This is the first book I've read by Ms. Foster (because apparently I've been living under a rock), and I enjoyed it very much! The lead characters of Zane and Willow are both very likeable, and their love for each other is palpable. It was refreshing to read this sweet love story where the hero didn't spend most of the book in denial; he realized his love for Willow and then put all his focus on proving it. The obstacles they faced were realistic and well written. And the sex scenes were so hot I thought my Kindle might spontaneously combust. Ms. Foster has a real knack for writing steamy sex scenes that make the reader swoon. In a nutshell, every aspect of this book, from the interesting storyline to the well-developed characters, is satisfying. This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the others.

This one is a pretty standard Romance story it is a pretty standard contemporary romance a little longer then a Harlequin/Silhouette series book but follows that format pretty close so if you enjoy this type of book you will like this quick read.
http://booksinbrogan.com/blog/2017/08/08/real-thing-melissa-foster/

I loved reading the story of Zane and Willow! I think it is a cute and light contemporary and something that will easily pull you out of a reading slump, if you need help getting out of it.
The one complaint however that I do have is that I wish it were a bit less of a generic "let's pretend to be engaged and then I fall in love with you" kind of novel. When I first started reading the book, I was hoping it would be a little different from the generic romance books, but it's okay that it let me down a bit because I truly did fall for the characters and was able to get over the disappointment of how Melissa set them couple up to fall in love.
I really liked Bridgette, and am hoping this is a series because I would like to get a story from her POV.
All in all, I would recommend this book to my other friends that have similar reading tastes as me, because it's a light, easy read, and I thought it was perfect for the summer (even though it isn't to be published until September).

Yes please, more please! I loved The Real Thing. I thought that it could have been finished halfway through. So for me the rest was just frosting on the cupcake as Zane would say. I can't wait to read the rest of Willow's siblings stories.

What Melissa Foster does, she does well. She writes sweet books that makes you cheer for the couple and you do it with a smile on your face.

Zane is a hot movie star and Willow (even the name sounds sweet) is a baker. They grew up together and (of course) never confessed their feelings for each other. Zane returns to town and he needs to clean up his image so (of course) Willow agrees to be his fiance'. And (of course), their feelings develop and they have an HEA!

I don't consider this a spoiler, because hey...that's the formula and that's why we read these books! Foster is a pro at giving readers a book that isn't overly mushy and low on soap opera qualities. She is always a must read author.

Sweet beach read. I had a hard time connecting with the two characters, they didn't act like late 20s/early 30s. Zane was immature and Willow was too capricious for my tastes. That being said, this is a typical romance that doesn't stray too far from the "fake fiancé/spouse" storyline.

Zane Walker might be a sexy, playboy Hollywood actor, but he is the sweetest thing since frosting!

Willow Dalton pleas (ok she just asks and he readily agrees) for Zane to be her first before she goes off to college. Playing the encounter off as just a one and done- both Willow and Zane have never fully gotten over the connection they shared while growing up. Secrets revealed of their relationship after their encounter are both sad and sweet.

Zane concocts a plan for Willow to play his fake fiance to clean up his image. Zane's play to get Willow is irresistible and charming. Willow is trying to resist but knows the boy before he became a Hollywood Hot Hunk. Deceiving her family and friends is hard for Willow when everyone is thrilled with her engagement to Zane, the boy they felt she was destined to be with. However, soon she finds she sucks at acting because her feelings are real.

That's all fine with Zane because his feelings are no act. I loved Zane. When his assistant spills the beans to Willow on his Hollywood life it's adorable.

Willow and Zane were supportive of one another while still giving each other crap! LOL!

This story was excellent for a foundation book in a series that brought all the other characters sure to have their own book while not bogging the story line down.

Willow thought she was getting a catering job. Unfortunately, when she arrived she finds out she was tricked. It turns out that her friend Zane had his own plan for her. He wanted her to pretend to be his fiance for a weeks to help his career. Willow wasn't too thriled with this but agreed in the end. Will they really be able to end this fake engagement after the time specified and go back to being friends?

This book sounded like it would be good from the blurb. However, I found the plot too boring for me and didnt enjoy it so I eventually had to give up on reading it.

I couldn't get through the first chapter sadly.. I couldn't connect with the main character

There are quite a few tropes from romance novels mixed together in this story. Second chance romance - check. Pretend engagement - check. Hot actor with ordinary woman - check. Cute small town where everyone knows everyone - check. Guy falling for his best friend’s little sister - check. It all comes together in a sweet package, which is appropriate since Willow, the heroine, runs a bakery.

Her first crush, her big brother’s best friend, Zane has become a huge Hollywood star of action movies. For some reason, the movie is filming in their hometown in upstate New York. Zane tricks/convinces Willow into asking to pretend to be engaged to him to help his reputation. As if no Hollywood actor has a reputation for sleeping around. She agrees and within a few days, he’s convinced her that he has always loved her and they should make it real.

There’s a little bit of small-town sweetness and a tiny bit if her having to cope with dating a famous actor, but it all gets resolved pretty quickly and easily. It was pleasant, but not gripping. Think of the novel as cotton candy - fun and sweet but without much substance to it. If that is what you’re in the mood for, this book will be just right for you.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My first Melissa Foster book, and it was a quick, fun read.

Zane and Willow's lives have been entwined for years. He's her older brother's best friend, and they have developed a friendship and relationship of their own.

I liked that they each appreciated and loved a lot about the other - more than just physical appearance. Their shared past meant that they saw a lot more than what is on the surface.

While I did really believe they cared about each other deeply, it felt like there was a lot of time devoted to their physical relationship. Since this is the first book I've read by the author I'm not sure if this is normal in her novels. I have read a lot of romance this year, but it felt like there could have been less of this aspect of the story in the book.

Willow's family is very tight knit and it was sweet how close she is to all of her siblings especially. They added a lot of humor to the story and I think they'll be great in future books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Melissa Foster and I think I fell in love with her writing. The book was sweet all over, beginning through end and it had actually nothing to do with Willow's sweets.
I quickly fell in love with Zane and Willow, they were the cutest together and the love they shared was so strong, it was beautiful to read. Their journey was an amazing one, even with those 10 years spent with their feelings towards one another and that night buried. That time 'apart' made the way they came together again even more perfect, it was a true joy to read. It was just really so sweet, I was swooning throughout almost the whole book with how cheesy and dreamy Zane was with Willow.
Here are some of my favorite Zane moments...

'I'm about as imperfect as they come, but my love for you is real.' (Not true, he is as close to perfect as it gets. The perfect book boyfriend.)

'With a finger beneath her chin, he lifted her eyes to his. "You're the sweetest thing". "I'm your sweetest thing."'(Seriously, they're the absolute cutest. The sweetest thing together.)

'His arms pushed beneath her cradling her body against his, until even air couldn't fit between them. Their mouths came together as they began to move, and he kissed her so deeply, so lovingly, years of pent-up emotions came rushing forward.' (SWOON. They share the sweetest moments, even when they are dirty and playful, you can see what they're sharing is much more than their bodies.)

Seriously, I had no expectations going into this book and it ended up surprising me in the most wonderful way. I really enjoyed this read and I absolutely recommend to any and every Romance lover out there.
Also, I'm excited to see what happens with each and every one of Willow's siblings because yes, I'm so reading each and every of their books!!

The Real Thing is a wonderful contemporary love story about two people who were always destined to be with each other, however being to young, stupid and scared their lifes went differently. Over 10 year later there`s still this subliminal attraction which can no longer be ignored. Particularly if the previously maintained distance is eliminated; with the help of a fictitious engagement.

This book is intense, hot and funny. I liked how Zane and Willow conquered their fears and decided themselves "to feel" and to trust in each other.

The Real Thing by Melissa Foster is a deliciously sweet romance with a cast of characters that will leave you breathless! I absolutely LOVED this book and couldn't stop reading once I started. It's a story about a fake relationship and while I have read this trope thousands of times already, Melissa's touch to the story made it stand out amongst all of the other ones. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

Wow. This was my first book from this author and I devoured this book. I'm a fast reader anyway, but this one kept me wanting to see what happened with Willow and Zane. It was such fun to watch them fall deeper and deeper in love and such a journey. When I got to the end of the book and thought back to who the characters were in the beginning and how much they had grown by the end of the book. Definitely in my top five list of romances I've read this summer!

I love a good second chance romance by Melissa Foster! And the fact that this is book one in the series make me giddy!

Willow and Zane are getting a second chance. Zane was Willow's brother's best friend and also her first! She asked him to be her first and help her out. She had a crazy list of rules following their fling that limited their future together. She did not think they could have one. Now, Zane is a famous actor and Willow has a bakery. Zane tricks Willow into meeting him and helping him by being his fake fiancee.

Willow and Zane are getting a second chance at the relationship they could have had when they were younger. Older and more mature, they have to deal with their pasts and present.

The description of this novel was what enticed me to request this book. It did not disappoint! I really loved the relationship between the two main characters. I was highly invested in the book from beginning to end. Thank for allowing me to read and review this novel!

There are some things you just don’t forget. For example, who was your first? For Willow, it was Zane, her older brother’s best friend. Willow went on to own a bakery. Zane became an A-list actor with a slutty reputation. To clean it up, Zane convinces Willow to be his fake fiancé. What happens when friends take the past one step further? Family, friends, and the whole community weigh in!

Melissa Foster has written a fun story that introduces us to Sugar Lake, a community in upstate New York, and to the Dalton family. Willow and Zane are fun, warm, and sexy. Enjoy this story and get ready for more!

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. I enjoyed this book from the first page and would recommend it to others.

I absolutely loved this book! When actor Zane Walker talks his longtime friend Willow Dalton into having a pretend engagement, he just can’t resist her. Although Willow had a lot of misgivings in posing as Zane’s temporary fiancé, she quickly learns her feelings for him are more than just good friends. AND it’s more than just the sweets coming from Willow’s bakery that are tempting them both. Melissa Foster has written another bestseller and a great beginning for the brand new series, Sugar Lake!