Author: Isabelle Engle
Year published: 2026
Category: Adult fiction (romance)
Pages: 336 pages
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location: (my 2025 Google Reading map): USA (CA, TN) and Italy
Summary: Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.
Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity―and history with Rhett―a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.
Review: I was in the mood for a good romance, and this one delivered. I enjoyed the setting (a reality TV show like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette), the various characters, and the storyline. And, for those that care, there are some detailed sex scenes, but only 1 or 2 so you can easily skim them if you want.
I like the premise of the story taking place in a reality TV show because they are so ubiquitous these days that it's something we're all familiar with. Descriptions of the cameras and producers right in everyone's faces, directing the lines and actions (and redoing scenes when necessary), make the reader well aware that "reality" TV is all relative. My daughter was one of the subjects of a documentary when she was a dancer, and I remember how staged a bunch of the filming was. It's an odd experience.
Georgia is smart and totally aware of what she is doing on the TV show (not there for the marriage). What I liked was how most of the other women also had ulterior motives for being on the show. Yes, it would be nice to fall in love, but maybe you'll get more social media followers, make friends, or become famous along the way. And, of course, the Bachelor (and other male characters) had more going on than just being handsome fluff, so that made it interesting as well.
I thought this novel was entertaining, quick to read, and well worth the time I spent with it.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Literary Escapes--California, Tennessee, Italy
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