The Designated Date

by Drew Taylor

A chance to experience dating my hot boss without commitment? Let’s call it “book research.”

Lucy

“Last Woman Standing” is a title I’d never thought I’d don, but when my sister moves to another country to marry a crown prince, it’s bestowed upon me without my consent.

To make matters worse? My hot playboy boss won’t stop pestering me to go out on a date with him. When all the stars align and I begrudgingly owe him a favor, he whisks me away to his hometown as his fake girlfriend where I… Have the time of my life.

So when he asks me to continue playing pretend with him for a list of future events, who am I to say no? Will I go down in a heap of burning flames? Probably.

Will it be worth it to escape dreadful, lonely boredom? You already know, babe.


Stone

The fiery lioness is making this the most drawn-out fight of my life, but I’m used to winning. The victory blow is a result of a plate of crabs, for which I have never been so thankful for.

Except I begin to falter on my no-commitment policy as she flirts and sasses her way into tearing down my expertly crafted walls. With every touch, kiss, and witty attack, I realize I’ve grown to care about and respect the woman I’ve been playing pretend with, but the past is a haunting devil, constantly reminding me of who I truly am.

Can I continue to fake-date Lucy when I know she’s falling for me? No.

Am I able to be the man she deserves when I carry more baggage than she does on a weekend getaway? I want to try, but I don’t know if it will happen.

The Designated Date is a sizzling closed door fake-dating rom-com with themes of redemption, restoration, and revitalization.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Christian, Clean Romance, Fiction, Fake Dating

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Drew Taylor writes modern closed-door chick-lit romance stories from a Biblical worldview. She believes faith-based romance can be full of heart, humor, healing, and hope while showcasing the reality of our fallen human condition. Her redemptive and engaging stories point to the One who embodies true love–Jesus Christ.

Drew lives in the great state of Mississippi where she teaches high school English. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading, baking, researching conspiracy theories, and spending quality time with the people who mean the most to her.

Follow Drew:

Instagram: @authordrewtaylor
Facebook: Drew Taylor, Author
TikTok: @drewtaylorwrites
Pinterest: @authordrewtaylor
YouTube: @authordrewtaylor

Reviews

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be brutally honest: I have no idea how I'm going to review this book. My thoughts are all kinds of twisted up, so here goes nothing...

This book makes me sad. It makes me sad that people think they won't be welcomed by Christians because of sin. Listen, we ALL sin. That's the literal gospel truth. But I also hope that when we sin, and continue to live in that sin, that fellow Christians-preferably friends who love us-will lovingly keep us accountable. That's what we're meant to do. Iron sharpens iron, after all.

But I also understand that deep shame that resides in us. Heaven knows I've felt it more times than I can count. So I completely understand not wanting to confide in others.

I admire Drew Taylor for laying herself out bare here for all to see. If only we could all be so transparent.

Oh! And since this is a book review, read the book. But with the caveat that it isn't for teens-there's a lot of sexual talk and innuendo. Nothing is shown on page, but this is a very transparent book about sexual temptation. It's also a book about redemption. Because that is also the literal gospel truth.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I was both excited and a little nervous to read this book knowing the topic dealt with lust and sexual sin; I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I trust Drew Taylor and wow has she outdone herself. This book was a masterpiece that blended Drew’s lighter rom-com feel, but also went deeper with a darker theme and often unspoken topic. She did not shy away from anything and I was pretty blown away by this novel.

I could tell this book was special right from the start and within the first chapter I highlighted so many things that stood out to me. Lucy wants to be a wife and mother one day. She is a romance writer and naturally drawn to romance. Her friends have all started coupling off and she finds herself feeling a little alone. Stone is her boss and has been making advances and giving her lots of attention. She sees him for the playboy he is and knows that he is not what she is looking for. I found Lucy so real and although I haven’t felt all that she has felt she was super relatable, especially the part about how she was trying to balance being happy for her friends but also feeling jealous of their wins.

Stone is quite the flirt. My goodness did he push it to the max. He even made me blush a few times. Stone is also a good guy; he is respectful of boundaries. He is dealing with his own inner turmoil of being jilted in the past and it leads him to believe he isn’t good enough. He doesn’t want to hurt Lucy, so he won’t commit.

The chemistry between Lucy and Stone was pretty much out of this world. It felt like the pages were burning as if they had been lit with a match as I read. The dialog is so well written. The kisses in this book were among the best I have ever read, but this story is so much more than that. It is two real, relatable Christians who feel broken inside. They make mistakes, they sin and they both have some healing to do. It made my heart ache at times, but it was also filled with hope and redemption. It is also a story of love. Not just the love of Stone and Lucy but the love that God has for us. It shows us that we are loved by God when we make mistakes, feel alone, or don’t know the answers, or even how to put the pieces of our life back together.

I can’t say I have ever read a book quite like this one and I applaud Drew Taylor for being brave enough to write it. It is one of my favorite reads of the year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content Awareness - Read author’s note at the beginning of the book.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Designated Date is the fourth book in the Designated series. While those who have read the previous books will enjoy seeing some familiar characters, I do believe this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

This book... was so much more than just a romance. Yes, of course, it was that too and I absolutely adored Stone and Lucy together. Their story was filled with chemistry and emotion and all of the things that I adore in a good romance, and I couldn't help but root for them to get their happily ever after. But beyond that, it truly was more so a story about redemption and healing. In many Christian romances, we get characters that are almost too perfect. They tend to be either saving themselves for marriage OR if they do have a past, it's something that happened before they were Christians and not something they struggle with in the present... mostly not even going near the topic of sex at all. There's definitely a place for those books too, BUT I think for those that DO have their struggles, it can make them feel even more isolated. This story is not that. These are characters who a Christians, but who fall short and struggle with sexual sin throughout the story (all off pages, of course, but it's a very clear theme). It doesn't shy away from this tough topic and feels very raw and genuine... and truly allows us to see God at work in these characters' lives in such a beautiful way. I think the author did such a wonderful job of handling this topic with grace. While I definitely think that this book will help readers who have fought these same battles, I also think there's a beautiful message in there for ALL readers--- a reminder that no matter what our personal struggles are, we can always hand it all over to God... and that that's not necessarily a one-time thing, but a continual process. This certainly isn't your typical Christian romcom, by any means, but it is real and honest and absolutely beautiful. Certainly one worth reading.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lynsey McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to type out a quick post-read review so that my thoughts are fresh. This book is going to help so many young women feel seen and understood and loved. I do not want to spoil any of it, but hear me when I say that redemption is always possible.

Listen, I HATE a third act break up. I vibe with this book, though. So far most of my favorite reads this year included a third act break up, so, I guess I kind of don’t hate them?

Anyway, Stone is a play boy, but like he’s honest about it you know? He’s just genuinely terrified of being able to commit and I can respect that. Lucy, my girl, she’s trying to stay out of the depths of despair with a pair of heels and the skin of her teeth. Her grandmother is the belle of this ball coming in with some wisdom, honey!

I just loved this. It’s a true redemption story that deals with mature themes, moral failing, and an acute need for restoration in Christ. The content is heavy, but the freedom is light. And you know what? That’s life in 2024.

FOTMS: 🫑🫑🫑
CW: READ THE WARNINGS! She’s very clear there.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Stone & Lucy’s points of view

– Stone is Stella’s brother (Stella’s story was The Politics of Christmas) & Lucy is Lorelei’s sister (Lorelei’s story was The Designated Twin); neither books have to be read to enjoy this one

– this story talks about both characters dealing with lust & sexual sin; there is no sex on page, but it is implied & later stated that the characters did so (characters are not married); both characters also have lustful thoughts about one another

– there are some makeouts that mention hands under shirts

– it is mentioned that characters experienced church hurt (feeling like they couldn’t talk about their struggles with fellow Christians, feeling like they were being judged for their mistakes, feeling like they didn’t belong there anymore)

– it is mentioned that a character lost their father when they were young

– it is mentioned that a character had trauma that made it so they didn’t attempt to save themselves from drowning (another character saves them instead)

– it is mentioned/shown that a character has depression

Review:

I’m pretty sure that the first time I read this book, all I could think was “dang!” After the second read through, I’m able to articulate my thoughts a bit more. XD

This was such a hard hitting & heart wrenching book with the subjects Lucy & Stone struggle with. I loved that Drew followed her gut & God when it came to telling it the way she did. I loved that Lucy & Stone were far from perfect and knew that about themselves, but that they also (when they were ready or forced to) face their issues in order to move forward with their relationship in a way that wasn’t going to hurt them further. I loved that Drew didn’t hold back on both characters’ inner thoughts on the faith they grew up with (Christianity) and how it affected their thoughts on their actions and how it affected their relationship with their faith & God. She took a very real look at how Christians can feel when they are dealing with a sin or bad habit and how it can affect them in all aspects of their lives. And though I haven’t dealt with many of Lucy’s issues, I could connect with her on her desires for love and wondering why it hasn’t come to me yet (as well as the emotions that come with that intense desire/despair).

Summary:

Lucy Spence never thought she’d be the woman in her friend group that held the ‘last woman standing’ title, yet that’s somehow how things ended up. No matter how much her romantic heart desires the lasting love that comes with being in a committed relationship with a man, no man seems to want to hold onto her long enough. To make matters worse, Lucy’s playboy boss is the only one currently pursuing her. And no matter how attractive he is, Lucy can’t entertain something between them while knowing about his aversion to commitment. Yet when he suggests that they be each other’s designated date for upcoming events, Lucy can’t deny the pull his offer has on her. Maybe if she frames it as book research and sets rules for their arrangement, things could go her way for once…

Stone Harper isn’t one for committing to a woman. He doesn’t cheat when he’s dating someone, but each girlfriend doesn’t last long enough to be able to get to the meet the family stage. Lately though, Stone has been thinking less and less about other women and focusing in on one: his newest hire Lucy Spence. No matter what Stone does, he can’t get Lucy to agree to a date with him. Which is a problem since his family has been pestering him about bringing someone home to meet and to get them off his back he gives them a name to put to his latest relationship. The name and attributes of the woman he gives? None other than Lucy Spence. And with a mandatory event back home coming up, Stone hopes beyond all hope that Lucy will at least agree to be his fake date despite how many times she’s denied him in the past…

[Ally | SkipTheSpice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Designated Date has been my most highly anticipated book in recent months, not only because I’ve loved all of Drew Taylor’s books, but because I knew the story would rip my heart open due to its subject matter. What I didn’t expect was to find healing in reading Stone and Lucy’s struggles with sexual sin. I do not understand how she did it, but Taylor took some pretty heavy material and crafted a beautiful story of healing, forgiveness and love – both romantic love and the incredible merciful love of Jesus.

The Designated Date is not an easy read, but it is a meaningful read, and I think there’s something so beautiful in wading through the dark parts of the characters’ lives to make it to the sun shining at the end. In this case, finding the healing, forgiveness and freedom from sexual sin that can only be found in our gracious and loving God.

There is a stark contrast between Lorelei’s sweet and vibrant romance with Finley in The Designated Twin and Lucy’s passionate and anguished feelings for Stone in The Designated Date. There are, of course, lighthearted moments, swoony romance, and humor in TDD, too. But this book drew me in because I could see myself in the story. I saw myself in Lucy’s loneliness as the last of her friends still single. I saw myself in Lucy’s struggles with lust and her cries for deliverance from sin. I saw myself in her regrets when she messed up, and the dark thoughts and depression that often creep in when struggling with repeated sin. And I saw myself in the restored woman, forgiven from her sin, walking in freedom.

I cried reading this book, and I can imagine many women will also cry reading it. But know that although this book is heart wrenching at times, there will be happy tears shed too. Tears of joy for a love hard-won. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially those women who have struggled with lust or sexual sin. You are not alone. And you don’t need to struggle in isolation with the shame eating away at you. There is freedom in Jesus Christ, and he welcomes you with open arms. And there are other Christian women who have had the same struggles. You are not alone. Please message me if you need to talk or need encouragement or prayer.

Intimacy:
Fade To Black
(make outs, no hands described in private areas, tongue implied but not described)

Language:
Implied cursing but nothing explicitly stated

Content Considerations:
This book contains multiple closed-door sexual encounters between two people who are unmarried. The message of this story is that God can and will redeem people ensnared in sexual sin.

[Koren | the_blue_eyed_bluestocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories are meant to change us. Some stories are meant to break us. Some stories are meant to give us hope.

When an author breaks down every wall and shares their soul, their struggles, their fallibility, and their realness, they let us in to a place that so few are brave enough to let others see, let alone complete strangers. This book was gritty, it was personal, it was hard, it was heart-wrenching, and it was full of redemption. What a different world this could be if we all had a tribe who spoke truth to us unconditionally, loved us unconditionally, and reminded us where our worth really comes from?

This book was special.

I honestly wish I could express everything this story made me feel. It felt like everything was so magnified because the author made it clear that this was her story, too. When broken people just keep knocking the broken things together... whew. The downward spiral of both of the MCs was so tough to read. By the time I got to chapter 19, the tears flowed so freely down my face that I wasn't sure when I was going to stop.

This story took the author to an entire new level of writing. I've really enjoyed the Designated series. This one is one a completely different level than the others, and it isn't just the story... it's the storytelling. Drew has leveled up her writing, and I feel so honored to be among her early readers.

Prepare to be wrecked...and to be thankful for it.

Content: Be prepared for open discussion of s*x and its consequences, s*x addiction, and drinking. This book is closed-door, fade to black no s*x on the page.

I received a complimentary copy of the author's story as a member of her early reader team in order to read and review. All thoughts contained here are my own.

[Tawni Suchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your grandma’s Christian romance. It tackles a topic you rarely see in Christian fiction or at least blatantly see. Both characters have lived loose lives when it comes to their sexuality and learned how to shove aside their guilt. But as children of God, that guilt remains as the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts…as Jesus pursued them when they felt unworthy to be pursued. You may read this and roll your eyes…oh purity culture blah blah. No. Not purity culture. Drew handles this topic with extreme care in a realistic way with the basis of scriptures leading her. Stone and Lucy weren’t opposites that attracted, they reflected each other almost as if mirrors of one another. And I loved how they saw their addictions and turned to Jesus being encouraged by their loved ones.
If you’re looking for a book that handles tough and practically taboo topics with care—The Designated Date is for you.

[Kathleen Grymes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been my favorite so far in this whole series. The emotions are real, raw, and relatable. It is Christ-centered, however, a Christ-centered life is not a simple, clean, straightforward life. The characters wrestle with questions and real, valid emotions. This book is authentic and I believe (as well as pray) that this book can be healing for many people.

But be warned - definitely have tissues ready!

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. I loved Lucy in The Designated Twin and seeing a glimpse of her with Stone there made me look forward to their story.

This book contains themes that were heavy and heartfelt and heartbreaking. Sexual sin is taboo subject within Christian books. There are no explicit scenes but several fade to black moments and a lot of talk about attraction and lust but it was done without being crude. (It was written in a way that made the emotion obvious without making me feel like I knew too much or feeling icky).

Things I loved about this book:
-Lucy and Stone were such real and relatable characters. Their attraction to each other and their feelings.
-The banter, the nicknames, the chemistry
-Lucy’s solid desire to be good even when it was difficult and she made mistakes.
-their friends! They had such solid advice of where to draw lines and what to realistically expect from themselves.
-I loved the redemption in this book. I loved that both MC each individually turned their path towards Christ which lead them back together.

[Eileen van der Merwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The designated date - @authordrewtaylor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶: closed-door/fade-to-black scenes between unmarried main characters
❗️: sexual sin ,near drowning , depression (suicidal thoughts)
✝️: Christian themes

Wow, okay, I knew this book was going to wreck me.
And it absolutely did .Yes, this book has Drew's signature fun romcom feel while dealing with a very taboo topic in the Christian community, especially on the women's side.

We get so many Christian romance books where the man was a player/ladies' man until he falls in love ,but one thing we almost never get is ,is the man getting shamed. But for one reason, that doesn't count for women.

Drew wrote a book where you can feel and see the struggles of being a Christian, but also struggling with the world's temptations.
You see how the sin and guilt start to eat away at you until you're an empty shell.

Lucy ,I love her in TDT and the little snippets of her struggles. Well when you get to TDD ,it's darker ,you get finally be inside Lucy's head.She is such a complex character and I loved the part where she could talk to her friend and get the Christian help without being shamed.

Stone ,I liked him. I loved how he teased and flirted with Lucy.
He was a man scorned by his first love, and it made him a jaded ,no strings attached kinda man. I loved how he knew he hurt and used Lucy and was willing to better himself before getting his girl back.

Scene that absolutely broke my heart was ,the zipper part(not saying anything more ,go read it).

Some of my favorite parts
- seafood
- Lorelei wedding dance
- Twins possibly
- pebbles

Something to learn
-“Ditto. Now dry yourself up, listen to some worship music, and steer clear of Taylor Swift for a while, okay?"
When struggling, don't turn to your worldly favorites, but turn to God ,listen, pray ,worship God
Because TS, Dolly ,your romance book or ice cream can wait till later.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All
opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Sarah Beth G. (a.neverending.tbr) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4. First, I will say that this book took guts and I really applaud the author for tackling a subject that is taboo, both inside and outside of church culture. To one, it is absurd that this would be a problem and to the other it just is something that isn’t talked about - and it should be talked about. This book shows flawed Christian characters that have real struggles and how they overcome them. It is a story of struggle, falling, redemption and ultimately gives God the glory for the outcome. I hurt for these characters while they walked this path and can relate to the struggles on some level. I really liked that the author dug into the why, because there is always a why and understanding that is necessary to fully address the issue.

Aside from that, there were just aspects of the story that didn’t work for me - some repeated phrasing, nicknames and parts that I didn’t think added to the story enough to warrant having them in the book. I also would not call this a romcom - it is much more women’s fiction though there is definitely a romantic plot. Overall, I think this was a good read and I enjoyed it.

Content Notes: Closed door romance

[Cecily Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! It was so good!💜😭📚📚📚

[It's Sunrise Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

TDD is a gut punching emotion whirlwind in the best of ways. We met Lucy in The Designated Twin, but her journal entries barely scratched the surface of what comes in TDD.

TDD isn't a normal christian fiction rom-com. It represents the imperfect christians deeply sturggling with sin, the cycle of giving in and beating themselves up over giving in, and the search for redemption and change. Drew mentions that this story has parts of her own struggle, and TDD is so much better for it.
This is by far Drew's best writing, and I would 10/10 recommend it to anyone.

I received an ARC from the author, but this did not impact my opinion.

[Sophie Toovey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down. It's a mega journey, and I almost don't know where to start in writing my review. Let me think... Ok, DON'T read this book if you like sappy, saccharine romance where both characters are ridiculously idealistic and never do anything wrong. But if, like me, you want a romance where the characters are actually HUMAN, then this book is for you.
Drew is a great writer, but the rawness and honesty of this book really make it stand out from her other work to me. I feel like there's a growing movement, a rallying call, to make romance, and romance with Christian characters, more real and reflective of the reality of sin and the brokenness of the world we live in. NOT to glorify the sin and brokenness, but to amplify the awesome reality of God's GRACE. Hallelujah!
Here are some of my favourite quotes:
'Simply put, it's smart of her to keep fending off my advances. Even if I didn't want to, I would still break her heart.'
'Stone Harper is definitely in his villain era. No, not an era. He was most likely born this way. Is he the truly evil kind or the morally gray kind? Nope. Doesn't matter.'
'What in the romantic comedy novel is my life right now? I should've said no. Stood my ground. But the romance author inside of me was a little too greedy to get her hands on this situation for "book research", the lonely girl inside me was chomping at the bit to escape for the weekend, and the dark woman inside of me was foaming at the mouth to experience a date with Stone Harper.'
'Just because you surrender doesn't mean that your fears dissipate. It just means you've got help from the Creator of the universe to overcome them.'
Are you getting the gist?
Read this book for an up-and-down journey of two sinful people who eventually find grace and redemption.
Read this book.

[Mikayla Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Designated Date looks like a light-hearted romcom, but it definitely fooled me. It’s everything I’ve looked for in a book—a real and raw overview of what the Christian media and church stays silent about. Lucy and Stone portray real human emotions and struggle openly. Drew did an excellent job with her writing, style, and themes. This is definitely a book I will never forget! Lucy and Stone will forever live in my head as my favorite fictional couples.

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Stone & Lucy's heartachingly beautiful, redemptive, caring, sweet, loving, funny, swoony story!!

[Kaelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the type of book I love to see from Christian authors. The characters are imperfect, and that makes them relatable. Their struggles feel real and make the book powerful. Sin is not shied away from, but it is also not glorified. It's used to illustrate the brokenness of our world and our desperate need of a Savior. I loved reading about Stone and Lucy's struggles, both as a couple and individually, and how they overcame them by leaning on Jesus. It was so beautiful! I also adored their love story. They didn't find their ultimate fulfillment in each other. They found it in Christ, which then allowed them to love one another in the best and purest way. This is a great book for young women to read, whether you relate specifically to Lucy's struggles or not. It's a sweet reminder to find your identity and value in Christ alone and that true love is worth the wait.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

🏍️ The vibes:
- Fake dating
- Friends with benefits ish
- Christian themes
- Closed door

📖 My thoughts:
We’ve all read the romcoms where there’s fake dating and a cocky ladies’ man who just wants a good time. Of course, the hero will fall for the heroine and ditch his rogue ish ways. She will fall madly and deeply, he will complete her in every way, and they all live happily ever after. It’s a set up that I love! This book had that vibe, but this story goes completely off the typical beaten path in a romance.

📚 I’ve never read a book quite like this one. She wants him to commit and she’s willing to give him everything and she will just take whatever scraps he can offer. She’s willing to play with fire for a good time, hoping love will come if only she can convince him of it. But life doesn’t just fall into place this way. People don’t fix our souls, and our choices have real consequences.

📚 This was such an interesting read where I felt so many feelings for these characters.

📚 I felt that happiness and giddiness when Stone and Lucy were flirting and having their playful banter.

📚 I felt that anticipation when Lucy and Stone started feeling deeper feelings for each other.

📚 I felt that angst and heaviness when Lucy and Stone had convictions and felt guilt and shame for their choices.

📚 I felt the sadness when the emotional and mental toll of their choices caught up to them.

📚 And I felt the joy when they found peace and grace and rediscovered the love that Jesus has for them in the midst of the mess.

📚 Drew has explained the closeness of this story to HER story- and I wanted to give her a big ole hug for being brave enough to write this one. Purity is such a hard topic to tackle. I think it’s something that can bring a lot of shame and judgement for and from many. It can ruffle feathers in and out of the Christian community. But there’s also a lot of beauty that can come from acknowledging the mess that can be all mixed up in the fight for purity in all walks of life.

📚The end result felt a little bit rushed and glossed quickly over some of the messier parts- but I think the message was there and still conveyed.

Note- closed door; sexual sin in book deals with premarital sex.

Going into this book- I remember seeing a lot of TW from other reviews saying this dealt with sexual addiction/ sexual sin. I wasn’t sure exactly what this would include and thought it was possibly going to be pornography or a different type of sex addiction. The sexual addiction in this book deals with premarital sex.

[Chelsea | chelseadennreads Dennison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a highly anticipated read for me and I was so excited to receive an ARC of it. This was also my first Drew Taylor book. I’ve been looking forward to reading this book because of the content of it and I have been so intrigued by how Drew was going to tell this story.

If you don’t know anything about Drew or this book, Drew is an author who writes closed door books that have more of an overt Christian worldview than other closed door books. Her characters may be Christians, or there may be more outright talk about the Lord and Jesus as our savior. In this book, both characters are Christians who struggle with sexual sin and temptation. What drew me to this book was how Drew talked about it: that Christians aren’t perfect and it’s important to read books involving Christian characters and the reality of their lives as sinners trying to live for Jesus.

I enjoyed this book so much and there is so much goodness in it. While I could not relate to Lucy’s specific sin struggle, I could see so much of how we often are as Christians struggling with sin or temptation: asking God to take it away or trying so so hard to be better on our own. And then wondering why we still have this temptation even though we’ve been praying and trying. It also served as a great reminder of how we are in constant need of God’s grace and how he continues to pursue us in the midst of our struggles.

I really enjoyed Lucy and Stone and I honestly loved how Stone recognized his need to become a man who could point Lucy to Christ. There was a need for both Lucy and Stone to grow and see themselves as children of God before they could adequately serve each other in a relationship that glorified God.

I want to say thank you to Drew for choosing me to receive an ARC but also for writing this story. It is real. It is raw. And it is a testament to the Lord’s redemptive grace.

This is a closed door romance with no language but it does have heavy conversation regarding lust, sexual temptation, and sexual sin.

[Shona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone is Lucy’s boss and regularly flirts with her. He keeps asking for a date but she keeps shutting him down. She doesn’t believe herself worthy of love and believes it’s not for her.
However, Stone gets himself into a bit of a pickle when he confesses to his family that he’s dating Lucy, just to get them off his back. Suddenly there’s a wedding to go to and a family get together that he needs Lucy to come to - as his girlfriend.
I loved this fake dating to more romance. It’s real, raw and filled with hard emotions about believing in yourself and trusting how God views you, regardless of the sin in your life.
This is an amazing story of redemption which gives hope to those who struggle with sin, and yes, that includes sexual sin.
You will laugh as the banter is quick and sharp. You will also cry with Stone and Lucy as they struggle to accept each other’s love and Gods love. But most of all hope shines through each page.

[Alayna (the.bookstrovert) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:
“The rest of the work day passes torturously slow. I check my phone every few seconds, so much so that it's become habitual.
He never texts.
And I pray it's because he's dead. Because if he's not...
He'll wish he was when I'm through with him.”


Words can’t describe how much I needed this story in my life.
Drew has poured her heart into this one and it absolutely shows!

The growth that both Stone and Lucy went through was a beautiful reminder that the Lord will always be there, even when you think you’ve fallen too far. 🩵

I loved the banter, I loved the sizzling chemistry. But most of all, I loved the fact that these two fought against their sins, fought for each other and showed that healing and redemption are possible in the Lord.

🚨-if you are a sensitive reader, please read the CWs as this book does discuss sex outside of marriage (closed door), and some heavier make outs.

Thank you so much to the author for the advance copy, all thoughts are my own.

[Glenda Hendershott · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Kindle Unlimited
This book was so good! I read this in less than a 24-hour period. It dealt with some heavy things, but it was done in a tasteful way. And the author ultimately pointed everything back to Jesus! There are some tough conversations about sin and how we handle things but WOW, I was really impressed with how she wrote this! In the midst of the hard there was redemption and of course a HEA!!!

[✨Authentically Ashley✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved everything I’ve read by @authordrewtaylor and The Designated Date is no exception!! Stone is a playboy boss who can’t commit. Lucy is a romance author who wants her own fairytale ending. They both have rocky pasts that leave them feeling like they don’t deserve a real relationship. What is supposed to be a fake dating situation to get each other “out of their systems” turns out to be the something more than either could ever imagine…ultimately leading to each of their breaking points and eventually full healing.

😍😭🫣 When I say this book gave me ALL THE FEELS. This book is not for the faint of heart, but goodness, the healing I think it can give anyone who has ever struggled with doubting their self-worth, guilt, struggling with sin (especially sexual temptation), and just wondering HOW God could love someone is so broken….GRAB THE TISSUES.

✨ This book still delivers top notch flirty banter, plenty of 🔥🔥🔥, and lots of laughs, the deeper meaning of the book is so incredible. I don’t know how @authordrewtaylor manages to write on such difficult topics through a Christian lens and leave the reader feeling so at peace and just in awe of how God can work through peoples messes to create something beautiful…but goodness, she continually delivers INCREDIBLE books.

✨I highly recommend checking this book out when it drops on September 10. Go add it to your TBR list NOW and be prepared to do nothing but binge read once you get your hands on it!! It is a tough read in several spots because it addresses the true mental health issues that come with the feelings of guilt and low self-worth, but I promise what you will get out of it is worth every word written.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the easiest 5 star review I have ever given. After receiving the ARC I inhaled this book. It’s so real and beautifully written.

Drew perfectly explains through this story the struggles that so many Christians deal with, mostly alone due to shame, and the thoughts that go along with those struggles. I can’t tell you how many times I read a line and had to take a minute because it hit so close to how I have felt in the past.

She presents the story in a way that is so relatable. It still has the humor that we all love, but it’s got so much more depth. It shows the human range of emotion and how quickly it can change. A high can turn to a low in a matter of minutes when shame creeps in. And the desperation of Lucy to keep herself from loneliness, because the depression and desires that she faces is such a real struggle to so many.

Drew has not only shown the hurt and despair of sexual sin, and anger towards God for not taking away the thoughts and feelings, but also the redemption we can have through the love that God shows for all of his children when they return to him. We do not have to live in the loneliness and bitterness, we can always return to God and live the lives he has so wonderful planned for us.

This book is by far my favorite book of this author, and I thank her for being vulnerable enough to write herself into a story that so many people need to read. It is a blessing just to know you are not alone in your struggles and in the feelings and desires that many have. It is a comfort and reminder that we are children of God and we may fall, but he is always there to help us up when we turn back to him.

[Erin Laramore]

Review to come

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Christian contemporary romance
Content: implied intimacy between an unmarried couple, discussion of sexual addiction, near drowning on page

Never have I ever read a book like this before. Wow. The Designated Date tells the story of Lucy and Stone. It addresses the temptation of sex before marriage head-on.

This writing is raw, brave, beautiful. Powerful.

The thing that kept coming to my mind as I read this book was the scripture found in John 8. In that chapter, a woman taken in adultery has been brought before Jesus and people want to stone her. But Christ says, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Who are we to judge another’s sin just because it may be more obvious than our own? None of us is perfect. We all deserve love and grace as we try to improve ourselves with the help of Jesus.

It also made me think of this quote by Jeffrey R. Holland: “‘Come as you are,’ a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, ‘Don’t plan to stay as you are.’”

It was beautiful to read how Lucy and Stone made changes and turned to Christ so that they could fully love each other. They came as they were to the Lord and He made them better, individually and together.

This one releases September 10th and you should absolutely add it to your TBR.

Favorite Quotes:
🤣I'm going to my boss's hometown tomorrow and will presumably meet his family as his pretend girlfriend while some pretty married woman, who gets him in a dark tizzy, will be watching us at his friend's wedding. What in the romantic comedy novel is my life right now?

‼️ I have to grow, and while I might not like these growing pains I'm faced with, I can acknowledge that, at some point, I will bloom from the dense, dark dirt I am entombed under.

❤️ The way the Lord loves you, the way I love you, the way your sister loves you, the way your parents love you... It's not diminished or taken away by a mistake.

👏🏻 I am a daughter of God. I'm loved, cherished, and forgiven, even when I still stumble back into old ways. I'm not stuck there anymore. I'm healing….I've started looking outward and upward instead of inward and downward. And it's made all the difference.

PS: if you’re a Swiftie, you’ll love all the nods to Taylor’s music throughout!

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Camille Mosemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve put off writing this review simply because I have not had the words to accurately describe my thoughts on this story. As someone who has certainly wrestled with some of these issues in the past, this book brought up a lot of emotions.

I remember the guilt and feeling of disgust towards myself for the thoughts I had and I remember how utterly isolating it was. I think that the topic of sexual sin within Christian circles is one that is often swept under the rug. I loved how this book brought those struggles into the light and highlighted the grace of God and His restoration of our brokenness.

I would recommend this book because I think it showcases the brokenness of our heart and the healing power of God’s love. I would say that it is definitely for mature readers since the topic of premarital sex is discussed (though not described), there are innuendos and light depictions of lustful thoughts (again not described for the reader). This book is a powerful picture of redemption and the true meaning of love, both the love that God shows us and the love that grows between a couple who seeks the Lord.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. It was real. It was emotional.

Drew poured her heart into this book and it shows. Lucy and Stone's story deals with the issue of sexual temptation and sexual sin, and it doesn't shy away. Drew has dealt with a sensitive, often hushed-up topic in such a careful and loving way. I pray that this book finds readers who need to hear its healing message.

Yet, even while weaving a theme of redemption and restoration, this book also has plenty of comedy and fun moments. I enjoyed the sprinkles of Taylor Swift lyrics like sparkly breadcrumbs throughout the book.

I loved seeing the growth that both Lucy and Stone went through, and how they (eventually) realised that they needed to come to God and fix their relationship with him first before they could love each other properly. Thanks for always pointing us to Jesus, Drew.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I don’t really know where to start with this review, which is probably why I keep putting it off again and again, because I want to do the book justice.
There’s just a lot to unpack and I had a lot of different feelings while reading.

So maybe I start with what I was expecting, hoping, fearing when I began reading.
I expected a romance with funny moments and two MCs who struggle but get their HEA. - Check!
I hoped to get a real redemptive story with a clear Christian message. - Also check!
I was afraid the book would downplay sinful behavior as just human, so no judgment or not even address it as sin. - Gladly no check!!

I read a lot of Christian fiction this year and I’m always a bit upset when clearly wrong behavior is not called out or just pushed aside. There’s a fine line between judging people and giving them a free pass to sin and Drew definitely got it completely right.

I had a hard time liking Stone being the player he is and while Lucy thinks him a Christian from the beginning, I clearly didn’t. Because of course Christians make mistakes and do sin, but you can’t follow Christ and purposefully act against His commandments. Dating a lot of different women just with the goal to “fool around”, never settle down, is simply not something I can see a Christian doing. But like Lucy Stone has a moment when he realizes that and his need for forgiveness, his need for his savior.

I loved that both Lucy and Stone have people in their lives who love them, who are kind and understanding but also speak the truth. I think this is a mistake a lot of Christians do - something I’ve clearly done myself - thinking that either the truth or loving someone is important. But it’s both and everyone who has people who can do that, be loving, caring, kind but also call out sinful behavior, can call themselves really blessed.

I also loved that both Lucy and Stone saw their own wrongdoing through the other one, through their kind of messed up relationship and their want for each other, but it was ultimately Christ and their own deep desire to walk with Christ that set them free.
That they were only able to find each other again and love each other in a much more meaningful way after they made amends and saw their worth through Jesus and not through the other one.

One thing I extremely appreciated was how Stone made sure that they weren’t tempted to sin again after he found Christ and after he and Lucy got back together. Because we just shouldn’t put ourselves in situations that are tempting us to sin. Because you know, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Avoiding temptation is just the only wise thing to do and Stone showed how much he had changed when he acknowledges this.

So while I have to be honest and most of the book made me deeply uncomfortable, it absolutely redeemed itself and showed such a powerful message of forgiveness and love and how no matter how far away you go, you can always come back to Him.

I love seeing how many women this book reached already that struggle with the same sin as Lucy, but I also think this is a book for every Christian. Because we all sin. We all wander away at some point and I think we all have moments in our lives when we wonder if we’re too far gone for God’s love and forgiveness.

I certainly have and this book reminded me of His perfect love, mercy and forgiveness while also showing great examples of how to deal with Christians who are struggling - with love and truth. Because Jesus is both.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.