I found new-to-me author Anne Harper after signing up for an ARC and promotion through Grey's Promotions. When I was halfway through her new release, "Like A Boss" I went back and grabbed book one of her Accidentally Viral Series, "Fake It Till You Make It". When I finished both books, I contacted the author.
I have been thinking of implementing author spotlights on this blog since I started it, but I knew now was the time and how I would implement my idea.
For my first author spotlight, let me introduce you to author Anne Harper.
The Short Version:
Anne Harper writes romantic comedy that embodies the shenanigans of an I Love Lucy episode and the awkwardness of saying “you too” after the waiter tells you to enjoy your meal. She lives in South Alabama with her husband, their four cats, and a humidity that threatens to destroy them all. Anne is an advocate for coffee, selfies, and adoption from foster care. When she isn’t dreaming about meeting her future kiddos, she’s getting herself into wild situations and hilarious misunderstandings. #ItsFine
Anne is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Anne hails from small-town Alabama where she lives less than five minutes from her childhood best friend, on the same neighborhood as her dad, and just around the corner from her favorite coffee shop. Her housemates include her husband, their four cats, and their (hopefully soon!) adopted children.
She has a B.S. degree in Design, Technology, & Industry with a creative writing minor and used that after college to become a freelance social media strategist. She was also editor in chief of her university’s newspaper, The Tropolitan, during college where she learned to appreciate the power of caffeine. When she’s not writing romance that make people go #OMG and #SAME she’s reading from her extensive home library, scrolling through Facebook and Pinterest, and playing video games.
Her special skills include binge-watching entire series within days, cat herding, and singing It’s The End of the World by R.E.M. on the treadmill.
Anne is deeply in love with her Peloton bike and if you asked her what the one item she’d bring to a deserted island is she’d Google where to buy a suitcase large enough for Kurt Russell.
Anne has also written over twenty romantic suspense and mystery books as Tyler Anne Snell. You can see those books on that webpage here or on her Tyler Anne Snell Amazon Page here.
One reason why Anne writes under a pen name is because her husband has the same first (and now) last name as her! Not only does it make general life confusing but it made writing confusing too! So now he’s just Tyler and she can write romantic comedy and contemporary romance as just Anne!
Anne loves many a thing but has a giant-sized love for all
things Jurassic Park (the original trilogy). So much so she walked down the
aisle at her third wedding (see next fun fact for more on that) to the
orchestra version of the Jurassic Park theme! There was also a 9-foot
inflatable T-Rex in attendance!
Anne has had three weddings to the same man! They were
officially married on their back porch in secret, had a surprise ceremony at
their rehearsal dinner for close family and friends (she danced down the aisle
to Brick House with her dad, pic below!), and then had the public
wedding/reception the next day!
Connect with Anne Harper:
Website | https://www.anneharperbooks.com/
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3rgtRF9
Amazon | https://amzn.to/31ahD6b
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnne
Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/2ORYq71
Instagram | https://bit.ly/3d28iTG
Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3cg3SsU
Sloane De Carlo is going to have to move to Antarctica.
As if it wasn’t bad enough that she accidentally made her private blog very public, and all her innermost secrets and embarrassing moments are trending, now the entirety of the Internet is dying to know who her all-consuming, never-get-over-him crush “Guy” really is. She’s even got a literary agent dangling a book deal in front of her nose—but there’s a catch. She’ll have to get closure with “Guy” and give her story that pitch-perfect ending.
Too bad the real “Guy” is engaged to someone else. #Blessed
The only person in her teeny hometown of Arbor Bay who knows the truth is local bartender Brady Knox. And he’s not telling...for a price. He’ll pretend to be Sloane’s “Guy” if she’ll use her newfound Internet fame to bring more business to his struggling local bar. Brady’s always been a lone wolf, but there’s something about the pint-sized, supremely awkward, yet beautiful Sloane that charms him.
But keeping secrets in a small town like Arbor Bay isn’t easy. And Brady was never meant to be the guy for a pitch-perfect ending..
My Review:
Sloane is a very interesting character. I love her vulnerability, her sense of humor, and her determination. She has a killer survival instinct, thinks fast on her feet, and can roll with the punches. I really appreciated how she grows over the course of the book and how she finds her voice and the courage to take chances with her heart. I love the fake relationship she begins with Brady. I loved reading as it became more and more real. Brady is a grumpy guy who has had heartbreak and is fighting for his dream. I loved reading as Sloane brought more laughter into his life. Her ability to surprise him and get her way when he was grumpy was fun. Their black moment felt like a realistic challenge to overcome. The grand gesture was really something! I could see it play out like a movie in my head.
I love the setting of the small southern town. The secondary characters; friends, family, mean girl, and social dynamics, felt true to life. There is a lot of southern humor entwined that some people may not appreciate but I loved it. The hours-long goodbye: oh yeah, that is definitely a thing. I laughed hard at that. I love the appreciation for the fierceness of a southern woman. I also loved the recognition that a southern man has of when to push that line. I adored the festival and how Sloane and brady tackled their events with a twist that made me laugh.
This novel was funny with a little heat, and a tiny bit of angst. I found it a very enjoyable read and I cannot wait to see where this new author goes from here. I am certain that she will be very popular with many of us who enjoy a romantic comedy with witty banter and fun characters in a story without a lot of emotional drama.
Long-term boyfriend broke up with her? Check.
Drove through the pouring rain to a small roadside restaurant, only to be told all the tables were reserved for “Couples Night”? Check.
Definitely no longer one half of a couple? Check.
So maybe she got a little heated with the restaurant’s host, and maybe her voice carried a bit as she lamented—loudly—that she’s never anyone’s “plus-one.” At least an attractive stranger comes to her rescue, inviting her to be seated with him, and when it turns out to be one of the best nights she’s had in a while, even ending in an innocent kiss that becomes anything but? Check please.
Fast forward a week, and Nell’s rant has gone viral. Sure, her tiny hometown of Arbor Bay is collectively buzzing over their latest Internet celebrity, but Nell’s no stranger to attention. Drama seems to follow her whether she likes it or not.
But even she never expected to show up to work only to discover her brand-new boss is a very familiar face…
4.5 STARS
This was my first book by this author. When I was halfway in, I picked up the other book she has published, and I am reading it next. This story is written in third person from a dual POV.
The author has created a fantastic small-town setting in Arbor Bay, Alabama. The reader gets to experience southern sensibilities with the characters in the town. Nell is a feisty, fiery, youngest sister of a family of five children. At 24, she is confident and determined to succeed. She is unafraid to speak her mind and at times her thoughts are loud. She thinks fast on her feet and is always working her way out of one chaotic mess or another, which leads to many funny situations. I absolutely adored her character!
Quinn (34) is starting over in Arbor Bay as a single dad after his divorce. He is not looking for a relationship and he is not prepared for the force that is Antonella. The have instant attraction and the ability to laugh together. It scares him silly. I loved the way Nell helps him understand his new town. I love the shenanigans they end up in. I love the chemistry between them. And I love that Quinn finally admits that he has fallen hard for the girl who is a force of nature.
Humor, a little spice, and wonderful characters make up a story that is fun with very little angst. I love the plot of a viral video and its impact of the subject. As the author’s second book, I am impressed. I believe this author has the potential to be a favorite of many. I am excited to read more of her work and follow her journey.
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