Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: A Flighty Fake Boyfriend
AUTHOR: Z.A. Maxfield
SERIES: Men of St. Nachos #2
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 260 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 12, 2020
BLURB:
All Ryan Winslow needs is a fake date for his ex’s wedding. What happens when a fake date turns into real, but impossible, love?
Ryan Winslow has everything he needs to attend his billionaire aristocrat ex’s wedding. He’s got an out and proud A-list celebrity date, reservations at an exclusive resort in Santa Barbara, and two weeks to enjoy a vacation—his first in six years.
The drive down gives him a chance to visit old friends in tiny St. Nacho’s, but that’s where things start to go wrong. His workaholic, driven lifestyle takes its toll, and his date calls to say he can’t make it. How will he ever find a substitute date for a formal wedding in time?
Epic Alsop waits tables, but that’s not all he does. He pays special attention to people, and responds to their needs accordingly. When he meets an overworked, underfed Ryan, he offers him a healing smoothie and a little extra care. When Ryan’s date for a wedding cancels, Epic offers to be his fake boyfriend.
What Epic doesn’t expect is Ryan’s kindness, or the amazing resort vacation he offers. He doesn’t expect Ryan’s patience, his wit, or his passion.
But they live in different countries, and Ryan’s job leaves no room for a social life. The hunger and weariness that drew Epic to Ryan in the first place is only a symptom of the reason they can’t be together.
Can fake lovers who fall in genuine love find a way to make their relationship work? Or are they destined to be alone forever?
REVIEW:
A Flighty Fake Boyfriend is the second entry in Z.A. Maxfield’s latest series, The Men of St. Nachos (not to be confused with her prior St. Nacho’s series). It is a very enjoyable, easy read with an epic main character. Literally. His name is Epic and he’s a pretty epic guy, too. Quirky, fun-loving, and self-confident, Epic is one of the highlights of the book. He’s a waiter whose habit it is to wear whoever’s name tag (Bob, Jeremy, Muse) he pulls out of the box at work. He can be goofy, but he’s not immature. Despite a master’s degree in financial engineering, Epic waits tables in sleepy St. Nacho’s while figuring out his future. His uptight parents, however, have given him one year to make a decision and it’s nearing that time.
Canadian Ryan is twelve years older than Epic and lives a much more serious life, working for an NGO that helps track down human traffickers. He works long, long hours and travels extensively, which precludes him from having much of a life outside work. His relationship with his aristocratic, billionaire ex–boyfriend, Luis, crumbled because he didn’t have room in his life for a partner with the critical and demanding work he does.
Despite having just met at the restaurant where Epic works, Ryan asks him to be his plus-one at Luis’ multi-day wedding celebrating at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara. Ryan doesn’t want to attend, but to decline would send the message that he’s upset by the pending nuptials. Ryan can admit to himself that he’s an emotional and physical mess, but he needs to appear to Luis and his guests that he’s not drowning in despair. What he needs is the support of a friend.
I love road-trip novels and this contains a mini one worthy of mention. Epic proves himself to be the neighborhood eccentric – quite a distinction in St. Nacho’s – when Ryan picks him up and among Epic’s belongings for the trip is an inflatable, rainbow-maned unicorn pool float. To use at a five star resort. He’s prepared snacks for the car including bean dip and grape soda, and insists on stopping for a round of mini golf at an epic, old school course complete with windmill. They also experience long, companionable silences that aren’t typical for near-strangers.
Attending the wedding brings conflicting emotions to the surface for Ryan. It takes Epic to help him realize he’s not missing or grieving the loss of Luis, per se, but the idea of having a person – his person – to love and to be cherished by in return. Ryan and Epic grow closer and obviously fall for each other. Their chemistry is strong and the sexy times are steamy. Just wow to the edging scenes. But Ryan feels a relationship is impossible. He’s a man married to his job and not willing to give up his vital life’s calling. They’re opposites, but maybe that works in their favor. Ryan recognizes something in Epic that most others don’t see – he feels things deeply – and perhaps Epic is the one to help Ryan find balance in his life.
I enjoy when an author inserts real places into the narrative, such as the wedding venue. Maxfield’s descriptions of the resort (where there’s only one bed, of course!) made me want to sink into her world just as I would a pool chaise. Her prose incites all the senses with scenic vistas, flamenco music, fragrant poolside flora, and an extensive tapas feast. Ah, the food descriptions! Don’t read on an empty stomach.
The character development is on par, too. Of Luis’ fiance: he has “the coloring of an elf from The Lord of the Rings” and he “drifted away as if he wore skates”. Among the other characters we get to enjoy are Daniel, Cam, and Ken from the St. Nacho’s series.
I recommend A Flighty Fake Boyfriend, particularly for lovers of the trope, or anyone wanting to give this theme a try. It’s very well done. I might be biased – I’ve grown to love the town of St. Nachos and it’s people. If you’re a St. Nachos fan, too, this is a must read.
RATING: 
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