Book Shelf: Blackmail Boyfriend by Chris Cannon

Sometimes, blackmail is the only weapon a girl has…

Haley Patterson has had a crush on golden boy Bryce Colton for ages. But when she hears a rumor that he hooked up with her she gives him a choice: be her boyfriend for a month 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, not only is he being blackmailed, he's being blackmailed by an honor student. His new “girlfriend” has two three-legged dogs, her father mows grass at the country club, and she's…well, difficult. And different.

Can something so fake turn into something real?

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Blackmail Boyfriend is a sweet and easy to read contemporary romance from author Chris Cannon that is the perfect way to breeze through an afternoon.

Honor roll student Haley Patterson has been happy to fly under the radar during her high school years. Sure, she's got two over-protective brothers that have made dating impossible, but she's also got a fabulous family, a wonderful best friend Jane and a volunteer job at an animal rescue center that she just adores. Everything seems pretty awesome until she goes to school one morning to learn there are rumors abroad that star student and popular ladies man Bryce Colton hooked up with her at a recent bonfire. Quickly discovering that the real Haley Bryce hooked up with has a boyfriend, Haley gives Bryce an ultimatum; pretend to be her boyfriend to dispel the rumors she's an easy hookup or face the wrath of the other Haley's massive, angry boyfriend. Neither teen expects the other to be more than a fake partner, but what happens when what they feel starts to feel, well, not fake?

Blackmail Boyfriend was quite an easy read. It's not overly deep or life changing, but still worth a read. I literally read it in a couple of hours and enjoyed the story Chris Cannon has penned. It was cute and fluffy and uncomplicated whilst still managing to encompass all the teen angst and drama these kinds of YA novels thrive on.

Told through both Haley and Bryce's POV's, Blackmail Boyfriend was a sweet romance. There were a few standout moments that I loved above others, but the overall pace was still fairly good. Both Haley and Bryce were decent characters, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit there were a couple of moments where they both wore on my nerves. Bryce occasionally came across as a real jerk and I didn't like the way Haley got defensive one moment and then insecure the next. I felt like the author made a real attempt at growth with both their characters, but didn't quite get there. There was the seed of real development in both Haley and Bryce that could have potentially been explored more had Cannon more time.

My biggest issue is that I felt that Haley and Bryce's story wasn't really over when Blackmail Boyfriend ended. There was a lot still unresolved, and I personally would have liked Chris Cannon to have left her readers with something a little more solid. Maybe it was just me, but the ending felt rushed and I didn't like that.

I did find Blackmail Boyfriend to be a really fun read though and despite any issues my review might indicate I had, Chris Cannon had me eagerly reading with this story. I enjoyed many of the other characters in Haley and Bryce's lives, especially their friends Nathan and Jane and Haley's brothers Matt and Charlie, and would actually quite enjoy a spin-off down the track if possible to visit them all again.

Sweet and endearing, Blackmail Boyfriend is a great way to spend a few hours and if you're looking something to dive headfirst into for some fun, smiles and laughs, then Blackmail Boyfriend is just the book for you!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by YA Bound Book Tours and Entangled Publishing (Thanks guys!)
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
My Recommendation: Wanting a fun, easy YA read? This is it!
Cover: Simple, but fresh it doesn't blow me away but does the job.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone novel, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to get to know some of the other characters if ever possible.....