The Spanish Love Deception: A Novel (1) (The Love Deception Series)

Fake Relationship – Real FeelingsBy Valencia TurnerBelieve the hype from what you see on Instagram and TikTok. “The Spanish Love Deception” is wonderful. It’s an exceptionally well-written romance novel with heart, heat, family, friendship, and romance. This is a slow-burn romance and normally, I don’t like slow burn. I’m an impatient reader. I’m an even more impatient writer. I want to get to the first kiss immediately. I’m not sure why. I guess I can handle only so much sexual tension before I get frustrated and put the book down.Nevertheless, I couldn’t put this book down and it is a slow burn romance. It’s an expertly crafted novel with two complex characters who face real challenges in their personal and professional lives. So many things don’t go according to plan. That’s okay because Armas does a great job in weaving a narrative that is so engaging, you don’t really want to put it down. I devoured this book in less than a day. The simmering chemistry between the two leads pulls you in and takes you for a ride.The story centers around Catalina Martin, who needs a date to her sister’s wedding because the best man happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Not just any ex-boyfriend. Apparently he was THE Boyfriend. We later learn what this man did and, yes, he deserves to be an ex. This ex is also happily engaged, and Catalina doesn’t want to show up to the wedding alone. Enter Aaron Blackford; her grumpy but devastatingly handsome colleague at work. He offers to help her with her dilemma, agreeing to go to Catalina’s home country of Spain, meet the family, avoid the ex, and somehow survive the persistent questions from a slew of aunts, grandmothers, and nosy cousins. What ensues is a lush and emotionally detailed love story between two very stubborn people.The romance is subtle. It happens between glances, whispers, gazes, as well as promises made and kept. Catalina and Aaron banter and bicker throughout the novel and the reader can’t help but smile at how the story of these two plays out.Armas makes you wait for the steam that eventually comes in the novel. I will say, the wait is worth it…and this is coming from someone that doesn’t normally like slow burn romances. The payoff will make you squeal, swear, and fan yourself.Catalina and Aaron each have complicated backgrounds and demons they have to vanquish in the pursuit of mutual happiness. This isn’t just a story of flowers, roses, and rainbows. There are good guys and bad guys. Real life problems creep into the narrative, which makes it relatable. The reader connects with the characters, who are complex, imperfect, but not broken.The story is told solely from Catalina’s perspective. There are several novels that switch the point of view to help readers learn how each main character sees the world and the challenges they face. Armas sticks with Catalina’s first person perspective, while doing an excellent job of conveying how Aaron feels through his words and actions. We don’t need to hear his inner monologue because there are plenty of clues to how this drop dead gorgeous Clark Kent look-a-like feels about Catarina. It takes our heroine much longer to realize there is more going on than just an agreement between to coworkers. Clueless heroines frequently annoy me, but in this case, the reader completely understands Catalina’s hesitation to acknowledge her feelings.Yes, TikTok and Instagram made me buy this book, and I’m so glad that I did. I’m sure you will enjoy it too.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ 🫑 (open door)Tropes:📈 Workplace frenemies👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 Fake Dating🛌 Just One Bed❤️ “It was always you”Catalina needs a date to her sister’s wedding in Spain because her disastrous ex will be in attendance, enter grumpy but persistent workplace “rival” stage left, cue lights and classic 1990’s rom com music.“He’s so MEAN!” she says, eating a homemade granola bar. “PRICKLY” she insists, slamming the door of his car he drove her home in the rain in. “UPTIGHT” she shouts over the barking rescue dogs he attends fundraisers for. Catalina, darling, have you considered that he’s shy?The pacing of this was very reminiscent of Lucy Score. Pretty low stakes, a little twist that feels well timed, but very light- when Elena Armas said “put on a sundress, we’re going on vacation,” she means it.Could have used some editing (collective groan from everyone around me) which I know I say a lot, but I found some of the prose overly cheesy and at times redundant.Cute, fun, classic rom com feel. Banter is there, ending is sweet. Worth a spin, great vacation or summer read!

It's been so long since I've come across a book that has spice, but it isn't overwhelming - it's wholesome, enotional, slow paced, but not too much. It has meaning. Such a good read!

💔 What I didn’t like:It was a pretty average book, it wasn’t the “most amazing” book ever. I really didn’t like how long the beginning was before the sort of “action” finally began. It was more than half the book and I found it pretty boring. Sometimes I would skip paragraphs because it was not interesting. For instance, all the pages about Catalina planning a work party were extremely boring. And then once the “action” (the climax) of the story began it barely lasted that long (less than half the book). The climax finally begins once the book is almost about to finish, which was upsetting. Lastly, I did find the main character, Catalina, a little childish at times to the point where it was annoying lol. It made me feel like I was reading a book about a high schooler instead of an adult, but I’m not sure if that was what the author was going for.❤️ What I liked:Overall I thought it was a cute book and I would recommend it to others but I wouldn’t read it again. I really loved how it was bilingual, as someone who’s bilingual myself, I truly related to it, found it funny, and heartwarming. Overall I did enjoy the plot and the chemistry between the characters. I also liked that it was not predicable what was going to happen next. Even though it took a while to reach the climax of the story (and I wish it had lasted longer) I enjoyed the ending and it made it feel like it was worth the read. I felt like I FINALLY got what I had been waiting for the whole book. Oh and if you like spice 🤌🌶️, there’s some close to the end.

Ame ame ame... es hermoso, chistoso, cursi peeero no de una manera que te hace querer dejar de leer.Hace mucho un libro no me hacia sentir la emoción de estar leyendo.

I was looking for a slow burn contemporary multi-cultural romance and wow, did this book deliver!The slow evolution of the relationship burned so hot! The characters are lovely and the mix of American and Spanish brings an interesting flavor to the story. It’s also funny.I highly recommend it. Expect to not be able to put it down once you start. It’s that good.

This was such an excellent read. Loved the banter and the chemistry. It was a slow burn of the amazing category. Must read book.

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas became a quick favorite of mine.The story follows sassy Lina, who needs a fake boyfriend to hide the biggest lie she's ever told her family. Her co-worker Aaron offers to help her out, but she doesn't want him to. But when she told her mom her boyfriend's name was Aaron, there was no way back.I loved Lina. She's a layered character like no other. She's proud of her body, yet allows how she thinks her family will act and react to make her doubt. It's what makes her so relatable. And then there's Aaron. I think he may be my new favorite book boyfriend!The chemistry and tension between Lina and Aaron were clear from miles away. And I especially like how they've grown together. I love a good 'enemies to lovers', 'workplace romance', and 'fake dating' novel.Elena's writing style really sells the book for me. To me, the pacing was just right, and I liked how the chapters never were too long, or too short. It kept me wanting to read on and on until there were no chapters left.This book made me laugh (more than once) and I won't deny that somewhere near the end, a tear or two have escaped my eyes.

5 stars 3 spiceOmg I can not explain my feelings behind this book. The entire time I was reading I didn't get the 5 star feeling and even when I was towards the end I was thinking that this isn't a 5 star book. However when I finished it I was like ughhh maybe this is a 5 star read.The plotThis is about 2 office workers Lina and Aaron who have thisc like rival thing going on until Lina needs a date to her sisters wedding and Aaron offers himself to her. So yes this book is a fake dating story and similar to the love hypothesis its written in a way that doesn't get boring even though it's a slow burn.Anyway that's the general gist of the plot- like I said before I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did I originally thought that with thw slow burn aspect I would get bored and have to drag myself though it work was anything but the case because I qas hooked and gripped from page 1 something about the writing and the characters just made this book. Speaking of characters I would like to announce that Aaron Blackford has joined my book boyfriend list because this guy is actually perfect.Now ✨️the spice✨️ I had heard so many mixed things about this spice factor in this book from its very spicy and intense to its got barely anything and is YA. So I'm here to clear things up this book has 2 spicy scenes one of which beignvan entire chapter. So yes it is spicy. But not as intense and extreme as I head heard. However will all of that this the spice in this hit me like a moving train as in I had to put the book down- I had goosebumps-.Overall this book is 100% worth the hype maybe even slightly underrated and defo worth a read.