Acting Brave (Fenbrook Academy #3) by Helena Newbury

A Review by Wendy

3.5 to 4 Pulling Off The Masks We Wear Stars 

We all wear masks... it is just a matter of how easily we reveal ourselves. You have all heard over and over again when attempting a new job or situation the phrase "fake it till you make it"... well... in this story... we have a young woman who needed not only to fake it...she had to reinvent herself in order to survive... 

In the prologue to this installment of the Fenbrook Academy series, we have Emma... she is locked into a world not of her making...corrupt, violent, very damaging and dangerous. She has tried to stay safe...be invisible...but eyes have been on her for sometime. The one person who should be her protector and care for her is the one person she must flee, never to be found...ever. She has thought of this...has come up with a plan for her life...and in her escape...she leaves all of it behind. 

There will be no trace of Emma to be found...she will become Jasmine.

As Jasmine, she is everything Emma wasn't... enjoying her curves, confident when she walks, talks, and flirts... she will be an actress; she will make her mark and no one will ever think she was that girl. 

She has made friends at Fenbrook Academy (they all have their own books but you do not have to read them to enjoy this one) and they are in their last year together. Jasmine has maintained her persona...she is giggly, the sexy one who tells everyone what they may need about sex...she is a man's walking wet dream...a Jessica Rabbit in human form...yet her heart and caring for her friends remains true..All of this has only enhanced her acting ability. 

Together one night Jasmine crosses paths with Ryan, a beat cop. She and her group were making their way through an alley short cut after being out one night; one was a little lagged behind and was getting mugged. Ryan took the call with his partner Hux and questioned Jasmine as to what happened... In Ryan's questioning, he insulted her... and then had to backtrack...the "damage was done" but neither of them wanted to acknowledge the damage was not what he said.... it was to both of their beings... because that first connection in that alley ....was everything.

Ryan lived to be a cop... his father was one, his grandfather, too. He wasn't a talker... or slick... he would watch and observe. He also was BIG... the type of big which cannot be ignored...shoulders wide...tree trunk legs... arms ... just all of it. But some how not frightening unless he activated his look...that steely glare, intense... So here is this man captivated by this woman...who he thinks is an angel gliding through all these humans on earth. He cannot stop thinking of her, he is not worthy of her... he get's tongue tied every time he is around her... had fate brings them together again with a bar fight he breaks up, too. Then he starts to time his patrols for her walk at lunch on Thursdays...it just so happens she is just as obsessed about him too... but he is forbidden fruit... he is a cop...she cannot be around him... he will ask questions she cannot reveal...so when they have another encounter... these two mismatched people both fumble and events happen which change Ryan forever...

This book was strong and had grit. The characters were formed to give you the understanding of their actions... It is very important, however, to address the possible triggers which are in the book. Implied domestic violence, extreme sexual abuse are part of the story line. I feel if these things are something which are not for you or could trigger, please think carefully about reading this book.

I will say, though, there were strong life lessons and the chemistry between Ryan and Jasmine/Emma worked. I would have liked to have seen the book come together a little sooner... There were quite a few plot points and all of them were addressed well...so in the end it was all worth it. 

These books all cover unique issues surrounded by the falling in love with their partner...Nothing is every 1,2,3 easy... but they all have a satisfying end. 

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

About Helena Newbury

Want to contact me? helenanewburyauthor@gmail.com

I'm a New Adult Romance author living in London, currently working on my third book :)