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You Don't Know Me
A Stand-Alone New Adult, Contemporary Romance.
An orphan and aspiring dancer learns her father wasn’t who she thought, when she inherits $50 million dollars, and two difficult brothers she never knew she had. Can their rockstar best friend Alec stand up for her... and can he change her mind about wanting to be alone?
REVIEWS:
"It's an endearing tale of loss, changing, and finding new." SmutandBonBons.com
“Kept me turning the pages on my Kindle as fast as I could and it was really easy reading." - BooksNeedTLC
**Previously published as "Stand Close" under Ms. Hopkins' pen name "Sabrina Lacey." That book has been discontinued and replaced with this.
An orphan and aspiring dancer learns her father wasn’t who she thought, when she inherits $50 million dollars, and two difficult brothers she never knew she had. Can their rockstar best friend Alec stand up for her... and can he change her mind about wanting to be alone?
REVIEWS:
"It's an endearing tale of loss, changing, and finding new." SmutandBonBons.com
“Kept me turning the pages on my Kindle as fast as I could and it was really easy reading." - BooksNeedTLC
**Previously published as "Stand Close" under Ms. Hopkins' pen name "Sabrina Lacey." That book has been discontinued and replaced with this.
ebook
First published August 17, 2015
About the author
Faleena Hopkins
97 books1,297 followersAn author, actress, and filmmaker, Faleena Hopkins writes primarily love stories with heat and humor. Sometimes with supernatural tendencies since fantasy and magic are a passion.
She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her dog, Sophia, where she spends too much time behind a computer (but secretly loves every second).
Visit her website for more:
AuthorFaleenaHopkins.com
She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her dog, Sophia, where she spends too much time behind a computer (but secretly loves every second).
Visit her website for more:
AuthorFaleenaHopkins.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
May 7, 2018
Call this research!
With all the attention this author is getting around social media, negative attention. I remembered I had one of her books.
So yep, why not read it.
I started out with an open mind.
Well, the story isn’t anything new that hasn’t been written about before, I thought she didn’t even make the storyline her own and build on it.
It was quite a weak plot.
The sex in it was quite laughable. Or maybe I’m just getting old!
It just didn’t work and for me was quite dull.
I think I’m understanding why she’s making “noise” around social media. To bring attention to her books.
Yep....it worked. I read one. But I’m sorry, I wasn’t impressed.
I haven’t given feedback like this for ages. There’s some awesome indie authors around, sadly, not this one for me.
With all the attention this author is getting around social media, negative attention. I remembered I had one of her books.
So yep, why not read it.
I started out with an open mind.
Well, the story isn’t anything new that hasn’t been written about before, I thought she didn’t even make the storyline her own and build on it.
It was quite a weak plot.
The sex in it was quite laughable. Or maybe I’m just getting old!
It just didn’t work and for me was quite dull.
I think I’m understanding why she’s making “noise” around social media. To bring attention to her books.
Yep....it worked. I read one. But I’m sorry, I wasn’t impressed.
I haven’t given feedback like this for ages. There’s some awesome indie authors around, sadly, not this one for me.
October 26, 2016
Dang I don't think I've ever read anything with so little substance in my entire life.
Seriously even the 'erotica' scenes can't make up for the complete lack of substance!
Guess I'm just a woman who prefers mental stimulation.
Seriously even the 'erotica' scenes can't make up for the complete lack of substance!
Guess I'm just a woman who prefers mental stimulation.
on-hold
May 15, 2018Got this one for free... contemplating reading it... But jeepers, the opening paragraph???
Wow, run-on sentence, much? And all the other things wrong with said run-on sentence...
Green is the color of money, so of course his eyes are green. That's the first thing I thought when I opened my door and saw Jack Stone standing on the torn up welcome mat of my unglamorous North Hollywood apartment, wearing a form-fitting suit and undone tie, his sandy-brown hair skewed and hanging over his frowning forehead.
Wow, run-on sentence, much? And all the other things wrong with said run-on sentence...
December 26, 2016
This was pretty much flat out awful. It started out okay, but fell flat mighty fast. Rue starts out as a character with a bit of backbone, but quickly seems to become this vapid, moronic cariacture of a character.
The scenes that were meant to be erotic were anything but, simply as there was no build up to them. There was no growing lust between the pair before things took off between them, so I didn't feel invested in the pair at all. Let alone the fact that it went from 0-100 every time things switched between a character driven scene to an erotic scene.
Then there is the time frame that the entire book was set in. It makes it all the more unbelievable for all that occurs during this time.
Not a book I would recommend to others, and I have to be honest and say based on this book alone I can't say I wouldn't be picking up another title by this author. Extremely disappointing.
The scenes that were meant to be erotic were anything but, simply as there was no build up to them. There was no growing lust between the pair before things took off between them, so I didn't feel invested in the pair at all. Let alone the fact that it went from 0-100 every time things switched between a character driven scene to an erotic scene.
Then there is the time frame that the entire book was set in. It makes it all the more unbelievable for all that occurs during this time.
Not a book I would recommend to others, and I have to be honest and say based on this book alone I can't say I wouldn't be picking up another title by this author. Extremely disappointing.
December 17, 2016
That was.... disappointing.
The first few chapters were going so well. Two brothers find out they have a sister who inherits 55 millions dollars from their dead father. One brother think sister is full of shit while the other gives her the benfit of the doubt.
Everyone probabaly knows by now how much I absolutely love sibling relationships in stories so I was so excited for this.
But damn. What a let down. Couldn't connect with any of the characters. Rue and Alec's chemistry didn't work for me at all. It was lust at first sight but I felt absolutely nothing between them.
The relationship between Rue and her brothers Sean and Jack was okay but that's as far as it went.
This really didn't work for me at all.
The first few chapters were going so well. Two brothers find out they have a sister who inherits 55 millions dollars from their dead father. One brother think sister is full of shit while the other gives her the benfit of the doubt.
Everyone probabaly knows by now how much I absolutely love sibling relationships in stories so I was so excited for this.
But damn. What a let down. Couldn't connect with any of the characters. Rue and Alec's chemistry didn't work for me at all. It was lust at first sight but I felt absolutely nothing between them.
The relationship between Rue and her brothers Sean and Jack was okay but that's as far as it went.
This really didn't work for me at all.
October 25, 2016
I give this book 2.5 stars but only because I liked Alec, Jack, and Sean. Rue started off ok but then she turned into a naive, dumb person, especially when she drank. She swore up and down that the money wouldn't change her and she didn't really want it, but once she had, she became the very person Jack accused her of being. Maybe if the book had been longer with better character development I might have liked Rue. She got on my nerves so badly at times that I was tempted to just quit reading the book. It was the guys and their stories that kept me going.
May 4, 2017
DNF
Jack and Sean's father, Maxwell Stone had an affair with their nanny twenty one years ago leading to the secret love child, Rue Calliwell. Both men are in the spotlight, notorious for their social upstanding, fame and scandals, however upon the eve of Rue's 21st birthday, it is revealed their father has left behind a gargantuan $50 million for his illegitimate daughter. The daughter who was never meant to exist and has merely recognised these people her whole life for their celebrity status quo.
Jack, especially antagonistic and bitter despises Rue and her deceased mother. Meeting her, he is cruel yet can't stop the perusal of her aesthetics. Despite his asshole antics, the chemistry between the two hovers somewhere between the thin line of hate-angst-f*ck-love. The writing definitely implied a forbidden attraction of some sort and somehow I hoped it would turn deeper. She says that 'he pushes her buttons' and 'over the edge.' I was weirdly into it.
But suddenly, my dreams went down the drain pipe as Rue meets Alec, Jack and Sean's close friend - rocker, lead singer and manwhore. Jack makes a deal with Alec that he break Rue's heart. And suddenly I lost interest, because she gets wet, Alec gets rock hard, and their instant attraction/ insta-love leads to an angst ridden back and forth will-they-won't-they trope. She became especially pathetic, not that she was ever strong. A mere few hours and she says like some sort of obsessed groupie:"That if I'm going to get my heart broken. I want it to be by him."
I thought her emotions were erratic. One minute she's kissing Alec, the next she's sad, the next she's euphoric and drunk making out with a man who looks like Hercules. And her and Jack are just brother and sister *eyeroll* but he's peeking at her topless as she makes out with Alec and holds some kind of sibling rivalry against her. Seriously, usually I'm not on the brother-sister train, but it would have been better in this case. Their relationship instead was suspiciously safe but there was some sort of weird attraction. Then Alec strings her about. Despite the attractive title of the book, I bowed out.
Jack and Sean's father, Maxwell Stone had an affair with their nanny twenty one years ago leading to the secret love child, Rue Calliwell. Both men are in the spotlight, notorious for their social upstanding, fame and scandals, however upon the eve of Rue's 21st birthday, it is revealed their father has left behind a gargantuan $50 million for his illegitimate daughter. The daughter who was never meant to exist and has merely recognised these people her whole life for their celebrity status quo.
Jack, especially antagonistic and bitter despises Rue and her deceased mother. Meeting her, he is cruel yet can't stop the perusal of her aesthetics. Despite his asshole antics, the chemistry between the two hovers somewhere between the thin line of hate-angst-f*ck-love. The writing definitely implied a forbidden attraction of some sort and somehow I hoped it would turn deeper. She says that 'he pushes her buttons' and 'over the edge.' I was weirdly into it.
But suddenly, my dreams went down the drain pipe as Rue meets Alec, Jack and Sean's close friend - rocker, lead singer and manwhore. Jack makes a deal with Alec that he break Rue's heart. And suddenly I lost interest, because she gets wet, Alec gets rock hard, and their instant attraction/ insta-love leads to an angst ridden back and forth will-they-won't-they trope. She became especially pathetic, not that she was ever strong. A mere few hours and she says like some sort of obsessed groupie:"That if I'm going to get my heart broken. I want it to be by him."
I thought her emotions were erratic. One minute she's kissing Alec, the next she's sad, the next she's euphoric and drunk making out with a man who looks like Hercules. And her and Jack are just brother and sister *eyeroll* but he's peeking at her topless as she makes out with Alec and holds some kind of sibling rivalry against her. Seriously, usually I'm not on the brother-sister train, but it would have been better in this case. Their relationship instead was suspiciously safe but there was some sort of weird attraction. Then Alec strings her about. Despite the attractive title of the book, I bowed out.
May 7, 2018
Oh, what an amazing idea!!
Rue is 21 and just found out that she's got two half-brothers!! And they're super rich. And now the same is true for her.
Dearie...
I loved the story per se, being 21, discovering that you have loads of money. Plus, there are those two rich and spoiled boys who discover they have a not-so-rich but pretty down-to-earth sister.
Love Jack for being your typical bad boy who doesn't care about anything and lives life to the fullest (at least, that's what he thinks). He's mean at first and really thinks the earth revolves around him. Plus, he thinks he has problems? Dear god, don't get me started on his... First world problems more or less. But okay.
Then, there's his brother Sean, a somewhat insecure but super protective brother who has his own secret.
And then there's their best friend, Alec - superstar. This guy? He's superbored with is life, likes flirting with girls, hooking up with them and then disposing of them. He thinks it's a good idea to agree to Jack's plan. Breaking their half-sister's heart? Hey, why not, right? Dude...
Anyways, I liked the story up to that point. But unfortunately, our heroine is super weak, doesn't have a backbone, can't make up her mind - just like all the others basically. I'm pretty bored at that point.
Sure, I like her when she's throwing her tantrums, when she shows us that she can be strong but it's like, she deflates after that and lets others form her. She really never sticks to her plans and thoughts and I don't like that.
Also, when Alec has another woman, he totally ignores her. He totally wants to keep her a secret, our heroine is mad but then he kisses Rue and she forgets about everything that happened before. Communication between them? Non-existent.
I mean, all this, I want him so badly, so of course, all is well between us, is sooo disappointing...
So, yeah, weak heroine...
Then I have to add that there's no communication between our MCs which is just awful. I mean, they never discuss their pasts; we don't really get to know the MCs - neither Rue nor Alec. And I mean, isn't that what a relationship should be about??
But okay.
Then there's the fact that Alec likes Rue's "childbearing hips". Wow. What is that even supposed to mean??
Oh, yeah, and there's NO SAFE SEX. And at that point I was really considering not finishing this book 'cause I hate that. They don't even discuss whether she's on birth control. Plus, he's been with loads of women before her and doesn't even think about using a freaking condom??? Seriously???
Rue really is like a child and is just putty in his hands and that made me super mad.
The ending was frustrating as well... I really had the feeling that we didn't know the main characters in the end.
So all in all, great beginning, weak ending, weak middle...
Oh yeah, btw Alec is a rockstar apparently but we never even hear him sing or play... Or be on stage. So, yeah, that's no rockstar romance there...
But hey, it's free so grab a copy and just try it out.
Rue is 21 and just found out that she's got two half-brothers!! And they're super rich. And now the same is true for her.
Dearie...
I loved the story per se, being 21, discovering that you have loads of money. Plus, there are those two rich and spoiled boys who discover they have a not-so-rich but pretty down-to-earth sister.
Love Jack for being your typical bad boy who doesn't care about anything and lives life to the fullest (at least, that's what he thinks). He's mean at first and really thinks the earth revolves around him. Plus, he thinks he has problems? Dear god, don't get me started on his... First world problems more or less. But okay.
Then, there's his brother Sean, a somewhat insecure but super protective brother who has his own secret.
And then there's their best friend, Alec - superstar. This guy? He's superbored with is life, likes flirting with girls, hooking up with them and then disposing of them. He thinks it's a good idea to agree to Jack's plan. Breaking their half-sister's heart? Hey, why not, right? Dude...
Anyways, I liked the story up to that point. But unfortunately, our heroine is super weak, doesn't have a backbone, can't make up her mind - just like all the others basically. I'm pretty bored at that point.
Sure, I like her when she's throwing her tantrums, when she shows us that she can be strong but it's like, she deflates after that and lets others form her. She really never sticks to her plans and thoughts and I don't like that.
Also, when Alec has another woman, he totally ignores her. He totally wants to keep her a secret, our heroine is mad but then he kisses Rue and she forgets about everything that happened before. Communication between them? Non-existent.
I mean, all this, I want him so badly, so of course, all is well between us, is sooo disappointing...
So, yeah, weak heroine...
Then I have to add that there's no communication between our MCs which is just awful. I mean, they never discuss their pasts; we don't really get to know the MCs - neither Rue nor Alec. And I mean, isn't that what a relationship should be about??
But okay.
Then there's the fact that Alec likes Rue's "childbearing hips". Wow. What is that even supposed to mean??
Oh, yeah, and there's NO SAFE SEX. And at that point I was really considering not finishing this book 'cause I hate that. They don't even discuss whether she's on birth control. Plus, he's been with loads of women before her and doesn't even think about using a freaking condom??? Seriously???
Rue really is like a child and is just putty in his hands and that made me super mad.
The ending was frustrating as well... I really had the feeling that we didn't know the main characters in the end.
So all in all, great beginning, weak ending, weak middle...
Oh yeah, btw Alec is a rockstar apparently but we never even hear him sing or play... Or be on stage. So, yeah, that's no rockstar romance there...
But hey, it's free so grab a copy and just try it out.
January 15, 2017
I'm probably being generous giving this a 2 star rating, because the story requires a lot to be believable, but I did like some of the story. It started out interesting, but soon became ridiculous. I thought Alec's response at the dramatic scene was believable, but almost everything else that happen with it was unbelievable. Not a story I'd recommend.
January 5, 2018
albo za krótka albo za długa. nie mogę się zdecydować. mam wrażenie że za dużo pomysłów naraz zostało wrzucone do tego tygla i nie poradzono sobie z niektórymi z tych ingrediencji zbyt dobrze. mogło być fantastycznie. wyszło okkkeeeejjjj. i tyle.
October 31, 2016
Well this book is full of cheesy-ness and over done drama. Honestly I could have gotten over the cheesy moments & enjoyed the story if the drama had been less.
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August 26, 2017
2 Platypires
Great Scott @ Platypire Reviews
It could have been great.
I tried to like this book, I really did. I can't go too in depth because I hate reviews with spoilers but I would like to say that to me, this is NOT a love story. Lust is not love, and I'm genuinely confused as to why the author tried to pass it off as such. Also there were four POVs in the story, which is honestly two too many. I felt as though some of the POVs weren't necessary. I see why the author did it, but it could have worked just as well of it was written in 3rd/ past tense versus 1st/ present tense. If there were more stories in the series, I would more than likely try to read another just because I do think there is potential there for the characters. I would actually like to see where Rue and Alec's (love) story heads.
Great Scott @ Platypire Reviews
It could have been great.
I tried to like this book, I really did. I can't go too in depth because I hate reviews with spoilers but I would like to say that to me, this is NOT a love story. Lust is not love, and I'm genuinely confused as to why the author tried to pass it off as such. Also there were four POVs in the story, which is honestly two too many. I felt as though some of the POVs weren't necessary. I see why the author did it, but it could have worked just as well of it was written in 3rd/ past tense versus 1st/ present tense. If there were more stories in the series, I would more than likely try to read another just because I do think there is potential there for the characters. I would actually like to see where Rue and Alec's (love) story heads.
December 28, 2016
Wow, reading this book was a lesson in patience. I found it really hard to get into the story even though the blurb sounded really good. I made it to the end however I was mostly just waiting for it to get good. It may be a sign of my age but I felt like the main character Rue was really childish. Instead of acting like her 21-years-of-age, she sounded like she was 14. It also irked me that the storyline was rather superficial. It was indeed an easy and fast read. Overall the novel didn't thrill me.
October 12, 2016
The plot was so good. There was such potential. And then I read it. And it was a close call with to finish or DNF... Probably should ave DNF'd in hind sight.
It didn't start out too bad, but then it just closed it's eyes and jumped straight in the deep end of trashy trope. And while most of the characters had a few good moments... they all had more moments of wanting to slap them silly... and not in a good way. The plot was limited to 'this is required, tick' instead of following the story.
She is blindsided when she turns 21 and finds out she is the love child of a married billionaire and her mother... the nanny. Both of whom are now dead, leaving her a broke orphan with 2 half-brothers and an evil doped up stepmother. Her half-brothers are less than thrilled at her entrance to the family, and the money... which makes it understandable when one of them decides to show the trash that she really doesn't fit in their cashed up world, living a useless existence. No one questions how inside 12hrs, and with less than 10 people knowing the details, not only are the press onto it, but they are literally at her door with all the details. Oh, and these lifetime paparazzi bait brothers still manage to bite at the insults thrown at them.
The h is portrayed as a down to earth girl with a work ethic... for about 10secs, but is really a whiny child for a lot of it. She refuses the money, but soon has to change her mind because of an evil little twist daddy left in the will... If she didn't take it, it was to go to the . Now she doesn't want the money, or any fame that comes with being in the family, but the first thing she does when news breaks and she's splashed across the tabloids is throw her 'too old' computer across the room (of course), and jump on a plane with her bestie, New York bound for a shopping spree, where she ignores the people taking photos of her 'cause she's not famous', spends ridiculous amounts of the money she wants no part of, goes high profile by dancing on tables, shouting drinks for the entire club, and kissing strangers... even tho she's already had a 'love at first sight-so real-let him feel her up in an alley' thing with her brothers famous rockstar - may as well be their brother - best friend.
From the brothers, we have the in-the-closet gay guy who gets her a make over ASAP. The evil one who sets the boy-bestie up to use and abuse this trashy new sister so she can be broken and thrown away for a laugh. And this boy-bestie who has no problem using and abusing a stranger who is actually his friends sister... until he sets eyes on her and realizes she just might be the one, who he doesn't want to change his ways for but can't resist.
Oh, and there's the h's bestie who as it turns out is bi, and doesn't see a problem bringing a strange woman back to the hotel room... that only has one bed... that she is CURRENTLY, as in lying next to right now, sharing with the h as she's getting jiggy with it. Insert h ending up in boy-besties bed here.
The press goes wild on her New York binge and the evil brother gets his fun when he rubs it in her face, and she realizes she's been trying to turn herself into 'one of them', so she drowns herself in the pool with half a dozen people standing by. Enter the violin and the evil brother realizes he's being evil, and she's his sister. The boy-bestie realizes he can't stand by and let the evil brother monster her any more, que fight and they all head home separately because she doesn't want anything to do with them any more.
... But wait, there's more. The boy-bestie has a very tragic and public melt down when he gets off his plane and learns the brothers plane went down in the ocean. The h has an epiphany and rushes to the stepmothers house (who she still hasn't met) to comfort her while they wait for news on the brothers... who promptly goes psycho and blames EVERYTHING on the h for being born and slams the door. Not 10mins later the boy-bestie rocks up and they both go in to comfort the stepmother who is so contrite and doped up that she apologizes to the h and spills more secrets about the daddy.
Of course the brothers are saved... by a submarine... and no less than President Obama calls the stepmother directly to tell her her boys are safe!
Stepmother throws a party when they get home and all is rainbows an unicorns... The best bit... ALL of this, EVERY bit of it, has happened in a week.
It didn't start out too bad, but then it just closed it's eyes and jumped straight in the deep end of trashy trope. And while most of the characters had a few good moments... they all had more moments of wanting to slap them silly... and not in a good way. The plot was limited to 'this is required, tick' instead of following the story.
She is blindsided when she turns 21 and finds out she is the love child of a married billionaire and her mother... the nanny. Both of whom are now dead, leaving her a broke orphan with 2 half-brothers and an evil doped up stepmother. Her half-brothers are less than thrilled at her entrance to the family, and the money... which makes it understandable when one of them decides to show the trash that she really doesn't fit in their cashed up world, living a useless existence. No one questions how inside 12hrs, and with less than 10 people knowing the details, not only are the press onto it, but they are literally at her door with all the details. Oh, and these lifetime paparazzi bait brothers still manage to bite at the insults thrown at them.
The h is portrayed as a down to earth girl with a work ethic... for about 10secs, but is really a whiny child for a lot of it. She refuses the money, but soon has to change her mind because of an evil little twist daddy left in the will... If she didn't take it, it was to go to the . Now she doesn't want the money, or any fame that comes with being in the family, but the first thing she does when news breaks and she's splashed across the tabloids is throw her 'too old' computer across the room (of course), and jump on a plane with her bestie, New York bound for a shopping spree, where she ignores the people taking photos of her 'cause she's not famous', spends ridiculous amounts of the money she wants no part of, goes high profile by dancing on tables, shouting drinks for the entire club, and kissing strangers... even tho she's already had a 'love at first sight-so real-let him feel her up in an alley' thing with her brothers famous rockstar - may as well be their brother - best friend.
From the brothers, we have the in-the-closet gay guy who gets her a make over ASAP. The evil one who sets the boy-bestie up to use and abuse this trashy new sister so she can be broken and thrown away for a laugh. And this boy-bestie who has no problem using and abusing a stranger who is actually his friends sister... until he sets eyes on her and realizes she just might be the one, who he doesn't want to change his ways for but can't resist.
Oh, and there's the h's bestie who as it turns out is bi, and doesn't see a problem bringing a strange woman back to the hotel room... that only has one bed... that she is CURRENTLY, as in lying next to right now, sharing with the h as she's getting jiggy with it. Insert h ending up in boy-besties bed here.
The press goes wild on her New York binge and the evil brother gets his fun when he rubs it in her face, and she realizes she's been trying to turn herself into 'one of them', so she drowns herself in the pool with half a dozen people standing by. Enter the violin and the evil brother realizes he's being evil, and she's his sister. The boy-bestie realizes he can't stand by and let the evil brother monster her any more, que fight and they all head home separately because she doesn't want anything to do with them any more.
... But wait, there's more. The boy-bestie has a very tragic and public melt down when he gets off his plane and learns the brothers plane went down in the ocean. The h has an epiphany and rushes to the stepmothers house (who she still hasn't met) to comfort her while they wait for news on the brothers... who promptly goes psycho and blames EVERYTHING on the h for being born and slams the door. Not 10mins later the boy-bestie rocks up and they both go in to comfort the stepmother who is so contrite and doped up that she apologizes to the h and spills more secrets about the daddy.
Of course the brothers are saved... by a submarine... and no less than President Obama calls the stepmother directly to tell her her boys are safe!
Stepmother throws a party when they get home and all is rainbows an unicorns... The best bit... ALL of this, EVERY bit of it, has happened in a week.
February 7, 2017
On her twenty first birthday, Rue Calliwell opens her front door to Jack Stone - one of the famous Stone brothers. At a meeting at their lawyer's office she learns she has inherited $50 million. It is revealed the late Maxwell Stone was her father. She has also gained two brothers and the recognition that follows them.
For three years, Rue has been alone after losing her mother to cancer. Her best friend Jenna is the only family she has had. Within a few minutes she had gained and lost a father. However the most precious gift Max has given her, are the love letters from him and her mother. These allow her to reconnect with her mum. Rue initially refuses the money but a clause in Max's will prevents her from doing so.
Overnight Rue Calliwell has become a millionaire. Thrown into the spotlight, everything she says or does is scrutinised by the media. As she endeavours to fit into her brother's world, she tries to do so without losing her identity and who she is.
Sean is pleased to learn he has a half sister and feels an instant protectiveness towards her but his brother Jack, feels betrayed by their father. He refuses to believe anyone would turn down 50 million dollars. He doesn't believe the charade he feels Rue is portraying and becomes determined to prove to everyone that she is a fraud. Jack enlists the help of their best friend Alec Gabriel to gain Rue's trust and then break her heart. But as time goes by, he realises his actions have consequences.
Alec Gabriel has left a trail of broken hearts. He agrees to help Jack and looks forward to meeting the half sister but upon meeting Rue, he feels an instant connection to her both physically and emotionally. He realises Rue is not like the others and as they begin their affair, he knows he will protect Rue at all costs.
I found this story an emotional journey and cried in parts. Faleena Hopkins has managed to capture the beauty of love not only between Rue and Alec but also the familial love between siblings. It was a heartfelt story.
My only hope is this becomes a series and does not stay as a standalone! PLEASE!!
For three years, Rue has been alone after losing her mother to cancer. Her best friend Jenna is the only family she has had. Within a few minutes she had gained and lost a father. However the most precious gift Max has given her, are the love letters from him and her mother. These allow her to reconnect with her mum. Rue initially refuses the money but a clause in Max's will prevents her from doing so.
Overnight Rue Calliwell has become a millionaire. Thrown into the spotlight, everything she says or does is scrutinised by the media. As she endeavours to fit into her brother's world, she tries to do so without losing her identity and who she is.
Sean is pleased to learn he has a half sister and feels an instant protectiveness towards her but his brother Jack, feels betrayed by their father. He refuses to believe anyone would turn down 50 million dollars. He doesn't believe the charade he feels Rue is portraying and becomes determined to prove to everyone that she is a fraud. Jack enlists the help of their best friend Alec Gabriel to gain Rue's trust and then break her heart. But as time goes by, he realises his actions have consequences.
Alec Gabriel has left a trail of broken hearts. He agrees to help Jack and looks forward to meeting the half sister but upon meeting Rue, he feels an instant connection to her both physically and emotionally. He realises Rue is not like the others and as they begin their affair, he knows he will protect Rue at all costs.
I found this story an emotional journey and cried in parts. Faleena Hopkins has managed to capture the beauty of love not only between Rue and Alec but also the familial love between siblings. It was a heartfelt story.
My only hope is this becomes a series and does not stay as a standalone! PLEASE!!
April 16, 2016
You Don't Know Me
By Faleena Hopkins
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It was a quick read… I’ve only read Ms Hopkins Paranormal books, so this book was surprisingly chance of pass for me with her
Rue who learns that she's the half-sister to a pair of notorious billionaire playboys, Jack & Sean Stone.
Is told in 4 POV’s.. I don’t rember read the time I read about with so many POV’.. It was very interesting to say to the least to have that
Luckily Rue wakes up the day after her 21st birthday to knock on her door. Only to the famous Stone standing there & all they said was "You'll be hearing from my lawyer,"
Jack Stone is your typical spoil rich boy…Rude & obnoxious to anyone who he believes is below him.. So you can just imagine how he treated Rue. Jack does not hide is distaste for Rue at all. He is very cruel & is constantly mean and degrading her.
Sean Stone is so damn adorable sweet to Rue from the being. Sean has his secrets just like his father, unwilling to share cuz the media would have a field day if his secrets get out
Alec Gabriel is the womanizing front man for the band Locked Tight. He's also the best friend of the famous Stone brothers, Jack and Sean.. I wasn’t to happen when vengeful Jack asks Alec to make Rue his new play thing…
Also I imagine it would be sad story, but one I wouldn’t mind reading is the story how all this started??? Maxwell & Connie story
I am hoping in the future that Ms Hopkins can give us more Jack & Sean Stone, & even more about Alec & Rue…. The family aspect of this book was amazing…I didn’t know if I wanted to cry my ass off or laugh to dead in some parts.. I truly believe ever Actions have consequences & you see that in this book….I wished we had a more detailed at the ending with the character though
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you Faleena this was a wonderful gift
By Faleena Hopkins
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It was a quick read… I’ve only read Ms Hopkins Paranormal books, so this book was surprisingly chance of pass for me with her
Rue who learns that she's the half-sister to a pair of notorious billionaire playboys, Jack & Sean Stone.
Is told in 4 POV’s.. I don’t rember read the time I read about with so many POV’.. It was very interesting to say to the least to have that
Luckily Rue wakes up the day after her 21st birthday to knock on her door. Only to the famous Stone standing there & all they said was "You'll be hearing from my lawyer,"
Jack Stone is your typical spoil rich boy…Rude & obnoxious to anyone who he believes is below him.. So you can just imagine how he treated Rue. Jack does not hide is distaste for Rue at all. He is very cruel & is constantly mean and degrading her.
Sean Stone is so damn adorable sweet to Rue from the being. Sean has his secrets just like his father, unwilling to share cuz the media would have a field day if his secrets get out
Alec Gabriel is the womanizing front man for the band Locked Tight. He's also the best friend of the famous Stone brothers, Jack and Sean.. I wasn’t to happen when vengeful Jack asks Alec to make Rue his new play thing…
Also I imagine it would be sad story, but one I wouldn’t mind reading is the story how all this started??? Maxwell & Connie story
I am hoping in the future that Ms Hopkins can give us more Jack & Sean Stone, & even more about Alec & Rue…. The family aspect of this book was amazing…I didn’t know if I wanted to cry my ass off or laugh to dead in some parts.. I truly believe ever Actions have consequences & you see that in this book….I wished we had a more detailed at the ending with the character though
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you Faleena this was a wonderful gift
July 4, 2016
Loved it
I absolutely loved this book. It was excellent loved the characters, the story line, believability, and excellent writing. This was a hot sexy book, with swearing, use of alcohol, and some drug use, so best for 18 & over. I think this was the first book I have read by this Author, but I will be looking for more of her books. Great friendships, great love, great hurt, and a dam great book.
I absolutely loved this book. It was excellent loved the characters, the story line, believability, and excellent writing. This was a hot sexy book, with swearing, use of alcohol, and some drug use, so best for 18 & over. I think this was the first book I have read by this Author, but I will be looking for more of her books. Great friendships, great love, great hurt, and a dam great book.
September 26, 2015
I want more
November 5, 2016
Disappointing
Gratuitous use of the f...... word added nothing to the storyline. Highly unlikely will read anything more by this author.
Gratuitous use of the f...... word added nothing to the storyline. Highly unlikely will read anything more by this author.
April 20, 2018
Holy Tornado!! Not many books make me cry, scream, laugh n faint, but this one I had all these emotions n maybe more. I just loved it n I couldn't put the book down for long as I needed to know what happened next.
First book I ever read by this author, I didn't really know what to expect; I'm one of those ppl that judge a book by the cover cos first expressions are everything! I didn't get chance to read the synopsis.
I really admire the way that Faleena writes, discribing every little detail n I also liked the way she wrote the chapters.
Ok! Fair enough! The editing wasn't that fantastic; but I have seen so much worse than this.
The ending was a bit rough-rough in the air-rough in the sea, what with all that turbulance! will they survive? It was a heart-stopping moment with a couple of tissues to wipe away the tears.
Glad I read it. I do like stand-alone books; not too keen on cliff-hangers, especially cos I hate being kept in the dark for long, but it would be nice having another book in the series.
June 5, 2018
Story of Rue who learns that she's the half-sister to a pair of notorious billionaire playboys, Jack and Sean Stone. Jack's livid and wants to make her life a living hell; Sean's intrigued and not willing to abandon her.
This story had significantly more depth than I had expected, but that's not saying much. The character development in J, S and R is good; we experience the highs and lows as Rue figures out what she wants. The romance with Alec was steamy, but not as romantic and frankly it got overshadowed by the issues with the Stones.
I usually dislike NA novels, but this one had just enough drama to keep me intrigued.
Upon re-reading, I found a number of writing issues that now made me take this down a star or two.
This story had significantly more depth than I had expected, but that's not saying much. The character development in J, S and R is good; we experience the highs and lows as Rue figures out what she wants. The romance with Alec was steamy, but not as romantic and frankly it got overshadowed by the issues with the Stones.
I usually dislike NA novels, but this one had just enough drama to keep me intrigued.
Upon re-reading, I found a number of writing issues that now made me take this down a star or two.
May 21, 2017
Faleena, love, you are quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I'm really looking forward to whatever rabbits you pull out of your magic hat next.
Goodreads reviewers have disappointed me again on this one. I read through many of the 1, 2, and 3 star ratings, and found them to be without substance. I think would not have been as incensed as I am had they all been 4 & 5 star ratings.
I read a LOT of books, and this one is waaayyyy better than most.
Yes, it was a quick read.
Yes, there was a bit of insta-love.
BUT, I really enjoyed reading the characters' story arcs, and watching them find redemption, and ultimately, acceptance with who they are as people. Rue, as she struggled to become something she's not. Jack, as he struggled to be fearless to go after his dream. And Sean, as he struggled with hiding his true self. They became people who love, and people who chase after their dreams. They discover that family is not only the people you're born with, it's the people you choose to have around you, love you and support you.
I really liked this one!
Goodreads reviewers have disappointed me again on this one. I read through many of the 1, 2, and 3 star ratings, and found them to be without substance. I think would not have been as incensed as I am had they all been 4 & 5 star ratings.
I read a LOT of books, and this one is waaayyyy better than most.
Yes, it was a quick read.
Yes, there was a bit of insta-love.
BUT, I really enjoyed reading the characters' story arcs, and watching them find redemption, and ultimately, acceptance with who they are as people. Rue, as she struggled to become something she's not. Jack, as he struggled to be fearless to go after his dream. And Sean, as he struggled with hiding his true self. They became people who love, and people who chase after their dreams. They discover that family is not only the people you're born with, it's the people you choose to have around you, love you and support you.
I really liked this one!
February 22, 2018
The Surprises Never Quit
This is a new Author to me and I love her writing already!! You Don’t Know Me, is an emotionally filled story of lost and found on so many different levels. Losing ones parents is hard enough, but to find out your father wasn’t who you thought he was. Then to find out you have a pair of not only famous but excessively rich brothers, can throw any girl for a loop, especially when she becomes a multi millionaire over night.
The roller coaster ride between love, hate, loss, want and stupidity keeps you drawn into the story all the way through. I needed to see how it turned out, I read it in one sitting. Wonderful characters who keep you enthralled as they bare their souls and find more than they all expected. Fantastic read you need to check out!! Recommended to all who love a good cry with a wonderful HEA. Well Done🌺
This is a new Author to me and I love her writing already!! You Don’t Know Me, is an emotionally filled story of lost and found on so many different levels. Losing ones parents is hard enough, but to find out your father wasn’t who you thought he was. Then to find out you have a pair of not only famous but excessively rich brothers, can throw any girl for a loop, especially when she becomes a multi millionaire over night.
The roller coaster ride between love, hate, loss, want and stupidity keeps you drawn into the story all the way through. I needed to see how it turned out, I read it in one sitting. Wonderful characters who keep you enthralled as they bare their souls and find more than they all expected. Fantastic read you need to check out!! Recommended to all who love a good cry with a wonderful HEA. Well Done🌺
September 23, 2017
Such a fun and easy read...
March 24, 2017
When I first started reading this I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. Jack was such a jerk. Thankfully he got better by the end. It just sucks that something bad had to happen in order for everything to get better.
May 8, 2018
[*Looks at title* ... ] ... And I definitely DO NOT WANT TO!!! See #CockyGate on Twitter for more details!!
May 4, 2017
I spend so many nights in the same position: devouring a free Kindle romance when I should be sleeping and that romance ultimately disappointing me. You Don't Know Me had a great hook: a poor girls inherits $50 million when she turns 21 and discovers she's actually part of a famous family with two older brothers. Oh, and she also falls in love with a rock star, who just happens to be her best friend's older brother. It was intriguing, but sadly I think the description was the best part.
Rue is terribly characterized. One minute, she's sweet. The next, she's bratty. Her dream is being a dancer, and yet nothing is ever shown of her pursuing that. Everything is too fast-paced, and nothing ties together well. The brothers are only marginally developed, though I did like Sean, and Jack just was a mess. I absolutely hated Alec, the romantic lead, and I wish he hadn't been in the novel at all. The best friend was okay, I guess, but the whole plot was ridiculous.
You Don't Know Me pretty much read like a book of romance's worst and most worn out clichés. I'm glad I got it for free, but definitely not recommended.
Rue is terribly characterized. One minute, she's sweet. The next, she's bratty. Her dream is being a dancer, and yet nothing is ever shown of her pursuing that. Everything is too fast-paced, and nothing ties together well. The brothers are only marginally developed, though I did like Sean, and Jack just was a mess. I absolutely hated Alec, the romantic lead, and I wish he hadn't been in the novel at all. The best friend was okay, I guess, but the whole plot was ridiculous.
You Don't Know Me pretty much read like a book of romance's worst and most worn out clichés. I'm glad I got it for free, but definitely not recommended.
May 14, 2017
Couldn't finish. There was no substance to this book at all. Decent premise, poorly executed. With an hour and a half left of the book, the main character had yet to actually have an intelligent convo with her love interest (but was willing to do pretty much anything he asked, and sleep with him). Had there been some get to know you convos with some depth between the characters, the book could have been much better. However, I stopped reading when I hit the girl on girl scenes. Just not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2018
When: your brand is cocks, and males with Cocky attitudes... then you trade mark "Cocky" and develop a bad attitude yourself; you KNOW you just fucked your career... I hope you got a pen name and a backup idea, because Cocky just fucked you royally.
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