Showmance by L.H Cosway is LIVE!!! #DamonAndRose
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Damon Atwood was Hollywood’s golden boy. Having won an Oscar at the tender age of thirteen, he had the life many could only dream about. But his success came at a price, and after a short but fruitful film career, he chose to live a life of obscurity on a remote Scottish island. Almost a decade later he’s finally ready to make his return, starting with a lead role in a musical on London’s West End.
As a choreographer’s assistant, Rose Taylor has always faded into the background. She watches shows come to life from the side lines, but has never craved the attention of stardom. When rumours begin circulating of Damon’s involvement in her latest gig, she doesn’t predict how she will be thrust into the limelight, nor how the mysterious and strangely introverted man will need her to teach him how to be a star again.
Rose knows that show crushes don’t last. Actors fall for each other during the intensity of a production, often losing themselves in their roles. These kinds of affairs burn bright and then they fade. The question is, should Rose let herself shine with Damon, or guard her heart from being broken after the final curtain call?
“Well now, who’s this?” Julian asked as he slid up off the couch, where he’d been lazily scrolling through his tablet. I chanced a quick, reassuring peek at Damon before answering my friend. “This is Damon. He’s in the cast.” Julian groaned as he approached, his chestnut hair sitting messily atop his head. “Oh please, Rose, not another actor.” I glared at him, trying to channel as much ‘shut the hell up’ into my eyes as possible. My flatmate didn’t really have a censor. A moment of quiet ensued while Julian circled Damon, taking his measure. “You don’t look like an actor.” The edges of Damon’s mouth twitched for the briefest second. “Thanks.” “He’s got a sense of humour, too. He’ll go far,” Julian grinned in my direction then sauntered into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Are you cooking dinner?” “Aren’t I always,” I sighed and then asked Damon if I could take his coat. He shrugged out of it, his eyes not leaving me all the while, and then I went to hang it on the rack by the door. On my return he bent to ask curiously, “Another actor?” I took a moment to absorb the sensation of his breath hitting my skin. It was…not unpleasant. Julian, who I swear had the hearing of a bat, didn’t miss a beat as he let out an amused chuckle. “Rose has a weakness for those in your profession.” Damon looked at me in question. I strode over to the breakfast bar, again glaring at my friend. “Yes, well, I’ve sworn off all thespians after the last disaster, so Damon here is safe.” “What disaster?” For someone who claimed not to be a big talker, he sure had a lot of questions. “Ever heard of Blake Winters?” Julian chirped, plucking an apple from the fruit bowl and taking a big bite. Damon shook his head. Julian scrunched his brows. “Have you been living under a rock?” “No, I’ve been living on an island,” said Damon. Julian cocked his head to the side, as though trying to figure out if he was being sarcastic. “Well, he’s an actor, like you, and he sleeps around. Rose had the great misfortune to have her head turned by the young Mr Winters. He seduced her and then left her in the lurch, the swine,” Julian pouted his lips, effecting a disapproving expression. “Sounds like an arse,” Damon put in and both Julian and I began laughing. “I like this one,” said Julian. I grinned as I thought, yeah, me too, and found myself suddenly blushing.
My Review
L.H. Cosway became one of my favorite authors after I read Painted Faces. Showmance is another masterpiece from this talented author. I'm not sure how she does it, but she creates quirky and remarkable characters that also seem so real and are completely honest. Damon and Rose are now atop my favorite characters list because of their authenticity and their ability to pull me into the story. I fell in love from page one and am in full on infatuation with this beauty of a book. I didn't want it to end and this is one that I will most definitely be rereading in the near future.
Rose is an assistant to the choreographer for a new show. Having just had her heart broken by the lead in the last show they put on, she's decided that she's taking a break from dating stars. The whirlwind sex and happiness only seems to lead to heartbreak especially for someone as needy as Rose. Not having had the most traditional or stable childhood, she knows that she's clingy and more desperate for love than most other women. But she's got her best friend Julian, who has his own set of issues, to love on her and she's going to have to content with that for now. At least until the new lead for the show turns up. It's none other than Damon Atwood: oscar winner who left Hollywood and hasn't been heard of in nearly a decade. While he's got the voice of an angel, the face of a model, and she feels a connection to him, she's determined to just be his friend.
Damon isn't the normal lead actor though. He's quiet, a bit awkward, and really wants nothing to do with stardom. Damon has his own demons to battle and while he's not super excited to be back in the spotlight, he is excited to be acting again. It doesn't hurt that Rose befriends him on the first day and surprisingly he finds himself actually wanting to be around her. As their friendship blossoms, both have insecurities to overcome as well as the bright and shiny light that is fame.
Showmance was a slow building romance between two slightly bruised people. As their histories were uncovered, my heart went out to them. It made their obvious connection feel that much more magical. Plus it didn't hurt that Ms. Cosway wrote one of her sexiest books to date. Damon was quiet and kind of withdrawn most of the time but when he opened his mouth, his sexy talk seriously made my pants almost spontaneously combust. Sweet Lord. His dirty talk had me all in a tizzy and as ready as Rose was. Props to Rose for bring strong because I would have been a puddle at his feet the first time he opened his deliciously dirty mouth. It was just so unexpected but as I got to know Damon, it just fit.
Honestly, I'm just in love with this book. There was a quiet intensity to it with very insightful and deep characters. Not only did Damon and Rose hold me in the palm of their hand, but the side characters helped tell a very meaningful story. Especially Julian. As soon as he was introduced, I felt my chest tighten in anticipation which only built throughout the story. I cannot wait for his story. Like seriously. Think combination of Nicholas and Damon. *shivers*
Basically my review to comes down to this. Just by this book. Actually buy all L.H. Conway's books. The end. Happily Ever After.
Reviewed by Paige
★★☆ 5 "Need Me" Stars ☆★★
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Fun Facts About Showmance
Fun Fact #1: When Rose tells Damon how she got to meet Gene Kelly’s wife, that was actually me! I didn’t hug her for too long or creep her out like Rose, but she did mention that Gene used to have a thing for women who wear glasses. I like to imagine this means I could’ve been his wife if I were born a few decades earlier :-D
Fun Fact #2: There are some “easter eggs” sprinkled throughout the book, which I mostly included just to amuse myself. For example, in the show Damon plays the lead role of Christian, while Alicia plays Satine. So the names sort of have interconnected meanings. Damon (as in demon) as opposed to Christian. Alicia reminds me of angel, and her character’s name is Satine (as in Satan/Lucifer the fallen angel).
Fun Fact #3: Another easter egg of sorts. There are some parallels in the story that mirror some aspects of Moulin Rouge. For instance, Julian is a real life male escort while the musical tells the story of a fictional courtesan as played by Alicia.
Fun Fact #4: When Rose tells Damon about Gene Kelly sneakily making Cyd Charisse’s skirt shorter during the filming of Singin’ in the Rain, this was an anecdote his wife told when I went to see her give a talk about the film. I’ve searched high and low but cannot find any mention of this story online, so perhaps it only exists as a word of mouth tale. Well, now it will live on in Showmance.
Fun Fact #5: When Julian tells Alicia about the French demi-monde, this actually comes from research I did during my post-grad thesis, which focused on depictions of courtesans in 18th & 19th century French literature. For years I’ve wanted to use this research in writing a novel about a real life sex worker, but set in modern times, and it’s finally going to happen when I write Julian’s story next year.
L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.
She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.
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