First Line Friday | The Dating Charade

Happy Friday! I’m so excited to be linking up with First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books, and sharing this debut novel with you! If you’re looking for a funny, sweet romance with heart, look no further than Melissa Ferguson’s first book, The Dating Charade:

“If one was going to dip one’s toes into the murky, pestilential waters of online dating, an escape plan was critical.”

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

The Basics

Title: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

My Rating: 5/5 stars

From the Back Cover: 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.

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved this book! It’s the perfect contemporary romance – just the right blend of funny and serious moments, with relatable characters that feel like they could walk right off the page. The story is unique and relevant, dealing with topics like online dating and foster care with humor and heart. I loved the relationship between Cassie and Jett – they got off to a little bit of a rough start and had a few misunderstandings along the way, but I love how their story turned out! Dating mishaps, kids’ crazy antics, and two meddling older ladies provided lighthearted moments. I can’t wait to read whatever Melissa Ferguson writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

5 thoughts on “First Line Friday | The Dating Charade

  1. My first line is from A Match For Emma by Pepper Basham:
    Molly Caudwell needed a perfect match, and Emma Mitchell was the woman to give the newest waitress her very own happily-ever-after.

  2. Happy Friday! My first line is from “A Match for Emma” by Pepper Basham:

    “Molly Caudwell needed a perfect match, and Emma Mitchell was the woman to give the newest waitress her very own happily-ever-after.”

  3. I really liked that one too!
    This week on my blog I shared the first line from Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright but it’s also my current read so I’ll share the first line from chapter 22 here: “She was in no mood for a midnight stroll.” Hope you have a wonderful weekend with plenty of quality reading time!

  4. Happy Saturday! Today, I’m currently reading On My Honour by Elizabeth John’s, so I’ll share from there.

    “Meg looked down at her hands, which were raw from lye soap. How did people do this every day?”

    Hope you’re having a good weekend filled with awesome reading time and rest. 😊❤📖

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