Fake-Off with Fate

Love in Maple Falls #1

by Whitney Dineen

She’s a closet designer for the rich and famous and he’s a broken-hearted captain of a pro-hockey team. Neither of them is looking for love.
Ashlyn
An unexpected trip home to Maple Falls gets even more surprising when I inadvertently become acting mayor.

Add a huge crisis and a smoking hot hockey player, and I’m in over my head before I know it.
I’m only here for a short time, so I will not fall for Mr. Tall, dark, and adorable. I don’t care how helpful and kind he is. Long-distance never works, so the answer is no.

Jamie
I’m sick of the press hounding me about my last relationship, so when the opportunity arose to captain a new hockey team in smalltown Washington, I jumped at it.

Too bad I didn't ask more questions before moving here, like, "Are there bears, and will they be living in my backyard?"

Then there's Ashlyn. The last thing I expected was to meet a funny, sassy, and good-hearted woman like her. I swore off love after my last heartbreak, but my heart is acting like it missed the memo.

There’s no way I’m going to pursue her. Unless of course, fate has intervened, and we were meant to be...

***
Fake-Off with Fate is a slow-burn, friends to love, fake-dating small town hockey romcom in the Love in Maple Falls series. Add a town conflict, missing mayor, and bear infestation and you will be laughing and cheering your way to a happy ending!

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you'll enjoy them best in order.

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

Genres: Romance, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Sports

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2025

About the author

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.


Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017

Reviews

[ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, quick, and cozy read! I might be biased, but the FMC having the same name as me (Ashlyn) automatically made me root for her even harder. I loved the small town vibes, hot hockey players, and the mix of humor and heart. The slow burn and friends to lovers dynamic were done so well, and the quirky town drama kept me hooked. Perfect if you’re looking for something sweet, funny, and warm to curl up with!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!🍂🧸☕️

[Ashley Zawojski · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

This book gives Hallmark movie vibes in the best way possible!

This story centers around Ashlyn, who lives and works in Los Angeles. Her father is the mayor of Maple Falls, and is completely dedicated to his job- maybe a little too much.

Her mom calls her to let her know that their marriage is at stake, because her father isn’t present and is more focused on the town than his wife. She goes home to Maple Falls, even though she doesn’t typically visit, to save their marriage. She books them a trip away so they can get alone time and her dad doesn’t get sucked back into his work as mayor.

The problem? Her dad doesn’t want people knowing he isn’t there, so she has to lie to everyone and pretend he is there just not showing his face. Seems easy enough, until the town is in danger of being bought out by a billionaire.

Then comes another problem for her- Jamie. Jamie is the captain of the icebreakers, the new NHL team in town. Jamie is from New York and moved after his post breakup. He is trying to build a new life and having a tough time adjusting, but Ashlyn makes the move feel all more comfortable.

This story has a fake dating trope and so many heartfelt moments! There isn’t any spice, which typically isn’t my favorite, but it was so Hallmark coded that I didn’t mind that it didn’t have space.

Thank you NetGalley & Whitney Dineen for the ARC!

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a delightful fall read! Or an anytime read! But you definitely get to enjoy those fun fall vibes throughout the story! I loved jumping back into this second series set in the town of Maple Falls! And hockey!!! I can't get enough of all of these great hockey stories I've been reading. I'm excited that there are several books all releasing once a week for the next several weeks that I get to stay immersed in this fictional world with these delightful characters.

To start us off, we get to follow Ashlyn and Jamie around and watch their adventurous story unfold! I loved it! Jamie is new to Maple Falls, and the captain of the Ice Breakers hockey team. Ashlyn is from Maple Falls but has been living in LA, and quickly returns when she finds out her parents' marriage is in trouble. She steps in to save the day by sending them away on a trip, and also steps in to cover for her dad-who is the mayor-so no one will realize he's out of town. What follows is quite humorous and kept me laughing at Ashlyn's antics to navigate her dad's absence (especially with his pushy assistant), trying to save her parents' marriage, and trying to save Maple Falls when something big comes along that can destroy the town.

I loved the feeling of the small town, and the sense of community from the secondary characters. Add in the hockey players who will keep you laughing as they step up to help the community as well. So many great scenes between the main characters and with the secondary characters that made this an easy read because I was immersed in the story and felt connected to it all.

Just remember to watch out for bears while you're in Maple Falls. ;-) Keep Ashlyn around because she knows a thing or two for how to stay safe if you run into them. And maybe don't follow Jamie's example in regard to the bears. *Giggling*

The sweet romance made my heart so happy. Ashlyn and Jamie are just adorable. Even though they have their own struggles and some setbacks, that ending was so cute, a grand gesture of the best kind!!!

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! I'm already reading an early copy of the next book in the series and am loving it just as much as this one! These hockey players are really great!

Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses and nothing further.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Vicki Freezer · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her parents marriage on the line, Ashylyn agrees to come home to help run the town, and save her parents from divorce. Jamie, hiding from the press, and trying to mend a broken heart and a new position as Captain of the Ice Breakers.

Fake-Of with Fate, gives hallmark vibes. It’s cosy, it’s beautiful, and its full of all of the things that you expect it to be full of. There’s trouble brewing in the town, and love slowly brews in the background. It’s paced beautifully, and while we don’t get to fully see the relationship between leads grow as much as i would have liked, it does tell you what happens of page. That while time is passing, they are talking to one another every day.

It follows your typical small-town romance, but if anything, it’s honestly done better. The relationship feels real, not book real. It develops naturally. If you like romance, and a lot of it, it might not be for you because there isn’t a lot of romance involved, romance is there, but its not the main focus, and i actually like that, and it’s still beautifully done. So yea, i really enjoyed this and i’ll def look into the other books in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early access.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this town - Maple Falls is absolutely adorable and sounds like the perfect place to fall in love (though, I don’t know how these women would have found anyone had the team not moved there). I loved the addition of the mayor’s duties to the already hectic environment Ashlyn and Jamie found themselves in as well as the fractured relationship her parents needed to work on. The exchanges with Phillip and the bears added to the humorous banter between the two and inserted much needed levity for all the myriad of serious issues they had to deal with. Can’t wait to read more in this series.

I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun way to start a second fall season with The Ice Breakers! The team may have been upgraded to NHL status, and we may be meeting a different group of players this time around, but one thing that hasn't changed is that perfect combination of fall vibes, small town shenanigans and all the hockey romance goodness! We kicked it off with this sweet fake dating romance between Ashlyn and Jamie, and I have to say that these two certainly kept me smiling! Ashlyn grew up in Maple Falls, but was working as a closet organizer in LA, but when her mom calls threatening to leave her father (mayor of Maple Falls), she rushes to her hometown to try to keep that from happening and meets Jamie, new captain of the new local NHL team. There's was a bit of a slower burn romance, but I enjoyed seeing them go from strangers to friends to more throughout the story. Between town chaos, unexpected natural disasters and oh yes, let's not forget all the bears-- there was a whole lot to keep things interesting throughout this story! I couldn't help but enjoy these two and find myself looking forward to seeing what will come next for this team and town!

Fake-Off with Fate is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the first book in the new Love in Maple Falls multi-author series, a spin-off of the Love on Thin Ice series-- centering around The Ice Breakers hockey team. You do not have to have read the first series to be able to enjoy this one.

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

[Aubree · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book tries really hard but it just doesn’t cut it. It’s terrible. Don’t waste your time. It was like the roughest of rough drafts of a first time author at best.

First of all, an NHL team would absolutely never be located in a tiny town like this. That would never happen. Second, the bears that Jamie has been feeding would have caused a lot of problems for the town. They would have had to be put down or relocated to a facility. I’m sure this was just supposed to be funny but it was too unrealistic to ignore. And Ashlyn, a local throwing food at bears like that? It’s just embarrassing. Third, there’s no way that the mayor could be gone for weeks and no one figure it out. There’s no way Ashlyn could come in and take care of all his responsibilities out of nowhere like that. She would not know what to do. Fourth, how did they get wealthy women from all over the country to fly in with a zero dollar advertising budget? 🙄 If you are able to suspend your disbelief about those things, then you have to contend with the serious errors in the book. For example, in chapter 26, Allegra comes to see Jamie. Then chapter 27 starts with the line “seven days later…” then in chapter 28 Jamie tells Ashlyn that Allegra came to visit him that day even though we’ve already established that it is now a week later. In the epilogue, it says that a character hoped his ancestors would live in the town for generations to come. Pretty sure you meant descendants. Oops. 🙄 Pair all of that that with barely any hockey in this hockey novel, very little relationship development, no romance and no fun at all with the chosen fake dating trope, there’s very little left to enjoy. Plus the mayor lied to his whole city about his trip. Some mayor. The main characters were fine. I will say that. It was fall-ish. I didn’t quit it.

[Louise || Bookworms and Lattes · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start with, I want to thank Whitney Dineen and Netgalley for this arc copy and introducing me to this series. I was so grateful to be given this opportunity.

Fake-Off with Fate is a romance between a closet organizer from LA who returns home to save her parent's marriage and fill in as acting mayor in the process, and a heartbroken hockey team captain who moved to Maple Falls to get away from his ex girlfriend.

It was a super cute, super cozy, rom-com filled to the brim with fall vibes. From the Maple Festival, to the settings, to the food and townspeople, this was the perfect feel-good, autumn romance. It was easy to read, fluffy, and so many laugh out loud moments. Jamie and Ashlyn were adorable and compatible, and their relationship felt so natural as I was reading. The bears in particular left me laughing every time they were brought up.

All in all, this is the perfect book to curl up with a blanket on a rainy day when you want to tune out the world.

[Emily Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake-Off with Fate
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Whitney Dineen

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Whitney Dineen and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Ashlyn - An unexpected trip home to Maple Falls gets even more surprising when I inadvertently become acting mayor. Add a huge crisis and a smoking hot hockey player, and I’m in over my head before I know it. I’m only here for a short time, so I will not fall for Mr. Tall, dark, and adorable. I don’t care how helpful and kind he is. Long-distance never works, so the answer is no.

Jamie - I’m sick of the press hounding me about my last relationship, so when the opportunity arose to captain a new hockey team in smalltown Washington, I jumped at it. Too bad I didn't ask more questions before moving here, like, "Are there bears, and will they be living in my backyard?" Then there's Ashlyn. The last thing I expected was to meet a funny, sassy, and good-hearted woman like her. I swore off love after my last heartbreak, but my heart is acting like it missed the memo.

There’s no way I’m going to pursue her. Unless of course, fate has intervened, and we were meant to be...

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Love in Maple Falls series by 7 different authors. I absolutely adore mini-series like these. Dineen opens us with a bang! Ashlyn makes an unexpected visit home to Maple Falls to save her parent’s marriage. Her father is the mayor and has put his marriage on the back burner lately. Ashlyn steps in to assist with his mayor duties and sends her parents on a trip for a week to Barbados. The Icebreakers has formed a NHL league in Maple Falls. Jamie was escaping heartbreak and a fresh start. Inevitably, their paths cross and a friendship is formed after agreeing to fake date. Will their paths crossing at this point end up in fate? This follows the tropes of friends to lovers, fake dating, small town, and hockey romance.

This is a dual narration by both Ashlyn and Jamie, in their respective perspectives. Ashlyn is energetic, sassy, fiercely independent, and loyal to those she cares about. Jamie was a city boy but fled when his last relationship ended in heartbreak and this opportunity to be part of a new NHL hockey team as Captain arose. He is charming, caring, and scared of bears ☺️. I loved how Ashlyn is able to balance planning a trip to save her parent’s marriage, sidetrack the town of her father’s (the mayor) absence, and put a plan into place to save her hometown when something unexpected happens. I really love how their relationship starts with fake dating and evolves into close friends and then into developing feelings for one another, when neither were looking for anything serious. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and kept me engaged. The supporting characters (and set up for the series) were beautifully placed and elevated the story. The author’s writing style was complex, closed door, funny, heartfelt, and beautiful. The ending was just so perfect for this storyline.

Dineen did a phenomenal job at kicking off this beautiful series. This series by 7 different authors have the Icebreakers NHL team and Maple Falls in common, but each focuses on a distinct MC’s, still weaving in other characters from other books. I really enjoyed this story. It was funny, heartfelt, had fall vibes, and set in a quirky small town. Even though this is a closed door romcom, you do not miss anything, the chemistry between our MCs is just as explosive as any other romance. I highly recommend picking up this book and following the series.

[Katie Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Ashlyn returns to Maple Falls, she never expects to land in the mayor’s seat—or to collide with Jamie, a heartbroken hockey captain seeking refuge in small-town life. She’s sworn off long-distance, and he’s done with love, but a town in crisis, a touch of fate, and undeniable chemistry may rewrite both their rules.

Everything about this series screams Hallmark- and I literally mean SCREAMS. Screams of laughter (bidding on hockey players to raise money for the small town), screams of worry (because the town’s heir wants to reclaim his land), and screams of fright (because that hockey captain is terrified of the bear family camping out in his yard). Okay, maybe that last one is unique to this story—but hey, you don’t see wildlife jump scares in just any romcom.

That said, the one thing this book doesn’t share with Hallmark? A final kiss. Did the author forget to put it in? Is this series aiming for G-rated? (Though, I’m pretty sure kissing still qualifies as G?) Were the characters taking things even slower than their already slow-burn pace? If so, fine- maybe even refreshing to see characters build a deeper emotional foundation first. But for it to just never happen? More perplexing than all the random crises scattered through the book.

Don’t get me wrong- lack of kissing and natural disasters aside, the tone of this book is still too darn cute not warrant a solid 3 stars. I’m looking forward to seeing how sweet (and hopefully a little low-spicy) the rest of this multi-authored series turns out.

Available now on Kindle Unilimited! #ku #kindleunlimited

Perfect for you if you like:
Saving a small town
Sweet friendship turned more
Several disasters getting in their way

Similar to:
Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair
Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington
Basically any Hallmark movie

⛔️closed door romance (quick pecks only)
⚠️hurricane, LA fires, lots of hungry bears, hockey player who's scared of the bears, no kissing

[Megan Crofton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It was relatable and fun and had the best small town vibes! The world building was great and I was excited to see where it was going to go from page one. I loved the build up to the meet cute.

Ashlyn and Jamie were adorable and I loved their natural ease with each other. Ashlyn was so comfortable in who she was and had this quick wit that I found hilarious. Jamie wasn't afraid to admit to his faults and his inexperience with mountain life, IYKYK! They fit together so well and were so cute. I also loved the natural build up to their relationship. Then the author throw in fake dating and made me smile. I love fake dating! Their story was fun.

The small town residents were just awesome and I love the hilarious moments that ensued throughout the story. And I am so glad to be back in Maple Falls and see some recurring characters from the first multi author series. Whitney Dineen writes some great witty dialogue and I really enjoyed it, smiling to myself throughout reading!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I laughed a lot while reading, mostly at Jamie (but I did love his vulnerability with Ashlyn about his fear), but also Ashlyn’s antics involving Phillip. However, I was left wanting because there wasn’t really any romance and barely a single kiss, which I wouldn’t really even count. It was more of strangers to friends with strong feelings. I liked the characters and their journey, but I needed more to happen between them. Also, just a note that this book is about a hockey player but there is barely any hockey in it, which could be good or bad, depending on what you like. I’m looking forward to the rest of this multi-author series.
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute small town hockey romance.. Comical and fun-to-read..

[Kerstin Seidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the First book of the new Series in Maple Falls ❤️
I‘ve been a huge Fan of the First Series and the second Series starts exactly as I like.
Especially Jamie is a nice guy, not the typical „romance hero“ with Alpha vibes.
A really nice read!!!

I was Part of the ARC Team of Whitney Dineen and received a free copy before the release date.

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildfires and hurricanes and bears, oh my! Fake-Off with Fate is jam packed with natural disasters and wildlife. While nature is a force to be reconned with, so is Whitney Dineen’s writing.

Brief Synopsis-
Professional closet organizer, Ashlyn, returns home (Maple Falls, Wa.) to find her parent’s marriage on the brink of divorce. As mayor of Maple Falls, her father is mismanaging his commitments, choosing the community over his wife. Desperate to find a solution before it is too late, Ashlyn arranges a spontaneous, romantic getaway. But she is met with resistance. A compromise is reached stipulating she will stay and serve as acting mayor should a problem arise. And boy do they!

Blindsided by a breakup, Jamie requests a trade to the Ice Breakers (an NHL team). Despite being named team captain, he hopes to keep a low profile. But when the media refuses to stop prying into his personal life, he must find a way to escape the spotlight.

Teaming up, Ashlyn and Jamie decide to work together to solve both of their problems. Will they be successful in their endeavors, or will they make a bigger mess of it all?

ARC REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen is the first book in the Love in Maple Falls Series. This is a multi-author, interconnected series that was born out of the success of Love on Thin Ice. The same wonderful group of seven writers are back to bring more hockey love stories from the picturesque, small-town readers know and love as Maple Falls, Wa.

This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud story serves as the perfect book to kick off the series. Composed of effortless prose, relatable characters and grounded plot points, readers are bound to devour this in one-sitting.

Read this book for:
-small town setting
-fake dating
-friends-to-more
-hilarious moments
-all the feels, none of the spice
-hockey romance

Special thanks to Netgalley and Whitney Dineen for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake-Off with Fate follows Ashlyn who visits her hometown of Maple Falls to save her parents marriage. Her dad is the mayor of the town. She books a vacation for her parents. While they are out of town she will take on the responsibility of being mayor. Jamie is new in town plays for the Ice BreakersWhich is a new hockey team in Maple Falls. Part of Ashlyn being major is to show Jamie around. While Ashlyn is acting as mayor a town conflict arises. So she is taking care of that. Jamie also needs Ashlyn’s help and ask her to pretend to be his girlfriend. Ashlyn was only suppose to be in town for a little bit. But now things might just have to change.

I really really liked this book. BUT calling it a romance book was a bit of a stretch in my opinion. There wasn’t much romance vibes in this book. I think because this book had a lot of different subplots going on it; the romance got lost. I also prefer spice in romance books. The main characters kissed only one time and that was it. I know that is just a personal thing but I wanted more. But I did think this was such a cute and cozy fall book. I do highly suggest this one though. It was like a cozy a Hallmark movie.

Thank you so much, Whitney Dieen and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This comes out on August 13!

[Daniella Cascais · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Em primeiro, quero agradecer à NetGalley e à Xpresso Book Tours por me terem enviado o ARC deste livrinho.
Devo dizer que fiquei muito surpreendida! Confesso que não conhecia autora nem a esta série, mas a capa e a sinopse conquistaram-me.
Se estão à procura de um hockey, small town romance, fake dating e slow burn - este é o livro perfeito. Adorei as vibes de a Ashlyn salvar a Vila Natal dela, sendo que se conhecem todos uns aos outros desde a infância, a questão dos pais dela e ela ser um ponto fulcral na construção do amor deles novamente e até mesmo a relação dela com o Jamie. O Jamie surpreendeu-me muito, porque quando vi a Allegra a voltar eu pensei mesmo que o third act breakup ia ser mau, mas não foi. Acabou por ser um homem que não se deixa enganar, que tem ideias fixas. Adorei a forma como a autora escreveu a amizade deles primeiro e a forma como eles iam tendo alguns momentos.
Confesso que esperava um bocadinho mais de cenas de romance, sendo que houve apenas 2 beijos (não tem smut) e podíamos ter visto mais cenas deles juntos, mas como o livro é curtinho está justificado. Também pensava que íamos ver mais de Mapple Falls no outono, mas não foi nada por aí além.

Ainda assim é sem dúvida uma cozy reading e estou ansiosa para ler os próximos da série 🍂

[Angie (mushmysteriesandmore) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved going back to Maple Falls, it was like going home. The players are new and so are their girls but there’s that familiar feeling of a small town welcoming you back into their loving embrace.

So the Icebreakers return and their captain is Jamie Hayes, hiding out from the press after his last girlfriend publicly dumped him. Jamie is a strong and formidable presence on the ice, but deep down he’s soft and gentle, and terrified of bears who just happen to have taken up camp outside his cabin.

Enter Ashlyn Thompson, the mayor’s daughter, who has returned to Maple Falls to rescue her parents marriage by sending them on vacation and stepping in as acting mayor, whilst not letting the town realise her father is away.

I loved the banter and the comedy in this book. I loved the instant friendship between Ashlyn and Jamie, they relied on each other very quickly and they stepped up when the other needed them. I loved seeing Ashlyn handle her fathers assistant Phillip, he was the most obnoxious little creep and Ashlyn just put him in his place, especially when pretending to be her father via text.

Jamie’s interactions with the bears were also tear-inducing hysterical, I think I’d have had much the same reaction to facing a bear, it just made him more relatable and downright adorable. His ex was a piece of work but I’m glad he didn’t fall for her manipulations and tantrums.

I’m so happy to be back in Maple Falls and hope to continue my stay here.

[Sophie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute book that gave off Hallmark vibes and the fall themes made me all the more excited for the coming season!
I like the cover art and the map of Maple Falls.
It was a quick and easy read that flowed easily and I enjoyed that it was so fast paced.

The actual hockey playing was less than I expected but also appreciated since there wasn't any unnecessary filler.

I enjoyed the characters and even Phillip made me laugh.

The problems the mfc encountered could have easily been solved by calling her mother and explaining what was happening, but of course then we wouldn't have the story!

Fake-dating trope is always fun but I do wish we could have gotten more romance.

All in all I enjoyed this book and the writing was easy to fall into.

Thank you Netgalley and the author/publisher for this ARC.

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review
Fake off with Fate by Whitney Dineen

I really enjoyed it - it was such a cute, funny romance story.
It really gave me small town vibe and felt like the kind of book you'd read in the fall.

On the other hand, I would have liked more romance and interaction between the main characters - but I still ate this up.
I liked how their story developed, even if it seemed a little rushed at times.
I wanted - I don't know, more sparkle between the main characters, but overall they were very cute.

I also wish it had been funnier, with more comedic scene, especially since it is a rom com.
I loved the scene with Jamie and the bears - he is so cute, like a little baby!
That part was both funny and adorable.
So yes, it was a enjoyable story overall.

Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this book. 🥰🏒🤍

[Fernanda Dzib · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and the author in exchange of an honest review, thank you ✨

4⭐️

This was my first book by the author and it was a very cute story! I literally finished this book in like 6 hours, because it was so fast paced, and so easy to read and so sweet! I just couldn’t put it down once I started✨
I loved the story of Ash and Jamie, they were both sworn love off, but fate told them, “not in my watch my dears” because they were everything they needed but didn’t know they wanted it❤️‍🩹 I also enjoyed the plot of saving Maple Falls and even loved the family of bears 🙂‍↔️ IYKYK

This was a very sweet seeing story and I deeply recommend it if you’re looking something cozy and beautiful to read✨

[Liz Martinek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake Off with Fate is the kind of feel-good contemporary romance that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, a pumpkin spice latte, and read it all in one sitting. Set against the backdrop of a cozy fall town, this story follows Jamie and Ashlyn through a classic fake dating setup that quickly turns into something real.

Their chemistry is instant and infectious, with just the right mix of banter, charm, and emotional tension. While the story keeps things mostly sweet, there’s a little bit of spice to keep things interesting. I loved how Ashlyn held her own and how Jamie was both swoony and soft at the same time.

The subplot of the bears was absolutely perfect and left me chuckling, especially when the "friends" showed up.

This is the perfect pick for fans of wholesome romance, fake dating tropes, and autumn aesthetics. It’s not overly heavy or drama-filled—just the right amount of heart and warmth to leave you smiling.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review Fake-Off With Fate by Whitney Dineen

This is closet designer Ashley and hockey player Jamie’s story set in Maple Falls, Washington.

When Ashlynn returns home to Maple Falls the last thing she expects is to become the acting mayor.

Meeting Jamie also wasn’t planned but sometimes fate plays tricks on people. Neither of them were looking for love and yet they cannot ignore the attraction that sizzled between them.

This was an entertaining, well written story that ticked numerous boxes for me. It was a witty, fun book with characters whose story you cannot help but be drawn into.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an ARC of this delightful book. Although it’s part of a series, it easily reads as a stand alone.

I enjoyed this book from the first page until the last. The characters were quirky and fun. The dialogue was crisp and realistic and the story was engaging. I read it in a day and wanted more - always the sign of a good book. It was the perfect book to read while hiding in the air conditioning from the heat wave.

Thanks Whitney!

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Maple Falls!

Having read other stories set in Maple Falls (hello, “Love on Thin Ice” series!), coming back to this quirky, adorable small town felt a bit like coming home. Fake-Off With Fate gave me all the warm fuzzies and over-the-top hijinks I’ve come to expect from a Whitney Dineen book. :) Ashlyn and Jamie made a cute couple, and I appreciate how they became friends first. Yet I wish the romance had played a somewhat bigger part overall.

Still, the story makes me want to read more about this new crop of hockey-playing heroes who find their perfect sheroes in Maple Falls. Bring it on!

4.5 / 5

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

This was such a cozy fall read! 🍁🍂☕️

Total Hart of Dixie vibes. No spice but the story was enjoyable and quick. I love the cover art and the concept of each book in this series written by a different author. I will definitely pick up the others as they release.

Now I want a pumpkin spice latte and crisp fall weather.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[nikkyireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

This was a cute, quirky, and fun rom-com. If you're a Hallmark fan you'll love this one! The town shenanigans had me laughing out loud. I'm excited to read the rest of the series.

🔥 Slow Burn
👩‍❤️‍👨 Friends to Lovers
🖤 Fake Dating
🏡 Small-town Romance
💖 Rom-Com
🏒 Sports Romance - Hockey
✌️ Dual POV

[Sheri Bolinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love hockey romance stories! Jamie and Ashlyn's story was equal parts hilarious, disaster ridden, and sweet! From start to finish, it was hooked and couldn't stop reading! I love books that just pull you in, and the rest of the world fades away for a while. This book does that. It was a fantastic read with all the feels!

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.

It was a fun, sweet romance story.

Jamie is in town, signed on to the local hockey team, to escape a public breakup in NYC.
Ashlyn is in town to prevent a breakup.

While dealing with town issues for her dad, they spend time together, not denying that they are dating.
But it's fake, even if pesky feelings get in the way. Right?

[Karen Tucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ashlynn and Jamie. She is a force to be reckoned with and Jamie is sweet with her. His relationship with his bear family is the absolute best!