Diane Holiday

A slog through silly scenarios
2 stars

This isn’t my first Diane Holiday read having picked up one of her romantic suspense stories previously. This one sounded cute - a sunshine / grumpy, opposites attract, fish-out-of-water, enemies to lovers type thing. And the cover is beautiful. In the end, however, it just didn’t do anything for me.

Crystal is a former child star, down on her luck and bankrupt. Her only way of pulling herself out of the hole she’s made for herself is to take part in a one-woman, low budget reality show. Camping. Now, to say that Crystal isn’t an outdoorsy kinda girl is the understatement of the year. Sadly, this made Crystal appear as a bit of an entitled airhead. And that didn’t change until right towards the end. She wasn’t terrible, but she was hard to have sympathy for or really get behind.

Zach is an outdoorsy ex-army guy who is having a hard time keeping his family’s camping grounds in the black. Even worse, his brothers have invited some spoiled princess to film her reality show right on their property. He’s pissed and he shows it. He’s not overly nice to Crystal but honestly, with her stupid shenanigans, she deserved it. He was a likeable guy but I really don’t think I knew him at a surface level but the time the book was through.

There wasn’t much chemistry between our pair, either as enemies or, towards the end, when they become something more. It all felt very stilted - the dialogue, the interactions, the emotions. A lot of telling us things but I never actually felt or believed them.

Almost as soon as Crystal arrives at camp, a chain reaction of scenarios start to occur that get more and more ridiculous with each one. It was very much like one thing finished so let’s see what silly scenario we’ll make Crystal get into next. It didn’t help in my attempts to like Crystal, especially when she constantly needed saving by Zach.

I enjoyed Zach’s brothers in their supporting roles and by the ending of this book, I definitely think they’ll be getting their own books to make this the first in a series. The other supporting cast - Sydney and Trevor were suitably horrible, just as they were meant to be. The family were superfluous and, well, downright annoying. Stroppy teens are bad enough in a book but stroppy teens who are transformed into angelic young ladies with a rousing speech - the absolute worst.

So as you can see, this wasn’t really the book for me. It didn’t grab me, it didn’t capture my interest and by the end I was just skimming so I could get it down. Just 2 stars for me.… (más)

"Rock Bottom Romance" by Diane Holiday is a delightful journey into the clash of two worlds – Hollywood glamour meets rugged outdoorsmanship. Crystal Lovechild, a bankrupt celebrity, reluctantly dives into the rough terrains of a low-budget camping reality show. The grumpy camp owner, Zach Stone, isn't thrilled about Crystal's arrival, and the initial tension sets the stage for a hilarious yet heartwarming story. Holiday expertly weaves a narrative that keeps you hooked, blending humor, romance, and the charm of the great outdoors.

Crystal and Zach's dynamic evolves from mutual dislike to a surprising connection as they discover hidden facets of each other. The author skillfully unravels their layers, portraying Crystal as more than a spoiled diva and Zach as more than a rugged outdoorsman. The character development adds depth to the story, making you root for their unlikely romance. The sizzling chemistry between Crystal and Zach is as palpable as the crackling campfire, and Holiday infuses the narrative with just the right amount of steamy moments to keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

"Rock Bottom Romance" not only explores the romance between its main characters but also delves into themes of self-discovery and authenticity. As Crystal contemplates her return to the glitzy Hollywood life, and Zach confronts his preconceived notions about the celebrity world, the story becomes a journey of personal growth. Holiday crafts a tale that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling long after the final page.… (más)

I really liked Zach and Crystal. There is so much more to both of them than they show to everyone. Zach is a big grump. He doesn't want Crystal at his camp filming a reality show. Crystal really needs this show, but she doesn't want to film it at Zach's camp. The producers don't seem to care what she wants. Zach's family owns the camp, and they really need the revenue from this show, but Zach is not happy. Zach has been dealing with PTSD and doesn't have the patience to deal with a spoiled Hollywood girl. Crystal is on the verge of bankruptcy and can't afford to pass up this opportunity, even though she is so out of her depth. Too bad she didn't read her contract when she started all this. Zach has had to save her quite a few times, even though he gripes about it the whole time. But something about Crystal just gets to him. She makes him crazy, but it keeps him on his toes. Can a city girl and a woodsy kind of guy make a life together?… (más)

Rock Bottom Romance by Diane Holiday is a fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable book. Of course you know that Crystal and Zach are going to fall in love from the minute they meet each other but that doesn’t spoil the story and there are plenty of interesting bumps along the road. Crystal is a down on her luck actress who has agreed to star in a reality camping show and Zach manages the campground in South Carolina that is chosen. He has trauma from his time in the military and she had a terrible childhood. They are completely mismatched but they both are really good people and you care about them right away. I couldn’t put the book down and am looking forward to the next book in this series.… (más)