The Dating Dilemma is a fun and charming story with a hilarious meet-cute in which main character Lexi mistakes firefighter Dyson for a stripper when he arrives to do a fire inspection at the youth centre she runs. And when the two start to spend time together thanks to various bets and to appease Dyson's sisters the laughs keep on coming, as does the chemistry this pair create, and with little drama a whole host of interesting secondary characters and a slow burn romance that easily made me smile. This was a fun way to spend a Sunday morning and it's a story I would happily recommend to others.

3.5 stars

The banter and funny moments in this book were glorious.
The slowburn... loved it. You could feel the chemistry between our main characters from the moment they met which is a win for me.
I loved our heroine. She struggled with being a people pleaser and putting everyone's happiness before hers and ugh I felt so bad and I related so much with her because I'm like that too so I adored her when she started overcoming that (also she has a black cat and his name is Lucifer 😍😍😍 I cannot!)
Our Hero, he was amazing. His struggles and how he overcame the odds after what happened to his family was amazing I adored him.
I had some issues with some part of the story but still this book was great. I love the side characters especially Diaz (can't wait for her book!!!) And Gemma (I adored both his sisters but Gemma was my favorite).
Overall I truly enjoyed Mariah Ankenman's fun and fast paced writing style and this book was no exception. Can't wait to read more of her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story was cute and fun and kept me entertained the whole time.
Dyson and Lexi are attracted to each other since the moment they meet and after they start pretending to date, their chemistry was off the charts.
There were a lot of funny moments and I really enjoyed their journey to HEA.

*Thank you Netgalley and Entangled for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Dating Dilemma is a fun, sexy contemporary romance about learning to ask for the things you need in life. Lexi Martin runs a perpetually broke drop-in centre for local youth, and constantly puts her own needs aside to serve everyone else. She has decided to take a six month break from dating, but that doesn't mean she can't enjoy the view when a very hot fireman - who is definitely not a strip-o-gram - turns up at her workplace to do a safety inspection.

Dylan, the very hot fireman, has sworn off relationships after his fiancée cheated on him with his best friend. But his sisters are worried about him, and he hates to disappoint them almost as much as he hates the idea of them setting him up on perpetual surprise dates, so a fake relationship is in order.

This is a classic fake-relationship, we definitely aren't going to fall in love, but also, we find each other really hot, so why not have a fling to get it out of our systems narrative. We all know exactly how and where this is going to go, but also, we are totally along for the ride, because it's fun. What really made this book work for me was the relationships surrounding the protagonists. Dylan has lovely, close relationships with his sisters and with his co-workers, who are like a second family to him. Lexi's flatmate is her best friend, and she has a lovely, affectionate relationship with him and his partner, as well as warm relationships with her colleagues and the children who use the youth centre. This made for a really cosy book - there were no bad guys in this story, just two kind, lovely people trying to sort their shit out with a little help from their friends and families.

I also really liked the theme of facing one's fears that came up later in the book, and the way that those fears didn't simply go away, but were easier to manage when the people you love are beside you. My one quibble was that Lexi and Dylan spent an awful lot of the book worrying about what each other would think if they confessed their feelings for each other, rather than actually doing so... but like I said, I was really enjoying the ride, and I have definitely encountered more frustrating versions of this narrative.

If you haven't heard of Mariah Ankenman and you're a fan of adult romance with a sprinkling of spicy, you have to pick up her books. They are the perfect length and written in such a way that it's hard not to love the characters and feel like you know them. I went right into this sequel after reading The Wedding Dilemma and while I did enjoy this fake dating trope, I wasn't a huge fan of Lexi's little quirk. Not enough for me to rate this at a 3 star or anything like that. I really enjoyed the story and I liked how the big conflict played out - it felt authentic to what real life is actually like and how people would respond to stressful situations. I love Dyson's sisters. AND I'm SOOOO ready for book 3 that follows Ward & Diaz!

I love the Mile high firefighters series and this book is no different.

Lexi is a workaholic and Dyson is anti-dating. However, to stop his sisters from setting him up on a date, Dyson decides to fake date, Lexi. The rules were set out and they both would know where they stood.

I loved both Lexi and Dyson. Their quirks and humour made me laugh out loud and I loved the chemistry between them.

This is your typical rom-com, it is sweet, funny and has a happily ever after. What more could you ask for, right!

This book is the second book within the mile-high firefighters series, however, it can be read as a standalone. It has a dual POV which really added to the chemistry between Lexi and Dyson.

Overall I would recommend this book.

Safety Code violations are not funny.. are serious business until you are reading the Dating Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman. This book 2 in her Mile High Firefighters series.
This funny and quirky read has charming assistant director of a youth center and the hunky fireman sent to inspect safety codes.

Lexi is the assistant director of the Denver Youth Center otherwise known as DYC. Lexi spends her days trying to keep the center open. Providing a safe place for the kids is the most important thing to her. Lexi is also someone who gives of her heart easily. She loves big. Lexi is on a dating/boyfriend break. She is trying to learn to prioritize herself. She is also a cat mom to Lucifer..
Our hero Dyson, Denver Fighter is at DYC to do the annual fire code inspection. Due to the number of violations that need fix and that the DYC does not have the money, Dyson offers to fix up some of the failing safety codes. It just so happens that Dyson also is in need of a fake girlfriend to get his sisters off his back. Dyson is a bit jaded about relationships due to a pretty big heartbreak to him, but his sisters have decided that Dyson needs someone to love.
Lexi finds herself in an interesting situation. She's supposed to be taking a break from dating to focus on herself. But Dyson isn't looking for a real relationship either. Even with some added benefits to their fake relationship what could possibly happen?

Dating Dilemma is so funny and has so many charming moments. The banter in this book is witty and will leave you with a smile on your face. This is a story that is a fantastic example of a true Romantic Comedy. Lexi and Dyson are both a bit of a hot mess. That hot mess will just endear them to you. Even thought this story is a slow burn the chemistry between the two of them is fantastic. I think it is helped along by Lexi’s accidental verbalization of her thoughts.. it gets her in trouble a couple of times.
The cast of supporting characters in this book were great fun. I love Dyson's sisters; they are everything a sister should be. Lexi's roommate and his boyfriend were also a lot of fun, as well as Dyson's coworkers at the firehouse. Some scenarios within the book were over the top slapstick.

If you are looking for a book that will leave you will a smile and a side of swoon I highly recommend The Dating Dilemma.

It was nothing special. I didn't get into it. I didn't love the characters, and I didn't believe their chemistry. Sure, there was attraction, but I didn't see how it went deeper.

How can you turn down a sexy male firefighter and a girl who gives her all for her community?

This story was so fun! It had fake dating. It had so much caretaking by each of the main characters. It had family dynamics and supportive friendships. Basically this book was all I wanted it to be.

The one con that I had with this book was the main female character, Lexi, had a tendency to accidentally speak her thoughts out loud. Though cute in some moments, it occasionally had me confused on who was hearing what she was saying.

This is only the second book by Mariah Ankenman that I've read and I can see a lot more in my future.

This fake dating story was just a joy to read!

I so enjoyed my light-hearted time with both Dyson and Lexi.

Who can resist a sexy fireman?

Lexi's place needed repairs and Dyson needed a fake girlfriend. Kill two birds with one stone they say!

However, can these two maintain the "fake" relationship? This is a romance after all!

I enjoyed it!

I'm going to admit, I picked this up because of the yummy abs on the cover. Plus who doesn't love a spot of fake dating? I also stan a hero who reads romance novels! Yes!

Lexi and Dyson are both a bit of a hot mess, and I love that about them. I didn't love how Lexi's tendency to accidentally verbalizer her inner thoughts was done - I was never quite sure what she actually SAID as the book is written in the third person. So if she thought she needed to jump on his pogo stick (not a real example, lol), what came out of her mouth? "I need to jump on his pogo stick" I assume? But some of the things don't translate so directly, and it just jolted me out of the story each time. I feel like this could have been done a bit more smoothly if her thoughts she was accidentally verbalizing were "thought out" on the page in italics in the first person, as you sometimes see. That being said, her tendency to blurt her inner thoughts was really adorable, and I loved how cute Dyson thought it was as well.

The side characters in this were really fun. I love Dyson's sisters and want to read their books for themselves as well please! Lexi's roommate and his boyfriend were also a lot of fun, as well as Dyson's coworkers at the firehouse. I absolutely want to go to trivia night with this cast of characters please!

The chemistry between Lexi and Dyson is so sweet and fun and flirty - and also super hot. Also I love the tropes in this one: fake dating, slow burn, "we just need to get this out of our systems," oops feelings... This was my first book by Mariah Ankenman, but I'm definitely going to go read more now!

This is the second book in the Mile High Firefighters series, and can be read as a stand alone. There are some spoilers I think for the first book in the series, The Wedding Dilemma, as well as another couple that I think is from another of Mariah's series, Mile High Happiness. I haven't read either of these other books (yet) but the spoilers don't seem to be much more than what you'd get from reading the back cover blurb. I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series, The Firefighter's Dilemma, an enemies to lovers trope for Ward and Diaz!

A really cute and fun story. Sweet characters that are really relatable and fun to read about. This sweet love story was unexpected and made me email often

I feel like I need to start this review by saying very clearly this is an "it's not you, it's me" situation. I think there are going to be many people who love this book, it just wasn't the right book for me right now!

I don't know if it's because of all the dark romance I've been reading recently, but this book was sweet. Like, sickly sweet. And I feel bad saying this, but for me, it read like it was trying just a little too hard to be a rom-com. As if every other line had to be a zinger, you know? I love the tropes, and for me, there can never be too many in a book! But they at least need to appear to happen organically. The characters and the dialogue were all over the top, and it actually felt a bit chaotic and hard to follow at times, especially with Lexi and her internal versus external dialogue. It was never clear what she was saying to herself and what was actually said out loud; it seems like it was meant to be a quirky personality trait, but it just made things difficult to follow and wasn't done consistently.

I also have to say it, I couldn't take a hero named after a vacuum seriously. It legitimately bothered me every time I read it.

With how over the top and forced the characters and plot were, along with how repetitive things felt, it just didn't work for me. There were enough moments along the way that did keep me reading though, so I figure if it could do that even when the writing style didn't work for me, a lot of people will probably enjoy this! If you read it, go in expecting lots of cheese and clichés, exaggerated characters, and some disorganized dialogue, but tropes galore and sweetness to enjoy!

🚒 Didn't light my fire 🔥!

This fireman takes up with a dedicated community center administrator to keep his sisters from trying to match him up when he's totally sworn off dating. The general outline of the plot is fine - a tried and true fake romance trope - but I could not get too excited about this pair of paragons. I did like the complication that threatens near the end and the secondary characters, particularly constantly bickering firefighters Diaz and Ward, added some whimsy.

But I just did not connect with this couple and, as a result, it seemed long. I was irked by the female lead's inability to keep her thoughts from blurting out without her knowledge. It happened way too often. I also found the couple's constant protestations that they could not date, we're not really dating when, yeah, they so were a bit ridiculous.

Thanks to Amara/Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This was the cutest story, I laughed so much during the antics between these two characters. You knew as soon as they started faking their relationship while also having electric chemistry that they would fall in love. This is my first book with this author and I am so glad that I gave her a chance. I am looking forward to finding more of her books.

This is book two in a series but can 100% be read as a standalone so if you like hot fire men and funny heroines, this book is for you!

This book had a fun meet-cute full of innuendo and mistaken identity that had me laughing and definitely set the tone for the rest of the story. Lexi and Dyson were a fun couple to read because neither one of them wanted to be a couple for different reasons. Their mutual reluctance to enter into anything coupled with their genuine feelings for each other was extremely endearing. Overall, the book was a very upbeat and fun romance that packed some mega steam once it got rolling. I highly recommend!

If you read book 1 or just love a series, we did get some glimpses of the fire house team which was established in book one as well as a peak at how the couple from book 1 is doing now. There is also one couple specifically that I hope is in book 3... (is there a book 3? tell me there is a book 3!)

The Dating Dilemma by @mariahankenman
Genre: Rom Com
Heat level: Detailed sex on the page
Rating: 4.5⭐

This was my first read from the author (and my first firefighter romance) and I really enjoyed it. The MCs seemed perfect for each other from the start. Their back and forth banter is delicious (not a word I use to describe anything but food, but here we are).

I loved their communication, their honesty, their chemistry. The grand gestures were so sweet! And the HEAT🔥 is so good.

Honorable mention to the meddling loved ones who helped me get to know Dyson and Lexi so well. :)

I've been reading romances that make me cry at least once, so this was a much needed change. I'm not sure if I'll re-read it, but I'll definitely read this author's backlist.

If you like steamy romance between characters who have a lot of heart, I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished the dating dilemma by Maria Ankenman. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I’m not always a fan of a fireman romance book. This book however was really well written and I really enjoyed the story of Dyson and Lexi. Both of them had baggage going into their fake relationship, although I do feel that Dysons was more traumatic, that doesn’t mean that Lexi‘s had any less impact on how she was living her life. I enjoyed the way that they worked through their problems, although I would’ve liked it more if they had worked together to overcome these fears instead of hiding a lot of their fears from one another.I loved how supportive all of their friends were, his, and hers. His sisters were also wonderful and a hoot. Well this is the first book I’ve read by this author I can guarantee it won’t be my last. Looking forward to my next. And hoping that this is the first for this group of friends.

This is a terrific romcom. Lexi meets Dyson in one of the funniest meet cutes I have ever read. There is an instant spark between them, but neither of them is open to dating at the moment. They start fake dating for reasons, and their friends warn them not to catch feelings. But that will never happen to Lexi and Dyson, right? Especially when Lexi is a lovely person with a big heart and an excellent sense of humor and Dyson is a giver who supports her work. The HEA is definitely coming, but the fun part is getting there. My favorite part was reading the conversations where Lexi and Dyson got to know one another. They were so natural and sweet and funny. I also enjoyed all the supporting characters because they added lots of laughs to the story. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series!

The Dating Dilemma is a cute and flirty romance. Mariah Ankenman brings the heat with this fake dating trope!!

Lexi is a hardworking, kind woman who runs the local youth center. She always has too much on her plate but in the long run, she doesn't mind because she loves the kids that she helps so much. It's her birthday and when she learns that a hot firefighter is at her office she automatically assumes that he is a Strip-O-Gram Fireman. Yes, she may be talking dirty to him and asking for him to take his clothes off and yes she is absolutely embarrassed. But it sure makes for one hell of a meet-cute.

Dyson is a firefighter who was meant to help others. He is strong, loyal, and good to look at. When he meets Lexi, he can't help but feel attracted. She is beautiful, quirky, and has s good sense of humor. And they have one major thing in common. They both have a rule about no dating.

Things get interesting when Dyson tells his sisters that he is dating someone, that someone being Lexi. Sure it's a lie, but he panicked. He was not about to be set up by a dating app again. Now, he just has to ask for a huge favor from Lexi. Lexi and Dyson agree to be in a fake relationship. It's a win-win. Dyson doesn't have to hear his sisters beg him to start dating again and Lexi gets to have her youth center up to code with Dyson's help. Their fake relationship should only last a month, so nothing could go wrong...right?

For me, the fake relationship trope is either a hit or miss. And Mariah Ankenman did it right with this book. She gives Lexi and Dyson some awesome chemistry. It's so adorable to see them interact and how genuine he is with her. Don't get me wrong, there are hot scenes!! And I sure enjoyed them. The whole story is so cute.

I give The Dating Dilemma 4 stars. If you love romance with good characters and a wonderful storyline, you had to give this book a try. Mariah Ankenman writes a fake relationship romance that's engaging and fun to read!