Review: Fun, Charming, and Tons of Heart
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2013
Falling for Her Fiance has been a favorite book of mine by Cindi Madsen's, so far. So when I learned that it was going to be the first in The Accidentally in Love series, I was suuuuper happy. Act Like You Love Me is a wonderful follow-up to FfHF, and I would now be hard pressed to say which book is my favorite.If you've read book one, you might remember Wes's friend Paul (the guy who lent Wes a ring). Act Like You Love Me is about Paul's younger sister Brynn. Brynn is such a endearing and really engaging character. She was a drama geek in high school and was very awkward. Her high school memories are painful, to say the least, but she's made a nice life for herself since. She's developed a style that works for her, runs a business with her brother, and fills her time by performing in plays. But Brynn is still that same girl from high school in ways. She still loves to break out in song, quotes lines from plays into conversation, and often has her head in the clouds. As much as Brynn has moved on, she never quite got over the heartbreak of being shot down by Sawyer Raines. Her new director.Sawyer Raines left home as soon as he graduated and never wants to settle there again. In fact, he never wants to settle at all. His father's death after a difficult illness left Sawyer with a fear of  love and commitment. So when he comes home temporarily to help his mom, Sawyer is thrown when he meets the sweetest, funniest, most beautiful girl he's ever known, Brynn Sawyer doesn't remember Brynn from high school, or the fact he shot her down. Despite the fact he's leaving town, Sawyer wants to know get to know Brynn, and have a relationship. But he quickly realizes that the more he gets to know her, the harder leaving will be. I have to admit, I was a little worried about Sawyer in the beginning, thinking he would be a huge jerk. Rest assured, because Sawyer was a truly sweet guy, who just needs to realize that it's okay to  take a chance on love.So you may be wondering, why doesn't Brynn just tell Sawyer who she is? For starters, that's kind of a huge part of the story, so if she had, well, you know... And it should be noted that the play Brynn is in and Sawyer is directing is The Importance of Being Earnest. That is a classic play about mistaken identity and half truths all in the name of love. (I highly recommend the movie adaptation with Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, and Reese Witherspoon.) So it is cool that there are some parallels between the book and the play. But also, when you see how hard high school was for Brynn and how thrown she is about seeing Sawyer again, and that he's actually interested in her, it really makes sense. Plus, who's going to say, "Hey, remember me? The girl you humiliated when I asked you to Prom?" This is a case of self-preservation that snowballs into a huge lie. And you know it's not going to end well, but you just have to hang on for the ride. Most importantly, along the way, Brynn comes to realize that that the "real" her is great just as she is, and only someone who can recognize that deserves her heart.Bonus points: Wes and Dani are in Act Like You Love Me!Most readers are lucky enough to find authors who write books that feel like they're written specifically for them. For me, Cindi Madsen is one of those authors. Any time I read one of her books, and this series in particular, I have the best time. Her writing has such charm and quick wit, and it truly makes me happy. That's not to say that humor is all that's going for her writing, because tucked in between the charm and fun is always a thoughtful story. As I was reading, I kept feeling like Act Like You Love Me had a similar tone as one of my favorite movies. About halfway through, it hit me: Never Been Kissed! (And now I'm realizing that movie is due for a 're-watch.)Act Like You Love Me is another great book from Cindi Madsen and Entangled Bliss.