Steven Thompson had a bad year. A string of mean, kinky (the alarming kind, not the good kind), and crazy dating debacles combined with a boss who appears to be experiencing male-prenatal-psychosis means Steven’s stress levels are high. They’re so high, he’s decided to quit dating and focus instead solely on his job.Until he meets Dr. Ken Miles.Doctor Ken Miles is having a fantastic year. His … year. His hard work is paying off in a big way . . . professionally. But his social life? Not so much.
Until he meets Steven Thompson.
Steven isn’t so sure about Dr. Miles, but Ken is one hundred percent certain about Mr. Thompson. And even though both men know full well that the key to getting what you want out of life is hard work, they can’t seem to make them—together—work.
Will they ever get on the same page? Or just keep sticking to the same old script?
‘Sticking to the Script’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#2 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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Read in one day and it was PHE. NOM. E. NAL. I don’t usually go for MM tropes, but this book was so well written. It could’ve easily have been about a heterosexual relationship. Other books that I’ve read about MM relationships were turn-offs and did not have the level of realism or great dialogue between the characters as this book had. I also loved that scenes from “Marriage of Inconvenience” and “Weight Expectations” were pulled in.
5 Stars all the way.
P.S. this is my first Stella Weaver book and I plan to read more.
After reading Marriage of Inconvenience I was anxious to learn who Steven’s new boyfriend was. God did Stella Weaver not disappoint in Sticking to the Script. I do warn if you have yet to read the Knitting in the City series… you should to get the full context and truly appreciate this amazing love story. I promise you will not regret it!
Steven was the witty, loveable best friend of a number of the girls in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series. He was always updating them on his relationship woes and terrible luck in his search for a boyfriend. This all changes when he meets Dr. Ken Miles.
Dr. Ken Miles was one of Elizabeth’s from Friends without Benefits love interests. This didn’t work out due to the arrival of the gorgeous and charismatic Nico Manganiello of course!! We learn that Ken is bisexual and ready to find love with a man or woman. He has immediate chemistry and an attraction to Steven after meeting him at a party he attended with Elizabeth. Ken is forced to go out of his way to show Steven that his intentions are beyond platonic and he is ready to give them a shot.
Steven and Ken both have a number of personal insecurities to work though. Ken facing his family and acknowledging his bisexuality and Steven being open to accepting Ken as he is. There is also a scary situation with sexual assault and Steven learns to turn to his support system for help.
This story is honestly beautiful. Relationships are hard, but in the end so worth it. I was so happy to read about a happy ending for Steven and Ken.
I was so excited when I saw that Smartypants Romance was featuring a MM romance! They’ve become a favorite of mine but I never expected a romance between Stephen and Dr. Ken Miles!
Surprises can be fantastic however.
Dr. Ken Miles was the biggest surprise of this book. He’s a bit stilted, abrupt in his manner and a bit direct for some but -oh no- this man has a completely different side to him that few get to see. Luckily for Stephen he sets his eyes on him and doesn’t want to look away.
Stephen – oh this poor man had a dating history from H-E-L-L! I mean the men he waded through before Dr. Ken were atrocious. I’m not surprised he was questioning his romantic choices when it came to Ken’s potential interest.
This was a great story of two people being attracted to one another but dealing with those beginning feelings of vulnerability – wondering if the other person is on the same page and actually returns one’s own developing feelings. I loved the progression of their friendship and relationship. It’s a wonderful story looking at what’s at the heart of any relationship: trust, honesty, communication, vulnerability and desire.
Sticking to the Script is the second Smartypants Romance book I’ve read but it’s the first in the Cipher Office series. It reunited me with Stephen Thompson who I loved in Penny Reid’s Marriage of Inconvenience and Dr. Ken Miles of Reid’s Friends Without Benefits – both books in her Knitting in the City series (a must read series btw!). This can absolutely be read as a standalone book however.
One of the best things about Smartypants Romance books are the glimpses we get of favorite Penny Reid characters. I love Quinn and he had some great lines in this book. And a peek at Alex, Nico and Dan is always a treat.
Hands down to Stella Weaver who wrote this gem. The fact that it’s one of her first books (I think) just shows what an amazing talent she has as it was so well written. The writing, flow of story and characterization was superb – everything that I look for in a great romance book. Definitely give this one a read!
Check out this review and all my romance book reviews and romance book lists on my book blog, She Reads Romance Books: http://www.shereadsromancebooks.com
THIS! This is what I was expecting when Smartypants Romance launched The Pennyverse.
This book gave us quirky and lovable characters completely immersed in the KITC world. It made me laugh and cry and laugh so hard I cried. Steven is absolutely adorable and finding his true love in Dr. Ken Miles was an amazing experience that I simultaneously couldn’t wait to finish and didn’t want to end.
Available on KU ~ this is easily a 5 star, can’t put it down, have the Kleenex handy read.
I’ll definitely be looking for more Stella Weaver.
Sticking to the Script by Stella Weaver is the fourth book in the Smartypants Romance series – a set of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance – and is the second book in the Cipher Office series.
Took me about 4 chapters to warm to the main characters and the story, I don’t know if it was MY mood or not, but it wasn’t long before I was well and truly absorbed in the building relationship between Steven and Ken. Even though Steven thinks Ken is straight and ken keeps missing his moment to show Steven that he is well and truly on board with moving forward in their “friendship”. The dialogue is hilarious in places. Ken’s awkwardness is absolutely endearing making him a loveable character even though he comes off as arrogant to the other characters in the story. Stephen is a treasure too. His interactions with Quin, Janie, Dan, Kat and Alex are just spot on for what I have come to expect from them. The underlying theme of acceptance for who you are and taking a risk for what you want was lovely and the interactions in the bedroom (and hallway, etc.,) while not overtly explicit were smoking hot. You could just feel the sexual tension building between Steven and Ken and when it finally exploded it was magnificent. Enjoy!
Steven and Ken are just the best! I loved their story! Ken was a guy who was misunderstood. Every one thought he was kind of a jerk, but his true self came out when he was with Steven. He was really a very loving person who would give his all for his partner. Steven, outwardly looked very confident, but he had a horrible history with men. Will his insecurities push away the one man who really loves him? There was also some crazy stalker stuff to deal with too. There was so much goodness in this book. Loved it so much!
This I my first Stella book and I really enjoyed it and definitely check out some of her other books!!! This was a touching MM book that you can just fall into and all into the light- heartedness as well it was such a greatread6. I really enjoyed learning about Steven and Ken. I definitely recommend this book.
By Tina
Because I’m a huge fan of Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series, I knew exactly who the main characters of Stella Weaver’s new release were, and honestly, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how they could make a relationship work given what readers learned about both characters when they appeared as supporting characters in the Knitting in the City world.
Like Steven, I didn’t understand how or why Dr. Ken would be attracted to him when he very clearly wanted to have a relationship with Elizabeth, but as soon as I became privy to the inner workings of Dr. Ken, I was all for him proving to Steven just how into him he is and why regardless of the number of awful blind dates that Steven endured, this time around, he finally found someone who
The best part of Steven and Ken’s story is the fact that Stella Weaver did an incredible job of keeping what made these two characters them in the Pennyverse. Steven kept his snark and his wit and Ken’s protectiveness and complex mind remained. And then, Weaver gave readers even more of these two heroes’ personalities, diving deep into their histories and understand how their present lives were established.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first two stores in the Cipher Office series, and the fact that readers get to catch up with favorite characters and also be introduced to new leading characters who are entertaining, well-rounded, and quite fitting for the world in which they’re placed.
4 Poison Apples
This is a laugh out loud fun, sexy and sweet romance filled with interesting charters, fun and catchy banter, heart racing twists and exciting turns…. a great read overall. Really enjoyed this emotional and funny journey.
Wow! All I can say is STICKING TO THE SCRIPT by Stella Weaver is a fantastic book. The writing is inspired, the pacing is spot on, emotions and humour are woven thoughtfully throughout the narrative; in short, it’s one heck of a page turner.
I am aware that this book started off as Penny Reid fan-fiction but even with all the positive feedback I never read it because although I loved the Steven Thompson character, Dr. Ken Miles was one of those characters I loved to hate. And I was content to leave it at that. What a fool I was! This is one of the most stirring romances I have read in quite some time.
While this book takes place in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City (KITC) world, it more than holds its own as a standalone book. I think fans will love how well this story intertwines with other KITC books and characters. And new readers will certainly not miss out because there is more than enough detail given to ensure you are never lost.
Most importantly, this book is about Steven and Ken, and I appreciated the chance to know them better. Through their personal and professional struggles, we get a story about two men who are both tired of casual relationships, tired of secrets, and tired of keeping up appearances. They want to find “the one” and it seems they have in each other, but it’s certainly not all smooth sailing. I loved how articulate these characters were. Their conversations – even the hurtful ones – felt so genuine and powerful. Their feelings were sincere and authentic. In the best of ways, Steven and Ken really were made for each other. Who knew? Not me. It took Stella Weaver’s story to open my eyes to this wonderful couple.
Sticking to the Script far exceeded my expectations! I was hesitant when first starting this story as I thought it’d be about a jaded man, swearing off romance – I’ve never been so excited to be wrong. This book would be better enjoyed if you’ve previously read the Knitting In The City series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone. The second book in the Cipher Office series, it brings back characters that you’ve already met and loved in Weight Expectations.
Sticking to the Script is a fabulous read. Fabulous. Marvelous. I might be slightly in love with it.
This story has so much going for it, it’s hard to know where to start.
First, the story-line. There are just so many different angles in there. The main story is of course the out-of-sync relationship between Steven and Ken. It’s heart-warming, frustrating and downright nerve-wrecking to read about. With a spectacular HEA. I came away with all the warm fuzzies imaginable. But there are so many side-stories that are just as intriguing. Steven’s stalker and his strained relation with his grumpy boss. The prejudice Ken has to deal with because of his sexuality and his family’s reaction to his love for Steven.
Then, it’s the characters. They’re so lovable. Funny. Quirky. Imperfect. Steven is super funny and sweet but always deflecting and downplaying to hide his own insecurities and hurt. Always looking out for everyone else but afraid to let someone see the real him. Then there’s Ken. The model-perfect Doctor hiding his tender heart and warm personality behind a facade. Always coming off as arrogant and rude when in reality he’s mostly just socially awkward and unsure. Both Steven and Ken are just so real. It’s beautiful writing and beautiful character development. And there are so many supporting characters to fall in love with too. I know I will buy more books about the Cipher world because I need to get their stories too. Elizabeth and Nico, Kat and Dan, Quinn and Janie.
The story-telling is really impressive. The way all the different threads of the story is weaved together is bloody talented. It was entirely engrossing, all the the time. There wasn’t a single part of the book that had me bored or wanting to skip forward. I was caught in each single moment, just along for the ride that Weaver so expertly conjured.
This is great romance. Great entertainment. Great everything. Read it.
For full review: https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
Sticking to the Script by Stella Weaver was even better than I expected.
This book takes place in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City Universe and centers around two characters from her books. While it can be read as a complete standalone, it may be even more fun for those who have read the Knitting in the City Series. One of the heroes – Mr. Steven Thompson – is easy to love from our very first introduction to him in Neanderthal Seeks Human. The other hero – Dr. Ken Miles, is not so lovable when we first meet him in Friends Without Benefits. However, when the two of them come together and we get to see the men behind the curtains … just … wow. This book was hilarious, heart-wrenching at times, and it just felt so real.
Sticking to the Script provided a wonderful opportunity to visit people from my favorite knitting group while getting to know MST(3K) and DKM. Stella has done such an amazing job of representing these already-established characters and telling their story. This book makes me want to go back and re-read all of the Knitting in the City stories, too.
This is my first book by Stella Weaver, and I read it as a loyal fan of Penny Reid, the Pennyverse and the Smartypants Romance launch. This book fits well into the extended KITC universe, and the new Cipher Office series.
Those loyal KITC fans are familiar with Steven Thompson (neighbor of Dan the Security Man, friend of Kat and Janie, and dogsitter of Wally), and Dr. Ken Miles (would-be hate hookup of Elizabeth Finney and nemesis of Nico). Did I think Dr. Ken Miles could be redeemed in my eyes before this book? No. Was I open to giving him a chance? Sure, I guess, but only because Penny Reid said I should or she would not have green-lit this book.
Stella Weaver took two characters with well-established personalities and put her own spin on them, and developed a great relationship between them. Dr. Ken Miles has much more depth than I thought possible from him. I already knew and loved Steven as a side-kick to our amazing ladies, but for him to be a lead in his own right was great, and he was written with all of the sass expected.
In true Pennyverse form, this is a smart romance -you definitely pick up trivia and factoids while reading this book. We get to revisit familiar beloved characters, relive some of our favorite inside jokes, and spend more time with Wally, so it’s a win-win all around in my book.
Thank you, Stella Weaver, for creating a great story of your own and still treating the KITC fans to an expanded romp with our favorites.
What a wonderful love story. I loved it. I definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author.
***5 ‘The Entirety of Him’ Stars***
I was all excited that this one was about Steven after meeting him in Weight Expectations, and I have to say that I got way more than I expected and loved every moment (well, most of them ~ but you get it) It was sweet, adorably awkward, funny and definitely pulled at those heartstrings as I got to know not only Steven, but Ken as well, a whole lot better.
Steven and Ken. I adored these two. It was so easy to get lost in their journey because they were so real and complex. Steven is a sweetheart. He has a good heart and an open and inviting personality, but he’s also got some insecurities that he hides quite well beneath it all. Ken is interesting. He comes across as…uptight and an opinionated asshole ~ which he definitely can be ~ but the man beneath the surface is so much more complex than anyone can imagine and I ended up loving him just a tinsy more than Steven, which was definitely not expected, but it is what it is.
As for their journey to their HEA. It was all kinds of funny, sweet, awkward and smexy slow burn goodness. I loved their bantering and how they clicked even when things were just a tad bit awkward between them. They definitely hit quite a few roadblocks, individually and as a couple, and some take a bit of work to get through, but I love how they came out of it all so much stronger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was engaging, the pacing good and the dual first person POV’s were well done. What I ended up loving the most was how deep we got into who Ken and Steven were, what they had experienced and the epiphanies they both had that prompted them to grow as the book progressed. So, if you’re looking for a good old slow burn romance with a good dose of awkwardness but a lot of heart, then this is a must read!
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
A lovely, funny, touching story
Book 2 in the Cipher Office series, this is set in the Penny Reid book universe, Knitting in the City world. While it can be read as a standalone, Steven first appears in Neanderthal Seeks Human as Janie’s friend and coworker, Dr. Ken Miles (DKM) is in Elizabeth and Nico’s book, Friends Without Benefits, as Elizabeth’s coworker and a potential hookup, Elizabeth, Nico, Quinn, and Janie have roles or significant mentions here, and there are spoilers for FWB—all of which means reading NSH and FWB first would help set up the story and add to the background. Note this book takes place partly in parallel to book 1 in the series, Weight Expectations by M.E. Carter, and overlaps with both Dating-ish and Marriage of Inconvenience, KitC books 6 & 7.
As someone who has been socially awkward more than once, I could easily empathize with DKM, even as I laughed at the misunderstandings between DKM and Steven. I was actually impressed that the author won me over so quickly since DKM was bit of a-hole in FWB, and started out a bit that way here as well. I found it sweet both how DKM was trying so hard to impress Steven, and how easily Steven put him at ease, and even as we learned about the kindness and caring DKM was capable of, we also learned how much of a mask Steven was putting on for the world, hiding his own fears and hurt behind jokes and laughter; I loved how they balanced each other out.
As fun and funny as this story is starting out, there are some serious plot lines here as well. Steven’s stalker and his embarrassment about it are a great reminder that it’s not only women who are victims of such behavior, and cultural biases make it just as hard or harder for men to admit to. As for DKM, my heart broke for him and some of the bs he had to put up with from his family; I find it terribly sad that this and worse is the reality some people still have to face.
At the end of the day, Ken and Steven are both very human, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and this is a lovely, funny, touching story about how these two flawed people work through their fears and old habits/expectations to find forever. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
I was so excited when I saw this book. I had previously read early versions of some of this story. I was very impressed the with Stella Weaver’s finished book! It’s hard to believe that this is her first published work. As a SmartyPants Romance based in the Pennyverse, I had previously read about the main characters, Steven and Dr. Ken, as well as many of the supporting characters in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series. I always had a soft spot for Stephen Thompson, who was a good friend to so many of the KitC main characters. Dr. Ken Miles, however, was not my idea of a promising guy. I was so impressed with the way Stella Weaver took these characters, and developed both of them into well-defined characters, with back stories, families, strengths, and weaknesses. We see Steven become very vulnerable, and making some bad choices. Stella took Dr. Ken, and made him not only a sympathetic character, but also allowed him to shine, and really step up when he was needed.
I enjoyed the story Stella Weaver created for Steven and Dr Ken, and I also loved reading about our old friends from Knitting in the City. Her story included snippets and looks into the ongoing lives of the Cipher team, and the KitC women. Through it all, Stella retained the integrity of Penny Reid’s characters, while enhancing this world with her own creativity and insights.
I highly recommend Sticking to the Script, and I look forward to reading more books from Stella Weaver.
This book is another fantastic addition to the Smartypants Romance Fall Release. This is a true love story. And I absolutely loved it.
Steven and Ken (DKM-Dr Ken Miles as he’s well known to the KitC circle) have a bit of a interesting start to their relationship, but it is absolutely beautiful and 100% real.
Steven’s inner monologue, (and outer monologue) is hilarious, I was laughing out loud so many times!
For those interested in the ‘timeline’, this book takes place approximately the same time as the last KitC book. I loved getting to peek back in on the KitC group, especially seeing it from a different perspective!
Steven has a few insecurities, that we can all relate to. Feeling inadequate, worried how we compare to others, how it looks when we’re side by side with our significant others. I loved how the author brought this to us in a male character.
This was an utterly fantastic debut book, the writing was flawless, and the plot just clicked into place. I cannot wait to see what this authors writes next, it will be a one click for me.
Dr Ken Miles has more going for him than just a pretty face and an attitude that leaves a foul taste in your mouth. He wants someone to see who he really is, the person he has not let anyone see in more years than he can count. He thinks he’s found that person in Steven, and he may be awkward and a little wierd, but he pushes through it and asks him to a movie. Steven honestly does not know what to make of Ken, bit he enjoys his company and despite what his friends think he sees something in him. I could not be more delighted to read their story and it was funny, hot and more than could have hoped for. They both have their insecurities and Steven has a few issues he thinks he can keep to himself. A lot of characters make appearances, and as always it was a delight to catch up with then. This was another well written addition to the world Penny Reid created and definitely a five star read.