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Faked

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She tends bar at a strip club.

Every Wednesday, I visit her. Every Wednesday, I hope for more than, “what’s your drink order?” Until one Wednesday, a week from Christmas, she needs me. Okay… so she needs anyone, it seems, to be her fake-date to her sister’s Christmas wedding. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. But a week in the mountains with my dream girl? Sign me up.

Hmmm, Patrick Kelley? My borderline stalker? My Wednesday regular? I’m not interested. I’d never bring him home to meet my family. But times are desperate. I can’t spend a week in the mountains with my family alone, plus my ex will be there, so I ask Patrick…

“Will you be my fake-date for the holidays?”
I figure he’ll be easy to control.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.

*FAKED is sexy Christmas standalone with a HEA. It is a companion novel to Sarah Darlington's KILL DEVIL INK series. It does not need to be read with the others in the series to enjoy. Happy Holidays!

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2021

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About the author

Sarah Darlington

22 books599 followers
Hi! I'm Sarah Darlington. I write contemporary romance books that are steamy, sexy, and sweet. I love creating book boyfriends you won’t soon forget, and the heroines who give them hell.

Subscribe to my newsletter for new release alerts: sarahdarlingtonauthor.com/cv

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5 stars
91 (25%)
4 stars
112 (30%)
3 stars
106 (29%)
2 stars
39 (10%)
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14 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Isabella. R.
950 reviews1,784 followers
December 18, 2022
4.5 Merry Freaking Christmas Stars ⭐

Faked was fantastic. It completely resonated with me because people are not perfect, love isn't perfect, but that's okay. For when two people have nothing real in their lives and they are surrounded by fakeness, they quickly appreciate something good.

There’s a beauty to falling. A jump. A rush. A breeze. You could be falling to your death if the ground below comes too quickly. But it’s exhilarating—the fall. So we chase it.
And that’s why we fall.


With her sisters wedding being celebrated on Christmas Day and a whole week of family festivities included, Nova needs a fake boyfriend pronto to run interference.

This would explain why Nova would ask a deadbeat customer at the strip club she bartends at to be it. You say what? However, here's the wonderful thing; this author took me down a path I didn't anticipate and damn I was impressed.

Patrick aka temporary fake boyfriend was nothing what you expected and fuck he was perfectly flawed and honest. Yet where Nova expected him to be a pushover, she quickly got schooled.

“You’re an asshole!” I yelled at him.

“Whenever you need to blow off some steam. Day or night. Because you clearly need to be fucked. Then I am available. I am right here. I’m yours.”


There is something to be said about romance that you can relate to. Where Nova was jaded and a little highly strung, Patrick had his own share of hardship. And together these two battled...but for the right reasons.

“I like your house. I want to move in. If you still want me here.”

He grabbed my face. “Baby, of course I want you here.”

“It feels like home somehow.”

“Then you’re home.”


A fake relationship, a bridezilla and many misunderstandings, I adored it all. Ideally this should have been a solid 5 stars, however I thought that sex scenes were a little lacklustre but not enough to detract from a story that surprised me in the best possible way.
Profile Image for Lana Reads.
493 reviews212 followers
December 19, 2022
4,5 stars

​It was fresh and unexpected. I think the hero ​- and probably the heroine as well - were neurodivergent even though it wasn't addressed​ in any way​. They both were wearing masks ​their whole lives and one could really see how they unmasked ​in front of each other​ - it was beautiful and messy.​ ​

​The book was a bit chaotic but I loved it.
And gosh, did I love to read about people who are not big business owners, millionaires or super famous.​ I wish it was a bit hotter though.

Definitely going to read more by the author.
Profile Image for julia.
943 reviews151 followers
December 18, 2021
𝟯.𝟱 ~ 𝟯.𝟳𝟱 ✩

❝Don’t wear those pants again. Burn them. Trash them. Put them in your suitcase and never take them out. Know that me, and all of the freaking Denver airport now, have a fantastic view of your… potential… in those pants.❞


Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
7,646 reviews154 followers
November 13, 2021
Faked has a truth to it that's abundantly flawed but beautifully endearing. Nova and Patrick are the sweetest mix of humor and heartache. Less than perfect but no less intriguing. So human you can't help but fall in love. Darlington has a way with hearts. From swoonworthy romance to heartwarming coming of age stories, she speaks the language of love with a lightness of heart and a depth of emotion that's not easy to forget.
Profile Image for Chris.
1,161 reviews33 followers
June 8, 2022
Patrick ♡ Nova! An early Christmas present for myself! I loved this book! It was cute and so refreshing to read! Additionally, I really enjoyed the writing style and I'm seriously tempted to check out Kill Devil Ink series!
Profile Image for sarahthebibliomania.
185 reviews95 followers
December 27, 2021
3.5/5
This was a cute, entertaining, and fun holiday romance story. Though I liked the story, I hadn't really connected with the characters. In the beginning, Nova always screamed at Patrick and seemed angry or annoyed at him for little things. It was hard for me to like her. However, Patrick had a way of surprising me. It was good that he stood up to Nova and showed her that he wasn't a pushover. I really liked the fake relationship aspect of the story. The tension was built up wonderfully both in and out of the bedroom. Ex-boyfriend, meddling sister, and friends all provided entertainment and drama.

Thank you to the lovely author who provided this to me in exchange for a review ❤
Profile Image for Caitlin ♡.
411 reviews150 followers
December 1, 2021
This was a really fun, quick Christmassy read! I always enjoy the fake dating trope and this one is full of drama too.

I really liked both Patrick’s and Nova’s characters. I fell for Patrick right from the beginning, he comes across so sweet and vulnerable. And I loved that he was so honest about his past and he didn’t try and hide it. They also have some pretty good spicey scenes.

If you’re looking for an entertaining Christmas story then definitely add this to your December tbr!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kristin Wheeler.
24 reviews4 followers
November 10, 2021
I received the ARC for this today and just finished. I love a good holiday romance, this one was amazing. Nova is a stubborn bartender who needed to find a fake date to her sisters wedding. She is taking Patrick, the strange guy that always visits her work on Wednesday. The rest is history.

I loved the plot, romance definitely is my genre and this was mwah, chefs kiss.

My only issue was: wasn’t long enough!! I wanted more of Nova and Patrick.

I was able to read this book in one sitting and it was a quick, fun, and sexy read.




November 25, 2021
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️ 3🌶

This was such a fun, fast and midly steamy read that gave me the christmas vacation feels that I needed.

Nova and Patrick’s fake dating romance was so entertaining. I’m huge into the fake dating trope and I enjoy all the drama and conflict that goes along with it and that’s exactly what this book had! I loved seeing their journey from strangers to friends with reluctant feelings to lovers! Despite just meeting each other, their chemistry was already so natural and real enough to fool everyone 🤪

Christmas with the family is always interesting so it was fun seeing all the chaos around having to fake everything from their backstories, jobs and relationship to their relatives and friends.

Though I found the pacing to be a bit clunky and the story as a whole didn’t feel as cohesive. There wasn’t as much development in their relationship as I wanted and there was a scene where cheating was just brushed off to side when things got resolved and it didn’t sit well with me.

Overall, this is perfect if you’re a fan of fake dating and you’re looking for a quick, swoony and steamy read for the christmas season!
Profile Image for Shannon.
2,519 reviews215 followers
November 30, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! I'm a big fan of Sarah Darlington's writing, so it shouldn't come as a surprise I enjoyed it, but I guess I didn't expect what I thought would be a fun holiday read to hit me like it did.
It's definitely fun, the wedding scene in particular had me laughing out loud and imagining it playing out as a movie! But it's also really heartfelt and quirky, with 2 vulnerable characters who just might steal your heart like they did mine.

The fake relationship trope can be hit or miss for me, but Faked is a hit for sure. The banter and the back and forth between Patrick and Nova was so clever and witty, and I loved how they didn't pull any punches with each other. I liked Patrick, a lot. He's a bit of a "beta" male, which I adore. It took a little while for him to get comfortable with Nova, thanks to his past, the way he holds himself back, and the feelings he had for her, but once he did, watch out! Nova puts on a good front, she's strong and stubborn, although she also has a past that's caused her to be more guarded when it comes to relationships.

I really enjoyed Patrick and Nova, and their unconventional love story. Faked was an entertaining, fast paced read and I was sad to see it end!
Profile Image for Jennie.
244 reviews6 followers
December 4, 2021
This story was cute, entertaining and fun holiday fake relationship romance. I enjoyed the story, but did not really connect with the characters right away. First, Nova was always screaming at Patrick and always seemed to be annoyed or angry at him for irrational reasons it seemed. She was not a likable character for me. Patrick was interesting and he was not what he seemed. I liked that he stood up to Nova and showed her he was commanding and confident and not a push over. I did enjoy the fake relationship aspect of the story. Sarah Darlington did a great job building up the tension both in and out of the bedroom. The ex boyfriend and meddling sister and friends added some entertaining and drama to make this story a quick and enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review
Profile Image for Peggy M.
752 reviews8 followers
November 26, 2021
3,5 stars

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

Although this Christmas story takes place in the ‘Kill Devil Ink’ world, it can perfectly be read as a standalone story. But if you have read the second book ‘Marked’ in the ‘Kill Devil Ink’ series then you will recognize Patrick Kelley’s character. He’s Finn’s friend and also work at the tattoo shop ‘Kill Devil Ink’. He’s the receptionist there.

Nova is a bartender in a strip club. A strip club where Patrick comes once a week on Wednesday to have a drink and see his favorite bartender Nova. But because of some misunderstanding and the fact that both aren’t so social, they have never really spoken to each other until the day that Nova urgently needs a date to her sister’s wedding that takes place during Christmastime and she asks Patrick to be her fake date for the wedding. Patrick can’t believe his luck and this chance to spend Christmas with his ‘secret’ crush. So that is the start of a Christmas adventure that will change their perspective on each other and on themselves very much and where pretending slowly changes into something real.

‘Faked’ is a novella length Christmas romance story. After meeting Patrick in the story ‘Marked’ I was curious about his story and I got more excited after reading the blurb of ‘Faked’. The story was a bit more intense than I expected from a Christmas story but it was a nice change from the sweet Christmas stories. ‘Faked’ was a good story. The only thing that I (personally) wished for, was that the story was a bit longer.

Just like the writer’s other books, the characters weren’t perfect but they were perfect for each other and I liked that. But because of the novella length of the story, it sometimes felt like a lot was happening in a short time. But that also made it hard for me to stop reading because I didn’t want to miss anything.
This story was about more than just faking a relationship, it was also about pretending to be someone else in real life too (to please other people or family or wanting their approval or such).

Patrick may have done some bad things in his youth but he was honest about it. He was an easygoing, friendly, helpful guy but Nova was a bit more difficult to get to know, so it took me a bit longer to like her. She was impulsive and more guarded with her feelings and heart. But I appreciated very much that she supported Patrick when he needed it. Both main characters had problems with low self-esteem and trust. I would have liked a bit more information about their childhood and the reason for their insecurities but then it’s a Christmas story so I can understand that the writer decided to keep the focus more on that topic. The story was told in both POV’s. I’m happy that we got epilogues at the end of the story.

If you’re in the mood for a Christmas story but not a super sweet one but more of an emotional, throwing clothes and shoes out the window in the snow romance then this is the one for you.
November 27, 2021
4.5 Stars 🌟
A lovely story about finding your person, accepting them for who they are and being able to show them your true self without feeling inadequate or having to fake it.
Nova is a complex girl, she has spent her whole life fitting in to what she feels is expected of her.
Patrick has had a pretty rough life himself, he can’t believe he finally has one shot to show Nova who he is and try to win her heart.
This pair are perfect for each other, the bickering, real truths and make ups are all so realistic for a truly matched pair that I instantly loved and connected with them both.
There’s nothing fake about them and Patrick’s honesty was really refreshing!
Ms Darlington always manages to write the vulnerabilities of her characters so well, no one is perfect…..flaws are often just as attractive as the idea of perfection!
Profile Image for Tammy - .
932 reviews126 followers
November 14, 2021
I seriously LOVED this holiday romance by Sarah Darlington. Although it's a trope that I've read a dozen times before...find a fake boyfriend to take to the sister's wedding...I still felt that this was a fresh and original story.

In Faked, Nova needs a date to spend Christmas week with her at her sister's wedding. She's used to faking it, so this should be easy, but she's down to the wire with no fake boyfriend in sight. She finally decides to ask Patrick, a regular from the bar where she works. He's not exactly her type, but she thinks that a makeover could make him a believable boyfriend...or it could just spell disaster.

Although this is a common plot, there were enough twists to keep me guessing, and I appreciated that this wasn't just another cookie cutter romance. I absolutely adored Patrick. While he can be the Alpha hero when needed, for the most part, he's a vulnerable character with a lot of insecurities. You can't deny the chemistry between these characters, and Nova's family and friends make this story all the more entertaining. I laughed out loud more than once and was probably smiling like a fool throughout much of this book. This story isn't all fun and games though. While it is a lighter read with a few good laughs, it also has a touch of drama and just a bit of angst which kept me turning the pages.

If you're looking for an entertaining Christmas story featuring a swoon-worthy book boyfriend, then this is one book that you definitely need to add to your holiday TBR.
Profile Image for Lita Thomas.
1,459 reviews22 followers
November 28, 2021
Faked (A Sexy Christmas Romance) by Sarah Darlington. Nova has to go home for her sister's Xmas wedding. She is expected to bring a date which she is dreading. Patrick comes in every Wednesday to where she works. If you haven't read the Kill Devil Ink series do so. It is a good read plus you get to meet Patrick who as far as I am concern is a hot mess. Despite her reservation Nova ask Patrick to be her fake boyfriend. Boy I was wondering how they were going to pull this off especially since they knew nothing about each other and this relationship was a lie. This was an entertaining story from the beginning to the end. What started out as a fake relationship morphed into something more. It was really nice to get to know Patrick. Regardless to the circumstances of his life he is a really stand up guy. Watching Patrick and Nova navigate their relationship at this wedding was comical at times along with the sexual tension there was never a dull moment. A quick read! I was left with a smile on my face and a good feeling in my heart. 4 stars for me.
November 16, 2021
This book reminds me of my 20s. I hate to say it, but I was in a relationship with someone who shared similar qualities with the main male character, and not in a cute or hot way. So I had to read this without allowing my bitterness to come flying back. Overall I felt like the dialogue was realistic, and I think their thought patterns and choices were believable. At least this wasn't another book about someone who was a writer, and she was meeting a secret billionaire. Or she was a secretary, and she was meeting a secret billionaire. There are some cute and funny moments, and there are some serious moments. There are some human moments too. Oh, and steamy. I don't know, do guys still wear sweatpants in public anymore? I'm almost afraid to look.
65 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2021
Idk what happened but this book was absolutely horrible! DNF

The "prequel" to this series that wasn't even a prequel was pretty bad so I should have known but the blurbs and the actual 2 books in this series were an improvement and decent. So I figured this would be another decent story even if it's completely unoriginal. Holiday fluff is always welcome regardless, it's why Hallmark does so well. Anyway, what I got was a revert to a heroine who was a complete b*tch when Patrick was helping her out taking the first chance at a scrap of attention Nova finally decided to throw his way only when she needed something. The fake relationship was rushed and literally all of a sudden she loves him! She knows nothing about him! You've had maybe a day's worth of conversation with the man and you yelled at him the whole time! The irritation was real folks! Then her friend shows up bringing another guy and I just couldn't anymore. Unoriginal, not well done plot, pacing was off, unlike-able characters even though Patrick did his best. I really feel bad his book went down like this after the last 2. It's like the author said to herself "gotta get a holiday book out" and threw edits and revisions out the window to make it happen. So disappointing and I'm definitely giving up on this author now.
Profile Image for Samantha.
322 reviews
November 30, 2021
Nova and Patrick are interesting needless to say, I did enjoy the buildup between the characters, I felt like i needed more from Patrick and why he was not able to really go up to Nova, I loved the visualization the author portrayed of the hotel they were in it sounded absolutely breath taking, I liked the character buildup and them finally getting their feelings out there, I would love to seen Nova not give Patrick such a hard time, at times I felt like she was mad at him a huge majority of the time. In the end the two came together and it was lovely.
Profile Image for Briauna Bias.
193 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2021
Faked by Sarah Darlington

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

I gotta say that I honestly didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. As a general preference, I usually avoid holiday inspired books. I also really enjoyed that the characters live in North Carolina. It’s really interesting to read books somewhat set in my state.

I read the entire book extremely fast! It was a really quick read and had lots of drama. The female main character, Nova, in this book honestly starts off as a snob. As the book progresses you can see why.

I really liked how Patrick, our male main character, was able to break down those walls but generally just being a decent person. I love how, once Nova decides that she is all in, she stands up for him and herself as well as their relationship.

If you are wanted to try out a holiday romance this season, this is an excellent and quick read. Huge thanks to the author for reaching out to me and offering an ARC to me!
Profile Image for Stital.
939 reviews23 followers
November 18, 2021
Sweet, wacky and highly entertaining, Fake is a great holiday read.

Full of cute and funny moments, some serious realness and SO MUCH Christmas-wedding shenanigans, topped with a heavy sprinkling of hot chemistry, this book is an awesome addition to the KDI series, and a different twist on the fake-boyfriend trope that will have you laughing and face-palming simultaneously.

4 stars and a choker
Profile Image for Paperbeautiful.
382 reviews9 followers
November 29, 2021
Ok, I really loved this book!! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more!

This is a fake relationship done at its best! Nova needs to a fake boyfriend to bring to her sisters wedding, enter Patrick. Patrick comes to see Nova every Wednesday at her job and has had a crush on her for a while. When Nova asks him to come, he immediately says yes so he can spend more time with her. Patrick is the perfect fake boyfriend, charms her parents and friends. But the feelings are not so fake anymore...

I loved this book! The chemistry between Nova and Patrick was HOT! One minute they are screaming and throwing things at each other, and the next they can't keep their hands off of each other. They worked because they were never fake with each other, they were always their true selves.

This is a fast and quick read, with lots of sexy times and swoon!
Profile Image for Read.Review.Repeat Blog.
5,262 reviews96 followers
December 1, 2021
I love this trope and I loved this holiday read. I loved the banter between Nova and Patrick and it had the perfect amount of steam. It was entertaining and left me with a smile on my face. Definitely recommend.
695 reviews7 followers
November 21, 2021
Nova and Patrick
Their story is intriguing and well written. The main characters have fun, disagreements, and great steamy scenes all while finding each other. Nova was hurt badly in a previous relationship and finds it hard to trust. Patrick has secrets.. And Nova's sister should back off, I really dislike her. A great fast paced read, the first I've read of Sarah's. I'll be looking for more.
Profile Image for Karin.
2,172 reviews
December 1, 2021
When a favor leads to more then anyone anticipated you have a sweet story about Nova and Patrick. I loved Patrick but I wanted Nova to let her guard down to see how special he was but her past as molded walls so deep it’s hard to overcome
Profile Image for Emmy Klaver.
102 reviews4 followers
December 6, 2021
A short read. I would liked it if there was a little bit more of a history. More build up. And the ending was terrible.
Profile Image for Melissa.
235 reviews35 followers
November 13, 2021
Faked was a great short Fake Boyfriend turned HEA story.

Patrick agrees to being Nova’s fake boyfriend for her sister’s Christmas wedding. Except they soon find out that they push each other’s buttons. They fight so much you know that when they finally collide that sparks are going to fly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews

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