My Big Fat Fake Engagement

Big, Fat, Fake

by Lauren Landish

Boss babe. Ice Queen.
That’s what they call me at the office.
But there’s one man who has secretly melted me for years.
Kaede McWarren.

The only problem? He’s my big brother’s best friend.

But when he asks me to play his fiancée to seal a business deal?
Oh, I’m taking this gift horse and riding it while I can.
He’s got the whole tall, handsome, and intense thing down pat… with a side of quiet mystery and sexy brains to boot.
He’s everything I want. Everything I need.

It should be easy—a business arrangement between two Type-A workaholics. A few dinner dates here, a few kisses there, and none will be the wiser.

But if his business partner finds out it’s fake, he’s screwed. And if my brother finds out it’s real, he might be dead.There are a hundred ways to lose, but when I’m in his arms, I feel like I’ve already won.

My Big Fat Fake Engagement is a full-length romance with a happily ever after and no cliffhanger.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Fake Dating, Chick Lit, Fiction

366 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2020

About the author

Lauren Landish is a WALL STREET JOURNAL & USA TODAY bestselling author and her books have garnered a legion of praise from her readers.

When she’s not plotting about how she will introduce you to your next sexy as hell book boyfriend, you can find her deep, deep in her writing cave, furiously tapping away on her keyboard, writing scenes that would make even a hardened sailor blush.

Lauren, who lives in NC with her boyfriend and fur baby, warmly invites you to her worlds of rock hard abs, chiseled smiles, and men with deep, fat pockets…but beware! These stories are guaranteed to have you addicted and needing your next fix!

Visit Lauren's Website at: http://www.laurenlandish.com/
Join the Mailing list at: http://www.subscribepage.com/w1h8x6
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauren.landish
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenlandish

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: ➳ ❤- Big Fat Fake Engagement

Author: ➳ Lauren Landish

Publication:, Publication: May 27, 2020

💖💖💖💖💖
😈😈😈😈😈

ღ . Just what I think that I needed, right now ...... A good romance comedy & that’s exactly what I got …. This book made me laugh so hard at times & I hope it does the same for you!

Courtney Andrews, got the promotion to Executive Vice President of Andrews Consolidated. four months ago this office belonged to her big brother, Ross. And she was her father’s executive assistant.

Most called her the ice queen, but she steady, sure, confident to a fault some would say. Except when Kaede looks at her.
Courtney is married to spreadsheets, data points, & advancing her career. But she still a woman a underneath all that data & spreadsheets…. She had teensy tiny crush on Kaede McWarren. Her brother’s best friend.

So now imagine what happens when sexy co-owner of One Life Gym & her brothers best friend ask her to be his ‘fiancé
“Let’s get ready for dinner. We’ve got a fake priority. Courtney is. I am so fucked.

I Loved this book! Best fake fiancé/brother's best friend rom-com.

I thought it was funny, quirky, & there were few laugh out loud moments ….. What more can we ask for in a Romance Comedy…?

What I’d love to read next is Abigail’s book & even Archie’s book…. Either one would mostly be one amazing laugh out loud read


📚 Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion 💕 💕 Also I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it.

➦*I received an ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review of it. 💕
💕 . .**This has not influenced my review.* **

Happy Reading ------Enjoy - Paulette Review ❤💕

[MarvelUsReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.2 Stars)

Fun, spicy, and oh...so, so good! Lauren Landish delivers a deliciously sensual and steamy escape in her latest novel, My Big Fat Fake Engagement. An entertaining storyline, addictively fierce and charming characters, we absolutely loved this book! For full review: www.marvelusreads.com (June's Cozy Corner Book Review) .

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm....

Nor sure what to make out of this story. Its not that good but its not that bad either. The dialog is somehow suppose to be comedy. However I can not really smile or laugh at the banter.

I like Courtney. She is confident fearless woman. She is also not shy about her sexuality. She knows how to seduce and win it.

I can not grow to love the plot though. Its dragging with many inner dialog that confuse me.

Anyway, I am just feeling OK with this book.

3 stars

[Saby Reads All Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a major disappopintment. I DNFd when the billionaire investor required the MC to hook up with his daughter for the deal to proceed, and the latter is forced to beg off, pleading a fake engagement. I like these plot lines in HR, but they just don't work for me in a contemporary romance.

[Alloverthebooks ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai à peine terminé le tome 1 que j'ai enchaîné avec le tome 2. Je suis presque accro à cette saga de fausse relation. Heureusement, les choses sont bien différentes par rapport au tome 1.
Je pense d'ailleurs que je préfère le scénario de ce tome. En plus, les protagonistes sont géniaux. Ils m'ont donné la pêche pas mal de fois. C'était souvent mieux et drôle aussi. Même si les événements sont prévisibles, j'ai adoré ma lecture de A à Z.
Je conseille vraiment cette saga ! Je vais très très bientôt lire le dernier tome tellement c'est addictif !

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

i tried but didn't care for MC's

[One chapter more · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I will. Just found the beginning way too long and detailed and after that I was just exhausted... It might be the reading slump, kicking back in.

[Preri · Rating 4 out of 5]

So perfectly wholesome!! 4.5 stars for absolute adorableness. This genuinely was a really cute book. I can't help but fall for tropes. They just make me smile. The characters were good people, and they fell in love in a natural way. Excited to read more Lauren Landish! And I'm out.

[OnTheSamePaige]

DNF'd at 10%, so no star rating. This is the SECOND book in a series, though I don't see that information here or on Amazon. I guessed which was first, and got it wrong.

This feels like it was written in the 90's for my mom. The pop-culture references and slutshaming of the rival love interest are straight out of a different decade. I should have known with a title that is trying to evoke "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Jill made "three snaps in a z formation"? Tawny Kitaen? I'm 40, so I remember when those things were popular. I was a child. Goodreads says this book was released this year. I'm trying to get back into contemporary romance after a decade away, but it seems like it really hasn't changed with the times.

Our h remembers a scene where she purposely wore tight clothes and high heels to a basketball court to titillate the H. She celebrates when she sees him adjust his crotch while staring at her ass. A few pages later, the rival love interest (that we are obviously supposed to hate for no reason) shows up in tight gym clothes to the gym H owns, and flirts with him. It's paragraphs describing how trashy she is, she's a "blowup doll." He is disgusted by her sexuality. A few pages later, his bestie says that he is promiscuous (so why is he judging her?) Shortly after, he gets distracted in an important meeting because he's fantasizing about the h's ass in her workout gear. Why is one of the women sexy in her tight workout clothes and the other is a slut? What is the difference between the two women, except that the h is hiding that she wants the H (and masturbates while thinking about him), and the rival admits her attraction?

I don't want to read any more about all of the amenities at his gym. Are they trying to sell ME a membership?

He has had a crush on her since college, but he can't make a move because "she's off limits"? Because her brother, one time in high school told someone else not to date his other sister? That is a reallllllyy dumb excuse for why they never got together. Why did SHE never make a move, ever? Because she was busy at work? For a decade?

This might seem nitpicky, but I write these reviews mostly for me. I'm sure lots of people will find this book perfectly fine. This will remind me not to try this author again.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite read from Lauren Landish so far? Quite possibly. It's light, steamy, and a lot of fun. Landish knows how to write a rom com, with playful antics and a heavy dose of sexy. This brother's best friend/fake relationship romance is lighthearted and everything you could want from the trope - it's definitely a play on a familiar storyline, but distinctly the author's style. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

The story follows Kaede, a gym owner who is seeking out a business partner to build the brand. When a potential investor hints that the deal will only be sealed if Kaede dates his over the top daughter, Kaede panics and claims he's engaged. The only woman who comes to mind is his best friend's little sister, Courtney. She's considered to be a workaholic and a bit of an ice queen, but neither of those things deters Kaede. He's always found her attractive, but bro code means that she's completely off-limits. But when Courtney agrees to go along with the ruse and her longtime crush on Kaede is exposed, it makes things even more complicated.

I love both fake relationship and brother's best friend romances, so this combination really worked for me. It's low angst and a lot sexy, with more steam than you typically find in a rom com but all of the other things I love about the genre. Landish was able to give the relationship plenty of depth, so while there were a couple of times when I thought the lust was overtaking the story, it settled into a nice, heartwarming read. It moves quickly and stays fun throughout with minimal angst. While this is part of a series, it's easily read as a standalone - though those who are familiar with the series will love the involvement of characters from the previous books. If you're looking for a light, STEAMY rom com, then this is certainly worth a read. I received an ARC via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review of this light romance.

[Marty Sandvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Court and Kaede's relationship. It was adorable how when the fake engagement came up hers is the first name that he thought of saying. The two of them had undeniable chemistry from the beginning. I loved the appearances from the others in the book. So glad that Vi and Ross are happy as well as Archie and do I sense an Abi book coming? I really hope so.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Landish provides the perfect escape. Sometimes we need a smile in our heart to help drown out the screams in our head. Kaede and Courtney lighten up the heartache that seems to surround us. Humor, heart and heat fly right off the page to give us a reason to laugh. My Big Fat Fake Engagement is a charming, welcome addition to any bookshelf.

[Nicole Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try to hold your sides together with this hot new rom com by Lauren Landish! It's an everything-on-the-line arrangement for Courtney and Kaede the day they decide to get fake engaged. Yes, it's recipe for literally everything to go wrong. Yes, it's a heaping side of family drama. Yes, when Courtney's big brother finds out what's really happening, there'll be fireworks galore with his best friend, Kaede. Loved every bit of this hilarious and sweet emotional roller coaster. Best of all, it's FREE in Kindle Unlimited, so go grab it!

[Hopeless Romantic Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never disappointed!

This sequel to the my big fat fake wedding is just as good. Lauren always make funny, witty and endearing romantic stories. It's not a unique theme of "falling in love with your brother 's best friend" but i don't really care. The way its told always makes the difference, the twist and the roles of protagonist like Missy makes it exciting to read. Love it! Please tell me you have one for, Abigail Andrews too or ELSE!

[L.A.L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was at least more believable timeline-wise than the first, but it still lacked from the same problems: poor writing, shallow undeveloped characters, poor plot development. I finally gave up after the nth grammar mistake. A good editor could have helped immensely.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney is intelligent, driven, funny, Zumba dancin’, beautiful woman who wants to put on this “Ice Queen” persona as a VP at Andrews (Her fathers company). Her assistant Jillian is one of the best characters I’ve ever read, always telling Court how she needs to get some D! Then there is her brother Ross’ best friend.... Kaede! Oh he is got himself into a pickle during a proposal for their expansion of One Life fitness facility. That is where he said he was engaged to Courtney, and the big fat lie was out. This is such a fun, cute, and some steamy love story. I always vote for love with an extra side of silliness and to find that person who you truly can melt the ice queen away!

[Christy Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

To me this book was so much better than my bid fat fake wedding! Even though this book was a little long it was put together quite nicely! I love the characters and hope to have a book with AJ and Kayla soon along with a book for Abi!!!

[Jime · Rating 1 out of 5]

This 1 star is giving this book waaay too much. The story is meh, but the characters are terrible. There’s no development and no personality. What. A. Waste. Of. Time. 🤢🤐

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Fat Fake Engagement by Lauren Landish is the story of Kaede McWarren and Courtney Andrews. If you read 'My Big Fate Fake Wedding' then you have already been introduced to Kaede and Courtney. But you don't need to have read that book to read this one...although that was a great book!
Kaede along with his best friend Ross own the One Life Gym. Kaede is looking to go further with the gym by going nation wide. This leads him to work to get Jeffrey Sanders to invest in the business. But Jeffrey Sanders to secure this and to derail any thoughts of Mr. Sanders involving his daughter he comes up with a fake fiancée...Courtney. Courtney is Ross's little sister and also some one Kaede has felt a connection with. Courtney is the Executive VP of Andrews Consolidated, which is a family business but she has been labeled the Ice Queen along with workaholic title, but its gotten her to that position in the company. The only thing..person to heat her up is Kaede but she hasn't acted on her crush for him. But when these to start to play at being in love its starts to become to real...or maybe not real enough. Loved this book and this author's writing!!

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Big Fat Fake Engagement by Lauren Landish a five-star read you won’t have to fake your love for. I adore all of this authors works, as they all have that little something extra but aww man Kaede, well he just gave me all of the warm and fuzzies so badly that I wanted to start reading this again immediately as he is just that special. This was lovely, I loved how we get caught up with Violet and Ross who we met in my Big Fat Fake Wedding, but I love how you don’t need to have read that one first to get this story. Courtney took me no time at all to warm too even if she does see herself as an Ice Queen, I know there is a warmness underneath her armour. This is so well written that you will feel like you are there with them, shaken it in the gym and be able to smell the wine feel like you’re involved in an intimate moment at another point in the story its so well done. My only hope is we will hear more from several of the characters in this story, a certain axe wielding pixie in particular.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the trashiest books I've ever not finished. The woman's nipples were on high beam and disappeared into the man's chest like two pencil erasers. Pretty soon he popped wood. That was enough to make me quit reading.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too slow

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. 22% in and nothing was happening worth mentioning. Also what sort of investor will only consider your company if you “keep it in the family”. In other words, date his daughter.
Too far fetched for me

[Lisa Menor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney Andrews is the Executive VP of Andrews Consolidated. Sure it's family owned, but Courtney earned this position and is the company's future.
Kaede is Ross's best friend/business partner, and Ross is Courtney's older brother.
Ross and Kaede own One Life Gym and are in the process of going nationwide. But for that to happen, they need an investor. Jeffrey Sanders, billionaire extraordinaire, has his hands in many local businesses and is looking to invest. One Life needs his money to go global. Mr. Sanders has other ideas for One Life and that's where Kaede's fantasy woman, his best friend's little sister, comes in. Kaede has been lusting over Courtney for years, all the while knowing she is off limits. He needs her help. At first she's reluctant, but not because she doesn't want to help, but because she's had/has, whatever😉, a crush on Kaede for forever. And what he's asking of Court would only exacerbate the situation for her, but most likely, both of of them!! A fake engagement? Are you kidding me?!? While pretending does sound like fun😏, there's Ross to contend with and those secret feelings and stuff. This can go one of two ways...they keep up the ruse only until it's needed and go back to life as they know it, or they fall in love and live happily ever after. Neither see the latter in their future. Love has to exist for that, right? And neither have time for love....right?
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ ! ! ! AWKWARD, FUNNY AND FLIRTY ALL AT ONCE !
💕LOVE THESE CHARACTERS ESPECIALLY THE STRONG WOMEN ! AMAZING FROM START TO FINISH ! ! !

[Kami Dodson-Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courtney is an Andrews and that name means something. It is part of a family business that Courtney is very proud to be a part of and hopes to climb the corporate ladder with her skills and not just the name.

Kaede is Ross's best friend from childhood. Kaede and Ross have started a business together called One Life Gym. Ross was breaking free from the Andrews name to make something on his own. And him and Kaede have done pretty well together.

The guys want to expand One Life and become a franchise but they need money and an investor so they get a deal with Jeffrey Sanders. The problem is Jeffrey's daughter Melissa (Missy). Missy wants Kaede and she wants him as part of the business deal. Kaede panics, in order to get out of dating (the
horrible) Missy and being pimped out he says he is engaged. When put on the spot with who he says Courtney. Ross can't believe he just said his sisters name.

Courtney has been crushing on Kaede forever. So when Kaede tells her the blunder he made she agrees to be his fake fiance. Things with Jeffrey are a little stressful and Missy is crazy.

But despite the lie Courtney and Kaede fall for each other. The lie puts the relationship under a microscope and they feel pressure to be real and fake at the same time.

This story was sweet but it did not grab me the way a lot of them do. I'm not really sure why. I think I should have read book #1 but got the second story on Prime Loan and did not realize it was the 2nd in the series. I would read more of this author and more of this series.

Rating: 2 1/2 Stars

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this read about Kaede and Courtney, two people who have known each other for awhile, Kaede having lusty thoughts of Courtney now that she is all grown up but she is his best friend’s younger sister and doesn’t want to mess up the bro code. Courtney has had similar thoughts on Kaede and when he comes to her with a problem that only she can help with, she jumps at the chance and the two play their roles perfectly...a little too perfectly until fake becomes real...now they just have to get past her brother and Kaede’s insecurities.
A great read with steam and little to no drama between them...LOVED IT !! There was also humour that had me laughing out loud and and feeling all the feels with Kaede’s vulnerability and insecurities. Courtney was a no nonsense, tell it like it is with a sharp tongue that had me pumping my fists each time she met up with Missy. Kaede was all swoon worthy and perfect and these two type A personalities matched perfectly, and I LOVED how Courtney laid it all out for him, how they worked together and how they let down their walls, but only for each other. The read flowed beautifully, the characters were amazing and their HEA left me smiling from ear to ear.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

[Meryl Markowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy for an honest review.
Courtney has always been secretly been in love/lust with Kaede. He's her older brother's best friend and she feels that he's never really noticed her other than the bratty younger sister.
Kaeden has noticed Courtney, but she's is is best friend's younger sister. There is a "Bro-Code" to maintain so he has never acted on it. add the fact that he is nowhere near their level of finances. He feels unworthy of even making an attempt with her, even if he could.

Kaeden and his business partner ar trying to expand. the money man is subtly puutting preesure on Keaden to "keep things in the family" and date is daughter. Kaeden bluts out that not only is he taken, but he's engaged to Courtney! Now he only has to convince her to participate with the ruse.

In this delightful Rom-Com the chemistry between Courtney and Kaeden is off the charts. besides chemistry, these two navigate letting their walls down and showing eachother their true selves and not the facade they show the world.

This is a great, feel good story with romantic moments that will make you sigh, supporting characters that are so funny that you will laugh out loud, while reading this book and is just what the world needs during these stressful, troubling times.

[Liva's reading antics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren is one of those writers, I keep coming back even after disappointing read. I feel like I need to give her another chance because her books are a good guilty pleasure. Her characters usually are super nice, situations ridiculous, and sometimes over the top, but the best part – there will be a happy ending.

After a week I had at work, this is what I needed badly. And I am sooooo happy I get to say I found my favorite read from Lauren Landish so far.

I was surprised in the best way possible about this book. It still was super cute, with lovable characters and little exaggerated situation, however, this managed to capture some great messages about equals in a relationship, about strong, independent women, who do not wait for a man to fix her problems, who knows what she wants and is ready to go for it, about demons we each fight within ourselves. In this book nothing was missing – good chemistry, romance, little steamy, happy ending.

[Letitia Bennion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney and Kaede....wow! We get a follow up to my Big Fat Fake Wedding with Kaede and Courtney. This book was amazing! These two are so similar to each other and compliment each other beautifully. I did like they approached to whole dake engagement and the steps they took to make it believable. They both had issues to overcome and weaknesses that the other made stronger. I laughed with the silly things Lauren included, I teared up at the struggles, I sighed with the sweet things done in the book. Archie made me laugh with his silliness, Missy made me dislike her. We got to meet new characters and get excited for more stories! Lauren outdoes herself every time she writes a new story and makes us wait on pins and needles for the next one! I hope she includes a bonus epilogue for us on this one too!!!

I received this ARC for an honest review, but how can you not love her stories!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top reads for 2020 for me! I love everything about it! Rom-com perfection! Lauren Landish gives readers all the feels in My Big Fat Fake Engagement!

Kaede and Courtney are amazing together and because of a business deal... Kaede asks Courtney to be his fake fiance. Both of them have had feelings for each other for years but she is his best friends sister.

Lauren Landish writes an amazing story that gives all the feels. The story is so well told and flows so well. I laughed so much seeing Kaede and Courtney's thoughts throughout the book. The best part of the book is watching them grow together, learning to value each other's strengths. Their family and friends around them are so real and so funny. Loved seeing Violet and Ross again! I did not want this book to end! Read it- it will make you laugh and make you feel!

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love big brother's best friend trope's and I really loved this one. Lauren tends to combine funny with hotness and she did that with this one, I love Lauren I dont think there has been a book from her that I disliked so I was happy to get this one and I felt like I totally needed laughter in my life, being cooped up has gotten a little tiring, I am not going to complain because it could be worse, however again Lauren helped. Love Kaede, and he wants to expand his gym and the person of interest alluded to Kaede dating his daughter so Kaede lies that he is engaged and the person he immediately thinks of is Courtney his besties sister, what Kaede didn't know was that she has always had a crush on him. Courtney is known as an Ice Queen but Kaede is going to melt her, and this is the chance for her..

rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinion.