My first book was Trusting Jack, which is book one of the Unexpected Emotion Series. I had meant for it to be a stand alone, but readers begged for books about James and Norah. So the Unexpected Emotion Series was born.
Unexpected Emotion: Love doesn’t care if you’re looking for it or not.
TRUSTING JACK (available for 2.99 or on Kindle Unlimited.)
Blurb: After a devastating divorce, Emma is picking up the pieces of her shattered heart and life. Her first step is reclaiming her old job as personal assistant to famous actress Norah Jackson. Work takes her to London, where she meets sexy fledgling actor Jack Brandon. The sizzling attraction is immediate and mutual.
Little by little, Emma begins to open her heart again. But Jack has a past, too. And it’s come back to haunt him, wreaking havoc on their budding romance. Can Emma let go of the hurt and learn to trust Jack completely? Or is their relationship doomed to be a one act play?
Trusting Jack has earned a 4.6 star rating on Amazon. Here’s a review.
REVIEW: In Beth Hale’s book Trusting Jack the author has created characters so realistic they practically walk out of the pages. From the first chapter where Emma Payne is betrayed by her cheating husband Ryan I liked her character. Although she was devastated by his infidelity and subsequent abandonment, she takes steps to pull herself together and move forward with her life. Supported by her gay friend Chris and encouraged by her mother she returns to the job she had before marrying Ryan; assistant to world famous actress Norah Jackson.
Traveling to Europe with the actress for the filming of a “period drama” Emma, a history buff, is thrilled. Once in London the women have the opportunity to enjoy the city for a few days before the filming begins. After a flurry of shopping they go to a local popular dance club in the evening and fortuitously run into James Wyley and Jack Brandon. It turns out Jack is also starring in the movie and James is his best friend. Jack, an Englishman, is instantly attracted to the girl from the American South. While James flirts shamelessly with Emma he notices Jack’s interest and volunteers to step aside should the actor want to pursue her.
Emma may be attracted to Jack but her recent pain makes her wary of entering into any kind of relationship. What she doesn’t know is that Jack himself has had a recent romantic break up and he is also cautious.
The story flows beautifully as the relationship between Emma and Jack grows more serious. Behind the scenes Marcus Reynolds, want to be actor and assistant to starring actor Roger Agnew, lusts after Emma. She is unimpressed with him and deflects his very forward advances. In spite of this he continues to believe she will eventually give in to him.
This is very much a character driven book. The relationships between all the characters are well defined and develop in a realistic manner. Hale does a great job of dialogue, keeping Emma true to her Mississippi roots with occasional lapses into Southern dialect. Meanwhile all the British characters also use phrases and terms that are common in England. This sets yet another realistic tone to the story.
I found this book to be an enjoyable and well written romantic story. While Hale does kick it up a notch toward the very end with an unexpected violent act, it is smooth and transitions comfortably. I highly recommend it to readers who like a solid love story with a fulfilling if somewhat surprising end.
TAMING JAMES. ($2.99. Available for kindle, nook, ibooks, and kobo.)
Blurb: James Wyley is a ladies’ man, always looking for the next good time. Liv Hughes has sworn off love, knowing firsthand how painful it can be.
Forced to work together, they forge a tentative friendship that erupts into a heated affair.
As their relationship grows, doubts and fears surface, causing tension that can’t be ignored. And when an explosive discovery rocks their world, James and Liv must make a decision.
Will they allow old wounds to tear them apart? Or fight for their one chance at true love?
Taming James has earned a 4.7 star rating on Amazon. Here’s a review and a teaser.
Review: I absolutely loved “Taming James.” The story started out nice and easy, and very realistically. I could imagine a romance developing slowly in this very way. Both characters have some demons in their past that they need to confront before they can love themselves or truly love another.
Once their affair began happening I was completely caught up. James is hot, and I thought he was so adorable even with his fears and problems that stood in the way of them having a fulfilling relationship. In fact, I do believe I have known men with this similar issue. I was rooting for him, and I was so proud of him when he took the measures he needed to solve the problem. (I’m being careful how I state this to not reveal spoilers.)
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