Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er do well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.
Review
This was such a nice read. More of a romance than I first thought but it still won me over. Nora Goes Off Script certainly had some predictable moments, there is no denying that. At the same time, it felt like an original story. And the cheeky nod to the Hallmark Channel-style love stories showed that the author knows that writing something original in the romance genre is no easy feat.
I loved Nora. I loved the basic characteristics that make her different from the typical female leads in other love stories: coming up to middle age, divorced, two children. However, it was her personality that truly adorned me to her. She was a strong, independent women. We see this in how she supported her family as the main bread winner in her marriage, how relieved she was to get out of a marriage that wasn’t working for her anymore, and how she raises two wonderful children and maintains her dream home, despite having to heavily budget. On the flip side, she is open and vulnerable to falling in love again, which makes her more real and appealing to the reader.
Leo, I also liked as a character. He doesn’t follow the usual male superstar persona we see in similar books. He enjoyed good character development and weasels his way into our hearts by the end. But he doesn’t stand close to Nora as a main character, and there are times he is even overshadowed by Nora’s wonderfully witty children. I didn’t realise until I met Arthur and Bernadette how rare it is to come across child characters you would want to spend time with.
The story is supported by wonderful writing from the author. It’s witty and entertaining, and there is some great dialogue. This was a surprise 5-star read for me.
Pick up your copy of Nora Goes Off Script here.
Joyful Antidotes 