The Austen Playbook: The Perfect Beach Read

by Lucy Parker

Overview

In which experienced West End actress Freddy Carlton takes on an Austen-inspired play, a scandal at a country estate, an enthusiastic search for a passion outside of acting…and the (some people might say icy*) heart of London’s most feared theater critic.

*if those people were being nice

“Grade: A, for Absolutely Delightful and Adorable and Also I read it twice in a row.” —Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.

She can’t take her eyes off him.

Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that. His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production (not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.

Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.

As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single revelation about the past could derail it all.

London Celebrities
Book 1: Act Like It
Book 2: Pretty Face
Book 3: Making Up
Book 4: The Austen Playbook
Book 5: Headliners

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781488036255
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	04/22/2019
Series:	London Celebrities , #4
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	844,759
File size:	578 KB

About the Author

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 galleries, and doodles unrecognisable flowers when she has writer's block.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, and the rest was history.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/25/2019

In the delightful fourth in Parker’s contemporary London Celebrities series (after Making Up), readers will easily immerse themselves into the passionate world of actor Frederica “Freddy” Carlton and critic James “Griff” Ford-Griffin. The last person Freddy ever thought she’d snog was the straightforward, moody Griff. One would have to dig deep to find a compliment in his reviews of Freddy, but considering she has a tendency to accept roles she doesn’t even want, she has to admit his scorn is justified. Griff’s family is full of flighty dreamers, so getting involved with Freddy was the last thing he wanted or needed, or so he thought. He finds her exuberance is actually pleasing offstage and when she is cast in a film being shot at his crumbling estate, which he is financially unable to care for, their chemistry is enough to brighten the foggiest London days. Griff has plans to raise the funds he needs, but a secret threatens to ruin his future, as well as Freddy’s relationship with her distant father, who also happens to be her manager and the archnemesis of Griff’s family. There’s more drama offstage than on, the writing is outstanding, and the bit of mystery blends well into the romance. Theater fans will devour this lovely contemporary romance. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"There's more drama offstage than on, the writing is outstanding, and the bit of mystery blends well into the romance. Theater fans will devour this lovely contemporary romance."-Publisher's Weekly, starred review, on The Austen Playbook

"The London Celebrities series-some of the wittiest, smartest dialogue to come down the romance pike in years."-Kirkus ReviewS of London Celebrities series

"This romance set in the London theater scene is everything you'd expect and more."-Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date as featured on Oprahmag.com

"To say I loved this book is an understatement – I adored it. The romance is beautifully written and developed and the chemistry between Luc and Lily is explosive." -All About Romance on Pretty Face

"Funny, sexy, poignant, warm, intelligent- it's the perfect summer read."-All About Romance on Making Up

"If there is a queen of banter award, it definitely should go to Ms. Parker... Wit, snark and a good comeuppance are a delight for fans of romantic comedies." -Harlequin Junkie

From the Publisher