Hollywood Dirt lured me in with a grabber of an introduction setting the mood perfectly for this delectably sexy, charming, and funny novel. A spot on description of Southern women touts their strengths and unique personalities, as well as the lengths to which they will go to protect who and what they hold dear.

We are women born of conflict, our pasts littered with battles and chaos, self-preservation and protection.

 

We are strong. We are Southern. We have secrets and lives you will never imagine.

Praise the lard and pass the bacon folks because our heroine, Summer Jenkins, is the epitome of just such a Southern woman. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

The small town of Quincy, Georgia isn’t particularly extraordinary. Unless you consider the 45 millionaires and three billionaires it boasts within its paltry population of 7,800. Mind you, this is a rough estimate due to the fact that Southern manners don’t allow for such details to be made public knowledge. However, it’s no secret the wealth that abounds in Quincy is due to fortunes won from generations of Coca-Cola stock ownership, dating back to the inception of the deliciously addicting beverage.

Hollywood heartthrob Cole Maston hears of the Quincy Coca-Cola phenomenon and deems it movie material. He hires a writer, a script is born (starring Cole, of course), and plans are set in motion to secure all things necessary to prepare Quincy for the invasion of a movie crew in a few months.

In charge of this monumental task is location scout, Bennington Payne. When he shows up on Summer’s front porch dazed and confused, having made no headway with the polite but uncooperative citizens, Summer takes pity on him. But only after she realizes he holds her ticket out of Quincy. Labeled persona non grata for the last three years, Summer wants nothing more than to make a new life, in a new town. She just needs the funds. Summer and her mom came to Quincy in a shroud of mystery when Summer was a young girl. Even though it’s been almost 30 years, the Jenkins women are still treated as outsiders. Despite this, Summer has never wanted to leave the small town. Until now. Pariah status not withstanding, she has the connections to secure crew accommodations, set locations, and just about everything Ben needs. But it’s going to cost him.

I loved Summer from the moment she opens her door to Ben. She lives in a caretaker’s house on a plantation, supervising the day to day operations for free rent and a paltry salary. She’s smart, opinionated, hilarious, and really doesn’t know why she lacked the motivation to attend college, make something more of herself, or leave Quincy. But Summer has no regrets. She’s proud of who she is and bows to no one. Especially after the infamous event three years ago that caused the folks of Quincy to give her the cold shoulder. Ms. Torre does a fab job keeping us on pins and needles wanting to know just what the heck happened. She reveals bits and pieces as the novel unfolds. My guess was on the right track, but the actual details were totally unexpected enough to make me laugh out loud.
Summer and Ben hit it off like two giddy girls and develop a strong friendship during their weeks spent working together. Summer realizes how much she’s missed having a best girlfriend to hang with. Ben’s character is just Hollywood-gay enough to be funny and sincere without being an annoying over-the-top queen.

Cole Masten has spent ten years in the Hollywood spotlight, with all the privileges that accompany fame. He’s an entitled jerk, but that’s to be expected when it’s hard to know who you can trust and who’s merely interested in your fame. There are only two people he can rely on. His wife of five years, supermodel/actress, Nadia Smith, and his personal assistant, Justin. Unfortunately, the marriage he thought was rock solid blows up in his face when he arrives home early to find Nadia boinking a Hollywood director. Cole is stunned and broken. He’s been faithful to Nadia, quite a feat considering all the temptation thrown his way. And this is what made me know that Cole Masten was deep down a good guy. I really felt his anguish and heartbreak. He needs to get out of the cesspit that is Los Angeles and get his head together which, as luck would have it, is exactly what his Cujo of a divorce attorney orders him to do. Go to Quincy early and get out of the Hollywood spotlight.

Thus begins the deliciously fun, snarky, sexy, and captivating love/hate story of Cole Masten and Summer Jenkins. These two do not hit it off well. At all. Summer has no patience or respect for the likes of a spoiled rich guy who thinks he’s God’s gift. Even if he is. Cole is instantly smitten with the Southern beauty for more than just her looks. Which surprises the heck out of him. She’s everything his soon-to-be ex isn’t. He also realizes Summer, with her sexy drawl, and Southern know-how is the perfect woman to play opposite him in his movie. She’s no actress, however, the money is too much to turn down. She’ll suffer anything to get out of Quincy. Including the overwhelming attraction, she has to Cole and the sizzling chemistry between them. Summer stands up to Cole at every turn, even though his hotness makes her a nervous wreck and she knows getting involved with this guy is a very bad idea. Cole isn’t used to being dismissed, but it’s humbling him and he likes it. His stay in Quincy is eye opening and he isn’t missing Hollywood life at all. Mainly due to Summer. Their back and forth antics are sweet and entertaining. Their on again, off again sex is hot and intense. The secondary characters add charm and lots of fun.
Despite the ending that wrapped up very quickly and very Hollywood movie-ish, I loved every minute of this book.