☆☆➹⁀☆ 4.5 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆
What It’s About:
Hot TV star Luke Rafferty is Hollywood’s newest bad boy… at least, according to the tabloids. He’s been steaming up the screens as Dr. Casanova for ten years, but thanks to his ex-wife, some tricky contract negotiations, and that incident with the stethoscope (don’t ask), he’s suddenly on an extended vacation – with his heartthrob career on the line.
Enter Stella Lane.
A Hamptons local, she’s trying to get her home renovation company off the ground; winning the job for Luke’s new beachfront retreat would be her big break. And when she just happens to overhear his agent suggesting a fake relationship to give his reputation a swoon-worthy makeover, Stella sees the perfect solution to both their problems.
What’s a little fake smooching between friend(ly professionals)?
Stella is determined to keep her eyes on the prize renovation and her hands OFF the hunky actor wandering shirtless through her construction site. But Luke has other ideas. Midnight skinny-dipping ideas.
If only he wasn’t so heart-stompingly, panty-twistingly handsome…
Soon, sparks are flying, and they’re both forgetting their kisses are just for show. But can this fake relationship weather a very real tabloid storm? Or will past betrayals and the Hollywood spotlight drive them apart before their romance has even begun?
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My Thoughts:
Rules are in place for a reason, but you know with Lila Monroe’s Billionaire Bachelors series, the rules always seem to be broken. Not to fret, Ms. Monroe’s broken rules lead to some smexy romance, angsty story tension and a satisfying HEA.
Mr. Casanova has become one of my favorites in Ms. Monroe’s series of standalone romance novellas. Each story centers on the premise of a fake relationship (not an escort) set up by an agency. In Mr. Casanova, Luke Rafferty is an actor on the outs in Hollywood due to his ex-wife’s fabricated stories for her own personal gain. The deliciously handsome heartthrob is licking his wounds at his new mansion in the Hamptons when he meets local general contractor Stella Lane. Stella is rebuilding her business after her louse of an ex-husband has stolen her clients, and nearly good-ol’-boyed her out of business. She is smart, has a good eye for design, and can wield a hammer or wrench as good as the next guy. Her loyal friends and construction crew are charming secondary characters. A particularly noteworthy secondary character is her dad, who is the proprietor of the local pub, The Shipwreck.
Ms. Monroe has a knack for developing lead female characters who are independent, strong, and absolutely lovable. Stella is a character you can’t help but adore and root for. The instant attraction between Luke and Stella is obvious, and naturally, both find it difficult to follow the rules and keep everything professional. The angst leading to the story’s zenith is a bit contrived for us commoners, but not improbable for a once-bitten, twice-shy Hollywood type. The charming conclusion melted my heart.
Lila Monroe’s Mr. Casanova has “good bones” as contractor Stella would say, and the story’s “construction” is every bit as amazing as one of Stella’s remodels.
BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS SERIES:
1 Very Irresistible Playboy
2 Hot Daddy
3 Wild Card
4 Man Candy
5 Mr. Casanova
6 Best Man (Feb 2019)
About the author: Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe wrote The Billionaire Bargain. Lila enjoys writing, as it gives her a flexible schedule to spend time with her kids and a wonderful excuse to avoid them. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, who strips out of his well-fitted suits nightly.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://www.lilamonroebooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilamonroebooks
Newsletter: http://www.lilamonroebooks.com/newsletter
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