Sexy and steamy, with some laugh out loud moments, this is a classic love store with a modern internet twist. I really enjoyed watching Willow and Zane find each other and take risks to recapture the love they'd ignited as children.

Oh boy am I glad that I read this one! This is the first in a new series . I love how Foster mixed up the sweet romance with the heat/sexy and even added in a dash of humor! I really enjoyed this story and watching them come together. I’m a sucker for the second chance love story and this is one that is really well done. I love how Foster made Zane so relatable despite his being a movie star and Willow was a very spunky and interesting character. Them together was magic! Really liked this and definitely recommend!

3.5 Stars
The Real Thing is the first in a new series and features a cute friends to lover/second chances story. Zane and Willow grew up together. He was her first, but their relationship never had a chance to get off the ground. Now he is a big time movie star and needs her to help him clean up his image.

For the most part, I enjoyed the book. The characters were fun. I especially loved all of Willow's family and how they rallies around her. Their stories will be fun to read. I loved Zane. It was fun watching him woo Willow into believing he loved her and had for a long time. The one thing I didn't really like about the story was the speed that they went from being fake engaged to admitting feelings for each other. I almost wanted more angst or complications. It was just a little too easy for me. While there was nothing completely new here, it's still a fun and quick read. I look forward to more in the future.

A great start to a new series by Melissa Foster.
It's hard to believe, as I know that Melissa Foster is a very popular author, but I've never read any of her books before.
The Real Thing was the first book by Melissa Foster that I have read and I now plan on finding all of her other books and reading them because I enjoyed this book so much.
I'm a big fan of the fake engagement trope especially when it involves two characters who share a romantic past or connection.
This was a thoroughly good contemporary romance read and I look forward to reading more books in this series in the future.

An arc of this book was generously provided to me by Montlake Romance and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review

Zane and Willow have been friends for a long time and Zane has been part of Willow's family as well. When each of them needs the other for something they are there in a heart beat, even if it takes some convincing. This is the first book in this series and I must say I thought it was good. I loved the family connection in the story with Willow's siblings and I can't wait to read the other books in this series. I have read many books by Melissa Foster and each time the author has disappointed me.

This tender, yet steamy, friends-to-lovers, and first loves romance had me smiling and oohing and ahhing. I’m not surprised. Foster is an expert when it comes to writing magical romances. For those of you who didn’t know, I’ll let you in on a not-so-big, not-really a secret. I’m her biggest fan, and Willow and Zane’s story added some more cement to my status.

They’ve loved each other since they were teenagers, but neither was aware of the other’s feelings. Despite their miscommunication after their first time together (and they were each other’s first), they stayed in touch. Their friendship continued to flourish, despite the heartbreak they both felt, and that my dear readers, is true love. They could forgive each other anything, and didn’t really make any pretenses about whether or not they could. Even though their relationship was introduced to each other as hidden pretense, they really belonged to each other. The transformation was smooth, believable, and memorable. Foster did a great job showing the differences between their lives. She shows the difficulty the small-town Willow has adapting to Zane’s fame- especially the paparazzi. Although they have a great relationship, the struggles are there, and even though there’s a second – just a split second – of doubt from Willow on whether or not she could deal with such a public life, there was never a moment when she actually thought about giving up on their relationship. And Zane was definitely not having it.

I enjoyed their openness, loyalty, and the way they always made time for and enjoyed each other. Willow’s family members are very loving, and each in their own way, very charming. They’re all close, but they all have very different personalities. I just know this will be another great series. Kudos to Foster!

When you love someone your whole life and you never told her. That is the premise of this book. Zae has been a part of Willows life for as long as he can remember. He can't imagine being without her. so he devises a plan to get her to spend time with him. Little by little her reflexes go down and she has to make the decision that is right for her.

I loved this book it was an easy read.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

4 Real Love Stars
* * * *
Melissa Foster is someone who knows what she is doing... she creates situations that warm our hearts as we watch them unfold. She is the Queen of Heartwarming Series and every time I crack open one of her books, I know I will be taken to place I won't want to leave.


The Real Thing is a new series that focuses on a hidden love that becomes front and center when movie star long time "friend", Zane Walker, needs a "Cover Fiancee." He needs this to clean up his reputation. The only person he can truly trust is a girl who came to him... asking for a favor of a lifetime long ago.


Willow Dalton has always had a soft spot for Zane... yet sometimes his arrogance and confidence has driven her nuts. They have this friend/enemy thing happening... which actually hides the true/real feelings they both have.


When Willow drives at breakneck speed to a resort thinking she is about to have the interview of her career, she has no idea how life changing it actually will be. She has been working so hard to make her bakery a success and closing a contract with the resort would take her to the next level.


With all her hopes tied up with this opportunity, she is in no mood for anything to go wrong...


Of course, they do...and the icing on the cake... Zane is responsible for her being there in the first place! When he comes clean as to why she is really at the resort, he presents her with a proposal... She will get the exposure her bakery needs and he will have a trusted friend helping him "clean up his act" as his pretend fiancee.


After all...She owes him....


This is a sweet story done well by Melissa Foster. We get all the yummy bits of two people who have cared for each other all along.


A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

I LOVE Zane! Absolutely freaking LOVE him!!! Yes he's a big movie star heartthrob but he still comes back to town to persuade Willow, his best friend, to be his pretend fiancee and give him the credibility that he needs as a settled down actor for this role. Willow is the only person he can imagine in the fake fiancee role and so no one but Willow will do. She's one of his best friends and one of the only people who doesn't treat him as the Hollywood star he has become.

Willow was in love with Zane as a child but over 10 years has gotten over him. Except he was her first and held her heart for so long, even if he never realized it.

Another amazing series by Melissa Foster that just makes me want to read this series even more! Definitely keep an eye on this series. I can't wait to see how Willow's sisters get their HEAs.

The Real Thing kicks off a brand new series for Melissa Foster called the Sugar Lake series. As with all of her books, Melissa gives you a romance that is sugary sweet yet hot with some humor mixed in as well. She has easily become one of my top go-to authors for romance that is low on angst but can still give you all the feels. 

Willow has known Zane since childhood since he was her brother's best friend. Before she left for college, she asked Zane to take her virginity and they both buried that night afterwards. It's been ten years and a lot has changed; Willow owns a bakery and Zane is an actor. He asks Willow to pretend to be his fiance to help him land a role and she can't tell him no. Both of them are afraid the other will break their heart. Will they finally tell each other their true feelings? 

I loved these characters and this story. I can't wait to read the next book! 
Rating: 4.5 stars

There is nothing like diving into a new novel. The Real Thing is the first book of a new series, especially when its one written by Melissa Foster!

Bad boy actor, Zane Walker needs to clean up his questionable reputation. A plan's hatched that should be the perfect material for the film studios PR reps to spin. Only he needs the co-operation of his friend Willow Dalton in his home town of Sweetwater to pull it off. He's confident she'll assist him, but forgets to inform her that his ulterior motive is far from temporary, as he sets his sights at a permanent future with the only woman he's ever loved.

Willow Dalton's bakery is thriving but ambition means she's looking to further build on her success. So when she's offered an opportunity to further expand her business, she jumps at it. Only the offer isn't what she expects and spins her life in an unexpected direction.

Devious, arrogant but with the best of intentions, Zane is a man on a mission as years of pent up feelings finally surface. Even though his actions are questionable, his objectives are well placed even though his approach is off. I love his strong determination to get the woman he wants and his admittance that rules Willow laid years earlier he adhered to because that's was she wanted...not him!

An independent, sassy woman, Willow will forever remember the man who changed her life forever. In the preceding years, she's built a thriving business but her heart has never forgotten Zane Walker. Now, he's back in Sweetwater with an agenda she never foresaw even in her wildest dreams.

Together, due to their complicated past, sparks fly instantly between the protagonists as deep buried feelings and desires surface. Their strong personalities clash in a positive way as they come to the realisation they belong together, although the path they follow is far from smooth. Melissa ensures the sexual tension is ever present and complimented with banter and entertaining conversations as the adorable pair fight their personal internal battles as well as their attraction for each other. To push, coerce and object to their inevitable coupling are an adorable assortment of family and friends who bring the small town setting of Sweetwater alive. Thus, creating a firm foundation for future novels in what promises to be a wonderful, romantic and sexy series.

5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***

You can’t go wrong with a story by Ms Foster.
The Real Thing is the first book of her new series that promises to be one full of fun and interesting characters.
This first one centers around Willow Dillon and Zane Walker. Willow is a happy and successful bakery owner in their hometown, and Zane town left and is now a Hollywood star with a not very stellar reputation. They have known each other for what seems like forever and when Zane needs to clean up his public persona, he seeks a fake fiancee. Of course , Willow is the perfect choice. But, will make believe be just that , or will the true feelings be revealed and become “the real thing” ?
Both characters were well developed , and very likable. Family , friendships and love shine throughout the story and the plot kept you engaged.
Another well written story by Ms Foster. Looking forward to more stories in this series.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley and Montlake Romance. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Willow Dalton loves her happy and uncomplicated life in the small town she grew up in. But, the one big missing thing that she has always wanted is Zane Walker, her brother's best friend and one mega successful and living-in-LA movie star... who is in one word... complicated.

Zane Walker needs help with his image, and he knows just the person who owes him a favor. The best part is that if he gets Willow to agree to his big scheme, they get to spend a lot of time together... something he has been missing for years.

Now that Willow and Zane are spending real time with each other, the feelings that have always been close to the surface are having a rough time staying hidden. Are the deeper feelings the same for the both of them... and is life in their two very different worlds something they will ever be able to figure out...

This was a light and enjoyable book! Zane is one sexy and adorable movie star. He has this vulnerability while still being confident and assertive with what he wants. Willow loves her job, her town and her family... but she also loves Zane. While she is happy in her life, when Zane approaches her with his scheme it doesn't take long for her to see what she has been missing.

With an amazing cast of characters in this new Sugar Lake series, we are definitely in for an amazing succession of their individual stories to come...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3LY54IP3LWPRT/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

4 Sweet Stars

The Real Thing by Melissa Foster was a sweet, entertaining and enjoyable read.

When I'm in the mood for low angst and high romance my go to author is Melissa Foster. I love how she always manages to bring out the feels with her words and characters.
In The Real Thing she's done it again, a sweet and romantic storyline, characters that will make you swoon, but also frustrate you and then leave you with a huge satisfying smile when they eventually get their happily everafter.

Willow and Zane, they were likable, endearing characters that I easily connected with and I loved watching their fake relationship turn into the real thing.
These two had a strong attraction and their chemistry was smoking!

The Real Thing is a lovely read and a great start to the Sugar Lake series. Looking forward to Only for You which is due for release December 5th.

*Buy Links*
➜KINDLE: http://smarturl.it/TRT4_KINDLE
➜PAPERBACK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542045819

*Thank you to Montlake Romance for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*

Wow!! What a way to start a new series. If you love friends to lovers or second chance romance you need to read this book because it has it all, its sweet, it's hot and it has characters you will fall in love with.
Willow Dalton grew up in the small town of Sweetwater surrounded by family and friends, she loves to bake and she owns Sweetie Pie Bakery but there is one thing missing from her life and that's a man. Willow has never really gotten over her first love Zane Walker, he was her oldest brothers best friend , he was always around, when she needed a favour it was Zane she went to but he left town as soon as he couldand he took a piece of her heart with him.
Zane is now a playboy actor living the high life in LA but he needs to clean up his image and it's time to call in that favour from many years ago, he needs a fiancé could Willow be that girl, will she remember that she owes him....
What starts of as a fake relationship turns into so much more because deep down both Willow and Zane have always loved each other, they just needed a push in the right direction. Melissa Foster has a way with words, her characters are loveable and her stories have plenty of humour, friends, family,happy times, love and romance all make for a great read. Looking forward to the going back to Sweetwater and reading more about the inhabitants of this small town.

The Real Thing is the first book in the Sugar Lake series. Movie star Zane Walker is about to film a new movie, but he needs a better image. He turns to his long time crush and once lover, Willow Dalton, and asks for her to be his fake fiancé.

I loved Zane and Willow. After an encounter they had years earlier, both were left with hurt feelings, neither knowing how either one of them truly felt about one another. Still, over the years they always turned to each other for advise when they needed it. Willow's family is immediately accepting of their engagement because they all believed that the pair would eventually end up together. That makes them feel guilty, but as they continue on with the charade, both realize that maybe this fake engagement might be able to turn into the real thing.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of Willow's siblings find their happy endings, too. A couple of potential future relationships are hinted at in this book and it'll be interesting to see how they turn out.

Unlike some authors where their books feel like they're the same story just with different characters, Melissa Foster somehow always manages to keep her books fresh and exciting. If you haven't read anything by her before, you're in for a treat, and considering this is the first in a new series, it's a good place to start.

When I first met Zane Walker in Crashing into Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens at Trusty Book 6), as Jake Braden's actor friend in Hollywood, I thought he was an insensitive womanizer.

I am glad we have this second chance to know him better in this new Sugar Lake series!

Willow Dalton and Zane Walker are childhood friends and have a special connection that it is worthy to discover throughout the book. We get to know Willow and the Dalton's in Bad Boys After Dark (Bad Billionaires After Dark Book 1). She is a fantastic baker with a strong attitude and is as sweet as her cupcakes.

Zane needs a fake fiancée to improve his image as a romantic hero in a new movie and Willow is his girl as she knows him as no one else. However, as this farce progresses both realizes that they are more involved than ever and their chemistry and connection is so great that it is impossible to keep their hands from each other.

Only Melissa Foster can write beautiful words like " But I actually like you. I'm more myself with you than I've ever been with any other guy, which is why I've tried to keep you at arm's length."
This book is pure feelings and it is so raw that I cried almost in every page of it.

Willow and Zane are sweet, sexy, naughty but incredibly romantic. This is a great start of what I think will be a wonderful series.

I have read many of Melissa Foster's other books and this one feels different... in a good way. I'm a fan of her work, but this story felt more complete and the characters more complex than the Love in Bloom series. The Real Thing is a little more than just a quick light beach read. The story is still fast a paced and the tone generally light hearted as I've come to expect from her other books, but I felt more of connection to Willow and Zane than I typically do with characters in her books. I am really looking forward to this new direction of books and recommend them to anyone who enjoys other Montlake authors like Catherine Bybee and Marina Adair.

What a great way to start a new Melissa Foster series.

What would you do if your "one" asked you to be their fake fiancee for a couple of weeks?

You know this is going to end up one of two ways, right?

Zane and Willow's story is sweet and cute and sexy. I could completely understand why Willow is a bit standoffish with Zane at the beginning, once we get to know their history.

Zane is just the bomb.com - there was nothing I didn't like about him in this story. The more we learn, the more I adored him.

However Willow did it for me. I liked that she is not some weak "oh but why does he like me" kinda girl. She is smart, sassy, successful and knows what she wants.

And a really great thing about this book - no big drama just for the sake of drama. Sure, our lovelies had their issues, however everything was dealt with like adults.

There are great secondary characters, particular Willow's family, who will be the focus of the other books to come in this series.

The Real Thing is cute and sweet and adorable, and a great way to spend my night.

Now I am impatient for the next book in the Sugar Lake series.

**will go live on blog during tour**