The ending is this just side of too sweet. Otherwise, not a bad read. ( )

A sweet story. There was the romance and a LOT of smexy time. But, at its heart, this story is a lot more about taking control of the person you want to be and that you want to see when you look in the mirror. It’s about identifying the people who make you better and cutting away those that don’t. It’s about recognising everyone has a past and their own struggles but what matters is how you deal with your own. Both MCs built their original opinions of each other based on perceptions and were drastically wrong.

The story had good pacing and believability as well, which was nice. ( )

Some relationships are more difficult than others, and this one, between theatrical agent Payton and aspiring actor Beckett is definitely one of the more obstacle-ridden ones I have seen recently. On the surface, these two men should be able to get along really well. They both love the theater, if for slightly different reasons, and they both come from the same hometown, even went to high school together. But that last point is also the reason for their deep-seated issues. The truth about what exactly happened in their shared past only emerges slowly, and for me, that was part of the charm of the book. The other part was the fact that Payton’s animosity was not just due to a “general dislike” or a one-time run-in, there is some fundamental psychological drama at the heart of their history that went far deeper than bullying. And just to put the icing on the cake, drama-wise, it turns out that Becket had good reason to feel exactly the same animosity as Payton even though he looks like, to outsiders, the one doing the bullying. Very cleverly planned and executed!

Payton didn’t set out to be a theatrical agent, he always wanted to be an actor. But after what happened in high school, all due to Beckett and his arrogant interference, Payton knows he doesn’t have what it takes to be a successful actor. He does, however, have a talent to see what others are good at, so becoming a “talent scout”, an agent who finds and represents actors and gets them parts, is perfect for him. Meeting Beckett again, and being more or less told by his boss to sign him on as a client, is initially almost traumatizing for Payton. He intends to have his revenge and ignore his boss’s request, but once he sees how talented Beckett is, everything changes. I was impressed with Payton’s ability to be a professional, but even more so when Payton opens his mind to other possibilities. Not that it’s easy, there is plenty of conflict, but Payton is very mature about handling it – most of the time.

Beckett is determined to become a successful actor. He was into bodybuilding for a while, and his image needs some work if he wants to land character roles, but he is prepared to listen to advice and put in the work needed to go all the way. He thinks he has reason to hate Payton, but is open-minded enough to let bygones be bygones once he finds out the truth. Fighting for Payton’s heart is tough, but if anyone can do it, Beckett can. He definitely has the determination and sheer stubbornness to attempt it.

There is more to this book than the fantastic main characters, though they and the way they grow and change were the main reason for my enthusiasm. There is Payton’s best friend Val, who is a great supporter for Payton no matter what and a quirky, fun guy to get to know. I also really liked Gloria, a much more experienced theatrical agent who gives Payton more than career advice. There is the setting of New York theatre, which has a magic all its own, especially since I got to see some of what goes on behind the scenes. The cutthroat competition between theatrical agents comes through as well, and it’s just as bad as anywhere else in the business world.

If you like the glamorous world of actors, agents, and theatre, if you want to know more about two men who used to be “mortal enemies” in high school only to discover, a few years later, that they could be a lot more than friends, and if you’re looking for a read full of emotions, drama, personal and other revelations, and a wonderful happy ending, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. It’s an entertaining, suspenseful, character-driven story in a fascinating setting.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )