July 12, 2021
A fake engagement between a department store heir and an up-and-coming fashion designer turns all too real in this charming Christmas rom-com from British reality TV star Toffolo (Always Smiling). Oliver Russell’s father is seriously ill, causing his high-strung mother to direct her anxiety at Oliver’s love life. But Oliver’s so busy taking over the family business and fixing the mess his cousin Andrew made by opening a new store in London’s Chelsea neighborhood, that he doesn’t have time to date, let alone marry and produce the requested grandkids. He drunkenly proposes to his local bartender, Victoria Scott, and, after he proves his good-heartedness by following her advice to reach out to the tight-knight Chelsea community, Victoria agrees to be his fake fiancé for the holiday season. Their burgeoning intimacy stirs up Victoria’s insecurities about her infertility in a nuanced subplot that unfortunately goes unresolved after Andrew threatens to reveal this information to Oliver and his parents. Readers will be frustrated that Andrew never receives his comeuppance, but armchair travelers will adore this tour of Christmastime London. Agent: Amanda Harris, YMU Books.
August 13, 2021
DEBUT This debut romance by British TV personality Toffolo (the first in a series whose second installment, Meet Me in Hawaii, was published in the U.K. in Mar. 2021) stars Victoria Scott, who dreams of being a fashion designer. She's felt stalled since her ex-boyfriend takes that dream (and their work partnership) with him after cheating on her. Nowadays, Victoria spends her time managing a bar and teaching kids about fashion while working on her designs when she can. Oliver Russell is acting as the head of his family's department store franchise, and the company is building a new location in Victoria's London neighborhood. His dad is in poor health, and he will do anything to make his parents happy, even faking a fianc�. After a few chance encounters, Victoria and Oliver strike up a mutually beneficial partnership: Victoria will act as his fake fianc� until the new store opens and Oliver will host a fashion show at the grand opening for Victoria and her students. Victoria opens up Oliver's eyes to what life can be, but she is harboring a secret that she thinks threatens Oliver's life plans. The good news is they get along great, but things get a little too real as they spend more time together. VERDICT A fun story for fans of the fake dating trope.--Ashli Wells, Vanderbilt Univ. Law Lib., Nashville
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September 1, 2021
A fake relationship between a wealthy department store owner and an inventive clothing designer kicks off this charming holiday romance. Oliver Russell is a family-oriented man, which is why he feels such pressure to bring a date home for the holidays. Not only would it appease his mother, who wants her only child to get married and produce offspring, but his father is sick and would like to see him settled. Victoria Scott is a passionate fashion designer with an eye for vintage styles, but it doesn't quite pay the bills. For now, her designs are mainly sold online or through friends. That's why Oliver first meets her working as a bar manager to make ends meet while teaching fashion design to underprivileged students. Despite making a disastrous first impression on each other, they soon realize there's mutual benefit to be had. Oliver is helping his cousin rehab the family's grand department store. He needs a tie to the community as a show of good faith and a stand-in girlfriend for opening day. In return, he promises that Victoria can host her students' runway show and showcase her own designs during the celebration. Readers who love a tantalizing slow burn will very much enjoy the pining between Ollie and Victoria. Their well-paced and tender romance feels organic and natural amid the delightful excitement of the upcoming Christmas season. While it's easy to sink into this wintry fantasy, both Ollie and Victoria have baggage that sometimes slows the momentum. At 32, Ollie still feels beholden to his family, letting them goad him into emotional situations he doesn't quite want. Meanwhile, Victoria's fear of relationships comes from an earlier accident that left her unable to bear children. She frequently questions her own womanhood as it relates to pregnancy and often feels less-than when looking for potential romantic partners, a plotline readers should be aware of. A cute holiday romance with a keen eye for beloved tropes.
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October 1, 2021
By day, Londoner Victoria Scott works in a pub and teaches fashion design to disadvantaged youth. By night, she designs clothes and yearns to have a boutique of her own in Chelsea. Commitment-phobe Oliver Russell is the reluctant heir to a billion-pound department store empire. He is hounded by his mother to marry and take over the vast family business from his ailing father. To that end, Oliver asks Victoria to pose as his fake fianc�e over the Christmas holiday. She ends up serving as his conscience in building rapport with the local shopkeepers who feel threatened by the opening of Russells' new store. In a case of a rising tide lifting all boats, Oliver longs for a way to pay it forward for kids who don't have his life of privilege. As their phony relationship turns real, Victoria worries about her inability to have children. Will he love her despite that? Though a more immersive London setting would have made this tale shine brighter, it is a promising start to an engaging series by British TV personality Georgia "Toff" Toffolo.
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