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Love, Austen #1

Love, Austen

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A matchmaker who can’t commit, a jaded divorce lawyer, and a mutually beneficial business agreement.

Matchmaker Meg Austen is focused on one thing—finding the financial backing to create the app for her company, Love, Austen. When the investment firm tells her she needs a boyfriend to prove her faith in the process, she agrees to a fake relationship with a divorce attorney.

Parker Matthews is determined to get the partnership left vacant by his father’s death. But when a colleague suggests having a girlfriend will increase his chances to get the partnership, he lucks out by finding the one girl who doesn’t expect a future with him.

As they spend time together, their feelings change. But when their fears about commitment resurface, can they find a way to make it work?

194 pages, ebook

First published October 14, 2018

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About the author

Britney M. Mills

55 books402 followers
Britney Mills was born in Utah but parts of her heart lie in Boston, Washington D.C. and Germany. Her love of writing began with the third grade book her teacher assigned her to write and she spent hours hidden behind her mother’s couch writing pages and pages about knights and castles.
Most of her time consists of taking care of her young son and triplets but writing keeps her sane as she travels along on the adventures of characters to come.
When she’s not mothering, writing or reading, she’s probably out playing a sport, going on a hike, or binge watching some kind of murder mystery show. She is a fan of chick flicks and adventure/action stories in books and movies, and can even get her cowboy husband to watch along with her.




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5 stars
227 (43%)
4 stars
171 (32%)
3 stars
96 (18%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
Profile Image for Ru4repeat.
631 reviews
October 21, 2018
Love Austen? You'll love this.

I thought the concept for the matchmaking business was delightful and creative! Basing it off Jane Austen's characters was brilliant. I thought this author did a fantastic job tying in the Jane Austen themes with the modern elements. While keeping the storyline classy and clean. Other authors who have tried something similar (i.e. Seeking Mr. Dependable: The Jane Austen Pact, by Cami Checketts) failed to keep the values and clean romance that Jane Austen was known for and veered off track.
I loved the metaphors, the good and the bad! It was entertaining to see what would be said or thought next.
The romance was sweet and realistic. On a steaminess level I would rate this a hot PG.
This read is definitely worthy of a repeat!
*There were quite a few typos that distracted from the storyline at times, hopefully they get corrected soon.
Profile Image for Mimia The Reader.
455 reviews11 followers
July 2, 2020
Another light read, another Jane Austen adaptation, another audiobook.
I see these things and I want to read them. Even when I’m feeling like reading something with something more than a cute romance story.
And this one worked well, even if it wasn’t much of a Emma modern variation (for that Rachel John’s book, Emma the Matchmaker is what you’re looking for) but a story inspired by Jane Austen’s novels and characters.

What this story made me wonder about is matchmaking. Do people really look for this kind of services? In what sort of algorithm is Tinder (and other dating apps) based on? Are there some non-fiction books about this? I think I need to read them...
Profile Image for Happy Reading Watching.
1,106 reviews38 followers
October 31, 2020
I think I found a new author........really enjoying this series and looking forward to the rest😊
✔Fake Relationship
✔Clean Romance
✔Cute Story
Profile Image for Cathy.
2,100 reviews71 followers
October 7, 2021
I love a good romance series. And bonus, this one by Britney M Mills already has six books released. That means I don’t have to wait for more books to come out!

I loved Meg in this book. How could I not? She has built her whole matchmaking business around Jane Austen books. But she is in need of money and must have a boyfriend to get it. I loved that she is the strong type of girl who doesn’t want to have to lean on any one else.

Then there’s Parker. If he wants to be a partner in his father’s law firm, he’s going to have to have a girlfriend. And he’s a genuinely nice guy. I loved the way he just knew what to do to help Meg in a ton of little situations.

I loved the premise of this one. Both of them needing a significant other. Fake relationships turning real is my favorite trope.

This book is one of those that I didn’t want to put down. It’s so great!
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,302 reviews12 followers
January 3, 2019
A really good and clean romance.😍

I really enjoyed reading about Meg and Parker. Meg owns and operates a matchmaking service that is really catching on. Parker is a divorce attorney on track to make partner in his fathers firm. At first glance, you would think they don't have anything in common but you would be very wrong. Parker and Meg are both afraid that whoever they love will leave them. Even with the huge lack of trust both have, they both want a family but can they work through their insecurities to succeed? 💕💗💕

The chemistry between Meg and Parker is amazing and they had me laughing out loud at some of their antics. It's a really well written and developed story that will pull you in and you will be laughing and crying with the two of them.💓😘

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Tasha (the_clean_read_book_club).
684 reviews
September 18, 2021
Is it possible that I will re-read every adaptation and book referencing Jane Austen? I would say all signs point to yes. I don’t know what it is that draws me in so much, but there is something so addicting about anything Austen related! I was excited to get the chance to read and review this book. I was immediately drawn to the storyline and dug right in to finish this beauty all in one sitting. This is my first book from this author and I’m definitely intrigued to read more, especially in this series. This book was lighthearted and fun, while giving me all the Jane Austen feels in a contemporary.

The ending was really well done and while I was reading into all the foreshadowing, I enjoyed it right up to the last word.

Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Janeal Falor.
Author 34 books808 followers
September 10, 2020
This was a fun read! I liked Meg and Parker. They were cute together and made for a fun, sweet romantic read. I adore fake relationship books, and this one was right up my alley. Though this was a first for me by this author, I look forward to reading more by her.

The only thing that made me hesitate was the narrator for the audiobook. She wasn't bad, but I didn't jive with her voice as much as I thought I was going to. It wasn't enough to make me stop listening or anything, just a personal preference with some of the word pronunciations.

I look forward to reading more of Britney M. Mills's books! This fun, romantic read was right up my alley.

I received this book in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Karen.
737 reviews8 followers
October 7, 2020
This is my first book from this author and I enjoyed it. Meg is a matchmaker and Parker is a divorce lawyer. Not what you would consider an ideal pair. I can see why a divorce lawyer is against love but it is a bit surprising that Meg is also against love. Not against love for others. She certainly enjoys finding love for everyone else. But she is scared of losing those she loves. And Parker thinks everyone he loves, leaves. But they both need a relationship to boost their business. Parker is trying to make partner. Meg is trying to get money to expand her business. The relationship (fake relationship) that develops between them is sweet. Spoiler alert - I wish Parker had been more of a man in the end. Oh, he steps up to the plate. But his hesitancy disappointed me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Franki.
406 reviews4 followers
September 8, 2020
This story was entertaining and thought provoking. I was delighted by this unique take on Emma. Though not initially apparent, the parallels of Meg and Emma, two women who have suffered the tragic loss of a parent and the mental breakdown of the surviving parent are striking. Of course matchmaking Meg was Emma, and of course Austen’s heroine likely used her single status while trying to aid others as a way to control her world.
I have an ebook copy of this story and was then given an audiobook copy for review. This book is amazing in both mediums, but I must say that I always enjoy listening to Lorana Hoopes narrate. She does fantastic!
Profile Image for Molly.
204 reviews40 followers
February 19, 2024
3.75! Another easy, random kindle read! I actually rlly enjoyed it tho!!
Profile Image for Stacey.
321 reviews7 followers
January 8, 2019
I can hardly believe this was the author’s first book published! I rarely give 5 stars to the first book I read by an author let alone the first book they have ever written but I loved this! I am so glad I kept reading to the epilogue as well... the copy I had seemed to hide it behind the acknowledgements etc. so I didn’t actually realise it was an epilogue at first, I thought it was the teaser for the next book.
So make sure you read to the VERY END of the book lol
Looking forward to the next in the series, where the story continues I hope!
For any Jane Austen fans out there: Love, Austen is a wonderful read! It’s clean & funny with plenty of romance & swoon worthy characters.
My thanks to the author for giving me an Advance Reader Copy & of course for writing the story! I love Jane Austen’s novels & truly appreciate it when other authors share their appreciation for her work in such a complimentary way, by holding to the essence of character & feeling she gave to all of her writings. This is a unique story, not a sequel or modern rendition of any of Jane Austen’s works, but the influence of Austen’s iconic works are displayed throughout. Truly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Ashlee.
476 reviews14 followers
March 16, 2022
Cute fake relationship story

Overall, I really enjoyed Love, Austen. Parker and Meg have each sworn off relationships for their own personal reasons. Too bad his shot at a partnership in the law firm he works for and her shot at getting investors for her matchmaking business really could benefit from having a significant other. When they meet at the wedding of mutual friends, Parker strikes up the idea of a fake relationship. They could each benefit and no one is in danger of feelings leading to heartbreak. Right?

I really enjoy fake relationship stories, especially ones like this where there's a lot at stake so they have to really play up the relationship aspect. Which of course leads to not so fake feelings. I really liked Meg and Parker together. His job as a divorce lawyer and hers as matchmaker was funnily ironic. There is the typical romance novel tension that could be solved if the leads would just talk. But where's the fun in that? I've had this book sitting in my Kindle library for so long so I was glad I got around to reading it. And now on to book number 2.
Profile Image for Vibliophile.
1,615 reviews130 followers
October 25, 2018
3.5 stars - like a Hallmark romance

An entertaining, though cheesy, romance. Though there were a few moments that had my eyes rolling, I still enjoyed it.

There's nothing particularly original here, but it is well done for what it is. The protagonists are likeable and the storyline keeps you hooked till the end. I'd definitely recommend it as a good beach read level book.
Profile Image for Jill.
841 reviews45 followers
January 7, 2019
This book was really fun and I totally got into the whole fake relationship. I loved it! Clean romance definitely worth the read.
Profile Image for Shauna.
1,506 reviews13 followers
April 16, 2022
Start of such a fun series! Loved it.
Profile Image for Shanna Johnson.
563 reviews23 followers
September 26, 2021
Fake relationship books always have a special place in my heart, I don't know why, maybe it's because I did a fake relationship with so many friends for various reasons that they are just so much more enjoyable to me haha. But I always think they are so fun and add that extra attitude to a sweet romance book. Love, Austen was no exception. It had so many of the best and most entertaining parts of a fake relationship that made me laugh, smile, and wish I was there to witness it all go down. At times I even felt embarrassed for characters.

Love, Austen is a great start to this series and I look forward to reading the next ones that follow. This book was lovely and I just couldn't put it down. It does have a lot of reference to Jane Austen. I haven't read any Jane Austen books (yet ;) haha) but it was still easy to understand and honestly is getting me to finally add them all to my reading list. Thank you Britney M. Mills for making sweet romance that can make us laugh and smile.

I could see Love, Austen becoming a Hallmark movie and maybe even movie series. It was fun, lighthearted, romantic, and the sweetness was beyond wonderful.
Profile Image for Michelle.
756 reviews16 followers
August 18, 2019
Loved it

I loved this story! So. Much. Parker and Meg are genuine, sweet, caring people, with some painful emotional baggage that makes each of them avoid relationships. But for individual reasons, each needs to be in a relationship ASAP. A mutual friend’s wedding offers a chance introduction for them, and Meg quite literally falls for Parker while walking down the aisle. After a conversation and some trepidation, Meg agrees to Parker’s proposal that they fake-date for a month until each gets what they need (for him to make partner; for her to get business funding), then they can walk away no worse for the wear. If you’ve read anything in this genre, you know how well that usually goes! This is a well written, sweet story (with just enough angst!), made even better by the nod to all things Jane Austen (my favorite author!). Win-win! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Joyce Black.
1,051 reviews7 followers
April 13, 2019
This reader is new to Ms. Mills work but will definitely read their work again, as a result of reading this novel. This reader has quite a soft spot herself for all things "Jane Austen", so, identifying with the main female character was easy. This was a good story that flowed very well which made for easy reading. A good read. There was great banter between the two main male and female characters. Definitely this tale hit the mark for "romance". This reader was quite charmed by this enchanting romantic novel.

Now for this reader to go on and read the next instalment of this series "Austen Party Of Two".

I voluntarily received an advance review copy of this novel via Booksprout and I am leaving an honest and unbiased review. I have no affiliation to this author.
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
January 1, 2019
Fake Relationship Becomes Real
In this book, a fake relationship for business reasons becomes the real thing. Sound familiar? This is a nicely done version of that tired plot. It is infused with Jane Austen; from movies to quotes to characters to storylines. For a reader who is not a fan of Austen and has not read her books or watched the movies, it was confusing and boring. I was the only person in the room who did not understand the punchline. There were some cute parts like neither of the main characters were any good at making decent analogies. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
3,677 reviews49 followers
May 18, 2019
This book needed one more round of editing to get rid of the spelling errors such as mixing up homophones. As for the story, a fake dating plot can be great but this felt a bit contrived. Meg and Parker agree to fake date in order to advance in their respective careers but their kisses are magical and they start to like each other more than just fake dates. However, neither of them speaks about their feelings so they could make a public spectacle out of their love confession in the end. No, wait, make that two public spectacles, both somewhat awkward.
It wasn't a horrible read, just not excellent.
2,762 reviews50 followers
July 3, 2020
Sweet romance, inspired by Emma.

While the story is nothing extraordinary or unique it is an enjoyable read. I listened to the audio book and was less than thrilled with the narrator so I think I would have enjoyed reading it myself better but it was nice to be able to do my gardening while I listened anyway. The only real conflict in the story is that the two main characters don't confess their change in feelings until the end when they both think all is lost.

Sex: kissing
Language: no
Violence: no
*I received a complimentary copy of the audio-book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Berly.
923 reviews32 followers
March 18, 2023
Sweet, easy read/listen.

Plenty of Jane Austen references. I wanted to try some of the audiobooks that different authors had on YouTube. This was my first book by Britney Mills. This audiobook kept me company while deep cleaning the kitchen today. It was good for doing that since it isn't hard to follow the story line. It's a light read that provided me an escape from reality.

Trying to find the correct order for the series has been a little difficult. There are different covers and titles in different places. I have several ebooks that I think are in this series on my kindle. I will look forward to reading them.
2,904 reviews11 followers
May 14, 2023
A delightful, fake romance story. Meg Austin needs investors. They want to see that her product works for her. At the wedding of mutual friends, she meets Parker Matthews, a divorce attorney. He's seeking a partnership with his father's former law firm. The current partners want their new partner to be in a stable relationship. Hence they decide to support each other's goals. Miscommunication, insecurities, and past romantic baggage play substantial roles in the story. There is a wonderful ending.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Funny. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Tear-jerker. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
Profile Image for Caitlin Coska.
1,048 reviews31 followers
January 9, 2024
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼

Summary: Meg is a matchmaker who doesn’t believe in love for herself. Parker is a divorce attorney who refuses to commit. They team up in a fake dating scheme to make themselves seem to be in a relationship.

Thoughts: This book had a lot of potential and definitely had some really good moments. But overall, the dialogue just felt so awkward and the main female character was completely unstable and bratty.

I really liked the main male character in the book and the writing of the scenery was done so well. I’d probably like to read more from this author in the future because I think with some development, there’s definitely promise!
3,948 reviews20 followers
January 2, 2019
Meg Austen was told by the potential investors in her matchmaking company Love, Austen that they wanted to meet her own match and see her business in person before they will invest in her company. Parker Matthews was told by his boss that if wants to make partner at the law firm that he should be in a serious relationship. They decide to help each other out and fake date until they develop real feelings for each other and the lines get blurry between what’s acting and what’s real. There were plenty of funny and sweet moments in this clean romance.
Profile Image for Shonda.
Author 10 books52 followers
January 8, 2019
Found another new author I love! This book was so good! The characters are funny with lots of witty banter. I love the plot of the story, a fake relationship. There was lots of romance and both characters trying to further their careers. I thought it was ironic that Meg owned a match making service and Parker was a divorce lawyer! This book is such a great story I couldn’t put it down and read in one reading. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. This is a definite must read!
Was given a complimentary copy. All reviews are my own.
131 reviews5 followers
January 25, 2019
Well done!

Both Meg and Preston have significant emotional baggage hanging around from their youth. Lessons they learned early in life have only been confirmed by their adult relationships. Neither is interested in experiencing any more (always disastrous) romantic relationships. Both are successful in their careers, but each of them finds their next tantalizingly-close career goal stymied by their lack of a significant other. This is a very well written attachment of convenience story.
Profile Image for Petra.
1,655 reviews
September 1, 2020
This is a wonderful and sweet fake relationship story. It’s about Meg Austen and Parker Matthews, who are both in desperate need of a relationship. She because of the investors in her matchmaking company and he because it gives a bigger chance of becoming a partner in the law firm he works for. It all starts at her best friends wedding. I loved both Meg and Parker. And I liked the secondary characters as well.

This review is based on the audiobook. The narrator has a pleasant voice. I really enjoyed listening to this romantic story.
1,727 reviews19 followers
May 4, 2022
Book 1 Love, Austen --A Fake Relationship Romance by Britney M. Mills
A Fun time in Boston, MA
Author Donna K. Weaver mentioned this audio book in her newsletter so I had to check it out.. And, I am ever so glad that I did. This was definitely a fun contemporary sweet clean romance AND a free read on youtube. I am including the links, just in case you are interested.
(8189) Book 1 Love, Austen --A Fake Relationship Romance by Britney M. Mills - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJhh4...
NOTE: This review expresses my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Kera.
117 reviews
June 17, 2022
New-to-me-author

I’m so hopeful right now! Britney Mills is new to me. I always get a little worried when I try a new author. If this book is any indication as to what to expect, I will be a happy gal. This book could have gone a lot of different ways, but I am SO grateful the author didn’t cause drama after drama. There was just enough to make the book great without feeling frustrated with all the hoops the characters have to jump through to get their HEA. So, if you love a good, clean romance then try this one out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews