Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.
But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.
No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?
Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.
About Melissa Ferguson
Melissa Ferguson lives in Bristol, Tennessee, where she is an assistant professor at King University and pens books that make her laugh and grow. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now she and her husband are outnumbered, and her hobbies include diaper changes, chasing toddlers in parking lots, and admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing “Winnie the Pooh.” She survives by Jesus, rom coms, and roughly two espresso shots a day. The Dating Charade is her debut novel.
My Rating: 4 Stars
‘Does lying impress you? Because I can lie. I can be the best pathological liar you’ve ever met.’
Cassie Everson escapes bad first dates. She is now ready, after many abominable dates, to hang up her hopes for a happily ever after. Jett Bentley knew of Cassie in high school and has just seen heeer dating profile online. He contacts her and a nice date follows.
Sometimes you read a debut novel that just grabs you and draws you into the story first thing. This is such a novel. Well written, good plot, nice characters, with some pretty good with thrown in and you have a recipe for success. Give Melissa Ferguson a chance with this debut novel. You won’t regret it.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Simply Susan 