Finding Mr. Write

March 1, 2024

Daphne McFadden's dreams just came true; she is going to be a published author. There's just one catch: she sold the book under the pen name Zane Remington. She decides that her best course of action is to hire an actor to play Zane in public, which is where Chris Stanton comes in. He agrees to become Zane, even though he's not a professional actor. Everything is going according to plan until Daphne's book becomes a sensation. All of a sudden, the demand for interviews and appearances puts "Zane" in the spotlight. Daphne and Chris become close as they spend time together on the book tour, but just as they agree to give their new relationship a real chance, someone threatens to expose that Chris is not really the author. As the pressure from the blackmailer builds, so does their new relationship. Are they strong enough to deal with the fallout and the risk of exposure? VERDICT Fans of Melissa Ferguson will be delighted to read Armstrong's (Murder at Haven's Rock) rom-com that dives into the publishing world in a new way.--Ashli Wells

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 29, 2024
Mystery writer Armstrong (The Boy Who Cried Bear) turns to romance with this sharply funny satire. Aspiring author Daphne McFadden is tired of agents rejecting her zombie romance novel and decides to try something radical. She goes back on submission using the male alter ego Zane Remington and calling the book a fantasy (though she doesn’t actually remove any of the romance). The ruse works, landing her a $500,000 book deal. Daphne’s lawyer friend, Nia Paramar, helps her maintain the deception by roping in Chris Stanton, Nia’s accountant, to play Zane in Daphne’s author photo. For a video shoot, Chris travels from Vancouver to Daphne’s home in the Yukon, where he portrays Zane as macho and arrogant, though Daphne gets glimpses of the sweet, nerdy man underneath. The novel becomes a runaway hit, and Daphne and Chris’s mutual attraction ignites on a book tour where Daphne poses as Chris’s assistant. But they must face the fallout together when Daphne’s creepy neighbor threatens to reveal their deception. Armstrong packs in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments while driving home her point about gendered expectations and inequities in genre publishing. Add in believable chemistry between the leads, and the result is sure to please fans of meta rom-coms. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

Starred review from May 15, 2024
Daphne, an introverted, self-reliant architect, is frustrated when she can't get anyone in publishing to read her adventurous YA novel featuring a resourceful girl surviving a zombie apocalypse in the Yukon. She decides to tweak her bio, using Zane Remington as a pseudonym. Instant success! She lands an agent and an amazing publishing deal. She hires accountant Chris to be the face of Zane Remington. Debuting on the best-seller list, the book features an author photo that, instead of being on the back f lap, fills the entire back cover, portraying the gorgeous and manly Chris. When a magazine crew flies in to do a story about Zane's wilderness life, Daphne pretends to be his assistant at the off-grid home she built herself. Photos of an encounter with a grizzly bear go viral, and a book tour ensues. At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Zane experiences interactions with other authors on a panel that will make readers who attend literary events cheer. Smart characters, tender romance, outdoor adventures, and comedic moments make this delightful rom-com a sure pick. Armstrong, popular for paranormal and time-travel romances, proves she also has great comedic romance chops.

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July 1, 2024
A writer falls for the man she hires to play the role of her male pseudonym. When Daphne McFadden relocated to the Yukon, she dedicated herself to getting her zombie thriller published, but it's not until she submits the story under the pen name Zane Remington that publishers take an interest. All of a sudden there's a bidding war and talk of a movie deal. Not wanting to be in the spotlight, Daphne decides to hire an actor to play Zane, and luckily her best friend knows a guy--even if she isn't exactly truthful about his credentials. Accountant Chris Stanton really needs some money after his former business partner left him in a bind. He gratefully agrees to play Zane, which first means he has to pretend to be a capable actor. As the hype for the book--and its hot author--grows, all the facades become harder to maintain, and as the pair spend more time in close quarters, their attraction grows. Daphne and Chris are charming, easy-to-root-for characters, although their chemistry sometimes feels underdeveloped. Their romance takes time to find its footing and becomes more enticing once the initial layer of subterfuge is removed. The book industry parts create most of the conflict and tension in the story and will appeal to readers who relish that insider's peek at authors and publishing. It raises interesting questions about who can and should tell certain stories and thoughtfully examines expectations and stereotypes based on gender. A so-so romance, but a sharp, compelling take on publishing.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.