Mr. Unexpected by Mariane Reign

Mr. Unexpected
Mariane Reign
(Precious Hearts Romances)



Heather didn’t know the exact meaning of love. Pero nang makilala niya ang isang Mark Jarvis Fuentes sa isang blind date ay para siyang hinampas ng pag-ibig sa kanyang mukha.

He brought unexpected feelings to her—na para bang tuwing makikita niya ito ay biglang pumapasok sa isip niya ang “forever.” He awakened feelings in her that she didn’t know she could feel.

Ang buong akala niya ay una at huling beses na makikita niya si Jarvis sa blind date na iyon. But destiny played a trick. He ended up pretending to be her boyfriend.

She expected the attraction, she expected the spark, and she expected being bedazzled by his charms.

Pero dapat ba niyang hayaang tuluyang mahulog ang loob niya rito?

~W~

*Last edit: June 26, 2013

About the book:

Title: Mr. Unexpected
Author: Mariane Reign
Series/Imprint: Precious Hearts Romances Normal Imprint
Published On: February, 2013
Pages: 128 pages

Reader's Point-of-view:

Mr. Unexpected was Miss Mariane Reign's seventh and latest published book. Mr. Unexpected was about the so-called blind date of Heather and Jarvis and how the story unfold because of that so-called blind date. Heather as what was stated on the blurb didn't know the exact meaning of love. Then entered Jarvis who brought unexpected feelings and situations in her life. He became her pretend boyfriend for some reasons and through that, she came to know him more and thus, fell for him. Years later, they were still an item and that's the start of this unexpected romance between Heather and Jarvis.

I like Heather's characterization at the beginning of the novel. The way the author describe her, parang ang lakas-lakas ng dating at aura niya. Even though the situation was kind of awkward between her and Jarvis, she handled it well. On her age, she was kind of matured at the beginning. Palaban siya base na rin sa pagkaka-describe sa kanya. She's frank and strong-willed. What I don't like was what she had become after years. I expected that she would be more mature since years had already passed by but no. Parang pabaliktad siya. Habang patanda ay pabata ang pag-iisip.

Then here was the hero, Jarvis. At the beginning of the novel, hindi ko na nagustuhan si Jarvis. The way Heather described his physical appearance, it seemed like he's a God's gift to humans. But that's all. Hindi ko nagustuhan ang pagiging ungentlemanly ni Jarvis sa blind date nila ni Heather. He could at least tell her in a nice way--since he was characterized as a nice guy, if I'm correct--that he's going home already. Sana man lamang ay inalok niyang ihatid si Heather kahit pabalat-bunga lang. Heather was still a girl and he could at least be nice hindi 'yong basta-basta na lamang siyang umalis at iniwan si Heather. Does it sounds like he's matured? No. Immature move, Jarvis. Then here's the Jarvis-after-years. I could not explain it. I wasn't expecting that to him. I know a guy could emotionally hurt the heroine. By some instances, he could hurt her and thus the whole conflict of the novel. But in this case, hindi lang emotional pain ang ibinigay ni Jarvis kay Heather. Physical pain din. I know in real life ay nangyayari ito. But come on, this is somehow a fiction. Give us a worth-loving hero, Ms. Reign. Matatanggap ko siguro bilang reader ang bungi-bungi at pandak na hero pero ang abusive na hero? Please, no. The most disappointing thing? Parang hindi man lamang nagsisi si Jarvis na nasaktan niya si Heather.

The side characters were okay at first. We know authors loved to add side characters to add spice on the novel and to give hint that there would be a sequel. But there are side characters and irritating side characters. I could understand the Serenity's (Jarvis' band) point-of-view. They wanted to help their friend Jarvis who by that time was totally wasted because Heather left her. Come on, again. Who would stay at your side after you hurt her? Ang hindi ko nagustuhan sa Serenity ay ang pagtawag nila kay Heather para puntahan si Jarvis. I know it wasn't included on the novel but I could not help but think, if Jarvis had already hurt Heather when he was sane, how about now when he's awfully drunk? How cool is that?

Then there's Chloe, Jarvis' best friend. I know instantly that she would be a huge part on the story. And I was right. Hindi nakakainis ang part ni Chloe sa istorya. Naging nakakainis siya dahil na rin sa naging reception ni Heather sa kanya. Where was the frank and fierce Heather? Natakot siya kay Chloe ng gan'on-gan'on na lamang? Parang nabahag ang buntot niya sa puntong ito. And to be honest, Chloe was more suitable for Jarvis. Really. Heather should be with Zhen, one of Jarvis' friends.

Regarding sa mismong takbo ng istorya, masyado akong nabilisan sa pacing nito. Hindi rin ako kumbinsido sa naging dahilan ni Heather kung bakit kailangan niyang magkaroon ng pretend boyfriend sa katauhan ni Jarvis. Masyado akong nabilisan sa naging istorya nila noong nasa kolehiyo sila. Siguro ay mas magiging epektibo ang parteng iyon kung dinagdagan pa ni Ms. Reign ng kilig scenes sa pagitan ni Jarvis at Heather. Habang binabasa ko kasi ang college life nila, para akong tinangay ng ipu-ipo. One minute they were strangers, then pretend lovers and they now loved each other. I wasn't convinced at all. Pilit na pilit ang mga scenes sa pagitan nila Heather at Jarvis na pakiramdam ko bilang reader ay hindi sila compatible. Nakakakunot ng noo ang bilis ng building ng romance sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Kahit noong after years na ay nakulangan din ako sa romance at kilig. Bitin at pilit.

In overall, the book was okay but it wasn't my cup of juice. LOL! If you could see past on what I had written above, then this book is for you. If you're into fast-read novels with not-so-heroic hero, then again, this one is for you. Pero kung ayaw niyo ng hero na nananakit ng heroine physically--not the simple tapik sa noo, pitik sa ilong kind--then, I suggest you think twice or huwag niyo na lang basahin ang parte sa kung saan sinaktan ni Jarvis si Heather.

I think Ms. Reign has a problem with the characterization. This one has a future for being abusive and her other novel's hero, Rhyken from My Heart's Perfect Match, was a suicidal hero. Hindi masamang ilapit sa reality ang mga characters pero please lang naman, gawin naman sana ni Ms. Reign na half-perfect. LOL! Readers were supposed to fall in love while reading pero dito, hindi ka ma-i-in love. Mato-trauma kang magmahal! Hahahahaha! I'm expecting the same twist on her next Serenity, Zhen. Siguro ay dating bakla pala si Zhen na naging lalaki na dahil sa heroine. Cool, huh? Sana lang wag siyang maging rapist. LOL!

In comparison to her previous works, BookWorm had only read two out of seven novels. 'Yong Mr. Unexpected at My Heart's Perfect Match. BookLover had read from Charm Me With Your Heart up to Mr. Unexpected and both have the same issues with her when it comes to the characterization of the protagonists. And it seemed like Ms. Reign likes heroines who's frank, maldita and mataray. Those characteristics were okay pero 'yong puro 'yon ang ginagawa niya? Wala na bang iba? At ang English words... LOL! We commend her for her flowery words pero naman, sana ay bawas-bawasan niya ito dahil minsan ay sobrang awkward ng basahin. Like totally. Hahahahaha!

Favorite Character: None, sorry. O kaya ay si Zhen na lang.

Favorite Scene: When Heather finally bitch-slapped Chloe. Finally, you finally opened your eyes, girl!

Favorite Line/s: "I'm done loving you." -Heather. It would be much appreciated if she did not take him back at the end. LOL! But this is romance fiction so it should be a happy-ending story but still, I could not accept Jarvis as Heather's man in the end. Zhen, take her away from Jarvis!

Rating: .5 Star

(It was better than zero, right? Point five isn't a negative rating. For us, BookLover and BookWorm, point five is between zero and one. The point five was for the cover and the slight humor of the novel)