This book is a captivating blend of romance, humor, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked from the very first page.

Dodd has a remarkable talent for creating characters that feel so real and relatable. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts, and their banter had me laughing out loud! I loved how their one-night encounter spiraled into something much deeper, exploring themes of love, trust, and vulnerability in such a refreshing way.

The writing is sharp and engaging, with a perfect balance of heartfelt moments and witty dialogue. I found myself completely immersed in their journey, cheering for them as they navigated the ups and downs of their relationship. The plot twists were unexpected and kept me on my toes, making it a thrilling read!

It was going smooth for me in the first few chapters but got lost interest and struggled as I went along the middle part of the book. The characters fell flat for me, but the story has a good concept and I was stunned at the spicy chapters—which I didn’t expect! It was so hot and I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an advance reading copy of this book.

The characters are so fun and make you feel really invested in them. The fake dating trope works really well in this story and the spice is perfect! You won’t regret reading this book!

Love how the female character stays true to herself and doesn't sacrifice her dreams for a relationship, which is a refreshing and empowering narrative! I appreciate the story for how it respects both characters’ autonomy and personal goals. When characters don’t conform to traditional expectations—like women giving up their ambitions for a partner—it leads to a more satisfying and authentic story.

In One Night Standard, Coral just arrived in Las Vegas to start her dream job as a professional mermaid. She (quite literally) runs into Jamie Standard in the airport, smacking him with her mermaid tail bag and making a huge first impression. When they see each other again in the hotel bar later that night, they decide one amazing night together is the perfect way to kick off their stays in Vegas. What they don’t yet know is that Jamie is Coral’s new boss’s brother… and that they just might be the key to each other’s professional success.

I just genuinely enjoyed every second of this book. The premise is so fun - a professional mermaid? Business bad boy? Vegas? Sign me up! And (as always), E.F. Dodd’s writing is so witty and smart. The dialogue and banter had me laughing out loud from the very beginning! I adored Coral. She’s driven, feisty, and intelligent while genuinely caring for those around her. And Jamie ended up being an MMC I could really root for. Their chemistry jumped off the page and gave us such good tension. (That photoshoot scene? Wowza.) And if you’re looking for some good spice, this one has it in spades!

Though this is the second in E.F. Dodd’s Standard of Love series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone romance. Give One Night Standard a try if you love :
-One night stand
-Fake dating
-Great banter
-Lots of spice
-”What happens in Vegas…” vibes

One Night Standard by E F Dodd
Contemporary romance.
Coral Triton is a professional mermaid at the pinnacle of her career. Ever since she saw a mermaid movie as a child, she knew that’s what she wanted. She’s been hired to create a new live action mermaid show in Las Vegas including set design and choreography. Coral arrives in Las Vegas ready and excited to start her new life. Being rescued from a handsy creep by a devastatingly handsome man in the bar is just the adventure she needs for the night. And bonus, he’s taller than her six feet in heels and seems just as interested. Coral needs to keep this to only one night. Tomorrow is the start of her new job and there can’t be any distractions.

Boston real estate developer Jamie Standard was caught in a salacious gossip article rather than a column about including green space in his projects. His partners advise two weeks vacation would be timely so he goes to visit his sister as the hospitality manager at the newest resort in Las Vegas. He re-meets an amazing woman he had traded quips with at the airport. They go out for a fancy dessert, then share a night of passion with champagne. He’s enthralled and wants more but she’s gone by morning.
Walking through the lobby of the hotel that afternoon, he spots her swimming in a humongous tank in the lobby. As a mermaid. He’s mesmerized and is caught on social media trying to reach out to her. Not exactly the low profile he’s supposed to be keeping on his vacation. His sister comes up with a plan that puts Coral and Jamie together in a relationship to restore his reputation and at the same time advertising the upcoming unique show at the hotel.
What could go wrong?

A flirty romcom with plenty of heat, attraction and humor for a sensational story. Great banter and timing between passion, relationship building and business interests. With a few behind the scene sneak peaks of creating entertainment for a world tourist destination.
I liked both Coral and Jamie from the start and got the impression they’d be one of those perfect couples that everyone would watch and envy. Just like their favorites.
A joyful reading experience.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6ab82e25-e4c7-4fdd-82bb-7f4f911ddccf

Stories about mermaids usually hook me but this one was just too much of a slow burn for me. I unfortunately DNF’d this one. It was too slow for me.

Cute unique read. The main fmc is feisty and knows what she wants, while the mmc is confident and supportive while also knowing who he is and what he wants. I loved the mermaid aspect of this book and the chemistry between the characters

For Coral, a chance meeting in a Vegas airport leads to a chance meeting in the same hotel bar, which leads to the perfect one night stand. Or so she thinks. The excellent writing brings this spicy rom/com to life and gives a modern feel to the story. A proposed fake dating scenario has both Coral and Jamie telling themselves that it’s just a publicity stunt and won’t continue past the 2 weeks that he is in town. See what happens when sparks fly and fake becomes feelings.

Spicy, male female, dual point of view, contemporary romance. This is the second standalone book in the series Standard of Love. The first book is A Higher Standard; I haven't read it yet but plan to. The main leads had great chemistry and go from a one night stand to a fake relationship. It was an interesting premise (I've never read about a professional mermaid) with a happy ending. I found it well written with humor and heart. A fun cozy read.

This was such a cute book. It really gave the Rom Com vibes I was expecting! I enjoyed the dual points of view and the romance between our two lead characters. This was an easy read and I would recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sugar Beaver Books and author E.F. Dodd for this eARC

This was such a fun read! It's a new take on the fake-dating trope, the characters are loveable and well fleshed out and I loved the mermaids - it was so much fun!
The ending felt slightly rushed to me, but nothing to dampen my enjoyment of this book!
Recommend for people who like fluffy romance, good storytelling and a little bit of whimsey

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I am absolutely thrilled to share my thoughts on this book. From the very first page, Dodd’s storytelling has a way of drawing you in, and I felt as though I was flipping through the pages with a heart full of hope and excitement. The chemistry between Jamie and Coral is electric and wonderfully depicted.

Jamie, the dashing Boston real estate developer, is not just a typical leading man; he’s a genuine sweetheart even before he officially becomes Coral's boyfriend. His attention to her celiac disease and the measures he took to accommodate her dietary needs were not only touching but revealed his genuine character.
It’s rare to see a character so willing to fully embrace another’s needs, especially when they’ve only just met. Jamie’s willingness to adapt for Coral's sake speaks volumes about his character.

Coral is equally captivating as a character. As a professional mermaid, she embodies the spirit of ambition and creativity. It's inspiring to see a woman so confident in her career, and Coral's journey is not just about love but also about professional growth.

Every moment between these two characters felt charged with possibility. From stolen glances to their shared laughter, I found myself giggling and sighing with every twist and turn in their journey. Their relationship felt realistic and grounded, with a sweetness that made me long for more of their story. I loved how the complications of their lives outside the romance—Jamie’s business challenges and Coral’s desire to succeed—add depth to the plot and keep you engaged.

I finished the book with a warm feeling inside, as if I had just experienced a wonderful journey with friends I’d miss dearly.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Billionaire romance, fake dating, age gap, one night stand, forced proximity, opposite attract

Coral and Jamie 🔥🔥🔥
I honestly did not think I would love this book as much as I did. I inhaled this amazing book in 2 sittings.
Coral is a professional mermaid who gets hired for amazing career/life changing position at a new upscale hotel in Vegas. Jamie is a real estate developer from Boston.
I honestly loved how Jamie and Coral came together. Their one night stand was obviously hotttttt and 2 days later when they realize his sister is Corals boss, the story only gets better!
This book was everything I love! There was plot, spicy AF scenes and hilarious banter. I’m not going to spoil anymore of the book but it’s a MUST read!

Overall this book was pretty good, and in reality I would give this book a 3.5 star review. Coral was such a unique female main character to me (in comparison to other romance books I have read) as she was a professional mermaid and she has Celiac disease. Coral being a professional mermaid is honestly what made me pick up the book in the first place as such a profession intrigues me, and I have no regrets in doing so! I loved reading her and Jamie's story, they were not a perfect couple, however that's exactly what always draws me to romance books. I loved the first time both characters, and if all book characters met in a similar fashion I would have an even longer TBR pile! I enjoyed the book and both Coral and Jamie, and while I do not believe this is a book I would pick up and reread, I do recommend you at least read it once!

One Night Standard is a fun romance! Coral knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it. Jamie is charming and thoughtful. Coral just moved to Las Vegas to start a new job: planning the new mermaid show at the L'Atelier. Jamie is coming off bad press from an article that tried to paint him as a guy who uses girls and then tosses them aside. He is visiting his sister in Las Vegas to get away from the scrutiny in Boston. I kinda liked having the script flipped and the MMC being the insecure one. And I liked the ending that didn't have everything tied up in a neat bow; there's still room for growth in our main characters and their relationship.

The first quarter of the book is both of their first day and night in Vegas, after that it picks up a bit. Though, it was fun to see Coral and Jamie meet and flirt and get to the place that will eventually develop into a relationship.

This was a fun read and I definitely recommend it for anybody looking for a confident FMC with a sweet MMC.

Review goes live OCtober 31

This book is adorable! Jamie and Coral were so perfect together and I loved their growth throughout. Their protectiveness of each other and the off the charts chemistry and spice was perfection. Loved it! My only drawback was when she gave him her fake name as Ariel but then the subsequent chapter had him referring to her as Coral in his head not Ariel but she hadn’t revealed her true name yet. Otherwise loved this mertail!

This book was great! The story was so cute and I loved the romance between a fake mermaid and a business man. It was so fun!

When Coral shows up at this fancy hotel for her new job as a performer/mermaid, she runs into the same guy she literally ran into at the airport. She know that Jamie is her new boss when they strike an agreement for a one night stand...
This one night stand, boss's brother/employee, fake dating romance is book 2 in the Standard of Love series. And it was so good! I loved book 1, but this one was even better! The banter was amazing. The MMC has a golden retriever energy and he falls first and hard. It was a tiny bit too insta-lovey for my taste, but Jamie was so swoony I just don't care! And that one night stand that starts with a real date and goes on for like 20% of the book? 🔥 How can something so laugh out loud funny be so swoony? This had me giggling and kicking my feet 🥰 Now hold my drink while I go tell my mother how much I love her.
I received an advance copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review volutarily.

A great read, the story of Coral and Jamie. A fake dating romance for the professional mermaid and business man. Looking forward to the next books in this series.