{REVIEW & GIVEAWAY} CHARADE (THE GAMES SERIES #1) by NYRAE DAWN

Series: The Games Series #1
Publisher: Nyrae Dawn
Publication Date: 10/22/12
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 245
Source: Gift from author.

Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection.

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too.

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.

Stronger, Better Together

I have a problem: How do you write a review for a story that you can't even talk, think about, or look at without crying? A story that made you laugh out loud, swoon, ache, do the dreaded ugly cry, fall in love, and at the end, look at the author with new eyes?

Colt and Cheyenne were two characters that I adored and embraced immediately. Cheyenne is a girl with a sad past but a bright future. She has her life exactly where she wants it, but remains emotionally distant to protect her battered heart. Her rule is: Never let someone close enough to hurt you. When she reluctantly pulls Colt into her life as part of a game, Cheyenne learns that the past must be dealt with, and that it is okay to let someone in, okay to let someone love her.

Colt. Oh boy, did I ever love this guy. Colt was infuriating, sexy, funny, had a filthy mouth, does some shady things for the right reasons, kind of an ass...did I mention he was sexy? Colt was a bad boy with a good heart, the best kind. But the way I see it, he wasn't actually a bad boy at all. Sure, he has a lot of tattoos, wears messy clothes and even messier hair, drops an F-bomb in every other sentence.
"Colt grins. It's strange because he's this tattooed, messy-haired guy who wears faded jeans and t-shirts. One look at him and you can tell he doesn't take shit--that life hasn't been easy and he's scarred because of it. But when he smiles? Really smiles, it's perfect. Life toothpaste commercial, boy-next-door beauty that makes it hard to be pissed at him." 

Call me crazy, but I love that in a guy. (one look at my hubby is proof of that) But underneath all that, there is a scared boy. Colt is scared of what is happening with his mom, of becoming like his father, of not being good enough. But with Cheyenne, Colt learn he is good enough, and the world is better with him in it.

Here's the part where I start crying. Charade is a heart-breaking book. Colt and Cheyenne have a lot of emotional issues to work out, and it is not pretty. Colt goes through some of the worst moments a person will ever face. Nyrae Dawn did not deal with these moments lightly. She went all the way there, taking the reader through emotions so bravely and beautifully worded that I literally had to lay my head down and cry. Truth be told, I'm still crying.

BUT...Charade also has numerous funny and light-hearted moments, usually because of some total "guy thing" Colt says. Nyrae has written a lot of books with a male point-of-view, my favorite being What a Boy Needs. Charade is her best.

What starts as a game, a way to save face for one participant, and an easy way to earn some much needed money for another, quickly turns into something more for both. Not some perfect love, but something real, something honest and true. Healing. And while so often we are told that strength and self-worth should come from within, which is true, nothing can replace someone telling you that you matter, you are worthy, "I've got you. I'm here. I won't let go."....There is nothing more comforting, more healing, than being held safely in the arms of the one you love. And that is what Charade is all about.


Favorite Quotes:

  "I think you'd like my mouth, Princess. I've never had any complaints. I promise, it'll make you feel real good."  (19%)

 
  "Hit the light, would ya?" he says before climbing into bed in camo boxer-briefs.
  "You're camouflaged. How will I find you?" I tease and he cracks a smile.
  "I don't think you can miss me."   (58%)
 

  "You don't have to do it on your own. Let me take some of the weight, baby."
  But he has so much already. "You have your own problems."
  "We'll share each other's."   (78%)


  "I'm fucking good at this boyfriend shit. Who would have thought?"   (78%)


  As long as he's by her side I'll be by his. Longer even.   (85%)

The Games Series

Facade coming early 2013

You can purchase Charade at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 



About Nyrae Dawn
I am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.

I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me. I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.

Connect with Nyrae at:
GoodReads | Twitter | Blog

HAPPY HOLIDAYS GIVEAWAY

I'm feeling festive, guys. And in love with Nyrae's (and Kelley's writing). So I am giving you all a chance to win your choice of ebook from Kelley or Nyrae.

Your choices:

 

 


And, I have a What a Boy Wants and Charade bookmark to give away, courtesy of Nyrae.

Good Luck!

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