I was I’m not going to say.
The relationship between Amy and Casey, or should I say attraction, moved fast once the ladies made it known they were into each other. Amy took a huge risk by spilling her guts, and I’m surprised no lawsuits followed.
I love learning new things while reading and in this story it was soccer golf. It sounded like such fun.
Summary, while this story didn’t blow me out of the ballpark, unlike Heartwood also by Catherine Lane, I still found it an enjoyable read and am sure many others will too.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2016
I was pulled in pretty quickly, as the premise felt like it had the potential for some good miscommunication and angst.”Oooh a fake fiance, a fancy house, some intrigue!” Unfortunately, the plot meandered quite a bit after that, with a lot of major plot points relying heavily on instances that didn't make a lot of sense overall. The reasoning for Amy to be selected as Diego’s fake fiance was shaky at best, and needed something more to make it viable. How did his manager even find her in the midst of random girls in the area? What specifically was it about her that made her the “perfect candidate”? I was never really satisfied with that.
There’s a lot going on eventually, with blackmail, Kim’s attraction to Diego’s assistant, and Kim’s increasing discomfort at playing the part of loving fiance. However, most things are dealt with superficially. For instance, I don’t really see what it is that Kim sees in Casey, the love interest. Their interactions are primarily unpleasant, and as a result, their connection feels shallow and based on attraction alone. The bit of mystery that’s introduced involves someone close to Diego blackmailing him by photoshopping his pictures to look super gay. Which, if you look at any fan site anywhere, is chock full of super gay photoshopped images, so this mystery felt pretty unbelievable.
Now for the ending. There is a lot that doesn’t really get resolved. Do they figure out the mysterious mystery? Sure. Do Casey and Kim figure themselves out? Yep. Does the fake engagement get resolved? Um, not really? I usually don’t need every little thing tied up cleanly with a little bow at the end of my books. There’s always room for imagining what happens after. However, the fake engagement plotline left a lot to be desired, considering how big of an obstacle it became for Kim’s happiness.
There’s a lot going on eventually, with blackmail, Kim’s attraction to Diego’s assistant, and Kim’s increasing discomfort at playing the part of loving fiance. However, most things are dealt with superficially. For instance, I don’t really see what it is that Kim sees in Casey, the love interest. Their interactions are primarily unpleasant, and as a result, their connection feels shallow and based on attraction alone. The bit of mystery that’s introduced involves someone close to Diego blackmailing him by photoshopping his pictures to look super gay. Which, if you look at any fan site anywhere, is chock full of super gay photoshopped images, so this mystery felt pretty unbelievable.
Now for the ending. There is a lot that doesn’t really get resolved. Do they figure out the mysterious mystery? Sure. Do Casey and Kim figure themselves out? Yep. Does the fake engagement get resolved? Um, not really? I usually don’t need every little thing tied up cleanly with a little bow at the end of my books. There’s always room for imagining what happens after. However, the fake engagement plotline left a lot to be desired, considering how big of an obstacle it became for Kim’s happiness.
February 4, 2019
An ok read. A sweet romance with not much angst.
3.5 ⭐️
3.5 ⭐️
June 8, 2015
I picked this book because the summary captivated me immediately. This was a pleasant quick read. Not spectacular but not horrible either. In fact, the mystery of the pictures was rather silly.
Overall, it's worth a read if you're in the mood for something light, silly and fun.
Overall, it's worth a read if you're in the mood for something light, silly and fun.
February 13, 2016
The Set Piece is a pretty good debut novel by author Catherine Lane. I read it in under a day and its been awhile since a book compelled me to do that. Although I do think the book was a bit on the shorter side.
The novel stars Amy who is a down on her luck mid 20s woman who is holding two jobs and trying to simply make ends meet. She is offered a job to be the fake fiancee of superstar Diego Torres who happens to be deeply in the closet and needs someone to divert suspicions.
Soon enough though Amy is thrown a bit of a curveball in the shape of Diego's hot assistant Casey.
I loved the initial chapters where Amy is trying to be a great pretend girlfriend, but can't seem to stay away from Casey. Casey on the other hand comes off bitchy, but its not annoying. In fact its incredibly hot. The tension between the two is pretty awesome. I just kind of have a thing for those aloof icy kind of women. At one point in the novel they share this super hot kiss. And of course the obligatory sex scene is there...the kiss was hotter though.
I think that the first half of the book was much better than the second half. There was a mystery there in the middle that was mildly interesting, but I felt like it detracted from the overall story. The climax was a bit...eh. I'd rather have more of Casey and Amy connecting.
There were a few elements I really appreciated about the end though. The novel didn't wrap up in a perfect little lesbian fantasy. It was a happy ending for sure, but not everything ended up happy. It made things a bit more real imho.
There are a few silly things like the perfect dog, or multiple characters being referred to as creepy a few times. I wanted more back story about our leads too. We got to see them together in one area of their lives, but I think we needed more to really make them feel alive and jump off the page.
If you are worried about the soccer aspect, don't be. Seriously the author NEVER bombards you with information about the sport. Think of soccer more a backdrop than a main character.
4/5
The novel stars Amy who is a down on her luck mid 20s woman who is holding two jobs and trying to simply make ends meet. She is offered a job to be the fake fiancee of superstar Diego Torres who happens to be deeply in the closet and needs someone to divert suspicions.
Soon enough though Amy is thrown a bit of a curveball in the shape of Diego's hot assistant Casey.
I loved the initial chapters where Amy is trying to be a great pretend girlfriend, but can't seem to stay away from Casey. Casey on the other hand comes off bitchy, but its not annoying. In fact its incredibly hot. The tension between the two is pretty awesome. I just kind of have a thing for those aloof icy kind of women. At one point in the novel they share this super hot kiss. And of course the obligatory sex scene is there...the kiss was hotter though.
I think that the first half of the book was much better than the second half. There was a mystery there in the middle that was mildly interesting, but I felt like it detracted from the overall story. The climax was a bit...eh. I'd rather have more of Casey and Amy connecting.
There were a few elements I really appreciated about the end though. The novel didn't wrap up in a perfect little lesbian fantasy. It was a happy ending for sure, but not everything ended up happy. It made things a bit more real imho.
There are a few silly things like the perfect dog, or multiple characters being referred to as creepy a few times. I wanted more back story about our leads too. We got to see them together in one area of their lives, but I think we needed more to really make them feel alive and jump off the page.
If you are worried about the soccer aspect, don't be. Seriously the author NEVER bombards you with information about the sport. Think of soccer more a backdrop than a main character.
4/5
January 4, 2016
Very cute book and I'm kind of surprised it's the author's first published. First books are often kind of rough with story or pacing issues, but this is a solid contemporary romance. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author puts out next.
August 11, 2015
It was an average simple read; nothing earth shattering or adventurous; neither awesome nor crappy writing! It is for you, if you are you looking for no thinking, no headache, no exaggerated or dragged storyline.
August 30, 2021
5/10
I stared reading it and I thought I was gonna love it.
It had everything I like - fake relationship, football, kinda enemies-to-lovers theme as well. Sadly, pretty fast the story went downhill.
Amy and Casey were ok MCs. You don’t even know much about them so it feels pretty 2D. Same goes with their sudden relationship. Feels like it’s either very forced or too many stuff has been left out until that moment.
The person you actually do know the most about is a gay football player Diego Torres and while it was a good idea to have some kind of a mystery happening alongside the romance I’d say this is a miss. Everything was happening around his life and the girls ended up being side characters. There was barely any chemistry, they got together too soon and everything was just too plain and unbelievable. None of them really played ball it was just the fact that they work for a football player and once in their lives they used to play (not even much info on that as well just to brush it off).
I was expecting a football themed book and contrary to the football ball on the cover - it didn’t deliver.
It’s a short book so I read it till the end but there wasn’t a single character I liked, honestly. The author has an okay writing style but there’s a feeling like they don’t know how to really tell the story.
I feel like this is such a lost chance because with a couple of fixes I think that this would’ve been an amazing book. I guess I’m just disappointed because I was rooting for it.
Any recommendations for (hopefully better) football (soccer) wlw books?
I stared reading it and I thought I was gonna love it.
It had everything I like - fake relationship, football, kinda enemies-to-lovers theme as well. Sadly, pretty fast the story went downhill.
Amy and Casey were ok MCs. You don’t even know much about them so it feels pretty 2D. Same goes with their sudden relationship. Feels like it’s either very forced or too many stuff has been left out until that moment.
The person you actually do know the most about is a gay football player Diego Torres and while it was a good idea to have some kind of a mystery happening alongside the romance I’d say this is a miss. Everything was happening around his life and the girls ended up being side characters. There was barely any chemistry, they got together too soon and everything was just too plain and unbelievable. None of them really played ball it was just the fact that they work for a football player and once in their lives they used to play (not even much info on that as well just to brush it off).
I was expecting a football themed book and contrary to the football ball on the cover - it didn’t deliver.
It’s a short book so I read it till the end but there wasn’t a single character I liked, honestly. The author has an okay writing style but there’s a feeling like they don’t know how to really tell the story.
I feel like this is such a lost chance because with a couple of fixes I think that this would’ve been an amazing book. I guess I’m just disappointed because I was rooting for it.
Any recommendations for (hopefully better) football (soccer) wlw books?
July 9, 2016
Well!
For a first novel this author is gonna go far. It's an excellent book. It's very well written. Easy to read. Great characters and has a storyline that will make you think. Its fun and it will make you smile. Read you won't regret it.
For a first novel this author is gonna go far. It's an excellent book. It's very well written. Easy to read. Great characters and has a storyline that will make you think. Its fun and it will make you smile. Read you won't regret it.
December 4, 2020
Rep: lesbian mc, lesbian li, Mexican American gay character
April 17, 2017
The story focuses on Amy, who is hired to be a fake fiancée to Diego, a closeted footballer. There are several parts I had to suspend belief in the story. The first being why she had been picked to play such a part. I did not feel the romance between the 2 ladies Amy and Casey, as it was told from Amy's point of view it went from lust to suddenly head over heels in love after one kiss.
I did not like how Amy treated her best friend Simon and when she did try to make it up to him she created even more chaos. It did not show her in a positive light and I was pleased that he gave her a wide berth.
There was a bit of a farce with mystery trolling of photos, and the happy ending for me was not very satisfactory.
Overall it was a pleasant read, well written, it was some of the characters/plot not to my personal taste, but I would read more from this author.
I did not like how Amy treated her best friend Simon and when she did try to make it up to him she created even more chaos. It did not show her in a positive light and I was pleased that he gave her a wide berth.
There was a bit of a farce with mystery trolling of photos, and the happy ending for me was not very satisfactory.
Overall it was a pleasant read, well written, it was some of the characters/plot not to my personal taste, but I would read more from this author.
August 28, 2024
I am not mad at some people having different realities. Some things are messy until they are not. This is an engaging version of some mess.
September 20, 2024
Meh, quick and easy to ready. But not great. I would have liked this story to be more fleshed out.
July 1, 2015
Still Adoring Ms. Lane
As with all of Ms Lanes books this was a really sweet romance. The story is about a woman, her pseudo fiancee and his Personal Assistant.
Amy has been hired to pose as Diego's fiancee to keep a secret from the world. His PA, Casey, is a major fly in the ointment. Amy can't stop thinking about the sexy, leggy former soccer star. The woman is driving her crazy but Casey is straight and in love with Diego...right? Amy really needs to get her head together because someone has pictures of Diego that could harm is good boy image.
I fell in love with Amy. She is so easy to relate to. I really liked how she handles her problems and deals with with her code of ethics. She really does try to do the right thing even if it means hurting and loosing her best friends. Ms Lane shares Amy's growth and determination as she becomes a strong female character.
I felt such compassion for Casey and mourned the loss of the woman she was suppose to become but could not stop smiling at who she is. They both made me laugh and were delightful with each other!
Diego was a bit dense and self focused except when it came to Amy. He truly loved her and depended on her. It was a fascinating relationship and it was nice to see it evolve.
There were several other minor characters but every one of them essential to the success of the book.
I was taken by this book. The story was sound, well written and had charming, believable characters, as believable as you can get in Rom Com anyway. This was a fast, fun and easy read. I hated to see come to an end. Oh, and I have to agree with Isabella, they would make beautiful babies!
As with all of Ms Lanes books this was a really sweet romance. The story is about a woman, her pseudo fiancee and his Personal Assistant.
Amy has been hired to pose as Diego's fiancee to keep a secret from the world. His PA, Casey, is a major fly in the ointment. Amy can't stop thinking about the sexy, leggy former soccer star. The woman is driving her crazy but Casey is straight and in love with Diego...right? Amy really needs to get her head together because someone has pictures of Diego that could harm is good boy image.
I fell in love with Amy. She is so easy to relate to. I really liked how she handles her problems and deals with with her code of ethics. She really does try to do the right thing even if it means hurting and loosing her best friends. Ms Lane shares Amy's growth and determination as she becomes a strong female character.
I felt such compassion for Casey and mourned the loss of the woman she was suppose to become but could not stop smiling at who she is. They both made me laugh and were delightful with each other!
Diego was a bit dense and self focused except when it came to Amy. He truly loved her and depended on her. It was a fascinating relationship and it was nice to see it evolve.
There were several other minor characters but every one of them essential to the success of the book.
I was taken by this book. The story was sound, well written and had charming, believable characters, as believable as you can get in Rom Com anyway. This was a fast, fun and easy read. I hated to see come to an end. Oh, and I have to agree with Isabella, they would make beautiful babies!
January 28, 2016
A great entry into the lesbian romance genre. I enjoyed the story, and the writing was top notch. There was just enough will they/won't they to be engaging. For someone with no soccer background, the sports setting and metaphors were not too much. I liked all the characters. The pacing was good, though I would've liked to see Amy and Casey get to know each more, like their first real dates. The mystery at the end was entertaining. And I liked the unconventional ending.
For folks who read this genre, definitely recommended. I'm looking forward to Catherine Lane's next books.
*This ebook was given to me by Ylva in exchange for an HONEST review*
For folks who read this genre, definitely recommended. I'm looking forward to Catherine Lane's next books.
*This ebook was given to me by Ylva in exchange for an HONEST review*
June 18, 2015
I found this story to be as much about romance as is was about unexpected friendship and the different bonds people form when they come to trust one another. I enjoyed this book immensely and found it to be well written and the characters were likable.
January 1, 2017
Operation clean up the ereader is not off to a good start.
Characters are not well fleshed out and don't make it beyond drawing board stage. The story has huge plot holes, motivations for a lot of actions never really become clear.
Characters are not well fleshed out and don't make it beyond drawing board stage. The story has huge plot holes, motivations for a lot of actions never really become clear.
August 2, 2015
Cute story, sometimes a little rushed but all in all very entertaining
December 10, 2024
Catherine Lane’s The Set Piece surprised me with its blend of romance, drama, and a hint of cozy mystery, even if the publisher’s description doesn’t quite do the story justice. While it promises fake fiancée shenanigans and high-stakes secrecy, the book also delivers an unexpected subplot full of intrigue, which feels like it could inspire a spicy cozy mystery crossover someday.
For a novella, The Set Piece crams in a lot of plot without feeling overwhelming. Amy’s sacrifices, Diego’s struggles with his sexuality, their precarious arrangement, Amy’s budding feelings for Casey, the tension of a blackmail threat, and even a fractured friendship all come together to create a compelling story. The twists were a mix of heartwarming and shocking, keeping me turning the pages.
Though it doesn’t stick to a purely happy ending, the resolution felt authentic—reflecting the complexity of life and relationships. Lane balances the serious moments with humor and tenderness, making it easy to root for Amy despite the messiness of her situation.
While not perfect, The Set Piece offers an engaging and quick read that stands out for its willingness to tackle big emotions and themes in a short format. It may not reinvent the fake relationship trope, but it delivers enough surprises to make it worth a read—especially if you’re looking for a novella that packs a little bit of everything into its pages.
For a novella, The Set Piece crams in a lot of plot without feeling overwhelming. Amy’s sacrifices, Diego’s struggles with his sexuality, their precarious arrangement, Amy’s budding feelings for Casey, the tension of a blackmail threat, and even a fractured friendship all come together to create a compelling story. The twists were a mix of heartwarming and shocking, keeping me turning the pages.
Though it doesn’t stick to a purely happy ending, the resolution felt authentic—reflecting the complexity of life and relationships. Lane balances the serious moments with humor and tenderness, making it easy to root for Amy despite the messiness of her situation.
While not perfect, The Set Piece offers an engaging and quick read that stands out for its willingness to tackle big emotions and themes in a short format. It may not reinvent the fake relationship trope, but it delivers enough surprises to make it worth a read—especially if you’re looking for a novella that packs a little bit of everything into its pages.
December 15, 2022
Good book and I understand this was the author’s first of many, so that impressed me. The MC is a young woman with 2jobs barely making ends meet. She is offered, and takes a new job as a “beard” for a male soccer star in LA.
Listening to this book while the USMNT made it to the men’s World Cup in Qatar this year made me appreciate the story a lot more, though, because clearly the men on the soccer pitch do not have the courage to fight homophobia the same way the women in soccer have done over the last 10 years. In fact, I would dare to speculate the women’s team would probably rip FIFA and refuse to play in a country where being gay is punishable by death!
That said, it made the story that much more believable. I also would not call this story a love story (romance, yes). It’s really more about friendship, family and “chosen” family. In that there is love. +++_
Listening to this book while the USMNT made it to the men’s World Cup in Qatar this year made me appreciate the story a lot more, though, because clearly the men on the soccer pitch do not have the courage to fight homophobia the same way the women in soccer have done over the last 10 years. In fact, I would dare to speculate the women’s team would probably rip FIFA and refuse to play in a country where being gay is punishable by death!
That said, it made the story that much more believable. I also would not call this story a love story (romance, yes). It’s really more about friendship, family and “chosen” family. In that there is love. +++_
September 5, 2020
Excellent book. Even though it seems like far from our reality, it can and it does happen. When an important person needs to fake a relationship because of its real sexuality.
A footbalplayer needs a “girlfriend” to hide his liking of men. But the girl he “hires” falls for his assistant, who happens to be a woman.
It's a very easy book to read, with happy and funny dialogues and moments. It's sad to think that these things are still happening but with hope that one day, it won't be necessary.
A footbalplayer needs a “girlfriend” to hide his liking of men. But the girl he “hires” falls for his assistant, who happens to be a woman.
It's a very easy book to read, with happy and funny dialogues and moments. It's sad to think that these things are still happening but with hope that one day, it won't be necessary.
March 12, 2023
This was a very cute and quick listen about Diego, a soccer player who wants to make the national team but doesn’t want to lose his endorsements by coming out as gay. He has a fake engagement relationship with Amy. Amy is actually a lesbian and things get complicated when she falls for another female. The story is rated lower by many, but my four stars are for how much I enjoyed it and for the great job by Abby Craden.
February 11, 2023
This is a story about a down to her luck waitress who got picked to be the fake girlfriend of a gay soccer star, she fell in love with the soccer player's personal assistant and together they helped the guy come out to his mother and also got their happily ever after. An interesting story and very smooth writing, a feel good story perfect for vacation read.
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