Review by Booklist Review
In L.A., where celebrity sightings are commonplace and youth equals beauty, single mother Solene Marchand tries to live above it all and reluctantly accepts that in her world middle-aged women are invisible. So when she takes her teenage daughter and friends to a concert in Las Vegas, she is surprised when the founding member of the biggest boy band of the last decade sets his sights on her. At half her age, British heartthrob Hayes Campbell seems extremely grounded for a comely rock star who is constantly bombarded by nubile fans. Excited to be flirting with danger, Solene is seduced by Hayes' swagger and agrees to secretly meet him in exotic locales with the promise of privacy. But as the reality of celebrity sets in, she realizes that their age difference isn't the only obstacle to their budding relationship. Less romance and more erotic novel, this sexy and bittersweet debut by actress-turned-author Lee zeros in on Solene's struggle as she is torn between her desire for Hayes and her need to live a normal life.--Giovanni, Kristina Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
When Solne Marchand takes her 12-year-old daughter to a concert by the hottest boy band on the planet, she doesn't expect to fall in love with one of the singers.Middle-aged art gallery owner Solne hasn't dated since her divorce, but when her ex-husband buys their daughter and a group of her friends tickets to Vegas and a backstage concert experience, then backs out at the last minute, she steps in as escort. The five guys in the wildly popular English boy band August Moon appeal to women of all ages, but Hayes, the brains behind the group's success, flirts with Solne at the concert meet and greet, invites them to a party after the show, then pursues her once she gets back to Los Angeles. He's only 20 and he's incredibly famous; his attention is flattering and heady. The two fall into an affair that's supposed to be light and easy, but before long they can't ignore their intense emotional attachment. Solne is hesitant to tell her daughter, but when she procrastinates, Isabelle learns about it through an online tabloid, which damages their relationship and leaves Solne open to censure from her ex. Then, once the affair goes viral, she experiences the darker side of Hayes' fan base. What started out as a jaunty adventure turns into an emotionally fraught journey, and Solne must decide what she's willing to risk for her happiness and what she won't risk for her daughter's. Actress Lee, who appeared in Fifty Shades Darker, debuts with a beautifully written novel that explores sex, love, romance, and fantasy in moving, insightful ways while also examining a woman's struggle with aging and sexism, with a nod at the tension between celebrity and privacy. A fascinating, thought-provoking, genre-bending romantic read. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
