Title: Rose with My Fake Fiance
Author: Liz Alden
Series: Aged Like Fine Wine #1
Rating Out of 5: (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Midlife romance, Travel
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023
There is something so joyful and simple about Alden’s writing, but, unlike the Love and Wanderlust series, this isn’t about people who are travelling. Rather, Rose with My Fake Fiance is the beginning of a great new series about four women who have decided to upend their lives and move overseas. I am actually so jealous of their independence and willingness to take the plunge into something entirely new. The fact that they are also women who are that little bit older (in their forties) and still believe in finding love, just made me love it all that much more. I loved the trio of women, and I can’t wait for each and every one of their stories.
Tessa spends most of this story being really reluctant to let Luc in, and I can completely understand why. At first it felt like her burning in her last relationship wasn’t that intense, but the more you get to know the ex, the more I can jump completely onboard her reluctance to commit. Although, I do love that her ex of a jerk ultimately gets his just desserts – all because of his own behaviours and decisions. There is nothing like having the jerky ex-boyfriend get what’s coming to him, as the couple I fell in love with got to ride off happily into the sunset.
Luc is a great counterpoint to Tessa. She is confident and willing to take risks, but, she’s also a little hesitant to take the plunge when it comes to relationships. Luc, on the other hand, is all in from the very beginning. He has absolutely no hesitation on trying to see where his and Tessa’s spark takes him. Plus, he’s all just too damn smokey and cute. I love that his primary restriction and burden is one that he’s managed to place upon himself. He believes that he is responsible for taking care of his grandmother, and doesn’t quite realise that she can take care of himself. When the burden is lifted, there is a whole world opened to both of them that was beautiful to dive into.
I love that Rose with My Fake Fiance finishes on the beginning of the happily ever after, not part of the way through it. They are still enjoying the first blushes of their relationship. And Luc and Tessa have a whole lot more of the ever after part to enjoy and live. It felt like a beautifully optimistic and cheerful ending to a really sweet story about change and falling in love all over again.
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