Stay Real | Kaylee Ryan | Lynchburg Reads

#KincaidBrothers #smalltownromance #fakedating #bluecollar

Courtney

Maybe blurting out my imaginary relationship status to my nagging mother wasn’t the best idea.

Declaring that I’m dating my boss’s brother-in-law, well, that was just wishful thinking and a lot of panic.

To my embarrassment, they both overhead me. But Merrick not only offers to be my plus one, he agrees to fake date me for the next couple of months leading up to my sister’s wedding.

The more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny that every look, every touch, is making him more a part of my life than I’m prepared for.

The pain of thinking about walking away from him when it’s time doesn’t feel pretend. It feels real… too real.

Merrick

Courtney’s sister is tying the knot, and her mom is relentless about her finding a date and settling down. In a moment of panic, she claims she’s dating me.

To save her from the awkward situation and ease the pressure, I suggest we fake a relationship until the wedding. I figure we can hang out, show up to the wedding, and go our separate ways.

But as we start spending more time together and meeting each other’s families, the lines between real and pretend blur.

What was supposed to be a simple agreement starts to feel genuine. I’m unsure when it happened, but this relationship is suddenly the real deal, and I don’t want it to end. I want us to stay real.

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The Kincaid Brothers and all their wives will forever hold a special place in my heart. I knew that Merrick would find his soulmate in due time and now that it’s here, my heart is so full of love for him and Courtney’s story!

Merrick has been watching his brothers, including his twin, fall in love and although he doesn’t think he’s ready, true love sweeps in and turns this fake dating into something both characters want to Stay Real!

Courtney is such a sweetheart and she absorbs a lot of the pressure her mother has been putting on her about finding a date for her sister’s upcoming wedding. I loved how cool and suave Merrick was when he learns that Courtney has used him as a scapegoat as a date/boyfriend. Even though she keeps telling herself that what they have is nothing more than a simple agreement, the lines quickly become blurred.

I love how real the internal conflict felt for Courtney on the pages and Merrick’s a total gentleman, making every reader swoon. He’s charming, patient, and allows himself to be vulnerable with Courtney nearly right from the start. He gives her encouragement to stand up for herself without being pushy.

From start to finish, this book has everything I love about the trope of fake dating, yet gives us unique moments that capture the talent Kaylee has for giving us something that can stand on its own feet. Both characters evolve into better versions of themselves (apart and together!), forming a deep emotional connection that makes the physical well worth the wait to read.

If you love a sweet, low-angst romance, this is the PERFECT choice. I always recommend reading a series from start to finish and once you get to this book, you’ll adore how complete each brother and wife makes this series. It’s a perfect reminder that sometimes the best things in life are unexpected and with a little hope and work, they can Stay Real!

About Kaylee Ryan

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has been crowned the Queen of Swoon by her readers. With nearly fifty romance books under her belt, she’s known for penning happily ever afters with heart. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand or hanging out with her family where she resides in her home state of Ohio.