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Juniper Ridge #1
Show Time
It’s a wacky concept. Take an abandoned cult compound and cast the cops, teachers, farmers, and nurses needed for a self-contained community. Throw in some cameras and presto! Instant TV hit.
There’s only one family with the chops to make it work, so the Judsons pack up their LA lives for a fresh start in rural Oregon. Big brother Dean has brokered billions in Hollywood deals. Surely he can produce a tiny town from scratch? He just needs a finance guru to help him prep for showtime while Dean does his best to forget having his heart smashed to withered bits.
Vanessa Vincent ticks all the boxes, with the bonus of zero interest in the mating game aspect of Juniper Ridge. Just give her some spreadsheets and leave her in peace to turn her own wrecked romances into little more than bad flashbacks.
But Dean and Vanessa don’t count on their epic chemistry, or a stranger who’ll stop at nothing to keep Juniper Ridge from debut day. Can they build the dream without risking their hearts, or will it fade to black before the first act ends?
There’s only one family with the chops to make it work, so the Judsons pack up their LA lives for a fresh start in rural Oregon. Big brother Dean has brokered billions in Hollywood deals. Surely he can produce a tiny town from scratch? He just needs a finance guru to help him prep for showtime while Dean does his best to forget having his heart smashed to withered bits.
Vanessa Vincent ticks all the boxes, with the bonus of zero interest in the mating game aspect of Juniper Ridge. Just give her some spreadsheets and leave her in peace to turn her own wrecked romances into little more than bad flashbacks.
But Dean and Vanessa don’t count on their epic chemistry, or a stranger who’ll stop at nothing to keep Juniper Ridge from debut day. Can they build the dream without risking their hearts, or will it fade to black before the first act ends?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2020
About the author
Tawna Fenske
75 books1,645 followersTawna Fenske is a USA Today bestselling author of laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, spicy romance, and fast-paced, funny romantic suspense. She’s a two-time RITA Award finalist with a degree in English lit, an ungraceful yoga habit, and a tendency to spy on strangers for story fodder. She lives in Turner, Oregon, where she can usually be found hiking with her pup or paddling the lake while having animated conversations with the characters in her next book. She’s banging her business manager, who happens to be her husband, camping companion, and wine-tasting partner. Erm, that’s one guy. This isn’t reverse harem romance. Learn more about Tawna and all her bajillion books at www.tawnafenske.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
June 29, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
I only caught the end of that, but if we’re suggesting Dean spends his days in here buffing the banana, we should rethink letting him have the big office.
“It was pretty great.” Pretty great? Chocolate lava cake is pretty great. A trip to Greece is pretty great. Eating chocolate lava cake on the balcony of a Greek villa with Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep would be pretty great, and none of it compares with what just happened between Dean and me.
You know what my mom used to call me? A free spirit. No, it wasn’t a good thing. I know it might be for some people, but trust me. The way she said it was like “satan” or “calories” or “polyester.” I guess to her, that was the worst thing I could be.
My Review:
Oh, happy day! One of my favorite funny ladies has started a new smirk-worthy series of rom/coms. I adore and covet the amusing and mischievous wit, comfortable style, and comedic articulacy of Tawna Fenske. Reading her stories is like indulging in a supersized wedge of my favorite flavor of cheesecake after dieting. Her tales are painlessly easy to fall into with the ideal amount of tension, delicious steam, low angst, and amusing insights and observations. I also find I am quickly enamored and rooting for her quirky characters. Vanessa and Dean were perfectly cast, a lovely pair, and well-matched for each other - both in and out of the office. I have noted down the devilishly clever pet names of Puma Thurman and Catrick Swayze to steal for future usage and am keen to get my abysmally manicured hands on the next installment of this playfully entertaining series.
I only caught the end of that, but if we’re suggesting Dean spends his days in here buffing the banana, we should rethink letting him have the big office.
“It was pretty great.” Pretty great? Chocolate lava cake is pretty great. A trip to Greece is pretty great. Eating chocolate lava cake on the balcony of a Greek villa with Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep would be pretty great, and none of it compares with what just happened between Dean and me.
You know what my mom used to call me? A free spirit. No, it wasn’t a good thing. I know it might be for some people, but trust me. The way she said it was like “satan” or “calories” or “polyester.” I guess to her, that was the worst thing I could be.
My Review:
Oh, happy day! One of my favorite funny ladies has started a new smirk-worthy series of rom/coms. I adore and covet the amusing and mischievous wit, comfortable style, and comedic articulacy of Tawna Fenske. Reading her stories is like indulging in a supersized wedge of my favorite flavor of cheesecake after dieting. Her tales are painlessly easy to fall into with the ideal amount of tension, delicious steam, low angst, and amusing insights and observations. I also find I am quickly enamored and rooting for her quirky characters. Vanessa and Dean were perfectly cast, a lovely pair, and well-matched for each other - both in and out of the office. I have noted down the devilishly clever pet names of Puma Thurman and Catrick Swayze to steal for future usage and am keen to get my abysmally manicured hands on the next installment of this playfully entertaining series.
October 8, 2020
Let the Show begin…
****4.5 Stars****
I absolutely loved Show Time and I’m so happy that I chose to listen instead of reading. It was like a performance and I thought Emma Wilder and Sebastian York did a marvellous job. Their comedic timing, the pitch, pace and tone made the characters come to life and I was forever trying to cover my laughs while out on my morning walk. The coffee scene at the beginning was a crack up and one of my favourites because I knew the disaster that was brewing. 😉
I am the least controlling person in the world (slight exaggeration) and I will happily hand over the reins to anyone (well, possibly not anyone but nearly anyone) who puts their hand up. So, I found it a little hard to relate to Vanessa but absolutely LOVED Dean. Don’t get me wrong, I really admired Vanessa’s character and loved her strength and sense of humour. I understood completely why she felt the need to control her life after dealing with her mother and ex-boyfriends. I’m just one of those people who doesn’t particularly like to ‘take control’ of situations and I would happily hand it over to Dean…with a big smile on my face.
Both Dean and Vanessa are recovering from broken relationships. It doesn’t take long to ‘see’ that Dean had been trying to have a ‘love story’ with the wrong person. He even admits that he didn’t put in the effort and realised after meeting Vanessa that his previous relationship would never have worked. With Vanessa, it’s obvious that she kept picking partners that were controlling like her mother. I loved that she wouldn’t put up with Dean’s controlling ways. But, I loved it more that Dean was willing to change his controlling ways for Vanessa.
The dynamics of Show Time, the multiple characters including Vanessa and Dean’s siblings, the love story, and the narrators' performances, made this a very satisfying listen. I found the concept of using an abandoned cult compound … waterslide included, an interesting setting for a reality tv show. I loved getting to know Dean’s siblings and their very individual and quirky traits. The connection between Dean and Vanessa was obvious and their intimate scenes were easy to listen to, unlike other audiobooks I’ve previously listened to. Again, I have to commend the narrators' performances. They were the perfect choice to bring Tawna Fenske’s, Show Time to life.
I really enjoyed the first instalment of the Juniper Ridge series and I will definitely be back for more in the future.
P.S. Funny story … Emma Wilder does such a convincing male voice that I actually had to check to see if there were three narrators. I’m still not completely convinced she doesn’t sneak a bloke into the recording studio with her… 😉
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced listening copy (audiobook) of this story.
****4.5 Stars****
I absolutely loved Show Time and I’m so happy that I chose to listen instead of reading. It was like a performance and I thought Emma Wilder and Sebastian York did a marvellous job. Their comedic timing, the pitch, pace and tone made the characters come to life and I was forever trying to cover my laughs while out on my morning walk. The coffee scene at the beginning was a crack up and one of my favourites because I knew the disaster that was brewing. 😉
I am the least controlling person in the world (slight exaggeration) and I will happily hand over the reins to anyone (well, possibly not anyone but nearly anyone) who puts their hand up. So, I found it a little hard to relate to Vanessa but absolutely LOVED Dean. Don’t get me wrong, I really admired Vanessa’s character and loved her strength and sense of humour. I understood completely why she felt the need to control her life after dealing with her mother and ex-boyfriends. I’m just one of those people who doesn’t particularly like to ‘take control’ of situations and I would happily hand it over to Dean…with a big smile on my face.
Both Dean and Vanessa are recovering from broken relationships. It doesn’t take long to ‘see’ that Dean had been trying to have a ‘love story’ with the wrong person. He even admits that he didn’t put in the effort and realised after meeting Vanessa that his previous relationship would never have worked. With Vanessa, it’s obvious that she kept picking partners that were controlling like her mother. I loved that she wouldn’t put up with Dean’s controlling ways. But, I loved it more that Dean was willing to change his controlling ways for Vanessa.
The dynamics of Show Time, the multiple characters including Vanessa and Dean’s siblings, the love story, and the narrators' performances, made this a very satisfying listen. I found the concept of using an abandoned cult compound … waterslide included, an interesting setting for a reality tv show. I loved getting to know Dean’s siblings and their very individual and quirky traits. The connection between Dean and Vanessa was obvious and their intimate scenes were easy to listen to, unlike other audiobooks I’ve previously listened to. Again, I have to commend the narrators' performances. They were the perfect choice to bring Tawna Fenske’s, Show Time to life.
I really enjoyed the first instalment of the Juniper Ridge series and I will definitely be back for more in the future.
P.S. Funny story … Emma Wilder does such a convincing male voice that I actually had to check to see if there were three narrators. I’m still not completely convinced she doesn’t sneak a bloke into the recording studio with her… 😉
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced listening copy (audiobook) of this story.
June 27, 2020
Neither one had plans to fall in love...
Dean, and his siblings, are going to film a reality show at a former cult compound. They'll be self contained in their little world. Of course, finding the people to populate their town is going to be an adventure. We've already met his brother Gabe in Snowbound Squeeze.
Vanessa, twin to Valerie from Mancandy Crush, hopes to have a fresh start, and no reletionship drama, after yet another disastrous attempt. She excels at choosing jerks. And she is determined to be competent, self-sufficient, and independent. Everything her mother discouraged.
We meet Dean's other siblings: Lauren, Mari, Lana, and Cooper. As well as various other residents of Juniper Ridge.
Dean and Vanessa have to work closely with each other...and start by trying to ignore their chemistry, but that fire soon burns out of control. Neither of them can escape that burn.
In the meantime, someone is messing with them behind the scenes and it seems they've chosen Vanessa as a target.
Still in the same bookiverse as the Ponderosa Resort, obviously, but setting up a new dimension in that bookiverse. We get an impression of Juniper Ridge and its denizens and potential denizens.
Hilarious, steamy, sweet, and with just the right dash of intrigue, I loved Dean and Vanessa's journey to a HEA while we also get to meet his family and fellow residents.
We also get to meet and fall in love with Roughneck, the adorable dog Vanessa rescues. He's so cute.
I enjoyed this visit to Juniper Ridge and I can't wait to come back for more!
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Dean, and his siblings, are going to film a reality show at a former cult compound. They'll be self contained in their little world. Of course, finding the people to populate their town is going to be an adventure. We've already met his brother Gabe in Snowbound Squeeze.
Vanessa, twin to Valerie from Mancandy Crush, hopes to have a fresh start, and no reletionship drama, after yet another disastrous attempt. She excels at choosing jerks. And she is determined to be competent, self-sufficient, and independent. Everything her mother discouraged.
We meet Dean's other siblings: Lauren, Mari, Lana, and Cooper. As well as various other residents of Juniper Ridge.
Dean and Vanessa have to work closely with each other...and start by trying to ignore their chemistry, but that fire soon burns out of control. Neither of them can escape that burn.
In the meantime, someone is messing with them behind the scenes and it seems they've chosen Vanessa as a target.
Still in the same bookiverse as the Ponderosa Resort, obviously, but setting up a new dimension in that bookiverse. We get an impression of Juniper Ridge and its denizens and potential denizens.
Hilarious, steamy, sweet, and with just the right dash of intrigue, I loved Dean and Vanessa's journey to a HEA while we also get to meet his family and fellow residents.
We also get to meet and fall in love with Roughneck, the adorable dog Vanessa rescues. He's so cute.
I enjoyed this visit to Juniper Ridge and I can't wait to come back for more!
I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 29, 2020
Tawna Fenske starts off her new Juniper Ridge series with laughter, craziness, and hot, sexy times in Show Time. This series has a crazy concept; a popular “Hollywood” family of siblings buys an abandoned cult compound and casts real life people for a self contained community in central Oregon. Sounds crazy, right? Believe me, I’ve seen way worse advertised for actual reality shows and Ms. Fenske adds her zany flair for comedy and makes this work.
Dean Judson is the oldest sibling and the one his brothers and sisters feel needs to lighten up. As CEO of the project, he aims to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, something he’s known for in Hollywood circles. With system hacks, crazy letters and emails, and some rude “gifts” appearing around the compound, Dean has his work cut out for him especially when they seemed to be aimed at Vanessa Vincent his CFO and the woman he can’t get off his mind.
Vanessa Vincent wants nothing more than a fresh start and while she may not be thrilled about being “on camera” again after her childhood stint on television, she likes the concept and things she’ll be a great fit for the compound. What she doesn’t expect is the immediate attraction she feels for Dean Judson or the fact they end up tangled together at the end of her interview and not in a sexual way, well not exactly, well maybe a little bit, but it was an accident!
First off let me say I loved how strong Vanessa’s character was and the fact that she knew she had to count on herself and no one else, something she learned at a young age because of her mother. That’s not to say she didn’t include her twin in on some of her decision making, but she was very, very self sufficient. I hate that she felt she lacked judgment because of some of the men she dated in the past, but I also feel that she learned from that and chose much more wisely this time.
Dean was a bit of a trip; there was no doubt he had a hard time not being in the middle of everything and delegating was not in his vocabulary. But, it was also obvious that he loved his siblings beyond words. He felt responsible for them and felt responsible for fixing things for them when things went wrong so it wasn’t crazy that he extended that to Vanessa once they were involved.
This book set up the series nicely and while we did meet all of Dean’s siblings who will be featured in upcoming books and a few of the other people that will live in the self contained community, the book focused on what was happening between Dean and Vanessa and the threats to the community. I figured out the “bad guy” pretty quickly, my biggest problem with that was that there wasn’t really closure to this part of the story because it was obvious they had help. Maybe that was the point, maybe this type of stuff will be ongoing, I don’t know but I’m kind of hoping that’s not the case and I feel that gets stale in a series of this length.
Show Time was fun, entertaining, and just the perfect getaway during a crazy time in life.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Dean Judson is the oldest sibling and the one his brothers and sisters feel needs to lighten up. As CEO of the project, he aims to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, something he’s known for in Hollywood circles. With system hacks, crazy letters and emails, and some rude “gifts” appearing around the compound, Dean has his work cut out for him especially when they seemed to be aimed at Vanessa Vincent his CFO and the woman he can’t get off his mind.
Vanessa Vincent wants nothing more than a fresh start and while she may not be thrilled about being “on camera” again after her childhood stint on television, she likes the concept and things she’ll be a great fit for the compound. What she doesn’t expect is the immediate attraction she feels for Dean Judson or the fact they end up tangled together at the end of her interview and not in a sexual way, well not exactly, well maybe a little bit, but it was an accident!
First off let me say I loved how strong Vanessa’s character was and the fact that she knew she had to count on herself and no one else, something she learned at a young age because of her mother. That’s not to say she didn’t include her twin in on some of her decision making, but she was very, very self sufficient. I hate that she felt she lacked judgment because of some of the men she dated in the past, but I also feel that she learned from that and chose much more wisely this time.
Dean was a bit of a trip; there was no doubt he had a hard time not being in the middle of everything and delegating was not in his vocabulary. But, it was also obvious that he loved his siblings beyond words. He felt responsible for them and felt responsible for fixing things for them when things went wrong so it wasn’t crazy that he extended that to Vanessa once they were involved.
This book set up the series nicely and while we did meet all of Dean’s siblings who will be featured in upcoming books and a few of the other people that will live in the self contained community, the book focused on what was happening between Dean and Vanessa and the threats to the community. I figured out the “bad guy” pretty quickly, my biggest problem with that was that there wasn’t really closure to this part of the story because it was obvious they had help. Maybe that was the point, maybe this type of stuff will be ongoing, I don’t know but I’m kind of hoping that’s not the case and I feel that gets stale in a series of this length.
Show Time was fun, entertaining, and just the perfect getaway during a crazy time in life.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
March 11, 2026
Show Time is what happens when a billionaire with control issues tries to build a utopian small town AND run a reality show about his big, meddling family… only to get absolutely derailed by one whip‑smart CFO who can do math, budgets, and emotional damage with equal precision.
Our hero?
A man who has brokered billion‑dollar deals but cannot, for the life of him, handle the fact that Vanessa exists. She walks in with spreadsheets and competence, and suddenly he’s tripping over his tongue, his dignity, and probably a few internal organs.
Vanessa is the kind of heroine who keeps her life together with sheer willpower and caffeine. She’s smart, grounded, and absolutely not here for billionaire nonsense… until she is. Because the chemistry? Oh, it’s feral. The kind that makes you mutter “oh no” while grinning like an idiot.
And the rom‑com moments?
Peak chaos.
We’ve got:
• a waterslide scene that should come with a warning label
• a dog adoption that feels like emotional entrapment
• a hike that ends with her bra in a tree like a woodland offering
• siblings who meddle like it’s their religion
It’s workplace‑forbidden, small‑town‑messy, and reality‑TV‑ridiculous in the best possible way.
The sabotage subplot adds just enough tension to keep things spicy without ruining the fun. And the family? They’re a lovable disaster. Every single one of them is auditioning for “Most Likely to Cause a Plot Twist.”
Why 4 stars?
Because while it’s hilarious and charming, a few emotional beats skim instead of sink. But honestly? The vibes are immaculate. The banter is crisp. The chemistry is illegal. And the whole thing feels like a rom‑com you’d watch with wine and popcorn while yelling at the screen.
A fun, flirty, chaotic, small‑town rom‑com with a CFO who steals the show and a billionaire who never stood a chance.
Our hero?
A man who has brokered billion‑dollar deals but cannot, for the life of him, handle the fact that Vanessa exists. She walks in with spreadsheets and competence, and suddenly he’s tripping over his tongue, his dignity, and probably a few internal organs.
Vanessa is the kind of heroine who keeps her life together with sheer willpower and caffeine. She’s smart, grounded, and absolutely not here for billionaire nonsense… until she is. Because the chemistry? Oh, it’s feral. The kind that makes you mutter “oh no” while grinning like an idiot.
And the rom‑com moments?
Peak chaos.
We’ve got:
• a waterslide scene that should come with a warning label
• a dog adoption that feels like emotional entrapment
• a hike that ends with her bra in a tree like a woodland offering
• siblings who meddle like it’s their religion
It’s workplace‑forbidden, small‑town‑messy, and reality‑TV‑ridiculous in the best possible way.
The sabotage subplot adds just enough tension to keep things spicy without ruining the fun. And the family? They’re a lovable disaster. Every single one of them is auditioning for “Most Likely to Cause a Plot Twist.”
Why 4 stars?
Because while it’s hilarious and charming, a few emotional beats skim instead of sink. But honestly? The vibes are immaculate. The banter is crisp. The chemistry is illegal. And the whole thing feels like a rom‑com you’d watch with wine and popcorn while yelling at the screen.
A fun, flirty, chaotic, small‑town rom‑com with a CFO who steals the show and a billionaire who never stood a chance.
October 21, 2020
Show Time (Juniper Ridge 1) by Tawna Fenske
Narrated by Sebastian York and Emma Wilder
Contemporary Romance with comedy and suspense. First in a series of stand-alones.
4.5 Stars
This was my first Tawna Fenske book and I can’t wait to read more. Show Time by Tawna Fenske had everything I love in a book, it made me smile, it was sexy, low in angst, and I liked the characters. But it had the added bonus of being a very unique storyline and having a bit of a suspenseful mystery.
Dean and his show-biz family bought an old cult compound to film a reality show that will feature a self-contained community. All of the siblings have their own part in setting it up and running it, but Dean is the oldest sibling and CEO who feels like he has to take care of everyone.
“He’s an overbearing son-of-a-bitch but he’s good at his job. Also, we love him.”
The first person they hire is the CFO, Vanessa. She and Dean have an instant connection that they both try very hard to fight, but you know how that goes.
"I should ask him to go.
I should beg him to stay.
I should definitely stop thinking about kissing him."
Since this is a live-work-play community and also a reality show, it gave a lot of unique situations for the couple to interact with. There was also a bad guy out to sabotage the show and an amazing dog which is the icing on the cake, but Sebastian York and Emma Wilder narrating would be the chocolate shavings on top of that.
Likes:
•Very unique premise.
•I smiled the whole time.
•A mysterious twist.
•The dog was the best!
•The mystery added suspense and excitement.
•I really liked every character and can’t wait to read their stories.
•The little confessionals were a great tool that totally worked.
Dislikes:
•I can’t think of one thing.
The Narration:
Holy cow, Emma’s male voice is almost as sexy as Sebastian York’s voice! These are two of my favorite narrators and I couldn’t ask for better narration.
The Down & Dirty:
I love a unique concept for a book, and how unique is taking an old cult community and making a new community for a reality show? Show Time was fun, exciting, sexy, and sweet and I really enjoyed all the secondary characters. I can tell you now, this will be one of the few series I will keep reading, and I can’t wait for Let it Show!
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3.5 Heat, 5 narration
Purchase Show Time (Juniper Ridge 1) by Tawna Fenske
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October 21, 2020
4 stars!
AUDIO REVIEW
Show Time is the first book in Tawna Fenske's new series, Juniper Ridge. This was my first book by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. I adored it. What a unique concept and storyline. A family from Hollywood purchases a former cult compound to film a reality show that will feature a self-contained community.
Dean, narrated by the incredibly talented Sebastian York is the CEO of the company and the oldest sibling. He is used to being in charge, a bit over-bearing and a fixer. He prides himself on being able to take care of his loved ones.
Vanessa, narrated by the ever fabulous Emma Wilder has been hired as the CFO of the company and has relocated for the job. She is a strong, independent woman with a heart of gold. She has some fears that made her seem very real and relatable.
From the very beginning Dean and Vanessa exude chemistry. There is a forbidden element here due to the fact he is the CEO and she is the CFO. This added a touch of push and pull to the storyline but before long the two cannot deny their chemistry and attraction to one another. I loved their banter and passion. I loved that Vanessa kept Dean in check with her independence and his need to fix things without talking to her. These two were the PERFECT couple. I laughed out loud too many times to count and adored the sweet, tender moments as well. I knew going into this that I would be getting a rom-com but what surprised me was the element of mystery and suspense that was added in as well. It kept me engaged and not wanting to stop listening from start to finish.
As always the narrators chosen were perfect. Sebastian York has a sexy tone that I can never get enough of and Emma Wilder does an incredible job infusing passion and emotion in her voice. Both stellar performances!
Note: I received an advanced listener copy from Piece of Cake Audiobooks in exchange of honest review.
AUDIO REVIEW
Show Time is the first book in Tawna Fenske's new series, Juniper Ridge. This was my first book by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. I adored it. What a unique concept and storyline. A family from Hollywood purchases a former cult compound to film a reality show that will feature a self-contained community.
Dean, narrated by the incredibly talented Sebastian York is the CEO of the company and the oldest sibling. He is used to being in charge, a bit over-bearing and a fixer. He prides himself on being able to take care of his loved ones.
Vanessa, narrated by the ever fabulous Emma Wilder has been hired as the CFO of the company and has relocated for the job. She is a strong, independent woman with a heart of gold. She has some fears that made her seem very real and relatable.
From the very beginning Dean and Vanessa exude chemistry. There is a forbidden element here due to the fact he is the CEO and she is the CFO. This added a touch of push and pull to the storyline but before long the two cannot deny their chemistry and attraction to one another. I loved their banter and passion. I loved that Vanessa kept Dean in check with her independence and his need to fix things without talking to her. These two were the PERFECT couple. I laughed out loud too many times to count and adored the sweet, tender moments as well. I knew going into this that I would be getting a rom-com but what surprised me was the element of mystery and suspense that was added in as well. It kept me engaged and not wanting to stop listening from start to finish.
As always the narrators chosen were perfect. Sebastian York has a sexy tone that I can never get enough of and Emma Wilder does an incredible job infusing passion and emotion in her voice. Both stellar performances!
Note: I received an advanced listener copy from Piece of Cake Audiobooks in exchange of honest review.
May 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
I’m going to be honest… I wasn’t exactly racing into this one. I’d just come off a six-book sibling romance series and was feeling a little romanced-out. But I’m also a glutton for punishment, and when the audiobook is included with my Audible subscription, who am I to say no? 😂
Show Time was definitely different. Every chapter opens with snippets from a reality TV interview, slowly building the backstory, which was a fun change from the usual romance formula. The premise is also delightfully random: a famous family buys land that used to belong to a doomsday cult and decides to turn it into a functioning town. See? Different.
Vanessa, the new financial officer, and Dean, the project lead, spend their days interviewing potential members of the community who will also be “cast”, wrangling waterslides, bumper cars, cabins and budgets, so naturally romance finds a way in.
Was I completely obsessed? No. Did I enjoy the quirky setup enough to keep listening? Meh. And will I probably pick up the next one? Let’s be real… yes, I probably will. 😂📚
I’m going to be honest… I wasn’t exactly racing into this one. I’d just come off a six-book sibling romance series and was feeling a little romanced-out. But I’m also a glutton for punishment, and when the audiobook is included with my Audible subscription, who am I to say no? 😂
Show Time was definitely different. Every chapter opens with snippets from a reality TV interview, slowly building the backstory, which was a fun change from the usual romance formula. The premise is also delightfully random: a famous family buys land that used to belong to a doomsday cult and decides to turn it into a functioning town. See? Different.
Vanessa, the new financial officer, and Dean, the project lead, spend their days interviewing potential members of the community who will also be “cast”, wrangling waterslides, bumper cars, cabins and budgets, so naturally romance finds a way in.
Was I completely obsessed? No. Did I enjoy the quirky setup enough to keep listening? Meh. And will I probably pick up the next one? Let’s be real… yes, I probably will. 😂📚
October 12, 2020
Audio ARC
I have read one other book by this author and enjoyed it. I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I started this book but boy was I happy I did.
These characters are so relatable, they both have career ambitions and are not looking for a relationship and isn’t that when it happens. When you least expect it.
Dean is such the big brother and very much the dictator of the family. But it works for them and he just wants what is best for his family.
Vanessa just wants to follow her career and be the best she can. But she didn’t expect Dean and I loved getting to see her fall for him. Her twin is kinda awesome I really enjoyed that part of the story. The family aspect, even if they didn’t have the greatest of parents they had each other.
A true love story with a bit of a mystery, the narration was perfect for these characters and this story.
I have read one other book by this author and enjoyed it. I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I started this book but boy was I happy I did.
These characters are so relatable, they both have career ambitions and are not looking for a relationship and isn’t that when it happens. When you least expect it.
Dean is such the big brother and very much the dictator of the family. But it works for them and he just wants what is best for his family.
Vanessa just wants to follow her career and be the best she can. But she didn’t expect Dean and I loved getting to see her fall for him. Her twin is kinda awesome I really enjoyed that part of the story. The family aspect, even if they didn’t have the greatest of parents they had each other.
A true love story with a bit of a mystery, the narration was perfect for these characters and this story.
July 13, 2020
I started reading this book while in the hospital for surgery and couldn't wait to finish it. Vintage Tawna humor (You'll love the pet names in this novel! I'm still laughing at William Snakespeare.)
The story focuses on Dean and Vanessa. Dean is hiring people to populate a community that will be the basis of a new reality TV series and Vanessa interviews for a top job. Dean has a big family plus the setting is close to Tawna's previous series so some of those adored characters are mentioned. (I love that!) The characters are all quirky and fun and I look forward to reading their stories in upcoming novels in this series.
I also loved seeing references to other authors in the narrative -- nice job, Tawna -- especially since I've read the authors cited and admire your taste! An unexpected bonus? The novel had a touch of suspense I wasn't expecting and thought it created some great moments of tension.
But the best part about this book was the hero -- I am a Dean Girl for life now. This hero is HAWT! But he's also not perfect and I completely adored watching how he faced those flaws.
The story focuses on Dean and Vanessa. Dean is hiring people to populate a community that will be the basis of a new reality TV series and Vanessa interviews for a top job. Dean has a big family plus the setting is close to Tawna's previous series so some of those adored characters are mentioned. (I love that!) The characters are all quirky and fun and I look forward to reading their stories in upcoming novels in this series.
I also loved seeing references to other authors in the narrative -- nice job, Tawna -- especially since I've read the authors cited and admire your taste! An unexpected bonus? The novel had a touch of suspense I wasn't expecting and thought it created some great moments of tension.
But the best part about this book was the hero -- I am a Dean Girl for life now. This hero is HAWT! But he's also not perfect and I completely adored watching how he faced those flaws.
August 9, 2022
Have you ever heard the song with lyrics “ you’re just to good to be true … can’t take my eyes out of you”
Sad thing things is the plot were made to good to be true for the h , seriously I can’t find any admirable things about her and all her silliness despite how the book / author portrayed her as an Uber smart professional lady but her action said otherwise
I gave two star for the quality of family man H / oldest brothers to his sibling like many series of big family
Sad thing things is the plot were made to good to be true for the h , seriously I can’t find any admirable things about her and all her silliness despite how the book / author portrayed her as an Uber smart professional lady but her action said otherwise
I gave two star for the quality of family man H / oldest brothers to his sibling like many series of big family
October 3, 2024
A bit too insta-lovey and fast-paced for my taste, but a really interesting concept nonetheless. I felt like I was reading for everything else but the romance.
July 2, 2020
3.75 stars--SHOW TIME is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult SHOW TIME romance series. This is CEO Dean Judson, and financial advisor Vanessa Vincent’s story line. Juniper Ridge is a spin off from the author’s Ponderosa Resort series.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Dean and Vanessa) SHOW TIME follows the building romance and relationship between CEO Dean Judson, and financial advisor Vanessa Vincent. Dean Judson, and his siblings bought land in Juniper Ridge, Oregon once owned by the controversial cult BONK (Benevolent Order of the New Kingdom) and with it they have plans to film a reality show focusing on a community of single men and women looking for love. Hiring a treasurer and CFO finds Dean Judson considering one-time childhood TV star turned financial consultant Vanessa Vincent, a woman who stirs something deep within our story line hero but not all is well at Juniper Ridge when a series of threatening emails, gifts and bloody photos take aim at our storyline heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Vanessa and Dean, and the potential fall-out when issues of trust threaten to tear the couple apart, and the intimidation turns personal and deadly.
The relationship between Dean and Vanessa is one of immediate attraction but neither one is looking for a permanent relationship having loved and failed in the past. Vanessa believes an affair with Dean could threaten her job at Juniper Ridge but Dean sees an opportunity to enjoy one another for as long as they can. Secret rendezvous lead to intimate nights that soon become fodder for someone hoping to destroy our storyline heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Dean’s wacky and wonderful family including sisters Lana, Lauren and Mari, brothers Gabe, and Cooper; café managers/computer hackers Colleen and Patti, police lieutenant Amy Lovelin; Vanessa’s twin sister Valerie, and Roughneck the dog.
SHOW TIME is a story of family, betrayal, obsession and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are colorful and dynamic; the romance is sexy and hot…but I failed to ‘see’ the comedic aspect of a story where issues of trust, and threats of a personal and dangerous nature set the tone for the premise. I guess one person’s comedy, is another person’s tragedy.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
Told from dual first person perspectives (Dean and Vanessa) SHOW TIME follows the building romance and relationship between CEO Dean Judson, and financial advisor Vanessa Vincent. Dean Judson, and his siblings bought land in Juniper Ridge, Oregon once owned by the controversial cult BONK (Benevolent Order of the New Kingdom) and with it they have plans to film a reality show focusing on a community of single men and women looking for love. Hiring a treasurer and CFO finds Dean Judson considering one-time childhood TV star turned financial consultant Vanessa Vincent, a woman who stirs something deep within our story line hero but not all is well at Juniper Ridge when a series of threatening emails, gifts and bloody photos take aim at our storyline heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Vanessa and Dean, and the potential fall-out when issues of trust threaten to tear the couple apart, and the intimidation turns personal and deadly.
The relationship between Dean and Vanessa is one of immediate attraction but neither one is looking for a permanent relationship having loved and failed in the past. Vanessa believes an affair with Dean could threaten her job at Juniper Ridge but Dean sees an opportunity to enjoy one another for as long as they can. Secret rendezvous lead to intimate nights that soon become fodder for someone hoping to destroy our storyline heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Dean’s wacky and wonderful family including sisters Lana, Lauren and Mari, brothers Gabe, and Cooper; café managers/computer hackers Colleen and Patti, police lieutenant Amy Lovelin; Vanessa’s twin sister Valerie, and Roughneck the dog.
SHOW TIME is a story of family, betrayal, obsession and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are colorful and dynamic; the romance is sexy and hot…but I failed to ‘see’ the comedic aspect of a story where issues of trust, and threats of a personal and dangerous nature set the tone for the premise. I guess one person’s comedy, is another person’s tragedy.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
October 17, 2020
So I finally understand why everyone loves Sebastian York on audiobooks. Let's just say I anticipated his chapters very much.
I hardly listen to audiobooks because I'm more of a reader than listener. However there are some audiobooks that stick because they're so good. Not just because of the cast narrating but because of the story.
Show Time was a brilliant story. The perfect balance of real life, romance and some mystery.
Vanessa Vincent applies for a job as CFO at Juniper Ridge. They're planning to launch a reality TV show which follows everyone who's there lives, and if they fall in love or out of love with people in this small community. However not everything is running so perfectly as they pull together resources for the launch.
Despite hidden drama sparks fly when Vanessa interviews with the CEO. And it's not missed by Dean either, especially when they accidently fall into the backseat of her car. You know as there was a snake around. Trust me it's hilariously awkward.
I loved the interwoven moments of awkwardness or embarrassment. It made scenes funny instead of crindgey and both Emma Wilder and Sebastian York did superb voicing the moments.
It was brilliant listen, one I flew through as sparks contained to fly between Vanessa and Dean after her being hired.
I admired the honesty in the characters. How they owned their flaws and wanted to do better. Also how when they made mistakes they learnt and made changes.
I felt as though I was friends with the whole of Dean's family and Vanessa. I wanted to figure out who was out to get them just as bad as them and was pleastenly surprised when one of my suspicions was correct!
A brilliant read. I'd say it's like Clue but if there was a rom-com involved! No murders too just a lot of mystery!
Thank you to Little Dog Press for the Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I hardly listen to audiobooks because I'm more of a reader than listener. However there are some audiobooks that stick because they're so good. Not just because of the cast narrating but because of the story.
Show Time was a brilliant story. The perfect balance of real life, romance and some mystery.
Vanessa Vincent applies for a job as CFO at Juniper Ridge. They're planning to launch a reality TV show which follows everyone who's there lives, and if they fall in love or out of love with people in this small community. However not everything is running so perfectly as they pull together resources for the launch.
Despite hidden drama sparks fly when Vanessa interviews with the CEO. And it's not missed by Dean either, especially when they accidently fall into the backseat of her car. You know as there was a snake around. Trust me it's hilariously awkward.
I loved the interwoven moments of awkwardness or embarrassment. It made scenes funny instead of crindgey and both Emma Wilder and Sebastian York did superb voicing the moments.
It was brilliant listen, one I flew through as sparks contained to fly between Vanessa and Dean after her being hired.
I admired the honesty in the characters. How they owned their flaws and wanted to do better. Also how when they made mistakes they learnt and made changes.
I felt as though I was friends with the whole of Dean's family and Vanessa. I wanted to figure out who was out to get them just as bad as them and was pleastenly surprised when one of my suspicions was correct!
A brilliant read. I'd say it's like Clue but if there was a rom-com involved! No murders too just a lot of mystery!
Thank you to Little Dog Press for the Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2020
Oh my, what a wonderful beginning to a series!I absolutely adored reading Show Time. I loved Vanessa at first sight of her quirky fears and how to overcome them. I love Dean for trying to be in control all the time, not realising that love isn;t something you can control. At first I found it difficult to grasp the idea of reality tv shows, because I don’t like those. But as I read on, I saw the amount of work behind such shows and I came to appreciate it. And then a lovely and wonderful stray dog is thrown into the mix- did I mention that I loved this book?
Juniper Ridge is an abandoned cult complex and setting it up as a self-contained community and everything will be aired on TV.
There’s only one family with the chops to make it work, so the Judsons pack up their LA lives for a fresh start in rural Oregon. Big brother Dean has brokered billions in Hollywood deals. Surely he can produce a tiny town from scratch? He just needs a finance guru to help him prep for showtime while Dean does his best to forget having his heart smashed to withered bits.
Vanessa Vincent ticks all the boxes, with the bonus of zero interest in the mating game aspect of Juniper Ridge. Just give her some spreadsheets and leave her in peace to turn her own wrecked romances into little more than bad flashbacks.
But Dean and Vanessa don’t count on their epic chemistry, or a stranger who’ll stop at nothing to keep Juniper Ridge from debut day. Can they build the dream without risking their hearts, or will it fade to black before the first act ends?
Juniper Ridge is an abandoned cult complex and setting it up as a self-contained community and everything will be aired on TV.
There’s only one family with the chops to make it work, so the Judsons pack up their LA lives for a fresh start in rural Oregon. Big brother Dean has brokered billions in Hollywood deals. Surely he can produce a tiny town from scratch? He just needs a finance guru to help him prep for showtime while Dean does his best to forget having his heart smashed to withered bits.
Vanessa Vincent ticks all the boxes, with the bonus of zero interest in the mating game aspect of Juniper Ridge. Just give her some spreadsheets and leave her in peace to turn her own wrecked romances into little more than bad flashbacks.
But Dean and Vanessa don’t count on their epic chemistry, or a stranger who’ll stop at nothing to keep Juniper Ridge from debut day. Can they build the dream without risking their hearts, or will it fade to black before the first act ends?
May 21, 2023
3.5*
Dean is the first born of a large, show-biz family (there are 6 siblings- Lauren, Lana, Mari, Gabe, and Cooper are the others). He and his siblings are in the process of setting up and casting for their own town. This town will be self-sustaining as much as possible and will be its own reality show. As the CEO, Dean is responsible for the overseeing of this big event, but each sibling has their own speciality/focus in the creation of the show.
Vanessa is hired as the CFO. She is smart and has it together. She also has some baggage from her mother (her mother didn't want her to have a career- it would scare men off).
The town will also be located at an old cult complex; there are cabins, a water park, etc. The siblings don't have to build infrastructure. To add more interest, they have a saboteur. But who?
Dean and Vanessa have an instant chemistry with each other. They do eventually give in and from that chemistry both a friendship and love develop. I liked the dynamics with the siblings (and with Vanessa and her sister). They clearly love and support each other. This was fun to read, but easy to put down and it did take awhile for me to get really interested in this.
Dean is the first born of a large, show-biz family (there are 6 siblings- Lauren, Lana, Mari, Gabe, and Cooper are the others). He and his siblings are in the process of setting up and casting for their own town. This town will be self-sustaining as much as possible and will be its own reality show. As the CEO, Dean is responsible for the overseeing of this big event, but each sibling has their own speciality/focus in the creation of the show.
Vanessa is hired as the CFO. She is smart and has it together. She also has some baggage from her mother (her mother didn't want her to have a career- it would scare men off).
The town will also be located at an old cult complex; there are cabins, a water park, etc. The siblings don't have to build infrastructure. To add more interest, they have a saboteur. But who?
Dean and Vanessa have an instant chemistry with each other. They do eventually give in and from that chemistry both a friendship and love develop. I liked the dynamics with the siblings (and with Vanessa and her sister). They clearly love and support each other. This was fun to read, but easy to put down and it did take awhile for me to get really interested in this.
October 20, 2020
Dean and his family are well acquainted with the celebrity lifestyle so it would only seem appropriate that their latest undertaking would be a reality show where single people might just find their perfect match. The last thing he is looking for is love but when he hires Vanessa to handle the finances he begins to second guess that thought.
Due to her romantic past Vanessa is questioning her judgment when it comes to men. She is determined to focus on her job but keeping her relationship with Dean strictly professional is getting more difficult with every day that passes.
Dean has the best of intentions but his habit of taking control can get into trouble with those he loves especially with Vanessa’s need to be independent and control her own destiny. The interactions between them are humorous and hot, the suspense adds another layer to the story and the intriguing secondary characters have us wanting their stories as well. I listed to an audio copy of this book and thought that the narrators were the perfect choice for the characters.
Due to her romantic past Vanessa is questioning her judgment when it comes to men. She is determined to focus on her job but keeping her relationship with Dean strictly professional is getting more difficult with every day that passes.
Dean has the best of intentions but his habit of taking control can get into trouble with those he loves especially with Vanessa’s need to be independent and control her own destiny. The interactions between them are humorous and hot, the suspense adds another layer to the story and the intriguing secondary characters have us wanting their stories as well. I listed to an audio copy of this book and thought that the narrators were the perfect choice for the characters.
October 20, 2020
Tawna Fenske is a new author to me, and I must say I was initially drawn by the synopsis and the narrators, Sebastian York and Emma Wilder, two of my favourites. That said I was impressed by the story and the characters. I wasn’t immediately drawn in, it did in fact take me a few chapters to fully understand what was happening, and once it clicked I couldn’t get enough of Dean Judson and Vanessa Vincent. I was invested in their story from the moment Dean interviewed Vanessa for the role of CFO, and they just clicked. The affinity between them was true, their rapport was natural, and add in the fact that their chemistry was palpable, and I knew I was going to love them. Oh, and they’re both ‘dog people’, so yeh, I’m a fan. The story was a bit of a whodunnit, and we were kept on our toes throughout. Lots of suspense within the compound as they trie to decipher who is responsible for the strange goings on, and why this family are being targeted. A sweet, fun and romantic suspense that definitely lends itself to audio.
January 28, 2021
What a great new start to a new series. This book had me laughing out loud at times. I need laughter in my life! The Judson brothers and sisters have such a great idea of building a contained community that will be a reality show. It had to be hard on Dean being the oldest sibling and feeling like he had to control everything and solve all problems. You will love the part when Vanessa comes in to interview for the CFO position. It is funny that they both have had a bad relationship and don’t want to think about romance. Of course that is when everything happens. I loved Dean and Vanessa together and getting to know each other. It was fun getting to know Dean’s siblings. I can’t wait to read their stories. I loved the book and strongly encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
June 13, 2020
ACTION!!!
When Vanessa Vincent accepted the position as the CFO of the new reality TV show being put together by the Judson family…she probably didn’t realize what she was signing up for! But one thing is for sure…she is NOT interested in a relationship! I mean…she even put it on her resume!
Dean (AKA Bossman), also adamant about staying relationship free, falls off the wagon as soon as Vanessa walks into the interview.
Between the snakes, fears, the purse full of EVERYTHING, and the whole concept of this series…Oh...and how could I forget Roughneck!?!? Anyway...I AM HOOKED! Author Tawna Fenske has taken the rom-com-suspense trope up a notch! Wait…is rom-com-suspense even a trope??? Hmmm…I guess it is now! LOL
I loved the direction the author has taken the Ponderosa series in this new spin-off with Juniper Ridge! The characters, setting, storyline, family dynamic, and all over basis of this book and series is one that will surely not disappoint! I Loved this fun, hot, mysterious storyline and look forward to reading the books that follow! 5-movie-stars! ;)
When Vanessa Vincent accepted the position as the CFO of the new reality TV show being put together by the Judson family…she probably didn’t realize what she was signing up for! But one thing is for sure…she is NOT interested in a relationship! I mean…she even put it on her resume!
Dean (AKA Bossman), also adamant about staying relationship free, falls off the wagon as soon as Vanessa walks into the interview.
Between the snakes, fears, the purse full of EVERYTHING, and the whole concept of this series…Oh...and how could I forget Roughneck!?!? Anyway...I AM HOOKED! Author Tawna Fenske has taken the rom-com-suspense trope up a notch! Wait…is rom-com-suspense even a trope??? Hmmm…I guess it is now! LOL
I loved the direction the author has taken the Ponderosa series in this new spin-off with Juniper Ridge! The characters, setting, storyline, family dynamic, and all over basis of this book and series is one that will surely not disappoint! I Loved this fun, hot, mysterious storyline and look forward to reading the books that follow! 5-movie-stars! ;)
October 23, 2020
Show Time is my first book by Tawna Fenske and it won’t be my last. This is book 1 in the Juniper Ridge series. It was a fun and entertaining book that was filled with both laughs, mystery and suspense and let’s not forget the steam! All the characters bring dimension to the story and add exactly what is needed. Our main characters, Dean and Vanessa have such fun banter and amazing chemistry. It’s fun to watch their relationship evolve in spite of what keeps getting in the way. The audiobook narration is spot on and the voices of Sebastian York and Emma Wilder couldn’t be more perfect!
June 11, 2020
I enjoyed the Ponderosa series and I feel like this series will be similar in vibe so I'm looking forward to reading more about the Judson's. I think the concept behind their new venture is quite interesting and I want to see how that plays out.
I like the fact that Vanessa is a strong female and does not need Dean to protect her or take care of her. I think she takes it to the extreme, but it's rare to find a female with a strong backbone. Dean just wants to take care of everyone. That's how he got the nickname "The Fixer". But he has to learn that people need to fly and be free to make their own mistakes. It's going to be a tough lesson for him, especially since Vanessa is determined to be self sufficient and take care of herself.
It was nice to see some old characters return for this spin-off. It was cool to see Val and Josh again and I'm hoping we see some more cross over in future books.
I like the fact that Vanessa is a strong female and does not need Dean to protect her or take care of her. I think she takes it to the extreme, but it's rare to find a female with a strong backbone. Dean just wants to take care of everyone. That's how he got the nickname "The Fixer". But he has to learn that people need to fly and be free to make their own mistakes. It's going to be a tough lesson for him, especially since Vanessa is determined to be self sufficient and take care of herself.
It was nice to see some old characters return for this spin-off. It was cool to see Val and Josh again and I'm hoping we see some more cross over in future books.
July 2, 2020
What a great start to a new series... so great, I've already pre-ordered book two, and it doesn't come out until next spring!
Like the rest of Fenske's books, this one is thoroughly entertaining and has just the right mixture of heat and romance. And, natch... humor. If it doesn't make ya chuckle, it ain't a Fenske book.
Like the rest of Fenske's books, this one is thoroughly entertaining and has just the right mixture of heat and romance. And, natch... humor. If it doesn't make ya chuckle, it ain't a Fenske book.
Want to Read
September 15, 2023Amz Purch. Sept. 15, 2023
February 23, 2025
A quick read
December 29, 2025
I liked this, got it with my audible plus subscription...
January 31, 2021
I'll be honest: I'm a long-time fan of Tawna Fenske as I find her books are a light and easy read and excellent palate cleansers that end happily and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. I was dubious when she released the first book in this series and had no intentions of reading it even though I like this author's work. Why? Because I HATE most reality TV with a passion so when I saw her new series was based around reality TV, it was a pass from me. The book is based around a group of siblings that have been raised alongside the machine that is the Hollywood entertainment industry. Together, they purchase an abandoned cult commune with the purpose of basing a groundbreaking reality TV show there. Individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and occupations are vetted with successful candidates living in the small community where they'll be recorded and, hopefully, find their significant other. While this definitely didn't seem like my cup of tea, I jumped in the deep end this week anyway, because that's what you do when you have a TBR of over 40 pages on your Kindle - grab and start a new book you don't even think will be your thing. But boy am I glad I did. This was a really entertaining read that completely took me by surprise. It has all of the features I love about Fenske's writing and it really worked for me, ticking heaps of boxes for an enjoyable read.
If you're familiar with this author's Ponderosa series, there's a teeny bit of crossover and a familiar concept where a bunch of siblings have different areas of expertise. For the Judsons that are the focus family for this series, there's a top dog money man, a director, producer, actor, HR expert and shrink (there's more - this is just off the top of my head). Due to the Hollywood focus of this series, it isn't similar to Ponderosa so rest assured it certainly is a fresh idea. The community is filled with a range of people from different backgrounds, mostly there to find love, and this book details the initial interview and scouting process being undertaken to fill the spots for the show. You can see a mile off that some of these are going to be the main characters for up and coming books in the series but they don't take over this story so it works well as both a plot device and for setting up solid foundations for the series.
Dean hires Vanessa as his Chief Financial Officer. They're to work closely together to get the project up and running. This includes financing and sponsors, interviewing potential candidates for the community, budgeting and brainstorming logistics. Both of them have been burnt by bad relationships in the past causing each of them to swear off love and relationships. Dean was engaged to a well-known actress who cheated on him due to his workaholic tendencies and Vanessa has a bad habit of choosing men who control her life and burn her in the process. She also carries her own baggage in the form of a judgmental and condescending mother (who honestly sounded horrid) who's basically told her from a young age to set herself up in life by doing everything socially acceptable to land an influential and wealthy husband.
Even though the book was a quicker read and there was a good deal of instalust to instalove, I found there was good character development. I really liked both Dean and Vanessa and while they had their own hang ups, they weren't annoyingly over the top, remaining mostly relatable. Dean was driven by work but was a nice guy. I found Vanessa socially awkward (I assuming this helped add humour to the story line) but down to earth. There was a little bit of repetition about not wanting love and Vanessa's mother from hell giving her a complex, but it wasn't excessive. As you've probably guessed from the description of the book, the concept of the story is a little convenient and there are many elements in the small town that are a bit too good to be true. I've watched a few documentaries and read a few books on cults and communes in my time. While many are self-sufficient, they're not normally teeming with money and going out of their way to care for all members. Juniper Ridge has amazing resources and facilities, including a fabulous water park, a brewery and bumper cars. Luckily, Fenske's writing was as solid as always, her strong technique meaning the envelope didn't seem like it was pushed too far.
Vanessa and Dean had great chemistry from the get-go. Even though they were anti-relationship, I like that the author didn't drag out the angst too much and throw in any gratuitous 'I'm going to sabotage this relationship just because...' because that story line can drive me to drink. Both Dean and Vanessa acted appropriately according to their age and didn't carry on too much, accepting they really liked each other. Each chapter started off with a small excerpt from Vanessa or Dean, depending on whose point of view the chapter was from. It was written in the style of a candid snapshot from an interview for the reality TV filming. I loved this. It was cute and a great start to each chapter.
Underlying all of the relationship business is the ongoing attempt to sabotage the show from getting off the ground. Despite the police and their own investigators sniffing around, there's an unknown assailant who's causing trouble all over the place and one of their main targets seems to be Vanessa. The who dunnit wasn't groundbreaking, but entertaining none-the-less. The book also has this author's characteristic solid dialogue and great humour that leans to the drier side of things which I love to pieces. It's in first person, but again, written really well. I found some of the steamier scenes made me cringe a wee bit, particularly the one liners, but this is just personal preference. I also thought Vanessa's mother might have made an appearance since there was so much emphasis on her and the long-standing influence on her daughters' lives.
What starts as a no strings attached one night stand turns into more and while chunks of time in the relationship were skipped periodically, the relationship between Dean and Vanessa developed well and it was a feel-good story that left me happy. The secondary characters were also entertaining and have certainly been enough to rope me into future books in the series. I'm glad I started this book because even though I thought I'd dislike it, it hooked me in from the start and I'm looking forward to the next book.
If you're familiar with this author's Ponderosa series, there's a teeny bit of crossover and a familiar concept where a bunch of siblings have different areas of expertise. For the Judsons that are the focus family for this series, there's a top dog money man, a director, producer, actor, HR expert and shrink (there's more - this is just off the top of my head). Due to the Hollywood focus of this series, it isn't similar to Ponderosa so rest assured it certainly is a fresh idea. The community is filled with a range of people from different backgrounds, mostly there to find love, and this book details the initial interview and scouting process being undertaken to fill the spots for the show. You can see a mile off that some of these are going to be the main characters for up and coming books in the series but they don't take over this story so it works well as both a plot device and for setting up solid foundations for the series.
Dean hires Vanessa as his Chief Financial Officer. They're to work closely together to get the project up and running. This includes financing and sponsors, interviewing potential candidates for the community, budgeting and brainstorming logistics. Both of them have been burnt by bad relationships in the past causing each of them to swear off love and relationships. Dean was engaged to a well-known actress who cheated on him due to his workaholic tendencies and Vanessa has a bad habit of choosing men who control her life and burn her in the process. She also carries her own baggage in the form of a judgmental and condescending mother (who honestly sounded horrid) who's basically told her from a young age to set herself up in life by doing everything socially acceptable to land an influential and wealthy husband.
Even though the book was a quicker read and there was a good deal of instalust to instalove, I found there was good character development. I really liked both Dean and Vanessa and while they had their own hang ups, they weren't annoyingly over the top, remaining mostly relatable. Dean was driven by work but was a nice guy. I found Vanessa socially awkward (I assuming this helped add humour to the story line) but down to earth. There was a little bit of repetition about not wanting love and Vanessa's mother from hell giving her a complex, but it wasn't excessive. As you've probably guessed from the description of the book, the concept of the story is a little convenient and there are many elements in the small town that are a bit too good to be true. I've watched a few documentaries and read a few books on cults and communes in my time. While many are self-sufficient, they're not normally teeming with money and going out of their way to care for all members. Juniper Ridge has amazing resources and facilities, including a fabulous water park, a brewery and bumper cars. Luckily, Fenske's writing was as solid as always, her strong technique meaning the envelope didn't seem like it was pushed too far.
Vanessa and Dean had great chemistry from the get-go. Even though they were anti-relationship, I like that the author didn't drag out the angst too much and throw in any gratuitous 'I'm going to sabotage this relationship just because...' because that story line can drive me to drink. Both Dean and Vanessa acted appropriately according to their age and didn't carry on too much, accepting they really liked each other. Each chapter started off with a small excerpt from Vanessa or Dean, depending on whose point of view the chapter was from. It was written in the style of a candid snapshot from an interview for the reality TV filming. I loved this. It was cute and a great start to each chapter.
Underlying all of the relationship business is the ongoing attempt to sabotage the show from getting off the ground. Despite the police and their own investigators sniffing around, there's an unknown assailant who's causing trouble all over the place and one of their main targets seems to be Vanessa. The who dunnit wasn't groundbreaking, but entertaining none-the-less. The book also has this author's characteristic solid dialogue and great humour that leans to the drier side of things which I love to pieces. It's in first person, but again, written really well. I found some of the steamier scenes made me cringe a wee bit, particularly the one liners, but this is just personal preference. I also thought Vanessa's mother might have made an appearance since there was so much emphasis on her and the long-standing influence on her daughters' lives.
What starts as a no strings attached one night stand turns into more and while chunks of time in the relationship were skipped periodically, the relationship between Dean and Vanessa developed well and it was a feel-good story that left me happy. The secondary characters were also entertaining and have certainly been enough to rope me into future books in the series. I'm glad I started this book because even though I thought I'd dislike it, it hooked me in from the start and I'm looking forward to the next book.
June 10, 2020
Show Time is the first book in a new series by Tawna Fenske and lets just say, it’s going to be another amazing series! It took me days to figure out what I wanted to say about this book because I loved it so much and feel that I can’t and won’t be able to ever do it justice. First, you get to meet Dean Judson who is the oldest brother of the Judson family. He may seem familiar to those who have read Tawna’s Ponderosa Resort Series as he was introduced in those books. You also get to meet Vanessa Vincent who was introduced in the Ponderosa Resort Series as well. What I loved about this book was how relatable for me it was. I felt like I was Vanessa, minus the hot CEO as my boss, but a girl can dream! This book has all the exciting starting points to a great new series. Between the new characters that both appear to be so strong yet have those few insecurities, that make them stronger together to the psycho ex-fiancé, to the drama of a new reality tv series in development. There’s so much going on and this was a great start to it all.
June 20, 2020
Excellent start to this new spin-off series!
The first Juniper Ridge story features two main characters you might have met before, namely in "Mancandy Crush" (Vanessa) and Snowbound Squeeze (Dean).
“He’s an overbearing son-of-a-b**** but he’s good at his job. Also, we love him.”
Yes, we most certainly do... In some ways, control freak Dean reminds me a bit of James Bracelyn - which is not a bad thing since James is probably my favorite Bracelyn (if there is such a thing as a favorite Bracelyn, anyway).
“Never f--- with a woman who has a handbag the size of Alaska,” she snarls at Andrea. “Or a woman with zero f---- left to give.”
I wouldn't dream of messing (I paraphrase...) with Vanessa, as she is a great heroine, capable, strong, hilarious, and the perfect match for Dean.
But the character who not only stole the show but my heart is Roughneck, hands-down. Oh, my heart! <3
I loved this book so much, and I can't wait to read more about the rest of the Judson clan!
The first Juniper Ridge story features two main characters you might have met before, namely in "Mancandy Crush" (Vanessa) and Snowbound Squeeze (Dean).
“He’s an overbearing son-of-a-b**** but he’s good at his job. Also, we love him.”
Yes, we most certainly do... In some ways, control freak Dean reminds me a bit of James Bracelyn - which is not a bad thing since James is probably my favorite Bracelyn (if there is such a thing as a favorite Bracelyn, anyway).
“Never f--- with a woman who has a handbag the size of Alaska,” she snarls at Andrea. “Or a woman with zero f---- left to give.”
I wouldn't dream of messing (I paraphrase...) with Vanessa, as she is a great heroine, capable, strong, hilarious, and the perfect match for Dean.
But the character who not only stole the show but my heart is Roughneck, hands-down. Oh, my heart! <3
I loved this book so much, and I can't wait to read more about the rest of the Judson clan!
October 9, 2020
🎧 Audio Review 🎧
This was my first Tawn Fenske but will not be my last. I can't wait for more about Juniper Ridge. I loved the setting and the reality TV idea. This was very unique and that is refreshing. I liked the Judson family and can't wait to see what's in store for the other siblings. Dean and Vanessa were dripping with chemistry from the beginning and their love story was sweet. I enjoyed the fun scenes in this book so much (the water park).
The narration was great. I have missed Sebastian York and was excited to see him in something new and an age appropriate story. Emma Wilder was perfect for Vanessa!
This was my first Tawn Fenske but will not be my last. I can't wait for more about Juniper Ridge. I loved the setting and the reality TV idea. This was very unique and that is refreshing. I liked the Judson family and can't wait to see what's in store for the other siblings. Dean and Vanessa were dripping with chemistry from the beginning and their love story was sweet. I enjoyed the fun scenes in this book so much (the water park).
The narration was great. I have missed Sebastian York and was excited to see him in something new and an age appropriate story. Emma Wilder was perfect for Vanessa!
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