Busted

Single Girl's Guide to Dating #4

by Jen Bee

Make it in Hollywood as A-list celebrity? Check. Convince small-town librarian (former Weird Girl turned inexplicably hot) she can trust me? Uh...not so easy.Okay, so I screwed up. Got busted for a night of mindless, drunken debauchery. No damage was done--expect to my career. That's in the toilet. In order to patch things up I need a little help from a woman who's determined to freeze me out. Not only did she cut me down to size, she made me look like a complete idiot. She’s spiteful, smart, and sexier than any woman has a right to be. Time for a charm offensive to warm her up. I'm an actor. I can fake it. Problem is, the closer I get to her, the more dangerously real this whole thing feels.

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2023

Reviews

[Heather Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of this novella. The only thing I don’t like about Jen Bee’s stories is that I wish they were full length novels, I’m always wanting more of the characters and the story. Bennett is an A-list celebrity that makes a huge mistake one night and has to make up for it. His agent makes him go back to his hometown for a month to help out with a local auction there to get some good press. Iris is the librarian running the auction and the only one in town not impressed with Bennet because they went to high school together and she remembers what he was like back then. Iris is annoyed he didn’t take the time to find out what the auction is for, so she tells him it’s about crickets. He spends the first meeting telling everyone fun facts about crickets. Then he gets the paperwork and finds out it’s about saving the library. Bennet can’t understand why Iris hates him so much, but he’s determined to win her over. As they work together on the auction they both start to have feelings, but they are from such different worlds, can it work out? You’ll have to read to find out.

[Susan McWhinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of a guy who leaves his small hometown and makes himself famous in LA. When he gets bad publicity, he needs to redeem his character, so is sent back to his hometown to help with a local auction. So starts the story of Iris and Bennett.

Iris knows Bennett from growing up and going to school with him. She does not like him. This enemies to lovers' story have all the feels and emotions that one would expect it to have. It has laugh out loud moments with quick witted replies from Iris when she corners Bennett.

A slow burn love develops for them both, but Iris has no expectations as she knows Bennett will return to LA to continue his work as an actor.

After a successful auction, due to Bennett being there to help Iris with the donations, Bennett saves Iris from some unwanted attention. He is her hero! Do they reach their HEA. Have a read to see how Iris and Bennett's story concludes!

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Four in The Single Girl’s Guide to Dating series, but can be read as a standalone.

Bennett, a Hollywood A-Lister leaves town after a wild night ended up with photos of him in a Hollywood tabloid.

He heads to his hometown in a bid to redeem himself by helping raise funds for a charity auction.

Iris is head librarian, and in charge of the fundraiser, hoping to raise enough money to extend the library. She remembers Bennett from school, but it takes him a while to realise who she is.

I loved this story from start to finish. The Characters were likeable and believable, with several laugh out loud moments for me.

The plot itself was thoughtfully written, with a slow build up to the ending, which didn’t disappoint.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Smadma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Busted is a fun, quick read about Iris and Bennett. Iris is a librarian in her hometown where she is arranging an auction to raise much needed funds for the library. Bennett is an actor who is trying to change his image and produce a meaningful show that was greenlighted until he made the unfortunate decision to fool around with an exec’s partner. On the advice of his manager to get out of the limelight for a while, he returns to his hometown to help out with the auction. Iris and Bennett went to school together, but they didn’t run in the same circles and Bennett definitely wasn’t his best self. As the 2 are forced to work together, they realize that there may be something more and Iris realizes that Bennett may be better than the person she remembers from her past and assumed he was presently.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brittani Oplinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. I didn't realize it was a "bite-sized" book until I was almost done, which did change my expectations. I don't know if I'm just not the target audience or what, but I struggled to fully buy the story. It was absolutely adorable, don't get me wrong. The main character was lovable, did the right things, and stood up for Iris (the female lead) when needed. My struggle was in the switch from enemies to lovers. It was too quick a jump for me. I would've appreciated a little more transition from hating each other to giving in to the attraction. However, that said I did enjoy this story. It was a quick read (just as described), and a satisfying ending. I recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Librarian and Producer – what a match! This is about Iris and Bennett. Bennett is on the way to his old hometown about to help the library get a much-needed uplift with an auction; however, he never thought that the sweet little old librarian would be his biggest match to overcome. Not only because the image he had of a sweet little old librarian was not even close to his match of a young woman that he recalls as them calling her the “weird flower girl” in high school. When she hears that it triggers something in her that she sends him on a learning path of crickets! It was hilarious, but in the end, Bennett realizes his mistake and instead of being upset he takes it in stride. Love his dedication and his change in friends in the end.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was quick but still had enough substance to be satisfying and engaging. Bennett is a successful movie star. When he gets some bad publicity that has negative effects on a movie project, Bennett returns to his small hometown. His agent has arranged for him to do some charity fundraising work to help his reputation while Bennett visits his family. Iris was the smart but weird kid in their high school. She’s now a librarian in their town and is working on the library's fundraiser. This is a nicely romantic story with likable characters, some heat, a HEA and a bonus epilogue. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rae Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett is an actor who has made his career out of one-liners and being the sidekick. Iris was the smart girl in school who skipped grades, but didn't ever fit in.

When Bennett is busted in a compromising situation, he returns home to help restore his image by helping at the local library auction - the library where Iris works.

Busted is full of great banter and characters. It's a quick read, but I felt it was missing… something. I still enjoyed the book, but I wish it was longer to allow more development of the relationship and the storyline.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got all I was looking for; such a good, great, beautiful and amazing romance.

This book was so good! Jen Bee brought two characters in to take over your heart! She manages to transform a great love story into a small story or as she says "Bite-sized morsels of romantic fiction", without making you feel like anything is missing.

Once I started reading this book, I had to finish it in one go. Her books simply put you in a good mood.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lottie Hildenbrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a sweet romance with a sassy woman paired with a bad boy ready to turn over a new leaf. Their banter and interaction is delightful. The book is a short, quick read that is great for when you want a light reading break.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jill Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bennett and Iris are a cute couple. They did not get on when at school and Iris is still holding that against him so they get off to a bad start when they meet again. Although this book is short it does not affect this story and we gets lots of detail to make this a sweet and spicy read.
I received a copy from Booksirens and leave my review voluntarily.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cricket trivia can be fun…

For Bennet, life as a famous actor seems to have lost its appeal. I loved how his life trajectory and challenges bring him back to his home town. Meeting Lily -aka weird flower girl- to work on an auction project just sets the stage for fun banter and some heart-bearing vulnerable moments. Staying true to yourself and pursuing what you love are wonderful takeaways. Oh, and the cricket trivia… LOVED that part!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner. I have enjoyed each other the other's in the series. Iris and Bennett are a good pair. They fit together. With a good chemistry made it hard to put the story down. They went to school together and now he's home and is attracted to her. a great read

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion. Busted was a real bust! I was do disappointed. The storyline was weak; the characters too predictable; the plot was actually boring; and even the HEA was not this author’s best. Sorry Jen—you missed the boat on this one! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and was really disappointed.) 😢

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story with a little heat woven in to keep you hooked. I loved the bit of humour laced throughout as well. It really made the story enjoyable.

I just wanted more time to see these 2 one together and really find their way.