After video of Coral and Jamie interacting during her first performance goes viral, Jocelyn concocts just the kind of delicious, forced-proximity scheme that romance readers relish: why not have Coral fake a relationship with her brother to fix his reputation, help him close his big deal, and publicize the hotel’s new show? While Jamie is only in town for two weeks, the ticking clock, plus Coral and Jamie's very real attraction to each other, adds tension and spice to a love story that develops swimmingly. With dashes of welcome heat, Dodd deftly entangles Coral and Jamie's lives despite their every effort to keep it casual. While the Vegas fantasy is fun, the couple’s issues are rooted convincingly in character: Coral is a rootless only child with a mother who still seems to be putting her own life together, while Jamie contends with his playboy mogul rep.
Tension, lust, and personal and career priorities fuel this page-turner, and lovers of meet-cute romances that embrace conventional tropes will swoon as Coral and Jamie, in the throes of what should be a fauxmance, grow closer despite conflicting interests and jaded stances on love.
Takeaway: Winning meet-cute fauxmance centered on a Las Vegas mermaid performer.
Comparable Titles: Jamie Wesley's Fake It till You Bake It, Ali Hazelwood's Deep End.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A