The Ruse of Romancing: A Love Connections Sweet Romcom By Hillary Slaughter-Romcom Review

 Book Synopsis

She’s here to write a novel. He’s about to become her biggest plot twist.

Bestselling author Dani Baldwin escapes to the Oregon coast expecting peace, quiet, and maybe a little inspiration. What she doesn’t expect? A ladies’ man for a neighbor with a talent for getting under her skin.

Mason Stuart, local heartbreaker and graphic designer, has one rule—no serious relationships. Whether it’s with the tourists who breeze through town or the women who call Cascade Harbor home, all attachments are a resounding no. But when the sassy writer next door turns out to be exactly what he needs to boost his career, he makes a tiny, little, not-at-all-dangerous decision… to pretend he's someone else entirely.

As stolen glances turn into late-night banter and undeniable sparks, Dani finds herself falling for the town—and the charming artist who lives there. But when Mason’s ruse comes to light, she’ll have to decide if their love story is worth a rewrite… or if some stories are better left unfinished.

Pillow Talk meets Gilmore Girls in this delightful summer romance about a bestselling romantasy writer seeking her own happy ending and the infuriatingly charming flirt determined to win her heart.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HMS Press, LLC
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 20, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 275 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8987859339

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

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My Review

The Ruse of Romancing is the fourth book in the Love Connections Sweet Romcom series. While each story stands alone, they share a connected world. Characters from other books make appearances or interact, who are family members like cousins and siblings.

This novel features Dani Baldwin, a new popular author. She is having trouble writing her next book. Dani's debut Romantasy novel was a big hit, and "Writer's Block" has her stuck. To break free, she leaves her Utah home for the Oregon coast. Like other books in the series, we see the cousins stay in touch with their group chat, which provides humor and support.

Dani and Mason clash right away. A nighttime misunderstanding causes major issues between the two, and they get off on the wrong foot. The next day, Mason accidentally gets a new look. A shave and haircut transform him, and Dani doesn't recognize the new him. You can guess what happens next. Mason wants to know Dani better. He hopes to boost his graphic design career through her success as an author. Maybe, if he gets lucky, he can get the job to design her next book cover. What could go wrong? This million-dollar question can be answered by saying, a lot!

This book was charming and funny, and it kept me hooked as the romance began to spark. Mason and Dani start to fall for each other, but I worried whether Mason would tell Dani the truth. Would he confess before she found out?

I think readers will adore the Oregon coast setting. I felt like I was right there. Funny moments included sticky notes passed back and forth, and The Sugar and Sea Bakery charmed me with its unique owner and personality. The silly barber shop crew also amused me. And oh, the fun that you can have with sourdough! I also loved Mason's sweet grandparents.

This was a real treat to read, and will leave you happy for spending time with these great characters that Author Hillary Slaugter writes so well.

****Meet Author Hillary Slaughter****

Hillary Slaughter is a crafting addict, avid reader, and hiking enthusiast. Born and raised in Utah, she loves exploring the mountains, especially if she can bring her dog with her. She has a Bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University and a Master's of Business Administration from Utah Valley University. She loves writing sweet contemporary romance with a dash of humor and is the author of the Lost Roommates Series.

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