by: Julie Hamilton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 28, 2021
Publisher: Carina Press
Amazon | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Goodreads
#TwitterBae forever…
They'll fake a relationship for the social media exposure, but can they be more than a hashtag?
Here's how things are going so far for me in Chicago:
1) Messed up my attempt at asking out the gorgeous woman next to me on the plane.
2) Couldn't catch up to her at O'Hare.
3) I'm hoping she finds me on Twitter.
4) Maybe if she sees this, we can split another cheese plate sometime.
It doesn't take long for Luke Murphy's tweet to go viral. So it also doesn't take long to reconnect with Audrey. Nailed it. But at what cost? His network has put his whole career as a TV home renovations carpenter on the line. A midair meet cute is exactly what they want.
After recovering from the shock, Audrey Whitaker can see the benefits of faking a relationship for social media exposure. She'll get the publicity to launch her photography business—her lifelong dream—and she'll get to spend time with a man who can, as his fans say, "really fill out a plaid shirt."
Luke and Audrey agree to spend the summer together to get what they each need, then say goodbye. And to keep it professional, they'll follow all the rules…except the "no kissing" one. And maybe the "no sex" one, too! But with so much on the line, they definitely can't fall in love.
I’m doing well! Thank you for having me.
Congratulations on your debut release, Just for Show. Please tell me about it.
Just for Show is a contemporary romance about an aspiring photographer, Audrey, and a home renovation TV star, Luke, who meet-cute on an airplane. When he messes up his chance to ask her out, he turns to Twitter to find her—and his tweet ends up going viral. His producers present him with a deal: If he spends the summer posting pictures of his dates with Audrey and getting high ratings for the network, they’ll pick up a full season of his new show. The only problem? He’s not dating her.
Audrey is in shock about going viral, but when they reconnect and Luke presents her with the idea of fake dating for social media, she can’t resist the opportunity to get attention for her new photography business. But keeping things fake proves harder than either of them thought…especially when they go away for a weekend and there’s only one bed.
The idea of Just for Show sounds like something I’ve heard before. I remember there was this story a few years back where this guy and girl hit it off on the plane, and a lady sitting behind them heard the whole thing and posted about it. How did you get the idea for this story?
I was inspired by different meet-cutes that have gone viral over the past few years, and the one you mentioned was definitely one of them. I wanted to put a different spin on it, though, and take a look at how viral fame impacts the people involved.
This book was inspired by a tweet I saw from an athlete who hit it off with a woman on a plane but didn’t get a chance to ask her out before they lost track of each other in the airport. As soon as I saw the tweet, a plot bunny was born. I’d already written two athlete characters in my first manuscript (which will most likely never be published), so I was a little burned out on writing athletes. I knew I needed a famous character, but not someone who was too famous. I was brainstorming with a friend, who said, “You love HGTV. What about an HGTV guy?” A lightning bolt of inspiration struck me. I owe a lot to my friend Daria for that brainstorming session. And I do love HGTV—House Hunters is one of my favorite shows (and one of my favorite activities is yelling at the TV when it’s on).
Tell me what you love about your characters Luke Murphy and Audrey Whitaker.
What I love about Luke is how deeply he cares for the people he loves. His first priority is his family. His dad died eight years ago, and he’s devoted himself to putting his mom and sister first ever since. He even agreed to be on TV because the money meant he could pay for his sister’s college education. He’s kind and loyal, but over the course of the story, he has to learn that it’s important to prioritize his own well-being. His family doesn’t need him to give up his own dreams and needs for them.
I love that Audrey is so driven. She knows what she wants, and she’s going to get it. She’s organized, ambitious, and creative. At the beginning of the book, she’s in a bad place with her day job—she’s exhausted, mistreated, and burned out. A fake relationship with Luke gives her the chance to pursue her dream of being a full-time photographer. I loved that she wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted.
What attracts them to each other?
Physical attraction plays a big role—these two have tons of chemistry. But on a deeper level, Audrey is attracted to Luke’s loyalty and caring nature. He’s attracted to her drive to succeed. It was important to me that he loves how ambitious she is. As a reader, I don’t like when one character has to give up their personal and professional goals for love or sacrifice their career for love. I wanted Luke to fully support everything she does. Audrey wouldn’t settle for anything less.
What was your favorite part of Just for Show to write?
My favorite parts of Just for Show to write were all the fake dating shenanigans, like needing to look like a couple for other people and being put on the Kiss Cam at a baseball game. They were a lot of fun to write. Of course, I also loved writing about the moments when things start feeling a little more real than fake, like their first kiss.
I love reading about the moment fake becomes real. Can you please tell me about one of your favorite scenes and why it’s counted as a favorite?
My favorite scene is one where Audrey and Luke go on their first real date. He takes her to a photography-themed bar in Chicago, which is an actual place in the city. I loved writing their attraction and build-up of sexual tension.
You’re a debut author. How have you found the writing and new release process to be like?
A little overwhelming, to be honest! That said, I have a great team at Carina Press, including my fantastic editor, Mackenzie Walton, who have made the process less stressful. My lifelong dream has been to be a published author, and I’m thrilled that dream is finally coming true.
Congratulations. What’s next for you?
I hope the sequel to Just for Show will be next! It stars two characters you’ll meet in Luke and Audrey’s story. It’s a grumpy/sunshine forced proximity romance where she’s the grump and he’s the sunshine.
Julie, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Congratulations again.
Thank you! I appreciate you having me on your blog.
You’re very welcome.
In the conservatory’s lobby, she grabbed a map and they headed into the palm house. The warm, damp air in the room pressed in on them as they wound their way past palm trees and other tropical plants.
Luke’s arm brushed against hers. He leaned down and said in her ear, “How couple-y are we supposed to be acting?”
She sucked in a breath at that brief moment of contact. His lips were so close to her ear. “What do you mean?”
“I mean those people over there keep looking over at us, and I think they recognize me. I’m wondering if we need to look like we’re actually on a date.”
“We are on a date.” They stopped at a curve in the path and she looked around him, trying to get a better view of the people checking them out.
“A fake date,” he corrected, “but we’re supposed to look like we’re on a real one.”
“Rule number four says—”
“Touching is only allowed in photos. I know.”
No touching kept things safe, uncomplicated. She’d put it on the list because she didn’t trust herself, not the other way around.
“Do we really need to play up being a couple?” she asked. “Doesn’t it only matter as long as we look like one in our posts?”
“People are going to see us out and about. Shouldn’t we sell it?”
Okay, he had a point. If people’s eyes were on them, they needed to look like they were actually together. They had to sell it online and offline to make this work. If even one person suspected their relationship wasn’t real and decided to tweet about it, they were both done for.
She looked around Luke again. Oh, crap. Those people were coming over here. The woman looked familiar, but Audrey couldn’t place her. A vendor she used to work with? Someone she’d met at the animal shelter? Regardless of who the woman was, Audrey had met her before.
They needed to look like they were on a real date within the next thirty seconds.
“Hold my hand.”
He stared at her open palm. “I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“What happened to breaking the rules if I asked you to? I’m telling you to hold my hand. So hold it.”
“Yes, boss.” He took her hand, sliding their fingers together. His rough hand enveloped her softer one, his thumb rubbing a gentle circle on one of her knuckles. The soothing motion gave her a strange sense of comfort.
Yeah, she wasn’t going to overanalyze that.
He looked up from their joined hands. “Is this okay?” His voice dipped low on the question.
It was more than okay. It was fantastic.
Luke’s arm brushed against hers. He leaned down and said in her ear, “How couple-y are we supposed to be acting?”
She sucked in a breath at that brief moment of contact. His lips were so close to her ear. “What do you mean?”
“I mean those people over there keep looking over at us, and I think they recognize me. I’m wondering if we need to look like we’re actually on a date.”
“We are on a date.” They stopped at a curve in the path and she looked around him, trying to get a better view of the people checking them out.
“A fake date,” he corrected, “but we’re supposed to look like we’re on a real one.”
“Rule number four says—”
“Touching is only allowed in photos. I know.”
No touching kept things safe, uncomplicated. She’d put it on the list because she didn’t trust herself, not the other way around.
“Do we really need to play up being a couple?” she asked. “Doesn’t it only matter as long as we look like one in our posts?”
“People are going to see us out and about. Shouldn’t we sell it?”
Okay, he had a point. If people’s eyes were on them, they needed to look like they were actually together. They had to sell it online and offline to make this work. If even one person suspected their relationship wasn’t real and decided to tweet about it, they were both done for.
She looked around Luke again. Oh, crap. Those people were coming over here. The woman looked familiar, but Audrey couldn’t place her. A vendor she used to work with? Someone she’d met at the animal shelter? Regardless of who the woman was, Audrey had met her before.
They needed to look like they were on a real date within the next thirty seconds.
“Hold my hand.”
He stared at her open palm. “I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“What happened to breaking the rules if I asked you to? I’m telling you to hold my hand. So hold it.”
“Yes, boss.” He took her hand, sliding their fingers together. His rough hand enveloped her softer one, his thumb rubbing a gentle circle on one of her knuckles. The soothing motion gave her a strange sense of comfort.
Yeah, she wasn’t going to overanalyze that.
He looked up from their joined hands. “Is this okay?” His voice dipped low on the question.
It was more than okay. It was fantastic.
Purchase Just for Show from:
Places to find Julie Hamilton:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I do not have a favorite house hunting/renovation show. I used to watch that one with Ty on ABC where they yelled "MOVE THAT BUS," though.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really cute story.
ReplyDeleteWe like Home Town. Though we might have seen an episode previously we will sit and watch again and again. I will say that I have gotten some ideas from this show for my own home.
ReplyDeleteThe property brothers!
ReplyDeleteI like the Home Town show I think mostly because they're doing family homes.
ReplyDeleteTheresa Norris
weceno at yahoo dot com
This sounds like a really fun story! :D
ReplyDeleteI like the House Hunter international one. Depending on where it is, the type of place and amenities can be so different.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI like hgtv house hunters
ReplyDeleteI like Good Bones
ReplyDeleteI have not watched enough to know if I have one I really like. Thank you
ReplyDelete