In Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland, Labor and delivery nurse Molly has been on the hunt for a 
new roommate for what seems like forever. Somehow she didn’t realize how many, ahem, interesting people lived in Chicago but she’s sure found out recently. Then a hunky, charmer of a guy shows up at Molly’s door answering her ad. It’s too bad she’s looking for a female roommate. But after some cajoling–and some wickedly scrumptious cupcakes–Declan wears her down. Knowing that he’s already in the midst of wooing one of his coworkers makes Molly feel more comfortable with him around, especially considering she’s also interested in one of the doctors she works with.
‘It felt different around him after the other night, like the volume on the sexual-tension meter had been turned from low to full blast.’
But as Molly and Declan forge a friendship, her thoughts become more about him than her unrequited crush, Will. Declan offers a solution: they fake a relationship to make Will and Julia (Declan’s crush) jealous. He had good intentions going into the deal. Little did he know that as his friendship with Molly becomes more and more solid, his attraction to her would grow even more as well. Real life interferes, pushing Declan and Molly to their limits. Through it all, though, they have each other’s backs. And when the dust settles, they’ll have to make a choice who they want in their lives–and at what lengths they’ll go to in order to make it happen.
“Do what, Molly? Say it. Tell me what you want.”
“I…I want you to kiss me.”
My mouth curved to a wicked grin.
Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland worked their magic once again with Not Pretending Anymore, a fake relationship romance between roommates that had as many laughs and flirty scenes as it did serious moments.
“You know you’re in love if every little thing you’ve ever been scared of suddenly doesn’t seem half as terrifying as not spending the rest of your life with that person.”
Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland have created some awesome stories that are oh so steamy and most definitely sigh-worthy. (Happily Letter After, anyone?) Although, Not Pretending Anymore might just be my favorite by this duo so far. They blended just the right amount of humor, darker subjects, and swoony romance that sparked off the pages between roommates Molly and Declan, making this a quick read that just knocked me out.
Keeland and Ward have a knack for making their characters likeably flawed. And that was definitely what I found with Declan and Molly. Both were equally charming and considerate–and both of them were pining after one of their coworkers, which added some interesting tension to their work situations. Right away, from the first moment Declan entered Molly’s life trying to talk her into letting him become her roommate, you could tell it was going to be *fun*. And that they had mega chemistry. While I adored their playfulness and how they couldn’t help but tease each other, it was the honest friendship that built between them I really loved. Molly and Declan truly cared about each other. And what better foundation for a romance, yeah?
With an epic ending that melted my heart after a slow burn love story that was absolutely meant to be, Not Pretending Anymore is a prime example of why I always come back for more from Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. Highly recommended.
QOTD: Do you have a favorite book written by this fab duo?
Book Info:
Publication: Expected publication: April 12th 2021 | C. Scott Publishing Corp. |
Finding a good roommate through a classified ad isn’t as easy as it sounds.
I was starting to lose hope.
Until a knock at my door came and God answered my prayers.
Except…uh…wrong prayer, God.
I’d definitely requested the big guy find me a drop-dead gorgeous man on more than one occasion…just not as my roommate.
Declan Tate talked me into interviewing him anyway.
While he was amusing and charismatic, I wouldn’t have been comfortable living with a man, so I regretfully declined.
Then cupcakes showed up at my door—freshly baked by Declan and just as sinfully delicious as he was.
You could say he was persistent.
I eventually folded. It wasn’t like I had another viable candidate anyway.
Plus, I was interested in someone else. And Declan was into another woman. So it wasn’t like anything would happen romantically.
After he moved in, the two of us became the best of friends. We even started to give each other advice on getting our crushes to notice us.
Eventually, Declan concocted an idea: we should pretend to be a couple to make our love interests jealous.
I was hesitant, but went along with it anyway. To my utter shock, his crazy plan worked.
Now I was dating the supposed man of my dreams, and my best friend had the woman of his.
But there was one problem.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Declan.
Those feelings we were trying to fake?
Yeah…I wasn’t pretending anymore.
