My Review of Opening Act

Contemporary Romance by Deborah Wynne

One of the main reasons I love to read is escapism. A well-written book can transport me to another time or place and immerses me in a new experience. Deborah Wynne’s Contemporary Romance, Opening Act takes us along with 25-year-old Izzy, as she journeys to New York City for the first time to begin a career on Broadway.

I have mentioned it before in some of my other reviews, Contemporary Romance is not a genre I typically gravitate to. I write more in the Romantic Suspense/Paranormal Suspense line. I typically read those types of novels along with historical, fantasy, and non-fiction. However, Deborah’s concept intrigued me and I really wanted read this debut novel. And now, I am sucked in….dammit!!

Having started over in a new city alone multiple times, I could really relate to Izzy’s wide-eyed wonder at finding herself in the bustle of New York City after living in Colorado her whole life. Admittedly I have never been to New York City, and my impressions of this legendary Babylon on the east coast are limited to movies like Coming to America, When Harry Met Sally, the Butcher’s Wife, and a guy I knew in the Navy who the rest of the crew nicknamed “Rat F—ker.” (Long story, maybe I’ll share it in another blog post).

Deborah paints a vibrant picture of a hustling, vibrant city full of unique and diverse people. As she moves into her apartment, innocent and naïve Izzy meets the charismatic and hot firefighter Brandon. Yes, cue female romantic fantasy here as Brandon helps Izzy move her stuff into her apartment and they begin seeing each other. As I read this, I was thinking to myself, “Damn, where was my Brandon when I moved to Seattle or Alaska?” Ok—enough of that.

Now one minor thing I did have issue with here, as their relationship stretched on and Izzy agonized about her secret (trying to avoid spoilers); I really felt it would have come up in conversation. To me, I think it would have made the eventual blow up even more realistic to have it brought up in some way, and she evades it because she’s embarrassed. I say this having dated with MS, which was my own terrible secret for a long time. Having got dumped over it quite a bit, I understand the agony of finally telling someone something you think is terrible. Anyway, my own thoughts—minor point. At their eventual break-up, I bawled. Great scene.

So they break up over miscommunication/misunderstanding. At this juncture I was pacing in my living room and yelling at Izzy put her big girl panties on and to get her a— back down to his apartment. My husband thought I was losing it. But he’s kind of used to that by now.

Now throughout the story we have been also reading about wealthy and good-looking Ashe. Ashe is what I like to call one of the “Walking Wounded.” He has shut love and life out, and is living almost a double life after the death of his wife working in the porn industry. Admittedly, I found Ashe’s first encounters with Izzy to be a little stalkerish. At the same time, he genuinely loves her, but is so terrified of losing her he can’t show it. Instead he thinks that if he “saves” her from her life, that’s good enough.

What I enjoyed here about Deborah’s book was the departure from the typical Romance trope of the “Alpha,” d-bag billionaire who swoops in and saves her with his money and his magical penis. She turns him into a wonderful, sensitive man with her golden vagina and they sail away on his yacht to Italy where they live happily-ever after making babies.

Instead Izzy has had a taste of real love with Brandon. The cold but secure relationship Ashe is offering is pale and empty in contrast. She knows that dancing is what makes her happy. It is her dream, it is what feeds her soul. But Ashe is asking her to give that up for him. As their wedding day approaches, she needs to make a choice, security and safety with Ashe but emptiness. Or can she strike out on her own again, make her dreams of success as a dancer come true and win Brandon back. I will let you as the reader find out. The journey is well worth it.

Thanks for reading. There was a lot more I wanted to add to this review, but I don’t want to spoil the story! In a few months I will come back and update this with more of my thoughts. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did!

My next two reviews will be of Stephen Coghlan’s 50 Shades of Neigh and Beth Anderson’s the Frost Eater.