The Real Thing

Sugar Lake, Book 1

By: Melissa Foster

Narrated by: John Lane

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Bakery owner Willow Dalton's friendship with Zane Walker has always been a bit complicated. Now a scrumptiously hot A-list actor, Zane's always had a reputation as a player. He's arrogant, and he's definitely not boyfriend material. Sure, he did Willow a favor by agreeing to take her virginity before college, but is that reason enough for her to go along with a fake engagement a decade later - even if it comes with a real diamond ring?

Zane should have known better. Nothing involving Willow has ever been easy. Still, he knows her better than anyone, and becoming America's hottest new leading man means cleaning up his reputation. An "engagement" to curvy, sass-mouthed Willow is the perfect PR move...provided no one gets hurt.

Now Zane and Willow's little white lie has turned into an irresistible recipe for sweet temptation. And soon no one will be able to tell the difference between their fake engagement and the real thing - including them.

©2017 Melissa Foster (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

HOT

Loved loved loved this story. A very romantic story. And John Lane's performance was an added bonus. A great ending as well.

Fun

Cute and fun story with a very contrived drama scene that bordered on annoying. The MCs did grow throughout the story which always helps. Overall it was a light, sometimes hot and enjoyable listen.

Wowza

The Real Thing is the first book in a new series Sugar Lake by Melissa Foster. I have recently came to love Melissa's work. If you haven't picked up her books Do it now!! This book has it all sex, love, friendship, and laughter! It's a second chance romance. I absolutely adore it!! I can't wait till the next one comes out.

Willow is a baker. She has been in love with her brother's best friend and she has been in love with him her entire life. Willow tries to deny the feelings at every chance she gets but anyone who can look at her and Zane can tell they are made for each other.

Zane is an all that movie star. He has always been in love with his best friends kid sister but somethings must be ignored unless in secret. He has became a man whore over the years to try and now he needs a fiancé in order to turn his image around. So why not Willow the only woman who has every had his attention.

When I was younger, I may have given it more stars

Melissa Foster is new to me, but she seems to have a lot of loyal followers and I needed some light reading. The narrator wasn't bad, the story line was okay and the couple seemed to have chemistry. It even held my interest most of the time. But here's the reason for my lukewarm review: I actually listened to nonfiction podcasts a few times before finishing this book. Maybe I'm too old (57) to enjoy the younger couples anymore. Something I'll have to keep in mind for future purchases.

Baker love

Fun story, steamier than some of the author's other books. there is a single male narrator for both perspectives.

I love all of her books

I believe I own all of her books I will listen to or read anything she has written. I may not be the best person to say this but everything I have read by Melissa Foster deserves five stars or more.

Great book!

This was a great book that went by entirely too fast. I enjoyed the characters Zane and Willow as they were well written characters with great chemistry. I enjoyed the sense of family and community that was throughout the book with the characters as well. I enjoyed watching Zane come to terms with the feelings that he had for a long time for Willow and finally embracing them while showing her that his feelings were true. I also enjoyed seeing Willow finally confess her feelings for Zane to him and embrace her future with him. The narration by John Lane was performed well and had me hooked with his style of reading making it an enjoyable listening experience. I enjoyed this book from the first page and would recommend it to others.

Glad I didn't pay for it

I chose this book because it was free. The story was predictable and was a bit long. I'm no prude, but could have done without the many sexcapades. Supposedly Willow was supposed to have been plus sized or curvy but was described having big boobs, small waist and large hips. Just makes me laugh they cant have an actual big girl for the heroine. Always gotta have the small waist..The male narrator made me think of Robert Stack narrating the 80's series Unsolved Mysteries.

Great

Enjoyed thoroughly. Loved the characters and story line. would lovevreasing about other sister's and their stories.

Ummmmm..

So I get when a guy is the narrator it's sometimes hard for him to do believable female voices, but John Lane's voice was SO deep as a male to compensate that it became irritating after while. Seriously, his female voice was fine and there was no need to GO SO LOW. It was a nice love story but it could have been 4 chapters shorter.