Love, Lies and Valentines by D.E. Malone Review

 Happy Sunday Fellow Book Lovers :)

I'm coming to you from a very unusual day for my blog, but that's because I'm going to be unable to post this one tomorrow like I'd originally planned.

Tomorrow I have some scary things going on, and I'm not sure I'll be anywhere near my computer.

Afterwards, I'm supposed to take a couple of days to rest, and while doing so, I'm looking forward to curling up with some wonderful reads.

And speaking of wonderful reads, I'm especially excited to be sharing this review with you all right before Valentine's Day.

I'm not sure there's a better book out there to read for this special day than the one I'm about to share with you all today, and I can guarantee it's not one you're going to want to miss!

However, before we dive right into today's review, I'd like to share the links for my reviews of all the other titles I've read in this particular series. You can check those out below:

Love, Lies and Lavender

Love, Lies and Mistletoe

Love, Lies and Lullabies

Love, Lies and Lemon Pie

Blueberry Point Romance Collection

Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides

Otherwise, keep on reading down below for today's full review!

Love, Lies and Valentines by D.E. Malone:

Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Author as Part of Her Street Team

Publication Date: February 1st, 2023

Genre: Small Town Romance/Clean Romance/Contemporary

Series: Blueberry Point Romance

Synopsis:

All is Fair in Love and Bidding Wars

When museum curator Maggie Patton learns a rare valentine collection will be auctioned in Minnesota, nothing will stop her from making the cross-country trip to acquire it. As Valentine’s Day approaches, she needs the distraction anyway to take her mind off what should have happened over the holiday weekend—a marriage proposal from her ex. Trouble is, someone also has an eye on the prize and he’s determined to post the highest bid.

One valentine in Lot 23 belonged to Ry Murray’s famous distant relative, he’s sure of it. As family historian, Ry’s obsessed with recovering the long-lost card, but outbidding the woman who’s come from Boston seems impossible, unless he convinces her it’s better off in his hands than hers.

When an eccentric billionaire pays big money to thwart their plans, Maggie and Ry think they’re out of luck. But then the gentleman proposes a Cupid’s match: spend forty-eight hours together building a convincing courtship and the best performer leaves town with the valentine. The scheme seems like a losing game for Maggie and Ry, but with their hearts on the line, might they win at love?

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

D.E. Malone is truly the queen of clean contemporaries, and I always look forward to getting another visit back to the wonderful Blueberry Point Lodge. I expected great things, and yet she managed to exceed all of my expectations, and this might just be my favorite title from the series.

I'm not always the biggest fan of stories set during Valentine's Day, but this one was everything I ever could have wanted. It was such a sweet storyline to have both main characters on a quest to purchase a vintage valentine from an auction house, and an even more wonderful addition to have said circumstances turn into one of my all time favorite tropes-fake dating!

Amidst a backdrop of the idyllic Blueberry Point Lodge, Maggie Patton and Ry Murray find themselves biting off a bit more than they can chew. When an eccentric elderly billionaire outbids them both for the vintage valentine they have their heart set on, he surprises them by proposing a deal. If they pretend to be a couple for the big romance weekend at the inn, he'll award the better "actor" with the sought after valentine. Unfortunately, Maggie and Ry are not prepared for all the emotions this set up will bring to the surface, and they'll soon have to question whether or not their relationship could still be considered "fake."

With wonderful characters, unique plot points and development, a beautiful setting, and the well rounded prose I've come to expect from this author, Love, Lies and Valentines is a truly wonderful contemporary clean romance that will leave readers everywhere with a smile on their face and a heart full of swoony moments.

I was a little leery from the synopsis that this one might turn out to be insta lovey, but that wasn't the case at all, and I was left completely satisfied with how the author develops and concludes the beautiful romance between Maggie and Ry.

I had no idea that collecting vintage valentines was a thing, so I especially enjoyed that side of the story, and how it taught me an interesting tidbit about history in the process.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I can't possibly recommend this one enough, and it's definitely one of my favorite reads ever set during this time of the year.

Thanks so much to D.E. Malone for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)