Book Review: Hooked on the Game (Sterling Shore #1) by C.M. Owens

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(Blurb): Everyone has secrets that define them, a past that has shaped them, and a game they play - whether they know it or not. 

Despite the fact they live next door to each other, Kade and Raya have never made an effort to speak, until a wild party, four frat boys, and... a bulldozer. 

Sterling Shore was supposed to be a new start for eighteen-year-old Raya Capperton. Everything was working out perfectly until her two roommates were expelled for a prank, leaving Raya with the house she couldn't afford on her own. Fate intervenes before she has the chance to find a new home, but she struggles to decide if it's divine luck or the devil's cruel sense of humor. 

Twenty-one-year-old Kade Colton has his life planned out, and everything he does is an elaborate game to aid him with his future endeavors. Coming from money has made Kade's life easy, but he wants to build his own name - his own future. The thing he doesn't realize... when you only put forth superficial effort, you only acquire superficial friends. 

Raya is torn between being amused or disturbed by Kade and his philosophy, but the drive behind his determination isn't what Raya expected. Little by little, her hatred fades and is replaced by emotions she never would have believed she could have for the rich jerk she desperately doesn't want to care about. Too bad you can't force yourself not to care. 

The problem is... Kade's shiny name can't be tarnished, and Raya has a jaded tie she can't cut loose. Nothing about them can work, nothing about them makes sense, but nothing can seem to stop them from trying. 

*Not suitable for anyone under the age of eighteen 



Book Information:

Published: May 14, 2014 (C.M. Owens Edition 1)

Series: Yes, standalone

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age Group: New Adult

Length: 189p

Review:

Hooked on the Game features a trope that I really like reading every now and then; girl or guy who experiences misfortune and is paired with a very fortunate person. Both start reluctant, tensions mount, and as each learn of the other's life, they start to see that there is more to each other than what meets the eye. This is a great read if you're looking for something of that nature, but offers little originality beyond that.

What I liked

Hooked on the Game is very well written in terms of the female character, Raya. She's strong, but not obnoxiously bull-headed. She's independent and doesn't like asking for help, but she doesn't throw help back in the face of the givers. Most importantly, as the character progresses, her mindset does change a little bit but it's within the realm of the character and she doesn't turn into spineless mush and jump every time the swoon worthy guy says jump.

It has a fun con artist plot. Her dad is a world famous con artist who is coming to the end of his prison term. In a break from the typical, he's not portrayed as some creepy, never there father and they are actually quite close. His decisions have still affected her in many ways obviously which is the source of her love/hate relationship with her position in life.

What I didn't like

Kade wasn't my favorite. Granted he is a nice character that starts out a little misunderstood and his good intentions grow on you. I just didn't emotionally connect to him that well. His hot-and-cold was too overwhelming and I found it hard to believe any of his actions sincere. Interestingly, his friend Tag was the real scene stealer, and he was a very minor character. The few minutes he did show up he had a really defining personality which I can't say Kade had. 

There is a follow up book to this series with Tag's story that I think I'll read.