Oh, what a delightful surprise this was!!!
Emma is a witch-in-training, hoping to become an official witch accepted by her coven. Alarac is a Vampire Duke home visiting to escape the rumor mill of the city. They have a chance meeting...and then keep on meeting. Emma puts in a bid to host the annual ball and the only way she can win that bid is to convince Alarac to let her host the ball on his property (which has never been done). However, Alarac needs a favor of his own, so if Emma is willing to be his "girlfriend", he will agree to it.

This was such a treat!! An adorable read that felt so cozy and immediately piqued my interest. My favorite character, of course, was Penelope. I was literally laughing out loud at some of the scenes with her and the fact she even existed. I don't want to say too much, as that was one of the highlights of the book for me, but I do recommend this to any and everyone!!

I thought this was super cute!! So sorry I didn't review in time. I definitely thought we had more time until spooky season for some reason.

I don't know where to start with this review! I LOVED this book so much. I was so worried I wasn't going to be as hooked as I was with TMGGTM, but golly me, I was well and truly immersed from the first chapter! Fake dating isn't my usual go-to trope, but after this read, it's definitely something i'll reach for more often.
I adore the Charming Cove series so much... I especially love the familiars, mystical characters and environment. I just love the visuals created through the writing and how quickly you get to know the characters and understand all the dynamics. I need more from Charming Cove... like now!

Easiest 5/5. Thank you so much NetGalley, Bonnie Doon Press and Linsey Hall for my ARC. I enjoyed every second and highly recommend to any lover of YA, Fantasy and Sci-Fi. I said this last time but, I also also highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to give the Fantasy genre a go.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire was a fun, easy read.

I was in the mood for something lighthearted and low stakes which this definitely provided.

I can't say I'll remember this book in a few months time but definitely enjoyed it for what it was and would recommend to anyone else who wants something easy and cosy to read during the Autumn months.

The absolute highlight of the book for me was Penelope the skunk, Emma's sassy 'familiar' who I adored. So perhaps I was wrong in stating that I won't remember the book as I will remember Penelope.

I feel slightly missold on 'Vampire' being in the title as there was very little to read about Vampires, but it was a fuzzy feel good, witchy romance all the same!

"How to Fake Date a Vampire" by Linsey Hall is a spellbinding concoction of humor, romance, and magic that will leave you with a smile as wide as a full moon! 🌕

Emma, our charmingly clumsy young witch, takes center stage in this delightful tale. Her journey from fumbling novice to confident spellcaster is heartwarming and relatable, and her determination to prove herself to her coven is nothing short of inspiring.

But hold onto your broomsticks, because things take an unexpected turn when she strikes a deal with a vampire duke. Their fake relationship is a rollercoaster of hilarity and forbidden attraction. The "no flirting, no emotion, no sex" rule might as well be written in disappearing ink, and you'll find yourself cheering for this enchanting pair as sparks fly in the most bewitching ways.

And let's not forget Penelope, the skunk familiar! She's a feisty little sidekick who adds a sprinkle of whimsy to every scene.

Linsey Hall has crafted a delightful brew of magic and romance that's perfect for anyone in need of a pick-me-up. This book will remind you that sometimes, even in the midst of enchanting chaos, love and family are the most potent spells of all. So grab your cauldron, cozy up with this novel, and let it cast its charming spell on you! ✨📚💫

I found the book to be an entertaining read with an intriguing premise. The characters were likable, and the story had its moments of humor and charm. However, I felt that the plot could have been developed more, and some of the dialogue felt a bit forced at times. Overall, it's a decent choice if you're looking for a light and fun paranormal romance read, but it didn't quite reach the level of excellence I was hoping for. It is very cute, cozy and perfect for fall season!

This book was so freaking cute!
Sweet easy cozy read

Emma is a witch who just wants to belong. She has past issues with being an orphan then shuffled around in foster care.
She is trying so hard to become an official witch and be apart of the coven family

The duke was burned hard by his ex. There are secrets about his family that his ex is trying to blackmail him with. He can’t let his grandmother know this, afraid the truth of his families past, and the break up, will hurt his grandmother in frail health

As fate would have it, Emma and the duke have a couple meet cutes, and then are drawn together at the perfect time to start fake dating

Their “relationship” starts slow with cheek kisses, then bumping shoulders, which progresses to holding hands, heated kisses, and finally a romp in the moon garden

This book is adorable overload with one minimal spice scene.

I also need to make mention of the most perfect witch familiar. Penelope the skunk is brilliant and fabulous. A skunk after snacks, i couldn’t relate more if I tried!

How to fake date a vampire is the perfect book to read with a blanket and a glass of wine . . . Or gin if you are Vivian

** if you are looking for vampire vibes, this is not the book for you
** if you want tension, this is not the book for you

I love the idea of this book but it fell flat for me a bit. For a small book there was a lot of repetition for the descriptors especially in the first few chapters (her golden hair with freckles x2, what Katrina did x50, his look of interest x3, bastard x2-3, maelstrom x2, how much she wanted a grandma x1000). After the first few instances it started to really feel lazy and I think that's a huge discredit to the author because the story is good. The witches not having traditional magic felt really odd to me, like she couldn't have magicked the hole in her dress just that one time? Kind of threw me off the plot but I also understand not using magic as a crutch.

I think the steamy scenes needed more commitment. Either it's fade to black or it's not, it was too sparse especially when they actually give into themselves in the flower garden.

Who actually destroyed the witchy batteries? There's no way it was an actual mole....? Right?

Overall the plot was pretty tidy and that's fine but I think it could benefit from another 50 pages to really flesh out the romance and give it a bit more depth. I do really like what the author is trying to do here and will be reading more of their work.

3.5 stars but rounding up

Thank you so much to the publishing house, Linsey Hall, and Netgalley for the ARC

This story follows Emma, a witch who longs to prove herself to her coven, and Alaric, a duke and vampire desperate to please his grandmother. When Emma has the chance to maintain a secure position in the coven by finding the perfect location for the annual Beltane Ball, she knows that the duke’s estate would set her apart from her competition. The duke reluctantly agrees when he realizes that a fake girlfriend will help keep his grandmother happy, and the rest of the book covers their love story and Emma’s career journey. This started really great, a lot of fake dating stories that take place in fantasy settings feel super formal and different from contemporary romances, but the writing and dialogue really made this feel more low-key and modern, which really worked. The world building was very interesting and done well, and for the first 60% of the book, I was really invested in the romance, but it really fell off after that. The whole story felt really rushed, as if there were a deadline and set of plot points needed to be touched upon to wrap up the story, and the story really suffered as a result. Emma and Alaric went from two tension riddled, angsty individuals to a boring couple when their relationship transitioned from fake to real, and I completely lost interest in them. The plot also took on a cookie cutter format and all the problems that seemed impossible to fix in the start were gone with ease. I started reading the book just to finish it, not because I was truly interested anymore, which was really disappointing. Overall, a pretty solid read that lags a little in the end.

3.25 stars ⭐️ this book read like one of those hallmark christmas movies in my opinion! a cozy fast paced romcom with a littttle bit of cringe. Emma is a witch who is desperately trying to prove herself to her coven and makes a deal to fake date the vampire duke in order to reach her goals.

I really didn’t understand the need to make Alaric a vampire because most of the stereotypical vampire qualities were lost in the book like going out in the sun, living forever, etc. This is definitely an easy slide into fantasy romance from those that are new to the genre. It mixes modern day with magic. loveeee that she talked abt love island bc that’s my type of trash reality tv too 🐸 ☕️

This book was pretty fast paced and definitely light hearted. I really liked the side characters the most to be honest.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

a rom com with a vampire and a first meeting in a bathroom
also hes not just a normal vampire but a conte with a big estate and they start to fake dating

what more do we need? did I say you get to have a ball as well? and he's super into her from the start ;)

magically. enjoyable. We follow along with a witch named Emma who tries to stand out from the coven. When she is tasked with a throwing her ball to make her claim in the coven. then after an incident, she is into fake dating a duke who turns out to be a vampire tryingt o appease his grandmother.

Now this is part of a series, but I had troubles reading it as a standalone, especially if you are not used to the modern day fantasy,

Would recommend for the fantasy and paranormal lovers on top of the fake dating trope. perfect for the fall time.

This book was super cute & so much fun to read! I really enjoyed the plot, the characters and overall just the entire dynamic of the standalone. It is a standalone so it can be read on its own but reading the other books might help before jumping right into this one!

Emma was so sweet and a witch who deserved so much better. Alaric was hilarious and the perfect fake boyfriend to Emma. Their interactions are sweet, slightly spicy, and overall they did a really good job at communicating for the most part.

This is the perfect, getting into spooky season vibes that I needed on a cool September day. Can't wait to read more from Linsey!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was an adorably cozy read full of loveable vampires and witches. Perfect for the spooky season reader that isn’t a huge fan of horror. Dual POV, this story follows Emma and Alaric as they, as the title suggests, fake date. There is a slight second-act breakup/miscommunication trope, but it really wasn’t bad and I didn’t find it off-putting. This book delivers the trope wonderfully and it’s a perfect read, especially for those who enjoyed the first book in the Charming Cove series.

Thank you to Linsey Hall, Bonnie Doon Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3.5 Stars
What an adorable, funny read! Perfect for the autumn season!

How to fake date a vampire follows Emma, a young witch trying to prove herself with her coven. Currently on the bottom tier her position in the coven is in jeopardy she must throw the best ball the coven has ever seen! In her efforts to pull this off she meets Alaric the vampire duke with his own problems and as all great fake dating romances a deal was struck. Alaric would let Emma host her ball at his estate to prove she isn’t an outcast in her coven in return she must fake date the vampire duke to get his grandmother off his back, including the carnal rule THEY MUST NOT FALL IN LOVE.

My Thoughts:
I found the book very easy to read and I loved the fact it was a first person duel POV, we do see more of Emma than Alaric, the dialogue was easy to follow as was the storyline. Both the FMC and MMC were written extremely well with a lot of depth to them. Their funny little meet cute paired with their budding romance was fun to read and even had me laughing out loud in parts. The two bonded over their family trauma. It was interesting to see a new witchy coven dynamic with a more competitive nature. Alaric’s vampire side was a little disappointing to me as Hall decided to forgo the usual vampire myths an we saw the duke just drinking blood spiked alcohol and at times I forgot he was a vampire but his character depth was spot on. This is the second book in the series but can be read easily as a stand-alone, I would say this book is a perfect palette cleanser, cosy fall read


Thank you to NetGalley and Boonie Doon Press for giving me the opportunity and providing me with a feee eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review/opinions on this book

This is the second book in the Charming Cove series, which is incredibly cosy, and perfect for the time of year. Even though I really enjoyed reading this one, I felt it was a bit too similar to the first book. I would have loved a bit more of a difference in storyline.

I was so excited to get this title, but I am so disappointed - let me explain. The beautiful cover artwork, the premise, and even the first chapter sucked me in. I love when her friend called her a "muppet" and the bathroom scene was so embarrassingly funny. It only goes downhill from there, however, There are a lot of plot holes - why is this ball so important and, if it is so like the book claims, why give it to an apprentice and why only have one person plan it? It is a 500+ person event to make the feelings. the witch coven will use for the entire year. I've planned these kinds of events with only 1/5th the people and had a LOT more help. This is NOT a one person job, and certainly not one for an amateur. Second, the characters themselves and writing is just awful. I found myself skim reading around the 30% mark, and then I just didn't care. I hate it because this was one of the books I wanted most to read, especially for the season. I expected better and didn't get it. Another DNF at around 50%.

3.5/5 Stars

Sometimes you just want a cozy low stakes fantasy, and this is it!

I admittedly went into this book not knowing it was a second in a series, so the world building was a bit confusing for me - but that was totally on me.

This story follows Emma, an ordinary witch who is hoping to be a full member of her coven. In order to become a full member of her coven, Emma plans to throw a successful ball at the Duke of Vampire's Alaric's property. In order to get him to agree to hosting on his property, Emma enters a fake dating scheme to trick Alaric's grandmother that he is happy in a relationship.

This book is great for any one who loves Urban fantasy and is maybe easing their way into paranormal romances. The magic system and even the qualities of being a witch or a vampire aren't explored too much that it would be overwhelming to the reader. I did want to see a little more of the vampire aspect to Alaric as I felt the story was more focused on Emma being a witch. The pacing in this book is really good, and I enjoyed Emma and Alaric learning about one another.

The third act "break up" wasn't probably the one thing I didn't enjoy about this. I'm not a huge fan of miscommunication - and it was resolved in a few pages, but it just didn't feel fully fleshed out for the two to even break up.

If you're looking for a good book to start your spooky season or just want an easy read / palette cleanser - this is would be such a good pick up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This delightful, light, fluffy read blends fantasy, romance, and magic into this sweet story.

The seaside setting of Charming Cove is… well, charming. It gives you a small town feel and is very warm and inviting. We don’t get to meet too many people in this town, but those who we do meet are likable characters. I would’ve enjoyed for the town and its residence to play more of a role in the story. I also would’ve liked more description of the setting and events. We got a little bit, but I wanted more. I wanted to be fully immersed in this fantasy world but felt like I was only able to dip my toes in it.

Emma and Alaric are easy characters to like, relate to, and ultimately root for. It's a dual POV, so we’re able to understand each of their points of view. However, we get more of Emma’s POV, and at times, when I was reading in Alaric’s POV, I had forgotten that and thought it was Emma’s until I read a sentence that didn’t fit quite right, and then I remembered it’s Alaric’s POV. I don’t know if I learned that much more about Alaric from being in his POV. I think the book could’ve just used Emma’s POV, which would’ve worked for the entire story.

The romance between Emma and Alaric is very cute and sweet. There is some language and one spicy scene, but it’s not too graphic. I thought they made a really cute couple, but it does lean on the insta-love side quite a bit. They fall pretty soon and quickly for each other, ignoring the rules they set when they first planned the fake dating scheme. At times, it was obvious they both were falling for each other but wouldn’t communicate their feelings, which was a bit annoying. I also wished we saw more of them together, trying to fake date, but much of the story is about Emma preparing for the town’s ball. It’s very predictable, but that didn’t ruin anything for me. Overall, I enjoyed their romance.

I also loved the found family element in this story. Emma just wants a family of her own, and she finds it within her coven as well as Alaric’s family. I love the relationships she builds with Alaric’s family members. I also really enjoyed Emma’s skunk familiar, Penelope. She’s sassy, caring, witty, and humorous. She brought some funny scenes throughout the story. She was a nice touch, and now I want a skunk familiar! (lol)

One big problem that I had was that Alaric is supposed to be a vampire, but he hardly acts like one. All of the traits we know about vampires do not apply in this story. He can be out in sunlight; he can eat and drink normal food and beverages; he doesn’t attack people for their blood, he gets it in a bag; he doesn’t sleep in a coffin…and so on. So, what makes this guy a vampire? I would’ve liked more evidence that he actually was a vampire!

Overall, the story was engaging and compelling. I think the pacing was great and didn’t really slow down too much. I wish it were a little longer so we got more time at the ball at the end, but it’s a pretty quick read. I’ll admit, it’s a little cheesy and a bit too fluffy at times, but this was exactly what I needed and wanted when I read it. It’s overly sweet, verging on too nice without a lot of conflict, but it was still a fun read. It’s light, whimsical, and magical, though I wish we had a bit more magic in it. It’s perfect for a fall read or spooky/Halloween feel-good read with some supernatural elements.

I definitely got cozy fantasy vibes from this book. Now, I want to read the first book in the series. I believe this is the type of series where each book can stand on its own without reading the others. Definitely recommend if you like warm, fuzzy rom-coms with a bit of enchanting magic and love!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

First if all, I loved the idea of this! Vampires, witches AND fake dating? Sign. Me. Up.
Unfortunately I felt a little underwhelmed by the delivery. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed reading about Emma and Alaric and I liked their story, but their romance as well as the other conflicts that Emma had to face all felt a little… shallow? I would have liked a little more depth to everything because a lot of the resolutions to Emma’s problems felt a little too easy which resulted in the plot feeling rushed.
In addition to that some parts just didn’t make sense to me. The most prominent one being: Why did Alaric and his family have to be vampires when they basically have none of the traditional vampire traits? They can walk around in broad daylight without any consequences (not even a little of a sparkle of their skin), you can take photos of them and see them in mirrors, they’re far from being monstrous (you never find out where they get their blood from), they don’t seem to feel ANY bloodlust (grandma just likes to have a little droplet of blood in her Martinis for fun) so they’re clearly not a threat to anyone ever, they eat normal food, they don’t even have a stupid garlic allergy! I could go on and on about how they’re basically just normal human beings with shit ton of money. Like I said, I still enjoyed this book. But the overarching question why the hell it was marketed as a vampire romance was the part that actually bothered me throughout the entire story.