Terra Weiss: Fake Off

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236913225-fake-off

ARC read 2025

Sydney (FMC) is the beautiful girl next door type... which is what she was for Brooks Kingston (MMC) she is also his best friends younger sister, completely off limits as he promised his friend he would never touch his sister... and even though he worked hard for this not to happen she gets under his skin every time she's around she's a force of nature to his soul... and the current local weather girl for their home town station.

Sydney doesn't want to be the "weather girl" forever she wants to be promoted to being a sports reporter... and she was promised this ages ago by her boss, only now she has competition from a smarmy co-worker who thinks he's the greatest gift to the station... well he's not she has worked hard too and knows that she will do amazing in this role it's hers for the taking!

Brooks is a NHL hockey star but back in town for rehab with an injured shoulder, while staying with his sick grandmother and taking care of her our couple ends up making quite the show together while Sydney is giving a weather report from the frozen pond behind Brook's grandmother's house he is getting ice time and with some rowdy beavers making a television premiere it is tv gold...everyone in town is soon talking about the chemistry between these two.  

Sydney didn't see it that way Brooks has always been a grade A jerk for no reason... but she does really want this promotion and the station feels that having the inside scoop on a local Hockey King's recovery would be great for their ratings... maybe she could put aside their grievances for the greater good of her career so naturally she suggests what any rational person would... a fake relationship just short term then they could break up with no hard feelings and he could go on his way of being a ladies man... not her problem.

Brooks at first against this idea... I mean they can't stand each other why would this work out even short term?  Besides he doesn't do relationships... he does one night stands and he knows Sydney is a relationship girl and he did tell her brother he wouldn't go near her this has disaster written all over it.  But he does care about is his grandma and her health and seeing how happy she is seeing them together on and off TV he doesn't want to cause her excess stress with her current health condition... he could go along with this they both love his grandma she's the most important lady in his life.

Very quickly things escalate to his meddling grandma talking Sydney into moving in with them in her house so she can help take care of Brooks while he rehabs his shoulder and help Brooks take care of her and her dog... Sydney didn't sign up for this part but she loves his grandma and doesn't want to stress her out so next thing you know she's living with them in his childhood room with him of course there is only one bed... she can do this it's temporary once he is healed and goes back to the big leagues it will be over and she will be free to pursue her dream job.  

Sydney is in for a wild ride dealing with growing feelings towards Brooks... or were they there all along hidden under the surface?  Can they lie to the whole town, their families, her brother is livid about this arrangement especially when he catches them in a "not so fake" situation in a hot spring.  Extra drama occurs when there are hidden secrets and traumas to get through.  Brooks worries about his hidden secret would Sydney run for the hills if she knew?  But he isn't the only one with secrets and what will happen if their lies get exposed would that threaten Sydney's promotion? 

This is a really cute small town romance with plenty of laugh out loud moments Brooks and Sydney are likeable and you want them to find their happy ending (hopefully together).  I love the grandma she is caring, sassy and meddling in all of the best ways.  Sydney's parents are so supportive and her brother is too... in his own way.

I love hockey romance books and this is one of the best ones I've read this year, it was cute the relationship felt like a natural progression from their childhood relationship (even though that was rocky at best).  If you are in your hockey era add this one to your list! 

There is spice in this book but it was just the right amount to not over power the story line.  

*ARC read *Book Sirens *Fake relationship *Hockey Romance  *enemies --> more 

 *one room/one bed *forced proximity  *brother's best friend  *mental health rep 

*Grumpy/sunshine  *small town *found family  *rom com