Stevie‘s review of Flirting with Fame (Love in Disguise, Book 1) by Samantha Joyce
New Adult Romance published by Pocket Star 29 Feb 16
New adult romances featuring characters with disabilities aren’t exactly common, though given the relative numbers there may be a greater proportion of them than there are mainstream contemporary romances to match (I’ve seen a higher proportion in the LGBT sector from what I remember). In the case of Flirting with Fame, we have a Deaf heroine, who also has to deal with extensive scarring along with a high degree of social awkwardness intensifying her feelings around her disabilities.
Elise’s disabilities are the result of her involvement in an explosion, which also killed her best friend’s sister. Never particularly outgoing, she is deeply self-conscious about her scars and finds communication troublesome even when people are able to sign or understand how to better facilitate Elise’s lip-reading. On the other hand, she’s a talented writer, whose series of Viking stories has been picked up by a Hollywood studio. Too shy to face her fans en masse, Elise has hidden behind a fake author biography and a photograph she found on the internet, but decides to brave the crowds for her latest book’s release. Much to her shock, the girl whose photo Elise ‘borrowed’ is also there, signing books and giving every impression that she’s the real author. Elise isn’t too worried, however, until the studio decides to film their first adaptation near to where she’s about to start college, in order to bring her on set as an advisor.
Elise tracks down the false her via a fan forum and they strike a deal – they’ll both go onto the set, as author and PA, with Elise playing the PA – and then the show will run smoothly without Elise revealing her long-term deception. However, Elise has reckoned without the disruption caused by both of them being in close proximity to the leading man – and her major crush – Gavin Hartley.
Gavin is a rapidly rising star, but he befriends Elise, even as her doppleganger is making moves on him, and takes the time to brush up his sign language – his twin sister was Deaf, but died in an accident. He sneaks into class with her on a day when the lecture is being delivered by an author he’s a fan of, and takes care of her when she gets into difficulties due to either her shyness or her deafness.
I really like the fact that although some of Elise’s struggles are as a result of her disabilities, most of them are due to more than one factor. Being easily distracted and unable to hear shouted warnings causes her problems, but so does her determination to be as normal a student as possible while sharing a room with a major fan of her books. Being shy, Elise of course leaves telling people who she is until far too late – and that brings problems too.
Eventually, Elise has to figure out what she really wants and how to get the self-confidence to reach out and grab the opportunities around her, while also maintaining old and new friendships with a bunch of wildly different friends. This was a wonderful introduction to both the author and what promises to be an enchanting series, and I can’t wait to read more.
Grade: A
Summary:
Elise Jameson is the secret author behind the bestselling, cult hit Viking Moon series. But when a stranger poses as Elise, the painfully shy, deaf nineteen-year-old starts to see how much she’s missing. Can she really hide in the shadows forever? This clever, coming-of-age debut is for anyone who has ever felt unsure in her own skin.
After a freak childhood accident leaves her deaf and physically scarred, nineteen-year-old Elise Jameson retreats into a world of vibrant characters she creates on her laptop. She is shocked when her coping mechanism turns into a career as a phenomenal bestselling novelist. Fans are obsessed with Elise’s Viking Moon series and its author—a striking girl with zero resemblance to Elise who appears on the back covers. Elise sent the randomly Googled photo to her editor following a minor panic attack. Now, horrified to learn she is expected on set of the television pilot based on her novels, Elise tracks down her anonymous stand-in. To Elise’s surprise, Veronica Wilde has been taking credit for Viking Moon for years. She eagerly agrees to keep up the charade if Elise will pose as her assistant.
It’s hard for Elise to watch a stranger take credit for her work and get all the perks she desires, including admiration from the show’s heartthrob star. Edged onto the sidelines of her own life, Elise reconsiders her choice to stay anonymous. Is she ready to come to terms with her true identity—and with the long-buried secrets that could cost her her career, her fans, and the few precious friendships she’s made?
No excerpt available.
