Not For Me

A Drunk Love Contemporary Romance #1

by Aria Bliss

A Fake Dating Romantic Comedy

It’s a fake arrangement.

Two weeks with me. A free vacation and one very convincing date with her. What could possibly go wrong?

♥ ♥ ♥

To avoid going on blind dates arranged by my mother, I agree to pretend-date my sister’s best friend.

Imagine my surprise when she turns out to be the beautiful, dirty-talking woman who caught my attention while running in Central Park.

She’s fun, flirty, everything I’m missing in life, and everything I can never have.

I had my chance at love and lost big time. Love isn’t in the cards for me, and I’m fine with that. Running a business with my three siblings gives me all the love and purpose I need.

♥ ♥ ♥

After two weeks with her, she challenges everything I’d come to accept. I want more than she’s willing to give, and I can’t risk getting hurt a second time. To protect my heart, I’ll have to work overtime to keep this relationship fake.

Not For Me is a dual POV steamy full-length STANDALONE romance filled with lots of sexy times in the bedroom, profanity, and love with a HEA ending!

♥ ♥ ♥

Author Notes: Fans of Claire Kingsley, Melanie Harlow, Lauren Landish, and Amy Daws will love this new series by Aria Bliss. Get ready to stay up all night laughing, crying, and swooning because this series has it all. A fake dating, sister’s best friend, opposites attract, forced proximity romance with a sexy, grumpy bar manager who’s given up on love and a career-driven woman who only has eyes for her laptop. This one has all the feels and enough steam to fog up your windows.

The books in A Drunk Love Romantic Comedy series are all standalone novels and can be read in any order. But if you love family drama and the subtle build of future romances, I suggest you read them in order, starting with Not For Me.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2022

About the author

Aria Bliss writes edgy, emotionally charged contemporary romance with spice, humor, drama, and big feels. Readers love her work for her engaging storytelling, relatable characters, steamy romance, and emotional depth. She has a soft spot for single dads, second chances, forbidden romance, and grumpy bad boys with sweet centers that are impossible not to love.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ rounded up.

Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, meddling mothers, fake relationship, best friend's brother, sisters best friend, forced proximity, opposites attract, steamage, references to an abusive relationship, second chance at love

Heath & Alicia
Heath and his 3 siblings own a bar together. There is no rivalry between these 4 and their relationship is great.
Alicia is a romance author who is fun, confident and independent. She's an only child and her relationship with her mother is strained and she can be down right mean to her daughter.

One thing Heath and Alicia have in common, besides being workaholics ~ meddling mothers who want them to settle down (this bugs me!), so they begin fake dating in hopes of getting their mothers off their back. Both have a sad and emotional past that make them reluctant to love again, but I'm so happy they found each other because I really liked them together.

One bit bugged me about Alicia and how instead of just talking things out she just shut down and pushed Heath away at one point. I have mixed feelings about how she fixed things ~ didn't love it, it was just alright.

All of the characters were pretty great, but there's always one pill and this time it's Tiffany, and her mother too ~ they were awful. Trent on the other hand was a delight! I really liked his friendship with Alicia and Emily and I would totally be down with reading a story just about him.

I enjoy series that follow siblings and look forward to reading about the next sibling, Emily. I LOVED the bonus scene that sets us up for Let Me Stay.

*Thanks to Aria Bliss and Booksirens for my copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

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[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really don't like when the entire third act conflict is based on the insecurities of one person and then a simple talk from a friend solves everything. like that just rubs me the wrong way for some reason, it seems so unrealistic.

thank you to booksirens and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Catbytheseareads ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake dating, fake girlfriend, best friends brother, book boyfriend what’s not to love?
Alexis Stone, a busy, single, best selling romance author.
Heath Rockwell, single, bar co-owner.
Both of these characters agree to fake dating each other to get their mothers off their backs and to stop them from trying to set them up on dates.

This amazing book has it all from the feels, the family drama and realistic pasts that both main characters have gone through with their past relationships.

Thank you Book Sirens, the publisher and Author for the amazing opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

[Andi Isack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read but definitely not the least from this author. The blurb got me a nice sensation so I said "OK, it sounds fun, let's give it a try". I can say that is a really easy reading and a turning page story. I liked the characters and the plot. Know how to get your attention and keep you there enjoying all, and if you are curious about the smutt part, lol that's one of the highlights of the whole story.
The push and pull between the characters is really original, tempteting and deep. I love Alecia 's sass and Heath' s endless "skills" especially those between the sheets. Haha! No spoilers. If you are intrigued by it, all you have to do is get this book and meet those two, you'll have a great time together and you'll fully enjoy it.
Now I want Emily's book!! ASAP
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *

[Debra Johnson]

November 21, 2022 Amazon purch

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more, but some of the interactions between Alicia and Heath were so… bad. I’ll probably still read Emily’s book for another try.

[W Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I didn’t know I needed.

The title doesn’t really describe this book but, it was the book I didn’t know I needed.
I’m normally into dark/bullying/age gap/RH but, this book felt real. The characters are believable and they could be any normal person.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/21/2022)! 🎁

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

First interaction did not pull me in and was rather just weird.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book through booksirens it's actually my first read from this author and all I keep thinking is how the hell have I not read any of her books before ? It's a best friends brother romance which is one of my favourite tropes so I was more than excited to get reading.

Alicia is a romance author (LOVE that 😍) who has been best friends with Emily since college. They both come from very different backgrounds Alicia is a Brooklyn girl who grew up with her mum barley making enough to cover the rent whereas Emily is a Hamptons girl who has lived a very comfortable life. Even though they are best friends Alicia has never felt comfortable in Emily's world so has turned down every event or vacation invitation feeling like she doesn't fit in with them all.
In the past she was in a bad relationship with a guy who controlled and hurt her and when she finally got out she told herself she'd never let a man do that to her again so she put everything she had into her career. She feels like she's exactly were she needs to be her writing career is thriving and she loves that she doesn't have the complication of a man in her life. However Alicia's mum is forever on her case criticising her life choices especially her work thinking writing books is a waste of time 🙄🤦‍♀️ she is constantly trying to set her up with men even though she's happy with her life exactly the way it is.

Wanting to help her best friend Emily comes up with a plan for Alicia to fake date her older brother Heath who also gets pressured by their mother to settle down and tries to set him.up with various women. Reluctantly she agrees wanting nothing more than to get her mum off her back.... what could go wrong right ? 🤷‍♀️😜

I want to keep going but I don't really like to leave much spoilers on my reviews and I think if I carry on I'll give to much away 🙈🤣 This book was amazing it had me hooked from the minute I picked it up I really could go on and on.. but I wont. The chemistry between Alicia and Heath was off the charts 🔥 I absolutely loved them 💙

You won't regret reading this book I couldn't put it down I loved it so much and cannot wait for Emily's story next 💜

[Amanda Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fake dating trope and I love the best friends’s brother trope so obviously I’m in love with this book. I mean who can say no to faking dating your best friends brother??? Especially when said brother is incredible across the board! If I’ve said it once I’ve said it twenty times, I wish one of my best friends had an available older brother… it’s just not fair.

Loved the banter, the family relationships (Alicia being so close with Heath’s family before they ever got together), and the romance. Another added bonus was Alicia being a romance writer and hearing how she’s creates her characters. Still can’t get over Alicia and Heath’s first conversation at the beginning of the book. Would’ve paid a lot of money to see that actually happen in public.

But seriously, could not put this book down! And am trying to control myself from reading Emily & Evan’s book immediately. This was my first time reading Aria and will now be reading everything she’s ever written, I don’t make the rules.

I received this book from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kims.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love a grumpy/sunshine, fake dating scenario... especially with the best friend's brother! This book gave all the tension you'd hope for, was deliciously spicy and ended with a HEA.

Heath is the oldest Rockwell sibling and the first MMC in the Drunk Love series by Aria Bliss. Matching him with FMC Alicia, his little sister Emily's best friend, was a lot of fun! She's a spunky romance writer who wants to avoid her mother's attempts at setting her up over the summer so that she can focus on writing instead. After losing who he thought was the love of his life a decade ago, Heath has been closed off to love. That hasn't stopped his mother from trying to match him with her friends daughters and he has had enough. So when Emily devises a plan to give two of her favourite people a summer free from meddling mothers... they're in.

I really enjoyed this story and read through the 5 book series back to back. I would highly recommend it suggest you check out the Author's other series also as I've really enjoyed them!!

[Saryas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Heath and Alicia. Heath is running in Central Park and comes across Alicia who is on the phone talking dirty (she is a romance author who was transcribing a love scene). They are attracted to each other, but nothing comes of it. Unknown to both, Alicia is Health’s sister Emily’s best friend. Emily suggests the two of them fake date to get both their mothers off their backs. They do that but fake starts to become real very quickly.

I enjoyed this book. It made me laugh and smile. I loved the characters. Alicia was a spunky, in charge woman who had moved past a difficult relationship. Health has recovered from a devastating loss and was sweet and emotionally available. I also loved the supporting cast of characters. The plot was unbelievable in places and the ending quite cheesy. Alicia managed to piss me off a few times with how she treated Heath, and her inflexibility but she did finally get there in the end. There were steamy scenes and a HEA. I highly recommend this book and look forward to Emily and Evan’s story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[꒰ dani ꒱ · Rating 1 out of 5]

⌠ ★☆☆☆☆ ⌡

i received an e-book copy of this book through booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

this book follows alicia, a 27 year old romance author who is in the process of writing a book. after a previous bad relationship, alicia has thrown herself into her work and feels like she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. she’s a successful writer, has financial freedom, and has strong healthy relationships. what more could a girl ask for? despite this, alicia’s mom believes her daughter’s life could be better with a man in it. next we have heath. he’s in the same boat as alicia. he runs a successful bar business with his siblings and has been single for years. much like alicia’s mom, heath’s mother believes it’s time he settles down with a nice girl.

as a result of this, emiliy, alicia’s best friend and heath’s younger sister suggest they fake date in order to keep their mothers off their backs.

my thoughts on the book:

1. the dialogue felt incredibly forced. especially during the sex scenes. i could not take heath seriously during those scenes. also, the first interaction. oof. i wanted to DNF it right then and there. it gave me second hand embarrassment and i had to put the book down for two days before i could pick it up again.

2. the author mentions that alicia was in a previous abusive relationship yet it’s never addressed. it’s just floating around. there is a scene where alicia is sharing this with heath and this man just ruins the moment by saying the dumbest most tone deaf thing ever. this made me hate heath so much.

“Heath nods. He doesn’t look angry like his brothers did when they found out. He looks concerned, thoughtful. “Not all men hit.”

this woman is sharing a traumatizing and sensitive experience with you and you make it about yourself? literally what a tool. i honestly don’t know what the author was trying to do here but he’s such a 1 dimensional character. his dialogue was the WORST. there was no finesse to his approach to anything.

3. and finally. the book was boring. there were some entertaining moments between the characters that had the potential to give these characters some depth but they all fell short. also, the conflict didn’t feel like conflict (?) the climax was anticlimactic and i was honestly just glad it was over.

i tried to like this book because i love the fake dating, close proximity, and grumpy/sunshine tropes so much but this book just didn’t do it for me.

[V J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I picked this book up without much expectations. I just needed to read something quick and light, but also something which would work magic for my heart.

I'm so happy it served that purpose! It's the kind of smutty romance, which keep you wanting more, and by the end of it, serves you abundantly.

With all the good things going around the story, I still feel some things could have been better. Like, the first few chapters were really difficult to stick by - it were too clichéd and obvious. A lot of things felt too exaggerated - I mean, I never understood THAT level of attraction at first sight.

Keeping those aside, I'm really happy that I picked it up, regardless. It was a feel-good story, and thankfully a Happily Ever After too!! Can't wait to read Emily & Evan's story now!

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

[BB · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gave me stinkface multiple times.

Whenever the only thing stopping a character from doing something, is them not doing it- I need some sort of growth/catalyst for change otherwise the character just becomes unlikable. Hello Alicia

Alicia(27) is a romance author that's written 47 books, that have made her so much money she could never work again for the rest of her life. Just from a time/work standpoint that's a LOL. I've suspended reality for sillier things so. Y'know ok.

Her friend swooped in and saved her from her abusive relationship. The ex went to jail for a year(3 or 4 years ago, but he doesn't reappear so, at least there's that).

She never got help afterwards. Her writing is described as her coping mechanism. Her mom is hyper critical and emotional manipulation is her oxygen.

So her best friend in an obvious yet secret attempt to set her up with her brother Heath, proposes they pretend to date to get Heath's overbearing mom and her unhealthy mom off their backs

Heath's fiancée lost her battle with cancer a decade before, and he's the cliché NEVER LOVE AGAIN, until about 3 seconds after he meets Alicia.

Heath, after a decade of grief, is magically open, vulnerable and honest. So his doing-nothing-until-he-does moment is in the beginning

They get to know each other/hook up. Heath communicates what he wants, respects boundaries.

But for the sake of having a plot, Alicia doesn't get any personal growth and stays set on inaction/victim mode

We do get at least 5 side characters(Emily, Dexter, Luke, Trent, and...Elaine?) That are nosy/pushy/boundary crossing to push the "plot" along because they know what Alicia/Heath need more than Alicia/Heath

I personally do not like when main characters are together only because side characters intervention

If they can't work their shit out on their own to even get together- how is that a relationship that's going to last? Is there going to be constant external manipulation/management(GONNA BE A NO FOR ME BIG DOG)

Alicia plays the 'this was always fake/we're done' card/dumps him.

And a week later Alicia is TOLD she's in love with Heath by side characters. So she shows up where he runs and instead of just talking to him(like he asks) she invites him to her book release(that she tried to get his brothers to drag him to, to spring on him- but they refused)because she wants to tell him how she feels but would feel SAFER doing on a public platform in front of strangers

I'm not going to lie, this is the first time I've had a character try and explain why their cringe grand gesture HAS to be in front of a bunch of her fans

To be fair, this was more face palming than stinkface. She feels SAFER, (seriously SAFER) blasting the details of her personal life (and his) in front of strangers/across social media

And he goes with it. HEA?? Alicia needed a good therapist/dv support group beginning/middle/end.

Their timeline is tragic.

Two weeks to pretend to date/fall in love. Broken up for 2 weeks. Back together for 4 months, Engaged. Two days later Married. Two weeks later trying for a baby.

And the next book is the "I know what's best for you"/pushy side character?

It's KindleUnlimited, but I don't think I can take 200 pages of inaction/non growth. It's too much of a bummer

[LizzyLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging fake-dating romance with plenty of spice and a whole lot of feels!

Not For Me: A Fake Dating Romance is the first title in Aria Bliss’ A Drunk Love Contemporary Romance series but can be read as a standalone title, although it sets the scene for book 2.
Alongside his brothers, Dexter and Luke, and their sister, Emily, Heath Rockwell owns and manages The Rock Room, a popular New York Bar. After the death of his fiancée, Heath had lived a stagnant existence, surviving from day to day but over nine years on, his life is moving again, albeit at a sedate pace. Whereas his siblings hang out at their bar after their shifts, Heath prefers to go home to unwind. He’s a family man without the family that he’d once planned for.

Heath has made peace with his loss and is content to focus on his work, not needing nor wanting a relationship. Unfortunately, Heath’s mother is desperate to see her eldest son married with children and is constantly setting up dates for him. Meanwhile, Alicia Sanders, the best friend of Heath’s sister, Emily, is under similar pressure from her own mother who is equally determined to find a match for her. Emily suggests that Heath and Alicia pretend to be in a relationship to keep both meddling mothers at bay and despite their misgivings they agree.

Days earlier romance writer Alicia had a chance meeting in a park with a handsome man who had become the focus of her latest writing project. To her, the mystery man was an imperfect book boyfriend - he had the looks and physique to be the lead man in one of her novels but seemed uptight and lacking the perfect personality that her fictional boyfriend would have. Alicia is horrified to discover that Heath is this same man and shocked to realise that she is very much attracted to him, especially since she doesn’t want a relationship. Alicia’s priorities are to protect her career and her heart, which means there isn’t space for a man in her life, especially one who is the total opposite of herself.

Not For Me is written from the points of view of both Heath and Alicia and both characters are nicely developed. Both these main characters and the secondary characters in this story are likeable and realistic. I very much enjoyed the push and pull of Heath and Alicia’s attraction; neither wanting a relationship but both being physically and emotionally attracted to each other. I felt for both of them and really wanted them to get their happily ever after ending. Overall, Not For Me is a well written and easy to read story that might make Heath your perfect book boyfriend. I will definitely read more books from this series.

Disclaimer: I was fortunate to receive an e-ARC of this book, thanks to author Aria Bliss and to BookSirens, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Robin Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, sweet, hot romance - read on KU

I really enjoyed this. Heath WAS a perfect book boyfriend. It was Alicia who was flawed but her list of flaws was short. Only one, really. She is too afraid of a repeat of a past boyfriend to try to date again. Which was ridiculous but people can be that way.

Alicia is a romance author. Knowing that helps you in the first chapter. For a moment, I thought she was listening to a romance on Audible.

Although Heath is reluctant at first, it doesn't take much before he was fully on board and wanting more. Pretty much as soon as he realizes the girl his sister wants him to fake date is the same hottie he ran into while running, he's ready to go full blast.

There was a tiny something missing that kept this from being 5 stars for me. I read almost a book a day, review almost every book I read, and I only give out 3 or so 5 star reviews a month. I save those for books that were so great they consume my thoughts for the rest of the day. The ones I want to immediately pass on to others.

I felt like the beginning was a little slow or boring. Once they meet for real, everything goes quickly. The only other thing I would have suggested changing is something nasty gets said to Alicia and she never tells anyone. I would have loved a scene where Heath's mom drove the karma bus to get her justice but see how that could have been hard to fit in.

I didn't notice a single grammatical error and I am picky. Well, I did notice two but I'm not sure I'm correct in which way those should go. One was an extra comma, which is way better than missing commas. The other was a who/whom thing when I would have seen it as "who" being the subject of the object clause instead of just the object. But, in that instance, I'm not sure I was correct.

Overall, I did enjoy it. It was definitely hot. And I'm really excited to have found a new author. I am about to read the second in the series and expect her to become a go to author for me.

[MsRHReviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance at love!

Thirty-six year old Heath thought that he was never going to get another chance at love. He had it, he lost it, and accepted he would likely be single for the rest of his life. His mother did NOT accept it, however, and continued to set him up on dates he wanted nothing to do with.

Twenty-seven year old Alicia was a very successful, single romance author. She recognized the irony but didn't care. She didn't have time to date. Her career took up all of her time, and she had long hours that had no set schedule, which she knew most men would hate. She'd been there, done that. She ALSO had a mother who insisted she go on blind dates. She wanted grandchildren, after all, and she was her only child. Alicia wasn't getting any younger!

The solution? Heath's sister / Alicia's best friend Emily decided they should fake date so their moms would stop pestering them! Who cares if they both think they're not each other's types and are complete opposites. It's just for a few weeks!

The story flips back and forth between their points of view. Though they may deny it (one more than the other), real feelings start forming between them. It was sweet seeing the two of them interact and become closer, even if everything was supposed to be fake. It had a bit of a sad moment towards the end (as many romance books do!), but their friends and family weren't having them mess up a good thing!

I read Trent's story before this one, but because they're all standalones, it didn't mess me up any. It obviously makes sense to read them in order since the characters each end up finding someone in each book and reappear in the next ones, but it was no biggie!

I love that Heath got his second "once in a lifetime" love and that he helped Alicia find her first! A sweet romance that I would recommend if you need something a bit light with a happy ending, along with some spice! :)

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful mix of funny, sweet, steamy, and real life issues

I loved Heath and Alicia’s opposites attract, best friend’s brother, fake relationship romance. It’s a heartwarming, funny, and steamy romance with all the big feels - laughing, crying, swooning, cringing, teeth gritting, and cheering. Heath and Alicia are portrayed as real, relatable people who have flaws and scars, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Alicia is a successful romance writer whose mother keeps trying to set her up. She is outgoing and a go with the flow kind of girl. Heath is the business manager for his family’s bar. He is uptight and likes everything controlled and planned. His mother also keeps trying to set him up. They are both a little wounded and due to the scars from their pasts, neither of them are interested in dating. Heath’s sister gets them to agree to fake date each other in order to keep both of their mothers off their backs. While trying to meet to see if they want to try fake dating, neither of them realizes they’ve already met. Their awkward and adorkable meet cute which included dirty talking and teasing banter was delicious perfection. Both Heath and Alicia are determined to go through with the fake relationship but keep the boundaries and the no feelings clearly defined. Of course, feelings rarely stay in the boxes we try to keep them in, even if they’re scary. To get to their HEA, there is baggage unpacking and leaps of faith, and the journey to get there was so heartwarming and healing. The story was well written and included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and an engaging storyline as shown through sweet moments, steamy scenes, chuckles, supportive friends, messy families, painful pasts, and heart squeezing love.

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally intense with a side of family drama

Both Alicia's and Heath's moms are tired of waiting for their children to settle down, so they're constantly trying to fix them up with assorted blind dates. To avoid this, Alicia and Heath agree to fake date each other so their moms will be mollified and leave them alone. Alicia's best friend is Heath's little sister, Emily, so it's surprising that they didn't meet before Emily suggested the fake dating plan.

Ah, but the story doesn't start there - it actually starts with a hilarious meet cute where steamy-romance-book-author Alicia is dictating a particularly erotic scene into her phone while in Central Park and within hearing of Heath, who's out for his daily jog. This scene, and the follow up at Coffee Stop, are among the best opening scenes I've ever read for a romance.

I loved getting to know Heath, Emily, Luke, Dexter, and Trent in this book, and am completely hooked on binging this series to see how each of them finds their own HEA. I adored watching Heath lose his famous control, and I understood Alicia's determination to put her career first, and avoid the risks she knows all too well can come from a relationship.

Their HEA was terrific - a nice twist to the usual progression of things. I enjoyed getting to know the entire Rockwell family, and I love the way they all work together at the family business. I highly recommend this story for anyone who reads contemporary romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[tattooedbooknerdgirl35 (Amanda Lynn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC readers copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have to say this is the first time I believe reading a book from Aria Bliss. I have to say I completely enjoyed this romantic comedy. It had me laughing, crying. I just couldn't put it down. Sometimes a book is just so relatable you can't help but to just read until the book is done, this was one of those books.
A little of the book. The lead lady is Alicia Sanders or aka Alexis, she is a romance author who is best friends with Emily and Trent (They sound like friends I have). Alicia has giving up on love she has been hurt in the past by an ex.
Hence then comes in Mr. Runner she meets on one of her walks while she is dictating to her phone about a steamy plot for a book. They get to talking and he is awkward towards her cause he is liking her.
They meet again and come to find out her friend Emily's big brother. She has three including him. She tells them to fake dating so to get each of their mothers off their backs.

It defintaly is a really funny book watching how they deal with each other and what happens between them. There are some really good times they have and some awkward times and some really sad times. But it is a must read if you love anykind of romance that has a little bit of comedy. It doesn't drag on and it has a nice storyline.

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was my first time reading this author and I loved this story so much. I was so invested in this story that I could not put it down. It's a second chance at love story between two people who engage in a fake romance.

Alicia is best friends with Heath's sister since college, but they never met because he hides from dating and women. He was in love 10 years before but lost his fiancée to Cancer. Since then, he has avoided women and relationships. That is until he runs in the park and meets a very hot woman.

Meanwhile Heaths mom is concerned about his broken heart and wants to fix him up. But Alicia's best friend and Heath's sister devise a plan for him to fake date her bestie and that's when the fun starts in this story.

Alicia is a romance author that fears love and so if Heath wants something real with her, he will have to work hard to see their connection.

This was a very hot story and one I really enjoyed. It has many hijinks and characters who fear love and heartbreak but have to decide if love is worth the risk.

[Reba Pennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from this author and it did not disappoint! It’s a best friend’s brother romance which is one of my favorite tropes, so I knew it was going to be a good one!

Alicia is a romance author who grew up with not a lot where her best friend Emily grew up living a luxurious life in the Hamptons. Polar opposites, right? Alicia’s mother doesn’t agree with any of her choices in life and keeps telling her that she needs a man to make her happy. Enter Emily who suggests Alicia fake dates her older brother, Heath, who also has a mother breathing down his neck to settle down. Needless to say, stuff goes down in a big way and you’ll just have to read to find out what happens next!

The chemistry between these two characters is undeniable. Aria writes a page-turning story that will make you laugh, smile, cringe (there are a couple moments where I am like – oh boy this is awkward), but all around have a good time. It hooked me in from the moment I picked it up and I can’t wait to read Emily’s story next! If you like the best friend’s sibling/fake dating trope, you should definitely check this one out!

[Book Nerdy 2020 · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOT FOR ME By Aria Bliss

Alicia is a romance book writer and Heath owns a bar with his siblings, one of whom is Alicia's best friend.

😊What i liked -

✔ Fake Dating/Rom-Com/Opposites Attract/Forced Proximity
✔ OH MY GOD i fell off my bed laughing in the first chapter itself. The way they two meet and their exchange is Hilarious.
✔ I fell in Love with both Heath and Alicia's character in this. He is broody, grumpy. sweet, hot and sexy to Her funny, flirty, sarcastic and vulnerable.
✔ I loved the nosey siblings and of course Trent (no wonder i instantly fell in love with him in his book)
✔ I loved the ease and instant attraction between the two.
✔ This book is fast paced, funny, heartbreaking, cute and really steamy.

🤔What could have been better -

✔ I would have loved to see more of Evan in this book.


📚Who Should read :

👶Beginners
💝Romance Lovers
😆Rom-Com Lovers
😉Fake Dating

📈My Rating : 4.5/5

P.s- Part of a series but can be totally read as a standalone.

Thank you Aria Bliss for a copy.

QOTD - Have you ever read a series from the last to the first?

[Jennifer Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there anything better than a romance book that makes you wish book boyfriends were real? This is a book you will devour in one sitting. As a reader, this is the reason I love romance books, and the heroine, Alicia, is realizing the same thing. With one big change, she is the author and has never experienced love. Enter Heath, her best friends older brother, and maybe the sexiest man she has ever met.

Alicia and Heath bond over the pressure from their mothers, and tragic past relationships. They agree to “fake” a relationship in the hopes of easing the pressures from their mothers. But, is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks more than Heath bargained for? And can Alicia really separate past abuse from current feelings?

In this fake relationship romance, you will fall for quick witted, and spunky Alicia, and appreciate the brooding, caring Heath. The real question is can you ever find love after tragedy?

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

[Michele Richardson]

Wow! I love Heath and his siblings and cannot wait to see the other 3 (and maybe lovable Trent) all get their HEA! The four of them own a growing bar/event site and have their own pasta and secrets. In this first book, we learn about Heath, the oldest. He is a brooding, controlling (in a great way), hottie. The siblings are setting him up in a fake relationship for the family’s 2 week vacation with sister Emily’s best friend.
Alicia, the best friend, is a romance novelist and agrees to also keep her mother off of her back.
The two have a chance encounter or two before knowing who the other is, let the antics begin. There is laughter watching that and tears as each one deals with their past towards their own HEA.
This story, like everything I’ve read by this author is written with such emotion and care you feel like you know the characters and are rooting for them.
Well done !! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia may be a successful romance writer but she had no idea what love looked like IRL (in real life). To keep her mom from setting her up on more God awful blind dates, she accepts her friend, Emily's idea to be the fake girlfriend to her brother, Heath. Heath is having the same matchmaking treatment from their mom.

I loved Alicia and Heath as soon as they met in Central Park. They had no clue who each other was. She was dictating her book into her phone and he thought she was having phone sex. It was freaking hilarious! Alicia had been hurt in a previous relationship and wasn't trusting and Heath had to earn that trust. The author didn't make Heath the "Perfect Book Boyfriend". I found that refreshing actually. It made me feel like a man like Heath could be the guy in the car next to you at the stoplight!

I think the best part of the book was the ending. I highlighted it for rereading. If it was a movie, it would be on YouTube to be viewed millions of times.

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

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from this author and it definitely won't be my last, I'm ready for the next in the series already.

This is a duel POV standalone but the series centres around the Rockwell family. Alicia is best friends with Emily Rockwell, and has a mother who is pestering her to settle down. Heath Rockwell is the oldest brother and believes he's already had his chance at love but lost her too soon, he also has a mother who wants him to settle down. Together they agree to be each other's 'fake' date to get their mothers off their backs.

I enjoyed that Heath was the one who fell first and that he had to try and convince Alicia, it made a nice change. Their first meeting is brilliant and sets the pace for their relationship. Alicia is confident and sassy and not afraid to say what she wants unless it comes to her own love life.
They may be opposites but they seemed to balance each other out perfectly.

I can't say I'm a fan of how the ending came together, it just didn't feel the right way for this couple, but I'm glad they got their HEA.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and is Heath and Alicia’s story. Heath is content with his life running as business with his siblings, but his meddling mother has other ideas, and tries to arrange bling dates for him. Alicia is a successful romance author who is focused on her career, after being burnt in the past with love, but her mother has other ideas as well. Heath and Alicia cross paths when running in Central Park, and do not expect to see each other again, only to find out that she is his sisters’ best friend from college, and the one he is supposed to be fake dating to get both of their mothers off their backs. This is a well written story which is humorous, entertaining, and with witty and flirty banter, family, friendships, intrigue, romance, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to a steamy and heartfelt addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.