Love on Location

by Lisa Girolami

Hollywood film producer Kate Nyland arrives in Florida to begin shooting her next film. There she meets Dawn Brock, a beautiful, deeply spiritual artist, who sets off sparks that Kate can not allow to ignite. But just how can she quell what burns so intensely and seems impossibly unavoidable?

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Fiction, Lesbian Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2008

About the author

Lisa Girolami has been in the entertainment industry since 1979. She holds a BA in Fine Art and an MS in Psychology. Previous jobs included ten years as production executive in the motion picture industry and another two decades producing and designing theme parks for Disney and Universal Studios. After six years as the Director of Creative Development for a firm in Los Angeles, she has returned to Disney as a Senior Show Producer on the renovation of Disney's California Adventure theme park. She's also a counselor at a mental health facility in Garden Grove. She currently lives in Long Beach, California.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved! descriptive,rich dialogue,emotional,well developed characters and very good storytelling (paperback!)

[Diana P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a love-at-first-sight story, in my opinion, I think it’s more like an attraction at first sight, at least for one of the lead characters, and I’d dare to say, not strong enough in the beginning.

A story that starts off very slowly, portraying the relationship between one of the lead characters with her current gf and that really focuses on the main romance only after several chapters.

From the beginning we see one sweet, mature and lovely character and the other an interesting and nice but kind of a weak one. I have to say that what I liked about this story is that there was no love triangle (personal preference), and what I didn’t is basically the reasons for this romance to blossom. When they meet there’s definitely a lot of chemistry and the friendship that starts to develop between them makes one of the lead characters ponder over her current relationship, however, it seemed that the feelings/emotions that the other lead stirred up inside her weren’t strong enough for her to make a decision. Her attraction seemed strong but every time her girlfriend behaved nicely it was like those feelings were forgotten (maybe it’s part of her being too nice or her need to avoid conflict). There was a constant comparison going on in her head between her gf and the other lead, leaving her wondering why she was still in that relationship, but even after that, she was still willing to keep it going and make it work, like expecting her to change. I wondered a few times what’d have happened if her gf had really changed, would have she left her? I’m not sure, because every time it seemed that way, she was again in the same place and all the feelings she had developed for the other lead seemed out of the picture.

The author gave her best to portray how “bitchy” her gf was, like giving the lead character reasons to dump her and then approach a romance with the other lead who was a complete opposite to her gf and who, btw, was from the very beginning they met, completely enchanted by her (the only one who seemed to be really developing feelings and acting upon them, in my opinion). While she couldn’t even look at another woman, the other lead kept her relationship going, ignoring that mental and physical attraction (apparently one she’d never had for anyone else) but which didn’t seem powerful enough for her to consider it the main reason to end that relationship. I personally think that even though her gf’s behaviors were unnerving, sometimes her attitude was even more frustrating to me. Her submissive personality and her inner dialogue complaining about her relationship was in contrast with her actions (never doing anything about it). Somehow It felt like the real reason to make the decision of breaking things off was her gf’s bitchy attitudes, and not the feelings she was having for the other lead character. This is not really what I long for when it comes to a romance and where (I hope) the other lead is the main cause (feelings for her) why she can’t be with another person anymore. I guess my liking for strong characters had a lot to do with my perception of her. Anyway, after having broken up with her gf and some pondering over her feelings she finally acknowledges the only one who really stirs up real emotions inside her is the other lead and after that moment she starts acting upon those feelings. Unfortunately, her ex-gf isn’t out of the picture yet and before the leads can have a happy-forever she makes sure to give them a hard time.

In regard to the other lead, I think she was a very nice and sweet character who from the very beginning, in spite of her insecurities, was more than willing to pursue a romance with the other character until she finds out she’s not available. Even so, she couldn’t stop her feelings from growing. I have to say that several times it felt like the intensity of their feelings was hardly comparable at some point (first half of the book) and as a result, the romance felt a little bit unbalanced. Fortunately, after some time the story improves considerably. So, I’d say that after half of the book the story really gets interesting and closer to what a real romance is (a nice one).

From the moment the romance really takes place, there are sweet, nice and hot moments between them. The chemistry they had from the beginning becomes more solid and so their interactions. Their conversations are engaging and the love/sex scenes are nicely portrayed.

To conclude, the story was nice but the reason that leads to this romance is what made me feel disappointed somehow. Anyway, it’s just a matter of time before it really gets better.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 20% of this book is slow and boring but I enjoyed it after that. I'm glad I kept reading.

[Justina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, this book is fabulous. Now, I want to talk a bit about the extraordinary author. Her mini bio references her Hollywood experience and I enthusiastically applaud how deftly Lisa Girolami brought me front and center plus top to bottom into the truly insane world of tinsel town's movie making and some of its amazing subsectors. The key characters and their stories are astounding, but they wouldn't shine nearly as brightly if the surroundings weren't so lovingly and richly laid out to embellish the entire happening. Back to the book, one of the on location sites is in Orlando, Florida. It is here that a miraculous encounter replete with blinding flashes of instantaneous connection occurs when the successfully established film producer meets the breathtakingly beautiful and accomplished artisan from Florida Design and Fabrication affectionately referred throughout the story as simply FDF. Enchantingly exhilarating!

Kate Nyland is the owner of StormRunner Productions in addition to being a very active movie producer. On occasion, it felt as if Kate were the equivalent of three people for the amount of work she produces and manages plus her awareness and understanding of the output of her entire company and the organizations her company contracts for work needed. Additionally, when she was involved romantically with an up-and-coming actress, it almost appeared as if she were on the go twenty four and seven. However, her whole life takes a staggering turn when, while attempting to rectify a scheduling issue with one of her company's contractors, she meets and interacts with their lead art director. Kate is stunned, initially speechless, and thrown into sensual overload upon being introduced to and interacting with Dawn. Near nirvana!

Dawn Brock is the very talented lead art director for FDF. She was recently promoted to foreman ostensibly as part of FDF's attempt to get back on schedule. She is clearly a very skillful woman whose comfort is definitely in the shop and not at a negotiating table, but her wisdom and experience allow her to maintain her stature and poise while her company seemingly attempts to bamboozle StormRunner, thereby covering up their own deficiencies. It later becomes clear that Dawn is also a remarkably talented lover. The intimate scenes involving Kate and Dawn most definitely required a tall, cool, icy beverage for me to maintain clarity, attention, and equilibrium. Ancillary to Kate and Dawn's heated interludes are Dawn's thoroughly enjoyable plus supportive friends. Add the sympathetic and loyal associates of Kate who clearly recognize the exquisite pairing these two make more than accentuates the rightness of this match. Heavenly hookup!

What would a great book be without a deliciously distinctive villain. Lo and behold that up-and-coming actress with whom Kate was involved is unquestionably a vile woman in top-of-the-line designer clothes. This book is more than entertaining. It is memorable and lavishly layered to hopefully satisfy everyone everywhere. Outstanding!


NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think i have any serious thumbs down remark to say about this book. The author i believed delivered an entertaining read full of interesting characters, entertaining plot and attentive dialogues.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story!! The only thing in my opinion....it is missing epilogue. Except that, I have to admit, it was extremely hard to out this book down!

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to really try not to give any spoilers, but if this is convoluted, please ask. I will try to clarify.

While I really liked the premise of the book as well as the characters, I think the novel is my 40 to 50 pages too long (or perhaps too short?). At what feels like the end of the book, the plot suddenly unfolds and develops a new part of the story, and instead of playing it out to the end, it is quickly resolved which left me kind of feeling like "wait, what just happened there? why?"

Overall it was fun, but the plot can't decide quite what it wants to do in some spots making it sound more like a lengthy gossip conversation than a novel.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me and I found myself engrossed in the story and the characters, This is a Hollywood book all the way, with behind the scenes movie making and celebrity romance at its heart. Kate Nyland, a female executive producer is in a relationship with an up and coming A lister but she meets a woman so unlike her girlfriend while on location and boy, do the sparks fly. Good cast of best friends, appropriate drama, steamy sex. Just what a romance should be. I plan to read more by this author.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!

Totally hooked from the start I thought the way the movie making process was explained was very interesting. I thought Hannah was a b.....tch, wished there had been some resolution about she did to Kate and Dawn at the end. Dawn and Kate's relationship development was intense and sexy! All in all a very good story!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balancing work & love for happiness in life

An entertaining & enjoyable story with some intriguing & interesting likeable characters, several hot scenes & easily a good read.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written book and I was surprised to discover that Love on Location was Lisa Girolami’s first published book. Having worked in the movie industry, the author was able to give us an insight into the world that creates magic on the screen so vividly that I now have a bit more understanding of what goes on “behind the scenes” when making a movie.

Kate Nyland, a Hollywood producer is very engaging and likeable and despite being part of the over-the-top and fickle world of Tinseltown, seems to have retained her sanity and keeping her life on track. She’s at the top of her career and has a gorgeous and beautiful movie star girlfriend and should be feeling happy. But when she arrives in Florida, the location for her next movie, she meets Dawn, an artist working on her set.
The chemistry between the two is instant and immediate and whilst Kate feels an intense attraction for Dawn, she’s torn between this new feeling and the sense of betraying Hannah.

Her relationship with Dawn becomes deep and intense, nothing like what she has with Hannah, whose aim in life seems to be wanting to climb the Hollywood ladder to superstardom.

It’s a really fabulous storyline and though I struggled through the first few chapters, I became immersed into the characters which were very well developed making them real people and not just characters.

The sex scenes, which were not that many, were well-written but I would have liked to have felt a bit more sizzle and erotic scenes between Kate and Dawn and even Kate and Hannah.
This is a great, easy read and if you like f/f romances, you will enjoy this.

Synopsis: Power, money, and fame spell happiness-at least in the movies.
Hollywood film producer Kate Nyland has it all, including her gorgeous movie star girlfriend, Hannah Corrant. Amid the excitement of shooting multimillion-dollar movies and being photographed by the ever-present paparazzi out to get a glimpse of Hannah, Kate is reminded continually that her life couldn't be better. That is, until she arrives in Florida to begin shooting her next film. There she meets Dawn Brock, a beautiful, deeply spiritual artist, who sets off sparks that Kate cannot allow to ignite. But just how can she quell the attraction that burns so intensely and the growing connection that seems impossibly unavoidable? And what will happen when Hannah arrives in town for the movie shoot? From behind-the-scenes rendezvous to center-stage passions, Kate discovers that love on location doesn't always follow the script.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I also have to say I disagree with some of the reviewers. It wasn't rushed at all. I think I could've read about Kate and Dawn forever. So in that aspect the end came too quick, but not in the way the reviewers mentioned. Kate is in a relationship that is unfulfilling and borders on verbally abusive. Hannah is a spoiled, evil, conniving, Hollywood socialite who uses manipulation to keep Kate by her side. Upon meeting each other Kate and Dawn are instantly attracted to each other even before words are uttered. It's an attraction that can't and won't be denied. It's so strong that it makes no sense to either of them, but they do find love on location. I definitely recommend this book and will be reading more from Lisa Girolami.