In a high-stakes game of fake it…

Will they make it?

Wyatt Larrabee thought adopting twin boys and moving back home to Legacy Canyon, Texas, would be tough. Turns out, fending off unwanted attention from women after a TV interview about his adorable new sons is even tougher.

And now a random blind date? Between daddy duty, ranch chores, and his job, love is not in the cards for Wyatt.

Pediatrician Madi Brennan agrees to another date to appease her matchmaking grandmother before Madi must eventually return to Boston. But when she meets Wyatt, a plan forms: pretend to date to discourage nosy meddlers.

Spending time together to keep up appearances, Wyatt and Madi realize their attraction is very real. With two hearts at stake, will love call their bluff with a full house?

Titles in the Legacy Canyon series include: A Texas-Sized Fake Out ~ Inheriting a Rodeo Cowboy ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  A Texas-Sized Fake Out
Series:  Legacy Canyon #1
Author:  Michele Dunaway
Published: January 27, 2026
Publisher:  Harlequin Special Edition
My Rating:  4.5 stars

A Texas-Sized Fake Out begins the Legacy Canyon series with a delightful fake dating romance that had me grinning ear-to-ear throughout.  I love a good fake dating romance.  I enjoy watching a couple who loudly complain that they aren’t looking for love… until it smacks them upside the head, end up finding that elusive perfect fit.  *grin*  And Wyatt and Madi certainly tried to pull a fast one on the “matchmaking grandmothers committee.”  Did it work?  Perhaps better than the grandmothers could have expected.

It’s hard not to fall in love with a single man who adopts twin boys, and I didn’t even pretend to guard my heart, for the love that Wyatt feels for Noah and Ethan simply flows through the pages.  He’s returned home, taken on a new job, working the family ranch, and raising his boys… romance isn’t even on his radar.  But the matchmaking grandmothers of Legacy Canyon have other ideas, and it seems (to them at least) that Madi is just perfect for him.  And she might be, eventually.

Madi is in town only briefly to help her grandmother.  She’s not looking for romance; she has a career decision to make, and romance is not a high priority.  But she’s agreed to one more blind date just to get her grandmother to stop already.  Both Wyatt and Madi don’t see romance in their futures, and the way to stop the grandmother matchmakers seems to be to pretend that their shenanigans worked and that they are truly dating… what could go wrong?  Nothing, maybe, aside from actually discovering that love was in the future for them, if they’ll take a few risks on each other.

I had such fun with Madi, Wyatt, Noah, and Ethan.  Watching this couple bond over the twins, share some fun dates, learn a bit more about each other, and discover that love was possible (even for them) was such an emotional and fun experience.  Their story is well-written, emotional, and engaging, with laughter and tears throughout.  I’d definitely recommend A Texas-Sized Fake Out to any reader who loves a good fake relationship turned true love romance.  I had fun here, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next title in the series, Inheriting a Rodeo Cowboy.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon