Acting Married by Victorine E Lieske

From Goodreads:
Tara McDermott needed a job, so she took the only thing available--cleaning house for the swoon-worthy actor, and Hollywood Bad Boy, Rick Shade. When he comes up with a crazy plan to tame his wild reputation by marrying her, she reluctantly agrees so she can pay off her debts and move her daughter back to the Midwest where life is simpler. If only he wouldn't make her heart pound every time he kisses her.

Rick's reputation is in the toilet and it's affecting his job. In order to get a good role, he needs to show Hollywood he's now a family man. After enticing Tara with a large sum of money to go through with the farce, he sets out to show the public he's in love. But Tara's soft lips keep calling to him and soon he doesn't know what's pretend and what's real.

Acting Married is a sweet romance, and a stand-alone novel.


My Take:
This was a quick, easy read, and I loved that is was clean as well. There is definite chemistry between Tara and Rick, but they are also responsible adults capable of controlling their impulses. They both want something meaningful and are willing to wait for it. I know that sounds weird since they've entered a fake marriage to help each other out.

Tara so wants to be tough and capable, but she's really an emotional mess. Vulnerable, and so starved for real love that I hurt for her. She's a wonderful mother though. Tara works hard to give her little girl all that she can. The ultimate goal is to get out of Hollywood and somewhere Tara sees as stable. She's surprised at how Rick fills the gaps in her daughter's life.

The only thing I couldn't decide on was the daughter. I believe she was supposed to be four, but sometimes she acted much older, and other times much younger. Other than that, quite enjoyable.

I give Acting Married a solid 4 and Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always