Book Review
Book 2: A Hollywood Dating Story Series
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: eBook - April 17, 2016 / PB - May 13, 2016
Format: Paperback - 250 pages
Kindle - 977 KB
Nook - 294 KB
ISBN: 978-0996073752
ASIN: B01EFC9DI8
BNID: 2940152988222
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book:
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Buy The Series: A Hollywood Dating Story Series
Book 1: Rock Star's Girl
Book 2: Hiding Out In Hollywood
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo
Smashwords
Goodreads
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
After her very public romance with superstar singer Cory Sampson nearly cost Emily Watts her career, she's thrilled to be bouncing back with a new fashion column for the nation's top entertainment website. More than that, she's happy to be out of the media spotlight and is determined to never make tabloid headlines again. So when her new yoga classmate, Raine Kingston, wants to see Emily outside of class, she isn't sure what to do. Raine is funny, madly attractive, and he's one of the most charming men Emily has ever met. He's also a sought-after actor who tops Hollywood's A-list, and Emily knows being seen with him will destroy the privacy she's worked so hard to get back.
She can't deny their connection, though, and Raine is willing to spend time together in places they won't be seen. Just when Emily is on top of the world with her new romance, her past finds its way back into the headlines, thanks to a music partnership between Cory and indie band guitarist Jesse Cinder, someone Emily counts among her enemies. With all eyes back on her, it gets harder to keep her dates with Raine a secret, and Emily is forced to choose: stay with Raine, who makes her the happiest she's ever been, and have her life back in the headlines, or give up the best relationship she's ever had to keep the privacy and normal life she craves.
Book Excerpt:
“We can leave these here for now,” Raine said, setting the cooler and the bags he was holding onto the patio floor. He took the bags Emily held and put them beside the cooler. “Come check this out.”
He led her down a different set of stairs at the front of the patio, this time to a white sand beach. Her feet sank into the warm sand, so she kicked off her sandals and walked farther onto the beach, breathing in the salty air.
“It’s hot out here today,” he commented, walking beside her.
Emily watched him unbutton his shirt. The ocean breeze caught one side of the open shirt front, allowing her to glimpse Raine’s bare chest. He’d looked lean and toned in the T-shirts she’d seen him wear to yoga, but reality more than lived up to what she had imagined. Her eyes wandered down to his well-defined abs.
“What do you think?”
“Hmmm?” She let her eyes roam the rest of his body before realizing he was watching her. Caught.
“The view,” he said, looking amused. “Of the water, I mean.”
“It’s amazing,” she replied, her cheeks growing warm. She wasn’t only talking about the ocean.
He circled his arm around her waist, letting his hand settle on her hip. The voice inside Emily that warned her to be careful with her privacy and her heart was silenced the second he touched her. Tingles ran up and down her spine.
“Want something?” Raine asked.
What a question. Emily licked her lower lip. “What did you have in mind?”
“We have champagne, soda, water... anything you’d like.” His eyes were focused intently on her.
“Anything?” Her gaze flickered back to his abs.
He gently pulled her closer. “Anything.”
The strong pull of attraction Emily had felt when they’d kissed two nights ago returned with full force. She sensed they were about to pick up where they’d left off in her foyer. A part of her hesitated, both because she was only starting to know Raine, and because as secluded as they were, there was always some risk with kissing out in the open. Celebrities were photographed on private beaches all the time.
Still, instinct told Emily she could trust Raine. She felt safe with him for reasons she couldn’t explain, and it was a lot different from how her relationship with Cory had ever made her feel. It was her instinct, combined with the force of attraction, which won out. Emily’s hand wandered to Raine’s chest.
Raine’s eyes twinkled as he tilted his head down, stopping when his lips were just an inch from hers. “Is this what you’d like?”
“Maybe.” She ran her fingers up his forearm, her eyes never leaving his.
“Just maybe?” His lips were closer now, just a breath away. His hand slipped under the hem of her tank top. A shiver ran through her when he pressed his palm against her stomach.
“Definitely.”
“Definitely what?” His lips touched hers, feather-light, for only a second. He moved away again.
“That, but...” She paused, bringing her hand up and running her finger along his jaw.
“But?” he prompted.
Emily pressed her index finger against his lips. “This first.”
She trailed kisses along his jawline and up toward his ear. Before she could kiss his earlobe, he cupped the side of her face and lowered his mouth to hers, the pressure soft at first, but quickly intensifying. She held onto his arms, kissing him until he stopped a few minutes later, his breath shallow and his eyes still closed. His hands moved to her shoulders.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
Raine nodded, but didn’t open his eyes. “Just trying to make myself think gentlemanly thoughts. Give me a minute.”
She smiled widely. “As opposed to what kind of thoughts?”
“I might tell you on our third date.” He took a breath, released it, and opened his eyes again. Merry mischief danced across his face. “Or maybe the fourth. If I tell you on the third date, I may not make it past there.”
He led her down a different set of stairs at the front of the patio, this time to a white sand beach. Her feet sank into the warm sand, so she kicked off her sandals and walked farther onto the beach, breathing in the salty air.
“It’s hot out here today,” he commented, walking beside her.
Emily watched him unbutton his shirt. The ocean breeze caught one side of the open shirt front, allowing her to glimpse Raine’s bare chest. He’d looked lean and toned in the T-shirts she’d seen him wear to yoga, but reality more than lived up to what she had imagined. Her eyes wandered down to his well-defined abs.
“What do you think?”
“Hmmm?” She let her eyes roam the rest of his body before realizing he was watching her. Caught.
“The view,” he said, looking amused. “Of the water, I mean.”
“It’s amazing,” she replied, her cheeks growing warm. She wasn’t only talking about the ocean.
He circled his arm around her waist, letting his hand settle on her hip. The voice inside Emily that warned her to be careful with her privacy and her heart was silenced the second he touched her. Tingles ran up and down her spine.
“Want something?” Raine asked.
What a question. Emily licked her lower lip. “What did you have in mind?”
“We have champagne, soda, water... anything you’d like.” His eyes were focused intently on her.
“Anything?” Her gaze flickered back to his abs.
He gently pulled her closer. “Anything.”
The strong pull of attraction Emily had felt when they’d kissed two nights ago returned with full force. She sensed they were about to pick up where they’d left off in her foyer. A part of her hesitated, both because she was only starting to know Raine, and because as secluded as they were, there was always some risk with kissing out in the open. Celebrities were photographed on private beaches all the time.
Still, instinct told Emily she could trust Raine. She felt safe with him for reasons she couldn’t explain, and it was a lot different from how her relationship with Cory had ever made her feel. It was her instinct, combined with the force of attraction, which won out. Emily’s hand wandered to Raine’s chest.
Raine’s eyes twinkled as he tilted his head down, stopping when his lips were just an inch from hers. “Is this what you’d like?”
“Maybe.” She ran her fingers up his forearm, her eyes never leaving his.
“Just maybe?” His lips were closer now, just a breath away. His hand slipped under the hem of her tank top. A shiver ran through her when he pressed his palm against her stomach.
“Definitely.”
“Definitely what?” His lips touched hers, feather-light, for only a second. He moved away again.
“That, but...” She paused, bringing her hand up and running her finger along his jaw.
“But?” he prompted.
Emily pressed her index finger against his lips. “This first.”
She trailed kisses along his jawline and up toward his ear. Before she could kiss his earlobe, he cupped the side of her face and lowered his mouth to hers, the pressure soft at first, but quickly intensifying. She held onto his arms, kissing him until he stopped a few minutes later, his breath shallow and his eyes still closed. His hands moved to her shoulders.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
Raine nodded, but didn’t open his eyes. “Just trying to make myself think gentlemanly thoughts. Give me a minute.”
She smiled widely. “As opposed to what kind of thoughts?”
“I might tell you on our third date.” He took a breath, released it, and opened his eyes again. Merry mischief danced across his face. “Or maybe the fourth. If I tell you on the third date, I may not make it past there.”
My Book Review:
In Hiding Out In Hollywood, the second book in A Hollywood Dating Story series, the reader catches up with twenty-six year old fashion website owner and freelance writer Emily Watts as she tries to rebuild her life after her life had been plastered all over the internet due to her failed relationships with superstar singer Cory Sampson and former friend guitarist Jesse Cinder.
Emily's life has gotten back to normal, and she wants to keep it that way, especially since she is not a fan of being in the spotlight and having her privacy and personal space invaded by the paparazzi. But when Emily meets A-list Hollywood actor Raine Kingston in a yoga class, she can't stop the connection between them, and they agree to keep their romance private. Emily and Raine's blossoming relationship is going well until Emily's past reemerges and she is thrust back into the limelight when Jesse and Cory join forces and write a song about her. So what's a girl to do when she is faced with another round of unexpected media notoriety that could possibly destroy her newfound happiness?
Hiding Out In Hollywood is an enjoyable chick lit tale set in Los Angeles that continues the story of fashion column writer Emily Watts. This story has enough drama, romance, trials and tribulations, and witty banter that easily engages the reader to follow Emily as she tries to rebuild her career and personal life. You can't help but cheer on Emily as she is faced with a new set of personal life decisions, and once again has to learn how to handle the pressures of an unexpected media frenzy and an unwanted spotlight when Jesse and Cory reemerge, which ultimately forces her to make a decision about her desire for privacy and her romance with actor Raine Kingston. I really loved how Emily and Raine's relationship developed. Raine is such a sweet guy, you can't help but want Emily to figure out how to balance being in the celebrity limelight and maintaining her sense of privacy, while taking a chance at finding love and happiness.
Hiding Out In Hollywood is a lighthearted chick lit tale that would make the perfect summer beach read!
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
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Snapchat: jennfarwell
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July 6 – the Book Junkie Reads – Review, Q&A & Excerpt
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July 11 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
July 13 – Coffeeholic Bookworm – Review
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July 18 – Book Lover in Florida – Review & Excerpt
