✨ARC Review✨

Small town? Check. Hot single man the town loves? Check. City girl with an agenda not wanting to stay in said small town with said small town boy? Check.

Was that wordy? Yes it was but it’s true.

I was actually really scared to read this book. Everything about this book drew me in. The cover is gorgeous and the blurb really intrigued me. So my biggest fear was being let down or reading just another small town romance. BUT LET ME TELL YOU!

The plot was amazing. It was very different to what I was expecting and really kept me entertained! There were definitely parts that’s I’ve seen on other small town romances but Elodie gave everything her own flair!

My man, Matt is a walking talking sexy green flag. I mean he is literally a florist like seriously how bloody cute! But he is a complex character with a deep emotional understanding and alignment. Zoé just so happens to be amazing. I fell in love with her from the beginning. Elodie wrote her so well, and I often felt what Zoey was feeling.

The way they work as a couple is *chefs kiss*. Although a rocky start Matt would move mountains for Zoé and Zoey is just as supportive. I absolutely love these 2!

Set in a fictional small town of Pine Falls, British Columbia, Zoey Delacroix has three weeks to convince the town to back her hotel proposal and convince her dad she is ready to take over his hotel empire. The first day she arrives, she meets an angry but very attractive man, and one thing leads to another... Flower shop Matt Becker remembers her dad's prior attempt at selling the town and wants nothing to do with Zoey when he finds out who her dad is. After Matt pushes too hard and accidently gets the whole town to hate her at a disastrous town meeting, he reaches out with a proposal: fake date to win back the town in exchange for a spot to pitch his flower shop in her small business investment program. But these two both remember their one night stand. Their sizzling chemistry won't just stay in the background, especially as they find out more about each other. As Zoey and Matt attend town activities together, they find more in common and begin to picture a life together just as the town gets ready for their final vote.

Once these two get to the fake dating, I was all in. I didn't love the one night stand aspect (though I rarely do), but their instant chemistry leapt off the page.

I appreciated the author's care around Matt's role as secondary caretaker for his thirteen year old autistic sister. We also see the variety of responses to caring for and loving Daphne, including the contrast between their dad and mom.

I enjoyed this small town and am looking forward to reading more! I wanted to see Zoey make some solid friendships in the town, so hopefully we see that in later books. Since her mom isn't located nearby and her dad... isn't great... we don't have any supporting people in Zoey's life except Matt. I wish her dad's assistant (butler?) showed up again, since it sounds like he had played a supportive role in her life.

Overall, a fun and spicy read!

This romance features:
💐 Meet Hate
💐 Fake Dating
💐 Canadian Small Town
💐 One Night Stand
💐 It's the family you choose
💐 Neurodivergent representation

Open door / spicy!

4.25 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC!

This was everything my little tired brain needed.

Set in cozy Pine Falls, this small‑town romance follows florist Matt Becker and corporate heiress Zoey Delacroix. Matt’s balancing running his flower-shop and looking after his teenage sister while their parents are away. Zoey, on the other hand,’s tasked with securing a major land investment to prove herself to her father’s shareholders. When her plan backfires and the townsfolk turn against her, Matt proposes a fake‑dating scheme: Zoey pretends to be his partner, boosting his social standing and earning her a spot in his local business network.

Small town romance? Fake dating? Eugh, give me it all… this was a gorgeous and utterly sweet, heartwarming read that delivered on romantic comedy tropes with sincerity and charm. I loved Zoey and Matt, and LOVED Daph and the role her character played. I do wish some of the secondary characters had been fleshed out a little more to further enhance the town’s dynamic feel but overall I loved this. Yes it was predictable, but isn’t that why we love to read these books so much?

4.25 stars

I love me a grumpy man who’s secretly a softy 😍
Zoey and Matt have an almost comically bad first impression of each other. Zoey is the stereotypical big city girl who doesn’t fit into the small town and Matt is the small town man who dresses like a lumberjack and hates outsiders (at least from Zoey’s perspective). Despite this they had undeniable chemistry and could not stay away from each other.
I loved how Matt tried hard not to fall for Zoey but he kept finding little ways to show her he cared. From checking on her when she was upset to making her a bouquet that showed her saw her to defending her in front of the town, he was so obviously head over heels for her.
Zoey had a little bit of that fish out water trait but deep down she definitely belonged in the small town. Matt was so supportive of her figuring this out and made sure she knew she belonged.
I also really loved how the author handled Matt’s sister’s autism. I felt like there was so much care there and she was such a great character. I also loved how Zoey understood her and the bond that they had. Matt’s role as a caretaker for his sister was so sweet and I’m glad Zoey understood how he prioritized her and never held it against him.
This was such a fun, sweet book and I loved the romance between Matt and Zoey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Great representation, cute 🇨🇦 small town village vibes and and absolute golden retriever boyfriend. Who can ask for more? I’m not even a huge fan of romance but the characters were so fantastic and individual. Fiiiine I mean who doesn’t love « looks like they can kill you, is a cinnamon roll » partners?

Loved Zoey’s character so much and honestly even if it was a tough journey to get there she ended up where she needed to be. I mean, who doesn’t love a florist!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book and could put it down! It’s a very cute and comfy small town romance that had me hooked the whole process. Zoey and Matt are an adorable pair I love their banter and their chemistry it’s so sweet and got me through the stress and anticipation of what’s to come. Highly recommend!

LOVED IT!

I’m a sucker for a small town romance at the best of times but I knew within the first few chapters this would be a good one. Zoë seems like the quintessential city girl on the surface but I loved how much depth she was given during the narrative. As the layers are peeled back we get to see more and more of the “real her” which made the story so much more enjoyable. Then Matt. Sweet, grumpy, protective florist Matt. I adored him every step of the way even when he was making stupid mistakes.

I think what really made this for me though was the neurodivergence rep. From the explicit autism in Daphne to the implications in other characters it felt so well done without stereotyping. Matt and Daphne’s relationship really touched me as I acutely understood the feeling of wanting to protect someone from outside judgement.

And of course last but never least. The spice was PERFECTION!

Hoax & Kisses is a warm, comforting read that gave me strong Gilmore Girls energy. Think rainy-day small-town charm, a swoony florist love interest, and a fake dating setup that quickly becomes real.

The story follows Zoey, a city girl trying to reconnect with her estranged dad and win over a skeptical town, and Matt, a local florist looking to grow his business. Their one-night stand unexpectedly turns into a fake relationship arrangement, and what unfolds is a tender, low-angst romance that surprised me in the best way.

I loved Matt! He was refreshingly emotionally mature and communicative, and I especially appreciated that the story avoided the third-act breakup trope I was bracing for. Zoey’s arc brought more emotional weight than I expected. She really just needed someone to see her, and thankfully, she finds that in this slow-burning love and a town that eventually opens its arms.

What held this back from a full five stars for me was the lack of a strong supporting cast. Zoey felt incredibly isolated — she had no real friends in the story, which created a noticeable gap in her character development and the richness of the small-town setting. I would’ve loved to see her build relationships beyond just Matt and her family, especially since that sense of community is a big reason I read books like this. Also, her father… not a fan (but I suppose that was the point)…

There is some autism representation in this story through Matt’s younger sister. Her storyline was treated with genuine sensitivity and explored some of the real-world challenges neurodivergent people face — including overstimulation and social overwhelm (very relatable).

This is a comforting, romantic read. It was full of flowers, tension, and found family energy. Would recommend for fans of a low stakes romance in small town settings, and emotional softness.

*4.5

This was really cute. I love how with only a tony bit of effort she really fit into the town. Zoe wanted what was best for all the residents. Matt was actually so smitten from their first interaction despite the fact that he was mad at her. He encouraged all of her dreams and let her in on his. They are just adorable.

I received an arc from love notes pr.

Wow what can I say! This read was perfection! The characters were perfection!😍 I loved everything about this book! Zoe,Matt, and Daphne have my heart🫶🏻 I love a small town romance as I truly feel like a small part of the community while reading! Zoe and Matt were beautiful! Oh I adore them!🔥 and sweet Daphne was everything! Her true beautiful self🥰 And Im so glad Zoe finally stood up to her dad and followed her dreams! We love a strong FMC! Matt was just a sweetheart! I adored him from start to finish🩷 As always I was buzzing when Zoe and Matt got their happy ending! Elodie has honestly written this book so good! I could not put It down! 5⭐️ from me! I need to read more books from this author asap! Thank you to netgalley and Elodie for providing me with this ARC In exchange for my honest review💞

Living in Alberta, the story quickly became close to my heart because of those references.

Also being a(self-diagnosed awaiting official diagnosis) AuDHD Mama to two (diagnosed) Autistic children and a baby showing signs (but being too young for an official diagnosis yet) meant this story hit even closer to home with the Autism storyline for Daphne in the most lovely way. 🥰 Matt and Daphne’s mom reminded me a lot of my FIL, whom I love very dearly and also has some very outdated views of Autism. And I really felt for Matt, as I also had to fight really hard to have my kiddos get testing and be diagnosed, just as he did his sister.

I’m normally more of Slowburn gal than instalust. But I still really loved this book and felt in Zoey & Matt’s scenario, the situation fit.

I absolutely adored their story, especially since as an Autism Mama I know what it’s like to have to fight so hard to advocate for your child.

I loved the nature and small town elements.

All in all just a beautiful story. 🥰

This was my first book from Elodie Colliard and it was worth every minute. It was really easy to start and the story kept my attention thoroughly.

I absolutely adored this book, it has instantly become one of my favourites for this year. I loved the character development and the way the relationships built throughout.

Neither Zoey or Matt were perfect, and I think that’s what made the book even better.

I got an e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Elodie Colliard for the arc!

This was a really solid read, and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, and possibly her previous book about Charlee.

It took me a bit to really get into the story, maybe 1/4 of the way or so, largely because none of the characters were particularly endearing when we meet them. Everybody seems kind of rude when they're first introduced, and I will say that some people actions oscillate so strongly from rude to pleasant that it was a little jarring. That said, once the plot starts really moving, and we spend a little more time with the characters, I found myself glued to the page.

The plot was really solid, I was constantly interested in what was happening, though the initial push for her to go to Pine Falls felt a little forced. It was a great balance of plot and character driven, and flowed well. And the conflict and drama never felt contrived or forced, which was a breath of fresh air honestly. I really bought into their personal struggles, and the development of their relationship. I did have some minor quibbles with certain inconsistencies in what the characters would say vs do, but they weren't too distracting.

The setting unfortunately detracted from the story in the very beginning for me because I am from BC, and live close to Vancouver, so the area is very familiar to me. Despite the author being Canadian, it didn't feel as though the she was particularly familiar with BC herself, evidenced in the way she spoke about places in relation to each other, and the general demeanor of the people we met. For one reason or another the characters all seemed to be super rude off the bat, without fail, and it was very jarring, because people tend to be very polite around here. It was also distracting when our main character said she was going to take a flight from Vancouver to BC. Girl, have I got news for you 😂

Overall, I flew through this book, and enjoyed it immensely. I love fake dating, and this totally delivered. The setting was super charming, though I think the found family aspects could have been stronger, since I really liked what little we saw of some of the side characters. I'm looking forward to reading some of their stories in the future!

Book 1 in a new series by Elodie Colliard, our FMC Zoey wants to prove to herself and her Dad that she can take over his real estate development company when he retires. She makes it a mission to build property in Pine Falls, a town her father failed to close on previously.

She first meets Matt when he almost runs her over with his truck. Sparks fly right from the start. After a hot night together, they decide to make a deal for both of them to get what they want.

***Small town romance
***Enemies to lovers to enemies and back again
***Opposites attract
***Fake dating
***Dual POV

This was a super fun and steamy romp! I love that we had two strong leads that totally complimented each other. Matt was the ultimate MMC with a heart of pure gold. The town dynamic was fun, and I enjoyed all the side characters we got to meet. This was so enjoyable to read!

I look forward to Book 2 in this series!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Elodie Colliard for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Reading anything written by Elodie Colliard is always an exercise in cozy, feel good moments and Hoax and Kisses is no different. Beautiful proses, engaging story and characters that stay with you long after you’ve finished, Colliard has me falling in love from page one.

Hoax and Kisses is a fake dating romance set in a cosy small town with a Stars Hollow feel. I loved both main characters and thought they had great chemistry. This book had a great balance of sweet and spicy moments and an interesting plot besides the romance. I appreciated the accurate and respectful depiction of an autistic side character. Matt’s relationship with his sister was heartwarming and definitely had me rooting for him.

I hope there are more books planned in this series, I’d love to return to Pine Falls in the future.

First off, this cover is absolutely gorgeous! I’m a big fan of the authors writing and was so excited to pick up another one of her books. Zoey was such a great character, I absolutely loved her. I really enjoyed the small town, the romance, and the autism rep! I loved Matt. He is the sweet, caring, cinnamon roll man of my dreams and his care for Daphne absolutely shines. He’s got the biggest heart. Thank you so much for the chance to read this story.

Another FANTASTIC dual POV romance from a fav Canadian indie author. This was a small town, opposites attract, one night stand to fake dating love story that has city girl Zoey coming to Pine Falls in order to land a deal her father botched only to fall for cinnamon roll flower shop owner Matt and his adorable autistic younger sister, Daphne.

I loved the Autism rep, the found family and the charming BC town that gave great Gilmore Girls vibes with its big-hearted citizens. This was both spicy and full of emotional depth and had no messy third act breakup. I also really enjoyed that Zoey and Matt communicated and gave their whole hearts to one another. The Leni Kaufman cover blew me away with its pretty pink details and I can't recommend this book enough especially for fans of authors like Sarah Estep, Ashley Herring Blake or Chloe Liese.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy and eagerly look forward to James and Lola's stories next!! While this is the first in a new series there is some overlap from Oli and Charlee's book, Unbearably yours but it can be read as a standalone too.

2.5 ⭐️ - Thank you, Netgalley and Victory Editing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I think my expectations were too high for this book, and after finishing it, I was left underwhelmed for sure. I did enjoy the setting and the community aspect of this story, I think the small Canadian town its set in has so much charm and character. I enjoyed the writing style, I thought it was fun and easy to read, perfect for a quick summer/vacation read. I also enjoyed the character of Zoey I think she had so much complexity, that she wasn't likable in the beginning, but after she really blossomed into this kind and warm FMC. Matt on the other hand I did not like, I found him quite boring but also somewhat obsessive and erratic in his personality. He was too lusty for my liking and did not take long time to get obsessed with the FMC which I found unrealistic.
While I appreciate the autism representation in this book, it completely missed the mark for me and I do not think this was a particularly good representation of the community. I loved Daphne as a character, but I wish we actually learned something about her, rather then autism and her special interests being her whole personality. I think this can be somewhat harmful to the community deducing someone to their diagnosis, rather than creating a complex character with feelings and aspirations. I think Matt's overbearing treatment contributed to this issue for me, and I wish they wouldn't have focused only on her autism and would have shown that the real bond they had, rather then him solely being a secondary caretaker.
The progression of their chemitry and relationship was way to fast for me, it was too instalove/lust, which did not make me believe in their connecion. I think the couple lacked chemistry in general and their interactions did not manage to convince me otherwise.
I did enjoy Zoey's personal journey I think her self-discovery and work for the community is the best aspect of this story. I would recommend this book to those who wan't a quick read, and do not mind insta-love and unrealisticly quick emotional connections.