Hero Debut

By Angela Ruth Strong

Book Overview

"Another sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat!"-- Bethany Turner, award-winning author of The Do-Over

Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen's Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?

Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he's not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can't seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn't a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.

Gemma can't seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825447933
• ISBN13: 9780825447938
• Release Date: August 2023
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

poignant and delightful rom com

"If laughter is the best medicine, then jokes are the Band-Aids." How is it possible that I have not read a full-length novel by Angela Ruth Strong until now? I need to gobble up all of her backlist and be on the look out for her future works; this book has made me a devoted follower. Every chapter had me crying tears of mirth but the latter chapters also had me crying tears of heartache. With surprising depth and meaning, this story of Gemma and Karson is quite poignant and thought-provoking in addition to being hilarious and witty. I loved the pop culture references to movies and enjoyed all the quotes about heroes ranging from Rick Riordan to Fred Rogers to Eleanor Roosevelt to Bob Dylan. The faith thread blossomed and grew throughout the story and the main characters' growth was satisfying, particularly with Karson. If you love romcoms, you will absolutely adore this book. Gemma was flighty but so funny, sweet, intuitive, curious, bubbly and endearing as the sunshiny heroine. She is definitely not perfect, as she carries lots of insecurities of comparing herself to her twin, but she was absolutely lovable and believable as high school English teacher and part time screenwriter. Karson was the cynical, overly cautious, bitter, and angry police officer but his dry sense of humor and his devoted love and loyalty to his family made up for his grumpiness. They must overcome jealousy, envy, and unhealthy anger as they battle their pasts. But as they do so, they give us a wonderful picture of what reconciliation and renewal looks like. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Kregel Publications via JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.