SWEET REALITY - Laura Heffernan

#2 in the Reality Star romance series

CUTE AND ENTERTAINING - 3 stars

Plot - 4 stars - After both quitting The Fishbowl reality TV show, Justin and Jen decide to continue with their relationship. Jen invests most of her winnings in Justin's sister's bakery in Miami, using their name recognition and creating baked goods based on the personalities of several reality show stars. Unfortunately, a highly successful and long-term bakery in the area opens right across the street. At the same time, Justin and Jen join a reality TV cruise, along with several other stars, including a successful winning baker who could potentially help their business. Many complications ensue, however.

Writing - 3 stars - The light-hearted writing continues with this book, and the enjoyable characters are once again placed into compromising positions and have to wriggle themselves out of trouble in lots of amusing ways. However, some of the witty banter felt more biting and backstabbing than not, including from The Network. The complications somehow felt more cruel than funny at times.

Characters - 3 stars - I've liked Jen as a main character because she's warm and funny, with a good head on her shoulders. She always claims that it's totally not her fault that she ends up in these hilarious situations; most of the time she's set up to increase the reality show ratings. But I'll admit that she often does have a hand in her problems. She jumps to conclusions, always in a negative way, and I found this trait to be less amusing this time. Until now, I've felt that she was always trying hard to do the right thing, but I was a little disappointed in some of her actions in this book and felt that she made things worse. She claimed that it was accidental, but it felt more like "accidentally on purpose." Justin really is just a back-up character (at least in this book), despite the fact that they are a committed couple. Complications come from Dominic, her ex who claims he wants to rekindle their relationship, and Ariana, the troublemaker from The Fishbowl who is always trying to one-up Jen.

Title - 4 stars - A cute and clever title, which mentions the reality show in the name of the soon-to-open bakery.

Cover - 3 stars - I prefer the cover with real faces matching the main characters, but the alternate cartoony cover has pastel colors that draw the eye and a cruise-ship theme.

Overall - 3 stars - This book was a cute continuation of the first book in the series, this time focusing on Jen and her attempts to move on with Justin and with their business. The cruise ship was a perfect setting, ripe with opportunities for fun and/or complications. I was rooting for J&J's success, and I had to smile at the continued problems that Jen has each time she feels she's making progress. But it sometimes felt as though Jen was contributing to her own difficulties by taking actions that would set herself up for failure or, at the very least, by looking for problems. It did take me forever to finish this book, for some reason. I think it was the underlying cattiness and never-ending backbiting that took away from the sweetness of Jen and Justin's romance and undermined the HEA I was looking for.

This is book 2. This book was a fun, fast read for me, but I think I would've enjoyed it better had I read book 1 first. I really may go back and read it as well as this one again. It was hard to put down and kept me wanting more. If you love reality tv shows, then this is the book for you. Jen and Justin are a reality tv show's hottest couple. You will love their story. It is full of drama as with any good reality show! Jump right in and enjoy. There is a twist at the end, but I won't give it away. I want you read this book and enjoy it!

I received this before I read the first book of the series, America's Next Reality Star, which I immediately purchased and devoured.

As a fan of reality tv, reading about it has proven to be a great source of entertainment too! The cruise was just as entertaining as the fishbowl. Somewhat predictable and somewhat totally unexpected. It was a great and fun read. Looking forward to the 3rd installment! Keep em comin!

I wish I had known this was a sequel before I started. I definitely felt like I was missing some backstory for the first third or so of the book. Once I caught on, I enjoyed it, but in a fluffy way.

Review by Amanda for Love Romance Books Blog

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

I would like to have given Sweet Reality 3.5 stars. I haven't read the first book in the Reality Star series, and while it wasn't strictly necessary to have read the first one, I think it would have been better to read the first one before this. Many of the characters in Sweet Reality were also in the first book and the events of (what I assume were) the first book colored the way the characters acted in this book. There were a many many references to events in the past.

Aside from that, it was a good light read. I think it's also suitable for young adults. While it references intimate relationships, it don't think it has any detailed scenes.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Jen had left the reality show early and taken a sure prize and Justin followed after her. It’s a year later and Justin and Jen are in a full romance now and happy. Jan plans on using her winners from the reality show to invest in a bakery with Justin’s sister Madison who is now Jen’s best friend.Madison and Jen were showcasing a lot of the deserts that had been on the reality show. The name of their bakery was Sweet Reality. Then a rival bakery opened up across the street from Sweet Reality and Jen needs a special ingredient to pull out in front of the other bakery. Then Jen and Justin are contacted by the network and offered an all expense week long cruise for previous reality t v stars. Jen and Justin thought that was just what they needed. Ariana had been Jen’s nemesis and had claimed Justin as her own even if it wasn’t true while they were on The FishBowl. Now she was also going to be on the cruise. Jen’s ex cheating boyfriend Dominick had also been on the show and was going on the cruise.
I loved this book. I loved how the author brought back a lot of the characters from the first book. I do advise you read the first book first if possible as it will give you the background you need for everything to come together. In this story there was: drama, humor, romance, betrayal. conflict, tension, and a lot more. This book has a great plot and is fast paced. The was a second plot that was depressing and I felt that really wasn’t needed not as sad as it was anyway. There was a lot of twists and turns in this story. This was basically a fun read. I was laughing out loud at times. Even with the subplot I really liked this book. I loved the characters and the twists and turns and I recommend.

Unfortunately, this book could not capture my attention. It is rare that I don't finish a book within a few days. This book took me a long time to finish. I wanted to like this book as I had read the previous book with these characters. It may be the subject matter I thoroughly disillusioned with my favorite reality show and may be done watching that format. I look forward to reading other books by this author!

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.”

DNF. I didn't realize this was book two of a series. I read about 20%, but I just couldn't connect with the characters. I think you definitely need to read the first book in order to appreciate this one. Seemed cute and funny, but I felt like an outsider looking in!

I absolutely DEVOURED this book! This is the 2nd book in the series, and you definitely need to read America's Next Reality Star first! This book picks up where we left off in the prior book. I enjoyed seeing the headlines to know what was the media was saying/speculating and I liked seeing a little into Jen and Justin's lives prior to their next reality world jaunt. We see their normalcy and the things happening around them that stress them out. They are looking forward to time away and a vacation together, despite it being part of another reality show. They are so sweet and adorable together and I, too, wanted them to have a great vacation!
I LOVED getting old and new reality stars together on vacation. I felt like I was really watching a reality show unfold and the way Heffernan writes, she provides her readers with an insight into how they are really thinking/feeling plus doing what they need to do for the reality show. (i.e. confessions.) I was sucked into this story and couldn't put it down!
As the story progressed, some things I could see coming due to drama needed for good reality show from the producers, but some things were not expected! I enjoyed the twists and the turns. There were a lot of "OMG" moments for me. Or "NO WAY!" This book is a must-read!

Sweet Reality by Laura Hefferan is the 2nd book in her Reality Star series. Sweet Reality continues the nice cute romance between our couple from the first book, Jen and Justin. If you enjoy Reality shows, then you will get a kick out of this series. Jen is starting her own bakery with Justin’s sister showcasing many of the desserts from the show they were on. When a popular bakery chain opens across the street, Jen is concerned that they will fail.

Both Jen and Justin became popular when they became and couple and walked off the show. Now they are invited back to a new reality show cruise, and since Jen needs the money for her bakery, and wants new dessert recipes, they decide to do the show.
Many of the people from the first show will also be on the cruise, including Jen’s mortal enemy, Ariana, her ex-boyfriend, Dominic, and the friends she made. It was mostly a fun group, with the few reminders of the nasty competitors, who will do anything to break up Jen and Justin.

What follows is an adventure where things go wrong, and their relationship is put on the brink. But true love will always prevail. This is a difficult review to write, as to tell too much more would ruin the story. There is lots of humor, and even a sad element added near the end. Sweet Reality was a lighthearted cute romance, giving us a look at what really goes behind a reality show, as well as a very likeable couple.

A very fun follow-up to the fun AMERICA'S NEXT REALITY STAR! (That said, there's enough context woven into this book that you don't have to read the first one to enjoy it!) Plenty of drama (those chapter-ending cliffhangers kept me turning pages long after my bedtime!) and lots of humor. A very enjoyable read!

I loved America's Next Reality Star, so when I was offered an ARC of Sweet Reality, I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on an advanced copy -- and I loved this second book in the series even better than the first. Funny, fast-paced, and touching, I loved following Jen, Justin, and the rest of the cast as they cruised around the Caribbean. (Also: I want the recipe for Madison's cupcakes.) Looking forward to the final book in this fun-filled trilogy!

Sweet Reality is the follow up book to America's Next Reality Star. It focuses on Jen and Justin who met and fell in love while on a reality show. Jen is in the process of opening a bakery with her best friend/boyfriends twin sister when a huge competitor opens right across the street. If she's going to save her bakery, Sweet Reality, Jen has to come up with an amazing recipe like the recipe that won Totally 80s Bake-Off.

Jen and Justin decide to do a reality cruise in hopes of meeting the winner of Totally 80s Bake Off and buying her secret recipe. Surrounded by conniving producers, old nemesis and people from their past can Justin and Jen keep their relationship together and keep the bakery in business? This was a great read and I cannot wait for the next installment!!

“I didn’t come here to make friends.”

If that line didn’t fill your head with reality show villains from the past, this likely isn’t the book for you.

To truly enjoy this fabulously cheesy beach read, you need to have:
1) Seen and enjoyed some reality TV (Bachelor (or –ette), Rupaul’s Drag Race, or even terribly trashy ones like I Love New York – even if you sneak watch them and pretend you don’t.
2) Read book 1.

If you haven’t read book one, stop now. You won’t know or love (or hate) our characters and you need that background for this book.

In book 2, Jen and Justin are about to set off on the vacation of a lifetime – that’s right! A Reality Show Cruise, full of fans, production, and many of America’s most famous - and infamous - Reality show cast members.

But as we know, unscripted doesn’t mean no drama and Jen realizes her dream cruise is full of drama, exes, mean girls, and one very unusual cupcake recipe. Will Jen and Justin end the cruise still being America’s favorite reality couple? Or will production realize that sweetness is kind of boring…unless you add a little spice?

Readers will want to know that the story does have an extremely sad little sub plot. It adds drama, but was maybe a little too depressing for a light read? However there’s a book three in the future and hopefully that sadness can lighten up a little in that book?

An entertaining beach read for those of us who admit we do care what happens in (and beyond) the fantasy suite!

Oh, and a quick note to the author: That cupcake recipe…was so very, very unexpected. Very.