Love on Deck

 

He calls it fake dating, but she calls it caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Lauren Foley and Jack Fletcher already tried to be amicable once—on a blind date that ended in complete disaster. Now, years later, they have to put up with each other for the sake of her sister and his best friend, who are eloping on a cruise to the Bahamas. But that’s not the worst of it. No, Lauren’s in even deeper water when she finds herself agreeing to play Jack’s fake girlfriend for the duration of the cruise.

Now the only thing on her mind is trying not to strangle him when he dials up the charm, but it becomes harder to remember exactly why she ever hated him in the first place. Jack, on the other hand, is enjoying the perks.

Until the cruise lands on American soil again and real life hits them square in the face. Lauren is up for a promotion at work, and Jack promised her something that would secure it. But promises are easily broken, vacation life doesn’t always translate to the real world, and sometimes enemies start that way for a reason.

Book one in the Arcadia Creek romance series, Love on Deck is a fake dating enemies-to-lovers story with forced proximity and a happily ever after. This modern romance will also introduce you to small town Texas and show you just how cozy it can be.

My thoughts: This the first book I have read through by Kasey Stockton, and was a bit surprised at elements of the story. I didn't care for how Jack describes Lauren at the beginning of the story, nor how it is just assumed that they will share a room on the cruise when it comes out that they are (fake) dating. This is a closed door romance, and winds up being a clean read, but I was just personally disappointed that it was expected that a dating couple must want to sleep together.

That aside, it is a sweet grumpy/sunshine story with two very different characters who commit to a fake relationship for the duration of the cruise, for different reasons. Acadia Creek is a lovely setting (one worth waiting half the book for!) and I am sure that it will make for a great series!

I received this book from the author. This is my honest review.