A sexy romp through glamorous modern Hollywood as seen through the eyes of a self-possessed matchmaker who cannot find her...
An intrepid young matchmaker in Hollywood sparks chemistry with an old flame, an ex-flame and an A-list actor, all while finding love for her clients in this engaging romance.
Cynthia Amas has no trouble juggling her new dating service and a slew of fresh clients from among the Hollywood elite. Her best friend, the outspoken Lolita, has her hands full running a dog-grooming business catering to the stars and managing her three dogs of varying sizes and temperaments, who bring her juicy gossip (at least she hears them talking!) from dogs whose masters are Hollywood stars. Of the two women, only Lolita admits she is looking for love. Cynthia claims she’s too busy, but she entertains erotic fantasies about her high school crush, Pete, and her new client, Jack Stone, a notorious womanizer. When Jack wants to move their relationship from business to personal, when her ex shows up ready to whisk her away for a romantic vacation, and when Pete might be close enough to touch, Cynthia’s world detonates. As she navigates the sexually charged politics of running a matchmaking service for the stars, her friends and even her libidinous mother, Cynthia finds herself caught between her desire for her old flame and the amorous and not-entirely unwelcome advances of Jack. While a feud with Lolita wreaks havoc on her voice mail and her nerves, Cynthia manages to tangle herself in compromising positions with several potential lovers. Dumont’s (Sleeping with Dogs and Other Lovers, 2012) second foray into the turbulent, sexy, often-hilarious world of celebrity dating provides a delightful diversion. As the novel crests, however, a couple of quizzical twists reveal the flatness of several minor characters. Cynthia’s love connection snaps when her flirtation with another star comes to light, but her lover’s over-the-top reaction, followed by his sudden departure, will leave readers befuddled. Although the comical climax featuring Cynthia’s hard-to-believe self-control and Jack’s remarkably outlandish endowments turn an otherwise sexy novel silly, readers will respond favorably to Cynthia’s sensibility as a modern woman and her insight into flawed men.
A sexy romp through glamorous modern Hollywood as seen through the eyes of a self-possessed matchmaker who cannot find her own match.Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985540456
Page Count: 250
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A fun, updated take on Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending.
Two sworn enemies enter a modern-day marriage of convenience.
Tessa Montgomery is single, 32 years old, and stuck in her hometown. Despite good grades in high school, she never left Blossom Glen, Indiana, to become a pastry chef and still works in her family’s boulangerie, where her ex-fiance, Sam, visits almost daily to seek guidance about his shiny new relationship. Enter Leo Castorini, now back from a high-powered finance job in New York City to help his father with their failing family restaurant—and who beat out Tessa for a coveted college scholarship when they were teenagers. Tessa never disclosed her secret crush on the handsome, cocky Leo, which was always convenient, as the Montgomery and Castorini families have a long-standing rivalry dating back a hundred years. Leo comes to Tessa with a plan: To save both family businesses, they should tie the knot themselves. Tessa immediately declines until she considers what it could mean for the Montgomery bakery, which is struggling just as much as the Castorini restaurant. Soon, Tessa and Leo are officially married and living together in a charming new house…and learning there’s a lot to love about one another. Meanwhile, Tessa’s YouTube channel takes off, and she gets a promising new opportunity. But Leo wants to stay right where he is, in Blossom Glen. Can the enemies-turned-spouses make it work for real despite their still-squabbling clans? And what secrets are they hiding from each another? Liasson nails small-town romance: Blossom Glen itself comes alive with every endearing description, and Montgomery baked goods and Castorini dishes are presented in mouthwatering detail. The plot is a lovely contemporary take on a tale as old as time, with two equally strong leads and a colorful cast of parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. Finally, the couple’s chemistry is hot (though the book’s heat level doesn’t go beyond kissing), and their conflicts are realistic and must be resolved through mature communication.
A fun, updated take on Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending.Pub Date: Jan. 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64937-027-3
Page Count: 330
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The survival element does the heavy lifting here, since the main characters are incompatible.
Two exes on the way to the same wedding find themselves stranded on a deserted island in this debut romance.
A cancelled flight has jeopardized Piper Adams’ maid of honor responsibilities. Instead of being on a plane to her best friend Allie’s bachelorette party and wedding at an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas, she’s stuck at the Atlanta airport. Fortunately, a knight in shining armor comes to her rescue, but unfortunately, he’s Wyatt Brooks, the man who broke her heart. As luck would have it, he’s attending the same wedding, and a former Army connection has offered him the use of a small plane to get him there. What should have been a two-hour flight ends in disaster, though, as Piper and Wyatt barely survive a plane crash on an unknown island. When Piper finally comes to, after having been unconscious for almost a day, her first thought is that she’s missed her friend’s bachelorette and may very well miss the wedding. Strange priorities for someone recovering from a plane crash. The story jumps between “Now,” with Piper and Wyatt on the island, and “Then,” when they first met as teenagers, and those flashbacks to a standard romance aren’t as compelling as the current situation, with the pair having to navigate a harsh environment while fighting old feelings. Piper doesn’t make a great impression on the reader, coming across as immature when faced with difficult experiences. She whines to a gate attendant just trying to do her job to get an entire plane full of irate passengers rebooked. She gets angry with Allie for inviting Wyatt to her wedding even though he’s her cousin. Being stranded softens her a bit, but it’s hard to be on her side. The deserted island setting adds some tension to the story, but Piper’s self-centered behavior and decision to hold a grudge against Wyatt for his earlier relationship insecurities make it a challenge to reach a compelling happily-ever-after.
The survival element does the heavy lifting here, since the main characters are incompatible.Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780063374867
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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