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Hollywood #2

Acting Out

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What happens on the casting couch stays on the casting couch....or does it?

Jeremy Ash, out-and-proud Hollywood hopeful, has all the makings of a mega-star. If only someone would give him a chance to finally shine. One failed audition away from leaving Tinsel Town forever, he’s given an unexpected shot at the buzz project of the year—a gay coming of age story by a famed director.

Kit Harris, former child actor, was once an industry darling. Now 21, he’s lucky if his own mother remembers his name. So, when he’s offered the chance to star opposite newcomer Jeremy in an edgy indie flick that promises to jumpstart his failing career, Kit’s onboard. Theoretically. That is until he meets his too-attractive co-star.

During six months of filming, Kit gives Jeremy a crash course in how to be a Hollywood darling. Jeremy, in return, gives Kit a dose of the normalcy he’s never known. Pursuing a long-term relationship is hardly the way to salvage Kit’s career. But when being with Jeremy feels so right, how long can Kit continue to pretend he’s only acting out?

278 pages, ebook

First published May 7, 2012

46 people are currently reading
676 people want to read

About the author

Tibby Armstrong

43 books235 followers
Tibby Armstrong is an author of Paranormal, Contemporary, and LGBTQ Romance fiction.

Tibby hangs out on social media at https://www.facebook.com/groups/tibby..., dreaming up new plots and teasing readers with snippets from her works in progress.

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5 stars
186 (29%)
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267 (42%)
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130 (20%)
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27 (4%)
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13 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Profile Image for Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus.
1,120 reviews1,058 followers
January 18, 2020
“Let’s just stay here. Like this. Forever.”

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MC 1: Jeremy - upcoming actor, out and proud gay man, new to the Hollywood scene and cast as Greg in the No Apologies movie. I loved him, his personality, and him being so clueless about the Film business made the story more enjoyable. He was always 100 % himself all the time.

MC2: Kit - former child actor and Hollywood royalty, deep in the closet he might as well been in Narnia, cast as Aaron in the No Apologies movie. I was not sure about Kit, he came of as an entitled brat but as the story progresses I grew to love him too. He was just afraid to be himself and always wore a mask.

Just like book 1 this begins at the premiere of No Apologies-Greg and Aaron’s Autobiographical film and our MC’s Kit and Jeremy are the main actors. At the premiere we get to see Kit and Jeremy getting into an argument then we are taken back to where it all began.

I really loved this story it just clicked: or maybe it was because the characters felt so real to me.

- The Chemistry was sizzling.

- The Sex scenes hot! I have read about spit, margarine, gun oil but frosting as lube! Well that was new.

- The writing was different but so enjoyable.It was a story within a story. I enjoyed the way Kit and Jeremy’s relationship grew on and off set.

- Loved seeing grumpy Greg and ever patient Aaron.

Jeremy probed him with his tongue. Kit gripped the carved rungs of the headboard and let the wooden edges bite into his clenching palms when Jeremy pushed inward, entering him. Moist breath and wet muscle plunged past tight membranes, stroking them to tortured awareness. Every nerve in Kit’s ass seemed connected to his cock, and with each stroke, he grew impossibly, unimaginably harder.

I will just leave this here, because for some unknown reason i kept picturing Tom and Dustin while reading this.

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Me is Obsessed:

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Awww!

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Yaap! totally Obsessed

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I had a blast reading this. Just going to give it 5 stars for keeping me entertained.
Profile Image for Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications.
1,038 reviews153 followers
January 17, 2020
I really liked this! I listened to it on Audible Escape and was so surprised at how good it is. It's "old school" MM Romance for those of you who have been reading it for years. Lots of sex and maybe some plot devices that aren't used as much anymore. But cohesively everything fit. I'm going to give it 5 stars. :-)
Profile Image for R.B..
83 reviews7 followers
June 4, 2013
I liked the idea of both books - the confession of love told through the big screen and budding romance between two young actors who personify main characters, enemies-to-lovers, in this movie...

Even though the blurb says that this book can be read as a standalone, I suggest reading books in order and at once. The plot of both books intertwined with each other.

I'm glad that Greg and Aaron have a place in this book because we learnt what happened before that one night, when their relationship could have changed fundamentally. And the same goes for Jeremy and Kit, this one night was also significant in their relationship. Jeremy is an amazing character with troubled past, struggling with his life alone, waiting tables and participating in auditions in desire to become an actor. Kit, hard-bitten former child star is hiding behind his fake Hollywood star personality... he was such a douche bag most of times that I wanted to smack him. Sex was an important part of the story… and it was scorching hot.

Both books are very readable; I enjoyed every bit of them … and I'll never look at icing with the same eyes *lol*
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,993 reviews435 followers
August 30, 2020
4.5 really because I loved this one but it's loosing a half star for typesetting issues in my Kindle copy.

But the book itself is fabulous, here we get the behind the scenes of what was happening with the two actors filming Greg and Aaron's story from book one.

Jeremy and Kit are a study in contrasts, one just making his way in his acting career and openly gay, the other a star since he was a teenager, unaware that he's gay but knowing he's never been satisfied or happy with a woman.
He's afraid to step out of the closet but he's not afraid to love Jeremy when he falls for him on set.

Throw in a horrible fake girlfriend and some blackmail and scandal and lots of demons to be overcome alongside some sensual, hot and seriously smexy encounters both on and off set and this one is a steamy mess of MM goodness.

Can't wait to see where both couples go next. As a P.S. though, I don't think they let other people onto the stage at the Oscars ; )
864 reviews229 followers
July 20, 2014

3.5 stars

Yay! I was hoping, after reading book 1 of this series, that the author would kick it all up a notch and she certainly did! Book 2, Acting Out, took the things I liked best about the first book and built on those. The end product: a really enjoyable read!

Acting Out focuses on the 2 actors that played the main characters of book 1, the movie version (sounds confusing, but trust me, it makes perfect sense when you're reading it). Jeremy is a new-to-Hollywood, fresh-faced gay actor who lands the part of a lifetime playing the role of Greg (the screenwriter from book 1). Kit, the seasoned child-to-adult actor, needing a hit to give his career new life, plays the Aaron character.

Jeremy and Kit have some sizzling chemistry and I really enjoyed the scenes both with their clothes on and off! The conflicts of 1)Jeremy being new to Hollywood, 2)Kit being new to male-on-male action, and 3)the limelight of being in a movie played themselves out nicely in this story. There was just enough angst, mixed with a healthy dose of smut, intertwined with strong emotional pull.

And though it was great seeing and getting to know Greg better (though Aaron was kind of a afterthought in this book and I would've loved to see more of him as well), the book could work as a standalone since it focuses on a new couple (honestly, though, I think you'd enjoy and 'get' it more if you read book 1 first).

I will say I had a few consistency issues that I wished a beta reader or editor would have caught. All of which were big enough and obvious enough that they were distracting.

But all in all, enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to continuing on to book 3.

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Profile Image for Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~.
2,232 reviews260 followers
September 23, 2014
I enjoyed this one a bit more than No Apologies. Focusing on Kit and Jeremy, the actors in the film from the first book, it also gave a bit more of Greg and Aaron. Jeremy is new to Hollywood and his big break is when Greg casts him in his new film opposite Kit, a former child star well known in the Hollywood scene. Jeremy is gay and out and Kit is straight, but they will be playing a gay couple on-screen. Kit takes Jeremy under his wing and Kit's growing attraction and feelings for Jeremy really turns his life upside down, especially when outsiders try to use that relationship to blackmail Kit. The two have good chemistry and not everything goes smoothly as Kit struggles with his feelings for Jeremy and the potential damage it could do to his career.

While the book does follow a new couple and could be a stand alone, Greg and the filming of the move play a large part and it does fill in some blanks from the story begun in the first book, so you would definitely have a better feel for things if you had read the first.
Profile Image for Kaje Harper.
Author 91 books2,727 followers
March 29, 2016
4.5 stars. This companion book to No Apologies tells the parallel story of the two young actors who play the characters from the first book in the movies about their lives. I actually enjoyed the relationship between Kit and Jeremy even more than the original between Greg and Aaron (and there where moments with the older Greg and Aaron that helped me gain a better picture of who they had become.)

Jeremy is a sweet guy, more naive than most, and completely on his own after leaving home. Kit is the hot actor who has experience with paparazzi and shooting schedules and fame, but not guys. They both have a lot to learn from each other, if they can avoid wrecking each other in the process. I enjoyed this a lot, and look forward to a sequel to this one too.
Profile Image for Shannon.
2,163 reviews46 followers
July 12, 2012
Well Goddamned!! That was an amazing book. After a disappointing read earlier, I really needed this hot, sexy book. A little bit of angst, but not enough to make me sob. Kit and Jeremy were such a great couple, I feel like I got sucked right into their sometimes screwed up, sometimes wonderful life. I like this one better than the first one probably because not only did we meet these guys, but the couple from the first book was in here also. A perfect combo. I know it's a winner when I stay up so late I know tomorrow's gonna suck from lack of sleep. Excuse any typos, my eyes are half closed. In close, Loved It!!
Profile Image for Paige Prince.
Author 11 books58 followers
April 19, 2012
I know it's not out yet, but I was lucky enough to beta read for Tibby so I feel okay giving a rating.

I was first introduced to Tibby Armstrong's writing when I read No Apologies for The Romance Reviews a while back. Ever since then, I've been utterly HOOKED on her writing and (literally) jumped at the chance to read Acting Out. Another glimpse at Greg and Aaron? Meeting a new couple who'd light my iPad on fire? SIGN ME UP.

Jeremy and Kit captured my attention from page one. They have intense chemistry, despite Kit's initial reservations about being with another man. I will have to admit wanting to slap him several times throughout the book (you should seem my emails to Tibby - I might've made her snort a few times with my graphic language when I got mad at him). I know that it was obvious to ME that Kit had very real feelings for Jeremy, but he was so deeply in the closet that even HE didn't know what was real and what wasn't. And even though he treated Jeremy with the utmost care at certain times, there were others when he let his mouth get away with him and I REALLY wanted to slap his face. Or kiss it. Maybe both.

Jeremy plays Greg's character in the movie, and watching some of the things that Greg went through as a young man through Jeremy and Kit's eyes nearly tore me in two. One particular scene had me reaching for the tissue... an entire box of it. And wanting to punch Greg in his beautiful face (I can say that, since I'm Greg and Aaron's girlfriend - you can even ask them on Twitter - @AaronEBlake & @GregoryFalkner). You'll have to read the book to understand why I'd want to punch my fictional boyfriend in the face. Luckily, we're back on speaking terms.

I loved revisiting Greg and Aaron, and it killed me to see them going through tough times again (even knowing it turned out okay in the end - read No Apologies if you're confused). I wanted to yell out "Don't be mad Aaron! He loves you! I swear!" but then PK would've woken up and been all grumbly. And of course, the entire freaking book, I was TERRIFIED on the freaking EDGE OF MY SEAT, thinking that one of my favorite characters was really badly hurt. That stupid (ok, ridiculously hot, but so dangerous) motorcycle!!

I love that Tibby writes in such a way that I care about what happens to the characters. I almost feel like a dork for caring so much. But I'm a self-professed book nerd so I guess that's okay, right? ;)

Rating: 5/5 meows
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,344 reviews203 followers
February 16, 2019
Acting Out is the second book of the Hollywood series. I don't know what it is but Tibby just does an excellent job with these characters and their stories. In this book, you will meet Jeremy and Kit. However, for some really odd reason I kept hearing "Kid" on my audio.. so I also thought i was Jeremy and Kid - which makes me laugh so much right now.

Now these two, I instantly fell in love. Jeremy is an upcoming actor and proudly shows his flag. He's new to Hollywood, but it does help that he plays Greg in the No Apologies film - aka it was mentioned in the first book. I loved him so much because he was just himself throughout the book. He didn't change one bit and it's probably why I enjoyed it so much.

Then there's the guy who played Aaron, aka Kit - or Kid in my ears. He's hollywood royalty and hasn't come out gay. Well, it's abut to go down now because these two had some wicked ass chemistry. It was clear to basically everyone around them that they had feelings for one another. So when they took it to the next level, aka smut town, I fell in love.

Again, I have no idea what it is but I think I fell in love with Tibby. These stories have kept me engaged from the beginning and I'm devouring these books. I've already finished the third one.. and I can't wait to dive into the fourth one.
Profile Image for Nic.
Author 44 books367 followers
June 9, 2013
This is the second book in the Hollywood series and was just as good, if not better, than the first. One of those books I couldn't put down.

The story is really well written, with great characters and engaging plot.

The first book No Apologies told the story of Greg and Aaron. Greg and Aaron had been together for many years but Greg had not come out. He and Aaron were on the verge of breaking up. Greg wrote and produced a movie based on their life and during the premiere declared his love for Aaron.

No Apologies starting scene was at the movie premiere then travelled back in time to tell the story of how Greg and Aaron's relationship. It then concluded back at the premiere. Cleverly, this book does the same thing.

The story starts with Jeremy and Kit arriving at the movie premiere. They are the stars of Greg's movie No Apologies. Kit rejects rejects Jeremy on the red carpet and breaks his heart. The story then travels back to the their first meeting and takes us on the journey of the making of the movie, before concluding back at the movies premiere. I loved the way the same beginning scene was repeated. Initially we saw the rejection from Jeremy's point of view but at the end of the book we see it from Kit's point of view - really well done.

Jeremy is gay and new at the acting game, Kit is an experienced actor who thinks he is straight. As they are playing the gay characters of Greg and Aaron, they have to kiss and this first kiss ignites a passionate affair.

The story focuses on both men as they deal with issues. Jeremy needs to act in some traumatic scenes about abuse which strongly echoes his own past. Kit is struggling with coming to terms with his feelings for Jeremy, acknowledging his physical reaction but denying anything else. He is worried about the impact on his career if their secret is discovered.

I loved the relationship between the two men. The protectiveness that Kit feels towards Jeremy - his actions show what his heart is feeling, even if he can't acknowledge it himself. And Jeremy's worry about Kit self-destructing and wanting him to be true to his heart and really live his life. The sex between the two men was also well done, some hard and passionate encounters and others beautifully emotional.

I actually didn't read the blurb of this book before starting - as I loved the first book so definitely wanted to read this one - and I am glad I didn't. I read the blurb before writing this review and think the last paragraph is quite a spoiler to the story. I liked the fact that I didn't know what was driving Kit's behaviour towards Jeremy and why he was pushing him away.

A great book and I am looking forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Mtak91.
116 reviews12 followers
May 16, 2014
a solid 4 stars

Reading the blurb, I was very intrigued and excited to start this one. Sounded like it would be great. However when I started reading, I got worried that since the likeness of Jeremy and Kit to Greg and Aaron was so striking, they would get lost in the plot of the previous book. And for the first few chapters that's what it seemed like would happen. Honestly, I started to become annoyed that this book seemed to be just another No Apologies, they were that similar. However, as the story progressed and more information about both MCs was presented, the author started to fade the emphasis on the resemblance and focus on the MCs' uniqueness. Looking back, it was a nice touch, very creative on the author's side, because it helped highlight the difference in both sets of MCs.

Kit is a child star who's fame was starting to fizzle meanwhile Jeremy was a poor aspiring actor. They meet on the day of auditions for Greg's movie and do not hit it off at first. This another refreshing aspect of the book, it wasn't insta-love or anything. I really liked Jeremy, he was this shy, sweet guy with low-esteem due to a history of abuse. To me, he was very easy to relate to and sympathize with. Kit, however, annoyed the shit out of me. He was shallow, arrogant, slightly condescending and very annoying. At this point, I kept reading just because I liked Jeremy, the plot and the author's writing style. But I did not root for Jeremy and Kit.

As the story progressed, I slowly started to like Kit while loving Jeremy more and more. I really enjoyed seeing Greg and Aaron again, reading their story from an outsider's perspective. In some cases, it emphasized all what they had to go through to be together. I loved their story even more. I hesitate to say this, but I think I enjoyed their story in this book more than their own. By the end of the book, I was feeling every emotion under the sun (again) and totally cheerleading Jeremy and Kit.

I have to say, I don't usually enjoy long flashbacks because they tend to confuse, but in this one it was very well written. No confusion there =D

The author's succinct, minimal and un-dramatic writing style, for me, made me feel the MCs' pain, especially Jeremy, even more. It wasn't fussy, messy and whiney, it perfectly delivered the sentiment the author was going for in the least amount of words possible, which ended up delivering a more powerful punch.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast, interesting and sweet read. This series is definitely getting better by the book because I enjoyed this one more than I did the previous one. Hopefully the next ones will be even better. Again, kudos Tibby Armstrong. Definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Julesmarie.
2,504 reviews88 followers
June 11, 2012
FANTASTIC! This was so much fun to read!

The blurb and the intro had me all primed to be hating Kit for being a dick, but he turned out to be my favorite character in the book. Possibly in both books. I did love that we got to see more of Greg and Aaron, and learn more about their relationship between where the movie left it in book 1 and where they were the night of the premiere. I appreciated how well Jeremy understood Greg, as it helped me understand him better also.

My favorite things: Kit, and how open and honest he tries to be as he's figuring stuff out. Jeremy, and his sweetness and innocence in spite of how hard life has been on him. And the two of them together, WOW! Amazing stuff there!

An amazing book, fantastically well done. This is for sure one I'll reread over and over again!
Profile Image for Yvonne.
742 reviews41 followers
May 31, 2012
I enjoyed this sequel to No Apologies even more than the original. Screenwriter Greg Falkner & his partner Aaron were the stars of the first book. This story focuses on the two actors, Jeremy Ash, a young unknown & Kit Harris, a former child star who are the cast for Greg's movie.

Jeremy and Kit share an instant chemistry onscreen & off. Jeremy is gay & Kit is portrayed as straight. Yet the two of them get into a physical relationship fairly quickly. Their relationship becomes complicated by the fact that Kit is in denial that he's gay & anxious to keep a public image that will not ruin his acting career. Jeremy comes from a poorer background & has had to fight his way out from an abusive family & is unwilling to hide his sexuality. Jeremy is also more naive about the ways of Hollywood than Kit.

The differences between Jeremy & Kit makes for some volatile times between the two. Kit was a little harder to like at times & quite annoying in some spots. The sex scenes were often more aggressive than tender. I'd probably have preferred more of a balance.

There was an evil woman in the storyline that I felt didn't get enough of a comeuppance. There needed to have been some fallout for her practically criminal behavior. The fact there wasn't tarnished the ending a bit.

We also didn't get an explanation for Kit's stubbornness until the end & I think Jeremy ended up shouldering most of the guilt with Kit never really acknowledging how his closeted behavior hurt Jeremy as well. For me, a little more conversation & not more sex would have made this a more satisfying resolution.

I was totally enjoying the book & didn't have any real quibbles except for those things already mentioned which unfortunately happened near the end of the book. I'd recommend this story for those who're following the series as we do get to see some of Greg & a little of Aaron . The author does a nice job of weaving them into this story & it helps to round out their characters more. It can also be read as a stand alone book.

Profile Image for Lady*M.
1,069 reviews107 followers
May 18, 2012
Lovely sequel to No Apologies. The protagonists are two young actors - one famous (Kit), the other beginner (Jeremy) - who play Greg and Aaron from the first book in the movie.

I loved seeing Greg and Aaron again. Greg in particularly was awesome in all his bastard glory. It was interesting to watch Greg interact with the boys, especially his animosity towards Kit who seemed to mirror his own mistakes with Aaron. The chemistry between Kit and Jeremy was great though not as scorching as between two older men. Yes, Kit's denial was frustrating, but I loved that the author also gave us his reasons, which were actually very good. I loved that Jeremy wasn't portrayed as completely naive, even as innocent as he was and new to Hollywood games, which was true to this time and his age. I would have liked to know more about his and Kit's background (Jeremy's abuse, Kit's family), but, still, what was in the story was sufficient to make them sympathetic.

I've seen at author's site that we can look forward to another Greg/Aaron story this year. I hope the boys will make a guest appearance. ^^
Profile Image for Karen.
1,860 reviews91 followers
March 1, 2018
So I basically marathoned this series on audible courtesy of their romance package and I'm feeling pretty much reviewed out so I'm going to do one review for the series and you'll find it with the last book in the series if you're curious and if not...well that's cool too. Have a good one and carry on.
Profile Image for Mandapanda.
843 reviews296 followers
January 8, 2013
I don't usually choose books with actors as the love interest but I'm glad I picked this up. The attraction between the two guys and the physical scenes were great. The storyline felt natural and the ending wasn't too over the top.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
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🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/27/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Thomaidha Papa.
706 reviews39 followers
May 30, 2012
Breathtaking so far.

Right so I finished it and here it is:


I found this book great and very captivating. It starts with its near end and makes you want to scream out of agony for the entire duration with Kit and Jeremy having a break up fight followed by Kit’s bike accident on the very first chapter.

Greg and Aaron from the first book “No Apologies” are continuing with their relationship which is as stormy as ever. Greg writes their story and is casting for the actors. He has already found his “Aaron” on the face of Kit Harris, a very attractive, straight and already accomplished actor. Kit has been a child star looking for a new turn to highlight his career and “No Apologies” is just perfect for that. He is the typical Hollywood actor, all charm and confidence, wearing a very James Dean personality. He is what every new actor’s dream.

Jeremy Ash has been looking for a serious role for a long time. New to the ways of Hollywood he goes from casting to casting trying to make it through. He’s tired of being rejected and constantly fighting for next month’s rent or money for his next meal even. When he gets pick in Greg Falkner’s co-leading from the hundreds of other actors waiting in line he gets no high expectations that he’ll actually going to get the part. Not even when he meets Falkner himself and it’s like seeing through a mirror and some years ahead in the future. Falkner is captivated by Jeremy’s resemblance to him and the way Jeremy seems to get into the part.

During the casting Kit and Jeremy have a very strong chemistry together and when they kiss, it turns from a part of their role to a very substantial one that leaves Kit confused about its meaning. During their months on the set the two men get into a very intense yet complicated relationship with Kit trying to find his identity as in what he actually is and Jeremy trying to find a place in his heart. Although their chemistry is acknowledged by everyone Kit’s denial keep getting in the way. Along with his abusive past, Kit’s non-commitment is tearing Jeremy’s heart apart.

It is very frustrating and at some point I am compelled to have some strongly negative feelings for Kit's character. Wanting Jeremy yet not going forward to claim him, it got me really charged at some point. It wasn’t until the near end of the book that I got to actually see and feel the position Kit was into. Blinded and confused by the force of his emotions he gets pushed and pulled into a painful game played by his “girlfriend”.
Ms. Armstrong, congratulations, you made me for the first time to want to punch a fictional character. I didn’t get satisfied at all by her “ending”.
And the end comes the same way it began. After their final fight Kit gets on his bike to go and find Jeremy and finally explain to him how much he loves him and why did he had to be so cruel for the past 4 months. The bike slides and the world goes black with the last thoughts of love on Kit’s mind….

Highly recommended “Acting Out” is a very well written story, full of emotions, suspense, hotness, humor and a view on those hard parts of life that we all have at some point experienced this book lacks nothing. Enjoy!

/Thommie
Profile Image for Andrea.
979 reviews10 followers
October 23, 2012
When I originally read the blurb, I thought the movie story line running concurrently with the reality of the stars would be confusing. To be completely honest, this is the type of book I usually sneer at because there is *obviously* no substance here. Anyway, I set my prejudice aside and dove into the series. I discovered something completely unexpected, books I really liked. I have found another guilty pleasure in this series.

Kit is everything I hate when I think of an actor in Hollywood. He’s condescending, shallow, concerned only with his image, and has a huge chip on his shoulder. He is also a closet case. He absolutely refuses to admit he might possibly be gay even though sex with another man is the best he has ever had and he can’t get enough. It irritated me and it irritated Jeremy, Kit’s lover. Kit’s denial hurts Jeremy, but he puts up with it and ends up falling in love with Kit. It’s exactly this type of situation that drives me crazy. The angst and drama was right at my threshold for enjoyment. If you’ve read But My Boyfriend Is by KA Mitchell, you’ll have a good idea what I’m talking about because both books have a similar feel. Another complaint I have is the amount of sex. I enjoy a hot sex scene but I don’t need or want this much. Another problem for me was the blackmail drama at the end. It didn’t make sense and I thought Kit was a moron for going along with it.

So, what did I like about the book? I liked that Jeremy wasn’t what he appeared to be at first glance. Underneath the talent and beautiful face was a man barely holding it together. I loved that Kit changed as he got to know Jeremy and understood everything Jeremy had overcome to get to this point. Kit grew over the course of the book and ended up being a good guy. Jeremy grew too, he discovered a sense of self-worth and gained some confidence. I connected with them both and was invested in their well being.

I also appreciated how much this book built on the first one, No Apologies. The time frame of this book overlaps a lot of the first one. That was great because even though the two books tell different stories, they build off one another very well. This book added a lot of small details which were important to the romance in the first book. It added important information about the adult relationship of the couple from the first book, Greg and Aaron. I can’t help but be impressed with how well thought out this series is.

I wouldn’t suggest trying to read this series out of order. The books build on each other as they go. I don’t think you would be able to fully appreciate or understand the importance of certain scenes if you haven’t read the previous book. I have a fondness for well-written books in a series so this really appeals to me. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy books in a series and are looking for an enjoyable read with an angsty romance.
Profile Image for Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog.
332 reviews136 followers
September 1, 2013
~ ~ ~

4 very solid Stars!

I’ve been living inside Tibby Armstrong’s Hollywood-land lately. I’ve stopped and taken a few breaks, but I haven’t really left. These books are very absorbing. If you like to know your characters inside and out, this series is for you. Personally, I fell for Jeremy and Ash, completely.

THE STORY

In book 2 we meet Kit and Jeremy, two young actors who portray Aaron and Greg (from book 1 – No Apologies) in Greg Falkner’s film.

It’s an interesting, interwoven bit of storytelling that sheds light on previously unanswered questions; at the same time exploring a budding, coming out relationship under the Hollywood spotlight.

THE CHARACTERS

"Aaron's appeal is in how unaware he is of his beauty. How...willing he is to be selfless in everything he does."


It takes a minute to place Kit and Jeremy. You want to understand their place in the story and the film individually, however, as Greg’s doppelganger and total newcomer to Hollywood, Jeremy struggles to know his place too.

Watching Kit play the part of 'Kit' struck Jeremy as surreal. The Kit walking next to him had a resonant laugh deeper and more full-bodied than the blue-label whiskey he seemed so fond of, a toe-curling smile, and the ability to shatter Jeremy's internal universe with one well-placed kiss.


Switching to Kit’s perspective it’s easy to see all the behind-the-scenes politics surrounding stardom. It’s also easy to see how and why he feels so deeply for Jeremy.

THE WRITING

Ms. Armstrong’s writing skills are much improved in this book. This is an author that works to bring her words richness and flavor. As I said above, I’ve been living inside this world and it’s because of the writing and the character development. I love watching an author just get, even better.

Lifting his head, he took in the sublime wreckage of Jeremy's expression and grinned. Yeah, he'd done it right.


The struggles are unique, the solutions realistic and the love scenes are beautiful and sexy. I think any m/m romance reader will find this a rich and fulfilling addition to the Hollywood series.

HFN ending.

~ ~ ~

I would like to thank Tibby Armstrong for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

~ ~ ~

Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:

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http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com

Profile Image for Jax.
1,110 reviews36 followers
January 10, 2014
Oh my, so much bothered me: one MC that’s a complete jerk and the other who is somehow inexplicably attracted to him & therefore lost my respect; an OTT bitch of a female character; people behaving in improbable ways, doing & saying things that just didn’t feel real or like any people I know or want to know; and a rushed ending that didn’t really give us much happy-good-times to counteract being dragged through the muck of building this relationship.

I didn’t find this romantic in any way. The couple is downright nasty to each other most of the time, trading verbal digs or failing to communicate so that hurt feelings festered. They’re even into rough sex because they have this whole struggle for dominance and control going on. Near the end of the book a very minor character tells one of the guys it was obvious to everyone that the men loved each other. WTF? When did they see any signs of it? She said it was how they looked at each other. Glad to know they occasionally exchanged something that wasn’t hostile.

I would normally be sympathetic to someone coming to terms with his sexuality – particularly a celebrity in the spotlight – but Kit was just too unlikeable all the way through the book. I never understood what Jeremy saw in him, and I was alternately angry with Jeremy for putting up with this guy, but also for making demands that were unfair given the stage Kit was at in his self-acceptance.

I’m going on to book 4 (the other one in the series that deals with this couple) because I bought them both at the same time during the holiday sales. If I don’t read it now, I’d probably never go back to it. But if it’s more of the same, I don’t know if I’ll stick it out this time.
Profile Image for Plainbrownwrapper.
946 reviews73 followers
January 20, 2013
This is an unabashedly romantic romance. It makes no bones about its focus, its romantic sentiment, or its general style. I like Armstrong's writing, so I had no objection to any of it. If it was badly written I might have complained about things like the sudden appearance of Jeremy's abuser, or the cliche of the vengeful girlfriend, or the suspiciously artificial coincidence of Jeremy getting evicted just when Kit happens to be driving him home -- but Armstrong's writing chops, and possibly my general mood today, let me skim over those weak points without taking any major exception to them.

I personally don't think this was as good a book as its predecessor, No Apologies, because this one didn't feel "significant" to me while in some ways the other one did. However, I'm gonna need to reread the first book in order to make a better comparison. Rather than try to get into a detailed analysis I'll just say that on an emotional level I enjoyed the book. We'll leave it at that for now.
Profile Image for Fani *loves angst*.
1,837 reviews222 followers
November 12, 2018
5 stars

I never expected to be so moved by this book, and the blurb did nothing to prepare me for this, but I think I enjoyed it even more because it took me by surprise. It was a very, very emotional and angsty read, as Kit's reluctance to admit that he was gay, even to himself, created major strifes between the two heroes all the time. Besides, the reveal about Jeremy's past completely blindsinded me and made my heart ache even more for him; He was one amazing hero and I wanted nothing else than to see him happy.

I loved, LOVED those two so much, I'm not sure I can stand reading Outtakes, where they're less than perfectly happy together :( I don't think my heart can stand the heartache right now.
Profile Image for Kukko.
554 reviews20 followers
January 16, 2013
This was so much fun to read.

Kit is a jaded A-lister and Jeremy is a broke (think homeless) wannabe actor. Kit has been in Hollywood so long he has forgotten how to relate to people. Jeremy on the other hand, despite all that he has been through, is open and accepting of others. Jeremy gets the lead part in a movie opposite Kit.

This is Book 2 of the Hollywood series. I suggest reading the books in order because I think that I missed some of the context in this book - not having read the first book in the series. In particular, I did not understand Aaron and Greg's relationship.

There were so many things I enjoyed in this book….but what I enjoyed most was Kit insisting he was not gay and then asking Jeremy to "fix it" …again and again….
Profile Image for Tamela.
1,828 reviews27 followers
August 22, 2015
Loved these guys!! Almost as much as Aaron and Greg. What surprised me was that all through the book I liked Jeremy more than Kit, who came off as a bit selfish. Until the end when he lets Jeremy know that he doesn't want to be pushed and why. Then it all clicked and suddenly he's easier to understand and like.

Recommended!!
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1st read - Dec 7, 2012
2nd read - Aug 20, 2015
Profile Image for Silkeeeeeereads.
1,449 reviews95 followers
January 24, 2014
What a rare read.  This book has it all. It's a smart plot filled with an abused actor getting his first part, a straight actor playing gay part, blackmail, in the closet, out of the closet and reward.  Oh, and hot sex.  The writing is exceptional and the main characters broken, intense - the kind of men most of us always fall for. Very enjoyable and highly recommended! 
Profile Image for Page Crusherz.
1,264 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2012
4.5

I liked this one so much...and it was GREAT to read so closely to No Apologies. They fit together very well! Great chemistry and more complexities. I loved seeing Greg and Allan again.
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