Books 1&2 of the California Dreamers Series
By Dakota Madison
Genre: Romantic Comedy
(NOT SO) GOOD IN A
ROOM, a romantic comedy novella by USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Dakota Madison,
is a modern reimagining of Cyrano de Bergerac.
Awkward
screenwriter Nellie Berg is great with words, as long as she can write them
down. She’s written over thirty action scripts, but has been unable to sell a
single one to Hollywood. Instead of working the room, every time Nellie tries
to pitch her scripts to producers she becomes overcome with anxiety and
completely blanks out.
When Nellie meets
another aspiring screenwriter, Roscoe Rhodes, at Pitchfestapalooza they form an
unlikely friendship. Roscoe is everything Nellie is not: outgoing, witty, charming…and
good in a room. Roscoe suggests that Nellie hire his cousin, Chris, an
unemployed actor to pitch her scripts to producers.
Things get
complicated when Nellie falls for Chris and she seeks Roscoe’s help to seal the
deal. Roscoe realizes he actually has feelings for Nellie. And Hollywood falls
in love with the hot the new pretend screenwriter, who has never even read an
entire script let alone written one.
I look down at my black patent leather shoes,
white tights, black and white polka dot skirt. Then I glance around me.
Everyone else is wearing dress jeans and button-down shirts with their sleeves
rolled up to their elbows. Somehow I must have missed the screenwriters’ attire
memo.
So in addition to being a bundle of nerves I
look completely and totally out of place. Isn’t that just great for my
self-esteem?
“You know this producer only makes action
films,” Roscoe says.
I don’t even try to hide my scowl. “I know
that.”
He points to another line directly across the
lobby from us. “The line for romantic comedy is over there.”
“So?” I glare at him.
“Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable over
there?”
“You mean somewhere where there isn’t a
misogynistic jerk standing in front of me?”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “You’ve
written a script for an action movie?”
As I shake my head defiantly I wonder why I’m
even talking to this asshole.
“Then what are you doing in this line?” His
condescending tone is really starting to piss me off.
“I’ve written scripts for thirty action movies.”
Choke on that you prick.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.
“You don’t strike me as the type who would be
interested in writing action scripts.”
“And why is that? Because I’m female? Have you
bought into the sexist notion that women can’t write action scripts?”
I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him.
As much as I’d like him to crawl into a hole somewhere he stares right back at
me.
“Maybe it’s the pink polka dot purse you’re
holding. That just screams action film. Or the outfit you’re wearing. If
Shirley Temple and Dorothy Gale had a love child she would dress like you.
Except you look more like a Munchkin with your little round face and tiny
body.”
I can feel my face heat with embarrassment. This
guy just says whatever he thinks, doesn’t he. “You know that’s really
insulting.”
“Munchkin,” he repeats.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Whatever you say, Munch. You look like one of
the dolls from the cabbage patch. I just want to put you on a shelf.”
“I consider that a micro-aggression.”
“Boo-hoo. What are you going to do? Call the PC
police because I hurt your feelings?”
“You’re kind of a jerk.”
“Everyone says I’m charming.”
This guy is definitely no prince. “I guess
everyone is wrong.”
✯✯✯✯✯ "Concept is king"
By michael
hernandezon Verified Purchase
Not in the
genre I normally read, but I was 100% entertained throughout the story. A
really great start to her new series and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a
heartfelt, happy novel.
✯✯✯✯✯ "Smart, Fun Read"
By Laila Lamarron
Verified Purchase
Nellie and
Roscoe are such fun characters, and I'm glad to see Madison has more in store
with others from the novella.
After being at the
center of a sex scandal that made national headlines a former nanny tries to
rebuild her life by becoming a personal assistant to a reclusive writer.
What happens after
your 15-minutes of fame are over?
Find out in SO FAR
AWAY, a romantic comedy novella by USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Dakota Madison.
Maddie Malone is
the nanny who made national headlines. She’s the temptress who broke up the
marriage of two of Hollywood’s most beloved movie stars. She’s the girl
everyone in America loves to hate.
Now two months
after the Nannygate sex scandal Maddie is desperate to rebuild her life.
She accepts a
position as a personal assistant to the reclusive writer, Jackson Drake. He’s
fired every one of the assistants his manager has sent him within the first few
days of employment, but Maddie is determined to do whatever is takes to make
her new job work.
Maddie is able to
follow every one of Jackson’s eccentric rules to the letter. That is until
Emerson Drake shows up for Spring Break. He’s Jackson’s son from an affair he
had with Bahamian creative writing student when he taught at UCLA. He’s the son
who Jackson has somehow managed to keep hidden from his fans for all these
years.
Maddie finds
Emerson incredibly attractive…and Jackson has forbidden Maddie to date him.
“That's her.”
If I had a dollar
for every time I heard those two words in the last three months I'd be wealthy
and not so desperate to find a job.
Even though I'm
wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses I'm still recognizable. Somehow the
paparazzi always manage to find me. Today is no exception. They snap photos of
me as I dash into the corner market.
I selected Gino’s,
a small neighborhood grocery store, because I thought it would be safe. Or at
least safer than some place like Trader Jay's Whole Foods Organic Gluten Free
Market where the paparazzi expect to see celebrities.
Not that I’m
famous…more like infamous. I’m the Naughty Nanny. That’s the moniker I was
given by the press following Nannygate.
“That's her.” A
young blond girl elbows her friend and points in my direction. The two whisper
and snicker as they gawk at me.
People aren't
subtle when they stare. And they often say rude things about me, right to my
face. I've even had a woman spit on me. Obviously she was a big fan of
America’s Sweetheart, Annabelle Miller.
I had only worked
for movie stars, Daniel Robinson and Annabelle Miller aka Dannabelle, for a few
months before all hell broke loose.
Annabelle accused
me of screwing her husband and immediately filed for divorce.
When two of the
hottest celebrities in Hollywood split up it’s big news, especially when
there’s another woman involved.
And I just happened
to be the other woman.
I do my best to
remember the few items I had intended to pick up at the market.
Tomatoes, pasta,
mushrooms…I can’t remember the fourth item.
It’s difficult to
keep my mind on my grocery list while every other customer in the place gapes
at me.
Olive oil. I snap
my fingers. That’s the final item on the list.
The older woman at
the cash register doesn’t seem to recognize me. I consider that a small
miracle. She just asks me for my twenty bucks then bags my items.
When I step out of
the store there are still several photographers waiting to snap shots of me.
How many people are
able to completely ruin their lives by the time they’re 26 years old? I’ve
certainly done an excellent job of it.
I wave to the guys
snapping my photo and then give them the finger. I’ve got nothing to lose.
Everyone in the English-speaking world already hates me.
Of course no one
knows the real story, and oddly enough no one seems to care. The scandal took
on a life of its own and I became the target of hatred and scorn.
✯✯✯✯ "Hiding away"
By Rebecca A
Maddie Malone is in
the middle of a huge papparrazi firestorm since being named as the nanny who
broke up Hollywood's favorite couple Daniel Robinson and Annabelle Miller.
Thrust into a spotlight she doesn't want she can't get a job anywhere once
people figure out who she is but a friend gets her hired on as the personal
assistant to reclusive writer Jackson Drake.
Jackson Drake
doesn't have many rules at all but the number one rule is no hanky panky.
Maddie is positive that won't be a problem until she meets Emerson Drake,
Jackson's son who she had no idea even existed. When the attraction between
Emerson and Maddie grows will she put her job first or throw it all away for a
chance at love?
I enjoyed this book
but I found that so much happened in a short amount of time that it was almost
too fast for me. I felt bad for Maddie and everything that she went through
with being innocent in how the press portrayed her. I'd almost think that
people would have jumped at the chance to hire someone with a "dirty"
past.
It was weird in a
way that Emerson had no issues with Maddie at risk for losing her job when he
was only at his dad's for a short amount of time. The ending was too funny with
how everything turned out and it definitely did make me laugh.
✯✯✯✯✯ "Find out in another amazing Novella from one of my
favourite authors Dakota Madison"
By Paula L.
Phillips
Remember Nellie
from Book #1 and her Roommate Maddie Malone ? In Book #2 we have Maddie's
story. After we left her in Book #1 , Maddie managed to score a Nannying gig
for America's Sweetheart couple Dan and Annabelle aka Dannabelle. Things though
didn't go to great for her and that's definitely an understatement as she was
caught in the middle of a nasty divorce and in order for Annabelle to look like
the good one in the relationship, she started a rumour that Maddie had slept
with her husband. Two things were wrong with this scenario though as A) Maddie
never slept with him and B) he is a closet gay. However news broke and from
that became a Hollywood Scandal known as the Nannygate and Maddie was painted
as the Naughty Nanny. Finding it difficult to get a job, she does what she can
. One of Roscoe's friends Finn knows of a PA job going to a recluse author
Jackson Drake - he is known for firing his assistants on the first day. He and
Maddie seem to get on very well and it looks like it may be a great fit though
Maddie seems to already have broken one of his rules - no matter how hard she
tried not too - Rule #3 No Hanky-Panky and this goes for his son Emerson Drake.
Of course Maddie and Emerson have this instant chemistry attraction going on
and it's not just his science major talking. What will happen when the truth is
revealed ? Will this be the end of Maddie's working career or from this
opportunity, will something better arise and more suited to her qualifications?
USA TODAY
Bestselling author Dakota Madison is known for writing romance with a little
spice and lots of heart. She likes to explore current social issues in her
work. Dakota is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the
Indie and Small Publishing Industry. When she's not at her computer creating
spicy stories Dakota likes to spend time with her husband and their bloodhounds
at their home outside Phoenix, Arizona. Dakota also writes under the pen names
SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON and REN MONTERREY.
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