Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Mia Monroe

Genre: Gay Romance

Tags: Contemporary, Fake Fiance, Friends-to-Lovers, Romance, Series, Small Town

Length: 214 Pages

Reviewer: Cindi

Purchase At: Amazon

Blurb –

Maybe asking my burly golden retriever contractor to be my fake fiance was a bad idea. But as the saying goes, desperate times and all that.

Listen, getting married again sounds about as fun as a shopping spree in a dumpster, so dating is definitely off the table. I’ve resisted Oakley’s tempting presence, knowing it can only lead to trouble, and I don’t need any more of that. Despite the obvious attraction, we’ve managed to keep a platonic and professional distance.

That is until my Parisian past collides with my new, simpler world. My engaged ex is back and willing to do anything to humiliate me all over again. I can’t bear the thought of his gloating when I’m as unattached as they come. In my desperation, I do the only thing that makes sense- ask Oakley to pretend to be my fiance. It’s just one week of events and media to prove I’ve more than landed on my feet again. I’m thriving.

The only problem is that Oakley is a very good actor and really into his role as my amore. It feels good to be adored and the heated nights aren’t so bad either. When this is all over, I’m not sure how we’ll go back to what we were with the line between what’s real and what isn’t is so blurry, it’s impossible to see it. Until now, my life mirrored a bitter cocktail, sharp and biting, but Oakley makes me want to embrace a softer, sweeter taste, just like a French Martini. Could I finally have the life I always wanted with him? Am I brave enough to try?

If this goes south, I’m in big trouble. At the very least, my heart is.

French Martini is book three in Last Call, a contemporary series set in the New Onyx universe. You can expect a glamorous designer who absolutely refuses to fall in love again, a tenacious contractor with golden retriever vibes who doesn’t mind waiting him out, a sneaky ex with dubious motives, a fake engagement that feels all too real, some much needed steamy times, our favorite group of friends to offer support, and watching how far the mighty can fall.

Review –

Lowen is a world famous designer who moved back to his hometown Willow Bay to open the town’s only gay bar with his five best friends, Moby’s. Oakley is the contractor hired to remodel not just the bar but also the house that Ridley (one of the five) inherited. Or should I say mansion. It was redone with private suites for all the friends and maybe someday their partners to live in. With Lowen being a great designer it was only natural that he would be spending a lot of time with Oakley during all the renovations.

Both men are introduced in Whiskey Neat, the first book in the series.

These two guys have been dancing around each other for a year. Oakley would totally be all in if there was ever so much as a hint from Lowen. Lowen, on the other hand, is attracted to Oakley, but he’s not long out of a disastrous marriage that did everything short of ruin his professional reputation. His ex is a horrible human being. He made sure to knock Lowen down in any way he could, both publicly and privately. Lowen won’t be opening his heart for anybody.

Everything changes when Lowen learns that he’s being honored with a special designing award for work he did in Paris while still married to the ex. He’s done everything in his power to stay away from the life he once had, but damn it, he earned that award, and he’s going to hold his head up high and get it. He’s also been asked to present a special award to an up and coming designer.  The only problem is that his ex-husband will not only be there, but he’ll be one of the hosts of the event. When Alain (the ex) was doing everything in his power to destroy Lowen’s career and reputation after the divorce, Lowen had taken the high road. He’s regretting that now that he’s going to be forced to see the jerk again. And, worse? Alain is engaged… again. He’s been engaged several times since the divorce, but none have stuck. It’s easy to see why. Lowen stopped loving him years ago. What he’s scared of is being thrust back into the spotlight and more lies being printed and spoken about him. He’s only just now gotten his life back together. He doesn’t want to go through all the publicity again.

So, Lowen asks Oakley if he would pretend to be his fiance for a week for all the activities leading up to the award ceremony and the ceremony itself. Of course, Oakley is all in. And as with all the books so far, the sex starts super early. Before Lowen asks him to be his fake fiance, they kiss and play around a little. This is something that started with a kiss when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. That was a shock in itself considering how Lowen had kept him at arm’s length for so long.

Spoiler: There wasn’t any faking going on.

They obviously get closer leading up to the ceremony, with Lowen’s heart opening up little by little. He’s also a lot more trusting when it comes to sex than he’d ever been before.

The night of the award ceremony comes and it’s every bit as perfect as I (the reader) could’ve hoped for. Let’s just say that there was no taking the high road for Lowen this time. I love how everything came crashing down on the ex. It’s the perfect revenge for what he’d done to Lowen years before, though Lowen didn’t really do much this go ’round. Alain dug his own grave, so to speak.

I love how both of the guys are older, early forties. I also love how they became good friends before anything else happened.

Overall, it was a nice read. I’m still a little weird about the pet names/endearments, but it wasn’t as bad as in the other books. I’ll be reading Ridley and Wren’s book for sure when it’s published. That’s another couple that has been dancing around each other for a while.