Forces of Nature #3
Publisher: Celie Bay Publications
Pages: 374
Characters: Ethan/Arthur
POV: 3rd
Genre: Contemporary, Series
Blurb:
The Earth shook the morning actor Ethan Bradley arrived in Los Angeles looking for a second chance. He hoped his former producers Reese Matheson and Toby Griffiths meant it when they said to look them up if he were ever in LA because he had no other options. The pictures the paparazzi took at the wrap party for their London show made sure of that. What he wasn’t counting on was the reception he got from their manager, Arthur Frye. He was absolutely the kind of together guy Ethan wished would notice him, and for more than his pretty face and talent. Too bad Arthur only sees Ethan as a complication.
Arthur Frye has his hands full with his best clients—and best friends. The last thing he needs is another diva to care for, especially one who has a reputation for causing trouble. He has a strict rule against getting involved with the talent, no matter how pretty they are. Only Ethan Bradley shines for real, and when Arthur realizes his nice-guy innocence is genuine, he’s ready to do anything to help Ethan get his career back on track and get him out of LA. He’s too much of a temptation, and Arthur can’t afford to lose focus…not even for a chance at happiness for himself. Especially not when his star clients are about to risk their professional and personal happiness with their newest creation; a musical about two boys falling in love in the 1960s featuring music written by Reese’s grandfather, whose health is in decline.
Ethan Bradley shakes things up wherever he goes, and Arthur Frye is afraid he’ll be left in the wreckage if he gets too close. Can these two opposites find love on solid ground?
Review
I have a weakness for music related storylines and am loving this series. I enjoyed Ethan and Arthur’s story which is a wonderful opposites attract with plenty of misconceptions about each other along the way. I loved catching up with other characters in the series and seeing them from a different perspective. The setting and performance of a musical, for me, was an added bonus.
I loved both Ethan and Arthur, and how Arthur gets around his conviction that he won’t date a client. I liked the realism behind how a story, no matter how true or untrue it is, can wreck someone’s reputation. Ethan’s such a kind soul, and his willingness to help out with the show is a great example of that. I also loved how, despite his fame, he’s still unassuming.
I loved how Arthur slowly reveals his quirky personality to Ethan, and how well they fit together. I liked the build up to his parents’ appearance on page. My expectations, seen through Arthur’s perspective, didn’t mesh with the reality of them. Nicely done.
I liked how the all the characters fit together with their shared pasts etc, and the part earthquakes played in this story. I also liked the theme of familial expectations, and the difference between Ethan and Arthur’s families. I loved the part everyone plays in this story, the musical finally coming together and the performance.
I’m reading this series in totally the wrong order, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the wonderful, layered, cast of characters and everything they go through.
The name dropping, given the Hollywood setting, is a lot of fun.
5 out of 5 stars.
Drops of Ink 