Title: His Leading Man
Author: Ashlyn Kane
Series: Standalone Title
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Publisher: DreamSpinner Press (A DreamSpun Desires Title)
Release Date: June 5 2018
Edition/Format: 1st Edition/Format~ Audio, eBook, Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
He wrote a comedy. Fate directed a romance.
Drew Beaumont is bored of the same old roles: action hero, supervillain, romantic lead. He’s not going to let a fresh gay buddy comedy languish just because they can’t find him the right costar. No, Drew bats his eyelashes and convinces everyone that the movie’s writer should play Drew’s not-so-straight man.
Aspiring writer Steve Sopol has never had a screenplay optioned. Now one of Hollywood’s hottest properties wants to be in a movie Steve hasn’t finished writing— and he wants Steve as his costar. Turns out the chemistry between them is undeniable—on and off-screen.
Drew swore off dating in the biz, but Steve is the whole package: sharp, funny, humble, and cute. For Steve, though, giving in to the movie magic means the end of the privacy he cherishes. Will the credits roll before their ride into the sunset?
This book was sweet with a liberal amount of humor thrown into the story. Drew is an actor who seems to always get his way. Which is why the writer of the movie he's the lead in, gets roped into acting opposite him. Steve is a sweet man that we don't get to know until later on in the story. The way the two men play off each other is perfect.
The concept of the romance developing throughout the filming process was perfect. The men learn about each other as they learn how to act out the script that is being written before it's filmed. That is just awesome. I like that idea. One would never know what the next plot twist would be.
But this story is more than just a romance between these two men, but a little bit of a mystery. It's not a large one, but there are secrets and the mini plot twists. The secondary characters bring the story full circle.
What's not to love about two strong, funny men falling in love and lust with each other? There is a strong amount of humor in the story and it keeps the pace with the writing. Everything feels organic and not forced. I would say if you want a sweet romance then this is a good one.
Honestly, the car couldn’t have been more Drew: a sleek
candy-apple-red…. “What is that?” Steve finally asked, stumped.
“This,” Drew said, waving his arm like Vanna White, “is a
MacLaren 570GT.”
Bullshit, Steve thought. That is a phallic stand-in. Someone
might as well have written I have a big penis on the back. It looked even more
dickish blocking in two other cars. “Why is it, though?” he said. “This is LA.
You’re never going to be able to drive it faster than twenty miles an hour.”
“Well, it wouldn’t make much of an impression if I picked
you up on an e-bike.” Drew put his hand at the small of Steve’s back and
ushered him forward.
Steve’s central nervous system lit up like the Hollywood
sign. Only muscle memory kept his legs moving forward. “And the bike would have
clashed with your tux,” he managed through a suddenly raspy throat.
“See? You understand. The car has to look as good as me.”
They reached the car, and Drew opened the door for Steve and
stepped aside to let him enter. Without the searing touch of Drew’s hand at his
back, Steve could breathe again. “Suddenly everything makes sense.”
Drew winked as he shut the door.
Steve had mostly recovered by the time Drew slid behind the
wheel, but he had heart palpitations all over again as Drew fondled the
steering wheel. “So.” He pushed the ignition and the engine purred to life. “I
see that you know how to tie a bow tie.”
“This could be a clip-on.” It wasn’t, though; Steve’s mother
would kill him.
“Penrose London doesn’t make clip-ons,” Drew said dismissively.
“Now, can you help me or not? Leigh always does this for me.” He scrunched up
his face in an expression of simultaneous distaste and self-disgust. “That
sounded both pathetic and entitled.”
Steve huffed in amusement and tried not to think about what
other things Leigh usually did for him. “A combination I’m sure is unique to
you.” They turned toward each other in unison, and without overthinking it,
Steve reached over and started buttoning Drew’s shirt.
“Hey!” Drew seemed to think about what he was protesting. “I
can’t decide if I’m offended at being written off as not special because other
people are also pathetic and entitled.”
“Take your time.” Steve reached the final button. His
fingers were remarkably steady, even as they accidentally brushed the skin of
Drew’s neck. In the close confines of Drew’s ridiculous car, he smelled
incredible, warm and fresh and heady at the same time. “I hear it’s fashionable
to be late to these things.”
“A fair point. We could….”
Steve tugged Drew’s tie from his pocket and looped it around
his neck before crossing one end over the other. When Drew didn’t continue
after several seconds’ pause, he looked up. “Could what?”
Drew’s eyes were even darker than usual, his cheeks an
unusual pink. Steve was caught for a moment, frozen. Then Drew wet his lips and
cleared his throat. “Could get ice cream before we show. You know, since I’m
blowing my diet tonight either way.”
Nope. Watching Drew lick an ice cream while trying not to
drip any on his own tux sounded like a recipe for wardrobe malfunction. “Pass.”
He made the right side of the bow. “I am not explaining ice cream stains to the
press.” No one would believe him. Hell, Steve wouldn’t even blame them.
“Always gotta be the voice of reason.” Drew sounded a little
strained as Steve finished tying.
With a frown, Steve tucked a finger down the side of the
tie. It didn’t seem like it was constricting, but some people were more
sensitive than others. “Too tight?”
Drew cleared his throat again. “No, just a tickle. Sorry.
Ready to do this?”
Steve sat back in his seat and blew out a breath. Was he
ready to subject his life to the kind of intense scrutiny that came along with
associating with a megastar? “Probably not!” He should have thought of that
before he let Hilary talk him into acting. “But there’s only one way to find
out.”
Drew gunned the engine. “That’s the spirit.”
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ASHLYN KANE is a Canadian former expat and current hockey fan. She is a writer, editor, handyperson, dog mom, and friend—sometimes all at once.
On any given day she can usually be found walking her ninety-pound baby chocolate lapdog, Indy, or holed up in her office avoiding housework. She has a deep and abiding love of romance novel tropes, a habit of dropping too many f-bombs, and—fortunately—a very forgiving family.
