Author: Jasmin Miller

First Published: 25 June 2021



“How this went from a fake date to wanting to ravish her. I have no idea.”

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Jasmin for sending a copy my way!

You know that awkward moment when your agent tells you to fake date your best friend’s sister so you can get the endorsement deal of your dreams? No?

Call me crazy for considering it, but why not? Daisy’s my friend, after all, and I’ve gotten quite close to her and her two awesome boys over the last few years since her douche-nozzle husband divorced her. She loves it when I flirt with her, so we could carry it off, couldn’t we?

An endorsement deal with Lock Performance has been my goal ever since I was little, and it would be one of the biggest accomplishments in my professional swimming career. Something I want desperately.

But what I didn’t expect from this fake start was to want something else—someone—just as desperately. How do I make sure I don’t lose both?

Finally! Daisy and Hunter’s story is here! I’ve been waiting for this one! Fake Start is the final book in the Kings of the Water Series and follows Olympic swimmer, Hunter and single mother, Daisy. We have fake dating in here, which is one of my all-time favourite tropes.

Hunter has spent his whole life working to become the best athletic swimmer he can be. The only thing missing from his childhood dream is landing an advertising campaign with Lock Performance. He lands an invite to an event that Mr Whitlock, head of Lock Performance, is hosting the only problem is Whitlock is a family man and Hunter is an invite request he brings along the girlfriend. The problem is Hunter is a bachelor. And the girl Whitlock thinks he is dating is Daisy, his best friend’s sister.

Hunter is a total flirt. He’s the playboy of the Kings of the Water and never seems to take anything too serious. I loved that we get to see a deeper, more serious side to him. My heart just about broke when it’s revealed why Hunter needs this endorsement over everyone and why it’s more important than any other achievement.

While the guys in this series are swoony, there is something about the heroine that steals the show. And Daisy is no exception. Everything she does is for her sons, Mason and Alex. She is working overtime to make sure that her divorce does not negatively impact them that she has forgotten what she needs. She is stuck in a bit of a rut. Her worries and disbelief about her relationship with Hunter was something I found quite relatable. I loved seeing her confidence build and realise that she is more than a mum.

Hunter and Daisy have been flirting in the background of the other books. I was beyond thrilled to get my hands on this book. Daisy does not hesitate to be Hunter’s fake date, in fact, she is looking forward to getting dressed up. I adored that Hunter does everything in this power to show Daisy just how much he appreciates her. He sends her little gifts, including a box of her favourite lollies and a kindle — which has been helpfully stocked with fake dating romances. Miller has perfected the balance of sweet romance to steam scenes.

I don’t know what it is about Miller’s writing, but it just makes me love reading about kids in books, which is crazy since I am not a huge fan of kids. I adore seeing how Hunter goes out of his way to factor Mason and Alex into his plans with Daisy. It makes my heart go all gooey. It is extra sweet when you see how little thought and effort their biological father puts in.

Fake Start is an amazing addition to this series and a wonderful conclusion. If you love sports romances and single parent trope this book — and really the whole series — needs to be added to your TBR. I have adored the Kings of the Water series and cannot wait to see what Jasmin Miller writes next.