REVIEW BY: Christie
TITLE: Prince of the Playhouse
SERIES: Love in Laguna, Book 3
AUTHOR: Tara Lain
NARRATOR: K. C. Kelly
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 8h 41m
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2016
BLURB:
Driven by his desire to become a successful fashion designer and concerned with hiding his questionable past, Ru Maitland has let obsession with action movie star Gray Anson on the big screen replace his social life. Then obsession and reality collide when Ru is asked to design fashion costumes for a special performance of Hamlet at the Playhouse in Laguna starring none other than Gray Anson. Gray turns out to be a compelling mix of shy and brash and, despite a high profile engagement to a female socialite, the signals Gray sends Ru have his libido doing the salsa.
Gray Anson has what most people only dream of – great wealth, huge fame, a job he loves. For that, he’s given up any semblance of privacy and the right to say no to the thousands of people who depend on him and the millions who love him. He sees everything he’s ever wanted just outside the bubble of his life, but how can he make the compromises needed to embrace it? When Ru’s shady past crashes into Gray’s paparazzi-haunted present, both men have to learn that sometimes the only acceptable compromise is the truth.
REVIEW:
Okay, so even tho Prince of the Playhouse is book 3 in the Love in Laguna series, I must admit that this is the first one I have listened to/ read. It was so good, the first two are now in my “to read” list. It can be read as a standalone, but I get the sense that the book will be even better once I’ve read the first two.
Ru Maitland has a secret. One that, if revealed, could ruin his dreams of becoming a successful fashion designer. He is also obsessed with actor Gray Anson. Really obsessed. Then, Ru gets offered a job that could make his career. Design costumes for the upcoming high profile performance run of Hamlet. Starring none other than the man himself, Gray Anson, the smokin’ hot, filthy rich actor, at the top of his game as an action movie star, who is rumored to be engaged to a beautiful high profile socialite. Oh, and he is also in the closet.
The chemistry between Ru and Gray is instant and palpable. As Gray visits Ru in the theater’s costume design department, the two develop a friendship that quickly grows into something more. The thing is, since Gray is still in the closet, photos of him and the openly gay, flamboyant Ru could destroy the actor’s career. Well, so Gray’s management team keeps saying… It could also jeopardize the production, and their budding romance. Not to mention, if Ru gets too much in the spotlight, his secret past may be revealed. Each person could truly ruin the other if Ru and Gray actually pursue a romantic relationship with each other. Yet, they can’t seem to stay away from one another.
Ru and Gray are exceptional together. Really, they are. They’re playful, romantic, dramatic, and human. Understanding, dramatic, and crazy for each other down to their very souls. I couldn’t get enough of the two men together.
Just recently, Prince of the Playhouse was awarded Honorable Mention from the Rainbow Awards, and I can absolutely see why. Fantastic book, Tara Lain. Congratulations on the Honorable Mention! You absolutely deserve it, and more. And, K. C. Kelly, you are awesome! Your performance really made this book even more enjoyable. You brought life to the world Tara created, and gave it even more color than if I had simply read the words on the pages. Well done!
AUDIO BOOK RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
My sincerest thanks to Christie for listening to my Prince! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! : )
You are nost heartily welcome, Tara! Listening to the audiobook was a treat to my senses. And, you are a brilliantly talented author.