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.

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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...