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The Publicist #1-2
The Publicist: Book One and Two
Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t sell, and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.
Enter the star editor, MacDermott Ellis: Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author—now as forgotten as last year’s bestsellers and his nephew Nick: Tall, gorgeous, sweet, single, and ready to sweep Kate off her feet. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions.
As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week,” she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more romance and sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.
Includes Book Two:
Publishing: An industry of out-of-control of egos, unrealistic expectations, and books with the shelf life of milk. This is Kate’s world, but for how long?
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure….
Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story.
Enter the star editor, MacDermott Ellis: Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author—now as forgotten as last year’s bestsellers and his nephew Nick: Tall, gorgeous, sweet, single, and ready to sweep Kate off her feet. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions.
As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week,” she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more romance and sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.
Includes Book Two:
Publishing: An industry of out-of-control of egos, unrealistic expectations, and books with the shelf life of milk. This is Kate’s world, but for how long?
When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure….
Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she's welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she'd been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story.
586 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2014
82 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Christina George
27 books196 followersI've worked in publishing for twenty years and I sincerely love books and authors. I started this journey with my own books planning to write just one, and then well - all I can say is the stories kept coming. My original series The Publicist, follows Kate, Mac, Nick, Vivienne and a host of other awesome characters as they make their lives in New York, amidst the chaos that publishing often brings with it.
I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper's Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call "the coven." These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I'm not actively writing a book, I'm probably dreaming of what I'll write next.
Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books.
I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper's Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call "the coven." These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I'm not actively writing a book, I'm probably dreaming of what I'll write next.
Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 16, 2015
Actual rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
I did not finish this book, and I’m sorry for that. Most of the writing was fine, but I couldn't get through it.
What I liked: The character thoughts were witty, in places. At the beginning, the reader stayed in scene with the character, and the expository details were woven into the action, which was nice. The setup for the story was good, although it was a little unrealistic. The writing started off at a good pace and kept me engaged, although it slowed down as the story progressed.
What I didn't like: There were four big issues I had with this story, as far as I read.
First, there was A LOT of product placement (places, place names, brands, etc.). Not only are those references ineffective if readers aren't familiar with what's mentioned, but the references were so frequent that they prevented the author from providing descriptions and writing so the reader could SEE where we were, with the character. Show, don’t tell. For example, I’ve been on the subway in New York City. But someone who hasn’t been on the subway, wouldn’t know that you go underground, it’s hot from the moment you get down there, you go through a turnstile where you scan your subway card (and sometimes it doesn't work the first time), you wait on a platform where you can see into the tracks on both sides (which always made me nervous), the subway cars rattle, some subways go through and the air whooshes by (watching them makes me motion sick), and some subways stop and go. Sometimes on the subway there are enough seats, and sometimes the cars are so packed that people are on top of one another. There are an infinite number of setting details that I didn't have the space to write and that the characters could have chosen to focus on. Details like that would have characterized Kate better than me being told about her and, depending on what the she chose, those details would have increased the tension.
Second, the writing relied a lot on stereotypes, which I REALLY don't appreciate, since I am a writer and a person. As a writer, I didn’t appreciate all of the rips on authors and the publishing industry. As a person, I understand when characters have certain opinions that I don't agree with, but these views seemed out-of-character, like author-imposed opinions, rather than organic character opinions, and the dependence on stereotypes was offensive and served as a way to avoid describing people as unique individuals. I don’t read books so I can read about stereotypical characters.
Third, so many opportunities for details were missed, with the red carpet event, the interviews, the airport travels, the all-day author meetings. Skipping those, and not describing them, took all the fun and tension out of the story. Those are times when things happen, where the story takes place. The scenes started jumping too quickly, and nothing happened.
Fourth, the reader was given so many names at the beginning of this story that I didn’t know who was important and who was who. So many possible love interests/conflict-makers were mentioned that I didn't know who to focus on. It's overwhelming for the reader and not interesting because I didn’t care enough about the main character. Along with that, some of the background information seemed irrelevant to the story. And there didn’t seem to be much at stake for Kate; she had a pretty good life, except for a few small mishaps.
This review is my personal opinion. And I’d like to suggest to the author a writing exercise: keep the characters in the same place for as long as possible and describe, describe, describe. Describe everything.
Despite the problems I had with this book, I hope the author keeps writing because there is a lot of potential and room for improvement.
I did not finish this book, and I’m sorry for that. Most of the writing was fine, but I couldn't get through it.
What I liked: The character thoughts were witty, in places. At the beginning, the reader stayed in scene with the character, and the expository details were woven into the action, which was nice. The setup for the story was good, although it was a little unrealistic. The writing started off at a good pace and kept me engaged, although it slowed down as the story progressed.
What I didn't like: There were four big issues I had with this story, as far as I read.
First, there was A LOT of product placement (places, place names, brands, etc.). Not only are those references ineffective if readers aren't familiar with what's mentioned, but the references were so frequent that they prevented the author from providing descriptions and writing so the reader could SEE where we were, with the character. Show, don’t tell. For example, I’ve been on the subway in New York City. But someone who hasn’t been on the subway, wouldn’t know that you go underground, it’s hot from the moment you get down there, you go through a turnstile where you scan your subway card (and sometimes it doesn't work the first time), you wait on a platform where you can see into the tracks on both sides (which always made me nervous), the subway cars rattle, some subways go through and the air whooshes by (watching them makes me motion sick), and some subways stop and go. Sometimes on the subway there are enough seats, and sometimes the cars are so packed that people are on top of one another. There are an infinite number of setting details that I didn't have the space to write and that the characters could have chosen to focus on. Details like that would have characterized Kate better than me being told about her and, depending on what the she chose, those details would have increased the tension.
Second, the writing relied a lot on stereotypes, which I REALLY don't appreciate, since I am a writer and a person. As a writer, I didn’t appreciate all of the rips on authors and the publishing industry. As a person, I understand when characters have certain opinions that I don't agree with, but these views seemed out-of-character, like author-imposed opinions, rather than organic character opinions, and the dependence on stereotypes was offensive and served as a way to avoid describing people as unique individuals. I don’t read books so I can read about stereotypical characters.
Third, so many opportunities for details were missed, with the red carpet event, the interviews, the airport travels, the all-day author meetings. Skipping those, and not describing them, took all the fun and tension out of the story. Those are times when things happen, where the story takes place. The scenes started jumping too quickly, and nothing happened.
Fourth, the reader was given so many names at the beginning of this story that I didn’t know who was important and who was who. So many possible love interests/conflict-makers were mentioned that I didn't know who to focus on. It's overwhelming for the reader and not interesting because I didn’t care enough about the main character. Along with that, some of the background information seemed irrelevant to the story. And there didn’t seem to be much at stake for Kate; she had a pretty good life, except for a few small mishaps.
This review is my personal opinion. And I’d like to suggest to the author a writing exercise: keep the characters in the same place for as long as possible and describe, describe, describe. Describe everything.
Despite the problems I had with this book, I hope the author keeps writing because there is a lot of potential and room for improvement.
August 18, 2020
Christina George, ‘The Publicist’, book One.
Behind the book there’s always more to the story.
Book One & Two Bundle.
As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy of book 1 and 2 of these series and promised an honest review of these books. Here my review of Book One.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Loving a married man.
Main character:
- Katharine ‘Kate’ Mitchell (34).
Born and raised in a small village in Arizona. She left the boring Arizona desert of her parents as soon as possible for an interesting career at a leading NY publishing company (MD). Ambition, hard work and being talented led her becoming a successful PR Director.
- MacDermott ‘Mac’ Ellis (almost 50).
He has an important job at the MD publishing company as part of the senior editorial staff. And made millions of dollars for MD.
Early in his marriage his wife had a miscarriage shortly after Mac had left home for an emergency at the office. It was the end of their love life. She withdraw to the guest room and after a long time Mac - for many years - found emotionless comfort in a lot of ‘friends with benefits’. But he felt obliged to stay in his marriage.
Kate and Mac often work together in assignments to promote authors. Though both know that a permanent relationship is impossible, they gradually fall in love. The affair becomes complicated when Kate meets another man she likes very much and whose family is involved in creating bestsellers.
The author Christina George mixes the love story with interesting info about publishing books. She makes in this well written easy to read novel clear that making a lot of money in the publishing industry is difficult in a world full of ebooks, changing ideas about cultural taste and self-centered authors who expect from their publisher that he makes him or her famous and all their books bestsellers.
Book One ends with a cliffhanger about Kate’s relationship. So I’m looking forward to Book Two to learn how the love story of the wonderful main characters, working in a very difficult but fascinating profession, ends.
Christina George, ‘The Publicist’, book Two.
SHELF LIFE.
Book One & Two Bundle.
Here my review of Book Two (Shelf Life).
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Loving a married man (2).
At the start of book 2 it’s clear that Kate has to make important decisions: continue her complicated affair with a married Mac or start a new love with Nick, who lives in California. And moreover: she inherited a brilliant manuscript from a very good old friend who died. He was a client of MD, but didn’t want the book published by that company. And Kate, being a MD employee cannot publish the book on her own.
The author, Christina George, creates a compelling story about Kate’s love life intertwined with the unexpected course of her publishing career. Sometimes a bit too much coincidence. But all in all: wonderful, credible characters and interesting dialogues made the book - for me - a pleasure to read. And as a surprise: an open end, so I’m looking forward to Book 3 (The Climax) of the series.
R Huiszoon.
Behind the book there’s always more to the story.
Book One & Two Bundle.
As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy of book 1 and 2 of these series and promised an honest review of these books. Here my review of Book One.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Loving a married man.
Main character:
- Katharine ‘Kate’ Mitchell (34).
Born and raised in a small village in Arizona. She left the boring Arizona desert of her parents as soon as possible for an interesting career at a leading NY publishing company (MD). Ambition, hard work and being talented led her becoming a successful PR Director.
- MacDermott ‘Mac’ Ellis (almost 50).
He has an important job at the MD publishing company as part of the senior editorial staff. And made millions of dollars for MD.
Early in his marriage his wife had a miscarriage shortly after Mac had left home for an emergency at the office. It was the end of their love life. She withdraw to the guest room and after a long time Mac - for many years - found emotionless comfort in a lot of ‘friends with benefits’. But he felt obliged to stay in his marriage.
Kate and Mac often work together in assignments to promote authors. Though both know that a permanent relationship is impossible, they gradually fall in love. The affair becomes complicated when Kate meets another man she likes very much and whose family is involved in creating bestsellers.
The author Christina George mixes the love story with interesting info about publishing books. She makes in this well written easy to read novel clear that making a lot of money in the publishing industry is difficult in a world full of ebooks, changing ideas about cultural taste and self-centered authors who expect from their publisher that he makes him or her famous and all their books bestsellers.
Book One ends with a cliffhanger about Kate’s relationship. So I’m looking forward to Book Two to learn how the love story of the wonderful main characters, working in a very difficult but fascinating profession, ends.
Christina George, ‘The Publicist’, book Two.
SHELF LIFE.
Book One & Two Bundle.
Here my review of Book Two (Shelf Life).
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Loving a married man (2).
At the start of book 2 it’s clear that Kate has to make important decisions: continue her complicated affair with a married Mac or start a new love with Nick, who lives in California. And moreover: she inherited a brilliant manuscript from a very good old friend who died. He was a client of MD, but didn’t want the book published by that company. And Kate, being a MD employee cannot publish the book on her own.
The author, Christina George, creates a compelling story about Kate’s love life intertwined with the unexpected course of her publishing career. Sometimes a bit too much coincidence. But all in all: wonderful, credible characters and interesting dialogues made the book - for me - a pleasure to read. And as a surprise: an open end, so I’m looking forward to Book 3 (The Climax) of the series.
R Huiszoon.
August 19, 2020
The Publicist
I’ve had this on my “want to read” list for quite a while and when the opportunity came up, I couldn’t pass it by. Now, I’m left fighting with myself, trying to form an honest opinion of the book. It happens to put a couple of my least favorite themes into the book, which is making it difficult for me to judge it fairly. I’m not a fan of love triangles and stories with active cheating leave me feeling squicky. So Mac and Kate and Nick leave me confused. The story itself was okay, though there were a lot of times the pacing felt slow. I really liked that Kate is an independent career woman looking to make her mark on her industry. I didn’t enjoy as much that it felt like almost everyone was living their lives for other people. Maybe that was the lesson I was supposed to learn from the story. If so, it was a little lost on me.
Shelf Life
I kind of don’t even know what to say about this book. It doesn’t push as many of my emotional hot-buttons as the first one did, but you still know full well going into it that the triangular nature of Kate’s love life is going to leave a trail of carnage a mile wide behind her. For my personal preferences, there was just too much book here telling the main story. Yeah, there are some fun detours – I absolutely ADORED Andrew – however I thought they distracted more than enhanced the central plotline. I liked seeing the lessons that Kate learns on this somewhat forced journey of self-discovery. It’s an often-twisty path she follows, yet I think she comes out of it stronger and more self-aware. I’m not sure either man is the right fit in her life, but I do think the way this book ends is correct for the moment they’re in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems books.
I’ve had this on my “want to read” list for quite a while and when the opportunity came up, I couldn’t pass it by. Now, I’m left fighting with myself, trying to form an honest opinion of the book. It happens to put a couple of my least favorite themes into the book, which is making it difficult for me to judge it fairly. I’m not a fan of love triangles and stories with active cheating leave me feeling squicky. So Mac and Kate and Nick leave me confused. The story itself was okay, though there were a lot of times the pacing felt slow. I really liked that Kate is an independent career woman looking to make her mark on her industry. I didn’t enjoy as much that it felt like almost everyone was living their lives for other people. Maybe that was the lesson I was supposed to learn from the story. If so, it was a little lost on me.
Shelf Life
I kind of don’t even know what to say about this book. It doesn’t push as many of my emotional hot-buttons as the first one did, but you still know full well going into it that the triangular nature of Kate’s love life is going to leave a trail of carnage a mile wide behind her. For my personal preferences, there was just too much book here telling the main story. Yeah, there are some fun detours – I absolutely ADORED Andrew – however I thought they distracted more than enhanced the central plotline. I liked seeing the lessons that Kate learns on this somewhat forced journey of self-discovery. It’s an often-twisty path she follows, yet I think she comes out of it stronger and more self-aware. I’m not sure either man is the right fit in her life, but I do think the way this book ends is correct for the moment they’re in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems books.
August 26, 2020
The Publicist box set includes books one and two of this series and follows publicist Katherine Mitchell (Kate) and editor MacDermott Ellis (Mac), who both work for the same company, Morris and Dean Publishing. Though married, Mac has had numerous affairs in the past, Kate finds herself drawn to him and they begin an affair of their own when one of her author friends’ nephew Nicholas Lavigne (Nick) comes along and they begin to form a connection of their own. In the second book, Shelf Life, Kate begins to feel the strain of spending time with a married man, so when Nick offers her a visit to California, she decides to take a chance. Will Kate be able to put aside her feelings for Mac and open her heart to Nick?
September 16, 2020
For the most part I really enjoyed the story. I loved the backdrop of the publishing world, as that is not something you read about often. Kate is smart and good at her drop and definitely taken advantage of at MD. Mac takes notice of Kate and pursues her, but is it relationship that can last? The characters were interesting, the story line was good. The authors had me cracking up! My biggest pet peeve, and honestly it caused me to put the book down a few times, is over use of names. Mac and Kate were ALWAYS saying each other's names. That drives me crazy. It's almost as if the author doesn't think the reader can tell who's talking. It wasn't just those two characters it was all of them. This was my biggest issue with the book, but other than that is was a good story.
August 19, 2020
This was my first time reading something by Christina George, but it won't be my last. This story pulled me in from the beginning and kept me reading well into the night. There is so much emotion to this story of Kate, Mac, Nick, Allan, Carolyn, so many other characters. Love, betrayal, loss, desperation, determination... My emotions were all over the place as I read this story - times when I thought I knew what was going to happen, and then there was a twist that made the story even more compelling. Looking forward to reading the other two books in the series and more from this author.
July 26, 2025
I received books 1&2 for an honest review. Kate is working hard to make it in publishing but gets wrapped up in her love life. Book 1 has a love triangle, active cheating, marital affairs, and some insta-love. Book 2 has some self reflection, possible redemption arc, and ends with a HEA depending which guy you were rooting for. Being honest with one’s self and accepting your feelings are in both books as well.
I did enjoy the story and Allan, Kate’s sweet older author friend, was one of my favorite characters.
I did enjoy the story and Allan, Kate’s sweet older author friend, was one of my favorite characters.
April 29, 2018
Good books
You people should just read these two books yourselves and write your own reviews on these two novels yourselves. I really enjoyed reading these two novels very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read these two books yourselves and write your own reviews on these two novels yourselves. I really enjoyed reading these two novels very much so. Shelley MA
December 26, 2014
I was able to get the first two books in The Publicist series by Christina George for free on Amazon a little over a month ago. I had already noticed the first book when it was initially released and the premise of a publicist in the world of publishing definitely piqued my interest. So, naturally, when the boxed set of the first two books was suddenly available for free, I simply had to do what I do best and snapped it up! ^.^ Then, the third and final book in the series was available for reviews on NetGalley and, yes, I requested and was approved. I love it when everything just falls into place! ♥
The first book, The Publicist, introduces readers to Katherine "Kate" Mitchell, publicist extraordinaire at Morris and Dean Publishing. Hers isn't the easiest of jobs, especially when she's saddled with authors threatening to jump off a building's ledge or forever stuck in diva mode, but she does her job well. She wants her authors to be put in the best light possible because that'll mean more sales and help her stay on top of her game. Things only begin to get complicated when she starts to fall for Mac Ellis.
In the world of publishing, the name MacDermott "Mac" Ellis is well-known, what with him being one of the best editors around. He's well-respected and has been with Morris and Dean Publishing for two decades. While he may enjoy success professionally, his personal life leaves much to be desired. He's been married to the same woman for many years and has two great sons but he and his wife have long drifted from each other. He's had affairs before but no one has affected him as much as Kate Mitchell.
Kate and Mac have known each other for a few years and though they've become closer, neither of them has crossed the line. Kate is very much aware that he's married and she's heard rumors of his many affairs. Mac knows Kate would never even consider indulging in an affair with someone like him, plus he knows she's different from the other women. But as they spend more time together, Mac decides to take his chances and Kate wonders if taking the risk will be worth the heartache she knows is inevitable.
Add to that Kate's close friendship with Allan Lavigne, an author who wrote one novel that's still considered legendary in the book world but hasn't published anything since then, and her connection with his nephew Nicholas "Nick" Lavigne. Nick has everything that would qualify him as the perfect guy: he's good looking, successful, intelligent, and a truly nice guy. Oh, and he's single. But there are only two things that seem to grab her attention at the moment: her work and Mac.
The second book, Shelf Life, picks up soon after the events of the first book. Kate Mitchell is still very much consumed by all things publicity and all things Mac Ellis. However, life as she knows it begins to unravel as her suspicions regarding one particular author turn out to be nothing compared to the reality that's about to take her without warning. At the same time, she feels betrayed by the one person she thought she could count on to be by her side.
Kate then decides to take Nick Lavigne up on his offer to visit California and take some time off from all the crap that's hit the fan in New York. There, she gets a better perspective on what it is she now wants to do with her life, though that works out well for her professionally and not really personally since she's still very much in love with Mac. But Nick is able to give her the peace and stability that she needs and she clings to him with almost everything she's got...minus her heart, of course.
When Mac shows up in California, he lets Kate know about certain decisions he's made while she's been away and Kate is taken aback by it all. It seems as if he's done all it for her and now she needs to make a choice between two very different men who love her and if her life is meant to be in California or New York. With her evolution from publicist to publisher, Kate's life is about to hit high gear but is she really ready for the good and bad that life is about to offer her?
I quite enjoyed reading both installments. The story was unique and well told while the characters were engaging and multidimensional. Kudos to having a strong female lead character who had her share of flaws and no excuses were made for them other than she was human. She was able to make difficult choices and proved that she was capable and independent. Nick was the perfect guy but I totally got why Kate was so drawn to and in love with Mac. The supporting characters were also interesting.
As far as the negatives, there were several editing errors in both books and there were times that the pacing slowed down. However, there weren't any major faults that took away from the reading experience as a whole. This wasn't exactly what you'd call a quick read but it felt as if time just passed by without me noticing it because I was engrossed with what was happening. I'd happily recommend The Publicist: Books One & Two (The Publicist & Shelf Life) to other readers and give it an average of four stars. ♥
The first book, The Publicist, introduces readers to Katherine "Kate" Mitchell, publicist extraordinaire at Morris and Dean Publishing. Hers isn't the easiest of jobs, especially when she's saddled with authors threatening to jump off a building's ledge or forever stuck in diva mode, but she does her job well. She wants her authors to be put in the best light possible because that'll mean more sales and help her stay on top of her game. Things only begin to get complicated when she starts to fall for Mac Ellis.
In the world of publishing, the name MacDermott "Mac" Ellis is well-known, what with him being one of the best editors around. He's well-respected and has been with Morris and Dean Publishing for two decades. While he may enjoy success professionally, his personal life leaves much to be desired. He's been married to the same woman for many years and has two great sons but he and his wife have long drifted from each other. He's had affairs before but no one has affected him as much as Kate Mitchell.
Kate and Mac have known each other for a few years and though they've become closer, neither of them has crossed the line. Kate is very much aware that he's married and she's heard rumors of his many affairs. Mac knows Kate would never even consider indulging in an affair with someone like him, plus he knows she's different from the other women. But as they spend more time together, Mac decides to take his chances and Kate wonders if taking the risk will be worth the heartache she knows is inevitable.
Add to that Kate's close friendship with Allan Lavigne, an author who wrote one novel that's still considered legendary in the book world but hasn't published anything since then, and her connection with his nephew Nicholas "Nick" Lavigne. Nick has everything that would qualify him as the perfect guy: he's good looking, successful, intelligent, and a truly nice guy. Oh, and he's single. But there are only two things that seem to grab her attention at the moment: her work and Mac.
The second book, Shelf Life, picks up soon after the events of the first book. Kate Mitchell is still very much consumed by all things publicity and all things Mac Ellis. However, life as she knows it begins to unravel as her suspicions regarding one particular author turn out to be nothing compared to the reality that's about to take her without warning. At the same time, she feels betrayed by the one person she thought she could count on to be by her side.
Kate then decides to take Nick Lavigne up on his offer to visit California and take some time off from all the crap that's hit the fan in New York. There, she gets a better perspective on what it is she now wants to do with her life, though that works out well for her professionally and not really personally since she's still very much in love with Mac. But Nick is able to give her the peace and stability that she needs and she clings to him with almost everything she's got...minus her heart, of course.
When Mac shows up in California, he lets Kate know about certain decisions he's made while she's been away and Kate is taken aback by it all. It seems as if he's done all it for her and now she needs to make a choice between two very different men who love her and if her life is meant to be in California or New York. With her evolution from publicist to publisher, Kate's life is about to hit high gear but is she really ready for the good and bad that life is about to offer her?
I quite enjoyed reading both installments. The story was unique and well told while the characters were engaging and multidimensional. Kudos to having a strong female lead character who had her share of flaws and no excuses were made for them other than she was human. She was able to make difficult choices and proved that she was capable and independent. Nick was the perfect guy but I totally got why Kate was so drawn to and in love with Mac. The supporting characters were also interesting.
As far as the negatives, there were several editing errors in both books and there were times that the pacing slowed down. However, there weren't any major faults that took away from the reading experience as a whole. This wasn't exactly what you'd call a quick read but it felt as if time just passed by without me noticing it because I was engrossed with what was happening. I'd happily recommend The Publicist: Books One & Two (The Publicist & Shelf Life) to other readers and give it an average of four stars. ♥
May 24, 2020
Who knew writing could be so cruel, or so sexy!
It's not just the drama, it's who dated who and the what about celebrity status. Jump in for a wild ride.
It's not just the drama, it's who dated who and the what about celebrity status. Jump in for a wild ride.
December 2, 2019
This story held my interest, more because of the storyline of the workplace than that of the relationships. I'm not sure if I like Mac or not and the other guy seems to be a pushover.
It did hold my interest enough to want to find out who she winds up with, so there is that.
It did hold my interest enough to want to find out who she winds up with, so there is that.
November 16, 2023
This is the kind of dishy book written by an industry insider -- it's supposed to make you feel like you're looking behind the scenes and make you wonder which real life celebrity inspired the celebrity authors in the book. Unfortunately, the rest of the story struggles to land. Kate spends more time mooning over her married co-worker (who is very happy to return her interest) than she does doing her job and the publishing elements of the story feel very episodic (Kate faces a problem, solves it, and then we move on to a different author).
February 6, 2015
Note : A Review of this book is up @ Readers' Muse
Being a weeny-tiny part of the publishing industry already, this book piqued my interest when it came up for review. The first line of the summary was just enough for me to go ahead and sign up for the review.
Thankfully, the writer didn’t exactly make me repent for my haste in signing up. “The Publicist” to me, was a mixed bag.
The plot was sure fast paced and kept me hooked. It did offer me an insight of how the International publishing industry works. But at times, certain incidents from the plot about writers going a bit crazy seem to be too superficial and unrealistic – dramatic would be the right word to describe it. Thankfully, each of those “dramatic author” episodes really didn’t last long. Short chapters and a racy plot did the trick.
Kate, our protagonist is a publicist who is the knight in shining armour for poor lost writers who have jitters publicizing their books. She is characterised as this strong female who can handle any insane situation with ease and clam by thinking quickly on her feet. Enter, Mac, the “oh-so-hot” editor. Also enter the forgotten writer Allan Lavigne of whom Kate is fond of. There is obviously a romantic thread. As to who falls for whom, please read the book.
As the plot progresses, Kate’s characterisation becomes a bit of paradox. She is firm thinker, yet falls for what her heart tells. Mac’s characterisation is rather bland in this book, But if one reads all the 3 books in the series, the characterisation would make sense. The whole balancing of professional struggle and a personal turmoil has been beautifully brought out by the writer. It is indeed a situation that many women normally face if they are in relationship with a co-worker.
The writing was simple and clean. The romance element was neatly woven into the story and was gradually developed. Of course, romance wouldn’t be technically correct term. It was more of lust in this book. Serious romance actually happens only in the subsequent books.
To sum up, in spite of minor lags and wee bit of un realistic situations described, the book kept me hooked was a good enough read.
VERDICT: If you are remotely associated with the publishing industry or are intrigued by the “affair of publishing”, this would be a good enough book to read.
RATING: 3.5 on 5
Being a weeny-tiny part of the publishing industry already, this book piqued my interest when it came up for review. The first line of the summary was just enough for me to go ahead and sign up for the review.
Thankfully, the writer didn’t exactly make me repent for my haste in signing up. “The Publicist” to me, was a mixed bag.
The plot was sure fast paced and kept me hooked. It did offer me an insight of how the International publishing industry works. But at times, certain incidents from the plot about writers going a bit crazy seem to be too superficial and unrealistic – dramatic would be the right word to describe it. Thankfully, each of those “dramatic author” episodes really didn’t last long. Short chapters and a racy plot did the trick.
Kate, our protagonist is a publicist who is the knight in shining armour for poor lost writers who have jitters publicizing their books. She is characterised as this strong female who can handle any insane situation with ease and clam by thinking quickly on her feet. Enter, Mac, the “oh-so-hot” editor. Also enter the forgotten writer Allan Lavigne of whom Kate is fond of. There is obviously a romantic thread. As to who falls for whom, please read the book.
As the plot progresses, Kate’s characterisation becomes a bit of paradox. She is firm thinker, yet falls for what her heart tells. Mac’s characterisation is rather bland in this book, But if one reads all the 3 books in the series, the characterisation would make sense. The whole balancing of professional struggle and a personal turmoil has been beautifully brought out by the writer. It is indeed a situation that many women normally face if they are in relationship with a co-worker.
The writing was simple and clean. The romance element was neatly woven into the story and was gradually developed. Of course, romance wouldn’t be technically correct term. It was more of lust in this book. Serious romance actually happens only in the subsequent books.
To sum up, in spite of minor lags and wee bit of un realistic situations described, the book kept me hooked was a good enough read.
VERDICT: If you are remotely associated with the publishing industry or are intrigued by the “affair of publishing”, this would be a good enough book to read.
RATING: 3.5 on 5
June 24, 2015
I read this book because from the description it looked like it was just what I needed after two heavy non-fiction reads. A nice fluffy book a "beach read" if you will and that is exactly what I got. Yes there were some grammatical errors in it and continuity (although nothing glaring). There were a few things that were a bit annoying (for lack of a better word) and one was the constant "Fifty Shades" gripe especially considering this is pretty much what I could call "light erotica" (if the cover didn't give it away) so if felt very much like throwing stones from a glass house. There was also the whole affair aspect since Mac was married-- I was worried it would deter me completely from it since I generally shy away from those (not judging those who read them just not my cup of tea). Also the consistent back and forth between the two heroes got old pretty quickly. Another rant was: (spoilers ahead)
Bottom line is Mac (marriage status aside) shouldn't have been an option when he pretty much put Kate's career at risk. Yeah she came back don't get me wrong but that alone would have put the kibosh on anything with me. There's a lot I can forgive but messing with my ability to have a job and provide for myself is not one of them. His reasoning was flawed and her ability to forgive that was almost unbelievable. Plus the way she treated Nick who essentially was a rebound guy and a good one at that and completely and unnecessarily used him because she didn't think was strong enough to resist Mac without having a relationship. Suck it up buttercup was my thought on that.
While I don't hate this book or myself for reading it I'm really not inclined to pick up the rest of the series. I got this as a freebie so maybe then but from reading the outline of the next one it's nothing but a whole lot of back and forth between the guys again and that just seems like too much for me to deal with. It would probably be a more 2.75 but since we can't do partial stars here it does get a three because again it wasn't horrible just not something I would re-read over and over again.
Bottom line is Mac (marriage status aside) shouldn't have been an option when he pretty much put Kate's career at risk. Yeah she came back don't get me wrong but that alone would have put the kibosh on anything with me. There's a lot I can forgive but messing with my ability to have a job and provide for myself is not one of them. His reasoning was flawed and her ability to forgive that was almost unbelievable. Plus the way she treated Nick who essentially was a rebound guy and a good one at that and completely and unnecessarily used him because she didn't think was strong enough to resist Mac without having a relationship. Suck it up buttercup was my thought on that.
While I don't hate this book or myself for reading it I'm really not inclined to pick up the rest of the series. I got this as a freebie so maybe then but from reading the outline of the next one it's nothing but a whole lot of back and forth between the guys again and that just seems like too much for me to deal with. It would probably be a more 2.75 but since we can't do partial stars here it does get a three because again it wasn't horrible just not something I would re-read over and over again.
July 2, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. Reading about Kate Mitchell's job was interesting, and I loved reading about how to go about publishing a book and getting reviews for it. Kate's friend, Grace, seemed like such an interesting person. MacDermott Ellis has a straightforward 'call a spade a spade' attitude. The author Allan Lavigne has some very strange fears. And if only a person could get more authors like the character Janet Easter, who is a writer. It was interesting to read about the preparation for 'The Continued Promise', even though the mess that was left after the novel released was horrible. Reading about Bernard Gould being unrealistic about an author's talent was also insightful, and I got the feeling that he would have been jealous if Kate had to be successful with Phil's book launch. After reading quite a bit about Nick Lavigne, it was nice to see that he had a caring side. And when Kate gets involved very deeply with Mac, I got a feeling that Kate was going to step into a horrible situation with him, even though it would make her rethink how she actually feels about him and where the temporary relationship could go. But near the end of the book, I start rooting for Mac, even though there was a stage where I rooted to Kate to get together with Nick. The confession from Mac's wife, Carolyn, is shocking. When Kate was walking on the beach, it reminded me of Namibia. In the Northern Hemisphere, November seems like such a nice month to release a novel. And when Mac gets divorced from his wife, I got the feeling that he would go after Kate to try and make it work with her.
May 16, 2014
I enjoyed reading The Publicist books 1&2. It is a candid portrayal of the publishing industry. I recognize people I know from the different characters and can definitely relate and strongly identify with many thins and emotions experienced in the books.
I didn't like Kate very much, though. Her washy-washy approach to her own life, perhaps indecisiveness, did not endear her to me. She knew she was in love with one guy but slept with someone else. I realize that you can be attracted to two different people simultaneously. I also know that people can sleep around. Yes,Mac was married and cheating on his wife. Kate knew he was married and still slept with him. Before she knew the real story about his marriage, she chose to get involved with him. She a curses him of being a cheater, but she also slept with someone else while seeing and feeling strongly about another guy.
I also got the impression that she may not have resolved her feelings for the two guys, although she made a decision....or so it seemed. I guess I may have to read the next installment to find out how this gets resolved.
I didn't like Kate very much, though. Her washy-washy approach to her own life, perhaps indecisiveness, did not endear her to me. She knew she was in love with one guy but slept with someone else. I realize that you can be attracted to two different people simultaneously. I also know that people can sleep around. Yes,Mac was married and cheating on his wife. Kate knew he was married and still slept with him. Before she knew the real story about his marriage, she chose to get involved with him. She a curses him of being a cheater, but she also slept with someone else while seeing and feeling strongly about another guy.
I also got the impression that she may not have resolved her feelings for the two guys, although she made a decision....or so it seemed. I guess I may have to read the next installment to find out how this gets resolved.
May 7, 2014
So many good things to say about these two books. The Publicist Book One and Two by Christina George star our publicist, Kate Mitchell. She is a character who is really easy to like and relate to right from the beginning. I really just enjoyed these two books so much! I loved the ‘inside peek’ into the world of publishing. As a book lover, it was wonderful to get to explore a side of the book world that I haven’t really explored before. The characters are great and the story lines move at a good pace. I found myself reading and reading and reading until I was finished…I didn’t want to put the books down. Christina George has written a really great contemporary romance series, and I can’t wait for more. If you love strong female leads in contemporary romance, you need to pick this up…it’s just $1.99 for this bundle at Amazon and sooo worth it!
I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes.
I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes.
November 11, 2014
I like to escape with a little erotic romance. This series has been my favorite for quite some time because I thought Katherine Mitchell was an intelligent and admirable woman. This is a pretty rare thing in my experience and these books are purportedly written by women. Katherine Mitchell wants a career as a "successful" publicist. Her definition of what kind of professional that is changes through the books like it does in real life. I found the characters of her male counterparts Nick, Andrew and Mac to not be as well developed, which is disappointing. I also loved her best friend Grace who she met in college and is a painter. I could feel their relationship with my feelings more than the "love" relationships. I am definitely looking forward to reading the third installment whether Katie gets her HEA or not. The sex was just at the perfect level for me not too much and not too little.
December 18, 2014
Definitely enjoyed The Publicist. I was drawn in immediately to the main characters Kate, Mac and Nick. A look at behind the scenes as a publisher and some of her not so easy to deal with clients. Kate definitely does have the easiest job or personal life so you can't help but fall in love with her! Definitely starts to set up book 2 with this 1st book. I found this to be an easy read but more so to see what is going to happen next! Book 2 in my opinion was better then book 1 but that being said, I loved both! The 2nd book really put it all together. Kate's life personal and professional starts falling apart. A move and some changes help to turn it all around. You can not help but love the romance between her and Nick! Definitely full of scandal, romance and books! You can't miss the books! :) I am definitely looking forward to book 3!!!!
**I received a free copy for an honest review **
**I received a free copy for an honest review **
November 26, 2014
I could not put the book down. I thought the writing was great, and the characters were portrayed as NY people would be. I really felt for Kate, knowing that the one she was falling in love was married, but by paper only. Mac would be a dream guy, but so would Nick. I would have hated to have to choose, and it certainly didn't look like they would share! But overall, I enjoyed and I will recommend to my friends, and I know my cowboy husband will read it, he reads everything I put in front of him, when he has time to read! I read both of these books in less than 24 hours! Even worked at a job both days!
October 7, 2015
These books were okay, but not riveting. Call me an old fartessa, but I found it difficult to get any warm and fuzzy feelings about a "romantic" affair between a single woman and a married man. Some of the inside looks at the world of publishing were somewhat interesting, and in some cases, amusing, but the characters didn't quite rise above a two-dimensional level, so I never got attached to any of them, or much cared about what happened to them. The second book was a little faster-moving than the first, so here's hoping the final book in this series is the best of them all.
Two and a half stars, rounded up to three.
Two and a half stars, rounded up to three.
November 10, 2014
3.5 - 4 stars
This was a solid read. There were some things I wish would have been written in a different angle: Mac and Kate's first kiss,for example. There was a lot of build up and was slightly anti-climatic. Just hoped for a little more....
As other reviewers mentioned,there were a lot of stories about authors and the publishing world that did drag on,but now that I have finished the books,I think they fit into the story of Kate's journey.
The writing style kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading. There were some quirks in the story,but overall I did enjoy it.
This was a solid read. There were some things I wish would have been written in a different angle: Mac and Kate's first kiss,for example. There was a lot of build up and was slightly anti-climatic. Just hoped for a little more....
As other reviewers mentioned,there were a lot of stories about authors and the publishing world that did drag on,but now that I have finished the books,I think they fit into the story of Kate's journey.
The writing style kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading. There were some quirks in the story,but overall I did enjoy it.
August 31, 2014
I loved this book. I felt that the character development was good, and I enjoyed the style of writing. We got snippets of what the secondary characters were thinking, weaved into the story, as the events were unfolding. And Kate was a strong character. I would have liked to see more emphasis on the characters relationships. The steam factor was low. Implied, without being graphic. I feel that it enhanced the book. I've been reading a lot of "steamy" novels, so this was a nice change of pace. Would highly recommend.
November 26, 2014
I bought these two books based on recommendations and I was so happy I did. The first book just grabbed me and I could not stop reading. The intelligent writing, the love of literature, the emotion, the passion - this book had it all. I was so happy that these books were sold as a set as I just had to keep reading. I immersed myself the lives of Katie and Mac, fell in love with Nick and had my heart broken too.
After finishing both books in one sitting I cannot, cannot wait for the next instalment. Absolutely brilliance Christina George. Please give me more!
After finishing both books in one sitting I cannot, cannot wait for the next instalment. Absolutely brilliance Christina George. Please give me more!
March 1, 2015
Author Christina George (pen name) paints a colourful picture of the publishing industry with this book that follows the career and love life of her heroine Kate.
It's a good an easy read, and I enjoyed the depiction of the publishing world. I thought Kate was pretty selfish and inconsiderate and couldn't work out why everyone loved her. Still the heroine doesn't have to be perfect does she?
I'd have given it four stars but the number of basic errors in there are ridiculous, especially from someone working in the industry.
It's a good an easy read, and I enjoyed the depiction of the publishing world. I thought Kate was pretty selfish and inconsiderate and couldn't work out why everyone loved her. Still the heroine doesn't have to be perfect does she?
I'd have given it four stars but the number of basic errors in there are ridiculous, especially from someone working in the industry.
May 28, 2021
Book One starts slow, but once I got into it I couldn't stop reading until I had finished both books!
Christina George's characters are refreshing! The characters are well developed and their thoughts and feelings are expressed so well.
Kate is not like other female main characters, she's independent and strong-willed. Mac is not your typical married playboy and as the book explores Mac and Kate's relationship we find out what makes these characters the way they are.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
Christina George's characters are refreshing! The characters are well developed and their thoughts and feelings are expressed so well.
Kate is not like other female main characters, she's independent and strong-willed. Mac is not your typical married playboy and as the book explores Mac and Kate's relationship we find out what makes these characters the way they are.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
July 5, 2014
I really felt for Kate, and how her life was panning out. A hard time being recognised for all her hard work, being left to deal with difficult clients and trying hard to climb the corporate ladder. Hercwork was her life I could understand hwo she fell into her relationship with Mac and the complications that came with it.
Really enjoyed these books together and look forward to part 3 coming soon to find out whether her choices have been the right ones.
Really enjoyed these books together and look forward to part 3 coming soon to find out whether her choices have been the right ones.
May 16, 2014
Good read
I enjoyed the books, but felt as if the first book did not end but immediately transitioned in to the second one. this is what I would call a good beach read. I am actually looking forward to reading book three. The characters are real and relatable and don't have perfect lives. Overall a really good read.
I enjoyed the books, but felt as if the first book did not end but immediately transitioned in to the second one. this is what I would call a good beach read. I am actually looking forward to reading book three. The characters are real and relatable and don't have perfect lives. Overall a really good read.
November 23, 2014
I have no hesitation in giving these books five stars. I loved them both as a book lover.I read at least three books a week . I loved that Kate made it in the world of publishing I found her to be strong and true to herself and I loved having a glimpse into the world of publishing and editing.I can't wait for the next books . Thank you so much christina George.x
August 1, 2015
I had the hardest time getting into this story; almost gave up on it 3-4 times in the first 20% of it. I stuck with it though, and it got better; not great, but better. Kate's wishy-washiness when it came to Mac and Nick began to wear on me, and I'm not going to go for book 3 in the series because I want the story to end just where it ended in book 2.
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