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Fake Love
I had everything going for me.
Drafted right out of college. Signed a multimillion-dollar contract. Slated to become a hall of famer.
All my prospects were looking up… Until a diagnosis caused me to ruin everything.
It took me a season to destroy my career and now I have to work to repair it.
Step 1: Get clean.
Step 2: Show my new team that their investment isn’t a waste.
Step 3: Find a woman and convince her to be my fake girlfriend and make my mom happy.
1 and 2, I got a handle on. Step 3 is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. Finding a woman was a piece of cake, convincing her is a different story.
Jen Zaragosa is hardheaded, feisty, and a pain in my behind. But even with her being all those things, I start to fall for her
And hard.
This started out as something to make my mom happy and it’s turning into me planning our future together.
Jen is my grand slam and there is nothing fake about it.
*FAKE LOVE IS A COMPLETE STANDALONE. THIS STORY DOES CONTAIN CONTENT WARNINGS, FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE. *
Drafted right out of college. Signed a multimillion-dollar contract. Slated to become a hall of famer.
All my prospects were looking up… Until a diagnosis caused me to ruin everything.
It took me a season to destroy my career and now I have to work to repair it.
Step 1: Get clean.
Step 2: Show my new team that their investment isn’t a waste.
Step 3: Find a woman and convince her to be my fake girlfriend and make my mom happy.
1 and 2, I got a handle on. Step 3 is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. Finding a woman was a piece of cake, convincing her is a different story.
Jen Zaragosa is hardheaded, feisty, and a pain in my behind. But even with her being all those things, I start to fall for her
And hard.
This started out as something to make my mom happy and it’s turning into me planning our future together.
Jen is my grand slam and there is nothing fake about it.
*FAKE LOVE IS A COMPLETE STANDALONE. THIS STORY DOES CONTAIN CONTENT WARNINGS, FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE. *
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2022
36 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Jocelyne Soto
27 books313 followersJocelyne Soto is a writer, born and raised in California. She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 13, 2022
The day he checks out of a six week rehab program, Maddox is on a plane to San Francisco to sign a new contract with the the new baseball team that he was traded to, the Minors. He is devastated to be leaving his team but knows he has no one to blame for his actions but himself. When wandering the city he stops at a coffee shop and meets Jennifer. They share one amazing night together and then go on their way. A month later, Maddox is back in the city ready to start playing with his new team. Only his coach has decided that he needs to work on proving to the fans that he isn't the same guy that went down a rabbit hole and needed to go to rehab. He needs someone to help with his social media presence and he needs to get a fake girlfriend because everyone loves a good relationship. The first person Maddox thinks of is Jennifer. His ONS has to be better than a stranger right?
I adored this book. I devoured it one sitting. I couldn't bring myself to put it down. I loved both Jennifer and Maddox so much. These two were so likeable and easy to relate to. I loved how Maddox's sobriety was an important element to the story but didn't consume it. I loved that it remained battle for him and that wasn't ignored. I loved how fun these two were. They are so stinking cute together. I loved what a momma's boy Maddox was. So endearing and sweet. I also loved that we got to see Selena and Hunter too. That was fun. Such a great book. Can't wait to add a copy to my shelf.
I adored this book. I devoured it one sitting. I couldn't bring myself to put it down. I loved both Jennifer and Maddox so much. These two were so likeable and easy to relate to. I loved how Maddox's sobriety was an important element to the story but didn't consume it. I loved that it remained battle for him and that wasn't ignored. I loved how fun these two were. They are so stinking cute together. I loved what a momma's boy Maddox was. So endearing and sweet. I also loved that we got to see Selena and Hunter too. That was fun. Such a great book. Can't wait to add a copy to my shelf.
October 13, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 & 🌶🌶/5
While I would absolutely consider this a contemporary sports romance, I’ll still say that as a reader you should check for trigger warnings.
Potential Triggers:
⚠️Past Drug use / Addiction
⚠️Cancer / Terminal illness mention
⚠️Active Shooter situation
With that out of the way, let’s get to the review.
I really enjoyed this story and the main characters Maddox and Jennifer (Jen). Maddox is literally hours out of Rehab and in a new city when he meets Jen. The two are instantly drawn to each other, which works in Maddox’s favor as he is in the market for a fake GF to repair his image.
I loved how well Maddox and Jen fit each other. I think that Jen is such a great FMC. She is strong, honest, and brave. What she steps into, even with a fake relationship, with Maddox is a lot to ask of someone. It isn’t something that everyone can do. I was rooting for Maddox from the first page. I think most all of us love a comeback story or a redemption story. A character who just lost their way for a bit due to trauma, but thankfully finds their way back. I also loved how much of a “Momma’s Boy” Maddox is, and just how deeply he cares and loves everyone.
I also have to say I loved the supporting characters as well. Ben and Aaron were such great support for Maddox and I can’t not mention them.
Also, I just have to say this too. As the daughter of addicts, I really really greatly appreciate how the author acknowledges that while it’s amazing to have supportive friends and family, you cannot base your recovery solely on their shoulders. Meetings, sponsors, and mentors work - you need to recover for yourself
While I would absolutely consider this a contemporary sports romance, I’ll still say that as a reader you should check for trigger warnings.
Potential Triggers:
⚠️Past Drug use / Addiction
⚠️Cancer / Terminal illness mention
⚠️Active Shooter situation
With that out of the way, let’s get to the review.
I really enjoyed this story and the main characters Maddox and Jennifer (Jen). Maddox is literally hours out of Rehab and in a new city when he meets Jen. The two are instantly drawn to each other, which works in Maddox’s favor as he is in the market for a fake GF to repair his image.
I loved how well Maddox and Jen fit each other. I think that Jen is such a great FMC. She is strong, honest, and brave. What she steps into, even with a fake relationship, with Maddox is a lot to ask of someone. It isn’t something that everyone can do. I was rooting for Maddox from the first page. I think most all of us love a comeback story or a redemption story. A character who just lost their way for a bit due to trauma, but thankfully finds their way back. I also loved how much of a “Momma’s Boy” Maddox is, and just how deeply he cares and loves everyone.
I also have to say I loved the supporting characters as well. Ben and Aaron were such great support for Maddox and I can’t not mention them.
Also, I just have to say this too. As the daughter of addicts, I really really greatly appreciate how the author acknowledges that while it’s amazing to have supportive friends and family, you cannot base your recovery solely on their shoulders. Meetings, sponsors, and mentors work - you need to recover for yourself
October 28, 2022
gosh i loved this book. maddox & jen we’re so adorable! they were both such amazing characters & i loved how they fit w each other. i really enjoyed the dynamic as it was easy, natural, fun & free between them since they had tht initial attraction. they were made 4 each other. thru the good & the bad they stuck w each other✨
i love maddox. he’s caring, considerate & charming. reading ab his feelings was everything. he was lost & needed a support system, sum1 to help guide him. he was afraid to fail & disappoint ppl again. i loved reading ab his growth from his trauma. i was so happy he found his way & everything went well 4 him😭and tht man has a mouth on him tht we love🤭
jen is amazing. she’s supportive, strong & brave. she pushes maddox to be the best version is of himself🥹i was so happy to see tht she was successful on the end & got to follow her dreams.
i love maddox. he’s caring, considerate & charming. reading ab his feelings was everything. he was lost & needed a support system, sum1 to help guide him. he was afraid to fail & disappoint ppl again. i loved reading ab his growth from his trauma. i was so happy he found his way & everything went well 4 him😭and tht man has a mouth on him tht we love🤭
jen is amazing. she’s supportive, strong & brave. she pushes maddox to be the best version is of himself🥹i was so happy to see tht she was successful on the end & got to follow her dreams.
October 14, 2022
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
Ever since Powerful Deception I've been wanting to read Maddox, but I never thought Jocelyne Soto would give me his story so soon, so I'm the happiest because he and Jen completely met my expectations: their love story is one of the sweetest the author has written so far and I love the way she balances and complements it with Maddox's complicated situation and Jen's career, plus it was beautiful to reread Hunter & Selena, Dante and discover many possible stories to tell.
I also really liked Jen when I read her in Worth Every Second, but in Fake Love I completely fell in love with her. I loved the Mexican representation that Jocelyne gave me with her, without a doubt this author always does an excellent job in that department, and I LOVED the strong, brave and determined personality of Jen, how much she loves her family, Selena and how she drives Hunter & Maddox crazy in so many different ways, I really enjoyed reading her big heart, although I would have loved Jocelyne to go deeper into the subject, but overall, I really enjoyed this new heroine. And best of all was reading Jen being successful on her own, succeeding in her dreams and being totally happy with her life.
Maddox has been a complex character since his first appearance in the author's universe: a professional baseball player who decides to throw his career away when he finds out his mother has cancer, but thanks to the most unexpected person he can get his life back on track. However, Maddox is still lost, he is afraid of failing, of disappointing the people in his life and in urgently need to create a new image to show the to public. One of the things I LOVED MOST about he was knowing that he is a complete mama's boy, I love the relationship they share, how much he loves her, needs her and cares about her, plus it made me very happy that he found a great system of support in his new team and in Jen, who also gives her the strength and motivation to fight against his addictions, something that Jocelyne handled in a perfect way too!
And the love story between these two was just as perfect! I loved reading the connection they share as soon as they meet, how sweet Maddox was to Jen, and how all those feelings lead him to think of her when he needs a fake girlfriend to show a new image to her followers and make his mom happy, and although she tries to resist, Maddox's offer is really good. I really enjoyed reading how Maddox & Jen trust each other in such a short time, how they begin to be part of their lives in such a natural way that it is impossible for both of them to deny what they feel, besides that their relationship is fun, adorable and, even in the worst moments, it's obvious that they are made for each other.
⚾Maddox: 5/5
⚾Jen: 5/5
⚾Plot: 5/5
⚾Love story: 5/5
⚾Secondary characters: 5/5
⚾Universe: 5/5
⚾Covers: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
Desde Powerful Deception he estado deseando leer a Maddox, pero nunca pensé que Jocelyne Soto me daría su historia tan pronto, así que soy la más feliz porque él y Jen cumplieron mis expectativas por completo: su historia de amor es una de las más dulces que la autora ha escrito hasta ahora y me encanta la manera en la que la equilibra y complementa con la complicada situación de Maddox y la carera de Jen, además de que fue hermoso leer de nuevo a Hunter & Selena, a Dante y descubrir muchas posibles historias por contar.
Jen también me gustó muchísimo cuando la leí en Worth Every Second, pero en Fake Love me enamoré por completo de ella. Me encantó la representación mexicana que Jocelyne me dio con ella, sin lugar a dudas ésta autora siempre hace un trabajo excelente en ese departamento, y AMÉ la personalidad fuerte, valiente y determinada de Jen, lo mucho que ama a su familia, a Selena y como vuelve locos a Hunter & Maddox de maneras muy diferentes, me gustó mucho leer su gran corazón, aunque me hubiera encantado que Jocelyne profundizara más en el tema, pero en general, disfruté mucho de esta nueva heroína. Y lo mejor de todo fue leer a Jen siendo exitosa por si misma, triunfando en sus sueños y siendo totalmente feliz con su vida.
Maddox ha sido un personaje complejo desde su primera aparición en el universo de la autora: un jugador profesional de beisbol que decide tirar por la borda su carrera cuando se entera que su mamá tiene cáncer, pero que gracias a la persona más inesperada puede reencaminar su vida de nuevo. Sin embargo, Maddox aún está perdido, tiene miedo de fallar, de decepcionar a las personas en su vida y necesita con un urgencia crear una imagen nueva que mostrar al público. Una de las cosas que MÁS AMÉ de él fue saber que es un completo hijo de mamá, amo la relación que comparten, lo mucho que la ama, necesita y se preocupa por ella, además de que me hizo muy feliz que encontrara un gran sistema de apoyo en su nuevo equipo y en Jen, quien además le da la fortaleza y motivación para luchar contra sus adicciones, algo que Jocelyne manejó de una manera perfecta!
Y la historia de amor entre estos dos fue igual de perfecta! Me encantó leer la conexión que comparten en cuanto se conocen, lo dulce que Maddox fue con Jen, y como todos esos sentimientos lo llevan a pensar en ella cuando necesita de una novia falsa para mostrar una nueva imagen a sus seguidores y hacer a su mamá feliz, y aunque ella intenta resistirse, la oferta que Maddox le hace es realmente buena. Disfruté mucho leer como Maddox & Jen confían el uno en el otro en tan poco tiempo, como comienzan a formar parte de sus vidas de una manera tan natural que para ambos es imposible negar lo que sienten, además de que su relación es muy divertida, adorable y, incluso en los perores momentos, es obvio que son el uno para el otro.
⚾Maddox: 5/5
⚾Jen: 5/5
⚾Trama: 5/5
⚾Historia de amor: 5/5
⚾Personajes secundarios: 5/5
⚾Universo: 5/5
⚾Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
Ever since Powerful Deception I've been wanting to read Maddox, but I never thought Jocelyne Soto would give me his story so soon, so I'm the happiest because he and Jen completely met my expectations: their love story is one of the sweetest the author has written so far and I love the way she balances and complements it with Maddox's complicated situation and Jen's career, plus it was beautiful to reread Hunter & Selena, Dante and discover many possible stories to tell.
I also really liked Jen when I read her in Worth Every Second, but in Fake Love I completely fell in love with her. I loved the Mexican representation that Jocelyne gave me with her, without a doubt this author always does an excellent job in that department, and I LOVED the strong, brave and determined personality of Jen, how much she loves her family, Selena and how she drives Hunter & Maddox crazy in so many different ways, I really enjoyed reading her big heart, although I would have loved Jocelyne to go deeper into the subject, but overall, I really enjoyed this new heroine. And best of all was reading Jen being successful on her own, succeeding in her dreams and being totally happy with her life.
Maddox has been a complex character since his first appearance in the author's universe: a professional baseball player who decides to throw his career away when he finds out his mother has cancer, but thanks to the most unexpected person he can get his life back on track. However, Maddox is still lost, he is afraid of failing, of disappointing the people in his life and in urgently need to create a new image to show the to public. One of the things I LOVED MOST about he was knowing that he is a complete mama's boy, I love the relationship they share, how much he loves her, needs her and cares about her, plus it made me very happy that he found a great system of support in his new team and in Jen, who also gives her the strength and motivation to fight against his addictions, something that Jocelyne handled in a perfect way too!
And the love story between these two was just as perfect! I loved reading the connection they share as soon as they meet, how sweet Maddox was to Jen, and how all those feelings lead him to think of her when he needs a fake girlfriend to show a new image to her followers and make his mom happy, and although she tries to resist, Maddox's offer is really good. I really enjoyed reading how Maddox & Jen trust each other in such a short time, how they begin to be part of their lives in such a natural way that it is impossible for both of them to deny what they feel, besides that their relationship is fun, adorable and, even in the worst moments, it's obvious that they are made for each other.
⚾Maddox: 5/5
⚾Jen: 5/5
⚾Plot: 5/5
⚾Love story: 5/5
⚾Secondary characters: 5/5
⚾Universe: 5/5
⚾Covers: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
Desde Powerful Deception he estado deseando leer a Maddox, pero nunca pensé que Jocelyne Soto me daría su historia tan pronto, así que soy la más feliz porque él y Jen cumplieron mis expectativas por completo: su historia de amor es una de las más dulces que la autora ha escrito hasta ahora y me encanta la manera en la que la equilibra y complementa con la complicada situación de Maddox y la carera de Jen, además de que fue hermoso leer de nuevo a Hunter & Selena, a Dante y descubrir muchas posibles historias por contar.
Jen también me gustó muchísimo cuando la leí en Worth Every Second, pero en Fake Love me enamoré por completo de ella. Me encantó la representación mexicana que Jocelyne me dio con ella, sin lugar a dudas ésta autora siempre hace un trabajo excelente en ese departamento, y AMÉ la personalidad fuerte, valiente y determinada de Jen, lo mucho que ama a su familia, a Selena y como vuelve locos a Hunter & Maddox de maneras muy diferentes, me gustó mucho leer su gran corazón, aunque me hubiera encantado que Jocelyne profundizara más en el tema, pero en general, disfruté mucho de esta nueva heroína. Y lo mejor de todo fue leer a Jen siendo exitosa por si misma, triunfando en sus sueños y siendo totalmente feliz con su vida.
Maddox ha sido un personaje complejo desde su primera aparición en el universo de la autora: un jugador profesional de beisbol que decide tirar por la borda su carrera cuando se entera que su mamá tiene cáncer, pero que gracias a la persona más inesperada puede reencaminar su vida de nuevo. Sin embargo, Maddox aún está perdido, tiene miedo de fallar, de decepcionar a las personas en su vida y necesita con un urgencia crear una imagen nueva que mostrar al público. Una de las cosas que MÁS AMÉ de él fue saber que es un completo hijo de mamá, amo la relación que comparten, lo mucho que la ama, necesita y se preocupa por ella, además de que me hizo muy feliz que encontrara un gran sistema de apoyo en su nuevo equipo y en Jen, quien además le da la fortaleza y motivación para luchar contra sus adicciones, algo que Jocelyne manejó de una manera perfecta!
Y la historia de amor entre estos dos fue igual de perfecta! Me encantó leer la conexión que comparten en cuanto se conocen, lo dulce que Maddox fue con Jen, y como todos esos sentimientos lo llevan a pensar en ella cuando necesita de una novia falsa para mostrar una nueva imagen a sus seguidores y hacer a su mamá feliz, y aunque ella intenta resistirse, la oferta que Maddox le hace es realmente buena. Disfruté mucho leer como Maddox & Jen confían el uno en el otro en tan poco tiempo, como comienzan a formar parte de sus vidas de una manera tan natural que para ambos es imposible negar lo que sienten, además de que su relación es muy divertida, adorable y, incluso en los perores momentos, es obvio que son el uno para el otro.
⚾Maddox: 5/5
⚾Jen: 5/5
⚾Trama: 5/5
⚾Historia de amor: 5/5
⚾Personajes secundarios: 5/5
⚾Universo: 5/5
⚾Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5
October 15, 2022
Jocelyne Soto is easily becoming one of my favorite author. This was my second read of hers, and honestly couldn’t put this down. Maddox and Jennifer story was everything. I was hooked from their very first meeting. I loved the connection between them, even when it was supposed to be at first a “fake” relationship. They just worked out very well with one another. I honestly can’t stop thinking about this incredible story. I have to go back to her others books especially Hunter and Selena story. I just adored their friendship. This story was everything I enjoy.
ARC was provided for honest review.
ARC was provided for honest review.
October 14, 2022
Jennifer and Maddox's story captured my attention right from the start. Their story is so cute and sweet. I absolutely loved Maddox and feel for him. I kept on rooting for him all the way and I'm glad he found Jennifer. You can clearly see the effects they have on each other so there is character growth in both of them. I really enjoyed their story.
April 16, 2024
This was the first book I read by Jocelyne Soto and OMG!! I have no gone and am reading them all in order!! I read this book in 1 sitting and devoured it all. I loved how they tried to have a "fake" relationship and quickly you can see how that dissipated. For me it was such an emotional book, as I've read her other ones I've noticed that's just the way she writes she doesn't know how else to write and it's one of the things that makes her such an amazing writer.
October 14, 2022
I honestly don't what to tell you other than if you haven't read any of Jocelyne Soto's books, you're missing out on an amazing Latinx author who writes amazing Latinx characters. Even the ones who aren't Latinx are amazing characters too. They're all so easy to fall in love with. I will forever recommend Jocelyne's books.
Fake Love is Jennifer and Maddox's boss x employee and fake dating story. Jennifer is Selena's friend from Worth Every Second (also a story you should read). These two books are based in the same universe as the Flor de Muertos series and Powerful Deception. Fake Love does mention Dante from PD; Maddox met him when he was in a difficult part of his life.
Maddox and Jennifer met literally after Maddox got out of rehab and some spicy stuff happened that shouldn't have because of the rules of recovery. But are we mad about it? 100% no, because this is how the rest of their relationship blooms. Although they go at it with the mentality of "this is fake; it's only until the baseball season ends," they can't deny that they felt an attraction for one another since day 1.
I also stayed up to idk what time trying to finish this book because I got behind on reading. And also trying to finish that illustration that I got the inspiration for last minute.
𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
• boss x employee
• boy + obsessed
• fake dating
• friends to lovers
• grumpy x sunshine vibes
• one night stand
• mental health rep
October 14, 2022
Having read almost all of Ms.Soto's books, i always look so forward to more from her! The synopsis for this one immediately piqued my interest. I knew i had to read it next. I picked it up and got into this story quickly. I enjoyed this story so very much!
Maddox and Jennifer's journey pulled me in from the get go! Maddox is a baseball player trying to get back on the right path, recently having been traded to the San Francisco Miners. As he goes out to get some coffee, he meets Jennifer at the shop. The sparks fly between them. When Maddox needs help, he asks Jennifer to become his fake girlfriend. Can these two fake it and ignore their attraction? Or can giving in prove to be the greatest homerun of their lives? I couldn't wait to see how it'd all play out!
I was so glad that i got to jump into both Maddox and Jennifer's minds and peel back their layers. I really liked the way they met. There was such a realness to their story and their chemistry was undeniable. I found myself relating to both Maddox and Jennifer throughout. I loved the way i felt many emotions with these two from beginning to end! I didn't know how Maddox and Jennifer would handle things, especially when it came to certain things in their lives, their current situation, and their feelings.
Jennifer was so caring and I adored her. Maddox had me falling for him as his humanness shined. There was uniqueness to this sports romance that i couldn't get enough of! This story tackled things i don't see very often, that is a reality for many and it really got to me.
With Fake Love, Ms.Soto has created such a good read with depth, heart and so many feels! This story got me right in my baseball loving heart! This author's writing always has me glued to my kindle. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next! 💙⚾
Be sure to read the author's note in the book and the book's synopsis as this story touches on tough subjects.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Wildfire Marketing Solutions / the author*
Maddox and Jennifer's journey pulled me in from the get go! Maddox is a baseball player trying to get back on the right path, recently having been traded to the San Francisco Miners. As he goes out to get some coffee, he meets Jennifer at the shop. The sparks fly between them. When Maddox needs help, he asks Jennifer to become his fake girlfriend. Can these two fake it and ignore their attraction? Or can giving in prove to be the greatest homerun of their lives? I couldn't wait to see how it'd all play out!
I was so glad that i got to jump into both Maddox and Jennifer's minds and peel back their layers. I really liked the way they met. There was such a realness to their story and their chemistry was undeniable. I found myself relating to both Maddox and Jennifer throughout. I loved the way i felt many emotions with these two from beginning to end! I didn't know how Maddox and Jennifer would handle things, especially when it came to certain things in their lives, their current situation, and their feelings.
Jennifer was so caring and I adored her. Maddox had me falling for him as his humanness shined. There was uniqueness to this sports romance that i couldn't get enough of! This story tackled things i don't see very often, that is a reality for many and it really got to me.
With Fake Love, Ms.Soto has created such a good read with depth, heart and so many feels! This story got me right in my baseball loving heart! This author's writing always has me glued to my kindle. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next! 💙⚾
Be sure to read the author's note in the book and the book's synopsis as this story touches on tough subjects.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Wildfire Marketing Solutions / the author*
July 17, 2024
I enjoyed this a lot. I thought that the "fake dating" didn't last too long and they really came out and were honest a lot quicker with their feelings - which is a good thing for me. I also liked that she was a football girlie paired with a baseballer and her best friend is a baseball girllie engaged to a footballer. (I'm intrigued to read their story too btw).
I think were this feel down to 4 stars for me were a couple things. First, I kept thinking it was weird that he wasn't going to meetings, had sobriety partner, or even a sobriety mentor-type person to talk with. It seemed unlikely that they'd just let him go without at least one support person (that wasn't going through horrendous brain cancer). On that note though, I was super worried that we were going to get his mom dying in here, which thankfully didn't happen. Back to the sobriety though, I thought it was weird it took until the end of the book to be addressed. I just find it weird that for all of the people, including the public, not one person mentioned it beforehand.
My other big nitpick was the steamy scenes. The 1st one night stand situation makes sense it was pretty fade to black, but I just thought it was weird that the mutual masturbation scene was super explicit, but the "normal" scenes later were either fade to black or just super shortened and not as descriptive. That's fine if that's the way that you write the steamy scenes, but it just felt off balance to me. If anything I prefer the later scenes to be more sped over, but their first time together (back together in this case) is usually really intimate and emotional and it felt a little lacking because we missed that moment.
I defnitely intrigued to read more, especially to see if the steamy scene issues I had was just a writing quirk or this book specifically.
I think were this feel down to 4 stars for me were a couple things. First, I kept thinking it was weird that he wasn't going to meetings, had sobriety partner, or even a sobriety mentor-type person to talk with. It seemed unlikely that they'd just let him go without at least one support person (that wasn't going through horrendous brain cancer). On that note though, I was super worried that we were going to get his mom dying in here, which thankfully didn't happen. Back to the sobriety though, I thought it was weird it took until the end of the book to be addressed. I just find it weird that for all of the people, including the public, not one person mentioned it beforehand.
My other big nitpick was the steamy scenes. The 1st one night stand situation makes sense it was pretty fade to black, but I just thought it was weird that the mutual masturbation scene was super explicit, but the "normal" scenes later were either fade to black or just super shortened and not as descriptive. That's fine if that's the way that you write the steamy scenes, but it just felt off balance to me. If anything I prefer the later scenes to be more sped over, but their first time together (back together in this case) is usually really intimate and emotional and it felt a little lacking because we missed that moment.
I defnitely intrigued to read more, especially to see if the steamy scene issues I had was just a writing quirk or this book specifically.
October 12, 2022
4.0/5 ⭐
3.5/5 🌶️
I really enjoyed this sports, fake romance from Jocelyne Soto. I love baseball and couldn't help but pick this one up when it was combined with fake dating and a little bit of darkness. Maddox is a recovering addict who spiraled when his mom was diagnosed with cancer and in order to make her happy and convince the baseball world he was worth his second chance, he asked his one night stand from the month before to be his fake girlfriend. The result? A not so fake, fake relationship turned into love of a lifetime.
As much as I enjoyed the baseball aspect of this story, I think I may love baseball almost too much for Fake Love.... I got caught up on a couple baseball terms and happenings that weren't exactly accurate. That being said, most of the story was perfect and I loved all the non-technical baseball stuff, especially the scenes with teammates and his manager and then Maddox's game moments.
I really enjoyed these characters a lot too. Maddox loved so hard. There's an incident in the middle of the book that helps him realize he loves her and I wanted to cry while experiencing it with them. It was so intense and written so well I felt like I was there with them. I also really loved his mom and her friend Selena, they were really amazing side characters that added so much to this story. Jen's dad wasn't in the book a ton, but his impact was high and hilarious.
While this is a standalone, Jocelyne has written or will be writing about a number of characters in this story. Hunter and Selena's story is already out (Worth Every Second) as is Dante's (Powerful Deception) and Lucas's is coming soon (Salutis Meae) with plans for a whole series for the Chicago Dark Knights. I can't wait to read them all.
3.5/5 🌶️
I really enjoyed this sports, fake romance from Jocelyne Soto. I love baseball and couldn't help but pick this one up when it was combined with fake dating and a little bit of darkness. Maddox is a recovering addict who spiraled when his mom was diagnosed with cancer and in order to make her happy and convince the baseball world he was worth his second chance, he asked his one night stand from the month before to be his fake girlfriend. The result? A not so fake, fake relationship turned into love of a lifetime.
As much as I enjoyed the baseball aspect of this story, I think I may love baseball almost too much for Fake Love.... I got caught up on a couple baseball terms and happenings that weren't exactly accurate. That being said, most of the story was perfect and I loved all the non-technical baseball stuff, especially the scenes with teammates and his manager and then Maddox's game moments.
I really enjoyed these characters a lot too. Maddox loved so hard. There's an incident in the middle of the book that helps him realize he loves her and I wanted to cry while experiencing it with them. It was so intense and written so well I felt like I was there with them. I also really loved his mom and her friend Selena, they were really amazing side characters that added so much to this story. Jen's dad wasn't in the book a ton, but his impact was high and hilarious.
While this is a standalone, Jocelyne has written or will be writing about a number of characters in this story. Hunter and Selena's story is already out (Worth Every Second) as is Dante's (Powerful Deception) and Lucas's is coming soon (Salutis Meae) with plans for a whole series for the Chicago Dark Knights. I can't wait to read them all.
October 14, 2022
From the moment I picked up this book I knew I was in for one heckuva emotional journey...and it didn't disappoint! In a journey of second chances and personal growth, readers also get to see a sweet and sensual romance play out. It's a romance that might have started out as a lie, but slowly and steadily it became more as Jen became just the person Maddox needed her to be to help him in his struggles.
Maddox is an appealing hero, a flawed yet perfectly imperfect man who had the rug pulled out from under him and whose response to that only made things worse for him. I ached for all he'd been through, the poor choices he made, all seen against a backdrop of realistically depicted life events. I was drawn to him from the start, found his vulnerabilities endearing, and it had me cheering him on every step of the way. Jen's an equally appealing character, one far stronger than she thinks she is and she's just who Maddox needed to get his life in order in a connection that caught him by surprise. Together they were a match made in Heaven, a pairing that made me smile while warming my heart. Another connection that made me smile was that of Maddox and his mother, in scenes that were utterly charming and profound in their depiction.
On a whole this was a powerful read, one that didn't hold back in depicting the harsh realities of life. It's a tale that pushed every one of my emotional buttons, pulling me into Maddox's life and rooting for him to get his life back under control. His relationships were nicely balanced with the pain he was going through, making the women in his life an important part of his recovery and leaving this tale dripping with love and heart and soul.
Maddox is an appealing hero, a flawed yet perfectly imperfect man who had the rug pulled out from under him and whose response to that only made things worse for him. I ached for all he'd been through, the poor choices he made, all seen against a backdrop of realistically depicted life events. I was drawn to him from the start, found his vulnerabilities endearing, and it had me cheering him on every step of the way. Jen's an equally appealing character, one far stronger than she thinks she is and she's just who Maddox needed to get his life in order in a connection that caught him by surprise. Together they were a match made in Heaven, a pairing that made me smile while warming my heart. Another connection that made me smile was that of Maddox and his mother, in scenes that were utterly charming and profound in their depiction.
On a whole this was a powerful read, one that didn't hold back in depicting the harsh realities of life. It's a tale that pushed every one of my emotional buttons, pulling me into Maddox's life and rooting for him to get his life back under control. His relationships were nicely balanced with the pain he was going through, making the women in his life an important part of his recovery and leaving this tale dripping with love and heart and soul.
October 14, 2022
I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book 2 in a series but easily stands alone. If you read the authors previous book, Worth Every Second, then you will remember Jen as the best friend to Selena. In this story Jen is paired with a new character I had not met before, Maddox.
Maddox is a baseball player who has had a really rough time. He was a top baseball player when his mother got a Cancer diagnosis he spirals into drugs and after rehab and a massive game suspension he is then traded. He meets Jen when he comes to town to sign the contract and he has a very hot night with her.
When he starts in his new city, the team suggests that a girlfriend would help rehab his image, he decides that Jen would make an awesome fake girlfriend and so the fun begins for these two.
Jen and Maddox have this awesome and honest relationship that eventually turns into more and this is their story how they navigate this new set of feelings they have for each other.
This was mostly a really fun read. It's not light reading as there are some serious subjects that the two characters have to confront throughout the story. What I liked is that there is no ex-drama or romantic drama but rather I found that it read more like real life from Maddox's struggle with addiction to his mothers battle with Cancer and something that happens to Jen. None of these are easy fixes and I enjoyed seeing the characters confront those issues and become stronger together than alone.
This is book 2 in a series but easily stands alone. If you read the authors previous book, Worth Every Second, then you will remember Jen as the best friend to Selena. In this story Jen is paired with a new character I had not met before, Maddox.
Maddox is a baseball player who has had a really rough time. He was a top baseball player when his mother got a Cancer diagnosis he spirals into drugs and after rehab and a massive game suspension he is then traded. He meets Jen when he comes to town to sign the contract and he has a very hot night with her.
When he starts in his new city, the team suggests that a girlfriend would help rehab his image, he decides that Jen would make an awesome fake girlfriend and so the fun begins for these two.
Jen and Maddox have this awesome and honest relationship that eventually turns into more and this is their story how they navigate this new set of feelings they have for each other.
This was mostly a really fun read. It's not light reading as there are some serious subjects that the two characters have to confront throughout the story. What I liked is that there is no ex-drama or romantic drama but rather I found that it read more like real life from Maddox's struggle with addiction to his mothers battle with Cancer and something that happens to Jen. None of these are easy fixes and I enjoyed seeing the characters confront those issues and become stronger together than alone.
October 14, 2022
From the moment I opened this book I was hooked!
From first meet you get the feeling that not only is this book going to be fantastic but that this book is going to have so much character growth. Both of my assumptions were proved spot on.
The pull and instant connection that Maddox and Jennifer have is amazing. Right off the bat they have this little banter and I love it. A one night stand. A re-meet a month later. A proposal thats hard to refuse. You know that staying in a fake relationship is going to be completely difficult to do! There's too much there for them to stay fake. They are perfect for eachother. They compliment each other so well. But also Jen pushes Maddox to be a better version of himself. I absolutely love the friendship that they develop underneathe the "fake dating!" And the relationship that it all grows into.
It's not always easy for Maddox. He's got a lot of obstacles to overcome. A new team. Proving his worth and that he isn't just all words. A test that comes into play on more than one occurrence. And he battling demons that will always be there. But to watch him learn and grow throughout this book is amazing. And to hold his accountability.
Also loved getting those glimpses of Hunter and Selena because I missed them!! (Just added Dante's book to my TBR because I need to know more!)
I absolutely loved this book and def wish I could give it more than 5 stars! It was so freaking amazing! But it doesn’t surprise me one bit! Jocelyn is Amazing! Can't wait for what's next!!
From first meet you get the feeling that not only is this book going to be fantastic but that this book is going to have so much character growth. Both of my assumptions were proved spot on.
The pull and instant connection that Maddox and Jennifer have is amazing. Right off the bat they have this little banter and I love it. A one night stand. A re-meet a month later. A proposal thats hard to refuse. You know that staying in a fake relationship is going to be completely difficult to do! There's too much there for them to stay fake. They are perfect for eachother. They compliment each other so well. But also Jen pushes Maddox to be a better version of himself. I absolutely love the friendship that they develop underneathe the "fake dating!" And the relationship that it all grows into.
It's not always easy for Maddox. He's got a lot of obstacles to overcome. A new team. Proving his worth and that he isn't just all words. A test that comes into play on more than one occurrence. And he battling demons that will always be there. But to watch him learn and grow throughout this book is amazing. And to hold his accountability.
Also loved getting those glimpses of Hunter and Selena because I missed them!! (Just added Dante's book to my TBR because I need to know more!)
I absolutely loved this book and def wish I could give it more than 5 stars! It was so freaking amazing! But it doesn’t surprise me one bit! Jocelyn is Amazing! Can't wait for what's next!!
October 16, 2022
I will say that fake dating troupe is one of my favorites to read so it was a no brainer that I picked this to read. Spice wise.. I didn't think it was very spicy. Sure there's some dirty talk but if you're looking for dirty times with lots and lots of detailed description..this isn't the book. It's good if you need cleanse your palette with a good book with a really good romance. Anyway back to Maddox and Jennifer.. I loved their meet cute and instant connection they had. The fake dating was cute but I always love the moment when the feelings begin to get real and the characters realize it. This one had a great moment with that. Maddox was a great character. He's a total momma's boy and has her best at heart. He just doesn't handle stress very well. He is trying to redeem himself and prove that he is capable of playing the sport he loves. Meeting Jen opens his heart and realizes it's good to have someone by your side supporting you. The moments with his mom were super sweet and showed how much they look out for each other. He only wants the best for her. Jen and him have a great relationship. Sure it may have started out as fake but the feelings and friendship they have is real. This book was good and had a ton of heart in it. I just wanted at least one scene with detailed sexy times.
March 18, 2023
I read this while I watching the World Baseball Classic tournament, and I think reading baseball while watching baseball made this read even more enjoyable!
Maddox was traded to a new team after being suspended for testing positive for drug use. In his first night in his new city, he stops at a coffee shop and meets Jennifer.
Jennifer has been working at the shop for years, waiting to land a job as a Social Media Manager. When Maddox walks into her shop though, all thoughts her career path fly out the window. They spend one, steamy night together, thinking they'll never see each other again.
Until, his new team Manager suggests he gets a fake girlfriend to help put his image back in a positive light.
This had a great balance of romance and sport, exactly what I was looking for! Though there were several little things that irked me, they were nothing that changed my opinion about the story.
Maddox was so sweet and he was really trying to turn his life around for the sake of his sport and for his mom (total mama's boy!). Jennifer had a strong personality, spoke her mind, and was so supportive. She also had zero knowledge about baseball but ended up falling in love with the sport which I totally related to 🤍
Read this if you like: sports romance, fake dating, cinnamon roll MMC, no 3rd act breakup
CW's: drug addiction, relapse, recovery, parent with cancer
Maddox was traded to a new team after being suspended for testing positive for drug use. In his first night in his new city, he stops at a coffee shop and meets Jennifer.
Jennifer has been working at the shop for years, waiting to land a job as a Social Media Manager. When Maddox walks into her shop though, all thoughts her career path fly out the window. They spend one, steamy night together, thinking they'll never see each other again.
Until, his new team Manager suggests he gets a fake girlfriend to help put his image back in a positive light.
This had a great balance of romance and sport, exactly what I was looking for! Though there were several little things that irked me, they were nothing that changed my opinion about the story.
Maddox was so sweet and he was really trying to turn his life around for the sake of his sport and for his mom (total mama's boy!). Jennifer had a strong personality, spoke her mind, and was so supportive. She also had zero knowledge about baseball but ended up falling in love with the sport which I totally related to 🤍
Read this if you like: sports romance, fake dating, cinnamon roll MMC, no 3rd act breakup
CW's: drug addiction, relapse, recovery, parent with cancer
October 14, 2022
“It all started with a dark roast, and it's continuing with a silent vow of forever.”
Maddox Bauer has reached rock bottom and now he’s determined to fix whatever he damaged on his way down.
One thing that can help is to find a fake girlfriend. Not only would it show people that he’s ready to commit and he’s also stable enough to be in relationship, it will also make his Mom truly happy.
This is where Jen Zaragosa comes in. She’s worked hard to get where she’s at and she’s ready to move forward in her career.
As their fake relationship progress, it keeps getting harder and harder to follow the rules. The connection and attraction between them two is just that strong and the line between what is real and what is fake is starting to get blurry.
There were some intense heartbreaking parts in this story that will truly touch your heart.
When Maddox loves, he loves hard. Love the sweet moments between him and Jen. And love the funny moments between him and his Mom. Call him a Mama’s boy but he doesn’t care, his Mom is one of the best people he knows! They just have the best relationship that I want to have with my kids.
Be ready to laugh, swoon and cry!
Maddox Bauer has reached rock bottom and now he’s determined to fix whatever he damaged on his way down.
One thing that can help is to find a fake girlfriend. Not only would it show people that he’s ready to commit and he’s also stable enough to be in relationship, it will also make his Mom truly happy.
This is where Jen Zaragosa comes in. She’s worked hard to get where she’s at and she’s ready to move forward in her career.
As their fake relationship progress, it keeps getting harder and harder to follow the rules. The connection and attraction between them two is just that strong and the line between what is real and what is fake is starting to get blurry.
There were some intense heartbreaking parts in this story that will truly touch your heart.
When Maddox loves, he loves hard. Love the sweet moments between him and Jen. And love the funny moments between him and his Mom. Call him a Mama’s boy but he doesn’t care, his Mom is one of the best people he knows! They just have the best relationship that I want to have with my kids.
Be ready to laugh, swoon and cry!
October 14, 2022
I love a good sports romance and this one delivers with the story. Maddox Bauer has it all. He has a multimillion-dollar baseball contract for multiple years. He finds out his mother has brain tumors and because she is all he has in his life besides baseball, he descends into drug addiction. He is suspended not once but twice before he goes to rehab. When he gets out of rehab, he's been traded to the San Francisco Miners. Maddox knows this is his last chance. He meets with the team and then goes wandering around the city. He walks into a coffee shop where he meets Jennifer. They instantly have an attraction and have one night together.
When he returns to San Francisco to start his time with the team (he's still suspended) he meets with the team and the manager suggests that he get a fake girlfriend and someone to manage his social media. The perfect solution is Jennifer because she can do both. She agrees and they pretend to be involved with each other in public. But soon it is so much more and neither one of them can deny it. Will they be able to overcome Maddox's addiction to become something more? When life gets tough will Maddox be able to weather the storm?
When he returns to San Francisco to start his time with the team (he's still suspended) he meets with the team and the manager suggests that he get a fake girlfriend and someone to manage his social media. The perfect solution is Jennifer because she can do both. She agrees and they pretend to be involved with each other in public. But soon it is so much more and neither one of them can deny it. Will they be able to overcome Maddox's addiction to become something more? When life gets tough will Maddox be able to weather the storm?
October 13, 2022
Jocelyne is a new to me author and this is the first book of hers that I have read but it will most definetly not be the last! The chemistry between the characters is off the charts from the very beginning. There is a connection between them from their very first meeting. Madox is just coming out of rehab and trying to convince the baseball world that he is worth giving a second chance to all while making his mother happy. Madox and Jenifer have one amazing night that neither can quite get out of their heads. He is given the suggestion of finding someone to help manage his social media to keep his image up and even the suggestion of a fake girlfriend is thrown in their, the one person that comes to mind to help him out is the one woman he can't get out of his head. He seeks her out and asks her if she would be willing to help. What comes of it? Well you are going to have to read to find out for yourself! I'm not giving away all the juicy details! Loved the characters and story as a whole!
October 15, 2022
3.7⭐️
2🌶
I enjoyed this story and the instant chemistry that Jennifer and Maddox seemed to have. It was a little "darker" than I traditionally look for due to Maddox's recent struggles and need to maintain sobriety. That said it wasn't *actually* dark, just sometimes the reminders that someone with a history of drug abuse isn't magically cured after one stint in rehab felt dark.
I love sport romances so this did tick that box for me, though I think what I love most about sport romances is the brotherhood friendship aspects, which this book was missing. (Two of the only 3 teammates or former teammates mentioned in the novel were antagonistic to Maddox, and the 3rd had no real mention of a friendship between players.)
But again I liked the relationship, I liked that it didn't strictly follow the trope of fake dating in the most stereotypical way (not sure how else to say that without spoilers).
Note: At the time of this review there are a number of publishing errors. I did my best to ignore them as I was able to discern what was really meant to be said but if that's the kind of thing that annoys you, maybe wait a few weeks for corrections to be published.
2🌶
I enjoyed this story and the instant chemistry that Jennifer and Maddox seemed to have. It was a little "darker" than I traditionally look for due to Maddox's recent struggles and need to maintain sobriety. That said it wasn't *actually* dark, just sometimes the reminders that someone with a history of drug abuse isn't magically cured after one stint in rehab felt dark.
I love sport romances so this did tick that box for me, though I think what I love most about sport romances is the brotherhood friendship aspects, which this book was missing. (Two of the only 3 teammates or former teammates mentioned in the novel were antagonistic to Maddox, and the 3rd had no real mention of a friendship between players.)
But again I liked the relationship, I liked that it didn't strictly follow the trope of fake dating in the most stereotypical way (not sure how else to say that without spoilers).
Note: At the time of this review there are a number of publishing errors. I did my best to ignore them as I was able to discern what was really meant to be said but if that's the kind of thing that annoys you, maybe wait a few weeks for corrections to be published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2022
This is only my second book from this author, but she is definitely one I will be reading every book I can get my hands on in the future. Maddox & Jennifer’s book deals with very real issues that at times is both confronting and sad. I thought the way Jocelyne handled these two subjects were done in a very realistic way and I applaud her for that. The whole fake relationship part of this book was outstanding and honestly it seemed like I was right in the story as their relationship moved from fake to something very real.
The climax in this book had me putting my kindle down and having to walk away for a while. To say I was disappointed in Maddox is a severe understatement, but then there is Jennifer who absolutely shone when I was reading this. What an amazing character she is and she was hands down my favorite character in this story.
I really do hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next release because this type of storytelling gets quite addictive for me. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book
The climax in this book had me putting my kindle down and having to walk away for a while. To say I was disappointed in Maddox is a severe understatement, but then there is Jennifer who absolutely shone when I was reading this. What an amazing character she is and she was hands down my favorite character in this story.
I really do hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next release because this type of storytelling gets quite addictive for me. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book
October 16, 2022
"This is only my second book from this author, but she is definitely one I will be reading every book I can get my hands on in the future. Maddox & Jennifer’s book deals with very real issues that at times is both confronting and sad. I thought the way Jocelyne handled these two subjects were done in a very realistic way and I applaud her for that. The whole fake relationship part of this book was outstanding and honestly it seemed like I was right in the story as their relationship moved from fake to something very real.
The climax in this book had me putting my kindle down and having to walk away for a while. To say I was disappointed in Maddox is a severe understatement, but then there is Jennifer who absolutely shone when I was reading this. What an amazing character she is and she was hands down my favorite character in this story.
I really do hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next release because this type of storytelling gets quite addictive for me. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book"
The climax in this book had me putting my kindle down and having to walk away for a while. To say I was disappointed in Maddox is a severe understatement, but then there is Jennifer who absolutely shone when I was reading this. What an amazing character she is and she was hands down my favorite character in this story.
I really do hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next release because this type of storytelling gets quite addictive for me. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book"
October 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Maddox, he has everything going for him. He had an amazing career as a professional baseball player, making a lot of money. But, that doesn’t matter when he learns about an illness his mom is facing. And he spirals. Turing to things that would make him forget. And he throws an entire season. But he needs to do things to make everyone know he’s clean, and worth the investment. This book had me all in my feels, with Maddox dealing with the fear of losing his mom, and watching her going through an illness. I had to do this, and I lost my mom. So, that hit me a little bit harder. I love that Jen is able to be the calm, and reason that Maddox’s needs to stay clean. These two, right from the start you can tell they are perfect for each other. It’s meeting him, and spending that first night with him that gives her the push she needs to quit at the coffee shop. And she’s a reason for him to stay clean. This book definitely kept my interest throughout, and definitely recommend it.
October 23, 2022
I started out absolutely loving the themes and story line of this book. I learned a ton about baseball, and I was excited to add another sports romance to my shelf. The spicy scenes in this book were written well, and I think they were evenly spread through the book at a good pace. The storyline itself was maybe just a bit predictable which I am okay with, but I wanted to get even more personal with the characters. This book contains a dark theme of past use, and although we do see the hero struggle with it once, I wanted to see the struggle more often, so it was palpable as a reader. With the storyline on the romance side being a bit predictable, I wanted a higher emotional impact to elevate the read a bit.
I do love our hero and heroine of the story. I think they complement each other well. I loved the concept of the fake dating plot, and I love how their love story began. This book would be great for those who love a good sports romance with some spice, a fake dating trope, and a HEA.
I do love our hero and heroine of the story. I think they complement each other well. I loved the concept of the fake dating plot, and I love how their love story began. This book would be great for those who love a good sports romance with some spice, a fake dating trope, and a HEA.
March 21, 2025
This was my first Jocelyne Soto book back in 2023. Since then, I have gone on to read 2 more of her series' and Dante's book. I loved this book back then and I love it more now after reading Dante's book. I decided to read her books in the order she has on her website, they're not necessarily a series but more so a story world so they're inter-connected and I'm having a better reading experience.
This book explores, a shooting, drug use, and a side character with a cancer diagnosis. Maddox is a professional baseball player who gets traded because of his drug use. In a city, where he doesn't know anyone, he meets Jen, they decide to clean up his image to have a fake relationship and his social media. Their story evolves from there. This has typical Jocelyne Soto flair. This is considered a dark romance with the mafia heavily influenced throughout. This is also a Latinx romance, with Jen being Latinx. This has characters from Soto's other books in it so it's considered an inter-connected stand-alone but it could be read on its own.
This book explores, a shooting, drug use, and a side character with a cancer diagnosis. Maddox is a professional baseball player who gets traded because of his drug use. In a city, where he doesn't know anyone, he meets Jen, they decide to clean up his image to have a fake relationship and his social media. Their story evolves from there. This has typical Jocelyne Soto flair. This is considered a dark romance with the mafia heavily influenced throughout. This is also a Latinx romance, with Jen being Latinx. This has characters from Soto's other books in it so it's considered an inter-connected stand-alone but it could be read on its own.
October 12, 2022
I was a little nervous starting this book because I’m not a huge fan of instalove. But I was so pleasantly surprised by the way this book went. This book delved into much deeper topics than I expected but I really loved it. Please read the TW/CW for this one before starting.
Oh Maddox. What a come back story for him after getting addicted to drugs and being traded to a different baseball team. I love how much he loves his mom.
Jennifer was a great character to have alongside Maddox. She didn’t judge him for his choices and wanted to help him be better. The chemistry between them was apparent from the beginning.
If you love a good comeback story with some fake dating (and not so fake feelings) and baseball, check this one out! It released today and is available on kindle unlimited. There are characters from other books in this one, but this one is a complete standalone.
I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
Oh Maddox. What a come back story for him after getting addicted to drugs and being traded to a different baseball team. I love how much he loves his mom.
Jennifer was a great character to have alongside Maddox. She didn’t judge him for his choices and wanted to help him be better. The chemistry between them was apparent from the beginning.
If you love a good comeback story with some fake dating (and not so fake feelings) and baseball, check this one out! It released today and is available on kindle unlimited. There are characters from other books in this one, but this one is a complete standalone.
I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
October 12, 2022
This was an adorable story! It touched on some heavier topics, but overall the plot was very sweet! The fake dating concept was well executed. Their initial encounter was a very cute introduction to the characters and really set the pace for their relationship.
I related a lot to the FMC Jennifer (and not just because we share a name lol). She was laid back but compassionate. The way she supports Maddox but also maintained her own independence was a real highlight in this book for me. I love a FMC who has her own life and doesn’t just exist for her partner/s.
Maddox was also swoon worthy, especially with his thought processes in regards to the Jen. The way he cared for her and supported her when she needed him most was beautiful!
Overall I really enjoyed this quick read. I only wish the characters had more depth. They felt too two dimensional for me.
I related a lot to the FMC Jennifer (and not just because we share a name lol). She was laid back but compassionate. The way she supports Maddox but also maintained her own independence was a real highlight in this book for me. I love a FMC who has her own life and doesn’t just exist for her partner/s.
Maddox was also swoon worthy, especially with his thought processes in regards to the Jen. The way he cared for her and supported her when she needed him most was beautiful!
Overall I really enjoyed this quick read. I only wish the characters had more depth. They felt too two dimensional for me.
October 13, 2022
I love a good sports romance, and add in a fake dating trope? I’m in. I loved that while there was instant attraction, it wasn’t instalove. It was a well thought out storyline, with more depth than I was expecting. There were some pretty heavy issues in the book, but I thought they were handled pretty well.
Maddox just got news he was traded. He’s been playing baseball for his hometown Chicago, but they got tired of his downward spiral. They traded him in the middle of his 90 day suspension, even though he went to rehab. San Fransisco picked him up, but is he really getting another chance? After meeting with the team and signing his new contract, he goes to a coffee shop. There he locks eyes with a barista named Jennifer, and it captivated. A month later, his team suggests a fake girlfriend to improve his image. Why can’t he get the barista out of his head?
Maddox just got news he was traded. He’s been playing baseball for his hometown Chicago, but they got tired of his downward spiral. They traded him in the middle of his 90 day suspension, even though he went to rehab. San Fransisco picked him up, but is he really getting another chance? After meeting with the team and signing his new contract, he goes to a coffee shop. There he locks eyes with a barista named Jennifer, and it captivated. A month later, his team suggests a fake girlfriend to improve his image. Why can’t he get the barista out of his head?
October 13, 2022
Maddox is just come out of rehab, and he signs up for a new baseball team that he has been traded to, with his past actions being the cause. When Maddox goes into a coffee shop he meets Jennifer, and they spend an amazing time together, before going separate ways. A month later Maddox is informed by his coach that he needs to redeem his reputation and prove to the fans that he is not the same man as he was when he went into rehab. Maddox convince Jen to become his fake girlfriend to keep his much-loved mom happy. This is a beautifully written story which has undeniable chemistry, sobriety, emotions, intrigue, family, friendships, fun, and love, which leads to an entertaining, sweet, and endearing page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
October 13, 2022
What happens when their fake relationship becomes real?
Baseball player Maddow Bauer knew he was getting a second chance to play baseball after being traded to San Francisco when he finished rehab for his drug addiction. One the lessons from rehab is not dating for a year but he broke that rule the first night after meeting barista Jennifer Zaragoza. Maddox needs a fake girlfriend to appease the team and since he can’t get Jennifer out if his mind maybe he can hire her to play his girlfriend?
I liked how Jocelyne Soto didn’t gloss over the part how Maddox struggled with his sobriety when things started to get tough but he didn’t want to let down Jennifer after they fell in love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and Wildfire Marketing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Baseball player Maddow Bauer knew he was getting a second chance to play baseball after being traded to San Francisco when he finished rehab for his drug addiction. One the lessons from rehab is not dating for a year but he broke that rule the first night after meeting barista Jennifer Zaragoza. Maddox needs a fake girlfriend to appease the team and since he can’t get Jennifer out if his mind maybe he can hire her to play his girlfriend?
I liked how Jocelyne Soto didn’t gloss over the part how Maddox struggled with his sobriety when things started to get tough but he didn’t want to let down Jennifer after they fell in love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and Wildfire Marketing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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