Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Out Today
How I got this book: eARC from publisher
He’s ready for his close up, but she’s the one calling the shots.
On the night of her graduation from film school, straight-laced Maddie Bauers fell completely out of character for an oh-my-god make-out session with a perfect stranger. Complete with the big O.
Seven years later, that romantic interlude is still fresh in her mind. That stranger is now a rich and famous actor. And she’s one very distracted camera assistant working on his latest production. She might consider another tryst…if he even remembers her.
Micah Preston does indeed remember Maddie. Too bad he’s sworn off Hollywood relationships. He allows himself as much sex as he likes—and oh, he does like—but anything more is asking for trouble. For the woman, not for him. Yet knowing Maddie could want more than a movie-set fling doesn’t stop him from pursuing her like a moth drawn to hot stage lights.
But as the shoot nears its end, it’s decision time. Is it time to call, “Cut!” on their affair, or is there enough material for a sequel?
Warning: Contains a dreamy movie star hero, a focus-pulling heroine, off-the-charts instant chemistry, steamy sex in near-public locations, and a new use for lip gloss.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
Just a few weeks ago I was looking for suggestions for good Hollywood romance books. I’d totally forgotten all about this one I requested, so when I saw it on my schedule, I instantly picked it up!
Micah is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, and he’s achieved stardom by making good business decisions, hiring the right people, and keeping everyone else at an arm’s length. Going on a shoot in Colorado puts Micah front and center with the one woman he met years ago that he would have liked to take things further with, but didn’t. However, seven years later, Maddie isn’t so interested in giving Micah a second chance, and he realizes walking away from her again isn’t an option.
Maddie still remembers the night she fell apart in Micah’s arm, as well as how much it hurt to see his face everywhere and not hear from him again. Working on a movie with him might be more than she can stand, especially since Micah is so determined to get Maggie into his bed. But being together during filming is easy, it’s once they head back to the spotlight of Hollywood that things get crazy, and their relationship threatens to crumble.
There were so many great things to enjoy about this book. From the difference in careers between Micah and Maddie and getting to see just how they handled things differently, to Micah’s public and private persona, to the big grovel scene at the end that I absolutely adored. There were some really great parts, and I think Paige did an amazing job creating a believable and wonderful Hollywood romance.
I adored Maddie. In the start of the book we get to see her young and eager and although she continues to have a bright personality later in the book, there is also a part of her that seems lost. I loved the fact that she was still able to make lemonade out of the lemons life gave her, and that despite everything she was still really positive. I loved the way she handled Micah, especially in the beginning. She wasn’t afraid to knock him down a peg or two, and I loved getting the chance to see that.
Poor Micah had so much going on. In the beginning of the book he was so open, so friendly, and so hungry for stardom. I hated to see the way his manager turned him against relationships, especially since it seemed as if he was genuinely interested in Maddie. The differences between Micah the A-list celebrity, and Micah the private guy were astronomical, and it was nice to see the way Maddie was able to get behind his walls and see the real Micah for who he really was and what he really stood for.
The romance was so perfect. I absolutely loved the way that Micah and Maddie were able to build from a friends with benefits situation to so much more. The sex was super hot between these two, and I absolutely loved how they were able to build their relationship in a bit of a cocoon while filming. It gave them a chance to really get to know one another, to work on building the foundation of a relationship without all the other Hollywood pressures that crept up toward the end of the book.
One thing that I’m always anxious to read about is the big grovel scene in romance books, especially if the hero or heroine has really wronged the other partner in the relationship. I felt like Micah was a pretty big jerk to Maddie, and was looking forward to seeing what he would come up with. I have to say, I was damned impressed. I thought his way of apologizing was perfect for the situation. For all of his issues and concerns, he stepped up huge, and I thought it was a perfect ending for them.
All in all I really liked my first Paige read. I’ll definitely be going back and checking out the other books written by her. I thought the romance was really well done, the Hollywood aspect of this book was exactly what I was looking for, and all the supporting characters were wonderful as well. I hope that Paige continues to write Hollywood romances, because I would absolutely gobble them up.
I give Take Two a B+
Great review, this sounds like a fun but also very hot one. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
@xaurianx: Thanks!