Summary
Is it the chance of a lifetime or his biggest mistake?
When former hotel manager Alex Kirkland, his sister and their best friends pooled their money for an unusual lottery prize—a historic, dilapidated inn on the Maryland shore—as a last-ditch attempt to escape rotten circumstances, they never expected to win. But they’re all looking for a fresh start and a second chance, so Alex convinces everyone to move in and repair the building in time for the spring wedding season.
Sydney Darrow never planned to return to her hometown. But her family needs her and Sydney can endure anything for 90 days—including making sandwiches and serving coffee with a smile until she returns to her jet-setter career. When her grandma mistakes a handsome customer for the “fiancé” Sydney created when she thought her grandma was on death’s door, well…Sydney will do anything to keep her spirits up during treatment. She can persuade him to keep up the charade for a few months, right?
But when Alex agrees to play along, will they both fall for their own fiction?
Review
I have mixed feelings about this book. While I felt it dragged a bit, I also liked a lot of the story and the characters. I thought we were too much inside their head and some repetitions were unnecessary.
It’s the first small town romance I read where it doesn’t have only bad effects on the characters. Here, the author develops a sense of community that I really enjoyed. They all support each other, even the Three Oaks Inn’s newcomers and Sydney the escapee. They’re like a second family.
The fake relationship becoming real wasn’t original at all, but the tension between Sydney and Alex, and the gentle seduction, were really compelling. I loved that couple. I wasn’t too fond of the conflict that threatened their relationship though. It was such an amazing coincidence! My suspension of disbelief only goes so far. I willingly chose to accept it and run with it, since it isn’t the only one in the book–the whole premise is one big one too.
The relationship between the members of the Three Oaks Inn’s crew was interesting too. There are Alex and his sister, Amelia, plus Amelia’s best friend, Everleigh, and Alex’s long time friend Teague. The character development and the various interactions between them make them compelling and I’m interested in reading their personal stories in the next books in the series.
Quickie
- Series: Love lottery #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #fake relationship #newcomers
- Triggers: mention of cheating to a secondary character
- Main couple: Sydney Darrow & Alex Kirkland
- Hotness: 2/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + I enjoyed the way the Three Oaks Inn’s crew is slowly accepted by the town
- – I’m still wondering how they managed to fool anyone with their fake relationship
Stalker mode
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