About the Book

Book: The Dating Charade
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction, Romantic Comedy
Release Date: December 3, 2019

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.
No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

Click here to get your copy!

In My Opinion

Don’t let the cute cover and title of Melissa Ferguson’s debut novel lull you into shoving this book into one genre. The Dating Charade has depth and heart (and yeah, there are some laughs along the way).

Ferguson draws readers in with Cassie’s online dating mishaps followed by Jett’s interest and determination in pursuing something with Cassie. Then she yanks on your heartstring with the children who come into Cassie and Jett’s lives and turn all their well-laid plans on their heads.

Reading this book ran me through the emotional spectrum. I’d be chuckling at the antics of the children or the chaos the adults found themselves in only to be tearing up over the heartache and loss in these young lives. Star and her sisters especially got me.

I also admired the friendship between Bree and Cassie. It’s the best kind of friendship. The one where you have each other’s backs but also feel comfortable speaking truth or getting your hands dirty for the betterment of the other.

Ferguson’s heart for foster care and adoption shine throughout The Dating Charade, but I can also tell this is an author who cherishes the humorous situations in life. This book was so much more than I was expecting it to be in the best kind of way.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

About the Author

Melissa Ferguson lives in Bristol, Tennessee, where she is an adjunct professor at King University and pens books that make her laugh and grow. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now she and her husband are outnumbered, and her hobbies include diaper changes, chasing toddlers in parking lots, and admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing “Winnie the Pooh.” She survives by Jesus, rom coms, and roughly two espresso shots a day. The Dating Charade is her first novel.

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt from The Dating Charade here.

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