Home Matters
by Julie N. Ford
A Ripple Effect Romance, Book 1
Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available February 2014
HEA Publishing
156 pages
About the Book
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.
Buy a copy | Find out what others think
My Thoughts
Home Matters was a great introduction to this new-to-me author! As an avid fan of home improvement shows—since the days of Trading Spaces!—it was fun to read about the stars of a fictional show. I enjoyed the love triangle, but definitely had an opinion about who Olivia should choose. Nevertheless, the journey she went on to figure out who she wanted to be with was a fun one. The book had plenty of humor thrown in, which added to my enjoyment of the story. Overall, I thought this was a great book. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series and to reading more from Julie in the future! [4.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author
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.
Julie N. Ford Online
Sneak Peek
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.”
Giveaway
As part of the blog tour, there's a giveaway! The prize? A $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash! Open internationally. Ends March 31. Enter through the Rafflecopter below.
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