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Hollywood & Vine
In the land of Hollywood, bright lights cover lies, truths hide in shadows, and the lives of the rich and famous are illusions created by smoke and mirrors.
When costume designer Josie Bane first lays eyes on Anders Ellis, she hates him instantly. Conceited and arrogant, he's the epitome of a Hollywood playboy. So it’s much to Josie’s dismay when he becomes the star of her sexual fantasies.
Never expecting to see him again, she gives in to her desires for a night she’ll never forget. However, Josie soon learns that life is full of surprises. When their paths cross again, sparks fly. With three little words, Anders changes everything.
He’s after one thing.
She refuses to give it to him... again.
When Josie realizes she’s falling for a man that will never let her in but refuses to let her go, she must decide if the risk is worth the reward.
With a relationship shrouded in secrets and outside forces poised to tear them apart, did they ever stand a chance? Before the smoke clears and the curtain falls, Josie and Anders must distinguish between what’s fact and what’s fiction in a place where the truth is never black and white.
When costume designer Josie Bane first lays eyes on Anders Ellis, she hates him instantly. Conceited and arrogant, he's the epitome of a Hollywood playboy. So it’s much to Josie’s dismay when he becomes the star of her sexual fantasies.
Never expecting to see him again, she gives in to her desires for a night she’ll never forget. However, Josie soon learns that life is full of surprises. When their paths cross again, sparks fly. With three little words, Anders changes everything.
He’s after one thing.
She refuses to give it to him... again.
When Josie realizes she’s falling for a man that will never let her in but refuses to let her go, she must decide if the risk is worth the reward.
With a relationship shrouded in secrets and outside forces poised to tear them apart, did they ever stand a chance? Before the smoke clears and the curtain falls, Josie and Anders must distinguish between what’s fact and what’s fiction in a place where the truth is never black and white.
431 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2014
About the author
Olivia Evans
40 books733 followersOlivia Evans is a dreamer by day, writer by night. She's obsessed with music and loves discovering new bands. Traveling the world and watching the sun set in every time zone sounds like heaven to her. A true Gemini, she follows her heart blindly and lives life to the fullest with her husband, son, and friends. Her other loves are: Chuck Taylors, Doc Martens, concert tees, gangster movies, sports, wine, beer and her shih tzu babies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
December 17, 2014
I'm very impressed with this debut novel from Olivia Evans! I had several of my books friends raving about it so I had to read it!
Hollywood & Vine starts out with Josie Bane wanting a 1 night stand with a very promiscuous movie star named Anders Ellis. She has no hopes or expectations other than that 1 night with him. She doesn't want anymore than that. She is only hoping for a great night of wild sex.
Anders sees the hot chick coming toward him with the predator gleam in her eyes and can't help but wonder how he hadn't seen her at all during the filming. With no qualms he hastily takes her to a back room and does exactly what Josie wanted.
Josie is a costume designer for a company that Anders works for, but has never directly worked with him. Well that changes quickly and guess what? The unthinkable happens. Anders doesn't remember her! OUCH! With her pride being hurt she vows to stay clear of him. Only now she has to work directly with him all the time!
Anders can't figure out what is up with the beauty who helps dress him. It's almost like she can't stand him. Once he sees her tattoo and remembers....all #hell breaks loose! He will stop at nothing to have her 1 more time. Can he win her over? Or will she stick to her guns and stay away from him?
I loved everything about this story. There was plenty of angst which I absolutely love to read. I didn't know what to expect from one point to the next. Anders and Josie surprised me at every turn. Some of the things that came out of his mouth was just priceless!!
The writing is fantastic, the story is unique and I adored the characters. They may be flawed but they grow and accept each other. There is no pretenses with them. And Olivia Evans can make an evil villain too! Lol. I wanted to throttle a couple of people with their mean actions. This one is easily in my top reads of 2014. Good job Olivia and I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us in the future!
Hollywood & Vine starts out with Josie Bane wanting a 1 night stand with a very promiscuous movie star named Anders Ellis. She has no hopes or expectations other than that 1 night with him. She doesn't want anymore than that. She is only hoping for a great night of wild sex.
Anders sees the hot chick coming toward him with the predator gleam in her eyes and can't help but wonder how he hadn't seen her at all during the filming. With no qualms he hastily takes her to a back room and does exactly what Josie wanted.
Josie is a costume designer for a company that Anders works for, but has never directly worked with him. Well that changes quickly and guess what? The unthinkable happens. Anders doesn't remember her! OUCH! With her pride being hurt she vows to stay clear of him. Only now she has to work directly with him all the time!
Anders can't figure out what is up with the beauty who helps dress him. It's almost like she can't stand him. Once he sees her tattoo and remembers....all #hell breaks loose! He will stop at nothing to have her 1 more time. Can he win her over? Or will she stick to her guns and stay away from him?
I loved everything about this story. There was plenty of angst which I absolutely love to read. I didn't know what to expect from one point to the next. Anders and Josie surprised me at every turn. Some of the things that came out of his mouth was just priceless!!
The writing is fantastic, the story is unique and I adored the characters. They may be flawed but they grow and accept each other. There is no pretenses with them. And Olivia Evans can make an evil villain too! Lol. I wanted to throttle a couple of people with their mean actions. This one is easily in my top reads of 2014. Good job Olivia and I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us in the future!
February 9, 2015
***Possible Spoiler Alert*** I try to only discuss the basics of the story without giving away any spoilers.
Anders Ellis is not only a Hollywood’s box office star; Anders is also the epitome of a Hollywood playboy and one of the biggest assholes that you’ll ever meet. Seriously, look up “asshole” in the Oxford dictionary, there’s a photo of Anders. Everything that Anders does, it’s for him and/or his career. His ego is as massive as the line of women who have bedded him or dying to bed him. So why does this story appeal to me, because I love watching an asshole getting his just deserts.
Anders has slept with so many different women, and that’s easy to do considering his “no repeats” policy (yeah, total asshole), that there comes a time when he can no longer match a familiar face with the vagina he has banged. Now imagine being one of his sexcapades, and running into the guy that gave you the best sex that you’ve ever had, and he smiles and says “Have we met?” Yeah, not only do you deal with feeling promiscuous, but now you have to face that the night of your greatest orgasm was so vanilla to him that he doesn’t even remember. You would be mortified or humiliated, right? Not Josie, see Josie starts off being a honey badger, Josie doesn’t give a shit. Well maybe she does just a little in the beginning, but she gets over it rather quickly the more time that she’s around Mr. Asshole. Josie’s indifference is like waving a red flag to a bull, thus Anders’ interest and pursuit begins. I was expecting Anders to turn over a new leaf at this point, but this is where the story pulls me in, because Anders is still very much an asshole. He tries to cover it up in front of Josie, but the reader gets a glimpse into his thoughts, and what Anders says and thinks are two different things. At times he is repulsed by the way he is attracted to Josie, especially when she isn’t in his presence, but then his plans not to give a shit about her are thwarted when he sees her on the movie set. There are times when they are together and the story shows how his douchiness is freaking out internally, I love how he struggles to conceal what a prick he is, but it often comes back to bite him on the ass.
To further complicate matters, Anders and Josie spin a web of deceit, but the lies they created in order to be together, are the very lies that are pulling them apart.
This story appealed to me because it was like climbing inside the mind of an asshole and watching his wheels spin. I liked that the author kept Anders true to form, instead of an immediate change in character.
**Disclaimer--I received an ARC of this story, but I wasn’t asked to give a review in return; in fact, it was only after I had finished that I discovered that the story was going to be released as a book. I’m not part of a blog tour nor acquainted with the author.
Anders Ellis is not only a Hollywood’s box office star; Anders is also the epitome of a Hollywood playboy and one of the biggest assholes that you’ll ever meet. Seriously, look up “asshole” in the Oxford dictionary, there’s a photo of Anders. Everything that Anders does, it’s for him and/or his career. His ego is as massive as the line of women who have bedded him or dying to bed him. So why does this story appeal to me, because I love watching an asshole getting his just deserts.
Anders has slept with so many different women, and that’s easy to do considering his “no repeats” policy (yeah, total asshole), that there comes a time when he can no longer match a familiar face with the vagina he has banged. Now imagine being one of his sexcapades, and running into the guy that gave you the best sex that you’ve ever had, and he smiles and says “Have we met?” Yeah, not only do you deal with feeling promiscuous, but now you have to face that the night of your greatest orgasm was so vanilla to him that he doesn’t even remember. You would be mortified or humiliated, right? Not Josie, see Josie starts off being a honey badger, Josie doesn’t give a shit. Well maybe she does just a little in the beginning, but she gets over it rather quickly the more time that she’s around Mr. Asshole. Josie’s indifference is like waving a red flag to a bull, thus Anders’ interest and pursuit begins. I was expecting Anders to turn over a new leaf at this point, but this is where the story pulls me in, because Anders is still very much an asshole. He tries to cover it up in front of Josie, but the reader gets a glimpse into his thoughts, and what Anders says and thinks are two different things. At times he is repulsed by the way he is attracted to Josie, especially when she isn’t in his presence, but then his plans not to give a shit about her are thwarted when he sees her on the movie set. There are times when they are together and the story shows how his douchiness is freaking out internally, I love how he struggles to conceal what a prick he is, but it often comes back to bite him on the ass.
To further complicate matters, Anders and Josie spin a web of deceit, but the lies they created in order to be together, are the very lies that are pulling them apart.
This story appealed to me because it was like climbing inside the mind of an asshole and watching his wheels spin. I liked that the author kept Anders true to form, instead of an immediate change in character.
**Disclaimer--I received an ARC of this story, but I wasn’t asked to give a review in return; in fact, it was only after I had finished that I discovered that the story was going to be released as a book. I’m not part of a blog tour nor acquainted with the author.
November 20, 2014
OMG! THIS BOOK! There's a new author to add to your must click list people. I was seriously astounded to find that this is her first book! Well written, engaging, AMAZING characters, I devoured this book in 2 days (yes I did put aside other books for this one lol)
full review to come...JUST READ IT!
get ready to meet Anders and Josie!!!
full review to come...JUST READ IT!
get ready to meet Anders and Josie!!!
January 9, 2015
4.5 Star-struck stars!!!
Wow!!! I’m absolutely blown away by Olivia Evans’ debut novel! It’s award season now in Hollywood and I can’t think of a better time to dive into this engaging story. I am a huge fan of Hollywood romances and very few authors get it right. Hollywood and Vine is right up there with Love Unscripted and Eversea. I loved everything about this book, the insider peek into the movie business, scheming actresses, the nightmare of gossip magazines and paparazzi, and the difficulties of having a “normal” relationship in Hollywoodland.
"She had no idea how he could be so infuriatingly perfect sometimes. How the man who caused her more hurt than she’d ever experienced still managed to make her ache for him."
I thought this book would be a predictable insta-love sorry but I was so wrong! I fell in love with superstar actor Anders (even though he was a Grade A a**hole) and was absolutely taken with Josie’s sass and smarts. I am still reeling from the ending of this book. Seriously, if you are looking for a story to pull you out of a book slump, Hollywood and Vine is it. It’s got smoking hot sexy times, engaging and well-written characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable story. I hope Ms. Evans has more books planned because I can’t wait to read more from her!
Wow!!! I’m absolutely blown away by Olivia Evans’ debut novel! It’s award season now in Hollywood and I can’t think of a better time to dive into this engaging story. I am a huge fan of Hollywood romances and very few authors get it right. Hollywood and Vine is right up there with Love Unscripted and Eversea. I loved everything about this book, the insider peek into the movie business, scheming actresses, the nightmare of gossip magazines and paparazzi, and the difficulties of having a “normal” relationship in Hollywoodland.
"She had no idea how he could be so infuriatingly perfect sometimes. How the man who caused her more hurt than she’d ever experienced still managed to make her ache for him."
I thought this book would be a predictable insta-love sorry but I was so wrong! I fell in love with superstar actor Anders (even though he was a Grade A a**hole) and was absolutely taken with Josie’s sass and smarts. I am still reeling from the ending of this book. Seriously, if you are looking for a story to pull you out of a book slump, Hollywood and Vine is it. It’s got smoking hot sexy times, engaging and well-written characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable story. I hope Ms. Evans has more books planned because I can’t wait to read more from her!
December 16, 2014
Reviewed by Gitte & Jenny
‘That was the funny thing about life: it rarely gave a shit about expectations.’
Well didn’t we fall in love with this sweet, funny and sexy Hollywood story. Anders the cocky and gorgeous movie star of the hour who sweeps through women leaving them the minute he’s had them once and once only. He was a cock – proper egotistical arsehole, but we just couldn’t help but fall in lust and love with him.
‘He was an asshole and a fuckup, and he was going to ruin her, but she wanted him anyway.’
Once unearthed his story was quite heart breaking and emotional but he hid his inner most thoughts and feelings well under a sexy and arrogant armour. That was until Josie; affectionately known as Ivy to our Anders.
“Please don’t break me.”
Ivy was a down to earth, intelligent and successful woman. She knows what she wants and to begin with that’s one night with a certain sexy movie star whose ego’s as big as his…..However, we don’t always get what we want and sometimes unexpectedly we get more. Josie doesn’t expect a second chance at what she wants or even the magnitude of what this means to her. But Anders is a demanding and persistent lovable bastard who’s learning what it is to let love in and happen once again. Trust when broken is bloody hard to retrieve no matter the player change.
“For the record, I wish I could have been enough.”
Anders and Ivy’s banter was spot on and had us smiling and chuckling. Their passion was palpable and the heat factor and attraction intense. Anders feels life as he knows it slip between his fingers as his heart is set on what it wants despite his refusing to acknowledge it or know what to do with it. His heart wants Josie.
“You want to know what you are to me? You’re mine. That’s what.”
This is the book that kept on giving. It was long; a little too long really. It certainly could have done with being shorter as it began to impact our overall enjoyment due to a dragging storyline and some repetition. However; on the whole we really enjoyed Hollywood & Vine; it had all the elements that makes for a great read; well written, humour, drama and romance. We definitely recommend this one!
**Reviewed from an ARC Copy provided by the author, with thanks**
♥ ♥ ♥
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January 3, 2015
first things first, what in the world did i just read? i don't usually give a one star rating unless the book is horrible and in this case, yes it's horrendous.
here's the thing, it started out great. i loved the banter, the storyline and i loved the fact that josie was sassy and seemed to be someone who doesn't take shit from anybody. then the renowned hollywood playboy starts to woo her and . now, that's where everything goes downhill.
i hated anders. he was such a selfish prick. no, i'm serious. i've never hated a hero as much as i hated him. i know hate is a strong word but i think it fits him perfectly. he was so ridiculous and selfish. i mean, come on? he wanted to and when he sees her talking to another guy, he got pissed? that's not all, and also the fact that he will receive some bonus shit from it. bearing in mind that he was in a at this point. erm, hello? aren't you supposed to be some hotshot rich hollywood actor? why do you need the extra revenue from the fake relationship publicity when you're filthy rich already? doesn't make sense at all.
plus the fact that anders is a coward. he could've cleared the air after . he could've prevented her from being hounded by the paparazzi but no, he chose to drink himself to oblivion. real mature.
add in the fact that, he refused to talk to josie about his past. i understand that it may be hard to have a heart to heart talk with someone until you're ready to do so but can't he just tell her he was burned by someone in the past? i'm sure she would've understood that. but nope, anders chose to keep his lips shut instead and doesn't open himself up to josie until . yep. at this point in time i'm already feeling very restless and can't wait to finish this book.
i started to dislike josie after she got together with anders. it's like she lost her backbone along the way. she forgives every indiscretions he had. yes, i'm aware that some of it may be spun out of context but i hated whenever josie confront anders about the , anders will try to lie himself out of it and if he got caught lying, he will defend himself by accusing josie that she didn't trust him enough etc. he will make it seemed like josie was the one in the wrong and that he did nothing wrong. it was appalling and it happened a number of times in this book which made me so annoyed. josie forgives too easily.
this book had the potential to be a good book if not for the fact that anders was such a douche nozzle and josie losing herself somewhere along the way. oh yeah, and the transition from one point of view to another was a bit unclear. it's like i'm reading josie's point of view one second and it jumps to audrey's point of view the next.
wow, longest review i've ever written. i'm sorry but just, no. in the end, both of the main characters weren't likeable, so how could you expect me to like this book?
here's the thing, it started out great. i loved the banter, the storyline and i loved the fact that josie was sassy and seemed to be someone who doesn't take shit from anybody. then the renowned hollywood playboy starts to woo her and . now, that's where everything goes downhill.
i hated anders. he was such a selfish prick. no, i'm serious. i've never hated a hero as much as i hated him. i know hate is a strong word but i think it fits him perfectly. he was so ridiculous and selfish. i mean, come on? he wanted to and when he sees her talking to another guy, he got pissed? that's not all, and also the fact that he will receive some bonus shit from it. bearing in mind that he was in a at this point. erm, hello? aren't you supposed to be some hotshot rich hollywood actor? why do you need the extra revenue from the fake relationship publicity when you're filthy rich already? doesn't make sense at all.
plus the fact that anders is a coward. he could've cleared the air after . he could've prevented her from being hounded by the paparazzi but no, he chose to drink himself to oblivion. real mature.
add in the fact that, he refused to talk to josie about his past. i understand that it may be hard to have a heart to heart talk with someone until you're ready to do so but can't he just tell her he was burned by someone in the past? i'm sure she would've understood that. but nope, anders chose to keep his lips shut instead and doesn't open himself up to josie until . yep. at this point in time i'm already feeling very restless and can't wait to finish this book.
i started to dislike josie after she got together with anders. it's like she lost her backbone along the way. she forgives every indiscretions he had. yes, i'm aware that some of it may be spun out of context but i hated whenever josie confront anders about the , anders will try to lie himself out of it and if he got caught lying, he will defend himself by accusing josie that she didn't trust him enough etc. he will make it seemed like josie was the one in the wrong and that he did nothing wrong. it was appalling and it happened a number of times in this book which made me so annoyed. josie forgives too easily.
this book had the potential to be a good book if not for the fact that anders was such a douche nozzle and josie losing herself somewhere along the way. oh yeah, and the transition from one point of view to another was a bit unclear. it's like i'm reading josie's point of view one second and it jumps to audrey's point of view the next.
wow, longest review i've ever written. i'm sorry but just, no. in the end, both of the main characters weren't likeable, so how could you expect me to like this book?
December 15, 2014
Reviewed by Gitte & Jenny
‘That was the funny thing about life: it rarely gave a shit about expectations.’
Well didn’t we fall in love with this sweet, funny and sexy Hollywood story. Anders the cocky and gorgeous movie star of the hour who sweeps through women leaving them the minute he’s had them once and once only. He was a cock – proper egotistical arsehole, but we just couldn’t help but fall in lust and love with him.
‘He was an asshole and a fuckup, and he was going to ruin her, but she wanted him anyway.’
Once unearthed his story was quite heart breaking and emotional but he hid his inner most thoughts and feelings well under a sexy and arrogant armour. That was until Josie; affectionately known as Ivy to our Anders.
“Please don’t break me.”
Ivy was a down to earth, intelligent and successful woman. She knows what she wants and to begin with that’s one night with a certain sexy movie star whose ego’s as big as his…..However, we don’t always get what we want and sometimes unexpectedly we get more. Josie doesn’t expect a second chance at what she wants or even the magnitude of what this means to her. But Anders is a demanding and persistent lovable bastard who’s learning what it is to let love in and happen once again. Trust when broken is bloody hard to retrieve no matter the player change.
“For the record, I wish I could have been enough.”
Anders and Ivy’s banter was spot on and had us smiling and chuckling. Their passion was palpable and the heat factor and attraction intense. Anders feels life as he knows it slip between his fingers as his heart is set on what it wants despite his refusing to acknowledge it or know what to do with it. His heart wants Josie.
“You want to know what you are to me? You’re mine. That’s what.”
This is the book that kept on giving. It was long; a little too long really. It certainly could have done with being shorter as it began to impact our overall enjoyment due to a dragging storyline and some repetition. However; on the whole we really enjoyed Hollywood & Vine; it had all the elements that makes for a great read; well written, humour, drama and romance. We definitely recommend this one!
**Reviewed from an ARC Copy provided by the author, with thanks**
♥ ♥ ♥
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December 4, 2014
I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. Anders Ellis is one of the biggest ***holes I have ever read. Unapologetically so. It is so refreshing to read a story where the characters stay true to who they are, yet are able to grow. Josie Bane has a crush, but just because of it, she is not going to let herself be walked all over. The flow of the story is impeccable and I found myself flying through it. This book is LONG and a STAND ALONE!! That is like porn to my reader brain. You get a COMPLETE long captivating story. There are villains, and outside forces, and the couples own issues standing in the way. I think I know how its gonna go, then it didn't. I have been an early early fan of this one and I CAN NOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH!! READ IT!!!
July 15, 2015
H&V is a healthy, sexy dose of celebrity goodness you don’t want to miss! What do you get when you mix together a jilted heartthrob, the girl next door, a man-eating costar, and the paparazzi? A totally hot and steamy read!! I highly recommend this one!!! :)
Want to read
December 3, 2014 Looking forward to this!!
In the land of Hollywood, bright lights cover lies, truths hide in shadows, and the lives of the rich and famous are illusions created by smoke and mirrors.
When costume designer Josie Bane first lays eyes on Anders Ellis, she hates him instantly. Conceited and arrogant, he's the epitome of a Hollywood playboy. So it’s much to Josie’s dismay when he becomes the star of her sexual fantasies.
Never expecting to see him again, she gives in to her desires for a night she’ll never forget. However, Josie soon learns that life is full of surprises. When their paths cross again, sparks fly. With three little words, Anders changes everything.
He’s after one thing.
She refuses to give it to him... again.
RELEASE DATE: DEC 15, 2014
In the land of Hollywood, bright lights cover lies, truths hide in shadows, and the lives of the rich and famous are illusions created by smoke and mirrors.
When costume designer Josie Bane first lays eyes on Anders Ellis, she hates him instantly. Conceited and arrogant, he's the epitome of a Hollywood playboy. So it’s much to Josie’s dismay when he becomes the star of her sexual fantasies.
Never expecting to see him again, she gives in to her desires for a night she’ll never forget. However, Josie soon learns that life is full of surprises. When their paths cross again, sparks fly. With three little words, Anders changes everything.
He’s after one thing.
She refuses to give it to him... again.
RELEASE DATE: DEC 15, 2014
December 18, 2014
The way this book was written was rather jarring. It hopped around from one narrative to another, and just didn't flow well because of it. Not to mention, the back and forth between Anders and Josie got old. Always sad when a 4+ star book disappoints me but this one fell flat for me.
November 19, 2014
I read an ARC of Hollywood & Vine and was captivated by the characters and their unfolding story. The author has an excellent ability to make you feel invested in her characters. My husband read the ARC as well and excitedly discussed the progress with me as he read. This book has a wide appeal and will draw you in until you feel like these characters are your friends. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
January 10, 2015
* A review copy was provided by the author for the Blog Tour *
Amazon Link--->> Hollywood & Vine
~~ 5 Drama and Angst Filled Stars ~~
This book was brought to my attention by a beta reader for the book who couldn't stop raving about this debut novel. I have to say I was intrigued because I'm a sucker for that movie/rock star type storyline. This was a movie star story but it was still unique and entertaining. For being a debut novel I was truly impressed with how well written this book was. She created characters who were captivating and entertaining. The banter between Anders and Josie had me smiling quite a bit.
This story had a little bit of everything in it. It had drama, angst, lies, secrets, betrayals, sex, humor and romance. This was definitely a roller coaster for my emotions. I was all over the place. I went from laughing one minute to yelling and cursing the next, but then we found out about Anders past and I had tears in my eyes. I love when a book can tap into all my emotions. To me that is what makes a book a 5 star read!!!
I have seen in other reviews that people considered Anders an a$$hole…I would tend to agree but he wasn't an obnoxious one. Yes he said things that he probably shouldn't have to Josie, but she wasn't a push over. Josie gave as good as she got. I thought her and Anders were the perfect match and I loved watching these two break down their walls and let each other in.
"I'm not an a$$hole, Ivy. People just can't handle that I make no apologies for who I am. What you see is what you get"…. Anders
This biggest problem these two characters had was a communication problem and a lack of trust. A lot of their problems could've been solved if they would've just sat down and talked some things out before jumping the gun and leaving. My only real negative of the book was I wish we would've gotten an epilogue. I know this book was really long, but I wish she would've finished their story a little more. I would've liked to see where these characters were a couple years down the line. Even with saying that, this book was still extremely enjoyable for me and I am not a huge fan of a lot of angst and drama in a book.
I would definitely say that this book is MUST READ book. If you love a movie star storyline with a cocky and arrogant Hero and a heroine who can hold her own, that is filled with lust, drama and angst….then this is the book for you. It is on the longer side of books but once you get into it, I had a hard time putting it down and the pages just flew by. I am looking forward to reading more books by Olivia Evans in the future.
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Amazon Link--->> Hollywood & Vine
~~ 5 Drama and Angst Filled Stars ~~
This book was brought to my attention by a beta reader for the book who couldn't stop raving about this debut novel. I have to say I was intrigued because I'm a sucker for that movie/rock star type storyline. This was a movie star story but it was still unique and entertaining. For being a debut novel I was truly impressed with how well written this book was. She created characters who were captivating and entertaining. The banter between Anders and Josie had me smiling quite a bit.
This story had a little bit of everything in it. It had drama, angst, lies, secrets, betrayals, sex, humor and romance. This was definitely a roller coaster for my emotions. I was all over the place. I went from laughing one minute to yelling and cursing the next, but then we found out about Anders past and I had tears in my eyes. I love when a book can tap into all my emotions. To me that is what makes a book a 5 star read!!!
I have seen in other reviews that people considered Anders an a$$hole…I would tend to agree but he wasn't an obnoxious one. Yes he said things that he probably shouldn't have to Josie, but she wasn't a push over. Josie gave as good as she got. I thought her and Anders were the perfect match and I loved watching these two break down their walls and let each other in.
"I'm not an a$$hole, Ivy. People just can't handle that I make no apologies for who I am. What you see is what you get"…. Anders
This biggest problem these two characters had was a communication problem and a lack of trust. A lot of their problems could've been solved if they would've just sat down and talked some things out before jumping the gun and leaving. My only real negative of the book was I wish we would've gotten an epilogue. I know this book was really long, but I wish she would've finished their story a little more. I would've liked to see where these characters were a couple years down the line. Even with saying that, this book was still extremely enjoyable for me and I am not a huge fan of a lot of angst and drama in a book.
I would definitely say that this book is MUST READ book. If you love a movie star storyline with a cocky and arrogant Hero and a heroine who can hold her own, that is filled with lust, drama and angst….then this is the book for you. It is on the longer side of books but once you get into it, I had a hard time putting it down and the pages just flew by. I am looking forward to reading more books by Olivia Evans in the future.
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December 4, 2014
Anders Ellis is a Hollywood bad boy, box office hit, playboy, and all around ass hole. He is conceited and never does anything unless it benefits him. After being burned in the past it is his way or no way. He has a strict “no repeats” policy when it comes to women. There is so many lined up for him that this is not a problem for him. Anders fucks up more than he does right and he is probably the worst choice you could make for a boyfriend. This is why I love him. He is who he is. I love men like that.
“I love a good challenge.”
“You’re an asshole.” He nodded.
“I’ve never denied that, but it doesn’t change the fact that you want me as much as I want you.”
Josie Bane is a costume designer and works on a couple of the movies that Ander does. After the first one she works on with him, one where she avoided him at all costs, she knows his one time only policy. Josie approaches him at wrap party and gets her time with him. She knows she will never see him again so its a win win for her.
“It was inevitable-they would never last. He didn’t believe in fairytales or happily ever after. Life sucked and people were assholes. Everything came at a price. He wondered what price he would pay for keeping her around.”
When they run into each other on the second movie, he doesn’t remember her. What started out as Anders pursuing her because she wanted nothing to do with him, turned into him just wanting to be around her. They argued a lot, she challenged him at every turn, but for whatever reason he wanted her around. They seemed like the worst possible match for each other but yet they were so perfect for each other.
“Since the day she crashed back into his life, she had more control than he ever wanted to acknowledge. And as much as he hated to admit it- as much as he wanted to tell her to go to hell- he wanted her to come back.”
One of the things I think Olivia nailed in this book is that Anders stayed true to himself throughout the whole book. He was who he was yet he was able to evolve. He didn’t do the 180 and become someone completely different. For that alone, I loved this book.
“Don’t think just because I am begging you for your forgiveness and another chance that I’m going to act like a pussy and let you walk all over me. I’m still a man.”
*standing ovation from me*
This book is a stand alone. It is refreshing to get a whole story in one book. A looooong book at that. My book loving heart fell in love with that. A full, complete, non rushed story in one book. This is Olivia’s first published story. I think she has a great future ahead of her. I loved this book. It was one I couldn’t put down. When I had to it wasn’t for long. I finished it at 2:30 this morning because I was so wrapped up in the story I NEEDED to finish it. The writing is great, the story flow is perfect, the characters are able to make you feel what they are feeling. READ THIS. NOW. Olivia has made it to my list of authors that I will automatically buy from, no synopsis needed.
ARC in exchange for honest review
“I love a good challenge.”
“You’re an asshole.” He nodded.
“I’ve never denied that, but it doesn’t change the fact that you want me as much as I want you.”
Josie Bane is a costume designer and works on a couple of the movies that Ander does. After the first one she works on with him, one where she avoided him at all costs, she knows his one time only policy. Josie approaches him at wrap party and gets her time with him. She knows she will never see him again so its a win win for her.
“It was inevitable-they would never last. He didn’t believe in fairytales or happily ever after. Life sucked and people were assholes. Everything came at a price. He wondered what price he would pay for keeping her around.”
When they run into each other on the second movie, he doesn’t remember her. What started out as Anders pursuing her because she wanted nothing to do with him, turned into him just wanting to be around her. They argued a lot, she challenged him at every turn, but for whatever reason he wanted her around. They seemed like the worst possible match for each other but yet they were so perfect for each other.
“Since the day she crashed back into his life, she had more control than he ever wanted to acknowledge. And as much as he hated to admit it- as much as he wanted to tell her to go to hell- he wanted her to come back.”
One of the things I think Olivia nailed in this book is that Anders stayed true to himself throughout the whole book. He was who he was yet he was able to evolve. He didn’t do the 180 and become someone completely different. For that alone, I loved this book.
“Don’t think just because I am begging you for your forgiveness and another chance that I’m going to act like a pussy and let you walk all over me. I’m still a man.”
*standing ovation from me*
This book is a stand alone. It is refreshing to get a whole story in one book. A looooong book at that. My book loving heart fell in love with that. A full, complete, non rushed story in one book. This is Olivia’s first published story. I think she has a great future ahead of her. I loved this book. It was one I couldn’t put down. When I had to it wasn’t for long. I finished it at 2:30 this morning because I was so wrapped up in the story I NEEDED to finish it. The writing is great, the story flow is perfect, the characters are able to make you feel what they are feeling. READ THIS. NOW. Olivia has made it to my list of authors that I will automatically buy from, no synopsis needed.
ARC in exchange for honest review
September 16, 2016
Great debut from Olivia Evans. The story is about a Hollywood costume designer (loved this) Josie, and Hollywood star, Anders. I liked the seemingly real-take on life in Hollywood and life surrounding celebrities (I say seemingly because I'm not in the industry or have first-hand experience, so to me, it's seems very real).
Josie and Anders have great banter.
This is told in third-person which I sometimes have trouble getting into, which wasn't an issue here.
Looking forward to more from Olivia Evans.
Josie and Anders have great banter.
This is told in third-person which I sometimes have trouble getting into, which wasn't an issue here.
Looking forward to more from Olivia Evans.
December 3, 2014
5+++ stars, this book had everything I love! Great writing, angst, hot guy that's an ass but still very like able and a strong h. So glad I had the honor of being one of the first few to enjoy it. Loved!
Read
December 4, 2015Review to come!
January 20, 2024
I stayed up most of the night reading this angsty and lovely story about two people working at having a relationship when the odds seem stacked against them.
The drama was on par and I liked how the author spaced the development over a time period which made it feel authentic and believable.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
The drama was on par and I liked how the author spaced the development over a time period which made it feel authentic and believable.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
March 17, 2020
Get ready to ride the Josie and Anders crazy-train. He’s an ass yet we can’t help but root for him. He does some dumb S*** and you mostly want to shake the stupidity out of him, but, you love him anyway. Josie is a firecracker who wants to trust but I mean how can she really. Throw in a total bitch who continually thwarts their romance and you have one wild ride. Great job Olivia Evans!!
December 15, 2014
"I don't have any warts," he mumbled, his nose grazing the side of hers.
"Oh, I don't know, every prince has warts."
"You think I'm a prince?"
"Well." Josie grinned, her hands slipping under the hem of Anders' shirt. "Only after the princess kissed you and changed you from a fly-eating frog."
"And I suppose you're the princess?" Anders chuckled.
"I damn well better be."
Anders, Anders, Anders... What can I say about him... Anders is a Hollywood star and he's pretty damn important. He has a huge fan base and all directors want him in on their movie. Everyone around him does as he pleases and succumbs to his whims and desires. He has become that arrogant, selfish, playing, asshole that you just love to hate. But it's not the bad kind of hate. It's the kind that makes you hate him so much that you want to kiss him, because he's so damn hot. So that's Anders. An unapologetic asshole. Insert Josie. She's a smart-ass as much as he is an asshole. Bad combination, right? She's a costume designer and due to some sick twist of fate, she ends up having to work with Anders.
The first third of the book is those two fighting. Scratch that, those two bicker during the entire book. What I mean is that during the first third of the book, those two don't really like each other, but they do want to screw each other's brains out. It's like Anders really really wants that and Josie refuses to go there, because she's so damn stubborn, so they're constantly being asshole and smart-ass and fighting every step of the way. It's kind of like the Neighbor From Hell, except this is the Co-star From Hell. It was absolutely entertaining.
"Why do you keep fighting me? Why do you keep running away?"A light and fun read, perfect during the busy holiday season. Then later on in the book, our smart and prideful Josie finally succumbs and Anders doesn't wanna let her go when she does. This leads to a very fragile relationship in which one doesn't trust the other, but they kinda don't wanna be without each other either, so they're making it work with what they've got.
Josie scoffed and shook her head. When she spoke again her loud, angry voice decimated the silence. "The better question here, Anders, is why do you keep chasing me?"
Cracks and holes littered the foundation of their fragile relationship, fault lines that shook with the slightest bit of pressure.From that point on, the story gets a tinge of drama (okay, more than just a tinge), but it also focuses on Anders' character development. How he goes from closed-off, walled-up, mistrusting, and hateful to finally realizing that maybe he should let Josie in. Because at the heart of all the funny bickering and the entertaining story is Anders's inability to share his past, to share his life. I've dated one of those. Biggest lesson of my life and I'm never doing that again. But Anders's wounds weren't deep enough to make it impossible for him to change. I liked that it happened gradually and he kept trying to get out of it until basically he had no other choice. It's realistic and change doesn't happen overnight.
I really liked this couple and I really loved Josie's personality. A female main character not annoying me is rare, so this is a huge plus. Josie took no shit and she knew what she wanted. She called Anders out on his bullshit and she just communicated, which is something a lot of book characters forget to do. Therefore, whenever there was drama or they had a fight, it was resolved very fast. There were no misunderstandings that went on for longer than a day, because these people talked. It was refreshing. Every time I thought shit was gonna blow up because of a misunderstanding and I braced myself mentally, it proved to be unnecessary. I also really loved their banter and I feel like this was the perfect read during the holiday season. It was engaging and funny with just the right amount of drama.
She pushed all his buttons, and she made his temper flare with no effort, but she also settled something inside him. She soothed the same fire she ignited. She was the balm to her own burn.
~~~~~~~~~
This review has also been posted on Reading is my Breathing
January 1, 2015
4.5 stars
--It was maddeningly perfect and tragically flawed, but it was real, tangible.
Another recommended read from Christine over at Shh! Mom’s Reading and I loved it. My emotions were flopping back and forth between hatred for Anders and complete and utter devotion for him. With Josie my emotions bounced between compassion, understanding, sadness, and frustration. Let me explain, shall I?
Hollywood & Vine is the story of Hollywood playboy Anders and his less than stellar commitment skills. He never has sex with the same woman twice and doesn’t give a damn what people think. He knows what he wants and love is not one of them, since in his book that doesn’t exist anyway. He is stubborn, arrogant, cocky, and deliciously sexy. Great actor in Hollywood, Anders is searching for anything permanent. He is your certified grade A asshole and doesn’t hide that fact.
Josie is the sweet girl next door who works in Hollywood but doesn’t fully submerge herself in the scene. The ins and outs of the life that is Hollywood is not her thing. She doesn’t live the life that Anders seems comfortable with and doesn’t have a revolving door of men waiting in the wing like Anders does. Josie has always been the levelheaded smart girl and one night decides to do something reckless and she has craved for a long time. One nightstand with Hollywood playboy himself, what’s the harm in that?
I loved the pace of this story because once Josie and Ander meet back up on set there is never a dull moment. We have a man who at first doesn’t remember Josie from their one nightstand but that doesn’t hurt her having some fun with him. Perplexed by the fact that she wants absolutely nothing to do with him he sets out to conquer her. Anders will stop at nothing to finally, which it seems, lay the one woman in Hollywood that won’t give it up, or so he thinks. Josie is playing with fire and in beginning enjoys her game of making Anders sweat.
When the light blub finally goes off and he realizes that yes they have meet in intimate ways before Josie thinks she has finally freed herself from Anders because of course he doesn’t bang the same woman twice, boy was she ever wrong. The chemistry and fire that flow between them it’s only a matter a time. There is something about Anders that Josie can’t stop thinking about and there is an allure to Josie that Anders wants to figure out.
Their love affair is beautiful and dangerous and emotional. Times I wanted to cheer them on in hopes of them finding their happily ever after and at times I wanted to tell Josie to give it up and move on. Anders has a reputation that Josie had a hard time overlooking. Will Josie and Anders make it out on the other side hopelessly in love or will they live the normal Hollywood romance and figure out there is no way in the business that love could blossom?
I think the author did an amazing job building these characters up. I felt like I got to know each character as an individual and as a couple. I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters as well. Her writing style and flow of story was refreshing. Anders is supposed to be an asshole and the author did a wonderful job making him king of assholes. Josie is the sweet and sometimes naive girl next door but had this badass don’t mess with me side she brought out when I needed. This is my first read by this author and I will defiantly be picking up more books by her in the future.
--It was maddeningly perfect and tragically flawed, but it was real, tangible.
Another recommended read from Christine over at Shh! Mom’s Reading and I loved it. My emotions were flopping back and forth between hatred for Anders and complete and utter devotion for him. With Josie my emotions bounced between compassion, understanding, sadness, and frustration. Let me explain, shall I?
Hollywood & Vine is the story of Hollywood playboy Anders and his less than stellar commitment skills. He never has sex with the same woman twice and doesn’t give a damn what people think. He knows what he wants and love is not one of them, since in his book that doesn’t exist anyway. He is stubborn, arrogant, cocky, and deliciously sexy. Great actor in Hollywood, Anders is searching for anything permanent. He is your certified grade A asshole and doesn’t hide that fact.
Josie is the sweet girl next door who works in Hollywood but doesn’t fully submerge herself in the scene. The ins and outs of the life that is Hollywood is not her thing. She doesn’t live the life that Anders seems comfortable with and doesn’t have a revolving door of men waiting in the wing like Anders does. Josie has always been the levelheaded smart girl and one night decides to do something reckless and she has craved for a long time. One nightstand with Hollywood playboy himself, what’s the harm in that?
I loved the pace of this story because once Josie and Ander meet back up on set there is never a dull moment. We have a man who at first doesn’t remember Josie from their one nightstand but that doesn’t hurt her having some fun with him. Perplexed by the fact that she wants absolutely nothing to do with him he sets out to conquer her. Anders will stop at nothing to finally, which it seems, lay the one woman in Hollywood that won’t give it up, or so he thinks. Josie is playing with fire and in beginning enjoys her game of making Anders sweat.
When the light blub finally goes off and he realizes that yes they have meet in intimate ways before Josie thinks she has finally freed herself from Anders because of course he doesn’t bang the same woman twice, boy was she ever wrong. The chemistry and fire that flow between them it’s only a matter a time. There is something about Anders that Josie can’t stop thinking about and there is an allure to Josie that Anders wants to figure out.
Their love affair is beautiful and dangerous and emotional. Times I wanted to cheer them on in hopes of them finding their happily ever after and at times I wanted to tell Josie to give it up and move on. Anders has a reputation that Josie had a hard time overlooking. Will Josie and Anders make it out on the other side hopelessly in love or will they live the normal Hollywood romance and figure out there is no way in the business that love could blossom?
I think the author did an amazing job building these characters up. I felt like I got to know each character as an individual and as a couple. I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters as well. Her writing style and flow of story was refreshing. Anders is supposed to be an asshole and the author did a wonderful job making him king of assholes. Josie is the sweet and sometimes naive girl next door but had this badass don’t mess with me side she brought out when I needed. This is my first read by this author and I will defiantly be picking up more books by her in the future.
January 3, 2015
I am happy to say that despite the fact it took too long to finish, the book was very good. Full review to come with my tour date of 1/4/15...
**FULL REVIEW**
“No matter how many warning bells told her to walk away, she thought she could handle him. She never imagined having any kind of emotion response to him where anger wasn’t the motivating factor. Somewhere along the way, though, Anders had gotten under her skin.”
Josie thought a one-night-stand with Anders Ellis would be just that. Except the connection and attraction was undeniable. Despite the fact that Anders failed to recognize Josie when they met again on the set of his new movie, which she worked as the costume designer for, it didn’t take long for him to realize there was something about her that he wanted to explore.
But Anders has rules. Rules he works hard not to break. The main one being “no repeats.” He’s a jerk and because of a jaded past, he doesn’t get involved with women other than one-night-stands. Lucky for him, Josie isn’t interested in a repeat either…except for some crazy reason, they can’t seem to stay away from one another.
Or maybe it’s the thrill of the chase. And the fact that Anders isn’t used to someone saying no to him. He just never thought that feelings would get involved and he’d actually fall for her. Or worse, she’d ruin what little faith he had left in the female species.
“Why are you pushing this? I don’t understand. You say you want to be my friend, but nothing you’re doing is friendly.” … “I don’t want to be your goddamn friend. I want—I just want you, okay?” … “I want to be with you. I can’t get you out of my head. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t want it to be over. I want to try. I’m asking you to make that same commitment.”… “Are you saying you want to date? Because you don’t date, remember?” “I don’t date. I didn’t date. Everything was simple before you came crashing into my life.”
This is one of those books where the author pulls you in, but takes the slow road around, dragging you along until you just can’t stand it any further. And then, BAM! You’re hit with something unexpected and the faith is renewed that this book is indeed a gem. And Hollywood & Vine is definitely a gem. Very well written, and definitely an attention grabber. I enjoyed learning tidbits as the story progressed and loved when I finally learned the “motive” behind the man. Despite the fact it took me longer to read than I would have expected, it was an easy read; one that pulls you in, heats you up, knocks you back, and fills your heart. I look forward to more from Olivia Evans.
**4 Starstruck or Not, Stars**
**FULL REVIEW**
“No matter how many warning bells told her to walk away, she thought she could handle him. She never imagined having any kind of emotion response to him where anger wasn’t the motivating factor. Somewhere along the way, though, Anders had gotten under her skin.”
Josie thought a one-night-stand with Anders Ellis would be just that. Except the connection and attraction was undeniable. Despite the fact that Anders failed to recognize Josie when they met again on the set of his new movie, which she worked as the costume designer for, it didn’t take long for him to realize there was something about her that he wanted to explore.
But Anders has rules. Rules he works hard not to break. The main one being “no repeats.” He’s a jerk and because of a jaded past, he doesn’t get involved with women other than one-night-stands. Lucky for him, Josie isn’t interested in a repeat either…except for some crazy reason, they can’t seem to stay away from one another.
Or maybe it’s the thrill of the chase. And the fact that Anders isn’t used to someone saying no to him. He just never thought that feelings would get involved and he’d actually fall for her. Or worse, she’d ruin what little faith he had left in the female species.
“Why are you pushing this? I don’t understand. You say you want to be my friend, but nothing you’re doing is friendly.” … “I don’t want to be your goddamn friend. I want—I just want you, okay?” … “I want to be with you. I can’t get you out of my head. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t want it to be over. I want to try. I’m asking you to make that same commitment.”… “Are you saying you want to date? Because you don’t date, remember?” “I don’t date. I didn’t date. Everything was simple before you came crashing into my life.”
This is one of those books where the author pulls you in, but takes the slow road around, dragging you along until you just can’t stand it any further. And then, BAM! You’re hit with something unexpected and the faith is renewed that this book is indeed a gem. And Hollywood & Vine is definitely a gem. Very well written, and definitely an attention grabber. I enjoyed learning tidbits as the story progressed and loved when I finally learned the “motive” behind the man. Despite the fact it took me longer to read than I would have expected, it was an easy read; one that pulls you in, heats you up, knocks you back, and fills your heart. I look forward to more from Olivia Evans.
**4 Starstruck or Not, Stars**
January 18, 2016
Olivia Evans gave us a backstage pass to the intricacies of celebrities. Their egos, demands, insecurities, frailty, talent, and all-round superstardom. This book included so many instances of manipulation that my head hurt. But everything that was described I could just imagine. The way the words were written, I became a part of the story. An unwanted and helpless observer. And I enjoyed every minute of it!
Josie (aka smartass aka Ivy) was an awesome character to read. Spunky, intelligent, successful, funny, she was what all great heroines are made of. She had nerves of steel and quite a nice temper to go along with that. She did have a vulnerable side and it was a thrill to watch the development of her love.
Anders aka asshole was just that. An asshole. And you can't help but love his character for that. He makes no apologies and takes no prisoners. Watching him interact with other people is hilarious. It wasn't hard to tell that he doesn't generally like people. But when this man allowed himself to fall for Ivy, I couldn't have loved this character more. I felt his pain when she left. Oooooh I felt it. And I'm glad he felt it. He needed to. I also felt his love. It was great to watch him make everything about Ivy. So sweet.
When these two came together it was explosive. The back-and-forth. The endless chasing. No matter how many times Anders tried to convince himself to give up, he just couldn't let Josie go. I loved how much Anders kept screwing up. Each time I was excited to see how the author would write his way out.
The true gist of the story is that Anders was betrayed in the past by the people closest to him, so because of this he developed the rule of 'no repeats'. He refused to let anyone in again to leave himself vulnerable and open to attack. That is until he met his Ivy. She steadily broke down his walls and it was beautiful to watch this jerk cave. He essentially never knew love before Ivy and neither did she before him. It was wonderful to see them fall.
My favourite scene was probably the fan conference with Anders and Aubrey. All I could say was 'about damn time'. But truly I loved every scene. There wasn't one part of this book I didn't like. And all of the characters seemed relevant. Madison with her handy dandy shovel. Holden in his role as big bro. Even Levi with his envelope of secrets. Everything came together seamlessly and I would welcome another opportunity to read this author's work.
Josie (aka smartass aka Ivy) was an awesome character to read. Spunky, intelligent, successful, funny, she was what all great heroines are made of. She had nerves of steel and quite a nice temper to go along with that. She did have a vulnerable side and it was a thrill to watch the development of her love.
Anders aka asshole was just that. An asshole. And you can't help but love his character for that. He makes no apologies and takes no prisoners. Watching him interact with other people is hilarious. It wasn't hard to tell that he doesn't generally like people. But when this man allowed himself to fall for Ivy, I couldn't have loved this character more. I felt his pain when she left. Oooooh I felt it. And I'm glad he felt it. He needed to. I also felt his love. It was great to watch him make everything about Ivy. So sweet.
When these two came together it was explosive. The back-and-forth. The endless chasing. No matter how many times Anders tried to convince himself to give up, he just couldn't let Josie go. I loved how much Anders kept screwing up. Each time I was excited to see how the author would write his way out.
The true gist of the story is that Anders was betrayed in the past by the people closest to him, so because of this he developed the rule of 'no repeats'. He refused to let anyone in again to leave himself vulnerable and open to attack. That is until he met his Ivy. She steadily broke down his walls and it was beautiful to watch this jerk cave. He essentially never knew love before Ivy and neither did she before him. It was wonderful to see them fall.
My favourite scene was probably the fan conference with Anders and Aubrey. All I could say was 'about damn time'. But truly I loved every scene. There wasn't one part of this book I didn't like. And all of the characters seemed relevant. Madison with her handy dandy shovel. Holden in his role as big bro. Even Levi with his envelope of secrets. Everything came together seamlessly and I would welcome another opportunity to read this author's work.
December 16, 2014
Do you want to meet a hot, cocky movie star? One with a huge God complex that believes the sun rises and sets for him alone. I read the blurb and couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this one!
We all love those books were the male lead is a complete a$$hole. Somehow or another I always seem to fall for them. They’re magnetic, turn me on and the bigger the douche, the more I love them. Well in Hollywood & Vine, Anders Ellis takes the Oscar for world’s biggest asshole. He’s a “one and done”, wham, bam, thank you mam kinda guy. Never does repeats and the slew of women waiting to do him is endless.
Josie is a hard working costume designer and works on a movie set with him. She sets her sights on him and just wants one night. One night of pure pleasure is what she craves. So, she has magic sex with him—the best sex of her life and plans on forgetting about him and moving on, but the universe has other plans. Josie winds up having to work with him again on the set of his next movie. But guess what, he doesn’t even remember her! Josie puts it out there that she could care less and moves on. This doesn’t sit well with Anders. He sets out to “win her over” and stops at nothing to get her to fall at his feet.
Two people so opposite who seem to butt heads about everything. The push and the pull, the arguments, the angst and the drama that surround them at every turn had my stomach in knots. So many times I felt like I was watching an actual movie—that’s how well Olivia described all the twists and turns. And wow, were there a lot of them. True Hollywood drama!
It was refreshing to read a stand alone, a long one at that, and not feel like it was stuffed with fluff. Anders was HOT and Josie was a badass. I loved how spunky she was! Olivia’s first novel was really great, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
We all love those books were the male lead is a complete a$$hole. Somehow or another I always seem to fall for them. They’re magnetic, turn me on and the bigger the douche, the more I love them. Well in Hollywood & Vine, Anders Ellis takes the Oscar for world’s biggest asshole. He’s a “one and done”, wham, bam, thank you mam kinda guy. Never does repeats and the slew of women waiting to do him is endless.
Josie is a hard working costume designer and works on a movie set with him. She sets her sights on him and just wants one night. One night of pure pleasure is what she craves. So, she has magic sex with him—the best sex of her life and plans on forgetting about him and moving on, but the universe has other plans. Josie winds up having to work with him again on the set of his next movie. But guess what, he doesn’t even remember her! Josie puts it out there that she could care less and moves on. This doesn’t sit well with Anders. He sets out to “win her over” and stops at nothing to get her to fall at his feet.
“I want you.” Raw desperation lingered on the edge of his words. “Can I have you?”
Two people so opposite who seem to butt heads about everything. The push and the pull, the arguments, the angst and the drama that surround them at every turn had my stomach in knots. So many times I felt like I was watching an actual movie—that’s how well Olivia described all the twists and turns. And wow, were there a lot of them. True Hollywood drama!
It was refreshing to read a stand alone, a long one at that, and not feel like it was stuffed with fluff. Anders was HOT and Josie was a badass. I loved how spunky she was! Olivia’s first novel was really great, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
July 9, 2015
I never imagined it would be possible to gush over an a class a$$hole but then I was introduced to Anders Ellis. Man whore to the max, sinfully sexy, and cocky as all get out Anders infuriated me but also kept my heart thumping throughout this entire book. Josie is the perfect leading lady... A spitfire with a good heart and great head on her shoulders. I love the banter between these two, it reminded me a lot of how little boys tease little girls when they really like them--but totally turned up like 10 notches.
Hollywood & Vine was full of twists and turns and laughs and gasps that kept me entertained at every turn. I would love to get a Maddie and Holden story!!!!
Hollywood & Vine was full of twists and turns and laughs and gasps that kept me entertained at every turn. I would love to get a Maddie and Holden story!!!!
December 18, 2014
I used to judge books by their weight before the advent of e-books.If the book was truly heavy I assumed I was getting value for my money.But sometimes in this case the adage less is more would have been much more appropriate & this e-book seemed to weigh a ton.
The story delivered would have been more enthralling if it had been wrapped up at maybe page 250 but it went unnecessarily on & on & on & on.It stopped.It started.It stopped.It started.Still with all this occurring I still somehow liked it,though I would have loved it if the plot was executed tighter.
The story delivered would have been more enthralling if it had been wrapped up at maybe page 250 but it went unnecessarily on & on & on & on.It stopped.It started.It stopped.It started.Still with all this occurring I still somehow liked it,though I would have loved it if the plot was executed tighter.
December 4, 2014
4.5 stars!! I was fortunate enough to read this early, cannot believe this is the authors first book! You all know I can't resist an asshole, and Anders certainly stayed true to his character. I love how Josie had him all twisted up i knots...love that outta control feel in a book. I read it straight through and it got me over my book slump, now what?
December 7, 2014
4.5 stars review to come
April 17, 2017
I liked both Anders and Ivy (Josie), and I liked the basic idea of the book. Hollywood hottie who has been f***ed over in the past and become cynical meets a 'real' girl, a costume designer who doesn't fall for all of the hype and glam stuff.
But the book was just too angsty for me. Aubrey was such an immoral, manipulative bee-arch, and some of the things that happened made me want to cringe and yell out noooooooo don't do it!!!!!!
So a couple of times I just stopped reading the book altogether because I could see the s***storm coming. I'm not good with angst. At all. But I've finally finished it, and it was nice to see Anders and Ivy back together after all they went through.
I did find the ending chapters a bit dragged out and convoluted. I guess the author didn't want it all to seem too neat and pat a resolution. But I think the ending could have been a bit simpler and shorter. For me it lost some of its impact because it was dragged out.
Overall, a good book but it would be better for those of you who love angsty books.
But the book was just too angsty for me. Aubrey was such an immoral, manipulative bee-arch, and some of the things that happened made me want to cringe and yell out noooooooo don't do it!!!!!!
So a couple of times I just stopped reading the book altogether because I could see the s***storm coming. I'm not good with angst. At all. But I've finally finished it, and it was nice to see Anders and Ivy back together after all they went through.
I did find the ending chapters a bit dragged out and convoluted. I guess the author didn't want it all to seem too neat and pat a resolution. But I think the ending could have been a bit simpler and shorter. For me it lost some of its impact because it was dragged out.
Overall, a good book but it would be better for those of you who love angsty books.
January 1, 2022
So this book is basically everything I'm addicted to lately.
We have a smart, successful heroine (a Hollywood costume designer). We've got an angsty, broken hero (famous actor) who despite himself is chasing our heroine who knows better than to get involved. What more could I want?
Well, I could want the drama of the hero's past ex who is hell-bent on getting him back.
I could want the drama of paparazzi and internet gossip sites speculating on the hero's life, making the hero and heroine's relationship even harder.
AND I could even want the hero and heroine to communicate (or at least communicate more than in most books like this) and try their very best to act rationally about their desires and their relationship.
And yeah, this book was long, and I basically did nothing except read for the two days it took me to finish it. I think I annoyed my family. Sorry I'm not sorry!!
We have a smart, successful heroine (a Hollywood costume designer). We've got an angsty, broken hero (famous actor) who despite himself is chasing our heroine who knows better than to get involved. What more could I want?
Well, I could want the drama of the hero's past ex who is hell-bent on getting him back.
I could want the drama of paparazzi and internet gossip sites speculating on the hero's life, making the hero and heroine's relationship even harder.
AND I could even want the hero and heroine to communicate (or at least communicate more than in most books like this) and try their very best to act rationally about their desires and their relationship.
And yeah, this book was long, and I basically did nothing except read for the two days it took me to finish it. I think I annoyed my family. Sorry I'm not sorry!!
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