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The Ex-Factor
Talented, gorgeous and hopelessly in love, American movie star Mitchell Pyke and Brazilian supermodel Vida Torres were Hollywood's most talked-about couple. They seemed destined for 'happily ever after' – until Vida left Mitchell for his best friend, and Mitchell publicly vowed he would never love again.Sydney dog trainer Kitty Hayden has never even heard of Mitchell Pyke. Still reeling from the loss of her mother, Kitty is too busy cleaning up the various messes made by her indolent younger sister, Frankie, and trying to find a girlfriend for her terminally single best friend, Adam, to keep up with celebrity gossip.When her work takes Kitty to Mitchell's movie set, their worlds spectacularly collide. The chemistry between them is undeniable – and it's not long before Kitty is turning her life upside down to be with her leading man. But as Kitty quickly discovers, when someone as famous as Mitchell Pyke tells the world he'll never love again, the world listens. And the vindictive Vida is never far away. With constant reminders that she's merely a consolation prize, how can Kitty compete with such a tenacious adversary – especially when she starts to suspect that Mitchell isn't over Vida after all?OTHER BOOKS BY LAURA Be My Baby
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2015
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 29, 2015
After a very public breakup movie star Mitchell Pyke is still reeling from his ex's betrayal. It's not that he is still pining for her, but the gossip rags are not relenting. After another bad day Mitchell ends up in a confrontation with dog trainer Kitty Hayden.
Kitty has seen enough in her life but Mitchell Pyke tops the list, what a jerk. When Mitchell comes to apologize and ask her on a date, everything changes and she sees a different side to the man who is splashed across television and magazines. As they explore what they have with one another, his ex seems determined to tear them apart. Will it?
If you are in the mood for a Hollywood story, this is one to pick up. Mitchell is a complicated character and I think with Kitty he has a chance to relax and just be himself. Look forward to reading more from this author.
Kitty has seen enough in her life but Mitchell Pyke tops the list, what a jerk. When Mitchell comes to apologize and ask her on a date, everything changes and she sees a different side to the man who is splashed across television and magazines. As they explore what they have with one another, his ex seems determined to tear them apart. Will it?
If you are in the mood for a Hollywood story, this is one to pick up. Mitchell is a complicated character and I think with Kitty he has a chance to relax and just be himself. Look forward to reading more from this author.
March 17, 2015
I loved Be My Baby and was hoping for an equally enjoyable read with The Ex-Factor and I wasn't disappointed. This was a well written, highly enjoyable way to spend a lazy afternoon. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Laura Greaves's next book.
April 5, 2015
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review*
‘The Ex-Factor’ is Laura Greaves’ second published novel, the second one of hers I’ve read, and the second one I’ve loved. It tells the story of soft-hearted dog wrangler, Kitty Hayden, who finds herself on the ‘doing’ end of a slap across the cheek of Mitchell Pyke, Hollywood heart-throb, mega-star, and one-off kicker of a dog in her care at a film shoot (by accident!).
From this point Kitty and Mitchell begin an ill-fated love affair that in any other situation ie minus the Hollywood hype, the jealous supermodel ex-girlfriend and the unrelenting paparazzi, would have been your garden variety ‘forever love’ kind of guy-gal get-together. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for Kitty and Mitchell. Even though they’re a pair of gorgeous down-to-earth characters, the blaze of the celebrity spotlight and the personal baggage they bring to their relationship is eventually too much for them. Communication is a continuing thread in this story: how important it is, how we take it for granted, how we so often get it wrong, and how destructive it can be when we do.
Laura Greaves writes in the first person, wholly from the perspective of her main protagonist, in this case, Kitty. It gives her storytelling a seat-of-the-pants, white knuckle feel as she takes her reader through a rollicking, often funny, often poignant ride through the lives of her characters.
There’s a very human touch to the colourful characters in this story: good old dependable best friend Adam, zany sister Frankie (who almost steals the show), enigmatic body guard Mack, quirky dog owner Martha, and a host of appalling corporate media personalities who you get the feeling might have leapt right out of Laura Greaves’ past. Sometimes the human touch is so authentic that the main characters in her stories provoke me to a point where I want to strangle them. This is particularly so when Kitty decides that revenge and a much-needed financial windfall is the best outcome when it comes to Mitchell. But given that few of us qualify for sainthood, I love the true to life fallibility of these main characters and the author's honesty in bringing them to life. I just wish her male protagonists weren’t quite so gorgeous given the wringer she puts them through at the hands of her gals.
For readers who love a true to life, often heart-wrenching rom-com about everyday people finding themselves in extraordinary situations, I highly recommend The Ex-Factor.
‘The Ex-Factor’ is Laura Greaves’ second published novel, the second one of hers I’ve read, and the second one I’ve loved. It tells the story of soft-hearted dog wrangler, Kitty Hayden, who finds herself on the ‘doing’ end of a slap across the cheek of Mitchell Pyke, Hollywood heart-throb, mega-star, and one-off kicker of a dog in her care at a film shoot (by accident!).
From this point Kitty and Mitchell begin an ill-fated love affair that in any other situation ie minus the Hollywood hype, the jealous supermodel ex-girlfriend and the unrelenting paparazzi, would have been your garden variety ‘forever love’ kind of guy-gal get-together. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for Kitty and Mitchell. Even though they’re a pair of gorgeous down-to-earth characters, the blaze of the celebrity spotlight and the personal baggage they bring to their relationship is eventually too much for them. Communication is a continuing thread in this story: how important it is, how we take it for granted, how we so often get it wrong, and how destructive it can be when we do.
Laura Greaves writes in the first person, wholly from the perspective of her main protagonist, in this case, Kitty. It gives her storytelling a seat-of-the-pants, white knuckle feel as she takes her reader through a rollicking, often funny, often poignant ride through the lives of her characters.
There’s a very human touch to the colourful characters in this story: good old dependable best friend Adam, zany sister Frankie (who almost steals the show), enigmatic body guard Mack, quirky dog owner Martha, and a host of appalling corporate media personalities who you get the feeling might have leapt right out of Laura Greaves’ past. Sometimes the human touch is so authentic that the main characters in her stories provoke me to a point where I want to strangle them. This is particularly so when Kitty decides that revenge and a much-needed financial windfall is the best outcome when it comes to Mitchell. But given that few of us qualify for sainthood, I love the true to life fallibility of these main characters and the author's honesty in bringing them to life. I just wish her male protagonists weren’t quite so gorgeous given the wringer she puts them through at the hands of her gals.
For readers who love a true to life, often heart-wrenching rom-com about everyday people finding themselves in extraordinary situations, I highly recommend The Ex-Factor.
April 29, 2015
4.5 / 5 stars
Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review; original post can be found at:
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...
This book had the ability to drag --
But it didn't.
Why did it have the ability? Because quite frankly, Mitchell was an ass in the beginning. You think female movie stars can be divas? Oh hell to the no, meet Mitchell Pyke.
I did not like the man initially. He was rude, crass, and arrogant. And an animal abuser.
Ok, so that was a heat of the moment accident, but still. So go Kitty Hayden with your loud words and quick backhanded slap. When she's fired from the movie, she takes her dog actors and leaves happily.
I did feel, however, that the change from angry at him to allowing him to take her for walk and dinner was a bit sudden. Mitchell was very much a movie star and while he didn't mean to, nor did he truly realize it, he flaunted his money as if he wanted Kitty to be impressed by it. Their relationship progresses fairly fast and when it comes time for him to return back to the States, he asks her to come with.
Kitty certainly does some growing in this book -- she learns how to stand up for herself and that life is more than lights and fancy words. Mitchell, too, does some growing. Or rather, he learns to return to his roots, back to the drama geek from the midwest.
I enjoyed Kitty's relationship with her sister, Frankie. I wanted to enjoy her friendship with Adam, but being honest again? At first I thought the ex thing had more to do with Adam than Vida -- the man was sorely jealous of Mitchell, I felt. Vida was every bit the diva model that media would portray her to be -- she dragged Mitchell through the dirt the first go-round, and found a way to try and drag him around some more. In the end, though, this was a book of trusting instincts and heart.
While it had serious romance themes, it was also a bit of a comedy -- and I don't give that term out lightly when it comes to books. Definitely had many laugh out loud moments!
Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review; original post can be found at:
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...
This book had the ability to drag --
But it didn't.
Why did it have the ability? Because quite frankly, Mitchell was an ass in the beginning. You think female movie stars can be divas? Oh hell to the no, meet Mitchell Pyke.
I did not like the man initially. He was rude, crass, and arrogant. And an animal abuser.
Ok, so that was a heat of the moment accident, but still. So go Kitty Hayden with your loud words and quick backhanded slap. When she's fired from the movie, she takes her dog actors and leaves happily.
I did feel, however, that the change from angry at him to allowing him to take her for walk and dinner was a bit sudden. Mitchell was very much a movie star and while he didn't mean to, nor did he truly realize it, he flaunted his money as if he wanted Kitty to be impressed by it. Their relationship progresses fairly fast and when it comes time for him to return back to the States, he asks her to come with.
Kitty certainly does some growing in this book -- she learns how to stand up for herself and that life is more than lights and fancy words. Mitchell, too, does some growing. Or rather, he learns to return to his roots, back to the drama geek from the midwest.
I enjoyed Kitty's relationship with her sister, Frankie. I wanted to enjoy her friendship with Adam, but being honest again? At first I thought the ex thing had more to do with Adam than Vida -- the man was sorely jealous of Mitchell, I felt. Vida was every bit the diva model that media would portray her to be -- she dragged Mitchell through the dirt the first go-round, and found a way to try and drag him around some more. In the end, though, this was a book of trusting instincts and heart.
While it had serious romance themes, it was also a bit of a comedy -- and I don't give that term out lightly when it comes to books. Definitely had many laugh out loud moments!
April 9, 2015
Where's the romance???
This story could have been so much better than it was. It felt more like Chic-lit than a romance. There was actually no romance and I can't even say there was insta-love because the hero of the book seems to be lacking in emotion and in the story line. I couldn't really get a feeling of them as a couple. I think they spoke 10 words to each other in the whole book.
The only saving grace is the relationship between Kitty and her sister Frankie that seemed genuine.
This story could have been so much better than it was. It felt more like Chic-lit than a romance. There was actually no romance and I can't even say there was insta-love because the hero of the book seems to be lacking in emotion and in the story line. I couldn't really get a feeling of them as a couple. I think they spoke 10 words to each other in the whole book.
The only saving grace is the relationship between Kitty and her sister Frankie that seemed genuine.
April 7, 2015
The heroine was very quirky, quite
naive, and had a tendency to transfer her issues to everyone around her. I really liked her. The love story took a backseat to Kitty's own self analysis but she is great at using her own issues to spin the outcome to suit her insecurities. Angsty at times but a satisfying read.
naive, and had a tendency to transfer her issues to everyone around her. I really liked her. The love story took a backseat to Kitty's own self analysis but she is great at using her own issues to spin the outcome to suit her insecurities. Angsty at times but a satisfying read.
June 27, 2015
"The Ex-Factor" was a fun book, which I enjoyed reading very much. I particularly liked reading a book that was set in an area I know. Reading about various locations, roads and landmarks had more meaning for me since I knew each and everyone of them well.
This was the first book I've read by Ms Greaves and it won't be the last.
This was the first book I've read by Ms Greaves and it won't be the last.
April 21, 2015
A charming fun read that had me laughing out loud&kept me turning the pages,a perfect read to sit back relax&enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews