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Recovery

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She can’t help but want him. But neither can his millions of fans.

With fame, fortune, looks and charisma, Nathan Banks may have it all. But Dr Sophia King wants nothing to do with him beyond treating him as any other patient.

A family scandal and a childhood of media intrusion have left the reserved doctor fiercely protective of her vulnerable family. But when a photo of Sophia and Nathan together strips away her anonymity and exposes past secrets, she must step into the limelight to protect her loved ones.

Intrigued by the man behind his famous persona, Sophia glimpses a life of fame and glamour she’s never coveted. But Nathan comes with baggage, and the screaming fans, the beautiful leading ladies and ruthless paparazzi are all part of the deal.

How much is Sophia willing to endure to be with the man she loves, and how much is Nathan willing to give up for the woman who has stolen his heart?

280 pages, ebook

First published August 15, 2016

1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read

About the author

J.C. Harroway

176 books65 followers
Lifelong romance addict J.C. Harroway lives in New Zealand. Writing feeds her very real obsession with happy endings and the endorphin rush they create. You can follow her at www.jcharroway.com

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Natalie  ~ The Biblioholic.
2,713 reviews1,420 followers
August 10, 2016
Copy given in exchange for an honest review

There's something about reading books dealing with celebrities that really piques my interest. Sometimes, due to lack of authenticity or originality, they can be hit or miss. J.C. Harroway created a winner!!

For a debut novel, Harroway developed a sweet and romantic story that clutched my heart from the beginning and left a definite impact. Though it was light and fun, I'm still recovering lol. The characters, Nathan and Sophia, were realistic and surprisingly relevant. They had hopes and dreams and vulnerabilities and insecurities and issues. They were human. Their actions and reactions were real. Their relationship's evolution was real. Their love was definitely real. I loved the tension that ran throughout the story, from the first meeting until the end. And their chemistry... off-the-charts.

I would recommend this book to all contemporary romance lovers. No, it's not a deep tale or full of feels, but it is no less significant. Nathan was a RomCom heartthrob and this book actually read like one. I'm really excited to see what this author will come up with next.

XO
113 reviews
July 19, 2016
This is my absolute favorite romance from Escape Publishing! I loved Nathan as the hero, who has millions of adoring fans across three continents, yet he still feels vulnerable because those closest in his life have never valued him or his passions. Soph is a bright, ambitious doctor, who has focused solely on her career to avoid the family pressures and scandals of her past and to protect her autistic brother. Both characters demonstrate strength and tenderness with one another and those around them.

The angst challenging their relationship stems from Sophie's needing to change her mindset, a series of unfortunate miscommunications, and family dynamics getting in the way. Through it all, it is clear that Nathan is determined to capture Sophie's heart, and the descriptions of his actions to do so in LA, in flying to London, and his notes make him a swoon worthy hero!

My only criticism is that the book ended with Sophie's decision regarding their relationship and did not explore some of the challenges that had previously concerned her. This relationship had so much passion and tenderness that I would love to see a follow-up documenting how Sophie and Nathan navigate careers and continents. They both have the charm and sizzle to capture readers in more than one novel!
Profile Image for Book Gannet.
1,572 reviews17 followers
September 19, 2016
I had a few problems with this book. It’s readable and explores the price of fame, along with a whole ton of wish-fulfillment, but I struggled to get past the reason why Sophia and Nathan get connected in the first place. A photo is snapped of Nathan receiving treatment and posted to his social media account. Sophia (quite rightly) objects so the photo is removed. Someone else snaps him leaving the clinic and the next day, according to the local New Zealand media, they’re not only dating but practically engaged.

What the what?!

Why would anyone think this? There are no pictures of them getting up close and personal, she’s not famous. I don’t understand why this would ever have been a thing!

Of course after that things go crazy and excessive, meaning Sophia has to flee home to protect her family. But Nathan thinks the only way to kill off the attention is for them to spend more time together (why? Surely him getting snapped with someone else would have been better, but no, this is romance). So he takes her to a premiere, where the media that has been hounding her and her family for an entire week completely forget who she is.

I have no words.

At this point I put the book down, thinking I would never finish it. Mostly because I didn’t care much for Sophia (yes, she’s been through a lot, but she’s not particularly nice and I have no idea why Nathan even likes her, let alone wants to spend time with her) and Nathan had no personality beyond being famous and beautiful. However, I came back to it because I was curious as to why it has largely positive reviews.

And to be honest it’s okay, if you can put the incomprehensibility of the whole set up to one side. He is famous, she is not, the press are terrible, fame is cruel, they both have family issues and possessive/jealous moments. There is chemistry, there is glamour, but there’s also some nice downtime where they get to know each other properly. It also has a completely cheesy ending which makes my eye twitch because come on, one phone call? (Wasn't he was still phoning her? I know I would if I’d been told of that situation.) Talk, people, talk!

Yeah, so suspend your disbelief in many different ways, sit back and relax into the pure escapism of a mega film star falling for a random normal woman. It’s enjoyable in an easy, don’t think too deeply, kind of way and the stick figures are definitely cute. I’m glad I finished it, but I don’t think I’ll return for best-friend Jess’ story.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Profile Image for A Klue.
1,500 reviews328 followers
November 6, 2016
If you are into famous movie star actor meets and falls instantly for beautiful, smart, selfless doctor heroine who isn’t impressed by fame and fortune, you should probably invest some time in Recovery by J.C. Harroway. Though Sophia desperately wanted to avoid the perpetual spotlight that shone over Nathan, thanks to her own personal reasons, it was the man himself that intrigued her and captured her heart. Needless to say, her realness and protective nature concerning her family was just as alluring to him, along with her beautiful face and compassionate soul.

It was sweet to see this couple eventually become a couple. Sophia’s fears, insecurities, and hand-wringing did get a little tiresome at times, but I fully expected it so just went with it. Since it is all told from only her perspective, we don’t get much insight into Nathan’s thoughts.

Though there were times the smexy encounters became a little too lengthy/numerous, I did enjoy the romantic plot. There was some predictable jealous other woman drama that lead to some equally predictable angst that set the stage for the eventual HEA. Many will be pleased both sides here stepped up the the plate to do what was necessary to make that happen. I have to admit I’m a sucker for the guy chasing his girl down and blatantly, romantically not giving up on his lady love. The hero’s actions here mostly accomplished that but in a more subtle way than I expected.

Despite the storyline taking place in countries I am not familiar (New Zealand and London), there were only a couple of times where differences in dialect came into play. Frock was frequently used instead of dress and cleaning cupboard, well, I’m still not exactly sure what that is. I’m thinking either a janitor closet or bathroom. No, it isn’t a big deal, just thought I should mention so you have a heads up.

What is the passion meter on this one? Well, there is one mostly angry, stolen kiss/steamy passionate embrace early on (that deserved a slap, IMHO) and then around 40% the main couple’s fireworks ignite. The rest stays on the steamy side, but some plot issues pop up to keep it from completely taking over the storyline.

So, my fellow romance book-loving friends, here’s to hoping this review has been helpful in some way. For a debut author, I was pleasantly surprised. Based on the almost shirtless hero book cover, I was afraid it would have more steam than substance. Though it was a tad overly done, at least there was an emotional connection between the main couple, as well.

Romance Safety Gang:

Title: Recovery, Author: JC Harroway, Pages: 280, Debut author, stand-alone, HEA, famous movie star hero, heroine is a doctor, VERY steamy scenes with lusty language that do end up occurring frequently, romance safe, no cheating, no love triangle, no OM drama, jealous OW drama that causes problems, debut author.

(This review is based on free advanced reader copy ebook provided via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair review. No type of compensation was given to the reviewer. There is no relationship/affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)


15 reviews
February 5, 2017
A lovely, sexy story that you can sink into and enjoy.

Recovery takes you from Queensland, New Zealand to England and Los Angeles, including a great scene set at a Hollywood awards ceremony.

I was quickly drawn into the worlds of the main characters, hunky actor Nathan Bank and Dr Sophia King. Their conflicting lifestyles and the complications of family and colleagues makes their road to true love a very bumpy one indeed. Nathan is suitably sexy, and it's impossible not to feel sympathy for Sophia, so when she finally gets the happiness she deserves, and love triumphs over adversity, the reader is left with a deep feeling of satisfaction.

Really looking forward to the next book by this author.
Profile Image for Jeannie Zelos.
2,851 reviews57 followers
August 5, 2016
Recovery,  JC Harroway

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance 

I wasn’t sure about this, it seems to be JC’s debut book as I can’t find any other novels, and of course as its an ARC no writing sample either, but took a punt and I’m so glad I did. Its a perfect blend of great characters, believable story with solid plots and a beautiful romance.

I’m a sucker for the Hollywood trope romance, and Nathan was the perfect gentleman. Tired of the mindless sex he was looking for something more, when out of the blue along comes prickly and reserved Sophia. She’s not swayed by his fame, if anything it seems to put her off. She’s unlike the bimbo’s, groupies, and image obsessed stars he usually meets, and he’s intrigued. Looks like she’s shut him off at the start  though until a rogue photo of them gets out.

He’s furious at first, she’s incandescent with anger, and its a real, passionate head to head moment. Wow that heat from the fierce scenes was incredible. I like dramatic moments like that, which feel so real. I understood the fury on both sides, each thinks the other has taken advantage.
 For Nathan its publicity though and a day to day hazard, but for Sophia and her family it has far more dangerous connotations, and when Nathan realises that he comes up with a solution that brings them together for a short time, hoping to let things burn out and turn attention off her family. They get closer though, that spark fans into an inferno and they’re soon caught up in a torrid and sensual affair.
Fame though has its pitfalls, the media are always out for blood, and I so felt for her when she was worried about her family, worried if she and they could cope with the attention, wanted to hug her when some other jealous females did their worst. I just wanted them to be able to love each other. Nathan was such a perfect man, so obsessed and in love with Sophia, we could see that quite quickly, that the initial ruse became truth, but there were so many pitfalls, so much to go wrong.

Its a great read, passion and fury, sensuality and scorching sex, jealousy, anger, trickery, all the things I love to find in a good romance. I need my characters to feel real, need them to face genuine problems, for it all to not be plain sailing, and JC really put Nathan and Sophia through the wringer.

I loved too the addition of Sophia’s Autistic brother, played so very realistically, loved how we saw that there are so many degrees of disability, that some can go in to lead fulfilling lives, to have degrees of independence, that so much depended on just how badly they were affected, and what support had been given to help them achieve a happy life. I just loved his words to Sophia at the end, where she and we could see how far he’d come. Too often disabilities are used in books in a totally unrealistic way, almost brought in for the sympathy factor, and real life isn’t like that. Disabled kids attract smiles at the things they say and do – when their grown though it seems so many people want them shut away, out of sight, to be hidden, and what we should aim for is that disability is just another facet of life.
It can and does affect many families, and to see inclusivity done in such a positive way as in this book is really gratifying.
 
Stars: Five, a fabulous, realistic and passionate romance

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers.
March 8, 2018


Recovery by J.C. Harroway was an interesting read showing of the contradictions of different lifestyles. The beginning I felt kind of thrown into the story because I could not really grasp the way the relationship began.

Because on one hand it felt exaggerated that the doctor was called when the next day he had no trouble going to the hospital by himself. And on the other if she really had those strong and negative feelings than I could not wrap my brain around the fact how easy she forgot them in the most important moments. (yeah even with him being extremely hot because she was supposed to feel them so strongly)

But once I got past these two issues – the story really picked up pace and I could easy ignore some minor issues in the plot because there was really some serious depth in the story that I liked. I felt that story became better developed while it was “running” …

There were some of the typical cliché moments as well as some obvious eye rolls on my side #restroom talks between woman #and not the nice kind - where I was like “seriously women? – why do you always listen to those females instead of confirming stuff before you run off steaming” –

But well in the total concept there were some very interesting insights and I liked Nathan a lot. He was so not the cliché I expected him to be. And while at the beginning I could not see the romance between him and Sophia – it developed quite well in the second half of the book leaving the reader with a well developed plotline. That sometimes even got me thinking on my habits when it comes to famous people.

Enjoy
Profile Image for Jenny.
1,040 reviews135 followers
August 10, 2016
Hero(s) rating: 3 stars
Heroine rating: 3 stars
Sexual tension rating: 3 stars
Sex scenes rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 3.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 3 stars
Other woman/men drama:
Cheating:
Storytelling rating: 3.5 stars
Story ending rating: 3.25 stars
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
**********************************************
Overall rating: 3 stars


ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Recovery shares with us the story of a doctor (the h) Sophia King and an actor (the H) Nathan Banks.

This love story came with a ton of apprehension (on the h's side) and persuasion (on the H's side). Sophia vowed to stay out of the spotlight after a dreadful plight of media attention she faced growing up and never wanted to find herself in the same predicament ever again. She needed to keep her life private not just for herself, but for the sake of her family.

Being seen with Nathan Banks, the philandering actor, turns her world around and she finds herself left with no choice but to agree to Nathan's idea of "giving the media what they want" in order to protect her family from the scrutiny of the media and prevent her past from being resurrected.

The premise of the story is one that we have read before if you're into Hollywood type romances.
While I did like the story, there were many things that kind of clouded my judgment from "loving" it.

The biggest issue being punctuation which caused the flow of the story to confuse me at times.
I also felt like there was something missing and I can't quite put my finger on it.

This does end with a HEA and there is a book to follow telling the story of the secondary character, Jess (Sophia's best friend).
Profile Image for Abby.
99 reviews10 followers
August 24, 2016
4 NATHANOMANIAC STARS!

I have always love a good romance with hollywood theme and I'm happy that I've found Recovery.

I mean Nathan Banks is absolutely dreamy and I was fan-girling through out the story although he is not a celebrity in real life. But then who could handle an image of hollywood hotness with great body, dirty blond hair and mesmerising green eyes? Definitely not me :)

Okay enough of my fan-girling moment over the fine specimen of Nathan Banks. The book is mainly about a love story between the dashing British actor, Nathan Banks and a pretty doctor named Sophia King. Initially they pretend to be a couple after media incidents but then feelings developed and they struggle to face forward in the relationship.

Sophie is potrayed as a good-hearted doctor who really values her privacy and hates media attention. That is because something terrible happened to her family before and the media made her family's life miserable so that's why this time around she team up with Nathan to get the paparazzi attentions away from her family.

Nathan on the other hand is simply what I called as Pefect Ten. Though he is actually some sort of lonely before Sophie since the people he cared about doesn't really support his career. He is also really romantic and sweet and I love how he likes to doodle sweet things to Sophie.

In whole, I really love the story and can't wait for this author's next book. I'm a little sad though that this book doesn't have an epilogue because I would really love to be taken to Nathan and Sophie's future whether it is in their wedding or even when it is in their everyday life marriage with works and kids.

*I read the book through Netgalley*
Profile Image for Queenie.
6 reviews
August 30, 2016
JC Harroway’s debut novel really impressed me. Written in the first person, it had the pleasing effect of making the reader feel closer to both the action and the emotion of main character, Dr Sophia King, as she falls for sexy heart-throb movie star Nathan Banks. The author’s voice is great and I really loved the fresh descriptions and language used. It kept it interesting and there was no need whatsoever to skip over the boring bits because there were no boring bits!

The story takes the reader from Queenstown to London to Hollywood so the setting is varied and the situations Sophia finds herself in are fun and sexy and feel very real. Sophia is protective of her mother and her autistic brother and is trying to protect their privacy whilst being thrust into the very public limelight as Nathan’s new girlfriend. This provides the main conflict for the novel, which is admirably sustained throughout.

And did I mention sexy? This book should come with a label warning potential readers it contains very, very, sexy love scenes. So go forth and enjoy. You might need to put the fan on …

Profile Image for T. Rosado.
1,919 reviews60 followers
September 17, 2016

4.5 STARS!!

What a great read. I loved every minute of it. Everything was so well-written and well-developed. Nathan is definitely a new book boyfriend favorite and with heroine, Sophie, magic was created. I bought into their story hook, line and sinker. Celebrity romance tropes can often be written unrealistic and over-the-top, but not here. We witness the convergence of two individuals shaped by their unique upbringings that burden them with realistic insecurities. As tensions mount and insecurities are confronted, we are left with the sweetest and swoon-worthiest HEA. I must have had the goofiest grin plastered on my face. My biggest complaint is that this is a debut book from a debut author and there is no back list for me to now devour. I'll definitely read more from this author and recommend it to others

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Ree.
2,519 reviews53 followers
September 2, 2016
I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Nathan & Sophia are thrust together in a doctor/patient relationship that soon turns into more. Their relationship begins realistically, and continues with delicious tension. I liked the angsty moments that typically fill celebrity romances; the who's dating whom, and who makes who jealous sort of thing. There are also many moments that are so "awww" worthy, but never cheesy. I liked that everything wasn't set in the US, so the book had it's own unique flavoring.

This was a very good debut romance for the writer. I liked that everything wasn't too tidy, as they somehow tend to be in the regular, run-of-the-mill celebrity romances. I found myself more than a little sad that the book had ended. I look forward to more romances from both the author and from the publishers.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,993 reviews173 followers
August 21, 2016
Recovery takes a look at both sides of the coin. The pros and cons of celebrity but in a non analytical way. Sophia has a level head on her shoulders until Nathan knocks her world off it's axis. The passionate struggle of the heart and mind is abundantly clear from the first interaction. There's a flicker that flames almost instantaneously. The glare of the spotlight comes with anxiety for Sophia and is a way of life for Nathan. Which will win out? The fame or the heart? I love stories where the complications take center stage. Life is about risk and learning from mistakes, so the complexities give Recovery realism and that appeals to more than the imagination. Gets the emotions going and that is the start of a good read.
Profile Image for Lee.
382 reviews32 followers
August 29, 2016
This whole story was emotive and passionate, each character evolving in the relationship, learning to trust each other and open their hearts. They could easily relate, understanding each other on a visceral level, complimenting each other well, with the dialogue free flowing. I enjoyed this story, the emotional tugs at the heartstrings, the cast of characters, the sexy times and the way Sophie and Nathan fought for each other and declared their love. A great read.

Read my full review on theScandalicious Book Reviews blog
384 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2016
I was surprised that this was J.C.Harroways debit novel because of how well this story was written. The storyline was captivating from start to finish and the characters was very enjoyable to read about. I really enjoyed the strength that Sophia showed and the way that she tried to protect her brother from the harshness of the media. I loved Nathan and the love that he had for Sophia was evident. There was a lot of chemistry between the two characters and I loved seeing their relationship develop throughout the novel.
I enjoyed Recovery a lot and cannot wait to read more from the author.
Profile Image for Lena.
Author 6 books8 followers
August 15, 2016
Two words: stick figures.

You want more? Okay, this debut novel by JC Harroway is oh-so-yummy! The ultimate guilty pleasure. The perfect combination of sexy and funny, all wrapped up in that COVER. *swoon*

Exhibit A in the sexy and funny department: "King's syndrom-- the uncontrollable urge to bang Nathan Banks." Haha - yes, please I'll take a double dose :)

And what a wonderful supporting cast, the adorable and funny Jess was by far my fav.

139 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2022
Such a fun-to-read book! I loved the whole premise, and the playful, flirty banter. Beautifully written, with a free-flowing plot that made it difficult to put down from beginning to end.
I can't deny Nathan Banks is my new book-boyfriend. It's hard to believe it's written by a debut author - I'm looking forward to more reads from J.C.Harroway.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,801 reviews
August 16, 2016
ARC ~provided by Netgalley~ review:

Cute little love story of a high profile movie star and a Dr. Though we don't get to see Sophia "doctor" to much. It was a slow and steady read with a fun HEA.
Profile Image for Becky Watts.
6 reviews
August 21, 2016
Genuine, relatable characters in a well-conceived and VERY well executed story with steamy, funny and some so-sweet-you-can-taste-it moments. Lovely read, light but engaging.
Profile Image for Maureen.
1,338 reviews50 followers
October 23, 2018
This book has been on my TBR list for a long time now. Since I’m trying to shorten my TBR list and reading more Netgalley books I decided it was time to start reading this one. Although that cover doesn’t work for me at all, I was definitely interested when I read the book description.

In ‘Recovery’ we meet Dr. Sophia King. Sophia is in New Zealand for a work/fun trip before she’ll start her ‘real’ job in a hospital in London. When her boss sends her to check up some celebrity she doesn’t know this celebrity is the famous sexy Hollywood actor Nathan Banks. Nathan is everything Sophia doesn’t need in her life. At least that is what she thinks. Nathan has paparazzi and beautiful woman surrounding him all the time and Sophia just wants to work and be as ‘invisible’ as she can possible be. But even though there lives couldn’t be more different if they tried, the chemistry between them can’t be denied.

When I started reading ‘Recovery’ I thought I would be reading an easy, simple and predictable romance story. I honestly didn’t expect a lot. And although this book is definitely easy to follow, predictable in most parts and really romantic and sexy I loved the book way more than I thought I would. I found myself rushing to get back to reading until I finished the last page.

Sophia is definitely a character I can relate too. She spends her life taking care of other people, working hard and trying to not stand out to much. I enjoyed reading about her. After she met Nathan I got frustrated with her a little at times. I mean, I don’t know how I would react if the guy I was dating was surrounded by beautiful woman and having to touch them for photoshoots and movie scenes, but I wished she’d trust Nathan a little more. Thankfully she did this more and more near the end of the book. And Nathan’s character.. well he is just so good to read about. He is mysterious, sexy, charming and who doesn’t love a story about a Hollywood star falling for a ‘normal’ person?! It’s the whole Nothing Hill charm.. and since that is one of my favorite movies I love these kinds of stories.

The romance between Sophia and Nathan was really enjoyable. Yes, it was predictable but that didn’t make me love it less. There were lots of ‘sexy’ scenes through out the book too, and they didn’t bore at all.

Yes, ‘Recovery’ was definitely a book I enjoyed reading. I don’t think the cover does the book justice though. But after reading it.. I’ll definitely want to read more books in this series.
Profile Image for Kathy.
88 reviews
January 10, 2022
I'm so impressed. This is not my usual book, but for reasons I'll avoid saying, I bought this a while ago and finally got around to reading it.

Okay, preliminaries out of the way, I won't comment on the story, but I was blown away by how the author, JC Harroway, caught my interest immediately, held on to my enthusiastic reading throughout the rollercoaster of a ride in the middle, and made me feel devastated towards the end, just before she convincingly made all the hurt go away! Yes, it's a romance with the usual events your expect from a romance, but the settings, the actions and reactions, and the dialogue are all so vivid ... I'm a fan.
Profile Image for Bec.
1,659 reviews42 followers
September 27, 2016

Review Posted at HarlequinJunkie.com

After being hounded relentlessly by the press due to a family scandal, all Dr. Sophia King has wanted since the dust settled – so to speak — is keep herself out of the spotlight. However, when she treats movie star Nathan Banks and a photo is captured, she finds herself once again dodging reporters while needing to protect her vulnerable family. Except to protect her loved ones means she’ll need to put her faith in Nathan to help her. Read More
Profile Image for poppy.
4,589 reviews28 followers
September 30, 2016
what a great first book cant wait to read more by this author just loved it
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