Love doesn’t stick to the script in this witty romance from USA Today bestselling author Tawna Fenske.TV producer Kate Geary is in unscripted heaven. She’s piloting a reality series featuring her favorite self-help guru, Dr. Vivienne Brandt. The Dr. Viv—whose nuggets of wisdom helped Kate get through some of her toughest times. Thanks to Dr. Viv, Kate is almost on the verge of figuring everything … almost on the verge of figuring everything out. That is, until Jonah Porter, the superhot book nerd Kate just spent an amazing date with, appears at the show’s first meeting.
Jonah did not want to get reeled into a world filled with invasive crews, pushy network execs, and over-the-top drama, but a connection to the story leaves him no choice. Fortunately, Kate—hot, smart, and funny—helps make it bearable. Now they’re both on the verge of violating their contracts as they find themselves sneaking around off set. But the cameras have a way of finding out everyone’s secrets…especially the ones that can break hearts.
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Light and Fun!
Light and fun with lots of laughter, just what I was looking for! I totally enjoyed these characters and their many quirks.
It was very good – liked the work piece. Just a little too long.
3.75 stars– AT THE HEART OF IT by Tawna Fenske is a stand alone, contemporary adult romance story line focusing on reality TV show producer Kate Geary, and indie book store owner Jonah Porter.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Kate and Jonah) AT THE HEART OF IT follows TV producer Kate Geary as she pitches the next big thing in reality television to her self-help author and marriage counselor Dr. Vivienne Brandt. What Kate never expected were a series of additions and clauses added to the show that included the doctor’s ex-husband, a man Kate met and kissed weeks before. Taken by surprise at the unusual twist in of their circumstances Jonah Porter agrees to participate in his wife’s reality television series never expecting to be betrayed by the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues are the secret relationship between Kate and Jonah, and the fall-out when secrets are revealed that directly impact Jonah’s life.
AT THE HEART OF IT is an engaging story with a couple of twists; a professional and personal conflict; and a heroine who is caught between her head and her heart. There are some awkward moments between right and wrong, moments that will eventually lead to the destruction of a growing love. The characters are sassy, spirited, tragic and inspiring; the romance is ill-fated but passionate, and builds upon the potential for heartbreak; the premise is charming and energetic.
I’ve been a fan of Tawna Fenske for a while now, and I’m glad to say that her newest book doesn’t disappoint. Her stories can always be counted on for lots of humor and heart. And it was so refreshing to read a story about two mature adults navigating a complicated relationship. There was no need for outlandish drama or shocking revelations, and thankfully not a billionaire, mafioso or MC member in sight. Just really great writing. The main characters are interesting and complex, and the secondary characters made me want to hear more about them. And I have to say that while I was a little hesitant about the storyline (I’m not a fan of reality tv), I was completely won over. And finally, I just have to add that the hero was a complete dream. Sexy, smart, loving and kind-hearted. Plus, he owned a combination book store/cat cafe. And he wore glasses…! Swoon!
This is honestly one of my favorite books in a very long time. It is a great book, that fully captured my attention in the first few pages. I have to say that the opening of this book is probably one of my favorite “meet cute” stories of all time between the featured couple. I always enjoy the endearing characters and humor that Ms. Fenske writes in her books. However, I think she’s outdone herself with this story.
Tawna Fenske is truly one of my favorite authors. She is able to craft such enjoyable stories that infuse such fun humor and relatable characters along with the scenarios the characters find themselves in. In her books for Montlake Romance the books read almost as if they are closer to the fiction genre than romance. This is a big compliment in my world. It means that the stories have more depth and are less predictable than you will often find in a “romance” book. The stories are still fun, with awesome laughs, but they also include more challenging subject matter and honest, real-life subjects/scenarios between the various characters. The depth with which this particular book was written was fully engaging for me as a reader.
The love story/romance in this book is also fully captivating and realistic as it plays out with characters that I truly enjoyed. What the author has done with interweaving that story with the setup of a self-help guru, the startup of a reality tv show, and how all of those intermingled story lines work together is simply masterful. One of the challenging aspects of romance novels is not all of them seem like novels, but this one surely does. With the evolution of the relationships, the discussion/exploration of self-help topics, and the complexity of the scenarios between the story lines and various characters all make this a complex story wrapped up in a charming romance all at the same time. And with pretty much everything written by Ms. Fenske, there are always some laugh out loud humor moments not to be missed.
I could easily see this book being a great pick for book clubs that don’t typically read romance because it is a romance, but it also has some thought provoking story lines and discussion points lingering within the pages. You don’t have to get that serious about those topics as you read through the book, but you can if you want to. It is nice to have both aspects in a book I enjoyed reading so much.
Don’t miss out on this book and read it soon so you can enjoy it too! In fact, you may even find yourself with a newfound interest in craft beer, B&B stays, or pet adoption while working your way through these pages.
I did receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it so much I have already purchased a Kindle copy and will be ordering some paperback copies to share with others.