Samantha Young

There’s a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young. Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her. Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships. So when she meets a birthday girl’s grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can’t help but needle him. She’ll never see him again, and honestly, he's pretty hot. Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn’t mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs. His family will not stop nagging him about finding “the one,” so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He’ll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings. She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else’s new phone, and he’ll get his family off his back. When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star’s desire for "no strings" is tested against Rafe’s staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all....

The Love Plot

Rafe did not make the greatest of first impressions as a MMC!  He was rude, surly and condescending.  His only redeeming quality was the love he showed his niece.  Star made sure that when they next bumped into each other she made a solid impression on him and cause major embarrassment in the process!

Star Shine Meadows, that's her actual given name honest, makes a living as a line sitter and character actor in NY.  She is the epitome of hippy-dippy, live for the moment, no ties - no plans. 

 So when the attractive but oh so annoying Rafe makes her a deal, she figures it couldn't hurt. 

 She'll get the money to travel and he'll get his matrimony pushing relatives off his back.

Rafe could easily have been the arrogant, wealthy playboy but he chose to take a different path.  He's aware of his wealth and privilege and tries to limit shoving it in people's faces.  Star is also the product of her upbringing: less than involved parents who left her to her own devices.  So much so the thought of a long term relationship has her breaking out in hives.

Star and Rafe both have baggage to deal with and I feel Star had the bigger obstacles to overcome, Rafe at least had family support.  Their HEA is certainly hard worn and not an easy path.  Rafe puts his foot in it several times and Star is just as bad - she's great at giving advice to others about staying true to themselves and then goes and tries to mould herself into someone else's version of her that was more "palatable".

Rafe has this crusty curmudgeon façade which hides complete goo inside. Stick with him though he does come good in the end! 

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Rafe did not make the greatest of first impressions as a MMC!  He was rude, surly and condescending.  His only redeeming quality was the love he showed his niece.  Star made sure that when they next bumped into each other she made a solid impression on him and cause major embarrassment in the process!

Star Shine Meadows, that's her actual given name honest, makes a living as a line sitter and character actor in NY.  She is the epitome of hippy-dippy, live for the moment, no ties - no plans. 

 So when the attractive but oh so annoying Rafe makes her a deal, she figures it couldn't hurt. 

 She'll get the money to travel and he'll get his matrimony pushing relatives off his back.

Rafe could easily have been the arrogant, wealthy playboy but he chose to take a different path.  He's aware of his wealth and privilege and tries to limit shoving it in people's faces.  Star is also the product of her upbringing: less than involved parents who left her to her own devices.  So much so the thought of a long term relationship has her breaking out in hives.

Star and Rafe both have baggage to deal with and I feel Star had the bigger obstacles to overcome, Rafe at least had family support.  Their HEA is certainly hard worn and not an easy path.  Rafe puts his foot in it several times and Star is just as bad - she's great at giving advice to others about staying true to themselves and then goes and tries to mould herself into someone else's version of her that was more "palatable".

Rafe has this crusty curmudgeon façade which hides complete goo inside. Stick with him though he does come good in the end! 

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for sending me this copy of The Love Plot.  As always, the opinions about the book are entirely my own.

After growing up with hippie parents who ignored her, Star Shine Meadows is happy bouncing between jobs as a line sitter and costume character actor, until she meets Rafe, who makes her think about the future for the first time in her adult life.  Rafe doesn't understand this woman, making her living this way, but decides that she might be the answer to getting his mother and sister off his back, so he asks her to be his fake girlfriend for 6 months at a rate of $10,000 a month.  Star isn't sure she can tolerate stuffed-shirt Rafe for 6 months, but the money convinces her to take the job.  However, after awhile, Star realizes spending time with Rafe is worth more than the money.

The Love Plot starts out like most books that use the fake dating and grumpy/sunshine tropes, but soon personalizes the story with Star's quirky characteristics and unique jobs as well as Rafe's interesting family.  As the two get to know each other though, it becomes clear that their similarities matter more than their differences.  There are some emotional moments that elevate the plot even though more humor and conflicts might have kept the book from starting out a little slow.  Overall however, The Love Plot is a simple but fun story with entertaining characters.

Lynn Braden

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for sending me this copy of The Love Plot.  As always, the opinions about the book are entirely my own.

After growing up with hippie parents who ignored her, Star Shine Meadows is happy bouncing between jobs as a line sitter and costume character actor, until she meets Rafe, who makes her think about the future for the first time in her adult life.  Rafe doesn't understand this woman, making her living this way, but decides that she might be the answer to getting his mother and sister off his back, so he asks her to be his fake girlfriend for 6 months at a rate of $10,000 a month.  Star isn't sure she can tolerate stuffed-shirt Rafe for 6 months, but the money convinces her to take the job.  However, after awhile, Star realizes spending time with Rafe is worth more than the money.

The Love Plot starts out like most books that use the fake dating and grumpy/sunshine tropes, but soon personalizes the story with Star's quirky characteristics and unique jobs as well as Rafe's interesting family.  As the two get to know each other though, it becomes clear that their similarities matter more than their differences.  There are some emotional moments that elevate the plot even though more humor and conflicts might have kept the book from starting out a little slow.  Overall however, The Love Plot is a simple but fun story with entertaining characters.

The Love Plot

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