Shuttergirl

This review is looooooooooong overdue. But when I heard C.D. Reiss was writing a new standalone contemporary romance, I was ecstatic! There is no question that I’ve been a die hard fan of hers since I first picked up Beg, Book 1 in her Songs of Submission series. From then on she has never been an author I just read; I devour everything the woman writes. I don’t need to hear a synopsis, or see a cover. With any C.D. Reiss book I just buy it and devour it on nearly one sitting.For those of you who have read her addicting & provocative Songs of Submission series or fell in love with my beloved Capo in her Corruption series, you will NOT be disappointed when you meet Laine & Michael in ShutterGirl.C.D. gives us a very interesting perspective in this titillating story, told through both Laine & Michael’s perspective. Michael, an actor who has built his career right out of high school, trying to overcome the shadow of his father’s tumultuous fading career. Trying to help his father out, Michael at his peek of popularity is trying to shoulder the responsibilities of being the lead in a new feature, one he’s hoping will cease his father’s alcoholism and give him a jump start back into the biz. When things start falling apart – actresses falling into stereotypes of celebrity the movie gets put on hold; Laine is there with her ever steady camera lens snapping away – wondering if Michael recognizes her in the sea of flash bulbs. What Laine doesn’t realize is that Michael not only notices her – but seeks her out in the crowd of photog’s wherever he goes, hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman she’s become.Laine, having grown up in Los Angeles – both loving and hating her surroundings, bouncing from foster home to foster home, trying to grasp a small thread of normalcy, family – anything to give her stability. She encounters a young Michael – two high school kids on a tennis court – sitting on the bleachers, talking – getting to know one another. Michael is drawn to her – irregardless that he has a girlfriend, there is a natural pull to the young blonde girl that he catches staring at him as he practices on the court – Laine finds herself drawn to him as well, opening up to him and when things start falling apart, ripping her from yet another foster home – and Michael, she retreats – running away only to drown out the chaos that has been her adolescents.Laine – having over come her past found her niche’ in photography – now a grown woman, a hunter by night, she chases celebrities throughout Los Angeles hoping to catch the next big shot that will further her career as a freelance photog. Laine isn’t your typical shouty photographer – sure, she’ll hide in bush, scale a building, do what she has to do to get a shot (all the while in stiletto heals) – but she does it with class. She may not be able to stomach some of what she does – making money off of the poor choices of others. These stories plastered all over the internet, magazines and the news – not disappearing until the next scandal. This is her job – like it or not, a girls gotta’ eat.But when Laine and Michael are thrust together one night at a club – things go terribly wrong. She realizes he does remember her – very well in fact, but when he gets suspicious of her intents, and her brother starts snapping pictures in the VIP room – things get out of hand, and fast. Camera’s fly – Laine does what she does best and runs. An independent woman – she’s not going to stick around for a temper tantrum from a guy she knew in high school, no matter how gorgeous he is – no matter the butterflies fluttering in her stomach from the brief conversation they had – or the way his eyes bore into hers as they spoke; she has a job to do and Michael just destroyed her best camera.Michael can’t get her out of his head – not that he really ever has. He’s sought her out in every crowd, but never had the guts to speak to her. After so many years have past, he wasn’t sure how to approach her, especially considering she is the enemy. How does a successful actor try to engage with a paparazzi without it all blowing up in his face? Furthermore, how does a paparazzi continue to do her job if the celebrity isn’t just a mark now, but familiar and someone she genuinely cares about?Can these two rekindle that chemistry they had so long ago – thrust into the spotlight? Can Laine cross that line from photog to celebrity? And how will she feel being on the other side of the camera?ShutterGirl is fast paced, sexy second chance romance that will have you up all night to finish it, because you won’t be able to put it down.

Having read most,if not all, of C.D. Reiss' released works, I thought I had an idea of what I was getting into. I think many of her loyal fans will go into it with the same mindset...here's a little taste of a text between us:S: Have you started ShutterGirl yet?C: Of course not, I am though, or are you telling me you would like to not do that?!(Court's asking because I tend to warn her off of things that aren't worth her time)S: I'm about 1/2 way thru it. It's different, but I think I like it.(Let me stop to explain that since I *thought* I knew what I was getting when I started reading and it wasn't what I thought, it took me some adjustment to settle into it. I was so used to her novellas and the swiftness of her building in plot/character/motivation that I had to recalibrate and let the novel tell its story at its own pace. So, at this point, the plot was starting to pick up and I was liking it. Let me also say that for me, the beginning read as a series of transitory impressions and I wasn't always connecting the dots so it was a little uneven at the beginning.)C: Yeah? Okay! I plan to start tonight.C: [Is it] good as her other stuff or different like...(fill in a conversation about a book we didn't particularly like which surprised us because we'd liked this writer's work before).S: Good.The next day ..at work....S: I finished it (which means very little work, at work, being done) and I really liked it.C: Hahaha. Unfortunately my attempt to read and work was thwarted which is probably good because I have hella lot of work to do!S: Dude. Once you get into it, I bet you'll have a hard time putting it down.C: I am sure! I love her. Definitely wouldn't have went through 10 novellas and the stress of Jonathan almost dying if not. God. Still gives me anxiety!So...as you can see, I hit that point in the novel where all of the pieces and parts came together and any adjustments to the style or my expectations were easily overcome. I became absorbed by the story of Michael and Laine; I love that C.D. Reiss gave me something completely new-- I don't think I'd ever even considered the idea of what would happen if a Hollywood A-lister and a paparazzi queen somehow became involved. I loved the idea of it; I loved being presented with all of the complications and realizing..ohmygod...this would be an impossible relationship.I also loved that C.D. Reiss made these characters really thoughtful and good. Was there angsty times? Yes. But they were reasonable and understandable and I hurt for both Laine and Michael when I hit those parts in the book.Would the problem that was a PROBLEM for Laine + Michael be resolved as easily as it was in the novel? Probably not...but I don't think that was her (C.D.'s) point. This novel wasn't really about that. It was about these two characters discovering who they were and who they weren't and who they were when they were together and apart and if who they were could work.While I'm talking about things I loved...here are a few more:This felt a little like a love note to LA and as someone who loves NOLA, I appreciate when others write so lovingly about their homes and spaces. It felt like the city was a character and I loved it.Having characters really face some things about themselves that are unpleasant and own those things? Work through them? Make something with them and not make things worse? I liked that too.There was no victimizing and no blame game. There was some sadness and some starting over and I liked that --it felt honest.The sweetness with the grimy underbelly--I'd seen glances of this in some of Reiss' other works, but I really felt it full force here. I think it's probably one of her sweetest works yet and that was an unexpected and really nice surprise.Also loved the nod to the Drazens.And, of course, Reiss knows here way around a sex scene and the tension and connection between these two is simultaneously sweet and hot.As I said before --the beginning felt a little uneven and sometimes I felt like some of the secondary characters kind of disappeared and reappeared and I sometimes wanted more from those, but overall those were minor issues and ones I can't help but hope we'll know more about in subsequent books. I know this is a stand alone but I can't help but want to know more and see more of these characters and this world.Thank you, C.D. Reiss, for giving me something unexpected.

What a lovely contemporary romance! It might be the first time CD Reiss branched out purely into this category, but even her contemporaries feel edgy. They have sharp teeth and dark secrets. As you can guess, I loved it! *grinning* Laine Cartwright aka Shuttergirl is one of the best paparazzi in Hollywood, she is ruthless, has a great intuition for getting into a right place at the right time, and her word is gold. Michael Greydon is a Hollywood sweetheart. He's got a fantastic reputation, good manners, a gorgeous face and plenty of talent. But once upon a time Laine and Michael were friends, and she had a crush on him. Now she stalks him and makes money on his pictures.What would happen if these two get romantically involved when their respectful worlds are set against each other? Michael would question his desire to please everyone instead of doing what he wants and Laine will put her career on the line, because who would trust a paparazza who crossed the line into the enemy camp?It's tender, bittersweet, hot and somehow very real. As usual Miss Reiss describes the atmosphere of L.A. so vividly, the reader has no problem imagining himself right in the thick of it. Laine is complex and self-assured, and doesn't shy away from the truth, even if it's really painful. Michael is full of suppressed feelings and ready to explode. The dynamics between these two is fascinating!I loved the ending especially: it's somehow made this book even more solid with its happy-for-now, full of possibilities attitude An easy, quick and entirely satisfying summer read, recommended!

This was a really good book and was an interesting plot/choice of characters. My heart ached for Laine sometimes~ her background was so very sad but she was beautifully written and so you really admired the strong person she had become through it all. I liked the secondary characters, Lucy in particular which surprised me.So why not 5 stars? I never quite felt like I connected with Michael . He always seemed so in control, even when things were spiralling. I wanted more emotion from him. Also, I wanted more of them together, it felt a bit brief somehow. Laine was colour and passion and layers of character but Michael felt a bit bland at times.For me, he was at his best when he was in a fight with someone and the scene near the end where he says he loves her. Wow , more of that please. Also, it absolutely needed an epilogue. I really feel that it would work well with a story like theirs to finish it off with a look into their future. I saw that Ms Reid's may put one into a newsletter which would be great, but in the book would have been better.So, a really good book with an intriguing and moving storyline. Just really want that epilogue to compliment that gorgeous last scene which my inner romantic swooned at!!

Shuttergirl is a gritty and realistic portrayal of how easily it is to fall into the role of self-fulfilling prophecy. Being lucky and aware enough to realise the mistakes made while living with the regret of having gone through certain events. Yet, ultimately all of our life experiences shapes us into the person we become. A very 'what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger' scenario with amazing characters you can't help but fall for.While the romance does play a large part within the plot it is the characters and their development that will keep the pages turning at a fast pace. Some of the situations depicted are uncomfortable to witness, however, provide much-needed insight into how vulnerable young people become targets for lowlifes.

I've been in a serious book funk for a while and this has been a brilliant way to escape it. I could not stop reading. Finished it in a day. Perfect way to start my holiday ! Brilliant. Perfectly written I felt as if I was in the crowd with them, fighting for a perfect photo or simply sitting on HOLLYWOOD with them. Pure joy to read.

This book is brilliant. A love story between a Hollywood star and a member of the paparazzi. The story is told from both their points of view. There are several twists and turns to keep it more interesting. The characters are great and their though processes are clear. This is a perfect summer read.