Never Fall for Your Fiancee is such an endearing, light-hearted read, that I'm sure fans of Bridgerton and other historical romances will love! I found the plot to be pretty fast-paced, although I did spend a good portion of the book wondering when their scheme would blow up in their faces. While the storyline was predictable at times, I didn't exactly mind, and I found the romance delightful! I couldn't help but root for Hugh and Minerva, and was thoroughly charmed by the cast of characters — especially Diana.

***I have received an ARC from the published and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***


I want to start off by saying I absolutely adored this book. I loved Heath's use of similes to create vivid and illustrious imagery throughout the book. It helped me picture everything so clearly, while also causing me to giggle at times. This book is what helped me escape from my months long reading slump, and for that I will be forever grateful. It was definitely a 5 star read for me, and will probably be on my list of favorites for the year.

This book was so enrapturing, and by the time I was about 60% through it I preordered a physical finished copy. The characters were an absolute delight, and I can not wait to read Diana's installment in this series. I loved her from the first time she stepped onto the page, and if the love interest is who I think it is...I am going to be clicking preorder as soon as it is available.

Hugh and Minerva's relationship was a beautiful thing to see blossom. I loved every interaction between the pair, especially when Minerva gave Hugh a piece of her mind. With their relationship you also see a lot of character growth from the pair, and it was honestly just beautiful. I think part of my love from this also stems from the Pride and Prejudice vibes I picked up on throughout the series.

The only thing I was not a complete fan of was some of the pacing in the beginning. At times we were presented with a chapter ending like a scene was about to pick up, but then it was over when the next chapter started. For example I would have loved to see the scene where Hugh puts forth the offer for being his fake fiancé, but we only get told some details later. I think it would have been an interesting scene to see how Minerva reacted to a stranger putting this idea forth.

Overall, I highly recommend this read to any historical romance lovers. It was amazing to have a fun romcom style historical romance, and I can not wait to see the other Merriwell sisters get their chances to shine.

The witty banter came in hot and heavy at the start of this book and did not stop! Lord Hugh Fareham and Miss Minerva Merriwell come together in the most bizarre of circumstances to appease Hugh's mothers endeavor to get him married. Both Hugh and Minerva bear the weight of being heads of their unconventional households and are quick to sell themselves short while bearing the weight of all their responsibilities. Both families are complicated and the result of bringing them under one roof while trying to play the role of lovers is pure comedic chaos. As they spend more time together, they learn to trust in themselves and understand that they are deserving of each others love.

An engaging regency romance of two strangers who pretend to be engaged for the sake of family. Interesting and humorous plot and characters.

Overview:
Hugh Standish, Earl of Faredam, is known as a bit of a scoundrel. Hugh is determined to never become like the Standish men who have come before him, who've made terrible husbands, and therefore has settled on remaining a bachelor the rest of his life. His mother, who has settled in America, has entirely different plans for Hugh and wants nothing more than to see him married. In order to keep her at bay, he's come up with a fake fiancée and a story to match that, so far over the two years, has worked to satisfy his mother's expectations. Now, she's on her way over the ocean to finally meet this woman, and Hugh has to scramble to keep the story up. Enter Minerva Merriwell, who over the last few years has found herself raising her two other sisters and trying to keep a roof over their heads. After stumbling across each other, they discover they could mutually benefit from one another's situation: Minerva can act as Hugh's betrothed, while in turn Hugh will offer Minerva a large sum of money, enough to put the Merriwell's in a much better financial position for the future. Will the plan ultimately work?

What I loved:
- There were a handful of side characters that offered up comedic relief at various times, and those parts made me smile and chuckle to myself (a friend of Hugh's hires an actress to act as Minerva's mother, and she's fantastic).
- In a handful of ways, the tone and voice of the story reminded me a bit of The Importance of Being Earnest. A bit witty, a bit quirky and humorous, but also includes a bit of a light love story.

What I didn’t love:
- Minerva and Hugh both weren't that loveable as characters. The side characters were more entertaining, quirky, and loveable.
- I wanted a bit more humor and wit. While there were parts that were humorous and witty, I was expecting more to be there than what there was. Descriptions of the book made it out to be a rolling-on-the-floor rom-com full of "one thing after another" and wit and charm, so I came into the story having high expectations for it to fully deliver in this regard but it fell short.

Overall:
Ultimately, I rate this book at a 3.5 star (for the sake of Netgalley's 5-pointrating system, I've rounded up to a 4-star). A 3-star rating for me is "I didn't love it but a didn't hate it," and I felt that I enjoyed it slightly more than just feeling neutral about it. But at the same time it wasn't a 4-star rating, which for me is "I really enjoyed this but it wasn't an absolute favorite that I could rave for days about." So, the rating falls somewhere in between: decently enjoyable, enough to finish and recommend to others as a light rom-com that has moments of humor and wit, but also not something to really write home about.

Characteristics:
Pace: medium paced
Moods: lighthearted, funny
Plot- or Character-Driven: a bit of a mix
Strong Character Development: not really
Loveable Characters: sort of, a bit of a mixed bag
Diverse Cast: no
Flaws of the Main Characters a Center Focus: sort of

Never Fall In Love With Your Fiancee by Virginia Heath promises to be a charming rom-com, and it delivers. It's the perfect antidote for the romance blahs, though it may be a little too light for some readers.

Hugh Standish, Earl of Farenham, is convinced that he is incapable of fidelity due to his tainted blood; neither his father nor his grandfather remained faithful to their spouses. He can't imagine hurting a woman in that way, so he has determined never to marry. Unfortunately for Hugh, his mother is equally determined to see him wed. To appease her, he invented a fiancee named Minerva complete with a rather intense and creative backstory. Since his mother now lives in the United States with her new husband, he was able to get away with the ruse for two years.

But Mama lets him know she is coming back to England, and Hugh needs a fiancee fast. When the damsel in distress that he assists one afternoon turns out to be named Minerva, he's convinced his prayers have been answered. Minerva agrees to help, and she and her two sisters join Hugh in the country to prepare for his mother's arrival. What ensues is a comedy of errors that will make you smile if not laugh out loud. And while the slapstick is playing out, Minerva and Hugh are discovering that they have actual feelings for one another.

At times, Hugh's desperate weaving of webs gets tiresome, and his reasons for not coming clean are vague. The "I'm just like my faithless father, so I'll never marry" trope is not my favorite, and Hugh's steadfast belief in it gets old. Aside from his fiancee-related lies, Hugh is a genuinely nice and reasonably intelligent guy, which makes his stupidity in this one area harder to swallow.

On the other hand, Minerva (the eldest Merriwell sister in this first of what is presumably a three-book series) is a pretty great heroine. She's smart and resourceful and deserves an HEA. I'm curious how the other two sisters' books will play out.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I didn't finish this book.

The whole story was incredibly physical, and the author herself kept using the word "lust" in the writing to drive home the point. Not my kind of novel at all.

This was a fun, quick read that was a bit predictable of course with the whole idea of falling in love with a fake fiancée, but it was funny and enjoyable all the same.

Hugh created a fake fiancée, Minerva, for his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him happily married. He encounters a young, poor artist who takes care of her two younger sisters, whose name actually is Minerva. So High offers her a deal to play his fiancée when his mother is coming to visit from America.

There’s many shenanigans during this visit, including one hired actress who takes her role a bit too seriously, Minerva’s two younger sisters who continually try Hugh’s patience, one well meaning often times exasperated butler, and his mother who keeps digging to get the whole story.

The romance was delightful, even if Hugh was a frustrating character but at least he had a bit of character growth. I liked Minerva’s character more. But the romance wasn’t really the reason why I wanted to read this book, the laugh out loud funny moments when all they’re carefully thought out plans blew up in their faces made this a more enjoyable read for me.

I’m looking forward to reading Diana and Vee’s stories.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In order to escape his mother and her matchmaking, Hugh creates a fake fiancé to stop his mother from meddling with his love life. His solid plan backfires when his mother and stepfather board a ship from America to meet his future bride.

Minerva is a young artist barely scraping by trying to take care of herself and her two younger sisters. When Hugh asks Minerva to be his fake fiancé, she is morally opposed, but financially, it would change her and her sister’s lives. She just has to pretend to be in love with a rich, handsome, caring, charismatic gentleman. Whatever could go wrong?

The plot was predictable and I loved every minute of it. It was fun to read, including all of the side characters, especially Huge’s butler and best friend who did not sugarcoat their thoughts. I would love a sequel with Hugh’s best friend Giles and Minerva’s sister Diana.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for granting me this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.

For two years, Hugh has been writing letters to his mother extolling the virtues of his fiancé, Minerva. And now Hugh's mother is determined to travel to England from Boston to meet her. The problem is Hugh invented Minerva to get his mother to stop trying to find him a wife. Just when he is at his wits end about what to do, Hugh saves steps in and helps a beautiful lady collect payment from a shopkeeper for an engraving she did for an advertisement. When the lady reveals her name is Minerva he has a sudden and brilliant idea.
Minerva is dire straits...her engraving work is drying up after the death of her most long term and steady client. With 2 younger sisters to take care of there is a real possibility that the three of them will soon find themselves without a home unless a miracle occurs. When a seeming crazy earl offers to pay Minerva to pose as his fiancé and jilt him the offer is too good to pass up.
This is a silly and predictable book but enjoyable enough. Hugh is incredibly silly with his elaborate stories and Minerva is along for the ride because there isn't anything else they can do. How they fool anyone with their scheme is amazing but eventually emotions and passion get in the way.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Never Fall for Your Fiancee is a fun, regency, fake relationship, rom-com. I enjoyed the main characters, Hugh Standish and Minerva Merriwell, and the setting up of the plot. I also thought that Heath had some interesting underlying commentary about the socioeconomic standing of women during the late Regency era, which in some ways reminded me of Jane Austen. I really liked that the financial realities of the Merriwells weren't lost within the romance of it all (as is usually the case) and that it was something that Hugh was forced to reckon with. The way she balanced this more serious reality, with the lighthearted charm of the book was impressive and made for a more nuanced a deep telling of the story.

I look forward to whatever future books come from this series!

This was such a fun, easy read! The fake fiancé premise was so entertaining and I loved the family aspect from both main characters sides. There were times when the writing seemed off for the time period but nothing too major. I also found that the sister could be annoying but I am excited to read their stories later in the series.

I am definitely going to continue on with this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4023926018

2.5 stars.

The beginning of this book was great and I was really excited about it. Then somewhere along the way it lost me. The actual premise of falling in love was just bland and unbelievable and lot of instalove.

The idea of a fake fiancé is fun but the purpose behind it wasn’t strong enough to carry the entire plot. Any additional conflict was mounted up to miscommunication and misunderstanding that just irritated me more than anything.

Maybe I should go 2 stars. I was genuinely disappointed with this one.

Fake dating?

Yes please.

Fake dating, plus a historical rom-com?

You had me at fake dating. The historical rom-com is the icing on the cake.

Alright friends, get ready for a laugh out loud, fun romantic historical fiction novel that readers will eat up like a favorite dessert. It may follow the same story-line of aristocrat bachelor in need of a bride but in no way wants one, but it’s the fake dating that makes this a fresh and fun romantic interlude in the mid 1800’s. And how the Earl of Fareham comes up with his own charade of a tale to keep his doting mother at bay from marrying him off is absurd as it is hilarious. Though, it seemed unlikely that Minerva would agree to pretending to be an Earl’s fiancée until he makes an offer she can’t refuse.

With only a few concerns about how plausible Hugh and Minerva could keep up their act without his parents finding out the truth and a chapter that was confusing on the logistics of where the characters were and how they got there (the ball chapter is the one I’m referring to) I enjoyed Heath’s story.

Filled with absolute laugh out loud moments and a thimble full of steamy romance Virgina Heath’s first book in a series dedicated to the Merriwell Sisters will enchant readers from the opening page.

Lastly, I loved how she created three very unique women who carry themselves in their own way. I cannot wait to read Dianna’s story as she seems the most feistiest of the three. And my hope is that the youngest sister of the three has a character arc to rival her sisters.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée is a hilarious romp of a book.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

3 stars for this light hearted rom com. The bright cover caught my eye and drew me in. Some parts were really entertaining and gave me a little laugh. Minerva’s sisters and the hired actress to play her mother add some extra drama. The storyline was of course very predictable, but it was still a fun read.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in return for my honest review.

This is a classic case of I was enticed by the cover (again) and I was mildly disappointed.
The plot of it sounded so intriguing and different, but (again) the point of a romance novel is to be convinced of the characters chemistry and honestly I was immensely underwhelmed by the lack of chemistry between these two characters. I personally did not feel convinced by their relationship at all. Or their chemistry because the relationship was not built up well in this book.

However, I did enjoy the character Hugh. He was very charming and funny and was a saving grace in this book.

Hugh and Minerva are endearing leads. Almost all the issues the characters face stem from bad decisions and miscommunications. The story has a clean and comfortable ending. I enjoyed the humor, the wit, and the fun.

Scenes describing Hugh’s nerves at turning out like his father were too on the nose, and more subtlety in this would have made for a better book.

Hugh created a fake fiancé to stop his mother from meddling with his love life. But it seems to have backfired when his mother and her husband jump on a ship from America to meet his future bride. Did Hugh do what any sensible person would do and come clean? Of course not. Where would the fun be in that?

Enter Minerva. A young artist trying to take care of herself and her two younger sisters. When Hugh asks Minerva to be his fake fiancé, she was morally against it; but financially, it would change her and her sister’s lives. She just has to pretend to be in love with a rich, handsome, caring, charismatic gentleman. Whatever could go amiss?

Hugh’s elaborate lies keep trying to unravel and the secondary characters do an excellent job of helping them come to light. Minerva brings her sisters with her as a caveat to their arrangement. One sister is immature and keeps throwing fits while another sister is cynical and believes Hugh will either kill them or seduce her sister. The actress he hired to play the girl’s mother is very method and very much a drunkard. And his best friend is watching the wreckage in complete rapture waiting to tell him “I told you so!”

The plot was predictable and I loved every minute of it. Of course these two would end up falling for each other and have many misunderstandings on the way. But the journey was fun. It was funny and sweet and I have a feeling there will be a sequel. Perhaps with Hugh’s best friend Giles and Minerva’s sister Diana? I sure hope so, because I’ll read the heck out of that.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for releasing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: This book made me laugh! The moments when their plan tries to fall apart were hilarious, and I loved the interaction between the characters, because the communication (and miscommunication) were so funny!

Characters: All of the characters were great! I think Hugh was possibly the biggest idiot I've read in a book in awhile, but his relationship with Minerva was delightful. His mother and her husband were probably my favorite characters in the book!

The Cover: I think it's fun!

Overall: This was a fantastic beginning to a new Historical Romance series, and I will definitely be checking out the next in the series! Overall, I would absolutely recommend trying this book!

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher.

This romantic comedy was endearing and often hilarious. Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, needs a fake fiancee to convince his matchmaking mother that he is ready to settle down. He’s spent two years lying to her about his betrothed, Minerva. Coincidentally, right when his mother writes that she’s sailing from America to meet Minera, High comes to the rescue of a real Minerva. Minerva Merriwell and her sisters, Diana, and Vee are poverty stricken after their father abandons them. She warily accepts Hugh’s offer to pose as his fiancee for 40 pounds. Once she and her sisters are moved into his country house, Hugh finds his plot is not so simple. His plan to have Minerva pretend to elope with his best friend Giles is foiled the night his mother arrives and soon all his carefully planned lies begin to unravel.

Minerva is a strong female character who quickly teaches wealthy Hugh what it means to have no money and be abandoned by family. He finds himself enamored with her, but believes his father and grandfather’s infidelities have made him unable to commit. In some ways, I enjoyed the secondary characters more than Hugh and Minerva. While their romance was sweet they did not provide the humor. I didn’t warm to Minerva’s sisters right away, by the end of the book I was eager for their prospective books. Diana in particular is hilarious in her angry protection of her older sister. The actress Hugh hires to pose as the “mother” for the Merriwell sisters steals every scene she is in with drunken ramblings of her stage days and atrocious singing. Hugh’s mother and stepfather have their own secrets and by the close of the book, readers will be happily surprised with the plot twists. I look forward to the next book in the series!

I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.