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In Love with a Tycoon #2
Pretending with the Playboy
ISBN 9781633751675 moved to newer edition found here
Commitment makes you weak. It's playboy Carter Richardson's motto. The only exception to the rule is his aunt, and when Carter learns she's terminally ill, he rushes to her bedside. Filled with fear and guilt—and desperate to ease his aunt's mind—Carter does the only thing a guy could do...he panics and blurts out that he's engaged to his aunt's enticing protegée.
Lauren Olsen has already had her heart crushed once by Carter. Against her better judgment, she agrees to keep up appearances—until Carter makes their “engagement” public in order to protect the family business. Now Lauren's torn between obeying her conscience, and obeying her desire. Because while she could never trust the womanizing Carter she once knew, she seems to be falling for the man beneath the playboy...
229 pages, ebook
First published December 29, 2014
31 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Livesay
16 books958 followersTracey Livesay writes smart, sexy and emotional contemporary romances where strong, successful heroines find love with powerful, passionate heroes. Her latest release, THE DUCHESS EFFECT, is the sequel to last summer’s American Royalty, which evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, if Meghan was Megan Thee Stallion. She is the 2021 Emma Award winner for Best Interracial Romance for Like Lovers Do, which was also named one of the 100 Best Fiction Books of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. A former criminal defense attorney, she lives in Virginia with her husband—who she met on the very first day of law school—and is counting down the days until they have an empty nest. (Don’t worry, their three kids are well aware.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
January 6, 2023
4.25 Stars / 4 Steam Fans
CW: Grief, Loss
Video review available in Week 25: Jun 19 – Jun 25, 2022, total weekly book reviews on my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...).
CW: Grief, Loss
Video review available in Week 25: Jun 19 – Jun 25, 2022, total weekly book reviews on my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...).
December 27, 2014
I really like fake engagement story lines and I really enjoyed this one. Carter is a jerk. He's a playboy and to be honest, he really isn't very likeable in the beginning of this story. When he find out his aunt is sick, he fakes an engagement to Lauren. I really liked the chemistry between Carter and Lauren and how Carter changed throughout this book. This is the first book I have read by this author but I look forward to reading more!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
December 30, 2014
***Review can also be found at Jackie's Book World*** :)
Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed reading Pretending with the Playboy, it was a cute romantic story that had it's ups and downs. Tracey Livesay did a good job with the book, it wasn't just about love between two childhood friends that was explored in the book, but also about friendships, and loyalty.
Carter Richardson has made it very clear that he doesn't do relationships. He has also made it clear over the years that he doesn't want to be involved in the family business. His family has made the Richardson name very powerful, but his family's money wasn't about to hold Carter back when he all he wanted was to create a name for himself, and so he left Chicago in order to pursue what he wanted. Working his way up, he easily became very successful. Yet, having everything at his disposal, Carter's only weakness is his Aunt Dorothy. The one he left behind to pursue his career after his parents passed away, and the one that took over the family business for him. Now after been away from his childhood home for years, he receives the shock of his life when his childhood friend, Lauren Olsen, comes knocking at his door determined to bring him back to see his ill aunt. Little did he knew the commitment that he was going to make to make his sick aunt happy again.
Lauren Olsen had a rough childhood, her parents died, and she suddenly found herself being raised by Aunt Dorothy. She took Lauren under her wing, by giving her a job, and helping Lauren with her studies. Having met Carter before, she was aware of his playboy status, and for that she wasn't too thrilled to bring him back to Chicago. But with Aunt Dorothy's illness, she didn't have a choice, especially when the company could be in deep trouble if they don't find a new CEO to replace Dorothy. But she wasn't expecting to find herself attracted to the playboy that she once knew all over again, and that she had to pretend to be in love with him all to protect his family legacy, and Aunt Dorothy.
I personally liked both character's personalities, Lauren and Carter have a lot learn throughout the book that made it relatable, and realistic. Carter is a playboy, one that knows what he wants to achieve, yet he also has a soft heart when it comes to his Aunt Dorothy. She definitely had the most influence on him, the drive that he has to make a name for himself takes him away from his family. On the other hand, Lauren does the complete opposite and almost wants to become like Aunt Dorothy, by spending time together, she is constantly looking for her approval. Lauren is a talented artist, and she knows that her calling is somewhere else, but she doesn't want to break the news to Dorothy of fear that she might not get better.
Things started to heat up when Lauren and Carter started to spend more time together, after he tells everyone in his family's company as well as his aunt, that he is getting married, everyone is pretty much watching their every move. The were some secondary characters that brought out the drama with them and helped speed up the story. All in all, the story line was enjoyable to read. I found myself rooting for the main characters, and always happy to read their romantic scenes. The ending was my favorite part that I almost wish the story would of kept going. I recommend the book, it was romantic, and fun to read. I would certainly keep reading more from the author in the future. :)
***ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed reading Pretending with the Playboy, it was a cute romantic story that had it's ups and downs. Tracey Livesay did a good job with the book, it wasn't just about love between two childhood friends that was explored in the book, but also about friendships, and loyalty.
Carter Richardson has made it very clear that he doesn't do relationships. He has also made it clear over the years that he doesn't want to be involved in the family business. His family has made the Richardson name very powerful, but his family's money wasn't about to hold Carter back when he all he wanted was to create a name for himself, and so he left Chicago in order to pursue what he wanted. Working his way up, he easily became very successful. Yet, having everything at his disposal, Carter's only weakness is his Aunt Dorothy. The one he left behind to pursue his career after his parents passed away, and the one that took over the family business for him. Now after been away from his childhood home for years, he receives the shock of his life when his childhood friend, Lauren Olsen, comes knocking at his door determined to bring him back to see his ill aunt. Little did he knew the commitment that he was going to make to make his sick aunt happy again.
Lauren Olsen had a rough childhood, her parents died, and she suddenly found herself being raised by Aunt Dorothy. She took Lauren under her wing, by giving her a job, and helping Lauren with her studies. Having met Carter before, she was aware of his playboy status, and for that she wasn't too thrilled to bring him back to Chicago. But with Aunt Dorothy's illness, she didn't have a choice, especially when the company could be in deep trouble if they don't find a new CEO to replace Dorothy. But she wasn't expecting to find herself attracted to the playboy that she once knew all over again, and that she had to pretend to be in love with him all to protect his family legacy, and Aunt Dorothy.
I personally liked both character's personalities, Lauren and Carter have a lot learn throughout the book that made it relatable, and realistic. Carter is a playboy, one that knows what he wants to achieve, yet he also has a soft heart when it comes to his Aunt Dorothy. She definitely had the most influence on him, the drive that he has to make a name for himself takes him away from his family. On the other hand, Lauren does the complete opposite and almost wants to become like Aunt Dorothy, by spending time together, she is constantly looking for her approval. Lauren is a talented artist, and she knows that her calling is somewhere else, but she doesn't want to break the news to Dorothy of fear that she might not get better.
Things started to heat up when Lauren and Carter started to spend more time together, after he tells everyone in his family's company as well as his aunt, that he is getting married, everyone is pretty much watching their every move. The were some secondary characters that brought out the drama with them and helped speed up the story. All in all, the story line was enjoyable to read. I found myself rooting for the main characters, and always happy to read their romantic scenes. The ending was my favorite part that I almost wish the story would of kept going. I recommend the book, it was romantic, and fun to read. I would certainly keep reading more from the author in the future. :)
***ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
April 12, 2016
Lauren used to be fat. Ten years ago she kissed Carter, and he laughed at her. Then he went off and kissed someone else. Lauren, who is Carter’s aunt’s ‘social secretary’ has contrived to stay out of Carter’s way for many years, but now she needs to bring him home because his aunt is dying.
It takes some persuading, but Carter is finally on his way to his aunt’s bedside. ‘She can’t be stressed,’ the doctor tells Carter, adding a meaningful ‘do you understand me?’
Sure, Carter understands this message loud and clear: he needs to get fake engaged to Lauren. Because that’s just what you do.
Lauren is very pretty and still has a huge crush on Carter. She also has a Doctorate in Art History, and some really gorgeous clothes. She, and several nasty women, refers to herself as the ‘hired help,’ but I don’t think her ‘I’m not part of this rich people world’ is authentic. I very much doubt you can afford brand label clothes and at least eight years (possibly more?) of tertiary education on a PA salary, so something is very off in her logic.
Initially, I thought I’d like Carter. He seemed to have a sense of humour and he was handsome and flirty. Ultimately, he didn’t have much to recommend him. I can move on from the idiot fake engagement, but I had a tough time seeing his behaviour around Lauren as affectionate. Lustful, sure, but there were a few moments where I thought he could have advocated for her, and he didn’t even recognise that these were opportunities to do so. Sure, she can handle herself, but he could at least have thought some of the stuff she faced was off, and given her some support. His only real defending her honour moment is on the phone to his buddy, and doesn’t really count.
He gets some points for respecting her interests, but he completely loses them for his zero commitment approach. While ‘terrified of commitment for my sad childhood reasons’ is a romance hero classic, I couldn’t really get into it. At the point where I realised they were both tragic orphans, I rolled my eyes and thought they should get over themselves. Then I felt guilty for being so heartless, and angry for feeling guilty.
There’s also this whole sub-plot about whether Carter will take over the family business. Carter’s got a job as chief legal counsel at his friendly billionaire’s company, and he’s actively resisted getting involved in his family’s business for years. I disliked this sub-plot, because it turned very heavily on ‘the family company is in his blood’ as reasoning for him to take it over. Bloodlines and a degree aren’t competence.
This book isn’t awful. It has some nice lustful scenes between Lauren and Carter, and Lauren’s emotional and personal growth journey was engaging. I ended up feeling that the fake engagement + hero’s commitment phobia were too superficial, and required me to bring along a lot more enthusiasm for these plot staples than I had.
It takes some persuading, but Carter is finally on his way to his aunt’s bedside. ‘She can’t be stressed,’ the doctor tells Carter, adding a meaningful ‘do you understand me?’
Sure, Carter understands this message loud and clear: he needs to get fake engaged to Lauren. Because that’s just what you do.
Lauren is very pretty and still has a huge crush on Carter. She also has a Doctorate in Art History, and some really gorgeous clothes. She, and several nasty women, refers to herself as the ‘hired help,’ but I don’t think her ‘I’m not part of this rich people world’ is authentic. I very much doubt you can afford brand label clothes and at least eight years (possibly more?) of tertiary education on a PA salary, so something is very off in her logic.
Initially, I thought I’d like Carter. He seemed to have a sense of humour and he was handsome and flirty. Ultimately, he didn’t have much to recommend him. I can move on from the idiot fake engagement, but I had a tough time seeing his behaviour around Lauren as affectionate. Lustful, sure, but there were a few moments where I thought he could have advocated for her, and he didn’t even recognise that these were opportunities to do so. Sure, she can handle herself, but he could at least have thought some of the stuff she faced was off, and given her some support. His only real defending her honour moment is on the phone to his buddy, and doesn’t really count.
He gets some points for respecting her interests, but he completely loses them for his zero commitment approach. While ‘terrified of commitment for my sad childhood reasons’ is a romance hero classic, I couldn’t really get into it. At the point where I realised they were both tragic orphans, I rolled my eyes and thought they should get over themselves. Then I felt guilty for being so heartless, and angry for feeling guilty.
There’s also this whole sub-plot about whether Carter will take over the family business. Carter’s got a job as chief legal counsel at his friendly billionaire’s company, and he’s actively resisted getting involved in his family’s business for years. I disliked this sub-plot, because it turned very heavily on ‘the family company is in his blood’ as reasoning for him to take it over. Bloodlines and a degree aren’t competence.
This book isn’t awful. It has some nice lustful scenes between Lauren and Carter, and Lauren’s emotional and personal growth journey was engaging. I ended up feeling that the fake engagement + hero’s commitment phobia were too superficial, and required me to bring along a lot more enthusiasm for these plot staples than I had.
December 17, 2014
This was a sweet, loving book full of angst and growth. The book is a bit predictable but it is written so well that I felt I was just along for the ride. I really liked Carter and loved watching him grow and learn about himself and become the man his Aunt always knew he could be. I like Lauren too because she doesn't take any of his crap and in the end also grows into her own person. These two make such a great couple. I hope to see them in future books seeing their ups and downs as learn to navigate the world together.
I was given this book by Netgalley for an honest review.
For more reviews, go to my blog bbsbookreviews.com
I was given this book by Netgalley for an honest review.
For more reviews, go to my blog bbsbookreviews.com
February 4, 2018
I mean, it was actually a really sweet, short romantic book. For what it was in it’s genre, I thought it was a sweet, easy read which is what I was looking for. It had a much better plot than what I anticipated. Now, back to the book I needed a break from.
December 30, 2014
Carter Richardson is a commitment phobe. His parents were so in love with each other, when the other passed on, they forgot they had a son to take care of. The only one that mattered to him is his aunt. So when he learned that she was terribly sick, he went back to visit her. He was too guilty of being absent for a very long time and in a full blown panic. No wonder, to appease his aunt, he tells her that he was engaged to his aunt's beautiful assistant, Lauren.
As for Lauren, it was better thinking of Carter when he was miles away, but having him near was detrimental to her peace of mind. Not to mention his sudden outburst with the lies of their engagement. She must remember that this was Carter, the one who broke her heart when she was 18, the one who didn't believe in commitment & ever-afters and their engagement was just for the sake of his ailing grandmother.
She agreed to what he wanted, just to appease the aunt who was like her second mother when she lost her family. After all, it would only stay inside the family, or so she was promised UNTIL Carter brought it up, made it public to save the family business.
NO FALLING IN LOVE. But how can she not fall in love with him - when he was all she ever wanted? She tried to stop it, tried to tell her heart not to fall, - but it was futile. How can she protect her heart when it won't listen to her?
I love the pacing of the story - it wasn't draggy or overly fast. It was short and I finished this in one sitting. There were a lot of sweet moments to swoon for, some mini-heartbreaks, a public grand gesture for the groveling and a lovely ending. A great read in a cold afternoon or a day in the beach.
Review originally posted on my blog
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•Complimentary Copy was given thru Netgalley•
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December 28, 2014
Really enjoyed this one.
Carter and Lauren had a past together, a shared one with Aunt Dorothy and how she pretty much raised them. So their chemistry had been building up for YEARS before they came together.
Carter left Chicago and the family business to make a name for himself, he simply didn’t want to have any part on his family name and money. I actually liked that about him. He could’ve been the CEO of a huge company, yet he chose to really work on something different, and he indeed made a name for himself there. I didn’t think it was necessary to leave his life in Chicago and his family behind, but he had his reasons.
The guy was an ass at first and a huge playboy. Little by little Lauren wins his heart, a heart that really belonged to her for years; he just didn’t want to accept it. I just wanted to smack him for that. Sometimes his reasons sounded a little weak to me: he was doing things for the best, to not hurt others, but come on, give people some credit, dude.
We also have Lauren, a girl raised by Aunt Dorothy, even though she had no family ties to her. Lauren was constantly trying to please her, even when it wasn’t really necessary. I was glad she realized that at some point, since Lauren was pretty cool. She was a great character, smart, compassionate, beautiful, talented. She had some much going for her, everyone around her saw it but her. Hell, she even got a very coveted job and pretty much everyone loved her and respected her opinion on art issues.
This might sound like the typical playboy story who is really sweet deep down and the girl wins is heart, but there was something about these characters that really pulled me in. I really liked them and I couldn’t stop reading the book until it was finished. They were hot for each other, but also really sweet and you couldn’t help but root for them. I actually would like to see their lives beyond the end, particularly in NYC. I want more from them.
I don’t know if there will be any more books after this one, but I’d love to hear about Lauren’s friend Sophie. She sounded interesting.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
Carter and Lauren had a past together, a shared one with Aunt Dorothy and how she pretty much raised them. So their chemistry had been building up for YEARS before they came together.
Carter left Chicago and the family business to make a name for himself, he simply didn’t want to have any part on his family name and money. I actually liked that about him. He could’ve been the CEO of a huge company, yet he chose to really work on something different, and he indeed made a name for himself there. I didn’t think it was necessary to leave his life in Chicago and his family behind, but he had his reasons.
The guy was an ass at first and a huge playboy. Little by little Lauren wins his heart, a heart that really belonged to her for years; he just didn’t want to accept it. I just wanted to smack him for that. Sometimes his reasons sounded a little weak to me: he was doing things for the best, to not hurt others, but come on, give people some credit, dude.
We also have Lauren, a girl raised by Aunt Dorothy, even though she had no family ties to her. Lauren was constantly trying to please her, even when it wasn’t really necessary. I was glad she realized that at some point, since Lauren was pretty cool. She was a great character, smart, compassionate, beautiful, talented. She had some much going for her, everyone around her saw it but her. Hell, she even got a very coveted job and pretty much everyone loved her and respected her opinion on art issues.
This might sound like the typical playboy story who is really sweet deep down and the girl wins is heart, but there was something about these characters that really pulled me in. I really liked them and I couldn’t stop reading the book until it was finished. They were hot for each other, but also really sweet and you couldn’t help but root for them. I actually would like to see their lives beyond the end, particularly in NYC. I want more from them.
I don’t know if there will be any more books after this one, but I’d love to hear about Lauren’s friend Sophie. She sounded interesting.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
December 14, 2014
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this story through the publisher for an honest review - thank you! I'm a huge fan of stories published through Entangled Publishing. Pretending with the Playboy is a great example of Entangled's ability to give me 2-3 hours of someone else's drama - and always with a HEA. This story is the 2nd book published by the author. Although the book is part of a series with interconnecting characters, this one can be read as a standalone and I never felt like I was missing anything. I have not read her first book, but got the impression the hero for this one was introduced as a friend/colleague. Marcus from the first book makes a few appearances. This story is told in alternating points of view that provides you insight into each character's thoughts and motivations.
Flat out - Carter is a Grade A jerk who has little redeeming qualities when we first meet him. Slowly, you learn more about his background and he becomes a character with many layers. Most of the time I wanted to kick him in the shins, but when he was good... you loved him.
One thing about the book made me want to tear my hair out. No one seemed to stick up for the heroine, Lauren. The cousin-in-law, Allison, repeatedly demeaned her, referred to her as the help and flat out said she didn't have the pedigree to be one of them. She even said this in front of Carter and the aunt. No one ever said a thing and that shocked me. In fact, I read the book even faster thinking a big "I got your back" scene was coming. Fortunately, Allison does get told off, but it wasn't as satisfying as having Carter/Lauren deliver it.
Overall, I highly recommend taking a few hours out of your day and escaping with this story!
Flat out - Carter is a Grade A jerk who has little redeeming qualities when we first meet him. Slowly, you learn more about his background and he becomes a character with many layers. Most of the time I wanted to kick him in the shins, but when he was good... you loved him.
One thing about the book made me want to tear my hair out. No one seemed to stick up for the heroine, Lauren. The cousin-in-law, Allison, repeatedly demeaned her, referred to her as the help and flat out said she didn't have the pedigree to be one of them. She even said this in front of Carter and the aunt. No one ever said a thing and that shocked me. In fact, I read the book even faster thinking a big "I got your back" scene was coming. Fortunately, Allison does get told off, but it wasn't as satisfying as having Carter/Lauren deliver it.
Overall, I highly recommend taking a few hours out of your day and escaping with this story!
December 11, 2014
This is a romance where the man is running scared of love and commitment. Carter Richardson doesn’t trust love. He believes it makes you weak, especially after his personal experiences. This has made him into a love ‘em and leave ‘em playboy.
The only exception to this is his beloved aunt who brought him up after he was orphaned. He hasn’t been to the family home and has avoided involvement in the family shipping business whilst making a successful life for himself on the other side of the United States. He hasn’t even answered phone calls from his aunt for months now. When he learns she is terminally ill, he initially is still reluctant to face his fears and return to the family home but Lauren Olsen comes to get him. She was also orphaned and brought up by his aunt and they have a history . . . .
His aunt is worse than he feared and, in an effort to placate and calm her, he says that he and Lauren are engaged to be married! How will Lauren react to this? She’s already had her heart broken by him whilst a teenager - is it worth the risk now because the news makes his aunt so happy? They definitely have a strong chemical reaction to each other - is it worth the risk?
The book has characters that have been through lots of traumatic experiences, these have impacted on their ability to relate to others and it is only through coming to terms with the past that they can have any chance at a happy future together.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley too
for letting me read this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
The only exception to this is his beloved aunt who brought him up after he was orphaned. He hasn’t been to the family home and has avoided involvement in the family shipping business whilst making a successful life for himself on the other side of the United States. He hasn’t even answered phone calls from his aunt for months now. When he learns she is terminally ill, he initially is still reluctant to face his fears and return to the family home but Lauren Olsen comes to get him. She was also orphaned and brought up by his aunt and they have a history . . . .
His aunt is worse than he feared and, in an effort to placate and calm her, he says that he and Lauren are engaged to be married! How will Lauren react to this? She’s already had her heart broken by him whilst a teenager - is it worth the risk now because the news makes his aunt so happy? They definitely have a strong chemical reaction to each other - is it worth the risk?
The book has characters that have been through lots of traumatic experiences, these have impacted on their ability to relate to others and it is only through coming to terms with the past that they can have any chance at a happy future together.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley too
for letting me read this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
December 29, 2014
This was a very fun story. Both characters were very real and I fell in love with them very quickly. Carter is a man that is jaded to commitment, although I didn't quite grasp why until near the end. There are a lot of hints and I was probably being a bit dense about it. He's running from his family and his family's company and legacy. He is forced to come back to it all when he finds out his Aunt is dying.
Enter Lauren - a blast from his past that he's never quite forgotten or gotten out of his system. She's an art PhD (which I totally loved) and is trying so very very hard to prove herself to the world. One of Carter's not so nice relatives insists on calling her "the help" and I just wanted to haul off and slap her each time. She was such a sweetheart that I couldn't stand anyone being mean to her.
So, in order to put the dying Aunt's heart at peace, Carter and Lauren pretend an engagement - not the most original plot, but there are some very fun twists and turns in this one. What was supposed to be a small lie kept in the family quickly snowballs out of control.
The ending was very touching and some of you may cry. You can really tell that the family cares for each other and just didn't quite now how to show it at times. The final scene was quite beautiful and made for the perfect ending.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Enter Lauren - a blast from his past that he's never quite forgotten or gotten out of his system. She's an art PhD (which I totally loved) and is trying so very very hard to prove herself to the world. One of Carter's not so nice relatives insists on calling her "the help" and I just wanted to haul off and slap her each time. She was such a sweetheart that I couldn't stand anyone being mean to her.
So, in order to put the dying Aunt's heart at peace, Carter and Lauren pretend an engagement - not the most original plot, but there are some very fun twists and turns in this one. What was supposed to be a small lie kept in the family quickly snowballs out of control.
The ending was very touching and some of you may cry. You can really tell that the family cares for each other and just didn't quite now how to show it at times. The final scene was quite beautiful and made for the perfect ending.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
December 20, 2014
See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.
My Thoughts:
I've read a few of these "pretending to be engaged and then falling for each other" tales and I always seem to love them. This one is definitely another good one!
Carter's attempt to make things better for his dying aunt by saying he's engaged to Lauren was an adorable scene. It's all supposed to be just for show, but they have to play it up, right? Can't pretend to be engaged without a few kisses here and there. And so what if they're amazing kisses, and neither one of them want to stop? Yeah, that's the stuff. I loved seeing Carter grow and watch the two of them follow their hearts.
Pretending With The Playboy is an cute play on the fake fiancé trope. Carter and Lauren are loveable and so sweet together. I would love to see what else Tracey Livesay writes!
My Rating: Very Good
My Thoughts:
I've read a few of these "pretending to be engaged and then falling for each other" tales and I always seem to love them. This one is definitely another good one!
Carter's attempt to make things better for his dying aunt by saying he's engaged to Lauren was an adorable scene. It's all supposed to be just for show, but they have to play it up, right? Can't pretend to be engaged without a few kisses here and there. And so what if they're amazing kisses, and neither one of them want to stop? Yeah, that's the stuff. I loved seeing Carter grow and watch the two of them follow their hearts.
Pretending With The Playboy is an cute play on the fake fiancé trope. Carter and Lauren are loveable and so sweet together. I would love to see what else Tracey Livesay writes!
My Rating: Very Good
December 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this book yes he is a playboy but he is one with a heart. And cares so much for his aunt really there are some touching moments that teach you alot about life. Lolo she is beautiful but underestimated her strength and beauty. Both of these characters have been through so much but learn quickly that you can have it all if your willing to open your heart. This author did a great job thank you for letting me review netgally and the publisher.
December 13, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's very well written and the characters are intriguing. Carter enjoyed his playboy lifestyle in Chicago and has no desire to change it. When he finds out his aunt is ill he rushes to her. To make her think he has settled down the way she wants he ask life long friend Lauren to pretend to be his fiancee. Great premise and it's very well done. I highly recommend this one.
December 15, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Carter is a big jerk at the beginning, but as the story goes on you can't help but fall for him. Lauren is kind of timid at first but she gets her backbone and is an amazing character. I read it in one day and it kept me entertained the whole time. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her.
I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2014
I received this from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I really loved it! I love the contempory romance with a marriage of convenience. It makes such a good story. I enjoyed this take. It was a good take on runaway bride with a twist it being the man doing the running instead of the woman.
February 19, 2015
3.5 Stars!
August 7, 2018
Why did I not read these books sooner! From her Avon books I knew I really liked Tracey Livesay’s writing and I knew vaguely that she had 2 other books outbut didn’t get them until THE TYCOON’S SOCIALITE BRIDE was on sale last week. I flew through that book in 2 days and then started this one, which took me a tiny bit longer (pesky life/health cutting into my reading time again) but I loved this one just as much, if not more than the first one.
I’d skimmed some GR reviews that had some choice things to say about Carter so I went in a little hesitant even though the things I read in the reviews weren’t in line with my image of Carter that I had in the first book. Yes, he was a commitment phobe and got around quite a bit but he wasn’t an asshat and quite clear upfront about not offering a white-picket fence and 2.4 kids to the women he got involved with. Until Lauren...
I adored Lauren. She didn’t take Carter’s bullshit and even though she was clearly smitten with him from her late teens she didn’t let that determine her whole life. I loved the back stories for both Lauren and Carter. I loved their romance amd how the fake relationship led to Carter acknowledging his feelings for Lauren.
The sexy scenes were very hot and steamy and perfectly balanced with everything else and Livesay has a writing style that resonates deeply with me. The pace is just right and her voice is clean and crisp.
I am now at a loss because I’ve read all the Tracey Livesay books that are out and there won’t be any new ones until early next year. Bring on 2019 please!
I’d skimmed some GR reviews that had some choice things to say about Carter so I went in a little hesitant even though the things I read in the reviews weren’t in line with my image of Carter that I had in the first book. Yes, he was a commitment phobe and got around quite a bit but he wasn’t an asshat and quite clear upfront about not offering a white-picket fence and 2.4 kids to the women he got involved with. Until Lauren...
I adored Lauren. She didn’t take Carter’s bullshit and even though she was clearly smitten with him from her late teens she didn’t let that determine her whole life. I loved the back stories for both Lauren and Carter. I loved their romance amd how the fake relationship led to Carter acknowledging his feelings for Lauren.
The sexy scenes were very hot and steamy and perfectly balanced with everything else and Livesay has a writing style that resonates deeply with me. The pace is just right and her voice is clean and crisp.
I am now at a loss because I’ve read all the Tracey Livesay books that are out and there won’t be any new ones until early next year. Bring on 2019 please!
October 10, 2023
3.25/5.
I really love the premise for this one--the rakish best friend guy from the previous book flips out and accidentally ropes the woman he kissed back when she was a Youthful Temptation into a fake engagement to appease his dying aunt; perhaps a Barney Stinson Maneuver--and it does have a lot of cute moments. The leads have chemistry, the hero is dumb as hell (positive) and she's an art history phD with an art history job. (Rare if not impossible these days.) The moment he was like "Picasso could paint people who looked like people? Whaaaaat?" was so deliciously stupid of him. Chef's kiss.
But there was a throughline of insecurity in the heroine that I found... off-putting, if not entirely unrealistic. I get why she would potentially feel that she's not good enough (though she's clearly beautiful, smart, and irresistible to this man) but the narrative seemed to enforce it as well. People complimented her on having a hot body--NOW. We hear about how committed she is to working out and a "healthy lifestyle" (she's lost weight). Sure, the hero was into her before she lost weight, but it's phrased in a way that almost makes it sound like he was anticipating her future hotness, versus seeing her as attractive when she was somewhat heavier.
It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth, and it did prevent me from fully enjoying the book. #23for23
I really love the premise for this one--the rakish best friend guy from the previous book flips out and accidentally ropes the woman he kissed back when she was a Youthful Temptation into a fake engagement to appease his dying aunt; perhaps a Barney Stinson Maneuver--and it does have a lot of cute moments. The leads have chemistry, the hero is dumb as hell (positive) and she's an art history phD with an art history job. (Rare if not impossible these days.) The moment he was like "Picasso could paint people who looked like people? Whaaaaat?" was so deliciously stupid of him. Chef's kiss.
But there was a throughline of insecurity in the heroine that I found... off-putting, if not entirely unrealistic. I get why she would potentially feel that she's not good enough (though she's clearly beautiful, smart, and irresistible to this man) but the narrative seemed to enforce it as well. People complimented her on having a hot body--NOW. We hear about how committed she is to working out and a "healthy lifestyle" (she's lost weight). Sure, the hero was into her before she lost weight, but it's phrased in a way that almost makes it sound like he was anticipating her future hotness, versus seeing her as attractive when she was somewhat heavier.
It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth, and it did prevent me from fully enjoying the book. #23for23
April 27, 2019
Oh, the playboy who has spent years trying to avoid his teenage love and then is forced to come home and finds her all grown up! He falls SOOO hard and it's delightful.
Tracey Livesay took me on a wonderful journey in this book - and I particularly like how the heroine stood up for herself, even when she could have easily caved to the desires of her heart. But loving herself is more important than loving him - and once she figured that out, she could have both!
Tracey Livesay took me on a wonderful journey in this book - and I particularly like how the heroine stood up for herself, even when she could have easily caved to the desires of her heart. But loving herself is more important than loving him - and once she figured that out, she could have both!
July 25, 2017
More fake engagement to real love trope. Story is a bit run of the mill and there are some elements that could have been better explored (what's up with Edworth and Allison?!) but it's a cute story, has the heart crushing emotional element, and the HEA is nicely done.
August 25, 2017
This one was weak. I felt no love between the two. She had no backbone, he dogged her out and she didn't make him grovel at all. Just a pushover. I read a few of her books, all were good. This one was disappointing.
January 2, 2024
3.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining read. Carter and Lauren are interesting, entertaining, intriguing, relatable characters. I enjoyed their exchanges and their romance. They are good as individuals and a couple. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment.
This is a fun, entertaining read. Carter and Lauren are interesting, entertaining, intriguing, relatable characters. I enjoyed their exchanges and their romance. They are good as individuals and a couple. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment.
January 2, 2020
This was a very pleasant surprise. I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance but I'm glad I gave this a chance. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
March 8, 2020
Loved it
As great a read as book 1. Lauren and Carter story kept me entertained from start to finish. This is a must read.
As great a read as book 1. Lauren and Carter story kept me entertained from start to finish. This is a must read.
February 19, 2021
3.5 stars. This was a cute friends to lovers story! O wish Carter had grown more as a person throughout the story. And groveled more. 😊
TW: death of a loved one
TW: death of a loved one
March 5, 2022
It was cute…but Carter was just so emotionally stunted at times lol. And while Lauren was mixed, her character did not show (which I know is weird) POC vibes. And I’m saying that as a person of color
March 26, 2022
The couple were boring 🥱
February 24, 2023
Maybe closer to 2.5 - I just never cared much for these characters, especially Carter, and like in book 1, they get together so fast I don’t really have time to buy into it.
March 13, 2017
I'm really starting to love Tracy Livesay's writing. This is the third book of hers I've read, I snatched it up when I saw there was a fake engagement, my favorite trope of all time. It was quite fun though I do wish Carter's back story had been a little more fleshed out instead of just sort of coming out as important at the end. Still, Lauren was great as a character and I thought the pacing was also really good which can sometimes be an issue with fake engagement stories. You can't drag on the pretense too long or it gets kind of boring.
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