I received this book for free from the TLC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Published by Vigiliano Books on July 23, 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dating & Sex, Emotions & Feelings, Family, Friendship, Girls & Women, Performing Arts
Pages: 289
Format: eBook
Source: TLC Tours
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Callie Lambert is the hottest starlet in Hollywood. With a hit TV show under her belt, the tabloid-targeted actress--christened one of “The 20 Most Tantalizing Angelenos”--leads a charmed life, hobnobbing with fashionistas in Paris and industry bigwigs in Los Angeles . She's sexy, sassy, and unsinkable....and currently unemployed.
Beyond Hollywood Strip offers an inside look into the realities of being famous and beautiful, following Callie as she navigates the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry. Juggling hunky ex-boyfriends, battling lawsuits from rival actresses, staying one step ahead of the press, organizing a charity event to honor her murdered friend…Callie’s got it all under control. But when she receives a mysterious letter from a young woman claiming to be her long-lost sister, Callie’s world begins to crack around the edges and all bets are off.
An ode to the literary popcorn of Jacqueline Susann, Beyond Hollywood Strip is a steamy, action-packed ride down Sunset Boulevard. Better buckle your seat belt…it’s going to be bumpy...
I’ve been reading a lot of horror and dark paranormal fiction lately, so Beyond Hollywood Strip was such a nice, fun, refreshing book to cleanse my palate. Actress Callie Lambert has just been let go from her television show, so she’s taking the opportunity to focus on taking her career in a more serious direction from the bubblegum roles she’s played before. While taking a short vacation in Paris to visit her best friend/make up artist Tyler, her agent scores her a meeting with a writer/director that wants her to be the lead in her movie that’s been in development for a while. Since it’s a period piece and the director makes Callie feel like she’s the only person who can play this elegant part, she gladly accepts. But this job definitely complicates her life in so many ways as you see in Beyond Hollywood Strip, and I really enjoyed getting this insider’s look at what it’s really like to be a working actress in Hollywood.
Callie’s life is anything but relaxing, with auditions, defamation lawsuits from former cast mates, parties to attend, photo shoots, awards shows, and dodging the paparazzi, She’s no-nonsense, speaks her mind, but a bit impatient with those around her. She doesn’t take to changes in her personal life very well, and when an email from someone saying that they are her half-sister shows up, she’s shaken up and suspicious. But overall, I really enjoyed the character of Callie. Her Midwestern values and roots were still largely intact and she wasn’t so Hollywood that she was unlikeable.
Callie’s relationships with her manager, her new relationship with super-model Luci, her family, her best-friend Tyler, her musician ex-boyfriend Evan, and her new boyfriend Mitch were so different and realistic. My favorite parts were the her growing relationship with her half-sister Emily. They couldn’t have been more different, but Callie was very welcoming and helpful from the start. I also really enjoyed Callie’s slow burn relationship with Mitch, even if Callie didn’t at first.
I give Beyond Hollywood Strip a 4.5 out of 5. This fast paced book gives you an insider’s look at the life of a Hollywood actress from her point of view, and it’s certainly entertaining with it’s ups and downs. With a host of realistic problems and situations that the rest of us deal with in conjunction with obstacles that only Hollywood actresses would have, Callie’s life isn’t all vacations and photo shoots and looking pretty–it’s hard work and exhausting. But she thinks it’s worth it, and I definitely think this book is a fun, interesting ride full of interesting, well-fleshed out characters.
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I think reading about the life of a Hollywood actress would be a little surreal, but definitely entertaining. I can only imagine how hectic their day-to-day schedules must be! This is a big change from horror, Heather! Wonderful review. 🙂
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Beyond Hollywood Strip was definitely a big change from horror, but there was plenty of problems! It’s a very fun and entertaining book, though, and it was nice to read such a different change of pace than what I have been reading. I really enjoyed it!
Heather recently posted..Creepy Fun – Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain
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I do love a good palate cleanser! I tend to go for travelogues and the like but something like this book is perfect to rinse away all that darkness that you’ve been devouring. (Heather, Devourer of Darkness. I like it!)
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LOL, Mary! Beyond Hollywood Strip was the perfect palate cleanser between horror novels. It was the best balance of regular old reality and the Hollywood glitz that I’ll never know, plus the gritty darker stuff that goes on behind the scenes. It all made for an excellent and fun read!
Heather recently posted..Creepy Fun – Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain
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I’m glad you enjoyed this refreshing break from your more serious recent reads!
Thanks for being a part of the tour! I’m featuring your review on TLC’s Facebook page today.
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