Soul Mate, Stage Right: Love Scenes, Book One is a work of fiction in the contemporary romance and interpersonal drama subgenres and was penned by Bixby Jones. It is best suited to the general reading audience and contains implied but non-graphic romantic scenes with a little explicit language used sparingly. Romance is the last thing on the mind of Abby Devlin, who has always aspired to act professionally and has made a name for herself in her local Galveston playhouse. But when her latest role sees her playing opposite a former TV soap star whose attitude she can’t stand, Abby knows that the sparks flying between them can only go one way or another in time.

As a huge fan of theater and dramatics, it was a delight to read a romance set in the world of stage and screen, and this is certainly a great concept to bring people together in a way that raises tension and suspense. Bixby Jones has crafted a delightfully volatile pairing in Abby and Dean, who both have fiery dialogue, strong aspirational personalities, and their ideas about what constitutes achievement and happiness. But once they both get on the same page, boy, do the sparks fly! Fans of sweet romance are likely to adore every part of this tale, from the tender single-dad plotline to Abby’s journey of self-fulfillment and contentment with her own life. I’d recommend Soul Mate, Stage Right and I cannot wait to see what else comes forward from this interesting new series and concept.

For Abby Devlin, nothing gives her greater joy than imparting knowledge to the next generation of actors and this is the role she takes up in a small-time stage play in her neighborhood in Houston. All that gets turned on its head when she discovers that the replacement for the vacant position in her play is none other than Dalton Giles, a popular soap opera actor with a fan base as diverse as he is handsome. Abby has no intention of letting some has-been actor take over her play while Dalton, on his part, is looking for a fresh start for himself and his beautiful daughter. Can they find the middle ground at work or is there something more to the friction between them? Only time will tell in Soulmate, Stage Right: Love Scenes, Book One by Bixby Jones.

Soulmate, Stage Right is an attention grabber from the start. The novel has a storyline that is easy to follow with subplots that are equally interesting when you consider that the bulk of the activity takes place within a single location. The characters in the novel are developed quite well with Bixby Jones giving adequate attention to their backstories to make their roles feel as authentic as possible. I liked how the story expanded in the sense that it is a romance, but unlike most books in the genre, there is quite a lot of attention given to family dynamics. With its interesting conversations between the characters and impressive storytelling, the story delivers on its claim to being an entertaining novel. Jones deserves plaudits for this enterprising book.

Soulmate, Stage Right: Love Scenes, Book One is a romance by Bixby Jones. Abby Devlin is a drama teacher who has written a play that will be performed at McMillan Playhouse. Dalton Giles waltzes into town, and the theater director practically hands him the part of the leading male, as he had been a heartthrob on a popular soap opera. Dalton, who prefers to be called D, or by his real name, Dean, is out of practice, and he stumbles over his lines during his audition and first rehearsal. Abby is certain that his cocky appearance reflects his personality and treats him with disdain as she assumes the female lead. After reading his biography online, Abby thinks she knows Dean well, but she misjudges him and is surprised to find out the reason he quit acting on television and moved. Abby falls hard for Dean’s dimples and caring personality, and Dean can’t resist her freckles, so the two of them begin seeing each other. Dalton is offered an opportunity, and the decision he makes could destroy his relationship with Abby.

Bixby Jones provided a realistic situation that progressed naturally. The characters, especially Abby and Dean, behaved in the way I’d expected, given their backstories, and the novel moved along at a medium pace. The plot is character-driven, and it led to some intensely emotional scenes. Jones illustrated a relationship that was flawed, but beautiful, and I was glad to read a story where the characters had to come to terms with their rash decisions and live with the repercussions. I recommend Soulmate, Stage Right to mature readers who enjoy romances and multidimensional characters.

Soulmate, Stage Right is book one of the Love Scenes series by Bixby Jones. Abby Devlin and Dean Altman had a bad first encounter. Dean was a former soap opera star, adjusting to his new life as a single dad who had moved back home. He auditioned for a part in one of McMillan Playhouse's productions and this led to him meeting Abby Devlin. Abby seems to have made up her mind about what type of person Dean was, even before she officially met him. Determined to treat Dean based on her first impression of him, she thinks of him as a big-shot celebrity who looks down on other people. Dean was not impressed by her initial attitude and, in turn, thought Abby was against him for being a soap opera star. She was disinterested in the notes he had taken regarding the script and his ideas for playing his character. This soured their already bad relationship but eventually, they realized that they had to set aside their differences to make the play a success. Along the way, they discovered that there may be more to each other than they had first thought.

Bixby Jones has created a masterpiece with the first book of the Love Scenes series. Abby and Dean have an unfortunate meeting that sets off an interesting start to their love story. At first, their stubborn personalities clashed because of misunderstandings and mistaken first impressions but as the story progressed, I got to see how well-suited they were! Their romance is the highlight of the story and the trials they faced together tugged at my heartstrings. I love how Jones permeates their love story with real-life problems, setting them up for a captivating and emotional journey that had me hooked from start to finish. The characters are distinctive and their personalities and overall choices brought the best out of this romantic tale. Despite the initial clash of the main leads, I couldn’t help but cheer them on the deeper I got into the story. I read every chapter with anticipation, excited for the romantic development, and I was thrilled for them when they started to grow closer! Their chemistry was so natural and I found Soulmate, Stage Right to be gripping, fascinating, and profound.

In Soulmate, Stage Right: Love Scenes, Book One, Bixby Jones beautifully crafts a delightful enemies-to-lovers cozy love story with compelling characters who find each other through their shared passion for acting. Though quite intrigued by the celebrity heartthrob and soap star who has been cast as her leading man, Abby Delvin is determined not to let Dean Altman undo all the hard work that she has put into the production. As a drama teacher, Abby knows live theater requires special skills different from television. Shortly after moving to Galveston, Texas to spend more time with his daughter, Dean returns to the world of acting at the McMillan Playhouse. Tension brews between Abby and Dean as they rehearse for the upcoming shows. As they spend more time together, Abby learns she might have misjudged him. Still, their insecurities and misconceptions of each other threaten to sabotage their growing romance.

Bixby Jones perfectly balances fun, heart, and romance in the splendid novel, Soulmate, Stage Right. Through her robust writing, she creates fresh, strong characters with interesting backstories and authentic personalities. I enjoyed Dean’s relationship with his daughter and loved other relationships included. I liked the surprises in the plot and appreciated that the love story felt realistic. Important life lessons about the need to be aware of the biases and insecurities that hinder us and the importance of clear communication are cleverly woven into the story. A wonderful, heart-stirring book that features in-depth characters and a captivating love story, Soulmate, Stage Right: Love Scenes is a brilliant start to the series. Fans will love the tensive scenes and will be drawn to Abby and Dean. Highly recommended.