Bakery owner Willow Dalton’s friendship with Zane Walker has always been a bit complicated. Now a scrumptiously hot A-list actor, Zane’s always had a reputation as a player. He’s arrogant, and he’s definitely not boyfriend material. Sure, he did Willow a favor by agreeing to take her virginity before college, but is that reason enough for her to go along with a fake engagement a decade later—even if it comes with a real diamond ring?

Zane should have known better. Nothing involving Willow has ever been easy. Still, he knows her better than anyone, and becoming America’s hottest new leading man means cleaning up his reputation. An “engagement” to curvy, sass-mouthed Willow is the perfect PR move…provided no one gets hurt.

Now Zane and Willow’s little white lie has turned into an irresistible recipe for sweet temptation. And soon no one will be able to tell the difference between their fake engagement and the real thing—including them.

Length: 288 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled	Audible book: Audible book Switch back and forth between reading the Kindle book and listening to the Audible book with Whispersync for Voice. Add the Audible book for a reduced price of $1.99 when you buy the Kindle book. Available	Matchbook Price: $0.99 What's this? For thousands of qualifying books, your past, present, and future print-edition purchases now lets you buy the Kindle edition for $2.99 or less. (Textbooks available for $9.99 or less.) Thousands of books are eligible, including current and former best sellers. Look for the Kindle MatchBook icon on print and Kindle book detail pages of qualifying books. You can also see more Kindle MatchBook titles here or look up all of your Kindle MatchBook titles here. Read the Kindle edition on any Kindle device or with a free Kindle Reading App. Print edition must be purchased new and sold by Amazon.com. Gifting of the Kindle edition at the Kindle MatchBook price is not available. Learn more about Kindle MatchBook.

Complete Series

Sugar Lake (2 Book Series)

Melissa Foster

$6.98

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Melissa Foster

293

Kindle Edition
$4.99
Aurora Rose Reynolds

427

Kindle Edition
$1.99
Sariah Wilson

535

Kindle Edition
$2.49
Melissa Foster

230

Kindle Edition
$3.99
Melissa Foster

183

Kindle Edition
$4.99
Melissa Foster

127

Kindle Edition
$4.99

Try Kindle Countdown Deals
Explore limited-time discounted eBooks. Learn more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Engaging, humorous banter between characters and lively, engaging storytelling are the highlights of Foster’s latest romance. Fans of Foster will not be disappointed.” —RT Book Reviews

“The Real Thing is like the perfect dessert—sweet and satisfying with a touch of spice!” —New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst

“Sizzling hot and so much fun! The Real Thing is a must read for romance lovers!” —New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis

“If you love the small town romances written by Donna Alward, Kristan Higgins, and Laura Trentham—you will adore Melissa Foster’s The Real Thing!” —Lady Celeste Reads Romance

About the Author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty-five books. Her novels have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, the Patriot, and more. She has also painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.

She enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and she welcomes an invitation to your event. Visit Melissa on her website, www.MelissaFoster.com, or chat with her on Twitter @melissa_foster and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor.

Product details

File Size: 2615 KB
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance (September 5, 2017)
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01N232BRC
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #646 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #72 in Books > Romance > Romantic Comedy
- #79 in Kindle Store > Whispersync for Voice > Romance
- #141 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?

Customer Reviews

Write a customer review

See all 483 customer reviews

Rated by customers interested in

What's this?

Romance Novels

4.5 out of 5 stars

Literary Fiction

4.5 out of 5 stars

Short Stories & Anthologies

4.6 out of 5 stars

Is this feature helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Valerie StuckInBooks

Lots of heat!

September 11, 2017

Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase

This is my first book by this author. I couldn't resist a good faking story, though this one wasn't exactly what I was expecting, still enjoyed it!

I always think of a good faking it story as the ones where a couple that's not likely to get together are forced to fake their relationship. Then the kisses they inevitably share start something either of them ever expected. It's my very favorite trope. So many possibilities. And this book gave it a different look.

Zane and Willow (love the names, btw) grew up together. He's her brothers best friend and he was her secret first (v-card type first). She set up rules and then left for college. And lots of other things happened that, well, I just can't tell you. Need to read it yourself for that. But later when they end up in this fake relationship, it's bringing where they always should have been. Finding out all that other stuff (which I still won't tell you) and figuring out their purpose. I just can't see a world where these two don't find it back to each other. They are just too perfect for each other. I guess that's the "difference" I felt in this book. Their fake relationship did bring them into each other's arms but if it hadn't been that it would have been something else. They are pretty clearly meant for each other. Sweet and sexy these two are!

Zane is adorable. His reputation needed fixing but he's just not that guy. It becomes clear pretty quickly that he loves Willow and isn't gonna cheat on her.

Willow did take a bit longer for me to love. She's been protecting her heart for a long time and she pushes too hard sometimes. Does make her real.

I'm not sure if it's characteristic of this author since this is the first book I've read of hers, but the romance is smoother. By that I mean, the angst that these two deal with is not so much a mess one of them makes as it is dealing with other issues (also not telling on what those issues are - you peeps need to read this book yourself). I found that I rather enjoyed that aspect of things. It felt more real to me. It also left more room for some seriously hot action between these two.

Oh yes, this author believes in couple time with lots and lots of heat! And these two were creative in their heat...um and dirty. Willow likes him talking dirty. Gotta be able to deal with that if you're gonna read this book.

Oh, and there's this book two coming out in December that I already want to read. Looks so good too. Sounds totally different but equally good. Can't wait to hang out in this small town again.

Comment 37 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Lisa M. Filipe

Sizzling, Sweet and SO MUCH FUN!!

September 7, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I simply adored the heck out of THE REAL THING, the new release from Melissa Foster and the first in the Sugar Lake series. I love all of Melissa's romances. Her writing is always so emotional and heartwarming and dare I say steamy! In THE REAL THING, she brings a whole new element onto the pages with hilarious banter and sexual chemistry that had my kindle sizzling!

Zane and Willow have a complicated history which becomes all the more complicated when he asks her to play his "fiancee" to help his reputation with the movie folks. With the potential boost for her catering/bakery business, she agrees, and so begins the laugh-out-loud fun! But we can't leave out the Melissa Foster steam factor, it was there and it was HOT!

I am loving the setting of Sweetwater, and I can't wait to read the next book which features Willow's sister Bridgette. Fans of Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor), and Toni Blake (Destiny) need to make this their next must read!

Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

PamD

A perfect situation to reconnect with her dropped in his lap

September 5, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Remember that first time? The hopes, the dreams, the feelings! Remember how long that mood stayed with you? Willow Dalton tried to control it. She asked her friend Zane Walker to be her "first" & then forget about it. No special feelings involved, just one night. She screwed up though. She fell for him. He stopped texting and her heart was crushed. In every encounter after then, she's guarded her heart by being sassy & snarky towards him. Now he wants her to be his pretend fiancée to clean up his image. Can she keep herself safe through that? Can she keep up a lie to her family for that long?

Zane Walker is now a Hollywood leading man but he never forgot Willow. A perfect situation to reconnect with her dropped in his lap. A focus group said he needed to clean up his image & date someone nice. Zane took it a step further thinking that if he could get Willow to open up, he could express his feelings. He's been in love with her since that night years ago. His life feels empty. He has everything he's dreamed of except her. Can he get Willow to ignore his image as a playboy? Will she fall in love with him?

OMG, I love Zane! So many times, the girl falls in love & the guy wants a one nighter. Not in a book by Melissa Foster! She's flipped it around to Willow wanting the one night stand, Zane in love with her for years & both of them suffering for years. The characters are well defined & the reader is given a good look at the characters for the rest of the series. The Dalton's love to give each other crap but support each other through thick & thin. I loved the interaction between Willow & Remi when they first meet. I am not going to leave spoilers but I had to laugh! I can't wait for the next book! I would recommend this book to all contemporary romance lovers that like their stories with spice & heat. There is some dirty language & sex but that isn't the focus of the story.

Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Xtymom

Sexy, fun read!

September 9, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I enjoyed The Real Thing so much. This is a fun sexy book, but it's got its ups and downs too and this is why I go out of my way to purchase and read Melissa Foster's books. She is on of the few authors that I can count on to publish a well written book that I know I'm going to enjoy every time. It's refreshing to read that Zane, the alpha male lead, doesn't have to be a controlling jerk through most of the book before he redeems himself. Zane has the perfect amount of cockiness and Willow sure isn't a wilting wallflower. She's got spunk and sass. She gives as good as she gets.
I think it's great how Zane and Willow have stayed connected all these years and yet never realized the relationship they had going. I laughed and had my heart hurt with them as they navigated past hurts and current/future situations. They were always meant to be, they just had to get out of their own way to realize it. And how could they not when Zane is determined to communicate about everything.
It was so fun to spend time with Willow's family and learn more about all of them.

Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Most recent customer reviews

J P Loved this book

Wonderful

Willow and Zane, wonderful childhood friends in many ways even tho Zane and Ben (Willows brother) were best friends.Read more

Published 2 days ago

Debbie

Five Stars

Totally enjoyed reading this book!

Published 2 days ago

Amazon Customer

Sweet, sexy, fun!

This book really has it all. Sweet scenes, sexy times, characters I would really like to call friends. I highly recommend this book.

Published 16 days ago

Amazon Customer

Really good!

I love second chance romance and add in a fake fiance, that is a great story. It did not disappoint. Zane and Willow seemed to have a past and we learned about their past.Read more

Published 18 days ago

Amanda Benedict

So good!

This was my first Melissa Foster book and I could not put it down. I started it on a road trip thanks to Kindle Unlimited’s download and listen feature.

Published 18 days ago

Sandy

Three Stars

Started out slow

Published 20 days ago

Amazon Customer

Fun, happy read

Easy and fun read but I would have personally liked a little more trials & tribulations but it was fun to get to know the characters! Well written.

Published 21 days ago

JudyCMH

This was a great story with little drama

This was a great story with little drama. The characters were known to each other but not the depth of feeling for each other.Read more

Published 24 days ago

Nancy

Not enough story, too much sex

The story idea was Ok. This author seems to only know how to write sex scenes and way too much used as filler.

Published 25 days ago

Misty

Dream swept

This story feels almost like a dream.
Get swept away by a love story spun like fine sugar.
Truly beautiful story.

Published 1 month ago

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: The Real Thing (Sugar Lake Book 1)

Set up a giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.