Catch Me - Lori's Review of ACT LIKE IT by Lucy Parker

Title: Act Like It
Author: Lucy Parker
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: 11/30/2015

About Act Like It:
This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham.  

Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city. 

Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man? 

Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance. 

Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all? 

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes   

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes, and vineyards. She has a degree in Art History, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block. 

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting. 

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a pre-teen viewing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.


Links: Twitter | Website   

Lucy Parker is a new author to me and I'm extremely glad that I took a chance on her. At first glance ACT LIKE IT is not a unique story, but the writing was captivating and had me flipping through the pages as fast as my fat sausage fingers could handle it.

Lainie and Richard are actors in London. Lainie is sort of the sweetheart of the theater world and Richard is notorious for throwing fits as well as dishes, insults, and any number of other disastrous things. In a desperate attempt to save Richard's nightmare of a reputation and therefore the play that both he and Lainie are currently in, Lainie agrees to be seen in public and act like Richard's new love interest.

Richard is a gorgeous man, but is not very well liked among his fellow actors or the press. He is arrogant and seems to look down his privileged nose at everyone around him.

Lainie is struggling to recover her public image after her ex VERY publicly broke up with her in the tabloids, from the bed of another woman. With everyone believing that she has jumped from on actor's bed to another, Lainie is finding it hard to cozy up to Richard in front of the cameras. Instead she finds it easier and much more enjoyable to irritate him as often as possible.

Since Richard was born wealthy, he is used to people kissing up to him. He never expects to have the sweetheart of the stage standing up to him, and he certainly never guessed how much he would like it when she does.

This story covered all the bases for me. There was tension, romance, and redemption. Richard and Lainie didn't care much for each other when they first begin their 'relationship', but their admiration for each other grows as they begin to spend time together, first as assignments from their management and then later, voluntarily. 

Richard is cranky, but has many sweet and swoon-worthy moments. He isn't easy to love, which made me like his character even more. 

Lainie is strong and doesn't try to hide from what she is feeling with Richard, but most of all, I love that she is flawed. She says things in anger, she sometimes acts with poor judgement, and is just so completely real.

I love when I get little surprises like this one that come from nowhere and leave me thinking about them long after I'm through reading the book. If you like romance of any kind, I recommend you give this one a try. It is a smart, captivating, grown-up romance that is loads of fun.

5 out of 5 stars

Demi Lovato - Catch Me