Falling in love is hard. Falling in love on national television is impossible. Right?
Leighton Aldridge did not sign up to meet her soulmate. She signed up for the lights, camera and action. So when the Hollywood-native ends up with the wounded war veteran and a ring on her finger, it’s a surprise to everyone. What isn’t a surprise is the way she breaks Finn Wyatt’s heart, or the massively … massively public breakup that follows. But a year later she’s back, ready for another round on the reality TV show that brought them together. She knows he was the real thing, and she’s ready to fight for him.
Finn is the new Mr. Right. The country’s favorite single guy, and the object of 25 women’s affections. But when his ex-fiance steps onto set and back into the limelight, he wishes he never agreed to another season. Leighton shattered his heart for the world to see, and he’s not ready to face that reality. Can Leighton convince him, and America, that she’s the one? Or will her future with Finn only consist of 15 more minutes of fame?
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***4.5 Hearts
Kissed by Reality is the first book I have read by Carrie and I know it won’t be my last. As soon as I read the synopsis along with the beautiful cover, I knew I had to read it! I love reality shows. I know it’s full of drama, and yes, can be scripted but it’s one of my guilty pleasures. Actually, I don’t feel guilty about it. I have even gone to DASH boutique. I have the keychain. Anyway…this isn’t about the Kardashians. This is Leighton and Finn’s story…
This isn’t Leighton and Finn’s first rodeo. This is their third! Leighton was looking for fame when she went on Mr. Right the first time, and she found her fifteen minutes. And when that ended she went to Right Now Island. Why not? She would get a free trip, flirt with hot cast-offs from previous Mrs. Right’s seasons, and have some fun in the sun. What she didn’t expect was that she would actually leave the island in love and even engaged. To Finn Wyatt. The new Mr. Right. The man that she is determined to win back after she broke his heart six months ago…
Fuck! What is she doing here? That was what Finn’s first thought was after she got out of the limo. He was set-up. He wanted to hate the woman that broke him but his body, and heart betrayed him. He didn’t want her here. If it was up to him she would be gone before she even entered the house. But it wasn’t up to him. It was up to the producers and their precious ratings. He didn’t know why she would be back here unless she was looking for another fifteen minutes. Well, two can play at this game, he will just have to fall in love with someone else right in front of her. It would be the only way to break her down. But what if she was actually there for love? He was determined to get her off of his mind but when it came to Leighton that was easier said than done.
Leighton and Finn have gone through so much together. He is a wounded veteran and she never looked at him or treated him any differently because of his missing leg. She actually loved him even more because of it. And Finn saw past Leighton’s beauty and saw so much more. She was sweet, silly, and beautiful on the inside. But, does all this mean that he could forgive her for her past betrayal? The one that was seen by millions. The one that ripped him apart. Can Leighton win his heart once again or will one of the other 24 hopefuls be “the one”?
I wasn’t so sure of Leighton at first but it didn’t take me long to root for her. I know for a fact that I could not do what she did. A man that I loved was going to have 24 other woman vying for his attention. Kissing him. Falling for him. Talking about their one on one dates. I would be a basket case. But, at the same time, it would be easier to fight for him than to watch him fall for someone else while you sat at home watching it all go down.
Overall…I was hooked from the start. I was nervous. I laughed. I teared up. It was a great rollercoaster ride.
Quotes:
“Find me somebody to love, find me somebody to love, find me somebody to love…”
“Promise you won’t let go?” Jesus, I sounded like some desperate version of Rose in Titanic.
“Well, since you said please. You know I’ve always had a thing for manners.”
So this is second chance meets reality dating. The Bachelor is about the only reality show I have ever watched or even found interesting, which is because of all the drama the women cause each other. I did feel like the reality tv part was a bit of a background thought in this and Leighton and Finn were center stage. I mean, honestly, there was no suspense here because it was pretty obvious who Finn was going to choose and there wasn’t much drama between the girls in the house.
I think I’m totally the minority here in that I didn’t like Leighton…I don’t like cheating or go for it at all, so she was pathetic to me. I did like the scenes with Leighton and seeing his family again after she also broke their hearts. I think they were harder to bring around than Finn was!
This book totally made me LOL a few times though and Aaron’s is superb at writing those hot sex scenes!!