Actually read ebook, but Goodreads doesn't allow us to add editions anymore.

Home Grown Talent is the second book in the Creative Types series and focuses on self-absorbed influencer Mason Nash and Lewis Hunter’s big-hearted gardener brother, Owen. When Owen attends an award show as a guest at his brother’s table, producer Misty zeroes in on his “look” and insists that both he AND Mason need co-host a gardening slot on her popular weekend morning show, Weekend Wellness. Further to that, Misty informs Mason privately that he needs to create a believable fake romance that even Owen falls for. What happens when both the fake feelings and flirting lead to very real romance?

Mason is misunderstood and is getting tired of playing the influencer game. However, he has to help take care of is mom and sisters, so giving up and focusing on what he really wants isn’t possible. So, Mason keeps playing; using his looks, his social media and his spoiled brat-airheaded persona to keep up appearances.
Owen had to grow up quickly when his mom died. He stepped up and took care of Lewis, not realizing that he was building walls around himself to force his emotions to stay even keel. When the going gets tough, Owen shuts down. A blank slate that doesn’t have any issues that need to be faced or dealt with.

Owen has had a crush of sorts on Mason and Lewis – Mason’s ex-boyfriend in addition to Owen’s brother – tells Owen to get himself a bit of fun but not to expect anything else from Mason. Mason refers to him as St. Owen that martyrs himself to keep everyone else happy – and he doesn’t say it in a friendly way, either. When he’s suddenly on the receiving end of Owen’s goodness he realizes that perhaps St. Owen is for real and not just for show. However, Mason needs this opportunity and isn’t above a bit of flirting and guilt-tripping to get it. He drops his guard enough with Owen to convince him that Mason NEEDS this opportunity. Owen agrees to do it for Mason because that’s just who he is. Mason realizes that Owen sees more than anyone else, reads between Mason’s carefully crafted lines and gets under his skin in a way that nobody has before. He can’t be falling in love for real, can he?

When their will-they-or-won’t-they relationship explodes in a scandal, can Owen let his walls down to let Mason explain or will Mason be left alone holding his very real broken heart? Can Mason prove to Owen that his feelings weren’t just for show, or will the scandal ruin this budding romance? High-heat, workplace romance, fake dating, brother’s ex, friends-to-lovers and a HEA – Home Grown Talent is a beautiful story that has you rooting for the underdog.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.

[bc:Home Grown Talent|61211348|Home Grown Talent (Creative Types, #2)|Joanna Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654158489l/61211348._SY75_.jpg|96500902]
[a:Joanna Chambers|3080608|Joanna Chambers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1604697730p2/3080608.jpg]
[a:Sally Malcolm|87308|Sally Malcolm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425308508p2/87308.jpg]

I need more books from Joanna and Sally.

Since when I finished reading Total Creative Control last year, I've been looking forward to the next book in the series. I wouldn't have thought of shipping Owen and Mason (both part of book 1's supporting cast), so I was intrigued when I heard it would be about them. As it turns out, even early in the story, it was obvious they could really work well as a couple. That is, if the demands of a TV producer didn't threaten to ruin everything (but of course it's a romance novel, so they were bound to overcome the trouble anyway).
Just as I had loved the commentary about fanfiction in the first book, I thought this one had very interesting points about being in the public eye, where a person might become some kind of fictional version of themself.

4.5 ⭐️

I bought this in a rush, wanting more goodness after book #1. But I DNF. The book is not seriously flawed but quite boring. They start the relationship early in the story and then is goes on and on and on with day to day occurrences. There is a tiny bit of drama with some side characters, but I couldn't care less because it was stereotypical.
Narration was good.