Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.

Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.

FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.

Undercover Boyfriend by Jacob Z. Flores is a perfect example why I love this series.  It takes the Harlequin type plot and romance, gives it a M/M couple and then elevates it again with characters I adored, a plot that, while you couldn’t expect to take it seriously all the time, was just real enough to believe in, and a ending to keep you smiling hours after you put the book/Kindle/Nook down.

Another huge plus?  The author is making it into a series. Win win.

Like the blurb, you have to start the review with the characters and Marty Valdez.  Oh Marty.  Marty has spent his life running away from things by creating fake people to help him out of situations, from playdates in childhood he wanted to avoid to his sister’s wedding now that he has to attend with a boyfriend he’s made up.  Fake friends have always worked before but now he has to produce.  In other  hands, Marty would come off perhaps unlikable, sad even but in Jacob Z. Flores’s characterization, you get Marty.  You understand him, and he’s so darn cute and funny and easy to love….well, you’re on his side immediately.  And you just know he’s the type to fall into the trouble walking around the corner.

That’s Luke Myers, the FBI agent deep undercover.  Luke is a character that Flores uses to play off Marty to perfection and I liked the way he comes alive within the Valdez household.  We get a 2 person pov  here, one being Luke’s and that works well for both furthering our connection to the characters and moving the storyline along quickly.

Yes, back to the plot.  The drug cartel.  That’s never forgotten, as it could have been here.  It slithers along, like a deadly little threat to their growing romance, poking up here and there to remind us of its presence.  Loved that effect and its smash bang blowup was thrilling. *fans*

So, this book has it all for me.  A great couple, wonderful romance, and a thriller to boot.  And we are getting a new series out of it too.  I can’t wait for the next book to be released.  Want a new romance?  Need a new couple to root for and fall in love with?  Pick up Undercover Boyfriend by Jacob Z. Flores.  I highly recommend it.  Then join me in waiting for the next story in the series.

Cover art by Paul Richmond is great.  I can see that being Luke Myers.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #12, 236 pages
Published June 15th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press, LLC
Original TitleUndercover Boyfriend
ISBN 1634771508 (ISBN13: 9781634771504)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesOne Fine Day #1
CharactersMarty Valdez, Luke Myers settingSan Antonio, Texas (United States)

Other Editions (2)
Undercover Boyfriend (Dreamspun Desires Book 12)
Undercover Boyfriend (One Fine Day, #1)