When museum curator Maggie Patton learns a rare valentine collection will be auctioned in Minnesota, nothing will stop her from making the cross-country trip to acquire it. As Valentine’s Day approaches, she needs the distraction anyway to take her mind off what should have happened over the holiday weekend—a marriage proposal from her ex. Trouble is, someone also has an eye on the prize and he’s determined to post the highest bid.
One valentine in Lot 23 belonged to Ry Murray’s famous distant relative, he’s sure of it. As family historian, Ry’s obsessed with recovering the long-lost card, but outbidding the woman who’s come from Boston seems impossible, unless he convinces her it’s better off in his hands than hers.
When an eccentric billionaire pays big money to thwart their plans, Maggie and Ry think they’re out of luck. But then the gentleman proposes a Cupid’s match: spend forty-eight hours together building a convincing courtship and the best performer leaves town with the valentine. The scheme seems like a losing game for Maggie and Ry, but with their hearts on the line, might they win at love?
I am a sucker for fake relationships, especially when it’s obvious there is something there between the pair before any charade is undertaken. Ry and Maggie have a spark from their first meet cute and this spark gains fuel as they pretend to be in love while both fighting to get their hands on what they want more than anything: a collectible valentine.
I love Ry so much! His laid back character and huge heart, without really showing it to many, is what had me swooning. A man that is a good man just by being authentic is always a winner in my book. What really won me over was the work that he does at the local nursing home. I’m actually doing something similar with several elderly members of my family, so it’s nice to see the same passion mirrored in a character.
Maggie took me a little while longer to warm up to, but she eventually won me over. She’s not frigid by any means, but there was a block there between me and her character, and it took some development for me to see her the way that Ry had begun to see her.
The ending is predictable, yet sweet and satisfying, but what really got it for me was reading the author’s note at the end. Finding out the inspiration for this story was based on a true story was a real treat! Two of my favorite genres, history and clean romance, colliding in the best way, and all at the hands of one of my favorite authors?? It doesn’t get much better than that!
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