By Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone. Pub Date 9/20/2022
5*s. Best Enjoyed whenever you want something spicy with a strong BBW heroine and a bad boy former superstar who loves him some of that thick honey (yeah, I went there).
Publisher’s Synopsis (Avon & Harper Voyager):
Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.
Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhilewhen she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.
But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.
And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.
My Reviewer Synopsis:
EVERY. CHARACTER. IN. THIS. STORY. IS. A. DELIGHT.
Bianca ‘Bee’ Hobbes is a plus-size adult film star who started her career on ClosedDoors under the pseudonym ‘Bianca Von Honey’. She is very body-positive about herself and her fan base only further validates her. She also works for Uncle Ray Ray’s, a porn production company. Teddy aka “Uncle Ray Ray” is actually a pretty decent guy for being part of the porn industry and is starting to get concerned about diversifying his portfolio into other areas outside of just the skin on skin set. After all, he wants to make sure he can pay his son’s tuition and help his daughter with her sustainably sourced sex toy business.
When Teddy decides to get into the world of romantic Christmas movies for the Hope Channel (think Hallmark—yeah, I know), Bee begs him to find her a place. She’s been wanting to act her entire life in something more than just the bump and grind. Little does she expect that she would be chosen for the lead when Teddy accidentally puts her porn headshot into the pile of replacement actresses for the film “Duke the Halls”. The director, a former actor herself, is instantly taken in by her and demands her for the role. Teddy and Bee know this will be a tightrope walk—neither of them want to be ousted and ruin their new chances for growth. That may be harder than anticipated when Bee finds out that she will be working opposite her teenage celebrity crush, Nolan Shaw.
Nolan Shaw is the former bad-boy member of boyband. Much like Bee, Nolan is looking for a career refresh after some Olympic-level follies left him with a black mark on his reputation. Not that it was surprising given his bad-boy image. Nolan has more to worry about now that he’s out of money and also helping support his sister and their mother, who has been struggling with bipolar disorder. This absolutely has to work, and his agent is snapping at his heels to keep it clean. That’s also going to be hard for Nolan when he finds out that the woman replacing his costar is none other than the luscious Bianca Von Honey, the girl of his dirtiest and most delightful fantasies. Not only does he subscribe to her ClosedDoors account, but he’s superfan level. Knowing who she is and that he will be so close to her every day is going to be hard, figuratively and literally. But he cannot let on that he knows who she is in front of everyone. That would risk this production—his one chance at a fresh start. As they spend more time together day in and day out, Bee and Nolan’s feelings begin to get in the way of their work and it seems that the only way to quell the heat is to give into it. Unfortunately, one time is not enough. Is it ever?
With each passing day of the two-week shoot, Bee and Nolan find themselves not only falling into bed but also in love. But when a nosy gossip rag reporter—and the reason for Nolan’s career detour–comes skulking into town, disaster doesn’t feel like it’s far behind. And his interest in Bee could spell disaster for the entire production.
Murphy and Simone. Holy moly for the love of all things under the sun. This was a SCORCHER. BBW romances have always been a weakness, but this latest push for more size-inclusive contemporaries is my new found kryptonite. Olivia Dade is another author who turned me onto these romances, and Murphy and Simone have solidified and expanded my appetite.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Nolan and Bee are well thought out and every character can stand on their own. There are so many personalities in this book that it truly feels like there are more than two authors. Diverse backgrounds, super hilarious writing, and some super hot, spicy scenes really made me into a huge fan. I cannot wait for more of these—because there has to be more. There absolutely has to be!
Thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and Avon & Harper Voyager, for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest and all-my-own review!
Always Lost in Words 