Famously Engaged

by Robyn Thomas

A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult

187 pages, ebook

First published July 8, 2013

About the author

Robyn lives with her husband and two sons on the outskirts of Melbourne, one of the most liveable cities in the world. Writing romance helps to balance the effects of living in an all-male household. She loves to cook, hates to clean up, and keeps very odd hours. She thinks that lattes are one of the most significant inventions ever—right up there with fire, the wheel and electricity. She collects art glass and spotted dinnerware, loves movies of all descriptions, and is almost certain that pavlova and cheesecake form the sixth major food group.

Reviews

[Geri Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 32%

I have never DNF an ARC before but this book...



Where do I even begin?

Jake, who is a famous rockstar by the way, has a sister, Skyla, who is getting married to Brad. Brad used to be married to Beth. They are divorced but they still hang out together, like a lot and Brad still calls her everyday, still has keys to the house, and talks about how wonderful Beth is. Yeah, and they still put smileys and says love (insert heart symbol here) always in their texts!!



And Skyla the fiancee is OKAY with it!! It's no biggie because Beth is really lovable and she would never ever want to get back with her ex because she's not in love with Brad anymore. According to Skyla it's okay for Brad to even give Beth a message and move in with her because Beth is just so wonderful. In fact, Beth is so wonderful that Skylar is letting Beth plan the whole wedding!!



That's not even the main plot. The story actually is about Jake who wants to stop Brad from hanging out with Beth because of he is after all marrying his sister. So Jake came up with a brilliant plan! Give Beth her own fake fiance!! Yay! And the best part of the plan is he's going to play the fake fiance!

*Sigh*

At this point, I just couldn't go on anymore. Plus when Beth and Jake met, there was no chemistry whatsoever. Nothing. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

I couldn't even muster even a small amount of sympathy for the characters. Jake sounds and acts like a jackass. Beth is supposed to be beautiful and smart but clearly she bought the whole, 'you won the lottery to be my fiancee' crap from Jake so that's pretty much a suspect. *smh*

Sorry. But this was just a hot mess.

ARC provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I really enjoyed this book, however, I found some of the relationships very "odd" in their workings. The story starts out with Skyla talking to Jake, who is her boss and also a rock star singer, and ohhh he's her half-brother and she doesn't know yet. Skyla is talking about her wedding and sent a picture of her maid of honor, Beth, to Jake. Beth is friends with Skyla and also Brad's (Skyla's soon-to-be-husband) ex-wife. Awkward much? Ohh and if that wasn't bad enough Brad and Beth talk like every day, several times a day and while Beth's mother has been sick has been staying over there to help take care of her. My reaction is a lot like Jake's, why in the world are the ex's spending time together and still "best friends" when they are divorced. Not only that Beth is heavily involved in the wedding, she's the wedding planner and the maid of honor. Seriously AWKWARD. So with that said Jake decides to take it upon himself to investigate the situation to determine is Brad is still hung up on his ex and stop the wedding if need be because his little half-sister deserves the best.

When Brad mentions to Skyla that he thinks one of them should move in with Beth, to better help take care of her mother, Jake jumps all over the situation. Not only will he be spending time with a gorgeous woman, but keeping Brad away from said woman. I love the first meeting of Jake and Beth; it's priceless.

They argue/talk about how he has come to stay with her instead of Brad and she adamantly tells him no. Eventually, he works his way into the house, but only after 2 reporters see him and take a picture of him and Beth and go with the story that they are engaged, because rumor has it Jake has a ring with him that he recently picked up from a jewelry store. The ring is actually for Skyla, it's a family heirloom, but the public doesn't know about Skyla and Jake wants to keep it that way. Back to Beth and Jake, instead of correcting the story, what do we do? We go with it. Yes this is Beth and we are engaged. YEY!!! So now Beth is engaged to a famous rock star that she just met.

Interestingly enough on the first night of his staying Beth uses Jake as her pillow to fall asleep on because she needs a shoulder to lean on. And then my favorite type of scene happens. As they are talking and it gets a little heated Jake kisses her. And the description is one of those life altering so in love I can't see or think straight, butterflies in my stomach and time stops kind of moment. As Jake keeps trying to do the right thing, Beth has the exact opposite in mind. She wants to get lost in Jake and forget the world around her and he does exactly that for her. And when these two get down and dirty its like down and dirty and steamy and hawt and sexy and O.M.G.

Ohhh and side note keep an eye out for supersoft chickens. Those are the best lines of the story.

As the story continues it's clear to see how much Jake is getting under Beth's skin and how much she is affecting him. They are beginning to care about each other, but the reality of the situation is that it would never work. Jake's first marriage/love is his band and doesn't really do the whole dating thing, even though he's known as a ladies man. Eventually, the rest of the band shows up at Beth's door and I love Liam. He's that funny little brother that everyone wishes they had. But between the band, the chef, and Christophe and all the reporters on her lawn its a lot for Beth to take it. It's the things like this that show Beth what life with Jake would really be like and make her question if she can ever do something like this day in and day out. There has been so much chaos that surrounds Beth since Jake showed up on her doorstep, can anyone really handle that?

Both Jake and Beth need to decide what they want. Can Jake even think about a real relationship and give Beth what she truly deserves? Can Beth deal with all the media and cameras in your face? Will the band (except Liam) accept Beth and not think she is in it for the money? What will Brad do? What about poor Skyla? Will she ever know she has a big older half-brother? What about the wedding? Does Brad still have a thing for Beth? Can Jake walk away from Beth? That's my biggest question that I want to know. I'm hoping that maybe Robyn will carry on this story, even from another's perspective? Maybe? I really fell in love with the characters and I'm not ready to end my time with them, I want more. Other than that it was a great read and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too, I mean who wouldn't want to read about hawt, sexy rock stars and them possibly falling in love with a not famous person. It's almost like it could happen for someone like me...or you. Thank you Robyn for the awesome read!!!!

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misunderstandings, humor, sarcasm, and tenderness abound in Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas.

Skyla's boss is the famous rock star Jake Olsen. Jake is unimpressed with the amount of time Skyla's soon-to-be-husband, Brad seems to be spending with his ex-wife, Beth ~ especially since Brad and Skyla are due to be married very soon. Why would Brad need to continue a relationship with Beth if: A) he was happy with Skyla; and B) unless he wasn't over Beth at all. Feeling that this isn't fair to Skyla, Jake takes it upon himself to fly to Melbourne, Australia, to stay with Beth and try to prevent Brad from coming around.

When Jake gets to Melbourne (without his security detail) and the press catches him next to a robe-clad Beth, the only reason he can think to tell them is that they are engaged. So now, in order to keep the hounds at bay, he has to move in with Beth while they both deal with the charade that's been cooked up.

Neither Jake nor Beth counted on falling in love. Their world's are completely different; Beth couldn't handle the constant publicity of her life, and Jake can't be rid of it, fully admitting that his main priority is his band.

Oh and there's a reason that Jake is so obsessed with making sure Skyla is treated right and fawned over properly by Brad. I won't divulge it here; although, I'm sure it's been spoken about in other reviews.

I really enjoyed the majority of Famously Engaged. The chemistry between Jake and Beth is strong and vibrant. The author writes them in a way that portrays them as unsure of what's going on but yet, completely comfortable with each other. I love the bantering, sarcasm, and humor that is used in this novel.

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

Jake just arrives on Beth's doorstep in Australia ~

"Look, I appreciate you - and your hair - stopping by, but I've got plans for an early night and I'm afraid they don't include you" (Thomas, R., 2013, pg. 11). **To catch the quote in the correct, humorous context you'll have to read the book.

Beth is an emotional character; her mother just passed away and her ex-husband, even though they are best friends who should have never been married, is driving her crazy. She doesn't get a moment's peace from him and his mother hen ways. She has a hard time being confined in her house due to the constant

Jake is a rock star with an image that just doesn't fit his personality. He is kind, caring, and has depth. He may be photographed with many women on his arm, but usually that's the extent of the contact. He's never felt a real emotional attachment to any woman until Beth.

The only part of the book that I felt the readers get slighted on involves Jake and Skyla. The book starts out with the secret and does a sort-of lead into something that could have, and should have been a great revelation. It does, however, fall pretty flat, leaving the reader feeling that the entire culmination of the secret was rushed and not thoroughly examined. I realize the book isn't about Jake and Skyla but a little more development of that particular plot line would have made this, in my eyes, a perfect book!

Other than the one minor issue, I found the novel to be a nice, easy read. Famously Engaged kept me interested from start to finish. I was able to emotionally connect with both characters at certain times and I'll admit that I actually teared up near the end before the Happily Ever After (HEA) took place. A book that enables me to get emotionally involved means the author did her (in this case) job!

Advanced Reader's Copy Courtesy Of: Entangled Publishing, via NetGalley, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.

[MsRomanticReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jake Olsen, famous rock star of the UK band Five Awesome Emperors, is on a mission. He suspects that Brad, the fiancé of his half-sister Skyla, is still hung up on his ex-wife, Beth. It doesn’t matter that Skyla and Beth are friends and that Beth has agreed to plan their wedding. Brad talks about her non-stop and has even agreed to move in with her temporarily to help her through a difficult time. Jake’s curiosity and protective instincts lead him to devise an eyebrow raising plan to insinuate himself in the middle of this perceived love triangle. Beth is about to become the lucky winner of a fake bridal lottery.

Beth is still mourning the recent loss of her mother when a stranger shows up on her doorstep and declares himself her fiancé. She’s not about to let a total stranger into her home, but once it dawns on her who he is, and he shows her the future headlines announcing their engagement, she has no choice but to listen as he gives her a rundown of the mayhem about to come crashing down on her.

The forced confinement brings Jake and Beth intimately close together in a very short time. As feelings develop and are squashed, the question becomes whether Jake is willing to give himself to something other than his career, and will Beth be able to handle the fame and lack of privacy.

This story overall was cute but peculiar. It definitely had a very modern vibe of a Cinderella fairytale (it certainly made enough references to it). I had to suspend disbelief for the majority of the book before things evened out a little towards the end. My main concern with this story wasn’t Jake’s crazy plan, but rather Beth’s reaction (or lack thereof) to the whole debacle. Jake may have had good intentions, but poor execution. Poor guy.

In keeping with Entangled Indulgence’s guidelines of being dialogue-heavy, oh yes, it was. But most of the time it felt like the characters were talking a lot without really saying anything, other than Jake repeating more than once why he’d devised that plan, why she can’t leave the house, what usually happens to women he’s associated with, Beth’s wishes for a family or her connection with Brad. I skipped some of those passages as they arose. On a positive note, Ms. Thomas does really well with angst and pulling at heart-strings. During the climax of the story, I truly “felt” for these characters for the first time. Getting Jake to open up to her and tell her personal, deep, meaningful things about his life took a little too long to get to. The ending felt like a rush in an effort to bring the two love sick characters back together.

In summary, I liked it, but unfortunately this story lacks something to make it memorable. I would read more from this author, but not at this time. My rating: 2-2.5.

Favorite Lines:

“It’s quite simple. Don’t propose marriage unless you mean it.”

~*~

“Taking something that should be life-alteringly special and making it into a farce will be unforgivable. Please don’t do it.”

~*~

The confirmation should’ve come as a relief. Instead it fractured something inside her. Purely by chance she’d found her prince charming. But he was already married.

~*~

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jillian Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

My review can also be found here:

http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/04...


"This is the first work from Robyn Thomas that I have read and was honored to have received a copy of Famously Engaged from the publisher asking for an honest review. I am happy to say that it was a really enjoyable story!
Beth Carlisle is in one hell of an emotional rut after the recent death of her mother and is alone with her memories in her mother’s home and in desperate need of a hand to hold to help her through this awful time. Sure, she has her best friend…but he also happens to be her ex-husband and he is currently planning his wedding and surely doesn’t need to be here with her, drowning alongside her in her sorrows. What she needs is a distraction to keep the sadness at bay….what bigger distraction then a gorgeous rock star showing up on your door step explaining that he’s your new fiancé? Yep, that’ll do it!
Jake Olsen has had enough of hearing his sister’s soon-to-be-husband, Brad, talk incessantly about his ex-wife and is convinced Brad is still in love with her. He will not allow his sister to marry a man who can’t get an ex-wife out of his life. Sure, they say it’s just because they are best friends and as close as family, even after the divorce. But Jake can’t shake that something isn’t right and after seeing pictures of the ex-wife, and seeing how beautiful she is, he will do everything in his power to keep them apart until his sister is married. Enter: the fake fiancé plan.
Together, Jake and Beth are stuck in a hopeless situation thanks to the silly fake fiancé plan and now they are in danger of falling for one another…this could turn out to be anything but fake and everything very real.
This was a cute modern-day Cinderella story that had all the ups and downs of a fairy tale. Jake and Beth are in a ridiculous circumstance together, but it ends up being exactly what they both need. Fate clearly had a plan for these two characters. Beth needs someone to hold her up and give her a reason to keep going now that her beloved mother has passed and Jake, as it turns out, is very good at that role. What I liked best about this story was the way both Jake and Beth ended up filling the voids in one another’s lives even though neither one of them originally set out to do so.
I enjoyed this story and read it in a little over a day…it was a light and interesting read that had a fantastic happily ever after that we love best about fairy tales! Thank you, Robyn, for a great story and thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy!"

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book with a bit of a rush to the whole love thing but Jake and Beth as a couple do make sense even with the quick ILY.

Jake is worried about his half-sister who is marrying a man that appears to be hung up on his ex-wife so he decides to take matters in to his own hands. Of course being a rock-star what better way to get this handled but to create a fake fiancee. I mean sure he could just show up and try talking to her plus get to know her but hey why not? Let's create this fake story so he can move in with her and put himself in the way of the soon-to-be groom. What he gets when he meets her is a woman at a very low point in her life that makes him feel much more than he ever expected. She's genuine and in his life he doesn't do that sort of thing… no permanence and to be honest it is an incredibly lonely life that he has created but doesn't know how to live outside the public eye. He opens up and shows her more of himself in their few days together but knows in his heart that all he will do is crush what he loves so much about her if he stays. I liked him even when he was being the rock god as you did get a good feel for how hollow it all is to him.

Beth was something else. She lets a man in to her home that she doesn't know but as she gets to know him shows him more of herself than she has ever shown another soul. She's reeling from a loss in her life and uses her kitchen as an outlet for this grief. She's very grounded so having Jake come in and tear apart her haven makes her feel vulnerable but when she sees the real him it is it for her. She's not in love with her ex nor is he with her but they are incredibly close due to basically being raised together. I liked seeing that she really was over her ex and that he really was over her but felt that he needed to make sure she found her own soul mate even though someone outside their little circle wouldn't get it at all. She pushes all the right buttons with the entourage that surrounds Jake's life but wants something real from him and isn't sure it would ever work between her plain Jane self and his Rock God image.

As I said originally this was a nice read even with the hurried ILY and I will gladly go check out more by this author. Special thanks to the publicity team at Entangled Publishing for giving me a chance to read this early in exchange for my honest review.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Taking something that should be life-alteringly special and making it into a farce will be unforgivable. Please don’t do it.”

I am a rockstar kinda girl so I had high hopes with this book but for me in my rockstar world it just didn’t hit the mark. I will say this was more a light read and even though it wasn’t the rockstar feel I am use to, it still was able to hold my attention.

This book started and we meet Beth Carlisle who is dealing with the recent death of her mother and is alone with her memories in her mother’s home. Now, here is the first thing that threw me with the story, enter her best friend, Brad, who wait for it also happens to be her ex husband and she might be planning his wedding to her other best friend? Yes, see not feeling it, right? Ok, so stay with me because here comes Mr. Distraction aka gorgeous rock star on the door step. And of course media catches this and BAM that leaves him explaining that he’s your new fiancé! Yes that happens and I know you are kinda interested now.

His lips twitched, and he offered her his hand. “Go ahead and stare,” he said when she failed to take it.
“Get it out of your system.”

So why is Jake Olsen (Rock God) on her porch? Well he, like me has had enough of hearing his sister’s soon-to-be-husband, Brad, talk constantly about his ex-wife and like me, is convinced Brad is still in love with her. And being like any big brother he refuses to allow his sister to marry said man without putting into action a plan. Of course, Jake has seen pictures of Beth and they haven’t helped his feelings regarding Brad and what he thinks is going on. But something happens during this plan he has come up with. Yes, of course, feelings happen but see this is where I was captured with story and I found myself now saying wait I like Mr. Rockstar. Once again, I am a girl with a weak heart for a rockstar book don't judge.

“After years of searching in all the wrong places, he’d stumbled across perfection. It had nothing to do with fame or fortune.”

In all this was a cute quick read and it left you with that fairy tale feel. At times I did feel like the story was rushed but that is what you get with a short story. I really am left not knowing where I stand with this story, I am at that I like you stage and saying this is the perfect day at the beach read.

[Alpha Possessive Heroes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rock star Jake found out that his half sister's fiancee (Brad) spend all his free time with his ex wife (Beth). They are still close he's always in her house. Kayla is not worried in fact, Beth is one of her best friend and will be the maid of honor is their wedding. Jake on the other hand has his doubt and overhears Brad telling his sister that he's planning on moving in with his ex wife for awhile because she needs help to care for her sick mom. He's worried that Jake is still hang up with Beth so he made a plan... he'll keep Beth busy..

Beth is not having a good day, she just buried her mother, burned the steak for dinner and a hot famous guy showed up on her doorstep declaring that she won a lottery... a fake bridal lottery. She's emotionally vulnerable and Jake's offer is a good distraction to get her minds off her mother...

I've been reading a lot of angst book lately and in need of something simple with the right amount of drama, and Famously Engaged hit the spot!

It's a surprise that the heroine agreed to this temporary engagement.. A stranger in your doorstep tells you something like this and will moved in your house? really?! Well.. guess I couldn't blame her completely... I mean if a hunky Jake knocks on my door too, I would agree to anything.. lol

Jake is a bad boy rock star and is full of himself but behind the tough exterior is a man who has his hurts. I love that He's pushy and over confident and that he was willing to do anything for her half sister happiness... Well, come to think of it his whole plan to keep Beth unavailable was quite silly! lol

He felt the attraction the moment he saw Beth in the picture and wasn't expecting to fall for her..

This is a fast paced story... actually it was too fast that I was surprise that Beth opened up to Jake way too quickly and that they were already in the touch based basis. It would have been nice if the author took time building their relationship.

A cliche story, famous hot hero meets ordinary heroine but I have to admit it was a fun read and enjoyed the book very well!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I looked at the reviews on Goodreads for this book before I started reading it and they are honestly a mixed bag. But I challenge you, if you enjoy a good rock star love story then this is just the book for you. I really enjoyed reading Famously Engaged and after reading it I realize that we all have different opinions of books we read. So now I'll talk about what worked for me.

Character Development:
This is a short book, so I knew going in it, it would not have the character development of a 300+ page book. The author just can't do that and move the story along in 180 pages. However I found that I was able to get to know Jake and Beth easily during this story. Their quirks, their history all were presented through the book so the reader is able to get to know them. Yes they get together kind of quick, again this is a limitation of a shorter novel and I didn't have a problem with it. I understood the characters and their motivation. I actually really enjoyed watching Jake and Beth fall for each other and begin to change themselves, not for the other person but as a modification to fit another person into their lives. It was a great story to watch unfold, fireworks and all.

Plot:
The plot revolves around the characters falling for each other and the problems Jake being a rock star presents. The engagement from the beginning was a great plot device to me and as I mentioned I really enjoyed watching the story unfold. It was fast paced and I finished the book during the evening while my son was at Boy Scouts with his Dad.

Final Thoughts:
I found Famously Engaged to be a heartwarming and fun book. It has interesting characters in Jake and Beth (and those surrounding Jake as well). It has a fast moving plot that made the book an easy read. I was into the book from the first page and enjoyed it to the end. It had conflict, it had sarcasm and joking between characters, it had the spark between the characters and it had some steamy sex. What more do you need?

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chef and a rock star. The rock stars sister is marrying the chef’s ex-husband. He thinks the chef and her ex are too close and he doesn’t want his sister hurt. He devises this outrageous plan to keep the ex away from the chef by claiming to be engaged to her. (ego much?) He pushes his way into her life just as she has buried her mother (leaving her vulnerable). What he doesn't expect is to fall in love. For her part she falls just as hard but will his lifestyle kill any chance for love to last?
This is a really sweet and fun story once you check your brain at the door and go with the flow. A modern fairy tale. Well worth the read.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book will be available May 13th 2013

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas Rock Star Jake is estranged from his family and life for him centers around his music. He has no desire for a relationship and lives from city to city, concert to concert…the famous Bad Boy! His half sister Skyla (who as far as she knows is only an employee of Jake and his band) is getting married though, and all she and her fiancee Brad can talk about is Brad’s ex-wife Beth! According to Skyla and Brad, Beth is great and only ‘a best friend’. Jake has his doubts though, he is convinced Brad is still in love with Beth and might cheat on Skyla. In a bizarre scheme to keep Brad away from Beth, Jake shows up on Beth’s doorstep. Read More

[Rosemary K · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tangled web! When famous rock star, Jake Olsen, decides to protect his half sister, Skyla, from her fiancé's ex-wife. He meets Beth, a vulnerable woman recovering from the death of her mother, not a scheming temptress. What starts out as a good deed ends in a fake engagement. Now they are trapped together in her home. They are under siege by the paparazzi and his fans. The forced closeness brings them together physically and emotionally. Can their attraction grow in such circumstances? Will they both put aside their fears and let love in? This is a fun and flirty story with emotional undertones. The characters are tender and loving. You see their strengths and their fears. A great book for your summertime reading pleasure.

[Alex Sharrock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for Book Chick City


Click here for full review

Overall, this has not been my favorite read. I felt it was rushed and a tad unrealistic. Maybe if there was more reasoning behind decisions I might have liked it more. However, I do think that the concept and premise of this novel were actually good, the consequences of fame, getting over previous marriages etc. I think if the author explored more of these aspects and made it longer than its 125 pages I would have enjoyed it more. I would recommend this as a quick poolside read.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a little trouble with the set up of this book in the beginning. But I got over it and really enjoyed the book.

This story is a mix of humor (which I love), emotions, and chemistry. The witty dialogue between characters is great. The characters' actions and thoughts are written very well. You know how they are feeling, and not because the narrative comes out and says they are hurt, angry, etc. There are some very sweet/caring moments that are expressed by the narrative. And there's heat. In the kitchen, on the couch, etc.

I enjoyed this book and will look for others by the author.

[Jemi Fraser]

This was a fun story! Jake and Beth are fun characters and I enjoyed watching them cope with the chaos around them. A fun, light-hearted read :)

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounded fun – I like a little light-hearted romance sometimes, something light and fluffy and relaxing to read, and this sounded right on the ball. However I found though the storyline was simple the execution of it wasn't. I wasn't entirely sure just why Jake was so interfering, the excuse that Skyla was his half sister didn't really make up for why he was so over the top in his actions – and why on earth Beth let him in when he turned up on her doorstep one evening, he's a total stranger and she lives alone! Then there's the fact for two days they're almost alone and go around the town, then his security team turn up and they can't even go in the garden without escort. Yes the engagement had led to media furore, but rather than tone it down they seemed to hype it up – still, I guess without that the story would be a bit flat :)

I liked Beth, sweet and friendly and prepared to see good in everyone. Jake I had mixed feelings over to begin, he was affectionate and supportive on one hand and behaved like a jerk at times on others. I understood exactly why Beth was contused over her reactions to him. Then there's the main problem – Brad. I was prepared to dislike him, and like Jake convinced he must still be in love with Beth, but though their relationship still seemed strange to me I understood it once I knew their history. The characters were great and I felt their emotions and that they were “real”. Shame the bitch queen interviewer didn't have a larger role – there was an opening here for a good “bad girl/bitch” and she would have been perfect. I do like someone nasty to throw a spanner in a romance – must be my weird side coming out but for me it makes the HEA so much sweeter.
Where the book fell down for me was in the execution of it – I found at times I didn't know who was speaking, or whether they were actually speaking or just thinking. The usual quote marks were often misplaced and I had to re read some text to make sense of what was being said, and who was saying it. Then there was a problem in that where a page break or even new chapter would have helped, the text just ran on. So for example, I'd go from being in a scene where Jake and Beth were talking to one where the action had moved to another place and yet the text simply continued so it took my brain a while to sort out. Had they moved to another room or had the story line simply left them and gone on to what other characters were doing. Simple stuff, but the book would have flowed better for me and I'd have been less confused if that was sorted.
Overall a good fun romance, a bit short on the downsides – the bit that makes you cry,(my weakness, but what makes for a good romance to me is the contrast between happy and sad parts) but plenty of happy spots. I enjoyed reading it but it won't go in my keepers file.
Its priced at £2.16 for 466kb – I haven't page info but based on reading time I’d guess at 120-150 pages.

Stars: if I’d been less confused about who said what and were we were then it'd be a four star but I'm dropping half a star for that so three and half for this book.

[Book Reading Gals · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Famously Engaged

Series: N/A

Author: Robyn Thomas

Genre: Romance

Blurb: A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Thoughts: Okay, to start off with I had a really rough time finishing up this book. The plot is just wild, with too much going on and a lot of it totally unbelievable. Jake's half-sister Skyla is getting married Brad - but Jake gets tired of hearing about how much Brad talks about his ex-wife, Beth. So he decides to get involved in this whole cluster of drama so he can support his half-sister - who by the way does not even realize that Jake is her half-brother. She just thinks he's her boss. It's further amassed in craziness, since Beth is still Brad's best friend and Skyla's maid of honor! And somehow Jake manages to convince Beth that he needs to move in with her temporarily - and she just buys into all the excuses he feeds her. The whole situation was just a bit too over-the-top and implausible.

And the characters were just not likeable at all. Jake is just so arrogant, condescending, and holier than thou - he even describes himself in terms that are just totally obnoxious. His character is my main criticism of the book. And Beth is pretty much a doormat. Even though the author tries to give her moments where she has spirit and a trace of a backbone, the fact is she still let's her ex have his way when it comes to constantly checking in with her and acting as if they are still best friends. She allows herself to become a bridesmaid in his wedding to his new wife, allows Jake to steamroll right over her, and just in general just goes along with whatever other people say. And that's just the main characters - I won't even get into the secondary ones!

And the reactions when everyone discovered all the different secrets going on just didn't seem sincere or accurate. But for me, even if the plot alone hadn't been so implausible, Jake himself would have done it for me. Hard to read about a "Rock God" who has such a high opinion of himself that he deems everyone else as unimportant. It was hard to connect with a character so unlikable.

Grade: D
Review By: Sarah

http://www.thebookreadinggals.com

[Elle (Ligia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 stars

Oh man, I don’t even know where to begin with this.

You will have to forgive my sarcasm, because that’s how I deal with ridiculous situations. Also, this “review” (it is actually more of a rant) might be slightly spoiler-ish.

So here’s the deal…

Jake Olsen is a rock star. He’s famous and everybody loves him. So far so good. He has a half-sister (who doesn’t know he’s her brother) who’s also his assistance and who’s also about to get married.

The problem? Her fiancé can’t stop talking about his ex-wife. The ex-wife who is sweet and nice and generous and… perfect.

So what can Jake do to make sure his half-sister doesn’t get cheated on? Why pretend he’s the ex-wife’s new fiancé, of course, what else!?

Can you hear me snorting? Yeah…

So up until this point I kind of hated Jake and his pretentious ass. As you can probably tell.

As it is normal in this situation Jake knocks on her door to inform her she’s the winner of some weird –and inexistent –lottery and is now engaged to him. Yay, anyone? Don’t think so.

Enter Beth, the ex-wife.

Beth just lost her mother and all she wants to do is be alone and try to rest, she doesn’t need anyone fussing over her, let alone a stranger barging into her home, claiming she’s fake-engaged to his and that the media will be on her doorstep the next morning, and that, of course, he has to hide in her house.

I’m pulling my hair here, guys! Pulling my hair!

A few deep breaths later and we move on.

To be fair the story didn’t really suck after that. Jake was really sweet and protective of Beth, but still a moron sometimes. And I melted away a few times too. Can’t really help it, all you have to do is say the right words and I’m a goner.

I especially liked Beth’s strength and determination. When it was time to let go and move on she had the guts to do it, she saw that the relationship wasn’t good for her and she took the first step, she put an end to it, and I loved her for it.

There were many unbelievable situations that I just didn’t buy, but I would say that the sweet and nice and passionate moments saved this book for me. There were some particularly heartbreaking moments too.

"You need to be the center of someone's life," he whispered. "I can't offer you that. I want to, but I can't"

So yes, we didn’t start real good with this story, but we didn’t end badly either. Which is why I had to think quite a bit on the rating for this book.

I don’t know if I can recommend it, because even though it was good, it was also bad and… it’s just up to you to give it a chance and decide if it was worth it or not.

[Tara Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, the lovely women at Entangled Publishing provide me with some of the best ever reading material! I really love getting the opportunity to review books for Entangled, because they are, without fail, well written and entertaining.

Famously Engaged, by Robyn Thomas, is a fun read.

Super famous rock god, Jake Olsen is just looking out for his baby sister's best interests when he decides to very publically engage himself to Beth Carlisle. What could go wrong? Only lots, of course!

The Good:

I liked the premise of the book. It was unique and a lot of fun. I liked the fact that Jake was doing his best to look out for his family, even though his sister didn't know they were related. It was touching that he went to such ridiculous lengths to try and head off a problem that really wasn't even there. Sure, there were probably easier ways to do it, but then there wouldn't have been much of a story there!

I loved that Beth was such a sweetheart. She really deserved the happily ever after that Jake gave her and she wasn't so sickeningly sweet and perfect that you ended up not liking her. She was a real trooper through all the media nonsense and it was easy to admire her pluck. Nothing beats a sassy heroine! I also got a kick out of the fact that all of Jake's band and entourage immediately adopted Beth as one of their own.

The interaction between Jake and his friends was great. It's exactly how guys who have been friends for a long time treat each other.

The dialogue was snappy and the descriptions didn't drag.

The Bad:

I know that they're secondary characters and all that, but Brad and Skyla kind of irked me. I get that Beth is a great person and all that. Like I said, almost too great.

Skyla being friends with Beth is cool. I like that she's able to be friends with her fiance's ex. But Brad? He's obssessed. Like way more so than any normal person should be. They got divorced for crying out loud. Yes, it's possible to still be friends with your ex, but it was really beyond what I'd tolerate in my fiance. So I wanted to kick Brad in the ding ding because he was stalkery in the extreme.

So, while Jake's approach was a little heavy handed and ridiculous, it was totally understandable given the epic creepiness of his future brother-in-law. Honestly, in Skyla's shoes, I'd have been looking for a new fiance long before the time he suggested moving in with his ex.

Overall:

It isn't an instant classic or the next Harry Potter, but Famously Engaged was a good read. It was quick and entertaining with a sweet outcome for two people who deserved to be happy.

[Sheri (Tangled Up In Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's always difficult writing these types of reviews but this book and I just did not get a long. At all. My first issue was that I found the story itself to not be believable, in any way. Not even in a fictitious book way. We have a "Rock God" (and that term was used often), Jake, whose half sister, but she doesn't know they're related she just thinks she works for him, Skyla is getting married to Brad, whose ex-wife Beth is his "best friend" and Skyla's maid of honor. Yet Brad is constantly calling, popping over and keeping close tabs on Beth because her mom was sick/dying and Brad thinks it would be wise if either Skyla or himself move in with her to make sure she's okay....What a mess. And so being the protective half-brother, and curious about her anyway after seeing a picture of her, Jake quickly steps in and decides to fly from England to Australia to move in with Beth until the wedding. I had a hard time following at times and had to reread quite a few paragraphs. Just that description wasn't easy to follow and gives me a headache all in itself!

Beth is supposed to be grieving. So when Mr. Rock God shows up on her doorstep initially she puts up a bit of a fight at having him intrude on her life, which really doesn't last long especially after a situation with the paparazzi occurs. The strangeness just goes on from there. I mean at one point she's practically begging him to come comfort her until she falls asleep. I just didn't get it. Rock star or not it was just weird because it's not like she was a groupie she didn't have a clue who he was until he pointed it out himself.

Jake was a bit too arrogant for my taste. His constant reminders of who he was got to be a bit much. And like I said in the beginning, the words "Rock God" were used far too often in reference to him. At one point when he was internally brooding over the differences between his life and Beth's he referred to himself as famous, talented and revered.

I really wish I had more positive things to say about this one but it really wasn't for me. And I tried to give it a chance. I truly did keep hoping as I pushed through that it would somehow make sense or spark something inside me but in the end there was nothing. Hopefully others have a better time of it than me.

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
www.readyourwrites.blogspot.com

Famously Engaged is possibly a really good book. However, for me I couldn’t get past Jake’s arrogance in the beginning. From there, I started nitpicking other little things like the cover and the description of Jake. Jake has long blonde hair, the guy on the cover doesn’t. Okay, enough about my little issues.

Famously Engaged is the story of Jake Olsen trying to protect his younger half-sister and Beth Carlisle trying to survive the death of her mother and carry on with her life. The two end up losing their hearts in the process.

Jake is a member of the successful British rock band, The Five Awesome Emperors. His half-sister, Skyla works for the group, but doesn’t know that she is related to Jake. Jake created the job just for her so that he could have some contact with at least one member of his family.

Beth is the ex-wife of Skyla’s fiancee, Brad. Beth and Brad are still extremely close; too close for Jake’s liking. In order to put some distance between Brad and Beth, Jake decides to show up on Beth’s doorstep (unannounced), telling her that they are going to be playing the part of an engaged couple, and live together until after Brad and Skyla’s wedding. This is Jake’s way of making sure that Brad stays away from Beth. In Jake's mind, there has to be something going on between Beth and Brad for Brad to ALWAYS talk about Beth and spend so much time with her. In reality, there really isn't anything going on between the two. Their families have been close since they were kids and they married because they thought it was what was expected of them. They are best friends and truly do love each other, as a brother and sister would. However, there is so much more to Jake then you see initially. He ends up being a really likeable guy.

For her part, Beth is really a nice and sweet person. She’s caring, loving, and giving. Jake can’t help but to fall for her himself. Unfortunately, Jake has an unfounded reputation with women and a media storm erupts with the announcement that Jake is engaged to Beth. Just when these two are actually finding the love they’ve each been looking for, Jake’s celebrity life tears them apart.

As I said earlier, I could have really liked the book but the Prologue put me off.

Rating: 3.5

Source: Publisher

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one likes a spoiled rock star, and Jake’s horribly bratty behavior and “do you know who I am” attitude was wearing through the entire story. I appreciated his desire to protect his sister, and he did show a more human and vulnerable side as the story progressed, even with his pulling the rock star card.

Beth was different, divorced and truly no longer in love with her ex (who happens to be Jake’s sister’s fiancé) is more than a bit naïve. I understand the closeness and the ability to be friends with an ex, but the whole premise of her being the wedding planner and everyone skipping down the rainbow road was just a bit much.

Add that bit of complication into Jake’s plan of removing Beth’s ex-husband and his sister’s fiancé from her life: the story just gets too tangled and further delves into improbable land. It was hard to drum up a great deal of empathy for the characters with all of the silliness surrounding their story, and their complete say one thing do another behaviors that went from confusing to annoying. Both plots took a while to both develop and find some sort of common ground where the flow was more cohesive, the jumping about in the early part of the book made it difficult to get a grasp of where the story would ultimately go, and those missing threads left holes in the story that suspended belief in the story and characters for far too long.

There was a serious lack of backbone from Beth for most of the story: a little conflict and push back from her was desperately needed to give even the smallest spark to the chemistry. There was great thought and energy expended to tell us there was an attraction, and there were moments of brilliant dialogue and clever plotting, but it all fell short for me.

I received an ARC copy from Entangled for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Melody May (What I'm Reading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Also posted on What I'm Reading

I don't know where to begin with Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas. I really wanted to love this story, but I just couldn't. I tried to find the thing that would save the story for me, and still couldn't. I'm a huge a believer in finding something good in the story even I when don't love the story. Even that I had a hard time.

The premise of Famously Engaged made the story sound like a lot of fun. You have Beth Carlise who happens to be a chef, best friend and ex-wife to the groom. Then you have Jake Olsen who is the older brother to the groom's fiancee. All he hears is how great Beth is, so he worries that his sister isn't going to have a wedding. However, she tries to convince her brother it isn't like that, but he still swoops in trying to fix keep Beth from ruining the wedding she's planning for her ex. Seriously, sounds like a lot of fun.

However, I couldn't get into the story. I truly tried. I even put the book down and decided to come back to the story to see if I just needed a break from the story. Honestly, it didn't help. The story had a lot of potential to be a lot of fun. However, you have Jake charging in and taking over a situation where he had no business doing so, because he was worry for nothing. Then you have Beth who just kind of goes with the flow. I think if there was a little more of battle of wills, it might have made the story a bit more interesting. It wasn't till we got closer to the end where Beth finally gets a backbone. Beth was a bit too passive for my taste.

This is just my thoughts on Famously Engaged. If the story appeals to you, you might want to checkout Famously Engaged for yourself. I'm just saying it didn't appeal to me in the end.

Copy provided by publisher

[Rhianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe it's just me but...

I don't give a lot of single star reviews because I'm usually pretty sure going in that I'll probably like the story at least a little. FAMOUSLY ENGAGED sounded like a fun concept, who doesn't like chefs and rock stars as protagonists? Alas, the plot is so contrived and the relationship so forced and lacking in chemistry I almost didn't read beyond the first few chapters.

Beth is of the romance heroine type known as the too-stupid-to-live heroine. She, quite literally, just welcomes a stranger into her home without immediately recognizing that he's pretty much the most famous rock star in the world. Seriously? Jake, on the other hand, goes halfway around the world on some hare-brained scheme because he's heard so much about Beth and thinks his secret half-sister is possibly being cheated on. In the blurb it's vague enough to be passable but in execution it's really bad.

There is no chemistry between Beth and Jake. Every thought they have about the other feels like it was placed there to further the plot, not the organic flow of real-ish characters. Add in ridiculously cheesy secondary characters, Beth getting bowled over by everyone around her, and the fact that her mother just died... yet she can move right on with a stranger within 24 hours of the funeral? No. Just no. The only thing I wound up liking about FAMOUSLY ENGAGED is the cover. Looking for a great read featuring a chef or a rock star? Try Gina Gordon's A TASTE OF TROUBLE or RECIPE FOR SATISFACTION for chefs (which both earned high ratings from me) and Olivia Cunning's Sinners or Sole Regret series (which, in full disclosure, I haven't read but have great reviews from my blogger friends) for rock stars.

Notes: ARC received via publisher.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give Robyn Thomas’ Famously Engaged 3 stars. Rock god, Jake Olsen railroads his way into Beth Carlisle’s life by creating a fake engagement, announced to the world, in order to keep her ex-husband away. Why the interest in this adventure? The ex, Brad, is about to marry Jake’s sister and he thinks Brad is still hung up on Beth. He couldn’t let his sister get hurt. Little does Jake know, he has set himself on a path that could surely only lead to his heart’s (and Beth’s) destruction.
I really loved the concept of this story, but I didn’t give it higher than 3 because there were just too many gaps, storylines jumped and confusion in the first several chapters. As the story progressed, there were less gaps and the story flowed together nicely. I truly enjoyed the book from the halfway point to the end. My other issue was the cover. The picture of the cover is clearly NOT of Jake because he is blonde with longer hair. This is a point of interest and Beth doesn’t particularly care for his hair and made into kind of a big deal, so I’m confused as to why the guy on the cover is not blonde.
Overall, I enjoyed Robyn’s writing and the interesting tale told of Jake and Beth. I would be intrigued for there to be a second book continuing their love story.

*I received an ARC for my honest review and this is my honest to goodness, straight from the heart review!*

www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com

[The Smutty Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly

3 out of 5 Licks

This is one of those books that I didn't dislike but it didn't really grab me and suck me in either. Jake is a rock star that comes across mostly as a jaded jerk. We find out right away that Skyla is his secret sister and she has no clue. He hired her to help with the bands fan mail so he could keep an eye on and take care of her from afar. He takes the time to insane amounts of research on Beth, Skyla's soon to be husband's ex-wife-are you still with me?-so he can show up on her doorstep with a ploy to keep her away from Skyla's future husband. Apparently he doesn't research enough to find out that Beth's mother has passed away after being sick for quite sometime. He forces himself upon her and then media chaos ensues. Beth is likable enough with her quirky dress and quick wit. I was not a fan of how quickly she falls into bed (couch) with Jake. She literally knew nothing about him, including the fact that he was famous less than 24 hours ago. While they do build the relationship over time they never really drew me in. I think it would have worked better if it were shorter. There were several times where the plot dragged enough for me to put it down and focus on something else for a while. There were several funny moments and the banter between them at times was quite amusing. Overall this book is worth taking a look at, especially if you prefer your heroes as rock stars.

[MaggieReadsRom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

I instantly liked Beth. She's funny, stubborn and outspoken. Jake has awesome dead-pan sense of humor but he's also a tad bossy and overbearing and expects people to comply with his every wish. Loved how Beth gave him a run for his money and doesn't take his crap and wouldn't fall at his feet in awe.

The marriage lottery spiel and newspaper article was a little farfetched and Beth's reaction to it was spot-on. Despite my trouble with the set-up I was soon intrigued by the sweet romance developing between Jake and Beth. The more I got to know them the more I saw two lonely, genuinely good people finding each other on multiple levels.

The slow-paced and rocky start threw me a bit but I can say I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. It was humorous and the love scenes were beautiful, and they fit the characters and the story perfectly.

Fave Scene:
- the scene in Beth's kitchen with the tablecloth > kinda naughty and sweet

Fave Quotes:
Lust strangled his vocal cords and fisted his hands.

"Another perfect hat trick. I'm burning the house down, my ex-husband is making his twelfth call of the day, and some moron is at the door."

His lips twitched and he offered her his hand.
"Go ahead and stare," he said when she failed to take it. "Get it out of your system."

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the exact reason why publishers send out ARC’s. I was first sent this in April and my review was what I can only describe as a little on the harsh side. But the author and publisher have clearly taken mine and others comments on board and when I was re-sent it a last week, I have found a story that has improved dramatically and I actually enjoyed this time round. Gone was the fast paced writing resulting in confusion, with characters I struggled to warm to and in its place is a nice steamy romance with characters that are far more endearing and a storyline that flowed much better.

Jake is the proverbial pop star; he's over-confident, pushy and has people at his beck and call. Delve deeper and he is a man hurting being estranged from his family. And he’s English - always a winner with me! Beth is his complete opposite; whilst fairly strong, she is grieving the death of her mother and longing for a life of love and family. They may have little in common, but they do say opposites attract…

Its romantic, steamy and whilst it may not have the most realistic of storylines, it leaves you with a smile on your face. My original rating was a 1, it's now deserving of the 3 I have given it.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I had a difficult time rating this book. For a start the whole premise of the cute meet strained my credulity even beyond what I (category romance tragic) could believe. The whole rockstar Jake organising a fake lottery so the heroine Beth would become his fiancee to separate her from her ex-husband who was about to marry his secret half-sister. Awkward.

This rather blighted the first few chapters and the ex, Brad, turned out to be annoyingly over present. It was hard to get into the 'lets all be good friends' vibe with Brad coming on as the heavy big brother all the time. At least Jake was right about one thing although the heroine didn't really see it as creepy.

However once I got into the book further, the character development settled down and I could start to relate to the hero and heroine. The dialogue was sparky and humorous and this made for an engaging read. There were quite a lot of secondary characters and this was a distraction in such a short book. I found I wanted more of the Kens and Teddy the chef but there wasn't room.

The real strength of the story came with the emotional scenes late in the book. They really did bring me to the verge of tears and for this I gave it an extra half star.

This is the second of Robyn Thomas' books I've read. The first was an Unexpected Family.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. A rock star with an agenda and a chef trying to pick up the pieces, I figured it was the perfect mix. Unfortunately, it feel a bit flat for me.

Jake Olson, will stop at nothing to ensure that his sister's wedding is perfect, even fake an engagement to the groom's ex-wife. But the woman he thought was a home wrecker turns out to be anything but and the one woman that Jake's willing to break his bands pact for.

Beth and Jake had such potential. They both see each other for who they really are, not as a rock star or a down on her luck chef trying to pull it together. They had fun with each other, despite how they came together, and truly made the other happy. Something neither of them had been in a long time. But their romance felt like it lacked the chemistry you knew was lurking just waiting to come out.


The secondary characters could have made the difference, but it felt like they just didn't have enough "face time" to help bring the story along. There was so much that could have happened with Jake's relationship with his sister coming out or even Beth's ex-husband, but it felt like we rushed passed all that to quickly get to Jake and Beth getting to their HEA.

A quick read, that was entertaining but fell a bit short for me.