I think this is the fourth book in Jae's Hollywood series, but I haven't yet read the first three. Still, I wasn't at all lost in this book (although I probably missed a subtle reference to the previous books here and there).

It's about Jill, an actress, and Crash, a stuntwoman (love the name). Jill's life has just changed forever. She was diagnosed with MS, and had to tell the public that she had it as well. She makes some decisions about her life in regards to her MS, but then she meets Crash (on the movie they're both currently working on), and Jill's whole life tilts just a little bit. Crash has her own issues during the book too, and both women have to work through their issues.

It was an interesting book for sure, with a lot of stuff I liked. Like the description of the stunts and how the MS was written in there. I also thought that the characters were all very unique.

I just found some of the narrative a little flat. There wasn't urgency and I never really felt like it would --not-- work out. I mean, yes, most lesbian romance novels have happy endings, but I've read plenty of them where I wasn't quite sure if the happy ending was actually going to happen. In this one for me there was none of that tension unfortunately. Still, I liked the writing, and I think I may try a few other stories by Jae as well.

I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Ylva Publishing. ( )

It’s easier to write something if there’s something super positive or super negative to say. I’m not sure I have much of either to note.

This is my ninth book I’ve read by Jae. 17th ‘thing’ if you include the short stories. It seems that I both almost like everything I read by Jae, and have some odd vague reluctance to leap in. Like there’s this second book in a police series that I’ve been eyeing for more than a year, but I still can’t seem to get myself to start it. And, despite rather enjoying ‘Backwards to Oregon’, I’ve never been able to even contemplate trying anything else in that series. I’m odd that way, apparently. This book, though, I snapped up immediately when I saw it was out and began reading immediately after whatever book I had been reading when I bought this book here.

So, what’s this one about? Jae likes having series that follow different characters, as in the first book would follow certain characters, and the second book would follow a different set of main characters. I knew that going in. I just didn’t remind myself of the prior books in this series so didn’t immediately recall that Jill had been in the prior books. Ah, see, I went back to look at the books just now and what I had initially thought was in fact true. Jill wasn’t in the first book, she was in the second and then in the short story sequel.

Hmm. Okay let me back up. I recall now why I just leapt into Just Physical without paying much attention to the prior books. Amanda Clark and Michelle Osinski are the stars of the first book. Amanda pops up in the second as a co-worker of Grace’s (her name pops up 91 times, to be exact). Michelle is named and seen but has more of a cameo role in the second book. Neither Grace nor Lauren, the stars of the second book, are in the first book. Though Grace is mentioned in it about three or four times. Held up as a model of gorgeousness. Amanda mentioned 3 times in the third book. Or um. A person named Amanda is. No, it says in certain spots ‘Amanda and Michelle’, so it’s the same Amanda. Huh. It just skipped past me.

“Same thing with Amanda, her ex-girlfriend-turned-friend. Since she had moved in with Michelle, she saw the world through rose-tinted glasses.” (69% mark) – Amanda and Jill had dated? Why am I only learning of this in the third book, most of the way through the third book for that matter? Great. Now I’m going to have to reread all three books (and short story) to figure out how everyone ties together.

So. Amanda and Michelle star in the first book. Grace is mentioned in that first book. Jill is not despite being ‘ex-girlfriend’ of Amanda. Amanda pops up in the second; Michelle is mostly a cameo part at best in second. Neither pops up in the third book, though a party involving them is mentioned. Grace and Lauren star in the second book (and short story). Jill appears in the second book. Amanda, Jill and Grace work together on a show (if I’m recalling correctly). Both Grace and Lauren are in the third book, much bigger roles than the first couple get to be. Especially since their, Amanda and Michelle, roles consist of being mentioned.

Right. So. Jill Corrigan first appeared in the second book in this Hollywood series, as a co-worker of Grace. And she gets entangled in something of a scandal involving Grace because both are seen hobbling into one of their trailers. This forced Jill to come forward to make an announcement about her condition. She had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 25. Grace had just been helping her. They were not, in fact, secret lesbian lovers.

Third book opens. Jill is still attempting to wrap her brain around the fact that she has multiple sclerosis. She decides that she doesn’t want to be a burden, doesn’t want to tie someone to her – to make them become her care-giver. To, in her mind, ruin their life. So, she decides on never again having a romantic entanglement.

Lauren’s written a film, based on the 1908 earthquake in San Francisco. Starring two, if I recall correctly, lesbians. Jill likes the script and wants to play one of the lead roles. She’s not even offered the chance to audition for either part because of her multiple sclerosis. It’s a disaster picture. Lots of action. The studio and producers are afraid. Lauren, though, has gotten them to consider her for a secondary character. One who actually pops up in about as many scenes as the two main characters. And Jill takes the job.

The two main characters, one of whom’s names is Nikki, the other one escapes me (Shawn?), do most of their own stunts (and have very limited interaction with the story line of the book). Jill, on the other hand, has a stunt double. One named Crash Patterson.

Crash and Jill meet for the first time when the stunt coordinator (or the director? I forget which), describes the first stunt Crash will be performing. Stumbling over a bed pan. Crash, confused at the simplicity of the ‘gag’ makes some comment that consists of calling Jill a prissy prima donna. Only to find that Jill was standing behind her.

Jill is as stubborn as a mule. Takes a little bit for her to accept Crash’s apology. Sparks fly between them but Jill lets Crash know that nothing can happen between them. Crash, probably the only person on the set who didn’t initially know about the multiple sclerosis (and doesn’t yet at the time I’m describing), ‘accepts’ this comment. But wants to be friendly/friends.

Crash works on trying to wear down Jill’s reluctant determination to die alone. Jill’s stubborn, as noted, as a mule.

There are some great scenes in this book. Involving romance, friendship, trust, … scenes of learning about and living with multiple sclerosis. And a lot more sex scenes than I’m used to from Jae. If I recall correctly, the second book had roughly zero. At least that’s the way it felt – since the sequel short story is where the sex occurred for that couple. Again, if I recall correctly. There will be no need for a sequel sex short story here. They didn’t exactly fuck like bunnies, but they were graphically intimate numerous times. I don’t recall now how many times. I appear fixated on this aspect of the book. Heh.

Overall a great book, hence the five star rating. I’ve been putting ‘the best of the best’ books on a 5.5 star shelf. This one will probably go onto the 5 star shelf. It’s a solid five star book. I just don’t know yet, have to give it time, eh, to see if it has that little bit extra that lingers and causes me to elevate the book.

As of yet, no book by Jae has risen to the top tier of that 5.5 shelf, but this is the sixth work by Jae that I’ve given five stars. Five of which are books, 1 of which is a short story. Hmms. My math must be wrong. I’ve an overall rating of 4.19 for the stuff I’ve read by Jae. That seems oddly low. Considering everything except two short stories have been given at least 4 stars. I probably should just get a rating average for the full length books. Too much work. I move on. ( )