From USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa comes a slow-burn, mistaken-identity romance about hidden fame, second chances at life, and the woman who accidentally falls for a rockstar in disguise.
I plan other people’s love stories for a living. Perfect nights. Perfect moments. Perfect control.
So when my guitarist cancels an hour before a high-profile event, I do what any professional would do—panic quietly and pray for a miracle.
Then he walks in.
Late. Soaked from the rain. Incredibly handsome. Unapologetically charming.
A man I absolutely shouldn’t notice.
He plays music like the storm outside taught him how to feel.
He saves the night. And without meaning to, he starts unraveling mine.
I don’t know that he’s a world-famous musician in hiding.
I only know that when he looks at me, the world stops spinning.
I build love stories for other people. It’s chaotic, but it’s always strategic, straight-forward.
But this time, the one falling—hard, fast, and completely unplanned—is me.
There’s no seating chart that can contain, or explain, the storm that is Dexter Vaughn. But maybe his humor, guitars, and big heart is exactly what I need to build my own breathtaking love story.
Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right. When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.
Alyssa is an event planner waiting for the guitarist to show up for a wedding she’s organized, so when a man walks in from the rain, holding a guitar, she assumes it’s the one she’s looking for. From the moment he gets on stage she’s mezmerized, and he re-writes every part of her world with his haunting melodies. For once, the woman who has never trusted people not to leave begins to think someone might stay, but when she finds out his secret, it could change everything.
Dexter never planned to deceive Alyssa, but when she mistakenly assumed he was her late guitarist, he didn’t correct her. And for the first time in over a decade, he got to play for himself, not for crowds or labels or other people’s expectations. In Alyssa he finds the quiet he didn’t know he was searching for, away from the chaos and fame that have been chasing him for longer than he’s been an adult. But his life has never been one for peace, and when the past comes back to claim him, it puts everything in jeopardy, including the one real thing he’s been afraid to let himself feel.
I was given an opportunity to do an early immersive read by the author and I have to say I think it’s my favourite in the series so far. Alyssa is someone who has learned that trust has to be earned, and even then it can be easily broken, so while she is at first shocked when she finds out Dexter’s true identity, she allows herself to trust in what they’ve been building to see where things can lead. Dexter has lived his entire life based on others’ expectations, and the first time he finds something for himself, he refuses to let anyone tear it away. This was a story of love and longing, but also healing from past wounds, and realizing that letting someone hold you through it doesn’t make you weak. The writing is poetry in motion, with every shattered piece of Ally and Dexter creating the most beautiful melody.
Take a wedding planner who mistook a former rockstar for a college kid that was supposed to play at a wedding and you get what happened to Alyssa and Dexter. Dexter, being intrigued by Alyssa, ends up playing at the wedding without disclosing he isn't the college kid that was supposed to play. When Alyssa is hiring a new band for her events Dexter decides to seize the opportunity to play again. While Alyssa and Dexter work together they find themselves drawn to each other. I absolutely loved the start of this book. The scene at the wedding where Dexter was imposing as the college kid was gold! It had me cackling. The way how Alyssa and Dexter grow from strangers to lover is full of twists, humor and vulnerable moments. Alyssa and Dexter felt so cute together, I was rooting for them from the start, it was satisfying to see that they came together in this slow burn romance. I loved the focus on music and the wedding planning setting felt like a unique backdrop for this book. Both characters had healing to do and music played a big part in this. The way this book is written made me laugh out loud more than once.
Audio book 5 stars The audio book is narrated by Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes. They both did an excellent job. Angelina manages to capture Alyssa's strengths, determination but also her vulnerability. While Oscar made Dexter feel like the emotional and rough feeling former rockstar he is. The back and forth between these two is so good. It is as they are in the same room (maybe they where?). Listening to this book adds another dimension to the book and I highly recommend it.
This was such a sweet and genuinely cute read. I had a really nice time with these characters and especially loved the relationship between the main couple. Their chemistry felt natural and easy, and I found myself smiling through so many of their interactions. They were honestly just adorable together, and that was definitely the highlight of the book for me. The story itself was more on the quiet side, and not a whole lot of major or dramatic things happened throughout the plot. If you are looking for something super intense or packed with twists, this probably is not that kind of book. But even without huge exciting moments, I still found it enjoyable because the romance and the emotional connection carried the story well. Sometimes a softer, sweeter romance is exactly what you need, and this fit that mood perfectly. I also appreciated how comforting and easy this book felt to read. It had a cozy vibe that made it really relaxing to settle into, and I ended up finishing it pretty quickly because I genuinely liked spending time with the characters. While I would have loved a little more excitement or tension in the plot, the cuteness of the couple absolutely made up for it. Overall, this was a charming and heartwarming read with a lovable couple that made me root for them from the beginning. A solid 4 stars for the sweetness and the cute romance alone. I enjoyed the audio version as well. Good narrators. So that helped!
Every Shattered Note completely stole my heart. Claudia Burgoa has such a gift for creating characters who feel raw, real, and impossible not to love. From the moment Dexter walked in out of the rain with his guitar in hand, I was hooked. The connection between him and Alyssa felt instant yet deeply emotional, built on quiet moments, vulnerability, healing, and the kind of longing that settles deep in your chest.
Dexter was everything I love in a hero—broken, guarded, haunted by his past, yet so desperate to find peace and something real for himself. Alyssa balanced him perfectly. She was strong without losing her softness, and the way she saw Dexter for who he truly was instead of the image the world created made their relationship even more beautiful.
This story was more than romance. It was about trust, healing, forgiveness, and learning that it’s okay to let someone stay when life has taught you everyone leaves. The writing was lyrical and emotional, almost like poetry wrapped in music, and every scene between Aly and Dex carried so much heart and chemistry. Their love felt tender, aching, comforting, and incredibly real.
I loved the slow-burn build, the emotional depth, the swoony moments, and the way they chose each other even when things became difficult. Claudia Burgoa once again delivered a heartbreakingly beautiful story filled with hope, healing, and love that lingers long after the final page. Easily one of my favorite books in the series.
Disclosure: I received an eARC and ALC of Every Shattered Note from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Claudia Y. Burgoa has crafted a masterclass in the mistaken identity trope with Every Shattered Note. As the third installment in the Heartbreak Mixtapes series, this story is a visceral, high-emotion journey that explores what happens when a professional planner loses the one thing she prizes most: control.
Aly is a character who builds perfect moments for others, but she is completely unprepared for the storm that is Dexter Vaughn. The execution of the deception in this book is brilliant because it isn't rooted in malice, but in a series of assumptions and a desperate need for a second chance at a normal life. Watching Dex and Aly's lives unravel was both heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful.
The chemistry between Dex and Aly is palpable from the moment he walks in, soaked from the rain. Burgoa weaves together a past filled with trauma and a present filled with found family vibes that keep the reader completely immersed. The pacing of their whirlwind romance feels earned, and the transition from strangers to everything is handled with a delicate, expert touch.
The Verdict: Whether you are reading the text or listening to the ALC, this is a 5-star experience. It is a story of humor, healing, and the kind of love that stops the world from spinning. Breathtakingly written and deeply moving.
I received this ARC of “Every Shattered Note” which is an upcoming contemporary romance novel by Claudia Burgoa. It’s the third book in her Heartbreak Mixtapes series. To be honest…. I have not read the first two books, so there could be things in this book from the others that I don’t know about, but it feels like you can read this one as a stand alone.
The story follows a woman by the name of Aly, who professionally plans romantic events and prides herself on staying in control. She meets Dex at a major event where her guitarist cancels at the last minute. He is a mysterious, rain-soaked musician who steps in and saves the evening. What she doesn’t realize is he’s actually a famous rockstar hiding from the spotlight. The romance is a slow-burn, mistaken identity, emotional/heartfelt and a second chance at life and love and as they grow closer, Dex “starts unraveling” her carefully controlled life.
I loved Dex and Aly together and how she kept him calm when he wanted to start spiraling out of control (especially when his half brother tried to twist the truth of events that happened when Dex was 17 just so he could make money and get the attention). The only issue I have is I feel like there was no resolution with the half brother and the tabloids that were coming after Dex other than that I loved this book and give it 4 and 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
** Audio Review ** Swoon! Every Shattered Note by Claudia Burgoa was a sweet and emotional rockstar romance that rocked my heart from start to finish. I couldn’t get enough of Alyssa and Dexter’s opposites-attract chemistry that made these two so easy to love. This may be a new favorite couple from Claudia.
Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes perform this audiobook in duet style narration, and the pairing I didn’t know I needed in my life! Angelina’s sultry, soothing tone captured Alyssa’s workaholic and dedicated persona perfectly. Oscar’s rich, warm timbre encompassed all of Dexter’s conflicted, wounded, and charismatic demeanor, making him simply irresistible. Both narrators were spot on, creating light-hearted, flirty banter layered with sentimental, emotional moments that melted my heart.
Overall, I loved this book. If you are a fan of a rockstar romance with a devoted wedding planner, a rocker with a wounded past, rain soaked meet cute, mistaken identity, witty banter chats, wedding bands, dinner dates, intimate conversations, private planes, vacation getaways, swoony first kisses, he cooks for her, spicy times, scandals, loyal bandmates, love declarations, and a HEA that will make music in your heart, then you will love Alyssa and Dexter’s story. I always look forward to more from Claudia Burgoa.
Every Shattered Note Heartbreak Mixtapes #3 By Claudia Burgoa Narrated by Angelina Rocca, Oscar Reyes
All in for a weekend listen! Claudia Burgoa once again delivers an emotional love story that is impossible to put down. Yes, I lost sleep for this one, I just had to finish! Alyssa and Dexter meet when she mistakes him for the late guitarist for a wedding she planned. And from there it begins. Accusing him of not knowing music, hearing Hall & Oates, not realizing who he is, enjoying his teasing of her, and playing under the radar and the way they support each other are just a few reasons this is so good! Burgoa fills their budding relationship with feelings and passion and just enough humor and angst to keep me captivated. This is a fabulous story and great addition to the series.
Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes are the story tellers for this and they made me fall immediately for this couple. Rocca is Aly, and she brings out all the feels. The independent, scattered businesswoman and the compassionate friend and lover. Reyes as Dex is sweet, confident and and insecure all at the same time. I love their chemistry and the way their voices compliment each other. A fabulous pairing for this story.
What a beautiful story! When Dexter Vaughn, AKA THE Dexter Vaughn, legendary musician and heir to Vaughn Records, a man used to the spotlight, is displaced from his home one rainy night and mistaken for a missing wedding guitarist by a harried wedding planner, he jumps at the chance to be someone else for the night. Only his playing is far beyond anything Aly is prepared for. It stops her mid-step. Aly is a wedding planner used to making things perfect for everyone around her. So perfect that she can ignore her imperfect life. Trust doesn’t come easy for Aly, yet Dex keeps showing up. Over the course of several weddings and retirements, and loads of instant messages, Aly and Dex begin to trust one another. Seeing their relationship bloom was gorgeous. It was layered with music, written as only someone who loves music can. Even when things felt like they were falling apart, the music was constant. The characters’ growth, belief in themselves, and belief in each other made this story worth reading. This is definitely a story for music lovers. If you’re a fan of he falls first, mistaken identity, rockstar romances, with a slow burn, this is for you. I received this as an advanced reader copy for which I’m leaving an honest review.
Every Shattered Note is book 3 in the Heartbreak Mixtapes series and follows Dexter and Alyssa's story.
"Every shattered note of you. Every shattered note you rebuild inside me. I f-in love you!"
As always, Claudia gives us a story that is heartfelt and shows us that you can find love in unexpected ways and places. It's a story thats built on finding who you really are even through the shattered pieces of your life.
Every Shattered Note focuses on healing and allowing yourself to really be seen. Figuring out how to deal with a fallout that wasn't your own and still get everything you want in the end even when you don't think your worthy of it.
Dexter and Aly definitely have their own issues to deal with but together they make the most beautiful song. Learning its okay to seek help and let others be there for you. To help pull you out of that fog you don't think you can escape from.
It's their shattered pieces that fall into place that finally becomes their own song.
Heartbreak Mixtapes #3: Every Shattered Note by Claudia Y. Burgoa is a beautifully written, emotional slow-burn romance that feels like music you don’t want to end. Alyssa, an event planner who builds perfect love stories for others, meets Dexter when he shows up last-minute to save a wedding performance. Soaked, mysterious, and effortlessly magnetic, he plays like he’s pouring his soul into every note—and Alyssa can’t look away. What starts as a mistaken identity quickly turns into something deeper, as their connection grows into a quiet, aching kind of love neither of them expected. Dexter is hiding more than just his name, and Alyssa is used to protecting her heart, but together they create something tender, grounding, and real. The romance is soft, heartfelt, and full of emotional warmth, with chemistry that feels natural and deeply comforting. The writing is lyrical and immersive, and even without constant high drama, the emotional pull between them carries the story beautifully. It’s a story about healing, trust, and letting someone stay when you’re used to them leaving. A touching, cozy, and utterly swoon-worthy romance—like a song you’ll want on repeat.
This is the kind of Claudia Burgoa book that I so enjoy. Intense love and craving, sexy scenes, and troubled characters.
She's a stressed wedding planner, trying to plan the perfect day for her clients. But the brides make it difficult with changing requests, colors, flowers, etc. On the day we meet, Aly is frantically waiting for her guitar player to arrive to the wedding. When Dexter arrives, she mistakes him for the man who lives with his mother and who is "good enough" as a guitar player. Dexter is actually a rock star who had a substance abuse problem and is now recovering. However, his life has been full of issues and he isn't working in music at this time.
When he starts to not only play, but sing, Aly is impressed, but she doesn't recognize him.
They begin flirting and start a friendship that quickly blooms into something else. But his past and his secrets can force them apart.
Loved the story. Loved the chemistry.
Thanks to the author for access to to early versions of the e-book and the audio version. The narrators are wonderful.
I enjoyed the mistaken identity meet cute in this story. Alyssa is busy trying to build a business and Dexter has had almost a lifetime of dealing with being in the public eye. Alyssa brings a spark back into Dexter’s life and gives him something to stay present and fight for. In Chapter 17, Dexter starts writing music again - she's his muse, *dreamy sigh*!
I would put this in the “insta-love” category even though it isn’t physical right away. They are professing some really deep feelings while knowing each other for a few weeks, most of which they don’t even see each other. Time passage is marked by dated email/chat communications.
Every Shattered Note’s audiobook is duet narration and Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes’ breathy delivery brings us the emotion that this story calls for.
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and The Author Agency for advanced reader and listener copies to review.
I loved Every Shattered Note by Claudia Burgoa. This immersive read had everything I want in a softer romance: depth, heartfelt banter, emotional healing, and a selfless kind of love that stays with you long after the final page.
I loved watching both that Alyssa and Dexter slowly find their voice, their passion, and ultimately themselves through each other. I also loved that the story was set in the early 2000s, with so many fun nods to millennial culture woven throughout. It added such a nostalgic layer to the romance and made the entire story feel even more immersive. The nods to the author’s Latino heritage brought so much authenticity and heart to the story, and in the end, we truly got a rockstar romance done right.
And the ALC experience made it even better. The dual narration chemistry was effortless and natural, bringing the emotion, tension, and tenderness to life perfectly.
4.5⭐Every Shattered Note was a sweet meet cute turned into inferno that had hints of heart break, tossed in with so many feels. Because unravelling amid a disaster is not allowed. But when life has stripped you bare and you fell like you’re at a stand still, love comes crashing in when it’s least expected. What unravels is real life versus fairy tale. I could not get enough!
I loved Every Shattered Note! I read the e-book when I could, but mostly let Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes read it to me because these two narrators have made it to my list of favorites. The acting performance was superb and made the amazing story even better. I love the warmth that I was feeling by the end of this story. Because Dexter deserves to finally be free from his past.
Thank you Claudia Burgoa for this ARC and ALC. The above is my own and personal opinion.
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and your team for both the ARC and the ALC.
Doing this as an immersive read was a lot of fun. Both narrators did a fantastic job brining this to life and it was nice to be able to step away from my kindle and do a few things at work without having to pause the story.
This was overall a good book which I enjoyed. My main complaint was how so many things had a mile long description that was borderline sappy. I get it, it's a romance. Just not my vibe.
These two were great together. They banter was nice and how they took a chance and found more of themselves through the other person was refreshing.
I messed up and didn't realize when I signed up this was a series BUT I do plan on reading the first two books.
I’m relatively new to Claudia Burgoa’s books but I’ve been enjoying this series a lot. Every Shattered Note is an emotional story with a mistaken identity and a sometimes-frazzled event planner. The sexy time is hot AF 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. If you haven’t read the other books in this series (I missed the first one) I think you could enjoy this one as a standalone.
Dexter has a history of running from his problems (his family is nasty) but he falls for Alyssa and enjoys the anonymity (she doesn’t know who his really is) and being out of the limelight while performing again. He didn’t intend to deceive her but things just snowballed and then she found out.
This was a great story and the audio performances by Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in this series.
An advanced copy of this book/audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author or narrators.
The author has given us an open but restricted view to who Alyssa, the event planner and Dexter the rocker are. Given the chance to sing, Dexter captivates Alyssa with his timeless voice. It seems they are both captivated by the other. Descriptive scenes are many and the visuals are presented as in real time. Music is the backbone for Dexter, it is all he knows and knows it well. Every shattered note applies to them both as we the reader sees the pieces come together. A slow build to what neither thought they could ever have. This is pure poetry in motion with each page turned. Quiet is what they both embrace, far removed from the lives they live. Claudia Burgoa has hit her mark front and center with this read.
This is the third book in this series however it can be read a a a stand alone, I know this because it is exactly what I did.
I read this one only having read the blurbs of the previous two books, I think it helped to provide a view of the relationship dynamics but wasn’t critical to the storyline. I am going back to read the previous two books because I’m going thats my personal preference.
My favourite part of Claudia’s books is the large correspondence aspect between the MC’s. In the case of this book, the MC’s correspond by email and personal messenger systems. I love this aspect of Claudia’s books and I think it builds the relationship between the MC’s in an easily relatable format
Every Shattered Note, book 3 of Heartbreak Mixtapes series, written by Claudia Burgoa. This is a swoony, sneaky, sweet and secret story that will have you smiling! When he walks in and gets mistaken for someone else, the fire starts to burn. He is in disguise but soon realizes that he can’t hide his heart from her. She is stressed out and trying to make everything perfect. A rockstar in disguise in need of a muse is just what she is looking for, whether she knows it or not. Dexter makes her heart sing and she is the key for her problems time and time again. Will she trust him once the truth comes out? Join me and share the story of Alyssa and Dexter as they write their own melody. 5 beautiful stars!
Every beautiful broken man in this series just keeps getting better and better. I fall in love with each of them a little more than the one before and the women who love them..... wow, the chemistry between them is feels so right and so perfect, yet so fragile and delicate. Dex and Aly just might be my favorite so far; until we see what Alec brings. The characters, and the backstories that made them who they are, are so well written; it's heartbreaking to see what they went through, but they wouldn't be the same without the angsty history, and it would make the finding of love not so powerful.
If Claudia writes a book, I have to read it. Or in this case, listen to it! The narrator’s choice was perfect, once again, and I really enjoy it when it’s a duet! Angelina Rocca and Oscar Reyes both did an amazing job!
Every Shattered Note is a beautiful story about trust, love, and healing. Dexter is broken and haunted by his past, but he is looking for peace and something real. From the moment he meets Alyssa, their connection is full of emotion and possibilities. This book is about choosing each other, even when life is hard.
Claudia Burgoa delivers another beautiful, emotional story filled with love, hope, and healing that you won’t forget. I also love her way with words and the depth of her characters.
This is an absolutely amazing story about a man who cannot get away from his family's legacy. The past keeps getting in his way, media constantly keeps interfering with his life just to make a few bucks from bad publicity. Dexter has tried to keep things on the down low, so much he runs into a woman who has no idea of his popularity. She learns to know him for who he is as a person, not who everyone makes him out to be. This is an emotional, yet truly amazing eye opening, life affirming for both of them. Can two people find each other, when they were never looking? Beautiful story ❤️.
I absolutely loved this book by Claudia! This is book 3 of a delightful series Heartbreak Mixtapes. Dexter is a musician who has happens to be in the right place to meet Alyssa an event organiser who mistakes him for someone who’s meant to play at a wedding she is organising. He falls first but with drama unfolding around them, they have some serious problems. Dex is so swoony and Aly was perfect for him. I was hooked from the start with this well written book. Once again Claudia has dazzled me with a fabulous couple and story line. I received this book as an arc for my honest opinion.
A heartbreakingly beautiful story. It takes the right person to come along for us to truly become the best version of ourselves. I adored Dex so much and loved his evolution to become the man he needed to be. Alyssa was perfection and class. The way she supported Dex through his trauma was inspiring. Their dedication to each other and the way they worked together instead of running when things got hard was wonderful. I loved every page of this book.
I listened to this book as an ALC. I was not paid for this review. This was a soft place to land. With the trauma that the two shared, even though it wasn’t the same; they helped each other one through it. The voice actors were beyond words, they fit the book perfectly. Thank you for allowing me to listen to this. This is a new author to me and she can really write a love story.
Dexter is such a heartthrob but they way he loves is so beautiful and you can see it through the song he wrote to Alyssa. The way he worries about her being stressed and overworked is such a green flag. It was a slow burn romance but it was fun to read.It was the perfect weekend read for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this book so well written I thought it could be me I’m so looking forward to the next one I’m so glad I have a ticket to ride cause this book is worth it