I really enjoyed the rom-com element of this book! It surprised me since I was expecting a regency romance, but I loved it all the same since I'm a sucker for rom-coms. Hugh was super snarky which I enjoyed, and I loved their witty banter.

I wish there was more steamy scenes, but I did like the slow-burn and build up - it heightened the anticipation. Fake engagement/marriage trope is one of my favorite tropes to read, and this book did not let me down!

I was disappointed with this title. Fake relationship is my favourite romance trope, by a long shot. However a big pet peeve of mine is when there is no actual conceivable reason for the characters not to be together, except for them saying “we can’t”…. That was certainly the case with Hugh and Minerva. Class was touched on a little, but not directly addressed until the last two chapters. The character were also quite one dimensional, each only having one main character trait. That goes for the main cast too! I did enjoy a couple moments, but unfortunately a disappointment overall.

This was like Pride and Prejudice if Pride and Prejudice were a forced proximity, fake fiancée trope.

Future Earl and committed to bachelorhood, Hugh, creates a fake fiancée to appease his matchmaking mother who is living over seas. After two years of spinning lies, Hugh’s mother decides to come back to England to meet this mystery fiancée once and for all. In a chance meeting, Hugh runs into Minerva in the street. With what seems like fate, as his fake fiancée’s name is Minerva, he offers to pay her to stand in as said fake fiancée to both get his mother off his back and help Minerva’s financial woes. Thus, all chaos ensues.

It is hysterical, it is heartwarming, it is witty, it has all of the makings for the perfect period drama romantic comedy.

Cute Regency fake dating trope, HEA, what more could you ask for in a historical romance?

In this book, our hero Hugh has created a fake fiance in order to get his matchmaking mother to leave him the heck alone and stop meddling in his life. Enter Minerva.Not only were these two great fun together, but the family members and friends that surrounded them were just laugh out loud, funny and so enjoyable to follow.

While I don't always enjoy when miscommunication is used as a major plot disruption in these books, I felt this one did it fairly well. And so my complaints are minimal. It was just a great fun romp, and one that I think anyone who enjoys the typical fake dating tropes would really get behind.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This was a light and funny read with a bit of steamy romance that was written very tasteful. I liked this book and would recommend it to my friends. Only bad thing is now I have to wait for #2 In this series😊

What a wonderful and funny farce. When Hugh finds a woman to act as his fiancée to stop his mother's matchmaking and stay away from the alter, but all hell breaks loose and Hugh gets more then he is paying for. The story reminds me a little of "Pride and Prejudice," with a tiny injection of Shakespeare. Definitely a great light summer read. If you like Amelia Gray or Victoria Alexander than you definitely love this story.

#neverfallforyourfiancee #netgalley

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I love Rom-Com's and this one did not disappoint. I loved the storyline and the premise of the story. Very highly recommend!

Rating: 4/5

Thank you NetGalley+ the publishing company for the advanced reading copy of this cozy historical romance!

I honestly was very on the fence about this novel. In this story we follow the “fake” engagement of Hugh and Minerva.
Hugh has created a fake fiancée in attempt to get his determined matchmaking mother to back off. So he hires Minerva to play that matchmaker and hires her and her sisters to create this illusion for his visiting mother.

Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story but I just felt the beginning took a little too long to get the story or ball if you will rolling. I thought it was a cute fast paced romance that gave great banter and an adorable romance between the two main characters. I do think the romance was a little quick paced but it did give me a look into what the future book could be? (Giles & Diana PLEASE)

I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it for anyone that wants a funny light hearted historical romance with a guaranteed HEA.

Delightful period rom com! Hugh and Minerva are charming characters involved in a fake engagement. They are surrounded by a cast of witty, sarcastic family, friends and servants. Hugh has woven a ridiculous story about his fake fiancé and a new complication pops up at every turn. I laughed out loud, sighed at the sweet parts, teared up at the misunderstandings and waited for the HEA I was cheering for. I hope the author continues with stories on the rest of the Merriwell sisters!

I love a good fake relationship story. I also love a historical romance. This one is light hearted and fun.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several other books by this author and I loved them. So I had high expectations going into reading this book. This book definitely lived up to my expectations. I loved it.

This was a delightful read - laugh out loud funny at parts (seriously, the ending scene is worthy of some high level Shakespeare farce). I do enjoy the fake romance trope, though this one drags it out a bit too far using one of my least favorite plot devices, miscommunication. It was close to reaching the end of my tolerance for that plot device but the author seemed to have a good idea of when her audience would require a resolution. Hugh and Minerva are fun to watch as they try not to fall in love while pretending to be in love at a county house party full of meddlesome family, friends and guests with one disastrous event after another. A fast and fun read!

Hugh's mother is coming back to London.

After lying to her for two years about having a fiancée to keep her from matchmaking, Hugh is suddenly forced to either come clean to his mother or double-down and hire a stand-in. When he just happens to meet a young woman with the same name as his fictitious love, the die is cast.

"Never Fall for Your Fiancée" by Virginia Heath is a pure madcap delight. This compulsive read is brimming with humor, endearing characters (Payne, has to be one the top 5 best butlers ever written!) and tons of heart. I love a good fake engagement and this one is beyond any I've read before. When Minerva is hired to play Hugh's fake love, she has to bring along her two disapproving younger sisters and Hugh rounds out the cast by hiring an actress/drunk to play their mother. Hijinks ensue and a real love and friendship blossoms,

The whole time I was reading this I was wondering whether it would make a better miniseries or movie, that's how much the characters leapt off the page for me. I'm definitely here for Ms. Heath's next book. Steam level is about a 3 out of 5.

Pick this one up for a light-hearted, romantic weekend escape.

I adored the new book "Never Fall for Your Fiancée" by Virginia Heath. It was witty and charming and kept a smile on my face the entire way through. I love a fake fiancée trope and this book was no exception. It was "excellent" you might say.

Hugh Standish, the Earl of Fareham is tired of his meddling Mama trying to marry him off so he invents a fiancée named Minerva. His mother and her new husband live in America so he doesn't have to worry about his ruse being found out until he gets word she's headed back to England to meet this Minerva once and for all. Hugh helps a damsel in distress one night and once she reveals her name is Minerva all bets are off. Minerva and her two sisters are moved into his country estate to impersonate his fake fiancée while his mother is visiting. The results are hilarious scenarios that are sure to make you laugh out loud. I'm sure I'll never look at Mozart the same.

Fingers crossed that Diana and Giles are the next book in the series. Enemies to lovers books are always so much fun. Thank you to Virginia Heath and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the characters and look forward to reading more about the sisters-hopefully Diana and GIles' story is next! I thought it was a funny little rom com. I could have done with a few more swoon worthy moments from the characters, but overall it was very enjoyable! 3.75 stars, but I'll round up to 4.

What a fun read!!

I wish I would have saved it for vacation because it was the perfect amount drama while still being a lighthearted read.

What I loved about this book, the characters!!!! Let me say that again, I LOVED THE CHARACTERS! That is what truly got me hooked into the book. I think we all know what to expect of the story going in, but the way it is executed is brilliant. Hugh is fantastically dynamic and easy to love and the lovely Minerva is all woman! She is strong willed, supportive, and will not allow herself to be treated poorly. She is everything I want in a MC.

What I did not like all that much was the narration. There is no clear titling before the chapters to let you know which perspective we are reading from and there is not a pattern to lean either. You are just left to figure it out as you read. Which is fine, but more work than a reader wants.

I also found the beginning of the book to be a little meah for me. I honestly don’t know why, but it took effort to convince myself to finish the book. WHICH I AM SO GLAD I DID!!

This book kept me up at night and made me have one VERY drowsy day from lack of sleep. If you are looking for a fun and light read, I would recommend this book all day long!

If you read it, let me know! I would love to speculate about book two with you.

What a fun read! Although it took me a little while to like Hugh (he seemed too Peter Pan to me), I loved all the other characters; from Minerva and her sisters to Payne the butler, Giles who was Hugh’s best friend, Hugh’s mother and stepfather and even Lucretia the drunk actress . (How all these characters tie into the story, you will have to read for yourself!) Lots of hilarious moments, great wit, some steam. Looking forward to reading Giles’ and Diana’s story.

Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, has been writing to his mother all about his perfect, lovely fiancé Minerva for years…only one problem, she doesn’t actually exist as Hugh made her up to put an end to his mother’s incessant matchmaking. But now his Mama is on her way from Boston with his stepfather to finally meet “Minerva” and Hugh is in a bit of a panic. That is, until he happens to run into and assists an actual Miss Minerva Merriwell and his plan for her posing as his fake fiancé kicks off.

Minerva is in dire need of funds, she has taken care of herself and her sisters since she became an adult and also recently lost her job as an engraver (she carves pictures in little blocks that printers use in printing presses and ladies use on calling cards). So when Hugh’s proposition comes with a paycheck, she really can’t turn him down.

Hugh was entertaining with his over-the-top stories and plan for everything to go off without a hitch…hired actresses, letters left out in the open purposefully, stories of an ailing fiancée, a miraculous recovery, and even stories of family members passing. Minerva and her two sisters come to stay at Hugh’s estate and while getting a crash course in all ways of being a lady: table etiquette, horseback riding, new wardrobes, dance lessons; Hugh & Minerva also get to know one another and try to get their story right on their fake engagement. I liked how Hugh was philanthropic; he set up the local aging & widowed tenants on his estate, building them their own cottages to reside in (“Hugh’s Hamlet”). Minerva’s relationship with Hugh’s mother and stepfather was lovely to see unfold as they got to know one another. Minerva’s sister Diana was also a hilarious addition.

But while I was enjoying things happening in this book and love the fake relationship trope, this just seemed too long and dragged in the middle. And the romance was sadly not my fav part, it was very slow and lacking and I didn’t even feel like the couple had any chemistry.

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance) for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. Never Fall for Your Fiancée has a publish date of November 9, 2021.

Never Fall for Your Fiancee is an utterly charming, laugh-out-loud rom-com I completely adored!

Set in the 1800's with the fake-relationship trope we all know and love, Virginia Heath’s fun characters, Minerva and Hugh will capture your heart.

If you love a good romantic comedy that stays with you long after the book is over, then this is for you! When Hugh decided to take Minerva as his "Finacee" chaos ensues. Through meticulous planning and hilarious miscommunications, their story is one you don't want to miss out on.

I was really enjoying this book! Four stars! Strong heroine coping with the constraints of the times. Charming hero with scruples. I compared it favorably to works by Georgette Heyer, with the same madcap feel at times. Good tension between the fake engaged couple. Fun times with assorted family members and servants. Real emotion and reasoning.

And then. And then [rant and spoiler] [they sleep together. Honestly, do publishers today think that all readers of historical romance expect sex scenes, even if they don’t make sense in the plot? If there had to be a sex scene in this book, couldn’t it have waited until the epilogue/after the wedding? The heroine is a commoner with a counterfeiter for a father. The hero is an earl. Literally in the same scene, she goes from being suspicious of him to begging him to take her. She has been a level headed woman who understands the real danger of sleeping with her fake fiancé to someone who throws that all out for a night of passion. I don’t buy it. I do not buy it. It brought the whole plot to a crashing thud for me. She has everything to lose – he has nothing. I can buy sex between equals in Regency England – just. But in these circumstances, nope. And if you are going to go for reckless sex in Regency England, own it! Scatter it throughout the book! This honestly felt to me like someone told the author to put in the sex scene after the book was written. Just no. (hide spoiler)]

The set-up is contrived, but that didn’t bother me. The plot is clichéd and predictable, but it was fun so who cares? Screwball comedies are also clichéd and predictable. I’m sure this book will find its readers. But for this reader, one unbelievable and unnecessary scene that didn’t fit with the characters or the plot spoiled the book.

I read an advance reader copy of Never Fall for Your Fiancee from Netgalley.