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Fake Dates #2
Fake Dating the Hometown Deputy
What's the use of being gorgeous and successful if everyone in your hometown still sees you as the ugly nerd? Well, not everyone. One guy has noticed that she's all grown up...
Coming home has never been so humiliating...
Coming home has never been so humiliating...
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 6, 2026
Can You Really Date Your Fake Date? Ultimately, Dallen decides to try to answer that question here, and has a lot of fun doing so. Another largely fun, very Hallmarkie type tale of one person with a traumatic backstory coming back to the hometown they fled only to ignite a romance with the person they thought they could never have. If that is the type of story you're after, you'll love this tale because that is *exactly* what you get here. Well executed, as always with Dallen, and with its moments of both fun and angst, this is a well balanced romance tale through and through. Very much recommended.
May 20, 2020
Having gone through a complete make-over of her appearance and attitude, Vanessa Shea has rocketed into a successful career, exuding self-confidence and impeccable grooming. That is until she returns to her hometown and discovers that her inner child still needs to overcome the high school bullies. Coming face to face with Cyrano's darling, Deputy Trent Arnolds leaves her feeling vulnerable when she realises that he does not recognise the girl who tutored him. The attraction between Trent and Vanessa is palpable, but she has no intention of sticking around long enough to explore the possibilities until her friends volunteer her with the task of promoting Trent in his bid for the office of Sheriff. Once Trent's memory is jogged and he starts to recall the sweet girl from his school days, he knows that she is the one for him, but it takes time and determination to make her see that running away is not the answer. The story is sweet and can be read by most age groups. It also comes to a happy and successful conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
May 25, 2020
(4.5 stars) - a fun twist on the fake dating trope!
Vanessa is a super confident career woman who knows what she wants & goes after it - until she returns to her hometown where memories from her past keep swamping her confidence.
Trent is attracted & impressed by her, stunned when he realizes who she was back in high school, & then confused when he sees her falter in front of an old acquaintance.
Meanwhile, Trent decides to run for sheriff, & Addison manipulates Vanessa into helping him. Vanessa works up a plan, & throws Trent for a loop when she announces to people that she's his girlfriend. But Trent isn't happy about it & turns the tables on Vanessa.
This is a fun story, but it's sweet & touching, too. So many of us hang on to our wounds from the past & self sabotage in the process. My favorite part of the story is when Vanessa realizes that running away from pain makes it worse than dealing with it. That's a gentle, thought-provoking reminder - ironically, while I'm enjoying some excellent escapist reading, lol
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
Vanessa is a super confident career woman who knows what she wants & goes after it - until she returns to her hometown where memories from her past keep swamping her confidence.
Trent is attracted & impressed by her, stunned when he realizes who she was back in high school, & then confused when he sees her falter in front of an old acquaintance.
Meanwhile, Trent decides to run for sheriff, & Addison manipulates Vanessa into helping him. Vanessa works up a plan, & throws Trent for a loop when she announces to people that she's his girlfriend. But Trent isn't happy about it & turns the tables on Vanessa.
This is a fun story, but it's sweet & touching, too. So many of us hang on to our wounds from the past & self sabotage in the process. My favorite part of the story is when Vanessa realizes that running away from pain makes it worse than dealing with it. That's a gentle, thought-provoking reminder - ironically, while I'm enjoying some excellent escapist reading, lol
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
December 3, 2021
Not for me
I read the third book first and I though that was rushed but this one gave me whiplash. There's no sort of believability to it because their love story is happening over the course of a few days and using the fact they attended the same small town high school but ran in different circles as enough background to explain their instalove. I went to a small town high school. There's not one old crush I'd confess my undying love to in under a week even if they did show up and begin some kind of whirlwind romance with me. Granted I'm married and wouldn't ever be in that situation but honestly the point was its ridiculous. You're in everyone's heads more than you're seeing any sort of plot happen. The "emotional" scenes come out of nowhere and have no logical lead up and the so called adult characters act like children. I mean she hid under a table, more than once. If I read this one first I'd never have read the next one, which honestly is a better book.
I read the third book first and I though that was rushed but this one gave me whiplash. There's no sort of believability to it because their love story is happening over the course of a few days and using the fact they attended the same small town high school but ran in different circles as enough background to explain their instalove. I went to a small town high school. There's not one old crush I'd confess my undying love to in under a week even if they did show up and begin some kind of whirlwind romance with me. Granted I'm married and wouldn't ever be in that situation but honestly the point was its ridiculous. You're in everyone's heads more than you're seeing any sort of plot happen. The "emotional" scenes come out of nowhere and have no logical lead up and the so called adult characters act like children. I mean she hid under a table, more than once. If I read this one first I'd never have read the next one, which honestly is a better book.
April 5, 2026
This is a sweet, clean, second chance, small town story. Reminiscent of Cindy Roland Anderson, Cami Checketts, Jenny Rabe, Judy Corry, etc. style (without any religious references). I liked it. Recommended.
August 8, 2022
Kisses only. This is a quick read. I wish more time was spent on the relationship. A lot of time short books like this have the relationship go from 0-love in a day which is just not believable to me.
April 17, 2022
Facing the Past, Finding the Future... Loving the Book!
Maggie Dallen hits another home run with "Fake Dating the Town Deputy", the story of former high school nerd Vanessa Shea, now a successful PR professional, and Trent Arnolds, former high school star quarterback, now a town deputy. Both of them need to let go of their past insecurities and embrace their current selves before they can embrace each other.
Vanessa, now stylish and gorgeous, returns to her small hometown for a break from her stressful job in New York City and runs into an election for sheriff. The previous sheriff had been in the pocket of the wealthy residents who funded his campaigns, and his son has thrown his hat in, expecting an easy win. He *doesn't* expect current deputy Trent to oppose him... or to hire Vanessa as his campaign manager on the recommendation of Addison, whose romance with Colton was chronicled in "Fake Dating the Unsuspecting Heiress" and who knew Vanessa in college.
The book has two sympathetic characters, a villain (Chip, Vanessa's high school crush who takes every opportunity to mock her for being a nerd and actually offers her a job on the "winning team"!), a sweet older couple who ask their son, Trent, to let them meet "the mother of our future grandbabies", and true friends who tell Vanessa and Trent what they need to hear, not what they tell themselves.
I loved reading this book! Dallen writes well and it makes a quick read. The angst is minimal and is confined to Vanessa, who can't shake her decade-old identity as the Loch Ness Monster. Trent realizes early on that their "fake dating" is real for him, but she doesn't see it or want to see it. He's out of her league. But he knows differently. I was drawn into their story and silently rooted for the formerly cool guy to get the formerly shy girl... an unusual reaction from a reader whose normal response would be to root for the shy girl to get the cool guy!
Highly recommended for fans of sweet romance with a side of humor and references to mid eighties pop culture!
Maggie Dallen hits another home run with "Fake Dating the Town Deputy", the story of former high school nerd Vanessa Shea, now a successful PR professional, and Trent Arnolds, former high school star quarterback, now a town deputy. Both of them need to let go of their past insecurities and embrace their current selves before they can embrace each other.
Vanessa, now stylish and gorgeous, returns to her small hometown for a break from her stressful job in New York City and runs into an election for sheriff. The previous sheriff had been in the pocket of the wealthy residents who funded his campaigns, and his son has thrown his hat in, expecting an easy win. He *doesn't* expect current deputy Trent to oppose him... or to hire Vanessa as his campaign manager on the recommendation of Addison, whose romance with Colton was chronicled in "Fake Dating the Unsuspecting Heiress" and who knew Vanessa in college.
The book has two sympathetic characters, a villain (Chip, Vanessa's high school crush who takes every opportunity to mock her for being a nerd and actually offers her a job on the "winning team"!), a sweet older couple who ask their son, Trent, to let them meet "the mother of our future grandbabies", and true friends who tell Vanessa and Trent what they need to hear, not what they tell themselves.
I loved reading this book! Dallen writes well and it makes a quick read. The angst is minimal and is confined to Vanessa, who can't shake her decade-old identity as the Loch Ness Monster. Trent realizes early on that their "fake dating" is real for him, but she doesn't see it or want to see it. He's out of her league. But he knows differently. I was drawn into their story and silently rooted for the formerly cool guy to get the formerly shy girl... an unusual reaction from a reader whose normal response would be to root for the shy girl to get the cool guy!
Highly recommended for fans of sweet romance with a side of humor and references to mid eighties pop culture!
June 2, 2020
Cute read. The deputy is really a nice guy. Where can I find one? Trent will be your new book boyfriend!
Vanessa is very different from the girl who left Cyrano a few years back. In fact,Trent doesn't recognise her at first. Can Vanessa put high school behind her and help her first crush to fulfil his ambition to become the town's sheriff? It's not easy to forgive and forget. Vanessa is not the only one who has to forget the past and move on.
Sweet HEA for a lazy, sunny afternoon.
Vanessa is very different from the girl who left Cyrano a few years back. In fact,Trent doesn't recognise her at first. Can Vanessa put high school behind her and help her first crush to fulfil his ambition to become the town's sheriff? It's not easy to forgive and forget. Vanessa is not the only one who has to forget the past and move on.
Sweet HEA for a lazy, sunny afternoon.
May 29, 2020
Cute book
This was a quick sweet read! I wish the heroine wasnt so back and forth with her thoughts but it was a good read nonetheless. It was real and it couldn't have ended in a better way! If your looking for a cute sweet romance then give this book a try!
This was a quick sweet read! I wish the heroine wasnt so back and forth with her thoughts but it was a good read nonetheless. It was real and it couldn't have ended in a better way! If your looking for a cute sweet romance then give this book a try!
June 4, 2020
Quick, Sweet Read
Super sweet read about finding yourself and your true love. I throughly enjoyed Trent and Vanessa’s story and look forward to Gina’s.
Super sweet read about finding yourself and your true love. I throughly enjoyed Trent and Vanessa’s story and look forward to Gina’s.
June 17, 2020
Just wish it was twice as long!
June 19, 2020
Quick and cute
It is a cute story and a very quick read. If you need something short for a car trip this is perfect!
It is a cute story and a very quick read. If you need something short for a car trip this is perfect!
July 11, 2020
This was a quick read, real short and sweet, but cute nonetheless!
January 2, 2021
This book is all above moving on from the past and being confident in who you are. She wants to be a city girl. He can't leave his family. But the both have lessons to learn from each other, and learning them may cause their picture of a perfect life to shift.
I really enjoyed the fake dating in this one, and I loved how sweet the deputy was.
October 21, 2021
Love this book, the story and characters were well written. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this author.
July 15, 2022
Cute story
This was a cute and fun story to read and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
This was a cute and fun story to read and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
December 29, 2020
The idea was so nice but everything happed quickly
December 19, 2022
3.5 stars
I loved parts of this book. It was cute and sweet and I enjoyed the slight twist on the fake dating that had Trent real-dating his fake date Vanessa.
However, the opening felt slow. Lots of time is spent on Vanessa being anxious and annoyed coming back to her home town. We get it, she hates the old view people had of her. fine. lets move on. When we finally get into the 'meat' of the story, around 30% its cute, though I wish we got to see more of the interaction between Vanessa and Trent rather than getting summaries so we could see the relationship building and not just feel the insta-love.
The next 50% or so was fine, quick reading, just enough drama. But the last 15% (actually the last 20% but the end includes chap one of next book) is SO fast. Any feels I had from the middle were left in the dust as the story wound up in a neat little HEA bow.
I wanted both more and less from this book. Less whining in the beginning, more moments for T & V to get to know the new versions of each other, and more wrap up. Overall, for a quick read it was fun, but it doesn't make me want to grab the rest of the series.
I loved parts of this book. It was cute and sweet and I enjoyed the slight twist on the fake dating that had Trent real-dating his fake date Vanessa.
However, the opening felt slow. Lots of time is spent on Vanessa being anxious and annoyed coming back to her home town. We get it, she hates the old view people had of her. fine. lets move on. When we finally get into the 'meat' of the story, around 30% its cute, though I wish we got to see more of the interaction between Vanessa and Trent rather than getting summaries so we could see the relationship building and not just feel the insta-love.
The next 50% or so was fine, quick reading, just enough drama. But the last 15% (actually the last 20% but the end includes chap one of next book) is SO fast. Any feels I had from the middle were left in the dust as the story wound up in a neat little HEA bow.
I wanted both more and less from this book. Less whining in the beginning, more moments for T & V to get to know the new versions of each other, and more wrap up. Overall, for a quick read it was fun, but it doesn't make me want to grab the rest of the series.
May 25, 2020
ONE FUN-FILLED BREATHLESS TREAT!!!
Leaping lizards! Maggie pulled out all the stops with this skillfully composed piece of perfection, drawing every emotion forward, revving up this compelling storyline and engaging plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Shenanigans, escapades and mayhem rule the roost displaying the drama, turmoil, intrigue, electrifying suspense and intense situations, along with a double dose of sass, you have one intoxicating experience. Dynamics and countenance in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. Braided, bound and entangled, displaying the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's strength and awe inspiring in it's depth. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Amazing job Maggie, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Leaping lizards! Maggie pulled out all the stops with this skillfully composed piece of perfection, drawing every emotion forward, revving up this compelling storyline and engaging plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Shenanigans, escapades and mayhem rule the roost displaying the drama, turmoil, intrigue, electrifying suspense and intense situations, along with a double dose of sass, you have one intoxicating experience. Dynamics and countenance in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. Braided, bound and entangled, displaying the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's strength and awe inspiring in it's depth. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Amazing job Maggie, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
May 25, 2020
Vanessa has completely reinvented herself into a successful and beautiful woman nothing like that girl who left her old town behind after being bullied and hurt but now that she’s back and all those old feelings are rearing there ugly head. Trent was the hot jock that everyone had a crush on at some point and just like most he doesn’t recognize her but once he does he is determined to win her over and when they have to fake a relationship to win him the sheriff’s position he comes around and is ready to make this fake relationship real. The attraction is there between then instantly but Vanessa still has her hang ups . This is a sweet read I loved Vanessa for fighting to become a better version of herself and Trent for never giving up on her. Can’t wait for the next book!!
Voluntarily read and reviewed an arc of this book.
Voluntarily read and reviewed an arc of this book.
May 27, 2020
Don't we all know what it's like: -a mature responsible adult returns home to Momma, Daddy and siblings and all of a sudden find yourself acting in some childish way of your past, usually triggered by a sibling? That's Vanessa's story upon quitting her old job in NYC and returning to small, hometown Wyoming. Now she has attracted the attention of Trent, the star quarterback in high school, loved by everybody, and only a fairytale fantasy for her on the other side of the tracks. Imagine Nessa's surprise to find Trent understands exactly, experiencing his own childish coping mechanisms! Maggie's such a good clean storyteller! I really appreciate the opportunity to read her ARCS and volunteer reviews.
May 26, 2020
Fun, sweet, and charming
Maggie Dallen has a knack for creating characters I can easily root for from page one. I can relate to how Vanessa, this strong and confident woman, can still revert to her awkward teenage self when confronted with the ghosts of her past. And Trent fits in perfectly with Dallen's crew of not-quite-perfect-but-definitely-good-guy heroes.
Both of them have some growing up to do before they finally get their HEA, but they have some help along the way from the usual crowd of meddling family and friends - mostly Gina, Addison, and Colton, but also Trent's parents.
Maggie Dallen has a knack for creating characters I can easily root for from page one. I can relate to how Vanessa, this strong and confident woman, can still revert to her awkward teenage self when confronted with the ghosts of her past. And Trent fits in perfectly with Dallen's crew of not-quite-perfect-but-definitely-good-guy heroes.
Both of them have some growing up to do before they finally get their HEA, but they have some help along the way from the usual crowd of meddling family and friends - mostly Gina, Addison, and Colton, but also Trent's parents.
May 28, 2020
During the seven years that Vanessa aka Nessi, has been away from her hometown of Cyrano, she transformed from a shy, ugly-duckling into a confident, outgoing beauty! Her goal while visiting Cyrano is to figure out her next move in life and to show Chip, the guy who cruelly broke her heart, just what he missed out on by dumping her! While doing so, she just may end up losing the best thing that has ever happened to her - fake dating local hometown favorite, Trent Arnolds. Great read to see how she overcomes the cruelty of her past, while showing everyone the "new" her is truly her!
May 27, 2020
Cute book with a HEA. Can be read as standalone, but is part of a series, so characters from first book pop up. Dual POV. Clean. Suitable for tweens to adults. I received an ARC. I enjoyed the book immensely.
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