Please Do Not Touch the Talent

by Catherine Jerome

Erin Banks hates her job. She “cleans up the messes of some of the world’s most celebrated celebrities–while also finding them work” as publicist-slash-agent-slash-shit-taker for TPRA (Talent Publicity Representative Agency), a behemoth Hollywood firm that has their workers chanting team, team, team while throwing daggers at each others’ backs. After TPRA acquires the newly relocated Los Angeles Flash football team — and their players, personnel, etc, — as an exclusive client, Erin finds herself in the middle of the mess instead of the one cleaning it up.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2012

About the author

Catherine Jerome is a 2012 university graduate currently enjoying a desk job and pondering application to graduate schools across the United States of America and other varying English speaking nations — she wishes she was fluent in other languages, but alas is not and would not be able to navigate an ESL (English Second Language) foreign country. While biding her time clicking on her endless keyboard in her office, she wrote Spinster, the story of another recent university graduate navigating the waters of 21st century dating (i.e. finding a partner-in-crime outside of high school, college or the internet). Easier said than done, but hopefully with a few laughs along the way. Spinster is Jerome’s first novel.

Jerome’s second novel Please Do Not Touch the Talent was released in November 2012. You can “borrow” both Spinster and Please Do Not Touch the Talent for free as an Amazon Prime member, or purchase on the same platform as a Kindle reader for only $.99. Amazon also provides a free Kindle application for smartphones and PCs. Jerome’s third novel, Hot off the Press, is looking for a March 2013 bow. You can preview the novel here.

Reviews

[Lindsey]

Amazon Freebie 6/5/13

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't easy to rate. If you're under the misconception (as I was) that it's a romance, you'll be sorely disappointed. I didn't feel any emotional connection between Erin and Max. Since it's written in first person POV, the reader is completely dependent upon Erin to reveal her feelings and tell us about the development of the relationship. That doesn't happen. Instead, most interactions with Max are glossed over or happen "off screen", therefore it's hard to swallow the ending of the book.

Where this book really shines is when it pokes fun at the ridiculousness of the Hollywood publicity machine. Erin's clients are thinly-veiled versions of real life "talent" in Hollywood today. The fun is in guessing who they're based on. Their insatiable appetite for being in the spotlight is a reflection of the general public's appetite as well. I guarantee you'll think twice about any scandal or relationship touted in gossip blogs or magazines.

There are few cameos to make note of in the book. The characters from "Spinster" make a very non-intrusive appearance insomuch as they are mentioned, but not seen. Elliot from "Hot Off the Press" makes his debut in much the same manner. Since I refuse to believe that Catherine Jerome doesn't know how to spell dessert, that tasty treat known as "desert" shows itself again just like it did in "Spinster."

If you're up for reading a story about a woman who hates her job, the people she works with, and pretty much has disdain for all of her clients, this might be a book you'd enjoy.