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A Question of Courage
Years ago, they shared a kiss. Now they're forced to share the screen. A slow-burn, age-gap, celebrity lesbian romance.
Actress Kathryn Johnson can't believe the newest member of her TV show's cast is the mysterious woman she kissed two years ago at a masquerade ball. Worse, she doesn't even remember her!
For aloof, logical Hannah Laine, joining Broken Time's cast is a career milestone. The chilly reception from her infuriating co-star? Not part of the plan. But even as the two women constantly clash, they are drawn in by a chemistry neither of them is ready to name.
Now Kat's carefully constructed walls are starting to crumble as she's forced to decide whether to keep her heart safe or risk something with Hannah that feels so right it's scary.
Actress Kathryn Johnson can't believe the newest member of her TV show's cast is the mysterious woman she kissed two years ago at a masquerade ball. Worse, she doesn't even remember her!
For aloof, logical Hannah Laine, joining Broken Time's cast is a career milestone. The chilly reception from her infuriating co-star? Not part of the plan. But even as the two women constantly clash, they are drawn in by a chemistry neither of them is ready to name.
Now Kat's carefully constructed walls are starting to crumble as she's forced to decide whether to keep her heart safe or risk something with Hannah that feels so right it's scary.
244 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
About the author
Sabrina Blaum
11 books63 followersSabrina Blaum hails originally from Germany and moved to the United States in 2006. She studied Sociology, Geographic Information Systems, and English at a local university in Alabama, at which she is currently teaching English Composition.
She has always written and wrote her first “novel” in elementary school, when she decided that Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers needed a sequel. She also had the habit of telling her late grandmother bedtime stories.
Sabrina is an avid reader and writer, and she loves to spend time with family and friends.
She has always written and wrote her first “novel” in elementary school, when she decided that Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers needed a sequel. She also had the habit of telling her late grandmother bedtime stories.
Sabrina is an avid reader and writer, and she loves to spend time with family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 1, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! It was refreshing to have a MC that was 30 and was the younger of the two in the age gap. Usually the younger one is in their twenties. The chemistry between Hannah and Kat was out of this world. I love a good slow burn and A Question of Courage delivered on the angst, the longing that comes with a slow burn.
There was a depth to Kat that I really enjoyed. She gave off a bit of an ice queen vibe but when you learn the reasons behind that, it makes sense.
I liked the way the author portrayed the Hollywood scene and touched on the sexism and ageism that goes on within the workplace.
I loved that there was no third act break up, the characters got together around the 60% mark, so a third act break up still could’ve happened but thankfully didn’t.
I’m an epilogue girl, so I would’ve liked more of an epilogue. In the ARC version, it was just a chapter and not labeled as an epilogue but it did time jump a little bit. But in my opinion, it wasn’t really an epilogue.
We got a lot of back story from both of the MCs but I would’ve liked a little more insight into Hannah. I did feel like she was neurodivergent but it was never explicitly stated. Another small thing, but I feel like some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out more.
Bonus points for the DC Legends of Tomorrow vibes the MCs’ TV show gave!
*I know everyone’s “spice levels” differ. My 🌶️🌶️🌶️ is a few explicit scenes but mostly plot. No kinks or need to for TW.
There was a depth to Kat that I really enjoyed. She gave off a bit of an ice queen vibe but when you learn the reasons behind that, it makes sense.
I liked the way the author portrayed the Hollywood scene and touched on the sexism and ageism that goes on within the workplace.
I loved that there was no third act break up, the characters got together around the 60% mark, so a third act break up still could’ve happened but thankfully didn’t.
I’m an epilogue girl, so I would’ve liked more of an epilogue. In the ARC version, it was just a chapter and not labeled as an epilogue but it did time jump a little bit. But in my opinion, it wasn’t really an epilogue.
We got a lot of back story from both of the MCs but I would’ve liked a little more insight into Hannah. I did feel like she was neurodivergent but it was never explicitly stated. Another small thing, but I feel like some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out more.
Bonus points for the DC Legends of Tomorrow vibes the MCs’ TV show gave!
*I know everyone’s “spice levels” differ. My 🌶️🌶️🌶️ is a few explicit scenes but mostly plot. No kinks or need to for TW.
October 8, 2025
Such a good story!
Actresses Kathryn and Hannah have a past. A kiss in years gone by and Kathryn convinced Hannah is purposely ignoring her now they are working together on a hit show as the lead characters make for interesting drama on camera and behind the scenes.
I knew this was going to be dramatic right from Hannah and Kathryn’s first meeting. That first day on set, with Kathryn sharing her internal thoughts with us, literally set the scene. She made a lot of assumptions quickly, but Hannah was smart and picking up on the atmosphere between them. She was just one of those characters who was not just going to let Kathryn treat her that way, so she kept pushing. If it wasn’t for her doing that, these two probably never would have worked it out.
I fell completely in love with Kathryn though. Being a little older and an actress with status she had an air of authority that I just couldn’t get enough of. She was witty, funny, and I totally understood why Hannah liked her so much. She made the story for me, with the perfect balance of humour always just at the right moment and an edge of hidden vulnerability.
So brilliant! I really loved every second of the story.
Actresses Kathryn and Hannah have a past. A kiss in years gone by and Kathryn convinced Hannah is purposely ignoring her now they are working together on a hit show as the lead characters make for interesting drama on camera and behind the scenes.
I knew this was going to be dramatic right from Hannah and Kathryn’s first meeting. That first day on set, with Kathryn sharing her internal thoughts with us, literally set the scene. She made a lot of assumptions quickly, but Hannah was smart and picking up on the atmosphere between them. She was just one of those characters who was not just going to let Kathryn treat her that way, so she kept pushing. If it wasn’t for her doing that, these two probably never would have worked it out.
I fell completely in love with Kathryn though. Being a little older and an actress with status she had an air of authority that I just couldn’t get enough of. She was witty, funny, and I totally understood why Hannah liked her so much. She made the story for me, with the perfect balance of humour always just at the right moment and an edge of hidden vulnerability.
So brilliant! I really loved every second of the story.
Did Not Finish
January 16, 2026The deal breaker for me was when Kat used ableist language to refer to Hannah, who reads as neurodivergent.
"I expected you'll have had enough of socializing and being around regular people all week, so you'll need to withdraw into your pod to recharge."
December 27, 2025
Almost a 4-star. Interesting opening at an audition in this unusual celebrity storyline. Both MCs came with baggage and both in their own ways denied having crossed each other’s paths before. Now they have to work together. Angst to hope on their journey to a HEA.
April 24, 2026
"A Question of Courage" depicts two complex characters in the light of an unusual relationship. Don't expect a simple sweet celebrity story, because you won't find it here. "A Question of Courage" offers a multi-layered plot that presents the evolution and healing of two wounded souls under the caress of love, but for this healing to take place, it requires the courage to open up and leave yourself in the hands of the other.
Kathryn Johnson is a proven actress who has experienced her share of life's disappointments that have made her reserved, lonely by choice, choosing to hide behind emotional walls that protect her from new wounds. With a sharp tongue and a high culture, she is a character who we can imagine could dominate any room she enters if she wanted to.
Hannah Lane is a young actress trying to establish herself as a professional in a world where competition is fierce and the audience does not forgive mistakes. The book presents her as a highly intelligent neurodivergent type, having social difficulties in understanding the logic and emotions of the majority and, as a result, struggles building lasting social connections. This does not prevent her from being a talented actress and recreating believable characters as she is pressed to be an observer of life and people in order to fit in. An equal verbal opponent to Kathryn, she manages not only to be a worthy sparring partner in verbal duels, but also to capture the heart of the older actress and leave an imprint on her thoughts for years before life brings them together again.
The background: The two actresses each live in their own lonely world until fate brings them together at a masquerade ball and they are instantly attracted to each other. They have the closest thing to what I could call a sapiosexual relationship, based on their interactions.
The brief meeting at the ball leads to both admiration and disappointment. Their reunion two years later forces them to work together and overcome the bitterness from the abrupt end of their meeting in the past.
Their conversations are a passionate clash of philosophical views, of analyticality with the sharpness of a sword, and at times their communication resembles a duel between two intellects, which naturally flows into a love game saturated with passion. The two mutually push the other to overcome fears and inhibitions, tearing down the walls behind which they lived until they met and became two halves of one whole.
Favorite quotes:
Hannah: "I like your mind, the way you think. I want to know you, so you don't have to hold back."
...
"Kathryn snorted. "I told you: My mind goes off on odd tangents sometimes."
"I really like how your mind works. It's so different from mine." Hannah squeezed Kathryn's hand."
This is my third encounter with Sabrina Blaum's work and I dare say that she has a talent for portraying extraordinary personalities and placing them in complex life situations.
The characters are well developed, beautiful each in their eccentricity. The story is fascinating, emotionally charged and can give a broader understanding of people with different cognitive process and emotionality. I recommend the book to those who are looking for something beyond the schematic tropes in the genre, for me it was a breath of fresh air after a string of similar plots.
Kathryn Johnson is a proven actress who has experienced her share of life's disappointments that have made her reserved, lonely by choice, choosing to hide behind emotional walls that protect her from new wounds. With a sharp tongue and a high culture, she is a character who we can imagine could dominate any room she enters if she wanted to.
Hannah Lane is a young actress trying to establish herself as a professional in a world where competition is fierce and the audience does not forgive mistakes. The book presents her as a highly intelligent neurodivergent type, having social difficulties in understanding the logic and emotions of the majority and, as a result, struggles building lasting social connections. This does not prevent her from being a talented actress and recreating believable characters as she is pressed to be an observer of life and people in order to fit in. An equal verbal opponent to Kathryn, she manages not only to be a worthy sparring partner in verbal duels, but also to capture the heart of the older actress and leave an imprint on her thoughts for years before life brings them together again.
The background: The two actresses each live in their own lonely world until fate brings them together at a masquerade ball and they are instantly attracted to each other. They have the closest thing to what I could call a sapiosexual relationship, based on their interactions.
The brief meeting at the ball leads to both admiration and disappointment. Their reunion two years later forces them to work together and overcome the bitterness from the abrupt end of their meeting in the past.
Their conversations are a passionate clash of philosophical views, of analyticality with the sharpness of a sword, and at times their communication resembles a duel between two intellects, which naturally flows into a love game saturated with passion. The two mutually push the other to overcome fears and inhibitions, tearing down the walls behind which they lived until they met and became two halves of one whole.
Favorite quotes:
Hannah: "I like your mind, the way you think. I want to know you, so you don't have to hold back."
...
"Kathryn snorted. "I told you: My mind goes off on odd tangents sometimes."
"I really like how your mind works. It's so different from mine." Hannah squeezed Kathryn's hand."
This is my third encounter with Sabrina Blaum's work and I dare say that she has a talent for portraying extraordinary personalities and placing them in complex life situations.
The characters are well developed, beautiful each in their eccentricity. The story is fascinating, emotionally charged and can give a broader understanding of people with different cognitive process and emotionality. I recommend the book to those who are looking for something beyond the schematic tropes in the genre, for me it was a breath of fresh air after a string of similar plots.
November 14, 2025
This book had so much potential—I love a good actress age-gap romance. But the story felt disjointed, rushed, and the chemistry never fully clicked for me. The third-act conflict felt petty and forced, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested. There were a few red flags.
I did appreciate the nuanced portrayal of social anxiety, difficulty in creating personal and lasting connections, possible trauma responses, and possible neurodivergence. That added some depth, even if the execution didn’t fully resonate. I lost interest around the 60% mark but pushed through. The writing style wasn’t for me, though I know others might connect with it more.
Not my favorite, but I respect what it was trying to do.
I did appreciate the nuanced portrayal of social anxiety, difficulty in creating personal and lasting connections, possible trauma responses, and possible neurodivergence. That added some depth, even if the execution didn’t fully resonate. I lost interest around the 60% mark but pushed through. The writing style wasn’t for me, though I know others might connect with it more.
Not my favorite, but I respect what it was trying to do.
January 15, 2026
A very long angst slow burn with a great start of being on set in Hollywood. The new member of the cast is a past masked kiss at the ball. What a great thread . Both mcs have hurt but their roles want them to act closer. A great nod to DC Legends of Tomorrow . I wasnt sure if the long angst was social anxiety or neuro divergence but so glad they got it sorted
March 23, 2026
Un peu redondant à partir de la moitié mais bon quand même!
April 29, 2026
The philosophical part felt forced, the book is a fast paced romance with low angst wich is nice every once in a while.
November 18, 2025
Não terminei. Acho que foi outra adaptação de fic (Swan Queen) e não se sustenta sozinho. Uma das protagonistas não faz muito sentido sem o contexto da personagem original, e fica uma babaca. Não sei se foi o objetivo, mas a outra protagonista parece autista e não entendi porque ela se interessou pela outra. Os capítulos terminam em partes estranhas, às vezes no meio de uma cena sem gancho algum pro outro.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews