Member Reviews
DNF - Couldn't quite get into this one, but I'm a mood reader and just couldn't find a time to invest in this one fully. But what I did read seemed fun.
Frizzellโs new novel is a cute romantic novel that ticks all the boxes which creates its own charm. The story is mostly told through the eyes of Ronnie Smart but would have been nice to have a more counterbalance with Peyton Stoddardโs character. This does not deter from the fun and romantic situation.
The characters are well written and there is heart and emotional content to keep the reader truly invested. The side characters are very three dimensional and by the end you root for this couple to get together.
Personally, I really liked the banter between the characters and the different approaches to their situations which helped keep the material buoyant and entertaining. I would highly recommend this book as it would make a great summer read.
I read this book in one sitting, I absolutely loved it.
I just had to keep reading it was that good.
Creepy, fabulous and lots of fun.
The characters were all so good. and who could resist ghost hunting and cooking'
I absolutely loved it and I want to read it again
As Seen on TV! was a novel that completely took me by surprise. This is the first book I've read with a quasi 'ghost hunter' and I didn't really know what to expect. Throw in a TV chef and these two elements were so intriguing that I couldn't help but request this ARC. I really enjoyed this read as it was something so completely different!
Ronnie and Peyton are two TV hosts with shows featuring very different themes - paranormal investigations and home-cooking. Their network decides to throw them together in crossover specials, with surprising results. Both characters start off disliking the idea, but soon find themselves enjoying spending time with the other. Romance ensues, but also some serious freaky ghost hunting!
I particularly enjoyed the paranormal investigation side to this novel. In a way, it slightly creeped me out and I couldn't help but wonder if stuff like this legitimately happens. The romance between Peyton and Ronnie developed well but at the end of the novel it rushed into its conclusion, which was a real shame. At times, I found myself slightly confused by who was thinking or speaking, as there were moments where it felt like the novel jumped from one character's head to the other without any clear transition.
Regardless, I still really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend if you're looking for something different than the usual run-of-the-mill lesfic ๐
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, I was not expecting this storyline to be anything I was interested in. It was such a strange description! I was, however, pleasantly surprised at the writing and delivery.
As always, I'm a sucker for celebrity romances and though I wouldn't consider these characters to be A-listers, it still had the celebrity feel. I also read this during October, which was great because of the spooky feel. I also enjoyed the writing and storyline. The romance could have been written better/focused on more, but it didn't take away from the overall book. This was also somewhat of a long read for a romance.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I expected to! I recommend picking up, especially if the blurb is throwing you off!
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a great premise for a romance. Two TV stars from completely opposite genres (ghost hunting and cooking) have to work together against their will to make a series of crossover episodes for their network? Yes, please.
But... I DNF'd at a little over 25% because I can't stand one of the main characters being unnecessarily rude for over a quarter of the book for no reason. Of course, neither of the main characters is happy about the arrangement, but Ronnie makes the best of things and gives it the old college try. Peyton takes every opportunity to be rude and demeaning to Ronnie and act like she is a threat to her fame rather than another successful woman collaborator. It wasn't for me.
Ghostly going onโs, characters with chemistry, and a great storyline, what's not to like?
If you are into spooky stories, with a little bit of romance then you'll enjoy this book.
I've given โAs seen on TV!โ a 4 out of 5.
This was a fun book to read. I loved everything about it, from the fun, snarky, flirty relationship between Ronnie and Peyton, to even the ghosts and paranormal happenings throughout this story. There are some laugh out loud moments, and a few tense moments as well. There's just so much about this book I liked. The supporting characters were well placed and written, and they helped to make this an even better reading experience for me. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.
Well, you can say this is not like any plot I've ever read or seen before. I think even the author makes a few jokes about the wackiness of combining a ghost hunting tv show in with a food network show. Personally, I still think it made no sense and didn't really get how it would work, even after reading the book, but whatever. It got them together and leant itself to some spooky stories.
It was a little fast on the love part for me between the two MCs, but it was an easy ready if you're looking for something light and slightly spooky for the holidays.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
Ok. I actually found this a bit hard to read. Books this length would typically take me a day or so, or if I'm really busy, two days. But this one took me more than twice that amount of time.
I don't know if it is the book or more me but it just isn't something that really interests me. It started out fine, a little light and fun. We have two mini celebrities doing a crossover show together. Ronnie is the host of a cooking show and Peyton is the host of a paranormal reality tv show. Unique combination. But there was a lot of focus on the show and the paranormal activity and I got a bit bored pretty quick. I always look out for books with solid romances and this isn't it. Or at least I don't think it is but I can't be sure because I wasn't paying enough attention after a while.
Not a book for me but could be one for you.
This book piqued my interest. I also, like the characters, think a paranormal show and cooking show crossover would be weird. Throw in a wlw romance and I was hooked. I'm very thankful that I was able to get a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I will say, as much as I enjoyed the book, it was just too long. I felt the book slogged through the middle portion. While the characters were great I felt the author focused way too much on the paranormal investigations which limited interaction with the main characters. It just took me longer to finish a book of this length than it normally takes me.
I really liked Ronnie. I thought she was funny and I liked her light hearted demeanor. I thought it was a good contrast to Peyton's straightforward no nonsense attitude. I thought Peyton wad a good character as well. There were a few times I felt she was a bit defensive which I felt was a bit annoying. I understand she didn't want people mock or discredit her work, but I felt it took away from the characteristics the author wad trying to convey. All the side characters were downright enjoyable and definitely helped made the store better. The romance itself was pretty good once the characters stopped getting in their own way.
Overall, this is definitely worth reading and should be on your fall TBR despite the pacing issue.
Having her own show featuring home cook meals was a dream job as far as Ronnie Smart was concerned. Getting her own show was unexpected, concerning the fact that sheโs never trained as a chef in a nice restaurant or even as a short order cook. Now she enjoys doing her show โCasual Cookโ, growing her audience and hopefully more advertising keeping her show on air.
Peyton Stanford has a show on the same network that carries Ronnieโs show. But instead of showing her viewers how to cook, she takes them along with her and her crew searching old, haunted buildings for any paranormal activity. She to loveโs her show and feels like her audience is steadily growing.
When the powers that rule over the network think bringing these two shows together would make for great TV. Peyton and Ronnie both think it's a terrible idea, especially when the attraction between the two starโs becomes obvious to everyone around them.
Having read several books by Ms Frizzel I knew this book was sure to be a good read with its MCโs being very likable, funny and smart. Supporting cast only adds to the story line. Funny story, funny plot makes this book one of the better books written by this author.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
This was quite an interesting read. The main characters were fully developed and had great chemistry. I thought Ronnie handled herself well. The story was quite relatable and believable especially if you're into paranormal. Well done, I recommend, 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest opinion.
"Who in her right mind inserts a popular laid-back chef into the top paranormal show on television? What a ridiculous idea."
This absolutely bonkers premise called to me from the NetGalley LGBTQIA+ category. And woohoo, I was not disappointed.
Ronnie and Peyton go on a paranormal roller coaster that dips into romance via some awesome chemistry on screen and off.
This book has made it to the top of my spooky Halloween time reads.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
This book was SUCH a fun read. The characters were lively and entertaining, the setting was fantastic, and the romance was perfection.
I love this concept so much. Taking a chef from her own show and having her cook in haunted houses while a paranormal investigation team try to communicate with ghosts? Excellent. This was funny and genuinely tense in equal measure.
Both Ronnie and Peyton were a delight to read, and I really loved watching them slowly soften towards each other then fall for each other.
The only real criticism I have is that some of the dialogue felt a little stilted and forced in places, almost like the characters were saying more than they needed to, especially in big group conversations.
Nonetheless, this is the perfect queer romcom for spooky season.
3.5 Stars
Ronnie Sharp (blurb says Smart?) and Peyton Stanford are reality tv hosts. Ronnie is the host of a cooking show and Peyton hosts a paranormal investigation show. Neither is thrilled when the network decides to have them film three crossover episodes, with the last one being filmed live, to boost ratings. It starts off on the wrong foot when Ronnie admits she doesnโt believe in ghosts or spirits.
I thought this was a fun, creepy read to start off October. Peyton finds โresidual energyโ and gets it to leave whatever it may be haunting. Some of these energies are not happy to be leaving and cause quite the fuss. There is a lot of time spent at these crossover events and it goes into great detail. So, if spooky and creepy ghosts are your thing, youโll probably really enjoy this. It doesnโt ever get scary but I was creeped out a little.
My only real issue was the lack of romance. Because so much time is spent filming the episodes, thereโs not a lot of time left for the romance to develop. Almost all of their time together is while theyโre working and while there is some mild flirting going on, itโs not serious. They do spend a little time together and they have a lot of off-screen communications but we donโt see most of that. I would have preferred less time spent on the investigations and more on them together.
I recommend this if youโre looking for an amusing Halloween read that doesnโt spend too much time on the romance.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gave me chills!
Ronnie and Peyton both have very different hit TV shows that the network decides to do a crossover to give both shows a boost. At first they are both hesitant, unsure how paranormal and cooking are supposed to mix, but with a little encouragement from friends and producers, they soon find the new show is a hit.
I loved this so much! It was absolutely fantastic and one of those stories that I started reading and found impossible to put down. It drew me in straight away. The tension between Peyton and Ronnie was sizzling straight away with a good amount of humour built in to lighten some of the intense mood around their first show. How C.F. Frizzell did this, Iโll never know, but the chapters about the paranormal activity had such amazing build ups and cliff-hangers that they were just amazing! An experience you really do have to have for yourself.
A whole cast of characters joined Peyton and Ronnie on their new adventure, and each one of them really helped to bring the moments when they were filming their show alive. A gentle camaraderie, great connections between the two teams instantly, despite how Peyton and Ronnie were behaving. They really got into the spirit of their project together and I really felt like a part of it all too.
You can literally feel the moments in this story. The ones between Peyton and Ronnie are great and as they came to understand they werenโt so different, those moments were intimate and it was lovely to get an insight into how they didnโt just work well together, they had amazing chemistry at all times. Those other moments where they are really making a connection with the paranormal are intense, but so so good and had me on the edge of my seat.
It was the right amount of spooky, and fun, and completely fabulous. When I decided to review the book, from the blurb I thought I know what I was getting and I just got so much more. I was completely blown away by every moment and know this review canโt do it justice. A real must read that I cannot recommend enough!
๐๐ท๐ด๐ผ๐ด๐: ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐ข. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ต๐๐๐. ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐/๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐;
I love ghost stories, in my head, I am sitting around a bonfire and listening to some crazy scary stuff. This one was different, I have to admit, it wasn't really what I wanted? when it comes to ghost stories. Esp the cooking part, I really didn't see how that connected to the story at all. Yes, we got the old tradition food, which by the way, I didn't understand at all. But also the ghost part wasn't really put-forward. So the plot is more of romance than either foodie or ghostie.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The already established friendships were not something to look much at, but the development between Peyton and Ronnie was good. Though their romance development felt a little forced in the start. Enemies to lovers is a good thing. I didn't really have a favorite charactr but if I was to choose, I might go for Ronnie. I can't really picture how she looks and her personality but I love food. So that's a win. Though I also love ghost stories but Peyton was really condescending which is not a good trait. Yes, I could see why she would be defensive but sometimes she overdid it.
๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐:
๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ด๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ. ๐ฅ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ. ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป'๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐น'๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ. ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ-๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐พ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฝ๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ.
This is a story about ghost hunters who investigate haunted houses for their reality tv show. Peyton is the host of her show. She has a team of photographers, researchers and production assistants who help her. They visit haunted houses, and with all their gizmos get the ghosts to talk to them and then convince the ghost to move on to their next life and leave the homeowners alone.
Ronnie is a tv reality show chef. And has a huge following and high ratings. Sheโs a very down to earth character (and my favorite) in the book.
The tv network decides to bring Ronnie on to Peytonโs show to boost her ratings.
Ronnie starts to have an attraction for Peyton, but sheโs all work and no play. Until Halloween night when the network decides to end the tv season with a live broadcast. Things get pretty intense as the ghost tries to get the two of them together.
If you like reality tv and ghostbusters then this book is for you. I would have like more interaction between the two MCs. This is a very slow to develop romance but keep reading cause the last 20 pages were great.
ARC received from NetGalley for a voluntary and honest review.
Reality television is all about big, loud, attention grabbing, unscripted weekly shows. I love that Frizzell jumped with both feet into the crazy end of this pool by combining a low frills cooking show host with a hard working and icy leader of a paranormal investigating team. Neither woman believes this idea from head office will work. Their styles are just too different and besides Ronnie, the chef, does not believe in ghosts.
I enjoyed everything about this book, from the concept to the characters. The writing is as you would expect from Frizzell, highly engaging, entertaining and well researched. The slow burn romance is an enticing tease throughout the paranormal investigations. The title and cover are a marvellous reminder of the days of the โTV Guideโ being every householdโs bible to what is on television for the week.
Even if your viewing tastes lay in a different direction, As Seen on TV! is a captivating romance novel which I highly recommend.
I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.