Island Affair

March 16, 2020
The beachy first romance in Oliveras’s Keys to Love series (after His Perfect Partner) hits all the right beats of a fake relationship romance but rushes through them. Social media influencer Sara Vance planned to prove her stability to her judgmental siblings by bringing her first serious boyfriend on their family vacation, so when he stands her up at the last minute she needs to find a stand-in fast. Key West firefighter Luis Navarro is still reeling from his ex-fiancée’s infidelity when he sees a distressed Sara in the airport parking lot and asks what’s wrong. She responds with a desperate proposal that they fake a relationship. Though Luis’s driving trait is his desire to help people, it’s still a stretch to believe it when he agrees. Playing pretend leads Sara and Luis to connect on an emotional level, but both hesitate to share their feelings in fear that the other is faking it. Despite this, the majority of conflicts the pair encounters are conveniently dismissed as quickly as they’re introduced, leading the romance to feel too easy. Though the sunny setting will put readers in a vacation state of mind, this is strictly for diehard fans of the fake boyfriend trope. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co.

March 15, 2020
A social media influencer asks a firefighter to pretend to be her boyfriend during a stressful family vacation in Key West. Sara Vance is panicked. She arrived in Florida for a weeklong family vacation only to be stood up by the man she'd been casually dating. Her mother is in recovery from a recent bout with cancer, and this vacation was supposed to help knit her fractured family closer together. Sara is the youngest sibling and an underachiever--her parents and both siblings are high-powered doctors--and Sara worries that being dumped will either make her the butt of the family's jokes or cause her mom to worry. Enter kind, handsome Key West firefighter Luis Navarro. Luis has an unplanned week of vacation; his captain insisted he take time off to get his emotional bearings after handling a particularly gruesome car accident. After meeting a distressed Sara when she arrives in Key West, he agrees to play the part of her boyfriend--anything to avoid his own feelings and family dramas. The story's opening is tight and compelling, but the middle section drifts by without much conflict, just Sara and Luis ruminating about past mistakes and marveling at how easy it is to be together. The Key West setting is lovingly portrayed, showing how local families struggle with the rising costs of living on an island paradise. Also notable: Sara is in recovery from an eating disorder she developed in college, and the book carefully portrays her determination to implement her therapist's advice and avoid triggers, all while refusing to succumb to her family's overbearing concern. Oliveras has a gift for showcasing how new lovers navigate introducing romantic partners to their families. Eventually, the plot snaps together and Luis and Sara realize they are stronger together than apart. Two good people find love in this emotional, slow-burn romance.

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April 1, 2020

Social media influencer Sara Vance's boyfriend stands her up after she arrives in Key West for a family vacation, so she recruits a local firefighter, Luis Navarro, to play the part. The only complication is that they have to make sure to avoid Luis's family and friends as they're playing lovebirds around town. Sara and Luis have some real chemistry together, and there are some sexy moments throughout the story, although not very explicit. However, there are some very serious topics addressed in the story that may be a surprise to readers expecting a light story, and a heaping dose of melodrama to add some last-minute tension for the hero and heroine. VERDICT Readers who love the "fake dating" trope or romances with a backdrop of family drama will enjoy this one. Content warnings for discussions of eating disorders, cancer, and loss.--Amanda Turk, Corvallis-Benton Cty. P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2020
Social-media influencer Sara Vance invited her new boyfriend to meet her family during a planned week in Key West. When he stands her up, she starts talking to Luis, who overheard her upsetting conversation. Firefighter Luis has been mandated to take time off after a particularly difficult accident, and he agrees to help Sara by filling in as her boyfriend. The Vance family is not close the way Luis' large Cuban clan is, but Luis enjoys getting to know them while showing them around his native island. Sara and Luis' sexy, slow-building romance sizzles like the island heat as they help each other sort out their sibling and past relationship issues. Oliveras' (Their Perfect Melody, 2018) delightful romance, the start to the Keys to Love series, is infused with the sights and tastes of Key West, creating an immersive experience. The families are realistically drawn in all their challenges, and building a relationship in a week in close quarters is a fun setup, with friction and a satisfying ending. Readers will look forward to the next installment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)