| Title | : | A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 358 |
| Publication | : | Published December 1, 2022 |
Marnie
What’s worse than being left at the altar? Becoming a meme because one of your nearest and dearest took a video of you running—and falling—down the aisle and made it internet famous.
Yup, I’m that Marnie Jones. My sister is for-real famous, which only makes people more interested in my predicament. Is it any wonder I’m feeling down?
My best friends will try anything to cheer me up…including setting me up with the Fairy Godmother Agency, a maybe-crazy husband and wife private investigator-slash-life coach team who promise to find the person who sold me out. Better yet, they lend me a fake boyfriend to make my ex jealous and appease my sister.
Griffin is gorgeous, attentive, and a very convincing actor. He’s perfect for the job.
Too perfect.
***
Griffin
After a lifetime of practice, I’m good at pretending. But the more time I spend with Marnie Jones, the less I have to feign my interest in her.
She may be down, but she’s not out. She’s beautiful, funny, and just the right amount of weird. All she needs is someone to remind her of that.
If I weren’t such a screw up, I’d have half a mind to do it myself.
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1) Reviews
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This was incredible. So funny, sweet, and heartfelt. I laughed so much in the beginning. They both grow and open up to each other in a super satisfying way. My only complaint is that the time period isn’t long and we get an idea that they’ll have their HEA, but don’t actually get to see it. The author does have a bonus story on her website where we get to see that they get a happily ever after.
There were so many quotable quotes. Like:
“Wallowing is normal. Wallowing is healthy. I went to one appointment with a therapist, and she told me so, which I took as permission to never go back.”
Dual POV.
The dude has a slightly manwhore past and we meet at least one of his one night stands in a peripheral way, but it’s not essential to the story. The woman was left at the altar three months before they met and he ends up volunteering to be her fake boyfriend but they very quickly tell each other that they are interested in something more.
The friends and family around them are delightful with a few terrible broken relationships.
I will definitely be reading this author again. This was such a good book and both set up the next book and made me want to read the book before. -
Easy, sexy, and a little different than the norm, I got everything I wanted from this low angst romance. What starts as a fake relationship soon turns into something else entirely, and I loved that this didn't take the usual path. This hero is a sexy bartender who looks like trouble, so it was great to see that he has a vulnerable side and some insecurities... outside of the bedroom, of course. He's gruff and confident when he needs to be, loving and supportive the whole way through. There's plenty of chemistry and an easygoing vibe that makes this bingeable. It was a solid 4/low 5-star read for me the whole way through, and I had zero trouble jumping right into this series starter, even though it's clearly a spinoff from a series I haven't read. The cast of characters enriches the story, and I'm definitely looking forward to future interconnected standalones in this town.
The story follows Marnie, a woman who was left at the alter a few months ago. She's been a hot mess ever since, and her friends are starting to get worried. It's not so much that she's devastated by the end of the relationship (she's not), it's more that she's tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes - that's the problem with being the sister of a famous actress. Somehow, Marnie finds herself the newest beneficiary of two "fairy godmothers" (it's a long story), who have hooked her up with a guy to fill the role of her fake boyfriend when she needs one. Griffin was tending the bar when Marnie met her fairy godmothers, and he was all too happy to volunteer for the role. Since the attraction that sparks between them is mutual, it's not long before Marnie and Griffin are starting up something that feels very real, but Griffin's troubled past makes him wary of putting his heart on the line.
If you're new to Casella's work, this is a great place to jump in. She seems to have really figured out her style, and the story was exactly the lighthearted read I was looking for. There are a few characters from the spinoff series, but I had no trouble reading this as a standalone - and I kept seeing the potential in future couples, so I'm already hooked on the new series. Both characters are easy to like, and I loved that there were no major roadblocks to them getting together. It's low angst throughout, with just enough push and pull to keep things interesting. And while it's not super steamy, there's lots of sexual tension and heated moments. I loved Griffin, and it was so endearing to watch this charismatic bartender struggle to feel like he's worthy of love. There were a couple of little lulls in the storyline, but I enjoyed it from start to finish, and there was nothing that bugged me for long. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this fake relationship romance. -
4.75 stars
I’m always up for a fake dating romance, and this one really amped up the shenanigans! Because when you’ve become a meme after being jilted at the altar, it’s only natural to hire a kooky husband-and-wife PI/life coach team to uncover who sold you out. And obviously they have a lend-a-boyfriend service too. See? Shenanigans.
I love how Marnie and Griffin were so into (and protective of!) each other from the start, so it was never really fake. They had great banter and chemistry (read: yes, there are steamy scenes), and the story was fun with lots of laugh out loud moments. I cackled so many times while listening to the audiobook - basically anything involving Aunt Helen, or the bit with Griffin, Reggie and Drew. 🤣🤣🤣
The narrators did a great job - I highly recommend the audiobook for a good time!
EDIT: Also just read the Bonus Story on the author's website! Nawwww, I loved seeing more of their HEA. -
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Marnie's friends are worried about her. She's still down about being made into a viral meme after being left at the altar by her douchey ex. Their solution? Set her up with the Fairy Godmother Agency and a fake boyfriend. She's thanking those friends now because that fake boyfriend is turning out to be the perfect guy for her - sweet, sexy and there for her in a way no man has ever been there for her in the past. But is her fake boyfriend going to stand a chance at becoming real?
Griffin isn't without his own issues, but he can't help but want to help Marnie out and even more significantly, he can't help but fall in love with her. But will his past, the past that's responsible for his issues, be an obstacle to their fake turning real relationship?
Witty, funny, sweet and with more than a little sizzling chemistry, Marnie and Griffin's story is the kind of rom-com I love best. It's in the same universe as some of the author's other series, so it feels familiar but in the best kind of way. The secondary cast rounds out the story and gives a very good feeling for all the stories to come from the Fairy Godmother Agency.
ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR for an honest review.
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Bookbub -
A Borrowed Boyfriend by Angela Casella [Angela R. Casella]
Fairy Godmother Agency #1
3h 24m narrated by Gideon Frost and Taylor Harvey, 358 pages
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Featuring: I'm A Meme, Jilted Bride, January, Book Club, Friends, Life Coach, Fake Relationship Trope, Ashville, North Carolina; Family Drama, Media, Sex - Detailed
Rating as a movie: NC-17
My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🍸👰♂🧚♀️🧚♂️
My thoughts: 📱27% 3:02:34 Ch. 10 Marnie The last book I read from had a character that used crystals in it, just like this one, and 9 books ago I read a book about a bride that runs away from a wedding Biltmore, and this book is about a woman who was left at the alter at Biltmore. It just feels like all of my books are connected somehow. So now, at least I feel like I'm reading the right book.
📱50% 5:41:13 Ch. 18 Griffin - This is pretty good but it's missing something. I'm disappointed that it's a republishing so I have to wait for the rest of the books to be released, even though book 4 was published in May, or buy ebooks.
My other book had an aspiring author friend too. This was my first Angela Casella book and I thought I may have found a new possible favorite. She also writes as A. R. Casella, and Angela Denise with Denise Grover Swank. I was planning on reading this entire series but they said 🐓 so much it was a major turn-off, you could probably eat a bag of Skittles for each time. I had an idea of what would happen in the second book but what they alluded to was such a letdown compared to the predictable road that I lost interest. The plot was good but the second half of the book was disappointing.
Recommend to others: Maybe. It will be a long while before I visit this series but I may think of it if someone is looking for a life coach-type series.
Fairy Godmother Agency
1. A Borrowed Boyfriend (2022)
2. A Stolen Suit (2022)
3. A Brooding Bodyguard (2023)
4. A Reluctant Roommate (2023) -
Marnie Jones is down on her luck. Abandoned at the alter, only to trip, fall, and have the video become a meme. She needs to get back on her feet, and her best friends think the right way to do that is through the Fairy Godmother Agency, a husband and wife team of P.I.s who are determined to find the culprit.
Damien and Nicole are absolutely amazing, even lending her a fake boyfriend in order to really sell it. The only problem? Griffin is entirely too perfect, entirely too charming, and entirely too convincing. The more time Marnie spends with him, the more she believes that things between them aren’t so fake after all…
Oh. My. Gosh. This book was 100% the perfect romance novel! It had action, humor, drama, steam, and the perfect amount of angst. I adored Marnie and Griffin’s story, and the whole concept of the Fairy Godmother Agency was super original and extremely well written!!! I also loved all the side characters in this novel, and it was filled with many laugh out loud moments as well!
Marnie. She’s got a bit of a weird streak, but it’s part of her charm! I love that she’s a little awkward, but also sweet and kind. I was so proud of her for learning her self worth. And her chemistry with Griffin felt super natural, yet incredibly intense at the same time! As for Griffin, I can’t talk enough about how much I love him. He’s super swoonworthy, and that mouth of his!!! I also admire the fact that he’s a genuinely good man, even if he doesn’t always believe it. I completely recommend! -
This was my first Angela Casella book but definitely not my last! I looooooved this book! I was 100% invested in Marnie and Griffin. And I enjoyed those around them, too. What a cast of characters! I’m here for fake dating. Too bad this isn’t such a thing IRL! I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Marnie and Griffin. And Nicole and Damien are a hoot! I liked their meddling and investigating. This book had heart and heat and was fun to get lost in. The narrators did a great job bringing them to life. I can’t wait to listen to more books in this series!
-
May 27, 2022
Okay, Okay, Okay...
To Quote Joe Pesci...
From His Lethal Weapon Character...
How Could I Not Want...
To Read This Book...
It Has A Borrowed Boyfriend-Check...
A Woman Who Has Experienced...
Something Embarrassing...
Reason For Said Borrowed Guy-Check...
And The Best...
An Agency Called The...
Fairy Godmother Agency, For Goodness Sake...
What Could Go Wrong...
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)-June 9, 2022
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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I read my first book by this author earlier this year, that she wrote with another author. And this book is set in the city that those series are in. So I’m already familiar a little with some of the characters in this. Especially the crazy Nicole, or the Fairy Godmother. But I do still need to go back and read her book!
But the mystery of who leaked the video really kind of seemed like it pointed till one certain person, until it didn’t. And I like the way the author kept us kind of guessing, and wondering till the characters had pretty much figured it out for themselves. I mean, it wasn’t a huge mystery, it was easy to figure out as the story went along, but I liked that it was done the way it was.
While both characters had their own backgrounds and reasons for thinking it should only be fake dating, and that the other one wouldn’t want to be with them, for the most part they figured out soon enough that it would be okay to let it be more.
And hey, let’s talk about Mitchell Mountainbottom, I mean Griffin, lol. He could totally be my new book boyfriend. I mean his comment about how guys should read their significant other’s favorite romance novel to learn exactly what she wants was perfect! And then, he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk by reading Marnie’s favorite, and then bringing those fantasies/scenes to life for her. It was just a little bit too perfect that her favorite romance featured a bartender, lol.
Review first posted on
Lisa Loves Literature. -
This is just so sweet and fun to read. I loved it. It's a great start to the series and now I'm so excited to see where this series is going to go.
I loved Marnie and Griffin's story. I loved how it started but I loved it even more once they started dating for real. I loved Griffin, he's so sweet and sexy. He and Marnie? They're sweet and hot together. They have great chemistry and banter. There's an obvious and instant attraction between them. And that's what makes them so great together. Tbh, the mystery of who did Marnie dirty didn't really attract me, but what really kept my attention was their relationship. I loved it! And I devoured their story. -
4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶
•
I had a lot of fun reading this book and trying to solve the big question by the end! If you know me you know I love a good fake dating situation and Griffin was an absolute YES! It was one where yes they may have started out fake but all of their interactions always seemed 100% authentic. Every character in this book was so fun to read and I thought the overall plot was extremely creative and refreshing! Don’t we all wish we could have some fairy godparents to solve our problems?? -
This book was textbook fake dating in the BEST way! It had everything you would hope for complete with outside pressures, sudden and unexpected attraction, and all the will-they-or-won’t-they (even though we know they will, because that’s why we read romance)!
I loved Griffin’s ease in how he approached Marnie, even though he had a lot going on. I loved how much he wanted to protect her while also wanting to prop her up to make her believe in herself. It’s always nice to see a supportive leading man, especially one who knows how to read a romance book and use his knowledge to perfection.
Marnie was so hilarious! Being left at the altar is a pretty sucky situation. Ending up with a video of yourself tripping down the aisle as a meme is downright catastrophic. And she’s really feeling the effects of that embarrassment as the book opens. I loved how hard she worked to overcome the insecurities that were holding her back and, in the end, finds a way to move forward from the whole thing. It was really wonderful to see such raw and authentic healing occurring in such a beautifully comedic book.
I also loved the “fairy godmothers” and all the relationships between the side characters. This laugh-out-loud funny novel was next level entertaining and I’d definitely recommend it. Especially if you like fake dating.
I received an early copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are mine. -
I enjoyed this one, although I do like the previous series better. But I'm hopeful for the next book.
Marnie and Griffin were both great characters, I had no complaints about them. I wasn't a fan of Marnie's family and still wasn't totally on board with her sister in the end (I read the bonus story too). Marnie got left at the altar and then managed to trip on the way out, which went viral after someone posted it. Now she's getting the 'poor girl' looks and she's a bit tired of it and the sulking she's been doing. That said, she's still a strong female character who had a backbone, although it took Griffin helping her to use that backbone when it came to her family.
Griffin has an interesting backstory and I'm glad we got to hear it in this one. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it made me respect and like him even more. He's tough on the outside, but he's a big ol' softie, at least when it comes to his friends, family and of course, Marnie. He was a protector without being overbearing and was sure to let Marnie make her own decisions without pressuring her.
I loved all the Star Wars references, from one Star Wars nerd to another, thank you. -
Marnie has problems. For years, she’s lived in the shadow of her TV star sister, Sinclair. It wasn’t so bad when her dad was alive, but when he passed away she was in a funk. Her sister seemed to push her to accepting an on air proposal from a jerk named Brock. But things get infinitely worse when he dumps her at the altar and she trips trying to leave, and someone posts a video on social media and it becomes a meme.
Things get so bad that her friends refer her to a husband and wife P.I. team called The Fairy Godmother Agency. They also are part owners of a bar, along with the bartender, Griffin. When he meets her, he is amused and attracted to her, and when she finds herself in need of a boyfriend, he does something he never did before. He volunteers to help his partners out by being her fake boyfriend. But Griffin has secrets in his past that may make the whole operation fall apart.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone. I not only want to read the whole series, I also want to go back and read Nicole and Damien’s story too. -
I 100% know that other readers will love this book, so do read it if you like fake dating and a tight-knit friend/family group. I can't quite pinpoint what didn't work for me. I just didn't love Marnie or Griffin or their story like I hope to when I read a book. The writing was clunky for me. I picked it up and put it down frequently which is a sign I'm not vibing with a book. Both characters grew and became better/stronger versions if themselves so that's a positive. Loved the concept, and loved that the "fake" part of the dating didn't last very long, but the timeline of the book felt rushed (approximately 1 month). This book lacked a feeling of spark & spice between the FMC & MMC.
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This one was just ok for me. Part of it is the over the top with Nicole and Damien, it's sort of getting old for me. I did like Marnie and felt bad for how her life was going. I was glad to see more of Griffin with this one and glad that he resolved things from his past. He and Marnie were cute together, so glad that things worked out for them.
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Loved the characters - Griff was the sunshine of the book to be fair, but Marnie really got to grow throughout and I loved to see it!
The author knows how to write some relationships, you know who rides with who and the friend groups well within the individual characters as well.
Smut was good! Mostly fluffy read with some lol moments and cuteness.
My real only complaint was there enough 'fake dating' for my as there was like one scene where they had to fake it. Then their relationship just grew. -
Really enjoyed this and bonus points for the epilogue link in my Kindle. Super fun. Great cast of characters and I'm sure the other stories are going to be great.
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LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! If you love a cute fake dating trope, with the slight touch of revenge? This is your book! Couldn't recommend enough!
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This was such a fun read. Marnie and Griffin's story was a great start to this series! I loved their interactions and the growth of their relationship throughout the story. Looking forward to the next book in the Fairy Godmother line.
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🎧
A Borrowed Boyfriend is the first book in the Fairy Godmother Agency series by Angela R. Casella.
It follows Marnie, who got left at the altar and ends up being a meme and Griffin, a bartender who becomes Marnies borrowed boyfriend.
I absolutely adore the fake dating trope and the concept of the Fairy Godmother Agency was amazing. Marnie and Griffins chemistry was amazingly shown and I enjoyed their banter and friendship development so much.
This was such a quick, funny and lightweighed story with a lot of sweet moments between those two characters and I can’t wait to read the other books.
Audio Review Copy kindly provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
3,5/5⭐️ -
A Borrowed Boyfriend (Fairy Godmother Agency) by Angela Casella
4/5 Stars
2/5 Spice
ARC REVIEW – Published June 6, 2022
Is it on KU?: Yes!
Book Cover: Griffin is so hot
Favorite Quote: "He’s beautiful. He’s like one of those cakes you don’t want to dig into because it’s too nice to be eaten."
I got this book as an ARC from The Smuthood – Book Tours. This is book #1 in the series “Fairy Godmother Agency” but plays off another series “Bad Luck Club”.
Who doesn’t LOVE a fake relationship trope? This book was intoxicating in more ways than one. This book tells the story of Marnie & Griffin and the fake relationship they form to get back at Marnie’s ex. I immediately fell in love with both Marnie & Griffin and their closest friends and families. The characters are so relatable, entertaining, and sexy as hell. I loved how the characters built each other up but also worked on themselves at the same time.
This romcom kept me laughing but also had me on the edge of my seat wondering where the fake relationship would go next. Between the sexual tension, movie nights, revenge and paparazzi there was never a dull moment between Marnie & Griffin. Their characters fed off each other’s emotions so well that it was easy to watch them fall in love.
I loved that the story had a couple great spicy moments between the two and wish there was even more. It made you wonder what kind of other trouble Marnie and Griffin could get themselves into.
This book was a breath of fresh air but also steamy, funny, and perfectly written. I really enjoyed this debut and cannot wait to read more of Angela Casella.
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PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it that I want to see my fake boyfriend naked?
Marnie
What’s worse than being left at the altar? Becoming a meme because one of your nearest and dearest took a video of you running—and falling—down the aisle and made it internet famous.
Yup, I’m that Marnie Jones. My sister is for-real famous, which only makes people more interested in my predicament. Is it any wonder I’m feeling down?
My best friends will try anything to cheer me up…including setting me up with the Fairy Godmother Agency, a maybe-crazy husband and wife private investigator-slash-life coach team who promise to find the person who sold me out. Better yet, they lend me a fake boyfriend to make my ex jealous and appease my sister.
Griffin is gorgeous, attentive, and a very convincing actor. He’s perfect for the job.
Too perfect.
***
Griffin
After a lifetime of practice, I’m good at pretending. But the more time I spend with Marnie Jones, the less I have to feign my interest in her.
She may be down, but she’s not out. She’s beautiful, funny, and just the right amount of weird. All she needs is someone to remind her of that.
If I weren’t such a screw up, I’d have half a mind to do it myself. -
A Borrowed Boyfriend is a great spin-off of Angela R. Casella's Bad Luck Club, in particular if you loved Nicole and Damien from several books including Bringing Down the House you'll want to look at this book. A Borrowed Boyfriend is part of Angela's new series Fairy Godmother Agency, where Nicole and Damien are the fairy godmothers. Doesn't that just sound hilarious? I mean a fairy godmother who's sarcastic, doesn't pull punches and is probably a little too brutally honest? The best. A Borrowed Boyfriend also has the hilarity that The Bad Luck Club is known for. Can't wait to see what comes next from this series.
Marnie thought the worst thing in her life was when he was humiliated in front of her friends and family by being left at the altar, what she didn't realize is that it's worse becoming a world famous meme from it. In an effort to cheer her up her friends sign Marnie up with two PIs who run the Fairy Godmother Agency. If they chose to take your case you'll get a make over, they'll help give you confidence and solve your problems, which for Marnie is finding out who of her supposed friends posted her being left at the altar, and whatever else you might need. Marnie wasn't going to do it, but then she accidentally tells her famous sister that she's dating someone. Having lied once in middle school about having a fake boyfriend she's never been able to live it down, and while it is a lie Marnie doesn't appreciate them not believing her. In a panic she calls the Fairy Godmother Agency looking for a fake boyfriend and boy do they have one for her...
Griffin doesn't mind helping out his step-nephew/friend, Damien and his wife, Nicole, with their agency but he usually likes to be a bit removed from it. But when he finds out that the sad woman he met at his bar, Marnie, needs a fake boyfriend to get her family off her back he decides he'll be the one to be her fake boyfriend. Griffin is determined for Marnie to realize that just because she isn't famous like her sister she's just as good as her, he's also determined to figure out who hurt her with that meme. As the two continue to be fake boyfriend and girlfriend they start to act more like real partners, can Griffin and Marnie find love while trying to find out who they really are? -
I just want to start this review by saying that this book was already in my good graces because Griffin is a great name for an MMC. 🤣
This is the kind of instalove that I adore. They feel an immediate pull to each other, but can’t really figure out why, they do things that they wouldn’t normally do, they just always want to make the person happy and start fighting all the strong feelings, telling themselves it can’t be love because it hasn’t been long enough.
It was amazing watching Marbie take her life back and fix her relationships and fix her life. She found her backbone and used it, frequently, including to remind Griffin that she had one. And he was so supportive of her! Always letting her know she could do it and trusting her to stand up for herself while simultaneously reminding her that he was there if she needed.
I also ALWAYS appreciate it when characters have significant relationships outside of the love interest. Griffin and Greg just made my heart so happy! And Greg was such a well written character! Even though he wasn’t on screen much, I got such a great sense of who he was and how much he loved Griffin.
Andy and Grace were such good friends to Marnie, always willing to support her and help out when she needed it. The group of friends and family they had was amazing.
And I really like that her sister was such a wonderfully complex character. You could see how all three siblings actively suffered because of their parents. Mostly because of their mother, but it was clear that their father also made mistakes when it concerned them.
The only real criticism I have of this book is it started to drag towards the end. It was clear that Marnie and Griffin were on solid ground, that their relationship story arc had basically reached its crest, but instead of immediately finding out “whodunit”, we got a few chapters of seemingly irrelevant information. Or more than we actually needed anyway. I just wanted her to confront the person who released the video (especially because as a reader, we long suspected who it was.)
A solid book over all though and I’m really glad it came in my romance box this month. -
A Borrowed Boyfriend is the first in a new spinoff series by Angela Casella but can be read as a standalone. This is the fake relationship romance between Griffin Adler and Marnie Jones. It is a lighthearted rom-com with low angst and sizzling chemistry between the couple, plus fun secondary characters who entertain throughout the book.
Marnie was left at the alter three months ago and to add to her humiliation, her dramatic exit was filmed and proceeded to go viral. She is the sister of the famous actress Sinclair Jones so is constantly being reminded of the event. Her friends Andy and Grace are worried about her so enlist the help of two local PI’s to investigate who did this to her. The Fairy Godmother Agency is run by Nicole and her husband Damien who you may have met in Bringing Down The House, the prequel to the Bad Luck Club Series. We also met Damien’s best friend Gary in that book and he turns out to be Griffin’s stepbrother.
Griffin is the bartender at the Summer Nights bar where Marnie reluctantly agrees to meet Nicole and Damien, her ‘Fairy Godmothers”! Marnie is attracted to him but thinks he wouldn’t be interested in her. After a disastrous call with Sinclair and with advice from Nicole, she is shocked to learn that Griffin has agreed to be the fake boyfriend she desperately needs to keep her sister and mother away.
Griffin is a sexy and charming man, with an outgoing personality at work. He rocks the bad boy vibes with his laid back attitude but Marnie thinks he is a bit of a mystery. She thinks there’s more to him because she sees a sadness and darkness in his eyes. He wears his past like a burden, full of layers to unravel and get beneath. He’s never had a meaningful relationship in his life and knows Marnie would leave him if she knew about his past.
What was meant to be fake really quickly turns into something that is beginning to feel very real to them both. Griffin knows Marnie is too good for him but he did let Nicole and Damien help him when he came back to Asheville, then he’s let Gary and Ma forgive him so can he allow Marnie to give him what he’s always wanted but didn’t think he deserved.
Nicole is her nutty self as usual and so entertaining. She loves acting the Fairy Godmother with hubby Damien always by her side. They are excited to do their PI work on the video and finding out who else was involved, but all have fun giving Marnie a makeover and matchmaking her with Griffin. Marnie’s friends and her Auntie provide a lot of the funny banter and we’re also teased about Grace and Enoch ready for the next book A Stolen Suit.
Griffin and Marnie are an adorable couple in this is a charming tale about finding the right one. I loved how supportive Griffin was the whole time, he was always thinking about helping her even though he feels unworthy of love and is positive his past will come back and cause problems for her. Are they strong enough help each other get through everything, especially when secrets are revealed. Can they help each other to work thought their issues and get the life they both deserve?
Merged review:
A Borrowed Boyfriend is the first in a new spinoff series by Angela Casella but can be read as a standalone. This is the fake relationship romance between Griffin Adler and Marnie Jones. It is a lighthearted rom-com with low angst and sizzling chemistry between the couple, plus fun secondary characters who entertain throughout the book.
Marnie was left at the alter three months ago and to add to her humiliation, her dramatic exit was filmed and proceeded to go viral. She is the sister of the famous actress Sinclair Jones so is constantly being reminded of the event. Her friends Andy and Grace are worried about her so enlist the help of two local PI’s to investigate who did this to her. The Fairy Godmother Agency is run by Nicole and her husband Damien who you may have met in Bringing Down The House, the prequel to the Bad Luck Club Series. We also met Damien’s best friend Gary in that book and he turns out to be Griffin’s stepbrother.
Griffin is the bartender at the Summer Nights bar where Marnie reluctantly agrees to meet Nicole and Damien, her ‘Fairy Godmothers”! Marnie is attracted to him but thinks he wouldn’t be interested in her. After a disastrous call with Sinclair and with advice from Nicole, she is shocked to learn that Griffin has agreed to be the fake boyfriend she desperately needs to keep her sister and mother away.
Griffin is a sexy and charming man, with an outgoing personality at work. He rocks the bad boy vibes with his laid back attitude but Marnie thinks he is a bit of a mystery. She thinks there’s more to him because she sees a sadness and darkness in his eyes. He wears his past like a burden, full of layers to unravel and get beneath. He’s never had a meaningful relationship in his life and knows Marnie would leave him if she knew about his past.
What was meant to be fake really quickly turns into something that is beginning to feel very real to them both. Griffin knows Marnie is too good for him but he did let Nicole and Damien help him when he came back to Asheville, then he’s let Gary and Ma forgive him so can he allow Marnie to give him what he’s always wanted but didn’t think he deserved.
Nicole is her nutty self as usual and so entertaining. She loves acting the Fairy Godmother with hubby Damien always by her side. They are excited to do their PI work on the video and finding out who else was involved, but all have fun giving Marnie a makeover and matchmaking her with Griffin. Marnie’s friends and her Auntie provide a lot of the funny banter and we’re also teased about Grace and Enoch ready for the next book A Stolen Suit.
Griffin and Marnie are an adorable couple in this is a charming tale about finding the right one. I loved how supportive Griffin was the whole time, he was always thinking about helping her even though he feels unworthy of love and is positive his past will come back and cause problems for her. Are they strong enough help each other get through everything, especially when secrets are revealed. Can they help each other to work thought their issues and get the life they both deserve? -
Lots of laughs, but surprisingly more intense than I expected..
This series has been in queue on my Kindle for ages. Every so often I see an ad or blurb and remember how interested I was in the series. Well I finally jumped in.
With a name like Fairy Godmother Agency, and a designation as a romantic comedy, not to mention the sneak peeks I’ve read, I was definitely expecting the laughs. What I didn’t expect were the other intense emotions. I can’t express how frustrated and a little mad I was at times on Marnie’s behalf. I loved her, but I also wanted to make her snap out of it. Much like her friends felt, I’m sure. I also wanted to hurt people on her behalf. Like, a few times I even questioned if I wanted to continue- not at all because the writing didn’t deserve it- but because I was tired of being angry and frustrated. Let me be clear- that’s NOT a dig at the author. At all. In fact, it’s because of how well written it is that I felt all the emotions as though I were a participant in the story. And Marnie had a lot to deal with.
Poor Marnie lost her father, got publicly engaged (which was NOT at all her style and left her feeling trapped into saying yes), dumped at the altar, then the video of said event becomes a viral meme. All within a few month’s time. Oh, and she’s also the “lesser than” sister of a well known actress, whose manager is the mother that left her behind to hitch her ride to the top as a manager to the daughter that rose to fame. To say she has not been dealing well is an understatement.
Enter the Fairy Godmother Agency. They are a hoot! I need this group of people in my life. And Griffin is the perfect match to help bring Marnie back to life. And maybe heal some things in himself as well. His was such a wild ride. Lots of laughs, lots of wild emotions, some “who done it?”, and lots of smexual tension and attraction. And laughs. 😂 There was definitely way more depth than just the fluff rom-com story I was expecting. And I am here for it. -
Where do I begin...Angela Casella is a new author to me. I discovered her via her sometimes writing partner in crìme. This book sounded like what I was looking for during my reader's block.
This book had great characters with interesting connections to each other that works fantastically. Our main characters Marnie and Griffin are both well fleshed out and likeable. Marnie is a bit weak at first but she grows and gains strength the longer she's with Griffin. He's a bit lost and broken but he's gains strength from her. They are good for each other. Their relationship was a slow burn. They waited for the right time to take that step.
Then there are Nicole and Damien, the Private Investigators (aka Fairy Godmothers) and they are a riot. You never know what trouble they are going get into or what they will say.
Then there are friends and family members on both sides that provide more comic relief and pieces of the plot. I especially loved Aunt Helen. She needs a book of her own. LOL. I admit that I was hoping Edgar James was an older man that would sweep Aunt Helen off her feet but that was not to be.
The story is well written. The plot has no major holes and it's fun so who really cares. I figured out who sent the gif out to the interwebs right away but the story kept me engrossed on the growing and evolving relationships so it didn't matter that I knew. This is what you want for your mystery plot. There were a few things that the author does that I didn't care for but nothing worth mentioning.
Between the growing love relationship and the mystery behind the gif leak, this was just a good lightweight romance that kept me entertained all the way to the end. I liked it enough that I have already borrowed the next book. If you are looking for romance, light mystery, and a HEA then you will want to give this book a try. It is an easy four stars from me and I definitely recommend it. Enjoy! -
This book was something new for me. I received the audiobook for this one and it was great because I "read" it in one day and it was a good change of scenery from my day-to-day genres. I laughed and was stunned by some lines, I mean really, Mitchell Mountainbottom??? :))) I was like, what the heck??? :))) This is a fake relationship, jilted bride romantic comedy. It was fun listening to this book.
I was so happy to see this is a DUAL POV book and I liked a lot the theme behind the whole story. The role of the Fairy Godmother Agency: the fact that it helps people get back on their feet, in this case, from being left at the altar, humiliated by a video, and the death of a parent. I loved that the agency got a little more deep than just the video.
Marnie, though she's been through a lot, knows what she wants when it comes to Griffin :))) Woman, hold your horses! :))) I'm glad she trusts Griffin and I liked the way she put her mother in place. Until one point, I suspected her sister, but then her mother's attitude made me look her way.
Griffin is a sweetheart. He has a bar and a tattoo. SOLD! :))) The way he jumped in to help Marnie and also the way he got protective of her without knowing much about her, he's awesome. He fell first without question. But even when he didn't realize it, he still wanted to be there for Marnie. Yes, it started with him being a fake boyfriend, but he was implicated with everything he got. And when we learn about his past, we see how much more he is. How he will do anything for the ones he loves.
Damien and Nicole are so crazy and I love them :)) Nicole is a breath of fresh air :)) she's so crazy and sees opportunities in everything. I liked the storyline especially how Marnie got her revenge on her ex. He got it coming and he got what he deserved.
Thank you, Literally Yours PR, for gifting me this audiobook. It was a fun read and I liked it.
