From the shelf: The Fine Art of Pretending

Title: The Fine Art of Pretending

Author: Rachel Harris
Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Date read: May 21-24, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I'm still all for stories that involves friendships turning into something more because familiarity is that safe haven that I like. No more getting to know each other, pretending to let someone like you first in the surface. No pretensions, just all you. And this story has that flavor. Although there were times that it was too stereotypical and I got a bit dragged in the middle, it still had me engrossed on the 'will they or won't they drama'.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: The Heir

Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)

Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA, Romance, Dystopian
Date read: May 20-21, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: (Mer and Maxon's story) The Selection, The Elite, The One

It was overwhelming to hear that this series didn't bid goodbye. I was curious on what their married life would look like. This novel starts after having a time skip of 20 years after Maxon's selection in which him and Mer rules Ilea together with their 4 kids Eadlyn, Ahren, Kaden and Osten. The story focuses on Eadlyn, the heir of the throne due to the fact that she beat her twin brother by 7 minutes. Present day Ilea have dissolved the caste system and they are still facing a possible uprising due to people adjusting without the castes. And to create a diversion, a new selection has begun with Eadlyn being the one who chooses. I like Eadlyn's character being that stubborn, independent woman capable of running a country. I see her side in which she is reluctant to choose her partner because she is capable in handling everything herself. To be honest, I liked her character more than Mer's at the beginning of the series but her capabilities has its cons as well and that is by being too distant to everyone and that to stop her being too attached because it would make her weak (I could relate a bit). I have tis selection candidate which I am rooting for because of their chemistry and as I go though the book now I'm confused; but still rooting for him. Plus the ending is the biggest cliffhanger ever!

Till the next read...

From the shelf: The Fill-In Boyfriend

Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Date read: May 18-19, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

 My Review: (also in goodreads)

The story unlike the last two novels was completely different. There wasn't any character connections in between the stories. There were times in between where I hated Gia's character for being clueless and shallow (cue Clueless movie) but I liked how her character developed. Although I was a bit sad about her falling out with her friend Claire (not much about the other ones), I think Bec and Hayden were much more real and better friends for her. There would come a time that one must distance themselves from their past life to reflect and let themselves grow. If the friendship reconnects for the better, then they grew into a better person; but if it is not, it wold be one of those relationships you have to distance from to let yourself fully grow.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: On the Fence

Title: On the Fence
Author: Kasie West
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Date read: May 18, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

 My Review: (also in goodreads)

This was an entertaining read from Kasie West. After reading 'The Distance Between Us', it took me months to try another book from this author and this was a very entertaining read. What amused me is the slight cameo of Caymen and the mention of Xander from the last novel. I loved the fact that she was the only girl in the family and that her brothers were overprotective and at the same time hilarious. Though the plot was cliche(having a boy you've known your whole life suddenly seen more than just a brother), this read was still an entertaining romcom in the making. I especially love the witty banter between Charlie, her brothers and Braden.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Just One Night

Title: Just One Night
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Date read: May 16, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Just One Day, Just One Year

It was nice going back to re-visit Allyson and Willem's 'one fateful encounter'. This was like the answer to all the questions that has been running through my mind at the end of Just One Year. This is the appropriate ending to their story. The ending for this novella might be unsure about the future, at least they found each other. Everything finally fell into place.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Resisting the Hero (Accidentally in Love #3)

Title: Resisting the Hero (Accidentally in Love #3)
Author: Cindy Madsen
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Date read: May 9-13,2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Faith Fitzpatrick isn’t looking for a hero. Burned one too many times in the past, she’s now sworn them off completely. And when her brother’s best friend, Connor, convinces him to join the dangerous SWAT team, Faith has never been more anti-hero. What’s wrong with having a safe job? There’s nothing safe about Connor. Confident, sexy, and sporting a six-pack that should be illegal, he’s everything she doesn’t want.

When his best friend’s sister moves to town, local cop Connor Maguire knows he’s in trouble. Faith is feisty, funny, and talks trash like nobody’s business. She’s also his partner’s sister—and so totally off limits. Working on the Fall Festival together, they agree to a truce and become friends. But the more time Connor spends with Faith, the more he’s willing to risk the wrath of her brother. If he could only convince her to take a risk on him, too.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Falling for her Fiance, Act Like You Love Me

Another book set in the Accidentally in Love universe. Another set of characters that are connected with the last two books. This should be fun. Connor is the guy whom Dani and Wes wanted to pair up with Brynn (the protagonist in book 2) but failed to. Faith is Brynn's childhood friend and Connor's best friend's little sister. Connor is someone Faith doesn't want to have a relationship with since his occupation reminds her of what they went through when her dad died. Faith is someone Connor shouldn't flirt with since she is his best friend's little sister. Together they are like a walking sexual tension that could spontaneously combust at any given time. They shouldn't but they can't help it. Among the 3 books so far, this is my most favorite, because of the banter and my interest on Connor's character. The author successfully wrote an entertaining banter between these characters.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Act Like You Love Me (Accidentally in Love #2)

Title: Act Like You Love Me (Accidentally in Love #2)
Author: Cindy Madsen
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Date read: May 7-8,2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

What would you do for a second chance with your first crush?

Brynn McAdams isn’t the awkward drama geek she was in high school—she’s grown up and confident, or at least she likes to think so. But when her old crush, the impossibly handsome and impossibly unattainable Sawyer Raines, comes back to town to direct her community play, Brynn finds herself determined to be someone other than the girl he doesn’t even recognize. Good thing she’s an excellent actress.  

After his bad breakup in NYC, the last thing Sawyer wants is to get involved with another actress. But the glamorous and beautiful Brynn draws him in, even though as her director, he knows she’s off-limits. There’s just something about the woman that feels…familiar. Like home.  

As Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the Brynn she truly is? 

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Falling for her Fiance

When I found out that this was a series, I immediately read the second book. What I liked in this novel is the fact that the series is set in the same town and the fact that all of the characters are connected. That's part of the fun, knowing how all the characters are connected. This is the story of Brynn (Dani and Wes' friend) and of Sawyer, that cocky screenwriter who came all the way from New York while planning to move to LA. Brynn is that typical nerdy girl who got head over heels towards Sawyer in high school but got slammed down instead. Now, their paths once again cross and Brynn is no longer that geeky weird girl and somehow she wants revenge. Although there were may cliches in this story, I still got entertained even for a little while.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Falling for her Fiance (Accidentally in Love #1)

Title: Falling for her Fiance (Accidentally in Love #1)
Author: Cindy Madsen
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Date read: May 6-7,2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. Adrenaline-junkie Wes can prove to both his ex and his family that he’s well and truly moved on, and serious-minded Dani can prove to her boss that she’s worthy of the promotion he seems to only want to give to a family-oriented employee.

But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I sort of have a thing for sappy romances where the plot revolves around best friends who finally make their way with each other. Maybe because of the movie 'My Best Friend's wedding' (even though they that ended differently). It's funny to see people who've known each other their whole lives suddenly realize that they view each other romantically. Perfect for each other because they have nothing to hide. That's what this novel is about. That cliche fake engagement thing between best friends Wes and Dani turning into something more. Sure, it has that common jealous ex-fiancee, deceiving the family plus we know that in the end they get to be together for real but I still enjoy these kind of plot. A guilty pleasure and a break/in between from reading all those heavy novels.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Getting Lucky Number Seven

Title: Getting Lucky Number Seven
Author: Cindy Madsen
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Date read: May 2-5 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

What's your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student is out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she's played it "safe" quite enough, thank you. So she creates a "College Bucket List"―with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex...

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla's transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he's not careful, he'll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I'm all for the comfortable friends turn into something new plot that's why I chose this book after all the string of thriller/suspense novels I've been reading lately. This is a story about a nerdy girl who forms a platonic relationship with a cool hockey player guy with all those Sunday movie hangouts where they can be themselves. Nerdy girl is sick with her 'boring life' that she wanted to get out of her comfort zone with the help of her popular platonic friend. She makes a a list of things she wants to do in college and he is with her the whole time. Eventually they fall in love: cliche right? There are times in this novel that I wanted to sigh because of the cliche elements in a romance novel but I guess some part of me enjoyed it a bit. it was like a breathing space amongst the thriller/suspense novels I've been reading lately.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Let Me Go (Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell #6)

Title: Let Me Go (Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell #6)
Author: Chelsea Cain
Genre: Msytery, Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Date read: April 29-May 1, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Beautiful killer Gretchen Lowell tightens her grip on Detective Archie Sheridan in Let Me Go, New York Timesbestseller Chelsea Cain’s newest nail-biter.

Detective Archie Sheridan is about to receive a birthday present from the last person he ever wants to see again: Gretchen Lowell.

The investigation into Jack Reynolds's drug enterprise is heating up and has Archie heading off to attend a masked Halloween party on Jack Reynolds's island, where Susan is a reluctant guest. But the next morning one of the guests is found murdered, and Archie quickly realizes that nothing is what it seems. Only one thing is clear: Gretchen is back, and she's been closer than anyone thinks. On Halloween Eve, with time running out, Archie will have to risk everything, and choose wisely whom to trust, if he and his loved ones are going to live through the night.

 My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill Me Twice

Some would say that they are done with this series and that the cat and mouse chase between Gretchen and Archie is dragging after 6 books. Yes, I agree to those rants especially at the last book where Gretchen miraculously once again escapes the psychiatric ward but somehow still am addicted to this series. This story focuses on another angle of the Archie/Gretchen world and its about the corrupt family of Leo Reynolds who is currently dating Susan Ward. Seriously, this book series seems like a long television series not that I am complaining...sort of. The plot focuses on Leo's work as DEA and it circles around the private island of Jack Reynolds, father of one "alleged" victim of Gretchen Lowell. Of course, there would be Gretchen's return to the scene like a sleuth in the night. Gretchen's fascination with Archie is beyond comprehension. What I didn't like though is that adding to her exceptional serial killing and planning skills is the ability to hack a computer and plan it ahead, that was not normal but it worked for this story. As for the latest cliffhanger, what I'm looking forward the most is Archie and Susan's story. They obviously care about each other and they have the chemistry so I think this would be the series' will they/won't they. 

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Kill You Twice (Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell #5)

Title: Kill You Twice (Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell #5)
Author: Chelsea Cain
Genre: Msytery, Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Date read: April 24-29, 2015
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Nothing makes Portland detective Archie Sheridan happier than knowing that Gretchen Lowell—the serial killer whose stunning beauty is belied by the gruesome murders she’s committed—is locked away in a psych ward. Archie can finally heal from the near-fatal physical and emotional wounds she’s inflicted on him and start moving on with his life.

To this end, Archie throws himself into the latest case to come across his desk: A cyclist has discovered a corpse in Mount Tabor Park on the eastern side of Portland. The man was gagged, skinned, and found hanging by his wrists from a tree. It’s the work of a killer bold and clever enough to torture his victim for hours on a sunny summer morning in a big public park and yet leave no trace.

And then Archie gets a message he can’t ignore—Gretchen claims to have inside knowledge about this grisly murder. Archie finally agrees to visit Gretchen, because he can’t risk losing his only lead in the case. At least, that’s what he tells himself . . . but the ties between Archie and Gretchen have always been stronger, deeper, and more complex than he’s willing to admit, even to himself. What game is she playing this time? And even more frightening, what long-hidden secrets from Gretchen’s past have been dredged up that someone would kill to protect?

 My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season

Once again Gretchen Lowell is locked up and I'm not talking behind bars but in a psychiatric ward. Then a series of murders come stringing along and everyone still thinks its Gretchen that's doing it. What makes matters worse is that Gretchen's insists that she has a child and that they should kill Ryan Motley, a dangerous serial killer who was once her apprentice. This would shake Archie's resolve especially with Gretchen using Susan to get to him. This is one of those books that is like a puzzle piece in the world of Archie and Gretchen. Even Pearl who once tasered Archie in the last book comes back as one of the important characters in this one. Although there are times where I get tired of the cat and mouse chase, especially what happened in the end, I still can't get enough of this series that I will definitely read the next one.

Till the next read...