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Twenty-five years of fame comes at a price for Nick, leaving him hard—a machine to produce nothing but his music. True to his British upbringing, he’s very set in his ways. Things are just as he wants them—no deviance.

In steps Kate—a studio musician who, by a strange twist, manages to get hired into his band. Everything starts out with the boundaries firmly placed, and it doesn’t take long for Nick to realize she’s going to change his world. To his surprise, he’s the one who is attracted to her first. She gets under his skin.

Living by the creed that letting people close gets you hurt, Nick stays driven in his commitments. He is a musician, first and foremost, but a turn of events leads him to investing in the recording company who produces his music. Can he handle this new venture, his music, and keep the woman he now loves?

Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2014

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Jeanine Binder

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,689 reviews342 followers
December 11, 2014
After reading alot of Rock Star novels and most of the cast being only in their 20's-30's I expected that Real Time would be another one of those books, imagine my surprise though when it turned out to be an older cast. Nick's band has lost one of their cast members Mick as he has decided to embrace fatherhood. Sick of all these youngsters who only know how to play a electronic keyboard and don't know how to read music, he is desperate for a replacement so he does the one thing he would never normally resort to - he interviews a woman for the position. Enter Kate , when she was younger she was a concert pianist until a tragedy struck and she was forced to re-consider her options and went into studio work. Kate gets accepted into the band and so begins the novel as they tour for six months. During this time we read as Kate and Nick start to get close and despite both their pasts, they find themselves drawn to each other. What will happen though when just as they decide to tie the knot, another tragedy ensues and Nick finds himself with the possibility of losing Kate forever ? Real Time has it's fair share of the Music side of life , Evil ex husbands/wives , Tragedies and Death as well as Happiness of Marriage and Reconcilliation.
If you love Rock Star novels, but are sick of reading the "New Adult" category books where the Rock Star is a player and sleeps with everybody and is rude and spoilt then Check out "Real Time" by Jeanine Binder as you will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Lynelle Clark.
Author 58 books176 followers
December 8, 2015
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
This book has a wonderful story line with strong believable characters that you can relate to. Being a rock star in itself is difficult but having a relationship and juggling life with it even harder and this comes out beautifully within the story. The romance between Kate and Nick was beautifully captured, the easy way the two just mingled to become a couple working together as a team in a very tiring industry that demands all your time at once.
Nick was a rocker but life's lessons had made him hard but once Kate walked into his life things started to change for him. It's a story of relationships and balancing a busy life to make it work, priorities are the major issues as the couple maneuver through their careers, marriage and friends with ease. The maturity of both is apparent throughout which was refreshing to read.
The pace of the book were at times to slow and the continuous repeats strained the story making it boring.
An interesting book with lots of promise and I am looking forward reading book 2 in the series.
Profile Image for Bev Ross.
1,007 reviews12 followers
May 19, 2018
Very good book

I really liked this story! I can't believe Nick's brother's though at least one came around! That Phillip is a real piece of work! I would love to read more about him!
Profile Image for Crina | booktwist_.
610 reviews285 followers
December 27, 2014
Original post on http://readingadd.blogspot.ro/ as part of the blog tour.

Another short review from me. Apparently, lately from me are coming just short reviews, but I don't do it on purpose. Just, I don't have a lot to say about the books and I don't want to make a review long and spoil the novel.

So, talking about this novel. Real Time for me was a book that I read fast, in like two sittings, and I liked it. It was an enjoyable read, nice and made me relax, it doesn't have a lot of sex and drugs, like you always find in rock star stories; and I was really happy about this. Because it was something different and more mature.

Plus, the characters are not so young and you can see that in their decissions and actions. Plus it wasn't so much drama or it was a different type, because it didn't felt so tense, if I can name it like that.

Kate and Nick were enjoyable characters and I liked the time that we spent together; it was interesting to find out more about them, about their pasts and see how their lives intertwined.

Concluding this short review, I'll say that this is a cute read, fast and easy, and you can read it if you want something more mature, as is characters and their personalities, and not so angsty and sexual tension. But it wasn't amazing and I won't reccomend this to you if you want something mindblowing, because for me it wasn't. But it was an ok read.
Profile Image for Emma.
906 reviews58 followers
October 11, 2017
Too rambly and uneven writing to truly enjoy = 2.5*

There is quite a lot to like in this story so I wanted to enjoy it more than I actually did.

The positives: This is a fairly quiet story of a workaholic superstar musician, Nick, and his new pianist, Kate. She is in her early thirties and he is 45. I like older characters and like them even more when they behave maturely. For the most part they did. Nick is not a partier. he takes his work seriously and treats his band mates well. He is concerned about starting a relationship with an employee. Kate respects that and mostly they wait. Kate is interested in Nick the person and not in his fame. This is not some sweet romance. Getting married is not the end of the story.

The negatives: Unfortunately for me these outweighed the positives no matter how much I wished otherwise. The story is told in the third person and while there is some dialogue it is mostly exposition. Definitely not my favourite style. That can be forgiven if the story is tightly told but this was not. We learn later that Nick falls for Kate almost immediately but we are not shown it in any way. The story has no real focus. There are several plot points but nothing that ties the whole thing together. The issue with Nick's brother's was ridiculous. When we finally find out what is behind Phillip's actions it is both nonsensical and anticlimactic. In fact the whole book was anticlimactic. it simply petered out at the end. Even the epilogue was not really an epilogue just more of the same we had already seen.

I nearly rounded up to three stars because I was hopeful that the writing style would be better in subsequent works and as there was a second book I thought perhaps it was meant to cave the conclusion in the second book. I have read that one now and it is even worse.
Profile Image for Sarah G.
682 reviews10 followers
November 7, 2015
The music of love showing you that when you stop looking for love it seems to find you in the most unlikely of places. More of a mature read this one, I really liked the flow of it and felt it was very well written.

Nick is a very famous singer who seems to have everything he could want in his career but this seems to have come at a cost to his personal life – to the point that he doesn’t have one. After a disastrous marriage he decided then and there that he would no longer live in hope that there was such a thing as love anymore, and he has held fast to this approach for many years. Right up until the moment Kate walks into his studio to audition for his band, from right then and there he fell for her, he just doesn’t admit it for some time to come.

Kate has had some troubles in her past that prevented her from pursuing her true dream of being a world famous pianist. After hearing about the opportunity to audition to be the pianist for Nicks band she jumps at the chance. She knows that he hasn’t hired women in the past, mainly due to the bad press that would come with it, but decides to give it a shot anyway as after three days he still hasn’t found anyone. After hearing her play he is more than interested in having her join his band.

After a few months on tour getting closer to each other Nick finally admits to himself that he is falling for her but has to decide what to do with his feelings and he doesn’t want to really have a relationship with an employee – he doesn’t want it to look like she only got the job because she might be sleeping with him. When someone from Kate’s past comes back to cause trouble Nick finally decides to man up and face what is right in front of him and claim her as his own. But with troubles in his family coming to light and Kate’s past becoming more dangerous it will take the strength of their love to be able to keep them together and not tear them apart.

The timeline within this book does move quite quickly so you have to pay attention or you will wonder what is going on, it’s a few years they live through from start to end. With it being over a longer space of time I liked that you could see how their relationship grew into something more. Even though there is another book for this series it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. I liked this as you did feel like there was a proper ending and that the next book will just be like the next chapter in their life together with what could happen next.

I received this ARC from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Profile Image for Jasmine.
999 reviews84 followers
November 13, 2014
**This review will hopefully remain spoiler-free**

Firstly, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Real Time tells the story of a 40-something British rock star who happens to be seeking a new keyboardist for his band. Nick has always been against hiring women, knowing the tabloids would only cause problems for him and his band. All that changes when Kate walks into his studio.

Kate is a 30-something musician who blows Nick away when she proves she can not only play keyboard, but actual piano, as well. Throwing caution to the win, Nick hires Kate to play with his band, setting off a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.

Can Nick stay true to his music career while juggling his new-found desire to be with Kate romantically, and protect her from her past?

Overall, Real Time is a very quick, romantic read. It's also not your typical story of rock stars and insta-love. Nick and his band don't do drugs, barely drink, and definitely don't sleep around. Kate isn't some silly little girl who immediately falls in love with the lead singer of the band because it's the "cool" thing to do.

Kate and Nick take their time building a professional relationship before even considering a romantic relationship. They discuss things, including their pasts, and discover more about one another before moving on to the next step. The way the book is written, it may seem like things progress a lot quicker than they actually do. You just have to keep in mind that time sort of "jumps" in the book, if you will.

The only thing that mildly frustrated me was some of the grammar. I'm a bit fussy about things of that nature, and there were times I had to stop reading to "edit" things in my head before moving on. It didn't happen too often, though.

Kate and Nick are both likeable characters, although I kind of wish they could have been fleshed out a little bit more. Nick's band mates and Kate's parents are also quite likeable. There are a couple of characters who are extremely despicable, and you will not like them.

As for the plot, I thought it progressed nicely, but there were times I wanted to shout, "Hey, slow down! Let's get more story!" I did wish the timeline wasn't written as quickly as it was. But I did enjoy the story.

If you like rock star romances, check out Real Time. It may be a quick read, but it's well worth it. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars total.
Profile Image for Wendy Wright.
236 reviews3 followers
April 23, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised to be able to read The story of a mature Rock band ,
it was really quite refreshing as all the others that I have read have been about young lads and their sexual conquest ,
Nick was the leader of a rock n roll band trying to replace is piano player before him and the rest of the band started on there tour for his new album,
But no matter how many people is interviewed there was not one of them that could read sheet music and play the Piano,
Frustrated Mickey nicks manager gave him the Resume for a woman Kate, she was overly qualified as from early age she had been practising to become A concert pianist , nick was over joyed with the interview and was pleasantly surprised at how talented Kate was,
The only thing that was bothering Nick was that she was a woman and he didn't like to hire woman for his all male band ,
It complicated things like staying in hotels on the tour bus and he knew the press would have a field day being the only woman in all male band,
For years Nick had worked hard to keep himself out of the limelight. And the tabloids,
But for his better judgement nick hired Kate and put the necessary plans in place for her so she could tour with them hassle free,
Nick at gave up on the idea of love it had been over 20 years since he was in any type of relationship so hiring Kate wouldn't bother him in any way and they could keep their friendship on the boss employee basis,
While on tour Kate run in to her ex husband and Nick security team had to step in when Kate's Ex husband went to raise his hand at her,
Nick needed to know the full story of Kate and Her ex husband so he could keep it out of the press, after hearing Kate's story Nick couldn't believe just how much he cared for Kate ,
I loved this story. There was lots of drama in it at every turn , the relationships with all the band members and the security team was brilliantly written and it was a joy to read, I couldn't put this book down and shockingly I found myself Still Reading it at 5 AM in the morning,
Thus has been rated a 5 star read for me has it really didn't make a refreshing change ,
The only thing I didn't like much was that nick called Kate Love all the time and I found it very respective but it didn't put me off this fantastic. Read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara.
594 reviews25 followers
September 8, 2015
This was a fun read of a book, I love that Kate is a classically trained pianist and she ends up touring with this rock star! It was a different take on your typical rockstar romance novel which I think is why I enjoyed it so much. The story was pretty fast paced and had a lot of different things going on to their road to romance including family issues and a crazy ex husband.

Nick has a lot of charm and that little added something that to me always defines a rock star, that kind of pull to them. Even though he is a little bit older it still made him a good male lead for this story. He already knows the ins and outs of being in the music business and so it takes a lot for him to be impressed, and impressed he is with Kate's talent. First falling in love with her ability to bring something new to his tour, then after triggering his protective instinct with the incident in the lobby between Kate and her ex husband leads to their relationship moving more toward friends rather than boss and employee.

Their relationship gradually turns into more and it's a meeting of the minds, like the music and lyrics they make up a perfect melody. I loved the ending of the book the duet was a beautiful moment. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys seeing behind the scenes of what goes on during a music tour and the day to day life of a rockstar.
Profile Image for Julie Gustafson-Monk.
549 reviews
September 17, 2015
Reviewed on Behalf of 2 Girls Who Love Books Blog.

Nick is a rock star and is hiring a new pianist for his band.
He never wanted a female added to his band. But when Kate walks in to audition, she gets hired on the spot. She is extremely talented and well known for her talent.
They spend a lot of time together touring and start to become close to each other. Neither one of them planned on sparks flying.
Kate didn't plan on having a relationship with anyone because of her failed marriage from Kevin. And the same with Nick, he had a horrible experience with his last relationship too.
They fall for each other in a short amount of time but it feels right to Nick and Kate.

Real Time is a breathe of fresh air when it comes to rock star books. The sex between them isn't elaborated. Drugs are only mentioned in a certain situation. Drinking is brought up during a celebration.
I enjoyed this quick read. It was fast paced and very mature.

Nick is a great thought out character. Kate is a woman who knows her own needs and is very independent. They don't need each other but WANT each other.

4 stars!!!
Profile Image for Kat Loves.
223 reviews4 followers
August 28, 2015
Nick is holding auditions for a new piano player for his band because his last one left to be with his family. What he doesn't count on is auditioning a woman and giving that woman the job. Nick has never had a female band member because he doesn't want the media speculation that he is sleeping with her.

Kate has successfully auctioned for the role of piano player in Nick's band. She packs up her life and goes on the 6 month tour with the band. During these 6 months, she discovers that she has feelings for Nick.

Neither Nick nor Kate act on their feelings while on tour. They wait till the tour is finished and they are home before they start a relationship.

While this story starts off as a typical boy meets girl and falls in love story, it soon turns into a story about how this couple deal with life together.

It was very nicely written with small amounts of suspense and drama thrown in to the mix.

I look forward to reading the next instalment to see what this couple will go through next.
Profile Image for Ria Alexander.
2,674 reviews51 followers
September 9, 2015
Nick is a rock star worth meeting!!!

What a brilliant debut novel for author Jeanine Binder - I will definitely be reading more of her books.
Nick Marshall is a forty-five year old rock star, who has been in the business for thirty years. He is extremely successful and is currently looking for a new member for his band - a keyboard player.
Katelyn Thomas is a studio musician looking for something different to do.
Nick hires Kate and from there the sparks fly.
Out on Tour for six months the novel really starts moving. This is a wonderful story, showing how the relationship between Nick and Kate develops and grows.
Jeanine takes the reader on a ride through all emotions ! Discovery of the past, ex spouse's, death, tragedy, marriage and even a chance of forgiveness.
I am so glad I bought this book, the blurb was enough to sell it to me. If you're looking for something more mature than your average twenty year old rock star - this is the book for you.
Definitely a wonderful 5***** read.
Now on to Book Two - Prime Time.
Profile Image for Ani.
256 reviews5 followers
September 30, 2015

I was given an ARC of Real Time in exchange for an honest review.
Real time by Jeanine Binder is out now and available on kindle unlimited for a real bargain it's a 4* book for me.
It's the first book in the Time for Love series following megarock star Nick Marshall and session keyboardist Kate Thomas and their romance. This book isn't a standard rockstar romance full of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll but a sweet emotionally engaging book that made me cry and fall in love with Nick alongside Kate don't get me wrong there are nods to the lifestyle but it is more about surviving fame and the stress of being in the public eye than rock 'n' roll.

As I read the story I didn't know whether I liked Kate or not she was so reserved at first and not the type you would expect to be with a rock god with but they were more similar than you expect. As I reached the end of the book I was rooting for Kate and Nick all the way it's a definite TBR for me as it left me wanting more luckily I have the next in the series waiting to go.

#abfabheather
Profile Image for Christi.
263 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2014
I was given this book by the author for an honest review. I was in need of something different and decided to dig in and read this book. Real time is a quick read. It’s a nice, romantic love story that takes you into the life of a rock star. Amazingly, there isn’t lots of drugs, drinking, or sex. It was refreshing to not read about a young girl or boy who could be immature in just about any situation. Kate and Nick are both mature and always handle the situations given to them the way you want them to. You know what I’m talking about. They talked about any issues that came up, and there was no running from each other. There is plenty of drama throughout the story without any angst, which I definitely enjoyed. This is a fun read that will leave you without a book hangover. Anyone who is looking for a lighthearted quick read will enjoy this.

My Golden Reads Review
Profile Image for Bobbi.
731 reviews22 followers
April 1, 2015
This isn't your typical Rock Star story. Nick is well aged and set in his ways. Hardened by his past and shunned by his father and brothers. In steps Kate, auditioning for pianist and things start to change for the both of them. Kate has had a rough past as well and isn't quite sure about herself and guards her heart to keep from getting hurt all over again. Nick and Kate have a chemistry that they fight in the beginning until a tragic event brings them closer together keeping them from fighting their attraction to each other any further. I love how Jeanine Binder builds the relationship instead of instant love. She made these characters come to life. I would love to read more in this story about the building relationship between Nick and his brother, Trevor. Would also like to get more of a story about his other brother Phillip and see if they can reconcile in any way or just to find out why he treats Nick the way he does.

I received this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Letty  (Cover to Cover Book Blog Reviewer).
650 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2015
This book is different from what I’ve read before in the fact it is about a more mature couple. Nick is a rocker in his 40s and Kate is in her 30s. Working together causes an issue for Nick because he doesn’t want to cross the boss/employee line. Because they are very much attracted to each other, they find a way to make it work.

The story is lighthearted and enjoyable. The main characters have wonderful personalities and even the secondary characters are great. The backstory just added to the overall feel and made it even more touching and sweet. There is not an abundance of sex thrown in, which made it very light with an easy flow.

There is not much drama as the characters are strong and not easily manipulated by outside forces. The book is fast paced and easy to read in one sitting. It is a very wholesome love story that can be read by anyone.
22 reviews6 followers
August 12, 2015
This is a great story with strong characters and personalities that is easy to identify with throughout the book.

Nick is a 40 something musician looking to replace his keyboard/piano player for the next up and coming band tour. He hasn't been impressed with those he has seen and starts to wonder if he will have to go on tour without one or do it himself. Then in comes Kate (a women) not someone Nick would normally consider until he hears her play. There is no question, she will be on tour with them.

Without giving anything away, this a love story with all the trials and tribulations you would expect. Broken marriages, abusive husbands, cheating wives, death and happy endings.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and look forward to future books of Jeanine's.Real Time
Profile Image for The Magic of Books Blog.
285 reviews14 followers
May 16, 2015
RATING: 3.5 Stars

This books is about Kate and Nick. Nick is a famous lead singer and is looking for a new keyboard player that can also play piano. He has never hired a woman before and isn’t really convinced when the last one to show to audition is a woman. In steps Kate. He is swept away by her and before you know it, she has the job. There’s an underlying attraction between them but Nick tells himself that they will only have a professional working relationship and nothing more. Does that happen…absolutely not! I loved a bit of drama and sometimes I found that there wasn’t enough for me. It flowed smoothly but it didn’t have a change in pace for me. I did enjoy the underlying story though and I found it to be a good love story of sorts.
Profile Image for Nardia Barnes.
222 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2015
I received this book on behalf of a kiss down under book blog for an honest review

Ok so this is far from your average rock star romance, gone are the usual sex, drugs and rock roll you would normally come across, now I am not saying this is a bad thing, but this story is what I call a comfy read, no real suspense, very predicable read. The story flowed easily but I found myself constantly wishing things to slow down. What I did love that we were reading a story of people in their 40's, not the usual 20 something's. This book isn't for everyone, but if you want the comfy read, this book is for you.
Profile Image for Cinderella2shoes Wenger.
15 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2014
Review of Real Time
After reading the synopsis, I jumped into reading this original contemporary romance. I enjoyed the fresh story-line, the writing style, and the closure at the end. I have never really given thought to the life a musician might experience. I feel after reading, I've caught a glimpse. She writes the story, Real. The pace of the book was just right. When I finished the book I felt satisfied and thought that was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to my friends to enjoy.
Profile Image for Hooked On Books.
1,887 reviews64 followers
February 9, 2015
Reviewed for Hooked On Books Forever

☆☆☆ 3 Hooked Stars ☆☆☆☆

So... I went into Real Time as a huge rocker novel fan. These always suck me in, but I was shocked when I realized this is totally different. It's about a 40 something rocker who is sick of the rock and roll lifestyle, but needs a new keyboard player. He finds one, but she's not what he expected and now everything is different. I honestly couldn't get into this. The writing is strong and the story is there, for some reason it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Maria Metsikas .
241 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2015
Not your typical rock star story full of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
This is a story based on real and strong, mature characters with real life stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading book 2!
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