The Real Deal: A Novel
Written by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Erin Mallon and Zachary Webber
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Get ready for your next favorite romantic comedy audiobook from Lauren Blakely, THE REAL DEAL!
April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn’t been on Craigslist since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn’t even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can’t handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the Craigslist ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she’s ready to pay to play.
Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I’m the REAL DEAL.
Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He’s this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He’s no gigolo. Please. He’s something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April’s new beau -- the bad boy with the heart of gold.
Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents’ inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.
She only wanted to show her family once and for all that she had no need to settle down.
He didn’t expect to have the time of his life at her parent’s home.
They didn’t plan on loving every single second of the game.
But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love?
Praise for The Real Deal:
"I loved everything about these characters, from their sparkling banter to their electric attraction. Witty, clever, and swoony." -Amy E. Reichert, New York Times bestselling author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
"A hilarious, hot slow burn. The Real Deal is full of witty banter and characters you'll fall head over heels in love with." -Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author of Shacking Up
Lauren Blakely
A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she's sold more than 2.5 million books. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter
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Reviews for The Real Deal
213 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cute storie, very enjoyable, the readers were excellent, very good
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lauren Blakely has been my go to rom com author for awhile, so I decided to try out an audiobook version. This story was awesome! Great characters, fascinating backstories and super sexy voices for the audiobook! Loved everything about this!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I read this book only because I love Zachary webber's voice. But the female narrator has ruined my experience of the very first book by Lauren. Her sing song voice and desperation to finish a sentence in one breath made me cringe. It was a good read though. Characters are nice, strong and independent. You may feel little awkward if not a insta-love fan. I mean to finish love,lust or quarrel all in 5 days was predictable from the start.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is my new favorite! Great characters! April is a strong, independent woman, who needs help to deal with her family’s constant match making. She hires Theo, off a Craig’s List add for a platonic boyfriend. The set up is so fun. They have instant connection & imagination that left me with a constant smile. The story is sweet, swoon worthy, sexy & perfect! The secondary characters add richness to story. I listened to the audible, and loved every word! I am sure to spread the love by telling all my book friends to read this ASAP! I am sure I will read it, next time!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ok enough, not a fan of insta-love story's. Aside from that, it was a quick read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/52 stars I always love listening to Zachary Webber (whose pseudonyms are Jacob Morgan and Sam Crawley) but i wasn’t impressed with this story. Author failed to draw me in. I’ve enjoyed 98% of Lauren Blakely’s audiobooks so, of course, I’ll remain a fan. As for Erin Mallon, i got used to her imperfect performance years ago. It helps that she usually co-narrates with one of my several favorite top professional male voice actors
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The story itself is cute, as expected for Lauren Blakely. And Zachary Weber’s narration is wonderful, as always. But Erin Mallon’s narration absolutely ruined this book. I had to skip most of her chapters. She does this strange affected voice that drags out every word in the most annoying way ever. I have heard interviews with her and her natural speaking voice is nothing like her narrator voice. I wish she would try to sound like a normal person instead of some weird modern day purring Mae West impersonation.
I feel very annoyed that she ruined a perfectly good book.4 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Super cute story. You could see where it was gonna go, but sometimes those are exactly what you need in a book. ? it was fun!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fun Story with good banter and lots of heat.
The ending conflict with a bit much but still entertaining.2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sweet, funny and left me with a smile on my face. I love the chemistry between the characters and that they go all out for a family reunion !
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such an awesome story!! I loved every second of it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this story, it was sweet and hot with a beautiful HEA. The narrators were excellent too.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it! It was funny, sexy and perfect narrators. Well written as well. Totally recommend
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5So great. Loved it. Truthful. Romantic. Funny. Sensual. Great narrators
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I listen to it not read it and the voice work was excellent as it did it went wonderful performance of the book was funny and romantic I highly recommend it
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I really couldn’t enjoy the book because the narrators style was so ridiculous. The female was very valley girl sing saw me talking and the guy was ridiculously gravelly and trying to be sexy sounding. Just normal voices would’ve been far more interesting.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Sorry, this was simply boring and the narrator of April tryed to hard to sound sexy.