Fake (West Hollywood 1) by Kylie Scott-Review & Excerpt Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 18, 2021
He walks the red carpet. She’s more familiar with vacuuming one.
When a scandal tarnishes the reputation of hot as hell A-lister, Patrick Walsh, he needs a reputation rescue, pronto.
Enter waitress Norah Peers–a nobody who’s average with a capital A. She’s available, dependable, and has sworn off men for the rest of her natural born life. In other words: the perfect match for a no-strings fake romance.
For the right amount of money, she can avoid waitressing and play the part of his dependable down-to-earth girlfriend. What she can’t avoid–dammit–is the growing steam between them.
But being hounded by the paparazzi and having her life dissected on social media is a panic attack in the making. And while Patrick might be a charming rogue on screen, in real life he’s a six-foot-two confusing, gorgeous, brooding grump, who keeps her at a distance . . . but also makes her feel like this bond between them might be more than just an act.
Being dumped on cue should be no big deal. Except being fake with Patrick is the realist relationship Norah has ever had. What’s a girl to do, but flip the script, and ask for a re-match made in Hollywood?
••••••
REVIEW:FAKE is the first instalment in Kylie Scott’s contemporary, adult WEST HOLLYWOOD erotic, romances series. This is thirty-six year old, Hollywood action star Patrick Walsh, and twenty-nine year old, waitress Norah Peers’ story line.
Told from first person perspective (Norah) FAKE follows in the aftermath of a Hollywood scandal in which action star Patrick Walsh’s reputation has been tarnished. In an effort to ‘clean up’ our hero’s image, his publicist suggests a fake relationship but Patrick doesn’t like any of the ‘candidates’ applying for the job. Enter waitress Norah Peers, and the woman with whom Patrick will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Patrick and Norah, and the potential fall-out as Patrick’s past come looking for a second chance.
Patrick Walsh never expected to find himself the subject of tabloid fodder but a disastrous relationship with a Hollywood starlet found Patrick the fall guy to protect the reputation of the woman he thought he could love. Needing to clean up his image, Patrick suggests our story line heroine, a ‘nobody’ who works at the local Italian eatery where our hero frequents at least once a month. Norah Peers isn’t comfortable playing the love interest of Patrick Walsh –the paparazzi intrusion, and secrets from her past are exposed to the world in an effort to embarrass our story line heroine but Norah finds herself falling for her current ‘employer’, a fall that is likely to break her heart. Norah is a spirited and sassy sweetheart; a relatable character who tries to fit in where she doesn’t belong.
The relationship between Patrick and Norah begins as a fake boyfriend/girlfriend in an effort to clean up Patrick’s Hollywood image. When the roles begin to dry up, Patrick’s PR person works overtime in an effort to infuse some much needed support using our heroine in the process but Patrick intends to keep their relationship on a professional level, much to the disappointment our Norah and her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text but…I did not feel the palpable sexual attraction or desire between our leading couple as Patrick tended to remain aloof and unemotional throughout the story. I think, if the story had been presented in dual first person perspectives, we would have seen a different, more empathetic side to our story line hero.
The secondary and supporting characters include Patrick’s assistant Mei, his PR rep Angie as well as Norah’s strong-willed and no-nonsense grandmother; Patrick’s friends Cole Landry and Jack Gilmour; Patrick’s ex Liv Anders.
FAKE is a story of betrayal and acceptance; fake relationships and tarnished reputations. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is passionate and intense; the characters are energetic. The conflict resolution was a little too easy, I was hoping for more angst and emotional turmoil.
Copy Supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
He slunk into the restaurant mid-afternoon wearing his usual scowl. Ignoring the CLOSED sign, he took a booth near the back. No one else was allowed to do this. Just him. Today’s wardrobe consisted of black jeans, Converse, and a button-down shirt. Doubtless designer. And the way those sleeves hugged his biceps . . . why, they should have been ashamed of themselves. I was this close to yelling “get a room.”
Instead, I asked, “The usual?”
Slumped down in the corner of the booth, he tipped his chin in reply. For such a tall guy, he sure went out of his way to try to hide.
I said no more. Words were neither welcomed nor wanted. Which was fine since (A) I was tired and (B) he tipped well for the peace and quiet.
Out back, Vinnie the cook was busy prepping for tonight, his knife making quick work of an onion.
“He’s here,” I said.
A smile split Vinnie’s face. He was a huge fan of the man’s action films. The ones he’d made before hitting it big time and taking on more serious dramatic roles. Him choosing to visit the restaurant every month or so made Vinnie’s life complete. Especially since the restaurant, Little Italy, was the very definition of a hole in the wall. Not somewhere generally frequented by the Hollywood elite. Meanwhile, I was less of a fan, but still a fan. You know.
“Get him his beer,” Vinnie ordered.
Like I didn’t know my job. Sheesh.
He was busy with his cell by the time I placed the Peroni in front of him. No glass. He drank straight from the bottle like an animal. Just then, a woman in a red sweater dress and tan five-inch-heel booties strode in through the front door.
“I’m sorry, we’re closed,” I said.
“I’m with him.” She headed straight for his booth and slid into the other side, giving the man a dour look. “You can’t just walk out, Patrick. You’re going to have to choose one of them.”
“Nope.” He took a pull from his beer. “They all sucked.”
“There had to be at least one that would do.”
“Not even a little.”
She sighed. “Keep this up and you’ll be obsolete by next week. Beyond help. Forgotten.”
“Go away, Angie.”
“Just another talented but trash male in Hollywood. That’s what they’re saying on social media.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“Liar,” she drawled.
I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Obviously they knew each other, but he did not seem to want her here. And she really wasn’t supposed to be here. Vinnie had okayed after-hours entry to only one person. On the other hand, if I asked her to leave, she’d probably sic her lawyers on me. She looked the type.
The woman spied me hovering. “Get me a glass of red.”
“She’s not staying,” countermanded Patrick.
Angie didn’t move an inch. “They were all viable options. Pliant. Young. Pretty. Discreet. Nothing weird or kinky in their backgrounds.”
“That might have made them more interesting.”
“Interesting women is what got you into this mess.” The woman frowned, taking me in. Still hovering. One perfectly shaped brow rose in question. “Yes? Is there a problem?”
Now it was Patrick’s turn to sigh and give me a nod. He was so dreamy with his jaw and cheekbones and his everything. Real classic Hollywood handsome. Especially with his short light brown hair in artful disarray and a hint of stubble. Sometimes it was hard not to stare. Which is probably why his personality tended to scream “leave me alone.”
I headed for the small bar area at the back of the restaurant to fetch the wine like a good little waitress.
“We shouldn’t be discussing this here,” said Angie, giving the room a disdainful sniff. Talk about judgy. I thought the raw brick walls and chunky wood tables were cool. Give or take Vinnie’s collection of old black-and-white photos of Los Angeles freeways. Who knew what that was about?
Patrick slumped down even further. “I’m not going back there. I’m done with it.”
“This isn’t safe.” Angie looked around nervously. “Let’s—”
“We’re fine. I’ve been coming here for years.”
“You just got dropped from a big-budget film, Patrick,” she said, exasperation in her tone. “The industry may not find you bankable right now, but I’m sure gossip about you is still selling just fine. This week at least.”
Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet
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