Audio Book Review: “Starfish: A Rock Star Romance” & “The Roll of a Lifetime”

About Starfish: A Rock Star Romance

An ambitious exec and a reluctant rock star sizzle in this workplace romantic comedy about music’s redemptive power, hogging the bed, and finding love.

Bright and ambitious Marin Collins sees her new internship with a prestigious PR firm as a stepping stone to a much-needed permanent position. But her plans for career success are derailed when she’s assigned to go on the road with rock band Kings Quarters, hailed by Rolling Stone as the next big thing. To gain full-time employment, she’ll need to stick to her “no workplace romance” policy and resist the sexy and nerdy rock star on the tour bus.

Enter Brad Osterhauser, the reluctant guitarist who would rather be coding computer games than penning Grammy-nominated songs. While grateful for the band’s success, he’s trapped on tour out of loyalty to the brother and bandmate who helped him escape a depressing home life. His outlook about the current tour improves immensely when he’s smitten by the smart and stunning PR executive who joins the tour.

Traveling by bus, city to city, with a group of practical joking bandmates and a greedy manager, Marin and Brad forge a friendship and forbidden romance over a shared love of Seinfeld episodes, stolen moments, and Red Vines.

Will Marin and Brad’s secret passions destroy both their careers, or take desire to the ultimate encore?

If you love a slow burn romance with laugh-out-loud moments, forced proximity, and sizzling chemistry, scroll up now to buy the book.

Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Starfish-Lisa-Becker-audiobook/dp/B082J6NFRC/

Chirp: Starfish: A Rock Star Romance (Starfish Book 1) by Lisa Becker – Audiobook (No Subscription)

My Review of Starfish: A Rock Star Romance

I purchased Starfish: A Rock Star Romance, by Lisa Becker and narrated by Sabastian York and Erin Mallon, through a Chirp Friday Freebie Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

This book utilizes dual narrators, with Sebastian doing the chapters for Brad, while those for Erin were narrated by Marin. Although it made it easy to know which character’s head I was in, the differences in supporting character voices made it easier to get supporting characters confused my mind. i.e. Sabastian’s portrayal of Merin, doesn’t always mesh with Erin’s portrayal of the character, and likewise, Erin couldn’t be expected to match Sebastain’s deep baritone voice for Brad. Both are excellent narrators. It’s just that their voices didn’t match, so I wasn’t always sure which characters were in a scene. It was minor differences, and it didn’t make the story any less enjoyable. It just took a little more concentration to follow for me. Both are excellent narrators. It just took a little getting used to.

There was a time when I could have imagined myself in Marin’s place, with an opportunity to go on the road with a rock band and thought I’d be in heaven. Although, I’m long past the age where that would be appealing, I haven’t forgotten what it was to be young and eager. Ms. Becker managed to cast Marin in a female role that is not one of a mindless groupie. Instead, she is an eager advertising intern, smart and creative, and the band, King’s Quarters, is her first client.

Expecting an account which would station her in Seattle, Marin finds it hard to be excited about unexpectedly being thrown on the road with the rock band. She may be disappointed, but not enough to keep her from noticing the sexy hunk, Brad, who will be one her new bosses, as well as one of her traveling companions. Of course, she is a professional and she knows better than to mix romance with work, so those thoughts are quickly shoved to the back of her mind. Or are they?

Brad is not your typical rock star. At least not since he set eyes on Marin. He makes his intentions concerning her clear early on, warning the other band members off as he sets about winning her heart. He’s willing to take any opportunity to spend time with Merin, and being on the road together offers lots of situations where they are thrown together, even taking care of her when she’s sick. A guy can only take so much, but even when he’s tempted to the extreme, he uses restraint and doesn’t push too far too fast. Brad is a perfect gentleman, with an iron will, determined not to do anything to scare this woman away.

A true to form romance, with deep and likeable characters I wanted to root for. I give Starfish five quills.

About The Roll of a Lifetime

Things Rachel Groff needs: her daughter out of diapers, the back child support she’s owed, freedom from her devious, dirtbag ex-husband.

Rachel has inched her way toward financial security after three years of solo parenting. Clinging to her hard-won independence, she is on guard against the type of man who deceived her in the past. Men like the too-hot and too-charming divorced dad who claims to be nothing like her ex.

Things Theo Melis loves: kayaking along the bayou, baking pies, being with his son.

His big gamble paid off: His brewpub is in the black and garnering great reviews. Now, Theo’s focused on earning a favorable rating from his manager’s ex-wife. He’s taken with her strength and ferocity of purpose and proud when she allows him to help her escape the stresses of life. But one moment Rachel melts into him, the next, she jerks away, leaving him overheated and confused.

Theo longs to earn Rachel’s trust. Rachel’s heart yearns for him, but her instincts have devastated her before. Every step they take could be a disastrous misstep.

If they move in unison, can they discover a path worth taking?

Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Roll-of-Lifetime-Melanie-Greene-audiobook/dp/B07YSMNQCZ

Chirp: Roll of a Lifetime by Melanie Greene – Audiobook (No Subscription)

My Review of The Roll of a Liftime

I purchased The Roll of a Lifetime, by Meleanie Greene from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

The first thing I’ve got to say about this book is that narrator Amy Rubinate absolutely nailed it. Her southern accent for Rachel is perfection, and her timing, impeccable.

This story is not what I expected in a romance. With the main characters both being divorcees with children, it felt odd to find things like potty training, Pokémon, and ex-inlaws in the romance story line. But, I must say, I found both the main characters to be likeable and enjoyable.

Rachel is a single parent who is overly defensive when it comes to her ex, Serge. When Serge’s boss, Theo, unexpectedly shows up to deliver their toddler, she becomes defensive, nearly pushing him out the door with her brash dismissal. Once she lets her bristles down, she finds herself attracted to the man, and we learn that she’s really a hot and horny honey, who doesn’t hesitate to let her needs be known. She’s not after romance, she just wants to get laid

The hot hunk, Theo, is physically attracted, to be sure, but he has visions of a long term hook-up, and is quick out the gate in making that happen. Not wanting to push to fast, he vows to let Rachel set their speed, but gets confusing signals from her. Until a broken condom forces them both to face the fact that this is turning into more than just a few fun roles in the hay; this could be turning into a real relationship.

A different type of romance I couldn’t help.bit fall in love with it. I give The Roll of a Lifetime five quills.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

_____________________________________

Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.