Tag Archives: Evie Alexander

Book Review: The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander

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The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/07/25)

Summary: Finding Redemption Through Love

“I’ve spent almost a lifetime fantasizing about kissing Brody King.” 42%

Brody may be a celebrity with a messy past and a notorious reputation, but underneath it all, he’s a genuinely good guy. Piper, the sweet girl-next-door who’s always cared for him, has loved Brody since childhood. While Brody fears dragging Piper into the fallout of his public image, Piper worries about risking her career and letting down her family. To help each other out, they strike a deal to fake-date. As old feelings resurface and close quarters blur the lines, can they keep their friendship intact, or will their hearts finally get in the way?

Keywords:

Self-sabotage, Celebrity Romance, Slow-Burn, Contemporary, Longing, Public Life, Brooklyn, Hideaway Harbor, Past Mistakes, Reputation, Christmas, Fake Dating

My Review:

The POV is first-person, allowing for a lot of introspection, so we really get into the characters’ minds. I love seeing their thought processes laid out. It’s raw, self-reflective, and full of rationalizations that feel so human and relatable.

The romantic tension is on point. There are questions of boundaries, restraint, and denying feelings, which create a sort of push-pull dynamic that builds the slow-burning romance. But when we get to the juicy parts, they are for sure juicy! The heat is set to boiling. The sex scenes are long, graphic, and unapologetically explicit. They are way more intense than a fade-to-black romance.

The small-town setting of Hideaway Harbor adds so much charm and continues to delight me with this “second” book in the Hideaway Harbor setting. It’s full of quirky, nosy, but lovable characters, holiday traditions, and the warmth of found family. I’m delighted that the town is the setting of multiple books set in the universe of Hideaway Harbor. It even reminds me of the town of Leavenworth in Washington – aka the Village of Lights: Christmastown.

If you love a good contemporary slow-burn romance with erotic scenes, then this is a great read to pick up for the Holidays (or really anytime you want a fun, easy-to-read romance).

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/07/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

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Book Review: Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

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Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/04/24)

Summary:

Ella and Leo have always been best friends. They’ve known each other for so long and so well that they can easily finish each other’s…. Sandwiches. Ella has a lot going on. She’s been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Her best friend, Leo, is only interested in her as friends but she’s always had feelings for him. Add to the mix her ex Zach coming back on the scene and her dad about to be released from prison. Leo is the perfect best friend but he’s always secretly had a crush on Ella. What will it take for them to overcome their fear of affecting their friendship and just admit their feelings and attraction for each other?

Keywords:

Friends to lovers, Christmas, Holidays, Foxbrooke, Christmas Panto, Cinderella, Steamy, Forced Proximity

My Review:

Friends to lovers is one of the best romantic tropes and this book delivers the bestest of best friends to fexiest of fexy lovers.

I love a good fairy tale retelling and this is a classic Cinderella retelling that features a story within a story – the pantomime mirroring real life throughout the novel.

Ella is funny, kind, smart, gifted, caring, thoughtful and stunningly beautiful – at least according to Leo. She fully embodies some of Cinderella’s qualities – kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and patience. Almost to a fault! I’m glad Leo was there to get mad on her behalf because Ella is the most understanding and forgiving person, and she doesn’t hold onto anger like so many of us. Leo is the friend who always loved her and will do anything for her, even just as a friend. He is obsessed with Ella in the best way, in the most unrealistic way, in the most fantastical swoon-worthy I-wish-Leo-was-my-best-friend-turned-lover way.

As soon as the heat picks up, there are quite a few sex scenes. The intimacy was also full of romantic sex tropes.

I absolutely love a good Holiday read; this one is full of the Holiday spirit. There are so many Christmas and British Holiday traditions, along with Ella and Leo traditions. I’d never heard of a Christmas Quiz before this book.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/04/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

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Goodreads

Book Review: The Love Position by Evie Alexander

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The Love Position by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (07/23/24)

Summary:

“People who do bad things are very good at hiding what they do, and we’re so trusting because it would never occur for us to beave the same way.” (Page 352, Kindle Edition).

Sophia Hunter-Savage has been through a lot lately!  After discovering yoga with the local hot yet unavailable Isaac, she decides to spend her summer on a remote island for an intense yoga instructor training course. Isaac doesn’t want to break his vow and his new student Sophia has awakened in him something he hasn’t felt in years. He runs away to his ashram to get away from temptation and back on the path of inner peace. But Sophia’s new yoga course and Isaac’s ashram are one and the same and neither can deny the forbidden attraction. 

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Forced Proximity, Steamy, Yoga, Retreat

My Review:

Talk about toxic environments! This yoga intensive seems so far from what I think of as the practice of yoga. How ironic for Sophia that she just wanted something relaxing to focus on for the summer and this ‘retreat’ is anything but. I remember the shy and keeping-to-herself Sophia as a brief character in other Foxbrook novels. What I recall of her is that she wouldn’t stand up for herself and she’s been thrust into an environment so difficult to get through. The rules of the yoga retreat are terrible and seem so counter to health and happiness. Sophia will have to go through so much to discover what she’s made of and how much she’ll take before speaking up and out. Is there a fine line between discipline, rigorous practice, and being at peace and one with others? It is places like this Ashram and the leader who give yoga communities a bad name. This place is more like a cult than a community. Even the less timid best friend Sophia makes at the retreat, Jessica, doesn’t fight back against some of the rules. They did pay a lot of money to be there, so it must be worth it? When the abusive relationship between this Ashram and its students is finally broken, it was so satisfying! 

I liked how this Caribbean setting really gives Sophia the chance to have her story. Her family and the Foxbrook crew are so lively and larger-than-life that Sophia would fade into side character territory in their midst. Sophia shows real grit and perseverance at this yoga retreat, to the detriment of her health and happiness. In the end, everything turns out alright. 

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 07/23/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

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Book Review: The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

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The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (04/17/24)

Summary:

“Because we’re leaping into the unknown and hoping the other person will be there to catch us.” (Kindle edition, 94%).

Lady Estelle and James must work together to make the Foxbrooke festival a success for both their sakes. Estelle knows James to be a bully while James secretly likes Estelle but doesn’t think she’ll be able to see past his reputation. Can Estelle keep herself in check or will her personality and feelings get in the way of the festival planning? Can James redeem himself in her eyes so that she sees him as anything other than a bully?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Enemies to Lovers, Small Town, Lady, Estate, Rich, Forced Proximity

My Review:

I love a good slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with dueling POV. The book includes some other good romance tropes like forced proximity, small town, bully turned nice guy, and a bit of love at first sight.

I loved the main characters. I loved the side characters. I even loved the animals/pets. Both Estelle and James are the main characters you can’t believe are single but also can very much understand why they are single. They are both stubborn, strong, and big personality types. Both characters have a different but similar purpose intertwined with their forced proximity situation. They each also had their own backstory that made them very compelling. I really liked how both main characters were completely independent people and didn’t need the other to complete themselves, which made their love even more captivating. They have their flaws but are also the most caring and heartfelt people. Estelle will not hesitate to stand up and protect a woman she thinks is being abused. James will go out of his way for others without a second thought.

The romantic element makes this book so good, especially the slow buildup of the enemies-to-lovers romance that makes the eventual romance so very satisfying. The sexual attraction is always there, even from the beginning. There are a lot of falling-in-love montage moments and overcoming inevitable obstacles before getting to the first of the steamy parts.

The plot holds together the romance well and the dialogue is witty and super fun to read. The climax felt real and well-integrated into the story’s plot and the ending was satisfying with its HEA.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/17/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

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Goodreads

Book Review: An Unholy Affair by Evie Alexander

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An Unholy Affair by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (09/14/23)

Summary:

Small-town vicar Eveline puts everyone else first. Her dream is to find the perfect partner, but that doesn’t seem to be in God’s plan… Until she meets Jack. Could he be the one? Jack keeps his profession a secret from his friends and family, his life in France separate from the life he grew up living in the small town of Foxbrooke. It was love at first sight when he saw Eveline but she’s doing God’s work and he’s an escort. Would he be good enough for her?

Keywords:

Forbidden Love, Gender Swapped Priest, Escort, Grumpy V. Sunshine, Love at First Sight, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Standalone, HEA

My Review:

I am so incredibly mad at the townsfolk of Foxbrooke! They take advantage of Eveline’s goodwill. They invade her privacy and her space without thinking about her. She always listens to their woes and solves their problems when her hot water hardly works and her front door barely opens. She lives for her town but they don’t seem to see her as a person with her own feelings and needs. Eveline has real external problems that Jack is poised to fix with his protective mentality. But Jack is also saddled with real internal problems that someone as caring as Evelenine is perfect to fix. I was very invested in Eveline and Jack realizing they were perfect for each other and couldn’t wait for their HEA and personal growth as characters.

Foxbrooke comes alive as a small town. Several different types of people come to Eveline for advice, help, or just a snack and a chat. My favorite side character was the lively and full-of-personality Estelle. She seems like such a character and almost like the opposite of Eveline!

I like how the roles are reversed in this book – where Jack is the escort and Eveline is the vicar. However, neither of them has had a perfect past. They are both flawed. The main characters are what make this book stand out. They are the most compelling. Their story is the page-turner. Their inevitable love and happily ever after is the book high I crave when I read a romance.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 09/14/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

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Book Review: Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander

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Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (06/13/23)

Summary:

“The vicar’s pigs are gonna fly before you take any risks with your life.” (Kindle edition, 10%)

Henry Foxbrooke wants order, control, and to have a curated life in the financial sector of London’s finest. His family wants him to step into the role as heir to the Foxbrooke estate, settle down, and produce heirs. Libby Fletcher is the brightest most positive personality in the room but she’s also a people pleaser who’s afraid to let go. Libby agreeing to be Henry’s fake girlfriend will solve all their problems, at least temporarily until they inevitably fall for each other. 

Keywords:

romance; romantic; contemporary romance; romcom; romantic comedy; comedy; standalone; love story; HEA; happy ending; happily ever after; funny; sweet; sexy; steamy; heat; funny; hilarious; laugh-out-loud; feel good; humorous; humor; fake romance; small town, steamy, romance, romance series, one bed, fake dating, fake relationship, standalone, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, fish out of water, celebrity, comedy, stately home, Duke, Duchess, royalty, humor, HEA, love story, love, United Kingdom, Somerset, Bath, Jane Austen, Austen, rural

My Review:

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 06/13/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

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Book Review: One Night in Foxbrooke by Evie Alexander

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One Night in Foxbrooke by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novella published by Emlin Press (04/14/23)

Summary:

They used to be childhood friends and each secretly had a crush on the other. Now ten years later, they will have one night to see if those feelings are still alive. 

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Star Wars References, Chefs, Childhood Friends, Second Chance Romance

My Review:

I love the author’s writing style but didn’t love this story. I wanted this story to be a full novel. Both the story and the romance felt rushed since the character development and backstory didn’t have enough space to develop in this short novella. There wasn’t enough character development and I didn’t feel a true connection to these characters. They didn’t feel real. Their problems didn’t feel real. Their stakes didn’t feel real.

One part I disliked was the Star Wars references. They felt cheesy and didn’t add to the story for me. It felt like the entire premise of this story was built around these references. They didn’t make the story any more interesting or enjoyable for me and it felt like it was trying too hard.

The most exciting part to me was the catering/restaurant details but there were not enough details to hold my attention as it was side to the romance story.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/14/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the award-winning author of best-selling sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

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Book Review: Musical Games (Kinloch Series, #4) by Evie Alexander

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Musical Games (Kinloch Series, #4) by Evie Alexander

A Comedic Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (01/27/23)

Summary:

Sam wants more. Bigger roles. Better roles. Making up an excuse to leave behind her life as a small-time soap opera star for a week, she heads to Scotland to meet Hollywood’s big star Brad. She meets Jamie instead, a homebody who still loves with his mother, and works at his dead-end electrician’s job day in and day out. Jamie has never left Scotland and is perfectly content to continue living with his mother, even in his late twenties. Sam’s arrival shakes up his routine and he can’t stop thinking about her. Sam can’t stop thinking about Jamie but is determined to use Brad to get ahead in her career. Will she get sidetracked by Jamie or will he be the best thing to ever happen to her life?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Scotland, Sweet, Sex Scenes, Humor, Opposites Attract, Hollywood, Scotland, Scottish

My Review:

Another book set in the Kinloch series! I love that the author brings us a new story and new depth to characters from the other books of the series. Jamie is sweet and broody while Sam is career and future-focused. This book felt like a gender role reversal where the man is the good-looking yet sexually inexperienced main character while the woman is the lively and hot breadwinner. 

While Jamie is the hunky male hero, you’ll have to go along with the fact that he is a sex God virgin. Don’t roll your eyes but everything he learned, he learned from reading raunchy romance novels. Jamie has never had a girlfriend, never been kissed, and never had sex before. He is also poor at communicating, assumes that Sam will see how much he has fallen for her without actually saying anything, and also believes she’s too good for him and won’t want to slow down her life to accommodate him in it. I thought the relationship aspects of Jamie and how he approached his infatuation with Sam as so believable. Of course, someone who was never in a romantic relationship before wouldn’t know how to communicate with their partner! Apparently, Jamie didn’t learn how to talk to Sam about his feelings from those same raunchy romance novels. This is the kind of book and the kind of relationship-inexperienced character that makes you want to yell, “just tell her how you feel, man!” 

The idea and main plot, just like the previous books in the series, were well-executed, simple, and clean yet there’s always something going on.

I am very drawn to the romance, the writing style, and the intriguing plot of the Kinloch Series.

If you love over-the-top dreamy protagonists – even flawed they seem so unattainable in their perfection – you will absolutely enjoy this book and this series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel will be published by Emlin Press on 01/27/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the award-winning author of best-selling sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

Links for more information:

Book Review: Kissing Games (Kinloch Series, #3) by Evie Alexander

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Kissing Games (Kinloch Series, #3) by Evie Alexander

A Comedic Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (09/22/22)

Summary:

Valentina has worked her whole life as an actress – taking small parts and demoralizing roles alike – so she will have enough money set aside for her dream. Charlie is a bodyguard fed up with almost everyone, especially the nitwits he sometimes works for. He takes a job to protect Kinloch from the crazy Hollywood crew, meeting Valentina on the way. Opposites attract, but will that be enough to overcome Hollywood and disaster?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Scotland, Castle, Sweet, Sex Scenes, Humor, Opposites Attract, Hollywood

My Review:

I was pleasantly surprised that this third book in the series is almost a companion novel to the second book, Hollywood Games, and some of the plot points match up between the books. I absolutely love seeing some scenes and characters and action from this new book and a new point of view. Even getting to know the main characters and side characters from book two through Valentina and Charlie in book three was delightful!

This third book doesn’t let up with the fast-paced plot and steamy scenes. The idea and main plot, just like the previous books in the series, was well-executed, simple, and clean yet there’s always something going on.

I am very drawn to the romance, the writing style, and the intriguing plot of the Kinloch Series.

If you love over-the-top dreamy protagonists – even flawed they seem so unattainable in their perfection – you will absolutely enjoy this book and this series.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 09/22/2022 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the award-winning author of best-selling sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

Links for more information:

Book Review: Hollywood Games (Kinloch Series, #2) by Evie Alexander

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Hollywood Games (Kinloch Series, #2) by Evie Alexander

A Comedic Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (04/04/22)

Summary:

Kinloch Castle is in desperate need of money and every day there seems to be something new to fix. On top of those worries, Rory isn’t sure Zoe feels the same about him and of course, Rory’s mother still doesn’t like her. Zoe wants to help Kinloch and the perfect luck of an opportunity presents itself when Hollywood star Brad wants to film his next movie at the castle. The only problem is that Zoe’s had a crush on Brad since she was a teen and the man is an insufferable Hollywood star. Can Rory put up with the man and his entourage long enough to save the castle or will his temper get the best of him?

Keywords:

British Humor, Comedy, Romance, Scotland, Castle, Earl, Sex Scenes, Steamy, Cabin, Family, happy Ending, Dual POV, Hollywood, Star, Movie, Braveheart

My Review:

I read this book as fast as the first one in the series. Even though the two main characters had fallen from enemies to lovers in the previous book, the author does an excellent job of keeping up tension between the two romantic leads. Much like the first book, the author has the romance beat structure down solid and the pacing is still excellent. Every scene was satisfying from beginning to end. The climax felt real and well integrated into the plot of the story and the ending was very satisfying.

Hollywood Games is even more absurd and laugh-out-loud than the first book. The idea and main plot are well-executed, simple, and clean yet there’s always something going on. It’s a fast-paced book where the slowest parts are the steamy scenes!

I loved all the characters from the first book and enjoyed reading about the new characters that Brad brings with him to Kinloch. The Hollywood people seem ridiculous but very realistically Hollywood!

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/04/2022 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the author of sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method-approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West Country with her family.

Links for more information: