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Cloud Bay #1
Don't Blame Me
Welcome to the small town of Cloud Bay where the weather is great, the music is fire, and love is complicated…
She doesn’t believe in happy endings and he needs a new beginning
Growing up in the shadow of her rock god dad taught Faith Harper that fame has a price. When her own music career fizzled, she came home to tiny Cloud Bay. She’s perfectly happy running CloudFest, the music festival that’s one part of her father’s legacy, staying out of the spotlight, and keeping men strictly temporary. And when she lays eyes on Caleb White’s gorgeous face, she knows no one would blame her for choosing him for a summer fling. He’s perfect—a hot famous guy who’ll leave quietly when they’re done.
Caleb has been number one in the tennis world for a long time. But he can’t play forever, and he needs a new plan. When his best friend announces he’s going to CloudFest, Cloud Bay sounds like the perfect place to figure things out with no distractions. Until he meets Faith. Kissing her is more than a distraction, it’s downright addictive. And soon he’s not sure he wants to let her go. Convincing Faith to believe in love is going to take more than music and hot summer nights and it’s a match he can’t afford to lose, because it’s his whole heart on the line.
Previously published as Need You Now by Emma Douglas.
Don’t Blame Me is the first book in the Cloud Bay series, a steamy small town island romance series. This series has beach vibes, rock’n’roll families, small town drama, the odd cute dog, and sexy times. Enjoy!
Author's For tropes and CW, please check the author's website.
What people are saying about Melanie Scott’s books
“combines style, substance, and a bevy of appealing characters.” —Publishers Weekly
“Although there is no snow, there’s holiday spirit aplenty…a fine job of setting the scene, crafting characters readers will want to know.”—Publisher’s Weekly
“Sexy, well-written, layered, and engaging … Emotional intensity and dynamic conflict…” —Kirkus Reviews
“Deliciously sexy … a quick and entertaining read.” —Ereadica
“a first-rate contemporary”, Melanie has a “gift for story telling and knack for creating sympathetic characters”. —Publishers Weekly
"A romp that combines heart and heat... Scott’s agile storytelling and engaging characters make this contemporary tale one to savor." —Publishers Weekly
She doesn’t believe in happy endings and he needs a new beginning
Growing up in the shadow of her rock god dad taught Faith Harper that fame has a price. When her own music career fizzled, she came home to tiny Cloud Bay. She’s perfectly happy running CloudFest, the music festival that’s one part of her father’s legacy, staying out of the spotlight, and keeping men strictly temporary. And when she lays eyes on Caleb White’s gorgeous face, she knows no one would blame her for choosing him for a summer fling. He’s perfect—a hot famous guy who’ll leave quietly when they’re done.
Caleb has been number one in the tennis world for a long time. But he can’t play forever, and he needs a new plan. When his best friend announces he’s going to CloudFest, Cloud Bay sounds like the perfect place to figure things out with no distractions. Until he meets Faith. Kissing her is more than a distraction, it’s downright addictive. And soon he’s not sure he wants to let her go. Convincing Faith to believe in love is going to take more than music and hot summer nights and it’s a match he can’t afford to lose, because it’s his whole heart on the line.
Previously published as Need You Now by Emma Douglas.
Don’t Blame Me is the first book in the Cloud Bay series, a steamy small town island romance series. This series has beach vibes, rock’n’roll families, small town drama, the odd cute dog, and sexy times. Enjoy!
Author's For tropes and CW, please check the author's website.
What people are saying about Melanie Scott’s books
“combines style, substance, and a bevy of appealing characters.” —Publishers Weekly
“Although there is no snow, there’s holiday spirit aplenty…a fine job of setting the scene, crafting characters readers will want to know.”—Publisher’s Weekly
“Sexy, well-written, layered, and engaging … Emotional intensity and dynamic conflict…” —Kirkus Reviews
“Deliciously sexy … a quick and entertaining read.” —Ereadica
“a first-rate contemporary”, Melanie has a “gift for story telling and knack for creating sympathetic characters”. —Publishers Weekly
"A romp that combines heart and heat... Scott’s agile storytelling and engaging characters make this contemporary tale one to savor." —Publishers Weekly
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2017
281 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Emma Douglas
3 books66 followersEmma Douglas has read like a wild thing since she was small. She discovered romance novels at an age that way probably way too young but she survived unscathed. When she realized you could make up stories as well as read them, she started taking notes about what the characters wandering through her head were telling her and then, eventually, books happened.
Before the books happened she did the usual things (was a band geek (and a geek generally), had crushes on rock stars and fictional characters, spent chunks of her summers on an island beach, got a degree in something sensible that doesn’t involve writing about kissing, became a black belt in internet procrastination, fell down the rabbit-hole of craft, traveled a bit, indulged her love of baked goods, got bossed around by cats, began a quest for the perfect margarita, and napped to recover from all of the above.
She still does most of that plus the writing thing from a tiny house which her feline overlords have kindly agreed to share with her.
Before the books happened she did the usual things (was a band geek (and a geek generally), had crushes on rock stars and fictional characters, spent chunks of her summers on an island beach, got a degree in something sensible that doesn’t involve writing about kissing, became a black belt in internet procrastination, fell down the rabbit-hole of craft, traveled a bit, indulged her love of baked goods, got bossed around by cats, began a quest for the perfect margarita, and napped to recover from all of the above.
She still does most of that plus the writing thing from a tiny house which her feline overlords have kindly agreed to share with her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 16, 2017
3.5 stars.
It's no secret that I love my small island town sexy romances, something St. Martin's Press get right time after time, and when you add a sports star and a holiday romance into the mix, you're already on the right footing with me.
"I have it on very good authority that I’m your favorite tennis player."
Following surprising the world with his retirement, tennis superstar Caleb White decamps to Cloud Bay for some time out to decide what's next and his what next comes in the form of Faith Harper: daughter of a rockstar, no stranger to celebrity and the woman the helm of arranging the islands version of Glastonbury. And with no inclination for anything long term she's happy to indulge in a summer fling.
Faith and Caleb have a pretty instant chemistry and I loved how confident she was in showing him what she wants. And it quickly becomes evident that the spark goes further than the bedroom with feelings running deeper than either envisaged. But it was how Faith reacted that put a bit of a dampener on this for me and had me wondering whether she actually deserved Caleb: I can do independent and stubborn, I can do guarded and fearful but there's a difference between being afraid and coming over as cruel and Faith did show a side to her that fell into the latter, which Caleb simply didn't deserve.
"Play hooky with me, Faith. Just for a little while."
Whilst for me Faith and Caleb's romance falls into the HFN category as opposed to the HEA, I am hopeful that we'll see more of them throughout the series. And, having introduced us the wider population of Cloud Bay and the characters who'll take centre stage, Emma Douglas has done enough to entice me into coming back for more: I'm already looking forward to my next visit for Mina's story.
Copy received courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
It's no secret that I love my small island town sexy romances, something St. Martin's Press get right time after time, and when you add a sports star and a holiday romance into the mix, you're already on the right footing with me.
"I have it on very good authority that I’m your favorite tennis player."
Following surprising the world with his retirement, tennis superstar Caleb White decamps to Cloud Bay for some time out to decide what's next and his what next comes in the form of Faith Harper: daughter of a rockstar, no stranger to celebrity and the woman the helm of arranging the islands version of Glastonbury. And with no inclination for anything long term she's happy to indulge in a summer fling.
Faith and Caleb have a pretty instant chemistry and I loved how confident she was in showing him what she wants. And it quickly becomes evident that the spark goes further than the bedroom with feelings running deeper than either envisaged. But it was how Faith reacted that put a bit of a dampener on this for me and had me wondering whether she actually deserved Caleb: I can do independent and stubborn, I can do guarded and fearful but there's a difference between being afraid and coming over as cruel and Faith did show a side to her that fell into the latter, which Caleb simply didn't deserve.
"Play hooky with me, Faith. Just for a little while."
Whilst for me Faith and Caleb's romance falls into the HFN category as opposed to the HEA, I am hopeful that we'll see more of them throughout the series. And, having introduced us the wider population of Cloud Bay and the characters who'll take centre stage, Emma Douglas has done enough to entice me into coming back for more: I'm already looking forward to my next visit for Mina's story.
Copy received courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
August 29, 2017
3 - "If you're looking for love... I'm not your girl." Stars.
Emma Douglas begins the new Cloud Bay series, telling the stories and loves of the Harper siblings with middle daughter Faith’s story coming first.
"Sometimes you need a little crazy."
Living on a small island, and being known by everyone who lives there means that Faith has kept her romantic dalliances off the island and of the commitment-free variety up to now. Her father, the now deceased, but once a world famous rocker was well known for his womanizing ways, and as such love is something Faith firmly believes she is not interested in falling into. Especially when the only experience she has of it is seeing those around her (as well as herself) get hurt, abandoned and let down by it.
Caleb is at a crossroads in his life having decided to retire from his career as a professional tennis player whilst at the top of his game, coming to Cloud Bay for its renowned music festival, is the start of his r’n’r before he decides on what direction he now wants to take his life. One thing he didn’t expect was to meet and basically fall for Faith Harper in a matter of days.
"Let go… I’ve got you."
This isn’t my first read by this author, I have read all of the New York Saints books that were released under the name Melanie Scott, and on the whole they were pretty enjoyable reads, and Need You Now had all of the components the a good series starter needs as well, including offering up a beautiful locale and plenty of secondary characters on which to base future books. This is something which this publisher has excelled at in the last couple of years with the likes of Laura Trentham, Donna Alward and Lily Everett all releasing hugely successful and enjoyable series of the same nature, but this book just missed the mark for me in relation to hitting the same enjoyment levels of the aforementioned authors in that, there seemed to be and overload of erroneous information in the first half of the book, which knocked the pacing and development off and I really, really struggled to warm to Faith.
"I come from a long line of people who do dumb shit when they’re scared."
And these feelings were just compounded in the last 20% of the book. I could totally understand her reluctance to see anything with Caleb as anything more than a fling, but what really pissed me off was the fact that she allowed people who had less than stellar track records at relationships themselves convince her to cut him off at the knees without even so much as having a conversation with him about where their relationship was going before doing so.
My other problem is the fact that the resolution to the conflict was then dealt with in a matter pf paragraphs in such a cut and dried manner, I felt that Faith had gotten off extremely lightly in regards to her behavior, so much so that I kind to wished that she hadn’t ended up with Caleb. The lack of an epilogue didn’t help either as the story pretty much cut off without giving any indication as to how things were going between them. I am going to assume that this is because their relationship will continue to play out in the forthcoming books.
A Season of You, due for release in October, takes us back to Cloud Bay for Christmas to give us Mina Harper's story. The youngest of the siblings and a widow too boot, I have a feeling her story will be pulling all the feels after learning about her in this book.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Emma Douglas begins the new Cloud Bay series, telling the stories and loves of the Harper siblings with middle daughter Faith’s story coming first.
"Sometimes you need a little crazy."
Living on a small island, and being known by everyone who lives there means that Faith has kept her romantic dalliances off the island and of the commitment-free variety up to now. Her father, the now deceased, but once a world famous rocker was well known for his womanizing ways, and as such love is something Faith firmly believes she is not interested in falling into. Especially when the only experience she has of it is seeing those around her (as well as herself) get hurt, abandoned and let down by it.
Caleb is at a crossroads in his life having decided to retire from his career as a professional tennis player whilst at the top of his game, coming to Cloud Bay for its renowned music festival, is the start of his r’n’r before he decides on what direction he now wants to take his life. One thing he didn’t expect was to meet and basically fall for Faith Harper in a matter of days.
"Let go… I’ve got you."
This isn’t my first read by this author, I have read all of the New York Saints books that were released under the name Melanie Scott, and on the whole they were pretty enjoyable reads, and Need You Now had all of the components the a good series starter needs as well, including offering up a beautiful locale and plenty of secondary characters on which to base future books. This is something which this publisher has excelled at in the last couple of years with the likes of Laura Trentham, Donna Alward and Lily Everett all releasing hugely successful and enjoyable series of the same nature, but this book just missed the mark for me in relation to hitting the same enjoyment levels of the aforementioned authors in that, there seemed to be and overload of erroneous information in the first half of the book, which knocked the pacing and development off and I really, really struggled to warm to Faith.
"I come from a long line of people who do dumb shit when they’re scared."
And these feelings were just compounded in the last 20% of the book. I could totally understand her reluctance to see anything with Caleb as anything more than a fling, but what really pissed me off was the fact that she allowed people who had less than stellar track records at relationships themselves convince her to cut him off at the knees without even so much as having a conversation with him about where their relationship was going before doing so.
My other problem is the fact that the resolution to the conflict was then dealt with in a matter pf paragraphs in such a cut and dried manner, I felt that Faith had gotten off extremely lightly in regards to her behavior, so much so that I kind to wished that she hadn’t ended up with Caleb. The lack of an epilogue didn’t help either as the story pretty much cut off without giving any indication as to how things were going between them. I am going to assume that this is because their relationship will continue to play out in the forthcoming books.
A Season of You, due for release in October, takes us back to Cloud Bay for Christmas to give us Mina Harper's story. The youngest of the siblings and a widow too boot, I have a feeling her story will be pulling all the feels after learning about her in this book.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
September 20, 2017
The synopsis for this was intriguing taking place on an island off the California coast and taking place during a music festival, but unfortunately I was left wanting something more. The chemistry, or more actually the sex between the two main characters, Faith Harper, the daughter of a deceased rock idol and Caleb White, a recently retired top tennis player. I usually enjoy small town romance series, but this one for me was lacking something. I think the day after they met they were already in bed together. We just didn't get to know and root for the characters to get together since the majority of the book takes place within a week or two and it seemed that their entire relationship was based on sex. Some of the other characters, who you know will end up having their own stories in future books, just did not grab me. Maybe the younger sister, who became a widow after only three years of marriage after husband was killed in a motor vehicle accident, but I don't know if I want to invest the time after this mediocre book in hopes of the next one being better . But then one of my favorite authors, Stacy Finz, whose Nugget series I started at Book 2 or 3, when I finally went back and read the 1st book, I really did not care for that first book and was so glad that I did not start reading with that one. So I'll see if I read more of this series or not.
September 12, 2017
3.5 stars
NEED YOU NOW by Emma Douglas is the first book in the Cloud Bay series. The gorgeous cover with a beach and ocean attracted me to this contemporary romance book.
Cloud Bay, a little town on a small island, is heavily populated one week of the year when throngs of people come for the annual legendary music festival put on by Harper Inc. Faith, daughter of deceased rock star Grey Harper, works hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly and seamlessly at CloudFest.
Caleb White, star tennis player, surprises everyone, including his coach, when he announces his retirement. Liam, an entertainment lawyer, invites Caleb to accompany him on a weeklong holiday at Lansing Island during CloudFest.
We meet Faith's friends Ivy and Leah, others who work at Harper Inc., the Fraser brothers and Faith's sister, Mina and Lou her mother and will probably get to know them better in upcoming novels in the series Cloud Bay. If you enjoy reading romance novels and learning a little about the music industry, music festivals and tennis,then I recommend you read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC of Need You Now by Emma Douglas enabling me to read it and write a review.
NEED YOU NOW by Emma Douglas is the first book in the Cloud Bay series. The gorgeous cover with a beach and ocean attracted me to this contemporary romance book.
Cloud Bay, a little town on a small island, is heavily populated one week of the year when throngs of people come for the annual legendary music festival put on by Harper Inc. Faith, daughter of deceased rock star Grey Harper, works hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly and seamlessly at CloudFest.
Caleb White, star tennis player, surprises everyone, including his coach, when he announces his retirement. Liam, an entertainment lawyer, invites Caleb to accompany him on a weeklong holiday at Lansing Island during CloudFest.
We meet Faith's friends Ivy and Leah, others who work at Harper Inc., the Fraser brothers and Faith's sister, Mina and Lou her mother and will probably get to know them better in upcoming novels in the series Cloud Bay. If you enjoy reading romance novels and learning a little about the music industry, music festivals and tennis,then I recommend you read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC of Need You Now by Emma Douglas enabling me to read it and write a review.
September 3, 2017
3.5 stars
Need You Now by Emma Douglas was an enjoyable afternoons read.
The storyline was entertaining, the characters were likable and I liked them together.
Faith and Caleb weren't looking for a nothing more than a good time but the more time they spent together the more their feelings grew and soon they were falling in love.
Overall, I enjoyed Need You Now, it's a lovely start to the Cloud Bay series and I'm looking forward to the next book, A Season of You coming October 3rd.
*Buy Links*
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Need-You-Now-C...
B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/need...
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*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy*
Need You Now by Emma Douglas was an enjoyable afternoons read.
The storyline was entertaining, the characters were likable and I liked them together.
Faith and Caleb weren't looking for a nothing more than a good time but the more time they spent together the more their feelings grew and soon they were falling in love.
Overall, I enjoyed Need You Now, it's a lovely start to the Cloud Bay series and I'm looking forward to the next book, A Season of You coming October 3rd.
*Buy Links*
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Need-You-Now-C...
B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/need...
iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/need...
Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/need...
*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy*
September 15, 2017
Need You Now by Emma Douglas is their first in a new series, Cloud Bay. I was instantly drawn to the premise of this book about a sleepy island that hosts a music festival each year. Faith Harper, the daughter of a famous rock star, is the festival coordinator. She meets Caleb White, newly retired tennis pro, and it's spontaneous combustion at first sight. As these two spend more time together it's clear what has begun as a fling is developing into much more. What isn't clear is if Caleb can be satisfied with the quiet island life there at Cloud Bay.
I really did enjoy this book, the characters were well written, the location good, and it had all the elements that usually draw me in, this wasn't quite a home run for me. I think this is honestly a case of me not being quite the target audience. I think Emma Douglas does a great job introducing this series, a new cast of characters, the idyllic location of Cloud Bay.
I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.
I really did enjoy this book, the characters were well written, the location good, and it had all the elements that usually draw me in, this wasn't quite a home run for me. I think this is honestly a case of me not being quite the target audience. I think Emma Douglas does a great job introducing this series, a new cast of characters, the idyllic location of Cloud Bay.
I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.
September 4, 2017
I have to admit that I was not as thrilled with this book as other reviewers. Maybe I had a bad day or just wasn't interested at the time. I did not find any of the characters very interesting. The story got better as it moved forward, but still left me wanting something more from the author. I'm just not sure what it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 4, 2017
3.5 Stars
I'm not a fan of rock star romances or anything closely related to them, but this book had one thing that made me want to read it: the charming small town setting. I can never pass up books set in small towns up and this one was right up my alley.
Faith Harper is no stranger to fame and the pitfalls that come with it, having had a front row seat to the turbulent lifestyle that was her father's and the hurt, disappointment and disillusion she and the rest of his family felt from his behavior; not to mention her own brief brush with fame. These days she's happy managing the Harper empire, especially the yearly music festival that her father and his band mates started and has no time for romantic entanglements of any kind, but one glance at Caleb White is all it takes to get her girlie parts to remind her of all she's been missing.
After an impromptu decision to retire from competitive tennis, Caleb needs to get away from all of it for some downtime and Cloud Bay is the perfect place to do so, especially among the crowds attending the music festival, but his attraction to Faith is so strong that his planned rest and relaxation pales in comparison.
At first, it's all about the lust and passion for Faith and Caleb, but as the days go by quickly it's obvious that they are good for each other in so many ways, enjoy each other's company in and out of bed, and they understand the cost of living in the limelight. But will they be willing to fight for the more they can have, especially Faith who has unhealed wounds from her father's abandonment to deal with?
So, one thing I enjoyed about this story apart from the writing, is the details (too much at times) that the author put into the small town. I enjoy it when an author takes the time to expand on the setting and, so much so that you almost want to pack up and move there to get away from all the stress. But the story also suffers a little because the time spent building up the town and the musical legends was at a cost to the characters. Faith and Caleb were not as well-rounded as I would love, especially Caleb, and I couldn't really connect with them or warm up to them.
The overload of details in the first half of the book means the second half was rushed for me. From Faith and Caleb's passionate interlude to the conflict to its resolution and the abrupt ending, everything moved too fast and left me dissatisfied. However, the things I enjoyed about the story mean that I am invested in seeing how the rest of the series plays out and so will definitely be reading it.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
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I'm not a fan of rock star romances or anything closely related to them, but this book had one thing that made me want to read it: the charming small town setting. I can never pass up books set in small towns up and this one was right up my alley.
Faith Harper is no stranger to fame and the pitfalls that come with it, having had a front row seat to the turbulent lifestyle that was her father's and the hurt, disappointment and disillusion she and the rest of his family felt from his behavior; not to mention her own brief brush with fame. These days she's happy managing the Harper empire, especially the yearly music festival that her father and his band mates started and has no time for romantic entanglements of any kind, but one glance at Caleb White is all it takes to get her girlie parts to remind her of all she's been missing.
After an impromptu decision to retire from competitive tennis, Caleb needs to get away from all of it for some downtime and Cloud Bay is the perfect place to do so, especially among the crowds attending the music festival, but his attraction to Faith is so strong that his planned rest and relaxation pales in comparison.
At first, it's all about the lust and passion for Faith and Caleb, but as the days go by quickly it's obvious that they are good for each other in so many ways, enjoy each other's company in and out of bed, and they understand the cost of living in the limelight. But will they be willing to fight for the more they can have, especially Faith who has unhealed wounds from her father's abandonment to deal with?
So, one thing I enjoyed about this story apart from the writing, is the details (too much at times) that the author put into the small town. I enjoy it when an author takes the time to expand on the setting and, so much so that you almost want to pack up and move there to get away from all the stress. But the story also suffers a little because the time spent building up the town and the musical legends was at a cost to the characters. Faith and Caleb were not as well-rounded as I would love, especially Caleb, and I couldn't really connect with them or warm up to them.
The overload of details in the first half of the book means the second half was rushed for me. From Faith and Caleb's passionate interlude to the conflict to its resolution and the abrupt ending, everything moved too fast and left me dissatisfied. However, the things I enjoyed about the story mean that I am invested in seeing how the rest of the series plays out and so will definitely be reading it.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
August 28, 2017
Book Review For: Need You Now by Emma Douglas 'Need You Now' by Emma Douglas is The First Book in The "Cloud Bay" series. This is the story of Caleb White and Faith Harper. Caleb is retiring from Tennis and wondering what the next chapter will be for him. During this time Caleb thinks to take a trip to Cloud Bay to see the famous music festival. There he finds Faith. Faith knows allot about famous people because her Dad was a famous Rock Star. So when they meet their is a instant attraction. But neither really was looking for anything permanent but Love can't be stopped. This was a slow build up to a sweet romance story.
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August 29, 2017
Faith Harper is the daughter of a deceased legendary Rock Star. She and her two half siblings were raised by her mom while their dad flitted in and out of their lives. Faith has taken over Harper Inc. and running the music festival, established by her dad, every year since her dad died. She loves the island she lives on and has no desire to live anywhere else. Caleb catches her eye when he and his friend come for the music festival.
Caleb White is a recently retired, #1 ranked professional tennis player. He is taking some time out of the spotlight to decide what he wants to do with the rest of his life. His friend invites him to a music festival for a couple weeks and he goes. He meets Faith and he’s a goner.
These two eventually begin a fling that’s supposed to only last for the limited time Caleb is on the island and remain a secret. Faith’s dad, while a decent dad, was a definite womanizer and left a trail of broken hearts. Her mom has remained single with no serious relationships since her dad. Faith is determined to keep her life commitment, entanglement and love free.
I never became a big fan of Faith’s. She got really bogged down in her dad’s legacy. She let other people cloud her judgment and easily sway her thoughts/opinions.
The conflict between Caleb and Faith wraps up in a matter of a couple of pages and seems more like a HFN than an HEA. No epilogue, so I’m hoping their story continues in the next book.
As this is the beginning of the series, we meet a lot of people.
I’m on the fence about this one. It felt like a lot of extraneous information at the beginning, and some woven throughout the book, which made the story drag. Maybe this info is useful later on in the series? Lots of detail about what is involved in organizing the music festival, the positive as well as the headaches. Too much for my tastes. There was more about the music business and the festival than about Faith and Caleb. They needed more character development together, especially if we are to believe they have a chance of making it work.
This is my first book by this author. I will most likely read the next one to see where she takes the series and how relevant all the info from this book turns out to be.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
Caleb White is a recently retired, #1 ranked professional tennis player. He is taking some time out of the spotlight to decide what he wants to do with the rest of his life. His friend invites him to a music festival for a couple weeks and he goes. He meets Faith and he’s a goner.
These two eventually begin a fling that’s supposed to only last for the limited time Caleb is on the island and remain a secret. Faith’s dad, while a decent dad, was a definite womanizer and left a trail of broken hearts. Her mom has remained single with no serious relationships since her dad. Faith is determined to keep her life commitment, entanglement and love free.
I never became a big fan of Faith’s. She got really bogged down in her dad’s legacy. She let other people cloud her judgment and easily sway her thoughts/opinions.
The conflict between Caleb and Faith wraps up in a matter of a couple of pages and seems more like a HFN than an HEA. No epilogue, so I’m hoping their story continues in the next book.
As this is the beginning of the series, we meet a lot of people.
I’m on the fence about this one. It felt like a lot of extraneous information at the beginning, and some woven throughout the book, which made the story drag. Maybe this info is useful later on in the series? Lots of detail about what is involved in organizing the music festival, the positive as well as the headaches. Too much for my tastes. There was more about the music business and the festival than about Faith and Caleb. They needed more character development together, especially if we are to believe they have a chance of making it work.
This is my first book by this author. I will most likely read the next one to see where she takes the series and how relevant all the info from this book turns out to be.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
September 5, 2017
I LOVE Blog Book Tours because 9 times out of 10, I get to read a book from an author that I may not have otherwise heard about. Today's post is about one of those books that I would have missed. Now that I've read this book, I'll definitely be checking this author in the future!
Need You Now by Emma Douglas is the first book in a series called Cloud Bay. This is the story of Caleb White and Faith Harper, and it takes place in the fictional town of Lansing Island, California. Lansing Island is a very small town and and it has that small town charm we all know - it's quirky, charming and everyone knows everyone else's business.
Caleb is retiring as a professional tennis player and he is wondering what the next chapter of his life will be. He takes a trip to Cloud Bay to see the famous CloudFest music festival, where he meets Faith. Faith herself is very familiar with famous people since her deceased father, Grey Harper, was a famous rock star with the band, Blacklight. Faith has taken over Harper, Inc. and that includes taking over running the music festival every year since her father died. She loves the island she lives on and has no desire to live anywhere else.
When Caleb and Faith meet, it is an instant attraction, but neither of them is looking for anything permanent. They both know maybe just a bit too much of what fame can do to a soul. They begin fling that’s supposed to only last for the limited time Caleb is on the island and it's also supposed to remain a secret. Faith’s dad was a womanizer and left a trail of broken hearts. Faith's mom has been single with no serious relationships since her dad, and Faith is determined to keep her life easy, single and love free. Faith and Caleb fall in love, however, and it seems it cannot be stopped.
Family plays an important part in the novel and Ms. Douglas does a fantastic job with the secondary characters, Lou and Mina, as well as Blacklight’s lead guitarist Danny Ryan. As Faith struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Caleb, she ends up breaking up with him following an insightful conversation with Danny.
Emma Douglas does a fabulous job setting the scene and introducing the main characters in the first few pages of the novel. I look forward to learning more about all of these characters as we head into the second book in this series. Need You Now is very well-paced novel and it has dynamic characters, great dialogue and well-plotted story line. This is my first book by this author. I will most likely read the next one to see where she takes the series and how relevant all the info from this book turns out to be. I believe this is a series that holds a lot of potential, and I am looking forward to the next book in the Cloud Bay series.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for my participation in this Blog Book Tour! I would like to thank St Martin's Press for allowing me the opportunity to participate, read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else!
Need You Now by Emma Douglas is the first book in a series called Cloud Bay. This is the story of Caleb White and Faith Harper, and it takes place in the fictional town of Lansing Island, California. Lansing Island is a very small town and and it has that small town charm we all know - it's quirky, charming and everyone knows everyone else's business.
Caleb is retiring as a professional tennis player and he is wondering what the next chapter of his life will be. He takes a trip to Cloud Bay to see the famous CloudFest music festival, where he meets Faith. Faith herself is very familiar with famous people since her deceased father, Grey Harper, was a famous rock star with the band, Blacklight. Faith has taken over Harper, Inc. and that includes taking over running the music festival every year since her father died. She loves the island she lives on and has no desire to live anywhere else.
When Caleb and Faith meet, it is an instant attraction, but neither of them is looking for anything permanent. They both know maybe just a bit too much of what fame can do to a soul. They begin fling that’s supposed to only last for the limited time Caleb is on the island and it's also supposed to remain a secret. Faith’s dad was a womanizer and left a trail of broken hearts. Faith's mom has been single with no serious relationships since her dad, and Faith is determined to keep her life easy, single and love free. Faith and Caleb fall in love, however, and it seems it cannot be stopped.
Family plays an important part in the novel and Ms. Douglas does a fantastic job with the secondary characters, Lou and Mina, as well as Blacklight’s lead guitarist Danny Ryan. As Faith struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Caleb, she ends up breaking up with him following an insightful conversation with Danny.
Emma Douglas does a fabulous job setting the scene and introducing the main characters in the first few pages of the novel. I look forward to learning more about all of these characters as we head into the second book in this series. Need You Now is very well-paced novel and it has dynamic characters, great dialogue and well-plotted story line. This is my first book by this author. I will most likely read the next one to see where she takes the series and how relevant all the info from this book turns out to be. I believe this is a series that holds a lot of potential, and I am looking forward to the next book in the Cloud Bay series.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for my participation in this Blog Book Tour! I would like to thank St Martin's Press for allowing me the opportunity to participate, read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else!
August 31, 2017
4.5 stars
Need You Now takes place in the fictional town of Lansing Island, California and as such has a very small town feel complete with all the charm, quirkiness, and everyone knowing your business that comes with life in a small town only this small town hosts a huge rock music festival every year that was started by the front man of Blacklight and now carried on by his daughter following his death. Need You Now is everything I look for in romance and a fantastic start to a new series!
Faith Harper has spent a good part of her life in the public eye, as one of the children of Blacklight’s front man, Grey, she grew up backstage, being around musicians, and now organizes CloudFest every year as well as oversees many of the family’s other businesses. Busy doesn’t even begin to describe her life the week before the festival begins and knowing she’ll be able to get away after and find someone to blow off some steam with, while waiting for her Mom to get off the ferry coming to the island she spots a man that takes her breath away.
For the last 20 years, tennis has been Caleb White’s life and following a shoulder surgery and a comeback of epic proportions to take the number two spot and making the Wimbledon semi-finals, Caleb announced his retirement from the sport at age 32. He didn’t handle the announcement well and with the media hounding him and his friend Liam offering him the chance to get away to Lansing Island and CloudFest, Caleb jumps at the chance to get out of his house and away from the press and prying eyes.
At first it was all attraction, need, and lust between Faith and Caleb and neither one was interested in more, but as they spend more time together it becomes easy to see how much they truly enjoy each other’s company, feel better when the other one is around, and find it easy to talk about their lives, their fears, and their hopes. They fell fast, they made mistakes, and they both had to face some cold, hard facts about their baggage but they did come to the realization they needed one another and together they would work towards a future.
I have no doubt that we’ll see more of this intriguing couple when Faith’s half siblings meet their match, probably both of them kicking and screaming.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 19, 2018
This is the first in the series and by a new pen name for Melanie Scott.
Faith Harper is the oldest child of a deceased rock god Grey Harper and she has been carrying on with the annual music festival Cloudfest every year since he died.
Caleb White is a tennis legend in America and has just retired after playing at Wimbledon and is only going to Cloudfest thanks to his friend Liam and is coming off the dock that he first encounters Faith from a distance.
Things happen very fast with these two, especially after a very frustrating phone call with her brother and the pair find themselves almost inseparable and do not notice quite how close the two have become.
The relationship only comes into question and breaks things up for them both for a while after a man who has been like an uncle to Faith questions whether Caleb is the right man for her and Caleb is quite like her father in many ways which shocks Faith quite badly.
We also get to see a little bit of Faith's sister Mina in the book and hear of her brother Zach as these are the other two characters that will be in the next books and we can get a little of their background before we read their stories.
I have really enjoyed the start to this series.
Faith Harper is the oldest child of a deceased rock god Grey Harper and she has been carrying on with the annual music festival Cloudfest every year since he died.
Caleb White is a tennis legend in America and has just retired after playing at Wimbledon and is only going to Cloudfest thanks to his friend Liam and is coming off the dock that he first encounters Faith from a distance.
Things happen very fast with these two, especially after a very frustrating phone call with her brother and the pair find themselves almost inseparable and do not notice quite how close the two have become.
The relationship only comes into question and breaks things up for them both for a while after a man who has been like an uncle to Faith questions whether Caleb is the right man for her and Caleb is quite like her father in many ways which shocks Faith quite badly.
We also get to see a little bit of Faith's sister Mina in the book and hear of her brother Zach as these are the other two characters that will be in the next books and we can get a little of their background before we read their stories.
I have really enjoyed the start to this series.
August 31, 2017
Here we find ourselves ensconced in yet another small-island-town. A small-island-town that has charm, beauty, and peace. Caleb is famous. Faith is a child of someone famous. Together they know maybe just a bit too much of what fame can do to a soul. The both find their way to the small-town of Cloud Bay for different but the same reason. They both want to have some peace, a little fun, just some carefree distraction.
I had fun and this was a carefree distraction for my afternoon. I enjoyed Cloud Bay, Caleb and Faith, the ins and outs of fame and if it is truly the life one wants to lead. There were some good character, good interaction, sweet banter, slow fun, laid-back entertainment. This was a start to a new community of romance.
I had fun and this was a carefree distraction for my afternoon. I enjoyed Cloud Bay, Caleb and Faith, the ins and outs of fame and if it is truly the life one wants to lead. There were some good character, good interaction, sweet banter, slow fun, laid-back entertainment. This was a start to a new community of romance.
August 29, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
When I read the blurb about this book I really couldn't wait to read it. I loved the idea of it being a small-town on a island. What fun, right?
The story started off really well I was there with the characters and enjoying where it was going, and then somewhere it took a turn for me and it just lost my interest. I'm not sure how that happened!
It wasn't like I didn't like the characters because I did. Yes, they are a little one-dimensional but I had hopes that as the story went on they would get better. But they didn't, Faith did but I think the only reason for that was that we were included in her thoughts. With Caleb we weren't. So you never really knew what he was thinking which at times made him unlikable. Ann that added up to just okay characters.
I have to say that if you're a fan of first person this book would be for you, or if you really don't care because that's how real life is and you don't know what your partner is thinking (to much reality for me) then I think you might like this more.
For me it just wasn't enough. Not bad writing, not bad characters, it just didn't all come together and feel like a true romantic story.
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ARC received for a honest review
When I read the blurb about this book I really couldn't wait to read it. I loved the idea of it being a small-town on a island. What fun, right?
The story started off really well I was there with the characters and enjoying where it was going, and then somewhere it took a turn for me and it just lost my interest. I'm not sure how that happened!
It wasn't like I didn't like the characters because I did. Yes, they are a little one-dimensional but I had hopes that as the story went on they would get better. But they didn't, Faith did but I think the only reason for that was that we were included in her thoughts. With Caleb we weren't. So you never really knew what he was thinking which at times made him unlikable. Ann that added up to just okay characters.
I have to say that if you're a fan of first person this book would be for you, or if you really don't care because that's how real life is and you don't know what your partner is thinking (to much reality for me) then I think you might like this more.
For me it just wasn't enough. Not bad writing, not bad characters, it just didn't all come together and feel like a true romantic story.
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https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for a honest review
August 26, 2017
I'm not a fan of the whole "lots of hot sex will lead us to love but I'm afraid you will leave me" trope, so without a problem to overcome or a mystery to solve, and with no real conflict besides her angst, this was a disappointment for me.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my opinion in response.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my opinion in response.
August 27, 2017
My Rating:
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
Ivy didn’t share her views on island guys. She was newly moved in with her boyfriend. She had a bad dose of love cooties.
That man is worth a squee or two.
“Are you training to be a ninja or something?” she said, trying to calm her heartbeat and look innocent at the same time. “I think I’m going to buy you some clothes that aren’t black. At least that way I’ll see you coming.”
Because every night this week, I’ve fallen asleep wishing the day was just a little longer so I could have some more time with you. Because I want to be with you.
My Review:
Need You Now had an interesting premise and chunks of fun and entertaining threads. I enjoyed and welcomed the author’s use of humor and quirky characters, and while the story had promise, the narrative appeared to miss the mark and became overly ambitious in setting up the rest of the series as there were flurries of background data, reams of detailed event planning and logistics, and other unresolved secondary story threads. Not to say the story was bad, it wasn’t. I enjoyed the humor, sizzle, and fun of the couple losing themselves in their blossoming relationship, but I had trouble maintaining my interest and attention with too much minutia of her organizational efforts and difficulties in setting up her musical festival, although other readers may enjoy those types of details. Just a bit of paring down those aspects would have greatly enhanced my level of engagement and rating.
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
Ivy didn’t share her views on island guys. She was newly moved in with her boyfriend. She had a bad dose of love cooties.
That man is worth a squee or two.
“Are you training to be a ninja or something?” she said, trying to calm her heartbeat and look innocent at the same time. “I think I’m going to buy you some clothes that aren’t black. At least that way I’ll see you coming.”
Because every night this week, I’ve fallen asleep wishing the day was just a little longer so I could have some more time with you. Because I want to be with you.
My Review:
Need You Now had an interesting premise and chunks of fun and entertaining threads. I enjoyed and welcomed the author’s use of humor and quirky characters, and while the story had promise, the narrative appeared to miss the mark and became overly ambitious in setting up the rest of the series as there were flurries of background data, reams of detailed event planning and logistics, and other unresolved secondary story threads. Not to say the story was bad, it wasn’t. I enjoyed the humor, sizzle, and fun of the couple losing themselves in their blossoming relationship, but I had trouble maintaining my interest and attention with too much minutia of her organizational efforts and difficulties in setting up her musical festival, although other readers may enjoy those types of details. Just a bit of paring down those aspects would have greatly enhanced my level of engagement and rating.
August 3, 2017
This is the first book I have read by Emma Douglas, and I have to say I am curious about where she will take the Cloud Bay series. The first in this series centers around Caleb and Faith. These two relatively famous individuals are not looking for any type of relationship when they meet. In fact, Faith has a rule about dating tourists that initially puts Caleb off limits. But rules are meant to be broken!
This was an enjoyable contemporary romance set on a small island rather than a small town. However, the same rules apply, everyone knows everyone and there is very little privacy, especially when you are the daughter of a rock star that put the island on the map. I'm guessing that the next books may feature Faith's other siblings and from the little tidbits we've been given so far, they have quite the story to tell!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
This was an enjoyable contemporary romance set on a small island rather than a small town. However, the same rules apply, everyone knows everyone and there is very little privacy, especially when you are the daughter of a rock star that put the island on the map. I'm guessing that the next books may feature Faith's other siblings and from the little tidbits we've been given so far, they have quite the story to tell!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Read
August 31, 2017Emma Douglas does a fabulous job setting the scene and introducing the main characters in the first few pages of her novel Need You Now. I could sense the anticipation of the crowd as they disembarked from the ferry, feel their excitement of attending the CloudFest music festival on Lansing Island and identify with the connection Faith made with the blue- eyed stranger in the black SUV. Need You Now is well-paced novel with dynamic characters, great dialogue and well-plotted storyline.
Faith Harper is a strong, independent, complicated woman. Need You Now is Faith’s story. As the daughter of the late Grey Harper, lead singer for the band Blacklight, she has been part of the music scene since she made her debut in one of her father’s videos as a teenager. Faith saw her father marry and divorce three times and was accustomed to him being away for months at a time when his band band toured. Faith has made different choices. She lives on a small island with her mom and sister and runs the family business. For the past six years, she has managed CloudFest, preserving her father’s legacy.
Tennis star Caleb White, the blue-eyed man in the SUV, has travelled to Lansing to attend CloudFest. He’s announced his retirement and needs to hide out from the media. He is looking for some downtime but, he meets Faith and his world is turned upside down. Loved the instant attraction between this couple, their sexual chemistry and how the relationship developed during the musical festival.
Need You Now has all the feels; the storyline is emotional and the conversations between Faith and Caleb are witty, honest and at times poignant. The island setting and the small town feel appealed to me. Family plays an important part in the novel and Lou and Mina are my two favorite secondary characters. The author does an excellent job crafting Blacklight’s lead guitarist Danny Ryan—he was the character that puzzled me during the book. Was he looking out for Faith or feeding her insecurities? The author does a fabulous job weaving the need to sort through Grey’s storage unit through the storyline. Did Grey record a final album? This thread intrigued me and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Faith struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Caleb. She breaks up with Caleb after an insightful conversation with Danny. Emma Douglas does a great job writing this chapter – I felt for Caleb and was surprised at Faith’s cold hearted demeanor. I would have liked an epilogue to tie up several of the loose story threads but the conclusion satisfied me as a reader.
Faith Harper is a strong, independent, complicated woman. Need You Now is Faith’s story. As the daughter of the late Grey Harper, lead singer for the band Blacklight, she has been part of the music scene since she made her debut in one of her father’s videos as a teenager. Faith saw her father marry and divorce three times and was accustomed to him being away for months at a time when his band band toured. Faith has made different choices. She lives on a small island with her mom and sister and runs the family business. For the past six years, she has managed CloudFest, preserving her father’s legacy.
Tennis star Caleb White, the blue-eyed man in the SUV, has travelled to Lansing to attend CloudFest. He’s announced his retirement and needs to hide out from the media. He is looking for some downtime but, he meets Faith and his world is turned upside down. Loved the instant attraction between this couple, their sexual chemistry and how the relationship developed during the musical festival.
Need You Now has all the feels; the storyline is emotional and the conversations between Faith and Caleb are witty, honest and at times poignant. The island setting and the small town feel appealed to me. Family plays an important part in the novel and Lou and Mina are my two favorite secondary characters. The author does an excellent job crafting Blacklight’s lead guitarist Danny Ryan—he was the character that puzzled me during the book. Was he looking out for Faith or feeding her insecurities? The author does a fabulous job weaving the need to sort through Grey’s storage unit through the storyline. Did Grey record a final album? This thread intrigued me and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Faith struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Caleb. She breaks up with Caleb after an insightful conversation with Danny. Emma Douglas does a great job writing this chapter – I felt for Caleb and was surprised at Faith’s cold hearted demeanor. I would have liked an epilogue to tie up several of the loose story threads but the conclusion satisfied me as a reader.
September 4, 2017
The romantic cover drew me in, and the blurb's promise of a small town romance enhanced the allure. The setting between the daughter of a rock star and the pro athlete is unique, and the island as the premise of the new series sounded charming. As this is the book one of new series, there are bundles of secondary characters introduced to the reader, the author pays a considerate amount of attention to setting the scene for the series.
Faith Harper is keeping her father's legacy alive by arranging the annual music festival at the island. She loves what she does, and she does it well, yet there's a good amount of yearning for more in her, a certain kind of restlessness. She still has unresolved issues with her father who passed away several years ago. Her fear of being hurt and left behind keeps her from meaningful relationships and falling in love. She is independent and capable yet at times she seems not only lost but easily swerved by other's opinion and a bit immature.
Caleb White is at the crossroads in his life. His retirement, even though sort of planned, was still executed poorly. With no future plans, he is taking a break on the island, and Faith seems to be the perfect person to take the break with. I felt like I got to know only the celebrity Caleb, who is kind and charming to all, people are drawn to him, and he likes to entertain them. He constantly tried to pull Faith from her responsibilities showing his 'golden boy' attitude, but that was played off as his increasing attraction and desire towards her.
The relationship between Caleb and Faith at the beginning was mostly physical and when they finally had the time to go deeper and really get to know each other and develop sincere feelings towards each other - that part of the story, that week, was covered in passing and thus the resolve of the tale was more of a 'happy for now'.
Need You Now is a good start and foundation for the series. It awakens the curiosity towards the stories to come and the characters that were introduced. It is entertaining with the business of music festival and the work and passion that it takes to put out the show every year. The divided focus between the festival, the developing romance, and setting the scene for the series left the relationship between Caleb and Faith as a lighthearted, passion filled tryst that an epilog could have given more depth to, but maybe they will have a chance in the future books to develop their connection into something more meaningful and lasting.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Faith Harper is keeping her father's legacy alive by arranging the annual music festival at the island. She loves what she does, and she does it well, yet there's a good amount of yearning for more in her, a certain kind of restlessness. She still has unresolved issues with her father who passed away several years ago. Her fear of being hurt and left behind keeps her from meaningful relationships and falling in love. She is independent and capable yet at times she seems not only lost but easily swerved by other's opinion and a bit immature.
Caleb White is at the crossroads in his life. His retirement, even though sort of planned, was still executed poorly. With no future plans, he is taking a break on the island, and Faith seems to be the perfect person to take the break with. I felt like I got to know only the celebrity Caleb, who is kind and charming to all, people are drawn to him, and he likes to entertain them. He constantly tried to pull Faith from her responsibilities showing his 'golden boy' attitude, but that was played off as his increasing attraction and desire towards her.
The relationship between Caleb and Faith at the beginning was mostly physical and when they finally had the time to go deeper and really get to know each other and develop sincere feelings towards each other - that part of the story, that week, was covered in passing and thus the resolve of the tale was more of a 'happy for now'.
Need You Now is a good start and foundation for the series. It awakens the curiosity towards the stories to come and the characters that were introduced. It is entertaining with the business of music festival and the work and passion that it takes to put out the show every year. The divided focus between the festival, the developing romance, and setting the scene for the series left the relationship between Caleb and Faith as a lighthearted, passion filled tryst that an epilog could have given more depth to, but maybe they will have a chance in the future books to develop their connection into something more meaningful and lasting.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
October 8, 2017
Read in August 2017
This is the first book in the Cloud Bay series about the rock royalty family, the Harpers. This is Faith Harper’s story.
Faith is living in the shadow of her now deceased father, the famous lead singer rock star of the Backlight legendary group. Each year the band did a rock festival on Lansing Island, where Faith now lives and carries on the tradition of the festival. Being a small island, everyone knows everyone’s business so whenever Faith needs an itch scratching, she takes off the island. Even when the annual festival brings in droves of fans, she would never break that small vow she made to herself, until she meets Caleb who she is curiously drawn to from the start.
Caleb has recently taken retirement from his career as a top tennis player. Being out of sorts he agrees to accompany his friend to Lansing Island to stay and watch the Backlight Festival. It’s here he comes face to face with the beautiful Faith. As times goes on they both come to an agreement of benefits whilst Caleb is on the island. However when it is time for him to leave it brings other emotions both were not expecting to have.
This was a great small town vibe but with added excitement of a rock festival. I liked the slow burn of the initial relationship between Faith and Caleb but once that line was crossed it quickly heated up. The secondary characters were also engaging and I can’t wait to know more about the siblings, especially the enigmatic Zach.
This was an enjoyable read with sufficient heat and a great start to a series about a family amongst a background of a small town and an added bonus of rock star royalty. Four stars
ARC kindly provided by the publishers, St Martin's Press via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
This is the first book in the Cloud Bay series about the rock royalty family, the Harpers. This is Faith Harper’s story.
Faith is living in the shadow of her now deceased father, the famous lead singer rock star of the Backlight legendary group. Each year the band did a rock festival on Lansing Island, where Faith now lives and carries on the tradition of the festival. Being a small island, everyone knows everyone’s business so whenever Faith needs an itch scratching, she takes off the island. Even when the annual festival brings in droves of fans, she would never break that small vow she made to herself, until she meets Caleb who she is curiously drawn to from the start.
Caleb has recently taken retirement from his career as a top tennis player. Being out of sorts he agrees to accompany his friend to Lansing Island to stay and watch the Backlight Festival. It’s here he comes face to face with the beautiful Faith. As times goes on they both come to an agreement of benefits whilst Caleb is on the island. However when it is time for him to leave it brings other emotions both were not expecting to have.
This was a great small town vibe but with added excitement of a rock festival. I liked the slow burn of the initial relationship between Faith and Caleb but once that line was crossed it quickly heated up. The secondary characters were also engaging and I can’t wait to know more about the siblings, especially the enigmatic Zach.
This was an enjoyable read with sufficient heat and a great start to a series about a family amongst a background of a small town and an added bonus of rock star royalty. Four stars
ARC kindly provided by the publishers, St Martin's Press via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
August 31, 2017
Need You Now by Emma Douglas
Cloud Bay #1
An island off the California coast is home to Faith Harper, daughter of legendary Rock Star Gray Harper. She is one week from putting on a huge music festival – Cloud Fest – when she meets recently retired tennis pro, Caleb White. The two are drawn to one another from the beginning but neither is really in the market for more than just a summer fling… But, as with many such stories, more than a fling is definitely a possibility.
This is the introduction to a new series that has a cozy small town feel to it with wonderful characters filling the pages. Each and every one of them deserves to eventually meet their mate and have their HEA as the series progresses. I was drawn in, enjoyed the interactions between Faith and Caleb and was glad that there was not a cliffhanger ending. I found Faith smart, strong, open minded, caring and eventually willing to do the work necessary to reach the deserved HEA. Caleb was a great match for Faith – warm, caring, great lover, strong and emotionally open – he, too, had a few things to work through before the HEA he deserved could happen.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series and just found out that at this moment in time there are two more books in the series that will deal with Faith’s her half siblings Mina and Zach. That means there is room for a spin-off series OR further books in the series as there are more than just Mina and Zach that caught my eye while reading Need You Now.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Cloud Bay #1
An island off the California coast is home to Faith Harper, daughter of legendary Rock Star Gray Harper. She is one week from putting on a huge music festival – Cloud Fest – when she meets recently retired tennis pro, Caleb White. The two are drawn to one another from the beginning but neither is really in the market for more than just a summer fling… But, as with many such stories, more than a fling is definitely a possibility.
This is the introduction to a new series that has a cozy small town feel to it with wonderful characters filling the pages. Each and every one of them deserves to eventually meet their mate and have their HEA as the series progresses. I was drawn in, enjoyed the interactions between Faith and Caleb and was glad that there was not a cliffhanger ending. I found Faith smart, strong, open minded, caring and eventually willing to do the work necessary to reach the deserved HEA. Caleb was a great match for Faith – warm, caring, great lover, strong and emotionally open – he, too, had a few things to work through before the HEA he deserved could happen.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series and just found out that at this moment in time there are two more books in the series that will deal with Faith’s her half siblings Mina and Zach. That means there is room for a spin-off series OR further books in the series as there are more than just Mina and Zach that caught my eye while reading Need You Now.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
September 1, 2017
Need You Now is the first book in the Cloud Bay series and has a lot of promise although it missed the mark in a couple of spots for me. This book centers around Faith Harper who is the daughter of a deceased rock star and Caleb White who is the #1 ranked professional tennis player. Caleb just announced his retirement and is visiting Cloud Bay while he figures out what is next for him. Faith runs Harper Inc. and is in the middle of running the huge music festival that her dad established years earlier. Neither Faith or Caleb are looking for a relationship but there is an instant spark between the two of them so they begin a fling which is meant to have an end date since Caleb is on the island for a limited time.
I never really warmed up to Faith and I think that was the main issue I had with this book. I can handle guarded and independent woman but Faith took it a bit too far and I really didn't like how she let other people (who btw had no positive relationship experience) influence her decisions about Caleb. I didn't like the way she treated him and how she walked away without even having a conversation with him. The other issue I had was that the conflict is wrapped up so quickly and Faith just skates on her behavior. It ended in a HFN and I assume we will see more of them in the continuing books.
While there were some great moments in the book it got a bit bogged down in the details of the music festival and I wish that Caleb and Faith had spent more time together. We were introduced to Faith's other siblings and they were definitely intriguing characters. So while I had a few issues with this book I was intrigued enough to come back for Mina's story which is next.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
I never really warmed up to Faith and I think that was the main issue I had with this book. I can handle guarded and independent woman but Faith took it a bit too far and I really didn't like how she let other people (who btw had no positive relationship experience) influence her decisions about Caleb. I didn't like the way she treated him and how she walked away without even having a conversation with him. The other issue I had was that the conflict is wrapped up so quickly and Faith just skates on her behavior. It ended in a HFN and I assume we will see more of them in the continuing books.
While there were some great moments in the book it got a bit bogged down in the details of the music festival and I wish that Caleb and Faith had spent more time together. We were introduced to Faith's other siblings and they were definitely intriguing characters. So while I had a few issues with this book I was intrigued enough to come back for Mina's story which is next.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
July 20, 2017
Wonderful life on an island and yet a bit lonely, although the rock festival is the focus of her next week, the daughter of a rock star, Faith meets Caleb, a retiring tennis sensation and that's that.
I loved all the build up of planning and execution of the festival by Faith. Her faithfulness to seeing it's success each year is important to her. It's stability and her rock. She can be safe here.
Caleb seems a bit one dimensional and perhaps because he doesn't have POV in this book. I would of liked more of his POV.
Danny had a big role which was a devil's advocate or spoiler. That's all I could "thank" him for.
Ideally I would like liked a longer book because I loved the premise but I needed more development and more time. The week before the event seemed forever in the book but week after was a mere couple of pages.
A single focus was established early on with Faith being unsettled as well as Caleb. There wasn't much else to the story than that. So I wanted more because the festival was cool and island life was pretty cool. Two famous gorgeous people with cool careers but there was never more that a moment in their life to read about.
I loved all the build up of planning and execution of the festival by Faith. Her faithfulness to seeing it's success each year is important to her. It's stability and her rock. She can be safe here.
Caleb seems a bit one dimensional and perhaps because he doesn't have POV in this book. I would of liked more of his POV.
Danny had a big role which was a devil's advocate or spoiler. That's all I could "thank" him for.
Ideally I would like liked a longer book because I loved the premise but I needed more development and more time. The week before the event seemed forever in the book but week after was a mere couple of pages.
A single focus was established early on with Faith being unsettled as well as Caleb. There wasn't much else to the story than that. So I wanted more because the festival was cool and island life was pretty cool. Two famous gorgeous people with cool careers but there was never more that a moment in their life to read about.
August 16, 2017
This was the first book I’ve read by Emma Douglas. It turned out to be a good start to a series about life on a small island off the coast of California. I’m always attracted to these series set in small towns where everyone knows each other and life seems simpler. On the Island of Cloud Bay we meet Faith, whose famous father died from liver cancer, the result of the hard life of a rock star. She takes care of the day to day business of her father’s estate, along with coordinating the annual rock festival, CloudFest. Caleb, a newly retired number one seed on the international tennis circuit, and quite handsome, comes to Cloud Bay to get some much needed rest. He needs to figure out what to do with the rest of his life after his injury has left him unable to stay on top of his game.
Although Faith and Caleb aren’t looking for long term relationships, they are instantly attracted to each other. Can they have a casual fling until the end of the festival, or do they have to admit to themselves that this may be the real thing? Good development of this relationship by the author along with development of secondary characters whose stories should be told in future installments. I’m looking forward to returning to Cloud Bay!
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Although Faith and Caleb aren’t looking for long term relationships, they are instantly attracted to each other. Can they have a casual fling until the end of the festival, or do they have to admit to themselves that this may be the real thing? Good development of this relationship by the author along with development of secondary characters whose stories should be told in future installments. I’m looking forward to returning to Cloud Bay!
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
September 6, 2017
I've got to admit, I've kind of gotten tired of the typical contemporaries that have been flooding the market, Billionaires, Royals and MC gangs, so it was refreshing to come across this book. I guess I've always had a desire to see what's behind the curtain of a Rock Star's families life. It was fascinating to get just a taste of what it takes to set up a Woodstock type concert. Faith Harper was a kick-ass character who knew exactly what she wanted out of life and what she didn't. It was fun to see her interact with Caleb, a national tennis star who has retired, and is just as use to the limelight as she is. It's always fun to see a casual romance blossom into the real deal. The only problem I had was with the resolution of Caleb and Faith's romance. It was a bit cut and dry and happened way too quickly.
July 30, 2017
Release Date: August 29 2017
Need You Now is a good start to the Cloud Bay series by Emma Douglas.
You meet Faith who is the daughter of rock star and Caleb who is a famous tennis player. Neither of them are looking for a relationship and have no intentions of settling down, but they find love unexpectedly.
Caleb needs some time to get his thoughts together after his retirement from tennis, so one of his friends rents a house on Cloud Bay and they make the journey for the festival. Once Caleb has Faith in his sights, he is attracted to her immediately. As the days pass, their mutual attraction for each other grows and I loved their HEA.
I can’t wait to get the next book in this series and Emma has a good debut on her hand.
Received book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Need You Now is a good start to the Cloud Bay series by Emma Douglas.
You meet Faith who is the daughter of rock star and Caleb who is a famous tennis player. Neither of them are looking for a relationship and have no intentions of settling down, but they find love unexpectedly.
Caleb needs some time to get his thoughts together after his retirement from tennis, so one of his friends rents a house on Cloud Bay and they make the journey for the festival. Once Caleb has Faith in his sights, he is attracted to her immediately. As the days pass, their mutual attraction for each other grows and I loved their HEA.
I can’t wait to get the next book in this series and Emma has a good debut on her hand.
Received book from Netgalley for an honest review.
July 29, 2017
I love the start of a series when the book not only draws you in to that story but makes you anxious for the upcoming books in the series.
Faith Harper is a force to be reckoned with. Taking over a rock and roll empire after the death of her father, Faith knows how to run the show. The only thing is, she is hiding behind the safety of the work rather than getting emotionally involved in life. Caleb White is number one in the world of tennis until he abruptly retires. Hopping a ferry to the island music fest Caleb encounters the sexy Faith. Caleb and Faith give in to their attraction and have a short fling, but when one wants more and the other needs the walls of their heart broke down who will get their way.
I loved the family dynamics just begging for their own story and can't wait to read them.
Faith Harper is a force to be reckoned with. Taking over a rock and roll empire after the death of her father, Faith knows how to run the show. The only thing is, she is hiding behind the safety of the work rather than getting emotionally involved in life. Caleb White is number one in the world of tennis until he abruptly retires. Hopping a ferry to the island music fest Caleb encounters the sexy Faith. Caleb and Faith give in to their attraction and have a short fling, but when one wants more and the other needs the walls of their heart broke down who will get their way.
I loved the family dynamics just begging for their own story and can't wait to read them.
September 2, 2024
A lovely read
This was beautifully written and with characters that had depth especially the male lead.
Great pace and a lovely setting made for a very enjoyable read.
This was beautifully written and with characters that had depth especially the male lead.
Great pace and a lovely setting made for a very enjoyable read.
December 1, 2017
Ever since her dad Grey died, Faith Harper has been in charge of the business she runs with her family in the small town of Cloud Bay on the island of Lansing off the coast of California. She's really caught up in the running Harper Inc, the family business, and so does not have time for relationships, or so she thought. Caleb White and his friend Liam are renting a house on the island so that they can go to the CloudFest does the island's only music festival and main source of income during the summer months.
Caleb is an ex-tennis player who first sets eyes on Faith on the day of the festival. He and Faith meet in the most unexpected of places, and, reluctantly (for Faith, at least) a kind of timid, slightly awkward friendship emerges between them that I was glad to see.
The book is very family – orientated, and the island setting gives it a cosy feel. Faith and her mother Lou are incredibly close. Faith definitely has her work cut out over much of the book with trying to arrange the island's festival and try to get clear what she thinks about Caleb.
She gets on well with her sister Mina and their brother Zach is hardly around, having commitments with his own band.
The book presents an interesting family dynamic, with many of the members living close together, and having a common interest in music. Mina, who, in Faith's own words, is the "married to her childhood sweetheart at 18 type person," lives in a cottage at the base of a lighthouse and loves storms and painting. She is not remotely interested in music, but takes an interest in what Faith does now and then, and offers her opinion. I like it that two sisters who have different interests get on well.
After an initial slowness, which I felt strange at first but which, as I read on, ultimately allowed me to really get to know the characters and setting, the pacing picked up and so did the frequency with which Caleb and Faith saw eachother. I felt a a sense of anticipation as to what might happen between Faith and Caleb when they first met, and even more after every time they see eachother and that's what kept me reading, aside from the island/ family themes. From the outset, Caleb seems friendly and gentlemanly towards Faith, who seems hostile as she is not interested in settling down. Faith's social circle are her best friends Theo and Ivy. Ivy is one of just 6 employees at Harper Inc. What I enjoyed about the book most was that the plot seems quite simple, but is tightly woven to produce the atmosphere of the town, island and festival and the business of festival time contrasts with how quiet the quaint-sounding town's few shops, bars and distillery usually are.
Music and memories are in Faith's blood and on her mind as her dad left her the family home and the rest of the family members all live close by. Blacklight was her dad's band, and the star of the show during many CloudFest shows in years past, and her dad's former fellow band member colleagues are like uncles to Faith.
Will the CloudFest be a success this year?
Will Caleb and Faith's relationship develop further?
Read the book to find out!
This is the first book I have read by Emma Douglas, and it is a sweet and tender book that has it's moments of drama. I'm looking forward to reading more from Emma Douglas and the residents of Cloud Bay.
Thank you to Emma Douglas and to St Martin's Press for a copy of this book via NetGalley as well as the chance to participate in the blog tour for this title on the book's release day.
I have read some amazing books published by St Martin's Press, and Need You Now is no exception. I cannot wait to discover the rest of the Cloud Bay series!
Need You Now is a must-read for all fans of sweet, small-town romances. Because of this book, Emma Douglas now is right up there with my favorite authors in the genre.
Caleb is an ex-tennis player who first sets eyes on Faith on the day of the festival. He and Faith meet in the most unexpected of places, and, reluctantly (for Faith, at least) a kind of timid, slightly awkward friendship emerges between them that I was glad to see.
The book is very family – orientated, and the island setting gives it a cosy feel. Faith and her mother Lou are incredibly close. Faith definitely has her work cut out over much of the book with trying to arrange the island's festival and try to get clear what she thinks about Caleb.
She gets on well with her sister Mina and their brother Zach is hardly around, having commitments with his own band.
The book presents an interesting family dynamic, with many of the members living close together, and having a common interest in music. Mina, who, in Faith's own words, is the "married to her childhood sweetheart at 18 type person," lives in a cottage at the base of a lighthouse and loves storms and painting. She is not remotely interested in music, but takes an interest in what Faith does now and then, and offers her opinion. I like it that two sisters who have different interests get on well.
After an initial slowness, which I felt strange at first but which, as I read on, ultimately allowed me to really get to know the characters and setting, the pacing picked up and so did the frequency with which Caleb and Faith saw eachother. I felt a a sense of anticipation as to what might happen between Faith and Caleb when they first met, and even more after every time they see eachother and that's what kept me reading, aside from the island/ family themes. From the outset, Caleb seems friendly and gentlemanly towards Faith, who seems hostile as she is not interested in settling down. Faith's social circle are her best friends Theo and Ivy. Ivy is one of just 6 employees at Harper Inc. What I enjoyed about the book most was that the plot seems quite simple, but is tightly woven to produce the atmosphere of the town, island and festival and the business of festival time contrasts with how quiet the quaint-sounding town's few shops, bars and distillery usually are.
Music and memories are in Faith's blood and on her mind as her dad left her the family home and the rest of the family members all live close by. Blacklight was her dad's band, and the star of the show during many CloudFest shows in years past, and her dad's former fellow band member colleagues are like uncles to Faith.
Will the CloudFest be a success this year?
Will Caleb and Faith's relationship develop further?
Read the book to find out!
This is the first book I have read by Emma Douglas, and it is a sweet and tender book that has it's moments of drama. I'm looking forward to reading more from Emma Douglas and the residents of Cloud Bay.
Thank you to Emma Douglas and to St Martin's Press for a copy of this book via NetGalley as well as the chance to participate in the blog tour for this title on the book's release day.
I have read some amazing books published by St Martin's Press, and Need You Now is no exception. I cannot wait to discover the rest of the Cloud Bay series!
Need You Now is a must-read for all fans of sweet, small-town romances. Because of this book, Emma Douglas now is right up there with my favorite authors in the genre.
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