I have grown to love Lillian Monroe’s books. Her stories have so much heart along with crazy adventures and this book was no different. Daphne and Cal had both moved back to their hometown some decades after having gone to high school together. Cal had a hard upbringing and was terribly jealous of Daphne and her “perfect family” or so Cal thought. He was now acting sheriff of the small town and Daphne was an accountant brought in to the sheriff’s department to go over their accounting as there was money missing. There was a lot of family trauma on both sides, a mystery to unravel and crazy hijinks with Daphne’s grandmother and her friends. A fun, easy read with a good romance.

This book truly resonated with me. The raw, unresolved trauma between the main characters creates an undeniable tension, a compelling push and pull of both love and hate. While each are dealing with significant family issues, this added complexity brings a level of emotional depth and believability to the story. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the exceptional character development! The enduring love of the MMC adds a heartwarming element, though I wished for a bit more spice. I've always said that I love books that make you FEEL, and this one did not disappoint! If you're looking for an emotionally-charged read, this is definitely it!

📖✨ Book Review ✨📖

🌟🌟🌟✨ (3.5, round to 4)
I couldn’t put it down—the writing is easy to read, the story moves quickly, and the characters have so much depth. I did not expect to devour this book, but I finished it in less than 24 hours! 😍 I absolutely loved them together! 💕

Beyond the romance, the light mystery added a fun twist without taking itself too seriously. 🕵️‍♀️ The small-town setting and its quirky residents were so cozy and entertaining—I felt like I was right there the whole time! 🏡✨

Overall, this book completely surprised me in the best way! I really hope it blows up when it releases because I know so many people will adore it. 💖

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC!

#BookReview #Bookstagram #RomanceBooks #CozyMystery #SmallTownRomance #TBR #ReadingChallenge #ARCReview #NetGalley #Montlake #BookLover

Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this one hit the spot, except Calvin never really hated Daphne. Great tension between the MCs combined with lots of banter made for a good time. Daphne’s grandma and her friends brought in the funny to cut some tension.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, and Lilian Monroe for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I'm new to this author but I was very pleasantly surprised but this book, and I'll be back. Strait-laced accountant Daphne Davis has moved back to the Pacific NW island where she grew up, taking a temporary job to get back on her feet. She's currently unemployed due to downsizing; she's also single due to her boyfriend breaking up with her for being too boring. She's basically hit rock bottom and as a result, her inner wild girl is primed to break out. After all, playing by the rules hasn't gotten her very far. Meanwhile, Calvin Flint, high school loser, has turned his life around and is now the island's sheriff... and Daphne's new boss. They strike sparks immediately which, in a *literally* insular small town, is big news.

Daphne is attempting some forensic accounting to try and find out what happened to the sheriff department's missing funds; the mystery snowballs and Daphne and Calvin are forced to work together to solve it. They are simultaneously forced to pretend to be dating - while I like this trope it usually feels really contrived, but I'll give Ms. Monroe credit, because she made this setup feel like a natural progression. There are some side characters (mostly Daphne's screwball family members) that are really funny and one particular scene where I dropped my phone and scared my kids laughing so hard.

I will say that I found the plot line with the cast iron pot to be absolutely over-the-top ridiculous, and quite a bit of the angst could have been resolved if the two MCs would have just TALKED to one another, but the reasons for keeping to themselves were actually fairly understandable.

All in all I really enjoyed this one. It was a nice change to have two regular people featured: not a billionaire in sight. I'm happy to round 3 1/2 stars up to 4 for GR. I'll be on the lookout for more from Ms. Monroe.

I adored Calvin and Daphne. The romance is sweet with just the right amount of steam and angst. I immediately wanted to go read the first book after finishing this one. I yelled at my kindle and laughed till I had tears. I really enjoyed this story.

This book was amazing! It was emotional, swoony, fun, and had many moments that caused me to groan from second-hand embarrassment. I enjoyed the wacky situations and quirky side characters. I loved the banter and chemistry between Daphne and Calvin. I cried and laughed while cheering for Daphne and Calvin to get their HEA!

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Loved this! Definitely worth the read!

This book cracked me up and was a lot of fun to read. I enjoyed Daphne and Calvin’s relationship. They had great banter and chemistry. Their flaws were huge and something both had to overcome to truly be in a relationship with each other. I really enjoyed Daphne’s grandmother and her grandmother’s friends and Calvin’s little sister. I liked the others too and fake dating is always my jam so I really liked this book!

A fun read, the story of Daphne and Calvin. I liked how it.was told.from both points of view, and the characters like grandma Mabel were great.

This was an enjoyable and very entertaining book. I liked the main characters and really enjoyed their bantering. I felt for Daphne at first since she feels like the odd one out being "boring" in her family of very outgoing personalities but it got old after a while. Also the story with the crockpot was a bit over-the-top for me. Still the book was very entertaining and romance was sweet and I rooted for Daphne and Calvin to have their HEA.

Loved this book couldn't put it down read with in a day and a half.
This story is very well written. The two build a beautiful relationship.

Daphne’s life hasn’t gone according to plan, loosing her job and jilted by her ex, she decides to return to her home town of Fernley Island. Once again she feels like she does’t fit in there either, Daphne is a rule follower and her family are more animated!
She makes a hasty escape from her sister’s engagement party only to get pulled over by the sheriff who turns out to be her high school nemesis Calvin Flint.
To make matters worse she will also be working for him, to find any financial irregularities following the last sheriff departure. A series of mishaps throws them together, the chemistry between them is evident but Daphne has her guard up high when it comes to him. Calvin finds himself in need a fake date he’s surprised yet relieved when Daphne agrees, little does he know she’s on her own quest to hunt down her grandmothers stolen cast iron pot.
I really did enjoy this book, it’s a slow burn enemies to lovers. When Daphne opens up to tell Calvin how is taunting and teasing at school affected her he was gutted, his own childhood without a doubt shaped his behaviour. I thought it was handled really well, the author allowed the characters to be open and vulnerable which i really appreciate as their growth felt much more believable.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but let’s just say the spice is good 😊 and the side plot around the cast iron pot adds a layer of mystery. Daphne’s grandmother and her friends are hilarious!
Thank you NetGalley, Lilian Monroe and Montlake for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this was great! This book made me chuckle and cry! Daphne and Calvin were great, along with the other characters. You will laugh out loud. But also shed a tear when you hear both Daphne and Calvin share secrets with each other. These two made a sweet couple! I couldn’t help but cheer them on! You will keep rooting for them too!!

Four Steps To A Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe was an entertaining rom com but it will surprise you some really deep feels. Daphne and Calvin is the match no one saw happening but they make the most amazing one. It was hilarious, full of small town cuteness and awkwardness. It was slow burn with the spice taking it's own sweet time making the entrance.

- good girl / Reformed bad boy
- they were childhood nemesis
- small town romance
- second chance romance
- office romance ( sheriff + the accountant. hired to do departmental audit)
- fake dating

Daphne Davis always walked the straight line. The good girl. The rule follower. The perfect planner. And she is wondering if it was all a big mistake after losing her job, her house and her good for nothing ex. She comes back to the quaint island to her home and her family, pretty beaten down. She has been hired by the sheriff Department to find financial irregularities afte the last sheriff was caught for corruption. The new temporary one has been her tormentor in high school. Calvin Flint has changed but Daphne doesn't believe it. She is done with the good girl act though and Calvin is the one who is pushing her to be impulsive. Why else would she go along with her grandmother's wild plan to retrieve their old bread oven pan by agreeing to be Calvin's fake date to his mother's vow renewal?

My heart was aching for Daphne. She always thought being good and straight is the best but all it did was to put her in a corner in her wild family. She was invisible and underestimated. But not to Calvin. In school, he was dealing with a lot of family issues and volatile feelings and little goody two shoes Daphne was the person he took it out. But over the years, he has cleaned up his act. And Daphne doesn't know what to think about this protective straight faced alpha hero who is trying to save her from herself at every step. The fake dating situation brought them closer and Calvin was more and more enticed by the hidden fiery vixen inside Daphne. He didn't stop till he could make everyone accept that she is brave and sassy and beautifully reckless. That's what made her fall in love with him. Because he saw and believed in the real Daphne.The small town definitely has some interesting characters. The grandmother and her friends were some of the most colorful there. The accidents and incidents kept the story moving at a steady pace. I liked how the chemistry was built slowly.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Thank you to Netgalley, Montlake and Lilian Monroe for this ARC.

I have been a long time fan of Lilian and binged her entire Heart Cove series. I do enjoy MCs in their 30s and 40s.

In 2023 I read Four Steps to the Perfect Revenge, which was meant to be a standalone novel, and really enjoyed it. But I am glad Lilian decided to bring us back to Frenley Island

I will not repeat what is already mentioned in the blurb, so here are the things I really enjoyed:
1- I don’t consider this a second chance romance because Calvin & Daphne were not in love during high school; they were nemeses. Each of them lashed out on the other because of their own struggles and insecurities. It was lovely to see them get a chance to know each other better 18 years later.
Watching Calvin slowly explore his feelings towards Daphne was just delicious. One of my favorite quotes “He was taking whatever scraps or attention he could get, even though he knew it would end badly.“ Calvin is mostly a green flag, and green flag guys are my favorite MMCs.

2- Daphne is struggling with how being put in the Good Girl box is ruining her life and mental health and she tries to break out of her shell and catch up with her vivacious family. This leads to a chain of bad decisions. Questionable decisions seem to be in the Davis DNA… I’m looking at you chapter 20 lol.

3- The crime subplot carries on from book 1 and I liked how Daphne, who functions as a forensic accountant, is the star of the investigation, not the sheriff.

4- The third act conflict is short lived and thankfully Daphne and I liked how both characters dealt with it.

5- Stellar cast of side characters and family dynamics that were as interesting to examine as the main romance plot.

I really loved this story; it was charming and comforting.
Some people may not like the internal monologues but I like them, I’m an anxious woman with a tendency for overthinking and i like characters that I can relate to.

If Lilian ever decides to return to Fernley Island I will there for the ride.

Rating: 4:5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5)
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️ (few explicit scenes).

Daphne and Calvin were undeniably a perfect match, but it took them over a decade to truly become the people—and the couple—they were meant to be. Their journey was filled with tension and complexity, especially Calvin’s character, which kept me hooked from start to finish.

However, I found Daphne's struggle with her “good” persona a bit contrived. At times, her choices felt odd, yet I understood the author's intention behind them. The drama surrounding Grandma's cast iron pot seemed unnecessary; it felt trivial to create such an uproar over it. Honestly, that moment showcased a degree of immaturity on Daphne’s part, especially considering how their relationship had deepened by then. I really think she should have just come clean.

On a positive note, I really appreciated the dual point of view—it added depth to the story and enhanced my connection with the characters. Overall, I’d recommend this book, but with a caveat: it's best suited for readers who don’t mind seeing a main character undergo a personality shift that, at times, doesn’t feel entirely authentic or captivating.

The story centers on Daphne Davis, the quiet and responsible one in her lively family. After losing her job, her home, and her fiancé—who left her for being “too boring”—she decides to take more chances. This leads to frequent run-ins with Calvin Flint, the town’s acting sheriff and her semi-co-worker. Daphne still sees him as the reckless guy from high school, but when they agree to fake date to stop Calvin’s mother from setting him up at her vow renewal, their dynamic begins to shift.

The book delivers classic rom-com elements—small-town charm, quirky family drama, slow-burn romance, and lighthearted mysteries. While the relationship between Daphne and Calvin doesn’t feel as compelling as some other romance pairings, the novel is still an entertaining read, filled with heartwarming moments, character growth, and fun twists along the way.

Daphne Davis has a long history of following the rules, living by the book. But life has handed her some tough times and she finds herself back on the island where she grew up. She's hired by the sheriff's department to sort out a mess after a department scandal and she's working under her high school nemesis, Calvin Flint. During her time there, she slowly discovers Calvin isn't quite the jerk he was in high school. She also finds herself involved in a scheme with Calvin to fake date and another one with her grandmother to recover a stolen pot from years before, all during the renewal of vows between Calvin's mom and stepfather.

This was a really good story and there was so much growth for both main characters. Daphne learned a lot more about herself and also how she fits into her family and her hometown. Calvin learns quite a bit too. He is also a returnee who is starting to readjust his view of his childhood and his relationship with his mother. Not to mention there's a romance brewing between the two as they discover they have more in common than expected.

Overall, a great read that I rate 4 solid stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Montlake for the free advanced reader copy. This review reflects my opinion only and is totally voluntary.

Daphne is back home after a series of bad things and now she's working with local law enforcement to sort out their books after the last sheriff embezzled. And guess who her new boss is - Calvin. Calvin who was her nemesis but who has well, matured. A heist leads them into a closer working relationship and to, well, more. The dialogue is good as is the storytelling. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A pair to root for.