Hollywood Blackmail: A Seacliff Novel by Jackie Ashenden is an interesting read. It is about Lizzie Kent, a Los Angeles resident who happens to be the daughter of a well known porn actress. Eleven years ago, Lizzie fell in love and unbeknownst to both her and her boyfriend, her first time was broadcasted nationwide, in order to beef up the ratings of her mother’s reality series. Lizzie moved out immediately after that nightmare, 
completely humiliated and embarrassed. Now she is a clinical nurse for an exclusive plastic surgery facility that caters to celebrities and socialites. With the exception of her job, Lizzie basically lives in seclusion, in order to keep her life as private as possible and any of the paparazzi that may still remember her at a distance.
Years ago, Ash Kincaid, Hollywood’s hottest action film star, did whatever was necessary to keep his worthless drunkard of a father happy, in order for the rest of his family to be safe, sheltered and fed. Fighting was his bread and butter, which ironically led him to the film career, fame and fortune he now enjoys. From time to time his fans go ballistic and confuse his on screen persona with his real life self, and that is how he ends up in Seacliffe Cosmetic Surgery, in need of some stitches that will not result in a scar once healed.
Ash and Lizzie met when Ash worked part-time security for Lizzie’s mother during the filming of her reality series. Their friendship developed into much more and they fell in love. When Lizzie left, leaving only a short note, Ash was devastated.
Lizzie avoided Ash for eleven years and now he is in her clinic. Ash wants answers to her disappearance and when she disregards their relationship from years ago, he lovingly blackmails her by using her job that she enjoys as bait. Over a short period of time, they rehash their past and fall into each others arms once again. They are destined to be together, only when they realize what is important in life.
I am a huge Jackie Ashenden fan and I always look forward to her next book offering. I like this story because it is unique, well-written and heartfelt. However, the plot dragged a little, especially in the first half of the book. I would have also enjoyed a little more romance and spice between Lizzie and Ash. The sexual tension was there, but the follow through was lackluster.
Book Info:
Publication: January 13th 2014 by Entangled: Indulgence | Series: Seacliffe Medical #1
Lizzie Kent needs to forget the past. She lives in total anonymity, immersing herself in nursing to help her forget. But when a man from her previous life turns up in her clinic, the life she’s tried to create for herself may come toppling down.
Ash knows what he wants and he wants Lizzie, the girl who left him all those years ago. As Hollywood’s greatest action superstar no one says no to him, but when Lizzie refuses to acknowledge their shared past, he has to resort to a little old fashioned blackmail.
Will Lizzie revisit her past to enable her future with the man she loves, or do old wounds run too deep?
