In Her Spotlight

The Neeson Boys #1

by Harper Logan, H.L. Logan

There’s no forgetting your first love.

It’s been twelve years since the girl next door disappeared from Stephanie Neeson’s life, but she’s never been able to forget the promise they made to each other. Since then, Stephanie has been lost on her path through life, suffering through stagnation and the inability to follow her desire to become a writer. When she learns that her old neighbor grew up to become a famous movie star, Stephanie decides to risk everything and leave her life behind. Screenplay in hand, it’s off to LA for a chance at the big time—and to reunite with her childhood sweetheart.

Callie Hinderbrook is Hollywood’s hottest new leading lady and Hollywood’s “sexiest woman of the year”. She’s spent her entire career avoiding romance in order to keep her orientation hidden, afraid that coming out of the closet would kill her chances to reach the A-List. It’s been easy for her to sacrifice love for acting, but that all changes when she shows up in town.

In just one passionate night, their reunion breaks every wall Callie set up to protect herself, but she can’t afford to fall for Stephanie again. She’s about to take on the biggest role of her career, and she’s sacrificed too much to let it all crumble now—so why can’t she control these feelings she thought were long gone? They once believed they would be together forever. Can old love be strong enough to transcend the challenge of time?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, LGBT, Contemporary, Gay, Queer

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2017

About the author

Author also publishes under the name H.L. Logan.

Reviews

[SoCalBookReviews]

**Update: Changing my review, removing rating, because I am annoyed... This Author has the same exact book under a pseudonym, H.L. Logan and changed the character Genders From F/F to M/F to M/M. To me personally, it just seems really dishonest to take the exact same books with the exact same wording (basically plagiarizing your own work) and then republishing them all with different gender pronouns, I personally do not feel comfortable reading this authors books and will no longer be purchasing or reviewing them either.***

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really loving this book right up until Kalvin went to Jordan. I overlooked the fact that it didn’t make sense that two people who had known each other for only a year as children could still be so madly in love. I can barely remember the people I knew at 13 and I’m sure by the time they were 25 they were very different. However, it’s a novel so I can accept a little fantasy. The problem for me was that everything resolved itself so quickly. I still enjoyed it and plan to read the other two books I already own by Harper Logan.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one - yea, short, basic but hits the spot. Really loved it. I know the series are ‘stand alone books’ but some chat-up with sisters would have been appreciated.

[Fallon Cahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalvin and Steven will have you tangled in their web soon after you start reading. If you love stories about rekindling a lost true first love, then you should give 'My Leading Man' a shot. It's sweet, funny, and nerve-wracking taking such a long-shot for happiness. Can you imagine loving someone so much that you drop everything to find out if you even still have a chance with them? If they could possibly still love you? If they even remember you? Some may think it's far-fetched, but isn't that one reason we love to read these stories? For the short amount of time it took to read this book, I was happily in another world living vicariously through the MC's. I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book for my honest opinion and review.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steven & Kal were childhood friends for a year. Kal & his family left quickly, leaving Steven wondering what happened to his best friend. Fast forward 12 years & Kal is making it big in Hollywood while Steven had stayed & took over his dad's contracting business. Steven decides to try to track down his childhood friend & moves to LA with his unfinished screen play in hand. They reconnect pretty quickly.

I liked the story & liked Steven but it took me a while to warm up to Kal. It was a predictable but ok story. I felt the ending was a bit rushed. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC from the author.

[Bitchie]

AKA My Leading Man

[Anke]

Because of - reasons.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/4/2019)! 🎁

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

Oh, this was a charming book. Very sweet with a reunion love. It's a pleasant, entertaining read for an everning and with the movie topic it is really fitting to the Oscars which were a few days ago. :)

It is sweet how Steven, a handyman is moving from his hometown to LA to search for Kalvin. He doesn't know what to expect and he truly follows his heart.

The reunion is sweet and sensitve, hot and mixed with sparks flying.
But even if there are the feelings between the guys, Kalvin hesitates and have to decide: his career or his love.

It is maybe not really pleasant for the reader first to see how Kalvin decides but it is very understandable to be honest. On the other hand the romance loving reader is a bit angry and shakes his head about Kalvin.

The story had a twist and turn at the end, I liked it, because it gaves the story a bit suspence.

The minor character are nice and supportive, Angela is a really great PA and also Kalvin's co-star Larissa is charming. It's good to see that the women in the book are displayed nice and supportive than bitchy and angry.

I have to say there is a fast development in the reunion part but I have to say it's believable.
The tension is there - the good and bad feelings - and the hot scenes are really steamy. Very well written and details are well displayed.

As I said the book had a few things I found were a bit overdramatised but it had to be included to create suspense. I was struggeling if I should reduce half a star but in the end I still give 5 out of 5 stars.

I am really looking for the next two books of the series, there weren't so many information revealed despite the fact that it's about Steven's brothers Jay and Gavin

Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book....... This was a beautifully written and very heartfelt romance between both Kalvin and Steven, childhood sweethearts who had made a promise to each other to stay together forever (I love that). However, it doesn't work out that way when Kalvin's parents move him out of state and he pursues his dream of acting. Many years later they find each other again, but not without a few issues they have to deal with. My favorite character was, Angela. She was Kalvin's assistant and diligently loyal, not just to Kal, but also to Steven. She was open, honest and always kept Steven notified about certain situations concerning Kalvin. I also liked how Steven never pulled away from Kal and loved him all the way through. This was touching and very heart tingling. :)

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time buying the back story of these two characters. They were 13 when they first knew each other and only spent one year with one another before they were separated for 12 years both were very young and to me it seems like they still had a whole lot of living to do. How am I suppose to believe they had a love so deep it would stay with them for years afer. Maybe I'd buy it more if they were childhood friends until the age 13, growing up with one another and not just having 1 year. But whatever. The story was a little melodramatic, at times, and the writing wasn't super but it was still a cute cheesy story. BTW cheesy is not a negative in my book. This book would be more of fun read than anything.

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm voluntarily reviewing a free advance reader copy I received from the author.

Steven and Kalvin were best friends who fell in love with each other at a very young age. When Kal's family ends up moving away, they go 12 years before seeing each other again. Kal's become a famous actor, but Steven can't stop thinking about and remembering him. Steven decides to move out to California on a pipe dream to find him. Amazingly, the stars align, and the are reunited. Of course, the biggest challenge? Kal's in the closet. It's never perfectly simple, but I liked how Kal and Steven connected so honestly. Kal had a lot to consider and figure out, but he never doubted how he felt about Steven. I liked this book. Looking forward to meeting Steven's east coast brothers.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got for a honest review.

Loved Kalvin and Steven chemistry together. The story was well written had a nice steady pace. Kalvin leaves behind Steven that he loves when his family moves. Steven gets on a plane Twelve years later to find Kalvin. When find each other the chemistry between the two sets the sparks off that can't be put out. Kalvin tries to just think of his career but Steven never far from his thoughts. But in the end soulmates can never stay apart. Loved the whole story. Harper Logan sure knows how to keep you reading.

Thank you for letting me read your story.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voluntarily reviewing an ARC given to me by the Author.

Harper Logan knows how to tell a sweet compelling story. Time and Time again, I am swept into the delightful character's lives that they create. Kalvin and Steven make for another precious couple, you just can't help but fall in love with.

The promise to each other and the talk of soulmates was the sweetest thing, and my favorite part.

So far, I have loved everything I have read by Harper Logan.

[Bitchie]

AKA In Her Spotlight

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Steven is an unfulfilled writer that has decided to commit to finishing his screenplay by uprooting his life and moving to LA in hopes of finding his muse and also his childhood sweetheart, Kalvin, a talented and closeted actor whose career is on the rise.

Overall, this was a decent tale of reunited love, but I was a bit disappointed by the almost cookie-cutter nature of the story. It begins with a truly serendipitous meeting then follows the paint-by-numbers plotline of closeted actor—just on the cusp of making it big, of course—falls in love, chooses career over love, hearts break, cue dramatic reunion/HEA.

Don’t get me wrong, all these elements could have been used to make a great story IF there had been a bit more effort put into making Steven and Kal’s relationship special or engaging. Unfortunately, for me, the characters were flat; they were likeable and their short childhood love was completely aawww worthy, but their character development was practically nonexistent and their courtship was predictable and somewhat trite. There was just nothing about Steven and Kal or their story to draw the reader in and make the book memorable.

That being said, it was sweet and without a lot of the back and forth angst that tends to make these type of stories drag. I was just expecting a bit more from Harper Logan.

[K.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two heroes despite the fact that I definitely thought that it was completely and undoubtedly the most unbelievable plot ever. Steven was so lucky, not only he met a totally nice person in the flight to LA who helped get him jobs. But that job landed him right into the house of a super duper famous director. More fortunately for him, it was also the day that Kal, his first love and a super star, arrived. Even more fortunate, Kal still remembered him. More miracle that he still attracted to him, even maybe loved him. Unbelievable so that Kal didn't think that he was not a gold-digger or better yet a psychopathic stalker. Even more unreal was that even Kal's publicist encouraged their relationship.... ~(-.-) ~ By then, I would even believed that Steven could win first-prize-lottery or even become the president of America. He was THAT lucky.

Despite all that out-of-the-world impossibilities, the book was fun to read and I loved them together.

3.5 stars

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story, Steven a carpenter flies to LA to find his childhood friend and mate. Kalvin had left when they were twelve when he moved with his parents across country and Steven never heard from him again. Kalvin remains in his heart and finally in his mid twenties, he goes in pursuit of the love of his life and his dreams. Meeting a woman on the airplane, he gets a good contact to help him on his stay in LA. Fate brings the two together and their hearts again recognize each other. Kalvin, however feels he needs to stay in the closet because of his acting career and Steven can't give up. Follow these two as they face angst, despair, closeted gay, grief, rediscovering each other, and exploring truths that they have hidden for years. Loved the book and would recommend it to anyone to read. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book

[John-Torleif Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked both Steven and Kalvin in this story, but I found the premise to be hard to suspend my disbelief over. Steven and Kalvin only knew each other for less than a year when they were 13, and yet they both felt that they loved one another and were soulmates over a decade later. If this were a paranormal book, I'd buy it, but it just didn't quite work for me as a contemporary story. Maybe if they had grown up together, or if they had been older, but...

Despite the circumstances around their getting back together, Steven and Kalvin were a very fun couple and I also enjoyed the full cast of supporting characters who helped them come together.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Marty Preslar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

I've read quite a few stories about starlets who are afraid to come out because of their careers and I know that there have been many, many fine actresses and actors who lived the lie because Hollywood, despite it's apparent progressive attitude, is all about image. This one adds a nice twist with the two leading ladies being childhood sweethearts; the first love that made each of them realize their sexual orientation; soulmates destined to be together... or are they? The story is well written and the characters well developed. I'm really enjoying the Neeson Girls series and look forward to the third sister's book!

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming sweet romance and I really enjoyed reading it. What you will find in this book is: a handyman/carpenter who moved to LA looking for love (Steven Neeson), a good-looking hot leading man/actor who is avoiding love (Kalvin Hinderbrook), drama, intrigue, verbal banter, heartache, memories, despair, attractions, lust, emotional feelings, love and erotic scenes. The story-line and plot is well thought out and written. The characters are quite well developed with emotional feelings according to the situation they find themselves in. I would recommend this book

[Emmaali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre stelle perché è davvero troppo corto, questa storia aveva bisogno di molte pagine in più, aveva bisogno di maggiore sviluppo, secondo me la parte dove i due erano ragazzini è abbastanza ma la parte dove si ritrovano, che poi miracolo dei miracoli dopo un giorno a H. sono rivedono??, andava allungata e soprattutto la parte finale dove Kalvin si rende conto di aver fatto una stupidata a scegliere il lavoro al posto di Steven, aveva bisogno di più emozione e sentimento. Peccato perché comunque è un libro scorrevole con una base davvero interessante

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper Logan has done it again with this second chance at love story. She has sent my emotions on a rollercoaster ride and I loved every moment of it. Wonderfully developed and lovable characters and a great storyline. I loved how Kalvin and Steven interacted with each other and I can't wait to read the next book in the Neeson Boys series which is going to be about Steven's brother Gavin. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Anne Bollmann (Annelise Lestrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)

I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D

The Review

*~.PROS.~*

The sex scenes were delicious, but too few for this romance category, in my humble opinion. Or maybe I just felt like seeing more sheets action between Kalvin and Steven? Oops! Hahaha! The characters and settings are very well built and Harper explored the point “career versus happiness” like a boss <3

*~.CONS.~*

There were several unrealistic social situations in this book that completely killed the mood for me. While the romance was true and sweet, I can’t believe that a star as big as Kalvin would believe that his childhood boyfriend would come back for him after 12 years without any dark reasons behind the effort. #justsaying

*~.COVER ANALYSIS.~*

I LOVED THIS COVER. I NEED A PAPERBACK OF THIS BOOK IN MY SHELVES. I don’t even know if this is available in paperback, but omg, I need it. Harper’s covers are always well composed when we talk about elements and scenario, but omg those models hit me good and hard. They are exactly how I imagined Kalvin and Steven to be! Also, I love that Harper pratically always uses the rainbow pattern behind the author’s name and the red coloring for the word “leading” was a brilliant choice. What can I say? Everything is just PERFECT.

*~.QUOTES.~*

The dialogues in this book are killers, so spotlight for two times in which Kalvin and Steven were brilliant together:

Kalvin: Does this movie have a name?
Steven: Untitled.
Kalvin: Very mysterious.

Kalvin: How about this – you wear a hat and sunglasses too, and we’ll both look weird and suspicious together.
Steven: They might think we’re trying to rob the place.
Kalvin: Ooh, fun!

*~.RECOMMENDED FOR.~*

Fans of M/M, drama, friends-to-lovers, celebrity life backstage and contemporary romance =)

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story about being yourself. Any time someone is in the public eye being yourself, especially if you're gay, is the hardest thing to do. I enjoyed this book because it got it's point across without a lot of angst and drama. I can't wait for the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous!

This is a very well written story about lesbian love and soulmates. It explores the possibility of forgetting a first love, especially when Reunited by chance. The characters are well developed and the storyline flows from pages. Although this is the second book in the series, they can all be read as stand-alones. Put them on your must read list.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollywood Star Reunites With Childhood Sweetheart

Callie moves to California with her parents leaving the girl next door, Stephanie. After thirteen years, will Stephanie be able to find Callie? Destiny or fate may not be on their side. Career or love is not an easy choice. Recommend. Great story of love and being true to yourself.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet

I read a preview of this I think at the end of Long Haul which I loved and thought I really wanted to read it then I got it while it was free and I'm so happy birthday read it and it was as good as I'd hoped it would be. I loved Steven the small town optomist and sexy Kal. These guys were so cute together and I fell for them instantly.

[Marguerita Howze · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!

I chose this rating because I really enjoyed this book. Kalvin and Steven were great together. The story line could have been a little longer but I really loved the two of them together. Their coming together after so many years was touching. The consequence of being true to oneself was heart wrenching. Highly recommend.

[Edith Dunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalvin is a closeted movie star,steven is his first love who he hasn't seen since he was a young teen. But what happens when he sees Steven again at a business meeting?
This is a well written and will built story with great characters and a hea. Don't miss this sweet love story.