Sticks & Stones

by Rachael Brownell

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.

High School—one of the worst times in my life. I was “that” girl, the one everyone made fun of. The outcast. Band geek. Nerd. That’s all changed, and so have I. Jane Sharp vanished into thin air years ago; I go by Reese Kennedy now. But Reese isn’t the one invited to the Meadow High School Class of 2005 reunion next month. I am. So I need a plan.

Step one: Hire a fake fiance.
Step two: Attend my reunion and rub my success in their faces.
Step three: Resume my normal life.

Falling for Hunter Drake is not on my agenda.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2017

About the author

I'm a Michigan girl, born and raised. My addictions include: coffee, chocolate, coffee, avoiding adulting, coffee, and coffee.
My favorite season is fall. My favorite color is teal. And my favorite genre to read and write is romance.
I refuse to 'stay in my lane' when it comes to my books. You'll find I write everything from young-adult to sweet contemporary to steamy new adult.
#noregrets
Looking for a place to start with my books? Check out A Moment Too Late (small-town second chance romance) or The Lake State University series (new adult, steamy college romance).
Thanks for being here and happy reading!

Reviews

[Tracy *To the point Reviews* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to review this book because the premise was lovely. But I found it fell flat in heat. There was no sexual tension or build up or even sex scenes for that matter! And the result ends up feeling like a huge dillusion, rendering the story unbelieable and unromantic.

To top it off, it's one of those stories where everyone is lying or ommiting the truth; About their feeling, about the truth, about who they are. And I really hate that because I find it's a writers ploy to make the a story easier to write or maybe interesting. Yet, it only makes the entire story predictable because we know it's a house of card that's going to blow up. In this case, we already know how by page 30.

So you're just reading to see how the shit is going to go down, Which is kind boring.
Because in the end you need to ask yourself, Why the hell are all these grown people lying?

Moreover, the reasons for lying are so inmature that even in the excuses for the deception, they fall flat and are wasted writing in the story.

The hero could have easily told her who he was and they both could have gone to the reunion as a team, united against the heroine's childhood bully. It wouls have given them the opportunity for them to get closer and turn up the heat in the story. But no, he just lies and lies.

And what bothered me most is the heroine's best friend. What a duplicitous manipulative bitch!! I was so angered by her behaviour that I wanted to throw my reader against a wall! How is OK to cancel a room reservation for your boss and best friend so that she be forced to sleep with a stranger? He could have been a sicko for all she knew. NOT OK!

So... As you can see, this story just seemed like a good idea that was badly developed and poorly thought out.

[GimmeAllTheWerdssss]

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded interesting and the first few chapters were good.

I was leery about the H being an escort but the fact is that the job with the h is only the second job he took and he hated the first one because the woman touched him - nothing sexual - to much. I didn't care for all the information on why he was in the position he was financially - lost his previous job because he was caught having sex with his bosses daughter. BUT I could see that he was a good guy.

The heroine I initially liked her. She had a horrible time in highschool and had re-made herself in to a success. She started off strong but the longer the story went on the weaker she became.

By chapter 5 I knew exactly what the "secret" was and I knew how the story was going to play out. I tried to keep going but I started scanning by chapter 11, read the ending, and put it away.

The book was too predictable and the more I got to know the characters I realized I didn't like them very much. The heroine waffled to many time and the hero came off as kinda pathetic. I like strong heroines and alpha Hero's.

The ending was also weak and the heroine forgave and moved on way too fast for my taste. There was a grand gesture and I do understand why the hero did what he did but the heroines reasons for just being over it....yeah no. She basically just instantly decided she was over it and wanted a fresh start. The epilogue...seriously??!! WTF?

I'm not rating it because overall I probably only read 10 of the 28 chapters. I really only read the beginning and the end. Many people will like it but it just wasn't for me.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
High school reunion…would you go if you knew you had to see the people who made your life miserable? Would you change your entire life to prove to them that you are better than them?

That’s the question that Reese a.k.a. Jane has to answer. Reese is dreading going to her reunion, her entire high school experience can be called: awful, horrible. People who she thought were friends were not.
Enter, Hunter a.k.a Tyler; Hunter is an escort hired by Reese to accompany her to the reunion to pose as her fiancée. But, Hunter is hiding a secret that could destroy Reese and turn her carefully structured and planned life upside down.

Sticks and Stones tackles the problem of bullying and how one girl took that experience and rose above it.

[Amber - TBR Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was a great story about the nerd in high school making a comeback for her high school reunion. Reese is now a successful businesswoman in a different town and she's not a the nerd she was. She's not a geek and she's going to prove those mean girls from high school that she's successful. Except she doesn't have a boyfriend or a husband or kids. So she hires one.

Hunter is trying to earn money while he's determining his next career. He steps in to help his friend with his escort business.

Reese is a strong, independent woman now but she still is nervous about coming back to her hometown and meeting up with her former bullies.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Jane (Reece) I hated high school. I could totally relate to her not wanting to go to her high school reunion alone. She was a successful business woman but she new that going back and facing the bullies would be hard. Secrets have a way of coming out and Tyler (Hunter) should have known that. I enjoyed this book and there are a few twists that keep the story interesting. The background scenes really help to explain why the characters behave the way they do or why they make some of the decisions.

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book with a very simple storyline. A young woman, Reese, is invited to her high school reunion and doesn’t really want to attend. She ultimately decides she needs to go so hired a fake boyfriend for the event. However the person she chooses to accompany her has secrets which he is desperately trying to keep from Reese.

These secrets come out in an explosive fashion and the fallout will affect everyone’s lives forever. Unfortunately the main secret was revealed very early so the rest of the story was simply the lead out to everyone finding out.

This story wasn’t for me, but it would suit young adults I think. The writing was good.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story with an emotional subject: bullying. Sticks & Stones was both happy, sad and strongly written. The author hit me with the emotional feels with said subject even though I, myself, never suffered from being bullied in school however, it had my heart hurt for those that have been affected and think suicide is an option. This book grabbed me in right from the beginning and had me applauding in the end. Sticks & Stones was my first read by Rachel Brownell and it won’t be my last!

5 Reese’s Pieces stars!

[Melanie Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read from Rachel and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Very different read from the usual romance books. I'll definitely be reading more.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww man your talking about a story of almost feeling real. Then This is the story for you... The story started when Reese Kennedy was 28yrs old but I want to skip to a part of the story where Reese’s real name is Jane Kennedy. She is 8yrs old and was elementary school and her friend was Tiffanie. Her and Tiffany were inseparable. But when Tiffanie had to move and Jane was left there with her parents they lost touch. But between middle school and high school they meet again and Jane was around 14urs old but at the time she didn’t remember Tiffanie. It had been so long. But of course Tiffanie was pissed off cause she thought Jane was just being snobbish. But she wasn’t. A few days later when Jane remember who Tiffanie was she tried to talk to her but it was too late.

Tiffanie made it her mission after that to pick on Jane and call her names. Her and her little groupies. Jane felt that if she catch her by her self and she explain to her that she just didn’t remember her and she wanted to rekindle there relationship. Tiffanie and her friends were there at her house and she had Jane on speaker and they heard ever word and laughed at Jane and Tiffanie called her a loser. Jane hung up crying. Then every day in school she would managed to find Jane to pick on her.

Jane tried to be invisible, she quit all her extra activities, to stay out of Tiffanie’s way. Plus she avoided her as much as possible. Now Tiffanie was dating a popular boy name Tyler Small. But eventually Tyler got tired of Tiffanie and her bullying everyone that was not on her level or that wouldn’t stand up for themselves. So he dump her like a bad habit. Of course she played it off like it didn’t bothered her but it did...

Now fast forward to the here and now... Jane reinvented her self and graduated top of her class. Majored in Finance and reality. She now Owns her own Real estate Agency.
Ok that’s enough you have to read the rest of the story. It’s
Amazing story and I’m happy I’m able to share my opinion on the story. It’s a definitely a must read. 🤗🤗😍

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging love story…

This is an absorbing story which sensitively deals with the emotional effects of bullying and it’s aftermath on those involved….The plot centers on Reese, a beautiful and successful Estate Realtor who was a victim of High School bullying and Hunter a gorgeous, male escort whose services she engages in an attempt to exact some harmless revenge on her tormentors… but the best laid plans have a way of going awry and secrets, misunderstandings and unexpected consequences endanger everything that Reese has fought so hard to escape..

Told from the perspective of Reese and Hunter their inner narrative provides a window into the reality of their situation and their true feelings….Reese and Hunter are a fascinating couple; in so many ways they seem a perfect match but there are obstacles to overcome some of which, frustratingly, could have been avoided if only Hunter had been more honest in the beginning..
The supporting characters are also interesting and well written I would love to read more about Paul (Hunter’s boss) and Ireland (Reese’s scheming best friend)..

This was difficult reading in parts due to the subject matter but it was dealt with positively and overall there was a feel good factor that shone through the angst and ensured this was above all else an engaging love story….I received a copy of this book through the Quirky Blind Date with a Book.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school isn't a picnic for everyone, for some it is a living hell. Bullies make it so, even when they are dressed up and pretty they are still nothing but mean girls. The effect can be tragic or it can be used to launch change. Change it was for Reese and now it's time to hit up the reunion and prove those words and actions from long ago no longer matter. . . but they do and. . . there was one person in her corner long ago, but that was then. She had no idea that hiring an escort, Hunter, or if the lies would keep them apart.

I haven't read this author before and wasn't quite sure what to expect. I like her style and the way she shows the healing and growth in her characters and how the challenges are handled especially the bullying. As a victim of it myself I can say the effects are long term if not addressed and like this character sometimes it takes that special person who sees beyond the cracks to bring you home. Tyler was the perfect person to bring her home and see her for who she really was.

[Life on Readpeat · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot *

I have to say that I throughly enjoyed the concept of this story, but at times I had trouble getting into certain aspects of the book. The author did an amazing job with her writing and it was a very pleasant read with a little bit of sizzle and drama. A High School Reunion can cause a lot of problems, especially if your life isn't exactly the greatest. I really love books with fake boyfriends/dates so I absolutely adored that aspect of the story!

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers looking for a quick and sweet read!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought when id read the blurb on this book that id kinda had it worked out but im pleased that i didnt. Socially awkward and full of anxieties that stem back from harsh bullying in her school years Reece (changed her name from Jane) ends up hiring an Escort - Hunter. After her friend Ireland persuades her that confronting her bully at a high school reunion and showing her that she didnt break her would help her heal. I couldnt help but love Reece and Hunter. They had such a tentative chemistry that i really wanted them to get together in the end. Even with Ireland playing matchmaker and pushing Reece and Hunter to admit their feeling for each other as well as other truths. A good read and a quirky bully romance. I liked it

[Kirsty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Quirky Blind Date With A Book. I wish I could this book more than 5 stars! I related so much to the story and completely understood Reese's feelings and thoughts. I had so many flashbacks of my own childhood whilst reading that it bought a sense of nostalgia and made me think of what school life was really like. From the get go, I loved Reese's attitude and need to be in control, I also really enjoyed Hunter's persistence and protectiveness of Reese's feelings. This book is fantastic and should be read by all children in high school to prove how their actions can make a person feel. Rachael has written a fantastic book!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

All it's takes is one bully to make a person life miserable, and feel bad about themselves. So I really wanted that moment when people realized that they missed out on having Reece/Jane as a sweet and caring friend, and also a hard working business owner. Hunter seemed like he was a nice guy who's made a few bad decisions and struggling to get back on his feet. I thought Sticks and Stones was a okay story, but I didn't feel a connection between the characters, so many secrets and half truths made it hard, and the ending seemed to rushed.

[Nikkita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful story!

This author has not let me down yet, and this story is no exception. A beautiful story of over coming a past of being bullied, and making yourself a better person because of it. Facing those that bullied Jane (AKA) Reese isn't easy, but after devising a plan With Hunter (AKA) Tyler a plan is made. However because of secrets left unsaid the plan doesn't go as planned. Can the secrets be forgiven and another obstacle overcome?

[Terra Drynan-Werder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book thanks to the Quirky Blind Date and it was an enjoyable read. I felt that the characters were well developed and the story flowed well. It was a good reminder of how bullying from our past can affect us even years later. I would certainly read other books by this author.

[Donna Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis was the first book of this author I read and I couldn't put it down.

Reese is set to go back to her hometown where she was bullied to attend her high school reunion and needs a date. Enter hunter a escort.

Hunter has a secret.

Will this secret break them or bring them closer.

I loved how the whole story was played out.

Will read more from this author

[Shannon Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about a subject that occurs too frequently these days. Bullying. Reece has had her share of it and survived, but her high school reunion is bringing back all the pain. Great story and I can't wait to read more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed a copy via Quirky Blind Date with a Book.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. Rachael Brownell did such a great job in conveying all of the pain, heartache, and anxiety of Jane's high school years and how that impacted her adult years. I thought this was a very relatable story and found myself rooting for Tyler to win over Jane. I will definitely recommend this book to others.

[Carissa Janes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked characters in the story. Reese was in a hard spot and thought that she needed to find someone to attend her high school reunion, so she ended up hiring an escort. Hunter has his own issues with life, so he was torn with taking Reese up on her offer.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about overcoming your past and making a better future.

I felt like the story and characters were there but I was just waiting for something more to happen. I was waiting for a stand-out moment in the book I guess? I don't really know how to explain it.

A good read nevertheless.

[JC (Jen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a great story and I loved the twists and turns but to me the ending felt a little rushed but it was still a great ending :) There were quite a few spelling errors but not so many that it ruined the book.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

“Sticks and Stones” is a very emotional read that takes on the subject of bullying.

Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story that I liked reading. The story moved at a good pace. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. The storyline drew you in and made you stay until the book was finished. Then the characters just added to the temptation of you finishing the book in one setting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Morey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as many feels as some books mentioning bullying but good one just the same

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate bullies especially when the victim believes suicide is option. This story was happy and sad and royally pissed me off. Because been there done that. Very well written and loved the book.

[Archer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this copy from Quirky Blind Date with a Book.

Loved the characters, loved the story. What I didn't love was the retelling of chapters from the other's POV..