By: Erin Watt
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Released: May 30th 2017
Details: Netgalley, from publisher for honest review, 416 Pages
RATING: 4.5 STARS
Blurb: Goodreads
From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt comes the addictive contemporary tale of a teen rock star in need of an image makeover and the teen girl hired to be his fake girlfriend.
Meet Oakley Ford-teen celebrity, renowned pop star, child of famous movie stars, hottie with millions of fangirls… and restless troublemaker. On the surface he has it all, but with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley's team decides it's time for an intervention. The result: an image overhaul, complete with a fake girlfriend meant to show the world he's settled down.
Enter seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett-devoted sister, part-time waitress, the definition of "normal." Under ordinary circumstances she'd never have taken this gig, but with her family strapped for cash, she doesn't have much of a choice. And for the money Oakley's team is paying her, she figures she can put up with outlandish Hollywood parties and a team of publicists watching her every move. So what if she thinks Oakley's a shallow, self-centered jerk? It's not like they're going to fall for each other in real life…right?
BOOK REVIEW:
I’m a HUGE fan of Paper Princess. When I got the opportunity to read When It’s Real—early—I was rather excited. Thank you Harlequin Teen.
I really do love Oakley aka Oak. What I liked about his character is we were able to understand a little more what a real rockstar or musician’s teen life can be like.
It’s not all shits and giggles. There is the excess of more than chicks just throwing themselves at you. You are also missing the ‘normal’ that balances out the crazy lifestyle. You may be underage, but everything is there for the taking. Technically you are thrown into an adult world where rules don’t apply to you.
Oak had access to anything; it didn’t make him necessarily happy. He needed more from his music. He wants to be taken seriously and to have growth in an industry that dictates your every move.
Vaughn—by chance—has been chosen to be Oak’s fake GF…let the angst begin.
Okay so this idea isn’t necessarily a new one, but I did really enjoy When It’s Real.
The character I felt was quite redundant was, W. I know he’s there for the angst and dramalama, but Vaughn and Oak could have stood on their own two feet without W in this story. Even his name gives us the predictable outcome. W isn’t even worthy of the rest of the letters in his name. I kinda got annoyed only reading him as W; I mean he’s not in a James Bond movie.
I did dig this story, and I am becoming a very big fan of this writing duo.
I highly recommend reading When It’s Real.
By: Erin Watt
Published By: Erin Watt
Released: Available Now
Details: Kindle purchase
RATING: 5 RISKY YA STARS!
Blurb: Goodreads
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.
BOOK REVIEW:
I totally dug the Paper Princess. Due to the characters ages it is YA, but man, it is pushing the boundaries of YA.
The opening chapter which informs you of Ella’s seventeen year old life and where it has led her to the second chapter which has her being…and then Callum Royal… and I was like…that’s what I am talking about.
I’ve been working the pole at Miss Candy’s, a baby club where I strip to a G-string and pasties. It’s good, but not great money.
Erin Watt is made up of the writing duo Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick and they prove they can write YA and push those boundaries just a little bit more than the average YA read.
The Royals are made up of a family of boys and a dad.
He picks up a set of papers on his desk. “Ella Harper, this is Callum Royal.” He pauses as if that means something to me. Meanwhile, Royal is staring at me like he’s never seen a girl before.
They are scary, a little intimidating, but not the dad, he is trying to do the right thing, but the sons…well, they are another playing field.
“I’ve got five sons. There’s no trick in the book that one of them haven’t tried on me, and I know a teenager when I see one, even beneath a foot of makeup.”
“Reed.” Callum’s commanding voice bounces off the walls. “Easton.” Another name rattles out. “Sawyer.” Then another. “Sebastian…”
Not to forget Gideon.
So, at first glance…many pages, they are the evil stepsisters, I mean brothers, even though they aren’t related…well technically their dad is the guardian of Ella now.
Signed on the dotted line.
I’m not gonna tell you what goes down as there are paaarttaaays, and biatches and gold digger girlfriend and all that good stuff to tsunami Paper Princess into the five star read I think it is.
Take a gander. I think you will like.
Oh and that ending…
*gasp*
Shut the front door!
