Review: Bradley completes her. Kind of.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
Exes should stay ex-ed. Scrap the rationalizations and utopian-rooted philosophy that people change and instead bunker down in the memories of why it was the Ex became the Ex. That’s my advice to heroine Kensington Shaw, the main character in Love Like the Movies by Victoria Van Tiem. Whether she takes it or not, you’ll have to read the book to find out.In Love Like the Movies, Kensington Shaw resolves to marry Bradley. Her parents adore him, her brother gets along with him, and the couple works together at the same burgeoning ad agency. He kind of completes her. Kind of. Despite a few differences between the ideal Bradley and herself, she doubts the dissimilarities will matter too much. She’s ready to march down the aisle and say “I do.”The proclamation of Bradley and Kensington’s engagement precedes the entry of Shane Bennett, a guy who broke Kensington’s heart in college.  Shane’s scene crashing unwinds a reel of second-guessing on Kensington’s parts as she reviews the choices she’s made since they ended their relationship.The title plays off of Shane’s attempt to woo Kensington. Kensington watches romantic comedies like Cupid shoots arrows. She’s been obsessed with the genre for years. In the guise of inspiring Kensington to create the perfect ad campaign for his company, Shane convinces her to reenact ten scenes from popular romantic comedies.  Engaged to Bradley and doubtful of Shane’s trustworthiness, Kensington plunges into the scheme for the sake of her own employment.When Kensington’s not shopping like Vivian from Pretty Woman, she’s rehashing  past relationship problems, but this time the hiccup’s with Bradley.  His dubiousness cast her friends, Bradley, and even Shane as people of ignoble character. The men in her life undermine her trust and do little to atone for their mistakes.The empowerment of choice strides throughout the story with its figurehead held high by Kensington’s Aunt Greta. Greta advises “don’t let choices be made for you.” The guidance awakens in Kensington a discovery:  to allow people to make choices for you, even if it means pleasing a loved one, means becoming a well-worn doormat. Choosing her own path endows Kensington to live her life according to her own values, not those of others.I’m still shaking my head, however, over what Kensington does choose. Possibly Aunt Greta could have added that one’s choice is only limited as far as one’s imagination. Choosing to be single or wait for a worthy love is also a choice.Love Like the Movies delivers a quick, fun read for romance readers and lovers of rom-com movies.  Smooth on sunscreen, download a copy to your e-reader, and relive some of those cute movie moments that made your heart beat faster.~originally posted on pagecravings.com