The Dating Charade
by Melissa Ferguson
Just when you think you’ve met your match . . . the charade begins.
Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.
But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.
No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?
Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.
Momma Says: 3.5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A hilarious and warmhearted rom-com debut..." That's the line that won me over and made me want to read this book because I do love a good rom-com. That said, this did not have that feel, not at all. Oh, it does have its funny moments, and I loved Jett's adjustments to dealing with toddlers and a baby, but rom-com? Nope. There is entirely too much serious here for that lighthearted, romantic comedy feel. I also didn't get much in the way of romance. This is a Christian romance, so I wasn't looking for steam or any of that, and I don't need that to enjoy a love story. After all, it's about love, not lust, but Jett and Cassie are overshadowed by the children in this story, and there's little room for romance. Which brings us to what I did like about this story. The kiddos. It's hard not to let these kids tug at the heartstrings, and some pretty serious issues are addressed throughout this story. In fact, some of those issues brought out my momma bear side, and I really wanted a few minutes alone with some parents. So, what it all boils down to is this - Christian fiction? Absolutely. Family drama? Yes, that too. Romance? Not so much, and the conclusion was a little farfetched in my opinion. The story kind of felt like a balance needed to be found between the drama and the romance, so that the reader could get some of both. Regardless, the story did hold my interest, and I'll be interested to see what this author does next.
"A hilarious and warmhearted rom-com debut..." That's the line that won me over and made me want to read this book because I do love a good rom-com. That said, this did not have that feel, not at all. Oh, it does have its funny moments, and I loved Jett's adjustments to dealing with toddlers and a baby, but rom-com? Nope. There is entirely too much serious here for that lighthearted, romantic comedy feel. I also didn't get much in the way of romance. This is a Christian romance, so I wasn't looking for steam or any of that, and I don't need that to enjoy a love story. After all, it's about love, not lust, but Jett and Cassie are overshadowed by the children in this story, and there's little room for romance. Which brings us to what I did like about this story. The kiddos. It's hard not to let these kids tug at the heartstrings, and some pretty serious issues are addressed throughout this story. In fact, some of those issues brought out my momma bear side, and I really wanted a few minutes alone with some parents. So, what it all boils down to is this - Christian fiction? Absolutely. Family drama? Yes, that too. Romance? Not so much, and the conclusion was a little farfetched in my opinion. The story kind of felt like a balance needed to be found between the drama and the romance, so that the reader could get some of both. Regardless, the story did hold my interest, and I'll be interested to see what this author does next.
❃❃ARC provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson
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