*****REVIEW*** DAZZLED by Jane Harvey Berric

Includes scenes of a sexual nature - ages 18+

Miles Stephens is a young actor from London. Out of work, unemployable, and fired from his last job, he unexpectedly gets the chance to star in a big-time Hollywood movie.

The film is a great success, propelling him to worldwide fame – but when the dream doesn’t match the reality, he turns to Clare, lifelong friend and girl next door.

Clare knows two important facts: when you break chocolate, the calories fall out; and that she’s totally in love with clueless Miles

I have known Mrs. Harvey-Berrick's brilliant writing skills for some time now, and they never cease to amaze me. She did it again in this engrossing tale of unrequited love, and a wonderful coming-of-age story at that, which kept me glued to my chair since Chapter I.

Young British actor Miles Stephens has got his first big role in a top-notch Hollywood movie and flies to Los Angeles to give his dreams a chance. Despite all the glamour around him, as well as the attention and the amazing pampering he's getting, the only person he can think of to help him get through the day is his best friend Clare. Because she's always been there for him since they were sixteen years old.

 

Claire Milton has spent the last four years of her life in the hopes that one day a totally clueless Miles might fall in love with her, instead of the usual leading actress he always ends up falling for. Clare is supportive and encouraging, she is fun to hang out with; she always has Miles's back and always helps him overcome his dyslexia when he is studying his lines. Clare is also living in hell because Miles doesn't see her as girlfriend material.

In his climb to stardom, Miles embraces a learning curve that not only will teach him a thing or two about success' many potholes, but it will also lead him to success in his dream job and to the one true love of his life too. Confronted with a much harsher reality in movie-making Heaven than he has ever imagined, Miles immediately realizes that he needs Clare's strength and frame of mind in order to stay grounded in a world where you can't always tell what is real and what is not. They are such complementary characters that Miles's constant choosing other girls over Clare is painful indeed: Clare can see through Miles like anybody else can, while he doesn't know her so well as he thinks he does; Clare knows not everybody deserves Miles's trust, while he always sees the good in the people surrounding him; Clare is brave enough to be herself no matter what, while Miles thinks acting allows him to present people a better version of himself; Clare's devotion to Miles is second only to his need to use her as a crutch against his “crippling lack of confidence”.

 

Clare's patience and endurance are sorely put to the test, and her sassy mouth and killer irony are her only means to give vent to her frustration. You cannot but love her colourful mouth, first because she is always right in her assessment of Miles's girlfriends, and second because it provides a much needed comic relief to her aching hart. There is only so much a girl can take, though, and Clare eventually decides to give her own life a chance away from Miles, which results in a huge wake-up call for him, and wake up he does, bless him. 

 Strangely enough, just when Miles shows total confidence in his new relationship with Clare, she seems to be more insecure about it and more affected by the media constant prying into their private lives. Then it's Miles's turn to reassure and support his worried girlfriend:

                                                “You know that isn't real,” he said, pointing at the laptop.

                                               Then he gestured between us, “This... this here is what is real.”

They have come full circle and can face any of life's ordeals together now.

Their HEA is so sweet that I don't feel ashamed in admitting to my eyes getting all shiny. Besides, it is not your usual sugary ending to a chick novel; it is the well-deserved conclusion to a wonderful NA romance. Miles and Clare are so young and full of hopes and dreams that I'd really love to read more about them. I also particularly enjoyed the choice of the alternate POV structure because, in its voicing both Miles and Clare's thoughts and feelings, it is the perfect means to  have a deeper understanding of their actions and the reasons behind them, and it makes you feel such a deep emotional connection with them. 
Taking sides between Miles and Clare is going to be soooo difficult; you can take it from me.

   

I started writing contemporary romance two years ago. Before that, I didn’t think I could write a sex scene. Turns out I can!

My lucky number is 13 because I was born on the 13^th and live near a haunted castle by the ocean. My number one past-time is watching hot surfers get changed into (and out of) their wetsuits.

My husband doesn’t read my books.  My mother does.

Writing is my love, my hobby, my total addiction. All my characters are important to me and whisper their stories, even when I’ve finished writing their books. That’s why you’ll often find bonus chapters/out-takes from various books, because those voices just won’t be quiet.