The Not So Neutral Zone

One perfect day in Barcelona. One kiss that changed everything. One goodbye that broke my heart.

I've always been the overlooked sister, the forgotten friend, the girl in the background of everyone else's love story. But when a handsome stranger rescued my purse-and then my entire day-I dared to believe my story might finally be starting.

Then he vanished. No explanation. No phone number. Not even a last name.

Classic.

Fast forward to six months later, when I discover my mystery man is Brody "Candy" Kane-NHL golden boy, my sister's fiancé's teammate-and he needs a favor. As in, a girlfriend to keep his reputation in good shape while he skates into a new contract. And frankly? I wouldn't mind a date to my sister's over-the-top wedding.

The deal: Fake date through wedding season. Break up at the end. No harm, no foul.

The rules: Fake smiles for the cameras. Fake hand-holding for the fans. Absolutely, positively, no falling for each other for real.

The problem: The chemistry that sparked in Barcelona? Never actually went away. And pretending to be in love with someone you're already halfway in love with?

Terrible idea. 0/10. Would not recommend.

A swoony Christian romance about second chances, hidden identities, and discovering that the one man you shouldn't want might be exactly who you need. Fans of Emma St. Clair, Jenny Proctor, and Courtney Walsh will love this sweet and clean, fake dating rom-com with all the banter and none of the spice.

Author: Susan May Warren,Sarah May Warren
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Published: 02/24/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.79d
ISBN: 9781966463924

About the Author
Warren, Susan May: - "Like mother, like daughter! Susan and Sarah May Warren are proof that the writing gene runs strong in this family. With nearly 2 million books sold and 100+ published novels, USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren has been spinning faith-filled tales of romance and adventure for decades, collecting RITA, Christy, and Carol awards along the way. Her daughter Sarah grew up surrounded by story magic and, despite her best efforts to resist, caught the writing bug while falling in love with her own real-life romance hero. When they're not crafting swoon-worthy stories of faith and love, you might find this dynamic duo plotting their next novel over coffee, debating character arcs at family dinners, or thanking God for the gift of storytelling that brings them together - proving that the greatest story of all is the one God writes in our lives."Warren, Sarah May: - "Like mother, like daughter! Susan and Sarah May Warren are proof that the writing gene runs strong in this family. With nearly 2 million books sold and 100+ published novels, USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren has been spinning faith-filled tales of romance and adventure for decades, collecting RITA, Christy, and Carol awards along the way. Her daughter Sarah grew up surrounded by story magic and, despite her best efforts to resist, caught the writing bug while falling in love with her own real-life romance hero. When they're not crafting swoon-worthy stories of faith and love, you might find this dynamic duo plotting their next novel over coffee, debating character arcs at family dinners, or thanking God for the gift of storytelling that brings them together - proving that the greatest story of all is the one God writes in our lives."