the town of culler, south carolina in the sweetheart sham reminds me a lot of bluebell, alabama in hart of dixie. it's one of those quintessential southern towns. small. traditional. where the old families still rule society and everyone knows everything about everyone. except will montgomery has a big secret. and georgia ann monroe, his best friend in the world, is the one other person who knows. he's gay. and he isn't out.but when he meets someone who is struggling with the same things he is, he asks georgie to pretend to be his girlfriend so he can date his boyfriend in relative secrecy and peace. this would be fine, except for the fact that beau montgomery, will's cousin and georgie's almost boyfriend and definitely the boy who broke her heart, is back in town after a two-year absence. he wants to make amends with georgie. and he's horrified to realize she's dating his cousin.
georgie is pissed at beau. but she's also glad he's back. and she wishes she didn't have this enormous secret to keep because it's totally getting in the way of reconnecting with beau. even if she's still not sure she can trust him with her heart. time and time again he shows her that he's paying attention. but there's no way he'd hurt his cousin by moving in on his girl. and georgie knows that telling beau isn't going to go well when he realizes that she's been lying to him. because beau has, with good reason, no tolerance for liars.
they can get past these things, but beau has to show georgie that he has staying power. she doesn't want to find herself abandoned, waiting for someone who isn't going to show up. and he kind of needs to grovel about this, because if there is one thing beau does well, it's run away from his problems.
**the sweetheart charm will publish on december 4, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (crush) in exchange for my honest review. keep reading for more information on the book....
Title: The Sweetheart Sham
Series: Southern Charmed #1
Author: Danielle Ellison
Publication Date: December 4, 2017
Imprint: Entangled Teen: Crush
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In a small town like Culler, South Carolina, you guard your secrets like you guard your cobbler recipe: with your life. Georgia Ann Monroe knows a thing or two about secrets: she’s been guarding the truth that her best friend Will is gay for years now. But what happens when a little white lie to protect him gets her into a fake relationship…and then the boy of her dreams shows up?
Enter Beau Montgomery: Georgie’s first love, hotter than ever, and much too much of a southern gentleman to ever pursue someone else’s girl. There’s no way to come clean to Beau while still protecting Will. But bless their hearts, they live in Culler—where secrets always have a way of revealing themselves.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a hilarious “fakeship,” a scorching-hot impossible relationship, and a heartwarming best-friendship that will make you want to call your best friend right here, right now.
EXCERPT
“Beau Montgomery, what on earth!” someone, I think it’s Will’s mom, says with a squeal. I can’t single it out because my heart seems to stop beating.
Everyone scoots toward the patio entrance and gathers around. Will drops my hand to move closer.
And then I see him.
He’s standing behind Mrs. M next to his dad, a big smile on his face, and he’s tall. Real tall. His dark hair is longer and nearly falling into his hazel eyes, definitely a length that Orry won’t like much. His jaw is strong, some muscles pressing under his polo. He looks nothing like the boy I remember.
And suddenly I’m a little self-conscious. What am I wearing today? I can’t even remember. I could look down but that would mean looking away from him, and then maybe when I look back he won’t be there. I don’t know if he even sees me, but I see him. Clearly. After more than two years of nothing.
“Beau, is that you, boy?” Orry calls. Beau steps around the rest of the family toward his grandpa. He’s closer now, and I can get a better look at his face. My eyes explore his features and rest on his lips, which break out into a small smile and—Dang, is it hot out here?
“Hello, Granddad.” Orry pulls him into a hug and Beau has to lean over to reach him properly. Orry looks like a kid in his arms.
Cheese and rice, even his voice is sexy. Deeper but still with a familiar feeling that it stirs up in me, and an accent with a hint of Georgia twang instead of South Carolina cadence.
I like it. Lord help me, I like it.
Orry holds him out at arm’s length and examines him before giving him a pat on the shoulder. “You look more like your daddy than I expected. How tall are you?”
“Six one, sir,” Beau says.
“You look good, grandson, real good. Atlanta treating you well?”
“Yes, sir, it is.”
I want to move, but I can’t. My feet are stuck to the ground, not that I should move anyway. I don’t reckon I trust myself around him. Especially not right now when I’m not sure if I want to hug him or kick him somewhere that would hurt. I’d do a good job of it too and make darn sure my kick was as painful as him not showing up that night.
“When’s your momma coming?” Mrs. M asks him.
“Not until closer to the wedding,” he says.
I watch as Will hugs him. They’re both smiling, and it reminds me of before when he was here. They were inseparable—we were—and now I’m just standing here like an idiot. Which I am. Will looks in my direction, and then Beau’s eyes are on me, too. It’s even worse when he’s looking at me, especially now with a hidden glimmer in them. It’s not how he said hello to the others; it’s almost like his eyes hadn’t seen me before, and now he’s hyperaware. Just like I’ve been since his dad yelled his name.
He takes a step toward me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORDanielle Ellison is a nomad, always on the lookout for an adventure and the next story. In addition to writing, she’s the founder and coordinator of the NoVa TEEN Book Festival. When she’s not busy with books, she’s probably watching her favorite shows, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges. She is newly settled in Oklahoma (for now) with her cat, Simon, but you can always find her on Twitter.
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The Sweetheart Sham Prize Pack (US):
-Pampering goodies (sweet southern soap and bath bombs)
-a “peanut butter <3s jelly="" mug="" p="">-ice cream erasers
-heart-shaped sunglasses
-a copy of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
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