A fake relationship, a broody doctor, and plenty of heart in Infinity Ridge
Release date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Narrators: Desiree Ketchum and Jason Clarke
Synopsis:
I will not fall for my fake boyfriend.
Famous last words.
Dr. Ares Pierce may be new in town, but it only took one encounter to know he’s trouble. Sexy. Broody. Older. A broken look in his eyes.
The kind that says he’s carrying something heavy… and I should run.
But when my cheating ex-fiancé has the audacity to ask me to be in his wedding, panic takes over. A small lie to save face spirals out of control when I claim the sexy stranger beside me is my boyfriend.
And Ares plays along.
Soon we strike a deal: we keep up the relationship to help him win patients at the struggling clinic he’s trying to save, and I get a shield from the humiliation of my ex’s happily-ever-after.
Simple. Temporary. No feelings involved.
Except nothing about Ares Pierce is simple.
The more time we spend together, the harder it is to ignore the man behind the broody exterior… The one who makes me laugh when I least expect it and reminds me what it feels like to be wanted after the worst betrayal of my life.
But our arrangement comes with an expiration date.
Ares isn’t planning to stay in Infinity Ridge. And when he’s forced to choose between the career he built and the woman he never meant to love…
I’m terrified I’ll be the one left behind.
Again.
Review:
I loved the first book in this series, so I went into Never Been Tamed with high expectations. It lived up to them! Harper’s small lie about her new boyfriend turns into a fake dating arrangement with Dr. Ares Pierce, and these two spend an entertaining amount of time pretending their feelings are part of the act. Meanwhile, I was over here thinking, Bitch, please. You are both down bad.
Harper is sweet with just enough sass, while Ares brings the older, broody, growly energy. Their chemistry is impossible to miss, and the spice absolutely delivers. But Corinne Michaels also gives their relationship the emotional weight I’ve come to expect from her. Beneath the flirting and the memorable steamy scenes are two people figuring out whether they can risk wanting something real.
It was such a treat to return to Infinity Ridge, too. The quirky small town, odd family rivalry, and meddling residents (especially the older crowd) made me laugh all over again. This is book two, but Harper and Ares’s romance stands on its own, so you can jump in here.
I listened to the audiobook, and Desiree Ketchum and Jason Clarke were perfectly cast. Desiree nails Harper’s sweetness and touch of sass, while Jason’s older man grumble is exactly what Ares needed. Heartfelt, funny, emotional, and seriously steamy: Corinne Michaels remains one of my go to romance authors.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Fake dating with very real feelings
- Broody, older heroes
- Quirky small towns and meddling neighbors
- Heartfelt romance with serious heat
- Chemistry that fools absolutely no one
- Emotional stories with plenty of humor
- Growly heroes on audio
- Series romances you can read on their own
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Thanks to Must Love Audio for the review copy.
