REVIEW: The Bachelor Auction by Rachel van Dyken

The Bachelor Auction by Rachel van Dyken: Ever since her parents died, Jane has been forced to take care of her sisters and keep her family together, even though her sisters continually take advantage of her goodwill as they use and abuse her. Brock’s own parental loss heavily marked him, causing him to be unable to say no to any of his grandfather’s demands, even the most recent demand that Brock take part in a bachelor auction.

Jane is saved by Brock at the opening ball to the auction, feeling like Cinderella in the cheap dress and broken heel to Brock’s wealth and looks. But their moment is only a few minutes, and Jane believes she’ll never see him again. Except, when Jane, the owner of Cinderella Cleaning, is hired by a mysterious man to do a thorough clean of one of his houses.

Brock can’t get Jane off his mind. But, due to his grandfather’s demands, she’s just another thing he can never have. Until, he’s put on break and discovers his Cinderella has been hired as a live-in maid to clean his house for three weeks. For three weeks, Jane and Brock can live a fantasy, but looming ahead is Brock’s auction and a grandfather who seems intent on finding him a bride.

The girl glanced up at him with wide eyes.
He stopped walking.
Breathing.

I always love a fairy tale remake, but The Bachelor Auction just did not work for me. I enjoyed the conflicts dealt with, both Jane and Brock’s losses, and even the bachelor auction with the grandfather looming ahead. But overall the story and romance felt very melodramatic and overdone. The story didn’t go very deep, and instead was filled with hyped emotions and repetitive thoughts and actions.

Brock especially I didn’t care for very much. He felt overly mean and angry, and as much as I understood his issues, I wasn’t able to be sympathetic towards him because he just wasn’t fleshed out enough. I definitely pitied Jane and was happy to read her arc as she grew stronger and eventually stood up to her sisters. But, again, it just wasn’t fleshed out and I couldn’t appreciate.

For those who love the fairy tale spin off and the emotional story, I recommend Rachel van Dyken. I definitely do like her novels, but this was just a miss for me. Maybe not the right book for me, but I do feel it was high energy and went by quickly.
 

Book Info:

Publication: October 4, 2016 | Forever | The Bachelors of Arizona #1

Cinderella never had to deal with this crap.

Jane isn’t entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn’t she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes—or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire—maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn’t anyone’s dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk—even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it’s karmic retribution that he’s tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can’t have. But while they can’t have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . .