by Olivia Dade
Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.
"An absolutely witty, swoon worthy behind the scenes romp! Delightful from beginning to end!"—Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV's biggest show, Gods of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he's dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.
Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn't be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness...not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit.
When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she'll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he's determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all.
Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.
"An absolutely witty, swoon worthy behind the scenes romp! Delightful from beginning to end!"—Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV's biggest show, Gods of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he's dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.
Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn't be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness...not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit.
When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she'll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he's determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all.
Reviews-
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Starred review from August 1, 2021
A totally stressed-out and exhausted Lauren has quit her demanding job and flown to Spain to relax and recover. In Spain, she makes the mistake of visiting her cousin RJ on the set of his wildly popular TV series Gods of the Gates and gets badgered into babysitting the show's star, Alex, an incredibly hot actor with impulse control issues. Alex isn't thrilled either: no one asked why he got into that recent public bar fight before they stuck him with a minder, an irksome sourpuss with no sense of humor. The only thing worse than being babysat by Lauren would be further damaging his career by refusing RJ's order--or so Alex thinks. He and Lauren seem like total opposites, but soon their chemistry is undeniable. Dade's charming, sexy contemporary romance (a sequel to Spoiler Alert) will be hard to put down. Alex and Lauren are likable, well-developed characters with emotional depth and relatable backstories that deal with body positivity, mental health, and abuse. While these heavy topics are major plotlines, they enhance rather than overshadow the friends-to-lovers/opposites-attract romance. The writing is excellent, with witty, banter-filled dialogue. VERDICT Highly recommended for public libraries.--Heather Miller Cover, Homewood P.L., AL
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Starred review from August 15, 2021
When a volatile actor is assigned a guarded therapist to keep him in line, each discovers there's more to the other than meets the eye. Alex Woodroe, star of popular TV drama Gods of the Gates, is filming the final season of the show--and he despises the evolution of his character, Cupid. He's seething with frustration, not only because the showrunner is inept and tactless, but also because Cupid's arc forces him to relive memories of trauma in his own past. When Alex's resentment erupts in a bar fight, the show appoints Lauren Clegg to steer him away from trouble and negative publicity. Lauren, emerging from a decadelong stint as an ER therapist, has a finely honed sense of duty and morality and a long track record of maintaining professional distance from her patients. Despite her resolve to remain unaffected by him, Lauren finds herself admiring and empathizing with Alex. But before they can acknowledge their mutual attraction, trouble finds him again, causing Lauren to lose her job. While she must decide if she wants Alex in her life more than she wants to keep him away from controversy, Alex needs to face his demons before he can make a future with Lauren. The second installment in Dade's Spoiler Alert series weaves in sharp wit and dry humor even as it tugs at the reader's heartstrings with its exploration of the far-reaching repercussions of trauma. Alex's full-throated conviviality bounces productively off Lauren's cautious reserve, bringing out different sides of both their personalities. Alex's and Lauren's attitudes toward their own bodies also evolve beautifully as their relationship deepens. As engaging as the two are when they're together, Alex's penchant for fan fiction and Lauren's dynamic with her best friend help them emerge as well-rounded characters individually. Dade's ironic awareness of popular romance tropes adds another layer of interest and fun. A consistently entertaining and often insightful romance.COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Starred review from September 15, 2021
Adored yet out-of-control actor Alex Woodroe insists that he doesn't need a minder, but the showrunners for Gods of the Gates, the wildly successful television show in which Alex plays Cupid, beg to differ. They believe that Alex's volatile behavior, including a recent bar brawl in Spain, could irreparably damage the show's image and sink his career. So before the final season airs, the showrunners hire someone to keep Alex out of trouble, former ER therapist Lauren Clegg--or as Alex likes to call her, the "freelance foe of fun." After wowing readers with Spoiler Alert (2020), Dade returns with another stunning contemporary romance that brilliantly celebrates the redemptive power of love. With a deliciously acerbic sense of humor and endless measures of grace and insight, Dade creatively dramatizes the serious--ADHD and career burnout--as well as the whimsical--an ardor for fan fiction--as she skillfully develops both the sweet emotional connection and the searingly sensual attraction that evolve between Alex and Lauren over the course of this romance between two opposites.COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
"An absolutely witty, swoon worthy behind the scenes romp! Delightful from beginning to end!" — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
"All the Feels leaves you swooning and eager for more!" — Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting
"Joyful, clever, and full of heart, with two irresistible characters whose connection is both gorgeously sweet and wildly hot. Mixing riotous humor and aching tenderness, All the Feels is all the things I love about romance. Olivia Dade has jumped to the top of my auto-buy list!" — Rachel Lynn Solomon, national bestselling author of The Ex Talk
"If you're a fan of romances that feature nuanced protagonists, whip-smart dialogue, scorching chemistry, and sidesplitting humor, look no further than Olivia Dade's books. This author is an absolute gem!" — Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man
"Olivia Dade is so gentle with her characters, giving them each the space to become their best selves while also being loved for all their flaws. All the Feels is hilarious and poignant at the same time." — Cat Sebastian, author of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb
"I adore All the Feels. This slow burn romance had me falling in love every step of the way." — Meryl Wilsner, author of Something to Talk About
"Olivia Dade once again delivers a book as sexy and charming as it is cathartic. Dade's books speak to my soul as she deftly tackles complicated subjects with humor, heart, and infinite kindness. I adored All the Feels and can't wait to see what Dade writes next. Olivia Dade is an auto-buy author!" — Jessie Mihalik, author of Chaos Reigning
"Dade's charming, sexy contemporary romance will be hard to put down. Alex and Lauren are likable, well-developed characters with emotional depth and relatable backstories that deal with body positivity, mental health, and abuse. While these heavy topics are major plotlines, they enhance rather than overshadow the friends-to-lovers?/?opposites-attract romance. The writing is excellent, with witty, banter-filled dialogue." — Library Journal (starred review)
"[All the Feels] weaves in sharp wit and dry humor even as it tugs at the reader's heartstrings with its exploration of the far-reaching repercussions of trauma...Dade's ironic awareness of popular romance tropes adds another layer of interest and fun. A consistently entertaining and often insightful romance." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"All the Feels is a tender, slow burn romance... Alex and Lauren's progression toward romance is rooted in their friendship, which blossoms into a mutual care and compassion that is stunning to behold. Their romance is one to cry over and cheer for." — BookPage (Starred Review)
"Dade delivers and then some. This book frolics through fields of fannish allusion and metatext... It takes a skillful writer to juggle so many elements, yet the emotional through-line shines clear and strong at every point." — New York Times Book Review on Spoiler Alert
"Olivia Dade writes with such compassion and kindness for her characters, and in the process, makes you want to live in the world she creates." — Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author
"With richly drawn characters you'll love to root for, Olivia Dade's books are a gem of the genre—full of humor, heart, and heat." — Kate Clayborn, author of Love Lettering
