Author: Leah Marie Brown
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN
Description: Haven't you ever told a little lie in the name of love?
Vivia Grant couldn’t be happier. She has her dream job and is about to marry her dream man. Does it really matter that she’s led him to believe she’s a virgin? After all, being in love makes every experience feel like the first time anyway! But an unexpected encounter with an ex-lover is about to expose her embarrassing lie…
When Vivia’s fiancé discovers the truth, he ends their engagement—via text—and uses his connections to get her fired. Unemployed and heartbroken, Vivia begins planning her new future—as a homeless spinster. But her best friend has a better idea. They’ll skip the Ben & Jerry’s binge and go on Vivia’s honeymoon instead. Two weeks cycling through Provence and Tuscany, with Luc de Caumont, a sexy French bike guide. Too bad Vivia’s not a big fan of biking. And she’s abysmal at languages. Will she fib her way through the adventure, or finally learn to love herself—and Luc—flaws and all?
My Thoughts: Faking It by new to me author Leah Marie Brown is a very enjoyable story and the first book in a series. Vivia Perpetua Grant (Holy Mother of God, what is the matter with her Mother to name her that???) has always felt she doesn’t measure up to the ideal expectations of who she should be. She was named after a long-dead saint and as such, should live a life of purity and chastity, or so her Mother thinks. The first problem with that is Vivia enjoys sex; a lot. Though she is far from being a tart, she has been around the block several times. The second problem with that is Vivia feels enormous guilt for her colorful sexual past. The third problem is she has lied to her fiancé and led him to believe she is a virgin. I’m assuming was is the operative word here because I have a hard time believing she has been with Nathan for any length of time and they never slept together. Yeah, I know; semantics.
Unfortunately for Vivia, whether she and Nathan have been physically intimate or not, she allows Nathan to believe he was her first and mere days before their wedding, Vivia runs into a one-night stand from college. Not a big deal, I know, but thanks to his big-mouth friend, all of Vivia’s secrets are exposed. Of course, Nathan doesn’t take it well and ends their engagement, via text! And to add insult to injury, he has her fired! Good job, Nathan, you have won Knob of the Year award.
Vivia’s best friend, Fanny, decides they will go on Vivia’s honeymoon and like the Travelocity Gnome, document all the adventures Vivia’s engagement ring is having in France. What follows is a grand adventure, bicycling through Provence and Tuscany with a really hot Frenchman as their guide.
Any woman having the rug ripped out from under her by love can relate to Vivia. Yes, she shouldn’t have lied, but I had a huge problem with the way Nathan reacted, especially with having her fired. I found that petty and vindictive and for that, I am praying for bowling ball sized kidney stones for that creep. I also had a slight problem with how quickly Vivia moves on to Jean Luc. Rebound romances rarely work and for some make things worse. I was disappointed that Vivia didn’t take more time for herself. Figure out who she is and be OK with that so that she never again has to be someone she isn’t. I mean, that ALWAYS works out, doesn’t it? Vivia hates bicycling so she reverts to old patterns and isn’t truthful about that either. Honestly, it’s her honeymoon, though Nathan the Knob, picked it out, and she should be allowed to honeymoon the way she wants. Her need to be accepted and not disappoint anyone pushes her to do some pretty bizarre things.
Overall, this story ends on a high note and Vivia comes out on top, but there are loose ends that the epilogue didn’t answer for me. I will have to look for the second book in this story to find out what happens between the last chapter and the epilogue. I really liked Fanny and there’s a book for her too in this series.
My Final Verdict: I recommend this very entertaining story to every woman who has been let down by love or who is trying to be someone she isn’t because she doesn’t think she is good enough. Fans of interesting storylines taking place in amazing locales with strong characters will also enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Faking It from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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