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Faking It to Making It
A dilemma, a deal… a date!
Charmer Nate Mackenzie is in the middle of a plus-one dilemma for his friend's wedding. Any of his recent dates would start dreaming of a solitaire for their own left hand. Worse, going stag will leave him at the mercy of a setup by his ever-hopeful sisters.
Discovering that Saskia Bloom is doing online-dating research for a website, he strikes a deal. She'll take the research rather than a relationship and he'll get a fake date. There might be no shortage of sexual attraction between them — but as complete opposites, will they be at all convincing as a "happy couple"?
Charmer Nate Mackenzie is in the middle of a plus-one dilemma for his friend's wedding. Any of his recent dates would start dreaming of a solitaire for their own left hand. Worse, going stag will leave him at the mercy of a setup by his ever-hopeful sisters.
Discovering that Saskia Bloom is doing online-dating research for a website, he strikes a deal. She'll take the research rather than a relationship and he'll get a fake date. There might be no shortage of sexual attraction between them — but as complete opposites, will they be at all convincing as a "happy couple"?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
20 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Ally Blake
344 books224 followersAustralian romance author Ally Blake loves reading and strong coffee, porch swings and dappled sunshine, sparkly notebooks and soft, dark pencils.
She also adores writing love stories. Having sold over four million copies of her Harlequin Mills and Boon novels worldwide, she is living her dream.
Alongside one husband, three gloriously rambunctious kids, and too many animal companions to count, Ally lives and writes in the leafy western suburbs of Brisbane.
Find out more about Ally’s books at www.allyblake.com.
She also adores writing love stories. Having sold over four million copies of her Harlequin Mills and Boon novels worldwide, she is living her dream.
Alongside one husband, three gloriously rambunctious kids, and too many animal companions to count, Ally lives and writes in the leafy western suburbs of Brisbane.
Find out more about Ally’s books at www.allyblake.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 3, 2017
Quando eu mando áudio sobre uma história e dá pra perceber que eu tô sorrindo, é alerta de trouxice. Isso nem é tão difícil de acontecer visto a trouxa que sou, mas o fato é que eu mandei áudio sorrindo enquanto falava de Fake it to Make it. Vocês deviam me proibir de ler esses livros que me deixam besta, alguém precisa me parar!!!!! (mentira RS)
Enfim, eu adorei o livro?????? Bastante????? Uma coisinha ou outra me incomodaram (tipo a Saskia falando o "eu não sou como todas as garotas" volta e meia. ugh), mas no geral foi uma leitura divertida que me fez ficar ansiosa pelo final. Eu achei o livro numa lista de fake dating e já sabia que ia gostar (melhor trope), mas logo que a gente conhece a Saskia e o Nate aaaaaaa. Eles são tão gracinhas e totalmente iludidos achando que tem a minima chance do plano ser de boa huahauhua (eles tão 100% atraído um pelo outro desde o primeiro momento, quer dizer... hasha). Nem vou reclamar do final brega porque até achei moderado, sempre pode ser pior. Enfim, gostei bastante. Amém, fake dating.
Enfim, eu adorei o livro?????? Bastante????? Uma coisinha ou outra me incomodaram (tipo a Saskia falando o "eu não sou como todas as garotas" volta e meia. ugh), mas no geral foi uma leitura divertida que me fez ficar ansiosa pelo final. Eu achei o livro numa lista de fake dating e já sabia que ia gostar (melhor trope), mas logo que a gente conhece a Saskia e o Nate aaaaaaa. Eles são tão gracinhas e totalmente iludidos achando que tem a minima chance do plano ser de boa huahauhua (eles tão 100% atraído um pelo outro desde o primeiro momento, quer dizer... hasha). Nem vou reclamar do final brega porque até achei moderado, sempre pode ser pior. Enfim, gostei bastante. Amém, fake dating.
January 22, 2023
“Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the time of your life.”
4.5 glorious Ally Blake pink glittery stars!
This is set in Melbourne and is the romance between mathematician self-proclaimed nerd Saskia and really rich needs a date to an upcoming wedding, Nate. The two meet on a dating site; Saskia is there for a freelance job where she is doing research to create an infographic about online dating sites and Nate creates a profile where he is very straight up about being there solely to find a date for a wedding.
These two meet and Nate convinces Saskia to be his pretend girlfriend to basically get his sisters to chill out on setting him up.
Ally’s writing is so fun and joyful and flirty and girly and romantic and emotional and I adored this book. We see the moments where the “this is fake” element to fake romance become not so much blurry but confusing because at some point, absolutely nothing about the Fake situation is Fake but very damn real. I couldn’t put the book down and didn’t realize there was another book before this one…obviously! The WEDDING Nate needed a date for..! Thank you Ally for emailing me Gabe’s book with a heart-eyed message and the insistence that Gabe’s book is a must read! Off I go to read it-I’m not ready to Not be in this world!
4.5 glorious Ally Blake pink glittery stars!
This is set in Melbourne and is the romance between mathematician self-proclaimed nerd Saskia and really rich needs a date to an upcoming wedding, Nate. The two meet on a dating site; Saskia is there for a freelance job where she is doing research to create an infographic about online dating sites and Nate creates a profile where he is very straight up about being there solely to find a date for a wedding.
These two meet and Nate convinces Saskia to be his pretend girlfriend to basically get his sisters to chill out on setting him up.
Ally’s writing is so fun and joyful and flirty and girly and romantic and emotional and I adored this book. We see the moments where the “this is fake” element to fake romance become not so much blurry but confusing because at some point, absolutely nothing about the Fake situation is Fake but very damn real. I couldn’t put the book down and didn’t realize there was another book before this one…obviously! The WEDDING Nate needed a date for..! Thank you Ally for emailing me Gabe’s book with a heart-eyed message and the insistence that Gabe’s book is a must read! Off I go to read it-I’m not ready to Not be in this world!
August 14, 2013
4.5 Stars. If only Ally Blake’s brand of pixie dust was sprinkled over every romantic comedy in Hollywood, we’d return to the golden age of screwball rather than be stuck in the age of blah. Her dialogue’s sparky, and bouncy, and smile-inducing, even in heartbreak.
Saskia Bloom’s a bubbly treat, all heart, head, and oddball outfits with a penchant for D.I.Y. and a weakness for fixer-upper men.
Nate Mackenzie’s maddeningly buttoned-up in both dress and emotions, yet he’ll feed a dog’s Oreo addiction, choose the floppy-hatted girl over the bikini ones, and he manages to make the imposing of his will endearing as opposed to alpha obnoxious.
These two meet via a computer dating service and agree to fake a relationship, only to start falling for real. The plot’s nothing epic and that’s the beauty of it as well as Ally Blake’s writing, it’s the little details that pull you in, it’s the goat’s milk soap that makes this ever so lovely and memorable.
Saskia Bloom’s a bubbly treat, all heart, head, and oddball outfits with a penchant for D.I.Y. and a weakness for fixer-upper men.
Nate Mackenzie’s maddeningly buttoned-up in both dress and emotions, yet he’ll feed a dog’s Oreo addiction, choose the floppy-hatted girl over the bikini ones, and he manages to make the imposing of his will endearing as opposed to alpha obnoxious.
These two meet via a computer dating service and agree to fake a relationship, only to start falling for real. The plot’s nothing epic and that’s the beauty of it as well as Ally Blake’s writing, it’s the little details that pull you in, it’s the goat’s milk soap that makes this ever so lovely and memorable.
August 19, 2013
AB's books are always fun to read, and Faking It To Making It is no exception. Her writing style is joyful, fresh, and humorous. Her story is touching yet cheeky . Her characters are likeable : a sassy h , a gorgeous H and lets not forget the hot chemistry that sparks to life whenever they are together.
Saskia is a lovely geek, statistic researcher, doing a research on online dating. She has a yen for guys in needs - she calls it "puppy - dog syndrome" - and though Nate is the least needy guy she has ever met, he still needs a fake girlfriend to get his matchmaker sisters off his back.
As always, h fells in love and our typical obtuse H is the last to know that he is in love.
Saskia is a lovely geek, statistic researcher, doing a research on online dating. She has a yen for guys in needs - she calls it "puppy - dog syndrome" - and though Nate is the least needy guy she has ever met, he still needs a fake girlfriend to get his matchmaker sisters off his back.
As always, h fells in love and our typical obtuse H is the last to know that he is in love.
August 30, 2013
Dating research leads Saskia to join a dating service where she finds Nate who is just looking for a date to a wedding. His matchmaking family leads him to asking Saskia to be his fake girlfriend for a few weeks. As they get to know each other, things change. They have ups and downs as they try to figure out what their relationship really is. A pretty good story that kept my attention. Well written.
July 22, 2013
I have read many Harlequin Kiss books over the past couple of months and I can safely say that I have found the winner of the lot so far.
This book had everything I could want in a contemporary romance - hot guy with an interesting family, a strong independent woman, a fake relationship, oodles of sexual tension, a dog, did I mention the hot guy?!
This book had everything I could want in a contemporary romance - hot guy with an interesting family, a strong independent woman, a fake relationship, oodles of sexual tension, a dog, did I mention the hot guy?!
August 24, 2013
really enjoy Ally's writing style and this was no exception. Nate was all that a hero should be, handsome as sin with a heart of gold and Saskia, well just the name won me over before I ever began the book and she definitely lives up to it. Quirky, smart and no ones pushover, I loved her.
July 22, 2020
3.5 stars
Definitely sexy, but it took a long time for the hero to realise he was an A-hole. Not like the interesting heroine's previous boyfriend, who really should have been arrested, but still an A-hole.
Loved the cover.
Definitely sexy, but it took a long time for the hero to realise he was an A-hole. Not like the interesting heroine's previous boyfriend, who really should have been arrested, but still an A-hole.
Loved the cover.
April 23, 2018
Fanciful premise, but cute story! Loved the relationship that develops between Nate and Saskia, and especially her interactions with his family.
February 13, 2023
It was a cute book. I liked the interaction between Saskia and Nate.
May 9, 2014
What a darling story, and well written. It's the story of Saskia, a late twenties boho statistician and Nate, an early-thirties venture capitalist. They meet through an online dating site, neither thinking they're looking for a relationship: Nate needs a date to a wedding and to fend off his meddling sisters, and Saskia wants to talk to the men using the site to form an analysis of online dating.
Instead, they are charmed by the other even though neither meets their previously established criteria; sometimes what you think you want is all wrong for you.
There are many things I liked about this story, and of course it all comes back to the author. I liked how much dialogue was in this book -- instead of us having to trust the author that the characters grew to care about one another, we got to read it, be part of it. She did not go overboard with details about their personal styles (as some lazy authors do); instead, she used just enough descriptions so that we could see the characters, see how they may have looked as though they clashed but really they were just heightening the others appreciation. I also liked how the author let us watch them grow, how this relationship encouraged / forced them to realize some things about themselves and how they chose to respond.
I came across "Faking It to Making It" as it was an excerpt at the back of another book; I liked what I read so purchased it. I'm so glad it was excerpted because of how much I enjoyed the whole story, the characters, their development, and the writing.
Instead, they are charmed by the other even though neither meets their previously established criteria; sometimes what you think you want is all wrong for you.
There are many things I liked about this story, and of course it all comes back to the author. I liked how much dialogue was in this book -- instead of us having to trust the author that the characters grew to care about one another, we got to read it, be part of it. She did not go overboard with details about their personal styles (as some lazy authors do); instead, she used just enough descriptions so that we could see the characters, see how they may have looked as though they clashed but really they were just heightening the others appreciation. I also liked how the author let us watch them grow, how this relationship encouraged / forced them to realize some things about themselves and how they chose to respond.
I came across "Faking It to Making It" as it was an excerpt at the back of another book; I liked what I read so purchased it. I'm so glad it was excerpted because of how much I enjoyed the whole story, the characters, their development, and the writing.
July 6, 2013
Worth 4.5 drool-worthy stars. XD
Where to start? Been reading a lot of book and I can say it’s one of the great book out there.
I really really love the PROLOGUE, why’s that? It builds up my anticipation and excitement making me look forward to the whole story. Kyaa.
The plot is common but with Ally Blake’s touch it becomes something else. I fell into it all-through-out.
The characters are amazing. Soo much that it hurts. LOL. I fell in love with NJM. He’s such a drool-worthy kind of hero. I like that he’s so closed-off and caring at the same time. He’s your knight-in-shining-armor with a tinge of dark yet dangerous aura.
I also love the heroine. Saskia Bloom. Wow. Amazing character there Ms.Blake. I like her disposition in life, her attitude and personality. Not your usual damsel-in-distress. What else is more to say? I love them both.
Even the minor characters I adore them! Good job Ms.Blake, this is one of the reason I love this kind of genre- because of writers like you! Kudos!
Favorite line: “Saskia, I was living in a tunnel, with no light at the end. Then you came along, and suddenly I noticed when I could smell fresh air, when I felt sunshine. I began to notice the stars and the ground at my feet. You, Saskia Bloom, are my earth.
-Nate Mackenzie
Recommended. Great read! XD
Where to start? Been reading a lot of book and I can say it’s one of the great book out there.
I really really love the PROLOGUE, why’s that? It builds up my anticipation and excitement making me look forward to the whole story. Kyaa.
The plot is common but with Ally Blake’s touch it becomes something else. I fell into it all-through-out.
The characters are amazing. Soo much that it hurts. LOL. I fell in love with NJM. He’s such a drool-worthy kind of hero. I like that he’s so closed-off and caring at the same time. He’s your knight-in-shining-armor with a tinge of dark yet dangerous aura.
I also love the heroine. Saskia Bloom. Wow. Amazing character there Ms.Blake. I like her disposition in life, her attitude and personality. Not your usual damsel-in-distress. What else is more to say? I love them both.
Even the minor characters I adore them! Good job Ms.Blake, this is one of the reason I love this kind of genre- because of writers like you! Kudos!
Favorite line: “Saskia, I was living in a tunnel, with no light at the end. Then you came along, and suddenly I noticed when I could smell fresh air, when I felt sunshine. I began to notice the stars and the ground at my feet. You, Saskia Bloom, are my earth.
-Nate Mackenzie
Recommended. Great read! XD
June 11, 2015
This is one of those wedding date/ fake girlfriend to fool the family stories. Hero is a busy business man who absolutely does not want to settle down, because after years of dealing with his widowed mother's and his sisters' emotions, he doesn't want to deal with anything so messy ever again. Heroine grew up with an emotionally absent father and has lurched from one messed-up, needy guy to another. The last one stole all her stuff, so she's reluctantly willing to be the hero's date to this wedding because he'll pay off the thief's debt.
It's very nicely done, though I was confused to suddenly discover almost halfway through that while I was reading happily along thinking we were tootling around London and such, that we were actually humming through Melbourne in Australia. It was a tad jarring. Didn't really matter all that much to the story. I probably could have read all the way through without ever realizing I was on the wrong continent and been just fine. But IMO, location should go in the first chapter, clearly enough so that someone on a completely other continent can tell. Still, it was honestly no big deal. I liked this a lot.
It's very nicely done, though I was confused to suddenly discover almost halfway through that while I was reading happily along thinking we were tootling around London and such, that we were actually humming through Melbourne in Australia. It was a tad jarring. Didn't really matter all that much to the story. I probably could have read all the way through without ever realizing I was on the wrong continent and been just fine. But IMO, location should go in the first chapter, clearly enough so that someone on a completely other continent can tell. Still, it was honestly no big deal. I liked this a lot.
October 22, 2013
So I'm a bit of a sucker for the 'let's pretend we're boyfriend and girlfriend to get our family/friends/work colleagues off our backs' scenario. It's the sort of the thing that makes you go a little weak at the knees and swoony. It is also, however, quite difficult to do without rehashing every version of the story that's ever been done before.
This time, though, Blake pulls it off. I personally think that this is - in part - to the way they meet. Online. Internet dating is in my opinion, fun, flirty and the best source of hysterical stories that I've ever come across. At the time horrendous dates are simply that - horrendous - but afterwards they're the sort of things you regale your friends with over one too many glasses of wine. Plus it works. The bf and I met online and, considering we're still going strong 6 months later (despite his grumpiness when he's hungry), I think that's pretty good going...
http://exploitsofachicklitaficionado....
This time, though, Blake pulls it off. I personally think that this is - in part - to the way they meet. Online. Internet dating is in my opinion, fun, flirty and the best source of hysterical stories that I've ever come across. At the time horrendous dates are simply that - horrendous - but afterwards they're the sort of things you regale your friends with over one too many glasses of wine. Plus it works. The bf and I met online and, considering we're still going strong 6 months later (despite his grumpiness when he's hungry), I think that's pretty good going...
http://exploitsofachicklitaficionado....
August 30, 2016
I loved this book and reading this was a nice way to spend a rainy Sunday night. I must say there was nothing special about this book,I have read this kind of plot many times,but it had everything I could want in a romance novel-A sexy, hot and mature guy;an independent,lovable, strong and quirky woman,a cozy house,sexual tension,a pet and deep understanding.....
The two main leads, Nate and Saskia, were well developed characters and were likeable and had this hot chemistry which was amazing and I fell in love with Nate Mackenzie (though I fell in love with so many fictional character that I can't count them on fingers).
I also liked the heroine Saskia Bloom.And the ending made me smile.
So,basically‘Faking It to Making It’ was a sexy and funny contemporary romance set in Melbourne and was a pretty good story which kept my attention and I too liked the writing.
The two main leads, Nate and Saskia, were well developed characters and were likeable and had this hot chemistry which was amazing and I fell in love with Nate Mackenzie (though I fell in love with so many fictional character that I can't count them on fingers).
I also liked the heroine Saskia Bloom.And the ending made me smile.
So,basically‘Faking It to Making It’ was a sexy and funny contemporary romance set in Melbourne and was a pretty good story which kept my attention and I too liked the writing.
October 29, 2013
I really hate when I'm in that "nothing to read" mode and I get an excerpt at the end of a book. I find myself buying things. Such was the case with this book.
It's a romance. Nothing more or less. There is no great bar for our heroine / hero to being together except themselves. They go from strangers agreeing to help one another, to friends, to lovers and then think "no I can't get invested emotionally" and stop. Of course, they then make some dramatic self realisations and get their HEA.
I liked that this was set in Melbourne. I haven't read and Australia based category romance in a very long time and those were clunky at best. This wasn't. Aside from the locales mentioned, it could have been set anywhere.
It was light romance reading.
It's a romance. Nothing more or less. There is no great bar for our heroine / hero to being together except themselves. They go from strangers agreeing to help one another, to friends, to lovers and then think "no I can't get invested emotionally" and stop. Of course, they then make some dramatic self realisations and get their HEA.
I liked that this was set in Melbourne. I haven't read and Australia based category romance in a very long time and those were clunky at best. This wasn't. Aside from the locales mentioned, it could have been set anywhere.
It was light romance reading.
December 2, 2013
I love historical romance but rarely read contemporary romance, for reasons unknown. I met Ally Blake at the Australian Society of Authors’ National Congress, where we were both speakers. She writes ‘fun, fresh, flirty romance’ for Harlequin Mills and Boon and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide which is most impressive. She was kind enough to give me a copy of one of her books (they are so slim she easily carry them around in my handbag while I’d dislocate my shoulder if I tried to heave copies of my books around with me). I read it in the bath that night and enjoyed it immensely. ‘Faking It to Making It’ is a sexy and funny contemporary romance set in Melbourne and would make a great rom com – I hope Hollywood comes knocking on Ally’s door!
December 4, 2013
Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com
Nate doesn’t think dating sites work for true romance, but that’s the last thing he wants. Probably one of very few men being completely honest, he spells things out – he wants a date for a wedding, and nothing more. Okay, maybe a *little* more. Some fake dating to put on a show for his all-female family so he can stop them from trying to marry him off.Read More
Nate doesn’t think dating sites work for true romance, but that’s the last thing he wants. Probably one of very few men being completely honest, he spells things out – he wants a date for a wedding, and nothing more. Okay, maybe a *little* more. Some fake dating to put on a show for his all-female family so he can stop them from trying to marry him off.Read More
August 23, 2013
I need look no further in my search for trashy fodder... This was perfect inspiration for my robot and his harlequin addiction, but honest to god painful to read. Nate was awful. The declarations of love at the end were laugh out loud hilarious: "before you I was a mouse on a wheel!"
That's real. It's printed in the book and everything.
I was looking for hilariously bad romance and I found it.
That's real. It's printed in the book and everything.
I was looking for hilariously bad romance and I found it.
October 25, 2013
A good story and the two main leads, Nate and Saskia, were well developed characters, but this one hasn't really stuck with me beyond that. And honestly, who gets literally all of their possessions and money stolen and doesn't contact the police and a lawyer? Really?! A decent read at the time, but I don't think that this is a book I'll be coming back to. 3 stars.
August 6, 2013
Lets go straight to the checklist on this one folks.
Great characters? TICK
Fabulous tension? TICK
Story I couldn't put down? TICK
Ending which made me smile? TICK
Another winner by Ally Blake? BIG TICK
I love Ally Blake stories and this one might just be my favorite yet!
Great characters? TICK
Fabulous tension? TICK
Story I couldn't put down? TICK
Ending which made me smile? TICK
Another winner by Ally Blake? BIG TICK
I love Ally Blake stories and this one might just be my favorite yet!
September 5, 2013
There's nothing really wrong with this book. The writing is serviceable and the characters are likeable if totally predictable. BUt that is the problem for me. I've read this basic plot many, many times, and there wasn't enough here to make it stand out as special or different.
February 12, 2014
I'm a sucker for fake relationships that turn into a romance. What can I say? This one at least is well written with characters with a little more depth than most. Cute, funny, predictable, yes, but a lot of fun until the happy ending.
August 30, 2014
This story was very cute. Predictable but cute. I liked the growth of both characters and I am glad this was a short story instead of trying to stretch it out. It fit perfectly in the time frame. I will probably read this one again.
August 6, 2013
I really loved the heroine(a great optimist..)But I couldn't connect with the book very much hence 3 stars
Read
March 11, 2017"Humor interspersed with chemistry that sizzles off the pages and character growth as the story progresses will keep readers engaged." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars
August 19, 2013
3.5/5 (C+)
August 30, 2013
Like malteasers for the brain.
Enough said. I did like that this girl was slightly more modern and the use of the word 'hipster' :p
Enough said. I did like that this girl was slightly more modern and the use of the word 'hipster' :p
September 3, 2016
Sweet and charming, with a well-resolved end. Nothing spectacular, but a nice way to spend a snowy Saturday afternoon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews