Review: The Truth About Faking

The Truth About Faking

By: Leigh Talbert Moore

Release Date: 09/01/12

Paperback/e-book

328 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Jason just wants a date with Harley.
Harley just wants a date with Trent.
Trent's still getting over Stephanie.

When Harley and Jason decide to fake date, they uncover a school of deceptions. Trent's got a secret, but so does Jason. And the more time Harley spends secretly kissing her fake boyfriend, the further she gets from her dreams with Trent.

Worst of all, Harley's mom is getting cozy with her hot massage therapy student, and even Harley's Reverend Dad can't fake not being bothered by it. But when the masks finally come off, can everyone handle the real truth?

Wife and mom by day, writer by day, editor by day, reader when time permits, chocoholic, lover of contemporary romance, lover of YA, lover of great books, beach bum, occasionally I sleep.

"The Truth about Faking" is my debut young adult romance. It's just a light, happy book with a hot guy and a little message tucked inside. My first adult romance "Rouge" will be published in December 2012 by Pocket Books. It's neither light nor happy. Sorry. (But it does have a hot guy!)

Visit Leigh's website here

My Review:

The Truth About Faking is such a cute, sweet read that will leaving you feeling uplifted and happy. Full of young love, unrequited crushes, lessons in doing the right thing no matter what, and wonderful caring parents (as a parent I love it when YA books include good parents). 

Jason is so adorably cute I could barely stand it. He is sensitive without seeming overly so and he really puts up with a lot from a supremely confused Harley. Oh, and did I happen to mention that he is super adorable? 

Harley has been crushing on Trent for so long that she doesn't know how to stop even when she starts to realize that he may not be the one she wants to be with after all, and it's really stressing her out.  Add to that she is convinced that her mother's massage student is trying to steal her mother away from her father. Certain gossipy women have started to notice all the time that her mom and said student are spending together and want to cause trouble for her father, the reverend. Plus her best friend isn't acting very best friend like. All this adds up to massive stress for poor Harley. 

While at times a bit predictable The Truth About Faking really packs in the fun, romance and lessons in love. A wonderfully light quick read for those that enjoy reading about young love. 

PLOT:Wonderfully sweet and loveable but maybe a tad bit predictable.

CHARACTERS:  The characters were my absolute favorite part of The Truth About Faking.  My favorite characters being Jason and Harley's amazing parents. 

WRITING: Fun, easy and quick to read. You'll be absorbed till the end.

ENDING: Just what I was hoping for!

MATURE CONTENT: There are mentions of making out and some kissing and occasionally Jason let's a small "bad" word escape, but is quickly chastised by Harley to watch it.  Also there is one scene where wine coolers are consumed by the youngsters.

OVERALL:One of those books that are perfect to read while curled up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea,and few hours to lose yourself. 

Winnemucca, YA Author's Debut and Giveaway

 Winnemucca, YA Author’s Debut Paranormal Coming-Of-Age Novel, Explores Freedom & Forgiveness To Benefit Wounded Warriors

Monterey Peninsula, CA, July 15, 2011 – Laura A. H. Elliott releases her young-adult debut novel, Winnemucca, for the Kindle on Amazon.com. Winnemucca is a small-town fairy tale about a teenage girl’s enchanted road trip to her true self no matter who or what tries to stop her. One of two digital editions includes Laura’s digital signature with a donation to the Wounded Warrior project, in her nephew’s honor. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa9n1KIpaWw


“The story is told in poetic prose that I have not read since the writers of an older age. The tone of the story is set through the voice of the girl runaway before she has even realized her own talents, and is spoken with ‘the sound truth makes being said,’ as Ray Bradbury once coined the term. Emerging from a sea of derivative and formulaic novels, WINNEMUCCA is a fresh view of a world that is at once savage and beautiful, crushing and hopeful, and above all, brings magic back to ancient storytelling by bringing our attention back to the little things that matter, and the shifting nature of perception and reality alike.” -Rachel Coles, YA Book Reviewer and Author of 5 Young Adult Paranormal Fiction Novels


“The voice is distinct and the world she creates is both magical and mundane. As I read the book it reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS.” -Matthew Hill, editor 


“The themes in my work are always the same: freedom and forgiveness. I am fascinated how the footprints of our ancestors can follow us into the future. I enjoy illuminating these ideas in my fiction. In this novel, I explore courage and the cost of freedom. I’m hoping WINNEMUCCA will get generations of people talking to each other about the role of freedom and forgiveness in their lives.” - Laura A. H. Elliott. Her favorite quote from the book: “Fear’s as blind as love.”

Laura’s travel and personal essays have been published in The Los Angeles Times and other Southern California newspapers and magazines. She honed her storytelling skills as a multimedia designer at The Los Angeles Times and E! Entertainment Television but learns the most around dinner tables. She has two grown daughters and currently resides on the Monterey Peninsula, with her husband, Joe, and their Aussie shepherd, Oso.


For more information contact:
www.authorlaura.com
elliwrite@yahoo.com
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004KFSC92
http://www.facebook.com/Laura.A.H.Elliott
@Laurawriting

Laura In The News:
Author Interview with YA Author Abbi Glines http://www.abbiglines.com/2011/07/meet-author-of-todays-new-ya-release.html
For news coverage about our nephew, Cody:
http://www.ksby.com/videos/local-marine-recovering-from-severe-injuries-he-received-in-afghanistan/

The giveaway: I have five books and the $15 Amazon gift cert. to giveaway. I'll monitor comments on the blogs and pick a random winner.

Here are the rules: I'm going to giveaway five copies of Winnemucca [the digitally signed, Wounded Warriors Edition] during the blitz and one Amazon $15 gift certificate. To win, I'd like readers to leave their road trip story in thecomments of the blogger [with their email address in case of a win!]. I'd also like them to also "like" me at http://www.facebook.com/Laura.A.H.Elliott    Giveaway goes until 10PM July 28th, PST.


This tour is hosted by:
http://thebookishsnobtours.blogspot.com/2011/07/winnemucca-release-day-blitz.html