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Jen's only Christmas wish: Hollywood falling back in love with her. Meeting ex-Marine Gunner was a bonus. She likes that he isn't impressed by celebrities or the movie biz. She likes that he's funny and sweet ... and drop-dead gorgeous. And she loves that he has no idea who her alter-ego is: Jen Fleming, Hollywood bad-girl and paparazzi target number one. Why ruin an amazing affair when he's leaving after the new year?
But the closer they get, the harder she falls, and the more she wants to tell Gunner everything. Especially once he shares his secret with her.
Her new Christmas wish: Gunner accepts and loves her for who she really is.
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I picked up the book but I was glad I did. Hollywood is glamorized in the media so it was nice to read a story from an actresses perspective and see what it’s really like from that side. Even though this book is fiction, it does portray the invasiveness of the paparazzi pretty well. I found myself rooting for Jenny because she got the short end of the stick from them. Yes she made mistakes (all off screen before we meet her in the book) but she’s atoning for them.
My favorite character was Gunner. He seemed realistic to me and I found myself emphasizing with his past. What he experienced during his time in the Marines would scar anyone, physically and emotionally, and Summers does a good job of depicting that. He fights his internal battles, he has nightmares and insecurities about coming back from war and being different. I really liked him and thought he was a well thought-out, complex character. Up until the end that is.
The only issue I had with the book was that Gunner and Jenny’s relationship moved way too quickly for me. It wasn’t plausible to me that the book would end the way it did. They just met and it seemed like they were jumping into things. Even if they both understood, on the surface, the major events in their respective lives that made them who they were, it takes a little bit more to really get to know someone. I can only suspend my disbelief to a certain point before wondering about the struggles they will have to go through for their relationship to progress.
This was a cute contemporary romance and an easy read. One thing to note, just because Hollywood Holiday is the second book in the series it stands alone. Thankfully since I haven’t read Hollywood Ever After yet so I have to go back and read it.
**I received this book from Inkspell Publishing in exchange for my honest review.**
Such a wonderful holiday read. There was some problems with the editing, but I loved the book non the less.
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Posted December 5, 2012
News flash! Hollywood bad-girl Jen meets straight-laced war veteran Gunner and falls hard and fast for him in this romantic Christmas story. Scared to death of flying, Jen meets Gunner on the plane to California, and he gives her a rock-solid foundation to hold on to. The best part is, he doesn't know she was a Hollywood bad-girl trying to beat that rap.
Jen wants to get back into movies and have Hollywood love her again...all while she tries to keep Gunner from finding out about her previous reputation. He is a war veteran with his own wounds that need to heal, and he thinks Jen is just the right medicine for him.
Jen and Gunner embark on a sweet and steamy relationship while battling their own demons. Author Sasha Summers has a fantastic way with words and telling a beautiful love story.
And if you like hot and spicy romances, be sure to check out the gingerbread cookie scene! Ooh la la!
Get ready, because with Hollywood Holiday you’re in for a ride!
The beginning of Hollywood Holiday was completely hilarious. Jen had some serious problem with her brain filter, not that I blame her with Gunner siting right next to her. She also had some funny monologues. It was hard not to giggle.
Really, if she could just stop talking about his dimples! That was on the second page, and I was in love with Gunner already. Damn his dimples!
Ah! Hard as it might be to believe Gunner was much more than a hot body and a couple of dimples. He was so incredibly sweet, I melted. Not everyone is going to let you squeeze his hand until it hurts, or hold you when the plain is going over a rough patch, or let you sleep on his chest when you’re having a complete freak-out. Especially not if you’re a stranger to him.
Swoon, anyone?
Ugh, he was funny too! Such perfection is not fair. And yes, you can totally picture me pouting right now, because I am. Where’s my Gunner, damnit! *wink*He was a bit cocky sometimes, but in a funny way. It never failed to make me giggle. Yet… oh yes, because we need to make him more perfect, there was vulnerability and tenderness behind all that muscle.
[For the record. This is so not me complaining, alright?]
Jenny was not far behind. She was going through a hard time both in her personal life and her career, so it’s understandable that she would feel a little down and needy. But she had a way of seeing herself that made me sad. Sure, she made mistakes, don’t we all? Yet she always made it seem like she didn’t deserve a second chance, and it made me sad.
Try as she might though, she didn’t stand a chance against Gunner. He was sweet and caring and thoughtful and hot. Did I mention hot? Right.
The closer she got to him, the harder it was to stay away. The harder it was not to fall for him. And the harder it was to keep her identity as an actress a secret, because the second Gunner knew who she was he was out the door, and she knew it.
While Hollywood Holiday might fall into the category of predictable books –meaning we know where the story is going –you’ll be surprised with the twists and turns the story takes. I admit I was actually gasping once (don’t worry it wasn’t anything bad). And that just made me love it more.
Hollywood Holiday has it all. A swoon-worthy hero, a funny –yet sometimes needy –heroine, a cute dog, annoying and loving family, butt kicking, and some steamy scenes. What else can we ask for?
Not much left, huh? Now I’ll just make sure to pick the first book in this series to read as soon as I can, there’s no way I’m missing Sasha Summers’s amazing storytelling skills. And you better don’t!
If you’re looking for something funny, something sweet, heartbreaking and steamy, Hollywood Holiday might just be it.
Overview
Jen's only Christmas wish: Hollywood falling back in love with her. Meeting ex-Marine Gunner was a bonus. She likes that he isn't impressed by celebrities or the movie biz. She likes that he's funny and sweet ... and drop-dead gorgeous. And she loves that he has no idea who her alter-ego is: Jen Fleming, Hollywood bad-girl and ...