Hollywood Heartbreak by C.J. Duggan ~ Review & Quote-tastic (@CJ_Duggan, @HachetteAus)

I'm so excited that the 5th book in the Heart of the City series is now available! I love this little Aussie author, and the way she brings these stories to life! I cannot wait for more in the future!
Hollywood Heartbreak (A Heart of the City # 5)
Title: Hollywood Heartbreak
Author: C.J. Duggan
Series: Heart of the City #5
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Published: March 27th 2018

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Hollywood isn't all sunglasses and autographs.

Abby Taylor is heading for the hills - the Hollywood hills. All she has to do first is exorcise some old demons, namely Cassie Carmichael, the character she has been playing on Australia's number one television drama for the past three years.

Wanting to escape the fear of typecasting and malicious magazine covers, Abby is in desperate need of a change. With a new city, new friends and a sweet new condo in West Hollywood, it's time to take her career to the next level. But with disastrous auditions and countless rejections, Abby is going to need to numb the pain in the hope that her next big break comes along, and it does. She just never dreamed that it would be in the form of waiting tables and splitting tips at one of the hottest nightspots on the strip.

Action-packed late nights and VIP parties are a sure distraction, but nothing distracts her quite like her new boss, the infuriating Jay Davis. Suddenly living the dream takes on a whole new meaning, but when something in Jay's past is revealed, Abby has to question, who is the greatest actor of them all?

In the land of broken dreams, all Abby can do is hope that hers is not going to be one of them.

This Heart of the City series is a favourite of mine, each book features new characters in big cities all over the world. Hollywood Heartbreak is Abby's story, an actress that moved to America after her character was axed from a top show in Australia. She had dreams and plans that she wanted to fulfil, and was talked into moving overseas to live the dream.

What she didn't expect was Jay; a guy sent to pick her up from the airport by her friend Billie. He was dark, mysterious and had a thing against actors. I could see they had sparks, but they also had a bit of a love/hate relationship to begin with.

I loved that Abby was able to move to a new country and had such a good friend to take her in. Billie had a few secrets that both girls needed to get past, and Jay had secrets too. Abby began with a lot of confidence, but after a while it began to fade a little, but she remained true to herself. Abby and Jay together were so good together, but there were a few issues that arose that made things hard for them. However, I had hopes that they would get there in the end!

C.J. Duggan blew me away once again with her incredible world building and fabulous characters that I fell in love with. It was good to see Abby out of her comfortable zone and willing to take the plunge that so many aspiring actors only dream of. I liked how witty she was, she made mistakes, and put her foot in it a few times. I laughed a lot while reading this one and polished it off quickly! I cannot wait for another story in this series!

Complimentary copy provided by Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review.


Although Abby seems to get shot down in this one, I love the way she recovered!! 


I felt my cheeks blanch as I pulled away, tucking my hair behind my ears. ‘Wow, people warned me there would be rejection in this town, I just never realised how rough it would be,’ I said with half a laugh, trying to look anywhere but at him, ready to run back to my condo. Pre-empting my flight, I felt Jay’s warm grip on my arm as he motioned for me to look at him, placing his fingers under my chin and lifting my face up to look at him.
It’s not, believe me,’ he breathed out heavily, like it physically pained him to do so. ‘The things I want to do to you...’
I blinked, utterly confused. ‘Then why?’
As long as you are under my employment, last night, this,’ he pointed between us, ‘can’t happen again.’
What?!
Umm, okay. I guess I should have read the fine print. No sleeping with the boss, got it.’
It just can’t happen. It’s something I feel really strongly about.’
I breathed out a laugh. ‘I was so eager to sign on the dotted line, too.’
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never wanted to fire someone so much in my life.’
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. ‘Then why don’t you?’
I could see Jay’s jaw clench as he looked down at me, seriously considering it.
I shrugged. ‘You can rehire me in the morning.’

Paperback Pages 215-16 


Hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup

C.J. DugganCJ Duggan is the internationally bestselling author of over ten books, including Paradise City, Paradise Road, the Summer series and the Heart of the City series. She lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she isn't writing books about swoony boys and 90s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.






Other reviews featuring C.J. Duggan
Heart of the City series
Paris Lights #1
New York Nights #2
London Bound #3
When in Rome #4
Paradise series
Summer series

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