Idolize: Single mom romance

by Maggie Rose

Declan
I have fame and fortune. I gained the lead role in the TV show Dark Storm and I can have a different woman in my bed every night. I thought this was what I wanted. That was until I met Callie. We had one night of passion and I want more, but who I am means nothing to her.

Callie
I moved to LA to escape a violent past and all I want is anonymity for myself and my son. I was starting to get my life back on track when I met Declan Reed. He is latest hit on the Hollywood scene. I can get the love of a TV star, and the fame that comes with it. I might also get a past that comes back to haunt me with what could be fatal consequences.

264 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2022

About the author

Maggie Rose lives in Australia with her husband and dog Duke. Unlike many authors, she didn’t know she wanted to be a writer until a few years back. She started a Degree in Drama but soon realized she loved writing, though there is a play lurking somewhere on her computer. She has a Bachelor Degree in Drama, English, and Creative writing.
She always loved reading and decided the stories in her head needed to be written down. It was either that or start on medication.
She believes romance can be fun to read and write, but it’s exciting to spice it up with the uncertainty that comes with suspense where the rules can be broken.
She also W/A Maggie Mundy

Reviews

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Australian Declan has the lead role in the TV show DARK Storm and could sleep with a different woman every night but having met Callie he knows that after one night of passion he wants so much more which is enhanced by the fact that his fame and fortune mean nothing to her at all. Callie moved to LA to escape violence in her past and just wants to have a quiet anonymous life for herself and her son. Then she meets Declan and the fear is that his fame might bring back her past with fatal consequences.

I enjoyed this story which had the very human side of Callie who just wants a quiet life caring for her son, as opposed to Declan who knows he wants more, finds the perfect woman but then has to find a way to protect them. The writing was clear and easy to understand, and the emotions involved were easy to sense and feel. It was emotional in places. I loved her friend and how supportive she was. They made a perfect couple and I'm sure would have the kind of HEA we would all want them to have. Contains some mature content.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Callie moved to LA to hide from her ex and start her life over with her son Tommy. She is out on a hike and comes across a man who was injured. She takes him back to the small cabin that she has rented for the weekend and there is a thunderstorm. She is deathly afraid of thunder and lightning and the man helps to calm her. He tells her who he is: Declan Reed. He's a famous actor from Australia, but Callie is not really impressed by that, which makes Declan all the more interested. They spend the night together but agree that it's a one-time thing. Except that once it's over, the two of them can stop thinking about each other. Soon they are in a relationship and are building something real. When Callie's ex comes to LA, will they be able to weather the storm? And when Declan is injured in an earthquake, will the relationship that they worked so hard to save be finished?

I really liked these characters, especially Callie who advocated for herself to get what she needed with Declan. And he let her have control when she needed it to learn what she wanted/needed for herself. He made her feel safe by letting her do that.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Callie took her young son Tommy and escaped an abusive relationship, heading to the West Coast to stay with her friend Sasha. When Callie helps Declan when he is stranded on a hiking trail with an ankle injury, she has no idea he is a movie star. A one night stand is all she thinks it is. But when Declan continues to pursue her, she slowly starts to trust him. But being in the spotlight brings her worst nightmare to her front door - her drug addict ex-boyfriend. Will the drama that ensues bring them together or tear them apart?

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book. I liked Callie’s character and how she was trying to make a better life for her and her son. Some of the language in the book was a bit stilted and I was a bit confused by the author’s over use of the word ”reckon”. That being said, I do plan to read the next book in the series.

I read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie is running from her past when she rescues Declan and they share a wild night together. When they are reunited Callie is resistant to building a relationship because of her past but Declan is eventually able to win her over and they have their HEA. First book from this author for me and I really enjoyed her writing style. Sweet romance and plenty of steam made for a very enjoyable read.

[Karen Ruedisueli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the story. I could see the word "reckon" used by the Australian actor but the author over used the word in the story by having the American woman use it liberally as well and it hurt the integrity of the story for me

Great characters. Exciting and horrible parts to the story and handled well.

I'd read the author's work again in the future.

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]