So I read this one out of sequence, but it didn’t interrupt the flow of the series much. I read the second book first and enjoyed it so much I went back and started with Book 1. This is Ashlyn and Jamie’s story. Ashlyn comes home to help convince her father that the little town of Maple Falls can do without their mayor for at least a week if he wants to save his marriage. Ashlyn picks up with where her dad left off which means that she has to meet the captain for the new NHL team for dinner.

This story is just another reason to love this series!

I loved the small-town charm, the sense of community, and the hilarious hockey players. An easy, feel-good story that kept me smiling the whole way through! Such a fun and heartwarming read!

This was a perfect small town fall romance read! I was so excited to start this series and I immediately binged the first four!! Next reviews coming soon!

*Small Town*
*Clean/Closed Door Romance"
*Slow Burn*
"Friends First+
*Hockey Romance*

Ashlyn is the daughter of the mayor of Maple Falls and she comes home to take over for her dad while her parents go on a marriage saving trip. Jamie is new to town and is the captain of the Ice Breakers hockey team. I loved the small town setting during the fall. That Dwerp Phillip really annoyed me! What is his deal? I love that Ashlyn & Jamie were friends first and then couldn't deny their feelings anymore. I appreciated the lack of spice/closed door aspect. I believe this the first book in a series written by different authors and I will definitely be reading the next in the series. Overall, this was a quick, cute fall read. I would recommend it!

Fake-Off with Fate was an immediate 5 ⭐️ read for me from chapter one.

Jamie and Ashlyn are thrown together in an unfortunate set of circumstances that require them to fake date so they can both benefit. Ashlyn is covering for her dad, the current mayor of Maple Falls while Jamie is the new captain for their NHL team.

From the beginning, the loved the friendship that Jamie and Ashlyn developed. Their banter and Jamie’s mild encounters with bears had me giggling and totally rooting for these two and their HEA.

This book is an interconnected standalone in the Love in Maple Falls series but seven different authors. Whitney Dineen blew it out of the park and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for this little town.

Thank you NetGalley and Whitney Dineen for this read and being allowed to share my opinions on this amazing story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25 stars, rounded down)

Thanks to NetGalley and Whitney Dineen for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this was a cute story with some really important themes—a child trying to save their parents’ relationship, stepping in to protect a childhood home, finding an unexpected friendship that grows into more, and the fear of losing family or home to natural disasters.

My main disappointment was that the story felt rushed in order to stay short. I really wished the characters and their development had more time to grow.

Still, it was a sweet read with heartfelt themes at its core. I am going to read more of this series to see if it grows throughout all the books!

I was excited for this book and I normally don’t leave a negative review but you lost me with “lantent OCD tendencies” which in this case you were referencing organizing. OCD is a seriously debilitating illness. Likening OCD and organization makes it seem like OCD is something good and easy to navigate. Comments like this continue to keep a stigma on mental illness and although I’m sure you didn’t intend to do that, that is the effect.

Ashlyn, raised in Maple Falls but now living in Los Angeles, returns home to help her parents and quickly finds herself caught in a tricky situation. Enter Jamie, the new captain of the town’s hockey team, freshly arrived from New York. What begins as a friendship forged to solve a problem soon blossoms into something more, with fate clearly working overtime. The story sparkles with humor, including a memorable bear incident, while the playful dialogue and gradual build of attraction between Ashlyn and Jamie make their romance feel both believable and heartwarming. The relationship develops at a natural pace, allowing readers to savor each stage of their journey. With its mix of humor, heart, and a wonderfully sweet romance, it is an uplifting, feel-good read that rom-com fans will adore.

This was eh.

It was very cheesy with a very subpar plot. I wish there was more depth to the characters but after finishing I still feel like I know nothing about them.

This book was cute and I loved the small town setting with all the fall vibes. However, it felt more like women's or contemporary fiction with a side of romance rather than a romance book. It was a sweet, kissing only romance with no language, so I definitely appreciated that aspect. The bear scenes and the ones with the Mayor's assistant were probably the funniest moments that kept me the most engaged.

Unfortunately, there were some things I didn't love.
1) This book needed another proofreading pass. There were missing quotation marks and a few words that were spelled wrong or were the wrong word. I also didn't love the writing choice of putting the majority of dialogue tags before the dialogue. I personally write and prefer to read with more of dialogue the opposite way-dialogue then dialogue tag or dialogue paired with action/description to keep us grounded in the scene.

2) I felt like the main characters fell for each other off page. I'm reading a romance book to watch all the romance happen. I just didn't feel it, not based off how they were acting and the information we were given. There was a lack of yearning described and felt on the page.

3) Personally, I wish there had been a jersey moment. This is where the MMC sees the FMC wearing his jersey. It is one of my favorite parts of hockey romances, but this one chose not to use that moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

First of all thank you for allowing me to read this as an arc. Unfortunately I just did not get on with this book the storyline just was not for me. The writing style was really good though

First of all thank you to NetGalley for this copy! It's very much appreciated!

I gave this book 3 stars and here's why!

I felt like the book started off strong with the first chapter and I was definitely hooked in with the humour. "I love my job, I love my job, etc" But from the second chapter onwards I wasn't really connected and found it to be quite boring. For me the first few chapters are the most important because they determine wether I continue the book or DNF. I also didn't feel much connection between Jamie and Ashlyn up until the 20-30 percent mark and I was bored. I didn't expect them to start their love story right away but I don't think the book focused on the romance factor as much as I wanted it to. Again, in the first 20-30 percent.

The book picked up right after that and it was much more enjoyable. I loved Ashlyn and I could really always capture her humour. Jamie's a sweet guy and they're adorable as a couple. I also really enjoyed a specific quote that was near the end of the book that pulled me in. "Home isn't a place," I tell him. "Home is where your people are."

Overall this book was a nice palette cleanser and I liked it. I was a bit disappointed again because I found myself sometimes bored but it's an okay book! Please don't take my opinion to heart and give this book a chance so YOU see how it does for you! Book taste differs from a person to another and this was MY personal experience!

Thanks again for this ARC and I wish Whitney all the possible success with this book and her other releases! 🩷🩷

This was a fun and sweet small town romance. The slow burn was excruciating while waiting for them to admit to each other that they had feelings for each other because obviously they were perfect for each other. I wish there was more of their couple relationship after they realized they fell for each other. The small town characters made this book fun to read and helped give the small town vibes. Loved the happy ending for everyone. The bear scenes made me laugh and made Jamie that much more lovable. If you like romance books but don’t want the spice then this book is perfect.

The captain of the newly formed Ice Breakers Hockey team, Jamie, has moved to Maple Falls, Washington from NYC. His overture into small town living is a rental cabin at the edge of the town where the woods begin. Handsome, suave, and petrified of bears, tough hockey player Jamie is soon screaming like a girl in fear!
Meanwhile in town, the Mayor's wife is threatening to leave her husband, causing their adult daughter Ashlyn to fly in from Los Angeles, fill in for her father as Mayor while sending her parents to Barbados, all without alerting anyone in town.
Phew! This is only the beginning of the fun that ensues. I laughed so much while reading this terrific book! Time and time again the characters said and did things that caused me to start laughing again.
A plot that unites the whole town, unexpected disasters, and bears in the woods added to the charm of Maple Falls. I've read all of the previous series, and this one was definitely the funniest of all. Truly outstanding in a wonderful series! Don't miss the beginning of the goodness yet to come.

What a delightful story. With a rollercoaster of calamitous events that our heroine has to deal with and a family group of bears that freaks out our hero, there is never a dull moment.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up this book. I was drawn to it because of the beautiful cover, and the description sounded like a cozy romcom.

The characters weren’t exactly mind-blowing, but I really enjoyed their dynamic. It had a bit of an insta-love vibe, but I liked that they also had this sense of friendship. Even though neither of them was mentally ready to date someone, they decided they’d rather keep a small friendship going—while still knowing, and realizing, there was something more than just friendship between them.

I really loved the small-town atmosphere. There’s just something I enjoy about an unexpected romance in a quiet little place that maybe no one’s ever heard of. In this case, the town is getting more tourism because of a hockey team that’s starting to gain fame.

It’s another small-town and sports romance, nothing groundbreaking, but even if it’s one of many, it feels relaxed, simple, and very calm—perfect to balance out heavier books. It’s an easy read and genuinely a pleasant story to unwind with.

I’m glad I chose this book and that I was accepted to read the ARC, because it turned out to be something really sweet. Maybe it’s not the most revolutionary romance novel, but I love that this series is being written by several different authors instead of just one. That means that in the next book, I’ll get to experience the story from a different author’s perspective, while still staying in the same town.

Fake-Off with Fate is a slow-burn, fake-dating hockey, friends to lovers romcom full of small-town charm, laugh-out-loud moments HEA?? Read and find out….

A perfect book for a rainy day, clean and it’ll make you giggle and laugh quite a lot. My first book from this author and I’m so grateful because I discovered a new one 🥳 thank you so much Netgalley and Whitney Dineen for the ARC

ake-Off With Fate was such a light and enjoyable read. It’s the kind of book that feels effortless, it is simple, quick, and perfect for when you want to unwind. I really appreciated how easy it was to get through; I read it in a single sitting and it left me smiling.

This is exactly the type of story that lifts your mood and gives you a nice break from heavier reads. My favorite character was definitely Ashlyn, who brought so much charm and wit to the book.

Overall, a fun, quick romance that does exactly what it promises: entertains and lightens the heart.

4 stars.

"This is starting to feel like some kind of crazy slapstick comedy. The mayor’s daughter, an accountant, and a hockey player come together to save a small town in Washington from the evil antagonist who is trying to ruin them. Talk about unrealistic."

A fun, quick-to-read romantic comedy! This is the first part of the series, and I think I'm going to continue with the series. The story takes place in a small town called Maple Falls.

WHAT I LIKED: The small town was cute and there were some fun moments!

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Somehow the fake dating felt a bit unnecessary. We didn't get very many fun moments with that. I also wished a bit more chemistry between mc's.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Pov: dual, 1st person
Heat: no heat, kissing only
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: healthy communication
Third act: no break up, as they get together only in the end
Ending: HFN

Main characters:
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Friends to lovers

What?
* Fake dating
* Forced proximity
* Sports romance: hockey

Where?
* Return to hometown
* Small town

Drama?
* Family drama

Other vibes:
* Adorable animal companions (kinda...)
* Fall romance
* ”We’re just friends”

Fake-Off with Fate is the first story in the Love in Maple Falls hockey-themed romantic comedies series. The series is connected to 2024’s popular Love on Thin Ice series, which was also set in Maple Falls, Washington. Both series contain connected stories by various authors; each book can be read as a stand-alone. All stories in both series are closed-door romances that don’t contain any sex, violence, or profanity.
32-year-old Ashlyn Thompkins is a closet designer for the rich and famous in southern California. When her mom calls to inform her that she’s fed up with her neglectful husband and plans to divorce him, Ashlyn drops everything and comes home to repair her parents’ marriage. Her father is a workaholic, control-freak mayor of small-town Maple Falls, Washington. Ashlyn convinces him to go on a romantic getaway with her mother while she covers his mayoral duties. She agrees to tell everyone that he is sick so that no one knows that he’s away, and he insists that she work with a new hockey player to plan this year’s Maple Fest.
35-year-old Jamie Hayes is the new Captain of the Ice Breakers hockey team in tiny Maple Falls, Washington. He was glad to transfer from the New York Blades after his model girlfriend publicly humiliated him by dumping him for a billionaire. He’s glad to be reunited with his college hockey coach, Dale Houser, but anxious because a college teammate that he didn’t get along with, Harry Franks, is on the Ice Breakers. Fortunately, Cade Lennox, a Blades teammate, has also transferred to the Ice Breakers. Jamie has never seen so many trees and is nervous about the wildlife.
Ashlyn and Jamie become friends while co-planning the town’s Maple Fest while simultaneously hiding her father’s absence. When Ashlyn uncovers the town’s precarious financial situation and her father’s assistant’s nefarious deeds, Jamie steps up to help her save her hometown. Neither Ashlyn nor Jamie are in a position to start a romantic entanglement, but fate has other plans. Ashlyn needs to return to her life in California and Jamie’s ex-girlfriend re-appears.
Fake-Off with Fate is a great introduction to the Love in Maple Falls small town hockey romcom series. In addition to the sweet romance between Ashlyn and Jamie, readers are introduced to many colorful characters, including cameos from the Love on Thin Ice series. While some characters seem more like caricatures, the story has a definite Hallmark movie feel and the overall story is enjoyable. Jamie’s wildlife encounters were my favorite parts of the story. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.