Walker

by Josie Johnston

Sometimes you need to hide away from life…

Maybe he’s been burying them his whole life, but when multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Ed “Woody” Walker finally loses it on camera, mid-way over the Atlantic Ocean, in a goddamn Boeing, there’s no way he can deny it any more. He’s got… issues. He needs space to lick his wounds, sort himself out and stay away from the cameras, until he’s cleared for take-off again.

And sometimes life has one too many tequila shots, says the hell with that, and comes to knock at your door…

The last thing May wants is to go back to her old job as Personal Assistant to the famous, avoiding eye contact, dyeing chihuahuas and taking out the yellow Smarties. Not after she lost her last gig, and her best friend, in one tragic night. But money talks, they say. And if it’s a choice between toast and Marmite for the rest of her life or six weeks keeping the bad boy of Alt Country music off the front pages, well… money has a bloody loud voice sometimes.

If only she’d realised that keeping a low profile included Woody hiding out in her flat, sleeping in her bed and stealing her broken heart.

Warnings:
This story contains love, heartache, banjos, sex, foul language, alcohol, cheesy music, and men and women teasing each other in good-humour. Like adults.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2022

About the author

Romance is fun and bedroom scenes should sizzle. I write strong, dependable heroes, feisty heroines with brains. And of course… all the kisses, all the swoons!

I live in the beautiful Malvern Hills, in the middle of England. I’m an educator by day and a writer by night, I’m married to an artist and enslaved to a huge tuxedo cat. Tea and Bradley Cooper addict.

My whole life I have loved reading of all kinds, but romance has been my greatest passion since I was eleven and read Jane Eyre for the first time. My favourite romance authors writing today are Elizabeth Hoyt, Mariana Zapata, Talia Hibbert and Charlotte Stein.

I can be reached at josielynnauthor@btinternet.com

Reviews

[J.E. Rowney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid romance with realistic, believable characters and a plot that engaged me. An unlikely couple try to make it work, and the trials and tribulations they face along the way make for a decent read.

A little too much heat in this novel for my liking but apart from that it was a good book!

[Sanna G. Ståhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written book about two unlikely lovers!

This book was truly well written and the two main characters — May & Ed — was very well-described which almost made them feel real.

I enjoyed that Johnston choose to make the characters safe and secure in their relationship, which spared the reader from the cliche of the characters listening to rumors and misunderstanding each other.

May & Ed are two adults and act like it. They don’t run away from each other when problems come to the surface and they trust each other. Throughout this book their love and trust is one of things that is highly shown and I really enjoyed that the drama was around them, their relationship was never the drama itself. This was a good change from other romances where misunderstandings often tear the couple apart, here they worked through hard times together.

I did find the scenes with smut very well written and it sure got hot in some scenes! Something I didn’t quite enjoy was Ed getting hard out of nowhere and sexualizing May in situations where it wasn’t needed. They often ended up making love in the middle of or after serious conversations which I didn’t really vibe with. Perhaps it was their way to deal with talking about their pasts but for me it felt a bit off that they had sex straight after — or during — talking about trauma.

All in all this book was worth reading and I enjoyed May’s & Ed’s story! If you want a spicy, heartbreaking but also heartwarming story this is the book for you.

I got this book copy to review from Book Sirens, still this review is in no way biased and the thoughts is mine and mine only. Thank you Book Sirens!

[Kcblair · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale of a younger, sad and beat down by life woman, Mayflower, who meets an older, famous musician, Woody.
Their first meeting is funny with some unique touches. Mae’s funny orneriness is awesome and a great contrast to Ed’s funny chill vibe.
They both have serious issues they've tried to ignore for a long time and the way they help each other through them is very sweet and romantic.
It took a little too long for them to acknowledge their love; and the dialogue on that subject is a bit overwrought.
But the overall dialogue is very funny and contains some great conversations between the two of them;
"You're growing on me" "Like mold?"
I don’t feel the relationship with her parents is authentic, they seem a bit obtuse and easily manipulated for some reason.
I especially like the depth and background both characters were given! Thank you for that! So many books give you nothing and you don't feel any connection.
Who is her bestie? Maybe Thebes fills that roll? It’s hard to tell. Their relationship is one thing that’s not explained or detailed.
There was an odd development in Mae and Ed’s relationship that was somewhat thrown in at the end, I wasn’t sure why. It felt like a 180 for them.
As an aside, the crazy exchanges between the trashy gossip mongers who were stalking them were awful and predatory, but funny in a weird way.
I liked this book, but it didn’t blow my mind. But I enjoyed it.
I’m definitely going to read more of her work! Mae and Ed were well drawn and likable. I’m going to enjoy her other books, if nothing else because she puts so much thought into her characters and is very descriptive.

This is my first review, don’t think I included spoilers, but y’all tell me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed "Woody" Walker became a country star after his song Liquor Licker became famous when he was only 19. Now in his late 30s, he's trying to escape his bad boy younger image, but can't seem to stop being pressured to give the fans what they want. When the stress becomes too much and his phobias have him trying to break out of a plane while in flight, he needs a place to lie low for awhile.

May has given up being a PA for spoiled celebrities after her client's meltdown and her best friend's death on the same night a year ago. But if she ever wants her jewelry business to take off, she needs money. So she takes the job, but didn't realize "laying low" meant that he would stay in her apartment and be underfoot… and put herself under the scrutiny of the paparazzi. But after learning more about him, she realizes he's nothing like the media has made him out to be.

This was a sweet love story, with each helping the other with their issues and becoming closer as time went on. I loved the song lyrics at the beginning of some of the chapters, funny memos from the gossip rags on the others. I really felt like they had so much to overcome but they were able to stay strong together.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeanne Chepko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayflower Seaforth's last year was a tough one. Desperately trying to make her way back in the the real world, she reluctantly says yes to her friend taking a job as a personal assistant for a wild country singer Woody Walker or Ed as she prefers. He lost in on a transatlantic flight and needs a place to hide out and get his act together.

Sassy, snarky Mayflower has demons of her own, but is determined to do her job. Family, neighbors, paparazzi and their own issues thwart them at every turn. Can they heal each others pasts and mend their broken hearts? Lots of steamy sex and raunchy conversations, but down to earth caring.

Fun quick read.

I received an advanced complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own. Thanks BookSirens for the fun read.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyable romantic comedy read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh wow that was a really good one ! I really love the characters and the whole story set up. It was a fun book and I really liked the ending and I loved the cat. Is there more of this series because I can't wait to read it?!?!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story
Ed Walker is an internationally known Alt country singer whose recently been in the press for all the wrong reasons. Mayflower (May) has been a PA to the famous previously and she isn’t keen to do it again. Her friend Thea begs her to do it one more time, and she is desperate for the cash, but it doesn’t start out well. Especially since Ed is coming to stay in the apartment with her. Will either of them survive the experience?

My thoughts
This sweet story tackles hard subjects. May has really been through a rough time recently, and Ed struggles with issues from his own past. This story is consistently steamy, full of attraction and a few pretty open door scenes. But it’s mostly about being there for each other through the good times and the bad and holding tight to what’s important. A cute read!

I read an eARC copy courtesy of Booksirens and the author.

[Sean DeLauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed “Woody” Walker is a “bad boy of Alt Country Music who has hit a rough patch and needs to undergo public image rehabilitation and Mayflower “May” Seaforth is a down-on-her luck “lifestyle manager” (i.e., in this case, someone who will house a celebrity in order to keep them from the public eye) who needs a break, and, like two branches of an A-frame, each clearly needs the other.

Bad boy Woody, while attempting to stay out of the public eye, is placed in the care of Mayflower, who considers the arrangement extremely inconvenient. The former is older with adult children, while the latter is a little older than Woody’s adult child, struggling to make ends meet, and operating under a feeling of responsibility for the death of a friend. It’s only natural the two are thrust together.

Both have undergone difficult times and the story gradually teases out the truth of events over the course of the book, strengthening what begins as a frosty relationship and culminating in a multi-chapter sexual event.

If HBO was interested in making Hallmark movies with rated-R content, this would be it.

While the frequent innuendo as both characters hunger over one another’s bodies will satisfy those looking for an erotic climax, the story itself is really well told. Josie Johnston plots her book convincingly, knitting the characters steadily more closely to one another in a fashion that seems natural rather than contrived to get them in bed together—though that is where they end up, and in this the book keeps a promise implied by every other aspect of the book’s construction.

The book itself is cleverly organized, beginning with song lyrics from Woody Walker’s notorious and suggestive “Liquor Licker” tune, littered with double entendres, so the reader knows they’ll be treated to a romance with an expectation of more than what you’d get from G-rated Hallmark. Most chapters begin with copy, or correspondence between reporters and editors, from celebrity gossip magazines tracking Woody and regaling or exaggerating exploits and looking to capitalize on missteps.

By setting up the book as one that involves efforts by Mayflower and Woody to improve his image while pursued by tabloids intent on doing the opposite, the story involves a series of disastrous or manipulated encounters that give the tabloids the fodder they want, but at the same time cause Woody and Mayflower to share experiences and frustrations, leading inevitably to a relationship.

While it’s a familiar and predictable pattern, it’s no less satisfying for being able to anticipate the broad strokes of the story. We tell ourselves different versions of the same stories all the time and take no less joy from them. Entire genres capitalize on the pattern and, obviously, Hallmark seems to benefit considerably from it.

Suffice to say, readers who want this kind of story are going to enjoy it because it does exactly what it’s meant to: bring two struggling characters together to make a stronger, happier couple.

And if you like steadily building sexual tension that climaxes in something more than a gentle kiss and walking arm-in-arm wearing great big smiles, then you’re really, really going to enjoy it.

[Cam Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed "Woody" Walker is an aging world-famous alt-country music star, who struck it big as a young man with the "Yesterdays" and their Liquor Licker tune - a song that Woody's fans won't let him live down. Combined with some other deep-seated issues in his life, Woody finally melts down on a cross-Atlantic flight.

Springing into action is the firm of Simmons, Destry, and Panormitis Professional Representation. They enlist an ex-employee, "Mayflower" Seaforth, who gave up her job of being a personal assistant a year earlier after a client's meltdown and the death of a good friend, to shield Woody in her flat in Abbey Gate. May took the job because she needed the money, working part-time at a deli while trying to get her jewelry business off the ground. Woody was just another assignment and despite the fact she had no intention of treating this tall, long-haired, scruffy country star as anything other than a financial transaction, she almost immediately finds him naked on her roof, with the cameras, and likely the paparazzi nearby. The last thing May needs is another screw-up and the wrath of her former employer. Woody proves much harder than she thought, mostly because he's attractive and she just can't help herself. Although Woody might appear to be the one with all the problems, might it actually be May who needs saving?

This is a well-written book with a crisp pace and clever dialogue that suits its characters well. And there are some well-developed characters in May's life, who weigh heavily on her, from her demanding father to her best friends, an overbearing employer, and a wicked aunt. Much of the action, as expected in a steamy romance, takes place between May and Woody, and their witty back and forth banter had me laughing several times. He comes across as a doting southern gentleman looking for a fresh start, and she, a broken young woman trying to find her footing in life. Together, along with Bryan Adams, they might just be perfect for one another.

[Charles McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walker (American Princess Book 1) by Josie Johnston is an engaging read. The story of a celebrity musician and singer, Walker, and the woman who has been hired as his personal assistant to keep him out of trouble, Mayflower. Walker suffers from claustrophobia and excessive drinking to cope with his feelings and has a history of getting into trouble, particularly highlighted by the paparazzi. The book starts out well and keeps on going. There is tension and conflict in most chapters as the two principal characters struggle with their personal insecurities and fears of being hurt or rejected by the other that keep the read interesting and the reader wondering “what is going to happen next?” and moving on to the next chapter to find out. Further tension is introduced via the couples struggling to handle the ever-present and intrusive paparazzi and Mayflower’s struggles with the judgmentalism of family members. The writing and editing is well done, and each scene takes on a convincing and compelling life of its own. The sex scenes are very hot, although a little long for my taste. That however shouldn’t dissuade the reader that truly enjoys chick-lit. If that’s the case, you’ll be doing a happy-dance reading Walker from beginning to end. Well done and highly recommended.

[Juliette Godot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walker (American Princes Book 1) is written in the contemporary style. It was hard for me to get used to it. Not that I didn't like it, it was just different than what I'm used to.

The story revolves around a country singer who is supposed to hide for a while until the heat from his latest antics calm down. Enter May, a girl who had just lost her best friend. May is broke and agrees to "babysit" this star, not realizing he will be living with her. Outside their door, papparazzi are waiting to pounce, so they are stuck in the house together and forced to get to know each other. What could possibly go wrong?

The situations are believable and the characters are likeable, but the sex and swearing are over the top in my opinion. Half as much would have still been too much, however the topics of drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, etc... were written with empathy and understanding, which was enough to overcome the things I didn't like. Overall, good story and worth reading.

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

loveable idiot
Walker really is a loveable idiot, trying to uphold his bad boy rockstar image he threatens to ruin his career although deep in his heart he knows better - I really liked his character in spite of his stupid behaviour because the good guy always shines through.
May has been down on her luck, always meaning well but her actions often leading to a catastrophic outcome. She tries to pretend to the world that she is a tough cookie but she can´t help herself and follows her soft heart again and again: taking care of her elderly housemate, suffering a dominant cats demands or trying to save a stray rockstar…
I just loved the protagonists and was really happy for them to find their HEA after all the struggle they have been through.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Kimbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famous country crooner, Woody ‘Ed’ Walker has finally hit rock bottom, having a breakdown on camera on a transatlantic flight. His publicist hires Mayflower ‘May’ Seaforth as a personal assistant to aid him through his recovery in London, until he is able to board a plane back home to Tennessee. May has her own issues she is dealing with, and hesitates taking the job, but needs the money. Ed is the complete opposite of May, but eventually they realize together they make something great.

Walker is a music involved romantic comedy with two fabulous, endearing main characters, a few interesting, entertaining and supporting friends and family members, and one lovable cat. I loved the storyline - it’s a bit enemies to lovers, with a few different twists that kept my attention. I enjoyed how maturely May and Ed handled their differences. I hope men like Ed exist because I found him very swoon worthy. And the ending was simply perfect and deserving of such great characters.

[Karina Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. The banter between the protagonists May and Walker was funny and entertaining. Their “meet-cute” was unique and also funny. However, it did take me a while to like Walker. I didn’t really feel a connection between them when they first met. It seemed he was just lusting over May. I think she was the one who stole the show. I found myself wanting to learn more about her past and liked that she has her goals and is independent. Walker did act childish at times but by the end of the book I liked him more. He was able to redeem himself as he did not give up on May when there were obstacles in their relationship. The author also did a great job at balancing the romance and spice. I really enjoyed when May and Walker declared their love for each other. The way they trust each other and are open in their communication are goals.

[Gwen|| Bookish Blondie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the slow burn of Mayflower and Ed. I really appreciated how amazing Ed was in this. He really opened himself up to May and helped her through her PTSD from losing a friend. She was blamed for his death, but later on we find out the betrayal that happened that led May and Ally to what happened that fateful night. I can say that I was on the priests side about how I'd feel if Ally did to me what he did to May.
This novel is full of a lot of issues like drug/alcohol abuse, PTSD, emotional/verbal abuse and some very dark topics, but the author treats them with respect and I loved that Ed helped May finally stand up for herself. It was much needed.
The spice was also heated and very nice. I will say that I loved the refreshing way of writing this author has and writes the way a person actually speaks.
This was a good read.

Thanks to BookSprout for the ARC for a review.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

With few options left for either of them, May is now Ed's new PA. And roommate. She's charged with keeping him out of trouble - and out of the tabloids. This is my first read from the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story moves at a nice pace, and the characters are well-developed, though not all of them are so likable. May and Ed are a slow burn, with great chemistry and wonderful banter. In the beginning, she makes it clear that she's not going to take any of his crap, and I just love that she won't call him Ed. They're a delightful couple, and they behave like adults, working together to resolve their issues and challenges. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Koerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that fans of romance lit would definitely see “Walker” as a five star book. It has the right elements: the initially incompatible lovers, the tragic backstories, the enemy that interferes with their current happiness and so on. What makes this book rise above the usual is the writing itself. The dialog is authentic; the characterizations deep; and best of all; the author's voice is witty, funny, and full of deft expressive and descriptive language. I am not a reader of romance, but I enjoyed this book because of the writing itself. I am sure readers of romance will like it a lot.
BTW if this book was a movie, the rating would be R.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of an unlikely couple, May and Ed. He’s a country music star that has a long awaited melt down on a cross-Atlantic flight and she’s his new personal assistant and a roommate who has to shield him from the paparazzi. She needs the money, he’s just another assignment and she’s absolutely not attracted to him. He’s a doting southern gentleman looking for a fresh start, she’s a broken young woman trying to find her way in life. This is a very well written book with good pace and likable characters and great back and forth banter between the two.

[Loralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book is well written, this was not a book I would normally choose to read. The language and on screen sex scenes were too much for me, and even for someone else who enjoys lots of on screen sex scenes, I think some scenes would still have been a bit much, and off putting. I felt that there were random places where the characters decided to get busy and it didn't really fit in that scene. But someone who enjoys a great deal of on screen sex scenes and a lot of not school appropriate language, might enjoy this book.

[Eunice Nascimento · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and steamy

I enjoyed reading this romance set in my city. The main characters - Walker and May are realistic and the story is told in an engaging way. I loved the way Walker was so into May. It made this novel so swoon worthy and a delight to read. Both Walker and May have real issues to resolve before they can find their happy ending, which were dealt with at a good pace, keeping me wondering what was going to happen next. If you don't mind swearing in your books, and love contemporary romance with quirky characters, you'll love Walker.

[D. Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and i really liked the story that I had to get my hands on book two. LOL. That is how much I enjoyed this story and cast of characters. I was drawn and enjoyed the ride.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Florian Armas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good dialogues, complicated plot, a lot of swearing and even more ‘steamy romance’. But I think that the usual reader knows what to expect from a novel like Walker.

[Jason Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale very much belongs on the romance shelf. It's about the unlikely connection between a famous musician from Tennessee, Ed, and the woman, May, whose job it is to house and entertain him in present day London.

May must stick to the contract and keep it strictly business, whilst avoiding the paparazzi, desperate to spin anything they see about Ed into a tabloid story. Slowly the secrets from the history of both characters unravel, as May continues to deny that she has feelings for Ed, and it's soon revealed that they both have demons from their past which ends up bringing them closer.

What will become of this unlikely pair? Will a lasting romance blossom between them? You'll soon find out as you won't be able to put it down. Having lived in London myself I really connected to the story and characters. I also loved the musical references. Add this to your reading list if you like romances.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlikely Couple in a Sexy Romance

Mayflower Seaforth and Ed “Woody” Walker are an unlikely couple, and that’s the fun of this steamy romance. Both of them have issues: Ed has to live down his rep as a bad-boy country star and May must get over a tragedy and a series of events that have left her spinning out of control. They’re thrust upon each other when Ed visits London and May agrees to serve as his PA and to keep him hidden away in her flat, from the paparazzi and predatory journalists. Both of them think there’s no romance in the cards for them, but the heart wants what the heart wants (and other organs too!), so it’s not long before they’re madly in love.
Of course, with lives like these two have had, there are going to be complications. But in the end, love does conquer all.
The bedroom scenes are explicit and a little overdone at times, IMO. I deducted a star because I thought that the plot was overly complicated, but if you’re a romance junkie, this is definitely worth a read.

[MeganWritesAndCrafts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had great potential- Nashville country star gets stuck in London due to his behavior on a plane, get a PA who is essential Stuck babysitting him. They fall in love there’s a sassy cat a lovable neighbor, Two sassy friends, tragic backgrounds.

However this is not a book that I would end up recommending to friends just due to several plot issues with major one being the fact that it just eventually became pure smut at several different points. Instead of having them talk an issue out, they just slept together. It nearly become a porn with plot type book.

Additionally it became more about like the Paparazzi been the “villain” than the two lovers trying to overcome their issues together.

I would probably read another book from this author in the future to see if the plot gets better, but not with high hopes.

I received an ARC from complimentary from book sirens and I am leaving this reviews voluntarily.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall well written (a few typos) romance read. Main characters are Ed (Woody) Walker- country music icon/legend and Mayflower (former PA to celeb's). When we meet these two, both are broken characters and are doing their best to control the demons that haunt them on their own. Ed finds hope in Mayflower pretty instantly and as he helps her find strength and forgiveness their chemistry and love blooms as well. Great dynamic and banter, as well as beautiful character growth. Sweet with heat romance with a HEA that is sure to please.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Evy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Josie.
It took me a bit to get into the story, the writing style was a bit different than I’m used to but I liked the story.
Mayflower and Edward are two lost souls who have much more in common than they realize. When they realize they are it for each other, the story gets sweet and steamy. They are there for each other in good and bad times and make each orher complete. Thea and Zach are very loveable characters as well.
This was a nice but different read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked the premise of this book where a young British woman who has been an assistant to celebrities is asked to be a sort of paid companion to a (if the press is to be believed) out of control Country Star.

The book starts off really well, with the reader quickly understanding that there are reasons behind Ed (Woody)'s strange behaviour. He is misunderstood and being exploited shamelessly by the paparazzi. I can definitely see the appeal of Woody's character - he's just lovely.

It's Mayflower that I just didn't get. I found her character swung too quickly from one emotion to another, and I couldn't get a handle on her personality. She goes from salivating over Ed to nearly punching him in a toddler tantrum type rage. Of course there is a reason she is prickly, but for me, there just wasn't enough consistency for me to like her.

There are plenty of raunchy scenes once these two start to like each other which kept me reading - the attraction between the two characters is potent.

The story flowed unevenly at times but there was some funny moments and I especially liked Thea, and her support of May. All in all, this is a pretty enjoyable, quick read - I'd give it 3 stars.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. I must admit I found it hard going and couldn’t get into it at first. It took me some time, but I’m glad I continued.
The main female character was good and I understood her pain and was nice to see her change through the book.

As for the main male character he seemed like all the other books about singers as they are self indulgent and think everything is about them (that got boring and predictable sorry) but the more I read the more my opinion about him changed and I started to like him.

Even though It wasn’t one of my favourite books I have read lately it is a good story that will win you over in the end.

Thank you for giving me a chance to read the book and hopefully I will read more books in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.