Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

Forever Marriage Match #4

by Ellie Hall

With the high school reunion approaching, according to a pact among my friends, I have to find my Marriage Match. Too bad I hate him.

I know exactly what I want: an epic adventure on the open road, alone. Forget the silly dating dare. My quest is to visit all fifty states and find a place to call home. When my mom asks for a favor to help a family friend, I can’t say no even though I despise the guy.

Elliot Stihl is a rock star in recovery with a debilitating fear of flying, but he needs to get to an awards show. To him, a road trip with a pretty woman sounds like a song in the making. Turns out, he’s my number one nemesis—not a fan of his lifestyle or that thing he did that time.

Me, forgive? Forget? Not on your life, buddy.

We clash when tailed by a crazy ex, try to detour from past heartbreak, and take a wrong turn that leads us to discover what we have in common. When the trip comes to an end and real-life intervenes, sending us in different directions, he says I’m like a tune he can’t get out of his head.

Forgive? Forget? Maybe...

Will these speedbumps slow us down or are we destined for love?

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Audiobook, Rom Com, Contemporary

234 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2021

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

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Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

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Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

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The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

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The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

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Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

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Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

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Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

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Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

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The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

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The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

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Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

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On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the Forever Marriage Match series. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate is the fourth book in the series, and I highly recommend reading them in order. The series follows a group of five friends.

Mila and Eliot dated for a while until he ghosted her. Mila is upset with him and is sure they will never see each other again. She is preparing to set out on a road trip, by herself, in search of discovery. Her mom derails her plans when she asks Mila to take a friend to California. Mila tries to dissuade her mom, especially when she discovers it's Eliot.

Eliot screwed up his life and his relationships. Fresh from rehab, he is a new man. However, Mila doesn't trust him. He had no idea of the damage he had done. Mila grudgingly takes him along, and he is determined to get her to relax and break the rules she has set for the trip.

Dare to Love the Guy I Hate is a journey of self-discovery. It is a story of second chances, enemies to lovers, but it is not as light as other books in the series. It still had humor and witty banter, but it had more depth, which was necessary for Mila's story.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so incredibly cute Eliot and milas relationship was so cute enemies to lovers but super cute
Especially after he met her grandmother I'd love to have a grandma like hers
I loved watching their love story come about and Eliots love for animals. I can't wait to read the rest of this series (I'm reading them backwards)

"and I love it. I love her face. I love her voice. I love everything about Mila Vivian Strickland."
Mila talking to her friends about Eliot was actually so cute I want someone like that
"He’s Mr. O’Ttractive. I’ll have to tell the Fab Five."

I loved the nicknames they had for eachother too😭
Eliot wanting Mila and only Mila broke my heart especially because she loved him He loved her

THE FRICKEN PLOT TWIST AFTER HE QUIT THE BAND MY GOD😭😭😭

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Forever Marriage Match Series continues as another one of the five friends has to decide if she has met her FMM. Unfortunately for Mila Strickland- the guy she had been secretly meeting for a few months as he traveled with his rock band had ghosted her. He was her Mr X and she didn't want anything to do with him and no way was he her FMM.

Mila was planning a cross country trip in the VW she had received from a mother she didn't even know existed. She was still dealing with the fact that she had been adopted and she needed this trip to come to terms with this new discovery. When her mom insists she do a favor for the son of her old friend Chaz- she is totally surprised to find out it is Elliot O'Connell, her Mr X. He had just finished up a month in rehab for an addiction to sleeping pills and needed to be in LA for an awards ceremony. Grudgingly agreeing to taking him along, he had to agree to her terms and to go to the destinations on the roadmap that was left in the car by her birth mom.

I loved Elliot who knew he had blown it with Mila and also knew that she was the one he could see himself settling down with and finally having a family to love. Elliot had to gain her trust and he patiently put up with lots of her shenanigans as she was making him pay for hurting her.

There was lots of humor in this story as these two traveled cross country and lots of surprises along the way as Mila followed the map left by her birth mom. She had a hard time letting down her walls and deciding if she could give Elliot a second chance. Would he possibly be her FMM?

I received a copy of this story from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mila finds herself on a cross-country roadtrip to retrace a map found in her biological mother's VW bug. She hopes to maybe find where she belongs and who she really is since receiving the news that she was adopted shifted something in her. Both of her parents are wonderful and supportive although her adoptive mom convinces Mila to take Eliot along for the ride so he can attend an awards ceremony in California. The problem with Eliot...he ghosted her in her recent past, but her mother doesn't know that.

Eliot is fresh out of rehab and needs a lift. His father's longtime friend is helping him out by getting her daughter to take him to California. Unfortunately, Eliot hasn't made the best choices and some of those bad decisions are in a pint-sized package named Mila. He accepts his poor decisions, but now he wants to make it right. He is starting to want many things and Mila is at the top of the list.

This book was cute.The story is written in dual POV and is very easy to follow since the chapters are marked with the character's name. I did miss some of the comedy because I just didn't get the references. Mila's antics and Eliot's patience were a great balance as both characters embarked on a journey that revealed more than either of them bargained for. Though the book wasn’t a favorite of mine, I would recommend this book. 3-3.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from BookSprout in exchange for my honest review.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and thought provoking book you’ll enjoy.
Mila has one rule. She will not get involved with rock stars. Her father is a rock star and she sees the lifestyle and trouble it brings with it. She wants nothing to do with that kind of life especially after being ghosted by a rock star she thought she had something special with. But now her world has been turned upside down and inside out when she finds out that she was adopted. If her parents weren’t her parents, then where did she belong? Yes, she still loved them but where does her biological mother fit? In pursuit of those answers, Mila plans a cross country trip marked out on a map she found in the glove box of the car her biological mother bequeathed to her. Just as she is ready to leave, her adopted mother asks a favor. Would Mila take the son of a longtime friend with her to California? The only problem, he is Eliot the rock star she had the very private, very brief romance with before he broke her heart. But how can she tell her mom no after all she has done for her? And, so begins a wonderful story of second chances, self-discovery, and forgiveness of self and others. This is a great read that will get you thinking of what matters, what really doesn’t matter, and acceptance of life even when things aren’t what we may want or planned. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Billie · Rating 3 out of 5]

wanted to love it…

It’s the 4th book and it’s Mila’s story.
Mila’s dilemma is she found out she was adopted. She plans another trip, which I never picked up on in the first 3 books. Her Mom is from England, and her dad is a rock and roll star. We find out in the beginning, she had a brief fling with an English Rocker, who happens to be the son of her mother’s old friend Chaz.

Her birth Mother left her a VW bug, red, her favorite color. In the glove box is a map with certain points marked. Mika believes it was a trip her birth mother had planned but died before doing it. Mika was also left a small fortune.

The day before heading off on her cross-country journey to find herself. Her mother asks a favor and that’s to drive a friend’s son to LA. Low and behold it’s the same rock star she fell for. Of course he’s her FMM and the trip is them falling in love.


The character development was weak, shallow, and not well researched. Mila was b…… bratty and cold. Never thinking of others. How it had a HEA ending is beyond me. We meet people on the way and maybe Mila’s biological father but for what purpose?

I am going to read book 5, it’s Daisy’s story. I hope it’s better than this.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this new book in this awesome series by Ellie Hall. This book features a swoony hero and a strong and feisty heroine. The main characters Eliot and Mila are a great couple. I loved their romance through the book. It was a nice slow burn and a fun enemies to lovers mixed in with a second chance. The premise of the book isn't as unique, but it is executed really well I loved how Eliot and Mila slowly fell again for each other and really appreciate the other. The other thing is seeing the self discovery and character growth. I love how Eliot finds out what he truly wants and Mila also discovers herself after a pretty big realization.

The romance is super sweet. There are a tons of great kissing scenes. I loved the tenderness in the moments and the nice push and pull. I also enjoyed the funny scenes and the fun banter. Additionally, this book touches on some hard and serious topics but it is handled really well. I loved how it wasn't brushed aside and shows how people can recover from hard times.

In summary, great book. I highly recommend it.

*I have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wysteria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to go on an adventure? Travel across the country with your ex-boyfriend!

The reason Mila doesn’t like Eliot is because they had gone out and then he practically dropped off the face of the earth without a goodbye. Mila finds out she is adopted that her biological mother just passed. This is the story of her finding herself, her past, present, and future self.

The story itself was more dramatic than Ellie Hall usually writes but she did a great job of not making it overly dramatic when the story line could have definitely gone there.

Mila is super spunky and I love that! Eliot is a rock star who made some bad choices. I was kinda hoping he would be more like Carter from Summer with the Rock Star, but he was more, I guess you could say, worldly since Carter was in rehab more for a show then actually needing it while Eliot actually needed it. Eliot is so romantic though! I loved the tiara bit and that he wrote a song for her!!!!

Content: kisses and talks about drug and alcohol abuse

I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of an enemies to lovers/second chance romance which seems like an odd combo unless you understand the back story and why she hates him so much. I didn't really love this story and I couldn't figure out why until I wrote that. Enemies to lovers is never a fav trope for me. I don't really like animosity so that makes it a problem. I liked the learning about her birth mother aspect of the story though. And I liked how Elliot was able to use the skills he learned in rehab to help her to figure out her life a little better. It was just too bad he didn't figure out the whole -how to fully communicate life altering plans - faster. But I guess there needed to be some conflict in there in addition to overcoming that hate she feels.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: a little

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila is prickly in this book. I don't think I'd brave a road trip with her like Eliot did especially since she starts out upset with him for ghosting her. He does worry about being left behind. But over the miles and all the interesting places they visit on her map Mila's walls start to come down and we see more about what makes her who she is and this whole other family and connections she didn't know she had. Mila and Eliot still have plenty of back and forth moments where they doubt each other and some of his fans don't help the situation. But I loved Mila's grandmother and her mother's tree house friends. Mila and Eliot's relationship from enemies to lovers develops quickly. It was nice to catch up with the characters from the previous books in this series.

[MacKenzie Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story as an audiobook. Lorana Hoopes narrates this story and did a great job! I feel like this story was more complex in narration than most because of Elliot’s and Mila’s mom both have English accents. Not only did she do a great job but she nailed each and every voice throughout this story.

I love a good roadtrip story and this second chance romance was roadtrip perfection. Mila is a sassy woman who isn’t sure about where she stands in the world and Elliott is in the same bit as he tries to find his place in the world. I love their tender moments and the fact that Elliott never pressures Mila. He is just a steady place of comfort for her as they both figure out where they want to be and what they want to do. This was a dual pov, clean romance.

[Michele Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second chance, enemies to lovers story of Mila and Eliot. This is the fourth book in the series, and could be read alone he, but I think to better to read in order. Mila recently found out she’s adopted and is searching for herself. Eliot is a rock star coming out of rehab and looking to leave that lifestyle. Oh yeah, they not only know each other, but have a history. A cross country toad trip brings out all the feels, healing and love. This was a great story and I can’t wait for the next one.

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

[Erralee Hendrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila was told by her parents that she was adopted and that Her biological mom left her a car along with an inheritance. She finds a map and prepares to follow it but her adopted mom has told her she has to take Eliot with her. Mila doesn't want to because he is the guy that stood her up; but he also turns out to be a guy who had an addiction to drugs at the time they met. Now she has to figure out how to get rid of him before he can charm her again. Definitely humor, a little mystery, and some romance. There are some twists that add to the story and make it even more captivating. What a fun read and you can read alone or as part of the series?

[vicki zimmerman · Rating 1 out of 5]

not looking good

So far, we have found out-along with her finding out, our h was adopted. She is trying to adjust to that new information.
Her dad was a rock musician who nearly destroyed his own marriage.
Her mother is trying to set her up with the ex-who she calls Mr X.
Mr X is upstairs in the guest bedroom as they speak. Lost and confused, and fresh out of rehab.
It reads as if it’s been written for, and about a high schooler.
And I’ve just began chapter 2!
Talk about a nice, fun, light relaxing romance.
Yeah, this doesn’t seem to be that.
Maybe it gets better.
If you are made of sterner stuff than I, you can find out.
For me, I’ll try another book.

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute sweet enemies to romance

Sweet, contemporary romance; series but stand alone read
Mari and El’s story was a ride of a read. Road trip that not only had some spectacular scenery and fun stops but found Mila’s family and memories for her to treasure. El’s story and his hope to find family and home and find his true heart home was tender, painful, and healing. Perfect for them to travel and find each other in the process. Sweet second chance romance. Some fun brief supporting characters, fun backstory made for a perfect read. My only issue is it wrapped up much too quickly in the last moments of the novel. Fun HEA

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare to love the Guy I have is intense emotional story that deals struggles, pain, overcoming obstacles and addictions while the character search more about themselves. This is a sweet story of Mila who is wanting to take a cross country trip to find the secrets of her past, while letting Eliot tag along so that so can drop him off in LA. Mila would not have a problem with Eliot if he had not ghosted her, but he had his reason.

Great story to find yourself lost in.

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

[Gwen|| Bookish Blondie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I found this book completely lacking in chemistry between Mila and Elliott. Mila is also incredibly unlikable. She needed to have more characteristics than gloomy and ice queen and frankly, she never really evolves in a way that I found fulfilling. Additionally, the adoption storyline was not well handled and I found it borderline offensive.
Lastly, Elliott just feels like a cartoon character.
I wish I could've enjoyed a book that featured enemies to lovers, but this just wasn't it.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book might have been my favorite in this series. The second chance/enemies to lovers trope is one I like when it's done well, and I thought that the prickliness that Mila exhibits was portrayed well. The mistrust & friction in the dynamic between Mila & Elliot felt plausible, especially after learning the history they had. I thought the personal issues they both needed to work through were shown pretty realistically & their responses felt authentic. There were some great funny moments throughout the story, too :)

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did a silly dare, she would visit all the states in America and she is asked to help him. He is a rock star who is afraid of flying so she does it even though she hates him. His crazy ex is following them and they will learn they have more in common than they thought. What will they out out the other? Will they fall in love? See just how they get on

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

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long and strange road trip

Dare to Love the Guy I Hate is the fourth book in the Forever Marriage Match series. This is a sweet, funny, and clean story about Mila and Elliot. They have a complicated history together, she has an off the rails present and they are about to have a wacky near future.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Megan Shultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Forever Marriage Match series continues with Mila and Elliots story.

Mila Vivian Strickland has just found out some surprising news and ends up on a road trip into the past in a Ladybug and a map with dots. What was supposed to be a soul searching solo trip soon turns into an adventure on the road when Elliot O’Connell, aka Mr. X, her nemesis, recovering rockstar, hitches a ride to Cali. Can Mila forgive Elliot for what he did to hurt her? Will the rockstar lifestyle test them apart? Will this rocky road lead to love, and chocolate?

I liked this story. It was a sweet romance that dealt with a couple of heavy topics in a good, positive way. Mila deals with emotions the same way a lot of people who don’t know their place in the world does and I liked that Elliot was her balance and her calm. Elliot is dealing with all sorts of issues from the past, all things that came from the rockstar lifestyle, and it was sweet how Mila helps him see a different future.

Overall it’s a good book. I didn’t fall in love with the characters but they had aspects to them that made me want to know the whole story.

[Wndrgrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this book because I love music.

I wish it could have started at the beginning though. It's like lovers to i hate him to lovers again.

I love the main characters. And I feel like I was in the roadtrip with them.

I can't wait to read the last book of this series but I'm kind of scared to because I'm gonna miss all the characters. And it's hard to find a romcom series I like and can't stop reading.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read. Mila and Elliot's story is a sweet romance that will keep you turning the pages. It's a fun read, yet it also deals with some serious subjects. This is a book you don't want to miss.

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

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story! A journey of discovery for the feisty heroine and hero. Their romance evolved from love-hate-love as they learned about each other and forgave each other and their family. The situations they found themselves in were lighthearted and fun!

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

[Alison Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully entertaining road trip romance

I really enjoyed this road trip with Mila and Eliot as she recreates a journey of an old map found in her car, uncovering truths about family and love along the way. The story is witty and romantic and hopeful. The characters are interesting. Totally enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this book but voluntarily leave this review.

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great rom com. I loved the enemies to more/ second chance romance aspect of the storyline. I haven’t read anything by Ellie Hall before but I definitely want to read more. This story was really well written and it was so well paced that I read it in a hour.

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

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending

Such an exciting cross country journey. And a journey of self discovery and growth. I love that Mila and Eliot were able to learn and grow and overcome some of their insecurities. I loved their adventures as they got to know each other and finally learned some communication skills. The ending is great.

[Khadejah R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mila’s story…finally!

It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to dig into her story. She has been the most elusive of the Fab Five and to get the details has been an incredible ride. *wink, wink*

I love that Eliot uses the things he has learned to help Mila on her own journey.

This is a nice second chance, sweet romance.

[Kimberly Gordon-Bercich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances

Some of us never figure out who we are. Some of us know but somewhere along the way we forget. Some of us know and the out world gets shook and everything we knew we second guess or forget. Mila falls into the later category. Elliot falls in the second category. The both get second chances to discover themselves and love.

[Irene Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

What a life. Another book that is enjoyable but makes you ask questions of how would I feel. The twenties are tuff, a lot of growing up and discovering who you are or want to be and then how to get there from here. It is surviving the tuff stuff that make one appreciate the good times so much more.