Snapshot

Leading Light #1

by Reegan Ellis

“It was never supposed to be serious…” A few photos are all it takes for Owen Hart’s world to change in an instant. Outed to the public eye after what was already a rough breakup, the actor is more than glad to flee to a small Washington town to film his next movie so he can try to put himself back together. When he runs into a cute local, well, what’s the harm in a rebound? He can have fun for a few weeks, then walk away when filming ends and never have to think about James again. Except thinking about him is all Owen can do, and as time ticks down until filming is over Owen isn’t sure if he can walk away…or if he even wants to. “We’re all wrong for each other…aren’t we?” Burned in the past by the ugly side of fame, James Fahey wants nothing to do with the movie and all the chaos that disrupts the little town he lives in. Let the other townsfolk gawk at the actors and dream of lives full of paparazzi and glamour; James plans to keep his head down and count down the days until the movie rolls back out of town. But staying away from the charming lead actor is harder than he expects, and he can’t help but give in. Owen is perfect…for someone who wants a life full of media attention. It isn’t just a fling, and suddenly the future of their relationship hinges on one little snapshot… “Because you, me, us? We’re worth fighting for.” Snapshot is a 57,000-word standalone gay romance novel with no cliffhanger and a HEA. The books in the Leading Light series can be read in any order.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Amazon, Celebrity

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2016

Reviews

[Michael S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it a little oddly paced and rushed-feeling in parts, but very cute. I would have enjoyed more time to get to know James and Owen in the beginning and to observe their courtship; I rather felt as if I had been watching a series of slides as events progressed in small jumps.

Not one of my absolute favorites, but definitely not bad. I think I would enjoy this better with a few tweaks, including another editing pass to weed out errors.

[**KAYCEE** · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3 stars**

This book got off on a slow start. I felt the writing was a bit awkward in the beginning. When the MCs met and initially started their thing, I didn't feel a connection between them, at all.
It got a bit better as the story went along.
A few misspellings and extra words were present, not a huge deal.
This book just didn't keep my attention all the way through. At times it was a struggle to pick it up again and keep going.

[Mindy]

DNF @ 44%

[~Mindy Lynn~]

Kindle Freebie on Amazon 6/28/17

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read for me. It took me a while to start liking James, but eventually I understood why he acted the way he did. It’s a sweet story with very little angst.

[jaxnsmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Line]

Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Snapshot-Lea...

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance between actor and baker. It was fun to read. The writing had a distinctly British flavor even though it was set in the US.
Typos: blonde used for a man (its feminine), some punctuation outside quotes", "and I" used a few times where it should have been "and me."

[H.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

Another sweet romance from this author! Loved it! Owen and James has great chemistry. The stuff with his mother though seemed like an odd situation and would have liked to seen more tension in that. Other wise it was a good little story.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, good characters, and very steamy sex scenes. I wasn't completely drawn into this, but it was still an ok read.

[Pixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. Review to come.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. The romantic dance that played between James and Owen was hilarious at times and completely charming, I wasn't sure what was going to transpire early on but getting to know these completely polar opposites in James and Owen was a real treat. I had some real OMG moments where I wanted to grab one of these guys and shake them, lol and knock some sense into them. But thats the fun part of reading a story that is engaging and well crafted. There was some very HOT moments that were well earned for these men. I was very happy to receive ths ARC copy and feel very strongly in recommending this book for all those who know what its like to have crossed signals and bad timing sometimes, but getting a moment in time frozen when you really see whats in front of you, well they say a picture can tell tell a story.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5

This was full of feel good factors. it was quite well written and the dialogue sounded natural and unforced. Just the right amount of sex.

Main characters Owen and James came out well and it was not difficult to see them together.They both had an endearing quirkiness.

Owen is from a poor background but with loving family. He has found fame as an actor but is recovering from the break up of a bad relationship. James is from a privileged but unloving family and has a huge aversion to publicity having been brought up in the glare of it.

They meet and fall in love. They have a few rocky moments and a great sexual relationship.They get married.

Another one to make you glow with happiness rather than burn with lust.

As I keep saying, is a wedding now the obligatory ending to a happy m/m book? I think it is a lazy way out, apeing heterosexual romance and I am increasingly bored and irritated by it.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story with lots of potential, but which seems frustratingly incomplete. As another reviewer stated, it feels like I read half of a novel, in fact at times it felt like I was reading the final outline the author put together before they started fleshing out the final manuscript. Key scenes cut out halfway through, then we jump to the other character's perspective, and only get a brief update on the interrupted scene, (if that,) later on, when we return to their perspective. SO many golden opportunities in this story, and with these characters, for engaging and interesting scenes that were just not written, or implied to have happened but not shown. "Show don't tell!" I wanted to yell.

Overall, a 2.5 out of 5, reluctantly rounded up due to the potential, despite not being executed.

[Pontiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owen is an actor who has been outed by his ex, but goes on to his next film. On location he meets James, a baker with a chip on his shoulder.

They keep running into each other, with plenty of false starts. When they finally date, it's wonderful, until it's revealed that Owen is dating and James freaks out. He had his own secret about being in the spotlight.

I like both of these men, but the strange twist on James' life in the spotlight is unnecessary. I like how Owen stands up against his manager for the relationship.

The other characters weren't fleshed out enough, and the story was good, but kind of basic. Still, enjoyable enough for a quick read.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and romantic book

I really enjoyed this book, it had all the elements... Love, romance, angst and a touch of drama. James works in a small town bakery that has just been inundated with requests from a movie production. Owen is the leading man in a new movie, when he hides in the bakery from fans he comes face to face with James. Through the course of the movie production James and Owen fall in love. Fans paparazzi, a narcissistic mother and a pushy manager try to come between these two but love prevails.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Move star Owen Hart just went through a bad break-up that also resulted in his being forcibly outed to the press. A few weeks spent filming in the middle of nowhere are just what he needs - along with a little rebound fling with James Fahey, a cute guy he meets there. Then the rebound thing turns into more and the press get wind of Owen's new romance - and all the attention and being hounded by paparazzi is the last thing James wants, threatening their relationship when it's barely begun.

Predictable but cute. The ending felt a bit rushed.

[Mrs C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed

I've had this book in my library for ages and I'm so glad I got around to reading it. It's a great story with lots of complications and ups and downs. I thought the chemistry between the main characters was genuine and you just wanted it to all work out for them, which is does. The author had entwined lots of humour between the characters, I found myself chuckling s few times throughout the book. First book I've read from this author and it definitely will not be the last.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author. Reading the description, I thought it sounded good. Boy was I surprised by how good it was. Great characters that expanded as you go through the story. You get the back story on them as you read rather than all of it shoved at you at first. I loved it. Can't wait to read more. I'm hoping to find out more about Asher. He seemed like a great character and I would love to get more details on him. I was given a review copy and am so glad I took it.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and a quick read.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. It would be perfect for traveling. It doesn't feel rush at all expect for the lost part but even that work for them. It is a witty, charming and enjoyable book to read.

[Centoria Coffil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

If there weren't so many editorial errors that made it hard to read ( had to reread a few lines so they !made scenes) it would have been a 5 star tale for me but I still enjoyed it very much.

[GlamLawyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story but too predictable. Not bad for a lazy morning though.

[Karen]

A NC-17 het rom-com plot with gay MCs. (Please do not let these guys be driving any of the Olympic Peninsula roads at the same time as my friends and family.)

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

About a guy from a wealthy family hiding out and meeting a Hollywood actor. Bringing him back into the limelight he is trying to avoid.

[Margaret Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret

This was a very good book and I am going to keep reading more of your books. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Ashish Rastogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and fun

Owen and James are adorable and fun to be around. The story is well-paced. Contrasting families add to the drama. A good weekend read to lighten the mood.

[Fallon Cahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

James and Owen are from different worlds but still manage to find their completion in one another. Two romantics at heart that have been hurt so much in the past find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. The MC's are well thought out and written as well as most of the supporting characters. There are some I would have liked more insight into, but this is book one so I hope to see them again soon. The romance is slow-build but the attraction is immediate and denial is thick in the air for a little while. Reegan Ellis takes you on a sweet, romantic, sexy, and steamy ride with Snapshot. I didn't want to put it down until I finished reading. There are characters you will love and others that you will love to hate. I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy for my honest opinion and review.

[Dara Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. This is my first read by this author and I've got to say if this is what I've got to look forward to then I'm all on board for reading more. The chemistry between Owen and James was amazing, I loved the dialogue between the two of them and the snarkiness. And when the backstories for each of them got revealed, layer by layer, I just couldn't stop reading. The story pulled me in until I literally could not put it down until I could see how it ended. Loved it.

[Jacey Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this story. I loved the chemistry between James and Owen. I really enjoyed this very well written story. I loved how they were able to overcome their obstacles and find love with each other.

I can't wait to see what is next for this wonderful series. Well done for your first book!

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this was amazing... i loved the issues that james has with owen.. but i love how owen makes those issues go away over time and patience.. i love their love and sweetness.. it was totally adorable and sweet and i loved it so much. i am so glad i got to review it