He’s acting royalty. She’s a nurse at The Royal hospital. What happens when their scripted romance starts to feel too real…? With thanks to Dawn for her review.
Wow, where do I start with this review? I loved everything about it.
The Dating Pact is a debut novel from writer, Lulu Morris. It follows the story of Ellie Jones (a nurse born and bred in London’s East End) and the “pact” she makes with Alex King (an acting superstar from LA) to fake-date as a distraction at his brothers’ wedding in the Bahamas (on the King family’s private island no less).
From start to finish, I was completely entertained. I laughed out loud, cried real tears and had that warm, fuzzy feeling the whole way through. One scene in particular – featuring an inflatable unicorn, a cocktail and a teeny tiny bikini had me in tears of laughter.
Ellie is a plus-sized woman, and I really appreciated how the author explored the deeper emotional impact of other people’s opinions and comments. It felt incredibly real and relatable. Ellie’s journey towards confidence is beautifully written, while also showing how words and judgement can stay with us long after they are said. No matter your size, I think this is something everyone can connect with.
I also loved the dual perspective, especially when we got glimpses into Alex’s point of view. The moment he first notices Ellie at the party completely hooked me in – “A pair of shapely legs sauntered past Alex, attached to hips with enough sway to make him sit up and take notice.” I won’t lie, I did a little happy dance at that point.
The whole premise—an ordinary woman stepping into a celebrity world—felt like a modern-day fairy tale. Alongside the romance, it also explores family dynamics, betrayal, trust, and so much more, which really added depth to the story.
This is one that will stay with me long after the final chapter. I already can’t wait for Lulu Morris’s next book, out in October.
About the Book
When Ellie bluffs her way into a high-end party with her best friend, the last thing she expects is to end up going home with infamous actor Alex King, because he’s too drunk to remember what hotel he’s staying in. But when the paparazzi catch them together the morning after, their new friendship suddenly becomes the tabloids’ front page.
Alex needs a plus-one. Not only is his brother marrying his ex, but he’s become the villain in the eyes of the press. With a loved-up date by his side, the public might finally see him as moving on and his new play might finally get the ticket sales it needs to not close down.
But a wedding in the Bahamas, surrounded by gorgeous celebrities, with the paparazzi lurking everywhere, is plus-sized Ellie’s worst nightmare. Even as Alex’s displays of affectionate become more real and less fake, will she lose a part of herself during their pact?
The hottest new fake-dating celeb romance, perfect for fans of Olivia Dade, Ava Wilder and Sophia Money-Coutts.
About The Author
Lulu Morris lives in Essex, UK, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She is a director for the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA) where she has volunteered for 4 years and has published 10 historical romances for Mills & Boon which have been translated into German, French and Italian.
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