Between the Lines (Between the lines #1) Paperback – April 30, 2011

I needed a quick, easy read this week to get me through this week, and I thought that Between the Lines by Tammara Webber would be the perfect book to fit the bill. Having just finished her latest book, Easy, I was expecting a well written book that could easily keep my attention. And that is what I found. In many ways this book was not quite as deep as Easy because so many of the issues were not explored with as much depth as the ones in Easy, but that doesn't mean that this book was lacking in its exploration of issues that young adults may be facing in the real world. So ... enough of trying to compare the two books. Let me give it to you straight as I talk about my experience reading this great book.Between the Lines tells the story of a cast of actors who are on the set of a bigger budget movie based on Pride and Prejudice. Specifically it is told through the first person narrations of Reid Alexander, the already-famous actor who plays the leading man, and Emma Pierce, a virtual unknown who has previously only had bit parts and commercials. The two of them have an unmistakable chemistry on set, and soon that chemistry leaks off set as well. But Emma also finds herself struggling with feelings for Graham Douglas, another actor from the movie who does not enjoy Reid's popularity. Everyone has little secrets (and some big ones) that are keeping them from forming any serious attachments. But is that what they want anyway? Serious attachments are not really the standard on movie sets. Reid is used to one night stands. Who knows what Graham is used to? And Emma is completely new to all of this. So there is a lot to discover in these new relationships. Reid wants to sleep with Emma. Emma does not want to give herself up to him quite so freely. Graham seems to want a relationship with Emma, but does he really? Emma and Reid both have some messed up family relationships that never actually get totally solved by the end of this book. All of the action of this book contains a lot of acting, both on and off set.My thoughts (with some MILD spoilery):I really did enjoy this book a lot. But I have to admit that I was REALLY, REALLY worried as I read. Really worried. Because this book was told through the views of Emma and Reid. It seemed as if the two of them were meant to be together. But there was Graham. Ahhhhhh Graham! I just LOVED him as a character! So much. So the whole time I was reading I was completely tense because I so wanted for Graham and Emma to end up together, but I was worried that Emma would end up with Reid. And Reid was a total jerk. Totally and completely a jerk. He has never, ever bothered with forming any serious attachments with anyone. He doesn't believe in love, so he doesn't even attempt to move in that direction. All of his life is about finding the hottest girl to hook up for the night. He is a love-em-and-leave-em kind of guy. In other words ... a JERK. He has to take a girl from the club back to his hotel to "take the edge off" as he waits for the best opportunity to lure Emma to his bed? Really? REALLY? At this point Emma was already into heavy kissing with him, and I was SCREAMING at her to walk away as fast as she possibly could. So all of this drama really affected my reading for a good portion of the novel. But I have to admit that at the end I really felt a bit sorry for Reid. Not that I wanted for Emma to come running back to him. Not at all. But I did hope that there would be someone out there who could push aside all of his tremendous ego in order to find the vulnerable young man underneath, hopefully helping him to become a much better person. So you can bet that I'll be reading on in this series to see if that can happen.The characters in this book were written well. I loved how I could go from loving them to being irritated with them to feeling sorry for them to loving them again. They were not simple characters to classify. There is more to learn about all of them. I know that there is more that each of these characters need to learn about themselves. And I loved that about this book. I was super sorry to see that the filming for the movie ended. I wanted to know so much more and see where things could go once everyone stopped beating around the bush and actually said what they were feeling. Thank goodness that I can read on in two more books.I do feel as if this book ended a bit abruptly. There was still so much to discover, and I only felt as if things started to come together in the last two pages. I felt a bit cheated. But since the story continues right where it left off with book two I wasn't too unhappy. I do recommend this as a fun and quick read with some great chemistry between characters and an interesting look into what it might be like to suddenly be thrown into the life of a Hollywood celebrity and all that goes along with it. I loved it!Now on to book two!

I read Between the Lines in an entire day. I didn’t want to put it down, and it turned out that I had the opportunity to just keep reading. I did feel like a huge, lazy bum once I finished and realized that I didn’t really get off the couch for that entire period of time, but that’s okay. Every now and then you need one of those days and the perfect book to go with it. Between the Lines was a fun read for me. It has two narrators, Emma Pierce who has just been assigned her first acting lead in a major film even if it’s not her dream role, and then there’s Reid Alexander who is already a star with a huge fan base.Emma and Reid have instant on-screen chemistry which creates an almost instant attraction to each other. As the description says Reid’s ex-girlfriend, and first real relationship, Brooke, is also an actress in this movie. And at the same time, Reid has competition for Emma’s affection—Graham, another actor in the film. Reid has family issues as most people do. His mother is constantly battling for sobriety and his father is mostly emotionally and physically absent while making Reid feel like he’s the emotionally and physically absent one. Reid acts out accordingly. He’s had his heart broken once, and since that experience plus watching his parents crumbling marriage, he’s decided that love and relationships aren’t for him. Yet he sets his eyes on Emma.Emma’s mother died when she was much younger. Her father remarried shortly after her mother’s passing to a woman vastly different. Emma’s stepmother seems to be a fame and glory hog, always trying to be in the spotlight, trying to mooch off Emma’s success, and very much trying to act much younger than she is. You can see that Emma’s father wasn’t quite sure how to cope with losing her mother, and this just seemed like the easiest option. And that’s exactly what he’s done since—whatever’s easiest. Easy isn’t a teenage girl, with an acting career, who lost her mother several years ago. Emma does have an immediate attraction to Reid, and it seems like she sort of feels like he’s who she should be dating. Yet she also has a developing attraction to Graham—another co-star—who she just can’t seem to figure out.Graham is confusing to the reader as well. He’s obviously attracted to Emma, but something is holding him back. Emma and Reid both assume that it’s Reid’s ex-girlfriend Brooke, but as the reader, I just didn’t buy that. Of course, there is more than meets the eye to both Brooke’s backstory and to Graham’s. Events unfold and everything makes sense. The way the ending wraps up was satisfying and enjoyable for me.While I can’t say that this was an overly emotional read, I was definitely hooked early on. I liked that Tammara Webber didn’t go the typical or obvious route with her dual narrators. Emma was just the person that Reid needed to bring himself out of the self-centered, self-involved place that he’s found himself. She’s probably the only person who can show him that the “truths” he’s told himself about love are in fact lies. As I said earlier, I liked the ending. It felt satisfying. I felt closure, but when I read the description for book 2, Where You Are, it seems like several aspects that were “wrapped up” with this ending are again “open” as if the characters didn’t get any closure. I do plan to read book 2 and continue this series, but I’m already not excited about rehashing some things that felt handled with the ending of Between the Lines.Between the Lines gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read it? What did you think? Let me know!For more book reviews, check out Somewhere Only We Know - [...]

Having absolutely adored Easy when I read it last year I had high expectations for this one! While this has a different feel to Easy, everything I loved about that book is present here too. I really enjoyed it. And I really liked the setting. Being completely obsessed with TV and films this was definitely my kind of story.The story is narrated by Emma and Reid. Got to love dual narration! Emma I loved straight away, Reid took a while! I'm not sure that he completely won me over but there is definitely something there - something intriguing and something promising I think.The story for me was really Emma's story. Even Reid's narration seemed to focus more on her - although it does touch on his home life which goes some way in explaining why he is the way he is. But it felt, to me at least, as if the focus was more on her.I loved Graham! Totally and utterly (and even more at the end!) I also really liked Brooke - and how first impressions of her are not what she is like at all! Oh and Tadd! Loved him. In fact, I loved them all!I have seriously high hopes for this series. I can't wait to read the next book (more Graham!) and am looking forward to (I believe) Reid's story in book 3. And do I spy a book 4 on Goodreads? I hope so! I think I'm addicted!

This is the first in a trilogy. Reid Alexander currently hollywoods brightest star, is to play Mr. Darcy in a modern take of Pride and Predudice, he is to sit in on the auditions for his leading lady, the director intends to cast an unknown in the part. When Emma Pierce walks in Reid knows this is the girl for the part. Emma has had a few small parts here and there, plus a few ads she has filmed. But this is a big part that will bring her into the limelight. The chemistry between her and Reid is undeniable! Reid is attracted to Emma and is determined that she will reciprocate his interest. But Emma is very wary as Reid's reputation precedes him, for such a young man, his experience with women is widely known. Graham Douglas another actor in this remake who has the part of Mr. Collins, soon becomes close friends with Emma as they go for early morning runs together, although attracted to him, Emma is sure that he and Brooke Cameron another cast member are involved, as they seem very close. Brooke also has a history with Reid as they were once an item.This is a good story, filled with very well drawn characters. Each chapter is told from either Reid or Emma's point of view. I liked Emma she was a grounded and well balanced girl, and far too good for the sleezy Reid who did not seem able to focus on any girl for five minutes. He is almost legendary for his one night stands. Graham is a quiet and brooding guy and the reader is never quite sure whether his interest is in Emma or Brooke. Although the reader is privy to what Emma and Ried are thinking via their dedicated chapters. The dialogue between them is fairly superficial. So a lot of what they are thinking is never dealt with. That might be my only complaint with this a lack of communication. But I am definitely going to read the second book, as I want to see what happens next. The writing here is accomplished and well balanced. On the whole a good read.

Unexpectedly fantastic. I fully admit that before I read this, it didn't sound like my thing at all and I figured I wouldn't enjoy it that much. But I adored Tammara's 'Easy' (which is probably one of my all time favourite books) so I figured I'd give Between the Lines a chance. And I'm so glad I did!It's a lighter read, and it took a little while to get going, but once I was a few chapters in, I was hooked. I barely put it down in the end. I can't say I really liked Reid at any point, and worse more of the time. But I really loved Emma. And actually the majority of the characters are really well rounded and presented through the story. While it might not outwardly come across as a book with 'deep' moments, it's got plenty of them. I got really wrapped up in the lives of these teenage actors and their own personal situations.Between the Lines is a surprisingly grounded book and utterly believable. And I loved the ending so much! It's left me craving book two, which I have every intention of starting next. While I might not be Reid's biggest fan, I still enjoyed the alternating POV between him and Emma and seeing things from both sides. At heart this book is about friendship, growing up and realising who you are. And I can't wait for more!

I have loved all the books in this series in their own way, but as the catalyst for the addiction; this book really lights you up from the inside and makes you want to know everything there is to know about the characters found in between the pages.I found myself smiling to myself at many different stages during this book and that always leaves you feeling like you're coming away from a work of art. Perhaps I wouldn't go that far, because I think that the third book in this series outshines the rest, but I still loved this book for the background and the little twists and turns along the way.

How hard would you fight for the love of your life. How hard will you fight just to get someone into bed. The secrets and lies are gradually getting revealed and animosities' are explained. Young Emma 's emotions are put through a ringer in this one and Brooke is determined to get her man at any cost no matter who it hurts. Story is told in chapter form from each individuals perspective which draws you in. The nail biting got worse in this one. I believe in love finding away I wasn't disappointed. Someone find's a conscience in this one and that's the biggest surprise of all.