One thing I love most about Melissa is her ability to write the most sweet & sexy romance novels, and even better second chance romances, and if The Real Thing is anything to go by Sugar Lake is going to be a great series for Melissa to add to her already amazing collection of books.

Willow Dalton & Zane Walker have been friends since childhood, and secretly loved each other from afar all these years. Before Willow headed to collage she enlisted Zane to take her virginity so she could away to collage a "woman" - she said there would be no strings attached and he was more than happy to oblige. Over the years they have kept in touch, with some flirting along the way, but it was always Willow who held back.

Now Zane is back in town with a proposition for Wills - as he nicknamed her - a proposition of a fake engagement to him for a few weeks as a publicity stunt thought up by his PR to gain him more exposure as a romantic actor, then once it over they go back to their respective lives. Willow naturally is against it at first as she is very close to her family and they will raise all sort of questions about the sudden engagement, but Zane seems to have it all planned out.

The lines begin to get blurred between fake and real and you are left wondering just how this is going to play out. It is clear that Zane & Willow want to be together and that he has thought of her for years, but as I said before it was Willow who held back - can this be the prefect ruse to bring them together again for real?

The banter between them both is brilliant and real, there are time when they are annoying and their are time when the lines blur and no one know what is real or fake, over all this is a great story from Melissa and I can not wait to read more from the Sugar Lake series!

I found it a sweet and quick romance.

I loved that they grew up together and Zane’s best friend is Willows older brother.

Their connection is heated and full of chemistry.

Zane was entertaining and emotional

Willow was strong and witty.

All up and enjoyable story. A good Sunday inside novel.

*Note ARC provided via NetGalley

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I've long been a fan of Melissa Foster and her various romance series. The Real Thing is no different! Zane and Willow have been friends since high school, and when Zane needs help cleaning up his reputation, he turns to Willow to pose as his girlfriend. Soon, they have a hard time determining whether their fake relationship is turning into something more.

I loved Zane and Willow. I always enjoy when we are dropped into the hero/heroine's story, rather than be there from the beginning. Zane and Willow's chemistry is off the charts, and their antics had me chuckling while reading. I have a feeling I will read The Real Thing time and time again, and I cannot wait for book 2 of the Sugar Lake series.

I loved this story. Melissa Foster does a wonderful job of drawing the reader in and provided a story that you never want to end.
Willow and Zane have been fighting love their whole life. Miscommunications and timing have played a large part of their separation. That and Zane is a hot shot actor living in L.A. and her brothers best friend. Willow is more of a down to earth, small town baker, but she trusts Zane with a secret from her high school years that bonds them forever.
I would definitely recommend this story.

Once again Melissa Foster writes a fun. loving and engaging story. A great start to a series. Friends to lovers. Check hot movie stars check.

4 Real Love Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Melissa Foster is someone who knows what she is doing... she creates situations that warm our hearts as we watch them unfold. She is the Queen of Heartwarming Series and every time I crack open one of her books, I know I will be taken to a place I won't want to leave.

The Real Thing is a new series that focuses on a hidden love that becomes front and center when movie star long time "friend", Zane Walker, needs a "Cover Fiancee." He needs this to clean up his reputation. The only person he can truly trust is a girl who came to him... asking for a favor of a lifetime long ago.

Willow Dalton has always had a soft spot for Zane... yet sometimes his arrogance and confidence has driven her nuts. They have this friend/enemy thing happening... which actually hides the true/real feelings they both have.

When Willow drives at breakneck speed to a resort thinking she is about to have the interview of her career, she has no idea how life changing it actually will be. She has been working so hard to make her bakery a success and closing a contract with the resort would take her to the next level.

With all her hopes tied up with this opportunity, she is in no mood for anything to go wrong...

Of course, they do...and the icing on the cake... Zane is responsible for her being there in the first place! When he comes clean as to why she is really at the resort, he presents her with a proposal... She will get the exposure her bakery needs and he will have a trusted friend helping him "clean up his act" as his pretend fiancee.

After all...She owes him....

This is a sweet story done well by Melissa Foster. We get all the yummy bits of two people who have cared for each other all along.

I love Willow and Zane!!!! Great new series from Melissa Foster. 

Willow and Zane have known each other for years. Zane is her older brother, Ben's, best friend. 
Willow owns her own bakery in Sugar Lake and Zane left to become an A-list actor. When he needs a fake engagement to help his reputation, he calls on his childhood friend. Willow agrees and feelings from the past are revealed. 

I love how Melissa made this book about more than just a fake engagement. It was more about two childhood friends realizing what they really meant to each other and feelings strengthening. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

The Real Thing was a "sweet" story. Haha... lame pun that anyone who read the back of the book can come up with. Really those this book was smoking hot. With some unexpected heart melting romance. Zane comes across as a playboy actor and he is just is very confident in that sexy way. Willow is like the girl we all want to be in our early twenties. She is confident in herself with her job and around her friends and family of the town. She is amusing, and realistic. Her problem is that she has always been in love with her first love, its always there and hard to forget. So when Zane, who has been her best friend for years, propositions her with a crazy plan for his reputation... (but is it...)

Melissa Foster has created some very good characters with this book. I would say that it was a great solo book even, but I am more excited that it is part of a series. The whole family, that could use some hooking up, are full of very different characters that have different personalities, but seem loveable that you want to see the whole gangs stories unfold.

What a great beginning to a series. Zane and Willow are perfect for each other; sometimes a little too perfect, but it was a nice change from the stories that feel obligated to create problems for a couple when things are going well. Zane is quite the romantic. I loved getting little glimpses into their history.

I can't wait for the rest of the family to get their own stories.

When handsome Actor Zane Walker needs a fake fiancee, who does he want but his best friend Willow Dalton. Willow has loved Zane since they were kids. When Zane asks her to be his fake fiancee she wonders if she can keep her heart intact. These two have amazing chemistry and you can feel the love and passion that flows around them. After agreeing to this partnership their walls start to crumble from around their hearts...they start to realize that maybe this could be the real thing!!! Even though there are some road blocks..can they make it work???? Definitely loved this book and can't wait to read about Willow's siblings!!! Don't hesitate to one click buy this great book!!!

Such a sexy, swoonys novel filled with love, heat, and lots of true emotion. This series by Melissa Foster will not leave you disappointed. I like that there's not a lot of drama, and really enjoy the closeness, friendship and the couples history. This book is irresistible.

So much fun!

This book was so awesome I haven't enjoyed one this much in a while. Willow and Zane have known each other for such a long time, and the truth is they have both been connected since that night all those years ago. The Banter between these two was addictive and delightful. I really loved the jokes, and just the easy way it was between them.

Great start to a series that I'm sure will have me loving every moment. I have to say that this is my first book by Melissa Foster and I look forward to reading many more.

I have recently become a fan of Melissa Foster and can say that so far I have not been disappointed in a book! This was a sweet, sexy feel good romance. The way she writes gives you an excellent picture of the characters in your mind. I do mean ALL the characters too. I even pictured Fred, Jay, Cheryl and the boys so clearly. Being able to write so well it really gives a visual of the story is a strong positive for me. If your looking for a sweet, sexy and quick read then this friends is a must read!

4 Stars! The Real Thing is book #1 in Melissa Foster's Sugar Lake Series.

Meet the Heroine & Hero:
Willow Dalton is a small town girl who owns the local bakery.

Zane Walker is a small town boy who got out & became an A-list actor with a bad boy reputation.


The Story:
Willow & Zane grew up together in the small town of Sweetwater. Zane was her brother's best friend & like a part of their family. Before heading off to college, Willow asked Zane to do her a favor... to take her virginity. That night is the start of something, but they both don't realize what. Zane wants to get out of their small town & he takes off to make a name for himself & become an A-list celebrity while Willow stays in Sweetwater & opens her bakery, Sweetie Pie Bakery.

Fast forward 10 years. Willow is trying to get her bakery on the next level & to have greater success. She finds out that she has landed an interview with a large resort & thinks that this will be the ticket to make her bakery the next big thing. Unbeknownst to her, this is a set up by Zane, see he now has a favor to ask of Willow. Zane has made a name for himself as an actor in action movies & wants to break into romantic comedies. Unfortunately for him, his bad boy/player reputation is not helping him out any. So he has an offer for Willow. Be his fake fiance so he can clean up his act with a small town, good girl & in exchange she will get a lot of exposure for her bakery.

You can imagine how this all goes down! Zane starts spending time with Willow back in their hometown of Sweetwater. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings that started so long ago start bubbling up to the surface. Will these two have a shot at making anything real work though when her life is her bakery in laid back Sweetwater while his life is in the fast paced, glamorous fast lane in L.A.?


The Verdict:
This was my first Melissa Foster book & I really enjoyed it! The character's chemistry together was awesome! They were sweet & cute, but also had plenty of heat between them! I love a book that has great humor & this read really delivered on that, Willow was hilarious! Zane definitely makes the book boyfriend list, he's a bad boy with that inner down to earth romantic, what's not to love?! I definitely recommend this book to others & I can't wait to read more from Melissa Foster!


*ARC provided courtesy of the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have been enjoying reading Melissa Foster's work as Addison Cole, so I was excited to start her Sugar Lake series. Fake engagements are always fun, and I really enjoyed the set-up for Zane and Willow's "relationship" and their backstory as well. These two have great chemistry, and a great friendship as well. It was an enjoyable super-sweet romance.

My Review: We're going to start with what I loved - which is that I am such a sucker for the fake engagement plot. I know, I know, they're usually cheesy as all get out. But they're almost always cute - and this is no exception. I love the idea of pretending to be in love, and then having to figure out if your feelings are genuine or you're just confused. I also have to say how much I loved Willow's habit of describing people as bakery items. My favorite was the woman she described as a lemon tart - basically, a little goes a long way. This is an adorable, quirky trait that, while small, added something fun and special to the story.

Now to what didn't work as well for me. I have read several books by this author, and they just always feel like they lack depth. The emotions are there, but the whole story just feels like there's not much beneath the surface. I don't know if it's because of how quickly things happen, or what. Fortunately, this doesn't detract from the fact that she writes some cute stories - so while they may not be literary greatness, they are fun. And a semi-small detail I just need to complain about because it made me angry... Zane basically blamed Willow for his man-ho'ing ways. Not cool. Just because she started dating someone months after their one night together in college does not mean he had to suddenly sleep with every woman in sight.

Cover Lovin': A very cute, eye-catching cover.

Recommendation: No prior knowledge necessary!

Final Rating THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5)!! A fun, cute story. Definitely recommended for contemporary romance fans!

I have heard and read about the author's books for a long time. I had been procrastinating a bit on trying her out. So when I came across this book, I jumped in quickly. Boy oh boy, what have I missed in the past!? For full fledged enjoyment, Melissa Foster is the way to go!

Zane and Willow have stayed in touch inspite of being too far from each other. From that little detail itself , it can be seen that they are fond of each other. When Zane has to get someone to act as his fiance and he is adament to have only Willow in that role, it shows his friendship is only on the surface and there are more deep levels below it.

What I felt interesting was the real person behind Zane. He might be a big actor but his real self is down to earth and funny. He has loyalty to his past. Willow on the other hand is both sweet and spunky. And both of them have naughty sides to them which give us a very sexy and hot romance.

The characters are all realistic. I loved getting to know Willow's family. I felt that they were rooting for Zane subconsciously. There are scenes like the one where Zane almost refuses to kiss his costar which made my heart flutter. I enjoy romances with depth and this one hit the spot.

If you love romance with family and a small town ambience, this is a treat in all respects. I look forward to reading ALL her books.

I received a free copy for reviewing purposes. This doesn't affect my review in any way. These are all my own thoughts on the book.

My one line review : A hot romance with a sweet undertone.

My rating : 5/5

My reread factor : 4/5

Zane is a big star and he needs a new image. He calls on his kong time friend willow. Willow has looked at zane with dreamy eyes, so they pretend to be in a relationship to keep the papers happy. Its a roller coaster of a few weeks but the story is sweet funny and sexy! Congrats on a fab story!

2.5 stars I wanted a little more conflict but everything seemed to move along a little too smoothly and everything was tied up just a bit too neatly.

Zane and willow’s stoey was awesome. I loved the story of their past and how it eventually weaved itself into a wonderful love story.
This was a sweetvread and a wonderful story of true love
I feel hard forball the characters and they were awesome