REVIEW: Fa-La-La-La Faking It by Teri Wilson

Fa-La-La-La Faking It by Teri Wilson: Adaline Bishop has come to visit her grandmother who is in an assisted living facility due to some cognitive decline. Her grandmother is so gung ho find Adaline a husband, she giving her a matchmaking service for Christmas. That is not what Adaline is interested in at all. So she tells a fib that she already has a boyfriend.

While at the assisted living facility, Adaline runs into Jace Martin. She had a crush on him in the fifth grade, but he ended up being her enemy. Now all this time later he’s handsome and much nicer. He volunteers to be her fake boyfriend.

Jace visits at the same assisted living place to see his uncle who is in a special area for those needing hospice care. Jace has taken time off to be with his uncle who was so kind to him when he was younger. Gus Martin is no longer an even tempered man. He puts the “c” in curmudgeon. Yes, he is sick and dying, but there must be more to it. Adaline works with Comfort Paws, a group that trains therapy dogs. She takes Fuzzy to visit at the assisted living place regularly. Gus grumbles and calls the dog a “mangy mutt”.

As time goes on will Adaline and Jace find out more about Gus’s past that is affecting his present? Will they be able to walk away from their fake relationship after Gus is gone?

This book is so much more than a “fake boyfriend” trope. There is deep emotion permeating the whole novel that at times had me teary. The addition of the dog Fuzzy was extra heartwarming for me. The efforts to expand Comfort Paws was very sweet with disappointment along the way.

This is a sweet small town romance which is one of my favorite types. Even though this is a Christmas story, it will lift you up any time of the year.

Book Info:

Publication: October 22, 2024 | Harlequin Special Edition | Comfort Paws #3

It’s beginning to look a lot like kiss…er…Christmas!

Matchmaking services as a Christmas gift? No thank you! It’s bad enough that, to save her grandmother’s feelings, Adaline Bishop fibs and says she’s seeing someone. It’s worse when Jace Martin, her grade school crush turned nemesis, volunteers that he’s the someone. Now Adaline will have to fake it until Jace’s flannel-shirted, piney-scented goodness leaves town in a couple of weeks.

Jace would like to make up for his past transgressions and for his elderly uncle’s meaner-than-the-grinch behavior during Adaline’s therapy dog visits. In the spirit of peace and goodwill toward all, Jace will happily be her fake boyfriend. It’s just that what began as a lie as big as Texas is starting to feel like the magic of a Christmas wish come true.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

A Comfort Paws Romance

Book 1: Dog Days of Summer
Book 2: Fa-La-La-La Faking It