More Than a Blind Date

Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch #8

by Remi Carrington

I need a fake fiancé for the next six months. That shouldn’t be too hard to find, right?Hopefully my blind date is in a good mood because I’m about to put my desperation on full display by asking him to pose as my fiancé for six months.

The cute cowboy not only agrees to my crazy plan to get my family to leave me alone until my brother’s wedding, but he’s also so good at playing the part, going above and beyond, that it makes even me believe this whole charade is real.
When he turns all protective, I start to wish we weren’t pretending. But fake or not, Dallas makes me feel brave enough to stand up for myself.

During the six months, the lines blur and as the end of our agreement approaches, I’m not sure we’re pretending anymore. And now that I’ve grown a spine, I’m brave enough to admit I want the real thing with him.

But after the wedding, Dallas acts like our deal is done and walks away, dragging my happily-ever-after along with him. If he can’t trust me enough to talk about what changed his mind, then we aren’t meant to be.

Except I think we are. Nobody’s that good at faking love.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Clean Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Fake Dating

246 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2024

About the author

Remi Carrington is the figment of Pamela Humphrey's imagination. She loves romance & chocolate, enjoys disappearing into a delicious book, and considers people-watching a sport. She was born in the pages of the novel Just You and then grew into an alter ego.

She writes sweet romance set in Texas. Her new series, Bluebonnets & Billionaires, will launch in Jan 2019. Her books are part of the Phrey Press imprint.

Reviews

[Suzan]

“Family are the people who circle the wagons and help you when you need it. The people who love you no matter what. That’s family.”

Do you have a favorite sweater or blanket you like to wrap up in? That’s what the books from the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs series feel like to me. They’re cozy and comforting, and I can’t get enough of these wonderful stories and characters!

More Than A Blind Date is a delightful grumpy/sunshine, fake engagement, cowboy romance. Rose and Dallas have a super cute start to their story with an accidental blind date. From there the story continues with a slow burn romance that sweetly goes from fake to very real.

What I Loved—
- Meet Cute
- Floofy
- Age Gap
- One Bed
- Mason
- Tandy
- Found Family
- Nicknames
- Hidden Tattoo
- Charm Bracelet
- The Epilogue

More than she needs a fake fiancé to help deal with her controlling parents, Rose needs to get a backbone. Dallas does a great job of helping her to do just that, and I loved how sweet, supportive, and protective he was with her.

I adored the storyline, these two lovable MCs, and the rest of the crew from previous books. The found family vibe in this series is the best!

As mentioned, this is part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. Swipe to check out some of the other books that are just as fun as this one is.

[Mandi Blake]

I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I was outraged. All of it was fantastic. I always love Remi Carrington's books, but the ending of this one gutted me and then put me back together again. It was such a good story.

[Jamie Humphreys]

Cute fake fiancé story! It’s the first book I’ve read in the series so now I need to go back and read the others. Nice, clean romance story.

Rose needs a fake fiancé to stop her parents from setting her up and asks her blind date to play that role. Not something I’d recommend in real life, but made for a cute story.


I received an Arc copy from the author.

[Crystal Nielsen]

I love Remi's More Than series and this one did *not* disappoint. It's a contender for my favorite book from Remi, but it is so hard to choose!! (Thank you for writing such amazing books!!)

🩵 That blue dress
🩵 Pillow Wall
🩵 Protective MMC
🩵 Secret Inheritance
🩵 Hidden Tattoo 
🩵 Learning to stand up for herself
🩵 Floofy the cat

On a personal note, Dallas reminded me of my husband in certain ways, and I always extra love when that happens 💙

Thank you Remi for a copy of this book. This is my genuine review.

[Mia]

Okay Dallas is officially my favorite cowboy! The story was so good from the blind date to the bonus epilogue I loved it all so so much! Going straight to my favorites!

Rose was also such a precious character. Loved how honest and open she was with him. She grew so much with Dallas around and finally got to stand to her horrendous mother who I could not stand but at the same time laughed all the way through at her failed attempts of getting what she wanted.

I'm so excited for Daphne's story. 🩷

Thank you so much to Remi Carrington for sending me ARC of this gem of a book! ♥

[Maisie Vine]

3.75 🌟
(This was a ARC copy. Thanku to the author😊)
Such a sweet, clean easy read.
A great HEA, loved the ending, literally had me tearing up.
I didn't end up loving this as I hoped but I definitely enjoyed and recommend! There was quite a few characters mentioned and I found myself trying to remember who they all were lol
Main tropes are: marriage of convenience, cowboy mmc, age gap.
♡♡Some great and sweet quotes in here too♡♡
Fully clean which I LOVe!

Thanku again, this was an arc copy, all thoughts are my own ♡♡

[ReadaholicDeb]

Can we talk about the delight this book was? I adore the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch. This series has my entire heart. The cowboys are swoon-worthy, the characters are relatable, and the situations the characters find themselves in always bring a smile to my face. This one is another favorite.

I’ve read the rest of the series and Loved by Tandy so I was prepared for Rose and Dallas but their meet-cute had me giggling and kicking my feet. I adored it. Seeing another side to the grumpy Dallas left me with hearts in my eyes. Rose and Dallas meet when her blind date hands him a rose and ends with an accidental engagement. The swoonfest of their fake dating and the evolution of their relationship had all my affection. I found myself feeling emotional towards the end of the book.

This is a clean romance with plenty of kissing and flirting that steamy/spicy scenes aren’t necessary. There are even a few shirtless and one-bed-sharing scenes. It’s the perfect balance of the characters getting to know each other and their relationship developing.

[Chassie]

I read this book as an ARC and it did not disappoint. I am still thinking about it weeks after finishing it. Think sweet cowboy meets slightly damaged florist with closed door scenes. Lots of protective vibes. Troupe list: grumpy vs sunshine, MMC over 35, small town, blind date (obviously), second chance at love, fake dating. ♥️♥️

[Brittny's Book Talk]

I JUST FINISHED THIS AT 12 IN THE MORNING! GOOD MORNING!

I LOVE Remi Carrington books to a level that y'all can not possibly understand. Like if I met her in person I would probably ball my eyes out because her books have truly saved me so many times! They always give me such a safe space and happy distraction with zero toxicity. And I love that!

And this one was no different! It took me forever to read because I haven't been in the right head space for awhile. And everything, including reading felt like a chore (I know guys, I am a failed ARC reader lately) but after a really rough week, I was able to pick up a book and read it the other day. So I decided to challenge myself and finish the chapter book. And it was exactly what I needed! The love being genuine (no matter how much it makes my past love life from this year sting). The amazing bff being there (no matter how much jealousy I have over a fictional character for having that kind of friend still) and overall the plot.

Rose reminds me so much of myself (I lack a spine with my 'friends' though. And the complex feeling about your complicated family). When everyone is saying they knew that was there person at 1st glance and I am really brought back awhile but that's okay. And when the suprise guest came at the end 🤡 but overall (and I know I say this with every book of hers) this is my new favorite! I can't even describe the level of gratitude I have for the author giving me a chance to read this! But this was exactly what I needed. I feel refreshed after reading it, and accomplished that I was able to get myself to finish a book! 💪

So excited for ths next book, but absolutely heartbroken knowing it will be the end 😭

[Kayla Stewart]

Always enjoy a book by Pam her Cowboys of Stargazer Springs series is a delight. I mean, what’s not to love when they’re amazing cowboys? This is book 8 and sweet Dallas’s story!

Rose has spent her life appeasing her parents and avoiding conflict, all to hopefully run their flower shop one day. Her parents have a vision for her life and to get them to realize her wants she needs a fake fiancé for 6 months.

The manipulative nature of her mother knows no bounds and the things she does are just so frustrating. Rose slowly realizes the importance of standing up for herself and placing boundaries.

Dallas is a strong and comforting cowboy. He swore off love, but when he sees Rose in need he feels instant protection for her. He agrees to her request and soon finds himself thinking of her all the time.

Ahh so many sweet and tender moments. It’s the little things that can mean the most.

You’ll love:
🌹Stargazer Springs Cowboys
🌹Tandy
🌹Fake Dating
🌹Age Gap
🌹Sweet Gestures
🌹One Bed
🌹Floofy🐈‍⬛
🌹That Epilogue 🫠

Thank you so much Pam for the lovely paperback! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[The_Power Of_The Page]

Such a fun meet cute! Rose is having a hard time with her parents trying to control her life, especially trying to force her into a relationship she does not want. She decides to keep arranging blind dates until she finds someone to be her fake fiancé. Surely that will make her parent ease off.

Dallas is a victim of circumstance. He’s in the right place at the right time. Though he’s sworn off love and relationships he agrees to be Rose’s fake fiancé. I loved how he helped her to learn to stand up for herself and not let her parents control her. He was so sweet and protective of her.

This is a very fun and heartwarming story of found family, overcoming obstacles and disappointments, and finding true love. The characters in these books are so awesome and supportive of one another, except for her parents, of course. I really enjoyed reading such an engaging story without having to worry about anything inappropriate. If clean romance with a heart is your jam you’re going to want to read this book!

[Kimberly]

I love Remi Carrington books and this was no exception. In fact I try not to pick favorites because I love them all… but this one might just be my favorite.

Rose and Dallas were the perfect complement to each other. This is a fake engagement age gap romance which is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Rose is being manipulated by her parents and I love the growth she has in the book and seeing her learn to stand up for herself. Dallas was just so wonderful. He was the least grumpy grump when it involved Rose. Also gotta love all the side characters. I’m definitely gonna be adding this book to my list of comfort rereads because it was the perfect pick me up.

[Meredith]

Have you been to Stargazer Ranch? I'm not much of a farm girl but this ranch is chock full of the best people and I love visiting. (Understatement: I actively dislike farms but I do like this one. On paper)

If you like blind dates, cowboys, fake engagements, overbearing parents, growth, kittens, flowers and blue dresses, this book is for you! Really, it's for everyone, because it's delightful, but that's what you should expect.

[Sierra]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Rose & Dallas’s points of view

– there is an age gap of about 11 years between them

– Dallas’s parents passed away in a car accident years prior

– Rose’s parents try to control her

Review:

Remi’s books are always ones that I know I’m going to like, so I put them aside as special & when I finally pick it up, I also always wonder why I waited! 😂 I loved seeing Dallas finally fall for someone! He was stubbornly against getting into a relationship in the past books of this series, even with his Aunt Tandy’s attempts to convince him otherwise. I loved that when the perfect person for him showed up, he just couldn’t help himself and felt the need to be there for her. I loved that Rose brought that out of him. I loved that Dallas stood up for Rose when needed, but that Rose also grew to be willing/able to do it for herself too. And after that epilogue, I’m really excited about the next book!

Summary:

Rose needs a fake fiance to ward off any unwanted attentions & matchmaking in the next six months leading up to her brother’s wedding. Most of her other blind dates skedaddled once they heard what she needed them for, but her last date surprises her. Dallas is the epitome of a cowboy, the kind of guy she’d actually be interested in, & the complete opposite of what her mother would have chosen for her. All in all, he’s completely perfect. Especially since he was the one to agree to joining her in her charade. Though they planned to separate after the wedding, Rose is finding her heart is getting entangled with Dallas’ the more she gets to know him and his caring heart…

Dallas claimed he’d never get into a relationship again or dream of living a white picket fence lifestyle. But when an unexpected blind date lands in his lap, Dallas finds himself pretending that he’s changed his mind. Being Rose’s fake fiance gains him nothing beyond seeing Rose’s happiness, but he’s not thinking too hard about that…

[Jerrye Tellmeagreatstorylove]

I always knew Dallas would have a great love story and he definitely does. I loved watching him be the knight-in-shining-armor for Rose and helping her find ways to stand up for herself. She certainly had plenty of people in her life that made things both difficult and depressing. I never understand people who use manipulation and demands to get things their way. But Dallas’ kindness and encouragement give Rose the support she needs to take the reins in her life and start doing things that make her both happy and healthy. Plus she’s able to give to others right alongside Dallas. Another thing I loved was how lovely the romance of this story was, despite the “fake” dating of the characters. That’s not my favorite trope so I was very happy that there was plenty of reality and honesty to balance it out. I loved how everything turned out by the end and that there was a nice dose of redemption and forgiveness. I can hardly wait to see what happens with Daphne and Carson when we get to go back to Stargazer Springs Ranch.

I received a copy of this story from the author. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

[Sharlee]

This is book 8 in the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch. And yes read them in order!

Anything by Remi Carrington is always an easy 5 stars. Her humor just fits mine. The tone and vibes of the book are what I like. The romance is steamy and swoon worthy. Her characters have depth and are easily relatable.

I loved Rose’s character growth. No one wants a FMC that’s a push over. But sometimes life is hard and that’s what you become before you even realize it, to keep the peace within your own family. But after meeting Dallas she learns how to stand up for herself. And in doing so the lines between fake dating and actually dating get a little blurry.

Dallas himself is a grumpy MMC, as established in previous books. But Rose helps him heal old wounds. He’s immediately protective of her. And just gives me that old soul vibes type that I love so much.

Also got to get a glimpse of Bailey again! Not that it matters but she’s one of my favorite ever children side characters and I missed her ♡ ♡.

The plot had a good pace and was enjoyable. When I didn’t see where things were going and even when I did, which says something.

Read for:
-Blind date
-Fake dating/engagement
-Grumpy/cowboy MMC
-Small town vibes
-Ultimatums

Character Growth: 5 stars
Plot: 4.95 stars
Romance: 5 stars
Writing Style: 5 stars
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Spoiler alert: My only note was Rose immediately comments, after meeting Dallas in the restaurant, that she did know her date walked out. But then later she made a big deal about apologizing to him which didn’t really make sense to me since she had already had a similar conversation to with Dallas about this … but seriously this is just nuances that didn’t effect my level of enjoyment while reading.
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Trigger Warnings: Dumped a week before a wedding. Death of both parents. Emotionally abusive controlling parents. Divorce. Just kissing.

[Heather (heathers.clean.reads)]

I just can’t get enough of Remi’s “More Than” series!! Those Stargazer Springs cowboys are just hard to beat! And I’ve been waiting for Dallas’s story for so long and it was well worth the wait!

Dallas and Rose’s story starts off with an hilarious accidental blind date meet-cute that made me all giddy inside. It brought Dallas out of his comfort zone and right into the path of sweet Rose! I loved Rose! She was open and honest about everything, kind to a fault and just bubbly! I just adored her.

Dallas really shined in this one! Rose brought out the sweet “teddy bear” that was inside of him that no one else could. I loved learning more of his story and the reason behind his “grumpiness.” He was a big romantic deep down and when he falls for Rose, he falls hard! I loved how protective Dallas was of Rose. He supported her and helped he stand up for herself against her mother, who was just plain awful.

I can’t forget the kisses!!! So many sweet kisses in this one…and I’m all about the kisses!! Especially when they happen within the first few chapters!! 😉😉

This is the ninth book in this series, but it can totally be read as a standalone! Though, after reading this you will want to read all the others!! They’re just that good!

Things I Loved:
💗The meet cute
💗“Floofy”
💗Accidental blind date
💗Age gap
💗One bed
💗Dress modeling
💗Tandy!!
💗Pillow wall
💗The tattoo search
💗Princess Bride references
💗Nicknames
💗The blue dress
💗All the kisses!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Valerie C]

I have read all of the Cowboys Of Stargazer Springs books and have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book since I finished the last one. As a fan of clean and sweet closed door romances (but always a sucker for a swoon-worthy kiss), I absolutely adore this series!

It’s not all sunshine and roses for Rose when she meets sworn bachelor Dallas, but there’s no turning back now! After a chance meeting (read: a botched blind date), he has agreed to pose as her fiancée to help her avoid being set up with longtime family friend and creep, Richard. Turns out Dallas is either really good at playing the doting, protective fiancée or he’s not faking it. And when her family finds out she’s “engaged,” to someone who is NOT Richard, they are determined to drive Rose and Dallas apart. However, Dallas is just as determined to protect Rose. He makes her happiness his top priority, even taking that sentiment a little too far as the agreed upon fake engagement timeline comes to an end and he decides it’s best to bow out for her happiness…only to realize that walking away made them both miserable!

I loved Dallas and how he had both a protective side and a soft, teddy bear side that Rose brought out of him. I also loved how easy and natural their “fake” relationship came to them. There seemed to be a little less of the other cowboys in this book compared to earlier ones in the series, but there was still enough of the ranch that Stargazer Springs felt like a family to Rose.

The references to The Princess Bride (one of my favorite movies), little nods to previous books in the series, and the witty humor make More Than A Blind Date a fantastic read. I know I’ll read this one again!

[Rae]

I loved this story, and I wasn't ready for it to end. It allowed me to switch off, relax, and read, which is a huge stress reliever. I loved the characters of Rose and Dallas. While it was a fake relationship story, I felt that Remi brought new elements to a classic trope.

It is part of a series "Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch." It can be read as a standalone, but I feel like you will want to go back and read all the interconnected stories because you enjoyed this one. While this is the second to last book in the series, I really hope Remi will write side character Mason's story one day.

I receive complimentary books for various sources, including Netgalley, authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

[Victoria]

Dallas and Rose met when she was on a botched blind date; sometimes when things go wrong, they are going right. I loved their story especially the way Dallas lent his strength to Rose as she put her foot down for the first time ever with her overbearing and manipulative parents. Dallas was a wonderful character that sought Rose’s happiness and did all he could to secure it. The fake fiance trope was well-done and the author threw in a few surprises to keep things interesting. It was fun to reconnect with some of the characters that starred in other book in this series but this book could definitely be read as a standalone. Entertaining, clean and enjoyable—I recommend it! Rating 4.5. I received a complimentary copy of this book and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

[Tricia Anson]

This is such a fun grumpy/sunshine, accidental blind date, fake engagement, cowboy love story. They have the cutest start to their story and I loved their slow burn and sweetness, along with more of Tandy and all the fantastic guys from Stargazer Springs.

Things I Loved:
-Meet Cute (of pretty epic proportions)
-Floofy
-Mason (that kid—the best)
-Tandy!
-Charm Bracelet
-The whole end & epilogue 😍

I read it in one evening, and aside from wanting to strangle the antagonists, I had a huge smile on my face the whole time, because Dallas matched their actions with sweetness and support in every situation. He encompasses the protective cowboy vibe, for sure, and the found family of the Stargazer Springs is one of my very favorite things.

This is the ninth book in the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch series which also loosely ties in with the Never Say Never and Stargazer Springs series, so it is filled with so many fun little crossovers and Easter eggs. It can totally be read as a stand-alone. And I am SO thrilled that we are getting one more book in this series, I didn’t want it to be over!

TW: (On page) manipulative parents and (past/off page) loss of parents

[Randi Sampson]

More Than a Blind Date is the eighth book in the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch series. While those who have read the previous books in the series will love seeing previous characters make appearances throughout, this could definitely be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

From the moment that I read the preview of Dallas and Rose's story at the end of the last book, I was hooked and couldn't wait to read this one. It absolutely did NOT disappoint. This is perhaps one of my very favorite meet cutes ever and it only got better from there. Despite Dallas's claims of being an eternal bachelor, he took to the part of devoted fiancé incredibly well... perhaps a little too well. The chemistry between these two was absolutely fantastic, and I just adored how thoughtful and caring Dallas was towards her. He was so protective, and I absolutely loved it. Rose's family dynamic was... complicated to say the least, but I loved watching her growth as the story went on and how he supported her through it all. This series is a favorite of mine and I have truly adored every single book so far... but this one is definitely a new favorite! I loved it!

More Than a Blind Date is a closed-door romance with kisses only on page and no language. There is one slight fade to black moment, but it is between a married couple and VERY subtle.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Dina Peters]

I really enjoyed Rose and Dallas' story! Rose is desperate to escape her parents' plan to marry her off to a man she doesn't love. Her attempt at finding a way out starts with a blind date, but she definitely ends up with more than she expected. Dallas, who believes he's "too old for her" and isn't looking for love, surprisingly can't help but lend a hand to Rose. His kindness and willingness to be there for her are so endearing! I especially loved the conclusion of the book, which gave a nice glimpse into how things turned out for Dallas and Rose.

[Kallie]

I loved this so much!!
Rose and Dallas are now one of my favorite couples in the series.

I really loved the pace of the story and how the characters' feelings for each other progressed throughout the book, along with their instant connection.

P.s. Thank you for the ARC

[Leslee]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY to this beautiful gem of a book! The way I devoured this story in a day 😻. The instant chemistry between Dallas and Rose was so adorable and it only grew stronger as the book went along. Let me just tell you, his protectiveness when Rose couldn’t find her kitten, Floofy, made me swoon harder than I ever have before and that’s saying something!

It was very hard to read about Rose’s relationship with her parents but I feel like a lot of people, myself included, could relate. I selfishly wanted Rose’s mom to be redeemed at the end.

However, Aunt Tandy is the real OG. She made me want to have a family member like her.

This book is the perfect mix of family drama and a delightful romance, you won’t be disappointed! Remi’s writing is enthralling and I can’t wait to read what she writes in the future.

Pick this up if you love:

❤️Fake Engagement
❤️Small Town Romance
❤️A cute cat
❤️Closed Door
❤️Found Family

[Bernadette Cinkoske]

More Than a Blind Date is a clean, small town, fake fiance romance. I loved watching Dallas and Rose try having a fake fiance relationship as they fell more deeply in love. Stargazer Springs aRanch is one of my favorite places to visit. I always enjoy Mason’s sage relationship advice. Dallas makes a poor decision based on some information he received before Rose did. But since Rose has developed a spine, the story does not end there. I just sat and read straight through this delightful book!

[readupbuttercup_]

This is my favorite book in this series! Dallas and Rose are my favorite couple, for sure! It had all the amazing tropes...Age gap, fake fiance, found family, protector MMC, grumpy & Sunshine. Loved loved loved!!!!

[Traci]

This is my first book of the Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch series, and I am so glad I finally have joined in on the fun.

Dallas and Rose are a dreamy couple. Their meet cute * their fake engagement * the ending *...all of it is SO. GOOD. I laughed, I got teary-eyed, and I swooned. The whole book is well written like a delicious cinnamon roll and I highlighted so many parts to re-read and savor.

I highly recommend this book and I personally cannot wait to dive into the other books in this series!

Thank you to the author for the complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Abby Huffer]

I absolutely loved this one and Dallas has easily become my favorite Stargazer cowboy 🤠. This book is utter perfection and I will forever gush about it🤎. Truly enjoyed reading it! Loved Dallas’s caring of Rose and his support of her. I love how she found a home with him. This was fake engagement done right🙌🏻!

[Paula]

I loved this book! Rose and Dallas are one of my favorite couples in this series. Sparks where flying at the very beginning so not so sure this was fake - well maybe the engagement. Loved her brother and her parents were a nightmare. Seeing these two get to know each other was so sweet and often riddled with angst but from outside forces not from them. One of the best endings and the epilogue made me tear up.