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Faking the Pass
Author: Tru Taylor
Publication date: September 5th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Fake marry the smokin’ hot NFL quarterback who dumped me in high school? Hard pass.
…Or it would be, if my Hollywood disaster of an ex-fiancé wasn’t trying to destroy my career—and bankrupt me in the process.
Cue Presley Lowe.
Big-time quarterback. Bigger ego. Even bigger… contract.
The boy who broke my heart, then dared to somehow get even hotter with age.He says a fake marriage will solve both our problems.
I say he’s lost his mind.But I’m broke, blacklisted, and backed into a corner.
So now I’m wearing Presley’s ring, taking couple-selfies, and sleeping one wall away from the man who gave me my first heartbreak—and my last good kiss.I pretend not to notice when he walks around shirtless.
He pretends he doesn’t remember exactly how I like to be kissed.We’re both lying.
But it’s all temporary. Totally fake.Right?
So why does every look he gives me scream mine?
And why am I starting to feel like there’s nothing I wouldn’t give to keep hearing him say, my wife?
What happens when your fake husband is also the boy you never got over?
Faking the Pass is a fun and flirty steamy small town romantic comedy ideal for fans of Pippa Grant, Lucy Score, Megan Quinn, Melanie Harlow, Lauren Blakely, and Abby Jiminez.
It’s the perfect next read for readers who love these tropes:
Fake Marriage
NFL Quarterback Hero/ high school ex
First love, second chance
Runaway Bride
One Bed / Forced Proximity
Tight-knit family of football-playing brothers
Swoon-worthy, heartfelt, slow burn romance
an excerpt
“What is that?” Presley growled.
The sound was so vicious it actually made me jump.
Stalking toward my position at the kitchen island, he touched the underside of my right elbow and lifted my arm toward the light.
Confused, I glanced down to see what he was glaring at.
There on my bicep was a bruise, vaguely hand-shaped, very ugly.
Randy must have left it there when he’d grabbed me on our wedding day, trying to prevent me from leaving the venue.
“It’s nothing. I can’t even feel it,” I said, embarrassed for some reason.
Presley ignored my attempt to brush it off and moved to my other side, gently raising that arm so he could get a better look at it.
My skin bore matching dark streaks on that side as well.
Intense hazel eyes came up to meet mine, brimming with… something. I wasn’t sure what, but it was dark as hell.
“Who did this to you?” he demanded. “Randy? Did he abuse you physically as well as emotionally and financially?”
“Abuse me… wh- what are you talking about? No. He never hit me.”
“But he did put his hands on you.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“Well, yes, I guess. On our wedding day. I was trying to leave the mansion, and he was trying to stop me. He was angry.”
“That little shit.”
Presley brought a hand up to cover his mouth and dragged it down his chin, gripping his jaw before letting it go and spinning on his heel to pace over to a window.
After a few seconds, he turned to face me again. His expression was pure animus.
“You’re not doing the press conference. You’re not getting anywhere near that guy.”
As he said it, his hand slashed the air like he was slicing it open.
He was clearly upset, but I wasn’t sure why. I mean, yes in general we were all against men manhandling women, but this had nothing to do with Presley.
And the fact he apparently thought he had some say in the matter shocked me.
Why would he even care?
He was just a guy I’d known in high school who took me out for a few weeks before breaking up with me without an explanation. We literally hadn’t spoken since then until he’d found me asleep in his bed last night.
Award-winning romance author Tru Taylor writes small town romance that’s hot and sunny (and a little bit funny.)
She runs on Coke Zero and dark chocolate, lives for lunches with her girlfriends, and drives to the town beach several times a week to watch the sun set over the water.
She loves LOVE and will attempt to turn any show or movie she’s watching into a romance whether it is one or not. Star Wars? A romance. Lord of the Rings? Clearly a romance. The Expendables? Okay, well not even Tru can redeem that one.
When she’s not writing, Tru enjoys watching movies and reading books with happy endings, spending time with her husband and two kids, and sneaking Hershey’s Kisses from the top shelf of the freezer throughout the day. (Top shelf because… two kids. Enough said.)
Tru is the author of the Eastport Bay small town romance series and loves living in a quaint New England town where she’s surrounded every day by the beautiful coastal setting you see brought to life in her books.
Visit her website at trutaylor.com where you can find a complete book list and get a free story! Join her VIP mailing list at https://bit.ly/TruTales for the latest book news, insider info, and fun freebies.
Tru loves to hear from her readers! Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and email her at trutaylor@trutaylor.com
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