Worth the Ruse: a small town, grumpy/sunshine romance

by Darcy Gamble

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 9, 2026

Reviews

[Lost on Soso’s Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the Ruse is a sweet and emotional small-town romance that was incredibly easy to get into. The story follows Ethan, who wants to become the new sheriff of the town, but needs to prove that he has roots there to improve his chances. Izzy, on the other hand, is the town’s beloved, sunshine-filled hairdresser but behind her cheerful personality, she is struggling to feel safe because of her ex-boyfriend. When Ethan and Izzy find themselves helping each other, their relationship slowly develops into something more. I really enjoyed watching them get closer, especially because Ethan is very much a he fell first kind of hero, and honestly, that is exactly what we love in a romance. One of my favorite things about this book was how quickly and easily it reads. The chapters are short, which made it very easy to keep turning the pages. The romance develops fairly quickly, but the more suspenseful elements surrounding Izzy’s situation help balance the relationship and keep the story engaging beyond the romance itself. I also really loved the way everything was set up throughout the novel. Some of the emotional moments were particularly well done, especially the scenes between Ethan and his father. They were genuinely moving and beautifully written. Izzy’s internal thoughts were another highlight for me. I really appreciated the way her father’s past and the impact it had on her relationships with men were explored. It was introduced in a very thoughtful and intelligent way, giving more depth to her character and helping explain some of the fears and doubts she carries with her.

Overall, Worth the Ruse was a lovely small-town romance that made me believe in love a little more. It is also a beautiful reminder that we are not late in our own lives, and that comparing our journey to someone else’s will only make us lose sight of our own.

A sweet, emotional and comforting romance with a he fell first hero, small-town charm, and just enough suspense to keep things interesting. Definitely a feel-good read!

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

[Phylicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Oh, this is worth the read! This was an awesome addition to the Sagebrush series. I love a protective MMC who falls first and HARD. 🥰

Ethan is the oldest of the five LaSalle siblings. He is heavily guarded in the romance department after being cheated on. He’s also an ex-sheriff who reluctantly (at first) steps up to be in the running when the town holds an election for a new town marshal. The only issue is that he doesn’t possess qualities, such as being a rooted family man, that people in the town would look for when voting for their next marshal.

Ethan is sort of a grump (like me 🙃) and lacks the skills to reel people in and win votes. Along comes Izzy, who is his complete opposite. She’s a beloved former beauty queen who is charming and highly influential. Unbeknownst to Ethan, she is about to enter his world and turn him into a whole new man.

When Izzy finds herself needing protection and security, she hatches a ruse to get Ethan to be her fake fiancé in exchange for helping him run his campaign for town marshal. This was such a fun opposites-attract romance! I honestly loved this one a bit more than the first book in the series, and I’m totally invested and can’t wait for more!

Thank you author Darcy Gamble for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jennifer Olive · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn’t take long for this story to pull me in.

Two beautifully imperfect characters.
A relationship of convenience that turns into so much more.

Isabel—the most popular girl in town, a former pageant queen, and a woman who loves her stilettos. But an ex-boyfriend is making her life a literal hell.

Ethan—a little rough around the edges, but with a huge heart. An ex-girlfriend shattered both his heart and his confidence.

Yes, this is a romance, but a much heavier theme runs beneath it. Stalking and physical abuse by an ex-boyfriend are recurring elements of the story (NOT the MMC), and they were difficult to read. They also made the contrast between Isabel’s ex and the caring, supportive, and considerate Ethan all the more stark.

The escalating situation with the ex kept me on the edge of my seat, while the romance allowed two imperfect people to slowly lower their defenses and discover love. One chapter in particular captured every one of my emotions and left me absolutely reeling.

An enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who likes romance with heavier themes and an element of suspense.

I received an advanced copy of this book. My review is honest, and all opinions are my own.

[Kelly Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fell in love with the first book in this series! Also these can be read as standalone! But I loved the writing style of the author and the emotion that’s put into each book and this one was just amazing! I loved the fake dating/fake engagement trope but I also love how these romances give you a little suspense in it, Izzy is trying to escape her stalker abusive ex boyfriend with out anyone finding out what’s been happening and Ethan needs to look like a family man so he can be the next town Marshall. This story takes you on an emotional but also happy and love run between these two characters that seem so opposite but just might be the perfect match for each other! And the spicy scenes are. 🔥🔥

[Gabriella Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy Gamble does it again with the sequel to Worth the Risk—Worth the Ruse—where we finally get Ethan and Isabel’s love story. 🥰

Ethan LaSalle is set to cosplay the infamous outlaw Billy Blackstone during the town parade, but his partner in crime is the last person he ever expected to see again: Isabel McClean as Lula Maude. The two met a year earlier and got off on the wrong foot… literally. 😮‍💨

Now, Ethan needs Isabel’s help to boost his campaign for Town Marshal, while Isabel needs Ethan’s help dealing with a dangerously unhinged ex. Together, they come up with a plan that had me completely hooked—I couldn’t put my eReader down.

Darcy took me on such an emotional ride with this one! I’m not the kind of reviewer who gives away spoilers (and I definitely don’t like rewriting the synopsis), but this story made me feel everything, and that’s always the sign of a great book for me. It’s sweet, cozy, funny, suspenseful, and just the right amount of scary. Every chapter had me wanting “just one more,” and now I’m already counting down until the next book in the series. 🥰