A celebrity romance with heart, heat, and depth.
A world-famous actor hires a private chef and ends up hungry for far more than what’s on the menu in Treadgold’s compelling romance. For action star George Reed Masters, trading in Hollywood blockbusters for serious dramatic work means transforming his body and public image. It also means hiring Rose, a private chef with calm competence, zero tolerance for ego, and no intention of falling for the world’s most eligible bachelor. But despite her professional distance and emotional walls, George finds himself increasingly drawn to Rose. Unfortunately, his glamorous ex-wife Helena, Hollywood royalty and occasional co-star, has other ideas. She’s dangling the role of a lifetime in her father’s film, and it’s clear the offer comes with strings attached.
George might have fame, money, and charm in spades. However, Treadgold doesn’t let him coast on charisma. Instead, she digs into his loneliness, the toll of celebrity, and the aching need to be seen beyond the headlines. Rose, meanwhile, is no stranger to trauma. Steady, capable, and fiercely independent, she’s spent years guarding her heart and building a life she can control. The tension between them (one man seeking something real, one woman determined not to be hurt again) plays out with tender intensity and slow-burning chemistry. Treadgold shows restraint when it comes to portraying the couple’s romance. She lets attraction bloom in their shared glances, mismatched expectations, and slowly unfolding trust.
The conflict in the story doesn’t come from any manufactured drama. It comes from real emotional stakes: fear of vulnerability, incompatible goals, and the shadow of past heartbreak. The inclusion of Helena, with her perfectly timed manipulations, adds pressure without turning the novel into melodrama. Instead, Treadgold keeps the focus squarely on George and Rose as they navigate the awkward space between public performance and private longing. The novel’s pacing is deliberate and the tone intimate. The relationship builds gradually, giving readers time to believe in it, while avoiding clichés about either celebrity romance or small-town simplicity. Rose’s integrity never wavers, and George’s growth is genuinely earned, both as a man and as a partner.
A thoughtful and tender story about fame, vulnerability, and choosing love without losing yourself, the novel captures the slow dance of two people trying to rewrite their own scripts. Fans of The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo and It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover will find much to savor here.
A modern fairy tale that feels surprisingly real.
Pub date June 15, 2025
ASIN B0F3RSKKNV
Price $4.99 (USD) Kindle edition
