Both April and Brody have complicated family relationships, though the story focuses more on April’s family. Her sisters are particularly difficult and antagonistic, especially toward April. They are a highly competitive family, unlike April, and April often feels like the odd one out. She and Brody are alike in that way. They both struggle with feelings of worth and not living up to the expectations of their family. Neither feels like they fit in with the rest of their family, and they always seem like they are trying to prove themselves to those who should accept them without reservation. He wrinkled his nose. You know how I feel about cat hair on my clothes. And I won’t be long. He sauntered over to the breakfast bar and frowned at the cupcakes. Baking again? Butter and refined sugar are terrible for your waistline. She filled the sink with soapy water and shoved in the rest of her utensils. Once the dishes were done, she’d whip up the cream cheese frosting. Only what I’ve told them. They haven’t come to visit since last year, and I wasn’t dating him then. So, without any photos, I don’t have a shred of proof.

She dipped another wonton into the sweet and sour sauce. Exactly. I don’t want to get into the details, but several years ago I invented a fake boyfriend and posted pictures of us online. It blew up in a spectacular fashion, and my sisters have never let me forget it. Nothing could equal the agony he’d experienced when he recovered and realized what he’d done. Though Marc and the rest of his family had since forgiven him, he still had moments when he lay awake in misery, replaying the entire hellscape. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat.She grabbed a wooden spoon and waved it at him. You need to wait until tomorrow. I still have to frost them. I love this romantic setting. Author Carla Luna brings the flavors and life of Door County, Wisconsin alive. With crisp apples, gold and red leaves, cherry jams galore and plenty of wine tasting, you’ll adore this vacation-in-a-book.

Was he making a huge mistake? The last time he attended a wedding, he made a total ass of himself. He still hadn’t fully recovered from the debacle. This might’ve been one of the books I read whilst I was sweating on a sun bed last month but, on the face of it, it is a cosy autumn romance through and through.

Princess Peach leapt off her chair and approached him, meowing and bunting him with affection. He scratched her soft white fur but stopped her from jumping on the table. Once April set out plates and cutlery, they dished out the food. Over bites of lo mein, interrupted by the occasional groan of pleasure over the wontons, she filled him in on the situation. He rolled his eyes. You’re making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be. But if that’s what you want, then it’s your loss. He leaned closer and stroked her cheek. That’s my girl. I’ll make it up to you in the bedroom. With a wink, he headed for the door. Have fun at the wedding, but try not to overindulge. Go easy on the sweets. Too bad there’s a grueling 10k race and a cutthroat trivia night to endure. Not to mention a massive secret to protect. But will the biggest secret of all be that this fake relationship feels more real than April or Brody ever imagined? My Thoughts When she put it that way, the whole enterprise sounded likely to trigger his anxiety. But unlike Maui, this wasn’t a romantic trip. He had no expectations other than spending a fun week in Wisconsin with one of his closest friends. There was no chance of heartbreak.

I think I could pull it off, he said. Your family’s never met me, so I could easily pretend to be Chris for six days. The memory still stung, like a cut that refused to heal. Taylor had been his plus-one for Marc’s wedding, but she’d dumped him, via text, two hours before her plane was due to arrive on the island. He’d been so distraught he’d gotten wasted at the rehearsal dinner, made an inappropriate speech, and passed out at the table.Whenever they asked about him, she rarely missed a chance to mention his athletic prowess. By bringing him to the wedding, she’d finally show them she’d landed someone worthy of their approval. In all her twenty-four years, she’d never contemplated marriage—not to Chris or anyone else. She had yet to experience the powerful, all-consuming pull of attraction that led to a lifelong commitment. Right now, all she wanted was for Chris to make an effort. Some gesture that showed he cared.