| Title | : | Faked (Ward Sisters, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 259 |
| Publication | : | First published June 16, 2020 |
Why?
Because it will give her an evening with the man she’s been crushing on for years, Lia’s best friend, Finn.
Miss Straight A Student has thought through all the angles, and knows the risk is worth it. And everything would have been fine, if Finn had been the one to show up at her door.
But it wasn’t.
Bauer Davis— Finn’s half brother and his exact opposite in just about every definable category is the one waiting for her instead. A professional snowboarder, Bauer is covered in ink, full of attitude, and has a chip on his shoulder the size of Mt. Olympus. The kind of bad boy that Claire has never been attracted to before.
Now the good girl is with the wrong brother for a night, and when the consequence is that they have to pretend to be together for an event, it’s nothing she could have predicted. But maybe, just maybe, what makes Bauer so bad, is exactly what Claire needs.
Faked (Ward Sisters, #2) Reviews
-
– 3 stars
Faked was a cute story. If you liked Focused, you will like this one too, if not even more.
I think this is a "it's me, it's not the book" thing. For once I have a thing with names. If I don't like the names of the characters the book is already to a medium start. Guys don't name your children after numbers*X Æ A-12 is leaving the chat*or Bauer. You're asking what my problem with Bauer is? Well, Bauer means "farmer" or "peasant" in German and honestly that's just not an attractive name. Sorry, I hope no one feels offended.
The other reason was that I was completely bored with the first half of the story. Despite his name, I found myself quite liking Bauer. He is the 'bad boy' and black sheep of the family. Claire on the other hand was not that interesting. She the A-student, the quiet twin and the girl who has a crush on her twin's best friend. So when Lia (the twin sister) asked Claire to do a twin-switch to go to an event with Finn (Claire's crush), but got the other brother instead, that should been fun right? But the execution was pretty lukewarm.
Another trope this book has is insta-love. After a few days Claire and Bauer are all heart-eyes for each other and I was not feeling it. On paper the opposite attracts trope looks good, but I just didn't see much chemistry between the main characters until the second part of the book.
On a more positive note. I absolutely love the Ward family. Every scene with Paige, Logan, Lia, Isabel and Emmett made me smile. The support and relationship they have with each other is just adorable and I love reading about these healthy family ties.
Overall a pretty sweet, safe and unproblematic read that just didn't leave a memorable impression. -
DNF @55
For the first 30% of the book I was .. not necessarily into it, but I also didn’t have to force myself to read it. From there on - it was torture. I was so very bored, and for once I thought - you know what, I don’t have time for this, my kindle is basically overflowing with my TBR - it was hard only because usually Karla’s books are such safe, uncomplicated, sweet books which I totally wanted right now, but well, it is what it is.
Bauer, was okay as a male lead and had potential and an actual story behind him but Claire was so unremarkable and just devoid of anything I usually want to read about a heroine. I don’t understand the attraction between those two. I mean I get why Claire might like the broken soul bad boy but as to the other way around - I just .. nope.
I think Claire maybe reminds me of the kind of person I’d have nothing to talk to. I mean, I did think her insights into the field of childhood developmental psychology are pretty amazing, and she’s smart on that front, but anything outside that topic of conversation and I’d be bored out of my mind.
Take this with a grain of salt, because I might just be going through a phase where I don’t like anything I read.
Overall I wouldn’t NOT recommend this because it has the makings of a sweet romance - I just couldn’t get into it. -
“There’s you. That’ll always be the best part of my day.”
Claire Ward is the quiet one among her siblings. Growing up she was constantly facing comparisons with her twin sister Lia and she often felt overshadowed. She wants people to think of her as her own separate person from Lia — for people not to compare them nor group them together. This book finally puts her in the spotlight and I loved getting to know her even more! She’s very empathetic and cares a lot about helping others, I can’t help but admire her.
If you’ve met the Wards before Faked… you know she’s had feelings for Finn, Lia’s best friend, for a while. She’s set to attend a family event with Finn in Lia’s place (a twin swap!). Instead, it’s Finn’s half-brother Bauer Davis who picks up Claire. He’s a snowboarder and the exact opposite of Finn.
Bauer really won my heart over. He has his flaws(who doesn’t?)but I could see that he was willing to try harder and work through his emotionally-stunted heart all for Claire. He’s someone you really just want to give all your love to because you just know he deserves it and needs it but never got a lot of it growing up.
I love the kind of relationship they have. They understand each other in different ways. Bauer was “the other brother.” The black sheep of the family. Claire was the twin who had always faded into the background. She is one of the very few people in Bauer’s life who thinks good of him and isn’t expecting him to mess up any second. Bauer, who is usually closed off, allows himself to be vulnerable around her.
As always, I love the scenes of the Ward family!!! To think Claire and Lia were barely teenagers in The Marriage Effect… Logan and Paige really did raise them well. It’s evident how much they love and support they had for each other growing up affected Claire. In contrast, it’s also shown how the lack of a good family dynamic affected Bauer.
Admittedly, I wanted more scenes with the family but I guess they really are growing up huh. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know more about Lia and Isabel through their books!
I’m really grateful Karla Sorensen took a turn and started from scratch when writing this book. I still remember her posts when she did that, and it definitely paid off. Claire and Bauer are amazing together. They feel right. I wish this book was a little bit longer, actually. I want more!!!
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
6/16/2020: Now LIVE and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
myBook.to/Faked -
5 stars
“You make me feel amazing just by being you, Bauer.”
I don't know what it was about this book that made me love it so much, but I absolutely did! There was something special about Claire and Bauer's story. It made me smile, made me feel, and I completely adored it!
Claire Ward is an identical twin and is doing her sister Lia a favor by going to an event in her place. She ends up going with Lia's best friend's brother instead of Lia's best friend as planned and Bauer knows it's not Lia right away. Claire is different and feels different to him. Bauer is not close to his family. He's the black sheep and only comes around on occasion so this is the first time Claire meets him.
I loved watching Claire and Bauer get to know each other. This had so many fun troupes- twin switch, forced proximity, fake dating... I just loved it! It was the best kind of emotional and there was nothing I didn't enjoy about the story. By far my favorite Karla Sorensen book to date!
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrators: Cindy Kay & Connor Crais
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 7h 13m -
3.75 stars
I liked this one more than
Focused.
In this one the characters had more depth and chemistry as compared to that, in my opinion. Although this had a little bit of insta element for Bauer, I still liked the way it developed between them.
Claire was a smart and intelligent character, which I felt was emphasized a little too much at some points but overall she was good. She was sweet, understanding and I felt that she actually connected with Bauer. Bauer was an amazing character. He was the black sheep of the family and I don't think he is to blame, it was just because of the way he was raised. His relationship with his step mom had alienated him from his father and half brother as well, and he never really had a true family to depend on. While both Claire and Bauer didn't have their biological mother with them, they were totally different because Claire had a family to support her while Bauer certainly never felt like he had one to lean on.
What I really felt was their ability to read and understand each other. You can never know what's going on in someone's mind but you can feel when someone you care about is unhappy or vice versa. Bauer had that rough and tough thing pat down but he was as insecure as he was confident. Claire had her own insecurities to deal with, being the more quiet and shy twin of the two. She was a little similar to Molly but at the same time a bit better too, in my opinion.
In terms of plot this one too didn't have anything you would call new/fresh (okay one thing- he was a snowboarder and I am glad it wasn't another football or hockey romance lol) but it was certainly developed much better than Molly's story and I know I shouldn't be comparing since technically they are all stand-alones but we do usually compare an author's recent work to their previous work so I'm going ahead with it.
I am not going to summarize the plot here because I have discovered that it kills a little bit of anticipation and if you've read Focused, you are certainly anticipating this one. I enjoyed this more and now I definitely have to read Logan's story before Lia's comes out because apparently the twins were little shits to Paige which I cannot wait to see. And I love Logan and Paige already so it won't be hard :D
PS: I had just one problem- Bauer's father's name was written Robert thrice while thrice he was referred to as Tom, so idk what to make of that. -
I normally prefer my romance emotional with deep feelings, hot with sizzling chemistry and fun with some delicious banter.
This book is emotional with deep feelings. It is sweet and it made me feel. Ergo, 3 points.
If it had some fun banter and if it were hot, it could have been easily 5 stars for me because both characters are so very likable and I felt their love towards each other.
Writing & Safety:
- It is written in dual point of view.
- 242 pages.
- Predictable with very low angst.
- Happy end with no marriage and children.
- Safe with no cheating / no OM or OW drama.
P.S: I love the cover - good job there 👍
*********************************************
You can follow
my Instagram page from here -
"You Ward women, you should come with a warning label, princess."
Claire and Bauer were not the pairing I was expecting, but I don’t think any other couple would have worked. Finn boy seems great, but Bauer ohhhh Bauer is Claire’s perfect other half for sure. In this one we are served a little twin swap, a little fake date, and a little forced proximity. All delicious tropes. These two fall pretty quickly, but it’s sweet. They both have past and parental issues, and I love how they sort of open up to each other like they’ve never done with anyone else.
All in all a good read. Love these Ward sisters and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Lia is up next and her small POV at the end sounds promising for her book! -
This wasn't a bad romance, but it was definitely lackluster when comparing it to books one and four in this series. I really liked Bauer's character, but I had no idea why he was considered such a "bad boy." He was a successful snowboarder with tattoos and had one incident that was caught on camera, but that was it. I didn't really fully grasp the depth of his issues with his family or why his stepmom had such a problem with him. The romance was sweet, but it did feel pretty insta-love, especially with how short of a time frame this book took place in. I also knew that the final conflict was coming and wished the author chose something different and not as obvious from the start. I just wanted a little more from this one!
-
Faked is sweet. I am surprised to find this book sweet. The cover promising a bad boy hero. Miss Sorensen however took me by surprise. Bauer is ultimately boyfriend material indeed.
He is sweet and loving. His heart is just tender. Both Clara and Bauer lit up the story. The story itself is not long and not too much drama involved.
Really like the book.
4 stars -
This book was pretty sweet and I was enjoying reading it but it was one of those books that didn't affect me in any way. I just think this book was a little forgettable for me.
Bauer was supposed to be the "bad boy" of sports but I didn't get that vibe from him. Honestly, I thought he was nice and passionate about his work which is always a good thing. He was a great book boyfriend. ;)
Claire was definitely a good girl like its said in the blurb. She was passionate about her studies and I liked that about her.
Their chemistry was amazing and it was a pretty good opposites attract.
But, halfway through the book I could see where the book was headed and what would drive them apart. It didn't surprise me at all. I was bored a lot in the begining too. There was just nothing about this book that stood out to me.
Still, I would probably recommend it to anyone who wants a light and cute read. Also, I can't wait for Lia's book. I think it's gonna be good. -
4 STARS
Another fantastic read from Karla, if you haven't read yet her books do it now!!The chemistry between Bauer and Claire was smoking hot, I couldn't get enough of them!
"His wide grin held the slightest secret edge to it that was meant only for me. It made my heart race."
Claire and Bauer had such a nice dynamic, I loved their momments together!I adored them!Faked is a standalone, it's sweet, sexy and refreshing!
-
"His smile was small and sweet, and the way he was watching me made me blush in a different way. It wasn't sexual. Bauer looked… fascinated. Enamored. Like a man who was falling in love."
>> 4.5 stars
Faked is the kind of romance you read when you just wanna relax and witness two people falling in love with each other very quickly and without any major drama to keep them apart. Even though Claire Ward and Bauer Davis' relationship can be considered insta-love, I wasn't bothered by that because they shared such a deep connection that it honestly felt like they already knew each other for years. Everything between Claire and Bauer was natural and effortless, so it was easy to believe that they were perfect together.
I loved that Bauer was smitten with Claire from the very start and didn’t try to hide it. He was always trying to make Claire flustered and her reactions were hilarious because she didn’t want Bauer to think he was growing on her. Bauer was also sweet, funny and the biggest flirt in the world. I honestly don’t know how Claire managed to not kiss him the first time he called her "princess". Moreover, I loved that this book had so many of my favorite tropes: bad boy/good girl, fake dating and "just one bed". They definitely made Claire and Bauer's relationship even more interesting and captivating.
I never thought Karla would create a hero as perfect as Logan Ward again, but she did it. I'm a sucker for lonely characters that think no one could ever love them, so it was impossible to not love Bauer. Behind the bad boy exterior, there was a man who suffered a lot and was so afraid of being rejected that he just stopped letting anyone in, but as he started trusting Claire, he also started trusting himself. His growth from a closed off and sarcastic guy to a soft and funny one was amazing.
Even though we saw glimpses of Claire in the previous book, it was incredible to finally see what went through her head and what a focused, successful and determined woman she became. Considering she has always been a quiet and observant child, it made perfect sense that she was the one who decided to study and work with child development. She often wondered what made children become the people they were and those scenes offered a lot of great insights about the subject. The connections Claire made between her studies and what she and Bauer went through only made the book seem more real. Besides that, you can see that Claire was definitely raised by Paige because she didn't take any shit and stood up for herself when it was necessary. The Ward girls are simply perfect <3
However, I was disappointed by the lack of family scenes and the abrupt ending. I know that Claire and Bauer are mostly drama free characters, but I felt like they should have discussed what happened in more depth instead of just letting it go. Other than those minor problems, Karla Sorensen once again delivered a solid romance with cute, strong and amazing characters and a straightforward plot. I think it's safe to say that she’s now one of my favorite romance writers and I can’t wait to read her other books (especially Lia and Isabel’s stories)!
*ARC provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review* -
DNF 24%
No chemistry. At all.
The characters were also so plain and boring.
-
4.5 stars
Faked is yet another spin off from
The Marriage Effect, following Logan & Paige. i enjoyed this! it's fun, light, and just as flirty.
Claire is the total opposite of her twin, Lia - shy and soft spoken. she's been harbouring a crush on her Lia's best friend for years. Lia is set to attend an event with Finn. something caught up and that's when she wanted a 'twin swap' with Claire. Claire agreed eventually but is shocked to see Bauer, Finn's half brother, at her door instead.
I guess what i really enjoyed here is that Bauer always felt like the other brother. he might be cool about it on the outside but deep down he hated it. Claire understood his feelings and in fact, she's one of the few people in his life that appreciated and acknowledged him. this makes Bauer even more tempted to keep her.
"You Ward women, you should come with a warning label, princess."
4.5 stars! ⭐️ -
Faked is the second story in a spin-off series that takes us into the lives of the 4 Ward sisters who we met as young teenagers in ‘The Marriage Effect’. I have loved the Ward sisters ever since reading Logan’s book and the fact that they are now getting their own stories makes me ecstatic. And let me tell you, Karla has delivered big time! I loved Molly’s book but this book for Claire... ahh, I absolutely adored it!
I absolutely devoured this story! Faked is such a fun flirty, and light read that left me loving these characters and just wanting more. Bauer and Claire pulled me in right to their story from the get go and there wasn't a dull moment. They have such a great dynamic together and their chemistry is off the charts. Whilst their romance paced quite quickly, I felt the instant connection between them. They are the true definition of opposites attract, but boy, do they work. Their mutual banter and their vulnerabilities made them relatable and real characters. The Ward family just seems to give me all the feels while reading and this story was no exception. Another stellar book from Karla Sorensen; it was everything I could want in a romance story with a fun twin swap twist - two complete opposites unexpectedly thrown together yet end up fitting perfectly for one another.
Faked was such a wonderful book. It ticked ALL my boxes! It was perfect balance of swoonworthy storytelling and steam, hot and sexy moments. Karla Sorensen has penned a beautifully written story which gave me feel all the feel good emotions. Claire and Bauer's touching love story is a absolute must read! -
Let me start by saying, I loved the Washington Wolves series. Then it was announced that the Ward sisters would also get books. I am not always a fan of "spin-off" stories, or the kids of the previous generation. This time, of course, it was more younger siblings, but still, I was unsure. Then came Focused, probably my all-time favourite American football romance to date. And I knew I should have just trusted Karla Sorensen to deliver great stories.
Because Faked is no different. Is it a fun story of a twin swap, meeting the bad brother instead of the good one, throw in some snowed-in escapades for good measure? Sure. But boy is it more. SOOO much more. Without being over the top drama, without being angsty. It is just real, and deep, and emotional, while never losing sight of humour, butterflies and sibling bickering.
Claire is amazing. She is strong, she has ideas, and she has a twin sister who has always outshone her a little. Maybe sometimes she hid behind her, but sometimes it must hurt to not be seen as more than the other half. Her astuteness, her kindness, her empathy, make her exceptional. She doesn't stop at glancing at people, she wants more, underneath the surface, which I absolutely loved. I know that quiet, in the corner, but always watching, kind of behaviour all too well, and it is so refreshing to see it paired not with a wallflower-shy-virgin-needs to be saved by the bad boy to be shown the world kind of thing, but she is her own person. A truly unique and great one.
Bauer, oh Bauer. The inked older half brother of Claire's affection, and everything she didn't want. Until maybe.... that proves much more interesting than the one she was always staring at from the corner of her eye. Bauer is a tough guy, and pulls up a wall like we all do, in order to not be hurt, but he's no asshole. He's had a bad set of cards that life dealt him, but he's making his way. He can be closed off and hurt by his past, but also opening up, and optimistic, which is just so endearing about him.
I just enjoyed their conversation. Actual, grown-up conversation from deep to light, listening, truly listening. Their love grows so tentative through exploring one another and then bursts free in the sweetest, hottest, most understanding way. Their story was perhaps unusual, but in no way unreal or contrived. And most of all, it made me feel. I was there with them, from the first surprise, the fun, the butterflies, the heartache and the heart soaring. I felt. Big things. Just like them. And that is all you want from a book. Absolutely phenomenal."You're just about the least forgettable person I've ever met, Claire."
I mean, swoon, right? That's what we all want. To be seen. And they pay attention to each other.
If there is anything to say.. then I wanted more. More Claire and Bauer, more Bauer and his mentor, more Agnes, more Ward family, more of everything. But that's just because I am greedy :D And boy, can I not wait for the next book!!! -
3 ❤️🤔❤️⭐️s
The concept of the wrong sister with the wrong brother piqued my interest, yet up to 34% I couldn’t be invested in the story.
It was well written, however such a level of inner thoughts and analysing psychological behaviours became uninspiring.
Claire was a typical good girl and Bauer was just a not so much badass character as he was portrayed to be. Their connection and chemistry were not very convincing while their relationship developed so fast!
It didn’t excite me that much... -
tropes: ''mistaken'' identity, force proximity, snowed in
Claire pretends to be her twin sister so she can make Finn fall in love with her. Finn is sick, so he asks his brother Bauer to go in his place. instant sparks.
She's the 'good girl' and he's the 'bad boy' of the family.
this was good, but the first one was so good that i don't know if some book can be as good as the first. :) -
The moment I read the blurb for Faked I knew I NEEDED to get my hands on this book. I mean, talk about a BLURB JOLT MOMENT! I love a good twin switch! Add in the heroine ending up with the other brother, the bad-boy brother she’s never even met!
GAH! YES YES YES, just all the freaking YESES.
I was so here for that. And let me tell you, this book was all sorts of intoxicating. I was hooked right from the start. I LOVE the good girl/bad boy trope. That opposites attract thing is soooooo sexy! Add in TONS of chemistry, a great build up, ALL the feels, and a storyline that is so easy, and you have FAKED. Just AMAZING from start to finish!
Karla Sorensen is really great at creating a build, at giving her characters a good backstory, of adding tons of detail. There’s so much tension and feels, chemistry and sexy in her books! The moment Bauer shows up to pick up Claire, YOU FEEL IT. That sizzle. That “OMG, this is going to be so good” feeling. And it did not disappoint.
Bauer is the black sheep of his family. Next to his step-brother Finn, he thinks he’s second best and that makes you want to snuggle and love on him! Claire is so opposite of Bauer. Where Bauer is mouthy and reckless, Claire is quiet and reserved, thoughtful and observant. Their dynamic is pure perfection and the way they are together is just delicious.
Overall, Faked had EVERYTHING I want in a romance. Feels, swoon, sexy, a dash of angst, and ALL the banter. I ADORED every word. Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a solid romance. Faked is a standalone in a series. That said, if you have time to pick up The Marriage Effect, DO IT. It’s where you’re introduced to the Ward Family. And then dive into Focused, followed by Faked. These books are just SO BEYOND good. -
4.5 | It makes me sad that the Ward sisters are only four because that means that rather sooner than later the series will end and I don't want that. I just love this family SO MUCH, MY LOVE GROWS WITH EACH BOOK 😭💖
"What Claire Ward was doing to me, I wasn't entirely sure, but I was on unsteady footing. She had me balancing on a beam, thin and wobbly, over a wide-open expanse and no net."
Claire Ward just wants someone to see her for who she is, and that's not an easy task when she has an identical twin but with a more exuberant personality as opposed to her way of being, quiet and calm. When said twin sister asks her to swap places as a favor, she says yes because she finally has the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the man of her dreams, Finn. But at the end of the day it's not him the one waiting for her outside her apartment looking handsome in a tuxedo, but Fin's half brother, professional snowboarder and the family's black sheep, Bauer Davis.
I really liked Claire's character. She was just looking for her place in the world outside of the twin set, where her calm and quiet personality was heard anyway. Also she was so empathetic? I feel like we don't see this trait enough in fictional characters and it's quite necessary. Bauer Davis was a surprise. Posed as the typical bad boy, he was nothing more than a softie shielded behind sarcasm and nonchalance, needing a little understanding and affection.
As for the romance, although it was a bit like insta-love/insta-attraction I really enjoyed it, but more than anything because it was full of pillow talks about how they felt, what they were waiting for, listening to each other, Claire letting out a few things that she had kept only for herself, Bauer leaving behind some bad experiences and fears, opening up to new possibilities, etc. It was well balanced between funny and cute moments.
Some of my favorite parts of this book was the family time. Logan is the perfect big brother/parent figure, always there for his sisters, Paige and Isabel are hilarious, I swear, they're crazy and so is Lia, although I'm not so sure about her character for now but we'll see... Anyway, I love this family and I can't wait for the next two books, especially Isabel's. I feel like all these Mommy issues are gonna explode in that book👀
ps. I'm still wearing my clown costume after the way we were played about Claire's li🤡 -
3.5
this was a very cute uncomplicated lil' romance -
3.25
-
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this story! Karla just keeps surprising me with every book & pushing herself towards the top of my Favourite Authors List.
This book is smart, it’s sexy and it’s just the kind of romance I love. Packed with honest, flawed characters who make you fall for them - even when you want to throttle them!
Claire’s character is like an unexpected treasure. We obviously know her from other books in the series, but it’s here she blossoms. Quietly strong, witty and kind. She’s the type of woman you want to be friends with.
Now Bauer, well he is Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame material. I am talking climb him like a tree, faint from his dirty talk kind of hot. But you know what I loved even more, his flaws and his vulnerabilities. Who said an alpha can’t have feelings!
It’s a rich read with a cast of amazing supporting characters, fantastic pace and enough angst that had me happily reading until 3am because I just couldn’t put it down!
Definitely a 2020 Favourite. This one gets all the “you’re everything I never knew I needed stars” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an arc of this book. -
ARRRRGH! Claire and Bauer were just so completely adorable – I can barely even handle it!
This series! This series is turning out to be everything I didn’t even know I needed. Ms. Sorensen delivers on all the things I love the best: the chemistry, the banter, the sweet steady burn that holds my heart in thrall and keeps my greedy little reader brain hungry for more. Faked delivered on all those things – and more! I loved it so much!
This is a sexy sweet fake romance / opposites attract story. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, but in the very best way. The chemistry between Claire and Bauer fired up immediately and I loved how it took even them by complete surprise. I loved how eager they were to discover each other, and how angst-free their love developed. I gobbled up their adorableness. I wanted more time watching them get to know each other and unpack their histories. I wanted more banter and sweetness. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d ever get enough.
If there’s a flaw, it’s that I might have liked to have seen more groveling from Bauer in the end. Their conflict – which I connected with – wrapped up pretty neatly. And I love that it stayed true to the fact that there was very little angst between Claire and Bauer themselves, but given Claire’s history and her own childhood trauma, I would have liked to have seen him address that and fall at her feet a little to make up for his actions. I also wasn’t sure what to make of Lia in this book – though I’m excited to learn more about what makes her tick in the next one. Claire, as it turns out, is a far more forgiving person than I am – and I adored her. I just simply, absolutely adored her.
I also loved getting to see some growth from Bauer and his relationship with his family - particularly Finn. I loved that some of those relationships began healing, and the role that Finn played in getting him back together with Claire. Bauer was straight up dreamy, y'all. A little broken. A bit of a chip on his shoulder. But his heart was so big - I was completely smitten.
This was another fantastic read! I am falling deeper and deeper in love with this Ward family, and enjoying every second I get to spend in their romances. I can’t wait for what’s left to come! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars
****
9/2022
I am so hooked on Karla Sorensen's Ward Sister series. It is a delicious feel good series with incredible banter, tension and amazing family dynamics. I was so invested in Claire and Bauer's emotional love story and can't wait for Lia's overseas love story! 4 stars! ~Ratula -
Spoilers ahead, 2.5* rounded up only because I really like this family
I actually expected Isabel's book to be second but onward
For years Claire has had a crush on her twin sister's best friend Finn but they've never spent any time together for her to say something. Finally an opportunity presents itself when Lia needs someone to take her place in accompanying Finn to an important benefit dinner. Claire agrees to pretend to be her twin sister for a good cause and also score a little time with the man of her dreams. The last thing she expected was for his tatted up bad boy brother to show as her date.
Bauer is a professional snowboarder and part time bartender who just lost his sponsor due to a supposed drunken incident that was posted on Twitter. In an attempt to find new sponsorship he decides to take Finn's place after hearing that he's ill. He goes to pick up Lia and finds her twin instead. The last thing Bauer expects is to be intrigued by the beautiful and intelligent princess on his arm,but that's exactly what he is. When an opportunity to spend more time with Claire arises Bauer is grateful but his emotional issues and Claire's one time crush on his brother derail their hea before it even begins.
**********
There were a couple similarities to book 1,for instance the couple only get a couple days together before everything turns to shit, the relationship spanned maybe a week, a whole lot of nothing happening in the middle of the book with the last 15% being sweet and another epilogue that's not far out enough(I'm still hopeful that maybe by the last book we get a giant epilogue with the entire family).
One of the differences that I wasn't pleased with was that Bauer gave off a whiff of eau de manwhore, after a celibate H in book 1 I was definitely side eyeing Bauer.
Nothing happened for too much of this book, I skimmed a bit and had to wash my face to stay awake a couple times
The time the mcs actually had together was so!if gold however
I really really like this family,especially Paige and Logan
The argument and Bauer's cut and run reaction were predictable
Why didn't he have to work harder for forgiveness? He acted like a coward, looking for the first opportunity to run.
All in all not the greatest but a solid read nonetheless
No cheating
He felt manwhorey to me though it's said he's been celibate a while IDK, from the moment I heard he'd slept with snow bunnies I judged him 😂
h wasn't a virgin
H 26/h 21 -
“This woman could ask for a knife to flay me alive, and I just might have handed it to her with a dopey ass grin on my face. It was the scariest shit I'd ever experienced in my life, which didn't explain why all I wanted to do was hold her hand, see her smile back at me, and know that she was in it with me.
4.5 stars.
THIS WAS EVERYTHING AND IT JUST MADE ME MISS AND FALL IN LOVE WITH THE WARDS EVEN MORE!!!!
ALSO, BAUER FUCKING DAVIS!!! That's it. That's all you need to know for now!
I was excited for this book ever since I read Focused in the beginning of the year (in all honesty it was ever since I read The Marriage Effect and found out there was a spinoff for the Ward sisters but anyway), my excitement absolutely didn't die down in the last few months after the twist the author served us with.
Claire Ward is the youngest Ward sister, only a few minutes younger than her twin sister, Lia. A fact she doesn't seem to be able to forget as she's unable to get out of her sister's shadow. Everyone she ever meets chooses or compares her to her sister, because they may look the same, but their personalities is very much different. Lia is outgoing while Claire is more of an introvert, and while people are generally drawn to Lia, they mostly tend to overlook Claire. So this book was finally an insight on who Claire when apart from her twin.
Going into this, we already know Claire has a crush on her sister's best friend Finn, which is just another instance of someone picking her sister eventhough they look the exact same. So, when the opportunity presents itself in the form of a twin-switch where she has to accompany Finn to one of his family's events, she jumps at the chance to finally show her long time crush who she really is. Except, it's not the person she excepts that knocks on her door.
Enter Bauer Davis, the black sheep of the family.
Bauer is Finn's Half-Brother, and like Claire, he is often compared to his perfect doctor brother. Except, unlike Claire, it's his own family who seems to find him lacking. Which, seemed pretty crazy to me, because Bauer took over my heart pretty soon after we meet him. He is like any other character really flawed, and he made mistakes in his past that he tried his hardest to atone for and ended up doing. He has very low self-esteem which he gained from years of being told he is not enough by his family (mostly his step-mother), which he hides behind self-deprecating humor.
For anyone who follows the author, it is no secret that she changed the direction of the romance for this book at the last minute, and let me tell you, it was a good move on her part.
After reading this book, I have no doubt that neither Bauer nor Claire would've made sense or have been better matched with anyone else.
The contrast of their home life, where Claire has a very loving and supportive family, versus Bauer who never seems to do anything good in his family's eyes was the perfect foundation of their relationship. Claire showed Bauer that he didn't need to believe everything his family says about him, that he IS enough; which lead him to finally opening up and being his true self with her, which was heartwarming, considering other than his mentor, he wasn't able to trust anyone with who he was. And Bauer, in his turn, SAW Claire, for WHO she is and not for how different she is from her twin.
I ended up loving their relationship, and their chemistry just made it even more amazing!
I have to admit, my favorite thing about this book/series is the Ward family relationship. I loved seeing how they grew up from The Marriage Effect under Logan and Paige's influence. This is a family that loves, helps and supports one another unconditionally. I loved seeing how protective Paige was of Claire, treating her as if she were her own daughter and going all MAMA BEAR on Bauer until he proved himself.
Another thing this book managed to make me love more was Isabel. She is without a doubt my favorite sister in this series, I loved seeing a different, new side of her in this installement. I absolutely cannot wait for her book.
This universe (Washington Wolves + Ward Sisters) may not have been my first read from this author, but it is without a doubt my favorite of hers, and one of my favorite of all times. And I would not hesitate to recommend it to everyone. I mean, seriously, if you haven't read it yet.. what are you waiting for? There is nothing better than healthy and supportive familial relationship, be it parental or with siblings... and this series has it in SPADES. (The incredible romances don't hurt either ;))
FAKED has now officially been added to my favorite reads of the year, and I just cannot wait to see more of this family. (Can they have long lost sisters so this series never ends? Pretty please? Thanks)
* ARC kindly provided by Enticing Journey in exchange for an honest review. -
claire and baeur just became my favorite couple sorry noah & molly 😭😭😭
thank you karla sorensen for giving me another 2020 favorite. if you havent started reading the ward family series i highly suggest you start it, every book is amazing.
i remember thinking we were gonna get finn and claire but i was soooo wrong, however my expectations were exceeded.
this book just gave me everything i wanted and more. we get fake dating, a hot snowboarder, great family dynamics and a wonderful heroine.
claire was probably my favorite character, she was kind, strong and just an amazing character. she took her own experience with her mom and made a career out of it to help others.
i loved her so much, every interaction between bauer and claire was witty, funny and just so cute! the family dynamic was everything! paige was so supportive and the best step mother for the girls. we got to see the dynamics between lia and claire as twins and best friends. lia wanted the best for claire even though she didnt think it was bauer but at the end of the day, they still loved each other so much!
hopefully soon we get a novella of the whole family in the mountains, that would be so cute!!
arc received by author in exchange of an honest review -
Da come l'autrice aveva introdotto Claire nel precedente libro, ero convinta che il protagonista maschile sarebbe stato Finn, il migliore amico di Lia, invece sorpresa!!! Ecco comparire il fratellastro tatuato, devo dire che a primo impatto ci sono rimasta male, ho pensato, ecco, il solito bad boy, ma mi sono dovuta ricredere...
Bauer è tutto fuorché "bad", sotto è un tenerone, ma non diteglielo, potrebbe prenderlo come un attacco alla sua virilità 😅... Una storia molto carina, Bauer è proprio il ragazzo giusto, che riesce a vedere Claire distinta dalla sorella gemella, e che la fa sentire speciale ❤️... Non mancano le paturnie e gli equivoci prima del lieto fine, d'altronde non può andare tutto liscio... Non vedo l'ora di leggere la storia di Lia... -
Ottimo il depistaggio dell'autrice alla fine del precedente romanzo.
Questo mi è piaciuto molto più dell'altro e il messaggio trasmesso è d'impatto per genitori e non....
"I bambini subivano le conseguenze di come gli adulti nella loro vita gli parlavano,li trattavano,li istruivano,li amavano. O non li amavano. Ad ogni azione corrispondeva una reazione. A volte era grande, a volte piccola"...
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -
It's okay.
I'm not a fan of the twin swap troupe but I have to say it doesn't follow the usual troupe in that the Hero of this book knows immediately that the twins have swapped.
The story was sweet. Not huge angst, bit boring at times.
Bit predictable, not difficult to see where the angst at 75% will come in.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
There is mention of their 'relationship' past.
The Hero is a snowboarder so he has a bit of a reputation with women but I felt the book gave mixed signals about that.
It's mentioned by his mentor that he knows he's not as bad as the media say he is.
The Hero tells the heroine, at one point that he hasn't had relationships, we know what that means.
There is a comment he was a bit of a man-whore type in his early successful days but not anymore yet he still only does ONS it seems.
Details are vague and it doesn't feature much.
Both Hero and heroine are described as having a long dry spell.
No cheating.
No flirting.
Other man drama in a sense as the heroine originally had a crush on the Hero's half brother, though nothing happened, she never told him and he didn't notice.
Lots of previous characters scenes from authors other books.
Teaser chapter for next book about the twin sister Lia.
One thing which I found odd was the phrase WWLD was used.
It was a line of its own.
WWLD.
Maybe it's my age but I had to Google it, it means What Would Lia Do.
I just found it really odd in the middle of a passage.
HEA.
Epilogue, 2 months later.
