Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas – a Review

Links to order Famously Engaged: Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  Kobo

About the Book:
A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he’s forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling “first date”, but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake’s figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he’s afraid he’s not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it’s up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Review:

It’s survey time.  Put your hand up if you’ve ever had this dream/fantasy.  Famous rock-star shows up on your doorstep claiming to be your fiancée from a bridal lottery he held, and he’s drop dead gorgeous(looks around the room). That’s what I thought, everyone has their hand up.  😉  Yes I think every woman has had a similar fantasy, but for Beth Carlisle it’s now her reality. 

In Robyn Thomas’ Famously Engaged that scenario is exactly what happens. Talk about the rug pulled out from you moment.  I know if it were me; first reaction, mouth hanging open, blank look on face, chill bumps breaking out all over, but I’d recover quickly of course, let out a scream while jumping up and down, and be all, that’s awesome, when do we get married, as I drag him to the nearest church.  😉  Okay, okay, enough about my fantasy, let’s move on. 

Famously Engaged is a fun filled quick read, where the catalyst of the book’s plot  kicks off from the get go.  Now I’m the kind of person who likes a slow build up between the two main characters as I just find it helps me better understand and connect with them. Somehow, I didn’t need this with Famously Engaged. The way Ms. Thomas sets up the storyline, develops her main characters and carries us away on this fun filled modern day Cinderella adventure between Jake and Beth, I found myself swept away on their adventure as if I were a member of the paparazzi chasing after them. 

For me Beth and Jake are two characters who are easy to like.  Heck what’s not to like about a famous, handsome and very charming rockstar.  Yes at times that part of Jake’s personality does show through, but how can it not when it’s his life, and the only thing he truly knows.  He’s sworn off love and romance after what happened between his mother and father, so this is all new territory for him .  It isn’t until he meets Beth, has to move in to hide from the paparazzi thanks to his brilliant plan, that he sees just what he’s missing out on.  As Jake falls more and more in love with Beth, and her life, I couldn’t help but feel for him and want to see the two of them figure out a way to be together.  Even though Jake is famous and enjoys his life, there is a part of him that yearns for the everyday normal, and he sees this in Beth.  For him the attraction is instantaneous and we see this in his comments and actions toward Beth.  I found myself falling for Jake and wishing for my own Prince Charming rock-star to show up on my doorstep.  Jake is a wonderfully written character, who pulls you in, draws you to his side, making you root for him to the very end, all the while hopping Beth can come to terms with the rock-star part of his life.  

Beth’s whole life has recently been turned upside down with the death of her grandmother. Feeling she’s at her lowest point in her life when suddenly boom, crazy-town hits her doorstep in the form of rockstar Jake Olsen.  I had to laugh at their initial meeting as she didn’t recognize him right off and he seem perturbed. It was perfectly written and I could picture the look on his face at that moment when I read that scene.  Once the introductions are made and the story laid out at Beth’s feet the fun begins.  Beth at first thinks he’s crazy and even comes up with a cute nickname for him, Famous Man, love it.  As Beth tries to come to terms with everything that has happened to her from her grandmother’s death, to Jake popping up un-announced on her doorstep she feels as though her world is going insane. However, once she starts to open up and spend time with Jake she finds that it’s as if he’s always been there with her and can just be herself around him, even when she gets the urge to cook like a madwomen at 4 in the morning.  As she finds herself being drawn closer and closer to Jake, and finally realizing that she does love him, she doesn’t know if she can handle the famous part of his life.  If she could lock the two of them away from the rest of the world I think she would’ve have.

Jake and Beth are a charming couple.  There scenes together are cute, touching and I really enjoyed their wit and charm towards each other.  Watching them fall in love and trying to figure out a way to make it work in each other’s lives was fun and at times heart breaking.  You really want these two characters to make it and have that HEA.  Just when you think they won’t make it, the light suddenly dawns on our Prince Charming regarding what needs to be said and done for both of them to be happy.  Like the rock-star Prince Charming he is, he swoops in and saves the day.  Being the romantic at heart that I am, I loved this part of the story and was happy to see an epilogue showing them 1 year later and how they’ve adapted to each other’s lives.  If you are looking for a fun filled romantic read that can satisfy your rock-star fantasy, then this one’s for you. Happy reading, until next time. 

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher