Camera Shy

by E.J. Russell

Never assume…

…that your uber competent personal assistant will get it when you announce your (fake) engagement to him during a live on-air interview with your archnemesis.

Never waver…

…from your plan to punish your arrogant celebrity boss for his presumption by turning your (fake) wedding into a reality competition for event planners.

Never admit…

…that the feelings blossoming between the two of you through seven (fake) engagement celebrations, six (fake) bachelor parties, five (fake) wedding party luncheons, and four (fake) rehearsal dinners are about as (real) you can get.

Camera Shy is a boss/employee, fake-engagement, right-in-front-of-your-nose romantic comedy featuring a former child model-turned-PA who is so done with cameras, a cocky LGBTQ activist/talk show host who does not lose, more scarves than midwinter in Boston, and banter. So. Much. Banter.

Genres: M M Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Humor, Celebrity

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

E.J. Russell –grace, mother of three, recovering actor–writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. Count on high snark, low angst and happy endings.

Reality? Eh, not so much.

Reviews

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, Camera Shy is clever and cute, and so very funny! E.J. Russell has such a marvelous style of writing, I just know everything of theirs I pick up I'm going to enjoy.

Great characters, witty batnter, and a perfectly executed fake engagement trope. Winner!

The audio is beautifully performed by Greg Boudreaux. Boudreaux just gets Russell's sense of humor, and I hope this duo stays together permantley.

an audiobook copy of Camera Shy was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Janet (iamltr) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

So in here we have Dustin and Ari. These dingdongs were made for each other though it took them awhile to get there. If you have read any EJ Russell books, except for the earlier books, they are not really romance, but are really good. In this one, we get a really good story and a really good romance.

Greg Boudreaux did such a good job with this one that I was sucked in immediately.




_____________________________




It seems that the romcom is the most popular trope right now, but I usually stay away from them as they are usually not that funny, but this one wasn't that bad. If fact, if one was to write one, follow the way this one was done.

So in this romcom, we have Dustin, who used to be a child actor/model who was abused by this parents and then later had a guy go after him just because of who he was. Needless to say, he did not want to ever be in front of the camera. He worked as a PA to Ari, who was a champion of rights and had his own national news show. He was a sexy as heck self-centered bore who basically did what he wanted as everyone around him actually ran his life. This was a grumpy/clueless story.

Ari also had a neck kink -

And he took. Off. The. Fucking. Scarf. The sounds of traffic disappeared beneath the pounding of Ari’s heart, because Dustin’s naked throat was right there, not two feet away. All Ari needed to do was lift his hand and he could stroke the tempting nape of Dustin’s neck. Or trace the slope from his chin to the tender hollow barely visible under his open shirt collar. Ari would go slowly, so slowly, his fingertips barely touching the pale, delicate skin. Dustin’s breath would hitch, his eyes go dark , his lips part, and then he’d lean toward Ari and—

“May I…” He licked his lips. “May I take off your scarf?”

First things first, this was an arc but I hope that the editing errors are fixed before launch. Though the one note about Ari does something made me snort.

Spoilers ahead

Dustin was just having a normal day when Ari, just because he was pissed off at a guest (a gay man who was against same sex marriage and who went on networks like fox) announced on live tv that he and Dustin were getting married. On the spot, Dustin comes up with a way to spin this into a new reality TV show. Cause he is just that good yall. It's also a good way to punish Ari, who he secretly has been in love with for years.

Seriously? Dustin stared at the screen, debating the best way to find a slow-acting poison that would get Ari through the interview, while still causing him the maximum amount of discomfort afterward.

Serves him right for proposing to me with flowers I bought for his latest conquest. Who did that?

I will not feel sorry for him. I will not . The Twitterverse was handling that just fine with their #sadari hashtag.

I am not going to lie, this was very slow burn. At this point, if you are reading an EJ Russell book then you know it's going to have no sex and if you are lucky you get a kiss (which happened at 75% in this one) and you called it good. In this one at least they talk about the sex that happened off page. That is a major move forward. I was thrilled to read that.

So he slid his hands behind Ari’s neck and pulled him down into a kiss that was definitely not PG-rated. Because it wasn’t for the camera. It wasn’t for the audience. It’s for us.

The one major thing about this book was the way that certain facts, like people being terfs were not accepted and that the wonderful KK was never made to seem different. It wasn't until a stray comment that I realized what was what. That was cool. And she was wonderful.

“So many things wrong with that statement. First , everyone knows that Hermione had more talent . Second, until Jo accepts that women like me are, you know, actual women, we do not speak of her work. Third, what the hell did you expect him to do?”

So basically, this was a story about how two dingdongs finally got together and had their HEA.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

I think a large part my enjoyment of this audiobook is due to Greg Boudreaux, the narrator. He manages to not only clearly showcase both characters with strong voices and delivery, but side characters, as well. The jokes all land, the sarcasm oozes off the page, and even the soft moments of heartbreak, the drunken slurring, the shouting and angry sniping are all handled so well. If you’re interested in this book — and I hope you are — I highly recommend the audiobook. It’s only 7 and a half hours long, and well worth the listen.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this clever twist on the fake marriage trope

I've always been a fan of E.L.'s paranormal romances and I'm glad to say I'm now a big one of her contemporary too.

This had a great twist to the fake marriage trope, throwing it in alongside a reality TV show and a former child supermodel and actor in hiding.

Chuck in the funny side line where Ari kept calling his new PA Curtis a wrong name beginning with C each time they interacted, two great side character best friends and a delightful ending and this book is a smile encouraging joy.

My only disappointment, minor as it is, it that once again all the sexual exploring takes place in fade to black or off page.

I always feel like I miss out on the emotional developments that come through sexual intimacy.

Especially here where not onky was Dustin a virgin, but the one previous time he got close with someone, that guy was a douchebag who was only trying to trade on his former fame.

Still, it's a me thing, I know lots of people will be happy with the low steam.

I still loved the book and I'm really hoping we'll be returning to this world again.

[Amy Aislin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suuuuper sweet and cute slow-burn romance! Really enjoyed this new one from E.J. Russell. Fairly low-angst, fun, great character development. Quick read if you're looking for something light and fast but with substance.

[alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.75] y’all know i love a fake relationship trope, so when i read the blurb, there was no turning back. but as it turns out, characters who not only start off borderline too unlikable from the word go, but also have their unsavory qualities on proud display for far longer than needed to hammer in that, yes, they are indeed capable of classic privileged, trash behavior, can build a hurdle too high for my sympathy to scale. for the majority of the story, i was under the impression that the only thing Ari had going for him was his good looks, and wishing he had gotten the boot long ago was only another sad indicator of how incompatible my levels of care and his struggles were. to cite an example, Ari’s insufferably conceited nature had set the bar so low, he was applauded for remembering his new PA’s first name. after getting it wrong many, many times before 🥴 i wish more page time had been dedicated to persuading the reader what makes Ari and Dustin likable as individuals and compatible as lovers. i’m still left believing that Dustin was The One only because he’s the sole person capable of tolerating Ari’s buffoonery whenever it was foisted on him. which could’ve worked if it had been framed differently in context, but by the time things started to pick up, it was too little too late.

that said, it wasn’t a total bust - Greg Boudreaux is a force of nature and worked well with the writing style. some scenes were also rather sweet. the mcs just weren’t compelling enough for me as individuals or a couple for me to root for them.

Thank you to GRR and the publisher for providing a complimentary audio copy of this book; this is my honest review :)

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice story. Awakening of love that in front if your eyes for so long but you just ignored it.
Sadly I can't really connect with both main characters.
The steam wasn't there. I don't know, I think for this kind of story, you need more passionate love on page, not just fade to black.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freaking good. Unusual twist on the fake boyfriend/fiancé trope, with a great plot, excellent characters, and a fabulous HEA. Loved it. Absolutely LOVED IT!

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So freaking adorable! It's obvious the author knows the Industry from the inside -- I swear, I feel like I know these people from my friends' stories. I loved all of this!

[DJO · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t click with this book. Several things didn’t work for me.

*Ari’s transition from self-involved, shallow douche to loving, selfless swain was too abrupt, unearned, and not believable.
*This one’s on me bc it’s clearly stated in the blurb but I’m not a fan of TV-based plots, esp when reality shows are involved.
*Aris's inability to get Curtis's name right. That got SO. OLD.
*Fade to black.
*My complete confusion as to what Dusty ever saw in Ari. I mean, maybe the Ari at the end of the book but for him to have fallen in love w him as the douchebag at the beginning? Made zero sense.
*Overall lack of chemistry between Ari and Dustin.

Blah.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this an A for narration and a B for content at AudioGals - 4.5 stars

E.J. Russell’s Camera Shy is a sweet, snarky, fake-relationship story featuring a self-absorbed TV talk show host and his long-suffering assistant. I’ve only listened to one other book by this author – the 1920s-set Silent Sin – which I enjoyed very much, so I thought I’d give this contemporary a try; plus, with Greg Boudreaux in the narrator’s chair, I knew satisfaction would be guaranteed in terms of the performance.

Dustin Fremont has worked as the PA to Ari Dimitriou, host of a nightly talk show and LGBTQ+ rights activist, for three years – the longest anyone has lasted in that particular job. Ari is very good at what he does, but he’s also arrogant, demanding and self-obsessed, relying on Dustin to run pretty much every aspect of his life. Dustin juggles it all with aplomb; he’s bright, well-liked and hugely efficient, he doesn’t take any crap and has no problem putting Ari in his place when warranted (which is often) – and steadfastly ignores the tiny crush he might have on his gorgeous boss, burying it beneath layers of snark and exasperation.

Preparations are underway for that evening’s show, and Ari is particularly looking forward to locking horns with his guest, Jesse Sandusky – a queer man who has been outspoken in opposition to marriage equality – and getting one over on him on live TV. But Ari is way over-confident, and when Sandusky effectively backs him into a corner, pointing out that Ari’s reputation as a player doesn’t align with his being a cheerleader for the institution of marriage and pressing him on why he hasn’t got married himself yet – there’s no way Ari is going to let Sandusky win the argument. He calmly announces that he’s actually engaged. To Dustin.

Dustin is understandably furious, not least because Ari tries to drag him onto the set and Dustin has very clear stipulations in his employment contract that state that he will never appear in front of the camera. But it’s mostly Ari’s blithe assumption that Dustin will simply fall in with his plans and his observation that Dustin is the “safe option” for a stunt like this because he won’t have any expectations of it turning into an actual relationship that really outrages him – and has him coming up with the perfect way to get his revenge. He pitches the idea for a reality show – Ari and Dustin Tie the Knot – which will feature a group of wedding planners who will vie for the opportunity to plan the perfect wedding for the *ahem* happy couple. Of course, he won’t appear on camera himself, but Ari is the draw, so that won’t be a problem – and with the network desperate to avoid any accusation of sexual harassment, Dustin is immediately re-assigned as executive producer of A&DTtK. Hopefully, by the time they get as far as filming the finale – the wedding – he’ll have worked out a way for them to avoid going through with it that will play in such a way as to preserve Ari’s reputation and career – even if it means Dustin’s name will be mud.

The reality-show-as-revenge plot coupled with the slightly different spin on the fake-relationship trope make for an entertaining story, and I appreciated the focus on Ari’s character development. He’s an arrogant dickhead when we first meet him, totally oblivious to almost everything – unless it’s directly related to him – and doing exactly as he wants while others – namely Dustin and Gus (his lawyer and best friend) – actually run his life. But when he realises that in (effectively) proposing to Dustin on camera he’s also (just as effectively) fired him, Ari starts to realise what a great inconvenience not having Dustin around is going to be. For him, of course. But over the weeks that follow, through frank conversations and subtle moments of insight, Ari comes to see what a shitty boss he’s been, how much he’d taken Dustin for granted… and exactly what he’s lost. His character growth is very well done, because at the end of it all, he’s still Ari; not perfect, still capable of being overbearing, but much more aware of the needs of others around him.

Dustin is funny, efficient, intelligent and creative, and I was pleased that we actually get to see him being good at his job; so often in romance novels, we’re told a character is a whizz at whatever they do, but we never see them actually doing it, but here, we get to watch Dustin stepping up as he moves into his executive producer role. His background as a child model and actor is what led to the stipulations about never appearing on camera – after all the negativity that appeared when he started to grow out of being a cute kid at the age of ten, he has no wish to become the subject of one of those ‘here’s what they look like now!’ features that regularly crop up on the internet or to be reminded of his past. His parents exploited him and treated him like their meal ticket, and after emancipating himself at sixteen, he’s never looked back, burying ‘Dusty Darling’ beneath the reality of Dustin Fremont. He’s done everything he can to distance himself, from his previous life, but insecurities about his looks still cling to him, and his desire for the kind of closeness and affection he’s never experienced led him to place his trust in the wrong person. Disaster was, thankfully, averted on that occasion, but everything he’s experienced has made it hard for him to trust – which is another reason Ari’s careless announcement about their engagement hurt so much. Dustin had thought he was safe with Ari, who, while he can be high-handed and demanding was never petty or mean – until he threw him under the bus in front of a live audience.

I’ll admit that there were times I wanted to yell at the pair of them to have an honest conversation – and I found Dustin’s self-consciousness about his neck rather… odd. I suppose we can all get fixated on certain perceived flaws, but this just seemed a strange one. Fortunately, Ari discovers a neck fetish, so I suppose it all turns out for the best!

The narration is, of course, excellent. Greg Boudreaux’s characterisation of the leads is perfect, his pacing and comic timing are spot on and he employs a variety of timbre and accent to voice and differentiate a set of well-defined secondary characters. Ari’s rich, deep baritone is nicely contrasted with Dustin’s lighter, livelier tones, and their witty back-and-forth is handled with supreme confidence and ease. Mr. Boudreaux is so good at finding the essence of the characters he performs, expertly bringing them to life and finding a voice for each one that is a perfect fit, and he always finds the heart of the story, skilfully conveying every emotion and nuance. It’s a terrific performance and one that added considerably to my enjoyment of the audiobook overall.

Camera Shy is a lot of fun, and I raced through it in a couple of sittings. If you’re in the market for a snarky/sweet slow-burn romance about two people who find love right under their noses, this one is definitely worth checking out.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals.

[Ditte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 31%

I'm mostly just bored. Don't care about Dustin, and I actively dislike Ari.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book due to the title, the cover, and the terrific blurb. Added to those items, the fact that I’ve recently enjoyed some of the author’s other work gave me high hopes for this—and I was not disappointed. At all. I loved this unique, heartwarming, and appealing story!

Many aspects of this story were enjoyable, but principally the characters: Dustin, the smart and efficient PA to Ari Dimitriou, LGBTQ advocate and talk show host, who is an arrogant, authoritative, narcissistic, and gorgeous…fool. Why a fool? Because he allows his aggressive attitude toward his adversary, a well-known gay man who fights against marriage equality, to overcome his common sense. Case in point: in Ari’s counterargument for marriage equality, he boasts on-air that he’s engaged to Dustin.

Dustin, former child star Dusty Darling, wants no part of ever being seen in front of a camera again. Ari isn’t aware of his past, but Dusty was a media target in his awkward teen years when he moved from cute child star to not-so-cute gangly teen with a long neck, prominent Adam’s apple, and a mop of red hair. So, no, never again will he allow himself to be in the spotlight, open to public opinion and criticism.

He's a smart man, however, and under pressure from the station’s owner to appear on-air with Ari, he proposes a compromise: a televised short series contest among wedding planners for the opportunity to plan Dustin’s and Ari’s wedding. He will be the executive producer but he will only appear on camera from the rear. You guessed it—fans went wild for Dustin’s cute butt.

This lively, very different setting is a treat for readers who jump into this story. Ari goes from shocked to amazed to realizing he’s felt more for Dustin than he had previously acknowledged. He finally admits his life won’t be the same without him because, of course, Dustin will have to leave his PA job after they find a way to gracefully bow out of a wedding that’s going to be watched by millions of viewers.

Snark and banter, witty one-liners, real feelings, the highs and lows of hopes, the characters’ dreams—both fulfilled and unfulfilled—this story has it all. For me, it was a bonus that it moves at a fast pace and has no gratuitous sex scenes. Ari becomes romantic and sweet and loses his heart to the Dustin he comes to know. And Dustin? Well, he loves Ari, always has, but still he knows he has to find a way to bow out gracefully without letting readers know the setup of the show has been a farce. Above all, Dustin wants to assure that Ari’s popularity isn’t destroyed. And isn’t that one of the best measures of love?

Don’t hesitate to pick up this book. It’s a gift of goodness for yourself or for someone you care about. Highly recommended.

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author can do funny, often hilarious. Camera Shy was marketed as a rom com, but it fell a bit short in the humour department.

It was a lovely story. I was just expecting something more. A bit more of Ari and Dustin's experiences during the events - multiple bachelor parties, dinners etc could have led to some funny moments, but it seemed to be a missed opportunity. The reality show part of the story was really a non event. Considering it was the major plot line, it just fell a bit short.

Also wasn't a fan of the fade to black. This author isn't known for explicit scenes, and they often wouldn't fit in their stories anyway, but not fade to black. It meant the one physical scene lacked emotional depth because it felt like the whole thing was skipped over.

However, regardless of the above, I did enjoy it.

Narrator Greg Boudreaux really saved it. He gave it emotional depth through his interpretation/acting that wasn't necessarily in the written word, or maybe he just brought out that emotion. Either way, his was another excellent performance.

I would still recommend this story, just don't go into it expecting a funny comedy. What it is though is a very sweet and engaging story, that does have moments of humour, with a likeable cast. I love redemption stories, and a major point is Ari's change from a total jerk to a decent guy.

This author is one of my favourites. This isn't their best work, but it's still an enjoyable, fun, and entertaining read.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author and it was refreshingly different? :)
- interesting pacing (we see a lot of Dustin working for example and we don't get to see the details of the individual events as their feelings on the matter are taken into account instead of the amount of organza or tulle and the precise colour of burnt orange so that was great!)
- subtle humour although I laughed out loud a couple of times

My biggest pros and biggest cons simultaneously:
- we get to fall in love with the characters as individual beings and not as a couple
- a lot of the foundation of their relationship took place in the three years prior to the events of this book while they were in a boss-employee dynamic. This book deals with the outcome of the pinnacle of Ari's selfish arseholeness and the rest of the book is him learning from subtle moments, details and conversations just how much of an arse he has been

This book utilises a strong miscommunication trope from the beginning right through to the end and although I wanted them to just talk I was also okay with it because they both had some learning to do.

This book is a proper slow-burn (because we're mainly focussing on the characters individually) and I was really happy this book was fade-to-black. I was hoping for it at some point thinking to myself that it would be the smoothest way to write their progression from boss-employee, to breaking free of those roles and learning they're in love (before being honest with each other though) and it was!

In theory there were lots of things I could have disliked but I truly enjoyed reading this and can't pinpoint exactly why...one point may have been that it was a rom-combatic of sort that gay marriage should be completely normal, that being queer should not be something that has to be 'tolerated', that all love should be celebrated.

Some quotes:
About LGBTQ+ couples marrying:

"They're about to have their relationship recognized as legitimate."
"No," Dustin said flatly. They're about to have their relationships recognized as perfectly ordinary, as nothing that warrants any particular comment at all. They've always been legitimate." (p.161)

Ari is probably the most adorable arsehole I've ever read? Like it was a bit unrealistic at times BUT it's a romcom!

Dustin shook his head, chuckling in mock exasperation. At least Ari hoped it was mock and not actual exasperation, because that wouldn't fit in with his win-Dustin plan." (p. 162)

I'm glad that most of Ari and Dustin's relationship working out the kinks with Dustin's neck happen in private cause they're probably too intimate for us to be voyeurs to:

And he took. Off. The. Fucking. Scarf." (p. 176)

NSFW infos:
Two out, gay men
One White American, self-proclaimed "red-headed giraffe" who is four inches shorter than
American with Greek ancestry, often described as 'olive' but here more realistically described as brown skin (Harry from Calluvia knows it best!) and curly hair
Virgin MC
Fade to black
Forehead kisses :)

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Greg Boudreaux and he did an amazing job with Dustin and Ari.
The story was sweet, with a bit more lack of communication than I like, but I still liked it a lot and I loved Ari's growth and realisation of what or better, who he'd had by his side and took for granted. Dustin was really sweet, insecure due to his past and if things aren't told clearly to him, he will misinterpreted. And Ari is not used to having to say things out loud since his life has always been managed by his personal assistant, Dustin, and only when he ran his mouth and announced their fake engagement on television he started to really see Dustin and what he saw, he liked a lot.
Seeing those two's feelings grow in the few weeks they have to pretend to be engaged for a reality show, was both cute and excruciating. Frustrating, too. I was constantly screaming at them to just talk, say things clearly, out loud, no matter how scared they were or how much they assumed about the other. Communication is very important!

All in all I really liked the book and the narration was great!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun, witty, and hard to put down. It was a slow build that felt for so long like there was no way things could possibly work between them, but it felt good to see them eventually overturn the odds.

There were a couple of instances where the author added [bracketed notes] that hadn't been fixed, but I got an ARC copy so hopefully they'll be fixed before final release.

I think one of my favorite things was how subtle the reference to KK's gender identity was, because it's not broadcast because it's not a defining part of her identity, but when it is touched on its in such a clever way, that you need to understand the references to realize what's actually being said. So clever!

[Notagingerninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 🎧

Cute fluffy read. Nothing much happened but it was still entertaining.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

wasn't expecting that

[ancientreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate the cover, let's get that out of the way first. The image is so coy, as if Dustin's reasons for avoiding cameras were comedy fodder, but they're really not: he has a history of significant emotional abuse and partner betrayal centering around his childhood stardom. The narrative itself takes that history seriously, so it's a shame that the cover doesn't convey the right tone.

I'd probably have given this 4.5 stars except that Ari's love declaration is pop-psych goo, as is the epilogue (the ending would've been just right without it. Writers, stop over-egging the pudding!), and Ari's too awful at the outset to make it credible that Dustin hasn't started throwing shoes at him instead of falling in love. Because he's so awful, his change of heart starts happening way too fast, although once it's in progress it's satisfying.

Oh yeah, also I found Dustin's self-consciousness about his neck hard to believe. I don't know why, really -- people get weird ideas about various body parts all the time -- but it didn't work for me.

E.J. Russell is a consistent 3.5/4-star read for me, so I keep coming back for more. But, um, mainly to keep me busy while I'm looking for something excellent, or as a break from something heartbreaking (Alexander Hemon, I'm looking at you.)

[BeckieLouLou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, modern boss/employee story centered around reality TV and the juggernaut that is social media. One of the best parts of this book was the quiet, introspective moment when the boss looks back and appreciates everything that the employee handles for him. It’s a beautiful moment and that gratitude and realization is so so good. Really fast paced, story keeps moving along and stays interesting. Very low angst, easy vacation or beach read.

Very chaste, no spice, no on page smexy times. I did enjoy reading this book, but felt like something was left on the cutting room floor. I would have liked to read more lovey tenderness, groveling or fun in the sheets. A larger dose of any one of those items would have kicked this book up a notch for me. Still a solid read, 4 stars.

Slow burn, boss/employee, m/m, fake relationship, media.

[Jenn ReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was full of mixed feelings about this book. Sometimes I wanted to smack Dustin and at other times I wanted to hug him and use one of his scarves as a sling so I could just carry him around so nobody would hurt him again. Ari was… he was a tough sell for me. It took him so long to get his head out of his behind that I thought we’d need to use Dustin’s scarf as a pulley to help him out. However, once Ari removed said extremity from the chute, he was easy to root for. I wanted him to win Dustin over. I wanted him to show him that he’d fallen in love with him and that he wanted to marry him for real.

Dustin is weary about love and trust because of the way his parents and ex-boyfriend betrayed him. Being betrayed on live television by his boss, essentially being thrown under the bus to save face in front of Ari’s nemesis, Jesse Sandusky, was the last straw for Dustin. After 3 years as his PA and carrying out all his ridiculous demands and errands, Ari’s assumption that Dustin would simply bow down to Ari’s most outrageous demand to date has Dustin seeing red. This spur-of-the-moment declaration of love and engagement lead to a revenge plot that I’ve never read before. It was the revenge premise of the reality show that Dustin plans in minutes that finally settled me into the story.

After his time as Dusty Darling, child model, Dustin left the spotlight and his selfish parents behind, buried Dusty under Dustin Fremont and his “giraffe neck” under a variety of scarves and flown under the radar successfully for the last 15 years. After Ari’s unfortunate assumption that Dustin would just agree to be engaged as though it was in his job description, Dustin convinces the station’s boss to televise their wedding and lead up to it with a reality competition. Dustin will serve as the Executive Producer and Ari will be the star, the roles of boss and employee reversed.

What starts as a punishment for a fake engagement turns into very real feelings and Dustin & Ari are forced to decide if they truly want to “break-up” on the day of the wedding or if they want to stay together for Ari to explore more of Dustin’s long, graceful, delicate neck once he’s convinced him to leave the scarves off. When a wedding day publicity disaster happens, Dustin takes it as a sign that they shouldn’t be married. Can Ari convince him that his feelings are as far from fake as Dustin is from Dusty, or will Dustin leave true love at the altar like he left his childhood behind at 10?

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
Camera Shy
E.J. Russell

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dustin and Ari ❤️

This story was such a fun read, the sass was endless!!!
One of my favorite tropes is when an arrogant, aloof, relationship phobe falls head over heels without knowing what was staring them in the face the whole time and this one had that in spades plus lots of hilarity!!!

Ari and Dustin were so great together, Ari was just what Dustin needed to heal his broken soul and in turn Dustin did the same for Ari. This was a low spice book but to be honest that didn't even matter because the relationship from grumpy boss/lowly assistant to so much more was just enough to adore ❤️ I would 100% recommend this sweet little rom-com!

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Kat Moreid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ari is a real asshole in the beginning. He is the stereotypical celebrity, thinks the world revolves around him. He takes things too far when he announces his fake engagement to his PA, Dustin, to combat his rival on live TV. Dustin is not happy and because of past trauma refuses to be shown on camera. Dustin gets his revenge though by pitching a reality show where they get married. The situation and guilt does open Ari's eyes in a multitude of ways. He sees how bad he had behaved and he begins to actually see Dustin. I liked seeing Ari grow into a better person. I loved when he saw Dustin without his scarf for the first time. It's Dustin's biggest insecurity and Ari was practically stunned by how gorgeous his neck was. I just loved that. Dustin and Ari are perfect for each other and I loved their story.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Okay, this was adorable. Russell made a note that this was her first romcom in a couple years, and it was a perfect return! Ari was hard to like in the beginning, but I hung around for Dustin and I'm so glad I did because Ari grew so much and ended up being romantic and perfect. They just had such wonderful chemistry together and I loved their banter, their friendship, and their slow fall into love! My one gripe is it did seem like the feelings were a little rushed at the end, but it still completely worked for me. So many characters I want stories for, I truly hope this becomes a series!

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2★'s = it was ok.

I must have not read the blurb or skimmed it and forgot because this was really not for me. I just don’t do Hollywood, it seems to never work for me. Here, it wasn't for the normal reasons but still, it just didn't work. I never understood what was happening or even why it was happening. And then when it was happening I didn’t feel any connection whatsoever between these two.

None of it made any sense and most of it was just producing a reality TV show. I hate reality TV.

I think some may like it and maybe find it cute. It’s a fake marriage sort of story but at the end of the day, to me, it remained feeling fake and nothing more.

I don't know. Bummer.

[Hemmel M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing addition to the MM romance genre.
Out of revenge a television crew tricks a presenter into his cooperation to marry his colleague. What follows is a character development from realizing he is not a nice person, into making amence. The author restrained from the hornyness, pining and angst that is so very abundant in other MMR novels. A few clichés I can forgive.
The narration by Greg Boudreaux was one of his best.

[Capreacula · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,4 stars.

Lovely, lovely story!! And brilliantly narrated by Greg Bourdreaux: all characters are clearly distinguishable, even the side characters. I'd really want to read about KiKi and Curtis next or even Jesse.
I loooove competence and Dustin is personified competence
Ari is great, too - changing from a self absorbed prick to a loving husband.

I started the story last night past midnight and almost listened non-stop (with sleeping and family life in between) finishing before midnight. As I usually take much longer to finish when listening to an audiobook, that's noteworthy.
This is my first EJ Russell book but it will NOT be my last.
The next audio by EJ is already lined up for later.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this had no right to be so cute.

I will say, this is not my usual cup of tea, but I saw EJ Russell audio, and I couldn't resist. This had all the charm and humor I've come to expect from EJR, and I found myself surprised by how much I adored it.

-Fake Engagement
-Work-place romance
-Virgin
-Insecurities

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed. Fake fiancé seems like atrope that’s done the same way often. I found it refreshing the way it’s done here. The way Dustin reacts to the engagement is just gold. How Ari keeps growing all the way to the end…. Nice job!