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Castle Calder #2
A Brit Unexpected
A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about trying to play it cool in a fake relationship with your real-life Hollywood crush.
The first time I saw Greyson Vaughn he was handling my baggage. And no, that’s not a cute way of saying he felt up my backside. The notorious bad boy actor and I shared a destination for the weekend: Castle Calder.
He wasn't quite as gentlemanly at our second meeting; he accused me of scheming to manipulate him. Greyson Vaughn is undeniably charming...he is a movie star after all. He might make my fan girl heart skip a beat or six, but I'll take a hard pass on sharing tea time with the jerk.
Only I'm not be as immune to his smile as I thought. One look, one laugh and I'm agreeing to be his fake girlfriend. Greyson's a talented actor and soon I'm not sure what's real and what's not. He's made it clear though, this is all for the cameras - those looks, that touch, that soul-searing kiss. The trouble is, I'm no actress, and there's no way I'll walk away from this in one piece.
The first time I saw Greyson Vaughn he was handling my baggage. And no, that’s not a cute way of saying he felt up my backside. The notorious bad boy actor and I shared a destination for the weekend: Castle Calder.
He wasn't quite as gentlemanly at our second meeting; he accused me of scheming to manipulate him. Greyson Vaughn is undeniably charming...he is a movie star after all. He might make my fan girl heart skip a beat or six, but I'll take a hard pass on sharing tea time with the jerk.
Only I'm not be as immune to his smile as I thought. One look, one laugh and I'm agreeing to be his fake girlfriend. Greyson's a talented actor and soon I'm not sure what's real and what's not. He's made it clear though, this is all for the cameras - those looks, that touch, that soul-searing kiss. The trouble is, I'm no actress, and there's no way I'll walk away from this in one piece.
Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2017
About the author
Brenda St. John Brown
20 books500 followersBrenda is a USA Today bestselling author living in the English countryside. Originally from New York, she's lived in the UK long enough to gain dual citizenship, but still doesn’t understand Celsius. However, she has learned the appropriate use of the word “pants”. And how to order a proper bacon bap/barm/buttie. Because, well, bacon.
Brenda writes contemporary romance to make you giggle and swoon. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, running and reading. In theory, she also enjoys cooking, but it’s more that she enjoys eating and, try as she might, she can’t live on Doritos alone.
For more information or to connect with Brenda visit http://brendastjohnbrown.com/
Brenda writes contemporary romance to make you giggle and swoon. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, running and reading. In theory, she also enjoys cooking, but it’s more that she enjoys eating and, try as she might, she can’t live on Doritos alone.
For more information or to connect with Brenda visit http://brendastjohnbrown.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 28, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the Castle Castle series, A Brit on the Side. I loved Bea and Jasper, plus the story made me wish I knew a family like the St Juliens and could visit/stay at a place like Castle Calder. I was excited to return to Castle Calder in A Brit Unexpected. I’m happy to say I loved this standalone companion even more than the first book.
After his high-profile ex-girlfriend starts spreading falsehoods about Greyson that could hurt his career, both he and Claire get roped into a fake dating scheme in an attempt to help Greyson’s public image. What starts off as a wary, tentative arrangement quickly turns into something more.
I really loved these two. Claire had a great voice; she’s relatable, and her inner monologue was hilarious. I especially loved the creative (very British) expletives and alternatives. I’ve always had celebrity crushes and imagined what it would be like to date this actor or that singer, so this book appealed to me on that level, but it was more than that. Without being full of angst like a lot of books with a similar premise, it was a relatable story about two people who had reservations and made mistakes, but grew separately and together. Because Claire and Greyson seemed so real, it made them easy to root for.
I think one of the things that made this book so unique is the fact Claire is British, when usually these types of books feature American girls, who often view celebrities differently. I’ve heard countless times that Brits don’t get as star-struck as North Americans do (like, for instance, I know I’d make a complete fool of myself if I even met a celebrity crush, let alone got to date them...there would likely be tears and babbling and redder-than-a-tomato blushing). A lot of Brits are like *oh there’s Benedict Cumberbatch on the tube, no big deal* or *I just passed Tom Hiddleston walking down the street, how cool* whereas North American girls would be more likely to do a scream-faint-stalk combo. So I loved that while Claire had her moments of fangirling and being awe-struck by Greyson, she wasn’t the fall-all-over-yourself fangirl. Also, a lot of ‘real person dates a celeb’ stories have endless drama and ‘but other girls are so much prettier, why would he date me?’ and constant thoughts about the celebrity’s status. There was very little of that in A Brit Unexpected, which was refreshing.
A Brit Unexpected is an absolute delight. Fast-paced, funny, and sexy, this book is a refreshing change from the norm. It’ll definitely be one I recommend often to people looking for a well-written, engaging romantic comedy.
April 14, 2017
3.5 stars!
Review and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
When Claire Dyer traveled back to Castle Calder to spend time with her family, she didn’t expect to meet Hollywood heartthrob Greyson Vaughn, let alone pose to be his fake girlfriend to fight off rumors that he’s stalking his pop star ex. But that she did. Now, not only are people wondering who she is, she’s accompanying Greyson on the red carpet as his date. And it’s not just for publicity. The two found a connection when they were in Castle Calder, and they want to see if what they have isn’t a fluke.
Fake relationship stories are my favorite! Doing it for publicity? Sprinkles on top of Nissa’s ideal trope cupcake. A Brit Unexpected was my first read by the author, and I enjoyed it very much. We have two reluctant people in a ruse of a relationship, often wondering if what they’re doing is an act and if their feelings are more than what they planned it to be.
I like how Claire fangirled over Greyson at the beginning. It felt very realistic to have a heroine who isn’t totally immune to a famous celebrity’s star factor, especially since Claire was a fan of his. Despite that, she still preferred he didn’t flirt with her unnecessarily. When they’re not putting on a show, she’d rather avoid affection and endearment because she’s honest she might not know if it’s real or not.
And Greyson is the sweetest! He knows exactly what to say to make a girl’s heart (and panties) melt. He goes into defensive mode when he thinks his privacy is being threatened and can tend to be a d*ck about it, but Claire calls him out on it and doesn’t let him off the hook.
I also loved their banter when they were in Calder Castle. It was easy to see when they were getting comfortable with each other. Who knew a conversation about capers could be so engaging?
However, when I first started reading A Brit Unexpected, I honestly thought they were in their early twenties. Their dialogue had an air of youth I didn’t expect from a twenty-eight-year-old guy like Greyson. If you asked me Claire’s age, I still wouldn’t be able to give a sure answer.
Other than that, I still very much enjoyed A Brit Unexpected. Who hasn’t imagined being in a relationship with their celebrity crush? Makeovers, paparazzi, red carpet premieres? It’s like the author saw my doodles when I was still crushing hard on Tom Felton back in the old Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows era. I crushed on that man hard!
A Brit Unexpected is the second standalone in the Calder Castle series and is told in Claire’s POV. It was a fast-paced story with a slow burn romance, fun banter, and low angst; perfect for a weekend or light read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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Review and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
When Claire Dyer traveled back to Castle Calder to spend time with her family, she didn’t expect to meet Hollywood heartthrob Greyson Vaughn, let alone pose to be his fake girlfriend to fight off rumors that he’s stalking his pop star ex. But that she did. Now, not only are people wondering who she is, she’s accompanying Greyson on the red carpet as his date. And it’s not just for publicity. The two found a connection when they were in Castle Calder, and they want to see if what they have isn’t a fluke.
Fake relationship stories are my favorite! Doing it for publicity? Sprinkles on top of Nissa’s ideal trope cupcake. A Brit Unexpected was my first read by the author, and I enjoyed it very much. We have two reluctant people in a ruse of a relationship, often wondering if what they’re doing is an act and if their feelings are more than what they planned it to be.
I like how Claire fangirled over Greyson at the beginning. It felt very realistic to have a heroine who isn’t totally immune to a famous celebrity’s star factor, especially since Claire was a fan of his. Despite that, she still preferred he didn’t flirt with her unnecessarily. When they’re not putting on a show, she’d rather avoid affection and endearment because she’s honest she might not know if it’s real or not.
And Greyson is the sweetest! He knows exactly what to say to make a girl’s heart (and panties) melt. He goes into defensive mode when he thinks his privacy is being threatened and can tend to be a d*ck about it, but Claire calls him out on it and doesn’t let him off the hook.
I also loved their banter when they were in Calder Castle. It was easy to see when they were getting comfortable with each other. Who knew a conversation about capers could be so engaging?
However, when I first started reading A Brit Unexpected, I honestly thought they were in their early twenties. Their dialogue had an air of youth I didn’t expect from a twenty-eight-year-old guy like Greyson. If you asked me Claire’s age, I still wouldn’t be able to give a sure answer.
Other than that, I still very much enjoyed A Brit Unexpected. Who hasn’t imagined being in a relationship with their celebrity crush? Makeovers, paparazzi, red carpet premieres? It’s like the author saw my doodles when I was still crushing hard on Tom Felton back in the old Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows era. I crushed on that man hard!
A Brit Unexpected is the second standalone in the Calder Castle series and is told in Claire’s POV. It was a fast-paced story with a slow burn romance, fun banter, and low angst; perfect for a weekend or light read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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December 2, 2017
3.5 stars
Too insta-lovey for my taste
So instead, I pretended that Claire was me and Greyson was Jason Momoa and it made the book WAY better
Too insta-lovey for my taste
So instead, I pretended that Claire was me and Greyson was Jason Momoa and it made the book WAY better
April 9, 2017
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kimberlyfaye reads.
By now I'm sure y'all know that the fake relationship trope is one of my favorites. I love to read along as fake turns very real. My love of this trope, combined with how much I enjoy Brenda's writing and the first book in her Calder Castle series, left me with major grabby hands for A Brit Unexpected. I would've read it in one sitting if it weren't for the pesky job/sleep/adulting thing. It's a total gem!
Claire and Greyson were wonderful. As someone who has had a thousand (roughly) celebrity crushes over the years, I found it easy to put myself in "regular girl" Claire's shoes as she entered into a fake relationship with celebrity Greyson. Except, you know, she didn't fawn all over him and fangirl all over the place like I probably would've. (Or go totally mute, which would be the other possibility if I'd been in her shoes. Because awkwardness.) Instead, she mostly focused on the person — good and bad alike — and went from there. I loved Claire's inner monologue. I also loved all the Britishisms. Greyson shouldn't be overlooked either. He was a great, complex character. Was he perfect? No. Neither of them were. Maybe that's why they worked so well together, why a relationship between them seemed so real, even when it wasn't.
A Brit Unexpected was a great read. I loved the characters — main and side alike. I'm a sucker for British humor, so needless to say I chuckled out loud several times while reading this one. It was also VERY sexy. The spark between Claire and Greyson was very real, right from the start. And perhaps most importantly to me, it was low on angst. I'm loving this Calder Castle series and I cannot wait for Scarlett's story in the third book!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
By now I'm sure y'all know that the fake relationship trope is one of my favorites. I love to read along as fake turns very real. My love of this trope, combined with how much I enjoy Brenda's writing and the first book in her Calder Castle series, left me with major grabby hands for A Brit Unexpected. I would've read it in one sitting if it weren't for the pesky job/sleep/adulting thing. It's a total gem!
Claire and Greyson were wonderful. As someone who has had a thousand (roughly) celebrity crushes over the years, I found it easy to put myself in "regular girl" Claire's shoes as she entered into a fake relationship with celebrity Greyson. Except, you know, she didn't fawn all over him and fangirl all over the place like I probably would've. (Or go totally mute, which would be the other possibility if I'd been in her shoes. Because awkwardness.) Instead, she mostly focused on the person — good and bad alike — and went from there. I loved Claire's inner monologue. I also loved all the Britishisms. Greyson shouldn't be overlooked either. He was a great, complex character. Was he perfect? No. Neither of them were. Maybe that's why they worked so well together, why a relationship between them seemed so real, even when it wasn't.
A Brit Unexpected was a great read. I loved the characters — main and side alike. I'm a sucker for British humor, so needless to say I chuckled out loud several times while reading this one. It was also VERY sexy. The spark between Claire and Greyson was very real, right from the start. And perhaps most importantly to me, it was low on angst. I'm loving this Calder Castle series and I cannot wait for Scarlett's story in the third book!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
April 11, 2017
Claire is a nobody. When she goes to Castke Calder for the weekend, she is surprised to see the hot and sexy actor Greyson. He's her favorite and she obviously fangirls over him. However, they are soon lumped to have a fake relationship.
Claire is determined to keep this relationship fake and has no expectations otherwise. However, her honesty and sincerity wins him over.
Greyson is charming, kind-hearted and a genuinely nice guy who has not had very successful relationship before this. However, Claire is honest with him and calls him out when he's acting like a celebrity. They emotions are very real and soon they connect deeply.
It was a nice read. I just felt it lacked a little oomph-factor to make this story more memorable.
*~*~*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *~*~*
Claire is determined to keep this relationship fake and has no expectations otherwise. However, her honesty and sincerity wins him over.
Greyson is charming, kind-hearted and a genuinely nice guy who has not had very successful relationship before this. However, Claire is honest with him and calls him out when he's acting like a celebrity. They emotions are very real and soon they connect deeply.
It was a nice read. I just felt it lacked a little oomph-factor to make this story more memorable.
*~*~*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *~*~*
April 3, 2018
Sweet, easy and entertaining.
April 10, 2017
Claire is enlisted/pressured by her grandmother to play the fake girlfriend of a hot Hollywood man when she comes for her weekend at Castle Calder. Although, she's not happy to do so, she finally agrees since it's one weekend. It doesn't hurt at all that she feels an attraction to said hottie. Greyson is an actor on the rise, and although he broke up with his ex a while ago, all of a sudden, the media has him stalking her, and that's not something that can be ignored in his profession. So after being a jerk, he finally agrees to the scheme that his grandfather came up with, but he didn't count on sharing a connection with the feisty Claire. Let me start out by saying that I really LOVED this story, and I couldn't devour it quickly enough. Loved Claire, even when she was a bit stubborn to the point of frustration, and Greyson is mouth watering when he's not being a douche. Together, they were TNT, which exploded into some steamy sexy scene goodness. Brenda St. John Brown has an easy, and talented writing style that instantly captivated me. Her added in well placed humor had me laughing hard as well. My big issue is the ending, like I had to go back and see if I skipped pages because it just ended a bit too abruptly in my opinion. Which made me sad, as I couldn't get enough of these two. I am, however, excited for the next book, and I hope that she indulges my inner romantic side, as I crave a huge ending. With that all being said, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 3, 2017
Liked this one as well. Good movie star with regular person romance. Think Notting Hill but movie star is a guy, and regular person is a character from previous book. Enjoyed watching them hook up and work things through. Looking forward to next book in the series. Guessing the last girl will find her man.
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May 8, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. I also bought a copy of this book myself.
A brit Unexpected is the second book in the Castle Calder series, but it works as a standalone as well. It was fun to return to Castle Calder and see another one of the girl we met in book 1 find love. This first book focused on Bea, this book is Claire's story. It was a fun read, with cute and some hotter scenes. And the setting is done well. I like how Castle Calder is described. The characters also visited some other places in this book. It was fun to see some already familiar characters from book 1 again in this book.
A Brit Unexpected is well written with short length chapters, which makes it easy to pick up an read a chapter or two. Unfortunately I read it during a time where I didn't have as much time to read and I felt that prevented me from fully getting into the book as I only made time to read a chapter or two each night. It was a fun read though and I did enjoy it when I was reading it.
Besides that I had a few minor issues, like how the ending seemed a bit abrupt and there were a few scenes I would've liked to read and experience instead of only hearing about it afterwards. As it made it hard to fully feel the romance sometimes because of that. As I felt we missed a few scenes that could've added to that feel in my opinion. Like the texts they exchanged when they don't see it each other. I felt like those text helped them get to know each other, but the reader doesn't get to read those.
This book is a bit of a fake romance story combined with the topic of dating someone popular. I usually am not a fan of the fake romance/ engagement/ marriage type of stories, but I thought the author handled it well in this book. It felt pretty realistic without too much drama or miscommunication, which I could appreciate. It did deal with the question what is real and what isn't and what happens when fake feelings turn into real ones.
There was no big conflict in this book, which worked well for me. There are a few instances of lack of communication and people jumping to conclusions. But mostly what stood in their way were their own doubts and fears. And part of the focus was on the characters their personalities, their difficulties with relationships and how to overcome those.
I did like both characters, they were fun to read about. Especially Claire, she seemed like a nice person, but we quickly figure out she has some flaws as well. I would've liked to see those explored a bit more as now it felt like it stayed on the surface a bit at times. Greyson seemed okay as well, I liked how he didn't let the fame get to his head and he seemed pretty down to earth. Although I would've liked getting to know him a bit better. And the topic of him being famous didn't play as big of a part as I had expected. I didn't really care for that part, so that was okay with me, but at the same time it felt like it was missing a bit. I can imagine dating someone who is famous does pose it own set of challenges and there was little of that in this book, there were a few scenes that addressed it, but I felt like it only scratched the surface
To summarize: all in all A Brit Unexpected is a fun and enjoyable read about a fake relationship that turns real. The writing is great and the pace flowed well and I easily got into the book when I picked it up. Unfortunately I was never able to fully get into the story as much as I would've liked , but that's probably because of not making enough time to read this book and only reading a chapter or two each evening. I also had some minor issues like how some topics could've been explored a bit more, a few scenes that were told that I would've liked to read and the ending seemed a bit abrupt. The romance was sweet and well done and I liked both characters well enough. There was no big conflict, but there were some personal issues they both have to deal with. I thought the fake relationship topic was handled well and it felt realistic. This is an author I can fully recommend if you enjoy a good YA/ NA romance book.
A brit Unexpected is the second book in the Castle Calder series, but it works as a standalone as well. It was fun to return to Castle Calder and see another one of the girl we met in book 1 find love. This first book focused on Bea, this book is Claire's story. It was a fun read, with cute and some hotter scenes. And the setting is done well. I like how Castle Calder is described. The characters also visited some other places in this book. It was fun to see some already familiar characters from book 1 again in this book.
A Brit Unexpected is well written with short length chapters, which makes it easy to pick up an read a chapter or two. Unfortunately I read it during a time where I didn't have as much time to read and I felt that prevented me from fully getting into the book as I only made time to read a chapter or two each night. It was a fun read though and I did enjoy it when I was reading it.
Besides that I had a few minor issues, like how the ending seemed a bit abrupt and there were a few scenes I would've liked to read and experience instead of only hearing about it afterwards. As it made it hard to fully feel the romance sometimes because of that. As I felt we missed a few scenes that could've added to that feel in my opinion. Like the texts they exchanged when they don't see it each other. I felt like those text helped them get to know each other, but the reader doesn't get to read those.
This book is a bit of a fake romance story combined with the topic of dating someone popular. I usually am not a fan of the fake romance/ engagement/ marriage type of stories, but I thought the author handled it well in this book. It felt pretty realistic without too much drama or miscommunication, which I could appreciate. It did deal with the question what is real and what isn't and what happens when fake feelings turn into real ones.
There was no big conflict in this book, which worked well for me. There are a few instances of lack of communication and people jumping to conclusions. But mostly what stood in their way were their own doubts and fears. And part of the focus was on the characters their personalities, their difficulties with relationships and how to overcome those.
I did like both characters, they were fun to read about. Especially Claire, she seemed like a nice person, but we quickly figure out she has some flaws as well. I would've liked to see those explored a bit more as now it felt like it stayed on the surface a bit at times. Greyson seemed okay as well, I liked how he didn't let the fame get to his head and he seemed pretty down to earth. Although I would've liked getting to know him a bit better. And the topic of him being famous didn't play as big of a part as I had expected. I didn't really care for that part, so that was okay with me, but at the same time it felt like it was missing a bit. I can imagine dating someone who is famous does pose it own set of challenges and there was little of that in this book, there were a few scenes that addressed it, but I felt like it only scratched the surface
To summarize: all in all A Brit Unexpected is a fun and enjoyable read about a fake relationship that turns real. The writing is great and the pace flowed well and I easily got into the book when I picked it up. Unfortunately I was never able to fully get into the story as much as I would've liked , but that's probably because of not making enough time to read this book and only reading a chapter or two each evening. I also had some minor issues like how some topics could've been explored a bit more, a few scenes that were told that I would've liked to read and the ending seemed a bit abrupt. The romance was sweet and well done and I liked both characters well enough. There was no big conflict, but there were some personal issues they both have to deal with. I thought the fake relationship topic was handled well and it felt realistic. This is an author I can fully recommend if you enjoy a good YA/ NA romance book.
April 4, 2017
4 STARS
I read and loved the previous book in the Castle Calder series, so I was really excited when I received an ARC of A Brit Unexpected.
Still, I feared I might not like the characters because I'm usually not a fan of "Hollywood star meets normal girl" romances. However, the plot is unlike any celeb romances I've read before.
Claire is such a great character, I felt like I could be her if I ever got lucky enough to meet one my celeb crushes! And Claire and Greyson's relationship felt real despite his star status - perhaps because it wasn't a case of insta-love. Instead, they start out slowly and their feelings progress in an organic way that you could happen in real life, which made it that more easier to keep rooting for their happy ending.
TL;DR: If you're looking for a fun and quick-paced story, with no unnecessary drama and a lot of Britishness, then look no further: A Brit Unexpected is the book for you.
I read and loved the previous book in the Castle Calder series, so I was really excited when I received an ARC of A Brit Unexpected.
Still, I feared I might not like the characters because I'm usually not a fan of "Hollywood star meets normal girl" romances. However, the plot is unlike any celeb romances I've read before.
Claire is such a great character, I felt like I could be her if I ever got lucky enough to meet one my celeb crushes! And Claire and Greyson's relationship felt real despite his star status - perhaps because it wasn't a case of insta-love. Instead, they start out slowly and their feelings progress in an organic way that you could happen in real life, which made it that more easier to keep rooting for their happy ending.
TL;DR: If you're looking for a fun and quick-paced story, with no unnecessary drama and a lot of Britishness, then look no further: A Brit Unexpected is the book for you.
December 22, 2017
I enjoyed Grayson and Claire's story.
Claire's inner monologues were fun, the romance slow burning and sweet and their connection steamy.
I had some issues with it though:
► Even if I appreciated the focus on the MCs' personalities and insecurities without the usual dramatic external conflict standing in their way, I wished for more character development and less repetitiveness to make this book really stand out and fully engage me.
► From their conversations, I could have sworn both Claire and Greyson were younger than they actually are.
Sex scenes aside, they don't sound a day over 20 most of the time, while the author states Grayson is 28.
► The ending was too abrupt.
All things considered, I was entertained and I'll definitely read other books by this author.
⭐ 3 Stars ⭐
*This is book #2 in the Castle Calder series but it can be easily read as a standalone.
~ My Ratings ~
Writing: 3 /5
Plot: 3 /5
Hero: 3.5 /5 Super sweet and sensible. His concerns and his handling of the situation realistic.
Heroine: 3 /5 Her insecurities stay exactly the same until the very end. Reading about them all the way through came across as repetitive.
Secondary Characters: 2.5 /5 A bit caricaturish
MC's chemistry: 3 /5
Triggers: None
Recommended to: Adult Romance Readers looking for romance that starts with fake dating and a celebrity MC.
Are you looking for a specific mix of ingredients for your next read?
September 26, 2021
When I started my book challenge this year I decided to focus on the fake relationship trope. I have read dozens of these books and while this one is not the worst it is by far the most frustrating.
The heroine was completely unlikeable. She was abrasive and obtuse and completely irrational. She’s meant to be emotionally unavailable but she reads as aggressively aloof and as dumb as the day is long. I lost count of the times the hero tells her that he likes her for real and she responds with “I don’t understand” or “what are you saying.” Did she want a flow chart?
She’s completely contradictory. She tells him she likes the interviews where he’s being himself and not playing a role for the public. But then he takes her to a premier, addresses her concerns with being in the spotlight and she lashes out at him saying she didn’t realize he was different in public. Mind you, he didn’t do anything wrong but she was mad. Then after finally overcoming her reservations and getting together with him she reads something in a tabloid and takes it as the absolute truth without asking him about it. A tabloid. He alters his schedule for her and starts making plans for the future. Her response? I didn’t know you felt the same way I do. How much more clear could he have been?
This book isn’t even full of the cliched misunderstanding that are common with this trope. It’s full of the heroine being stupid for no reason. She picks fights with him consistently throughout the story for no reason. He’s nice? She mad. He’s attentive? She pissed. He’s honest? She’s livid. This book would have been better if he dated the best friend because at least her personality didn’t consist of being angry and bitchy.
I struggled to finish this. Claire was a horrible leading lady and Greyson was 2 dimensional. Together they have zero chemistry. The first love scene was actually jarring because I’d forgotten they were supposed to be attracted to each other! There’s also so much internal dialogue that I found myself skipping pages because it was so boring. Don’t get me started on the many meaningless conversations with irrelevant characters that don’t further the story. Just pages of dialogue with strangers or coffee coworkers or cousins. The ending is ridiculously abrupt. Like “ I love you. Me too” the end abrupt.
I gave this book two stars because it gave me Notting Hill vibes and I love that movie. Sadly tho, this book can’t even remotely compare.
The heroine was completely unlikeable. She was abrasive and obtuse and completely irrational. She’s meant to be emotionally unavailable but she reads as aggressively aloof and as dumb as the day is long. I lost count of the times the hero tells her that he likes her for real and she responds with “I don’t understand” or “what are you saying.” Did she want a flow chart?
She’s completely contradictory. She tells him she likes the interviews where he’s being himself and not playing a role for the public. But then he takes her to a premier, addresses her concerns with being in the spotlight and she lashes out at him saying she didn’t realize he was different in public. Mind you, he didn’t do anything wrong but she was mad. Then after finally overcoming her reservations and getting together with him she reads something in a tabloid and takes it as the absolute truth without asking him about it. A tabloid. He alters his schedule for her and starts making plans for the future. Her response? I didn’t know you felt the same way I do. How much more clear could he have been?
This book isn’t even full of the cliched misunderstanding that are common with this trope. It’s full of the heroine being stupid for no reason. She picks fights with him consistently throughout the story for no reason. He’s nice? She mad. He’s attentive? She pissed. He’s honest? She’s livid. This book would have been better if he dated the best friend because at least her personality didn’t consist of being angry and bitchy.
I struggled to finish this. Claire was a horrible leading lady and Greyson was 2 dimensional. Together they have zero chemistry. The first love scene was actually jarring because I’d forgotten they were supposed to be attracted to each other! There’s also so much internal dialogue that I found myself skipping pages because it was so boring. Don’t get me started on the many meaningless conversations with irrelevant characters that don’t further the story. Just pages of dialogue with strangers or coffee coworkers or cousins. The ending is ridiculously abrupt. Like “ I love you. Me too” the end abrupt.
I gave this book two stars because it gave me Notting Hill vibes and I love that movie. Sadly tho, this book can’t even remotely compare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2017
This was a really cute, light read.
I enjoyed Claire and Greyson and enjoyed their story, but felt like all of them could have been developed a little but more. Both main characters seemed a little flip floppy, which was completely understandable at first, but was became frustrating as it continued.
Ms. St John Brown has a very cute writing style that definitely contributed to the fun of the book. This is the second book in a series and I am curious about book 1.
I enjoyed Claire and Greyson and enjoyed their story, but felt like all of them could have been developed a little but more. Both main characters seemed a little flip floppy, which was completely understandable at first, but was became frustrating as it continued.
Ms. St John Brown has a very cute writing style that definitely contributed to the fun of the book. This is the second book in a series and I am curious about book 1.
June 1, 2017
Adobo is not Mexican!
Was pretty okay with this so far until Claire talked about Adobo and the called it Mexican! It's a minor thing but it's easily Googleable. Sigh.
I liked the story's setup, and the chemistry between Claire and Greyson, but it felt vey repetitive once we established that Claire never really knows if he's serious with her or not.
Was pretty okay with this so far until Claire talked about Adobo and the called it Mexican! It's a minor thing but it's easily Googleable. Sigh.
I liked the story's setup, and the chemistry between Claire and Greyson, but it felt vey repetitive once we established that Claire never really knows if he's serious with her or not.
September 8, 2019
I really enjoyed reading A Brit Unexpected and I feel it wasn't what I was expecting.
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Grayson is a Hollywood actor who has just come out from a very public, tabloid and hash-tagged full relationship with an equally famous pop star singer who is making him look desperate for her on the media (yeah, I pictured the same singer you are picturing too) He visits his grandfather Michael and his new girlfriend for a weekend in England. When he arrives his grandpa (who is his PR) founds Grayson a girlfriend to get the "media circus" his ex girlfriend keeps making. He meets Claire and even though things don't start as they wanted it, after getting to now each other they become something beautiful, it isn't an easy ride, but when they finally make it, everything else falls into place.
I was expecting a romance set in UK an actor falling in love with a girl, who at the end was swiped of her feet and they would have a Happily Ever After. What I got was a story that felt real, I felt this book could actually happened to anyone and why? THE CHARACTERS! Greyson is what I expect a Tom Hiddleston/Benedict Cumberbatch in real life would be (Even though in the book he is American). He is flirty and a hottie but when he leaves the actor behind and the real Grayson comes out he is kind, sweet, and vulnerable. I loved that he wanted to protect Claire and look after her. Claire on the other hand almost made me give 4 stars instead of 5! I liked her so much at the beginning and then I was just annoyed at her, she doubted herself so much, thought very little of her and assumed a lot of things which ended up complicating things more than needed BUT I realized people are like that in real life so even though I wanted to just grab her and tell her not to be that insecure I realized we, in real life, act exactly like that and we react based on our past experiences and how we have been treated by life and other people. She grew up a lot from the beginning to the end the book.
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Grayson is a Hollywood actor who has just come out from a very public, tabloid and hash-tagged full relationship with an equally famous pop star singer who is making him look desperate for her on the media (yeah, I pictured the same singer you are picturing too) He visits his grandfather Michael and his new girlfriend for a weekend in England. When he arrives his grandpa (who is his PR) founds Grayson a girlfriend to get the "media circus" his ex girlfriend keeps making. He meets Claire and even though things don't start as they wanted it, after getting to now each other they become something beautiful, it isn't an easy ride, but when they finally make it, everything else falls into place.
I was expecting a romance set in UK an actor falling in love with a girl, who at the end was swiped of her feet and they would have a Happily Ever After. What I got was a story that felt real, I felt this book could actually happened to anyone and why? THE CHARACTERS! Greyson is what I expect a Tom Hiddleston/Benedict Cumberbatch in real life would be (Even though in the book he is American). He is flirty and a hottie but when he leaves the actor behind and the real Grayson comes out he is kind, sweet, and vulnerable. I loved that he wanted to protect Claire and look after her. Claire on the other hand almost made me give 4 stars instead of 5! I liked her so much at the beginning and then I was just annoyed at her, she doubted herself so much, thought very little of her and assumed a lot of things which ended up complicating things more than needed BUT I realized people are like that in real life so even though I wanted to just grab her and tell her not to be that insecure I realized we, in real life, act exactly like that and we react based on our past experiences and how we have been treated by life and other people. She grew up a lot from the beginning to the end the book.
April 14, 2017
There is something about a modern day fairytale like love story that makes me swoon. Take a Hollywood heartthrob and an everyday girl, put them together in a humorous and passionate love story, and I am hooked. Brenda St. John Brown has yet another brilliant book in her Castle Calder series. This story has everything we love about new adult romantic stories. There is a man and a woman, two people finding themselves, who fall in love along the way.
A Brit Unexpected feels like a glimpse into the beginning of a happily ever after. In the real world of Hollywood romances, there are ups and downs that make it hard. This book explores the raw uncertainty and hesitation two people can have in a new relationship. There is second guessing and frustration but the good times seem to outweigh the bad. These two click, allowing each other a safe place to see life in a fresh way. I love their chemistry and banter, something that livens their story.
I appreciated how Brown takes this love story and creates a book that is fresh with a hint of vulnerability. She creates and environment for her two leads to find love and a safe place from the chaos of life. Nothing is perfect but it gives the reader hope that there are many more good times to come. Claire is a female lead that people will relate to; a woman that is both confident and wounded from what she has been through. Her fears and hesitation allows her authenticity to relate to the reader, giving this book an edge. Greyson adds a sense of appeal that draws you in and once he reveals a softer, real side, you want what is best for him; and that is Claire.
This book is a wonderful combination of fairytale and hopeful realism. There is a constant tug and pull between both sides until these two find a place that is comfortable to be in. I am excited for more of the Castle Calder series and hope to see much more of these two in the future! I need more of their story and happily ever after.
A Brit Unexpected feels like a glimpse into the beginning of a happily ever after. In the real world of Hollywood romances, there are ups and downs that make it hard. This book explores the raw uncertainty and hesitation two people can have in a new relationship. There is second guessing and frustration but the good times seem to outweigh the bad. These two click, allowing each other a safe place to see life in a fresh way. I love their chemistry and banter, something that livens their story.
I appreciated how Brown takes this love story and creates a book that is fresh with a hint of vulnerability. She creates and environment for her two leads to find love and a safe place from the chaos of life. Nothing is perfect but it gives the reader hope that there are many more good times to come. Claire is a female lead that people will relate to; a woman that is both confident and wounded from what she has been through. Her fears and hesitation allows her authenticity to relate to the reader, giving this book an edge. Greyson adds a sense of appeal that draws you in and once he reveals a softer, real side, you want what is best for him; and that is Claire.
This book is a wonderful combination of fairytale and hopeful realism. There is a constant tug and pull between both sides until these two find a place that is comfortable to be in. I am excited for more of the Castle Calder series and hope to see much more of these two in the future! I need more of their story and happily ever after.
September 14, 2019
I’m so happy I finally got around to reading this gem of a book. It’s been on my TBR for a long time and I couldn’t put it down once I started.
A fake relationship with a movie star you have a crush on sounds like a dream come true but a nightmare for the publicity part of it.
Claire is very unwilling to play the part of girlfriend at first even if she’s had a crush on him since forever and she is not more convinced by Greyson’s reaction to the suggestion from the grandparents. Still they somehow get the act together and the more time they spend together the more real it gets. I love the way she’s not taking any crap from the famous guy and how easily she can see right trough his acting. And she is doing a stellar job on the red carpet premiere.
He is still an ordinary guy and he doesn’t seek out the perks of fame. The way he seems to adore and protect her is so perfect. They have a few small misunderstandings but there is never any doubt about this relationship going to work out.
I love how real these characters are and the fact this book is part of a series. I will instantly dive headfirst into the next book and hope no one comes between me and my next happy ever after. It’s a first class feel good series.
A fake relationship with a movie star you have a crush on sounds like a dream come true but a nightmare for the publicity part of it.
Claire is very unwilling to play the part of girlfriend at first even if she’s had a crush on him since forever and she is not more convinced by Greyson’s reaction to the suggestion from the grandparents. Still they somehow get the act together and the more time they spend together the more real it gets. I love the way she’s not taking any crap from the famous guy and how easily she can see right trough his acting. And she is doing a stellar job on the red carpet premiere.
He is still an ordinary guy and he doesn’t seek out the perks of fame. The way he seems to adore and protect her is so perfect. They have a few small misunderstandings but there is never any doubt about this relationship going to work out.
I love how real these characters are and the fact this book is part of a series. I will instantly dive headfirst into the next book and hope no one comes between me and my next happy ever after. It’s a first class feel good series.
March 26, 2017
I was excited to be able to read an ARC of this book because I adored the first book in the Castle Calder series and I really enjoy Brenda St. John Brown's writing style and sense of humor that she injects into her books. This one did not disappoint with that - and I learned some things (specifically, the expression shine a light, which I am going to put to good use in my everyday life)!
I have a soft spot for books involving celebrity/regular person romance - there's just something about the idea of seeing a celebrity as they truly are and letting their guard down that just appeals to me. I loved Claire's character, her humor and wit, and how she wasn't afraid to be herself with Greyson. I enjoyed the tension and playful banter between Claire and Greyson, and that spark they felt from the moment they met, before they even knew what was in store for them! I only wish we could have seen more about Greyson and them alone together, to see a more full picture of their relationship with one another.
All in all, I loved this book and look forward to more from Brenda St. John Brown!
I have a soft spot for books involving celebrity/regular person romance - there's just something about the idea of seeing a celebrity as they truly are and letting their guard down that just appeals to me. I loved Claire's character, her humor and wit, and how she wasn't afraid to be herself with Greyson. I enjoyed the tension and playful banter between Claire and Greyson, and that spark they felt from the moment they met, before they even knew what was in store for them! I only wish we could have seen more about Greyson and them alone together, to see a more full picture of their relationship with one another.
All in all, I loved this book and look forward to more from Brenda St. John Brown!
March 23, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Celebrity Greyson Vaughn's reputation is on the line due to the social media attacks of a spurned ex. Claire happens to be in the right place at the right (or wrong?) time and both her and Greyson get roped into a fake-relationship ruse. When Claire starts to see past Greyson's celebrity persona, a genuine attraction begins for the "fake" couple.
I'm a bit of a sucker for the movie star/celebrity falls in love with regular girl romance trope and A Brit Unexpected had its hooks in me right at the start. I enjoyed the low angst, light conflict and authentic humor of this story. It's a light read, but genuine in it's delivery. I'm picky when it comes to the heroines of a book and I really liked Claire. Aside from her believable insecurities while being on the arm of a celebrity, she had great character strength. Greyson was no slouch, let me tell ya. He had protective walls, but when he decided to trust Claire, he gave his all. Ultimately, this was a quick, fun and sweet story that kept me invested throughout.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of A Brit Unexpected. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Celebrity Greyson Vaughn's reputation is on the line due to the social media attacks of a spurned ex. Claire happens to be in the right place at the right (or wrong?) time and both her and Greyson get roped into a fake-relationship ruse. When Claire starts to see past Greyson's celebrity persona, a genuine attraction begins for the "fake" couple.
I'm a bit of a sucker for the movie star/celebrity falls in love with regular girl romance trope and A Brit Unexpected had its hooks in me right at the start. I enjoyed the low angst, light conflict and authentic humor of this story. It's a light read, but genuine in it's delivery. I'm picky when it comes to the heroines of a book and I really liked Claire. Aside from her believable insecurities while being on the arm of a celebrity, she had great character strength. Greyson was no slouch, let me tell ya. He had protective walls, but when he decided to trust Claire, he gave his all. Ultimately, this was a quick, fun and sweet story that kept me invested throughout.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of A Brit Unexpected. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 28, 2020
What is a big-time Hollywood star to do when his ex-girlfriend claims to all the press that he is chasing after her shamelessly? Well, if his grandfather is dating a woman with a semi-presentable, eligible granddaughter, his grandfather might set up some staged photos between the star (Greyson Vaughn) and the narrator of our story, Claire.
Neither actually knows that that's why they've been called to Castle Calder so when they first meet, it's as a star-struck fan and Hollywood heartthrob. Claire, especially, doesn't expect her grandmother to think this is a good idea. Not from the distant grandmother who raised her, the one who's all about propriety. And when Greyson finds out, he lashes out slightly at Claire which means she really doesn't want to get involved. But then Greyson offers her money... and so the deal is struck. They will pose for a few photos over the weekend to distract from Greyson's ex. Unless the heat that is bubbling up between them spills over into something real.
A cute story. The characters weren't super deep but a fluffy book was nice to read right now.
Neither actually knows that that's why they've been called to Castle Calder so when they first meet, it's as a star-struck fan and Hollywood heartthrob. Claire, especially, doesn't expect her grandmother to think this is a good idea. Not from the distant grandmother who raised her, the one who's all about propriety. And when Greyson finds out, he lashes out slightly at Claire which means she really doesn't want to get involved. But then Greyson offers her money... and so the deal is struck. They will pose for a few photos over the weekend to distract from Greyson's ex. Unless the heat that is bubbling up between them spills over into something real.
A cute story. The characters weren't super deep but a fluffy book was nice to read right now.
April 14, 2017
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.* "Shine. A. Light." "A Brit Unexpected" definitely did shine a light on Brenda St. John Brown. As this was a first read for me by her, I was thoroughly pleased. This is a book that I consider right up my alley. I love when books are set overseas. For me, it adds to the charm and romanticism of a book. And England did just that. This story is sweet and carries a unique plot. Greyson and Claire are paired together, unknowingly, in hopes of getting him out of a what could possibly be a major career spoiler. In a short stint, while both are civil, pleasant and even flirty with one another, they both remember what they are expected to achieve by their union. However, staying on task proves to be a bit difficult when the lines between make believe and real get blurred. In an unexpected turn of events both are riddled with reservations, but true feelings become undeniable. Past experiences and career obstacles, however did seem to make them coming together unlikely. Rooting for these two came easy. I loved Greyson's flirty, mischievious personality. And Claire's stubborn, self-preservation made her so relatable. Bravo to Brenda St. John Brown! You have a definite winner here!
January 30, 2019
Sweet romance
A girlfriend is what Greyson Vaughn needs to convince the world he’s over his ex, and not stalking her like she claims. Claire, a marketing undergraduate is just the girl for the job. She’s got a connection to him (their grandparents are dating) and she knows his image is everything.
Except when it’s not. She has a hard time separating public and private versions of Greyson; she’s also having a hard time keeping her feelings towards him under control.
This is a lovely, sweet romance with some truly tender and heartfelt moments. Their chemistry is pretty hot too. A great read.
A girlfriend is what Greyson Vaughn needs to convince the world he’s over his ex, and not stalking her like she claims. Claire, a marketing undergraduate is just the girl for the job. She’s got a connection to him (their grandparents are dating) and she knows his image is everything.
Except when it’s not. She has a hard time separating public and private versions of Greyson; she’s also having a hard time keeping her feelings towards him under control.
This is a lovely, sweet romance with some truly tender and heartfelt moments. Their chemistry is pretty hot too. A great read.
May 7, 2021
Terrific book 2 in this series!
Ok, I’ve delayed my reviews simply because I was in a totally book coma after finishing two books in a row!
Loved these characters & their story. Claire is a girl after my own heart (except she is way better at quick banter retorts!). I also loved Greystone. He kind of seems like the perfect famous guy with everything who has met his match.
Again, this author has produced a well-written story with robust characters who are easy to relate to yet still living a life we’d all only dream about living!
And again, all the secondary characters are just terrific! Love the setting and all the really great British settings!
Ok, I’ve delayed my reviews simply because I was in a totally book coma after finishing two books in a row!
Loved these characters & their story. Claire is a girl after my own heart (except she is way better at quick banter retorts!). I also loved Greystone. He kind of seems like the perfect famous guy with everything who has met his match.
Again, this author has produced a well-written story with robust characters who are easy to relate to yet still living a life we’d all only dream about living!
And again, all the secondary characters are just terrific! Love the setting and all the really great British settings!
March 24, 2017
Star Rating: 4 stars
Very enjoyable.
Light and fun.
I never read books that are in a series out of order but this one doesn't seem to tie into the first that much so I said why not.
What would you do if you got put into Claire's position, would you run or stick it out and make the best of it?
Greyson and Claire are basically normal people in their own ways and it does tend to put a damper on who Greyson needs to be in public.
I was frustrated with this book at first and mainly at Claire, I wanted to reach in and just smack her good!
I'll only say that when someone tells you that you never know what you have until its gone or its right in front of your face yet your too stubborn to see it., fits this story soo well.
It was a fun fairy fast paced read for me and overall enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from this author.
- Michele Y
Very enjoyable.
Light and fun.
I never read books that are in a series out of order but this one doesn't seem to tie into the first that much so I said why not.
What would you do if you got put into Claire's position, would you run or stick it out and make the best of it?
Greyson and Claire are basically normal people in their own ways and it does tend to put a damper on who Greyson needs to be in public.
I was frustrated with this book at first and mainly at Claire, I wanted to reach in and just smack her good!
I'll only say that when someone tells you that you never know what you have until its gone or its right in front of your face yet your too stubborn to see it., fits this story soo well.
It was a fun fairy fast paced read for me and overall enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from this author.
- Michele Y
March 25, 2017
Shine a light! This book was unexpected as the title promised and far different than the typical romance novel flooding the market. The romance was far from easy and they fought for their feelings from the first page to the last, truly. It's flooded with passion and entangled feelings but the "I love yous" don't come easy or fast. I love that the couple were unconventional and had to work for their affections. They certainly got off to a rough start. The characters were fun and a British based book is never a bad thing! Fun story and unique. Check this one out blokes!
April 7, 2018
The frustrating thing about this read for me is that it was only a free extract through Instafreebie so I didn't get to read the rest of it. So far the writing style is easy going and especially good for a holiday read. Some of the phrasing is a bit odd but that could be a particular character's personality. I may never know until I get to read the rest of the book. Let's see how tempted I am. So far only marginally.
May 9, 2017
I liked this book too. Good tension and suspense in dating a movie star. It was like "Notting Hill" reversed. Who doesn't want to date a movie star? Throw them into the setting of Castle Calder, and you've got more fun. Can't wait to see how the next character, Scarlett, gets her man. Waiting for book 3. Write fast Brenda. ;-)
September 9, 2017
Sexy and romantic
I loved this book. It was so easy to picture the characters and also really makes you think about the whole "celebrity fake relationship" scenario. I can't wait to read more of the Castle Calder series and think it would make a great TV idea although would have to be shown after 9pm as there is some very hot stuff going on!
I loved this book. It was so easy to picture the characters and also really makes you think about the whole "celebrity fake relationship" scenario. I can't wait to read more of the Castle Calder series and think it would make a great TV idea although would have to be shown after 9pm as there is some very hot stuff going on!
August 28, 2018
A Brit Unexpected is book 2 in the Castle Calder series (3 books)...
Enjoyed this read, humour all the way through. Characters are well formed (from bk 1) except Greyson who is new, and the love object of Claire. The author must have a brilliant sense of humour as the banter is fantastic between the characters.
Well worth a read (the whole series).
Enjoyed this read, humour all the way through. Characters are well formed (from bk 1) except Greyson who is new, and the love object of Claire. The author must have a brilliant sense of humour as the banter is fantastic between the characters.
Well worth a read (the whole series).
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