Bernadette

 She’s supposed to be a small-town girl…

…He’s billed as America’s biggest heartthrob.

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?

Tiny Bernie Sawrey is perfectly happy fixing carburetors until her stepmother ambushes her with a blind date. The catch? It’s with movie star Garrett Lomas, Bernie’s secret celebrity crush and the reason she’s haunted the drive-in alone her entire adult life.

There’s just one teensy problem: Bernie’s about as Hollywood-ready as a rusty muffler.

But when her dad’s garage faces financial ruin, suddenly playing Kokomo’s answer to the girl-next-door doesn’t seem so impossible, if it will help. How hard can it be to fake being normal for a few weeks?

Meanwhile, Gabe Lomas thought being his identical twin’s stunt double only involved driving race cars—not impersonating him at charity events in small-town Indiana. But when the movie studio execs set up the deal and Garrett’s fiancée says no way, Gabe trades his helmet for a fake smile and a very real problem.

The problem? Bernie Sawrey, all five-foot-nothing of her, with enough quirk and innocence to charm the grumpiest producer. That’s the problem.

Gabe is falling for her hard, only she thinks he’s his famous brother.

And she just might be falling for him too.

Now he’s caught between protecting his brother’s career and protecting his own heart. Because telling Bernie the truth might send her racing away—but not telling her guarantees he’ll lose her when she finds out.

My thought: It’s been a while since I last read one of Jennifer Lynn Cary’s books. I had forgotten how enjoyable the small town of Kokomo was! 

Bernadette, or Bernie, is a delightful character with her having grown up by her dad’s side, learning mechanics. When her step mom hatches a plan to get Bernadette to escort a movie star to local events, Bernie is torn. Garret Lomas is an amazing race car driver on screen, making her heart swoon, but she also doesn’t think of herself as a girly girl who should be seen on his arm.

Garret/Gabe has secrets of his own, ones that involve being his brother’s stunt double. Secrets that could jeopardize their career.

This is a delightful story, set in the 1970’s, with plenty of nostalgia and heart. I look forward to reading more in this series!

I received this book from JustRead. This is my honest review. 

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