I love Lucy Parker's writing so much. It is clear-eyed and sure in a way that sets the reader at ease, and it is effervescent and lively in a way that ensures beyond this place there be a sparkling good time. And that is exactly what PRETTY FACE delivers. Lily and Luc light up the stage and the page. I am not always one for great or slight May/December romances, but these two were a perfect match. Luc is grumpy and stressed and more dedicated than most of the people around him put together. But no one can resist Lily. I absolutely loved their slow burn of a romance, how they both had a History with a capital H, and how they learned to take care of each other despite their fears and their pasts. Delightful.

Lucy Parker’s Act Like It was super fun and completely Christina-bait all the way through. The tropes are classic me, every one of them. Pretty Face, though, primarily uses tropes I don’t usually like…but I love it way more? How did that happen? I have no goddamn clue, but I loved this book. In some ways it even reminded of me The Hating Game, which is high fucking praise come from me.


The title of this book turned me off, and I wasn’t actually that excited about it even though I knew I should be excited. Heroine Lily does indeed have a beautiful face, which both helps her and gets her consistently underestimated. No surprise that she’s constantly fending off unwanted advances and catcalls. Lily’s the star of a TV show that basically sound like if Miss Fisher’s had been made on the CW but with HBO’s love of sex scenes, but she dreams of a career in the theater.

Lily works really hard, and she’s very careful to avoid relationships with coworkers, because her reputation is already bad enough just because she’s a beautiful woman who plays a promiscuous woman on TV. What she didn’t expect are the sparks she feels with her new director on her big break in theater. Though their first couple of meetings go abominably, and they hate each other, the loathing quickly makes way for passion and humor.

This ship really, really works for me, and it’s weird because there’s a fairly large age gap (I don’t remember their exact ages but he’s 10-15 years older) and he’s her employer and neither of those things do I usually enjoy, but they’re just so perfect for each other. Lily and Luc work because, underneath his stern surface and her young, beautiful one, they’re actually quite similar people. They have similar (weird) senses of humor that most other people don’t appreciate. They get each other. They also talk things out, and Pretty Face avoids the easy melodrama plots this sort of romance usually has; there are a couple of fights, but they get resolved quickly (but not unbelievably). It’s also super excellent that his ex-girlfriend and Lily are friends from the beginning with no lazy jealousy plot.

Pretty Face is a really excellent romance, one where, like with The Hating Game, you go “oh this is why these two incredibly attractive and wealthy people are single and also they’re just so perfect together. This book put a huge smile on my face, and I recommend it to all my ship-loving friends.

So fun, readable and very sincere and heartfelt. I loved Luc and Lily - I wasn't much into sort of insta-love but this one actually made it work. :) Can't wait to read the next!

In this second stand alone in the London Celebrities series, we get a sharp, cynical, clumsy and funny Lily and the resident grumpy cat and her new boss, Luc. As you can guess, it's a romance (and comedy) that probably shouldn't happen because of the work situation but I'm so glad it does. Their resistance to each other is short (and futile) which leaves more time for me to chuckle at their quips and, even more interestingly, feel surprisingly wounded when their 'trouble' starts. I liked them together so much that when the inevitable bad thing happened I had to put down the book for a few minutes because I wasn't ready for either of them to have their heart broken. If that's not a great sign of how invested I was in their characters, I don't know what is. Fortunately, the angsty part was over relatively quickly and painlessly and their HEA was just as sweet and funny as I hoped it would be.



Looking for a light, romcom set in the London theater district? This is the read for you.

Miss Bates rolled joyously around in Lucy Parker’s romance writing like the first touch of clean sheets. She listened to Act Like It, Parker’s first contemporary romance, alternating with reading the second, Pretty Face. MissB. is a fickle rom-reading mistress, rarely glomming, as she did when she first started reading rom ten years ago. But Parker’s original setting, flawed, likeable characters, and witty writing, yet still heart-tugging and romantic, captured and held on for two days of continuous listening and reading. Though this review will focus on Pretty Face, everything she says about it may be applied to Act Like It (with the exception of one of the best audio-book narrators Miss Bates has ever listened to). Like Miss B’s Ruby Lang discovery, Parker made it onto a “not-to-be-missed” romance writer list by page three of Pretty Face and oh, ten minutes into Act Like It.

There be many reasons why MissB. liked Parker’s work, but she’ll start with the setting. Original, engaging, charming, Parker’s novels take place in London’s West-End theatre scene amidst actors, agents, directors, celebrity gossip-rags, and paparazzi bulb-flashes. Kudos to Ms Parker for normalizing the scene, for eliciting sympathy from her reader for the “pretty faces”, male and female, with their vulnerabilities, weaknesses, insecurities, and everyday yearnings, to love and be loved, find a life-partner, and enjoy understanding, support, affection, and tenderness.

Pretty Face is about the May-to-December romance of Luc Savage, restorer of the venerable old Queen Anne Theatre and producer of the Tudor-set fictional 1553, and television starlet, in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries‘ vein, Lily Lamprey. Lily’s stint as the promiscuous tv-sleuth on Knightsbridge is coming to an end. At 26, she’s finally contractually free to pursue her love of classical theatre. Lily is blessed with beauty and cursed by type-casting and a voice that channels Marilyn’s “Happy birthday, Mr. President”. Nevertheless, Queen Anne’s major shareholder and Lily-fan convinces Luc to grant her an audition. While the 40-year-old seasoned-theatre-director characterizes Lily as “Helium Barbie” at first sight and sound – OUCH – there’s something in her forthright manner, sharp intelligence, and audition to push him to take a chance on her as Elizabeth I. What follows is an honest, funny, engaging, likeable couple making their way to each other through professional and family obstacles, as well as their own internal sabotaging. Though they, at first, appear an unlikely pair, Parker has an uncanny ability, in Act Like It and Pretty Face, to have the reader rooting for improbable pairs.

Luc and Lily begin in MissB’s favourite romance beginning-place, antipathy and sarcasm (what can she say, like Parker, she’s been forever-marked by Ehle-&-Firthness). What struck MissB. from the get-go was Parker’s wit, her penchant for pithy, allusionary metaphor. Yes, there’s Luc’s “prejudiced” initial view of Lily as “Helium Barbie,” but Lily is fully aware how her Knightbridge role, sultry voice, and ample curves lead others to assume “she had a brain the size of a Tic Tac.” *snort* *guffaw* went MissB. But MissB’s favourite Lily-quip comes when Lily characterizes her initial impressions of Luc as “his face retreated into the Ice Age,” and, BESTEST, “it was like trying to get a smile out of Picasso’s ‘Portrait of Gertrude Stein’ “. Lily’s wit impresses Luc as much as her audition when she describes Romeo and Juliet as “one of the great literary examples of unhealthy co-dependency.” What Miss Bates loved was that Parker’s characters were so well-read. And so very very funny about it. (Later, there’s a marvelous pun/literary allusion in Luc’s Christmas gift to Lily – not to be missed.)

Lest you assume that Parker doesn’t have a talent for gravitas, Miss Bates will use the dreaded word to describe scenes and situations that bring Luc and Lily closer and, sometimes, tear them apart (as any good romance does) – poignant. Parker doesn’t shy away from vulnerability and weakness. Lily is a character whose parents are negligently loving; sadly, often absent. Luc, on the other hand, is the product of a loving, affectionate, supportive family and yet, he’s someone’s who’s never been overwhelmed by emotion, never subject to its loss of control. Maybe because he’s always been part of something so secure and safe, he takes it for granted. But Lily makes him feel otherwise. Lily’s feelings, in turn, for Luc are strong, but her assumption of abandonment is stronger. Parker does a great job of navigating the uncertainty and, at the same time, joy of what Lily calls “recognition,” the “whole misguided, shivery shebang,” “like coming home,” discovering, exploring, and cleaving to the Beloved Other. (One of the most magnificent, silent recognition-of-the-beloved scenes is set in one of the best rom Christmas scenes Miss Bates has ever read.)

Austen-esque wit, rocking romance conventions, unique, compelling setting – is that all, Miss B.? Nope. Parker has something else going for her that Miss B. thinks is often one of the great romance narrative oversights (maybe it’s the narrow beast’s nature, but does it have to be?) – great secondary characters: from Lily’s BFF, the pink-haired Thumbelina Trix (heroine of Parker’s next romance, woot!) to Luc’s urbane, charming, ideal-couple parents, to his mixed-up roguish brother, to the roving adulterous actor, Dylan Waite, to the tatoo-ed, talented make-up artist (Miss B., from scavenging Parker’s website, thinks he’s going to be Trix’s love interest) to Trix’s abusive ex, to the gossip-rag’s vengeful editor, to the prima donna star and her adorable bichon frise … but MissB. could and has gone on and on. They all, to a man, woman, and dog, come alive in real and engaging ways.

Lastly, ever since she read Jen Crusie’s The Cinderella Deal and, with The Captain, agonized over Marianne’s rain-induced ague, Miss B loves a romance sickroom (she suspects it may also come from Heather’s onboard illness in Woodiwiss’s The Flame and the Flower). A romance writer really shows her chops in the sickroom because it’s a great character-revealing opportunity. Utter vulnerability in one, because the body is weak and subject to illness and mortality; the other, whether hero and heroine, may be observed in all his/her reactions and choices to the other’s needs. Miss Bates would say that the romance sickroom can be as revelatory and compelling as those “other” bodily scenes, the love scenes. Parker, damn her little talented soul, can do both with romance, humour, vulnerability, subtlety, and truthfulness.

With her reading familiar, Miss Austen, Miss Bates loved Act Like It and Pretty Face and is now impatiently tap-tap-ing fingers and foot-jiggling waiting for Parker’s next book. Pretty Face proves “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Lucy Parker’s Pretty Face is published by Carina Press. It was released in February 2017 and may be procured (pronto!) from your preferred vendors. Miss Bates is grateful to Carina Press for an e-ARC, via Netgalley.

IT WAS AWESOME.
Loved the principals and the secondary characters and the world of the theatre. This a completely new environment for me to read about but I love that Ms. Parker writes characters that seem like people I know (or could know) with relateable problems and feelings. She's terrific, the series is terrific and Ms. Parker is on my auto-buy list for the forseeable future. One of my favorite contemporary titles this year.

I picked up Pretty Face shortly after finishing Act Like It earlier this year. The latter was every bit as charming and romantic as the former. I'm so glad I listened to my romance-loving friends who insisted that I give Lucy's books a try. She's got a wonderful, fresh voice and is absolutely a new favorite find for 2017.
Lily and Luc have this great hate-to-love slow burn thing going on and it totally worked for me. I found Lily easy to connect with. Who hasn't had a moment (or many) where she wanted to be seen and recognized for who she is and not just what's on the outside? Luc was the perfect combination of grumpy and swoony (eventually). I enjoyed the smiles, chuckles, swoons and feels this one delivered as I read. I was addicted to the setting and all the characters. I can't wait to see what she gives us next with this series. I'll be along for the ride for sure!

FAVORITE QUOTES

"Should I apologise? should you apologise? Or should we just call this the National Day for Wildly Inappropriate Behaviour and move on?"

"It's second nature to pull apart a performance, isolate and slice out the dead wight, piece it back together. I also know what it feels like when there's that very rare click and it's just—right. It works. From the first line of the first scene. It doesn't often happen onstage, and I didn't expect to ever experience it offstage."

Pretty Face is the first book that I have from Lucy Parker, but it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed this story and the characters, and I was drawn in right away. Pretty Face is book two in the London Celebrities series, but each book is a standalone story. I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Actress Lily Lamprey wants to prove that she is an actress to be taken seriously. She knows she has talent, so when she hears that well known director Luc Savage is renovating a legendary theater for a new production, she knows that this is her chance. But Luc and Lily find themselves drawn to one another and though they try to fight it, things between them continue to grow. But their relationship threatens both of their futures as Luc's reputation comes into question as well as Lily's sudden rising career. Can Lily and Luc have their careers and a future together?

I really loved these two. I found them interesting and felt invested in them right away. Luc had been through a lot that changed the way he was, but he was so much more than he first appears to be. I loved getting to know him better and seeing the kind of man he really was, warm and sweet. Both were passionate and hardworking, determined to make the most of their careers. Their relationship was a bit of a slow burn as both of them were wanting to remain professional. But I loved their chemistry and the connection forming between them. These two were so good together and I couldn't get enough of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story from start to finish. It was funny and sweet, emotional and heartfelt. I really felt connected to these characters and their story. Their relationship was on the forbidden side and that is always one of my favorites, but there was so much more to Luc and Lily and I had a great time reading this book. If you love theater romance stories this is definitely one you are going to want to pick up, but really if you just love a good romance this is a story that I think more romance readers will love just as much as I did.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

very british, and not very inclusive, but entertaining

Pretty Face is the first book that I have from Lucy Parker, but it definitely won't be my last. I really enjoyed this story and the characters, and I was drawn in right away. Pretty Face is book two in the London Celebrities series, but each book is a standalone story. I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Actress Lily Lamprey wants to prove that she is an actress to be taken seriously. She knows she has talent, so when she hears that well known director Luc Savage is renovating a legendary theater for a new production, she knows that this is her chance. But Luc and Lily find themselves drawn to one another and though they try to fight it, things between them continue to grow. But their relationship threatens both of their futures as Luc's reputation comes into question as well as Lily's sudden rising career. Can Lily and Luc have their careers and a future together?

I really loved these two. I found them interesting and felt invested in them right away. Luc had been through a lot that changed the way he was, but he was so much more than he first appears to be. I loved getting to know him better and seeing the kind of man he really was, warm and sweet. Both were passionate and hardworking, determined to make the most of their careers. Their relationship was a bit of a slow burn as both of them were wanting to remain professional. But I loved their chemistry and the connection forming between them. These two were so good together and I couldn't get enough of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story from start to finish. It was funny and sweet, emotional and heartfelt. I really felt connected to these characters and their story. Their relationship was on the forbidden side and that is always one of my favorites, but there was so much more to Luc and Lily and I had a great time reading this book. If you love theater romance stories this is definitely one you are going to want to pick up, but really if you just love a good romance this is a story that I think more romance readers will love just as much as I did.

I read Lucy Parker's debut novel, Act Like It, last year and have been looking forward to her next book ever since. And I ended up loving it even more than the first. Pretty Face is of my best reads of 2017. For me this story represents contemporary romance at its finest - a compelling story, engaging characters. slow burn romance with numerous twists and turns and some drama (well, a bit more than necessary) and a well deserved and fitting HEA.

I admit I'm not a big fan of age gap stories but every rule has its exceptions and this is case with Pretty Face. I found the age difference to be handled believably and it really worked well to highlight differences between the hero and the heroine. And they were quite a few, seemingly insurmountable at the beginning.

This is a story about expectations and presumptions and how their deceive us, about complex family relationships (Lily's family was just Wow! so messed up) and relationships between friends and ex-lovers and new lovers and colleagues. We also get a glimpse at the drama of the theatre/TV series world which I found interesting and done just right - not too little, not too much.

Lily is a wonderful heroine. She is trying hard to shed the image of a brainless bimbo and it's no easy given her curvy figure and breathy voice, and the role in a popular TV series which made her popular. But she is much more than people see on the screen and just because she is young and successful and comes where she comes from, people have a certain image of her. Initially we see Luc falling victim to his own assumptions and snobbish prejudice, only to gradually discover the real Lily behind the fake public image. And that was quite a journey of discovery for both of them.

Luc also has a public image (one of grumpy, heartless theatre director), yet in his heart hearts he is sweet and cares about his friends and family. Somewhat unexpectedly both for him and for Lily, she breaks through his hard facade and brings to to fore his gentler, more human side.

All these discoveries and revelations happen through some fun banter and comic situations. We see some complex, nuanced characters in an intriguing plot finding their way towards each other and it's a pleasure to follow along. Lucy Parker is a masterful writer that draws you into the story and keeps you invested in it till the very end.

There were some plot twists, especially towards the end which felt a bit too much, but it's a minor thing which did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this romance. I can recommend this, together with first book in the series (they both can be read as standalones) to all fans of contemporary romance.

I did not end up reviewing this title. I appreciate the opportunity to read this title.

I never have been a fan of the big age difference between couples. Nothing against two people finding true love no matter their age, but it never sat well with me and I tend not to pick these books. Although, there are some books out there who praise this kind of love with words that enslave you and makes you unable to resist. And from this category couldn’t be missing this book.

Pretty Face is the second installment in the London Celebrities series which, as its name states, it speaks about characters of the British’s film and theatre industry who found true love. The first book was dedicated on the love story between two co-actors. Now, the Love spotlight and London’s public eye are turned onto the romance that grows moment by the moment between the mega-director Luc Savage and the new actress of his new play, Lily Lamprey. But no one could imagine the gigantic plan Life has for them and how long she’s been waiting to set it into motion.

“Don’t drool on the cast”, he said when the other man reached him. “It’s not a good look.”

Luc Savage is a demanding, intense, ruthless but most of all successful director of the London’s Theatre stage. Lily Lamprey is a new actress on the film industry full of ambitions, hope and dreams who waits for her big moment to prove her value. Their relationship at first is at a razor edge. Luc tries to decide if he made the right choice to cast her for one his lady-roles and Lily tries her best to help him with that. But this is only the First Act of Life’s play for them. Soon, it gives way to the Second Act. One library. One heated lingering kiss. Boom! The point where both of them come face ro face with their heart’s truth. Then comes the Third Act where they are trying to find the balance between the preparations for the play and the journey of discovering how deep their feelings go for each other. And then, comes the Fourth Act; the most intense, heart-racing, rocking and important Act of all. The part where both have to fight to restore the lost balance that one big tragedy caused to their love’s foundation.

"He texted her back every night, just the single letter: X. A signature. A kiss. A mark on a map, pointing the way to where the good things were."

As I said at the beginning, I was never into the love stories where the couples have a big age difference. I simply tend to shy away from every book whose difference surpass the 10 years. Although, when I first read the blurb of Pretty Face not even once I doubted myself about when I was getting into. From the start, it spellbound me and made my dive into it more than worthwhile. The love between Luc and Lily is simply undeniable and with every passing minute I spent in it, I felt it growing more and more powerful. Although, beyond declaring myself lucky that I got to read this unforgettable love story, what makes the book even more precious and places it at MY TOP READS book list is the fact that showed the truth we sometimes tend to forget: despite the image our nowadays’ “celebrities” show in public, they are people like any other person on this planet with feelings, desires, ambitions but most of all weaknesses and flaws.

"It didn’t feel fleeting and solely physical. It didn’t feel like infatuation. It felt like … recognition."

This is the first book I read from Lucy Parker and I have to admit myself as “Thoroughly Surprised”. The nature of her writing overcame every expectation I had when I first started reading the book. After the first chapter, every one of them was thrown out of the window, making me a book full of empty pages which were ready to get full with all the emotions I was feeling during this read. And with no shadow of a doubt now, I can say I will be on the look-out for any new work of hers because I can’t wait to read the continuing of this amazing series.

There are not many times when the second book is equally impressive as the first - this is one of those times! Lily and Luc fight their attraction but as it grows between them they give in to their feelings. This was such a beautiful story - perfect little details paired with understandable and oh-so-believable reactions to events. Please read this book!

"Pretty Face" by Lucy Parker was a really great read. I read "Act Like It" last year and loved it and ever since have been waiting for this next book to come out. While I still loved "Act Like It" more, "Pretty Face" was still a very enjoyable read. Lucy Parker has very strong and witty writing and I found myself laughing throughout both her books. She creates really amazing, well-rounded characters and in particular, I loved Lily. She was such a unique character and full of depth. I'm so excited to have found her books and cannot wait for more!!

I was an immediate fan of Lucy Parker after reading her first book, Act Like It. To say I had high hopes for Pretty Face would be putting it lightly. I am very pleased to be able to say that this book rocked my world.

Before I dig into the romance, I want to touch briefly on one of the most interesting aspects of the book. Actress Lily Lamprey has a voice… unfortunately it’s distinctive for all the wrong reasons. When she gets the role in Luc Savage’s new play, the first thing she has to face is voice lessons. And these lessons are intense! I learned so much about this process. I had no idea how involved or rigorous voice training is. I think Lucy Parker did a fabulous job of showcasing this in the book, making it a natural part of Lily’s character arc and making it interesting for the reader. No info dumping here!

Then there is the romance! Ah, it is just wonderful. Luc is quite prepared to dismiss Lily as a second-rate actress, only good for the soap she currently plays on. Lily is the vapid, man-stealing, sex goddess of the show and well, Luc is having an impossible time seeing her as anything else. But then she auditions and slowly but surely Luc realizes Lily has so much untapped potential. (Lily knows this by the way! That’s why she’s auditioning. She is ready to move on from her her current typecast role into deeper and more meaningful acting experiences.)

And then well, the heat is on. From the moment these two meet, there is a visceral connection between them. Even as Lily dismisses Luc as a jerk for his preconceived notions about her, there is no doubting the friction between them. And that friction only grows as they work together. And believe me, you will feel it. The pull and longing between these two is just incredibly strong and volatile. Luc and Lily know they cannot give in because there is a lot on the line. Lily already faces backlash for her new role. No one is willing to believe that she got the job just based on her audition. And Luc is restoring a theater on top of crafting his current production. He is facing intense media scrutiny of his own.

Nonetheless as any seasoned romance reading veteran knows, love does win out. It just takes some compromise on both sides. Luc has never really been in deep love. While he is just recently out of a long-term relationship, his new feelings for Lily exceed anything he has ever felt before. And darn if it is not utterly romantic seeing him do whatever it takes to make sure Lily feels happy, safe, and loved. I really fell hard for this pair. It is clear that love has taken them both by surprise in a big way but they do find ways to welcome and embrace it.

Lily, I just really admired her. She is ambitious and hardworking (as seen by not only vocal lessons but all the intense rehearsals she goes through). And don’t forget her work on the soap opera. While it would be too easy to dismiss that role, Lily always gave it her all, perhaps unfortunately playing into her own typecasting by how successful she played the man-eater type woman.

Pretty Face really does apply to both Lily and Luc. Both characters seemed pegged by media and paparazzi at first but there is so much more to them than appearances. I simply loved watching them fall deeply in love with each other. I swear, this is one of the few books that gave me goosebumps! Their connection felt that natural and robust to me.

Pretty Face is available now and is worth the price! And while you’re at it, purchase Act Like It also!

I love when a 'book 2' lives up to the first! And after LOVING "Act Like It", I was so excited to read Lucy Parker brought it once again with "Pretty Face"!

I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about Lily...aspiring actress trying to shed her sex-kitten persona...and Luc...curmudgeonly theater owner and director. I didn't immediately take to either of them. But there in lies the genius of the writing and storytelling! As I got further into the book, my affections towards both Lily and Luc, and then Lily AND Luc, grew.

Lily turned out to be strong and determined and Luc tender and loving. The combination of the two made me root for them and their HEA!

Really fun read and looking forward to even more from Lucy Parker and this series!

With PRETTY FACE, Lucy Parker proves that she’s anything but a flash in the pan: she’s going to be one of the greats. Sparkling wit and sizzling romantic tension sell the love story of Lily Lamprey and Luc Savage, two very complex, career driven characters who fall madly, deeply, and unwillingly in love. Swoon!

Tired of being typecast as the sex kitten femme fatale, Lily wants to make the transition from TV acting to stage performances, but first she has to overcome her unfortunate vocal similarities to Marilyn Monroe. That, and she needs to impress the notorious Luc Savage, her new boss and a very talented director. At first glance these two have nothing in common (and have a substantial age gap, Lily’s 26 to Luc’s early 40s), but they quickly find that they’re uniquely suited. But workplace romances rarely end well, particularly when one person is in a position of power, and Lily doesn’t want people to think she slept her way to the top. Is pursuing a relationship worth it?

I absolutely adored the characters in PRETTY FACE, both the primary and secondary cast. Lily’s work ethic and commitment to growing as an actor impressed me from the start, and Luc’s realization that life doesn’t have much meaning without human connection of some kind was also great. Parker also explores the pitfalls of a power imbalance in a romantic relationship with sensitivity and skill. Add to that Lily’s love of books and Luc’s commitment to Lily and this one was pitch perfect.

4.5 stars

Pretty Face by Lucy Parker was a great read. Loved everything about it.
The storyline was entertaining, the characters were likable, engaging and my interest was captured from the first page until the end.
Another wonderful read by the talented Lucy Parker and a great addition to the London Celebrities Series.

*A big thank you to Carina Press for the advance copy*

Pretty Face is pretty fucking awesome. There, I said it. I first picked it up based on all the squeeing about Ms. Parker's first book, Act Like It, which I am sad to say, I still have not read, despite said squeeing. I don't usually read books by authors I know are British and I'm sure this comes from all those stuffy classics I had to read in high school. Granted, many of those classics were written by American authors (I still have nightmares about reading Moby Dick--Mr Sullivan, if you are out there and have stumbled on my blog, I'm sorry, but Melville was an awful writer, who used the English language as a torture device), but still, there seems to be some type of block in my brain that stops me from wanting to read something by a British author. I'm glad I made an exception for Ms. Parker.

Luc Savage is in the middle of a crisis: he can't find anyone to play Elizabeth I in the new play that he is producing. While he's used to dealing with actors and casting, this time it is different--the play is set to open at his own theater, one that he has sunk his time and money into rebuilding, and if the play fails, his theater probably will too. After being pressured by one of his financial backers to at least audition Lily Lamprey, star of a god-awful (in his opinion) soap opera, he is shocked to find that she has a voice made for porn--not the London theater scene. However, if he doesn't at least see this girl, he's likely to lose his backer. Giving in, he meets with Lily and sees something in her that he wasn't expecting, his Elizabeth.

Lily Lamprey has always wanted to do theater, but ended up on one of Britain's top rated soap operas instead. While the show has helped get her foot in the door, she knows that people only see her as the highly sexed and manipulative Gloria. She's determined to prove everyone wrong and launch a successful career in the theater, but she's got a couple of big problems: her pretty face and her sex kitten voice. She already knows that Luc doesn't take her seriously, but she needs this role to show the world that there is more to her than what they've seen on television.

Just a few years ago, I would not have read this book, and not just because of my antipathy towards British authors. No, I wouldn't have read this because of the age difference between the hero and heroine. While it is never explicitly spelled out in the book, Luc is somewhere around 40. Lily, on the other hand, is 26. Anything more than a 10 year age difference seriously squicked me out when I was younger, and even now I have issues when there is a rather large age gap between two people. What can someone pushing 50 have in common with someone young enough to be their child? In my mind, nothing. If a man in his 50's is trolling for young girls, he is far from a catch and is probably looking for someone with whom to have sex and not an intelligent conversation. Sure, that's a generalization, but that's how I feel. Thankfully, Ms. Parker did a wonderful job of showing the similarities between Lily and Luc and how much those two were right for each other. I loved the conversations they had and how they were almost always brutally honest with each other. From the start, there are almost no secrets between the two, although the climax of the narrative does involve lies of omission. One thing that I loved about their relationship was how much Luc fought with himself over their ages. He didn't like to think of himself as someone who would rob the cradle, so to speak, especially since his older brother is going through a divorce with his child-bride (she was 19!). There is a wonderful scene between the two of them when he realizes that Lily is more than just her age and sees her as someone he could love.

I also really enjoyed the interactions they had with other characters, especially the other members of the play, although I wish there were more of them. At times, it seemed as if Luc and Lily lived inside of their own little bubble and the other characters only existed to move the plot along. For instance, we are introduced to Lily's roommate, Trix and Trix's ex-boyfriend, Dan, both of whom show up at integral parts of the narrative only to disappear once they've played their roles. The same can be said for Luc and Lily's families. I seriously wish these characters were more fleshed out and used as more than just plot devices. Sadly, we can't have everything that we want. If we did, I'd be sitting on a private beach with Adam Levine. Or maybe Jensen Ackles. Oh, well.

4.5 Stars

I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.