Hero Debut

“Another sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat!”– Bethany Turner, award-winning author of The Do-Over

Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?

Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.

Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?

My Review:

Fun and flirty with hidden depths.

I do so love a good grumpy sunshine romance and this one is excellent. Gemma is an accident waiting to happen whenever Karson is around and I loved all the comedic action in this rom/com.

Snappy dialogue, a great friend group egging Gemma on and poor, long-suffering Karson trying to keep a straight face at the most inopportune moments. I grinned my way through this read (well, listen) but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any emotional depth. There is. I really love the way Strong tackles dysfunctional family relationships with the seriousness the topic deserves, along with a light touch of humour.

The Citizens Safety Academy setting is absolute perfection! So much scope for mischief and mayhem. Straight-laced, by-the-book Lieutenant Zellner has no idea what he’s in for when Gemma and friends enrol in his training sessions. So. Much. Fun! And informative too! Gemma’s quirkiness is the perfect foil to Karson’s staid professional demeanour.

This is the second book in the author’s ‘Love Off Script’ series and it’s just as delightful as the first (though it could easily be read as a standalone too.) Engaging characters (and that includes secondary characters) and a cleverly paced plot kept me enthralled from start to finish.

I enjoyed listening the the audio edition of Hero Debut. Jeannie Sheneman and Mike Lenz teamed up to deliver stellar performances which increased my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much more.