I really want to like this, but it just didn't work for me. The writing was good, I just didn't gel with the story.

Sorry for the delayed review. I have been working this year to catch up on my netgalley backlog. I appreciate the opportunity to read this story.

I do enjoy a good fake relationship romance and was looking forward to read this.

The book is an enjoyable read, easy setup and with a good chemistry but still I couldn't really connect with the characters. Marissa and Simon felt distant to me throughout the whole book, despite their scorching chemistry.

The story stays very average with not many ups and downs but I was glad that the drama to the end wasn't too much.

Marissas family, especially her mother, were a real pain and I didn't like her at all.

Virna DePaul becoming one of my favorite authors! Lip Action was a page turner that I couldn’t put down!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This was well.... average. It had funny moments & some very sexy scenes, it overall has just meh.

3 1/2 stars for Lip Action

Marissa is the daughter of a Hollywood behind the scenes power couple who just wants to be herself. Her mother is overbearing in the extreme, to the point I wanted to slap the mom. Simon is an actor who is trying to break out of the B list and get a movie that will push him into the A list. The pair up to pretend date so everyone can be happy with the results. As with any good fake relationship it quickly becomes more to both of them. Can it survive Hollywood or Marissa's parents influence?

I am a fan of DePaul work, I like this book, I just wanted a little more from it.

I couldn't finish this book sadly. The story was just a bit to rediculous for me. Good author, but this wasn't a winner for me.

Very cute quick read, I often found myself laughing and smiling to myself at this pairs antics. Fake relationship becomes the real deal in spectacular fashion.

Though this wasn't a deep story, a plot that's been done plenty of times before...the characters were believable enough. The chemistry between Simon and Marissa was a bit lacking at times, but crafted well enough that it provided the distractions to drive the story.

What was the most unbelievable, was how Marissa's mother was as big a b*^%h as she was to her daughter and no one called her on it until the end, and even her then she got off way too easily, compared to her machinations of keeping her daughter under her thumb by constantly belittling her. What grown, self sufficient, and intelligent women allows herself to be manipulated like that way...not to mention a father that sits quietly by and lets his wife do that, all the while saying he was her cheerleader to her life choices. And don't even get me started on Charles.

There was a sweetness to Simon that picked up a lot of the slack of the story enough to where I could finish it and find that I did enjoy it despite the inconsistencies of human nature that were part of the story.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Lip Action is a sweet, sexy piece of fluff. Marissa is tired of her mother nagging her about everything, especially about taking back her cheating douchebag ex, Charles. When Simon, a blonde British hottie comes to her rescue at the country club where her mother is loudly haranguing her, they agree to a proposition where she'll pose as his girlfriend to help him snag an A-list movie role, and he'll pretend to be her boyfriend to get her mother off her back.

Their natural chemistry can't be denied, and soon they're indulging in a steamy little fling. But, when Marissa starts to fall for him, she's wondering if Simon could possibly feel the same way. Of course, things never go smoothly in romances, or in real life, and obstacles are popping up everywhere. There are interfering exes on both their sides, the ever present paparazzi, Marissa's constantly meddling, snobbish mother, and most notably, Simon's own insecurities about his less than posh upbringing that he doesn't want anyone to know about. Can a pretend relationship have a chance at becoming real when there are so many obstacles?

I thought Lip Action was entertaining in a sort of generic way. It's not horrible, but it's rather cookie cutter. I didn't feel a particularly strong connection to any of the characters; even the unpleasant characters like her mother, and the exes, were rather bland. I do think Lip Action is sexy, though, and Simon and Marissa's chemistry alone saves Lip Action from a 2 star review.

Kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an Honest Review.....

This was my first read by Virna and maybe its just me but I liked her style and the story line and found this read very enjoyable.

It was Simon and Marissa's book. Simon is a Lawyer and he considers himself a little above the rest of population. He sort of comes over as rude and prickly, however when you dig deeper into his story you realize its a self defense mechanism. Bless him !!. Simon certainly is a softy towards Marissa, but who could be anything else ?. Marissa is caring, loyal and wants to please those she loves. Marissa I felt was a little timid and needed to break the mold and find her own way. I am glad that she did in the end.

The story line involves a "pretend" relationship to keep each others respective wolves at bay. pretty soon Fake and Fiction becomes Feisty and Forever !!

Well Done Virna and many thanks for this opportunity xx

Later peeps xxx

I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was very well written, had a good plot, and like able characters. I would definitely read more books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I received an advanced copy of this book from netgalley for and honest review. The book Lip Action is the first part of a series. I was drawn to it because of the cover even though the plot was a little quirky. We have Marissa who comes from privilege and whose every move is influenced by her family including her recent cheating ex-boyfriend. Her mother is trying to convince her that she needs to stay with him because of his pedigree. Little does she know that Simon is watching the entire exchange take place and that he realizes he may be able to use this as an opportunity to help each other out of their situations. Simon is an actor trying to improve his reputation by appearing to be a stable guy rather than a boy toy. Somewhere between the arrangement and the casual sex a love for one another develops. Both are in denial and believe that to wrong side of the tracks is not an opportunity for a love.
The quirky part was the actor trying to fix his reputation. It was a little unbelievable but I did like Simon. He was not overly arrogant and I think he helped loosen up Marissa quite a bit.
This was one of those great summer reads. Fun characters, sexy interaction and a happily ever after. I am looking forward to the next books in this series.

Virna DePaul’s Lip Action is a quick and fun contemporary romance and is easy to recommend. Marissa and Simon meet at a restaurant when he steps up and pretends to be her boyfriend in order to stop Marissa’s mother from publicly badgering her about her love life. He’s a B-list actor on the brink of A-list fame, and he asks Marissa to continue their fake relationship to help him secure a big movie deal. He needs to prove to the movie’s producers that he’s not a playboy.

Marissa and Simon are crazy attracted to each other and have amazing chemistry; therefore, pretending isn’t too much of a hardship, especially when they start to get physical. Marissa is a little cautious of getting involved with Simon, but he is extremely charming and begins to woo away her fears. They develop a connection and their relationship really begins to heat up, but neither expects to turn into everlasting love. DePaul writes fantastic banter and likable characters, and Lip Action is sexy and entertaining. It’s the perfect beach read.

Marissa is ready for a change and if that means leaving behind her cheating fiancée she is ready to make the leap. She is consistently reminded by her overbearing mother of mistakes she had made in the past. Her eyes caught a glimpse of Simon Dale. He is up for a coveted role that will help his acting career. Marissa makes a deal with Simon to save them both. Simon helps her develop the confidence she once lost. She is able to finally begin to be herself and not the person everyone else thinks she should be. Can their pasts keep them from truly being together or what started as a lie end in something more?

Marissa needs someone to be a pretend boyfriend to get her mother off of her back about an ex and Simon needs someone to help clean up his reputation. The two have a run in with each other and decide they could pretend to be in a relationship. What neither of them expect is to find a happy ending together.

This was a good read. Marissa and Simon had a good connection. Loved their relationship.

I don't know about this one yet. In premise it's interesting but I've found myself struggling to pick it back up again after 15% in already and that's not a promising sign. I'll keep updates on my progress when I attempt this one again. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review. Goodreads review link coming soon.

3.5 Stars Lip action is book 1 in the Kiss Talent Agency. This is a quick enjoyable read. Although this is probably not one of my favorite reads by this author I did like the character interaction and the stories concept. I will read more of this series.

Loved this story! Simon and Marissa are too cute! Simon needs a girlfriend to prove to producers of a movie he wants a role in that he's changing his playboy ways. Marissa is trying to convince her family that breaking up with her cheating ex fiance Simon steps in as her new squeeze. Can real feelings survive a fake relationship?

This fun romantic contemporary is the first in a new series by Virna DePaul. It starts out as a fake relationship that benefits both parties and leads to love. Marisa needs to get her mother to back off on pushing her to reunite with her cheating ex and Simon needs to clean up his reputation to get a starring role in an upcoming film. Filled with humor, this short romance was a great start to a new series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

3.5 stars--LIP ACTION is the first installment in Virna DePaul’s contemporary, adult KISS TALENT AGENCY erotic, romance series. This is British b-list actor Simon Richards-Dale, and heiress / marketing specialist Marissa Woodcrest’s story line.

Told from dual first person points of view (Marissa and Simon) LIP ACTION focuses on the fake boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between British b-list actor Simon Dale, and marketing specialist Marissa Woodcrest. Simon’s reputation in Hollywood as a manwhore keeps our hero on the b-list of celebrities and in the news. Hoping to land a lucrative role in an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster movie, our hero is in desperate need of a committed girlfriend to impress the people behind the scenes. Enter heiress, and marketing specialist Marissa Woodcrest, whose own personal life has fallen onto hard times with the discovery that her fiancé had been having an affair with his office secretary. Pressure from her mother to rekindle with her former flame, finds our heroine secretly agreeing to become Simon’s girlfriend to keep her mother off of her back. What ensues is the building relationship between Simon and Marissa, and the fall out when the truth is revealed.

Marissa Woodcrest is the daughter and heiress of well- to –do businessman Raul Woodcrest but Marissa’s earlier years were fraught with questionable behavior and run-ins with the law. Hoping to keep up appearances, Marissa’s recent engagement was everything her mother had ever wanted but not so our story line heroine. Simon Dale (Richards) grew up the son of a drunk, and a drug addict but needed an image change when the studios came calling. His reputation as a manwhore did not appeal to the bigwigs in charge, and a steady girlfriend is just what was needed and Marissa was ripe for the picking. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense. Simon likes to talk dirty in the bedroom, against the wall, on the beach……

There are a large number of secondary and supporting characters including Marissa’s ex Charles, and Simon’s ex Janelle, Marissa’s parents Raul and June, as well as her brother Kenny and sister Larissa; Simon’s sister Dana, his friend and agent Declan Kiss; and Hollywood producers Arnold and Edward Spires.

The world building follows the lies and secrets that begin to spiral out of control. As Simon desperately battles for his upcoming role, Marissa comes to the realization that she has fallen in love with a man who isn’t looking for a permanent relationship.

LIP ACTION is sexy and spicy read with a little bit of humor, heartbreak, and a happily ever after. The premise is entertaining; the characters are colorful; the romance is seductive. The story line needs another round of editing due to some spelling and grammar issues, as well as a mix up in names e.g. Woodcrest vs Woodward-hopefully the errors were corrected before the final release.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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