Faking It with #41

Hockey Hotties, Book 3

Fake.

Being the heir to Jacobs Enterprises, I’ve been around fake people my entire life. I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t change for anyone. Which is the only reason I’m a professional hockey player who lives on the beach and does as he pleases without answering to anyone - except my father.

And now, my daughter.

Being a single dad wasn’t in the plan but after a one-night stand who took off after the baby was born, this is my reality.

My dad’s been harping on me to quit hockey and join the company for years and now that I’m a father, he’s only intensified his efforts. Until he makes me a deal I can’t refuse.

Insert Lena Boyd, the Jacobs’ family PR rep. She’s beautiful and intelligent and not at all the woman for me - ask anyone. My dad needs us to act happily engaged and sell the idea that we’re in love. If we’re successful I won’t have to join the family legacy - ever. Of course, I agree.

That’s when things get complicated. I thought I had her all figured out until I found out there was more underneath her judgmental sneers and eye rolls. It feels like everything is coming together for the future I really want - with Lena - until my past ruins everything.

©2021 Piper Rayne Inc. (P)2021 Piper Rayne Inc.

Loved It!

This series just gets better and better. Common situation among professional athletes mixed with romance and drama. The enemies to lovers trope works well between Ford and Lena.

Great Story!

Loved the book , however, I did not like the female narrators attempt at sounding like a man. It was so irritating I almost did not finish the book but enjoyed the story so much I tolerated it.

Hockey Romance Success!

This series is so good. I have been waiting for this book and Piper Rayne did not disappoint with this single dad hockey player romance. Great story and narration!

I was using it to get to the next book.

Because I am a sucker for hockey romance and I want them all!

But, seriously? This guy can’t keep a woman off when she tries to make moves on him but he can let one walk out the door? Books like this drive me insane…and I don’t really mind. The only thing is, the ‘ex’ card has been overplayed.

Oh Teddy, you make everything sound good. Erin was manageable this time.

Ok story

The world building, voice acting, and parts of the character dynamics was good. I liked seeing the other side to Ford, getting glimpses of him in other books. Lena was also a decent cimplex character. I enjoyed seeing how they bothed cared for Annabelle.

However, there seems to be this common trope of blaming the MMC for the faults, despite the MFC being the one to push away. The MCs have a complicated past, with MFC having to clean up the MMC's messes since she was his family's PR person. With tbag said, she was quick to assume the worse, not giving him any credit. She didn't want to see how he worked for what he had, was a good dad, and only acted out bc of his father, who didn't respect him. When MMC opened up and was honest about wanting more with MFC, she kept pushing him away, despite MMC continuing to show he wants a serious relationship and has changed into a responsible and trustworthy person. MMC definitely messed up trying to show he was good enough, but that's bc of his issues with people dismissing him and not really seeing him. He could have tried harder instead of folding, but he had a point, if someone has an opinion of you, it's hard to change it. She also rejected his several times, while giving mixed signals. MMC's biggest issue was not resolving issues with his father.

MFC had a lot of baggage from her childhood. She recognized them, and throughout the story slowly started to overcome them. By the end she even saudhg therapy. If not for her willingness to not let her past kept her from trusting her relationship with MMC, I would have rated this lower. It's frustrating by how much MFC runs, then says she's scared to trust MMC but also that it's not his fault, it's hers. She's hot and cold, quick to dismiss his good quality and not see he's changed. But at least she's honest and we see she tries to work on her issues.

Overall, an ok story. It's good for the world building, not a waste of time, but I won't reread it. This story was lacking and not very original. It felt like MMC cared more than MFC quite often, making this story just ok.