*ARC* Facade - Review

Facade (Games #2) 

By: Nyrae Dawn

Published: July 2, 2013 by Forever

291 pages

Source: Netgalley ARC from publisher (Thanks!)

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

Can love save them?

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart forever?

MY REVIEW:
Oh my. Another emotional story by Nyrae Dawn where I needed tissues. Similarly to book one in the Games series, Facade is told from alternating POV's between Adrian (best friend of Colt from book 1, Charade) and Delaney.

Delaney is carrying around guilt over a crime her father committed and she feels in order to move on she needs to right his wrong by asking for forgiveness from the families he hurt four years ago. Knowing this has a bad ending for all involved, her brother Maddox agrees to go with her and so they move to a town where she is hoping she can help herself and others heal.

Adrian, as we know from book one, is very guarded emotionally and to cover up feeling anything he drowns himself in alcohol and weed. Nobody really knows who he really is because he doesn't allow people to see more than he wants them to. Not even his best friend, Colt. He parties constantly and he sleeps around as a method to dull the emptiness within himself. Adrian is very intuitive of those around him. Upon meeting Delaney he sees ghosts in her eyes and he is drawn to her, first because of physical attraction and then later because he wants to know more about the ghosts he sees within her.

Though typical of a lot of New Adult contemporary books, where the main characters are often damaged, it works in this series to not feel overdone. I didn't find this story to be predictable. It definitely had me in tears too! If you like your stories to be emotional and to crush your heart, this one won't disappoint!

*Warning: this book does have a lot of language and mature situations and as such is suitable for those over 18.

Favorite Quotes:
It feels good to have a guy try and pick me up. Any girl who doesn't admit that is lying. Whether you want him to or not, it's a boost to the ego.

Why are we playing this back-and-forth game while I'm wearing this facade he knows nothing about?

I feel pulled to her. A little poem beneath my skin that's called by her rhythm, but I hold it back.

He's not perfect, but he's sexy and beautifully broken, inspiring and passionate and everything at the same time.

Final Rating - 4.5 stars.

This post is part of the ARC Thursday feature on Words Fueled by Love.