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Shuttergirl
This is a previously-published edition - ASIN: B00XSYYB8C
A NEW STANDALONE FROM CD REISS
ONE movie star on the cusp of greatness
ONE broken girl who touched him
TEN years to forget her
A MILLION stories in Hollywood
-----------
I am not hurt.
I don’t need a second chance with him, or a life I thought I had.
While he was out forgetting me to become a movie star, I was building a career out of nothing. A career as a paparazzi, but a career. For a foster kid who bounced around every home in Los Angeles, that wasn’t easy.
This camera is all I have.
He’s nothing to me. Every time I take his picture and sell it, I remind myself that I did it all without him or his approval, his cinnamon smell or his clear green eyes. He lights up the screen like a celestial body, but he’s nothing but a paycheck to me.
He can throw my camera off a balcony, and nothing has to change. We can stay king and queen of the same city, and different worlds.
Except this is Hollywood, and here, anything can happen.
A NEW STANDALONE FROM CD REISS
ONE movie star on the cusp of greatness
ONE broken girl who touched him
TEN years to forget her
A MILLION stories in Hollywood
-----------
I am not hurt.
I don’t need a second chance with him, or a life I thought I had.
While he was out forgetting me to become a movie star, I was building a career out of nothing. A career as a paparazzi, but a career. For a foster kid who bounced around every home in Los Angeles, that wasn’t easy.
This camera is all I have.
He’s nothing to me. Every time I take his picture and sell it, I remind myself that I did it all without him or his approval, his cinnamon smell or his clear green eyes. He lights up the screen like a celestial body, but he’s nothing but a paycheck to me.
He can throw my camera off a balcony, and nothing has to change. We can stay king and queen of the same city, and different worlds.
Except this is Hollywood, and here, anything can happen.
284 pages, ebook
First published May 16, 2015
236 people are currently reading
4913 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Reiss
112 books9,641 followersCD Reiss is a New York Times bestselling author. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 693 reviews
October 2, 2015
There is no question that I love Christine’s writing or that she is nestled comfortably in the list of my favorite authors. So going into Shuttergirl I knew that I’d get exceptional writing but this would be different from the erotic nature of the Songs of Series’ that preceded this release.
Shuttergirl is a contemporary romance accompanied by a second chance love story that is set in Hollywood. Both sides of the city are revealed in this tale. The glamour, the blinding flash of the camera and the dirt beneath your fingernails. The shiny is flipped over and the tarnished underbelly is exposed as we meet Laine and Michael. Two sides to Hollywood. Two sides that feed off of each other – sides that rely on one another to survive in a city that is just waiting for the next big thing to take the next big fall. Hollywood. A place where the only thing greater than your success is your failure being captured.
Laine, our heroine hasn’t lived the privileged life. Even while growing up with foster parents that were able to place in in the life of privilege, she was still on the outside looking in. Now although in the thick of things, she still stands behind a lens – watching the world from a distance.
I adored the sides of Laine that we get. No doubt she had her strengths, but what I truly loved about her was that she had this vulnerability that did not make her weak. She was tough, she was a fighter and ultimately she knew how to survive.
Michael came across as swoony as a hero can be. He was this nice guy living amongst sharks, able to keep them at bay and still remain unaffected by them. I loved that I was kept on my toes with him. I was always waiting for something to happen. For the perfect to be fractured. And yeah, there is a time when Michael does have me banging my head against the wall; but at the same time I had absolute faith in him.
Being that this is a contemporary romance, be prepared for sweet. That is what this genre delivers. There is some steamy scenes, but understand that you aren’t going to have this punishing dominant male that is claiming his woman – you get the soft, the sweet – the down-right-weak-in-the-knees moments. I think having had read this and having time to think about this story, I can honestly say that this author can do no wrong. I loved that we got the same unique style of writing we expect from this author – the ability to bend words to her will. To paint a scene in such a way that just blows you away.
In the end this book allowed me as a reader to escape for a few hours. To let the world fall away, to remove the frown and the stress of real life and find this alternative reality within these pages. A place where happily ever after exists. Where the hero always gets the girl and where love does truly conquer all. And although the Songs of Series will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never stop wanting more of the Drazens, but I want to see what this author can do. I want to watch her expand her comfort zone. I want to see her take us from punishments to intimate embraces.
Shuttergirl was exceptionally written. It was a love story set in the land of possibilities, cloaked in the glitz of Hollywood, captured one frame at a time. This is a must read for 2015.
August 15, 2017
LIVE! [AMAZON LINK]
★★★★ ½! Shuttergirl (stand-alone) A paparazzi girl’s camera love affair with a Hollywood heartthrob, until he spots the girl behind the lens!
Shuttergirl (stand-alone) is the against-all-odds love story of a Hollywood superstar and a paparazzi girl of the city. Together they are the Ying and Yang in what makes scandalous headlines, but also polar opposites in background and upbringing.
A-list actor and Hollywood heartthrob Michael Greydon was born into Hollywood royalty. The love child of two legendary Hollywood actors, groomed to be a success in all his endeavors from acting, to sports, business and charity.
Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl on the other hand was orphaned and bounced in the foster care system, losing her footing along the way before and finally finding her niche as Shuttergirl…
At one point in the past their paths did cross, more to unfold with story, but for most part it’s in present time with them fighting an intense, insane attraction, all the odds stacked against them and everyone wanting a piece of the action.
It’s a life story not meant for a stage or a set, yet it’s played out in front of the world. In a city with a penchant for extremes and an industry where everything comes at a prize Shuttergirl follows Michael and Laine gearing up for the biggest parts of their lives.
ClickClickClick!!!
Eight words to describe Michael Greydon: Noble, focused, trusting, loyal, caring, easy-going, level-headed and responsible.
Nine words to describe Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl: Broken, reflective, secretive, lonely, insecure, smart, feisty, determined and motivated.
Shuttergirl, told from dual POVs is about wanting something so fiercely you become reckless. It reads at a pleasant pace offering a bit of everything; intrigue, drama, angst, sexual tension galore and ultimately an unending love. I am happy where story took them, but I would welcome an epilogue further into the future.
Effortless story telling! Intriguing plot! Interesting settings! Bad ass, broken heroine! Hero breaking out of the mold!
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A, ARC
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author C.D. Reiss in exchange for an honest review.
LIVE! [AMAZON LINK]
★★★★ ½! Shuttergirl (stand-alone) A paparazzi girl’s camera love affair with a Hollywood heartthrob, until he spots the girl behind the lens!
“This is the story of one celebrity and as much as the city, he is mine.”
Shuttergirl (stand-alone) is the against-all-odds love story of a Hollywood superstar and a paparazzi girl of the city. Together they are the Ying and Yang in what makes scandalous headlines, but also polar opposites in background and upbringing.
A-list actor and Hollywood heartthrob Michael Greydon was born into Hollywood royalty. The love child of two legendary Hollywood actors, groomed to be a success in all his endeavors from acting, to sports, business and charity.
Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl on the other hand was orphaned and bounced in the foster care system, losing her footing along the way before and finally finding her niche as Shuttergirl…
At one point in the past their paths did cross, more to unfold with story, but for most part it’s in present time with them fighting an intense, insane attraction, all the odds stacked against them and everyone wanting a piece of the action.
It’s a life story not meant for a stage or a set, yet it’s played out in front of the world. In a city with a penchant for extremes and an industry where everything comes at a prize Shuttergirl follows Michael and Laine gearing up for the biggest parts of their lives.
ClickClickClick!!!
“He was stunning, and irresistible, and a one-way ticket to nowheresville.”
Eight words to describe Michael Greydon: Noble, focused, trusting, loyal, caring, easy-going, level-headed and responsible.
Nine words to describe Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl: Broken, reflective, secretive, lonely, insecure, smart, feisty, determined and motivated.
Shuttergirl, told from dual POVs is about wanting something so fiercely you become reckless. It reads at a pleasant pace offering a bit of everything; intrigue, drama, angst, sexual tension galore and ultimately an unending love. I am happy where story took them, but I would welcome an epilogue further into the future.
Effortless story telling! Intriguing plot! Interesting settings! Bad ass, broken heroine! Hero breaking out of the mold!
“I own this city. I walk with its rhythms, run with its breath, speak its language. Los Angeles is my lover. It knows I’m a survivor…”
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A, ARC
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author C.D. Reiss in exchange for an honest review.
LIVE! [AMAZON LINK]
September 1, 2016
5 Tour De Force Stars * * * * *
A Review in Two Parts
This reading experience hit me in two ways. The first was the solid, compelling story about two people who seemed to be so very different, yet when looked at closely and revealed... had so much more in common than would believed.
The second sensation was the remarkable way this was told by an author who transitioned seamlessly from one style of writing to another.
I would like to talk about the artistry of C. D. Reiss just for a moment. There are artists in all forms...whether with the written word or with brushes and paint...with instruments, voices and bodies. They can be part of the cultural art form or every day life. We experience experts in all fields... those who have mastered their craft... whatever it may be... And it is what makes our lives unique.
Yet all these masters out there may have their specific forte...a classification they do not stray from... Like the expert chefs know baking and fine pastry is not their thing... Or how amazing actors have difficulty with the subtlety of delivering comic timing... there are very few who are able to do it all. Robin Williams was a master in both; he was just as strong in the dramatic arena as he was brilliant in the comedic.
With this new book, ShutterGirl, Ms. Reiss has walked the tightrope over to Contemporary Romance with ease. She has brought all of her insight to the inner workings of the mind and shared the moment by moment connection of two characters with such depth, detail and need... we are hopelessly drawn in from the first page.
For those familiar with her past work, it will be no surprise in this initial feeling... we have become spoiled by it. The adjustment for past readers is the concept of a love story which has a different way delivering all the expected sensuality and connections... it is all there but expressed within the Contemporary Romance context. It is swoon worthy and when it happens our hearts melt. My hat off to Ms. Reiss for accomplishing this, for it is one thing to be a sensual writer... it is another to be able to accomplish the pulsing want and desire with a few indications of the act and remain equally powerful.
Personally, since you have accomplished so much in your past works with all the artistry of word movies for the mind... I had no doubt this too would be compelling and at your level of writing.
Which leads me to this specific story. We live in a world captivated by moments seen through lenses of others... be it on the National Broadcast News, or the Film/TV Industry or the ever present, in your face paparazzi and social media. With the advent of the digital age, immediacy became the buzzword for getting the story or getting the shot. We have memories of certain images which will always be tied to celebrities or public figures. It is the way of our world. Now it just happens in micro seconds instead of hours or days.
Our two main characters have been set on a path which first brought them both a sweetness and sense of closeness when she was 15 and he 16. Years later it still lived. It would hibernate and wait for the moment to awaken in both.
From the outside Michael Greydon, looks to have it all; his parents are Award Winning actors and have raised him to carry the mantle. He worked hard through the acting ranks, broke through and always played by the prescribed rules of never revealing too much or losing it. He mastered the craft... had his persona down and was "America's Heart Throb with Class".
He is at a juncture; his father is in his sunset years... a closet alcoholic who is desperate for a breakthrough movie... he needs something to stop his drinking... Michael has taken on a project to save his dad and is on tender hooks trying to just make it all happen. He has cast a female nightmare...great actress but an emotional train-wreck...and we see from the start what he is up against with her acting out.
This acting out is what pays the bills for our gal, Laine Cartwright. She is the top paparazzi in Los Angeles causing her own type of sensation...stars call her ShutterGirl as, in her heels and fine figure maneuvering to the front rows over awkward, crass men yelling and taunting, she would stand out. With Michael... it was even more intense... for they had a history neither of them acknowledged. He would look into her camera and there she would see "her" Michael... a fleeting glimpse before the Actor Mask came up. Laine made her bread and butter off those Actor pics of Michael...she was a pro doing her job.
Things can change in an instant, though. Here Laine is with her foster "brother", who she taught the ropes of shooting and she sees the object of his affection going into the club they were scouting. The Money Shots have already been done, downloaded, configured and set out for bidding. Laine decides to help him out and gets them into the club so he can mingle with this singer. All cameras have been put away, so Laine promises her contact who feeds her leads... things will be cool.
Brother hooks up with singer and he is busy talking...looking happy for once. Laine, pleased, is at the bar and just hanging... Michael comes and starts to talk with his buddy next to her...
Laine and Michael have a careful conversation to start... that dance between obvious adversaries...and then...it happens; the breakthrough... the remembrance of their brief time together in high school. Feelings and shared moments resurface... a throwback to when they were just these two who gave real to each other... no artifice... just honest emotions.
The moment is broken by her brother... he brought her camera into the club and shoots a picture of Laine and Michael close...and everything snaps... Michael, so strung out from the pressures of trying to keep this movie on track, grabs the camera, throws and shattering it. Everyone disperses and Laine is pissed. Now what... no camera, she will make her brother pay...her connection at the club probably gone...but most importantly... the moment with Michael... where she felt whole and real for the first time since she had been that teenager in the bleachers sitting with Michael... gone.
Michael is not happy either... and not for the reasons his buddy, agent or attorney thinks. He has followed Laine's career since first seeing her from behind the ropes and wondered... wondered if... wondered what could have happened between them...
This hibernating pull stirs in the both of them...it works to gain purchase... to be allowed to breathe, grow and take steps to reality...
Through the minds and heart of these two characters, we experience it all. We learn of the back stories of the public people they are and who they hide...even from themselves. Things are shown to us we should never see from Laine's life...but that phrase of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"... it clearly explains and gives us the understanding of why Laine's had this strength and talent. It is something to be cherished and admired... for rising, overcoming and succeeding is remarkable and testimony to the person she is.
Michael has his revelations, too... some come easier than others. He has had a life where he has done everything which was expected...to break that type of mold, to give up that safety net is like leaping without a parachute and just as risky for him.
We are not just given these two characters to follow and learn to love... there is the layered presentation of things to consider... of our world in which we live...questions to ponder about what is ethically fair in the capturing of moments...are they up for grabs... what is the responsibility of those taking them, etc. It is not done heavy handed at all... it is just part of a layer... Another is the gaze of cruelty of systems... systems of society... of systems of teenage kids... of the haves and the have-nots. What one little difference can make in a life.
And then we have C.D. Reiss' favorite character... Los Angeles... in all her glory. She is used to the up most...back alleys... food truck locations, landmarks...everything is fair game. As one who is very familiar with this City of Angels...she is done to perfection....And with a keen eye and memory.. readers of other books from Reiss will be given little treats throughout.
I am going to shut up now... because there is just too much to address. Instead... please read this book and you will get why I was so taken with it. I have only touched the tip of the iceberg and really it is the reading.... finding all the juicy goodness for yourself... is what it is all about anyway...
So... Go...Read ShutterGirl and Enjoy.
~~~ Before Reading ~~~
A Wendy Tease...
Click Click...look this way and that...
If you move fast enough...you will get the shot, the payday...the moment...
We moved together fast...so fast...he seems to have forgotten...but I didn't...
Click click...another shot....
New C.D. Reiss Project
Expected publication: May 20th 2015
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
A Review in Two Parts
This reading experience hit me in two ways. The first was the solid, compelling story about two people who seemed to be so very different, yet when looked at closely and revealed... had so much more in common than would believed.
The second sensation was the remarkable way this was told by an author who transitioned seamlessly from one style of writing to another.
I would like to talk about the artistry of C. D. Reiss just for a moment. There are artists in all forms...whether with the written word or with brushes and paint...with instruments, voices and bodies. They can be part of the cultural art form or every day life. We experience experts in all fields... those who have mastered their craft... whatever it may be... And it is what makes our lives unique.
Yet all these masters out there may have their specific forte...a classification they do not stray from... Like the expert chefs know baking and fine pastry is not their thing... Or how amazing actors have difficulty with the subtlety of delivering comic timing... there are very few who are able to do it all. Robin Williams was a master in both; he was just as strong in the dramatic arena as he was brilliant in the comedic.
With this new book, ShutterGirl, Ms. Reiss has walked the tightrope over to Contemporary Romance with ease. She has brought all of her insight to the inner workings of the mind and shared the moment by moment connection of two characters with such depth, detail and need... we are hopelessly drawn in from the first page.
For those familiar with her past work, it will be no surprise in this initial feeling... we have become spoiled by it. The adjustment for past readers is the concept of a love story which has a different way delivering all the expected sensuality and connections... it is all there but expressed within the Contemporary Romance context. It is swoon worthy and when it happens our hearts melt. My hat off to Ms. Reiss for accomplishing this, for it is one thing to be a sensual writer... it is another to be able to accomplish the pulsing want and desire with a few indications of the act and remain equally powerful.
Personally, since you have accomplished so much in your past works with all the artistry of word movies for the mind... I had no doubt this too would be compelling and at your level of writing.
Which leads me to this specific story. We live in a world captivated by moments seen through lenses of others... be it on the National Broadcast News, or the Film/TV Industry or the ever present, in your face paparazzi and social media. With the advent of the digital age, immediacy became the buzzword for getting the story or getting the shot. We have memories of certain images which will always be tied to celebrities or public figures. It is the way of our world. Now it just happens in micro seconds instead of hours or days.
Our two main characters have been set on a path which first brought them both a sweetness and sense of closeness when she was 15 and he 16. Years later it still lived. It would hibernate and wait for the moment to awaken in both.
From the outside Michael Greydon, looks to have it all; his parents are Award Winning actors and have raised him to carry the mantle. He worked hard through the acting ranks, broke through and always played by the prescribed rules of never revealing too much or losing it. He mastered the craft... had his persona down and was "America's Heart Throb with Class".
He is at a juncture; his father is in his sunset years... a closet alcoholic who is desperate for a breakthrough movie... he needs something to stop his drinking... Michael has taken on a project to save his dad and is on tender hooks trying to just make it all happen. He has cast a female nightmare...great actress but an emotional train-wreck...and we see from the start what he is up against with her acting out.
This acting out is what pays the bills for our gal, Laine Cartwright. She is the top paparazzi in Los Angeles causing her own type of sensation...stars call her ShutterGirl as, in her heels and fine figure maneuvering to the front rows over awkward, crass men yelling and taunting, she would stand out. With Michael... it was even more intense... for they had a history neither of them acknowledged. He would look into her camera and there she would see "her" Michael... a fleeting glimpse before the Actor Mask came up. Laine made her bread and butter off those Actor pics of Michael...she was a pro doing her job.
Things can change in an instant, though. Here Laine is with her foster "brother", who she taught the ropes of shooting and she sees the object of his affection going into the club they were scouting. The Money Shots have already been done, downloaded, configured and set out for bidding. Laine decides to help him out and gets them into the club so he can mingle with this singer. All cameras have been put away, so Laine promises her contact who feeds her leads... things will be cool.
Brother hooks up with singer and he is busy talking...looking happy for once. Laine, pleased, is at the bar and just hanging... Michael comes and starts to talk with his buddy next to her...
Laine and Michael have a careful conversation to start... that dance between obvious adversaries...and then...it happens; the breakthrough... the remembrance of their brief time together in high school. Feelings and shared moments resurface... a throwback to when they were just these two who gave real to each other... no artifice... just honest emotions.
The moment is broken by her brother... he brought her camera into the club and shoots a picture of Laine and Michael close...and everything snaps... Michael, so strung out from the pressures of trying to keep this movie on track, grabs the camera, throws and shattering it. Everyone disperses and Laine is pissed. Now what... no camera, she will make her brother pay...her connection at the club probably gone...but most importantly... the moment with Michael... where she felt whole and real for the first time since she had been that teenager in the bleachers sitting with Michael... gone.
Michael is not happy either... and not for the reasons his buddy, agent or attorney thinks. He has followed Laine's career since first seeing her from behind the ropes and wondered... wondered if... wondered what could have happened between them...
This hibernating pull stirs in the both of them...it works to gain purchase... to be allowed to breathe, grow and take steps to reality...
Through the minds and heart of these two characters, we experience it all. We learn of the back stories of the public people they are and who they hide...even from themselves. Things are shown to us we should never see from Laine's life...but that phrase of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"... it clearly explains and gives us the understanding of why Laine's had this strength and talent. It is something to be cherished and admired... for rising, overcoming and succeeding is remarkable and testimony to the person she is.
Michael has his revelations, too... some come easier than others. He has had a life where he has done everything which was expected...to break that type of mold, to give up that safety net is like leaping without a parachute and just as risky for him.
We are not just given these two characters to follow and learn to love... there is the layered presentation of things to consider... of our world in which we live...questions to ponder about what is ethically fair in the capturing of moments...are they up for grabs... what is the responsibility of those taking them, etc. It is not done heavy handed at all... it is just part of a layer... Another is the gaze of cruelty of systems... systems of society... of systems of teenage kids... of the haves and the have-nots. What one little difference can make in a life.
And then we have C.D. Reiss' favorite character... Los Angeles... in all her glory. She is used to the up most...back alleys... food truck locations, landmarks...everything is fair game. As one who is very familiar with this City of Angels...she is done to perfection....And with a keen eye and memory.. readers of other books from Reiss will be given little treats throughout.
I am going to shut up now... because there is just too much to address. Instead... please read this book and you will get why I was so taken with it. I have only touched the tip of the iceberg and really it is the reading.... finding all the juicy goodness for yourself... is what it is all about anyway...
So... Go...Read ShutterGirl and Enjoy.
~~~ Before Reading ~~~
A Wendy Tease...
Click Click...look this way and that...
If you move fast enough...you will get the shot, the payday...the moment...
We moved together fast...so fast...he seems to have forgotten...but I didn't...
Click click...another shot....
New C.D. Reiss Project
Expected publication: May 20th 2015
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
January 18, 2016
Currently on SALE 99c for 1 week only! 18th - 24th January 2016
A STANDALONE full length contemporary ROMANCE!
It's Live! * Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon CA *
(Check price before purchase)
Shuttergirl is primarily a story about love, loving freely, without reservation or hindrance from the past or present. It's about taking a risk with your heart, a leap of faith for the ultimate prize. Shuttergirl is about letting love lead the way.
Laine and Michael initially met at Breakfront School a number of years prior to the start of Shuttergirl. Back then he had a girlfriend and Laine had a fear of being hurt. Shuttergirl transports us to a later place in their life when fate works to bring them together.
Michael is from a Hollywood dynasty, with a legion of fans he's a superstar in his own right and the epitome of a gorgeous man... Handsome, sexy, caring, kind, charismatic.... He's swoon worthy and divine, the perfect romantic hero and his career is set to sky rocket because not only is he is gorgeous, he's a highly skilled and talented actor.
Laine is a survivor. She makes her living taking pictures of celebrities and selling them to the highest bidder. More than anything, she doesn't wish to upset the equilibrium of her life. Nobody nurtured her into adulthood, the most consistent person in her life is her stepbrother Tom, her light and a very important part of her being. I warmed to him greatly and have my fingers crossed for Tom’s story. Laine learned to take care of herself which, in turn nurtured the abrasive and defensive edge to her personality, an edge that forms part of her vulnerability. She doesn't consider herself worthwhile or important in the scheme of her surroundings... Despite her vulnerabilities and her defensive nature, I still felt the delicate strength of her character. In her simplest, most basic and broken down form, Laine is a woman who longs to be loved and have that love reciprocated. The basic need of any beautiful human being, and Laine is more than beautiful.
A paparazzi and a movie star is not a match made in heaven, it's one that will be frowned upon..... Laine could lose everything.
There's layered meaning in the prose reminding us of their combined timeline, character and emotions. The story arc draws out the important aspects of their history and CD Reiss weaves the telling of it into the prose with exquisite subtlety. The motivation behind the character actions, thoughts and feelings begins to unfold in front of our eyes showing the raw edge of the story juxtaposed against the most glorious romance giving the story the depth I crave from my reading. Laine has experienced indelible pain; it's shaped her life and her emotions. The way it's depicted and revealed within the context of the story, broke my heart.
The growth and development of the hero and especially the heroine is wonderful. Laine's self awareness, analytical response and realisation is a hugely satisfying aspect of the story. The more I reflect on Shuttergirl, the more I feel its beautiful nature and romantic quality wrapped up with the warmest emotions and picture perfect descriptions. There's a twee moment at the end that to my British ear is a little too sweet but equally quite lovely as part of the bigger picture of this tale. Shuttergirl is pure romance.
Cd Reiss captures the essence of the very special relationship between Michael and Laine and I experienced their combined SEXY HOTNESS. The slow build of the story transforms into angsty loveliness. The sexual tension between the characters and the explosive potential of their coupling makes this story addictive reading. Their first time made me catch my breath, a result of the anticipation I felt from being witness to their love story.
The essence of Shuttergirl is romance, a sexy love story about a girl who loves a boy. Forbidden by etiquette, class and social standing.... In the beginning they came together from different worlds and then lost touch accordingly. Will fate work in their favour the second time around? Shuttergirl is a picture perfect second chance SEXY story that I believe lovers of romance will adore.
Complimentary copy provided by the author for my honest review thoughts.
A STANDALONE full length contemporary ROMANCE!
It's Live! * Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon CA *
(Check price before purchase)
Shuttergirl is primarily a story about love, loving freely, without reservation or hindrance from the past or present. It's about taking a risk with your heart, a leap of faith for the ultimate prize. Shuttergirl is about letting love lead the way.
Laine and Michael initially met at Breakfront School a number of years prior to the start of Shuttergirl. Back then he had a girlfriend and Laine had a fear of being hurt. Shuttergirl transports us to a later place in their life when fate works to bring them together.
Michael is from a Hollywood dynasty, with a legion of fans he's a superstar in his own right and the epitome of a gorgeous man... Handsome, sexy, caring, kind, charismatic.... He's swoon worthy and divine, the perfect romantic hero and his career is set to sky rocket because not only is he is gorgeous, he's a highly skilled and talented actor.
Laine is a survivor. She makes her living taking pictures of celebrities and selling them to the highest bidder. More than anything, she doesn't wish to upset the equilibrium of her life. Nobody nurtured her into adulthood, the most consistent person in her life is her stepbrother Tom, her light and a very important part of her being. I warmed to him greatly and have my fingers crossed for Tom’s story. Laine learned to take care of herself which, in turn nurtured the abrasive and defensive edge to her personality, an edge that forms part of her vulnerability. She doesn't consider herself worthwhile or important in the scheme of her surroundings... Despite her vulnerabilities and her defensive nature, I still felt the delicate strength of her character. In her simplest, most basic and broken down form, Laine is a woman who longs to be loved and have that love reciprocated. The basic need of any beautiful human being, and Laine is more than beautiful.
A paparazzi and a movie star is not a match made in heaven, it's one that will be frowned upon..... Laine could lose everything.
There's layered meaning in the prose reminding us of their combined timeline, character and emotions. The story arc draws out the important aspects of their history and CD Reiss weaves the telling of it into the prose with exquisite subtlety. The motivation behind the character actions, thoughts and feelings begins to unfold in front of our eyes showing the raw edge of the story juxtaposed against the most glorious romance giving the story the depth I crave from my reading. Laine has experienced indelible pain; it's shaped her life and her emotions. The way it's depicted and revealed within the context of the story, broke my heart.
The growth and development of the hero and especially the heroine is wonderful. Laine's self awareness, analytical response and realisation is a hugely satisfying aspect of the story. The more I reflect on Shuttergirl, the more I feel its beautiful nature and romantic quality wrapped up with the warmest emotions and picture perfect descriptions. There's a twee moment at the end that to my British ear is a little too sweet but equally quite lovely as part of the bigger picture of this tale. Shuttergirl is pure romance.
Cd Reiss captures the essence of the very special relationship between Michael and Laine and I experienced their combined SEXY HOTNESS. The slow build of the story transforms into angsty loveliness. The sexual tension between the characters and the explosive potential of their coupling makes this story addictive reading. Their first time made me catch my breath, a result of the anticipation I felt from being witness to their love story.
The essence of Shuttergirl is romance, a sexy love story about a girl who loves a boy. Forbidden by etiquette, class and social standing.... In the beginning they came together from different worlds and then lost touch accordingly. Will fate work in their favour the second time around? Shuttergirl is a picture perfect second chance SEXY story that I believe lovers of romance will adore.
Complimentary copy provided by the author for my honest review thoughts.
May 25, 2017
I loved this book…
it’s one of those that will stay with me for a very long time and I will be reading it again and again!!!
Before I go into why this story touched me in the way it did..let me begin to say that the writing spoke to me…poetic, expressive, inspiring, emotional, lyrical, moving..I could go on forever – absolutely beautiful!
From the very beginning, I knew I was going to go on an amazing journey…
I adored Laine Cartwright….her character pulled all my heartstrings…
What an incredible and endearing man, living in the plastic and false Hollywood world!!
I loved that Laine & Michael were given a second chance to finding each other and being able to help each other overcome their demons – even when both thought it would be impossible to have a HEA…..
it’s one of those that will stay with me for a very long time and I will be reading it again and again!!!
Before I go into why this story touched me in the way it did..let me begin to say that the writing spoke to me…poetic, expressive, inspiring, emotional, lyrical, moving..I could go on forever – absolutely beautiful!
From the very beginning, I knew I was going to go on an amazing journey…
Shuttergirl had so much going for me, most of all the two main characters…a Hollywood golden boy of movies and a paparazzi – the most unlikely people to find their HEA together!!!
I adored Laine Cartwright….her character pulled all my heartstrings…
Despite the knocks in her life, she retained a strength and grit beyond imagination
“I own this city. And like mother and daughter locked together, the ownership is reciprocal. I’ve been nurtured in her arms, brought to adulthood as if pulled by the roots of my hair, sung to sleep with a lullaby of car alarms and freeway traffic.”– without losing her humanity……
“I got into my shoes with anticipation and laced them up with hope.”And who could resist Michael Greydon!
What an incredible and endearing man, living in the plastic and false Hollywood world!!
My life had been written at birth, a list of opportunities read out loud to the world. Beginning, middle and end. I had found security in that room to make decisions, yet the safety of limits. Laine had come and folded the paper, creasing my expectations in high school with her life story. Now, with her breath on my shoulder, she folded my life into an airplane and shot it out the window.”The 3rd main character was the city of Los Angeles. The vivid imagery makes it so real that I felt I was actually living in it.
I loved that Laine & Michael were given a second chance to finding each other and being able to help each other overcome their demons – even when both thought it would be impossible to have a HEA…..
He was stunning, and irresistible, and a one-way ticket to nowheresville.”Unique story, unique characters…………What are you waiting for?????? READ THIS BOOK
“She was a vortex. I’d avoided getting swallowed up in her once, and now, more than ever, I needed to avoid it again.”
May 21, 2015
4.5 It's Always Been You Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
-I knew this city like a lover, and she'd whisper her secrets to me.
Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl is a 25 yr. old woman living in Los Angeles. She grew up as a lonely foster kid constantly moving from family to family, & never feeling like she belonged anywhere or mattered to anyone, except for a guy named Michael Greydon she went to high school with. There was a time in her life that he made her feel special. They were friends, and had a connection that she hasn't felt since with anyone else.
Laine is now known as one of the top Paparazzi's of Hollywood. She is aggressive, and always gets the money shot. She has been taking pictures since she was 17, and aside from her foster brother Tom, her camera is all she has. She takes pride in being he best in her business.
One of the celebrities that always brings in the big bucks for Laine is her old high school crush Michael Greydon. Born to two movie star parents, he is considered Hollywood royalty. Now as a huge movie star himself, he is loved by the public, and the prince of Hollywood. Laine assumes even though she shoots him all the time, that he probably doesn't even recognize the girl from the bleachers all those years ago. One evening when their paths cross & they come face to face, they both realize there is still this unbelievable chemistry between them. Their careers put them on opposite sides. Michael knows he's supposed to run from her, not want to get close to her, but he finds she gets under his skin, and makes him want more from her.
As Michael pursues Laine, she is torn. They come from such different worlds, and she feels like she doesn't fit into his life, yet when they are together there is no place she'd rather be. Michael likes how real Laine is. What you see is what you get. They still share that intense connection, and can't seem to stay away from each other. Laine knows being with Michael would be career suicide, but she wants him so much, she just can't resist him.
-He couldn't have been more inaccessible, yet the photo was so intimate, as if his eyes felt places only hands could reach.
-"I want you to know," I said, "I've never been kissed like that."
-I turned my face until my lips touched his, and he stopped being a movie star. He was the boy in the bleachers, the one who worked too hard and cared too much, and I became the girl who could be anything she wanted, the one who was accepted and whose life was about to turn around.
I really enjoyed this story about a second chance romance. I loved how different it is from C.D.'s other books. It just shows what a talented, versatile writer she is. Whether it's the kinky Jonathan, the bad ass Capo, or the gorgeous movie star Michael, her stories pull you in and captivate you.
-I wanted to be that man who was more to her, the one who treated her like the jewel she was. I wanted to be the one to protect her.
-You're mine.
-You give me something I've never had before.
http://www.amazon.com/Shuttergirl-CD-...
(ARC provided by author)
-I knew this city like a lover, and she'd whisper her secrets to me.
Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl is a 25 yr. old woman living in Los Angeles. She grew up as a lonely foster kid constantly moving from family to family, & never feeling like she belonged anywhere or mattered to anyone, except for a guy named Michael Greydon she went to high school with. There was a time in her life that he made her feel special. They were friends, and had a connection that she hasn't felt since with anyone else.
Laine is now known as one of the top Paparazzi's of Hollywood. She is aggressive, and always gets the money shot. She has been taking pictures since she was 17, and aside from her foster brother Tom, her camera is all she has. She takes pride in being he best in her business.
One of the celebrities that always brings in the big bucks for Laine is her old high school crush Michael Greydon. Born to two movie star parents, he is considered Hollywood royalty. Now as a huge movie star himself, he is loved by the public, and the prince of Hollywood. Laine assumes even though she shoots him all the time, that he probably doesn't even recognize the girl from the bleachers all those years ago. One evening when their paths cross & they come face to face, they both realize there is still this unbelievable chemistry between them. Their careers put them on opposite sides. Michael knows he's supposed to run from her, not want to get close to her, but he finds she gets under his skin, and makes him want more from her.
As Michael pursues Laine, she is torn. They come from such different worlds, and she feels like she doesn't fit into his life, yet when they are together there is no place she'd rather be. Michael likes how real Laine is. What you see is what you get. They still share that intense connection, and can't seem to stay away from each other. Laine knows being with Michael would be career suicide, but she wants him so much, she just can't resist him.
-He couldn't have been more inaccessible, yet the photo was so intimate, as if his eyes felt places only hands could reach.
-"I want you to know," I said, "I've never been kissed like that."
-I turned my face until my lips touched his, and he stopped being a movie star. He was the boy in the bleachers, the one who worked too hard and cared too much, and I became the girl who could be anything she wanted, the one who was accepted and whose life was about to turn around.
I really enjoyed this story about a second chance romance. I loved how different it is from C.D.'s other books. It just shows what a talented, versatile writer she is. Whether it's the kinky Jonathan, the bad ass Capo, or the gorgeous movie star Michael, her stories pull you in and captivate you.
-I wanted to be that man who was more to her, the one who treated her like the jewel she was. I wanted to be the one to protect her.
-You're mine.
-You give me something I've never had before.
http://www.amazon.com/Shuttergirl-CD-...
May 1, 2015
4.5 “O and W” STARS
I will never tire of CD's writing. I must have highlighted more than two thirds of this book with its poetic and illustrative words that just brought this story to three dimensional life!! Her words evoke emotions in me and awaken my senses. I felt like I was the voyeur, the "pap" capturing every detail of this original, gritty and poignant tale.
This was a departure from Christine’s other fantastic works -- a contemporary romance about star-crossed lovers that get a do-over. These two: Laine and Michael, could not be any more different than the dichotomy of a city, such as L.A., where this story takes place. Los Angeles is just as much a character as any other in this tale.
Laine is a foster child, having been discarded and unloved most of her life. She meets Michael in high school and their brief encounter has a lasting impact on both their lives. Michael is a rich kid turn movie-star, Hollywood's Golden Boy with two celebrity parents.
“This is the story of one celebrity, and as much as the city, he is mine.”
“I’m a paparazzi. He’s a movie star. You see why this could never work.”
LAINE CARTWRIGHT – “I was too much of a hustler for most men. I ran too fact, broke too many rules, and stayed on the right side of the law by too thin a margin.”
MICHAEL GREYDON – “Stunning. Captivating.Catching the world, and me in the tractor beam of his personality.”
“His eyes were dirty thoughts, and his lips curved into a breach of etiquette.”
“And it all had started with Michael Greydon’s fingers in mine. He did have an effect on me. That son of a bitch. He let me hope. He let me think I’d be something I wasn’t.”
It's not insta-love with Laine and Michael but something that slowly simmered over time, most of which they spent apart. But those moments together in high school were lasting and meaningful. When it ended, the consequence was dire for one and numbing for the other.
Their reconnecting brings them back to life but also harshly shines the light on the past, on dirty, dark secrets and on just how different they are.
“How could a person stand up under the weight of such kindness? Especially knowing we couldn't last? That he was the opposite side of my coin, always parallel, never meeting but by some chance bending of the universe?”
“I wanted a man who’d climb fences with me. Trespass. Steal from the rich and give to the poor. I had a fantasy of a man who got arrested with me, pleaded innocent, and kissed me on the precinct steps when we made bail.”
CD creates two very complicated and endearing MCs. Both trapped under who they think they are or who they are supposed to be and each struggles to fix things or do no further harm.
“I want you to trust me,” he said into my cheek. “I do, and it scares the hell out of me.”
“Laine, the next time I see you…I’m taking you. I mean it. And then that’s it. You’re mine. I’m not kidding.”
“I want you. I care about you. You give me something I’ve never had before. You’re a devil in high heels, but you…God, I want you. You. Your body, yes, but everything else too.”
I highly recommend this book! If you're a fan of CD Reiss or love an original, moving contemporary romance, you should read this book.
Guest reviewer for SlutSistas Book Blog. For more reviews and blog posts.
I will never tire of CD's writing. I must have highlighted more than two thirds of this book with its poetic and illustrative words that just brought this story to three dimensional life!! Her words evoke emotions in me and awaken my senses. I felt like I was the voyeur, the "pap" capturing every detail of this original, gritty and poignant tale.
This was a departure from Christine’s other fantastic works -- a contemporary romance about star-crossed lovers that get a do-over. These two: Laine and Michael, could not be any more different than the dichotomy of a city, such as L.A., where this story takes place. Los Angeles is just as much a character as any other in this tale.
Laine is a foster child, having been discarded and unloved most of her life. She meets Michael in high school and their brief encounter has a lasting impact on both their lives. Michael is a rich kid turn movie-star, Hollywood's Golden Boy with two celebrity parents.
“This is the story of one celebrity, and as much as the city, he is mine.”
“I’m a paparazzi. He’s a movie star. You see why this could never work.”
LAINE CARTWRIGHT – “I was too much of a hustler for most men. I ran too fact, broke too many rules, and stayed on the right side of the law by too thin a margin.”
MICHAEL GREYDON – “Stunning. Captivating.Catching the world, and me in the tractor beam of his personality.”
“His eyes were dirty thoughts, and his lips curved into a breach of etiquette.”
“And it all had started with Michael Greydon’s fingers in mine. He did have an effect on me. That son of a bitch. He let me hope. He let me think I’d be something I wasn’t.”
It's not insta-love with Laine and Michael but something that slowly simmered over time, most of which they spent apart. But those moments together in high school were lasting and meaningful. When it ended, the consequence was dire for one and numbing for the other.
Their reconnecting brings them back to life but also harshly shines the light on the past, on dirty, dark secrets and on just how different they are.
“How could a person stand up under the weight of such kindness? Especially knowing we couldn't last? That he was the opposite side of my coin, always parallel, never meeting but by some chance bending of the universe?”
“I wanted a man who’d climb fences with me. Trespass. Steal from the rich and give to the poor. I had a fantasy of a man who got arrested with me, pleaded innocent, and kissed me on the precinct steps when we made bail.”
CD creates two very complicated and endearing MCs. Both trapped under who they think they are or who they are supposed to be and each struggles to fix things or do no further harm.
“I want you to trust me,” he said into my cheek. “I do, and it scares the hell out of me.”
“Laine, the next time I see you…I’m taking you. I mean it. And then that’s it. You’re mine. I’m not kidding.”
“I want you. I care about you. You give me something I’ve never had before. You’re a devil in high heels, but you…God, I want you. You. Your body, yes, but everything else too.”
I highly recommend this book! If you're a fan of CD Reiss or love an original, moving contemporary romance, you should read this book.
Guest reviewer for SlutSistas Book Blog. For more reviews and blog posts.
May 16, 2015
4 STARS! ★★★★
"She was a vortex. I’d avoided getting swallowed up in her once, and now, more than ever, I needed to avoid it again."
Having read and loving her Songs of Submission series, CD Reiss certainly doesn't come by as a foreign name to me in the erotica genre. Jonathan Drazen still remains as one of my top favorite dominant alpha-male and she never disappoints with her sensual reads that are intense yet emotional. While ShutterGirl is a departure from her usual writings and ventures into the contemporary territory, naturally I was a little apprehensive but slowly I found that fear dissipating as I allowed myself to be hypnotised by CD Reiss's poetic writing.
ShutterGirl is a contemporary romance story set in the glitz and glamorous world of Hollywood. Laine Cartwright is a paparazzi who's at the top of the pack, armed with a camera as her weapon of choice. Coming from a rough childhood and being passed from one foster house to another, all she's ever known is to survive. Los Angeles is her battleground and along with her step-brother, they lived on the thrill of chasing the juiciest stories around.
Michael Greydon is America's golden boy and hailing from a family of celebrities, he's a Hollywood-material actor who is on-track with the stardom path set out for him. Always living by the set of rules and staying out of trouble, he tries to avoid being in the center of attention...until one fateful night.
A night where the red velvet ropes drop and the paparazzi behind the camera shows her face, Laine and Michael reunites with each other after being revealed that they were high-school mates but circumstances had left them separated with a lasting impact. Two individuals from polar opposites background and even after ten years later, they both still find themselves at the extreme ends of this glamorous industry. But they can't deny the attraction...even when it comes at the cost of fame.
There were a number of things I enjoyed about this read and the main highlight for me is being CD Reiss's writing. Now I've only read her SoS series and while her scorching intense scenes took the spotlight for me from that series, I've never really given much emphasis on her writing. With Shuttergirl instead, I started to notice her elegant writing prose and had me highlighting like crazy across the read. Right down to the nitty gritty deets of the Hollywood scene itself, I found myself latching onto these rich details that made me feel like I was walking down the streets of L.A. itself.
The plot itself was also quite a refreshing one for me being a star-crossed lovers prose done with a different twist. It's also a second-chance romance aside having the "forbidden love" aspect with Laine & Michael being on the opposite ends of the vicious food chain that is the Hollywood industry. A paparazzi being romantically linked to renowned actor, that's just calling for a PR disaster. It wasn't insta-love between these two which I appreciated because the author really took the time to lay out a strong foundation for both characters as she merges their past and present quite brilliantly that eventually builds into a really solid story for me.
It didn't bother me that for a majority portion of the book, both MCs weren't officially a couple. Also for those of you expecting a handful of steamy scenes like this author usually brings with her erotica genre, consider yourself warned. You won't be getting any dominant Drazen steamy-filled scenes here but rest assured, the undercurrent of sexual tension between these two was undeniable. Personally that appealed to me because it got me all antsy and dying for more while I continuously root for this couple.
However, it did fall short for me when I felt the story dragged at certain places. Sometimes it also felt like some scenes were leading up to something great but it didn't just quite hit the mark. The last 20% of the read also went into another direction that came off a little rushed for me and while I thought the ending was quite swoon-worthy, I was really hoping for a proper epilogue for these two.
Overall Shuttergirl took me by surprise seeing how this is different from CD Reiss's usual work. Her alluring writing took the spotlight and became much more prominent here, not to mention it really fleshed out the character depth which I highly enjoyed. The lack of smut didn't even faze me because I was just invested with these characters and their story. I'm definitely looking forward to CD Reiss writing more contemporary fiction from now on because she can certainly bag this genre alongside her erotica ones.
ShutterGirl is a standalone contemporary romance read.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"She was a vortex. I’d avoided getting swallowed up in her once, and now, more than ever, I needed to avoid it again."
Having read and loving her Songs of Submission series, CD Reiss certainly doesn't come by as a foreign name to me in the erotica genre. Jonathan Drazen still remains as one of my top favorite dominant alpha-male and she never disappoints with her sensual reads that are intense yet emotional. While ShutterGirl is a departure from her usual writings and ventures into the contemporary territory, naturally I was a little apprehensive but slowly I found that fear dissipating as I allowed myself to be hypnotised by CD Reiss's poetic writing.
ShutterGirl is a contemporary romance story set in the glitz and glamorous world of Hollywood. Laine Cartwright is a paparazzi who's at the top of the pack, armed with a camera as her weapon of choice. Coming from a rough childhood and being passed from one foster house to another, all she's ever known is to survive. Los Angeles is her battleground and along with her step-brother, they lived on the thrill of chasing the juiciest stories around.
Michael Greydon is America's golden boy and hailing from a family of celebrities, he's a Hollywood-material actor who is on-track with the stardom path set out for him. Always living by the set of rules and staying out of trouble, he tries to avoid being in the center of attention...until one fateful night.
A night where the red velvet ropes drop and the paparazzi behind the camera shows her face, Laine and Michael reunites with each other after being revealed that they were high-school mates but circumstances had left them separated with a lasting impact. Two individuals from polar opposites background and even after ten years later, they both still find themselves at the extreme ends of this glamorous industry. But they can't deny the attraction...even when it comes at the cost of fame.
There were a number of things I enjoyed about this read and the main highlight for me is being CD Reiss's writing. Now I've only read her SoS series and while her scorching intense scenes took the spotlight for me from that series, I've never really given much emphasis on her writing. With Shuttergirl instead, I started to notice her elegant writing prose and had me highlighting like crazy across the read. Right down to the nitty gritty deets of the Hollywood scene itself, I found myself latching onto these rich details that made me feel like I was walking down the streets of L.A. itself.
The plot itself was also quite a refreshing one for me being a star-crossed lovers prose done with a different twist. It's also a second-chance romance aside having the "forbidden love" aspect with Laine & Michael being on the opposite ends of the vicious food chain that is the Hollywood industry. A paparazzi being romantically linked to renowned actor, that's just calling for a PR disaster. It wasn't insta-love between these two which I appreciated because the author really took the time to lay out a strong foundation for both characters as she merges their past and present quite brilliantly that eventually builds into a really solid story for me.
It didn't bother me that for a majority portion of the book, both MCs weren't officially a couple. Also for those of you expecting a handful of steamy scenes like this author usually brings with her erotica genre, consider yourself warned. You won't be getting any dominant Drazen steamy-filled scenes here but rest assured, the undercurrent of sexual tension between these two was undeniable. Personally that appealed to me because it got me all antsy and dying for more while I continuously root for this couple.
However, it did fall short for me when I felt the story dragged at certain places. Sometimes it also felt like some scenes were leading up to something great but it didn't just quite hit the mark. The last 20% of the read also went into another direction that came off a little rushed for me and while I thought the ending was quite swoon-worthy, I was really hoping for a proper epilogue for these two.
Overall Shuttergirl took me by surprise seeing how this is different from CD Reiss's usual work. Her alluring writing took the spotlight and became much more prominent here, not to mention it really fleshed out the character depth which I highly enjoyed. The lack of smut didn't even faze me because I was just invested with these characters and their story. I'm definitely looking forward to CD Reiss writing more contemporary fiction from now on because she can certainly bag this genre alongside her erotica ones.
ShutterGirl is a standalone contemporary romance read.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2015
Even before we had a title or a cover I have been hearing about this secret project. Being the inquisitive/nosey person that I am I couldn’t wait to find out more. Sometimes with books the hype overshadows the story, that is definitely not that case here.
At first glance we see a paparazzi and an entitled celebrity, but we quickly learn there is so much more than meets the eye with these two. Laine Cartwright is a damaged girl, but she is also incredibly strong. She has taken all the “disadvantages” she has had in life and made a name for herself: Shuttergirl. She has risen above everything and strived for success. Laine isn’t perfect, but her resilience and perseverance had me admiring her.
Michael Greydon is Hollywood royalty and from outward appearances he has lived a charmed life. He attended the best schools, had an material possession money could buy, and could land a job based on his name alone. Even with that he has chosen to work hard and become an expert. I say all this to say, here is a guy who doesn’t have to do anything for success, but refuses to rest on his name. Every choice, relationship and decision has been based on his career.
While these two have found success in their careers, their personal lives are lacking. Here is when I fell in love. These two people Michael and Laine, know each other, not just know of each other, but were friends for a moment in time. Michael was the older, perfect guy she crushed on in high school and she was the forbidden, beautiful stranger he couldn’t get enough of.
Can you see why I fell in love? Years later they have a do over and from there I was hooked. Reiss sold me by delivering relatable, but unique characters. Then the plot, I wouldn’t call it a second chance love, to quote the book it’s a do over. They are not the same people and the timing is so much better, but still there are obstacles in their way. She is the enemy, he is her pay check, but their connection is undeniable.
I highly recommend Shuttergirl the writing is beautiful, the story is addictive and the connection is real. I devoured this book, reading it in one day, loving every twist and turn. Reiss outdid herself here, she has proven she can deliver beautifully written stories that are new and fresh.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2015
4 Flashing Stars.
Laine and Michael knew each other from the past, but life threw them apart for ten years.
Now he’s one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, she’s one of the best paparazzi in the business that always get the best photos.
When life gets them on the same way again, can they have a second chance or this time their lives are too different?
This book started out a little slow and I have to confess that in the beginning I was having some trouble connecting with the story. But I liked both characters, despite minor annoyances, so I kept going wanting to hear their story. Then, when it picked up it was freaking amazing. I loved their story and how it developed. The “grand gesture moment” put me a little off, because I really don’t like those very much, but I could overlook past that and really appreciated how this book turned out.
Clearly, CD Reiss can write pretty much whatever she wants and she will do it always brilliantly. If you’re a fan of hers, this great stand-alone is a great choice.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Laine and Michael knew each other from the past, but life threw them apart for ten years.
Now he’s one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, she’s one of the best paparazzi in the business that always get the best photos.
When life gets them on the same way again, can they have a second chance or this time their lives are too different?
This book started out a little slow and I have to confess that in the beginning I was having some trouble connecting with the story. But I liked both characters, despite minor annoyances, so I kept going wanting to hear their story. Then, when it picked up it was freaking amazing. I loved their story and how it developed. The “grand gesture moment” put me a little off, because I really don’t like those very much, but I could overlook past that and really appreciated how this book turned out.
Clearly, CD Reiss can write pretty much whatever she wants and she will do it always brilliantly. If you’re a fan of hers, this great stand-alone is a great choice.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
May 27, 2015
4 Love Conquers All Stars
Falling in love, being in love and losing love are never easy. It stays with you and lays dormant, sometimes you can forget and sometimes you are given a second chance. ShutterGirl is a second chance love story.
Michael Greydon is Hollywood royalty
and Lanie Cartwright is a paparazzi.
The two are suppose to be like oil and water- they are not suppose to mix. But they knew each other a long time ago in high school. They had a connection but it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t their time. Fast forward 8 years, Michael and Laine come face to face…….can these two have a chance when they are not suppose to mix? Will need and desire and infatuation finally win? Shuttergirl is the courtship of Michael and Laine. It’s not easy, there are issues and there is her past. While Michael lived the high life, Laine never really had a home or family. Her past can harm his career and Michael knows he should stay away from Laine but she makes him feel alive and normal. He hasn’t felt this way in years and he decides that feeling alive and normal is what he wants.
I loved the storyline. There was angst and turmoil. I felt the connection between Michael and Laine but I did find some parts of the book to be over descriptive and wordy. I really loved the ending. It put a smile on my face. I tend to like the overdramatic, over the top actions when they are done in the name of love. I will admit that I was disappointed that there was not an epilogue. I want to believe in the HEA. I find that an epilogue seals the deal for me. The ending was fine, I just wanted more. What can I say, I‘m selfish!!
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Falling in love, being in love and losing love are never easy. It stays with you and lays dormant, sometimes you can forget and sometimes you are given a second chance. ShutterGirl is a second chance love story.
Michael Greydon is Hollywood royalty
and Lanie Cartwright is a paparazzi.
The two are suppose to be like oil and water- they are not suppose to mix. But they knew each other a long time ago in high school. They had a connection but it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t their time. Fast forward 8 years, Michael and Laine come face to face…….can these two have a chance when they are not suppose to mix? Will need and desire and infatuation finally win? Shuttergirl is the courtship of Michael and Laine. It’s not easy, there are issues and there is her past. While Michael lived the high life, Laine never really had a home or family. Her past can harm his career and Michael knows he should stay away from Laine but she makes him feel alive and normal. He hasn’t felt this way in years and he decides that feeling alive and normal is what he wants.
I loved the storyline. There was angst and turmoil. I felt the connection between Michael and Laine but I did find some parts of the book to be over descriptive and wordy. I really loved the ending. It put a smile on my face. I tend to like the overdramatic, over the top actions when they are done in the name of love. I will admit that I was disappointed that there was not an epilogue. I want to believe in the HEA. I find that an epilogue seals the deal for me. The ending was fine, I just wanted more. What can I say, I‘m selfish!!
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review
May 22, 2015
4.5 Oscar stars
I hereby introduce a brand new shelf (the Perfect Title) dedicated with love to this book!
This is a story about first love, second chances, predetermined and redefined futures, ambition, the media and a city. LA, and mostly Hollywood, is a living, vibrant element in the story.
Maybe it’s what connects these two or separates them, maybe it’s their lover, maybe it’s the missing mother figure who embraced in its fold the heroine, Laine, and whispered its secrets.
Michael, the hero, was a pleasure to watch unravel, try to fix things and take control of his life.
The story could have taken various directions. I would love some enemies-to-lovers elements thrown in.
Going into this book, I knew that I got to experience the brilliance that is CD Reiss, the level of writing we are used to from her. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical because the Queen has been upfront and warned little perverts like me that the book is “non-smut”. But, I know what CDR can deliver with a sex scene and all that precede and follow it. Don’t get me wrong. There IS sex and sexual tension, but not so intense and descriptive as I would prefer. But this is just me.
This is a Contemporary Romance.
Oh, and I absolutely loved those little things, like places and names, that subtly cross-reference to her other stories.
Favorite quote:
“I wasn’t that girl anymore. She was scared and lonely, sensitive and breakable. I’d broken her and put her back together, myself.”
I hereby introduce a brand new shelf (the Perfect Title) dedicated with love to this book!
This is a story about first love, second chances, predetermined and redefined futures, ambition, the media and a city. LA, and mostly Hollywood, is a living, vibrant element in the story.
Maybe it’s what connects these two or separates them, maybe it’s their lover, maybe it’s the missing mother figure who embraced in its fold the heroine, Laine, and whispered its secrets.
Michael, the hero, was a pleasure to watch unravel, try to fix things and take control of his life.
The story could have taken various directions. I would love some enemies-to-lovers elements thrown in.
Going into this book, I knew that I got to experience the brilliance that is CD Reiss, the level of writing we are used to from her. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical because the Queen has been upfront and warned little perverts like me that the book is “non-smut”. But, I know what CDR can deliver with a sex scene and all that precede and follow it. Don’t get me wrong. There IS sex and sexual tension, but not so intense and descriptive as I would prefer. But this is just me.
This is a Contemporary Romance.
Oh, and I absolutely loved those little things, like places and names, that subtly cross-reference to her other stories.
Favorite quote:
“I wasn’t that girl anymore. She was scared and lonely, sensitive and breakable. I’d broken her and put her back together, myself.”
ARC generously provided by the author via the CD Canaries art giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you!
May 21, 2015
Title: Shuttergirl
Series: Standalone
Author: CD Reiss
Release date: May 16, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
CD Reiss is known for her seductive and steamy erotica. No one can dispute she's at the top of her game when it comes to that genre. However, if you're looking for another erotically fueled story in Shuttergirl, you won't find that here. This is a straight contemporary romance standalone. In fact, the sex content is actually really minimum. But don't let that dissuade you. It didn't bother me in the slightest; she still manages to fill the pages with a sensually stimulating heat that encompasses every corner of the story. For me, this book was just as addictive as anything else I've read of hers. I don't think anyone can wrap their words around every particle of you and grip you like a vise like this author can. The way this woman bound me with her words is pretty miraculous considering the fact that nothing much seems to be pulling me in quite like it used to.
The premise is something that had me thoroughly intrigued: The hero is a movie star and the heroine a paparazzi. He's a golden god, a Hollywood actor with Midwestern morals. Uncorrupted and honorable.
Michael Greydon was a star, a regular guy inside a body that would shoot across the sky.
She's a hardened woman, a product of a lost soul let loose on the city. She lives and breathes that city because she was raised in the dark alleys and seedy homes of criminals and people with unfulfilled good intentions. And the sum of her life experiences up to this point is survival.
She's willing to do whatever it takes to make a dollar and that includes ruthlessly invading any star's privacy and personal business with no remorse.
Like fish in a pond, I might admire their grace or color, but in the end, I ate them.
She's not someone who has a soft side, she's prickly and has been beaten down too many times to retain any optimism or desire to escape the career she's landed in. Although she isn't the most likeable of heroines, I found myself really admiring her right from the start. The author easily grabbed my empathy with Laine's boldness and the strength that radiated right off of her.
I can get to a mark and get away with the shot faster than any of them, in heels and backward. I'm prettier, I smell nicer, and I take exactly zero bullshit from celebrities. I don't work for them. I don't kowtow or suck up. If they're in public, their ass is mine.
This is a form of a second chance romance. They didn't have a true romantic relationship in their younger years, but there was always an unspoken attraction between them that never got a chance to be exposed. Laine and Michael knew each other as teenagers when she was put in a wealthy family's home for a short time. They went to the same school but they were still on opposite ends of the social scale. She was an unsociable outsider and he was the son of two Hollywood celebrities. They grew a strange friendship and held secret longings for one another. And when he left, she spiraled into a very dark time in her life. It was really difficult to read what she went through, most especially because she completely derailed her own life just looking for the love and acceptance that was denied her.
When they finally reconnect after all those years, the odds are stacked against them more than ever before. Thier reputations and careers leave no room for attempting to pursue a relationship together. But their attraction is voracious and it can't be ignored no matter how much they try. I was so completely immersed in their dance around each other. In their despair in hoping for more but expecting nothing. You could feel the need pouring off of both of them, the author did an amazing job bringing every emotion to the surface so effortlessly.
As much as I loved the freshness of the story, the incredible writing, and the well fleshed out characters, the ending left me needing a little bit more. There were two main conflicts in this story. One, Laine's past was threatening to come back and not only haunt her, but rip apart everything in it's path. And two, it was reiterated how different their worlds were and how impossible it would be for everyone to accept them as a couple without them losing their careers. I'm not going to spoil the ending, but let's just say that the resolution to how they would continue to thrive in Hollywood as a couple felt very rushed and very abrupt. I needed an epilogue badly!
I would definitely recommend Shuttergirl to anyone who's read and enjoyed CD Reiss in the past. She's proven without a doubt that she has the skill to pull off any genre she puts her mind to. I can't say enough about her writing, there's something about it that I click with effortlessly and I find that lacking in so many books I attempt to read. I gave it high points for that as well as my complete immersion from beginning to end. If you haven't added this yet, give it a chance. It was a bumpy ride, but for me, well worth the effort.
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January 25, 2016
I can't wait to share Shuttergirl with you!
This book is my first contemporary romance. It's hot and steamy, with an intense second-chance love story. It's got all the CD Reissness you have come to expect, without the spankings ;)
ONE movie star on the cusp of greatness.
ONE broken girl who touched him.
TEN years to forget her.
A MILLION stories in Hollywood.
This book is my first contemporary romance. It's hot and steamy, with an intense second-chance love story. It's got all the CD Reissness you have come to expect, without the spankings ;)
ONE movie star on the cusp of greatness.
ONE broken girl who touched him.
TEN years to forget her.
A MILLION stories in Hollywood.
April 27, 2015
Another great read by C.D. Reiss. The flawless writing style you've come to love from her but with a totally different story that true to form, pulls you in, urges you to turn the page and find out what happens next. BUT here's the kicker...this story is different than her typical MO. ShutterGirl is about a second chance at love from the person who saw the real you way back when, even when you couldn't face yourself. C.D. brings that grit you expect but this time it's done differently and in such a way you're rooting for Michael and Laine from the get go. A great read for lovers of the contemporary romance genre.
August 1, 2017
Halfway through, I just wanted this book to be over, so I could move on to the next one.
There were good moments but there were few and far between.
There were too many inner monologues and not many dialogues.
Too much telling and not much showing.
I liked the aspect of Hollywood in the book, though and liked that I got to see what it's like to be a paparazzi and a Hollywood actor.
Other than that, this was so boring, I was nearly snoring to death...
There were good moments but there were few and far between.
There were too many inner monologues and not many dialogues.
Too much telling and not much showing.
I liked the aspect of Hollywood in the book, though and liked that I got to see what it's like to be a paparazzi and a Hollywood actor.
Other than that, this was so boring, I was nearly snoring to death...
Read
May 18, 2015DNF @42%
I'm just not connecting to the writing or the characters. It's a case of personal tastes and unfortunately it's just not working for me.
I'm just not connecting to the writing or the characters. It's a case of personal tastes and unfortunately it's just not working for me.
March 2, 2018
S = Second Chance love for him & her
H = Hollywood divides them
U = Unforgettable characters
T = Tantalizing connections
T = Tormented individual
E = Electrifying chemistry
R = Riveting storytelling
G = Grabs you page by page
I = Irresistible author
R = Recommended to everyone
L = Love conquers all
What more can I say about C.D. Reiss and her unbelievable talent; nothing, I can't explain it the way some can, so I hope this non-review catches your attention ;p
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May 23, 2015
What can I say about CD Reiss' books. They are so well written. Flawless interwoven story telling and great characters with so much depth. One of my favorite things is her heroines, they are not whiny or Wishy washy. They are strong , confidant and intelligent women. Laine is no exception to that. Her past isn't perfect, in fact it is flawed, some might say ugly. Michael on the surface is an adorable actor from the perfect family , living the perfect life. Well we know that nothing and nobody is perfect, right??
Laine, a foster child and Michael, hollywood royalty crossed paths in high school. They had a connection but their lives have taken them on different paths, until Laine becomes a paparazza and she becomes the Hunter and Michael is her prey. This could never work, right? These two are just too different.
Well take the journey for yourself. Experience CD's Reiss' Hollywood in the only way she could tell. This is not her usual erotica story, but rather a Contemporary Romance with flawless writing, intelligent dialogue and a great story.
5 Amazing Stars!!
I Own This City
Bravo, Ms Reiss, you certainly do.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
http://apple.co/1GguaRy
http://bit.ly/1bBO020
Laine, a foster child and Michael, hollywood royalty crossed paths in high school. They had a connection but their lives have taken them on different paths, until Laine becomes a paparazza and she becomes the Hunter and Michael is her prey. This could never work, right? These two are just too different.
Well take the journey for yourself. Experience CD's Reiss' Hollywood in the only way she could tell. This is not her usual erotica story, but rather a Contemporary Romance with flawless writing, intelligent dialogue and a great story.
5 Amazing Stars!!
I Own This City
Bravo, Ms Reiss, you certainly do.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
http://apple.co/1GguaRy
http://bit.ly/1bBO020
June 30, 2016
4.5 stars
While ShutterGirl is a bit of a departure from CD Reiss’s more sensual writings, her foray into the contemporary romance genre has all the hallmarks I’ve come to expect from CD’s work: superb writing woven with complex characters and a captivating plot. This is an alluring second-chance love story about two completely opposite people who dare to fall in love.
Michael Greydon was born into a life of privilege. The son of two famous actors, he grew up Hollywood royalty. Rich, talented, and athletically gifted, he had it all. Laine Cartwright grew up a foster child, bouncing from one foster family to another. Insecure, unwanted, and unloved, she had nobody and nothing. Michael and Laine went to the same high school and their paths crossed for a time before circumstances separated them. I won’t go into detail, however their time together and the fallout from their parting has a lasting impact.
Fast-forward ten years. Laine (aka ShutterGirl) has conquered adversity to become a confident, successful paparazzi.
In the evening, dressed in stilettos and armed with her camera, Laine races around the city competing with other paparazzi to get coveted photos of LA’s hottest celebrities.
Michael is now a superstar – Hollywood’s golden boy with an Oscar-worthy film premiering.
When they meet again, Michael is on one side of the velvet rope; Laine is on the other.
Although it’s career suicide for them both, they are inescapably drawn to each other.
They begin a passionate affair, but does a paparazzi from the wrong side of the tracks really have a future with America’s Boyfriend? Are they willing to fight expectations and risk their careers for a chance at happiness?
I fell in love with Laine. She is fearless and resilient, loyal and so deserving of love. Michael is just an all-around decent guy – sweet, faithful, a problem fixer, and fiercely protective.
There were a couple times I found myself confused by the connections between past and present and I needed to re-read passages for clarification. Nonetheless, I was impressed by CD’s effortless writing style and enthralled with the sumptuous poetry of her words.
This book left me with a huge smile on my face. It has a swoon worthy ending that reminded me of some of my favorite chic flicks. The only thing that would have made it better would have been an epilogue. Another winner for CD Reiss!
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.***
While ShutterGirl is a bit of a departure from CD Reiss’s more sensual writings, her foray into the contemporary romance genre has all the hallmarks I’ve come to expect from CD’s work: superb writing woven with complex characters and a captivating plot. This is an alluring second-chance love story about two completely opposite people who dare to fall in love.
Michael Greydon was born into a life of privilege. The son of two famous actors, he grew up Hollywood royalty. Rich, talented, and athletically gifted, he had it all. Laine Cartwright grew up a foster child, bouncing from one foster family to another. Insecure, unwanted, and unloved, she had nobody and nothing. Michael and Laine went to the same high school and their paths crossed for a time before circumstances separated them. I won’t go into detail, however their time together and the fallout from their parting has a lasting impact.
Fast-forward ten years. Laine (aka ShutterGirl) has conquered adversity to become a confident, successful paparazzi.
In the evening, dressed in stilettos and armed with her camera, Laine races around the city competing with other paparazzi to get coveted photos of LA’s hottest celebrities.
Michael is now a superstar – Hollywood’s golden boy with an Oscar-worthy film premiering.
When they meet again, Michael is on one side of the velvet rope; Laine is on the other.
Although it’s career suicide for them both, they are inescapably drawn to each other.
They begin a passionate affair, but does a paparazzi from the wrong side of the tracks really have a future with America’s Boyfriend? Are they willing to fight expectations and risk their careers for a chance at happiness?
I fell in love with Laine. She is fearless and resilient, loyal and so deserving of love. Michael is just an all-around decent guy – sweet, faithful, a problem fixer, and fiercely protective.
“Laine, I want you. I care about you. You give me something I’ve never had before. You’re a devil in high heels, but you… God, I want you. You. Your body, yes, but everything else too. I want to make everything in your world right. I can’t help it. Let me in. Just let me in.”
There were a couple times I found myself confused by the connections between past and present and I needed to re-read passages for clarification. Nonetheless, I was impressed by CD’s effortless writing style and enthralled with the sumptuous poetry of her words.
“He tasted like sunshine and smelled like cinnamon. Like a different world. The other side of the city. Deep brown and layered in cardamom. Drenched in sepia.”
This book left me with a huge smile on my face. It has a swoon worthy ending that reminded me of some of my favorite chic flicks. The only thing that would have made it better would have been an epilogue. Another winner for CD Reiss!
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.***
May 22, 2015
”This is the story of one celebrity, and as much as the city, he is mine. “
I nearly went in this book blind and that's the best feeling EVER
I should do it more often ^^
I first knew the book as #TheHollywoodProject, then I read the blurb but it doesn't say much. You could not expect the kind of book it is with this blurb and IMO it's better this way.
As I want others to experience it the way I did, you could guess I won't tell you much about the plot
If you've read other books by CD Reiss, you should know ShutterGirl is both very different and very her at the same time.
Different because there is no smut.
Yep you read that correctly. There are some very sexy scenes but if you are waiting for her usual you won't have it here.
Same because CD Reiss's writing is phenomenal and ShutterGirl is no exception.
The very first star in this book is probably L.A
I've never been there myself, the closest I've know the city was in GTA IV - whose events are happening in a re-creating version of L.A - . And yet It was like I was back in the game, in my car driving on Mulholland Drive, because CD's writing gets real like that.
When you are thinking about L.A., you think about movies, actors and when it comes to actors you also think of paparazzi
Michael Greydon is the devilishly handsome movie star who's got everything. The guy is a perfect gentleman, never done anything wrong, always behaving with respect,...
”He had a reputation of staying friends with everyone. From A-list talent to cocktail waitresses, no one had a bad thing to say about him, and he never spoke ill or well of the women he dated”.
Laine Cartwright is a girl who's only living for her next best shot. Always with her camera in hand, she is ready to take THE pix that will make more money
”I can get to a mark and get away with the shot faster than any of them, in heels and backward. I’m prettier, I smell nicer, and I take exactly zero bullshit from celebrities. I don’t work for them. I don’t kowtow or suck up. If they’re in public, their ass is mine “
They are both from different world. One easier where you have everything and everyone at your feet. One harder where you have to fight against everyone and be better than others.
Michael and Laine have a past together. Laine remember it better and she can't seem to let him go even if she stays far from him, once again hidden behind her lens taking shot after shot of the guy she never had, yet wanted so much.
It will take only one night to change everything
Michael who's so untouchable with a good reputation will see all crumble.
Laine who is very well known and respected will become someone to avoid.
What will happen to those two?
A world separate them, yet they have a bond, an attraction both can't deny.
I loved the way the author set up the difference between both world but did a tremendous work to make them fit together.
Sometimes I lacked a little more connection with their past. I've seen where Laine is coming from but less on Michael part.
ShutterGirl took me completely by surprise because I thought at first the book would be a little too long but it's thanks to CD writing that you don't see yourself turn the pages and that you start to fully immerse in a world of sparkle and sequins but also a world where even if you are two people at polar opposite, when you are meant to be together there's nothing that will stand in your way
~ARC provided by publisher for an honest review~
~ARC also won thanks to my Canaries buddies~
I nearly went in this book blind and that's the best feeling EVER
I should do it more often ^^
I first knew the book as #TheHollywoodProject, then I read the blurb but it doesn't say much. You could not expect the kind of book it is with this blurb and IMO it's better this way.
As I want others to experience it the way I did, you could guess I won't tell you much about the plot
If you've read other books by CD Reiss, you should know ShutterGirl is both very different and very her at the same time.
Different because there is no smut.
Yep you read that correctly. There are some very sexy scenes but if you are waiting for her usual you won't have it here.
Same because CD Reiss's writing is phenomenal and ShutterGirl is no exception.
The very first star in this book is probably L.A
I've never been there myself, the closest I've know the city was in GTA IV - whose events are happening in a re-creating version of L.A - . And yet It was like I was back in the game, in my car driving on Mulholland Drive, because CD's writing gets real like that.
When you are thinking about L.A., you think about movies, actors and when it comes to actors you also think of paparazzi
Michael Greydon is the devilishly handsome movie star who's got everything. The guy is a perfect gentleman, never done anything wrong, always behaving with respect,...
”He had a reputation of staying friends with everyone. From A-list talent to cocktail waitresses, no one had a bad thing to say about him, and he never spoke ill or well of the women he dated”.
Laine Cartwright is a girl who's only living for her next best shot. Always with her camera in hand, she is ready to take THE pix that will make more money
”I can get to a mark and get away with the shot faster than any of them, in heels and backward. I’m prettier, I smell nicer, and I take exactly zero bullshit from celebrities. I don’t work for them. I don’t kowtow or suck up. If they’re in public, their ass is mine “
They are both from different world. One easier where you have everything and everyone at your feet. One harder where you have to fight against everyone and be better than others.
Michael and Laine have a past together. Laine remember it better and she can't seem to let him go even if she stays far from him, once again hidden behind her lens taking shot after shot of the guy she never had, yet wanted so much.
It will take only one night to change everything
Michael who's so untouchable with a good reputation will see all crumble.
Laine who is very well known and respected will become someone to avoid.
What will happen to those two?
A world separate them, yet they have a bond, an attraction both can't deny.
I loved the way the author set up the difference between both world but did a tremendous work to make them fit together.
Sometimes I lacked a little more connection with their past. I've seen where Laine is coming from but less on Michael part.
ShutterGirl took me completely by surprise because I thought at first the book would be a little too long but it's thanks to CD writing that you don't see yourself turn the pages and that you start to fully immerse in a world of sparkle and sequins but also a world where even if you are two people at polar opposite, when you are meant to be together there's nothing that will stand in your way
~ARC provided by publisher for an honest review~
~ARC also won thanks to my Canaries buddies~
August 9, 2015
4.5 - 5 Stars!! Another unexpected and fresh story from CD Reiss.
Shuttergirl is a bittersweet, second-chance love story that is at once sweet and poignant and gritty as well. The City of Los Angeles is as much of a main character here as Laine and Michael and adds a dark and gloomy undercurrent to the themes of the book. CD Reiss' City of Angels is not the shiny, glamourous world we might see on TV or in the moves or glossy magazines, but instead is a gloomy city of darkness beneath all the glitter, populated by scores of paparazzi all trying to land their next big payday off of the next big celebrity.
This story fascinated me on many different levels. Our hero and heroine Michael and Laine are from different worlds, whose paths crossed for a brief time in high school. She was the scruffy foster child and he was the Golden Boy, the son of Hollywood royalty. She had known incredible pain and suffering in her short life and he was raised in the privilged world of Hollywood. Laine was a tough-as-nails street child who hid a sensitive heart. And now, years later, their paths cross again. Only this time, she is a member of the reviled pack of paparazzi who stalk the every move of Hollywood's golden elite.
He looked over his shoulder at me. “Shuttergirl.” I stepped forward, putting my hands on the railing. “Is that the only name you know me by?” “It’s the name I can repeat in company.”
Michael has lived his life according to plan and just once, aches to break out of the public persona that has been created for him:
My life had been written at birth, a list of opportunities read out loud to the world. Beginning, middle, and end. I had found security in that room to make decisions, yet the safety of limits. Laine had come and folded the paper, creasing my expectations in high school with her life story. Now, with her breath on my shoulder, she folded my life into an airplane and shot it out the window. The writing was the same, but the choices had changed, become wider and yet more limited. I’d gone from fake to real. From painting to sculpture. From acting as if I was living to actually being alive.
Laine has lived a hard life and the details of her childhood were heartbreaking. But she is whip-smart and strong and savyy and has made a name for herself as one of the best paparrazi around. But she holds no illusions as to how the paparazzi are thought of. And she doens't think she is good enough for Michael. But he is persistent and lonely and still aches for his first true love. Slowly, Laine allows herself to feel something real and geniuine for this gorgeous movie star, who suprisingly, is actually a very decent guy.
"He was wearing me down, layer by layer, like a heat gun peeling off coats of paint and toxic lead whitewash to the bare wood.
I was fascinated by this tale of the darker side of Hollywood stardom and was immediately drawn in by the author's crisp, clean writing style. Shuttergirl is a refreshingly different take on a second-chance love story and I highly recommend this fast-paced, sometimes heartbreaking but always swoony story.
Shuttergirl is a bittersweet, second-chance love story that is at once sweet and poignant and gritty as well. The City of Los Angeles is as much of a main character here as Laine and Michael and adds a dark and gloomy undercurrent to the themes of the book. CD Reiss' City of Angels is not the shiny, glamourous world we might see on TV or in the moves or glossy magazines, but instead is a gloomy city of darkness beneath all the glitter, populated by scores of paparazzi all trying to land their next big payday off of the next big celebrity.
This story fascinated me on many different levels. Our hero and heroine Michael and Laine are from different worlds, whose paths crossed for a brief time in high school. She was the scruffy foster child and he was the Golden Boy, the son of Hollywood royalty. She had known incredible pain and suffering in her short life and he was raised in the privilged world of Hollywood. Laine was a tough-as-nails street child who hid a sensitive heart. And now, years later, their paths cross again. Only this time, she is a member of the reviled pack of paparazzi who stalk the every move of Hollywood's golden elite.
He looked over his shoulder at me. “Shuttergirl.” I stepped forward, putting my hands on the railing. “Is that the only name you know me by?” “It’s the name I can repeat in company.”
Michael has lived his life according to plan and just once, aches to break out of the public persona that has been created for him:
My life had been written at birth, a list of opportunities read out loud to the world. Beginning, middle, and end. I had found security in that room to make decisions, yet the safety of limits. Laine had come and folded the paper, creasing my expectations in high school with her life story. Now, with her breath on my shoulder, she folded my life into an airplane and shot it out the window. The writing was the same, but the choices had changed, become wider and yet more limited. I’d gone from fake to real. From painting to sculpture. From acting as if I was living to actually being alive.
Laine has lived a hard life and the details of her childhood were heartbreaking. But she is whip-smart and strong and savyy and has made a name for herself as one of the best paparrazi around. But she holds no illusions as to how the paparazzi are thought of. And she doens't think she is good enough for Michael. But he is persistent and lonely and still aches for his first true love. Slowly, Laine allows herself to feel something real and geniuine for this gorgeous movie star, who suprisingly, is actually a very decent guy.
"He was wearing me down, layer by layer, like a heat gun peeling off coats of paint and toxic lead whitewash to the bare wood.
I was fascinated by this tale of the darker side of Hollywood stardom and was immediately drawn in by the author's crisp, clean writing style. Shuttergirl is a refreshingly different take on a second-chance love story and I highly recommend this fast-paced, sometimes heartbreaking but always swoony story.
January 19, 2016
I've been craving a good stand-alone for a while now. Funny how when I get one I want more, but that’s truly a testament to CD Reiss’ writing.
Laine Cartwright is a paparazzi and L.A. is in her blood. The city itself the only true home she has ever known. After her single mother was sent to prison, Laine was put on the never-ending merry-go-round of foster care. Families changed, friends came and went, but her city is ever constant. It’s very streets are her solace and her camera her friend.
“I wasn't impressed by celebrities[...] Like fish in a pond, I might admire their grace or color, but in the end, I ate them.” - Laine
Michael Greydon grew up with a silver spoon, his parents Hollywood royalty. Acting is almost his birthright, and an easy career choice to boot. With a magnetic personality and a face that launched a thousand swoons, he is “America’s Boyfriend”.
“Knowing who and what she was, so different from me, brought close enough to touch the side of the world that I never got to see.” - Michael
But in L.A., there are lines you don’t cross. A celebrity and paparazzi could never work… Right?
For Laine and Michael - like Romeo and Juliet or Tony and Maria (West Side Story) - it’s star-crossed love. *sigh* Only, here, it’s the culture of the very city Laine loves that is the obstacle to their relationship. CD Reiss has made L.A. a character and, in doing so, created an atmospheric and incredibly tangible world. And let me tell you, having been on the red carpet, behind the velvet rope, and in the VIP room myself, she completely nails it.
Laine is a strong woman and I love that. Love that despite the let downs and obstacles life has thrown her way, she picks herself up, dusts herself off and finds a way to make her situations work for her. I wish there were more characters like her out there.
Then there’s Michael… *SWOON* Finally, a character that’s rich, a celebrity, and is a genuinely nice guy. No stereotypes or conceited alpha-holes here.
Swirl all the atmosphere and dynamic characters together - with a second-chance romance plotline that makes this star-crossed romance work - and you have a unique must read love story for 2015.
Highly recommended for those who want a true love story with a little bit of sexy on the side.
*Complimentary copy was given by the Author in exchange for an honest review*
Laine Cartwright is a paparazzi and L.A. is in her blood. The city itself the only true home she has ever known. After her single mother was sent to prison, Laine was put on the never-ending merry-go-round of foster care. Families changed, friends came and went, but her city is ever constant. It’s very streets are her solace and her camera her friend.
“I wasn't impressed by celebrities[...] Like fish in a pond, I might admire their grace or color, but in the end, I ate them.” - Laine
Michael Greydon grew up with a silver spoon, his parents Hollywood royalty. Acting is almost his birthright, and an easy career choice to boot. With a magnetic personality and a face that launched a thousand swoons, he is “America’s Boyfriend”.
“Knowing who and what she was, so different from me, brought close enough to touch the side of the world that I never got to see.” - Michael
But in L.A., there are lines you don’t cross. A celebrity and paparazzi could never work… Right?
For Laine and Michael - like Romeo and Juliet or Tony and Maria (West Side Story) - it’s star-crossed love. *sigh* Only, here, it’s the culture of the very city Laine loves that is the obstacle to their relationship. CD Reiss has made L.A. a character and, in doing so, created an atmospheric and incredibly tangible world. And let me tell you, having been on the red carpet, behind the velvet rope, and in the VIP room myself, she completely nails it.
Laine is a strong woman and I love that. Love that despite the let downs and obstacles life has thrown her way, she picks herself up, dusts herself off and finds a way to make her situations work for her. I wish there were more characters like her out there.
Then there’s Michael… *SWOON* Finally, a character that’s rich, a celebrity, and is a genuinely nice guy. No stereotypes or conceited alpha-holes here.
Swirl all the atmosphere and dynamic characters together - with a second-chance romance plotline that makes this star-crossed romance work - and you have a unique must read love story for 2015.
Highly recommended for those who want a true love story with a little bit of sexy on the side.
*Complimentary copy was given by the Author in exchange for an honest review*
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May 21, 2015dnf 53%
The writing was good, the characters were interesting enough, but I didn't feel passionate about anything in the book. Unfortunately, it did not hook and excite me. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I gave it a fair shot, but I had to let it go.
The writing was good, the characters were interesting enough, but I didn't feel passionate about anything in the book. Unfortunately, it did not hook and excite me. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I gave it a fair shot, but I had to let it go.
July 14, 2015
Title: ShutterGirl
Series: Standalone
Author: CD Reiss
Release date: 16th May, 2015
Rating: 4 "shutterbug" stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:
My favourite thing about CD Reiss' ShutterGirl was the ShutterGirl herself, Lanie. She's the embodiment of the underdog. The hard working, unsung hero who was dealt a shitty hand in life but with sheer will, determination and a refusal to quit, ultimately finds her Hollywood ending.
“The camera? Fuck the camera. She’s got something explosive in her.”
The story centres around Lanie and Michael. Lanie is a paparazza and Michael the Hollywood golden boy. Like oil and water, they don't mix. Lanie thrives at night, hunting her next money making photo and Michael bathes in his Hollywood glow.
I found ShutterGirl to be a second chance romance of sorts. It's gritty (which I find reflective of CD Reiss' writing) and the the romantic in me would like liked a smoother ride for Lanie in the latter stages of the book. The consolation is that without the speed bumps we wouldn't have witnessed her achieve the success, in her career & love life, she greatly deserved.
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November 6, 2015
2,5-3 stars
Personally , I hadn't read before a book about paparazzi- celebrity, so this was a unique theme for me and because of that I was intrigued. I'm afraid, sadly, that even though it had a lot of potential , it felt like it was lacking.
I didn't feel connected to the characters and I wasn't enchanted by them , plus the cutting of the sentences was something that irked me.
This was my first read by Christine, but it won't be my last.
Copy was gifted in a giveaway by C.D. Reiss. Thank you so much!! :))
Personally , I hadn't read before a book about paparazzi- celebrity, so this was a unique theme for me and because of that I was intrigued. I'm afraid, sadly, that even though it had a lot of potential , it felt like it was lacking.
I didn't feel connected to the characters and I wasn't enchanted by them , plus the cutting of the sentences was something that irked me.
This was my first read by Christine, but it won't be my last.
Copy was gifted in a giveaway by C.D. Reiss. Thank you so much!! :))
May 25, 2015
4.5 Lights, Camera, Action Stars
Wow, what a totally unexpected, yet amazing tale from my fave author of spankings and dominant gingers! C.D. Reiss comes strong with this standalone tale of love between a man and woman whose connection is deep yet so wrong, or is it?
What good could possibly come from the pairing of an up and coming A-list Hollywood heart-throb and a smart, street bred paparraza? While their pasts are not foreign to one another, their present day is nothing less than worlds apart. Complete controversy in the making.
Laine chases the big picture, the juiciest scoop. With an unmatched eye and ability to know and own her home town. she has achieved success in a competitive world...but at what price? "I'm just a mess. I'm not whole. I'm a bunch or pieces of person I cobbled together."
Michael wants "more" from his life. Raised by Hollywood royalty, he is an American dream. While acting is his job, his need for success is rooted deeper...an attempt to keep his "father" in the business and most importantly sober. His life is constantly under the microscope. With publicists, agents, and intense public pressure the last thing he needs is to be connected to the paparrazi!
Welcome a tale of "forever love" that should not be. A love story that is gritty and poignant. A love story that is based on respect and complete selflessness. C.D. Reiss wrote this story and made me feel as if I was looking through the lens of a camera into a private moment. She wrote words that made my heart ache and my pulse race. She took a broken girl whose past was ugly and she made her powerful. Laine was everything that she experienced and she was amazing. While Michael had the pubic affection and the spotlight he couldn't help but want to own just one single heart...
If you are looking for a beautiful and intelligent romance, look no further. Dual POVs accompanied by genius writing will blow you away. Kudos C.D. Reiss!
Wow, what a totally unexpected, yet amazing tale from my fave author of spankings and dominant gingers! C.D. Reiss comes strong with this standalone tale of love between a man and woman whose connection is deep yet so wrong, or is it?
What good could possibly come from the pairing of an up and coming A-list Hollywood heart-throb and a smart, street bred paparraza? While their pasts are not foreign to one another, their present day is nothing less than worlds apart. Complete controversy in the making.
Laine chases the big picture, the juiciest scoop. With an unmatched eye and ability to know and own her home town. she has achieved success in a competitive world...but at what price? "I'm just a mess. I'm not whole. I'm a bunch or pieces of person I cobbled together."
Michael wants "more" from his life. Raised by Hollywood royalty, he is an American dream. While acting is his job, his need for success is rooted deeper...an attempt to keep his "father" in the business and most importantly sober. His life is constantly under the microscope. With publicists, agents, and intense public pressure the last thing he needs is to be connected to the paparrazi!
Welcome a tale of "forever love" that should not be. A love story that is gritty and poignant. A love story that is based on respect and complete selflessness. C.D. Reiss wrote this story and made me feel as if I was looking through the lens of a camera into a private moment. She wrote words that made my heart ache and my pulse race. She took a broken girl whose past was ugly and she made her powerful. Laine was everything that she experienced and she was amazing. While Michael had the pubic affection and the spotlight he couldn't help but want to own just one single heart...
If you are looking for a beautiful and intelligent romance, look no further. Dual POVs accompanied by genius writing will blow you away. Kudos C.D. Reiss!
May 19, 2015
5 "Make Me Real" Stars!!!
Scroll down for review.
Shuttergirl is the kind of story I love best - the sweetness and pain in between the cracks of big, bold lives. Laine and Michael are on opposite sides of the camera in L.A., and they share a past that's as much fantasy as reality. To an outsider they're all wrong for each other, but their connection can't be cast aside. And so a tough girl with a fragile heart and a golden boy who's made a career out of putting his desires last are reunited.
CD Reiss's Hollywood is front and center with some cameos that Jonathan & Monica Drazen fans will recognize.
But the most important element of this story is the relationship between Michael and Laine, and the way they're drawn together to save each other. In a town where everything is for sale and nothing is sacred, they find a way to find what's real and protect it like their lives depend on it.
Scroll down for review.
Shuttergirl is the kind of story I love best - the sweetness and pain in between the cracks of big, bold lives. Laine and Michael are on opposite sides of the camera in L.A., and they share a past that's as much fantasy as reality. To an outsider they're all wrong for each other, but their connection can't be cast aside. And so a tough girl with a fragile heart and a golden boy who's made a career out of putting his desires last are reunited.
CD Reiss's Hollywood is front and center with some cameos that Jonathan & Monica Drazen fans will recognize.
But the most important element of this story is the relationship between Michael and Laine, and the way they're drawn together to save each other. In a town where everything is for sale and nothing is sacred, they find a way to find what's real and protect it like their lives depend on it.
May 22, 2015
For the most part, ShutterGirl was a second chance romance out of thin air. The relationship between a hollwood superstar and a paparazzi lacked excitement. I couldn’t connect with both MCs from the start.
Likable characters? No.
I particularly dislike how Lanie’s backstory as a foster child was written and the reasoning behind her self-destructive behaviors at age 15 and 16. Plus, some serious issues involving Laine’s dark past were shallowly resolved. An underdeveloped storyline. Cheesy Oscar ending.
Overall, it was a frustrating read for me.
Likable characters? No.
I particularly dislike how Lanie’s backstory as a foster child was written and the reasoning behind her self-destructive behaviors at age 15 and 16. Plus, some serious issues involving Laine’s dark past were shallowly resolved. An underdeveloped storyline. Cheesy Oscar ending.
Overall, it was a frustrating read for me.
May 15, 2015
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