Studs and Stilettos

Hearts and Hoofbeats #2

by Bev Pettersen

Her dreams of stardom are complicated by a hot wrangler…and a ruthless murderer.

Winner 2013 Reader Views Reviewers' Choice Award
Winner Aspen Gold Readers' Choice
Winner NEC-RWA Reader's Choice Bean Pot Award
CRW Award of Excellence Finalist
Write Touch Readers' Award Finalist
Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Finalist

Emily Murphy isn’t afraid to swap her fancy wardrobe for a borrowed pair of barn boots. Working on the set of a Kentucky movie might be just the ticket to landing a real acting job and proving to her sister she can accomplish something worthwhile.

Dan Barrett knows a lot about hard work and even more about horses. And while he’s drawn by Emily’s beauty and pluck, he wants a stay-at-home ranch girl. But fighting their attraction is difficult, and soon they both realize that what they thought they wanted isn’t what they really need.

Unfortunately, Dan isn’t the only person watching Emily. And the other one is a ruthless killer determined to keep an old secret buried.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Westerns, Contemporary, Amazon

319 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2013

About the author

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Bev Pettersen is a three-time nominee in the National Readers Choice Award as well as the winner of other international awards including the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Award, Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award, Write Touch Readers’ Award, Kirkus Recommended Read, and a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She competed on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equestrian Canada certified coach.

Bev lives in Nova Scotia with her family—humans and four-legged—and when she's not writing novels, she's riding. If you’d like to know when her next book will be available or just want to say hi, please visit her at www.BevPettersen.com

Reviews

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read starring Emily Murphy, the little sister from Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash. She is all grown up and has big dreams, even if those dreams keep changing. After deciding to become an actress, and spending far more money on agents, photo shoots, clothes and auditions than she could afford, she takes a sub-par roll doing background work. The movie is based on a famous race horse, and set on the actual ranch where the horse lived.

This turned out to be far more a mystery read than a romance, but there is still a fun bit of romance too. And a pretty good HEA! Emily is immediately taken with the handsome, famous horse trainer Dan Barrett. After a chance meeting, he offers to help her find a small bit part. He is well known in the industry for not bedding the actresses, but damn, his desire for Emily is a lot to resist.

There are several fun secondary characters that I also enjoyed. The mystery was captivating, even if the 'killer' was obvious early on. It was a nice mix of light laughs, passionate romance, and a captivating mystery. I loved seeing Jenna and Burke again too.

As I mentioned already, Studs and Stilettos was more mystery story than romance story. Unlike other books by this author, the mystery takes up most of the pages and the steam factor is quite mild. The story used 'fade to black' sex scenes, leaving it all up to the readers imagination. If that works for you, then I highly recommend this book. And while it stars the little sister from a previous book, this one stands alone and can be read in any order.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studs and Stilettos follows Emily Murphy, an aspiring actress who takes a job on a Kentucky movie set where barn life, a handsome wrangler, and a simmering murder mystery complicate her bid for success and personal validation.

What struck me first was how Pettersen stitches together two pleasures I love in romance: the tactile world of horses and ranch work (you can tell the author knows her subject) and the backstage glamour and petty politics of film sets. Emily is written with sympathy: she’s eager to prove herself to her sister and willing to swap stilettos for barn boots, which makes her both determined and likable. Dan Barrett (the wrangler) is gruff but watchful in ways that slowly soften; their push, pull is honest, with sparks that feel earned rather than manufactured. Pettersen keeps the atmosphere taut by threading in a murder element. It describes a ruthless murderer lurking on set and that suspense lifts the stakes so the romance never feels frivolous. The prose leans accessible and warm, the dialogue snaps, and the pacing moves briskly between flirtation, work scenes, and investigatory beats. If there’s a minor quibble, it’s that the mystery sometimes competes with the emotional development, a couple of scenes could use extra breathing room but overall the blend of second-chance romance, equine detail, and a whiff of danger makes for an entertaining, emotionally satisfying read.

Rating: 4/5 — I’m giving it four stars because Pettersen delivers engaging characters, a well-realized horses-and-film setting, and a suspense thread that raises the romance’s stakes; I docked one star because the mystery occasionally overshadows quieter emotional work that I wished had lingered a bit longer.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Studs and Stilettos, Bev Pettersen
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I loved Bev's Colour my Horse so when I saw this in the lists I had to ask for it...I was one of those horse mad kids who never grew out of it...use to drive mum mad asking if we could convert the outside loo of our council house into a stall, so I could have a pony on the commons during day and home at night. Of course the answer was no :) and it took me over 30 years til I finally got my dream of my own horse. Now I have an elderly mare living in my garden, just as I dreamed of all those years ago....so any book with equine link gets a second look.
Bev clearly knows the horse world well, I felt as if I was there with them, could almost smell them. We horse people love that smell, oddly those who aren't “horsey” don't seem to share our love for that scent though! After (another) fall some years ago where I’d lost consciousness, the nurse at the surgery was complaining about how the horse smell lingered after I’d left. I was still not quite “with it” so it rolled of me :) Still, enough ramblings – back to the book. Emily, she was so sweet and I felt for her, always been looked after by big sister Jenna, it had been just the two of them for so long, but now sis has found the love of her life Emily was a bit lost, and looking for something of her own. She'd tried lots of jobs but still was missing that spark, so her latest choice was acting, hoping her sister would be proud of her if she saw her on screen. Then things go wrong, and she has to try for some background work on a movie, hoping to finally impress Jenna and get enough money to tide her over. Its based around a famous racehorse, and having had her own pony (Peanut – the old guy was still living with Jenna) and worked at an equine rehab centre, she did a bit of skill fluffing and managed to get some extra work as a wrangler to pad out the pay, and keep her around the movie set in case of more chances of work. She makes friends with another background actor – Judith – who gives her lots of tips and help. Then she meets the delicious Dan, horse trainer and well renowned. He's attracted to Emily, but his motto is to keep away from on-set romances – cause too much problems after, and he doesn't want a long distance relationship – his parents marriage didn't work and he's determined not to go the same route. Still, she's got under his skin, he admires her tenacity and things slowly develop.
Part of the lure of the film is that the horse was tipped as a Derby winner, then his girl groom went missing mysteriously two weeks prior to the race and he just flipped out and lost everything, becoming really difficult to handle etc. Emily finds out a bit about the missing girl, some of her possessions are in the house of the elderly caretaker – he's seems to have some memory issues and isn't taking care of himself. Emily having come across him by accident feels she needs to help him, and found a bag of the missing girls belongings while tidying his house. After that Judith seems to become obsessed with the missing girl and the dangers start to stack up. Things between her and Dan are on and off, and there are lots of misunderstandings before finally the story comes to a life threatening conclusion.
Its a stand alone novel, ( hurrah ) and has a neat conclusion wrapping up all lose ends. I didn't see what was going to happen, had a bit of an idea from clues thrown in but the aggressor came as a shock to me. It reminded me a bit of Dick Francis novels, thrillers set in horse world, and I’ve read most of his. Now I enjoy those with a strong romance base better, and Bev has done that perfectly here. Its priced at £3.17 for 376 pages, so plenty of length to allow lots of minor angles that add interest to the story – such as the jealous Lizzie who twisted round what Emily had done to show her in a bad light to Dan...I like some jealous/nasty parts, it's boring if everyone is nice.
Stars: Four and a half, great read.
ARC supplied by Netgalley.

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is the second book in the Hearts and Hoofbeats series, I didn’t need to read Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash in order to thoroughly enjoy Studs and Stilettos. I never felt lost in the story and I appreciate that it was written in a way that didn't require a synopsis of book one at the beginning in order for me to get started reading. I’m not a romance junkie and I’m not a horse person, and you don’t have to be either to enjoy this well-written romance-mystery novel.

Emily is a lovable character who is stumbling along in life and just not getting it right. She feels she hasn’t lived up to her potential or her older sister’s expectations. While pursuing her acting career, she meets the dashing horse trainer/wrangler, Dan Barrett, whose history with performers has left a foul taste in his mouth.

The story is warm and quirky. It is eloquently peppered with humor and the seeds of a mystery. I loved that Dan and Emily didn’t immediately fall into bed or spend the entire story thinking about sex. This relatively chaste love story was just right—not too predictable and not too saccharine. The secondary characters are interesting and well developed; they all play a role in the reader really getting a sense of what it is like to be a part of a movie production. The plot was well paced. The characters were believable; no one was perfect, and no one was portrayed as a caricature of a hero or a villain. I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of a mystery element to the story. As the mystery reached its zenith, I was surprised by the outcome. No spoilers here—so I won’t say more!

All and all, a well-balanced, delicious escape that has left me wanting to read more books by Bev Pettersen.

[Donna Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much. There were so many aspects to this western romance that I loved. It was the story of Emily a struggling actress. and Logan a movie horse trainer. Emily goes on the movie set to try out for background work and catches the eye of Logan. He is fascinated by her wit and charm. She applies for special work and tells them she is good with horses and has worked a lot with them. He hires her for a few days to help with his injured contracted horse. There is a mystery involved in the movie about a horse named Reckless and his groom, Tracey. She disappeared years before with no trace and it greatly affected the horse. It took years for him to recover. Emily and a friend named, Judith get embroiled in this mystery. This is a great love story and I could not put it down. You will love it. Congratulation Bev on a great story

[Eli Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Bev Pettersen's books. I love horses and I love her knowledge of them. I think it is great how she also takes another subject to intertwine with the horses. In Studs and Stilettos, it was film making. It really gives you a look of how movies are made from a novice point of view. This makes the book very enjoyable. The mystery in the book was a bit predictable. The romance between Dan and Emily is cute. Emily is inexperienced in the way of life and very naive. I think this is a nice light read especially if you like horses.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash because in the first book Emily came off as a really horrible person. But as a main character she was much more sympathetic and fun. A fun, light read.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything. It tells the story of Emily who has pretty much messed up at everything she’s tried to do. She wants to once do something right for her sister’s sake. Jenna has always taken care of her. Now Emily is trying acting. She wants to earn enough to take Jenna for a weekend to races they attend every year but this time she wants to pay. She finds a job acting as background. But she also tries out for a wrangler position. In the process she runs across envy, jealousy, a man with dementia, a murder mystery and dangerous people. But she also meets Dan. A very enjoyable book.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too silly for me

14% into the book I quit. Did not respect main character who acted more like a 10 year old. No grammar or word misuse gets it two stars. Felt like I was reading a 40 year old Harlequin romance. You know the confirmed bachelor of 36 meets an 18 year old beauty and falls head over heels in love.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and this one is about the flighty sister who drops out of college and can't afford to pay her bills. She gets a job as an extra on a movie about a famous thoroughbred and the female trainer who mysteriously disappeared years ago. She fakes her way into being a "special skills" person on set so she can get more days of work.

She works closely with the horse handler in the movie and also befriends the elderly caretaker who has dementia and may know more about disappearance than everyone thinks.

There is romance and a mystery to solve and the story was good, but as with the first one, I didn't feel the chemistry in the romance. The male lead came off very cold and unfeeling in the beginning and it didn't really change much by the end.

Overall and good story, but not a great romance.

[Andrea Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horses and murder

Bev does a wonderful job incorporating horses into her story. I love his storyline, handsome horse wrangler falls for extra that happened to know about horses. Along the way they fall in love solve and murder and film a movie.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

**Was given an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Due to downloading difficulties, I was not able to read this book.

[Vicky Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked knowing how much the main character loved horses and reading how she could get a horse to do tricks for her.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was nice that this one involved a bit of mystery to it.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this book was a sequel to Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash until I got several chapters into the book (that was my mistake). This was the perfect sequel. We got to check in with the characters from T&TT (Jenna, Burke and Peanut, plus some others) which is always fun.

I loved the chemistry between Dan and Emily. Dan was a little rough around the edges. It took me a little while to get past his gruff demeanor to the likable man that he really is. He keeps a wall around him self due to some issues when he was growing up. He really had feelings for Emily, but his mistrust of women in the showbiz industry held him back. Partly.

Emily was a tough cookie. I really loved her. She did some serious growing up during the course of the book, which was fabulous to see. She started the book as this insecure girl who felt like she needed to hide behind a mask of makeup and pretty clothes so that she could succeed and prove to Jenna that she wasn't a complete failure. She learned that she was more than a pretty face, that she was important and that she was needed.

It took a while, and some heartache but Dan was able to show Em that she was more than just a pretty face...and Emily learned by herself that she was capable of so much more than she (and some of the people around her) gave her credit for.

I wasn't expecting the mystery of the death of Tracey to be solved, and I definitely didn't expect the person that actually committed the crime to be the one that did it. I was thinking it was someone COMPLETELY different. I was left guessing "who dun it" until the very end.

This book made me miss having horses around, and made me want to read all of the res of Bev's books. She's not an author to miss. Once you pick up one of her books, you won't want to put them down.

*I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and views about the book are my own. I was not paid by the author or the publisher for this review.*

[Zarith dol · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC given by netgalley for an honest review
First of all, I never read anything involving cowboys, ranch, mention horse or thereof, it is really not my cup of tea. But I made exception for this book, which is a relieved as it is a very good book.
The story start with the heroine Emily, living under her twin sister's husband good grace (he is a millionaire so...). She is an aspiring actress, move job-to-job to include her or lack of auditions as well as funding. Desperate for money, she audition for extras in the movie involving a mysterious disappearance of a horse trainer who said to be the mistress of wealthy ranch owner. During the shooting, she meet the rugged handsome movie horse trainer (i think the title) Dan. Tried to avoid any involvement with any actress, Dan focus on his passion in horses. But the sparks that ignite btw him and the newly appointed actress cum horse trainer Emily, trampled his good intention. With accident after accident happen in the movie set, who is the shadow trying to stop the filming and possibly hiding a murder? Will Dan past burn by his newfound relationship for the future?
Good job for the author for writing a very good plots for the story. Not to mention a very click chemistry btw the main characters. I also like cameo from the past couples as well as secondary characters involved. Love a good romance thriller, this one include. 4.5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so I saw this was a sequel so I went and got the first book as I read it I was like omg I was not a fan but I wanted and hoped that is was a little better. I started the book out and it was a slow go at first. If you can can get to chapter 8 the book picks up and it gets really good. The book is way better the book one. It goes up and down but the downs are a lot less. The book is about Emily who is working to find a job in the movie industry to show her sister that she can be a individual and not have to rely on her and her husband. When she finally thinks she has a break she starts to realize maybe this is not what she wants, maybe she needs to look at this a little bit different. The author did an amazing Job telling Emily and Dans story as well as the other characters in the story. I can't say this was just Emily and Dan's story because there was another storyline going on at the same time. The way that both stories were told was done well and did not take away from the other. Like I said if you can just get past the first part of the book this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end and you will find your self not wanting to put the book down until its done. I am now getting ready to get book three of this series just to find out whats going on this Burke and Jenna, and Emily and Burke.



I was given a free copy of this book from netgalley to give my honest review

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this series, with each book I read gets better and better. I always love Bev's lead males, and Dan was no exception, "but he hesitated, his protective instincts surging. She must be uncomfortable, and cold. The urge to scoop her up and carry her back to his warm trailer was almost unbearable." He cares about what happens to Emily, "he cupped her chin, tilting her head so he could see her face. "A friend of mine is involved in a Lousiville movie about university hazing. He needs more background performers. It might last six weeks. I'll give you his number." He's so sweet at times, "obviously I don't want you to leave," he whispered, pressing his mouth against her neck, savoring the scent of her skin." He just doesn't want to leave her after a little naughtiness, "I really have to go, sweetheart," Dan said for the third time that morning. But he made no move leave. Instead he propped himself on an elbow, caressing her cheek with a finger, as though memorizing her face." When Emily is pi**ed she lets it all out, "no need." She hid her despair with a flippant laugh. "I don't generally charge for sex. And never with well-connected movie people." He just really cares about her, "he caught her hand, wincing at the reddened welts. "I was hoping my room," he said, "but wherever you want to sleep is fine. Just stay."

[Paula Legate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Read this book after you have read thoroughbreds and trailer trash. This book had a lot of knowledge in it. The author did her homework about making props for movies, and about horses. I loved the suspense of the book. The book was about them making a movie about a famous horse, and his trainer that just disappeared.

Emily had been attempting to break into the world of acting. She got onto a bus full of other people that would be extras for a day and was driving two hours away from Louisville. She was down to her last dollar, and her car was in the shop with no money to get it fixed. She was so tired of calling up her sister and asking for help. Emily got the chance to get a small part working with a horse. She grew up around horses, and loved them. She found out she had to be back at 8 am for the part, but the bus would not be making the trip. Emily made the best of a bad situation, she made a bed out of hay and slept in the barn with the horses. Dan came by to check on the horses before going to bed. He found Emily sleeping, and didn't want to leave her unguarded. Dan had just met Emily that day, and I thought it was so sweet that he slept in a chair nearby Emily to keep her safe. He left before she woke up, so Emily thought no one knew where she had slept. This is how the book started out, and it only gets better from here.

[Valerie Mcqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I read the whole book and realized that it was actually a sequel to another book. THe great thing here is that it doesn't latter if you have read the first one or not. Emily's story is a great stand alone in addition to being a serial book. Emily is a spoiled and pampered young lady. Chasing her dreams of becoming an actress has seriously overtook her life. When a chance incident left her with a wrecked car, she immediately took a job as an extra in a local movie.
Now in order to get enough work to pay to fix her car is the misson. She doesn't want of need to get sidetracked by love, or does she?
I love animals, so I love this authors style in these books. Not only is it entertaining, but it is accurate as well. I was actually choked up at what the horse had to go through in the story. I couldn't imagine . I don't want to give the story away but you will find not only is this a love story, it is a cold case story as well. One of the most enjoyable books I have read this year. Now I have to go read part one over again!!!!!! Definite recommended read, you don't want to miss this one. Hot men, beautiful horses and a movie lol!

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a would-be actress behind the scenes of a film about a famous racehorse.

Emily is still learning the trade when she lands the background work, so she asks all the questions we'd love to ask and pokes her nose into all the wrong tents, to show us what most people don't see. The more experienced extra she meets, Judith, fills her in on the background of the Kentucky house and its owners. The champion racehorse, his girl groom who vanished twenty years ago and was never seen again, and the womanising owner make for an interesting story.

As Emily loves horses, though she's grown up a long way from owning Thoroughbreds, she get a chance to do some wrangling for the camera instead and meets the handsome stunt horse trainer. Her life starts to look up - then that man's assistant jealously starts to make trouble for Emily. The missing groom - we can guess that she was murdered but how to prove it or even be sure who was a suspect?

This is an adult romantic suspense with plenty of horse presence and the details are well conveyed. Top marks. I'll be reading more from this author.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Bev Pettersen's writing. There are parts that go a little slow and then there are parts that need more detail, but all in all she writes books I like to read. I thought Emily (our h) was vain and ditsy in the beginning of the book which made it hard to like her. She wanted to be an actress but didn't do any research of a movie. Then she decides she likes horses, which since she been around them all her life, seemed a little late for the discovery. As the book progressed, so did her character (thank goodness). Dan ( our H) was a good guy and easy to like. And of course, he was on the yummy side. I thought the supporting cast was a good fit of characters. The story pulled me in; I liked the mix of movie making, horses and a cold case murder. Although a little predictable, it was still a very fun read. Since I didn't want to put it down until I finished it I gave it 4 stars; almost 5.

[Christa Nardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are truly only a few books that I have trouble putting down, even as I am falling asleep and I have a fair idea of who the culprit is, but this is one of them. Pettersen has choreographed a compelling story of a missing groom and the filming of a movie of the horse who went crazy. The characters - Dan, Em, Judith, Anthony, Lizzie, Billy, and the Hamiltons - all have depth and substance. The story captures the problems of work situations that are briefly intense and then end, the baggage from the past, and the potential for change. For the horse lovers, lots of horse action and compassion for animals.

STUDS AND STILETTOS is one of a series of books about race horses and the third one I've read. THOROUGHBREDS AND TRAILER TRASH looks to be the most recent... Others include FILLIES AND FEMALES, HORSES AND HEROIN, JOCKEYS AND JEWELS, and COLOR MY HORSE.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was amusing, if not predictable. Emily is an aspiring actress who gets to play background in a movie. Reckless, the horse the movie is based on, would have won the Derby (20 years earlier) if his groom had not gone missing and he misbehaved when she disappeared.

Emily, and her friend Judith, think that the groom (Tracey) was murdered, by someone on the property. They think that she was murdered by the owner of Reckless (a married man whom is was rumoured that she was having an affair with). Emily and Judith investigate, while trying to be background in the movie, maybe get some speaking lines. Emily is also growing attracted to Dan (who owns the stunt horses for the film), but he hates actresses, but he likes Emily...

This was a fun, easy to read book. Although somewhere in the beginning it said Mr and Mrs Harrison instead of Hamilton. Just saying.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novel that is definitely worth reading.

This story follows on from Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash but can be read as a stand-alone book.

Extraordinarily detailed, this book is either well researched or written by an equestrian expert who has the additional knowledge of the movie industry. A wonderfully entertaining read that at some points had me thinking what I would say to the characters. Emotionally drawing the reader into a plot that twists and turns, while building intrigue and insisting the page is turned.

The synopsis of the story is accurate in the book description, but does not successfully describe the fascination or compulsion the reader will gain from the story-line or descriptive writing.

[Shena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I love Bev Pettersen. This was a great book! I loved the story with the mystery and the romance. I have to say, I couldn't figure this one out, it was definitely a surprise. I also loved catching up with the characters from the first book in this series. This can definitely be read as a stand alone. Which, is AMAZING! Definitely a 5 star read for me.

[anita.thebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book 1, but this one I didn't enjoy as much. To me parts of the story dragged a little, and were kind of boring moved at a slow pace, other parts I did enjoy. I did like that Emily had her story, and got her happy-ever-after. in my opinion Jenna should have a baby, and Colin deserves his own story maybe someday Bev Pettersen will write his story, and we get to revisit Jenna, and Emily... please?
I love series very much!!!

[Susi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually "love stories" are not my kind of thing - but horses and thrillers are, and I never pass up a handsome cowboy.
I enjoyed this book especially Bev's horse knowledge. The story was well layed out and kept my suspense up. I kept speculating about what could have happened and the ending did surprise me. Cleverly put together.
Have found my way now into Bev's books and will be a fan from now on.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, but didn't suck me in as much as the first book in the series. In part, that's my fault --- I know better than to read two books by the same author back to back since about 50% of the time I end up slightly bored with the repeated themes and plot devices. And, I guess, the rest of it was my fault too since I don't like flaky heroines. So, despite those strikes against it, the fact that I really enjoyed Studs and Stilettos probably means it's a very good book.

[Selenity Jade (Coffee Addicts Book Reviews) · Rating 1 out of 5]

A DNF for me by chapter 6. I really, really tried to as I am currently at Churchill Downs in Louisville. What turned me off was the female protagonist. She's needy, selfish, irresponsible, a HUGE liar to get her way (and not just once, which would have been fun, but often enough that I doubt her moral character), ignores rules, and cares nothing for anything but how she looks and getting a break in her acting career. I couldn't read further.