This was pretty entertaining but I didn’t fall for the characters. I was pretty indifferent to the whole thing and most of the book seemed like a classic romance to me. I didn’t feel like this had something more than the usual tropes. I also didn’t really like the main dude. Mostly, I wanted to shake him so he stopped acting like an ass. I don’t know… I guess it didn’t work for me.
I felt for Pepper but that’s about it...

this book fit the bill with the title because it was indeed a train wreck

I really really loved this book! Aaaaaand I really really hated Pepper's family. Argh. Okay, let's get back to the nice part, the book. And the story about Pepper and Derek because those two are so sweet together, you just have to love them!

I also loved how the author took situations that seemed to be underlining Pepper's history of being a train wreck and with Derek looking at those situations now from a distance, he sees something else and understands her and her family's dynamic a bit better. Of course, that doesn't stop him from doing stupid things and messing things up but he is determined and kind and...well. Maybe he'll end up with an HEA, who knows, right?

As a reader, you get the way Pepper's sees herself and the way others look at her (and, alright, sometimes they are right but - are they really always right? Truly?) but you can also see Pepper taking control when it is needed, Pepper acting capably and confidently. Sometimes she is the one picking up the pieces (or the shards) who turns a bad situation into a success - or some shards and some pieces of driftwood into a thing of beauty.

Looking closer you get the chance to see that she's indeed more than just chaotic or just a mess. She is even more than just the daughter of a famous producer. And so it is time for Derek to once again make his inner hero dust off his super suit and...well, do what superheroes do who fall in love with an amazing young woman:
Fight for her and her happiness!

The more I thought about this book, the more I loved how well constructed this story is. Add some really amazing characters, some villains that you'd love to feed to the sharks (symbolically speaking, of course.) and you get a really wonderful story that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book, but things fell apart a bit mid-way. From the time when they go to the wedding through the end of the book, the story seemed rushed and a bit disorganized and choppy. Major elements were rushed over so fast that I felt my head spin (like what happens to her ex). I was also confused by the abrupt change in Derek, and I don't think the decision to pull back from providing his point of view for that long stretch of time worked very well. I also never quite understood certain things going on, like why Pepper was no longer close to Summer, or why her brother was such an ass toward her. None of that was explained, and unless I'm missing something, there weren't any books before this one in this series. Finally, I would have liked to have seen some kind of interplay between Pepper and her father after she's become independent. His treatment of her seemed to play such a large part in who she was, so I felt sort of cheated by not having the satisfaction of seeing him react to her talent and independence. With all that being said, Pepper is completely adorkable and the kind of gal I'd want as a friend. I laughed out loud many times while reading this book, which is worth the price of admission.

Apologies, this was a great review then I diverted to give my husband a life in Candy Crush Soda and when I got back the thing was wiped.

Pepper O'Brien is Hollywood royalty. Her father Peter is a big shot Hollywood film producer as is her brother Paul. Unfortunately, she is the joke of the family, a clutz with no career, heck not even a job, famous only for screwing up like crashing a Maserati or braiding an actor with his own Oscar. Trouble is, Pepper doesn't like being the butt of her family's jokes, or the media.

She is living in the small town of Stoneybrook, trying to be normal, and get over her broken engagement, but her first job turns out to be a disaster when she is nearly run down by a pensioner. Only saved by her brother's best friend Derek Cushette who is scouting locations for a documentary about small town America financed by Peter O'Brien. Trouble is, taking Peter O'Brien's money means he owns you, and Peter wants Derek to look out for Pepper and keep her out of trouble until her brother's wedding.

Loved this, loved Pepper and loved Derek. Peter, Paul and Pepper's ex fiancé Andy were all douches.

Sorry about the lost review, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Son of a bacon bit" this was a great rom-com. Pepper the daughter of a famous movie producer and Derek an aspiring film maker meet again after several years in the sleepy little town that Pepper moved to after a series of disasters that always seem to make the cover of the tabloids. Pepper had a teen crush on Derek who was her brother's best friend at that time. If you like a heart warming romance with a lot of humor this is the book for you. It was fun reading about their adventure to their HEA. Elise Faber is a new author for me but I really like her style and plan on reading more of her books.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy provided thru NetGalley.

Very immature. Characters lacked dimension and,substance, and failed to grow at all. Pepper had no backbone at all, and didn't ever get one.