Orok Monroe: Half-giant. Rawball defensive tank on the Philadelphia Hellhounds. Follower of Urzoth...only Orok's tired of following the god of aggression.

Alexo Warden: Cheerleader. Human? A dancer with a stadium's worth of secrets.

When Orok saves Alexo at a bar, fans go feral for the star athlete protecting the pint-size dude-in-distress. The Hellhounds propose that Orok and Alexo start a PR relationship to put a positive spin on Orok's god. Orok is set to refuse and renounce Urzoth-but that wouldn't let him see Alexo again.

So, like a sap, he agrees.          As Orok tries to drop the fake part of their fake-relationship, Alexo's dangerous truths emerge. To save him, Orok will have to sacrifice far more than his divine association.

The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch is a magical romance, using the trope of the fake relationship to build a believable relationship and characters that wow in the sequel in her magic & romance series.

I love Orok right from the beginning, partly because of his earnestness but also his anxieties and need for connection. While he struggles with not depending on others, Orok is super-supportive and caring of Alexo. And what is wonderful is seeing the ways that caring for Alexo eases Orok's anxieties, romance giving him stability.

One of the elements I also really like is the way mental health is celebrated as necessary but also taking care of it can be a different type of strength. I love the way the author celebrates less traditional ways to show strength, especially the physical aspects. I also like how strong a character Alexo is as we learn about his background and his secrets.

If you like your romance with magic, a fantasy style sport and a couple that are both needy but loving, this novel is for you. Both Orok and Alexo learn that it's okay to be strong in non-traditional ways, to speak up about their needs and end up with a very real relationship that is very loving. I love the way Sara Raasch writes her characters and celebrates being diverse and different. This is truly a magical romance.

Rating: 5 out of 5 chains ~~ Andrea Rittschof

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