If you are looking for glitz, glam, Hollywood charm, a VIP hotel room mix-up, a strangers to lovers spicy sweet adventure with a fast paced story, dive in. The infusion of diary entries, texts, social media posts and witty banter move the plot along.

Nina is ready for vacation at the swanky boutique Miami hotel remembering her mother while getting some much needed rest and pampering. When her dream VIP room is downgraded to accomodate a vacationing Hollywood celebrity, she can't believe her misfortune and wonders if the allure and charm have already lost its luster.

Julian Leroy Knight is staying in Miami to attempt a career resuscitation and stay out of the headlines. When he discovers why his VIP suite has an unexpected guest, an intriguing and captivating woman, his curiosity and imagination get the best of him and he counter offers Nina a different option. Will Nina regret not taking the hotels alternative arrangements?

Will there be a scandal if the media discovers they are together? If only they weren't attracted to each other, can they fight the connection and trust the other not to reveal intimate details to the press? Both have reasons to question trust, and overcoming expectations and obligations.

Are you ready to see if what the tabloids say is true, Is JL Knight trouble? Or, does he have a heart of gold? Is Nina only out to gather research for her next book? All is fair in love and career advancement, do these two have what it takes to balance both and find love?

I received an advance reader copy for an honest and fair review.

This is the first book I've been able to get into after the stress of last week. I don't typically enjoy books with celebrities, but I enjoyed Scandal in the VIP Suite. It was a fast and romantic read and that's exactly what my sleep-deprived brain needed. Nina and Julian were good together and I could sense their chemistry throughout. I thought the conflict was done really well here and it was believable. As always with category romances, I do wish we could get a few more chapters, but this one left me satisfied as a romance reader.

4.5? I loved this. I loved it. I also read it from start to finish in one day, which absolutely never happens, which definitely is a plus in my book.

I loved Nina and Julian so much. Nina is such a strong character but, she's also constantly crying without noticing that she's crying and I awkwardly related to that cause like, I'm an emotional mess, but that doesn't mean I can't be tough. I loved how jealous Julian would get every time she fangirled about an actor that wasn't him. Yes, she was attracted to him right away, but she 100% was not in it for Julian the actor, she was into Julian the man in the hotel.

Nina and Julian have to share a hotel suite, because of reasons, and they end up forming this friendship, which then turns romantic, which then also develops into a working partnership where they both support each other so much and I loved it. I just adored it.

Nina has planned a once-in-a-lifetime retreat at a luxury hotel in Miami. When she arrives, she learns that she's being bumped from the penthouse suite she reserved, in favor of Hollywood actor Julian. Not wanting to spoil her vacation, he offers to share. There's a second bedroom, after all. An attraction quickly forms between them, and it's not long before the paparazzi are following them around. Can their relationship endure the public scrutiny?

This book was lovely to read. Nina and Julian have a sweet friendship in addition to their steamy romance. This was a slow build, the passion balanced with the developing relationship. I loved this hot, emotional read.

I received and read an advance copy of this book. This is my honest and unsolicited review. All opinions are my own.

When one of my favorite authors talked about how good Scandal in the VIP Suite was, I knew I had to read the book. Nadine Gonzalez is a new to me author, and Scandal marks her debut as a Harlequin Desire author. I have to agree, Scandal was a good read. It even left me wanting more from Nadine.

Scandal in the VIP Suite contains a meet-cute that will have you laughing. This diverse, own voices romance is full of characters you will immediately fall in love with. Nina Taylor is in Miami to honor her mother on the one year anniversary of her death. Nina’s plan is to stay in the Oasis suite, at the Sand Castle, just as her mother had wanted to do. JL “Julian” Knight, is an action hero movie star. He has had an unsuccessful run at the box office as of late, due in part to a scandal involving his ex who he previously worked with.

In a spur of the moment decision, Julian decides to fly from Los Angeles to Miami and stay at the Sand Castle. He has no idea that his showing up will force Nina to be kicked out of her room. With it being the 4th of July weekend, all rooms at the Sand Castle are booked, as well as nearby hotels. Julian convinces Nina to stay and share his two-bedroom hotel suite with him and soon sparks fly. What was supposed to be a one-week vacation fling turns into a months-long relationship with the two becoming friends, lovers, and partners. Things are great until the intrusiveness of Hollywood comes knocking.

Nadine does a wonderful job of transporting you into the pages of the story, where you can visualize Miami in all its glory and picture the characters at play and work. Nina and Julian are a fun couple to watch. They’re playful with each other and it translates to them being trusting and open. When their conflict arises it’s like your heart is being torn to pieces as well. I saw a little of myself in Nina and loved the way she handled herself.

I have to say, when I first started reading this story I couldn't help but immediately think of Naima Simone. If you are a fan of Naima, you are going to be a fan of Nadine's. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from Nadine.

~ Favorite Quote ~

“Women have plans. Girls have hopes and wishes.”

If you are looking for a good Harlequin romance book I do suggest you read this one.

It is short and was such a quick read . I just couldn't put this book down.

Featured in an early 2021 Anticipated Reads Roundup on Fresh Fiction

When a decadent suite at an exclusive Miami hotel is double-booked, a movie star and author decide to share the suite for the next few days until another room opens. While they spend time together, they discover there’s more to the other person than they initially thought. Then, they decide to work on a passion project together… while things turn passionate between them, too!

Nina Taylor is on vacation in Miami to celebrate the life of her deceased mother. Nina’s mother was a Broadway actress and always wanted to stay at the Sand Castle hotel. The hotel caters to the rich and famous. When she arrives at her hotel, Nina is informed that the luxury suite she booked a month ago has been given to a celebrity. Nina is naturally upset that her room has been given to someone deemed more important than her. Feeling responsible for Nina being ousted from her room, actor Julian Knight suggests they share the suite. Neither Julian nor Nina are looking for a romantic entanglement. But being in close quarters, the two of them develop feelings for each other and fall deeply in love. Then a misunderstanding causes a rift between them. Will they be able to get past it or will they let it keep them apart?

Julian is an actor who finds himself at a crossroads in his career. His last movie flopped so the bad boy of Hollywood is keeping a low profile and veering his career in another direction. Nina is an author contemplating her next project. With her writer’s block, she hasn’t come up with any ideas for her second book. Until an opportunity drops in her lap to co-write a screenplay.

SCANDAL IN THE VIP SUITE is an excellent read. I enjoy reading this author’s stories. You can count on her characters being descriptive, complex, and credible. The story draws you in from the start with a great storyline; two strangers and one hotel room. Great pacing finds the scenes flowing swimmingly from one to another. Nina and Julian’s interactions shine a light on their growing attraction. They bring their own baggage to the relationship. But the love they share conquers all. I love series because that means I have more great stories to look forward to. With this author’s writing skills and imagination, I would expect nothing less.

SCANDAL IN THE VIP SUITE is Ms. Gonzalez's first book in her Miami Famous Series. This is also her debut novel with Harlequin Desire. This was an enjoyable read. I recommend this delightful, entertaining, romantic story to others. By the way, great ending.

Review by Shirley Fleming

This was a fun little romance with surprisingly interesting characters. Nina is an author who is frustrated with the fact that her only published works are memoirs and Julian is a well-known actor making his first foray into trying to write and eventually direct his own films. My favorite aspect of this story was actually the character development for both Julian and Nina. There are moments where they both identify and try to improve the areas that they're weak in both as individuals and as a couple. A fun, light read if you want a quick seductive romance. I'm really grateful to the publisher for giving me an early copy!

Good book. I enjoyed reading a Desire line book with all of the expected sparks and a hero who starts as a decent human being rather than a jerk who needs to learn a lesson. Julian is a Hollywood action film star whose star is on the way down thanks to the "toxic masculinity" of his films and his reputation as a bad boy. His self-confidence has taken a hit, and he is in Miami to lay low and consider his next steps. The last thing he expects to find is a woman who could derail all of his plans.

Nina is the daughter of a Broadway actress. She honors her mother's last wish by staying in the hotel's premier suite and hopes that staying there will help break her writer's block. Nina is a writer and wrote a memoir about life with her mother. Her agent wants her to do another book, but Nina hasn't come up with anything so far. However, when Nina arrives at the hotel, she finds that the room has been given to a more important guest.

I loved the first meeting between Julian and Nina. Because of the last-minute change, the bellhop takes Nina to her original room instead of the new one. Nina can't resist taking a few minutes to explore the space she should have had and expects to be gone before the new occupant arrives. Though he initially suspects Nina of being an intrusive fan, his reaction does a complete turnaround when he finds out the circumstances. When Julian finds out that Nina will have to go to another hotel, he offers to share the suite with her.

Sparks fly between Julian and Nina from the beginning. Nina is wary. With her background, she has no interest in getting involved with an actor. I liked that Julian respects her decision, and they begin by becoming friends. I loved watching them get to know each other. Nina had no idea that he was a movie star - she isn't a fan of most Hollywood productions. I loved the scene where he catches her watching one of his movies and confesses that he is listening to her book. It isn't long before Julian is comfortable enough with Nina to share his other reason for being in Miami. He's written a script for a movie he wants to produce and gives it to her to read. Though her reaction isn't quite what he expects, I loved that he listened to what she had to say and recognized its worth.

I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop from friends to lovers to more. Though initially they expected a short fling, once Nina began working with Julian on his script, what they had deepened. I liked their obvious respect for each other's abilities, and seeing them work so well together was wonderful. It is clear that they are in love, though neither is ready to take that final step. It looks promising until an excerpt from Nina's very private diary turns up in a tabloid. Julian blames Nina and says some very harsh and hurtful things. I ached for Nina, who expected better of him, and her reaction was undoubtedly justified. Of course, by the time he cooled down and realized what he'd done, it was too late. Though it took several months, I thought the time apart was good for them as both had some baggage to deal with. The ending was terrific. The scene at the premier was sweet and romantic. I loved his heartfelt speech and its effect on Nina, especially her bit of pushback at the end. The epilogue was fantastic.

I loved the lush descriptions of the hotel. I frequently felt as if I was right there with Julian and Nina. I also liked the behind-the-scenes look at the movie-making process. I could feel Julian's anxiousness as he put his dream out there and cheered as it became a reality.

Scandal in the VIP Suite is the first book in the Miami Famous series by Nadine Gonzalez. This book was entertaining and sweet. Nina has dreamed of getting to stay in the suite to honor her mother but when she arrives at the hotel she finds that they have booked her room with a high paying VIP and she will no longer be getting it. Julian is a movie star needing a break and has no idea the strings his assistant pulled and how he is booting someone out of the room they had booked first.

I loved the cover of this book and the premise seemed interesting so I requested it from NetGalley. I'm not a huge Harlequin reader these days but this book reminded me why I used to be. A great story, well-developed, with a happy ending in a short format. I didn't love the ending because it was telegraphed so clearly and I wasn't sure I really believed it because up until that point, Nina and Julian had been communicating so well with each other, the Big Misunderstanding seemed out of character. I also don't love public declarations and, whoo baby, this one was public. Otherwise, Nina was a great character whose flaws we got to see as well as her journey getting past some of her fears. Julian also has a past and I loved that, even though she could have been, his ex wasn't vilified but was instead shown to be a human.
When Nina Taylor arrives at the luxurious Sand Castle hotel (which, even the author notes is sort of a ridiculous name for a hotel), she is expecting to honor her mother's legacy by getting to stay in The Oasis, their most opulent suite. But, instead, she's been kicked out so that a movie star can stay instead.
Julian Knight doesn't feel much like a movie star. His shine has been tarnished with a bad film and even worse press. Staying at the Sand Castle means he'll get a respite from all the press. He's not expecting to find someone sleeping in his bed. Nor that he'll impulsively offer to let him stay. Even more shocking is that she accepts...

Four stars
This book comes out January 12th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Scandal in the VIP Suite had a lot of the hallmarks of a solid category romance, most especially the fact that it was a very quick read and when I had to sit it down, I was anxious to pick it back up. It wasn't quite a perfect book for me though, which I think is because I really didn't understand Nina or Julian as characters. The build up of their relationship was interesting but it moved alternately too fast and too slow at times for me to ever feel like I really understood the emotional development. However, all things considered, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Gonzalez in the future! She appears to have quite a category backlist so I'm looking forward to exploring some of those.

Scandal in the VIP Suite follows Nina Taylor, a memoirist who wants to write fiction who has come to Miami specifically to fulfill her mother's dream of staying in the Oasis room at this fancy hotel. When she arrives at the hotel, she's told that her room has been given away to a Hollywood hot shot. Through a series of events, Nina and Julian wind up sharing the Oasis suite for a few days until another room can be prepared for Nina. There are a lot of hijinks that ensue, including, but not limited to, Nina falling into a pool and Julian rescuing her.

I really enjoyed all of the creative elements that came into this story. Julian is in Miami because he wants to make a film based on a screenplay he wrote. Although we don't learn much of the script, what we did learn and what we saw was definitely intriguing! I wish there had been more behind the scenes once that plot line really took off, but category length means some things must be sacrificed, I suppose. There's also the fact that Nadine keeps a journal and so occasionally we would see snippets of what she would write in her journal.

As I said at the beginning, I enjoyed this book, but never managed to be completely invested in the romance because of the pacing. I think category romances can be really wonderful and fulfilling, which is why I keep reading them, but sometimes the scope of a story means I wind up feeling like we're missing scenes I really wish we could see. That was definitely the case with this book. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading more from Gonzalez in the future!

Scandal in the VIP Suite (Miami Famous #1) by Nadine Gonzalez

Nina has a suite at a hotel in Miami booked for a week. Her mom passed away a year ago, and always wanted to stay in this suite because of how many celebrities had stayed there before her. Nina is planning to stay there to remember her mom. There is a mix up, and Nina ends up sharing the suite with a famous actor named Julian. They are attracted to each other and quickly develop a relationship. They end up working together on a new movie, and fall in love in the process.

The romance was cute. I appreciated the forced proximity of them sharing the same room. They were together so early on in the book though I wasn’t sure what else would happen. There was a lot of book left to fill. Turns out there is a conflict right at the end that was caused due to distrust. I don’t love a conflict at the end of the book, and especially not if it is caused by distrust or lack of communicating.

3 stars
I recieved this book for free in return for an honest review.

Annnnnd my first Harlequin of the year!

My first novel of 2021 by Nadine Gonzalez is a tropetastic delight. Nina and Julian end up in the Oasis Suite - the most luxurious digs in the X hotel in Miami. The attraction is instantaneous - eyes locking on a magnificent staircase, a mixup that leads to an aspiring writer and her scandal-prone leading man finding love in the Miami heat.

The chemistry between Julian and Nina was palpable throughout the story and it just made sense that they should be together. The novel is fun and grows sweeter as you read, the heavy emotions of doubt and drama balancing well with the delight of falling in love. There's everything you would expect from an action-star leading man and an aspiring writer but the story felt unexpected and fresh nonetheless.

And wooh, how about that cover?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to both Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me the ARC of this book.

Overall the book was an enjoyable read. Like many of the Harlequin books, this one was a quick and easy read with a HEA.

I did enjoy reading the book because it took me back to Miami where I did live for sometime. I enjoyed learned about he film production side. Nothing really made this book standout as AMAZING but it was an enjoyable read.

I give the book 3 stars.

I love a good romance (#romancelandia on twitter is my place, they're my people) and when I saw a new name under Harlequin Desire, I had to give her a try. This book is an easy breezy, cute, fast read. If you love the romance genre and are looking for a low stakes book to spend a few hours in - this is it!

Included as a top pick in bimonthly January New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

This was my first book by the author and I enjoyed it. I love a good celebrity romance! 3.5 stars.

Nina Taylor is on a vacation to Miami she planned specifically to celebrate the life of her mother, who had died a year before. But, so far, everything is going wrong. When she gets to her hotel, she finds the fancy suite she booked has been given to some VIP, and she's out of luck. When she goes upstairs for a sneak peek at the room that should've been hers, she's caught by the VIP in question, a Hollywood action star.

Julian Knight is trying to reinvent himself. He got rich and famous starring in action movies, but after his last film flopped, he's been hiding out a bit, figuring out his next move. When he catches a beautiful woman in his room, and finds out he inadvertently caused her to lose her reservation, he offers for her to stay with him, in the 2-bedroom suite. She accepts, but only until they can find a room for her. Neither of them expect what they will become to each other.

Julian and Nina had excellent chemistry, and their witty barbs back and forth were perfect. I loved that they were able to get to know each other for a while before they ever considered actually being together. They had a great connection, and learned quickly to work well together. But before they knew it, the paparazzi were on to them, which caused issues as well. They both had to make a decision about whether it was worth the hassle for them to be together.

The side characters here were fun and helped move the story along, but Julian and Nina were definitely the main attraction. The hotel was also a character unto itself, and I could picture it in my head perfectly.

I enjoyed this story, but ultimately I didn't love the length of the separation between Julian and Nina, and it caused the story to lose a bit of luster for me in the end. The way they got back together was lovely, but I just needed more somehow? I'm not sure, but something about it didn't completely work for me. This was a short, sweet read, with a little steam, and I would still recommend it.

I rate this a 4:5.
This is the second celebrity romance I’ve read and I prefer this one over the last simply because it’s more relatable to me in the terms of the woman being an author.
I definitely recommend this novel and will be purchasing it for my private collection.