Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
What Happens In Carolina by Karen Grey Series: Carolina Classics #1.5
Published by Self-Published on December 21, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 81
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
First, there’s only one office. Then, there’s only one bed. Then there’s only one condom.
I’m over the moon when I land my first-ever writing job on a new TV show that’s like, da bomb. So what if my old boss twisted her son’s arm to get me the job?
I’m not so enthused when I have to share an office the size of a broom closet with a grumpy guy who ignores me. I don’t care if he’s totally fly. I’ve got enough on my plate trying to come up with high concept storylines and punchy dialogue for hormone-filled teenagers—the actors and the characters—while being hazed in the writers’ room.
Things begin to heat up between us on a work trip to the gorgeous coastal filming location for our show, but when a hurricane threatens, sharing an office is the last thing we need to worry about.
What Happens in Carolina is book #1.5 in the Carolina Classics series. It isn’t the story of any of the five friends but the writers who were caught during the hurricane in the hotel. We saw a glimpse of them.
Now we get more depth on these two writers, George and Tina, and how they came to be writers for Lawson’s Reach. Their alternating points of view share the details. I didn’t feel like I really got enough to know and connect with them. I did enjoy their explanation of the process and how George sees things like a cartoon in his head. Their attraction felt too convenient.
I sometimes have issues with a novella and the limited time for character development. I felt that way here. I do like novellas so supporting characters can take the stage and be better known. Having read the rest of the series, I could appreciate that aspect. I don’t believe I would read this as a standalone. The impressions George and Tina had of Violet, Ford, Dani and the gang was great. I did enjoy getting another perspective on them.
About Karen Grey
KAREN GREY is the pen name for award-winning narrator Karen White. A stage, screen and radio drama actor in Boston, New York and Los Angeles in the late 20th century, she started recording books in 1999. Now back in her home state of North Carolina, she shares a home with her family and (probably) too many pets, where she continues to narrate audiobooks as well as make up stories.
Karen White is a classically trained actress who has been recording audio books since 1999 and has well over 150 books to her credit and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Honored to be included inAudiofile’s Best Voices 2010 and 2011, she’s also an Audie Finalist and Best Audiobook of the Year winner for 2009, 2010 and 2011 (The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon Reed, Too Good to be True by Erin Arvedlund, and Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor) and she has earned multiple Audiofile Earphones Awards, recently for and You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam and Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Publishers Weekly says of Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, “Karen White delivers a stunning reading, her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience.” Speaking of Audiobooks says of her, “Karen is one of my auto-buy narrators – if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try.”
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I agree novella are tricky for me as well
yes sometimes they can be.
Novellas are fun, but most of the time I find myself wishing it was a novel-length book instead.
yes that is often the case for me unless it is an epilogue of sorts on a character already known or it has to be very well-written or focused.
81 pages aren’t much time to get to know the characters. But, it’s nice to get a chance to learn a bit more about the characters.
yes Wendy, I was happy to learn more about them. I liked it. I just wanted more.
Novellas can be fun when it’s done right.
I think it was fun, Mary but I wanted a little more, which is the possible downside of novellas.
Cute!!!!!
I enjoy Karen Grey and this had some very cute humorous moments.
I think I read this as part of the Smartasses anthology. It was interesting because we kind of knew the characters a teensy tiny bit from a little look at them in the first book in the series.
yes I bought Smartasses but haven’t read it yet. Sigh. I just wanted more which sometimes happens to me with novellas.
This is something I didn’t know I needed. I love the age gap and opposite attracts dynamics and this is a very real and satisfying story. He’s a laid-back charmer and she’s a career-oriented in charge woman. Fun read with lots of nostalgia. Slow burn, down-to-earth characters and steamy romance.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Willie