Love You, Truly by Susan L. Tuttle

About the Book
Blake Carlton, the camera-shy son of Hollywood’s Darling, dodges the invasive limelight and scripted relationships that so often accompany fame. But when his mother’s popularity declines and she falls into a depression, he offers himself up as the next bachelor on a reality show, hoping to reignite interest in her career while creating a way for them to finally connect.
After her fiancé dumps her for her best friend, aspiring photographer Harlow Tucker is done with romance—until her beloved, disabled sister requests her aid to start a nonprofit. Harlow agrees to do whatever is needed to raise funds, even reluctantly costarring on a dating show with a notorious womanizer who distrusts anyone behind a lens.
As Blake and Harlow navigate the superficiality of a reality show, their preconceived notions of love are challenged. Deciding to trust each other feels like the ultimate risk, but taking that chance could lead to a love truly picture-perfect, worth both of their hearts.

My Thoughts
When you absolutely love an author’s debut novel there’s always a little bit of worry starting their sophomore release. Was the first book just a one-off? A one-hit wonder? But I needn’t have have worried with this one! As much as I loved At First Glance, I think this one was even better!
First of all, Bachelor Nation is my guilty pleasure so I loved the reality dating show plot line! It was such a fun setting for the story!
I loved Blake and Harlow! Neither of them have had an easy go of things and life left them both with trust issues. Blake grew-up in the limelight and felt like a commodity that people used but never truly knew. And Harlow grew up with a sister who had a debilitating disease and as a result her needs and desires always came second leaving her feeling unnoticed. Both we’re looking to people for things that only God could give them and I loved seeing their journey to discovering that.
The banter/arguing between Blake and Harlow was easily one of my favorite things about this book, I laughed out loud so many times at their witty remarks.
As for the romance, it was so authentic and real and I absolutely loved it. Neither of them had any illusions of actually falling in love and that made the way it slowly happened all the sweeter! They were exactly what the other didn’t know they needed. And the kisses (or lack there of), so perfectly done! Never has a kiss on the cheek made me melt into a puddle until this book and I’m still smiling just thinking about it! I was so totally invested in their relationship that I was scared right along with them, they both were fragile, imperfect people, and it seemed like one wrong move could shatter everything irreversibly. But Tuttle skillfully wove their tale, and though there was a lot of hard go through it was a breaking that needed to happen so that things could come together in a more perfect way.
In short I loved everything about this book and I’m already planning a reread!

About the Author
Susan L. Tuttle was born and raised in the Mitten State where she met and married her best friend. A homeschooling mom of three, somewhere along the way she blinked and those three littles aren’t so little anymore. Now she balances their teenage years with directing the women’s ministry at her church and writing new stories. She fully believes that God is the biggest romancer in the world and that He loves each one of us lavishly even in all our imperfections—a belief tried and tested by her own misses at perfection. Never having met a cookie she didn’t like, most days you’ll find her enjoying one for a treat between chauffeuring her kiddos around, attempting housework, contemplating exercise, or coaxing her current characters to talk.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.