What do you think?
The Talk of Hollywood
Book by Mortimer, Carole
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,318 books913 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 15, 2011
I love Mills & Boon novels – I own over 1000 on my bookshelf of my favorite authors books
I have enjoyed some of this author’s books but The Talk of Hollywood by Carole Mortimer is not going to find a place there. There have been a very few books that I never finished and this was one of them. I really tried but eventually gave up before I even reached the middle of the story.
The reason was not about the hero, Jaxon Wilder, an English actor and director – English heroes are not usually my favorites but this had nothing to do with this hero, Jaxon Wilder, a likeable, talented and famous actor and director, who wants to act and direct a movie based on a well-known person.
I can’t remember the last time I disliked a heroine like Stazy Bromley. She gives the English aristocracy more than just a BAD name!! An absolute snob….”its DR Bromley to you!”..so she’s an archeologist professor, brainy, beautiful….and so having such bad taste in clothes!!!! Dresses on the knee….in 2012!!!!! Anything less than cerebral….has no time for. How a guy would ever fall in love with this stiff and cold, cynical and condescending bitch is beyond belief. In fact, this is probably one of the reasons why I gave up the book. I couldn’t continue even for Jaxon – who was the only thing I liked.
I never felt any chemistry or romance between the two and after a while I became bored with all the bickering and ……..can’t even find words to describe what else I felt. And the names….just never got into them….a bit ott for me!
I have to be honest and say that I am not able to recommend this book to anyone apart from the diehard Carole Mortimer fans.
I have enjoyed some of this author’s books but The Talk of Hollywood by Carole Mortimer is not going to find a place there. There have been a very few books that I never finished and this was one of them. I really tried but eventually gave up before I even reached the middle of the story.
The reason was not about the hero, Jaxon Wilder, an English actor and director – English heroes are not usually my favorites but this had nothing to do with this hero, Jaxon Wilder, a likeable, talented and famous actor and director, who wants to act and direct a movie based on a well-known person.
I can’t remember the last time I disliked a heroine like Stazy Bromley. She gives the English aristocracy more than just a BAD name!! An absolute snob….”its DR Bromley to you!”..so she’s an archeologist professor, brainy, beautiful….and so having such bad taste in clothes!!!! Dresses on the knee….in 2012!!!!! Anything less than cerebral….has no time for. How a guy would ever fall in love with this stiff and cold, cynical and condescending bitch is beyond belief. In fact, this is probably one of the reasons why I gave up the book. I couldn’t continue even for Jaxon – who was the only thing I liked.
I never felt any chemistry or romance between the two and after a while I became bored with all the bickering and ……..can’t even find words to describe what else I felt. And the names….just never got into them….a bit ott for me!
I have to be honest and say that I am not able to recommend this book to anyone apart from the diehard Carole Mortimer fans.
May 10, 2023
Ended up skimming. Dunno. Felt very 2D. He's movie star/creative Jaxon and she's an archaeology lecturer called Stazy. Her grandmother Anastasia is to be subject of the film H is writing. They are closeted together to 'research' via papers her grandfather has.
January 5, 2018
What a waste ! A perfectly intriguing premise, great potential in the lead characters. But nothing is utilised by the author.
She simply churns out a sexually available but emotionally stunted heroine, with no strong basis for it. This need not have been the conflict in the tale at all. Simply the gloriously wide gulf between the situations of the leads will do, to spin a lovely tale !!!
He is a Hollywood heartthrob. Not just a killer looks hero but an intelligent director as well. She is a doctorate in archaeology !!! So there is absolutely no meeting point in their thoughts and lives.
Except he decides to make a movie on her grand mother. Who is a legend because she was a war time spy and all that.
The author had to do just this. Let the characters loose in each other's domain and allow the readers to enjoy the fun as their differences explode in their faces !!
Instead the author chooses to coupe them up in her grand father's home for a few days. All that they are doing in that time is having food and pawing each other quite desperately.
Finally, it just dawns on her that he is the one. And he finishes the so called granny movie in the mean time.
Phew ! What a waste. 2 stars.
She simply churns out a sexually available but emotionally stunted heroine, with no strong basis for it. This need not have been the conflict in the tale at all. Simply the gloriously wide gulf between the situations of the leads will do, to spin a lovely tale !!!
He is a Hollywood heartthrob. Not just a killer looks hero but an intelligent director as well. She is a doctorate in archaeology !!! So there is absolutely no meeting point in their thoughts and lives.
Except he decides to make a movie on her grand mother. Who is a legend because she was a war time spy and all that.
The author had to do just this. Let the characters loose in each other's domain and allow the readers to enjoy the fun as their differences explode in their faces !!
Instead the author chooses to coupe them up in her grand father's home for a few days. All that they are doing in that time is having food and pawing each other quite desperately.
Finally, it just dawns on her that he is the one. And he finishes the so called granny movie in the mean time.
Phew ! What a waste. 2 stars.
November 29, 2011
The hero Jaxon, a very popular movie actor and director, is planning to make a movie about the heroine Stazy's grandmother, who was a spy many years back. He wants to have Stazy and her grandfather on-board with his plans so that he has agreement as well as being able to find out more information. Stazy is suspicious of Jaxon and feels that he is only interested in sensationalising her grandmother's past. From the moment they meet Jaxon and Stazy butt heads with each other, and disagree on everything. Stazy is even more on edge when her grandfather agrees to help Jaxon on the condition that Stazy works with him while he researches. With her grandfather away leaving the two of them alone together, they soon realise that behind all their antagonism there is a fierce desire for one another. Jaxon begins to fall for Stazy, but is constantly fighting against her emotional barriers, and no matter how close they get she always finds a way to pull away from him.
While this book is quite enjoyable, at times I felt a little confused and bored. Everyone knows that one of the most important elements of romances, and indeed other fiction, is the internal conflict. In this book I couldn't really work out what that conflict was, and the reasons behind the characters behaviour was a little baffling. Stazy, rather than hurt and emotionally stilted as I believe the author was aiming for, just came across of stiff and uptight. Jaxon is a good hero though, the best part of this book in fact.
The blurb is so very misleading that I recommend you DON'T read it, lest you should be confused!
This book is OK, just OK.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
While this book is quite enjoyable, at times I felt a little confused and bored. Everyone knows that one of the most important elements of romances, and indeed other fiction, is the internal conflict. In this book I couldn't really work out what that conflict was, and the reasons behind the characters behaviour was a little baffling. Stazy, rather than hurt and emotionally stilted as I believe the author was aiming for, just came across of stiff and uptight. Jaxon is a good hero though, the best part of this book in fact.
The blurb is so very misleading that I recommend you DON'T read it, lest you should be confused!
This book is OK, just OK.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
November 7, 2014
I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the ratings and reviews here - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Carole Mortimer rarely lets me down.
February 10, 2022
Geoffrey Bromley has invited actor and director Jaxon Wilder for an interview to discuss making a movie about Geoffrey's late wife.
Much to the anger and dismay of his granddaughter Stazy.
Sparks fly as Geoffrey throws them together in working on research for the screenplay.
But the Sparks soon smoulder and they can't deny the attraction growing between them.
But they only have a week to work together then both have to leave for work.
An interesting plotline for a romance set around the world of movies.
Great little story.
Much to the anger and dismay of his granddaughter Stazy.
Sparks fly as Geoffrey throws them together in working on research for the screenplay.
But the Sparks soon smoulder and they can't deny the attraction growing between them.
But they only have a week to work together then both have to leave for work.
An interesting plotline for a romance set around the world of movies.
Great little story.
June 26, 2019
Did not live up to the synopsis on the back of the book. Rather an empty story. Liked the characters and I felt there was not enough to the story. I was expecting to read about Red Carpet events that they went to and the gossip pages.
September 8, 2017
An author I have always loved.
As compared to her earlier books,
This one was updated to reflect the hero's POV
Constantly bickering couple.
A cute read nevertheless.
As compared to her earlier books,
This one was updated to reflect the hero's POV
Constantly bickering couple.
A cute read nevertheless.
June 25, 2018
Muuuy cansado...
December 13, 2019
The man was far too handsy imo, but he was mostly okay otherwise. It's interesting that full-on PIV sex didn't occur on-page in either this or Rumors on the Red Carpet. Nice in a way.
May 5, 2012
Carole Mortimer is one of those hit and miss authors for me; her hits are really good though, so I often take reading risks with her. But this book was just a wreck. For one thing the heroine Stazy is so emotionally and, more unconvincingly, sexually stunted, it's hard to believe what the hero, Jaxon actually sees in her. She supposedly hates him for being a vapid Hollywood celebrity, and for trying to tarnish her grandmother's name in his screenplay about her grandmother; but god no, her body can't get enough of him; oh but no, her mind doth protest; oh but the slightest touch or glance from him gets her senses going again. The forced conflict between them just doesn't work. I suppose that's the purest form of love—I just couldn't see it. I feel sorry for the poor guy. He really is a darling of a hero stuck in love with an insipid heroine.
May 20, 2014
This was a pretty good read. The characters were sparky, infuriating, touching and aggravating. The plot was pretty good. Gramps was a good side characters, as well as Little (although little actually included him). :) I did want to knock sense into the duo quite a few times, but the ending was sweet and happy. This book would be good for passing time or just something to read to relax with.
March 14, 2012
This book was fun. Two people who are at odds from the beginning, always a good basis for a story. Jaxon is a good solid hero with good values While Stacy is determined to think the worst of him because she cannot let her guard down. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 13, 2016
This book is another example of misleading blurb. But I get it, it sounds more exciting like that than mere "Hero and heroine will be going through some of her grandma's documents and stuff for a film. The end."
August 30, 2012
There is not much of a story here and the female protagonist seems irrational and immature. There isn't much substance in the hero either.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews