heart-warming and humorous Contemporary Christian Romance with endearing characters was a really fun read! The inspirational elements weren't too strong and worked for this story.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This was a DNF for me. I was expecting something completely different and didn't realize until much later that this is the second book in this series. I'm also not at all the target audience for this book. I understand this is supposed to be comedic, but it feels like its trying too hard to be funny. The comedy just isn't there for me and made it feel like the main character is living in a different world than the rest of the characters. I didn't find the characters or story to be very likable.

Fun story of finding the real hero in our lives, and falling in love along the way. As the second in the series the story includes bits of idyllic Portland scenes, a glimpse of other characters we loved, and all the crazy of taking a citizens police course. Definitely a must read.

Book two in a series, HERO DEBUT, by Angela Ruth Strong, is easily read as a standalone novel. It’s a romcom, for sure, that borders on zany with references to faith and a few scripture verses for punctuation.

Gemma, the main female character, is an identical twin. Strong decided to use the biblical characters of Jacob & Esau as counterpoints in this story. They’re referred to nine times; too much, imo. What I also found too much was the inability of Gemma to settle down. This is a woman in her 30’s, a teacher, trying to be taken seriously as a playwright but she’s acting like a 12 year old with ADHD and no medication. Cute can only get you so far…

Her love interest, Karson, is a cop who’s had a rough life. He’s wounded but handsome, of course. Fortunately, he is more in keeping with a character at this age, job and development by the author. Their relationship was tough for me to get behind due to Gemma’s often immature and outlandish behavior. She certainly has a group of tolerant and supportive friends surrounding her.

Strong doesn’t use secondary characters to the best advantage of the story. Gemma’s twin, her roommates, Karson’s ex, the other cops and firefighters - so many missed opportunities. The few scenes with Gemma’s twin and the one with Karson’s ex were the best in the book and did the most to advance the story and the growth of the characters. We needed more scenes like this. They didn’t need to be long and drawn out like a drama but all the zany needed tempering.

If we were able to give half stars, I might have given this book a 3.5 rating, awarding the extra half point for the huge collection of HERO quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Who knew so many contemporary famous folks had things to say about heroes 📚

Read & Reviewed from PW Grab A Galley via a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

Hero Debut is a satisfying blend of romance and tackling disappointment. Gemma, an aspiring screenwriter, is infatuated with Karson, a police officer, who teaches at the citizen police academy.
During class, he does his best to ignore her screen star beauty but their chemistry is too strong. They manage one date and one kiss before Gemma puts the brake on their passion—Karson has unresolved anger issues that he needs to deal with. Gemma has her own issues of rivalry with her twin and her not being stereotyped as an airhead. The characters and settings are rich in detail and fun.. The Christian messages add to the chapters. No graphic scenes or vulgarity is a plus. The film references are fun for movie buffs.

So cute! This was a fun book. Gemma is ALL of us-ditzy and doing her best every day. I liked the plot and it moved right along. Some of the dialogue was cringe but I get it-we are seeing Gemma as she really is and real people talk like this. The romance was awesome and played out like real life people messing things up when all they want is to build a life together. Very well done book and I will look for more from the author. I was given a copy, this is my own opinion.

Another that I"d hoped would be a better fit for me as a reader, but that didn't work out (DNF). I had trouble buying into the way the narrative was being presented (I wasn't sure whether the main character was living fully in reality).

Hero Debut is a fun read. True love rom-com style! Gemma is in love with screen writing and is trying to find inspiration for her latest project about a police officer. She signs up for a citizen academy training as a way to research the job and her police officer trainers. Karson is the officer who responded to a call at Gemma’s apartment a few months ago. Is this fate or just a stroke of good luck. Karson is perfect to base her lead off of. The problem is Karson only sees Gemma as a ditzy blonde who is a walking magnet for trouble. Will Gemma get her head out of her script long enough to see the Karson of reality and can she overcome the first impression she gave him?
Romance readers will love Hero Debut!

"I stare up at my hero. This is the man who would have risked his life to save me had I actually been kidnapped. He hadn't burst into the apartment looking for anything for himself. He'd been there to give. The experience made me yearn for someone to care that much. It made me believe it could be him."

When a former actress turned screenwriter decided to attend a Citizen's Safety Academy to learn about the police force, all sorts of trouble is waiting to happen. Especially since she might have a public crush on one of the organizers. Officer Zellner tries to do whatever he can to stay out of Gemma's way. Or at least, he intends on doing that. But Karson cannot help but be drawn to Gemma. Is there any hope for either of them to have a fresh start?

All of the main characters first appear in the author's book, "Husband Auditions." To read about the infamous rescue and to fully connect with the wonderful cast of characters, I do recommend reading that book first. But you could certainly read this book first and still enjoy the other title later.

Classifying this book could be challenging because much of it is unpredictable. Many elements, including comedy and romance, combine to make this such an enjoyable work of contemporary fiction. The light-hearted moments are plentiful including the steak incident and the firefighter haul to name a few.

But to limit it to those aspects would take away some of the depth. The hero struggles in this story with moving on. Because he has not dealt with his past, he cannot move forward into a brighter future. One cannot help but feel for him. At some point, the book felt like a mirror to my own life. How am I holding on to past hurt? I do think readers will walk away pondering what parts of their own story need introspection and change. Although understated, faith also plays an important role in this work of fiction.

I was provided with an advanced copy of this book. I loved the first book and definitely wanted to read this one as well. I also wanted to review it. All opinions are my own.

I have been (im)patiently waiting for this book ever since I closed the last page of Husband Auditions. I just KNEW there would be a fabulous story between Gemma and the policeman who captured her imagination and the beginnings of her heart in an absolutely classic scene from that book (IYKYK). And I am quite happy to report that I was right! (By the way, if you haven’t read Husband Auditions, you can read Hero Debut as a standalone but I highly recommend you go back and read it at some point because it’s SO fun!)

Their grumpy-sunshine relationship is highlighted masterfully in the alternating perspectives between Gemma and Karson, that delicious pull back and forth as attraction deepens… much to her delight & his consternation. And hold on to your bonnets because there’s a doozy of a first kiss that had me searching out a backup oxygen supply. Wowza. Still. Fanning. In fact, there are all sorts of memorable moments in Hero Debut – some that made me laugh out loud (I’m looking at you, certain running joke that comes full circle in the end), some that tugged at my heart, and some that were just purely entertaining in multiple ways.

Gemma is a delightful heroine – imaginative, romantic, creative, head in her stories, heart on her sleeve. And yet, there’s a lot more to Gemma than the above descriptors. She’s much more layered and insightful than perhaps I’d given her credit for being, and she has a few surprises in store for Karson and for readers, too. Karson is super swoony (duh), and I’m shallow enough to admit that I drooled a little bit right along with Gemma when he was in uniform but even more when he was dressed casually. Whew. But, just like Gemma, there’s more to him than meets the eye, and that intersection of their individual wounds – and respective healing – takes this story beyond ‘just’ a hilarious read (though it’s certainly and wonderfully that) into something that can impact our own hearts too.

Bottom Line: Hero Debut is another thoughtful, endearing, hysterical, and swoony story from Angela Ruth Strong. Gemma’s misadventures would make Ramona Quimby proud and, combined with Karson’s begrudging amusement, are tons of fun to read. The banter, the simmering attraction, the good-natured ribbing and antics of Gemma’s roommates and Karson’s colleagues, all of it is classic romcom gold. But, just like all the best stories, it seamlessly leads readers to deeper insight, too. The emotional issues that Gemma and Karson each battle – the insecurities, the anger, the betrayal, the self-built walls – add dimension that sharpens the edges of their budding relationship and leave readers with more to think about than just a few swoonilicious kisses. Though… y’all… not kidding about the toe-curling nature of those! I smiled from beginning to end, and I can’t wait to read Charlie’s story next!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Hero Debut is the second book in Angela Ruth Strong’s Love Off Script “series.” These books work perfectly well as stand-alones, but it’s more fun to read them in order. I have two favorite things about Strong’s contemporary rom coms. First, they’re not just for entertainment. Each book has a Spiritual Scripture-based lesson that ministers to my heart and or teaches me something important. I love that! In Hero Debut those lessons revolve around dealing with anger and dealing with jealousy.
Secondly, I love that Strong’s rom coms are clean. And I don’t mean just clean, I mean squeaky clean. I’ve seen some Christian romantic comedies that still include conversations about physical intimacy that make me uncomfortable. While the characters don’t “do it” on page—they still think about “doing it” on page.
But Strong’s rom coms build the perfect love story without ever using the word sex. Yes, the main characters are attracted to each other, but their attraction is based on deeper things than just physical appearance (though that’s there too, because it’s natural.). After all, God created love and passion.
The main character, Gemma, cracked me up! I loved her. You only get a small glimpse into her personality in Husband Auditions, but here you get the full picture from the top of her blond head to the heels on her shoes. And the banter between characters made it even better.
I highly recommend Hero Debut for lovers of romance novels, rom coms, and those who just want a good laugh. Hero debut is all that and more.

I enjoyed this story! Gemma is a little over the top in how she views Karson, but I think that the lessons she learns through the course of the story is something that a lot of us can relate to. I love that her screen plays have a deeper message to them! This is a fun, enjoyable story with some great themes. The author does a great job of tackling some difficult themes, with Karson being a police officer and the trouble that Portland has had, as well as the characters working through anger and struggling with comparison. How things were out with the struggle with comparing was especially applicable to me. While it works as a stand alone story, I recommend reading The Husband Auditions first, since Gemma is in that book.

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

This book is a great choice if you're looking for a story that makes you giggle and laugh out loud! Author Angela Ruth Strong shares a delightful romantic comedy that is laden with great characters, humor, and inspiration. We see from the start Gemma's feelings for Karson but it doesn't look like he reciprocates them. Yes, her actions may border on stalking but shouldn't this grumpy hero be flattered?

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and I also like that Strong offers the points of view of both Gemma and Karson. When you add witty banter with amazing chemistry, the results are a swoon-worthy romance that will make you sigh in satisfaction! Grab a copy of Hero Debut for your own pure reading enjoyment!

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

I enjoyed reading Hero Debut, and I read it quickly, within 24 hours, because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I loved Husband Auditions, the first book in the series, and Hero Debut is another fabulous romcom from Angela Ruth Strong that’s set in Portland, Oregon.

Gemma is a high school English teacher who writes screenplays and is looking for her big break. She’s also Barbie-beautiful, has worked as an actor, and literally stops traffic because everyone notices her appearance. Her beauty is a blessing and a curse, and she has a complicated relationship with her identical twin sister.

Gemma wants to get to know the handsome policeman, Karson, who we first met in Husband Auditions when neighbors saw an unusual situation in Gemma’s apartment and called the police. Karson showed no interest in dating Gemma and seemed perplexed by the vexatious call out.

Karson’s lack of interest piqued Gemma’s curiosity. Kai and Charlie are Gemma’s roommates, and the trio enrol in the Citizen’s Safety Academy that Karson runs at the police station. Gemma signs up at the last minute so Karson can’t avoid her. Gemma’s looking to learn more about police procedures and spend time with Karson.

Karson is now a lieutenant and in charge of the policing section of the Citizen’s Safety Academy. The firefighters run the second part of the course. Karson recognizes that Gemma is trouble. She has a habit of getting caught up in hilarious situations.

Karson’s struggling with emotional baggage from his past. He’s the cynical grump with a heart of gold. She’s the optimistic sunshine who’s hiding her own emotional pain.

A poignant and heartwarming romance unfolds as Karson and Gemma challenge each other to deal with their emotional wounds. I loved the faith threads in the story and how Karson and Gemma identified with specific Old Testament Biblical people who had walked a similar spiritual journey. I recommend Hero Debut to contemporary romance readers who like LOL romantic comedies with depth and a relevant faith element in the story.

Hilarious and yet also thought provoking.
Sweet and romantic, the perfect blend.
This is the second book in the series, and the main characters are introduced in the first book, Husband Auditions (also a humorous read). But this story can be read as a stand alone quite well.

Gemma is a complex person. Bubbly and flighty, but then she turns philosophical at times. She feels things deeply, and one of her primary struggles is the fact that she has also compared herself to her twin sister.
Gemma really likes Karson, the stern, angry policeman. And Karson is determined to not like Gemma. She's everything he's trying to steer clear of. His anger is the result of past deep hurts.

I liked their banter. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow.
This was a mostly light hearted read, but there are also some aspects that might make you stop and think deeply.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Author Angela Ruth Strong’s Hero Debut is a rom-com with heart. With moments that take you from laughing to sighing, if you enjoy rom-com you’ll love this one with a hero(oine) theme.

Great characters, Gemma and Karson will make you smile and shake your head. Such opposites you wonder how they can ever get together. Maybe they can’t? Read Hero Debut and find out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Hero Debut is the second book of the Love Off Script series. In Husband Auditions, we were introduced to the main characters of this novel, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I ruined our romantic moment."
I love Gemma's friendship with Kai and Charlie and enjoyed seeing it continue to flourish in this novel. While Husband Auditions was Kai's story, Hero Debut is Gemma's.
I appreciated the way that the author alternated the point of view between Gemma and Karson. By doing this, you get to know both characters well. While this story had a lot of fluff, it also had some unexpected deep themes. There is so much to process.
Each chapter begins with sage quotes, mostly about heroes. There are unexpected LOL moments, poignant moments, heavy moments, and the story just pulled on my heartstrings.
Gemma is an enigma. She is flighty and spacey when she gets a story idea, so much so that she loses all track of time. Since that is the Gemma we see most, it was weird seeing her get philosophical and deep and talk about angry kisses.
Karson is hard on the outside and mushy on the inside. Anger is his defense mechanism, and he wears it well. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a hope or prayer of holding onto it once Gemma enters his life.
I am not doing a good job of expressing my thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed the book, I just wasn't expecting to need extra processing time with the story. I am looking forward to reading Charlie's story (I hope it's Charlie's story) in Fiance' Finale, the third book in the Love Off Script series.
Thank you to JustReads Publicity, Net Galley, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒆'𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏.


This is my first book from Angela Ruth Strong and I quite enjoyed reading it. And learned a lot too.
I was surprised when I learned that the first book is the Husband Auditions. This book definitely can stand alone. But I think reading the first one can get me a better idea for this book.
I also liked that we have two POV here. One for Gemma and for Karson.
We can definitely see what goes on in their heads.
There are "hero quotes" at the beginning of each chapter and can really bring inspiration to you.
I got hooked at the finger printing part. I was 🙀 and kept on reading.
Surprised on some revelations and how the characters will react.

I read some reviews that they did not like the ending but for me, it was perfect.


I received a complimentary copy via JustRead Tours but are not required to leave a positive review. Above are my honest opinion of the book.

Hero Debut is the second book in the Love Off the Script series. While you are introduced to these characters in the first book, if you happen to pick this book up first you will be fine. I think this could be read as a somewhat stand alone especially since the focus is on Gemma and Karson.

The way this author writes its interesting and unique. I feel like I am inside these characters heads and their thought process as they are going through the story. Gemma and Karson's point of views are alternated through the chapters so you really get to know them.

Although there are plenty of comical moments in the story there are also some deep themes within these characters. There is a lot going on with them and you truly see their development throughout. There are moments that will make you stop and ponder. I will definitely resonate with some more than others.

Overall I enjoyed the story there were some parts that were a bit slow for me but I did appreciate the faith element throughout the story. It wasn't in your face but definitely you can tell that the themes of reconciliation, forgiveness and faith flow throughout the story.

I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Hero Debut is the first novel that I’ve read by author Angela Ruth Strong and all I can say is where have I been?? The second book in the Love Off Script series, Hero Debut takes readers on quite the romcom adventure, one that I did not know I needed until now.

Gemma is the woman at the center of the saga. With an overactive imagination and breathtaking beauty, Gemma is grabbing life by the horns and fighting to live her dreams, and right now her starry eyes are focused on Lieutenant Karson, the police officer that “rescued” her.

Gemma is the sunshine heroine that is paired with the perfect grumpy hero, which is one of my favorite tropes. Gemma is insanely bubbly, optimistic, and a dreamer, a girl after my own heart. Karson reminds me so much of my husband. A man that seems gruff on the outside but inside shines a heart of gold and a fierce will to protect, Karson is the type of hero that everyone wants to rescue them.

Together they are the perfect pairing, though it takes Karson a little longer to make this realization. Gemma seems to always find herself in some kind of mess and Karson always seems to be there to rescue her. There are some tongue-in-cheek moments that had me snickering, and just like our main characters, those moments are paired with moments of real heart, like the realization of what you can make room for if you’re willing to let the baggage go.

This was such a fun read for me and honestly one of my favorite novels so far this summer! It is so lighthearted with that great romcom vibe that makes it the perfect beach read. All of the characters are flawed and amazing, each complimenting the story in their own unique way. I love how the author paints such a vivid picture of organized chaos, weaving strictness with creativity, and finding the perfect balance between the two with two imperfect people.