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For the Record
Lights, camera, drama!
Levi Johnson, from none other than Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—is convinced he will be the next American Icon, just about the biggest singing competition in the country! The other contestants don’t know what to make of this 6’2” country boy with a southern drawl and a heart full of ambition. He’s there for one reason and one reason to win.
Despite his best efforts, he attracts the attention of one contestant in particular—Tate McGregor. Tate is passionate and down to earth. She’s not here to win; she’s here because she truly loves to sing.
As the competition heats up, so does their chemistry, attracting the attention of other contestants and the producers of the show. As the lines of reality become more and more blurred, Tate and Levi must decide between each other and the title of “Your Next American Icon.”
An upbeat, heartfelt romance perfect for fans of behind-the-scenes drama, witty banter, and love stories that hit all the right notes.
Levi Johnson, from none other than Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—is convinced he will be the next American Icon, just about the biggest singing competition in the country! The other contestants don’t know what to make of this 6’2” country boy with a southern drawl and a heart full of ambition. He’s there for one reason and one reason to win.
Despite his best efforts, he attracts the attention of one contestant in particular—Tate McGregor. Tate is passionate and down to earth. She’s not here to win; she’s here because she truly loves to sing.
As the competition heats up, so does their chemistry, attracting the attention of other contestants and the producers of the show. As the lines of reality become more and more blurred, Tate and Levi must decide between each other and the title of “Your Next American Icon.”
An upbeat, heartfelt romance perfect for fans of behind-the-scenes drama, witty banter, and love stories that hit all the right notes.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2025
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 20, 2026
I totally flew through this one! Oddly, celebrity style romances usually aren't my thing, but this book with the singing competition, fake dating, and rivals to more vibes totally pulled me in. Best of all, faith was even intertwined.
Levi has his sights set on winning the Next American Icon competition, but it’s there he meets Tate. She is very much his opposite, and boy do they grate on each other's nerves in the beginning, but then sparks start to fly and Tate quickly becomes a distraction from his goals. And with cameras rolling, things aren't always what they seem, and sometimes reality TV isn't reflecting reality at all. Tate's end goal never was winning, but using her talent God gave her. Her feelings for Levi feel all too real, but with his focus on winning, the question is, would he choose the competition over them, given the choice?
The back and forth between these two was entertaining. A few times the timeline got a little muddled for me, but that didn't take away from the story. I loved the faith intertwined, but Levi's hot and cold behavior was frustrating at times and made it hard for me to fully enjoy his character. I was totally rooting for these two, and the side characters also were entertaining! I would totally read more books by this author!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
CW: innuendo, steamier kissing scenes, MMC player behavior, alcohol consumption.
Levi has his sights set on winning the Next American Icon competition, but it’s there he meets Tate. She is very much his opposite, and boy do they grate on each other's nerves in the beginning, but then sparks start to fly and Tate quickly becomes a distraction from his goals. And with cameras rolling, things aren't always what they seem, and sometimes reality TV isn't reflecting reality at all. Tate's end goal never was winning, but using her talent God gave her. Her feelings for Levi feel all too real, but with his focus on winning, the question is, would he choose the competition over them, given the choice?
The back and forth between these two was entertaining. A few times the timeline got a little muddled for me, but that didn't take away from the story. I loved the faith intertwined, but Levi's hot and cold behavior was frustrating at times and made it hard for me to fully enjoy his character. I was totally rooting for these two, and the side characters also were entertaining! I would totally read more books by this author!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
CW: innuendo, steamier kissing scenes, MMC player behavior, alcohol consumption.
February 4, 2026
💛🎤✨ ARC Review: For the Record by Kipper J. Lane
⭐ 5/5 Stars for this heartfelt, faith filled, enemies to lovers music romance
For the Record feels like standing backstage with the lights low, heart racing, palms sweaty waiting for your name to be called. Its velvet curtains and stage lights, banana yellow Converse, clinking plates, and harmonies that ache long after the song ends.
🎶 Tate McGregor is twenty one, from New Orleans, and singing has never been about fame. It’s about calling. About worship. About using her gift to serve God in a place that often forgets Him. She walks into America’s biggest singing competition wrapped in beads, faith, and quiet conviction looking like a kaleidoscope in motion.
🎸 Levi Johnson, twenty three, Nashville born and cowboy coded, is there for one reason only: to win. Confidence sharp as a blade. Heart guarded tight. He’s not here to make friends and definitely not here to fall for the girl with copper eyes and sunshine in her laugh. Except he listens to her sing. And everything tilts. What follows is sunshine vs. grumpy cowboy, rivals forced into duets, producers chasing a Johnny and June narrative, and two hearts caught between ambition and something far more dangerous connection.
Levi is flawed, guarded, and human. He panics. He pretends not to care while caring far too much. And Tate? Tate refuses to dim her light for Hollywood, for a title, or for a cowboy. She stands firm in her values, becoming a quiet testimony in a place full of noise.
💛 If you love: 🎤 Enemies to lovers 🤠 Grumpy cowboy MMC ☀️ Sunshine FMC with faith & backbone 🎶 Forced proximity & duets
🌿 Aesthetic Vibe: Half blue half red gummy worms, copper and icy blue eyes locked across a studio, pink rooms full of laughter, cowboy burgers with extra bacon, harmonies that feel like confession.
⚠️ Content Warnings: • Alcohol mentioned • Panic attacks • Mentions of past intimacy (MMC)
📖 Final Thoughts: For the Record is about choosing who you are when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not. It’s about ambition versus calling, love versus legacy, and staying true when it would be easier not to. Tate and Levi’s story hits every right note. 🎶💛
For the Record feels like standing backstage with the lights low, heart racing, palms sweaty waiting for your name to be called. Its velvet curtains and stage lights, banana yellow Converse, clinking plates, and harmonies that ache long after the song ends.
🎶 Tate McGregor is twenty one, from New Orleans, and singing has never been about fame. It’s about calling. About worship. About using her gift to serve God in a place that often forgets Him. She walks into America’s biggest singing competition wrapped in beads, faith, and quiet conviction looking like a kaleidoscope in motion.
🎸 Levi Johnson, twenty three, Nashville born and cowboy coded, is there for one reason only: to win. Confidence sharp as a blade. Heart guarded tight. He’s not here to make friends and definitely not here to fall for the girl with copper eyes and sunshine in her laugh. Except he listens to her sing. And everything tilts. What follows is sunshine vs. grumpy cowboy, rivals forced into duets, producers chasing a Johnny and June narrative, and two hearts caught between ambition and something far more dangerous connection.
Levi is flawed, guarded, and human. He panics. He pretends not to care while caring far too much. And Tate? Tate refuses to dim her light for Hollywood, for a title, or for a cowboy. She stands firm in her values, becoming a quiet testimony in a place full of noise.
💛 If you love: 🎤 Enemies to lovers 🤠 Grumpy cowboy MMC ☀️ Sunshine FMC with faith & backbone 🎶 Forced proximity & duets
🌿 Aesthetic Vibe: Half blue half red gummy worms, copper and icy blue eyes locked across a studio, pink rooms full of laughter, cowboy burgers with extra bacon, harmonies that feel like confession.
⚠️ Content Warnings: • Alcohol mentioned • Panic attacks • Mentions of past intimacy (MMC)
📖 Final Thoughts: For the Record is about choosing who you are when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not. It’s about ambition versus calling, love versus legacy, and staying true when it would be easier not to. Tate and Levi’s story hits every right note. 🎶💛
December 29, 2025
For the Record by Kipper J. Lane blends romance, friendship, and family with a fun music-competition storyline that delivers heartwarming moments alongside thoughtful twists and conflicted emotions that feel deeply human and relatable. As a new mom, the subtle nods to motherhood especially warmed my heart and felt like a gentle reminder that even in life’s chaos, there is beauty, growth, forgiveness, and connection. This book goes beyond a simple girl-meets-boy love story (which I also enjoyed) and ultimately honors the work of healing, showing how growth and wholeness—guided by faith and a good therapist—prepare us for deeper connection.
January 4, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! It was the first one I’ve ever read from this author and it didn’t disappoint! I love how Kipper tied faith into their love story. It was both real & authentic. Levi’s character transformation was one of the biggest highlights of the book for me. I can’t wait to read another book from Kipper this year!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews