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Center Stage #2
Method Acting: Library Edition
All Alicia Johnson has ever wanted is to be able to slip into someone else's life, clothing, and makeup to become a murderess, a socialite, or a nurse for an episode or a season. Being an actress comes with a healthy dose of financial insecurity and a willingness to live out of two jammed suitcases, ready to go wherever the next director wants her. Up until now, it's been worth it for the creative escape and the thrill of applause.
All Colin St. Cyr has ever wanted is to win, going all-in to get Congress to see things his clients' way. Despite being a Brit in Washington, DC, he is well off, well connected . . . and well on his way to becoming a bachelor forevermore after a heinous breakup. Especially as he's just made an arse of himself with the first woman who has knocked him sideways in years. It won't matter how much money he donates to the theater; Alicia is still going to look at him like a goddess looks at a flea. The only thing he can do is use his persuasive skills to talk her into giving him a second chance.
The stage is set, but by the final act, is it a love story between the provocative actress and the cultured power-player or will it end in tragedy?
Contains mature themes.
All Colin St. Cyr has ever wanted is to win, going all-in to get Congress to see things his clients' way. Despite being a Brit in Washington, DC, he is well off, well connected . . . and well on his way to becoming a bachelor forevermore after a heinous breakup. Especially as he's just made an arse of himself with the first woman who has knocked him sideways in years. It won't matter how much money he donates to the theater; Alicia is still going to look at him like a goddess looks at a flea. The only thing he can do is use his persuasive skills to talk her into giving him a second chance.
The stage is set, but by the final act, is it a love story between the provocative actress and the cultured power-player or will it end in tragedy?
Contains mature themes.
Audio CD
Published April 18, 2023
7 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Adele Buck
13 books191 followersA New Hampshire native, Adele still has membership card number 430 from her hometown library even though she has lived in the D.C. area for over 20 years with her fantastic husband and the requisite number of melodramatic cats.
Having worked as (among other things): a bookseller, a server, a communications manager, an actor, and a stage manager, Adele is currently employed as a librarian at a Washington, D.C. law school.
To keep up with the latest, please sign up for her newsletter on adelebuck.com.
(Photo credit: Brian Adams PhotoGraphics)
Having worked as (among other things): a bookseller, a server, a communications manager, an actor, and a stage manager, Adele is currently employed as a librarian at a Washington, D.C. law school.
To keep up with the latest, please sign up for her newsletter on adelebuck.com.
(Photo credit: Brian Adams PhotoGraphics)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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April 7, 2021"Red Alert, rom-com fans! Method Acting is a real treat! Adele Buck's delightful Center Stage series just keeps getting better and better!"
—Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Method Acting is smart, surefooted romance. Watching Alicia fight for her HEA—especially when a lot of what she has to fight is her own fear—is so satisfying!"
—Jenny Holiday, Author of Three Little Words
"Alicia and Colin are sexy as hell. Their glamorous careers are sexy as hell. And the fact that they are attracted to each other although they are uniquely different is sexy. as. hell. Method Acting is everything that makes opposites attract so DELICIOUS to read. I loved the friction, the gorgeous descriptions throughout, and the challenges that make this couple feel so real and relatable...and so incredibly right for each other."
—Lynn Turner, Author of Pas De Deux: A Dance For Two
—Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Method Acting is smart, surefooted romance. Watching Alicia fight for her HEA—especially when a lot of what she has to fight is her own fear—is so satisfying!"
—Jenny Holiday, Author of Three Little Words
"Alicia and Colin are sexy as hell. Their glamorous careers are sexy as hell. And the fact that they are attracted to each other although they are uniquely different is sexy. as. hell. Method Acting is everything that makes opposites attract so DELICIOUS to read. I loved the friction, the gorgeous descriptions throughout, and the challenges that make this couple feel so real and relatable...and so incredibly right for each other."
—Lynn Turner, Author of Pas De Deux: A Dance For Two
April 10, 2021
I was very excited to read Adele Buck's new contemporary romance. Method Acting is an interesting story about a Shakespearean actress who has escaped a difficult family life and a man who works in STEM, who appears to have come from the "right side of the tracks." It gives the reader an intriguing peak into the world of the stage and I enjoyed seeing the interactions that Alicia had with her actor colleagues. I must admit I had a few reservations about the romance at first, because there is a fair bit of push and pull between the protagonists, and that often manifested in arguments. However, I appreciate that they both spoke their minds and found ways to get past those moments. It's very clear that Alicia, the heroine, has a lot of scars from her family life and she carries that forward in her relationship with Colin. Although they do go through a break up period, as so many romance characters do, their reconciliation is really quite lovely. I feel as if I got to know Alicia a bit better than Colin in this story, and there were times when I felt I needed more insight into his character, but I did appreciate the way he gave Alicia space to make up her mind. I quite enjoyed the love scenes too and there are some witty moments that readers of the genre will definitely appreciate.
May 13, 2021
5/8/2021 - Another “I’ll write a better review later” placeholder.
This book was angstier than the first and Alicia was a prickly character which made it difficult to connect at first. However, I think it also gave her a depth. This was a true “opposites attract” as Colin & Alicia were different in so many ways. Yet I was still able to believe in them as a couple. Sexy scenes to enjoy without taking over the story. Plus an epilogue. I love them. 😉
This book was angstier than the first and Alicia was a prickly character which made it difficult to connect at first. However, I think it also gave her a depth. This was a true “opposites attract” as Colin & Alicia were different in so many ways. Yet I was still able to believe in them as a couple. Sexy scenes to enjoy without taking over the story. Plus an epilogue. I love them. 😉
May 9, 2021
Such a different dynamic than the first book in this series, yet equally impossible to put down! Alicia and Colin feel like polar opposites, but they actually have more in common than they think, especially when it comes to leaving home and their family (and family’s expectations) to embrace their true professional dreams. Actress Alicia is a heroine who distances herself from emotional attachments for a reason, but Colin the lobbyist is always patient and understanding with her, even when they butt heads. I appreciated that he was always quick to try and make up for putting his foot in his mouth, although he did seem to be apologizing a LOT sometimes and often it felt like Alicia was one of his misstep away from closing herself off, so they both had to learn to really just communicate with one another after discovering their physical chemistry. Still, another really fun installment and I’m thrilled about another sequel coming up!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 20, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in the Center Stage series. The somewhat-opposites attract story, set in Washington DC, was engaging and angsty enough to make me cry a few times.
As with the previous book in the series, the author excels at making the characters feel like real people who behave like adults and communicate. I would go to battle for Alicia. She’s guarded and fiercely independent. (Some will probably call her “prickly”.) Colin proved to be a solid love interest. It was easy to root for this couple to succeed.
While characters from Acting Up (book 1 in the series) are mentioned, Method Acting can be read as a standalone.
Source of book: Purchased by me
As with the previous book in the series, the author excels at making the characters feel like real people who behave like adults and communicate. I would go to battle for Alicia. She’s guarded and fiercely independent. (Some will probably call her “prickly”.) Colin proved to be a solid love interest. It was easy to root for this couple to succeed.
While characters from Acting Up (book 1 in the series) are mentioned, Method Acting can be read as a standalone.
Source of book: Purchased by me
April 16, 2021
Content warnings:
I absolutely adored Adele Buck’s first book so I was very eager to see where the next book in the series would take us. This one doesn’t focus as much on the behind the scenes bits of acting, but it does have a delightfully steamy opposites-attract couple!
Alicia is finishing up a run in Romeo & Juliet at the Folger’s in D.C. and contemplating her next steps. But what’s not on her plan is getting insulted by Colin, a STEAM lobbyist, at one of the theater’s benefit nights. Colin didn’t mean to put his foot in his mouth with his comment about actors being liars, but there’s something about Alicia that sets him off-balance. The fact that he can’t get her out of his mind days later doesn’t help, either, and the same is true for Alicia. But their two worlds are very different, and it’s going to take a lot of lessons in how to act as a couple for them to stop their relationship from turning into a Shakespearean tragedy.
I absolutely adored Alicia. She’s fiercely independent – for a good reason – but that also means that she’s an actress slowly approaching her expiration date who has neither a permanent base nor many friends. She does make friends with some of the women from her latest production, though, as they say, they practically have to force their friendship on herTo be honest, the only person she regularly communicates with, besides her agent, is her frenemy Susan (villain of the last book), and that’s more because she likes seeing how much she can annoy her. Colin’s her complete opposite. He has multiple degrees to her GED and a swanky D.C. pad to her “garden” sublet. But he also frequently jams his foot in along with that silver spoon in his mouth. He’s not aware of his own biases, from calling all actors liars to how some of his compliments to Alicia can come off as condescending.
Alicia is prickly, to put it mildly, and generally unwilling to let thoughtless comments slide. While I appreciated having a heroine who stood up for herself, it did lead to a very see-saw sort of relationship. It felt like Alicia was always one wrong comment from walking away from their relationship. And that’s partially true, though it’s more like she was trying to force Colin away. She’s convinced that they’re too different and their relationship will only lead to heartbreak. What saved that dynamic for me is that neither of them do walk away – Alicia and Colin talk it out, and eventually it’s sometimes even Colin who has to call her out on her assumptions. They are always honest with each other, though. It does make for some magnificent chemistry, too, and the love scenes were well done and steamy.
The pacing worked very well for the book, and the side characters, though there weren’t that many, felt real as well. I actually really want Colin’s friend Brandon and his fiancée Mari’s story as well! My only quibble is that it felt like Alicia had much more character development than Colin. While he’s got his own thing he’s working through, it felt smaller – and was much more recent – than Alicia’s problem. His other issue – of putting his foot in his mouth – was handled excellently.
Overall, I enjoyed this second Center Stage book just as much as the first, and the teaser at the end has me even more excited for Freddie and James’ (second chance!!!!) romance.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I absolutely adored Adele Buck’s first book so I was very eager to see where the next book in the series would take us. This one doesn’t focus as much on the behind the scenes bits of acting, but it does have a delightfully steamy opposites-attract couple!
Alicia is finishing up a run in Romeo & Juliet at the Folger’s in D.C. and contemplating her next steps. But what’s not on her plan is getting insulted by Colin, a STEAM lobbyist, at one of the theater’s benefit nights. Colin didn’t mean to put his foot in his mouth with his comment about actors being liars, but there’s something about Alicia that sets him off-balance. The fact that he can’t get her out of his mind days later doesn’t help, either, and the same is true for Alicia. But their two worlds are very different, and it’s going to take a lot of lessons in how to act as a couple for them to stop their relationship from turning into a Shakespearean tragedy.
“I don’t believe in soul mates,” she said.
“Nor do I. But I do believe in the kind of compatibility that can make two people want to work through their differences.”
“And you think we have the potential for that?”
“I do. The question is, do you?”
I absolutely adored Alicia. She’s fiercely independent – for a good reason – but that also means that she’s an actress slowly approaching her expiration date who has neither a permanent base nor many friends. She does make friends with some of the women from her latest production, though, as they say, they practically have to force their friendship on herTo be honest, the only person she regularly communicates with, besides her agent, is her frenemy Susan (villain of the last book), and that’s more because she likes seeing how much she can annoy her. Colin’s her complete opposite. He has multiple degrees to her GED and a swanky D.C. pad to her “garden” sublet. But he also frequently jams his foot in along with that silver spoon in his mouth. He’s not aware of his own biases, from calling all actors liars to how some of his compliments to Alicia can come off as condescending.
Alicia is prickly, to put it mildly, and generally unwilling to let thoughtless comments slide. While I appreciated having a heroine who stood up for herself, it did lead to a very see-saw sort of relationship. It felt like Alicia was always one wrong comment from walking away from their relationship. And that’s partially true, though it’s more like she was trying to force Colin away. She’s convinced that they’re too different and their relationship will only lead to heartbreak. What saved that dynamic for me is that neither of them do walk away – Alicia and Colin talk it out, and eventually it’s sometimes even Colin who has to call her out on her assumptions. They are always honest with each other, though. It does make for some magnificent chemistry, too, and the love scenes were well done and steamy.
“Are you saying you want to take care of me?”
“I’m saying I think we could take care of each other.”
The pacing worked very well for the book, and the side characters, though there weren’t that many, felt real as well. I actually really want Colin’s friend Brandon and his fiancée Mari’s story as well! My only quibble is that it felt like Alicia had much more character development than Colin. While he’s got his own thing he’s working through, it felt smaller – and was much more recent – than Alicia’s problem. His other issue – of putting his foot in his mouth – was handled excellently.
Overall, I enjoyed this second Center Stage book just as much as the first, and the teaser at the end has me even more excited for Freddie and James’ (second chance!!!!) romance.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 18, 2022
Very enjoyable, mostly low-conflict contemporary romance set in DC between a lobbyist and an actress. I liked that The pacing was a little strange for me -there was never a big blowout argument/conflict/conflagration like there usually is in romance. It wasn't necessarily bad, and probably more realistic to actual life, but not quite what I expected. I would've liked a bit more of both protagonist's backstories, especially Alicia's, but some of that may have been laid out in the first book in this series. This is an author that wasn't familiar to me until I was looking for books to read for this year's Bingo, and I'm so glad I did!
(2022 Summer Romance Bingo: protagonist smells like laundry. Would also work for bath.)
(2022 Summer Romance Bingo: protagonist smells like laundry. Would also work for bath.)
June 29, 2021
This is the second in the series, and the pace at the beginning suggests that Adele Buck has got into the flow of writing in this almost-real world of actors, theatre and their lives and loves.
The pace slows a bit in the middle, and I'm not sure any man would be as patient as Colin is in this story (but he is "Mr Sincere", so, who knows...). I really wish we'd been shown the proposal that the epilogue tells us has happened, and I think there would be room for another book/novella covering that stage of their relationship - and maybe allowing us to meet Grace?
A strong continuation of this world though, and the preview of the third one promises the return of Susan, and maybe an update on Paul and Cath!
The pace slows a bit in the middle, and I'm not sure any man would be as patient as Colin is in this story (but he is "Mr Sincere", so, who knows...). I really wish we'd been shown the proposal that the epilogue tells us has happened, and I think there would be room for another book/novella covering that stage of their relationship - and maybe allowing us to meet Grace?
A strong continuation of this world though, and the preview of the third one promises the return of Susan, and maybe an update on Paul and Cath!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2021
The acting workshop scene alone was marvelous. The romance absolutely sizzles in this book, but that's just part of its delight. Adele Buck knows how to write people, and give them depth even if just bit characters. I love that the books in this series relate to one another but firmly establish their own spaces. (Even if one of those spaces appears to be a DC English basement apartment without a Brita filter. 😘)
April 25, 2021
Romcom magic
When I saw a recommendation from Suzanne Brockmann, I have to admit my expectations were pretty high... but this witty, fun romance totally delivered! Really enjoyed how Colin made his living being persuasive, but kept muddling his interactions with Alicia. And for some reason, his very British inner monologue just tickled my funny bone.
When I saw a recommendation from Suzanne Brockmann, I have to admit my expectations were pretty high... but this witty, fun romance totally delivered! Really enjoyed how Colin made his living being persuasive, but kept muddling his interactions with Alicia. And for some reason, his very British inner monologue just tickled my funny bone.
May 30, 2021
4.5 stars! Another beautiful story from Adele Buck. I really love this series. I especially love the dialogue and how real-feeling it is. Her characters are a delight. Can't wait for the next one!
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July 3, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Slut shaming
Cheating recounted
Familial estrangement
Death of a parent recounted
Slut shaming
Cheating recounted
Familial estrangement
Death of a parent recounted
September 22, 2021
Delightful read
June 15, 2022
Very enjoyable mature romance.
December 2, 2024
this book felt so melancholy and somber. i liked them as a couple; when they were good, they were sooo good, but so often they were arguing and i just didn't believe they should be together. i am all for her telling him when she doesn't like what he is saying, like yess call people out, but sometimes it felt like she was picking fights because she wanted to. she was assuming he meant something even though he didn't; it just seemed like she thought he had the worst intentions even though she already got to know him.
December 5, 2022
This is the second in the Centre stage series, which doesn't have to be read in order, but if you do/are going to, the heroine of this is Alicia, who you see through emails in the previous story. She is performing in a Shakespeare play in Washington when she meets political lobbyist Colin, and it's a case of bad first impression and trying to turn it around. And it turned out to be a delight for me - the characters are fun and funny and their romance is enjoyable to watch develop. Plus for me it had the bonus of being set in Washington - and mentioning a bunch of places that I visited when I was living there (how is it four years ago!) and I love that sort of thing.
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November 30, 2023own on kindle
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews