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From Best Friend to Fiancée
She’s strictly off-limits…Isn’t she?Jannes is a professional yachtsman—with a playboy reputation. The tabloids devote more columns to his romantic entanglements than his around-the-world races! But scandals spook sponsors, so Jannes makes a proposal of mutual convenience to his commitmentphobe best friend, pose as his girlfriend for PR purposes only…and he’ll help keep her chaotic family at bay. It’s perfect…until the paparazzi leak photos of Lara with a diamond ring on her finger! “I thought that this was a wonderful story! It was a good wholesome romance and I loved it. It had an excellent storyline, and brilliantly developed and genuine characters that the author really brought to life. It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!”-Goodreads on Snowbound at the Manor “What I love about Ellie Darkins’ writing style is her ability to write emotionally complex characters who the reader can relate to from the outset…. A romantic and touching story…this is a thoroughly enjoyable book which keeps the reader engaged throughout.”-Goodreads on Reunited by the Tycoon’s Twins
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2021
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Darkins
139 books58 followersEllie Darkins is a writer, editor and reader of romance novels. When she's not tapping away at her keyboard she can usually be found next to the kettle, knitting *another* jumper, or in the local library sampling the coffee, cake and romance novels.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 26, 2021
4.25 stars.
Ellie Darkins gained herself a new reader last year after reading Snowbound at the Manor and, being a sucker for a best-friends-to-lovers romance, I wasted no time diving in here, quickly discovering two people who between them have as much baggage as the carousels at Heathrow.
You’re not with me for hearts and flowers. I don’t really go in for that.”
“Oh, really? What am I with you for?”
“The wild sex and Instagram freebies.”
I love flawed characters and Lara and Jannes are just that, two peas in a pod, commitmentphobes, a little frustrating at times but who already have the easy, natural chemistry and tight emotional bonds of close friendship. And what starts out as best friends doing a favour for one another is soon rocked with unexpected feelings and intense sparks entering the mix as they cross the romantic line
We’re a little awkward but we’ll be fine.”
A well-crafted, enjoyable story with fun and flirty notes, if you enjoy a romance featuring couple who are outwardly confident yet a little more vulnerable underneath and are stronger together than apart, then this is absolutely worth a few hours of your time. Ellie Darkins excels at creating an intimate feel between her couples with not-so-much as a nudge towards the bedroom and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she has in store for readers next.
(It’s also worth mentioning that whilst Lara features in Snowbound at the Manor as a secondary character, both books are standalones.)
Copy generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Ellie Darkins gained herself a new reader last year after reading Snowbound at the Manor and, being a sucker for a best-friends-to-lovers romance, I wasted no time diving in here, quickly discovering two people who between them have as much baggage as the carousels at Heathrow.
You’re not with me for hearts and flowers. I don’t really go in for that.”“Oh, really? What am I with you for?”
“The wild sex and Instagram freebies.”
I love flawed characters and Lara and Jannes are just that, two peas in a pod, commitmentphobes, a little frustrating at times but who already have the easy, natural chemistry and tight emotional bonds of close friendship. And what starts out as best friends doing a favour for one another is soon rocked with unexpected feelings and intense sparks entering the mix as they cross the romantic line
We’re a little awkward but we’ll be fine.”
A well-crafted, enjoyable story with fun and flirty notes, if you enjoy a romance featuring couple who are outwardly confident yet a little more vulnerable underneath and are stronger together than apart, then this is absolutely worth a few hours of your time. Ellie Darkins excels at creating an intimate feel between her couples with not-so-much as a nudge towards the bedroom and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she has in store for readers next.
(It’s also worth mentioning that whilst Lara features in Snowbound at the Manor as a secondary character, both books are standalones.)
Copy generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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May 10, 2021What a lovely short and fast romance!
Full review coming soon!
Full review coming soon!
June 28, 2021
[ I received a digital arc for an honest review]
From Best Friend to Fiancée by Ellie Darkins is a romance is a great combination of the friends to lovers and the fake relationship tropes.
Jannes and Lara have been best friends since they met 3 years ago. When Jannes needs help with his image in order to land a sports sponsor, Lara agrees to play his girlfriend. She also needs him to play her boyfriend at an upcoming family event, so it's a win-win for both of them. When two commitment phobes start to feel like their relationship is about to turn more real than they can handle, will they break it off and ruin the friendship they swore in the beginning wouldn't be affected by this arrangement.
"Lara was special and he was a mess, and she deserved so much more than that."
This is slightly different from other best friends to lovers romances I have read in the past. Usually, both parties secretly love and pine to be with the other. In this one, both our leads' know they love the other, but are adament that they would never be in an actual relationship with each other. Jannes and Lara both have some childhood parental emotional issues. Lara's resulted in her inability to fully trust a male, and Jannes is terrified of being left. They both have deep rooted fears they have to work through to be together.
"You're killing me here. Are you kissing me or not."
Finally, she broke into a smile. "Not if you're not going to ask nicely."
Jannes and Lara have a fun relationship and the banter between them was entertaining. While this is a low steam romance with nothing further than kisses, you could still feel the chemistry between them coming off the pages. Even from their first kiss the writing makes their feelings known and even though we don't get anything more than the passionate kisses their romance and connection was believable.
"He threaded his fingers in her hair and kissed her again, aware of nothing but the taste and the smell and the feel of her. Every fantasy of the last weeks..months, years, coming alive in his hands,"
From Best Friend to Fiancée by Ellie Darkins was a sweet romance with playful banter, meddling grandparents, family drama, and steamy kisses.
From Best Friend to Fiancée by Ellie Darkins is a romance is a great combination of the friends to lovers and the fake relationship tropes.
Jannes and Lara have been best friends since they met 3 years ago. When Jannes needs help with his image in order to land a sports sponsor, Lara agrees to play his girlfriend. She also needs him to play her boyfriend at an upcoming family event, so it's a win-win for both of them. When two commitment phobes start to feel like their relationship is about to turn more real than they can handle, will they break it off and ruin the friendship they swore in the beginning wouldn't be affected by this arrangement.
"Lara was special and he was a mess, and she deserved so much more than that."
This is slightly different from other best friends to lovers romances I have read in the past. Usually, both parties secretly love and pine to be with the other. In this one, both our leads' know they love the other, but are adament that they would never be in an actual relationship with each other. Jannes and Lara both have some childhood parental emotional issues. Lara's resulted in her inability to fully trust a male, and Jannes is terrified of being left. They both have deep rooted fears they have to work through to be together.
"You're killing me here. Are you kissing me or not."
Finally, she broke into a smile. "Not if you're not going to ask nicely."
Jannes and Lara have a fun relationship and the banter between them was entertaining. While this is a low steam romance with nothing further than kisses, you could still feel the chemistry between them coming off the pages. Even from their first kiss the writing makes their feelings known and even though we don't get anything more than the passionate kisses their romance and connection was believable.
"He threaded his fingers in her hair and kissed her again, aware of nothing but the taste and the smell and the feel of her. Every fantasy of the last weeks..months, years, coming alive in his hands,"
From Best Friend to Fiancée by Ellie Darkins was a sweet romance with playful banter, meddling grandparents, family drama, and steamy kisses.
June 6, 2021
3 Stars
Smut level: 0/5
This is a really sweet friends to lovers AND fake dating romance. At under 190 pages, it is very short but still manages to create a cute story.
From Best Friend to Finacée is about Instagram influencer Lara and her best friend Jannes who is a professional yachtsman. To help Jannes gain sponsorship for his next big race, he gets Lara to be his fake girlfriend to improve his reputation.
Both characters are pretty broken by past events which means neither are good at relationships for fear of being hurt. I like both Lara and Jannes but wish I had been able to get to know both of them more individually. I didn't feel as connected to them as I could have and even though I wanted them to have a happy ending, I wasn't overly invested.
I believe it is very hard to get readers invested in such a short story when it isn't a novella linked to a series. I was really missing the depth that other romances have and the back and forth of their relationship got a little tiresome as it felt very surface level.
I also found the dialogue to be a little stilted at times which didn't help me feel immersed in their world. I would have liked more humor or more steam to add an extra layer to their relationship. It doesn't have to be a smutty book (although I do love some smut!), just more of a physical and emotional connection.
Overall, I think the writing is good and I like the characters but think the story was a little bland and needed more depth and interesting moments. I wanted more from the characters as I liked them but needed more depth and personality.
It was a cute, quick and easy read.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
Smut level: 0/5
This is a really sweet friends to lovers AND fake dating romance. At under 190 pages, it is very short but still manages to create a cute story.
From Best Friend to Finacée is about Instagram influencer Lara and her best friend Jannes who is a professional yachtsman. To help Jannes gain sponsorship for his next big race, he gets Lara to be his fake girlfriend to improve his reputation.
Both characters are pretty broken by past events which means neither are good at relationships for fear of being hurt. I like both Lara and Jannes but wish I had been able to get to know both of them more individually. I didn't feel as connected to them as I could have and even though I wanted them to have a happy ending, I wasn't overly invested.
I believe it is very hard to get readers invested in such a short story when it isn't a novella linked to a series. I was really missing the depth that other romances have and the back and forth of their relationship got a little tiresome as it felt very surface level.
I also found the dialogue to be a little stilted at times which didn't help me feel immersed in their world. I would have liked more humor or more steam to add an extra layer to their relationship. It doesn't have to be a smutty book (although I do love some smut!), just more of a physical and emotional connection.
Overall, I think the writing is good and I like the characters but think the story was a little bland and needed more depth and interesting moments. I wanted more from the characters as I liked them but needed more depth and personality.
It was a cute, quick and easy read.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2021
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Mills and Boon in return for an honest review.
This is a really well-written romance about best friends, neither of whom want to take the relationship any further in case they lose the friendship.
Helping each other out in a fake relationship inevitably leads to more and it is this journey which the author makes so understandable and so entertaining. I loved the characters and also found the settings she used played a key part in the story.
I usually like a bit more steam in my romances so I found the lack of love scenes rather disappointing but I know this line of Mills and Boon frequently has this approach so I ought not to have been surprised. Apart from that, I really liked it. .
This is a really well-written romance about best friends, neither of whom want to take the relationship any further in case they lose the friendship.
Helping each other out in a fake relationship inevitably leads to more and it is this journey which the author makes so understandable and so entertaining. I loved the characters and also found the settings she used played a key part in the story.
I usually like a bit more steam in my romances so I found the lack of love scenes rather disappointing but I know this line of Mills and Boon frequently has this approach so I ought not to have been surprised. Apart from that, I really liked it. .
May 30, 2021
An excellent, emotional and romantic story which follows best friends Lara and Jannes as they contemplate their feelings for each other whilst pretending to be a couple in order to secure Jannes a sponsorship deal.
One of the things I love most about Ellie Darkins' writing is her ability to create relatable characters that hook the reader into their story almost from the first page. Readers of the author's previous book will have briefly met Lara as a friend of the heroine, and I'm so glad that she now gets her own story in this book. Jannes is equally loveable and you can see why he an Lara get along so well right from the off; rather that having a first meeting between the two, the reader is immediately drawn into this years long friendship where the two spark off each other and there is no awkwardness when the concept of a fake relationship is first suggested. Indeed, you can almost sense both Jannes and Lara entertaining the idea as a way of examining their deeper feelings and their fears of what could happen to their friendship if they tried to have more.
Of course, complex family relationships aside, everyone in their circle is in no way surprised by the idea of them as a couple given they are so well suited, and as a reader, you soon become invested in the pair as they struggle to look beyond the past hurts they have suffered in order to forge the future happiness they so deserve. Thankfully, help is at hand for the couple in the form of Jannes' Swedish grandmother (or Mormor) who is a delight and the star of the show. Refusing to believe her beloved grandson and Lara are only pretending to be in a relationship, she puts some wheels in motion behind the scenes to help them on their way with entertaining results which only give you more investment in the story as you are compelled to keep reading and see what happens next.
As with all Ellie Darkins' writing, there is a strong, emotional depth to the characters and the story and, as much as you root for the happy ending, you have a good understanding of why there is a reluctance to take a leap and have a real relationship, and this only adds to the enjoyment of the story. As the plot moves towards its conclusion, Jannes and Lara have decisions to make, and the ending is superbly romantic and befitting of the characters. Tissues may be required for the emotional closing pages as Jannes lays his cards on the table (with a little help from Mormor!) and the ultimate happy ending is pursued.
Overall, this is yet another excellent book from Ellie Darkins full of romance and emotion, and it leaves a strong impression on the reader with its tale of discovering that sometimes you just need to be brave and take a leap of faith to find your happy ever after.
One of the things I love most about Ellie Darkins' writing is her ability to create relatable characters that hook the reader into their story almost from the first page. Readers of the author's previous book will have briefly met Lara as a friend of the heroine, and I'm so glad that she now gets her own story in this book. Jannes is equally loveable and you can see why he an Lara get along so well right from the off; rather that having a first meeting between the two, the reader is immediately drawn into this years long friendship where the two spark off each other and there is no awkwardness when the concept of a fake relationship is first suggested. Indeed, you can almost sense both Jannes and Lara entertaining the idea as a way of examining their deeper feelings and their fears of what could happen to their friendship if they tried to have more.
Of course, complex family relationships aside, everyone in their circle is in no way surprised by the idea of them as a couple given they are so well suited, and as a reader, you soon become invested in the pair as they struggle to look beyond the past hurts they have suffered in order to forge the future happiness they so deserve. Thankfully, help is at hand for the couple in the form of Jannes' Swedish grandmother (or Mormor) who is a delight and the star of the show. Refusing to believe her beloved grandson and Lara are only pretending to be in a relationship, she puts some wheels in motion behind the scenes to help them on their way with entertaining results which only give you more investment in the story as you are compelled to keep reading and see what happens next.
As with all Ellie Darkins' writing, there is a strong, emotional depth to the characters and the story and, as much as you root for the happy ending, you have a good understanding of why there is a reluctance to take a leap and have a real relationship, and this only adds to the enjoyment of the story. As the plot moves towards its conclusion, Jannes and Lara have decisions to make, and the ending is superbly romantic and befitting of the characters. Tissues may be required for the emotional closing pages as Jannes lays his cards on the table (with a little help from Mormor!) and the ultimate happy ending is pursued.
Overall, this is yet another excellent book from Ellie Darkins full of romance and emotion, and it leaves a strong impression on the reader with its tale of discovering that sometimes you just need to be brave and take a leap of faith to find your happy ever after.
July 1, 2021
It's never a good idea to pretend, because inevitably what is pretended becomes all too real. So it is with professional yachtsman Jannes and his best friend, Lara. He has a rep as a playboy that's getting in the way of the kind of sponsorship he is seeking. Lara knows how to smooze people. So he asks her to be her pretend girlfriend. And she agrees, as long as he agrees to be her plus one at a family gathering she dreads attending. He does, so it's fakeness for both of them.
Until his grandmother and everyone else is taken in by their new/fake relationship, particularly when she is seen wearing a ring. Now what are they going to do?
Grandmother/Mormor comes to the rescue with an idea that Jannes decides to run with, but will it work after the big fight he had with Lara? Will she accept what he finally dredges up the courage to tell her? And if she accepts his words, will she also accept him?
Until his grandmother and everyone else is taken in by their new/fake relationship, particularly when she is seen wearing a ring. Now what are they going to do?
Grandmother/Mormor comes to the rescue with an idea that Jannes decides to run with, but will it work after the big fight he had with Lara? Will she accept what he finally dredges up the courage to tell her? And if she accepts his words, will she also accept him?
May 17, 2021
I'm a sucker for a good friends to lovers story, and Ellie Darkins has written a *fantastic* one.
With all of her trademark banter and fantastic twenty-first century takes on classic romance tropes, this book is a fast, fun read. But don't for a moment think that means there isn't a LOT going on under the surface!
Lara and Jannes are such real, rounded characters with deep issues that are going to take a lot of working through together if they want to find their happy ever after. I loved their friendship every bit as much as their romance, and that made it so easy to understand their fear of risking the relationship they had for the one they could have.
If you're in the mood for fun, flirty romance with an emotional core that gives you all the feels, this is definitely the book for you. I loved it.
With all of her trademark banter and fantastic twenty-first century takes on classic romance tropes, this book is a fast, fun read. But don't for a moment think that means there isn't a LOT going on under the surface!
Lara and Jannes are such real, rounded characters with deep issues that are going to take a lot of working through together if they want to find their happy ever after. I loved their friendship every bit as much as their romance, and that made it so easy to understand their fear of risking the relationship they had for the one they could have.
If you're in the mood for fun, flirty romance with an emotional core that gives you all the feels, this is definitely the book for you. I loved it.
May 21, 2021
I loved the glimpse we get of Lara in Snowbound at the Manor so I was super excited to get to read her story too.
Ellie Darkins spins a friends-to-lovers tale that is not only believable but also incredibly sensual. You feel the yearning in both to cross that line from the off and the reason they finally do is down to external pressures to present the happy couple image. I loved how they were supposed to be playing make pretend but every time they crossed that line for the sake of performance they edged that little bit closer to crossing over for real. The will-they, won't-they had me gripped and gave me all the feels. As for that ending! Wow! So contemporary and very much suited to the story 💞
If you love the friends-to-lovers trope and your romances full of fun and banter, this one is for you!
Ellie Darkins spins a friends-to-lovers tale that is not only believable but also incredibly sensual. You feel the yearning in both to cross that line from the off and the reason they finally do is down to external pressures to present the happy couple image. I loved how they were supposed to be playing make pretend but every time they crossed that line for the sake of performance they edged that little bit closer to crossing over for real. The will-they, won't-they had me gripped and gave me all the feels. As for that ending! Wow! So contemporary and very much suited to the story 💞
If you love the friends-to-lovers trope and your romances full of fun and banter, this one is for you!
May 28, 2021
Friends to lovers romance always put the protagonists in a quandary. Will the physical attraction damage the emotional connection they have as friends? This is the question for Lara and Jannes as they embark on a fake relationship to help Jannes' career risking their friendship for a PR stunt.
Jannes and Lara have trust issues which make their friendship precious. Their emotional connectivity and the glamorous setting allow their physical attraction to develop. It makes the couple face their emotional issues together in a bid to be both friends and lovers.
The characters are flawed and likeable, the dialogue is witty, and the story explores contemporary issues.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Jannes and Lara have trust issues which make their friendship precious. Their emotional connectivity and the glamorous setting allow their physical attraction to develop. It makes the couple face their emotional issues together in a bid to be both friends and lovers.
The characters are flawed and likeable, the dialogue is witty, and the story explores contemporary issues.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 13, 2021
4.5 stars
What a beautiful romance. Two people who can't commit (it's not just a question of won't commit - they really cannot! And their reasons make sense, too!), but then, love happens. It's a beautiful journey to see them embark on that route, desperately, reluctantly, but knowing them being together is inevitable. And the chemistry between them - not just the heat, but you can see these two are friends; they are each other's person, full stop. Sigh... Such a beautiful romance! Really enjoyed it!
What a beautiful romance. Two people who can't commit (it's not just a question of won't commit - they really cannot! And their reasons make sense, too!), but then, love happens. It's a beautiful journey to see them embark on that route, desperately, reluctantly, but knowing them being together is inevitable. And the chemistry between them - not just the heat, but you can see these two are friends; they are each other's person, full stop. Sigh... Such a beautiful romance! Really enjoyed it!
May 12, 2021
Thank you so much Ellie for the gifted copy of this book!
I absolutely love all Mills and Boon books, but there is something so lovely about the True Love series as they focus on the sensual romance over steamy scenes 🔥 . This story was no exception.
From Best Friend to Fiancée is full of romance and laughs, but also has quite sad aspects as both Lara and Jannes have a lot of baggage. For a short story, it is jam packed with ‘will they, won’t they’ and the love between them is evident on the page.
I would love to know what happens next......
I absolutely love all Mills and Boon books, but there is something so lovely about the True Love series as they focus on the sensual romance over steamy scenes 🔥 . This story was no exception.
From Best Friend to Fiancée is full of romance and laughs, but also has quite sad aspects as both Lara and Jannes have a lot of baggage. For a short story, it is jam packed with ‘will they, won’t they’ and the love between them is evident on the page.
I would love to know what happens next......
May 11, 2021
Thank you for sharing your wonderful book Ellie! This friends to lovers story is full of sensual romance, laughter and all things that make me so happy. Lara and Jannes are have so much baggage it’s almost impossible to see them together until you meet them in the first few pages and realise that they belong together and I couldn’t stop reading until the last page.
October 14, 2025
2,5 ⭐️
I was expecting too much because my friend said she giggled in blush when she read it. I guess it's just not my cup of tea. Rasanya ceritanya terlalu berputar-putar di permasalahan yang itu-itu saja, and not to mention the typos everywhere ugh I just can't.
I was expecting too much because my friend said she giggled in blush when she read it. I guess it's just not my cup of tea. Rasanya ceritanya terlalu berputar-putar di permasalahan yang itu-itu saja, and not to mention the typos everywhere ugh I just can't.
May 16, 2021
3.75 stars. Review to follow.
May 19, 2021
Gorgeous! A lovely romance with all the feels.
August 23, 2021
It was obvious from the start where this book was going, but the story was still able to keep my attention. A quick read and a lovely writing style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
Waste.of.time.
May 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was a lovely romance that hooked me in fast and kept me reading until the end. I loved Jannes, and really enjoyed his sensitivity and care for Lara, which makes a nice change from bad-boy love interests. In fact, both Jannes and Lara showed a lot of care for each other, even though they were totally misguided and kept getting in their own way!
Both Lara and Jannes bring a lot of commitment phobia to their friendship, which comes from childhood trauma. Jannes was sent to boarding school at a young age leaving him with a fear of being abandoned, and Lara's father left her and her mother for his 'other family.' These trust issues were well developed and brought an added depth to the book, as well as bringing together all the later misunderstandings and errors in judgment that make up the story.
Jannes' grandmother was a really important secondary character and I loved her. She's a strong, independent woman who ignored everything she was told, and did what she thought was right every step of the way, no matter the consequences. I really enjoyed her individuality and determination.
From Best Friend to Fiancée was an uplifting romance with likeable characters that I really rooted for. Definitely one to read when you could do with a pick me up!
Both Lara and Jannes bring a lot of commitment phobia to their friendship, which comes from childhood trauma. Jannes was sent to boarding school at a young age leaving him with a fear of being abandoned, and Lara's father left her and her mother for his 'other family.' These trust issues were well developed and brought an added depth to the book, as well as bringing together all the later misunderstandings and errors in judgment that make up the story.
Jannes' grandmother was a really important secondary character and I loved her. She's a strong, independent woman who ignored everything she was told, and did what she thought was right every step of the way, no matter the consequences. I really enjoyed her individuality and determination.
From Best Friend to Fiancée was an uplifting romance with likeable characters that I really rooted for. Definitely one to read when you could do with a pick me up!
April 10, 2024
The last book in 2023.
Sayangnya aku kurang bisa menikmati kisah ringan khas lini Harlequin ini.
Romansa bebas adegan ranjang walau temanya pertunangan pura2. Intinya kedua tokoh utama menyadari bahwa persahabatan mereka terpaksa harus berubah status menjadi bertunangan krn satu dan lain hal.
2/*5
Sayangnya aku kurang bisa menikmati kisah ringan khas lini Harlequin ini.
Romansa bebas adegan ranjang walau temanya pertunangan pura2. Intinya kedua tokoh utama menyadari bahwa persahabatan mereka terpaksa harus berubah status menjadi bertunangan krn satu dan lain hal.
2/*5
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