Blog Archives
Overdue For a Happy Ending
Mister Movie Star follows a talented but emotionally closed-off chef who takes a job as a personal chef to a Hollywood heartthrob, leading them to form an unexpected connection. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
George Reed Masters first appeared in Book 3 of my Olympic Peninsula series, The Magic Man, and made more appearances in Books 4 and 5. In Book 5 he is a guest at the compound when Lisette, a chef and restaurateur who is dating the main protagonist in that book, Edward, overhears Edward’s mom saying terrible things about her. George has a crush on Lisette and proposes that she come to work for him in Beverly Hills as his private chef. I always liked George, who in the earlier books is a bit of a scamp and an incorrigible flirt. I started wondering about the woman who could focus his wandering eye. (Lisette, of course, was destined to be with Edward, despite his awful mother.) He did need a private chef, so that’s where Rose comes in. For ten years, I lived in New York City, where I worked in a lot of restaurants as a waitress, hostess, and even, briefly, as a coat check girl at a chic nightclub. In that job, which started at 5 pm and ended at 5 am, I also sold cigarettes. (Truly a horrendous gig, but very illuminating.) So I do know a thing or two about the restaurant business. And yes, there’s a lot of bad behavior! I like to cook and do a credible job, but I’m not into labor intensive things like baking bread or making noodles from scratch. I even use canned beans. Like the mother in this book, I have a repertoire of favorite recipes.
Were there any characters that you especially enjoyed writing for?
I love all my characters! George and Rose are both close to my heart. Among the supporting characters, I enjoyed George’s diction coach Ms. Elgar, who I think might be overdue for a happy ending, maybe with one of the older characters from my other books. Something along the lines of Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day or Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Set at Christmas. Hmm. I also liked Dorian the rich and handsome veterinarian and thought he and the actress Jennifer Trakes would make an interesting couple.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Back before cell phones, etc., we all did a lot of staring into space. I passed the time by inventing stories. While in line at the supermarket, at the bank, long car trips with my family…. I couldn’t read in the car without getting carsick. Also at church. We were Episcopalians, and those services are loooong, so I just drifted off into daydreams. I also came up with stories in my head while jogging. My best friend and I used to tell each other stories while we were at the beach club lying on our towels, attempting to get tanned. (It was a long time ago, and we lived in Washington State, where it’s usually at least partly cloudy.) One of us would start, then the other would pick up the thread, back and forth. They usually started with falling into a hole in the backyard, like in Alice in Wonderland. I also played for hours with Barbie Dolls and paper dolls I made myself, and they acted out my stories. I’m not sure that answers your question, but that is a huge part of why I write romance now, because of all the stories that have kept me sane during hard times. I love to read, of course, and was a German Literature major in college. My taste in books is very eclectic.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m working on a romance staring country music diva Rina Bakersfield, the former girlfriend of my character Joe O’Connell, who as “Joe Bob Blade” is a country music star in my first book, The Silent Woodsman. She doesn’t come off well in that book, but that’s because she doesn’t get a point of view! By the time this story begins, she’s been through quite a lot and has an excellent sense of the absurd. (All my characters do, actually, because really, if you can’t laugh at yourself, life is way tougher than it needs to be.) She’s on her way through Nevada after her divorce when her car breaks down in Tonopah. (My husband and I have stayed there several times on our way back from Arizona to Washington State.) There she meets…. I’ll just leave it at that for now. I’m about 75k words in, and my books are usually somewhere around 90k words. I’ve had to do a deep dive into the country music business, and it’s fascinating. My books all take place in the recent past. This one starts in 2003. I’m not sure when it will come out. I record and edit all the audiobook versions myself, and that is a time-consuming process. So probably in February or March of next year. But I’ve also been contemplating a few different Christmas novellas based on characters from The Olympic Peninsula series. I’d like to get something like that out in time for the holidays. Fans can go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter, where you are the first to be updated!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
So maybe it’s not the best time to hire his aunt’s private chef, Rose. Has the punishing diet scrambled his brain? George wants her… badly. But unlike any other woman in his orbit, Rose is quiet and reserved, and a committed relationship with a civilian doesn’t jibe with his career plans. Though Rose feels the heat, she is determined to hold onto her job–and her heart.
Child of Hollywood royalty and his frequent co-star, George’s ex-wife Helena is a classic beauty with major talent. To win him back and take him far away from Rose, Helena dangles the perfect lure: a coveted role in her father’s next film.
Mister Movie Star
Mister Movie Star is a charming, flirty romp of a romance novel set against the glitzy backdrop of Beverly Hills and the more grounded vibe of the Pacific Northwest. At its heart, it’s about Rose Poppins—a talented but emotionally bruised chef—and George Reed Masters, the Hollywood heartthrob with a hidden depth and, as it turns out, a surprisingly grounded soul. When Rose lands a job as George’s personal chef, neither expects the whirlwind of attraction, awkwardness, and healing that’s about to unfold. It’s the kind of story that combines humor, heart, and heat in just the right doses.
I fell for the writing right away. It has this effortless, snappy rhythm—funny without trying too hard, emotional without feeling saccharine. From the first few pages, when Rose awkwardly fumbles her way into George’s estate (and into his arms, quite literally), I was hooked. That whole “mistaken identity” set-up where she thinks George is just the pool guy is classic. But it’s not just a gimmick—the banter that follows feels natural and genuinely fun, like you’re eavesdropping on two people falling into something big and messy and real. That moment when Rose realizes the “pool guy” is actually her movie star boss was deliciously cringey and delightful.
The deeper stuff hit me harder than I expected. Rose’s backstory with the sleazy chef and the fallout from that mess felt all too real. There’s this sharp moment when Rose reflects on how being a woman in a high-end kitchen already stacks the odds against her—and then a sleazy encounter pulls the rug out from under her. Her resilience, though, really got to me. She’s smart, funny, a little self-deprecating, and trying so hard not to get hurt again. You can’t help but root for her. And George, under the glitz, is just a guy trying to figure out what matters. His moments of vulnerability—like his existential dread over aging out of Hollywood, or wondering if he can carry off a British accent without sounding like a cartoon—give him this surprising, relatable depth.
The chemistry is off the charts. There’s this perfect blend of slow-burn tension and goofy sweetness. I loved their early kitchen scenes—Rose trying not to blush while George munches carrots like Bugs Bunny, or her awkward sandwich moment where she can’t stop staring at his indigo eyes. It’s romantic comedy gold. And somehow, amid all the flirting and fumbling, there’s this growing sense of trust, like they’re both learning how to be safe with someone again. That’s where the story really shines—not in the glamor, but in the quiet moments where they see each other for real.
If you love character-driven romances with heart, humor, and heat, this one’s a gem. Fans of Emily Henry or Katherine Center will probably feel right at home. It’s got enough Hollywood sparkle to keep things fun, but it’s the emotional beats that really stick with you. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a love story with depth—plus some good food, awkward falls, and the kind of witty repartee that’ll leave you grinning.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0F3RSKKNV
