9 Playful Romance Novels About Schemes Where Love Isn't Part Of The Plan

Romance Books About Schemes: Our 9 Picks

Fun Date Ideas For Your Real-Life Romance

• Cook dinner together
• Go for a hike or a bike ride
• Get together for a karaoke night
• Go bowling
• Have a picnic on a sunny day
• Play a boardgame or video game together
• Go to a roller rink
• Have a candlelit dinner
• Join a book club together

8 Great Romantic Movies

If you enjoy reading about love, you probably have a good time watching it on the big screen as well. Check out these eight romantic movies (if you haven't already):

1. Casablanca (1942)
2. Love Actually (2003)
3. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
4. The Notebook (2004)
5. Dirty Dancing (1987)
6. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
7. Amélie (2001)
8. Ghost (1990)

What is Love?

In Depth

Readers looking for engaging stories about finding true love in the least likely places will certainly enjoy the books listed here. Exploring everything from fake relationships to elaborate schemes of retaliation against former lovers, these novels deal with passion, revenge, and unlikely romance. Here, in no particular order, are nine playful novels about schemes where love isn't part of the plan.

In the #1 spot is "Not Okay Cupid" by Heidi R. Kling. Hazel McCallister seems to have the perfect life. But everything comes crashing down when she learns that her best friend is having an affair with her boyfriend. Enter Felix, her best friend's brother, who devises a plan for Hazel to get even with her ex-boyfriend by becoming irresistible to him, and then breaking his heart in return. Just when it seems like revenge is all but certain, Felix and Hazel must confront the feelings they now have for each other.

At #2 is "The Practice Proposal" by Tracy March. Liza used to be in love with Cole when they were in school, but has since sworn off romance. Cole, now a professional baseball player, has developed a reputation for being a bit of a bad boy. His agent thinks he needs to boost his public image with a wholesome new girlfriend, and Liza fits the part perfectly. She agrees to the arrangement to stop her domineering mother from pestering her about finding a husband. Both she and Cole are determined not to fall in love. But as they spend time together, it becomes clear that they have real chemistry.

But as they spend time together, it becomes clear that they have real chemistry.

Coming in at #3 is "The Boss's Wife For A Week" by Anne McAllister. Sadie is a bit of a plain Jane. Instead of looking for romance, she has chosen to focus on her career. She has proven to be a tremendous assistant to Spence, her childhood friend, and the man she has been in love with for years. So, when Spence needs a wife for one week to secure a work contract, Sadie jumps at the chance to spend time with him. As the experiment unfolds, Spence finds out there is much more to Sadie than meets the eye. It soon becomes clear that playing the role of husband and wife just might lead to the real thing.

Next up, at #4 is "Smooth-Talking Cowboy" by Maisey Yates. Olivia decides the best way to win back her boyfriend is to make him jealous by dating another man. She meets her match in Luke, a womanizing cowboy who needs her help securing a land deal with her father. The two soon realize they can use each other to get what they want. In order to succeed, however, they must convince the entire town that they are genuinely in love, or risk losing everything. What starts as an elaborate scheme for revenge, may instead turn into an unexpected happily ever after.

For #5 we get "The Hate Vow" by Nicole French. Hunky playboy Eric finds himself in the precarious situation of needing a wife. His grandmother threatens to cut him off from the family fortune unless he gets married. Eric must now search for the perfect woman to play the part of his spouse so he can secure his inheritance. He chooses his ex-girlfriend Jane, whose heart he broke five years ago. Now Jane, who is still not over him, must choose whether to cash in on the opportunity of a lifetime, or run from the man who hurt her in the past.

He chooses his ex-girlfriend Jane, whose heart he broke five years ago.

Landing at #6 is "The Nanny Plan" by Sarah M. Anderson. Billionaire Nate Longmire is raising his orphaned niece. When fatherhood proves more challenging than he could have imagined, Nate hires Trish as a nanny for one month. She agrees only when he promises a sizeable donation to her favorite charity. But as she breaks through the rough exterior of her bachelor boss, and as he finds the joy and wonder that comes with parenting, it starts to seem less and less likely that either of them will be able to walk away when the month is over.

Showing up at #7 is "Keeping Up Appearances" by Elizabeth Stevens. High school student Holly discovers that her best friend has been secretly kissing Jason, the boy on whom she has a hopeless crush. To get even, she and Jason's main rival, Xander, pretend to be the new "it" couple at school. And while jealousy and backstabbing abound, Holly sadly finds herself growing apart from her two best friends. Now she must come to terms with her feelings for both Jason and Xander before three friendships, and the chance for true love, are lost forever.

Next at #8 is "The Prince's Game" by Lexi C. Foss. Sarah, a young businesswoman, finds herself tricked by her twin sister into appearing on a reality dating show. Evan, a billionaire, has agreed to be the star, but only because he needs to get married in order to keep his fortune. Not really interested in marriage, he offers Sarah a deal: if she can make it to the end of the show and refuse his proposal, he'll give her the funds she needs to start her own business. As the two reluctant lovers grow closer, the game proves to be more than just compelling reality television.

Sarah, a young businesswoman, finds herself tricked by her twin sister into appearing on a reality dating show.

And finally, at #9 is "The Truth About Faking" by Leigh Talbert Moore. Teenager Harley is in love with Trent, but he can't get over his ex-girlfriend. To get his attention, Harley decides to fake a relationship with the new kid, Jason. There's just one problem: Jason has a crush on her. As the two spend more and more time together, pretending to be a couple, things quickly get complicated. Harley might have to learn the hard way that keeping secrets can uncover more truth than she ever thought possible.