Judy Corry is the USA Today Bestselling Author of YA and Contemporary Romance. She writes romance because she can't get enough of the feeling of falling in love. She's known for writing heart-pounding kisses, endearing characters, and hard-won happily ever afters.
She lives in Southern Utah with the boy who took her to Prom, their four amazing kids, and two dogs. She's addicted to love stories, chai latte's and dark chocolate.
She is represented by Lane Heymont at The Tobias Agency.
Have you ever assumed something and then looked back, after realizing the truth, and felt like you've wasted your life away? I think everyone has regrets in life, but Ivy's grudge hurt my soul. And Justin's heart. Because things aren't always as they seem to be.
Ivy and big-time actor, Justin, have a past and when he shows up again years later, Ivy realizes that everything she's thought about him over the years might be wrong. Time and maturity has a way allowing a person to forgive and give a second chance. This story was a fun escape and it's always fun to see a Hollywood hunk as an every day, normal man.
Everyone has a past to overcome and hard challenges to deal with, but I loved how this book handled them in a great way, without bringing the mood down. I completely fell for Justin's charm, as well as the charm of this lovely small town.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Is it really a surprise that I loved it. ;) Justin and Ivy were a lot of fun to hang out with these past few months as I wrote their story. I love how flawed Ivy is and how Justin is just awesome and understanding and exactly what she needs. And yes, I totally cracked myself up as I wrote certain scenes since I think I'm hilarious. ;) I hope you love it too!
This was a cute and sweet contemporary romance. I’m giving it 3.5 stars, but rounding it up to 4 since it really was a well written story, but with the craziness of the holidays I just wasn’t able to really get into it. It didn’t grab my attention like other books by this author have done in the past. It was still a good story, with a spunky yet vulnerable protagonist who learns her high school crush never quite went away.
As single as a penguin in Arizona during mating season’
-‘What if I’d grown addicted to the feeling of hating him because it was comfortable and gave me a place to channel all the rejection I’d had during my childhood?’-
Ivy has known rejection and loss all of her life. Until Hazel took her in, she had no one in the world who cared about her. And when Justin asked her to the prom and stood her up in high school, she knew she would never forgive him for being yet another person to walk out on her. When Justin, now a famous Hollywood actor, shows up at the inn where she works and lives “for family business” she feels completely blindsided. Meddling Hazel doesn’t make things any more comfortable for her by making reference to her non-dating status.
This story is fast-moving and well developed. It’s characters are endearing and it's so much fun to read. I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. It’s a clean romance and I can’t wait to read the next book about her best friend, Emerson. Although this book is part of a series and mentions other characters, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend it.
This was a pretty quick read. I read it all in a day. This book definitely made me both smile and cringe in the best ways. There was one particular scene where I felt so awkward for Ivy that I just had to stop for a minute and shudder/cringe out of sheer embarrassment for her. So if a book can make me do that that that's a pretty good sign it's a fun read haha. There is some mention of mental illness and sexual abuse. And though it was pretty lightly touched on, I thought it was tastefully done--not demeaning people with mental illness or insecurities or victim-blaming for abuse. Another thing I appreciated was that though Justin was a super star, it actually wasn't as big of a plot point as it usually seems with characters like this. He was away from that life for the bulk of the book, so he seemed more normal and I liked that (but maybe that's just me?). Anyway, overall this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes clean romance novels about enemies (sort of... It was one-sided) to lovers and healing from past traumas/pain in life.
I love Corry's YA romances, and I enjoyed The Billionaire Bachelor, the first book in her clean adult A Second Chance for the Rich and Famous series, so when Hollywood and Ivy released, I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, I didn't love it. It was fine—still clean, and it featured appearances by characters from The Billionaire Bachelor, but I didn't love Ivy, and the conflict was something that Ivy and Justin should've resolved eight years ago. I enjoyed the time spent reading the book, and I did laugh out loud a few times, but it's certainly not one of my favorite of Corry's books. That said, I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, which will be about Ivy's best friend.
Well, that was alright I guess *shrug* So the story is about Ivy who works at an Inn with her boss Hazel, but she discovers that her high school crush (who is a major actor in Hollywood) is coming to stay at her Inn, she hates him but she really doesn't .. how will turn out ? I don't know why I wasn't that affected with the story but it was OK .. I am really afraid to read the next one since about a married couple and there is cheating ?? .. let's see
This is a outstanding and sweet romance with adorable and heartwarming moments as these endearing characters work their way into your heart as they find their own happily ever after.
I've read over 400 books this year and this is my top book! I laughed so hard that I had tears and then I cried at another part of the book you don't want to miss this one.
Justin had asked Ivy to the senior prom but on the night of the prom he stood her up and never explained why. Just had gone one to become an A-list actor in Hollywood and Ivy couldn't stand him but secretly watched all his movies and kept track of the tabloid gossip about him.
Ivy had been raised in foster homes from the time she was 10 until she aged out at 18. Her elderly friend, Hazel, had helped save her and she had come back to Colorado to help Hazel run the B&B that Hazel owned. Hazel was relentless in trying to be Ivy's matchmaker but no first dates ever turned into second dates so Ivy had almost given up. She wanted love but no one had ever measured up. She had trust issues because of her history.
Justin was back in town and staying at the B&B and he was hoping to help Ivy see he wasn't the horrible person she believed him to be. There was a very good reason he hadn't made it to prom but the secret was his and he wasn't sure he could share it with her to help her understand. Would the secret destroy what could be a match made in heaven (Hollywood)?
This was a sweet second chance story about two people who were both good people but circumstances had tainted what they could have had. It was a quick read. I was able to finish the book in one day and it had plenty of good feels.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
If you had been stood up for Prom by a now famous Hollywood Star, how would you feel if he showed up at your home/place of work unexpectedly? Well that is what Ivy has to deal with and all because her boss/adopted family has blindsided her with the Hunk of a Hollywood. This story is one that will make you smile and roll your eyes. Not wanting to give any spoilers, this is a book that is very much in the Holiday spirit with a theme of forgiveness. I think that this story is one that a lot of us could dream of, maybe not exactly a Hollywood Hunk but we all tend to have a High School love that was either unrequited or ended in a way that was less than desired. A second chance romance that can warm your heart. This story is one that is pretty sex free with a few kissing scenes here and there I would rate this at a Jalapeno for the little bit of burn that you get from the kissing and teasing. There are a couple of scenes that might get your blood warming, but overall this is a sweet romance. I would rate this story at a 4 out of 5, I liked enough that I wanted to read more in the series. I still have to read the first book in the series but watch for the review on the third book in the series, Her Football Star EX.
I recommend this book to those who are into second chance romances, holiday romances and the billionare tropes.
I hope this helps you find your next Tantalizing Tome!
This is a clean romance with all the fun trappings of Christmas. I love small town settings as this one is. I struggled at first to like Ivy, because she starts out very self-centred, but later on she also admits to it and that helps with her character growth. I also felt that Justin behaved cowardly by not standing up for Ivy in high school after the prom debacle. He could have at least said something to her before leaving for California, but instead he left her in the dark, but I guess he was dealing with his own pain at the time. Ivy has to learn to forgive and Justin has to learn to open up and let people in who matter. There are some embarrassing moments and a couple of funny scenes too.
The main theme about forgiveness was well handled. Also, there are some sad things that Ivy and Justin have had to deal with in life; the kind of things that remind us to be more sympathetic toward people and less judgemental. This story also reminds us that we all have value and self-worth and that our past does not dictate our future.
I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Là một cô gái mập mạp mũm mĩm thời trung học, Ivy luôn bị các bạn cùng lứa nói ra nói vào về ngoại hình của mình. Cũng may cô có Justin làm bạn, cậu ta không để ý ngoại hình của cô, tình cảm nảy nở từ tình bạn của hai người dễ thương và ấm ấp tựa như một dòng ánh dương mang năng lượng chữa lành. Justin ngỏ lời mời Ivy làm bạn nhảy của mình đêm vũ hội. Ivy đã rất vui mừng, cô tưởng tượng ra cảnh sẽ có tình cảm thời học đường như thế nào. Thế nhưng đêm đó Justin không đến. Hôm sau gặp lại cũng không cho cô lời giải thích. Dù sao thì cậu ta cũng như các bạn con trai khác, chắc hẳn cậu ấy tham gia trò cá cược của bọn con trai. Ivy đã nghĩ như vậy. Vài năm sau gặp lại, Justin giờ đây đã là quý ông màn ảnh bạc nổi tiếng. Còn Ivy cũng đã nỗ lực giảm cân, nuôi mái tóc dài. Tuy vậy nhưng bên trong mỗi người, Justin vẫn là cậu trai ấm áp năm ấy, Ivy vẫn là cô gái mơ ước mà cậu cất giấu trong lòng. Nguyên do của việc cậu vắng mặt đêm vũ hội mà không có một lời giải thích sau đó dần dần được hé lộ. Justin của thời trung học đã từng bỏ lỡ Ivy một lần, cậu sẽ không bỏ lỡ cô một lần nữa.
I’ve never really been a huge fan of books with movie stars in them. Justin is a movie star but we get to see more of his personal life than him in the limelight, which I appreciate. Ivy’s character was a difficult one for me to love. Ivy had held a grudge towards Justin since high school. By her doing that it made this book read younger than it actually was. They are both adults in the book and to me it didn’t feel that way. Ivy helps Hazel run the Inn and I absolutely LOVED Hazel. I’m such a sucker for elderly characters in my books. Give me a dog or an old person and I’m a happy camper. As for Ivy & Justin’s chemistry… there wasn’t any 🙈 Until about 85% in and then we start to see it. To me that WAY too long to not feel any chemistry. This was just an okay read. Which absolutely pains me to say being that Judy is one of my favorite authors.
It's a gentle, sweet story without being mawkish, and a fairly traditional use of the 2nd chance high school trope.
I had the impression that some lines and some events were intended to be funny, but I wasn't really feeling it. I would have liked for it to be. Hazel's over-the-top similes were funny in the abstract but seemed kinda mean or at least thoughtlessly embarrassing for Ivy.
The pacing is decent, but once Ivy learns what's going on with Justin, the story became more appealing. It's a great premise, but unfortunately, I had a difficult time believing that Justin was so in love with Ivy. So it's a good story, but felt like it had a lot of missed potential.
Forgiveness can lead to giving someone another chance but it's not required. I understand Ivy's feelings especially since Justin wouldn't explain what happened and let her be ridiculed. I also understand that it was a long time ago - but our past hurts shape who we are. They just should have talked all those years ago and while I understand his reason I don't agree with him letting her be humiliated. So having said that - this was a really sweet second chance. Loved how he told her how he feels now and how he felt then. Ivy was my favorite character. She had some things that she was still dealing with and I thought the author did a good job of growing her and Justin as individuals.
Oh my gosh I loved this book!! I was reading a different xmas book that I thought I was gonna love, but it was dragging super bad so I jumped ship and started reading this one and I devoured it!! Idk if I've ever read a book that fast. I loved the characters and I just loved all the embarrassing moments ivy was finding herself in! I seriously was laughing out loud. And one time my husband caught me smiling super big as I was reading and he was like uhh what are you doing haha!! Anyway, adult contemporary is absolutely not my genre, but I've crossing over only for judy corry cuz she does it well. I'm super excited to read the other 2 books in the series. Well done!
I struggled with Ivy. She’s just so… not smart. She has zero intuition or sleuthing skills, despite supposedly writing a gossip blog in the past. She acts like a dumb dumb over and over again and makes wild assumptions.
I also struggled to understand their past “friendship.” We don’t see it; it’s discussed past tense. Ivy acts very rude and familiar with Justin, as one might expect if they had been very good friends and he betrayed her. But… she doesn’t seem to know very basic information about him, like that he had an older brother. This just didn’t up for me.
The storyline is cute and like a Hallmark movie, but the drama and tension is relatively low. Single pov.
A good clean romance about Ivy, who was a bullied, self conscious teenage, who's first crush, Justin asked her to the Prom only not to show up, which affected her into her adult life. He went on to become one of the top movie stars and she became a gossip blogger then a B&B manager. When he decides to return to his hometown and stay at her B&B. Will she find out why he stood her up? Was it a cruel prank? Will her crush turn into love? How does he feel about her?
Hollywood and Ivy:A Sweet Romance(A Second Chance For The Rich and Famous Book 2)
Judy did it again telling the story of Ivy and Justin. After school they went their separate ways and finally went through some changes to get back together again .you have to get the book to see what they went through to get the spark back in their life. I loved it .😂 grab your copy. You will be so glad you did I promise .
They had gone to school together. But after he stood her up on the night of prom they hadn't spoken for years. He is now a Hollywood legend. She still lives in the same town. So when he comes back things get dicey. Her hurt is also a legend with friends who have stood beside her. Why was he here now after all this time? Is he back for his high school girlfriend? Surely he is not going after her, the one he hurt years ago?
not bad. two incidences of 'I was fat but I'm skinny and pretty now", which is why it gets the 2 stars. otherwise it'd get 3. he told her his DEEP(ly stupid) DARK SECRET about 53% into the book, and the rest was a decently fun ride from there. the root of this book was straight up communication issues, and those aren't my favorite, because they are just irritating.
...And yeah I got a bit into the Christmas spirit, which is nice :D
The title of the book didn’t exactly grab my attention but once I started reading the story did. I read the book in one sitting because I was so engrossed in the story I could not put it down. I was laughing at some of poor Ivy’s mishaps and aching the Justin was so sweet to her through all her craziness. This is a fun book and a sweet romance.
This was a great second chance romance. Ivy and Justin have both been through some difficult things, yet are such great people. I am so glad they got a HEA. Miss Hazel was so much fun. I loved her meddling. This story had all the feels from laughing to crying. I'm excited for the next book in the series.
I had a hard time getting into the start of the story. Ivy was a bit too immature and emotional, but Justin intrigued me. As the story developed and I learned more aboutIvy her personality made sense, though I never stopped wishing she would make better decisions. It’s a great story of loss and misconceptions. A very sweet Christmas read.