Built to Last

August 1, 2022

Former child star Shelby Springfield has never regretted turning her back on Hollywood after a very public breakup and meltdown years ago. Sure, she gets recognized in Michigan, but working full-time with her father restoring historic homes and living a quiet life is fulfilling. When an opportunity arises to film a pilot for a house flipping show, Shelby can't pass up the financial boon it would provide her father, and that she would get to work with her former co-star and childhood sweetheart Cameron Riggs. Cameron made a name for himself as a National Geographic documentarian after being on a tween show for years with Shelby. Tired of living a nomadic, solitary life, Cameron is completely caught off guard when he is suddenly told of an opportunity for stateside work with Shelby. After many missed romantic opportunities, will Shelby and Cameron finally have the courage to reveal the feelings that never went away? VERDICT In her adult debut, Hahn (Never Saw You Coming) successfully brings likable protagonists to life in this character-driven second-chance romance, perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey. Recommended for general purchase where rom-coms are popular.--Nicole J. Suarez

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August 15, 2022
Transitioning from young adult to contemporary romance, Hahn (Never Saw You Coming) delivers a second-chance love story against the backdrop of home improvement television—with entertaining, if somewhat shoddily constructed, results. Former child star and pop singer Shelby Springfield imploded in the public eye after a messy breakup with her on- and off-screen boyfriend, Lyle Jessup, who cheated on her and blamed the infidelity on his suspicion that she never got over her true first love, their mutual costar Cameron Riggs. Retreating to small-town Michigan and picking up furniture refurbishing, Shelby is content to stay out of the spotlight—until Lyle, now a producer, offers her a gig hosting his new home renovation show alongside Cameron, who’s willing to learn home remodeling if it means spending time with Shelby. Hahn never really justifies why Lyle would want to work with his ex—or why he goes on to gently sabotage the shoot—making the very foundation of the plot feel unstable. Still, Shelby and Cameron’s chemistry is sweet, and getting to know Shelby’s friends (all also former famous people who randomly settled in Michigan) will make readers excited for more in this series. It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but it has plenty of charm. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary.

Starred review from September 15, 2022
Young adult romance author Hahn dazzles in her adult rom-com debut set to a circa 2010 teen-pop beat and featuring two child stars from the Midwest who left L.A. and celebrity behind. Shelby Springfield moved back to Michigan after her career imploded, a crisis engineered by her scheming ex and former costar, Lyle Jessup. But she's put her past behind her and is busy working with her dad, flipping houses, when Lyle reemerges with a proposal. He wants Shelby and their other former costar, Cameron Riggs, to star in a new home-renovation TV show. Cam has avoided settling down, preferring to shoot documentaries around the globe for National Geographic, but he's willing to give this a try just to be closer to his first love. Despite several deliberate setbacks made to create on-air drama by jealous Lyle, their chemistry both on and off camera is on fire, and their naive attempt to hide it from the crew only heightens the delicious sexual tension. Home renovation was never this sexy, and readers who enjoy small-town ambiance will get their fill with scenes of market festivals, karaoke at the local brewery, and long drives. Hahn has earned new fans with this heart-melting second-chance romance.

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