The Love We Make (EBOOK)
The Love We Make (EBOOK)
Nora is a handful. But Mimi is to die for…
Can these two complex, strong-willed women find their way to each other?
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Full description
Full description
Best-selling sapphic romance author Harper Bliss brings you a heartfelt romance about overcoming differences, found family, and learning to see yourself through the eyes of the person you love.
Nora Levine has everything she dreams of: a leading role on a successful tv show and a quiet life with her best friends, away from the spotlight.
When the new production company CEO takes an unusually hands-on approach to her job, Nora’s hackles go all the way up.
Mimi St James just wants the best for everyone: her large family, her colleagues and employees; even the aloof star of her company’s hit show. And she’ll go the extra mile to make all of them happy.
Nora can’t help but warm to Mimi’s kind nature—and what she first saw as meddling.
Mimi soon discovers there’s so much more to Nora—good and bad—than meets the eye.
Can these two complex, strong-willed women find their way to each other?
Get your copy now and join Nora and Mimi on their deeply emotional journey to love!
Themes and tropes
Themes and tropes
- Age gap
- Celebrity romance
- Found family
- Ice queen
- BlissVerse
Chapter One Look Inside
Chapter One Look Inside
Chapter 1
Nora
I’ve just read the final line of today’s table read, but my performance—the performance of me—isn’t over until I get out of here.
“Great job everyone,” Jo, our showrunner, says. “Stella,” she addresses my co-star. “I just want to make sure you—”
Jo’s interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Before anyone can reply, the door opens. After three decades in this business, it’s no surprise to me. Too many TV executives believe every closed door is always open for them—and that’s hardly the worst of it.
We all look at the door, at the person so out of touch with the creative process of making television that they interrupt with no qualms.
I am surprised that the intruder is a woman. I’d say she’s late fifties, but I’m fifty-one and, even though she doesn’t look old, she’s definitely older than me. Or maybe she hasn’t had as much Botox.
She has that air of importance executives in this business like to carry around with them, as if to say: I’m here now, so you’d better stop whatever it is you’re doing, even if that’s the slow, difficult process of making art.
Her raven black hair is shoulder-length, her heels impressively high for a woman older than me. Her suit is high-end and stark white. Her makeup flawless. Everything about her screams money.
Jo jumps out of her chair.
“Ms. St James,” she says. “You’re a little early.”
“Am I?” Ms. St James shrugs. “Maybe you’re running late.” It doesn’t sound like a question. She plasters on a practiced smile.
Jo turns to us and gives an eye roll. “Everyone, please meet Michelle St James.”
“Thanks, Jo.” Michelle St James widens her smile. The crinkles around her eyes deepen. Definitely not a fan of Botox then—maybe to her credit. “Sorry for interrupting.” If this is what sorry looks like, I might have to revise how my character acts apologetic on the show we’re trying to make. “Please, continue. Pretend I’m not here.”
“That’s okay,” Jo says. “We were as good as done.” Way to stand your ground, Jo.
“Wow,” Stella mutters under her breath. “Who is this woman that’s got Jo all whipped?”
I lean in so that I am close to her ear. “The money,” I whisper.
“I wanted to stop by while you’re all gathered here to introduce myself. I’m the new CEO at Gloves Off Productions. I’m replacing Gerry, for reasons I’m sure you’re all aware of.” Her gaze drifts along the table, but doesn’t land anywhere. “I’m a very hands-on boss, absolutely no pun intended.” A touch of warmth reaches her smile. “Making television is my life, and this show is one of our company’s biggest assets. This means I’ll be around much more than my predecessor. I like to know what’s happening on my sets.” My sets? Also, doesn’t she have better things to do with her precious time? Crunch some numbers? Analyze some data? Count her money?
“Ms. St James will be an executive producer this season,” Jo chimes in. Her tone is as tense as her face. I’m guessing she didn’t get a choice in the matter. But who am I to complain? This is only Unbreak My Heart’s third season and both Stella and I are getting producer credits already.
A couple of the actual producers—the people who put in all the grunt work—shuffle in their seats. But this is how things go. Hollywood has never been a fair town and showbiz has never been a fair business based only on merit. Still, it’s odd for the CEO of the production company to demand this kind of role. I wonder if she’ll become executive producer on all the shows her company produces.
“I adore this show so it’s a great honor and privilege,” Michelle says. Her eyebrows twitch lightly as she locks her gaze on Jo for a second.
“Oh, yes.” Jo shoots Stella and me an apologetic smile before continuing. “Ms. St James would like to invite the leads to lunch.”
Before we can possibly protest, Jo says, “Today.”
Excuse me? Who does Michelle St James think she is to just rock up here and overhaul our schedules like this? As if there’s nothing to it? As if when she says jump, our only option is to ask how high?
“Sure,” Stella says, as expected. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t mind an impromptu change of schedule. Luckily, I’ve been around long enough to know that a carefully planned day is as much an illusion as the stories we tell on screen. It still irks me, though, that this woman can just waltz in here under the guise of wanting to meet us, when she’s clearly looking to throw around her weight.
“Of course.” I send her the fakest smile from my vast repertoire. “I’d be delighted.”
“Wonderful. I look forward to it.” Michelle St James turns on her stilettos and saunters out of the room.
“Way to make an entrance,” Stella says, reaching for her phone.
“Don’t you want to get home?” I ask.
Stella shakes her head. “One tiger mama is enough for my baby boy.” She scrolls through a few pictures that her partner, Kate, has sent while her phone was on silent. “Be still my heart. Will you look at this, Nora?” She thrusts the phone in my face. To me, it doesn’t look all that different from the gazillion pictures of Silas I’ve already had to admire.
“Adorable.” Stella’s son is cute, no matter how many times a picture of him is shoved into my face.
She puts her phone away. “Looks like we’re having lunch together.”
I can’t suppress a sigh. My dogs, although always pampered in my absence, are waiting for me at home. So is the poké bowl I like to eat for lunch, prepared by Ricky exactly the way I like it. And my soft couch, where I like to unwind after emotionally exhausting meetings like this one, with three warm furry bodies on top of me. It will have to remain empty while I listen to whatever Michelle St James has to say.






That would also be a good book title, because Nora Levine is indeed a very complex and complicated character.
She is well aware of her own complicated nature and is therefore a hermit.
Except for their small entourage of best friends who are actually more of a family, Juan and Imani.
Set time on set with an extremely tight schedule each day, there is little Nora would want to change about herself.
So her life runs smoothly and uneventfull with her sweet and loyal dogs.
Until suddenly Mimi St James rocks this calm sea with her unplanned appearance.
Mimi is a successful woman, CEO and mother of four!
At her age, quite happy with herself and her life.
She meets the famous Nora Levine and is simply attracted to the mysterious person that Nora is in her private life and not by her successes and the roles she has embodied so far
Often in this story, Nora’s motivations remain a bit obscure until the very end, and that makes her a really interesting character.
The extremely sweet Mimi with her big mother's heart is exactly what a Nora Levine needs, if she would only see it herself.
It's a slow burn romance that, when the time comes, sparkles with charm and eroticism.
And again Harper Bliss manages to completely captivate me with her kissing scenes.
They are described beautifully and so intimately that you want nothing more than walk straight home or to your partner no matter where she is and do nothing but kiss for hours!
What another great read from Harper. I loved reading Michelle (Mimi) and Noras story. Harpers portrayal of the perfectly flawed Nora, if its right to say that in the same sentence, and Mimi (the patient/kind mum of four) is touching.
It's also good when characters from previous books make an appearance, catching up with Kate and Stella (A Family Affair) and Isabel and Leila (A Breathless Place) adds depth to a book.
We are not perfect and loving a person is not always easy. That’s the reality that Harper Bliss has woven into this book. We love in spite of the imperfections, and sometimes because of them. Mimi and Nora are fabulously crafted characters. Real women with complicated lives. The supporting characters are equally as good. Juan, Imani, and Mimi’s family are easy to picture and believe. I enjoyed this book immensely and would love a follow up as I hated to see their story end.
Nora Levine is a world-renowned television star who has been on the A list for three decades. She's aloof, closed off, and hates being in the spotlight. She's content to act and spend time with her best friends and three adorable pups.
Mimi St James is the new CEO of the company that produces Nora's hit show. Mimi is happy with her life. She loves her job, four kids, and three grandkids. When she meets Nora, she knows that she will be a tough nut to crack but she's up for the task.
As Nora and Mimi begin spending time together, the two can't deny their attraction and chemistry, but Nora hasn't allowed herself to be with anyone for years.
Mimi is such a delightful woman. She's compassionate, caring, supportive, and hard-working and is the absolute perfect person to break Nora out of the shell she's cocooned herself in. When Nora finally allows herself to become vulnerable, she's simply wonderful!
The supporting characters of Nora's best friends and Mimi's kids add so much to this already fantastic story. It was awesome to catch up with Stella and Kate from Bliss's A Family Affair.
The Love We Make is a sapphic tale set in the world of Hollywood with two mature main characters who will steal your heart! Thank you Harper Bliss for another fantastic read!
To the outside world, Nora, 51, was America’s sweetheart. The roles she played made it so. People loved her characters and this transferred to Nora herself. But unbeknownst to those outside her close knit group of best friends, Nora was not the self confidence friendly outgoing person she portrayed. This became quite evident to Mimi, 65, the
new CEO of the company that produced Nora’s show when she first interacted with Nora and the cast of her show. Mimi was determined to find out more about this elusive Nora, but it was not an easy task.
Once again this author created characters that were not perfect but flawed in very relatable ways. I enjoyed the contrast in personalities and family dynamics. Nora struggled with social anxiety and emotional issues. She only allowed her two best friends into her life but with limitations. She had a very complex relationship with her parents. Mimi was a loving mother and grandmother. They were her world and always first in her heart. She was outgoing, friendly, and a very caring person. It was interesting to see how Mimi tried to reach the real Nora and help her in ways no one else could via very emotional scenes.
Overall, this was another enjoyable and entertaining read from start to finish. If you are a fan of this author, you will not want to miss this one, and as a bonus, revisit with some characters from previous books such as Kate and Stella from A Family Affair.
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