Candid (True Images Series #1) by Michelle Pennington {Review}

Candid (True Images Series #1) by Michelle Pennington

Kindle Edition, 240 pages

Published April 17th 2012 

 

 

Life is simple for high school senior, Sienna Whitfield. With a few good friends, a camera, and a dream, she has everything she needs to be happy. But when Jordan Rubio, the most popular girl at Haskins High, makes her mad, she decides to use the power of photography to right a few social wrongs. As if that doesn’t cause enough drama in her life, she realizes she’s falling for the new guy, Lee Franklin. Strong and protective, he’s just what she needs to survive the craziness she’s stirred up at school. If only she didn’t have to keep her feelings for Lee a secret from her mom…

 

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My Review: 4 Stars

 

Sienna is finishing up her last year of high school and decides to shake things up. She's a photographer and takes her job on the school paper and yearbook staff serious. She'd rather spend her money on camera equipment than on clothes and makeup. When she decides to use her photos on her blog to make some of the nice kids at school more popular, she angers the reigning popularity king and queen. I'm the type of person who likes to stay in the background and not ruffle any feathers, so it was hard for me to understand why in the world she would want to stir things up and cause problems for herself. I had to admire her for trying to build others up and not caring too much about the consequences, because there's no way I was that mature at her age. It's refreshing to see a high school character who can see beyond herself, as I wish I could've been more like this back then.

 

When new boy, Lee, moves in, there's an immediate attraction between the two, but there's also one huge complication--her very overprotective mother. Lee is such a great guy that shows characteristics of a true gentleman. His patience, strong will, and protectiveness are very appealing. As for Sienna's mom, I'm so glad she isn't my mom! A past mistake leads her to believe that Sienna needs to be shielded from everything and controlled, almost to the point of treating her like an inmate. I felt that she went over the top in her reactions and rules, even coming across as a hypocrite in a way, but as a mother myself, I can understand where she is coming from and I could feel her intense love through the mess.

 

The story unfolds in a very progressive way and I felt like I was back in high school again--almost. The feelings, rivalries, and drama are all there. I liked the bits of conflict and the way things were resolved, although not always completely. There are a few little mysteries to be solved. I really enjoyed the story and I'm eager to read the next book. 

Content: mild romance (kissing, implied past relationship). Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*

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About the Author:

 

Michelle Pennington spends her days quoting movies with her husband, making messes faster than her four kids, and generally tolerating General Lee, their autocratic cat. She only puts up with him because apparently it's a thing for authors to have a cat. She loves to make magic by stringing words together, but she also creates designer sugar cookies, sings loud in church, and reads fiction like it's her last day on earth.

Recently, Michelle's was chosen as a winner in the Five Magic Spindles creative writing contest hosted by Rooglewood Press. The book will be available Summer 2016. Michelle also has two other books slotted for release in 2016!

Follow her at www.michelle-pennington.com, on Twitter - @MLLPennington, on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MichelleLPennington, Instagram - MichelleLPennington, and on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/michellelynnp