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Home Matters by Julie N. FordMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received EBook for review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Description: According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach. When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.
My thoughts: Olivia's big break has finally come. She gets to be the co-host of a home renovation show. She has a handsome co-host and she can finally catch up on her financial obligations. Her life is finally going according to plan.
She discovers that fame and fortune are not all they are cracked up to be. Living the life of a star is confusing, and the male attention doesn't help her figure it all out. She needs to decide what it is that matters to her, and make it the focus of her life.
This book is a cute and fun read. It is a novella, so it doesn't take a huge time commitment to read it. It is the start of a series of books The Ripple Effect Romance Novella's. It is a great start and a promise of good, clean romance to indulge in.
The story is well written, the characters are naughty and nice. I liked Olivia, she has a head on her shoulders, one that most are overlooking. She proves that there is more to a person than outward appearance.
I don't want to say too much about her love interests. There is a triangle going on. It makes her final decision all the more sweet and made her a more lovable character.
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Author Julie N. Ford
Julie is a forty-something, dangerously close to becoming a fifty-something, graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a marriage and family counselor. She is the author of four women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she entertains delusions of being a master gardener, that is, when she’s not killing the unsuspecting plants in her yard with her good intentions. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two daughters, a Betta named Bob, and a Scottish fold kitten, Ardweal.
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Read an Excerpt
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Read an Excerpt
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Pete scratched the scruff on his chin. “Olivia Pembroke,” he repeated, as if giving her
name some serious thought. “Sounds like a character from a Jane Austen movie.”
Olivia responded with a dour look. “You a fan of turn- of-the-century romance
films?”
Pete shrugged off her comment. “I have three older sisters,” he said, his eyes
studying her from head to foot. “Except, the more I’m getting to know you, with that
fiery disposition and those Bambi eyes, you’re reminding me more of a feisty little
Disney fairy than a demure lady of class.” He lifted his thick eyebrows, curious. “Is
that your real name, or some sort of made-up stage name?”
Just because a girl had a heart-shaped face, turned-up nose, and bow mouth, didn’t
make it okay for people to tease her about resembling any sort of cute little pixy.
She hated when people made the connection. He was really starting to annoy her,
which was obviously what he intended, so she refused to allow him the satisfaction
of knowing just how much.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but both.” She idly examined her manicure. “My
momma named me Olivia because she thought Olivia Pembroke would look good all
lit up on a marquee. She knew I was going to be a big star when I grew up.”
He huffed out a laugh. “You, and about a few thousand other pretty faces in this
town.”
Olivia shot him a withering look. “What’s your point?”
Pete shrugged. “Why waste your life chasing what will likely amount to no more
than two minutes of fame when there are nobler causes out there worth pursuing?”
He almost sounded genuine. “After all, love and fame can’t live in the same place.”
Olivia’s hands curled into tight, angry balls. Who did this man think he was to lecture
her on the nobility of her ambitions? The most infuriating man she’d ever met, that’s
who. “Says the man who was obviously born to clean toilets.” Taking a step closer,
she faced him straight on and planted her fists on her hips. “And just a tip, Socrates.
The next time you go all philosophical on a girl, and you expect her to take you
seriously, try not using movie quotes to prove your point.” She slid him a superior
glance. “Like I wouldn’t recognize a line from Country Strong.”
Pete moved closer as well. Their noses were barely inches from touching. She could
actually feel his breath on her face, and for some unconscionable reason, she found
the sensation oddly tantalizing. Then he opened his mouth to say something else.
But before he could get a word out, a voice from the near distance interrupted.
“And, that’s a wrap!”
Olivia jerked toward the casting director. “What?” she questioned, though she
knew fully well what “that’s-a-wrap” meant. “I’m sorry, but unless I’m mistaken, we
haven’t begun shooting yet.”
The director rolled his hand through the air. “Yes well, we’ve seen all we need to,”
he said, his attention already diverted to the phone his assistant was handing him.
“Thank you for coming down today, Olivia. We’ll be in touch.”
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Thanks Lisa for taking the time to read and review Home Matters! I'm very pleased you enjoyed the story =D
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