BLACKMAIL BOYFRIEND
by Chris Cannon
Release Date: 08/11/15
Entangled Teen: Crush
Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes, blackmail is the only weapon a girl has…
Haley Patterson has had a crush on golden boy Bryce Colton for ages. But then when she hears a rumor—Bryce is telling everyone that he hooked up with her. With Haley’s reputation taking a nosedive, she gives Bryce him a choice: be her boyfriend for a month for a month or face the angry, cage-fighting boyfriend of the girl he actually did hook up with to show other guys that she’s dateable—despite her overprotective and very intimidating brothers.—or deal with the angry, cage-fighting boyfriend of the girl he actually did hook up with.
Bryce didn’t know the other Haley even had a boyfriend. He was just trying to get his ex off his back. And now doesn't know what's more unbelievable, not only is—that he's he being blackmailed, or that he's being blackmailed by an honor student. His little “hook up” was supposed to end his problems with girls, not create new ones. Not only that, but his new “girlfriend” has two overprotective brothers, three-legged dogs, her father mows grass at the country club, and she's…well, difficult. And different.
Besides, everyone knows that perfect boys never fall for imperfect girls…Sometimes, giving in is all a boy can do…Can something so fake turn into something real? Add it on Goodreads.
BUY LINKS:
BOOK REVIEW:
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I rarely come across books that are hard to write reviews for. I write a review and it’s either I love the book or I don’t. With Blackmail Boyfriend, I’m torn between loving it and hating it. And I guess now, with me deciding on a three-star rating, loving the book won out.
The premise of the book is what initially drew me in. I have not heard of Chris Cannon until now so I honestly don’t know what to expect. But I’ve always loved discovering new authors (and books) so I thought why not?
I have to start by saying that I got really annoyed with the heroine real fast. Haley (the annoying heroine) has overly protective big brothers who scare off guys and therefore any chance of Haley being in a relationship is zilch. (Well at least according to her.) I don’t get it. I really don’t get it. I’m nineteen now and I never had a boyfriend. (I may not be supermodel beautiful but I do think I’m not ugly either.) Haley’s obsession with finding a boyfriend is just borderline crazy. From beginning to end, all I got from her was “oh poor me, I have cavemen for brothers and I don’t have a boyfriend... blah, blah, blah.” Ugh. I couldn’t care less if she ends up to be a crazy old lady with hundreds of cats. And then that thing with Bryce (the not quite annoying hero) happens and I actually thought that Haley would become less aggravating but nooo. Now she becomes the entitled and selfish drama queen. Personally if I were Bryce, I’d rather take my chances with the cage-fighting boyfriend than endure pretending to date Haley. Again, UGH.
But enough about her. Now I have to tell you what I did like.
The story telling is what I loved most about Blackmail Boyfriend. It’s simple and direct. The author’s narrative captured perfectly the voice of a teenager who goes through the daily dose of drama that is highschool. I may not be a big fan of some of the cheesier lines but I did enjoy seeing Bryce and Haley interact.
Bryce is an interesting character. Some chapters were told in his pov and honestly I preferred those. There’s a lot going on in his life and it feels like nothing was resolved. Instead of Haley’s chapters wallowing in self-pity because she doesn’t have a boyfriend, I think we should have been given more of Bryce’s story.
I find it odd to say that I love all the characters except for Haley but I do. Nathan and Jane make an adorable couple. That thing with cupcakes and frosting was too cute not to love. See that Haley? That’s how you do relationships. No blackmail needed. And Haley’s brothers didn’t seem all that bad to me. They’re overprotective yes but aren’t all family? But for two people who played a big part in Haley’s actions, it felt like they were barely in the story. I would have loved to see more banter between Haley and her brothers. They’re kinda like Fred and George minus the wands so yes I like them.
Lastly, will it be too dorky to say that I especially love the scenes with the puppies? I am a dog lover myself and Haley surprisingly wasn’t entirely annoying when she’s in the animal shelter.
Overall, although the plot was a bit predictable I still very much enjoyed my time reading the book. Aside from the overwhelming frustration I felt with the heroine, everything else is great.
I received an e-arc as part of the blog tour.
I rarely come across books that are hard to write reviews for. I write a review and it’s either I love the book or I don’t. With Blackmail Boyfriend, I’m torn between loving it and hating it. And I guess now, with me deciding on a three-star rating, loving the book won out.
The premise of the book is what initially drew me in. I have not heard of Chris Cannon until now so I honestly don’t know what to expect. But I’ve always loved discovering new authors (and books) so I thought why not?
I have to start by saying that I got really annoyed with the heroine real fast. Haley (the annoying heroine) has overly protective big brothers who scare off guys and therefore any chance of Haley being in a relationship is zilch. (Well at least according to her.) I don’t get it. I really don’t get it. I’m nineteen now and I never had a boyfriend. (I may not be supermodel beautiful but I do think I’m not ugly either.) Haley’s obsession with finding a boyfriend is just borderline crazy. From beginning to end, all I got from her was “oh poor me, I have cavemen for brothers and I don’t have a boyfriend... blah, blah, blah.” Ugh. I couldn’t care less if she ends up to be a crazy old lady with hundreds of cats. And then that thing with Bryce (the not quite annoying hero) happens and I actually thought that Haley would become less aggravating but nooo. Now she becomes the entitled and selfish drama queen. Personally if I were Bryce, I’d rather take my chances with the cage-fighting boyfriend than endure pretending to date Haley. Again, UGH.
But enough about her. Now I have to tell you what I did like.
The story telling is what I loved most about Blackmail Boyfriend. It’s simple and direct. The author’s narrative captured perfectly the voice of a teenager who goes through the daily dose of drama that is highschool. I may not be a big fan of some of the cheesier lines but I did enjoy seeing Bryce and Haley interact.
Bryce is an interesting character. Some chapters were told in his pov and honestly I preferred those. There’s a lot going on in his life and it feels like nothing was resolved. Instead of Haley’s chapters wallowing in self-pity because she doesn’t have a boyfriend, I think we should have been given more of Bryce’s story.
I find it odd to say that I love all the characters except for Haley but I do. Nathan and Jane make an adorable couple. That thing with cupcakes and frosting was too cute not to love. See that Haley? That’s how you do relationships. No blackmail needed. And Haley’s brothers didn’t seem all that bad to me. They’re overprotective yes but aren’t all family? But for two people who played a big part in Haley’s actions, it felt like they were barely in the story. I would have loved to see more banter between Haley and her brothers. They’re kinda like Fred and George minus the wands so yes I like them.
Lastly, will it be too dorky to say that I especially love the scenes with the puppies? I am a dog lover myself and Haley surprisingly wasn’t entirely annoying when she’s in the animal shelter.
Overall, although the plot was a bit predictable I still very much enjoyed my time reading the book. Aside from the overwhelming frustration I felt with the heroine, everything else is great.
I received an e-arc as part of the blog tour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or snarky romantic comedies.
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