Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Price of Fame #1

The Monster of Fame

Rate this book
Can the voice of an angel heal a tortured soul?

Annabelle MacIntosh enters a reality singing contest to save her family from their mounting debt. Miles Oliver, celebrity judge and the owner of the biggest record company in the UK, doesn't think she has what it takes. She sings like an angel, but when she performs all he can focus on is the terror in her eyes. It's a look he knows only too well. After the pressure of fame destroyed his wife, Miles swore he'd never let the same thing happen to anyone else. Driven by the guilt he's carried for years, Miles tries everything in his power to make sure Annabelle doesn't succeed, because he doesn't believe she'll survive it.

Annabelle needs that prize money, and she's determined to win it. As she fights to make it through each round of the contest, an attraction begins to develop between the two adversaries. The longer Annabelle remains in the competition, the deeper her attraction grows to the man who's trying to prevent her from reaching her goal. Can she convince Miles she's strong enough to fight the fame monster and win?



"The Monster of Fame is a fun, enjoyable book, one that I could not put down. Well done!" Nikki at Storm Goddess Book Reviews

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2012

79 people want to read

About the author

Aimee Duffy

24 books235 followers
Aimée writes steamy, contemporary romance for the 21st century woman who enjoys the 21st century alpha male. She's addicted to reading, shopping and can't go a day without music.

When she's not writing you can find her traipsing up the Ochils (weather permitting of course) or procrastinating on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/aimeeduffyx) and Twitter (@aimeeduffyx).

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
18 (47%)
4 stars
16 (42%)
3 stars
2 (5%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Author 17 books56 followers
October 14, 2012
The Monster of Fame was an incredible read. Miss Duffy did a fantastic job on her debut story!I like reality shows and the way she describes the scenes you can visualize it easily. The tension between Miles and Anna intensifies with each page.

The Monster of Fame is entertaining, sexy, heartwarming, and a must read in my book!

I'm looking forward to reading anything this author writes!
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 36 books6 followers
October 19, 2012
This debut novel from author Aimee Duffy is a very enjoyable read.
I’m not normally one for following TV competitions and apart watching from the odd episode (which someone else insisted we watched) I normally avoid shows like X-factor like the plague so I approached this novel with apprehension. At first glance the story’s competition seems very much like X-factor and I did worry I might not be able to get Simon Cowell out of my head when visualising the hero.
I needn’t have worried.
Aimee instantly painted a very clear picture of the hero, Miles, bringing his internal conflicts and worries straight up to the surface, creating a vivid, human character.
The story follows the reality singing competition and Miles is faced with a battle between his very real desires for the heroine, Anna, and his fear for what the ‘monster of fame’ will do to her. I did feel initially that his bias for worrying about her strength of character was a little unfounded as he had such a strong reaction based almost solely on her being nervous for her first performance, and I would have liked to have seen a clearer reason for his doubts as a long passage of time had passed since his first wife had died under tragic circumstances and he remained within the industry for the time in between, however this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
The novel is very much centred on the conflicts of the hero and for this reason I did find more difficulties in relating to the heroine, but as I prefer hero biased romances, I had no issue with this, especially when the hero is as attractive as this one.
Written with a fresh voice, with just the right balance of humour and sensitivity, this story did not fail to please, and the ending completely lived up to the expectation of a ‘happily ever after’ and then some. If you are reading this review Miss Duffy, more please.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1 review
October 19, 2012
This debut novel from author Aimee Duffy is a very enjoyable read.
I’m not normally one for following TV competitions and apart watching from the odd episode (which someone else insisted we watched) I normally avoid shows like X-factor like the plague so I approached this novel with apprehension. At first glance the story’s competition seems very much like X-factor and I did worry I might not be able to get Simon Cowell out of my head when visualising the hero.
I needn’t have worried.
Aimee instantly painted a very clear picture of the hero, Miles, bringing his internal conflicts and worries straight up to the surface, creating a vivid, human character.
The story follows the reality singing competition and Miles is faced with a battle between his very real desires for the heroine, Anna, and his fear for what the ‘monster of fame’ will do to her. I did feel initially that his bias for worrying about her strength of character was a little unfounded as he had such a strong reaction based almost solely on her being nervous for her first performance, and I would have liked to have seen a clearer reason for his doubts as a long passage of time had passed since his first wife had died under tragic circumstances and he remained within the industry for the time in between, however this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
The novel is very much centred on the conflicts of the hero and for this reason I did find more difficulties in relating to the heroine, but as I prefer hero biased romances, I had no issue with this, especially when the hero is as attractive as this one.
Written with a fresh voice, with just the right balance of humour and sensitivity, this story did not fail to please, and the ending completely lived up to the expectation of a ‘happily ever after’ and then some. If you are reading this review Miss Duffy, more please.
Profile Image for Melissa Blue.
Author 56 books443 followers
October 20, 2012
As usual my caveats before I jump into the review:

I'm not a reviewer. I just leave rambly notes of things that I think other people might like.
It's a small world in e-publishing so, yes, I do know Ms. Duffy.

To the review:

You can read the blurb to find out the gist of this romance, but let's move on to the heart of the story. Miles and Anna come from two different worlds, but they meet in passion...for music. At least at first. He's a judge for a famous X-Factor-like show and Anna is a contestant. The moment Miles sees her he is struck by what he considers a weakness. She won't be able to handle fame. She'll buckle. The show will change her and the bright-eyed girl will be forever lost. He sets out to save her. And I have to say, Anna didn't need saving. Anna had a quiet strength about her and that's what made Miles fall and fall hard. The romance was very endearing and enjoyable to see play out between these two very different characters.

With that said, I really have to commend Ms. Duffy on the setting though. She took something very pop culture, like every single show about singing ever, and delved beneath the surface. This gave the romance a fresh take for me. It wasn't just a backdrop to make the story interesting. It played a big part in the romance and it dropped me into another world. One of the reasons why I read in the first place.

This is a first in a series, a debut title by this author and I'm curious to see what comes next both for the series and the author. I hope Safri's story is next. I love a good prickly heroine.
Profile Image for Lisa Filipe.
Author 5 books250 followers
April 16, 2013
Oh Aimee...What a fun Romance!! We need more Miles and Anna!!

This book was So Much Fun to read...not that I am a HUGE Reality Singing Competition person, but Aimee's account of the Behind the Scenes antics are hysterical, and I could so picture all the scheming and jealousy...and some of the descriptions..."Perve"....I was cracking up!!

Let's talk yummy heroes...Miles Oliver...Well HULLO....Now ya know I love me a tortured bad-boy and this one was tortured and widowed....oh boy...."Yes, of course you may cry on my shoulder"...hee hee! Anyway, Miles was trying to save Anna from the same fate that had essentially killed his wife. But he fails to see that Anna is stronger than she looks...he was a bit blind at times...but boy did his kisses steam up my glasses!!

Anna was a great heroine. I like my girls strong and those who push for what they want, yep, Anna kicked "The Monster of Fame's" butt and she lived to tell about it!

And that kiss in the kitchen...whew...I know....HOTT!! And yes, you will get PLENTY more of that if you give this one a read!!

Aimee writes Charmingly Romantic Heroes and Sparking Sassy Heroines, and I seriously recommend THE MONSTER OF FAME!
Profile Image for Fiona Marsden.
Author 37 books148 followers
October 20, 2012
This is the story of Annabelle MacIntosh and her rise to fame. It tells of her trials and tribulations as she enters a reality show in the same vein as X-Factor. It also tells of her relationship with Miles Oliver, one of the judges and the man she's had a long distance crush on ever since she started watching "Do You Have What it Takes". Miles sees her talent immediately but her nervous manner reminds him of his wife, who used drugs to overcome her nerves with fatal results six years ago. Since then his personal life has been non-existent.
Meeting Annabelle changes all that and the development of their relationship, the impact of her insecurities and financial stress, and his fears and guilt left from his wife's death all play a part in the ups and downs of the story.
This is really a very sweet read with lots of sizzle. The characters are well drawn and very likeable. The story arc follows the program season and offers an insight into the world of reality television.
I enjoyed this read very much and look forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Lacey Wolfe.
Author 62 books308 followers
October 15, 2012
Do you enjoy shows such as American Idol, The Voice, or X-Factor? If so, you're going to LOVE this book. And if you're like me and you don't watch those shows, well you're going to love this book! Oh, did you catch the theme there? Regardless, this book will suck you in and you will be lost.

We all know Simon Cowell, unless you've been living in a cave these past ten years. He's kinda sexy in a bad boy way. He insults the singers anyway he can. Well, our heroine of this story, Anna, is a finalist in the show and she has a thing for the bad boy, Miles Oliver. Yum Yum! I think I have a crush on him as well.

The chemistry was there in this book, the sexual pull, and when the hero/heroine finally hook-up, its detailed in a classy way. I enjoyed this book and I think its a perfect read for anyone who wants to get lost in a book.
Profile Image for Shehanne Moore.
Author 11 books78 followers
April 2, 2013
yes I do know Ms Duffy. I got to know her when I interviewed on this book's release. Then I go to know the book itself. For a debut I was impressed. I really liked the setting and what Aimee did with it. She herself has a great love of music and that came right though the book. In a short time she had me hooked in. I especially liked Miles -- the suitably tortured soul really--going to all these lengths to keep Annabelle out the contest...and out his life too. Part of a series? Just as well. I want to keep reading.
Profile Image for Desere.
758 reviews78 followers
October 24, 2012
WOW ! Yes that is the first word I would use to describe this wonderfully fresh read by author Aimee Duffy. Think Idols meets the bachelor well almost, the author took me behind the scenes of reality tv and mixed in a fun dose of romance,heartfelt emotion and just plain sexy entertainment !I look forward to more by this author she has certainly captured my attention !

Profile Image for Incy Black.
Author 3 books74 followers
November 30, 2012
Ms Duffy offers an engaging read that stands out for its authenticity. The characters invite you to share their trials and tribulations in a hugely enjoyable read that touches with its tenderness and sensitivity whilst offering moments of eyebrow raising heat. A rocking debut novel!
Profile Image for Amy.
Author 26 books24 followers
October 16, 2012
I have to admit that I am NOT a fan of reality of shows and don't follow the "so you want to be a star" type reality shows at all. I suspect that this lack of enthusiasm held me at bay when I first started reading MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy but once I was knee deep into the story, I was glued to it, eager to find out how things turned out. I will say that I was a little disappointed in that the tension between Miles and Annabelle was too one-sided. Miles was obviously on the edge at all times as to what he should about Annabelle even while his attraction to her was growing in leaps and bounds. Annabelle, on the otherhand, I felt gave in to her attraction to Miles too quickly. I recognize that she came into the competition with a crush on Miles Oliver. But, after the first time out and Miles gives her a bad review, she was over the crush and recognizing him for the controlling man that he is. Yet, it wasn't long at all before she was over that, too.

Aimée Duffy is a debut author and it's really only the rare talent that can hit the mark right out of the box, so I may have my criticisms but overall, Aimée did a wonderful job of creating charaters that we could relate to and enjoy. At first, I thought I wasn't going to like Miles at all but quickly fell under his spell just as Annabelle did. I loved that his insecurities were right there, for the reader to angst through with him, right up to the end when he lays his heart out to Annabelle and still worries that he's about to get stomped on.

MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy is a delightfully sweet romance with a very up-to-date feel with its reality show environment. If you're a fan of such shows as American Idol, you will definitely enjoy the background, the tension, and the nervous energy as well as some of the jealousies and back-stabbing that come into play but best of all is the falling in love that happens between Annabelle and Miles. Also, Aimée writes one of the best happily-ever-after endings and so, I will say that this romance is a successful debut novel for a talented new author who I expect to see good things from in the future.

I do recommend reading, MONSTER OF FAME by Aimée Duffy, if you love contemporary romance with a big city feel. If you love reality shows and the idea of someone down and out hitting it big as a star. If you believe that dreams really can come true, if you've got the talent and guts to go after it, then this debut contemporary romance is for you.

***eARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Profile Image for Ren.
153 reviews50 followers
October 24, 2012
This was 4.5 stars
Annabelle's life has not been easy. She works at a grocery store near her home to help make ends meet. Her father left her and her family, leaving a steep amount of debt in his wake. Annabelle has dreamed of being a singer her whole life. She enters a competition called "Do You Have What It Takes?" This is a competition quite like American Idol. She thinks this is her shot to pay off the debts and help her family.

Miles Oliver is one of the judges on "Do You Have What It Takes?" He has seen firsthand what the fame monster can do to a person. After all, fame took it's toll on his now deceased wife. He sees Annabelle at the auditions and has never heard such a beautiful voice. He is determined to make her leave the competition for fears that she will not survive fame. He soon becomes conflicted about his intentions when he finds out the reason why Annabelle is competing.

Annabelle is very timid in the beginning of the competition. She doesn't have much confidence and is always second guessing herself. Her confidence and strength increases as her relationship with Miles grows. I feel like I'm explaining this the wrong way. It's not all sunshine and rainbows and there are bumps along the way. Misinterpreted intentions get in the way and there is a lot of internal conflict with the characters.

I really enjoyed the romance in this book. I have been in sort of a rut lately with my contemporary romances. This book had just the right amount of steam. I really wasn't expecting it to have as much as it did and it gave me a "Oh, HELLO!" kinda moment LOL. Back to Annabelle... I really liked her character. She isn't a super skinny chic and she has curves. Not to mention that she's kind of a red head. More of an auburn, but still :-)

And helllloooo, Miles is a hottie!! I'd be all over him like white on rice! I really recommend this book for a quick romantic read. I especially loved the last chapter.

Profile Image for Rosanna Leo.
Author 42 books832 followers
January 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this contemporary romance by Aimee Duffy! Anyone who has ever sung, or watched any "Idol" type of show, would love this too. I found myself thinking a lot about it, wanting a happy ending for the extremely likeable characters, and Ms Duffy doesn't disappoint. The romance is poignant, the love scenes very hot and Miles and Annabelle were sympathetic. Who wouldn't love Miles, the "mean" judge with a heart of gold and tragic past? Who wouldn't fall for Annabelle, the heroine with a beautiful talent, trying to save her family and just survive? I heartily recommend this read and look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Zara Stoneley.
Author 34 books347 followers
January 9, 2013
I must admit I started reading this with a picture of Simon Cowell in my mind - but luckily it was soon dispelled (phew!). Miles and Annabelle are both likeable characters - with issues that you could relate to. Miles isn't quite as 'alpha' as the heroes I usually go for, but I couldn't help but warm to him and Annabelle was the 'girl next door with a big talent' that you really end up rooting for. A great debut, with a refreshing, original plot.
Profile Image for Christy McKellen.
Author 122 books159 followers
January 10, 2013
Aimee has written a hugely entertaining story about two very likeable characters. Her voice is witty and compulsively readable and I was immediately drawn into the story and kept riveted. A very enjoyable read! I'm really looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.
Profile Image for Tabitha Rayne.
Author 44 books64 followers
April 14, 2013
I lave to admit - I have a secret guilty pleasure for TV singing shows so this was right up my street!
I felt the story really came alive for me at the love scenes - Ms Duffy can get the heat rising I can tell you - lovely :)

Profile Image for Sofia Harper.
Author 6 books8 followers
August 11, 2013
As usual my caveats before I jump into the review:

I'm not a reviewer. I just leave rambly notes of things that I think other people might like.
It's a small world in e-publishing so, yes, I do know Ms. Duffy.

To the review:

You can read the blurb to find out the gist of this romance, but let's move on to the heart of the story. Miles and Anna come from two different worlds, but they meet in passion...for music. At least at first. He's a judge for a famous X-Factor-like show and Anna is a contestant. The moment Miles sees her he is struck by what he considers a weakness. She won't be able to handle fame. She'll buckle. The show will change her and the bright-eyed girl will be forever lost. He sets out to save her. And I have to say, Anna didn't need saving. Anna had a quiet strength about her and that's what made Miles fall and fall hard. The romance was very endearing and enjoyable to see play out between these two very different characters.

With that said, I really have to commend Ms. Duffy on the setting though. She took something very pop culture, like every single show about singing ever, and delved beneath the surface. This gave the romance a fresh take for me. It wasn't just a backdrop to make the story interesting. It played a big part in the romance and it dropped me into another world. One of the reasons why I read in the first place.

This is a first in a series, a debut title by this author and I'm curious to see what comes next both for the series and the author. I hope Safri's story is next. I love a good prickly heroine.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.