A charming tale for romance lovers who enjoy a lyrical game of cat and mouse.
An Italian pop opera star’s world gets upended when he meets an American singer in this third installment of a romance series.
Nico Biviano has years of fame and a notable “player” reputation under his belt at the outset of Irish’s tale. As a beloved opera star from Pisa, Italy, he enjoyed international stardom until he surprised his fan base by joining the pop opera group Bel Homme. Now, “Bel Homme was number one in the world, and he was proud to be a part of it all.” His career move was motivated in part by the opportunity to meet more attractive female fans. But Nico has not been able to focus on this aspect of the job ever since he met Gina Madonni, a singer/songwriter from America, at a band mate’s wedding. Though Gina is caught in the clutches of a controlling manager named Scott, the two singers experience an undeniable attraction. When Bel Homme hires Gina to be the opening act for its tour, she finally sees the possibility for her big breakout—and a chance to spend countless hours with Nico. But instead of immediately doting on her like other men, Nico provides endless pointers and criticisms for each of Gina’s performances, which makes her question his intentions. Is it possible for Nico to leave behind his checkered dating history to be the man she needs him to be? Can they figure out how to be together when they’re from different countries? And finally, can Nico make peace with her wish to never have children? The novel offers a delicate balance of tenderness and conflict for two individuals attempting to resist an irresistible love. Romance connoisseurs will delight in the story’s classic elements of sexuality, emotional satisfaction, and inner turmoil. Irish effectively builds the tension between Nico and Gina while creating impeccable moments for its release. Although the plot lacks some key background information and occasionally becomes distracting during a few tangents, the author skillfully develops the main characters while prioritizing a sensuous pull for readers.
A charming tale for romance lovers who enjoy a lyrical game of cat and mouse.Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2022
ISBN: 9781942627043
Page Count: 408
Publisher: Enoch Publications
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.
A promise to his best friend leads an Army serviceman to a family in need and a chance at true love in this novel.
Beckett Gentry is surprised when his Army buddy Ryan MacKenzie gives him a letter from Ryan’s sister, Ella. Abandoned by his mother, Beckett grew up in a series of foster homes. He is wary of attachments until he reads Ella’s letter. A single mother, Ella lives with her twins, Maisie and Colt, at Solitude, the resort she operates in Telluride, Colorado. They begin a correspondence, although Beckett can only identify himself by his call sign, Chaos. After Ryan’s death during a mission, Beckett travels to Telluride as his friend had requested. He bonds with the twins while falling deeply in love with Ella. Reluctant to reveal details of Ryan’s death and risk causing her pain, Beckett declines to disclose to Ella that he is Chaos. Maisie needs treatment for neuroblastoma, and Beckett formally adopts the twins as a sign of his commitment to support Ella and her children. He and Ella pursue a romance, but when an insurance investigator questions the adoption, Beckett is faced with revealing the truth about the letters and Ryan’s death, risking losing the family he loves. Yarros’ (Wilder, 2016, etc.) novel is a deeply felt and emotionally nuanced contemporary romance bolstered by well-drawn characters and strong, confident storytelling. Beckett and Ella are sympathetic protagonists whose past experiences leave them cautious when it comes to love. Beckett never knew the security of a stable home life. Ella impulsively married her high school boyfriend, but the marriage ended when he discovered she was pregnant. The author is especially adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details, like Beckett’s aversion to swearing. Beckett and Ella’s romance unfolds slowly in chapters that alternate between their first-person viewpoints. The letters they exchanged are pivotal to their connection, and almost every chapter opens with one. Yarros’ writing is crisp and sharp, with passages that are poetic without being florid. For example, in a letter to Beckett, Ella writes of motherhood: “But I’m not the center of their universe. I’m more like their gravity.” While the love story is the book’s focus, the subplot involving Maisie’s illness is equally well-developed, and the link between Beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere.
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-533-3
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an...
True love flares between two people, but they find that circumstances always impede it.
On a winter day in London, Laurie spots Jack from her bus home and he sparks a feeling in her so deep that she spends the next year searching for him. Her roommate and best friend, Sarah, is the perfect wing-woman but ultimately—and unknowingly—ends the search by finding Jack and falling for him herself. Laurie’s hasty decision not to tell Sarah is the second painful missed opportunity (after not getting off the bus), but Sarah’s happiness is so important to Laurie that she dedicates ample energy into retraining her heart not to love Jack. Laurie is misguided, but her effort and loyalty spring from a true heart, and she considers her project mostly successful. Perhaps she would have total success, but the fact of the matter is that Jack feels the same deep connection to Laurie. His reasons for not acting on them are less admirable: He likes Sarah and she’s the total package; why would he give that up just because every time he and Laurie have enough time together (and just enough alcohol) they nearly fall into each other’s arms? Laurie finally begins to move on, creating a mostly satisfying life for herself, whereas Jack’s inability to be genuine tortures him and turns him into an ever bigger jerk. Patriarchy—it hurts men, too! There’s no question where the book is going, but the pacing is just right, the tone warm, and the characters sympathetic, even when making dumb decisions.
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an emotional, satisfying read.Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-525-57468-2
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
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BOOK REVIEW
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