Between Love and Loathing: A Fake Dating Romance (Hardy Billionaires)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 17,206 ratings
Price: 5.99
Last update: 08-31-2024
About this item
Fake dating my enemy so I can design my dream bakery should be easy … as long as I don't fall in love with him.
Dominic Hardy might be an award-winning architectural engineer with fancy degrees and considerable accolades, but he doesn’t know a thing about baking.
He doesn’t even like sugar.
So when my late stepfather’s will states that Dominic Hardy is set to inherit the Pacific Coast Resort he’d painstakingly designed, as long as my bakery can be plopped in the middle of it, it’s no surprise he balks.
And my jaw drops when another stipulation requires us to mutually approve plans for my bakery’s design.
His stuffy taste will never mix with my whimsical vibe.
But then Dominic comes to me with a proposal I can’t refuse. He’ll give me everything I want in my bakery as long as I agree to one thing:
Fake date him for five months.
Keep his ex away by pretending we’re in love.
Smile and stare into his piercing green eyes at a gala or two.
Maybe share a kiss.
Nothing extreme.
Five months of acting in love when I really loathe him and his filthy mouth.
Even when he’s using it on me.
This should be a cakewalk.
Except there’s a fine line between love and loathing, and I think I’ve made the colossal mistake of blurring it.
Dominic Hardy might be an award-winning architectural engineer with fancy degrees and considerable accolades, but he doesn’t know a thing about baking.
He doesn’t even like sugar.
So when my late stepfather’s will states that Dominic Hardy is set to inherit the Pacific Coast Resort he’d painstakingly designed, as long as my bakery can be plopped in the middle of it, it’s no surprise he balks.
And my jaw drops when another stipulation requires us to mutually approve plans for my bakery’s design.
His stuffy taste will never mix with my whimsical vibe.
But then Dominic comes to me with a proposal I can’t refuse. He’ll give me everything I want in my bakery as long as I agree to one thing:
Fake date him for five months.
Keep his ex away by pretending we’re in love.
Smile and stare into his piercing green eyes at a gala or two.
Maybe share a kiss.
Nothing extreme.
Five months of acting in love when I really loathe him and his filthy mouth.
Even when he’s using it on me.
This should be a cakewalk.
Except there’s a fine line between love and loathing, and I think I’ve made the colossal mistake of blurring it.
Top reviews from the United States
Seana Braender
5.0 out of 5 stars
outstanding!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
I loved every single page of this book! I couldn’t put this book down! From the first page to the last I needed to know what happened next! I loved the plot and plot twist of this story! I also loved the spicy scenes in this book! The author did a fantastic job with this story!
NeverTooMuchRomance
4.0 out of 5 stars
Story arc was beautiful and had depth. Great sexual tension.
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2024
tropes: billionaire, evil stepmom/sister, he has been hurt by love before/closed off, she is bright sunshine, thriving despite a health issue and fake fiancé/dating.
Things I loved: I loved how they didn't meet and immediately fall in love. Shain had patience and developed their relationship, so it felt like it built into something deep. I felt the chemistry and you want these two to find happiness. Was a really well-written and edited story.
What didn't feel quite right/kept it from being a 5. Once they did get together a bit, it just felt off that adults who were both comfortable with more casual sex, would abstain as much as they did, just to keep from falling harder for each other. ..that they would stop at just 3rd base fun and then do nothing for days/weeks. It also felt off that someone who could have used an expensive purse for rent she was struggling with, wouldn't have been more upset when she lost her uber expensive purse due to her own negligence. That part just fell flat...as someone who always was an emotional punching bag, she would have been beating herself up more for it and not so non-chalant.
Overall, I loved the idea of the book and how the characters and storyline progressed. Alot of it would have me put it in the reread pile as a favorite. There were just a few things that jolted me out of the story as I read things that felt a bit off. This is being super picky here, since I am giving a review. This is a great book and I would recommend it. Just some things that kept it from being a top 20 bookshelf save.
Things I loved: I loved how they didn't meet and immediately fall in love. Shain had patience and developed their relationship, so it felt like it built into something deep. I felt the chemistry and you want these two to find happiness. Was a really well-written and edited story.
What didn't feel quite right/kept it from being a 5. Once they did get together a bit, it just felt off that adults who were both comfortable with more casual sex, would abstain as much as they did, just to keep from falling harder for each other. ..that they would stop at just 3rd base fun and then do nothing for days/weeks. It also felt off that someone who could have used an expensive purse for rent she was struggling with, wouldn't have been more upset when she lost her uber expensive purse due to her own negligence. That part just fell flat...as someone who always was an emotional punching bag, she would have been beating herself up more for it and not so non-chalant.
Overall, I loved the idea of the book and how the characters and storyline progressed. Alot of it would have me put it in the reread pile as a favorite. There were just a few things that jolted me out of the story as I read things that felt a bit off. This is being super picky here, since I am giving a review. This is a great book and I would recommend it. Just some things that kept it from being a top 20 bookshelf save.
Grace
5.0 out of 5 stars
I’d highlight the whole book if I could
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
But really, I highlighted every sweet moment and now I have endless moments saved. Such a great love story with dynamic and fun characters. They make you want to fall in love and enjoy the fall while also hating it.
Tiffany
3.0 out of 5 stars
cute
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024
It was a well written story. Cute even.
I am not big on normal romances I like the darker stuff usually with several unalivings. But this was a fun, low stress nothing better to do read.
I am not big on normal romances I like the darker stuff usually with several unalivings. But this was a fun, low stress nothing better to do read.
Traci Prejean
5.0 out of 5 stars
A-Fricking-Mazing
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
This book has ALL the feels.. from anger to laughter to tears. I will definitely be following this author I just happened upon...
Chayla
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Definitely not what I expected. I will say that I was very pleased with the outcome of this match. I had a hard time with Clara because some of her people pleasing traits remind me of myself. She still had that baddie energy just waiting to be released. And Dom brought it out of her, helped her use it for her own benefit. Definitely enjoyed the character development and even the love that eventually developed over time. Her birth family definitely sucked, but from the sound of it her chosen family was going to make up for that!
Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars
Let my Heart be Still
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
Let my heart be still indeed, this book play whit my emotions and made me fall in love with it with every word, every sentence, every chapter. I devoted myself to this book and eta it up in just two days because I also have a one year old and need sleep lmfao. The story line and character development is amazing and addicting.
JLew
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clara and Dominic
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
Between Love and Loathing is the second book in the Hardy Billionaires series, but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the first book, Between Commitment and Betrayal, but I LOVED this book.
Clara Milton was a spoiled girl who was handed everything in life. This includes a brand new bakery in the middle of Dominic's new resort. At least, that's what Dom believes anyway.
All Clara wants is a chance to prove herself and to make a safe space of her very own. Which isn't an easy task with Dominic breathing down her neck and trying to change everything about her bakery.
Moving across the country was the perfect time to start over and build the life Clara always wanted. Finally getting out from under her mother and sister and building a relationship with her stepsister Everly. With the passing of her stepfather, Clara has the opportunity to have her own bakery that is her alone. Only problem is the architectural engineer, designer, and CEO of the Pacific Coast Resort where her bakery located hates her.
At least, that's what Clara thinks. Until Dom proposes a fake relationship to help with publicity for the resort. The line blurs from fake to real, and neither Clara nor Dom know where the line even went.
This was such a great read. I loved how Dom constantly pushed Clara to stand up for herself and for what she wanted. Clara pushes Dom to see things in more than just black and white. Their banter back and forth is great, and then the spice is perfect! I highly recommend checking this out!
Clara Milton was a spoiled girl who was handed everything in life. This includes a brand new bakery in the middle of Dominic's new resort. At least, that's what Dom believes anyway.
All Clara wants is a chance to prove herself and to make a safe space of her very own. Which isn't an easy task with Dominic breathing down her neck and trying to change everything about her bakery.
Moving across the country was the perfect time to start over and build the life Clara always wanted. Finally getting out from under her mother and sister and building a relationship with her stepsister Everly. With the passing of her stepfather, Clara has the opportunity to have her own bakery that is her alone. Only problem is the architectural engineer, designer, and CEO of the Pacific Coast Resort where her bakery located hates her.
At least, that's what Clara thinks. Until Dom proposes a fake relationship to help with publicity for the resort. The line blurs from fake to real, and neither Clara nor Dom know where the line even went.
This was such a great read. I loved how Dom constantly pushed Clara to stand up for herself and for what she wanted. Clara pushes Dom to see things in more than just black and white. Their banter back and forth is great, and then the spice is perfect! I highly recommend checking this out!