Infamous

by Irene Preston

Four years ago, Morgan Riley and Jessica Sinclair's love affair was pure Hollywood--the windswept beach, the whirlwind romance, the runaway marriage. Unfortunately, the ride into the sunset didn't survive the publication of the bride's tell-all book two months after she said, "I do." Now, for their daughter's sake, Morgan agrees to give his notorious wife another chance to be part of their family. But can a party girl be content with a quiet life in the suburbs?

As a Hollywood insider, Jessica has spent her life partying with A-list celebrities, shopping on Rodeo Drive, and living through scandal after scandal. When her estranged husband offers her a second chance at a "normal" lifestyle, she can't pass up her shot at real happiness. Soon Jessica's spending her days attending P.T.A. meetings and burning cookies, and her nights in sexy role-play, hoping Morgan will overlook her deficiencies as a homemaker. But what will Morgan do when Jessica winds up back in the tabloids--with his teenage daughter right next to her?

This is a new release of a previously published edition.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Irene Preston has to write romances, after all she is living one. As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe. Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.

Reviews

[Heather Rodney-Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hot and sensual read punctuated with Hollywood moments and flashing cameras, Infamous felt like you were watching a movie at times. Laid-back hero Morgan and the famous heroine Jessica are married but separated in the beginning. But like most couples, they still had to work hard on building their relationship past the bedroom. Even harder some might argue! Especially when a teen is thrown into the equation. Though it took them a while to figure things out, their happily ever after is definitely worth the wait.

[Méline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glitz, Glamor and a Great Plot

I loved this book. From the moment I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well-drawn, likeable and relatable and the premise is a fun, modern twist on the marriage-of-convenience theme.
Jessica is a Hollywood party girl whose antics routinely get her on the front page of the tabloids. Morgan is a venture capitalist who likes his staid, calm life in the burbs.
Four years ago they met, fell in love and got married. And then it all went horribly wrong. Now, Morgan’s daughter needs a mother more than ever before and Jessica moves back in – to care for the stepdaughter she adores and to try to win back the man she never stopped loving.
If you’ve ever hidden your true feelings behind a devil-may-care attitude and sky high stiletto pumps, this book’s for you. And if you’re in the mood for sizzling hot, well-written sex you will love “Infamous”.

[Lisa Weseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hook: A Hollywood wild child and her estranged straight-laced husband take one last stab at making it work. For the sake of his daughter, of course -- not the incredible attraction they can't seem to walk away from.

Love It: The main characters have real chemistry and also real challenges to overcome. Jessica knows her flaws, but she's also not afraid to stand up for herself.

Leave It: The first chapter starts out with a bang (literally) which I found a bit disorienting since I didn't know the characters. Readers who like spicy might find it the perfect way kick of such a sexy story.

Read It If: You like fast-paced, fun stories that are grounded in heart. As someone who works in Hollywood, but also has a very normal life, I found Jessica's struggle to juggle both worlds believable.

Skit It If: You blush easily; sex scenes are hot!

[Beth Yarnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! What a great, fun contemporary romance with a bit of spice. You know a book's good when you stay up too late & sneak away to read it.

[Debra Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Sinclair was raised in the bosom of Hollywood, partying with A-list celebs and shrugging off her ‘bad girl’ reputation. She’d thought she had a chance at a regular life when a whirlwind romance four years ago brought her love, marriage, and a wonderful step-daughter, but all that came crashing down within two months of her vows, after the publication of her scandalous novel. Morgan is willing to give their marriage another chance, partially for his daughter, but mainly because he still feels captivated by the woman he married in haste. But can Jessica convince him she’s not as shallow as the tabloids constantly make her out to be?

Romances with a domino effect of misunderstandings are hard to pull off, but Irene Preston does just that in Infamous. Jessica is a party girl, but she’s also kind and loyal. Given her in-the-spotlight upbringing, it’s hard for her to trust anyone, and that includes the man she loves. In tinseltown, no one tells it like it is, and Jessica can’t communicate her hopes and fears. Morgan is just as bad. He’s conservative, and completely unfamiliar with Jessica’s world, so he believes everything he reads in print as gospel. Neither one can see how someone from such a different world could love them, and therein lies the root of their problem.

This book is so clever and well written that I just couldn’t put it down. Jessica is realistic, likable and funny, a bad girl I’d love to be friends with. She burns cookies, takes on the PTO, snarks with the best of the best. She’s a hoot and I rooted for her to the very last page. I also loved reading a book with a loving step-mother/step-daughter relationship. Worth every penny.

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Infamous is one hot sensual read that grabs your attention right from the very beginning and keeps you turning those pages.

The Plot:
Hollywood glamour girl and infamous celebrity Jessica Sinclair and Reclusive venture capitalist Morgan Riley were secretly married after a whirlwind romance for a brief period of time, but when reality intruded their marriage fell apart. Morgan and Jessica are poles apart in personality and their choice of lifestyles but four years on nothing’s changed they still have feelings for each other quite literally combust when they are in the same room together.

In order to have a chance at HEA both Jessica and Morgan need to find some middle ground but will becoming a Stepford suburban wife be the answer for Jessica? You are gonna have to read this book to find out.

Writing Style:
The writing is light and fun and the characters in the story are very well developed, though I was tempted to thump Morgan over his head a few times.

With INFAMOUS Irene Preston immerses us into the Hollywood world of Glitz, Glamour and Scandal with well-developed characters, sizzling hot sex scenes and engaging storyline.

Infamous is Irene Preston debut novel and I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading future releases.

Reviewd: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, LOVED this book! Jessica is a fabulously misunderstood heroine in this story, and perfectly believeable because of her celebrity lifestyle and socialite background. The way she brazens things out when life throws her dung is realistic,and also tugs at your heart because you know she's just making things worse for herself. Morgan, her beleaguered husband, is also a genuine character. He's both dazzled and confused by her, and of course doesn't believe a word she says when he is faced with paparazzi 'reports' on her bad girl shenanigans.

Misunderstanding plotlines can be hard to read sometimes because you keep thinking that all the characters have to do is talk to each other, but Morgan and Jessica were both written so well that the misunderstandings plot works. Both characters have flaws, but they also have redeeming qualities, especially the fact that they would both do anything to keep Kinsey (Morgan's daughter) happy. It's Kinsey's sub-plot that holds this whole story together so well. There's plenty of hot sex to burn up the pages, but it's the family plotline that is the heart of the story.

This book is hot, heartwarming, and often hilarious as Jessica attempts to emulate the perfect suburban housewife and win her husband's love. A 5 out of 5 stars for me!

[Moriah Densley · Rating 5 out of 5]

WWJCD? Find out why it's okay for Jessica Sinclair - socialite and troublemaker - not to be June Cleaver.

Irene Preston drops you in the middle of a Hollywood socialite's exciting, glamorous life - the real side of it. Jessica's self-deprecating attitude makes her likeable. She so badly wants to be a PTA mom and falters in her emulation of June Cleaver. I loved watching her learn to be selfless and turn her shortcomings into strengths.

Jessica rocked the step-parent situation. Morgan (whom I imagined as a stressed-out yet charming Patrick Dempsey type) adores Jessica and struggles to reconcile his steadfast nature with her free spirit. The troubled-but-worth-saving-marriage theme came across sympathetically to me.

I give "Infamous" 4.5-5 stars for the masterful writing and endearing, lifelike characters. Irene Preston gets away with the "Big Misunderstanding" plot element, she does it so well. She convinced me it's possible for pride to keep people from communicating while caring enough to hope.

Lots of delightful one-liners, but I won't spoil it for you. Lovely romance. Top-notch writing. Nonstop entertainment. Don't miss Irene Preston's "Infamous."

[Lotchie Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fast pace of the first chapter blew me away. There was no time wasted in getting the hero and heroine together, with a build-up to the love scene so hot, it had me melting with anticipation. The surprise at the end of the chapter made me hurry to turn the page and start the next. The characters of Morgan and Jessica leapt off the pages and lived and breathed in my head. I felt like a voyeur in the bedroom, a peeping Tom in the den and a captive in the pantry, and enjoyed every delicious moment!

Jessica and Morgan have history together and not all of it is good. After rushing to answer a call for help from Morgan’s daughter Kinsey, Jessica finds herself pondering a proposition to stay and become more than a standby friend for the girl. Morgan wants her back, even if it means using her love of his daughter and her welfare as leverage. Although the two have an ensuing relationship rife with misgivings and misunderstandings, there is no doubt that both share the same determination that there’s still something between them worth saving.

[Denyse Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infamous fast-paced, sensuous, and, to put it simply, delectable plot had me turning pages as quickly as I could manage it, all the while fanning myself and drinking lots cold water. Jessica’s reality: fame and money abound is weaved so flawlessly with her wish to have her love reciprocated that, as a woman, is impossible to not relate to her in the most fundamental way. As in many love relationships, assumptions take precedence over dialogue, because love can sometimes feel like walking on an icy lake at the end of winter, but in “Infamous” it makes the reader connect with Jessica and Morgan’s struggles to “make it right” even more.

[Mae Hanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars. This is a 3.5*** read for me.
I don't normally read traditional contemporaries. This one is good.
The conflict between Morgan and Jessica is realistic when two people fail to express themselves verbally. It's easy to view their lives from each main character's point of view. Both of which are totally wrong, since we as the reader are seeing both sides. I'll admit, I wanted to tell them to just talk to each other and get on with their lives. Since it's a romance and a Happily Ever After is usually required - they do eventually work out their issues. The little twist at the end was good.

It's a great quick read. Pick it up if you get the chance.

[Juli Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

INFAMOUS had me hooked from the first chapter and I didn't put it down until I'd read the whole thing because it just kept getting better. Morgan and Jessica are one hot couple trying to find their way back to each other. I will admit that there were times I was irritated by Jessica's determination to keep a friend's secret when it kept her from acheiving her own happiness, especially when it had a negative effect on Morgan's daughter. But Irene Preston's writing kept me turning the pages. The happily ever after is worth waiting for!

[Micah Persell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irene Preston’s Infamous is pure fun from start to finish. Her characters, Jessica and Morgan, are so well-developed that at times I found myself alternately rooting for them and wanting to have a serious talk with them about their behavior! Both of them absolutely come to life and leap from the page. And little Kinsey? Love at first sight. You’ll be thinking about Infamous long after you put it down!

[Stephanie Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first scene to the end of the book it was an amazing ride. I felt like I was right there at the masquerade party at the beginning of the book. The detail, the opulence, the humanity was truly amazing. I simply could not put the book down. An amazing read from start to finish!
Irene Preston is an author I look forward to reading more from in the future.

[Carol Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infamous is a hot contempory romance. If opposites attract, then Jessica and Morgan have a huge magnet pulling them together. But communication problems keep them hoping, then denying, wanting, hating, loving, needing, fighting and loving again. Did you notice I said loving twice? That was on purpose. Irene Preston know how to make a romance story come alive for the reader. I recommend it.

[Shelley Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book throws you into the glitzy world of a famous author who is tied into the glamorous scene of the rich and famous. The beginning is pretty intense and I love the way it pans out. I would ruin it if I told too much.

Read it. Very well developed story with great character development.

[Veronica Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! The heat between Jessica and Morgan was intense and exciting from the very beginning and I loved how hard she tried to make it all work out. Lots of tension and misunderstandings pulled me through and made me want more.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

Good quick read. Fun and sexy; touching at times. Let's you get a glimpse into some of the "down side" of rich and famous and the misperceptions that the paparazzi likes to spread and build on. Main character Morgan seemed a little overly stiff to me, but mostly really liked the characters and the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hated reading this book as much as I loved reading it. I found the whole thing so sad. I cried in places that others might not cry in. Both characters resonated so profoundly with me. This is what happens when people don't communicate, when they let their pride get in the way, when they fight for control instead of the actual relationship - misunderstandings. That has been the case for me my entire life; people misunderstand and like Jessica, I learned at a very young age that people don't want to hear the truth. They will believe what they want, and it's usually the scandal that they choose to believe. When you spend your entire life being what others perceive you to be, pretending you're winning because you're not letting them see you sweat, that armor becomes part of you. It's hard to take it off. It's hard to know who to take it off for and when. But if these two characters had been more open about their feelings for each other, and actually said the words they needed to say instead of beating around the bush, they wouldn't have wasted 4 years.

I'll admit my heart ached for Jessica a lot more than it did for Morgan. He seemed a lot more cold and his mask better in place than Jessica's. When the book was in Jessica's POV, I thought Morgan was so cruel to her, I even wondered if Jessica was doing the right thing by trying to salvage their marriage. Once I was privy to Morgan's thoughts, I understood him a bit more, but still I think he was a lot more cruel than Jessica. I think he lashed out worse and I don't think his motives were as just. For such an intelligent man, he sure was a bit dense at times. To believe gossip articles and pictures taken out of context without hearing it from the person themselves is wrong. To assume Jessica had a thing with Mason based on her book which was a work of FICTION, and not even bother to tell her what he though, wasn't smart or fair. I feel he did things to humiliate Jessica, and Jessica didn't do things to humiliate him, rather, gossip columns wrote untrue things about her and Morgan felt humiliated by them. Those two things aren't the same. There was one particular scene that was almost too much for me to handle; I had to take a few minutes to cry before I could even continue.

Don't get me wrong, I did want them to end up together because they did love each other. But because of his actions, I just felt like Morgan should have suffered more once he realized he was wrong. I wanted to see him truly realize all that he did to her. I wanted to see him apologize, to grovel for doing those horrible things to her and for believing in gossip columns instead of his wife. I feel like that didn't happen. All Morgan had to say was that he now believe Jessica and that he loved her and that's it. To me, that wasn't enough. So I was a bit let down on the ending for this reason.

I know my review probably sounds like it was a bad story, but it wasn't. I did love it. It was so well written, and the characters were very real, they were flawed, and I did like that. It's because these characters came alive for me that I felt the way I did while reading it and cried for them. It was so sad to see two people who truly love each other keep fucking up. Their relationship was on the brink and they wanted to hang on but kept doing everything wrong. The part of me that was completely immersed into the story feared that they wouldn't make it, even though obviously I knew they would. I kept looking to see how many pages I had left because I wanted to get to the end where they got their happily ever after, even though I really didn't want the book to end because I really liked it.

I am glad that I read this book. I feel like it changed the way I read romance a little bit. And I will definitely read the next book by this author.

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very surprised by this book. The description made me want to read it. I am a sucker for second chances especially when the couple is separated. The story and the characters drew me in and I wanted to find out how it all would end. Morgan is a straight-laced financier with a pre-teen child and Jessica is the child of a famous Hollywood couple. She is also famous in her own right - she is an author of tell-all Hollywood fiction similar to Jackie Collins. Jessica has a party-hard reputation and is a tabloid darling. The two fell in love and quickly married. He doesn't think she can settle down and she thinks he wants June Cleaver. Circumstances, anger, hurt and jealousy drive them apart and Morgan's daughter brings them back together (the daughter does not engineer this). They really did not know each other and both are plagued with uncertainties during their short time together. I thought the author did a good job in growing the characters and overcoming misconceptions and hurt.

I enjoyed the book. Sex isn't used as filler - there are sex scenes (just not repetitive and the characters interact more in other ways and with others throughout the book).

I looked for other books by this author and couldn't find any backlist. I will watch for other books as I enjoyed this one. The editing was pretty good (meaning I didn't catch many errors/typos/formatting/grammar/continuity issues so they didn't take me out of the story). The book is a standalone with no cliffhangers. I think the storylines may be fleshed out in subsequent books about other characters. The book is only 184 pages and stays focused on the two main characters.

So, why didn't I give this one 5 stars? It was based on my own preference to have all storylines wrapped up and a super epilogue. There is a short epilogue, but I am spoiled by another author who is the queen of epilogues. I can't help but comparing.

Why did it take me so long to read? A very anticipated book was released on the same day I picked this one up and it got pre-empted.

[Bookswithbenefits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preston sets off sparks in a spicy contemporary romance.

Jessica Sinclair, a wild Hollywood socialite, meets Morgan, a hardworking and conservative entrepreneur. Despite their differences, sparks fly and passion heats up between them. However, as their differences pile up, so do misunderstandings... With a wide supporting cast (a daughter, several BFFs, and even a Golden Retriever), the couple learns to write their own script for love.

The Good: Preston manages to mix a spicy, sexy posh-society romance with a down-home good 'ol coming of age story. Once it gets going, the narrative never misses a beat, weaving suburban family drama with Hollywood drama flawlessly. Morgan and Jessica are both sympathetic and likable, and, in many ways, Preston's tale is more than a romance, it's a story about finding yourself and your place in the world.

Jessica is trying to find herself as much as she is trying to find a way to keep Morgan and the family that comes with him; and Morgan is trying to re-script his life, loosen his tie, and make a place in his home and his heart for a wild woman he seldom understands but can't forget.

It's a Hershey's Kiss of a story: a perfect treat after a long day. Bite-sized and finished in a few hours, it's a sweet summer book. I can't imagine a better way to spend the holiday weekend.

The Bad: The first few pages builds suspense in a way that might leave you confused and frustrated. As long as you know Preston will let you in on the secret in a few pages, it won't bother you, but if you don't have a heads up, it might be a little off-putting.

Best line: “What would June Cleaver Do?”

Worst line: ... Sorry folks, didn't see any humdingers. Preston's prose is rather solid. I especially liked the rhythm of her first pages.

As posted on http://bookswithbenefits.com

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to buy this book for months. I'd read a teaser from the first chapter and that was all she wrote.

Well written and engaging with clearly defined characters. Their very identifiable emotions provoked both my sympathy and impatience because they were real, even if the world these characters inhabited was foreign to me. I found the personal growth of the heroine particularly enjoyable. Her revelation about who was really controlling her public image was a critical moment for her.

The emotional and sexual tension was strong and balanced between the hero and heroine and the love scenes were delicious. Ms. Preston, what are you working on next? I'm going to want to read it.

[Alexa Bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unusual and wonderful story! I found myself totally invested in Jessica and all she wanted for her relationship. Morgan...what can I say? He was the perfect hero I loved to be annoyed with. Yes, his reactions and behaviors had me annoyed with him- often- but I could totally understand his reasons for his choices.

Preston has created a sweet and solid story and she makes it seem effortless. I ignored all my other errands/plans for the day and read this in less than 24 hours. Yes, it's THAT good. Preston is definitely an author to watch. I can't wait for her next book!

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bestselling tell-all Hollywood author Jessica Sinclair lives the good life; parties, parties and more parties. But what she really wants is her husband back. And he's never quite gotten around to divorcing the bane of his existence either, hoping against all evidence to the contrary that someday she'll value the quiet, stable life he and his daughter offer, never realizing how they're missing the mark around each other until it's almost too late.

Sizzling sex scenes, compelling characters, and good writing infuse INFAMOUS, Texas writer Irene Preston's debut novel. I loved it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often read romances because I find character development and the story line are often poor. In this story I felt like I really got to know Jessica and Morgan. I didn't particularly care for Morgans character, but it didn't affect the enjoyment of the story.
The book is told from both the perspective of Jessica and of Morgan and I felt myself more often than not mentally screaming at them to tAlk to each other and work out their problems!!!!
Overall I felt like this was a good, worthwhile read. I won this book in a give away.

[Casey Dawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got caught up in this book almost immediately. Even though the heroine is a “bad girl,” it’s easy to sense that she has a softer side. I was rooting for her to be able to get the love she wants. The writing is very rich and I enjoyed the “hotter” moments because Irene Preston's language is so vivid. I look forward to reading more books by her.

[SM Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!!
Morgan and Jessie's story is heartwarming, heart stopping and hot, hot, hot!!!
Sometimes what you see is not all you get....sometimes you get lucky and this read certainly kept me hoping that was the case till the very end.

Oh, and for the month of July, it's on sale at Kindle for only $1.99. A great read at a great price!
Check it out!

[Carmen Falcone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infamous is beautifully written, and very well-crafted!

I really enjoyed reading it, as I love books about second chances. The characters leap from the pages, and Jessica and Morgan's love story feels real and relatable.

Since the first page, Infamous grabbed my attention. Nicely done, Ms. Preston!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

No problem getting into this book. I was pulled in on page one! Not the bad boy alpha male I typically go for but I loved these characters and their story. She is a glitzy L.A. bad girl and he's the family man. It shouldn't work but it does!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, fun, sexy read.