REVIEW: Fake Crowne by C.D. Reiss

OUR REVIEW:

The Crowne Brothers Series continues with Fake Crowne. I'll be honest, it's been a while since I've been in this world so I didn't remember all of the ins and outs of Colton and how his brother perceived him, though I think I put it together (and honestly it doesn't matter all that much because these all can be read as stand alones). Another bit of honesty is that it took me a minute to settle into this read. Colton was a little discombobulating for me but the more I got to know him, the more I got sucked into his story with Skye. 

Colton feels like the loser Crowne (but I truly think they've all felt like this at some point) because he blew through is money and now lives in his brother's garage apartment, trying to resurrect his career. He is asked to produce Skye as a 'favor' for one of his brothers but doesn't appreciate the pity favor so he declines...until he hears Skye and sees her potential. For Skye's part, she feels like she's running out of time to try to pursue this dream career because she's promised to go to med school if she can't make a go of music and as she's had zero critical success, she knows working with Colton may be her last chance. 

Through a series of well meaning but poorly thought out ideas from his brother, Colton doesn't just end up producing Skye, he also is fake dating her. Except there's really nothing fake about it from day one. Both of them are incredibly attracted to each other, need each other, and see something in the other that seems like no one else can. She sees his heart and desire to succeed and he sees beyond her crippling performance anxiety and together they push forward to try to make something of this opportunity. 

As stated earlier, this wasn't the easiest novel for me to dive into and part of it was being so far removed from the original few books. I think it also had to do with some gaps in the backstories that were eventually, for the most part, filled in and helped me understand their motivations and doubts better, which then helped me connect to them better. This was a super quick read, featuring an insta-connection, and felt like it was just warming up when it was time for it to be over. All of this to say that I became so invested that I was happy to see the HEA but really wanted to get to know them more. Hopefully the next Crowne book will give me more looks at these two; I can't wait. 

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SYNOPSIS:

Colton Crowne is famous for two things: being one of the music industry’s most talented producers and partying away his massive inheritance.

I’m a singer with stage fright who’s famous for…well…nothing yet. And I promised my family if I didn’t make it big by the end of this year, I’d go back to med school.
My agent thinks Colton and I would be a great team both in the studio, and outside of it—especially if label executives think we’re dating.
The rules? We can kiss in public, but not in private.
We can act like we’re doing the deed, as long as we’re not.
And as far as having actual feelings for each other goes…that’s obviously out of the question.
But after so many late nights in the studio and a bunch of stolen kisses, I start to see beyond his party boy facade to something real underneath. And he believes in me–with his coaching and encouragement, I’m finally overcoming my anxiety and giving the best performances of my life.
If only time wasn’t running out so fast.
Then Colton has an idea to keep us together. It’s terrible, but it’s the only way.
How can I let him destroy everything he’s worked for just to make me happy?

INCLUDES: Hero with a heart of gold, stolen kisses, surprising chivalry, private stuff in a public bathroom, swank parties, grinding it out, stolen glances, and Momma Crowne setting her boy straight.