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Fandom Hearts #2
One True Pairing
They couldn't be more opposite, the Hollywood actor and the hometown girl, but all they need is a little convention magic to become the perfect ship in Cathy Yardley's One True Pairing.
Jake Reese needs a decoy girlfriend. Fast. The lead actor of the popular TV show, Mystics, is tired of losing his shirt to overeager fans. Literally. Which is why a chance meeting with gothabilly bookworm-slash-barista Hailey Frost seems almost too perfect to be true. Hailey is not impressed with his TV fame and is desperate to save her family's bookstore. It's a match made in Hollywood, but as the two pretend to date, fan fiction becomes reality. Can this OTP become canon?
Jake Reese needs a decoy girlfriend. Fast. The lead actor of the popular TV show, Mystics, is tired of losing his shirt to overeager fans. Literally. Which is why a chance meeting with gothabilly bookworm-slash-barista Hailey Frost seems almost too perfect to be true. Hailey is not impressed with his TV fame and is desperate to save her family's bookstore. It's a match made in Hollywood, but as the two pretend to date, fan fiction becomes reality. Can this OTP become canon?
200 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2017
About the author
Cathy Yardley
75 books776 followersCathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.
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July 24, 2017
ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley, though this book could be read as a stand-alone.
Jake Reese, otherwise known as Rick from the fictitious show Mystics, was in Issaquah for a convention promoting the sci-fi television show. He got some much needed help with a bunch of over zealous fans from local, Hailey Frost. The two felt sparks fly immediately and both were up for some temporary fun, but things don’t quite work out that way.
I really enjoyed this story. After LOVING Level Up, the first book in this series, I was so excited to read this book. Though Jake & Hailey's storyline couldn’t be MORE different from the lovable Adam and Tessa, I enjoyed this story just as much, if not more. Jake and Haley both had serious and difficult pasts that constantly got int he way of their current happiness. I loved the way their story unfolded and each of the events that pushed them towards one another. (from fake PR to a stalker to helping save a failing bookstore)
Jake’s costars, Simon and Miles were hilarious. I found the interactions between the three to be funny and heartwarming. Knowing what their friendship and acceptance meant to Jake made it all the more enjoyable.
There were quite a few carrots dangled throughout this book that makes me hope there will be many more instalments in this series! We got to see “teasers” of more character development with some of the secondary characters in this story and I really hope I get to read more in this world of fandom.
Great read!
This is the second book in the Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley, though this book could be read as a stand-alone.
Jake Reese, otherwise known as Rick from the fictitious show Mystics, was in Issaquah for a convention promoting the sci-fi television show. He got some much needed help with a bunch of over zealous fans from local, Hailey Frost. The two felt sparks fly immediately and both were up for some temporary fun, but things don’t quite work out that way.
“Incompetence. Such a turnoff,” Hailey said decisively.
Suggesting that a guy who knew what he was doing might be a turn-on for her. He filed that away mentally.
For . . . reasons.”
I really enjoyed this story. After LOVING Level Up, the first book in this series, I was so excited to read this book. Though Jake & Hailey's storyline couldn’t be MORE different from the lovable Adam and Tessa, I enjoyed this story just as much, if not more. Jake and Haley both had serious and difficult pasts that constantly got int he way of their current happiness. I loved the way their story unfolded and each of the events that pushed them towards one another. (from fake PR to a stalker to helping save a failing bookstore)
“I’ve got the perfect solution,” she said, her smile slowly widening. “Pretend to date me.”
Jake’s costars, Simon and Miles were hilarious. I found the interactions between the three to be funny and heartwarming. Knowing what their friendship and acceptance meant to Jake made it all the more enjoyable.
“And his most endearing?” Simon’s eyes gleamed with glee. “He sleeps with a stuffed panda bear named Mr. Bobo.”
Miles emerged, pretending outrage. “You swore you wouldn’t bring him up!”
“They wanted to know!”
“How about you, Jake?” the fan teased, but her smile was gentle, more playful than lecherous. He wondered if she was trying to make sure he didn’t feel left out, and he felt his chest warm. “Sleep with anything endearing?”
“Miles,” he said. “I just wish he wouldn’t make me dress up as a stuffed panda.”
There were quite a few carrots dangled throughout this book that makes me hope there will be many more instalments in this series! We got to see “teasers” of more character development with some of the secondary characters in this story and I really hope I get to read more in this world of fandom.
Great read!
August 1, 2017
His gut was telling him to trust her. Of course, that might be his dick. They were in adjacent neighbourhoods, after all, and sometimes his dick was louder.
As a fan of Yardley's earlier installments in the Fandom Hearts series I was super excited to finally see more books in this world being released. Especially when I saw the synopsis. I love that there are more and more contemporaries being set not only around nerds, geeks and fandom but in the fandom, at conventions, experiencing all the good, the bad, the crazy, the weird, all of it. From the obsessions to the cosplay to the slash to the cancellations.
"Those crazy videos of you dancing so horribly? They went viral!"
"Of course they did."
ONE TRUE PAIRING goes a step further and adds in a 'famous dude and non-celebrity' and the fake dating trope. It's basically a hodge podge of all the things I love. And watching the earnest and genuine star and the defensive, hardworking, ballbusting waitress slash blackjack dealer slash ex-grifter who happens to look like a goth-rockabilly-pin up collide? Well, I mean, hello. I'm so here for it.
She worked two jobs. She looked like Rosie the Riveter in a street gang. Who was this Hailey woman?
And it really was great. Funny, sweet, sexy, and with quite an emotional backbone to the backstory.. not just Hailey's but Jake's, too, which was unexpected. I actually felt his own truth-telling reveals to be completely out of left field. In a good way; it explained a lot about his attitude. As for Hailey and her sisters, I so felt for them, the struggle to stay in the black, keep their business afloat, all while dodging their myriad of angst and emotional hangups. It was so endearing yet also frustrating to watch Hailey use them as a bit of a crutch but the lightbulb moment was well earned.
"You're not a bad actress, you know that?"
"I'm a terrible actress. But I'm a hell of a liar."
I did kind of feel the big climax of the story was a little.. overblown.. but at the same time I understand that it's supposed to be. I won't spoil it, of course, and there were so other things I didn't see coming, but I definitely loved the beginning to middle of ONE TRUE PAIRING more than the wrap-up.
Because of course getting this on YouTube is more important than calling the cops. It'd be funny if she wasn't right in the middle of it.
That said I'll definitely be reading on. Yardley has set this world up with many more opportunities for more stories (Simon for sure, will Miles be getting one, too? and the sisters!) and with a variety of interesting and fun characters I'm looking forward to them all.
3.5 "I don't believe in instalove in books, movies, and certainly not in my own damned personal life" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
As a fan of Yardley's earlier installments in the Fandom Hearts series I was super excited to finally see more books in this world being released. Especially when I saw the synopsis. I love that there are more and more contemporaries being set not only around nerds, geeks and fandom but in the fandom, at conventions, experiencing all the good, the bad, the crazy, the weird, all of it. From the obsessions to the cosplay to the slash to the cancellations.
"Those crazy videos of you dancing so horribly? They went viral!"
"Of course they did."
ONE TRUE PAIRING goes a step further and adds in a 'famous dude and non-celebrity' and the fake dating trope. It's basically a hodge podge of all the things I love. And watching the earnest and genuine star and the defensive, hardworking, ballbusting waitress slash blackjack dealer slash ex-grifter who happens to look like a goth-rockabilly-pin up collide? Well, I mean, hello. I'm so here for it.
She worked two jobs. She looked like Rosie the Riveter in a street gang. Who was this Hailey woman?
And it really was great. Funny, sweet, sexy, and with quite an emotional backbone to the backstory.. not just Hailey's but Jake's, too, which was unexpected. I actually felt his own truth-telling reveals to be completely out of left field. In a good way; it explained a lot about his attitude. As for Hailey and her sisters, I so felt for them, the struggle to stay in the black, keep their business afloat, all while dodging their myriad of angst and emotional hangups. It was so endearing yet also frustrating to watch Hailey use them as a bit of a crutch but the lightbulb moment was well earned.
"You're not a bad actress, you know that?"
"I'm a terrible actress. But I'm a hell of a liar."
I did kind of feel the big climax of the story was a little.. overblown.. but at the same time I understand that it's supposed to be. I won't spoil it, of course, and there were so other things I didn't see coming, but I definitely loved the beginning to middle of ONE TRUE PAIRING more than the wrap-up.
Because of course getting this on YouTube is more important than calling the cops. It'd be funny if she wasn't right in the middle of it.
That said I'll definitely be reading on. Yardley has set this world up with many more opportunities for more stories (Simon for sure, will Miles be getting one, too? and the sisters!) and with a variety of interesting and fun characters I'm looking forward to them all.
3.5 "I don't believe in instalove in books, movies, and certainly not in my own damned personal life" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
July 25, 2017
4 “Fangirls & Cons” Stars
ARC via NetGalley
Thank you, Swerve!
This book was freaking adorable.
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but it had all the right elements to win me over.
The story of Hailey (a hard-working, kickass woman who loved a certain sci-fi show) and Jake (a young actor in a hit CW-like sci-fi show) was equal parts adorable and hot.
Jake and Hailey meet when the actor is "assaulted" by fans, and from that moment on they spend a lot of time together trying to help each other, both because they need it and because they can't seem to walk away from each other. The attraction is instant, and due to the timeline, they fall in love quite fast, but somehow it still didn't feel like insta-love for me.
There was something special about the way the author handled their interactions and managed to add enough info about their past, creating that sense that while they'd only recently met, they already knew enough about each other (and had been through enough) that it made sense for them to fall in love. And dude, those two went through a lot: fake relationship, obsessed fans, family problems, fights, stalkers... and finally sex. LOL.
That was another plus for me: the fact that they didn't have sex early on. There's almost, almost sex, but things happen, which means the sexual tension lasts a lot longer. Yay!
Now, the characters were the true winners in this story for me. Both Hailey and Jake were awesome in their own way. Hailey was a kickass woman with enough attitude to make me fall for her right from the beginning. She's exactly how I like my MCs: independent, anti slut-shaming, sex-positive, fierce, sometimes a little too stubborn and a real family-girl. Her relationships with her sisters made her even more likable. I loved how she took care of them.
And Jake... Jake was adorably adorable. I mean, dude was so sweet. He was the beta to Hailey's alpha. He had a nice arc going on with his issues with his dad and learning how to stand up to himself, but when it came to Hailey and their relatioship, I thought Jake had things a lot more figured out than Hailey. He knew what he wanted and he didn't play games to get there, even when though they had a fake relationship going for a while. I thought he respected her, and when he made a mistake, he didn't see a problem with apologizing. And he was sexy AF. I loved Jake.
Since I love both Hailey and Jake, it was pretty easy to fall for them as a couple, too. They were hot from moment on, but they also shared some quiet moments that only helped them bond.
Other than the main characters and their romance, I also loved the side characters and their dynamics. Hailey and her sisters had the kind of relationship that showed love, but also had room for conflict, which I'm guessing will be explored later on in the series. I'm also super curious about Rachel's past love life.
On Jake's side, I adored Miles and Simon's friendship and I want more of that. Even the interactions between Miles, Simon and Jake were pretty great. There's this one scene where they're doing a panel and Jake follows up a joke between Miles and Simon with one of his own, and I was SCREAMING because it was THAT brilliant. It gave me major TVD cast in early seasons FEELS (only with three guys and no Nina Dobrev).
*sighs* I miss how good that show was. Seasons 1 to 3 were just the best.
Back to the book... I have to say I was more than pleased to see Brazil mentioned there. Go, Brazil!!!!
Well, there were A LOT of things I loved about this book, as you can see. I highly recommend it to all fans of romance. If you also happen to love TV shows, conference and panels with actors, and actors interacting with fans, then what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy.
July 8, 2017
I love Cathy Yardley's writing. I love it in this book too. Her words just pop off the page.
She creates great characters. Jake is such a lovely sexy human. Halley is fierce and loyal and funny.
My favorite parts of the book are the most feminist ones. Yardley does a great job thinking about the small oppressions and aggressions on selfhood and imagine a world in which the heroine calls them sees them and calls them all out. Loved it.
She is sexually assertive and clear about her sexual needs. She calls Jake out when he tries to "do" for her when she can handle things herself or it really isn't his business.
Jake is reflective and apologies. He has never been told these things and really processes what she says. That is hot. There is also a good bit that deals fandom and the objectification of Jake.
I love Haley's sisters and Jake's fellow actors. I adore pretend dating plots though really they just should have dated.
However, the rest of the plot was wonky, tired, and unneeded, I don't want to give out spoilers but it would have been a much better book if it stayed with the basic conflicts and not pour all the extra sauce on.
I am really interested in the sisters getting books and I will read them happily.
I was given this book for my honest review. So there you have it!
She creates great characters. Jake is such a lovely sexy human. Halley is fierce and loyal and funny.
My favorite parts of the book are the most feminist ones. Yardley does a great job thinking about the small oppressions and aggressions on selfhood and imagine a world in which the heroine calls them sees them and calls them all out. Loved it.
She is sexually assertive and clear about her sexual needs. She calls Jake out when he tries to "do" for her when she can handle things herself or it really isn't his business.
Jake is reflective and apologies. He has never been told these things and really processes what she says. That is hot. There is also a good bit that deals fandom and the objectification of Jake.
I love Haley's sisters and Jake's fellow actors. I adore pretend dating plots though really they just should have dated.
However, the rest of the plot was wonky, tired, and unneeded, I don't want to give out spoilers but it would have been a much better book if it stayed with the basic conflicts and not pour all the extra sauce on.
I am really interested in the sisters getting books and I will read them happily.
I was given this book for my honest review. So there you have it!
July 23, 2017
3.5 / 5 Fangs
I haven't read any books in this series, but after reading the synopsis of One True Pairing, I knew I couldn't pass this book up! I am a true fangirl, so reading a book about a geeky convention mixed with a fangirl's dream romance seemed like the ideal book for me! One True Pairing was an adorable, fun, relatable, and nerdy dream!
As soon as this book started, I was immediately hooked. The nerdy fangirl in me immediately latched onto the convention plot of this book. The book began with a fun and quirky beginning that was very unexpected. From then on, the book only continued to get more addictive. There were times that this book felt a little slow or unexpectedly overdramatic for my tastes, but the book was still entertaining as a whole. This book was actually more emotional than I was expecting, which was a nice touch.
Hailey was a funny and inspirational main character! She was a woman who worked hard for everything in her life, and I really admired that about her. Her love for her sisters warmed my heart and I loved how caring she was. Jake was an attractive man that I couldn't help but fall in love with. I adored his secretly nerdy side and how kind he was. It was easy to assume he was a jerk because he was a hot celebrity, but it was nice to see there was much more to him that what was on the surface. *swooooon*
The romance in this book was sexy and full of banter. I was shipping Hailey and Jake from their first interaction! I would have liked there to been even more of a slow burn between them, but I still really enjoyed their romance. The chemistry between Hailey and Jake was palpable and I think the author did a great job at making it feel believable. The nerdiness of their relationship made me fangirl so hard and hope that this type of romance will happen to me one day!
Overall, One True Pairing was a great book for a nerdy romance lover like me to escape reality. I cannot wait to read more books in this series! Also, I am going to cross my fingers that this author will one day write an adorable fangirl romance with me as the main character!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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I haven't read any books in this series, but after reading the synopsis of One True Pairing, I knew I couldn't pass this book up! I am a true fangirl, so reading a book about a geeky convention mixed with a fangirl's dream romance seemed like the ideal book for me! One True Pairing was an adorable, fun, relatable, and nerdy dream!
As soon as this book started, I was immediately hooked. The nerdy fangirl in me immediately latched onto the convention plot of this book. The book began with a fun and quirky beginning that was very unexpected. From then on, the book only continued to get more addictive. There were times that this book felt a little slow or unexpectedly overdramatic for my tastes, but the book was still entertaining as a whole. This book was actually more emotional than I was expecting, which was a nice touch.
Hailey was a funny and inspirational main character! She was a woman who worked hard for everything in her life, and I really admired that about her. Her love for her sisters warmed my heart and I loved how caring she was. Jake was an attractive man that I couldn't help but fall in love with. I adored his secretly nerdy side and how kind he was. It was easy to assume he was a jerk because he was a hot celebrity, but it was nice to see there was much more to him that what was on the surface. *swooooon*
The romance in this book was sexy and full of banter. I was shipping Hailey and Jake from their first interaction! I would have liked there to been even more of a slow burn between them, but I still really enjoyed their romance. The chemistry between Hailey and Jake was palpable and I think the author did a great job at making it feel believable. The nerdiness of their relationship made me fangirl so hard and hope that this type of romance will happen to me one day!
Overall, One True Pairing was a great book for a nerdy romance lover like me to escape reality. I cannot wait to read more books in this series! Also, I am going to cross my fingers that this author will one day write an adorable fangirl romance with me as the main character!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
February 28, 2019
Really enjoyed this one. Writing a big step up from FH #1. Hailey Frost is smart, strong and complex--one of the more interesting female characters, rom-com or otherwise, I've read in a while. Bravo. Her beau Jake is...ok. A nice rather naive counter to the street-smart Hailey. Liked the chemistry between them and pacing. Yardley does interesting things with the cliche fake girlfriend plot. Attention Netflix: Good material for a film. Recommended
August 1, 2017
♥♥ 2 Fandom Stars ♥♥
Reading the synopsis, I was completely sold on this. There's fandoms, geeks, and Hollywood stars -- what's not to like?! Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to what I was hoping for.
Jake Reese, a hot and sweet actor, literally runs into Hailey in a coffee shop while running away from some overzealous fans. Hailey, independent, blunt, and struggling for money, helps hide him and they make a connection. When Hailey has a family crisis and cuts their date short, they think they'll never see each other again. But when Hailey needs a favor from him to save her sisters' bookstore and Jake needs someone to pose as his girlfriend, they strike a bargain. In essence, I love this trope and always enjoy it. But I found both the hero and heroine naive and kind of annoying. Hailey doesn't do relationships; she does one-night-stands. I'm all for women having the sexual freedom they desire, but it was annoying that in order for Hailey to not want commitment, Jake had to be weak and borderline emasculated. Why can't they both be strong and independent? This just took the gender role reversal too far for me and made it difficult for me to connect to the characters.
Additionally, the tension in the plot was a tad over-contrived. I won't give anything away, but I felt like the characters didn't adequately address the threat, and Jake was pretty oblivious to the people messing with his life. The climax was...anticlimactic. I found myself rolling my eyes a little too often and almost marked it as DNF. Overall I was disappointed; I think the tension could have been developed better and the characters could have used their heads a little more.
**ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
Reading the synopsis, I was completely sold on this. There's fandoms, geeks, and Hollywood stars -- what's not to like?! Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to what I was hoping for.
Jake Reese, a hot and sweet actor, literally runs into Hailey in a coffee shop while running away from some overzealous fans. Hailey, independent, blunt, and struggling for money, helps hide him and they make a connection. When Hailey has a family crisis and cuts their date short, they think they'll never see each other again. But when Hailey needs a favor from him to save her sisters' bookstore and Jake needs someone to pose as his girlfriend, they strike a bargain. In essence, I love this trope and always enjoy it. But I found both the hero and heroine naive and kind of annoying. Hailey doesn't do relationships; she does one-night-stands. I'm all for women having the sexual freedom they desire, but it was annoying that in order for Hailey to not want commitment, Jake had to be weak and borderline emasculated. Why can't they both be strong and independent? This just took the gender role reversal too far for me and made it difficult for me to connect to the characters.
Additionally, the tension in the plot was a tad over-contrived. I won't give anything away, but I felt like the characters didn't adequately address the threat, and Jake was pretty oblivious to the people messing with his life. The climax was...anticlimactic. I found myself rolling my eyes a little too often and almost marked it as DNF. Overall I was disappointed; I think the tension could have been developed better and the characters could have used their heads a little more.
**ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
April 2, 2018
Jake Reese is an actor on a popular TV show called Mystics. His fans are a bit overzealous when they meet him and a few are a bit grabby which causes Jake to hide on the floor of a cafe and meets Hailey Frost who covers for him. The attraction is instant and they agree to meet until Hailey gets called away unexpectedly. Fate has other ideas which puts both Hailey and Jake in each others past. Jake needs to boost his popularity and Hailey needs to boost her families bookstore. Coming up with a plan to have Hailey pretend to be his girlfriend while helping her family. However can something that starts off as pretend lead to something more?
This was fun, if your a fan girl of some of the scifi shows you will find this one near and dear to your heart. A wild ride that does not let up and anxious to read the next books in the series.
This was fun, if your a fan girl of some of the scifi shows you will find this one near and dear to your heart. A wild ride that does not let up and anxious to read the next books in the series.
July 23, 2017
A copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
There are many lovely pieces of this story. The chemistry between the MCs, the way desire and tenderness wound together between them, the hotness of them together, the delayed gratification of that. There are super charming swoony moments; I especially liked the dancing moment. And the heroine had my heart; I fell really hard for her, in all the ways she was flawed and human and armored and vulnerable and tried to hold everything and fell apart. I adored her. I loved the chosen family in this, just like I did in Level Up. I love love love Cressida so much and really hope she gets her own book. I need more Cressida in my life, and really need to see a story from her point of view.
I loved book 1 in this series, Level Up, and I was really excited to read the next book. This one felt a bit rockier to me, like it struggled to hold the balance of the darkness in the story with the lighthearted romp the tone indicated that it wanted to be. It felt off-kilter, because it took these serious things and wasn't able to hold the seriousness of them, along with the humor it was attempting to find in them. It is possible to hold both humor and darkness together, but in my opinion you have to take the weight of them seriously in order to find humor that works. This didn't hit that mark for me. Because of that, the story felt mismatched to the tone, which made the actual light parts harder to enjoy. I wanted this to be a cozy geeky comfort read like book 1, but it just wasn't.
I have mixed feelings about the disability rep in this story. There are two characters with mental illness: Cressida, who has agoraphobia, and the villain/stalker. There are complex things going on with Cressida and the heroine Hailey, her sister, that include a rather ableist dynamic between them, that gets deeply challenged by Cressida at several points in ways that I really appreciated. I was concerned while reading that this dynamic of Cressida being thought of as dependent and a burden would not be challenged and was so relieved that it was. That said, Cressida is a disabled secondary character who frequently is in the role of moving plot along for the abled MC, being an obstacle for the lovers, or helping the MC realize things and learn things, and this made me uncomfortable, especially because so many of the ways that happen are about Cressida being disabled.
What was even harder was the mentally ill stalker character who is an intense caricature and does not even have a name . It is possible, I think, to tell stories with mentally ill villains, but those stories need to have villains that are complex and nuanced and not tossed away caricatures that appear in the last act out of nowhere, and they need to be balanced by portrayals of mental illness in MCs that is shown in complexity and with care. This kind of caricature of a mentally ill stalker villain with a huge knife is hurtful both to people with psych disabilities and to survivors of stalking. As a reader who is both, it felt like a kick in the stomach.
Trigger warnings:
There are many lovely pieces of this story. The chemistry between the MCs, the way desire and tenderness wound together between them, the hotness of them together, the delayed gratification of that. There are super charming swoony moments; I especially liked the dancing moment. And the heroine had my heart; I fell really hard for her, in all the ways she was flawed and human and armored and vulnerable and tried to hold everything and fell apart. I adored her. I loved the chosen family in this, just like I did in Level Up. I love love love Cressida so much and really hope she gets her own book. I need more Cressida in my life, and really need to see a story from her point of view.
I loved book 1 in this series, Level Up, and I was really excited to read the next book. This one felt a bit rockier to me, like it struggled to hold the balance of the darkness in the story with the lighthearted romp the tone indicated that it wanted to be. It felt off-kilter, because it took these serious things and wasn't able to hold the seriousness of them, along with the humor it was attempting to find in them. It is possible to hold both humor and darkness together, but in my opinion you have to take the weight of them seriously in order to find humor that works. This didn't hit that mark for me. Because of that, the story felt mismatched to the tone, which made the actual light parts harder to enjoy. I wanted this to be a cozy geeky comfort read like book 1, but it just wasn't.
I have mixed feelings about the disability rep in this story. There are two characters with mental illness: Cressida, who has agoraphobia, and the villain/stalker. There are complex things going on with Cressida and the heroine Hailey, her sister, that include a rather ableist dynamic between them, that gets deeply challenged by Cressida at several points in ways that I really appreciated. I was concerned while reading that this dynamic of Cressida being thought of as dependent and a burden would not be challenged and was so relieved that it was. That said, Cressida is a disabled secondary character who frequently is in the role of moving plot along for the abled MC, being an obstacle for the lovers, or helping the MC realize things and learn things, and this made me uncomfortable, especially because so many of the ways that happen are about Cressida being disabled.
What was even harder was the mentally ill stalker character who is an intense caricature and does not even have a name . It is possible, I think, to tell stories with mentally ill villains, but those stories need to have villains that are complex and nuanced and not tossed away caricatures that appear in the last act out of nowhere, and they need to be balanced by portrayals of mental illness in MCs that is shown in complexity and with care. This kind of caricature of a mentally ill stalker villain with a huge knife is hurtful both to people with psych disabilities and to survivors of stalking. As a reader who is both, it felt like a kick in the stomach.
Trigger warnings:
July 23, 2017
It took me a while to read this one and I hate giving only 2 stars, but that is what it is to me: just ok. I somehow never got into the story and there were a bit too many things going on. The relationship went too fast for me and just did not click.
That can happen; not every book is for everyone and this is just my opinion.
I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
That can happen; not every book is for everyone and this is just my opinion.
I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
August 14, 2017
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**One True Pairing is the second book in the Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley, but it can be read as a standalone. I have not read book one, nor did I know it was part of a series when I first picked up the book, but I had absolutely no problem following along. The tag line for One True Pairing is "a geek girl rom com". I mean, does that not sound like something right up my alley. It totally does, and it totally was. It is like a new adult version of Geekerella. I really enjoyed this fun story, where one girl gets to live out every fandom girl's dream- having the actor fall for you.
One True Pairing is a really fun story. I enjoyed it a lot. It has some issues and roadblocks, but largely this book was pretty lighthearted, which is just what I was looking for. I loved all the fandom elements. I am finding out that I love a book that has a con. Jake is part of a show that is pretty similar to supernatural, so he is all kinds of paranormal bad-a**. (I think one of his co-stars is going to be the focus of another fandom hearts novel, and I am so so hoping that I'm right about that. ) I loved Jake hardcore in One True Pairing. I also really enjoyed Haley, though she did rub me the wrong way a few times. She is a tad too stubborn for my liking, but everyone is entitled to be pig headed at times I suppose. Either way, I thought Jake was super patient with Haley and I loved that. Their connection felt very genuine to me, which was the biggest key to winning my heart in this story. It didn't feel forced at all. The whole progression and relationship was beautifully developed and felt really natural. That was the best part about One True Pairing in my opinion.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of fandom (he-he) you will love One True Pairing. You will totally geek out with this story. It was so much fun. It is great for fans of Geekerella that are hoping for a new adult version of the story. I am now hooked on the Fandom Hearts series, I need to get book one and I can't wait to see what the next book will bring. Get ready to geek out over this adorably cute love story.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
One True Pairing is a really fun story. I enjoyed it a lot. It has some issues and roadblocks, but largely this book was pretty lighthearted, which is just what I was looking for. I loved all the fandom elements. I am finding out that I love a book that has a con. Jake is part of a show that is pretty similar to supernatural, so he is all kinds of paranormal bad-a**. (I think one of his co-stars is going to be the focus of another fandom hearts novel, and I am so so hoping that I'm right about that. ) I loved Jake hardcore in One True Pairing. I also really enjoyed Haley, though she did rub me the wrong way a few times. She is a tad too stubborn for my liking, but everyone is entitled to be pig headed at times I suppose. Either way, I thought Jake was super patient with Haley and I loved that. Their connection felt very genuine to me, which was the biggest key to winning my heart in this story. It didn't feel forced at all. The whole progression and relationship was beautifully developed and felt really natural. That was the best part about One True Pairing in my opinion.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of fandom (he-he) you will love One True Pairing. You will totally geek out with this story. It was so much fun. It is great for fans of Geekerella that are hoping for a new adult version of the story. I am now hooked on the Fandom Hearts series, I need to get book one and I can't wait to see what the next book will bring. Get ready to geek out over this adorably cute love story.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
January 14, 2018
J'ai encore plus apprécié ce tome-là que le premier surement parce qu'il concrétise le rêve de toutes les fangirls du monde : rencontrer par hasard l'acteur principal de sa série chouchou et tomber follement amoureux l'un de l'autre. Hailey va sauver Jake d'un groupe de fan hystériques prêtes à lui arracher ses vêtements. Jake va tout de suite tomber sous le charme.
Après quelques évènements fâcheux, Hailey perd l'un de ses boulot et se retrouve donc en difficulté avec le loyer de la maison/librairie qu'elle partage avec ses soeurs. Jake de son côté a de sérieux doutes sur le fait qu'il sera dans la saison 3 de Mystics, c'est sans compter sur un père qui l'empêche de gérer sa carrière comme il veut et une stalkeuse qui réapparaît...
Tout comme le livre précédent, Cathy Yardley écrit des personnages qui se parlent et qui n'hésitent à pas à se rebiffer et faire comprendre ses erreurs à l'autre, et qui donc aussi ne perdent pas de temps à s'excuser après ^^. Hailey et Jake mette en place cette histoire de fake-girlfriend afin que chacun y gagne : Jake une popularité pour être renouvelé et Hailey un coup de pub pour la librairie. Mais évidemment ces deux là se prennent à peur propre jeu et c'est mignon de voir à quel point ils essaient de résister à leur passion :)
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I liked this book even more than the first one because it concretizes the dream of all the fangirls of the world : to meet by chance the main actor of her favorite TV series and fall madly in love with each other. Hailey rescue Jake from a group of hysterical fans ready to snatch his clothes. Jake will immediately fall in love.
After some unfortunate events, Hailey loses one of her jobs and finds herself in trouble with the rent of the house/bookstore she shares with her sisters. Jake has serious doubts that he will be in Mystics season 3, all of this with a father who wants to manage his career and a stalker who reappears...
Like the previous book, Cathy Yardley writes characters who talk to each other and who do not hesitate to call on bullshit and tell the other their mistakes, and who also do not waste time apologizing after ^^ . Hailey and Jake set up this fake-girlfriend story for them to win something : Jake's popularity will be renewed and Hailey will have publicity for the bookstore. But of course these two are overtaken by their own game and it's cute to see how they are trying to resist their passion :)
***ARC received for a honest review***
Après quelques évènements fâcheux, Hailey perd l'un de ses boulot et se retrouve donc en difficulté avec le loyer de la maison/librairie qu'elle partage avec ses soeurs. Jake de son côté a de sérieux doutes sur le fait qu'il sera dans la saison 3 de Mystics, c'est sans compter sur un père qui l'empêche de gérer sa carrière comme il veut et une stalkeuse qui réapparaît...
Tout comme le livre précédent, Cathy Yardley écrit des personnages qui se parlent et qui n'hésitent à pas à se rebiffer et faire comprendre ses erreurs à l'autre, et qui donc aussi ne perdent pas de temps à s'excuser après ^^. Hailey et Jake mette en place cette histoire de fake-girlfriend afin que chacun y gagne : Jake une popularité pour être renouvelé et Hailey un coup de pub pour la librairie. Mais évidemment ces deux là se prennent à peur propre jeu et c'est mignon de voir à quel point ils essaient de résister à leur passion :)
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I liked this book even more than the first one because it concretizes the dream of all the fangirls of the world : to meet by chance the main actor of her favorite TV series and fall madly in love with each other. Hailey rescue Jake from a group of hysterical fans ready to snatch his clothes. Jake will immediately fall in love.
After some unfortunate events, Hailey loses one of her jobs and finds herself in trouble with the rent of the house/bookstore she shares with her sisters. Jake has serious doubts that he will be in Mystics season 3, all of this with a father who wants to manage his career and a stalker who reappears...
Like the previous book, Cathy Yardley writes characters who talk to each other and who do not hesitate to call on bullshit and tell the other their mistakes, and who also do not waste time apologizing after ^^ . Hailey and Jake set up this fake-girlfriend story for them to win something : Jake's popularity will be renewed and Hailey will have publicity for the bookstore. But of course these two are overtaken by their own game and it's cute to see how they are trying to resist their passion :)
***ARC received for a honest review***
December 8, 2019
Another delightful outing from Cathy Yardley. I didn't think this was as strong as the first one and I felt it could have been developed a little bit more, but I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I also got a bit distracted by the fact that the fictional TV show "Mystics" is just soooooo similar to "Supernatural," which also exists in this world and gets mentioned frequently in comparison. I could be wrong, too, but I just have this feeling Jake Reese looks kind of like this:
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy "Supernatural" as much as the next girl (as long as the next girl quit watching about halfway through Season 6 because really it should only have lasted 5 seasons), but it made the whole thing feel awkward.
I loved Hailey's story and her sisters (Cressida's character arc was enjoyable and I look forward to her book) and Jake was endearing and believable. I did NOT enjoy the stalker arc - not that there aren't people like that, but the . I'm also going to issue my standard nerd complaint: acceptable fandoms are apparently Doctor Who, Supernatural, Harry Potter, Sherlock, earlier Joss Whedon shows and occasionally LOTR or an anime or two. I noticed this when I went to a real-life con, too, but this is the field most fictional nerds have been in, too. My kingdom (which may or may not bear a resemblance to Ankh-Morporkh) for a heroine obsessed with "Leverage," "Discworld," "The Librarians," "Oz," or something else slightly less ubiquitous.
That's just me, though. And it's still a fun book.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy "Supernatural" as much as the next girl (as long as the next girl quit watching about halfway through Season 6 because really it should only have lasted 5 seasons), but it made the whole thing feel awkward.
I loved Hailey's story and her sisters (Cressida's character arc was enjoyable and I look forward to her book) and Jake was endearing and believable. I did NOT enjoy the stalker arc - not that there aren't people like that, but the . I'm also going to issue my standard nerd complaint: acceptable fandoms are apparently Doctor Who, Supernatural, Harry Potter, Sherlock, earlier Joss Whedon shows and occasionally LOTR or an anime or two. I noticed this when I went to a real-life con, too, but this is the field most fictional nerds have been in, too. My kingdom (which may or may not bear a resemblance to Ankh-Morporkh) for a heroine obsessed with "Leverage," "Discworld," "The Librarians," "Oz," or something else slightly less ubiquitous.
That's just me, though. And it's still a fun book.
July 27, 2017
Three and a half stars.
An easy reading fake girlfriend novel.
Jake Reese is the illegitimate son of a Hollywood action hero legend, he has a part in a cable TV sci-fi show featuring Knights Templar and evil aliens (kind of Stargate-esque). Attending his first convention he is attacked by a group of over-eager women and takes refuge in a local coffee shop.
Hailey Frost and her two sisters own a book shop which isn't doing well. Her sister Cressida has raging agoraphobia and needs the store to feel secure. Hailey is working two jobs to try to make ends meet. When the TV actor Jake Reese takes refuge behind her coffee shop counter the attraction is instantaneous, until Cressida needs her help.
The next day Hailey attends the convention Q&A and she and Jake reconnect. He is worried he won't have his contract renewed and she is desperate to save the family bookshop so they concoct a fake-relationship to boost his Q-score with the tabloids and in return he will promote the bookstore.
This was a long novella, it didn't go too deep but it was cute and sweet and fun to read.
I received a review copy of this book free from the author in return for an honest review.
An easy reading fake girlfriend novel.
Jake Reese is the illegitimate son of a Hollywood action hero legend, he has a part in a cable TV sci-fi show featuring Knights Templar and evil aliens (kind of Stargate-esque). Attending his first convention he is attacked by a group of over-eager women and takes refuge in a local coffee shop.
Hailey Frost and her two sisters own a book shop which isn't doing well. Her sister Cressida has raging agoraphobia and needs the store to feel secure. Hailey is working two jobs to try to make ends meet. When the TV actor Jake Reese takes refuge behind her coffee shop counter the attraction is instantaneous, until Cressida needs her help.
The next day Hailey attends the convention Q&A and she and Jake reconnect. He is worried he won't have his contract renewed and she is desperate to save the family bookshop so they concoct a fake-relationship to boost his Q-score with the tabloids and in return he will promote the bookstore.
This was a long novella, it didn't go too deep but it was cute and sweet and fun to read.
I received a review copy of this book free from the author in return for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Attempting to escape a hoard of rabid fangirls, actor Jake Reese takes shelter in a nearby coffee shop where he meets gothabilly barista, and fellow geek, Hailey Frost. Despite hitting it off instantly, Jake is only visiting and Hailey abhors relationships, so the two agree to one night together before he leaves. However, it soon comes to their attention that Hailey's budding bookshop is failing, and Jake's role in the hit show, Mystics, isn't quite as guaranteed as he had thought. Hoping to solve both of their problems, the two decide to fake a romance to increase Jake's fame and Hailey's customers.
One True Pairing was a fun and geeky contemporary romance with two flawed, but lovable, main characters, as well as a healthy and realistic relationship. I found the use of third-person to be refreshing with the abundance for dual first-person in romance novels, and definitely felt the writing was fluid and clean. I really enjoyed this book, and its abundance of dorkiness, and am more than happy to find Yardley has written more fandom books. I'll definitely be looking in the rest of her work!
4.5/5
Attempting to escape a hoard of rabid fangirls, actor Jake Reese takes shelter in a nearby coffee shop where he meets gothabilly barista, and fellow geek, Hailey Frost. Despite hitting it off instantly, Jake is only visiting and Hailey abhors relationships, so the two agree to one night together before he leaves. However, it soon comes to their attention that Hailey's budding bookshop is failing, and Jake's role in the hit show, Mystics, isn't quite as guaranteed as he had thought. Hoping to solve both of their problems, the two decide to fake a romance to increase Jake's fame and Hailey's customers.
One True Pairing was a fun and geeky contemporary romance with two flawed, but lovable, main characters, as well as a healthy and realistic relationship. I found the use of third-person to be refreshing with the abundance for dual first-person in romance novels, and definitely felt the writing was fluid and clean. I really enjoyed this book, and its abundance of dorkiness, and am more than happy to find Yardley has written more fandom books. I'll definitely be looking in the rest of her work!
4.5/5
July 25, 2017
Hailey works two jobs and then some to help make ends meet with her two sisters and their bookstore. Jake Reese is the hot TV actor who hides from his crazed fans in Hailey’s coffee shop. She doesn’t react like most fangirls, even though she loves his show. Her no-nonsense take care of problems attitude and his nature-loving sensitive sci-fi loving side go together. Jake needs to improve his social standing and Hailey needs something to boost the bookstore’s sales. It’s only natural that they pretend to date, but the attraction levels are through the roof.
This is not the book to pick up late at night because you won’t be able to put it down. The storytelling is seamless and the plot is very well thought out. The second half became a little predictable, but I enjoyed every word of it. Every scene, every word, and all the descriptions were perfectly written and perfectly placed. Every detail was necessary.
The romance played out just the way I wanted it to – chance meet, mutual initial attraction, spending lots of time together to fall for each other. It was the best of the best romances.
Jake and Hailey were so detailed and their personalities full and alive. I loved being in each of the characters’ heads and watching them make mistakes and get in over their heads.
This is not the book to pick up late at night because you won’t be able to put it down. The storytelling is seamless and the plot is very well thought out. The second half became a little predictable, but I enjoyed every word of it. Every scene, every word, and all the descriptions were perfectly written and perfectly placed. Every detail was necessary.
The romance played out just the way I wanted it to – chance meet, mutual initial attraction, spending lots of time together to fall for each other. It was the best of the best romances.
Jake and Hailey were so detailed and their personalities full and alive. I loved being in each of the characters’ heads and watching them make mistakes and get in over their heads.
July 18, 2017
One True Pairing (Fandom Hearts #2) by Cathy Yardley
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Stalking, agoraphobia
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jake and Hailey make a strange couple. Jake is an up and coming actor. However, he has a family life that is less than ideal. His father is meddlesome and annoying, but I like how Jake was able to handle his own situations.
Hailey is running from something - but you don't really know what until you've delved in to the story. She has a family who adore her and they would do anything for each other. Even though she is running herself ragged to keep her sisters and business alive, she isn't too proud to ask for help either.
When Jake and Hailey first meet, it's definitely a scene out of a movie - girl saves guy, guy is attractive and girl is pretty and sweet. However, as you read more in to their story, you see that there is so much more to their characters.
I can't wait to see if the other members in this story get their own. It was sweet, funny and fairytale-like.
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Stalking, agoraphobia
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jake and Hailey make a strange couple. Jake is an up and coming actor. However, he has a family life that is less than ideal. His father is meddlesome and annoying, but I like how Jake was able to handle his own situations.
Hailey is running from something - but you don't really know what until you've delved in to the story. She has a family who adore her and they would do anything for each other. Even though she is running herself ragged to keep her sisters and business alive, she isn't too proud to ask for help either.
When Jake and Hailey first meet, it's definitely a scene out of a movie - girl saves guy, guy is attractive and girl is pretty and sweet. However, as you read more in to their story, you see that there is so much more to their characters.
I can't wait to see if the other members in this story get their own. It was sweet, funny and fairytale-like.
July 21, 2017
This was an excellent followup to the first book. I have completely fallen in love with the charming little bookstore described in both books, and the main characters of this one, Jake Reese, one of the stars of the TV show MYSTICS (mentioned in the first book as well), and Hailey Frost, one of the sisters who own and run the Bookstore, are very likeable and relatable. The geek aspect is what drew me to the series in the first place, and it is as ever present here as it was in the first book as well. Definitely worth the read for any of you out there who are geeks or who have geeks in your life and can relate.
Releases on July 25, 2017. I received an advance copy (ebook version) for review purposes.
Releases on July 25, 2017. I received an advance copy (ebook version) for review purposes.
July 28, 2017
At quick, fun read. I love Ms. Yardley's writing style and love of geek-girl culture. Jake seemed dreamy and Hailey seemed like a bad-ass. Looking forward to more in this series.
September 25, 2017
*happy sigh* Great description of attraction and relationship buildup. Feel-good read. Emotionally satisfying.
May 1, 2019
Jake sat in a crowded restaurant surrounded by women. Many men would consider this ideal to Jake it was a job. The women had paid hundreds of dollars to have a sit down meal with one of the stars of Mystics. His agent Susie had said while explaining the gig He’d be on hand, he’d answer questions, he’d take selfies, he’d eat something . No big deal. Jake argues” why don’t they just see us- me- at the convention?” “Because they wanted one-on-one time and they are willing to pay for it” Susie said. Susie added”they are negotiating your new contract for the seasons moving forward and they want to film season three soon.” So that is what he was doing setting at a long table with fifteen superfans and some were drinking a lot of drinks. Not that he minded hanging out with fans. He was actually looking forward to the convention where he’d be one of the star attraction along with his costars Miles and Simon. His secret geeky heart was looking forward to it. As a new show with only two seasons under its belt, their fandom was still young, so it was developing its audience. These VIPS were the cornerstones of the audience. Than a serious girl in her late teens asked him what made him go into acting? He said” Some of you might have known my father Kurt Windlass.” He’d always seen his father working at a young age and he seemed to love what he was doing. Jake had pursued acting in his teens and his father encouraged him if he planned on going into movies He could have probably talked to people like her all afternoon. He said he was looking at a couple of scripts. She smiled and said” But you liked Mystics.” He said he loved it from the start. He was a huge urban fantasy, epic fantasy sci-fi fan. He wanted to start winding things down. He needed to get over to the hotel and decompress. He wanted to get a good night's sleep. He wanted to be prepared for the frst day of the convention. Hailey was just about to go off shift when a regular-Stan- asked for a Hefty burger. She had almost an hour before her second job started but she hated feeling rushed. She said six minutes. The casino would have her butt if she was late. Hailey loved living with her sisters- the foster sister half sister she had bonded with through several years of hardship and her half sister she had learned of when she was twelve. Through the years they had become her reason for staying on the straight and narrow. The landlord had raised the rent for their house-slash- bookstore for the new year. It was March and they were making rent barely but the bookstore had to be more successful or they were going under. Than a guy came through the door and said “hide me” and than unbelievable dashed behind the counter hiding on the floor. He put his finger to his lips and pointed to the door. A minute later an onslaught of about ten-fifteen women said”where is he?” Her protective instinct kicked in and she said” where is who?” A tall redhead said Jake Reese, you know Rick from Mystics. One of the women mentioned she had got one of the pockets from his jeans. Hailey asked him if he was alright now after the woman left. He said he was now. Hailey was trying to fight the pull of attraction. Hailey watched mystics religiously and now she was being hugged by one of the stars. She was giving him a ride to his hotel . He’d get a ride and she’d get a story to tell her sisters. He was the last thing she needed. Jake was staring at Hailey. She was in a word awesome. He said he owed her and did he hear she was a fan of the show? Hailey said she did like Mystics and her sister Cressida was an even bigger fan. Jake asked if she was going to the convention. She said she had to work and didn’t have a couple hundred for admission to burn. Than a woman at the reception desk said there had been a mixup and he wouldn’t have a room until tomorrow. Hailey said her sister does event planning at the casino and she’d have=that place running without a hiccup. Than Hailey said she happened to have a room reserved at said hotel and he could use it. Suddenly jake wanted to know everything about this girl. Then he kissed her after she agreed to have dinner with him after she got off her second job. After dinner they went back to the hotel room. This was different from any sexual or sensual experience hailey had ever had. Especially since she didn’t do relationships. That might freak her out later. Rachel called and hailey found out hre foster sister had an incident when rachel called just as she and jake were about to have sex. Cressida had Agoraphobia and had tried leaving the house. Hailey got up and dressed and went home. Rachel told her they needed to get more customers or they will lose the bookshop. She suggested making it a fandom place. Jake had been overbearing when she went to leave after the call from Rachel. But she’d been sharp too. Out of fear and and defensiveness. Maybe, he was trying to be gallant. She needed a favor from him, it would mean humbling herself, possibly groveling . How much worse had she endured to keep Cressida safe? How much worse would she put up with? Hailey told rachel to give her a day. Jake thought Hailey was different from other women he met. She took nothing from no one. She was a problem solver, a force of nature.
I loved this book. It was an easy romantic read with enough angst ro keep you turning the pages to see what would happen next. I loved the author brought in the disease of Agoraphobia and the way she showed what it could do to people. I loved hailey, Rachels, and Cressida’s relationship and how close they were. I also loved how Jake, Simon, and Miles were such good friends as well as co workers on the show. I loved how Hailey was willing to do almost anything to keep Cressida safe and Cressida ended up saving her. I loved the plot and pace.I only stopped reading this to get some sleep. I didn’t want to put it down. I have yet another new favorite. This grabbed my attention from the first page until the last. I wish I could rate this more than a five. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.
I loved this book. It was an easy romantic read with enough angst ro keep you turning the pages to see what would happen next. I loved the author brought in the disease of Agoraphobia and the way she showed what it could do to people. I loved hailey, Rachels, and Cressida’s relationship and how close they were. I also loved how Jake, Simon, and Miles were such good friends as well as co workers on the show. I loved how Hailey was willing to do almost anything to keep Cressida safe and Cressida ended up saving her. I loved the plot and pace.I only stopped reading this to get some sleep. I didn’t want to put it down. I have yet another new favorite. This grabbed my attention from the first page until the last. I wish I could rate this more than a five. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.
October 20, 2020
Hailey Frost gets a surprise when she ends up rescuing Mystics actor Jake Reese from a mob of crazy fans. The more she helps him the more she likes him. When he needs a fake girlfriend to present a better image to the show's producers, Hailey steps in. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with him.
I love a good fake relationship romance! Jake and Hailey had chemistry from the start and the buildup of their relationship was just perfect. Jake was such a sweet man. I rarely like romances involving actors but Jake was perfect. He was nerdy, passionate about Mystics,, and isn't a glory hound. He doesn’t love the limelight but he does like acting. He was just a great hero, even when he messed up.
Hailey was an interesting heroine. She was tough, beautiful, and had a rough childhood. I found her backstory to be interesting, especially the grifter part. I do think she was quick to jump to the worse when it came to their relationship though. I did love how connected she was to her family and how determined she was to help them.
I am loving this series and can’t wait to see the next woman find her HEA.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
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Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - Lady Lane
I love a good fake relationship romance! Jake and Hailey had chemistry from the start and the buildup of their relationship was just perfect. Jake was such a sweet man. I rarely like romances involving actors but Jake was perfect. He was nerdy, passionate about Mystics,, and isn't a glory hound. He doesn’t love the limelight but he does like acting. He was just a great hero, even when he messed up.
Hailey was an interesting heroine. She was tough, beautiful, and had a rough childhood. I found her backstory to be interesting, especially the grifter part. I do think she was quick to jump to the worse when it came to their relationship though. I did love how connected she was to her family and how determined she was to help them.
I am loving this series and can’t wait to see the next woman find her HEA.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
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Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - Lady Lane
July 27, 2017
entertaining, tho not as charming as the first in the series. will keep reading tho.
July 9, 2017
This cute romance between two well developed main characters kept the reader entertained as they managed to find a bit of themselves with each other, while figure out their own priorities too.
May 7, 2018
"One True Pairing" é tipo aqueles filmes bobos de comédias românticas que não têm nada demais, mas que a gente sempre assiste porque são divertidos e nos deixa felizes~♡
February 15, 2018
3.5 stars.
January 5, 2018
Actual Rating 3.75
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous two in the series so far but I still sped through it and ate this book up. I cannot get enough of this nerdy series! I didn't enjoy the main couple as much in this one but the side characters from the previous books were amazing as always and I cannot wait to see which characters the next book follows :)
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous two in the series so far but I still sped through it and ate this book up. I cannot get enough of this nerdy series! I didn't enjoy the main couple as much in this one but the side characters from the previous books were amazing as always and I cannot wait to see which characters the next book follows :)
July 27, 2017
One True Pairing, A Geek Girl Rom Com, Cathy Yardley
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance
Sounded a book I'd love, the Hollywood trope with a heroine who works hard, isn't a simpering coy miss who falls at his feet.
Sadly though it was an OK read for me that was it, its not a re-reader, and parts dragged and I found myself skimming through. somehow it all became very storm in a teacup stuff.
The fact their "romance" only covers a week, apart from the last few pages meant there had to be some serious chemistry between them for me to believe it, but though there was lust by the bucket load, that was it for me, no real romantic feelings.
I found Haley a bit abrasive at times, I know she had a difficult past, but she verged in outright rude to Jake, and he wasn't the Hollywood hero I was expecting, but a star on the way up who almost rolled over and let her stomp on him at times.
I like strong women, but I like strong men too, and Jake was just far too trusting of everybody!
There's one "twist" that was pretty clear very early on but the person it affects was oblivious. That smacked of naivety, a laziness in not checking, and made me want to shake them....
The story didn't really have anything more to it than the blurb, very one paced, one plot where I was hoping for more. Its going to be a great read for some but for me it was just an OK one, I didn't dislike it but didn't love it either.
Stars: Three, a little bland for me, but that's OK, others love it, we all want different things.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance
Sounded a book I'd love, the Hollywood trope with a heroine who works hard, isn't a simpering coy miss who falls at his feet.
Sadly though it was an OK read for me that was it, its not a re-reader, and parts dragged and I found myself skimming through. somehow it all became very storm in a teacup stuff.
The fact their "romance" only covers a week, apart from the last few pages meant there had to be some serious chemistry between them for me to believe it, but though there was lust by the bucket load, that was it for me, no real romantic feelings.
I found Haley a bit abrasive at times, I know she had a difficult past, but she verged in outright rude to Jake, and he wasn't the Hollywood hero I was expecting, but a star on the way up who almost rolled over and let her stomp on him at times.
I like strong women, but I like strong men too, and Jake was just far too trusting of everybody!
There's one "twist" that was pretty clear very early on but the person it affects was oblivious. That smacked of naivety, a laziness in not checking, and made me want to shake them....
The story didn't really have anything more to it than the blurb, very one paced, one plot where I was hoping for more. Its going to be a great read for some but for me it was just an OK one, I didn't dislike it but didn't love it either.
Stars: Three, a little bland for me, but that's OK, others love it, we all want different things.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
August 4, 2017
Hailey Frost and Jake Reese find themselves helping each other with Jake needing to boost his star power to be able to secure his spot on the popular TV show, Mystics, and Hailey needing to help her sisters bring in customers to their bookstore. So, when they come up with a plan for Hailey to be Jake's girlfriend, everything seems to be headed in the right direction. But when things in their lives become complicated, will Jake and Hailey find the happiness they both deserve, or will the fact that they're from completely different worlds in him being a Hollywood actor and her being a hometown girl mean they end up going their separate ways?
From start to finish, this book was a quick read, because of the way it started with the trouble the hero is facing from his fans that are determined to get a little more frisky than what he'd like. How is he going to find a way out of the dilemma he's facing? However, there was so much more that made this story captivating too. Such as the fact that it encompasses the fake relationship trope two wonderful main characters that couldn't be more different.
As for the dialogue, it was fascinating and I loved the main characters back stories, as the heroine has been through so much and she finds it hard to trust. Will Hailey be able to help Jake secure his spot on the popular TV show he plays a character on? Furthermore, the heroine is strong, brave and I liked how determined she was to help Jake. Her plans to help him are full of fun and I liked how she wasn't afraid to get up close and personal with the hero in public to boost his star power. I also liked how far the heroine was willing to go to help her sisters, because they've been through so much together and have helped each other through the tough times.
While the hero, he's confident, determined to help the heroine any way he can and I liked how protective he got of Hailey when things became a tad dangerous because of a stalker. I also liked his friendship with his co-stars, as their support means a lot, especially when things don't seem to be going his way when it comes to his career. However, I felt sorry for him when it came to his father as he feels the pressure of having a famous father. Yet, I liked that he fought for his career when it seemed his options were heading more towards him not getting what he wanted.
Overall, Ms. Yardley has penned a delightful read in this story where the chemistry between this couple had me hooked, the romance was loving and had me wanting to discover whether the heroine would realize that her time with Jake was more than sex, and the ending had me concerned for both of the main characters due to the hero's career and his stalker. Will things turn out the way the hero wants them to? I would recommend One True Pairing by Cathy Yardley, if you enjoy the fake relationship trope, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Laura Florand, Kit Rocha, Tif Marcelo and Lucy Parker.
December 11, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2017/07/...
4.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Yup, that was a whole lot of perfect for Lenore. I was sucked right in, and entertained from start to finish. I loved the humour, I loved the characters, I loved the romance, I loved the geek stuff, I loved the celebrity aspect... Seriously, it was just my kind of book, you know?
Hailey was all sorts of unique as a heroine. Not just because she embraced her rockabilly style, but because she was hiding a childhood growing up with grifters, and damage from time spent in the foster system. I liked that she was both tough and independent, but she was also using her sisters as a crutch to avoid being vulnerable. It was surprisingly easy to love her.
Jake was just uber adorable. I just wanted to hug him. He was so sincere, and kind, and caring, and passionate about what he loved. I will admit that I saw the Susie thing from like a mile away, and so just kept waiting for him to figure things out. I actually anticipated that resolving with Hailey as a catalyst, but I was satisfied with the way it went anyways.
And I liked the two of them together...you could really feel their draw to each other, and the chemistry and sexual attraction. Seriously, it was hot. But, even though it was hella fast, I still really enjoyed the development of their relationship due to spending so much time together in a short span of time. And I found it amusing how tongue in cheek Ms. Yardley was having Hailey despise insta-love in stories and then giving Hailey a fast love story herself. I'm sure it will bother some people, but I loved it. I'm not an insta-love hater though (not a lover, just not a hater).
And the secondary cast was pretty great too, from Hailey's sisters to Jake's co-stars. It's definitely setting up future stories, you can totally tell.
Honestly, other than totally guessing the Jake side story, the only other thing I was meh on was the stalker storyline. It felt a little thrown in last minute, and like just a plot device. But I loved so much else in the story, I don't even care.
Any book that can make me tempted to fight through sleep and keep reading, even though it's 3 am, is my kind of book. I did manage to resist, but I was epically tired. Can't wait for more in this series. Gotta go back and read Level Up now, though those characters are only loosely mentioned in this one...it stands alone pretty well. I concur with the title: Jake and Hailey are my OTP!
4.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Yup, that was a whole lot of perfect for Lenore. I was sucked right in, and entertained from start to finish. I loved the humour, I loved the characters, I loved the romance, I loved the geek stuff, I loved the celebrity aspect... Seriously, it was just my kind of book, you know?
Hailey was all sorts of unique as a heroine. Not just because she embraced her rockabilly style, but because she was hiding a childhood growing up with grifters, and damage from time spent in the foster system. I liked that she was both tough and independent, but she was also using her sisters as a crutch to avoid being vulnerable. It was surprisingly easy to love her.
Jake was just uber adorable. I just wanted to hug him. He was so sincere, and kind, and caring, and passionate about what he loved. I will admit that I saw the Susie thing from like a mile away, and so just kept waiting for him to figure things out. I actually anticipated that resolving with Hailey as a catalyst, but I was satisfied with the way it went anyways.
And I liked the two of them together...you could really feel their draw to each other, and the chemistry and sexual attraction. Seriously, it was hot. But, even though it was hella fast, I still really enjoyed the development of their relationship due to spending so much time together in a short span of time. And I found it amusing how tongue in cheek Ms. Yardley was having Hailey despise insta-love in stories and then giving Hailey a fast love story herself. I'm sure it will bother some people, but I loved it. I'm not an insta-love hater though (not a lover, just not a hater).
And the secondary cast was pretty great too, from Hailey's sisters to Jake's co-stars. It's definitely setting up future stories, you can totally tell.
Honestly, other than totally guessing the Jake side story, the only other thing I was meh on was the stalker storyline. It felt a little thrown in last minute, and like just a plot device. But I loved so much else in the story, I don't even care.
Any book that can make me tempted to fight through sleep and keep reading, even though it's 3 am, is my kind of book. I did manage to resist, but I was epically tired. Can't wait for more in this series. Gotta go back and read Level Up now, though those characters are only loosely mentioned in this one...it stands alone pretty well. I concur with the title: Jake and Hailey are my OTP!
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