As a reader who loves romances set in the music world, this story put a fresh spin on the usual theme of rockers falling in love to make it even more entertaining. With Music Notes by Lacey Black readers are put in the middle of a reality singing tv show where a single mom falls for her coach leaving her journey up to the readers. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of this compelling book, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf. In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a signed copy of this book too!
Sing.
That’s what I came to do.
I was prepared to do just that until I walked into my audition and saw him. Tall, mysterious, and gorgeous to boot, he was sitting at the coaches’ table with three others, ready to judge my performance, and decide my future. Yet, since I’d walked onto the stage, he continued to look at anything but me. So, I did the one thing I was there to do: sing. When I opened my mouth and let those words spill from my lips, he finally looked up. Those startling, dark eyes collided with mine with such intensity that I knew one thing for certain: I would never be the same.
I am Layne Carter, newest contestant on Rising Star, the biggest singing competition on reality television. Nothing can stop me from giving this show my all. Not my horrible diva roommate. Not the fact that I'm terribly homesick and miss my family. And certainly not my uncontrollable growing attraction to my coach, Beau Tanner, award winning country superstar. Nothing will stand in my way.
And I’m wrong.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a reader who loves rock star romances and those set in the music world, I'm especially thrilled to come across a book that puts a new spin on this tried and true theme. In Ms. Black's new book she does just that by letting readers choose the ending. Like the adventure books from my youth where you could choose the actions every step of the way, this book lets you determine if the heroine getting ever closer to winning a singing competition chooses love or fame. It's a twist that immersed me in the story even more and had me thinking about the heroine and delicious hero long after the final page was turned. Both choices were ultimately realistic and inspiring in their own way and both satisfied me immensely.
Layne's always loved music and once dreamed of fame and all its inherent possibilities until the day her high school sweetheart's death enlightened her to his hidden truths. It devastated her and left her full of doubts and destroyed her self-confidence, but left her with one bright spot in the birth of her baby boy Eli. From the moment he was born everything she did was for him. She pushed aside her dreams of singing professionally to make a life for her son, ignoring her personal needs for years. Her mother's saddened by her always sacrificing and secretly signs her up to be on the popular singing show, Rising Star, which changes her life irrevocably. Her life changes even more upon her introduction to country singer, and coach, Beau Tanner who reawakens her hormones and has her wanting him like no other man ever has before. As their relationship would be against the rules it leads to a lot of sexual tension and secretive longing gazes that are reflected through the music he has her singing. As they grow closer, and as he makes a place for himself in her life through charm and heartwarming deeds, it gets harder to follow the rules. It's up to the readers to choose her path though with endings that have their own definitions of HEA. Layne's an admirable heroine, immensely likable and easy to relate to. She's got the talent but needs the push and the support to believe in herself as her ex bruised her self-esteem. She's kindhearted, devoted to her son, and stands up for herself when others threaten the dream that's getting ever closer. The connection between her and Beau is crackling and full of sensuality that mostly involves glances and clandestine kisses that felt just as scorching as full on naked contact. She's ultimately a heroine you want to cheer for and I applauded her gaining confidence as each night of the competition unfolded.
We don't get to know Beau quite as well, but the glimpses readers get are tempting and tantalizing. Beau's the typical country singer in looks and charm but the moment he hears rocker Layne he's captivated. Though he knows he shouldn't interact with her on an intimate level he can't help himself. He takes her under his wing and gives her constant encouragement as a singer and as a woman which brings them even closer together and amps up the sexual tension. Beau gets to know her as a single mom, charming her and readers with how easily he fits into her life, and it made him even more appealing. Beau's immensely sexy and talented at subtle dirty talk. He slowly works his way into Layne's heart and it's understandable why she contemplates throwing away the competition just to be with him. By story's end it's easy to call him a hero for all his sweet and supportive words, heartwarming deeds that cater to Layne's up and down emotions, and overwhelming charm which made their burgeoning relationship enthralling to see evolve.
This was an entertaining story from start to finish with its delightful main characters who tugged at my heartstrings to the colorful cast of secondary characters that added to the realistic depiction of a singing competition. Each nuance of the competition was dealt with to pull you into the action, keeping you guessing and rooting for your favorites. There was a familial vibe amongst some of the singers, along with an adversarial one between Layne and a country diva, that further invested me in the outcome. The romance didn't take center stage until the latter half of the book but that made it all the more special for having had to wait. It was a slow-burning romance full of sexual tension that kept me on edge waiting for it to combust and it had me turning the pages in a sexual frenzy. Readers looking for a unique and memorable romance will want to grab this book up immediately as it's sexy, charming, and utterly captivating with characters you're drawn to the moment you see them. From start to finish it's a realistic and romantic tale that I found myself quickly caught up in that had me cheering, laughing, and a bit teary-eyed and grateful for discovering the talented Ms. Black!
Layne's always loved music and once dreamed of fame and all its inherent possibilities until the day her high school sweetheart's death enlightened her to his hidden truths. It devastated her and left her full of doubts and destroyed her self-confidence, but left her with one bright spot in the birth of her baby boy Eli. From the moment he was born everything she did was for him. She pushed aside her dreams of singing professionally to make a life for her son, ignoring her personal needs for years. Her mother's saddened by her always sacrificing and secretly signs her up to be on the popular singing show, Rising Star, which changes her life irrevocably. Her life changes even more upon her introduction to country singer, and coach, Beau Tanner who reawakens her hormones and has her wanting him like no other man ever has before. As their relationship would be against the rules it leads to a lot of sexual tension and secretive longing gazes that are reflected through the music he has her singing. As they grow closer, and as he makes a place for himself in her life through charm and heartwarming deeds, it gets harder to follow the rules. It's up to the readers to choose her path though with endings that have their own definitions of HEA. Layne's an admirable heroine, immensely likable and easy to relate to. She's got the talent but needs the push and the support to believe in herself as her ex bruised her self-esteem. She's kindhearted, devoted to her son, and stands up for herself when others threaten the dream that's getting ever closer. The connection between her and Beau is crackling and full of sensuality that mostly involves glances and clandestine kisses that felt just as scorching as full on naked contact. She's ultimately a heroine you want to cheer for and I applauded her gaining confidence as each night of the competition unfolded.
We don't get to know Beau quite as well, but the glimpses readers get are tempting and tantalizing. Beau's the typical country singer in looks and charm but the moment he hears rocker Layne he's captivated. Though he knows he shouldn't interact with her on an intimate level he can't help himself. He takes her under his wing and gives her constant encouragement as a singer and as a woman which brings them even closer together and amps up the sexual tension. Beau gets to know her as a single mom, charming her and readers with how easily he fits into her life, and it made him even more appealing. Beau's immensely sexy and talented at subtle dirty talk. He slowly works his way into Layne's heart and it's understandable why she contemplates throwing away the competition just to be with him. By story's end it's easy to call him a hero for all his sweet and supportive words, heartwarming deeds that cater to Layne's up and down emotions, and overwhelming charm which made their burgeoning relationship enthralling to see evolve.
This was an entertaining story from start to finish with its delightful main characters who tugged at my heartstrings to the colorful cast of secondary characters that added to the realistic depiction of a singing competition. Each nuance of the competition was dealt with to pull you into the action, keeping you guessing and rooting for your favorites. There was a familial vibe amongst some of the singers, along with an adversarial one between Layne and a country diva, that further invested me in the outcome. The romance didn't take center stage until the latter half of the book but that made it all the more special for having had to wait. It was a slow-burning romance full of sexual tension that kept me on edge waiting for it to combust and it had me turning the pages in a sexual frenzy. Readers looking for a unique and memorable romance will want to grab this book up immediately as it's sexy, charming, and utterly captivating with characters you're drawn to the moment you see them. From start to finish it's a realistic and romantic tale that I found myself quickly caught up in that had me cheering, laughing, and a bit teary-eyed and grateful for discovering the talented Ms. Black!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.
Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014 and has been an Amazon Bestseller twice for Free e-books, as well as #1 for Contemporary Romance. All of the Rivers Edge books have been bestsellers in the Romance and Contemporary Romance categories.
EMAIL: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
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ReplyDeleteRuty @Reading…Dreaming
Thank you so much for your support and the amazing review!! <3 Lacey
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for this cleverly crafted tale! What do you have planned next for us readers?
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
I have the 2nd book in my Bound Together series that will release this summer. I'm in a Memorial Day anthology (Honor Anthology) with a bunch of AMAZING authors releasing in May. AND I've started the first book in a new fun, contemporary series. Busy, busy. :D
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