This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
There’s something deliciously entertaining about two people pretending to be in love. Especially when neither of them intends to actually fall.
As a romantic suspense author, I love putting characters in situations where their carefully constructed plans fall apart. Add a fake relationship to the mix, and suddenly everything gets a little more complicated.
And a lot more fun.
It Starts With a Simple Favor
You know how it goes. Someone needs a date to a wedding. Or a convenient boyfriend to discourage an unwanted admirer. Or maybe pretending to be together is the easiest solution.
Famous last words.
Because the moment two people agree to fake a relationship, they’ve opened the door to all kinds of trouble. They have to remember their story. Act convincingly in public. Stand a little closer than they’re comfortable with. And sometimes, they have to kiss.
For appearances, of course.
The Problem With Pretending
What I love most about this trope is how quickly the lines begin to blur. That protective hand at the small of her back? It’s supposed to be part of the act. The way he watches her walk into a room? Just keeping up appearances. And that unexpected flutter when he smiles?
Well, that’s clearly a problem.
The best part is that readers can often see what’s happening long before the characters admit it. We’re sitting there thinking, Oh, honey. You’re already in trouble. And turning pages to see how long it takes them to figure it out.
Add a Little Danger
Now, because I write romantic suspense, I can’t leave well enough alone.
A fake relationship is entertaining on its own, but add a little danger, a few secrets, and someone who might not survive the next chapter, and those pretend feelings suddenly have very real consequences.
When danger strikes, characters don’t have time to analyze their emotions carefully. Instinct takes over.
- Who do they reach for first?
- Whose safety matters more than their own?
- And when the danger passes, can they really go back to pretending?
That’s where the magic happens.
Meet Ice and Dawn
This brings me to Dawn’s Knight, the latest book in my Agents of HIS series.
Nate “Ice” Maguire certainly wasn’t planning on becoming anyone’s boyfriend. Then Dawn entered his life. Before he knew it, he’d acquired a title he hadn’t exactly volunteered for.
What starts as a fake-boyfriend arrangement becomes something neither of them expected. Of course, since this is an Agents of HIS story, romance isn’t the only complication waiting for them. There might be a little danger involved, too.
Okay, possibly more than a little.
But where’s the fun otherwise?
I have a confession: I love writing characters who insist they’re not falling in love when everyone around them knows better. There’s something satisfying about watching two stubborn people discover the heart doesn’t always follow the plan.
Now I want to know: Do you love the fake relationship trope? Or is there another romance trope that makes you reach for a book every single time?
Tell me in the comments!
And if you’re ready to meet Ice and Dawn, Dawn’s Knight releases Saturday, October 24!
Preorder your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Dawns-Knight-Agents-Sheila-Kell-ebook/dp/B0HCPQWT51
Until next time, keep turning those pages!
Thanks for joining me on Ink & Intrigue, where romance and suspense go hand in hand.
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Want more behind-the-scenes content, writing tips, or a peek into my books? Visit sheilakell.com or follow me on social media at @sheilakellbooks.
Until next time—keep writing, keep swooning, and remember: every heart has a secret. 💕