Encare a Música (Replay Livro 1)

Replay #1

by K.M. Neuhold, Galuba Editorial (editor), Stéphanie Rumbelsperger (translator)

Lincoln
Eu tinha certeza absoluta de que ser uma estrela do rock resolveria todos os meus problemas e curaria o buraco que existe dentro de mim. Mas sempre que eu subo no palco, a multidão gritando o meu nome, eu só consigo pensar no menino que deixei para trás. Tudo o que eu quero é voltar no tempo e fazer uma escolha diferente.

Jace
Eu fiquei com ódio do Lincoln quando ele sumiu dez anos atrás e destruiu meu coração. Meu ódio cresceu exponencialmente quando ele compôs um sucesso sobre nosso romance juvenil. Mas eu nunca o odiei tanto quanto odeio neste momento, parado na minha frente como se tivesse todo o direito de estar novamente no meu mundo. Ele não é o deus do rock que eu achava que fosse… ele ainda é o mesmo garoto desorientado que eu amei. Será que algum dia poderei confiar meu coração a ele outra vez?

* Encare a Música é o primeiro livro na série Replay. Todos os livros da série focarão em um membro diferente da banda tendo uma segunda chance no amor. Todos os livros podem ser lidos de forma independente.
Este livro contém descrições de autoagressão, pensamentos suicidas e momentos sensuais.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Music, Contemporary, Second Chance, Mental Health, Musicians

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2018

About the author

K.M.Neuhold has long since been a romance junkie. When she’s not writing she’s reading or spending time snuggling with her husky or her husband. She fell in love with M/M romance last year and hasn’t been able to turn back. There’s nothing she loves more than love in all its forms.

Reviews

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book a lot. It deals with a difficult subject to get right - mental illness - but does so without over-playing it or under emphasising the seriousness.

Lincoln and Jace were wonderful together in the flashbacks and it was easy to see why neither had been able to ever move on properly. I also loved the whole fated aspect which KM weaved into the narrative as it worked well for their relationship development ten years later

The book doesn't pull any punches when it deals with Lincoln's "black dog" or when it talks about his self harming so heed the trigger warnings.

I liked how Jace, after understandably being so angry with Linc, eventually realised why he'd left him without a word when they were teenagers. I liked that he got, that while it had been painful, Linc had done it for the right reasons.

The book is angsty, but it's true and honest, never just for plot points, and there is no magic dick cure all here. Both men accept they will be dealing with Linc's mental illness daily for the rest of their lives.

Now I need the rest of the band's stories asap please!

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Ky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Face the Music" is the first book in a new series about the members of a rock band that somehow all get their happily ever after in the form of second chance romances during a much needed break to recharge and keep going.

In this book, it's Lincoln the one who gets his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also his first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together.

I appreciated very much the realistic way that Lincoln's mental health was dealt with. I won't tell you what the diagnosis was but if you have the slightest knowledge about it you will figure it out for yourselves pretty easily and pretty early on. There was no magic cure, even if there were no set backs and everything went smoothly from the start which I don't imagine happens in real life, and he had a long road ahead of him but the overall message was full of hope. Jace was amazing with his support and encouragement and exactly what Lincoln needed to turn his life around and start living again.

One of the things I liked the most about this story is how every book in the series seems to be taking place at the same time. I'm just speculating here based on what I read in this book but if I'm right I'm even more excited for the rest of the guys to get their stories! There is an endless opportunity for scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. It happened here a few times and one that pops up in my mind is a plone call where Benji picked up laughing. I hope we see that same phone call from Benji's POV and learn what had him is such a good mood. The same goes for Archer too with his secret smiles.

Important note: The warnings in the blurb weren't put there just for show, read them and take them into serious consideration before you open this book.




This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.

*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurt, hurt, hurt, comfort…

Meh.
Comfort-hurt
Second-chance
Flashbacks to teen years
Self-harm
Lots of support
Very angsty
So-so narration by the late Kenneth Obi.

Enjoy?

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This is the first time I’ve read K.M. Neuhold and I was impressed by this author’s ability to tell a story and the way one of the character’s need for self harm was woven into the plot. This was not an easy romance, the two main characters had a history from childhood friends to teens with big plans together when their lives were changed dramatically by a seemingly selfless act that left them both spiraling and trying to forget one another in a variety of ways. I enjoyed this story a lot, it was well written, the characters were complex, but through it all these two men reclaimed the love they once had only this time it was stronger and lasting.

Lincoln and Jace spent summers together while vacationing in Wisconsin with their parents at their respective lake houses. As teenagers their attraction led to experimentation, declarations of love, sex, and promises of more as they planned to attend college and be together. Then Lincoln’s band is offered a recording contract and their worlds are split apart until ten years later when they find themselves back where it all began.

This story is told in two parts one from their growing up years and one in present time and although I’m not a huge fan of flashbacks, I appreciated the insight into their young relationship. There is no doubt these two had a connection and it was strong as they were friends for many years before they became lovers so the hurt when ties were severed was deep. I loved watching them fall back in love which was pretty easy, but I appreciated that trusting again took a good, long time.

Lincoln’s life as a member of Downward Spiral is well documented including the fact that during a self cutting episode he almost killed himself resulting in one of the bands biggest hits. I struggled with Lincoln’s character only because it was hard to read about someone who on the outside appeared to have it all but on the inside was so confused and out of control. I applaud this author for making him go through the paces of getting help and watching him struggle with all that entails, but also realizing that in order to have the life he wants he has to do the work and get well.

My heart hurt for Jace who not only lost Lincoln years ago but recently his fiancée who left him claiming he was never fully committed to her and to be honest he wasn’t. I loved that he worked hard to move on, that he accepted his bisexuality and that he made Lincoln work for his trust. I also was thrilled that he refused to make commitments with Lincoln until he got help and appreciated the fact that he realized it was more than something they could deal with on their own.

Watching their young love and their present love unfold was beautiful and each was special, but it was the many turning points that made this book unique. Lincoln finally admitting he needed outside help, Jace realizing that he wouldn’t have a career he loved if not for Lincoln’s selflessness, Lincoln’s willingness to change his life to have Jace in it, and them both admitting that despite the years and other lovers their hearts have always been for each other made this a heartbreaking and wonderful romance.

Emotional and heart breaking yet filled with hope and love, I thoroughly enjoyed Face the Music.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each book in The Replay series features a different member of the rock band Downward Spiral, getting a second chance at romance and happiness. This one allows us to see Lincoln getting his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also Lincoln’s first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals, but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together. I somehow missed this book in the series but in my defense the order differs depending on where you look for it. Since the stories are told of the individuals and not continuing events it really doesn't matter that much. The books all take place in the same time frame so there is an endless opportunity for the scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. Hope that makes sense. The stories are well written, and the characters all have very distinct personalities...some more likeable than others. Jace was a sweetie, and I think of the five books in the series I found myself rooting more for things to go right for Linc and him than any of the others.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review

I essence, I absolutely loved and adored this story. I'm always partial for a scarred man, second chance stories and when combining that with a famous musician, I'm over the moon.

This book opens up with present day Lincoln, rock star extraordinaire in the band Downward Spiral. An apt name if there ever was one as all of its members are spiralling fast out of control in one way or another. Lincoln is a bit worse for wear, drunk and passing out in the cold and almost freezing to death. He basically couldn't care less. He's numb, and the only way he feels anything is by self-harming, cutting. The only thing in his mind is remembering Jace. The love of his life. The boy he walked away from, broke, ten years earlier when his music career really took off.

After another close call with Linc's life, Archer the band manager, cancels the upcoming tour, orders all the band members to a mandatory break to get their heads back together And hopefully by the end of the break, there will still be a band left to save. Linc decides to go back to the one place in the world where he was truly happy, the place where he met and fell in love with Jace. What he doesn't count on is standing face to face with Jace once more. A freshly dumped Jace who don't want anything to do with him anymore.

Face the Music is a second chance story. It's told from a dual POV in more ways than one. We get both Linc's and Jace's perspectives, but we also get the past interwoven with the present. So we are there watching Linc and Jace fall in love, the first kiss, we feel the sweetness, the giddiness and hope for the future. But we are also there for the hard parts, Linc leaving and Jace realising that the love of his life has left him. We are there for the pain as well as the happiness before it. We can relate to them both, understand the motives that drove them. We understand the heartbreak that are still present ten years later. We know the love that lurks underneath the surface, ready to bloom once more.

This book drew me in from the start and I couldn't put it down but listened to the whole thing in one go. I just needed to know how Linc and Jace finally got back together. Needed to see the journey, the forgiveness and healing. I'm also partial to characters with any kind of mental health issue, to Linc ticked a lot of my boxes. And while I didn't always agree with his actions, I could understand why.

Kenneth Obi's narration of this book is a bit of an oddity for me. He has different voices when narrating the different characters - which is always a huge plus for me. It makes it so much easier to follow along with the story. He also adds in feelings to his words, emotions and is not simply reading the words in front of him. Despite all that, he still manages to sound bored though it all. It's a bit of a mystery to me to be frank. On the other hand, that would fit when he narrated the fist part of the story from Lincoln's POV. It fits with his depressed, moody and "who cares" attitude. But it doesn't fit with the rest of the book, when the feel of it is happy. I did feel like even during the happy moments, there was still a wall between the characters and the listener, we weren’t quite there.

Face the Music was a beautiful second chance story. I loved everything about it, the plot, the characters and the amazing love that Linc and Jace shared. The narration was a bit off for me, which might be just me, so you should definitely have a listen to the sample to decide if this audio is worth trying. If not, you need to pick up the book, because this is a story you shouldn't miss.

Story: 5 stars
Narration: 3,5 stars

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. A great balance of angst, romance, hurt and forgiveness. I love books where a former couple gets back together and they really have to work at it. I liked the fact that Linc's issues weren't glossed over and the way Jace and Linc both dealt with it.

The flashback storytelling and alternating POV worked well for me and really helped to get into the state of mind of both men, creating two characters I was really rooting for.

Even though the band is on hiatus, the flashbacks were enough to get a feel for Linc's life as a rock star and what drove the choices that led him to where he is now. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

At eighteen Lincoln made a difficult decision. He loved music and was offered a shot with a recording company. To do so, meant hurting his person, the one who always had his back. It meant hurting Jace.

Jace was college bound with dreams of being a doctor. If he went on the road with Lincoln and the band, college would never happen. In time, he would recent Linc. Lincoln wants Jace to have it all so he makes the decision for him. Lincoln flees in the middle of the night leaving Jace and his heart behind.

Fast forward ten years. Lincoln and Jace meet again. Both have succeeded in their careers but not so much in their personal lives. Jace’s busted engagement is small potatoes compared to Lincoln’s life. He struggles almost daily with an untreated mental illness.

Neuhold handles Lincoln’s illness with a deft hand. She doesn’t bog the reader down with so much detail that the book reads lik a medical text. She also doesn’t gloss it over so that Lincoln is suddenly made all better with a few kisses and rounds of sex with Jace.

Lincoln will always have issues. Life, meditations and coping skills will always be a balancing act. No matter how much love Jace has to give, each day will require a fresh commitment from him. A small part of him will always worry and want to keep Lincoln safe from his personal demons.

I loved Lincoln, Jace and the bond they create. It took time, some maturity, love, pain, self sacrifice, and commitment.

[Line]

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[Kenny Danewitz raveh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn’t feel the magic, was an OK read but didn’t felt much for both characters.

[Qin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A longish, rather boring nothingburger poorly dressed up as a second chance romance, only saved from the one star treatment by dint of its reasonably good literary values. For one thing, the embraced structure of the book, with each chapter alternating between shared memories of the two lads written from the POV of one of them and the similarly focussed rekindling of their relationship in the present time, does not achieve too well its task of providing insight into the minds of Jace and Lincoln, for their, obviously skewed, perspectives on events and on each other remain desperately in need of complexity, variety (those lads are really too full of one another and, insofar as their memories are concerned, of what little happened in their bland lifes) and genuine depth. This binary type of storytelling also leads straight to narrative discontinuity and fragmentation which, in my opinion, proves lethal to a novel where the angst is stated, or more precisely: overstated, through internal dialogue, rather than shown in minute detail (Lincoln's drunkard bully of a father ought to have been far more present in the boy's flashbacks for the cutting Lincoln falls back into to sound genuinely motivated) and goes on rather artificially for far too long because the writer had nothing better to wax about. Indeed the romance sounds tepid and staged from page one; the near constant recourse to age-worn tropes empties it of the strength it ought to cultivate. To compilate a list of even the most egregiously outrageous of those elements would be too time consuming, so I shall only take here as evidence the following instances, as, taken together within the compass of a mere hundred pages, they robbed me of my reading pleasure: the unrealistic synchronicity of the termination of Jace's heterosexual relationship with the peak of Lincoln's flirt with death by alcohol and lack of concern for his well-being, both of which have the lads come back within a few hours of each other at the two neighbouring cabins in which their puppy love took place; the little we get to see of the dealings between Lincoln and his team mates, which, instead of providing background for the lead singer's depression while giving the reader dynamic snapshots of these boys, bretrays without any shadow of a doubt that the author was solely concerned with laying down the roots of her planned sequels, seems to me to be painfully written; the use of Lincoln's cutting to mellow present-day Jace and have him less hostile to the one who got away without explanation has an unpleasantly hollow ring to it. Finally, Lincoln's bipolar troubles are not evoked with any understanding of this psychiatric disorder, nor does Jace, for a microbiologist fresh from his lab, demonstrate any sound grasp of it - actually, I never felt he talked, reasoned and acted as a doctor should, let alone a high-powered one. Mrs Neuhold belongs to the enormous class of writers who were not bothered to do any preliminary digging before creating whatever university-credentialled protagonist their plot required; too bad, for, by so doing, she shows her true colors. Ladies, if need be, please write your heroes as cabbage dealers or small town clerks instead of striving for prestigious trades the mannerisms and intellectual mindset of whose your own ignorance has no chance of ever getting right.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/22/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Lincoln
I thought there was only one thing I needed to make me happy. I was so sure becoming a rock star would heal the dark corners inside me. But every time I walk onto the stage, with a roaring crowd screaming my name, all I can think about is the boy I left behind. All I want to do is rewind and make a different choice.

Jace
I thought I hated Lincoln when he ghosted me ten years ago and destroyed my heart. I thought I hated him when he wrote a chart-topping hit about our idyllic young love. But I’ve never hated him as much as I do right now, standing in front of me like he has every right to be in my world again. He’s not the rock god I thought he was...he’s still that same lost boy I used to love. Can I ever trust him with my heart again?

***Face the Music is the first book in the Replay series. Each book in the series will focus on a different band member getting a second chance at love. Each book can be read as a stand-alone.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Face the Music explores some fairly dark themes, which include self-harm and suicide, so please be forewarned that if this type of story line could be triggering for you it is best you go into this novel with advanced warning. The scenes of cutting are fairly graphic, never done to titillate or shock, but rather to expose the depth of Linc’s illness and depression. I was so impressed with the way in which Neuhold addressed Linc’s mental health. The story allowed for the reality of what being bipolar would mean for both Linc and Jace and how it would never go away, but be something both men would have to live with if they were to be together.

Told in first person with alternating points of view and flashbacks interspersed, this was a rich and emotional story of first love, first heartbreak, and second chances. The flashbacks were interwoven into the story in such a way as to never break the flow, the transitions being rather seamless and giving the reader a lovely glimpse into how the two boys fell in love and the way in which their relationship matured over the summers spent together. It also gave us a real window into the hell Linc’s home life was and how it shaped the man he became. These two men had to work for their happy ever after and were always mindful of the pitfalls ahead and for that reason alone, I think this novel really stands out as a beautiful story of healing and forgiveness.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of the back and forth between past and present, however it worked for me here. Or maybe this caught me in the right mood? I loved this. After learning to listen to this narrator a bit faster than the recording, this was absolutely perfect. I've already purchased the next two books. Im not a fan of books covering the same time, however they aren't rehashing the same info (im already more than fifty percent done with book two).

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and these characters! I love a second chance romance and characters that have to overcome obstacles and this book had both. A lot of times seeing lots of scenes from the past drives me crazy but I thought it worked really well in this book and gave me more depth to the characters and understanding about the relationship. I admit they got over the 10 year separation a bit more quickly than I would have liked but that was a pretty minor issue with me. It looks like this series is going to be about the rest of the band during the same time frame and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of them.

[TL Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the heart knows who it wants, there’s no denying it.

You touched on some very real, and very serious mental issues in this book and you did it well. Everyone masks their pain differently but as you showed some use another form of pain they can control.

Such a touching and all too real story.

[M.I.A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for 'far the music' especially seeing all the positive reviews prior to reading K.M Neuhold's work.

Unfortunately this story just didn't do it for me for a few reasons.

1. I didn't care about the main characters... and one of the MC's was battling depression and suicidal thoughts & the other MC was broken emotionally. These two facts alone should have pulled at my heart strings and care about their outcome and their struggles. But I just couldn't connect and for me the characters were simply not fleshed out enough, it felt very empty, the writer showed me their pain but didn't make me feel it.

2. The pace... It just felt rushed. This is a second chance romance with a lot of baggage... and it barely got unpacked. The angst was very superficial and didn't really dig beyond the surface.

3. The flashbacks... I began to skip them at one point. I don't know what it was about them, but it was just not working for me. It felt like a prologue, multiplied and inserted all over the book.

Honestly, it was just a combination of things that just didn't work for me. K.M.Neuhold has a lot of great reviews and I think I will have to simply give another book a chance and see if it was just bad luck, bad mental space that prevented me from enjoying this story.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than I was expecting. It had a lot more depth and really showed the ways your brain can just mess with you without any permission whatsoever. I had a feeling what Linc's problem was from very early on but getting to know these two in current time and through flashbacks was a true pleasure. This is a second chance story and while Linc may have been the one who ran the first time, he definitely had a harder time with his decision. I really felt for both of them. Both wonderful guys, both unable to move on and neither running away from their new beginning. Big applause for Jace and his allowing Linc anywhere near him after all these years. This has some major triggers for those who have trouble with self harm or suicide attempts. There weren't any current ones but there was a lot of discussion of past behavior. Absolutely adored this one and will be starting the next one right away.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice second chances story. Linc's bi-polar diagnosis is something I've become quite familiar with in recent years, and Jace was very understanding. I have to say though that I would've thought someone should've picked up on it a helluva lot sooner...other band members, band manager, whoever....there was obviously a suicide attempt waiting to happen. Still not keen on present tense stories...3.5 stars rounded up.

[Hemmel M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love story's with a well-researched mental illness theme. No, love does not cure all. And yes, both life partners can be equals, even if one is ill. With two points of view, you witness both their inner monolog and their memories of a better time. As one of my favorite relistens, I recommend this audiobook to everyone who loves MM romance.
The narrator did a good job.

Follow my reviews at https://HemmelM.blogspot.com

[Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

If you’ve read my reviews in the past, you’ll know my favorite trope is definitely second chance romances and Face The Music was an enjoyable one.

Lincoln abandoned Jace without even a goodbye ten years ago to pursue his dream of becoming a rockstar, and while he’s had tremendous success, he is miserable without the love of his life by his side. After a night of heavy drinking nearly kills him, he decides to get away and heads to a summer cabin in the woods of Wisconsin, where he spent many summers as a teen befriending and eventually falling in love with Jace. Once Linc gets there, he finds the fates have brought him and Jace back to the cabins at the same time, but can he make things right and win Jace back?

My heart absolutely broke for Linc. His sadness and despair crushed me and I just wanted to hug him. Although I definitely understood Jace’s anger at Linc and his apprehension at forgiving him and possibly entering into a relationship with him again, it didn’t stop me from wanting to yell at him to forgive Linc already! My feelings were torn in that respect, but I absolutely adored these two men and together, they fit and the love they felt for one another shone through on each and every page. They had great chemistry and were sizzling hot together.

The story was interesting and filled with plenty of emotion. It held my attention and kept me turning the pages to see how it would all work out. I loved how the author handled Linc’s issues of depression and self-harm. Just because you get the guy doesn’t mean all your troubles go away and I was really happy that this part of the story was realistic.

Truthfully, my only complaint, was the author's use of flashbacks. They were spread throughout the story and were, frankly, very disruptive. Still, this was an enjoyable read, with a perfect and swoon-worthy ending and I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series. Very recommendable!

*copy provided by author/publisher for my reading pleasure, a review was not a requirement*

[Dani Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Replay #FaceTheMusic #DownwardSpiral #LincandJace

Another AMAZING book by Author K.M. Neuhold!! Emotional, and full of sensitive subjects; Face the Music may not be for all readers, but I found it to be an amazing start to what looks to be an amazing new series! Jace and Lincoln are such deep character; I couldn't help but root for their HEA! This was a book that had me flipping the pages well into the night!

If you are a fan of K.M. Neuhold or are reading her books for the first time, I can't recommend this story enough! I can't wait for the second book to come out! Hopefully we wont have to wait to long!

[Erth]

Could not put it down. Would recommend.

[Gina Marie ~books are my drug of choice~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book I picked up the clues that indicate real life major depression recurrent with hypomania, a form of bipolar disorder. I was impressed with how well done the show don't tell was. This book allowed the reader to reach that idea without being beat over the head with it. The fact that a character points out he has bipolar he is not the disorder.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Each finds a second chance at love during the band's hiatus which starts due to happenings at the beginning of this book. The time changes are shown by the chapter name including side B, for the past and side A for the present. I really liked this because it kept the music theme going and was easier to notice and remember.

[Jodi Ciorciari-marinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

KM is giving us a new series about a band named Downward Spiral. The first story in the series is about Lincoln and Jace.

It starts off as Lincoln in such emotional pain since he thought making it big would heal his heart. He figures out quickly that all the money won't make you whole. Lincoln spends his time dreaming of what could have been if he never left Jace behind but he thinks you can never go home again.

Jace and Lincoln promised each other forever when they were 17 but life happens and when Lincoln is on his way to making it big, he leaves Jace behind. Now it is 10 years later and both men need to get away from life for awhile.
They both wind up at the summer houses where they met all those years ago.

Jace tried to move on when Lincoln broke his heart years ago but knows that he was the love of his life. When his girlfriend breaks up with him, he decides to go to the summer cabin for a vacation. Little does he know that Lincoln is on his way there too.
When they see each other for the first time, Jace can't believe it and runs away. He then realizes that it is time to get some answers from Lincoln so he can move on with his life.
We get both POV's in the story which I always love because we get to read how both men are feeling.

The story plays out where both men need to come to terms with what happened all those years ago and decide if they move on together. Lincoln has to own up to issues he has and be willing to go for help, which he does with Jace's help.
Both men still love each other and you can see that on how the story evolves. In the end, Lincoln decides that his home is with Jace and he still wants his band so he comes p with a plan for both.


The other members of the band Lando, Jude and Benji will get their stories told and I for one can't wait to read them. All in all a good first book to set up this series.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by KM Neuhold from Alpha Book Club

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ 3.5 Stars ~

Face the Music is the first book in a new series about the members of a rock band that somehow all get their happily ever after in the form of second chance romances during a much-needed break to recharge and keep going. In this book, it’s Lincoln who gets his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also Lincoln’s first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals, but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together.

I very much appreciated the realistic way that Lincoln’s mental health was dealt with. I won’t tell you what the diagnosis was, but if you have the slightest knowledge about it, you will figure it out for yourselves pretty easily and pretty early on. There was no magic cure even if there were no setbacks and everything went smoothly from the start, which I don’t imagine happens in real life, and he had a long road ahead of him, but the overall message was full of hope. Jace was amazing with his support and encouragement and exactly what Lincoln needed to turn his life around and start living again.

One of the things I liked the most about this story is how every book in the series seems to be taking place at the same time. I’m just speculating here, based on what I read in this book, but if I’m right, I’m even more excited for the rest of the guys to get their stories! There is an endless opportunity for scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. It happened here a few times and one that pops up in my mind is a phone call where Benji picked up laughing. I hope we see that same phone call from Benji’s POV and learn what had him in such a good mood. The same goes for Archer too with his secret smiles.

Important note: The warnings in the blurb weren’t put there just for show; read them and take them into serious consideration before you open this book.

Reviewed by Ky for The Novel Approach

[Dani Elle Maas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being honest and loving the other serie by Miss Neuhold i was like i want a new one there
or in her collab with author Nora Phoenix
but i take my words back!
This is so freaking good
I wanted more the minute i finished it!

[5280 Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how KM Neuhold’s writing flows. I get so entangled in her stories. This is my second book I have read from her. I really love Jace and Lincoln. This was a very nice romance read that had some tough subjects such as self worth and bipolar disorder.
5 out of 5

[Trio]

did not work for me

[Paula´s Brief Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una novela muy simple en todos los sentidos, tanto la historia como los personajes y el desarrollo, pero que se deja leer sin más. Para pasar el rato vale.