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ceena's review against another edition
4.0
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book.
While the romance is clearly there and a big part of the book, I really liked how the plot didn't revolve around it-- these are my favorite types of romances, because there is other things going on. In this case, they are trying to swindle a big time swindler. I love it.
The characters were fantastic. Halsey is a fantastic male lead. He isn't the usual arrogant, imposing dude-- he actually has feelings and insecurities and... he just has depth. It is so refreshing, I'm not going to lie. Lenore isn't helpless, either. She is such a great character to read about. The characters really made this enjoyable to read.
I'm praising this book all over the place, but only 4 stars?? The conflict *sigh* I swear I probably just need a break from romance novels because how the couple reaches the point of "oh we love each other but this just won't work because [conflict] just annoys the stuffing out of me. Especially when the guy acts like an asshole or out of character. Just.... ugh. Once the conflict part came about my interest severely waned :(
I might read the first one... maybe... I feel like it was kind of spoiled because I read this book haha, but I am interested in reading more of this series. I think anyone who likes romance will be interested in reading this one, especially if you want more than just the romance.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book.
While the romance is clearly there and a big part of the book, I really liked how the plot didn't revolve around it-- these are my favorite types of romances, because there is other things going on. In this case, they are trying to swindle a big time swindler. I love it.
The characters were fantastic. Halsey is a fantastic male lead. He isn't the usual arrogant, imposing dude-- he actually has feelings and insecurities and... he just has depth. It is so refreshing, I'm not going to lie. Lenore isn't helpless, either. She is such a great character to read about. The characters really made this enjoyable to read.
I'm praising this book all over the place, but only 4 stars?? The conflict *sigh* I swear I probably just need a break from romance novels because how the couple reaches the point of "oh we love each other but this just won't work because [conflict] just annoys the stuffing out of me. Especially when the guy acts like an asshole or out of character. Just.... ugh. Once the conflict part came about my interest severely waned :(
I might read the first one... maybe... I feel like it was kind of spoiled because I read this book haha, but I am interested in reading more of this series. I think anyone who likes romance will be interested in reading this one, especially if you want more than just the romance.
magnus_iskander_reim's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer : I hadn't read the first book in the Confidence Game series when I started this one. I actually found out it was a sequel to One Night Wife something like 15% of the book. However, I was never lost in the story since sufficient background elements and the story is independent enough to say it completely can be read as a standalone.
Halsey is the kind of crook that doesn't show : he's good with spreadsheets but with, you know, getting in actual sheets with someone other than a number. More machine than man, he's however following his sense of justice and using his skills to take from the richest and most corrupted and giving tons of money to the poorest.
Enter Lenny, whose job and passion is to positively crucify crooks and has a very, very personal reason to hate them. But, someday, a common enemy lead them to work together....
What I liked about this book was the fact that it didn't use the over-trope-y macho macho man but featured kind, calm and incredibly smart Halsey. Which is, let's be honest, the kind of guy women are ACTUALLY into when we're not, you know, fantasising. The fact that Ms Paton made the surely more impopular and less rewarding-financially speaking-choice of picking up this kind of man gives the story a scent of authenticity that makes its twists, turns and relationships all the more credible and enticing. The trust issues between the two main characters were particularly well handled.
It was a very good story served by an efficient style that was truly pleasant to read. However, it doesn't bring anything really new to the romance genre.
I'd advice it to any romance and White Collar fans ;)
A very good surprise for sure !
Halsey is the kind of crook that doesn't show : he's good with spreadsheets but with, you know, getting in actual sheets with someone other than a number. More machine than man, he's however following his sense of justice and using his skills to take from the richest and most corrupted and giving tons of money to the poorest.
Enter Lenny, whose job and passion is to positively crucify crooks and has a very, very personal reason to hate them. But, someday, a common enemy lead them to work together....
What I liked about this book was the fact that it didn't use the over-trope-y macho macho man but featured kind, calm and incredibly smart Halsey. Which is, let's be honest, the kind of guy women are ACTUALLY into when we're not, you know, fantasising. The fact that Ms Paton made the surely more impopular and less rewarding-financially speaking-choice of picking up this kind of man gives the story a scent of authenticity that makes its twists, turns and relationships all the more credible and enticing. The trust issues between the two main characters were particularly well handled.
It was a very good story served by an efficient style that was truly pleasant to read. However, it doesn't bring anything really new to the romance genre.
I'd advice it to any romance and White Collar fans ;)
A very good surprise for sure !
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
4.0
OKAY, WHO STARTED THE TREND OF MAKING THEIR HEROES LOOK LIKE OLD ACTORS
because I'm very much for this???
First we have Lucy Parker's Luc in Pretty Face looking like Gregory Peck, and now Ainslie's Halsey has Paul Newman looks??? Now I need somebody to write a Christopher Plummer circa Sound of Music lookalike hero, hopefully also a repressed single dad okbai-
Moving on,
Fool Me Forever featured Lenore, Fin from One Night Wife's best friend, and Halsey, Cal's younger brother. I didn't reread ONW before I read this one (a mistAKEEEE-) so I can't remember if Halsey and Lenny's first meeting was shown on text or BTS, but anyway I was basically down for this ship from the moment Lenny threw glassware at Halsey's head (and missed, don't worry). I love their banter and fights. I love Lenny's grit and how headstrong she was in fighting to restore her good name. I also love Halsey's quiet confidence; honestly I'm always for heroes like Cal in romance but I also love Halsey's charm in this. They worked so well in the con because they balanced each other.
Zeke's book next! IIRC he'll be paired with Cal's ex Rory so I'm already anticipating that conflict.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author.
because I'm very much for this???
First we have Lucy Parker's Luc in Pretty Face looking like Gregory Peck, and now Ainslie's Halsey has Paul Newman looks??? Now I need somebody to write a Christopher Plummer circa Sound of Music lookalike hero, hopefully also a repressed single dad okbai-
Moving on,
Fool Me Forever featured Lenore, Fin from One Night Wife's best friend, and Halsey, Cal's younger brother. I didn't reread ONW before I read this one (a mistAKEEEE-) so I can't remember if Halsey and Lenny's first meeting was shown on text or BTS, but anyway I was basically down for this ship from the moment Lenny threw glassware at Halsey's head (and missed, don't worry). I love their banter and fights. I love Lenny's grit and how headstrong she was in fighting to restore her good name. I also love Halsey's quiet confidence; honestly I'm always for heroes like Cal in romance but I also love Halsey's charm in this. They worked so well in the con because they balanced each other.
Zeke's book next! IIRC he'll be paired with Cal's ex Rory so I'm already anticipating that conflict.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author.
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
Every Ainslie Paton book is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
If you have read One Night Wife, then you have already kinda met our leading man and lady, Lenny and Halsey.
We know that Halsey Sherwood is a grifter, a con man who will take you down (well, if you are a despot who needs taking down).
Lenny has been dragged into the con by her best friend Fin and Halsey's brother Cal in the last book, hates the con game and everything Sherwood.
There is something about Ms Paton's characters that, even when we shouldn't really like them, we can't help but fall for them.
I love that Halsey is the nerdy, computer guy of the Sherwood business. I adore how he stumbles over his words when he is around Lenny. Totally adorkable.
I love how our lovelies lives aren't all rainbows and butterflies, they have their baggage and their issues and they are dealt with realistically.
Fool Me Forever was a great bit of escapism, and I can't wait to see what Ms Paton brings us next.
Every Ainslie Paton book is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
If you have read One Night Wife, then you have already kinda met our leading man and lady, Lenny and Halsey.
We know that Halsey Sherwood is a grifter, a con man who will take you down (well, if you are a despot who needs taking down).
Lenny has been dragged into the con by her best friend Fin and Halsey's brother Cal in the last book, hates the con game and everything Sherwood.
There is something about Ms Paton's characters that, even when we shouldn't really like them, we can't help but fall for them.
I love that Halsey is the nerdy, computer guy of the Sherwood business. I adore how he stumbles over his words when he is around Lenny. Totally adorkable.
I love how our lovelies lives aren't all rainbows and butterflies, they have their baggage and their issues and they are dealt with realistically.
Fool Me Forever was a great bit of escapism, and I can't wait to see what Ms Paton brings us next.
afoolsingenuity's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Halsey this is what I learnt reading this book. He is awkward and doesn't like interacting with people and he knows who he is and he doesn't like pretending to be anything other than that. Makes it difficult to pull off a big con though. But I loved he was softer and not a slick alpha male. I liked that he needed the help of Lenny to smooth his edges and help him out when it comes to big cons. It was just perfect.
And Lenny! She had a whole heap of stuff on her plate and she shouldn't have wanted anything to do with Halsey Sherwood after everything with her father but she wanted to get one over the asshole president who thought he could take charity money and use it for his own gain. Who thought the world revolves around him and forgot he was meant to be looking out for a country of people. She was ok with helping clean him out and screw him over and if she had to work with someone she knew was bad for her then so be it.
I admit I wasn't sure how the romance was going to play out in this one as Lenny was so against the Sherwoods and con men and she had major trust issues but the sparks which flew showed me there would problem with the romance it was more figuring out a way they could be together which benefited both of them I didn't understand until right at the end.
I've been living these conning Sherwood's and their less than legal ways which have them stealing from the rich and distributing to good charitable causes. I think with all the awful people you keep seeing on the news it's nice to see folks get their comeuppance in this book.
And Lenny! She had a whole heap of stuff on her plate and she shouldn't have wanted anything to do with Halsey Sherwood after everything with her father but she wanted to get one over the asshole president who thought he could take charity money and use it for his own gain. Who thought the world revolves around him and forgot he was meant to be looking out for a country of people. She was ok with helping clean him out and screw him over and if she had to work with someone she knew was bad for her then so be it.
I admit I wasn't sure how the romance was going to play out in this one as Lenny was so against the Sherwoods and con men and she had major trust issues but the sparks which flew showed me there would problem with the romance it was more figuring out a way they could be together which benefited both of them I didn't understand until right at the end.
I've been living these conning Sherwood's and their less than legal ways which have them stealing from the rich and distributing to good charitable causes. I think with all the awful people you keep seeing on the news it's nice to see folks get their comeuppance in this book.
bandherbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so I definitely read this back in 2018 and I definitely liked it. Why didn't I review it?!
Anyway, a con-artist promises to help the woman he's entranced with and her struggling non-profit get their money back after being caught up in a scandalous swindle by a bad foreign investor. All Lenore has to do is fake-date Halsey, gain entrance to his high class world, and let his skills of lying and deception help her get the money back.
Swoony and I love a great heist!
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
Anyway, a con-artist promises to help the woman he's entranced with and her struggling non-profit get their money back after being caught up in a scandalous swindle by a bad foreign investor. All Lenore has to do is fake-date Halsey, gain entrance to his high class world, and let his skills of lying and deception help her get the money back.
Swoony and I love a great heist!
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
bandherbooks's review
4.0
Okay, so I definitely read this back in 2018 and I definitely liked it. Why didn't I review it?!
Anyway, a con-artist promises to help the woman he's entranced with and her struggling non-profit get their money back after being caught up in a scandalous swindle by a bad foreign investor. All Lenore has to do is fake-date Halsey, gain entrance to his high class world, and let his skills of lying and deception help her get the money back.
Swoony and I love a great heist!
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
Anyway, a con-artist promises to help the woman he's entranced with and her struggling non-profit get their money back after being caught up in a scandalous swindle by a bad foreign investor. All Lenore has to do is fake-date Halsey, gain entrance to his high class world, and let his skills of lying and deception help her get the money back.
Swoony and I love a great heist!
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
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