“Top Pick! … This excellent take on the celebrity-and-normal-person romance moves at a fast clip while satisfying at every turn.” — RT Book Reviews Magazine
Los Angeles-based stylist Nico Takahashi loves his job—or at least, he used to. Feeling fed up and exhausted from the cutthroat, gossip-fueled business of Hollywood, Nico daydreams about packing it all in and leaving for good. So when Grady Dawson—sexy country music star and rumored playboy—asks Nico to style him, Nico is reluctant. But after styling a career-changing photo shoot, Nico follows Grady to Nashville where he finds it increasingly difficult to resist Grady’s charms. Can Nico make his peace with show business and all its trappings, or will Grady’s public persona get in their way of their private attraction to each other?
This author has always been on my feed but this is my first book by her. Broken Records was a pleasant read with interesting characters, but didn't leave much of an impression.
What I liked: -The writing. It was really good although the third person present tense took some getting used to. -The steamy bits. -The secondary characters, especially Nico’s family were interesting enough. -There was some relationship angst and a brief separation which works well for me most times.
What I didn’t like: -Nico acted like an immature kid sometimes. I hate it when characters just leave without even leaving a note or jump to conclusions and throw hissing fits. And Grady just stood there and take everything Nico threw at him. -We never got Grady’s POV and he felt somewhat one dimensional because of that. I couldn’t believe he actually wanted to leave music for Nico.
Nico Takahashi has seen it all, and done little of it. He's a behind-the-scenes guy, styling B-list clients who mostly drive him cuckoo. With his partner Gwen, he works crazypants hours and has built a good reputation. Good enough to draw in Grady Dawson--insanely gorgeous country music sensation, and noted flagrant bisexual. Grady is delicious, and Nico is a veritable starving man. When Grady pours on all his southern charm, poor Nico's a goner.
But.
Yeah, it's tough falling for a guy who is hounded by fans and lives in the limelight that Nico abhors. He's fixed up with placid, nice guys all the time, and experienced none of the passion that one of Grady's smiles inspires. They are open and honest with each other, and go into a physical relationship with lust-filled eyes, yet Nico's feet get frozen the second he gets identified in the tabloids and fan forums. Nico would normally walk away...if only Grady wasn't such a great guy. Grady's had it rough, and Nico doesn't want to be yet another somebody who disappoints him. Nico can't function in the spotlight. He can't, and Grady soon learns he doesn't want to go this long road alone.
I really liked this one. Nico's a bit prissy, admittedly, and he's bowled over by Grady's genuine personality. He begins to crave Grady's approval and their incendiary passion, but really struggles with the celebrity aspects of being the lover of a star. Nico doesn't want their life to be tabloid fodder, and there's the issue of Grady being bisexual--and continually paired with an industry darling, Clementine. Some of their fans are pretty vociferous regarding the desires of a match, there.
Nico tells this story, and I think he tells it honestly. He's never had a relationship and he's as easily overwhelmed by Grady's generosity as by his celebrity. They are well-matched in so many personality aspects; It's a bit Notting Hill, in that respect. Two people with different backgrounds who strike a match together. I liked the culture clash--Nico's American, of Japanese descent--and Grady's a country boy, raised in a trailer in the shadow of Nashville. While he and Grady are different people, with different experiences, Nico doesn't want to be "an exotic;" he's as American as any other native, and he makes that clear when they go out for sushi. Grady's all "How do you eat this?" and Nico tells him "Pick it up and stick it in your face hole." I had to laugh.
There is a lot of pondering on Nico's part. How to life the half-life of being a celebrity partner. How to exist after feeling the depth of Grady's affection, and knowing that he was falling hard for the soulful singer. There are reunions and separations and a well-resolved plan to bring these two together. It's a good story with interesting characters and excellent sexytimes. I liked Nico, a lot, and I wanted Grady to leap off the page into my waiting hands. Yep. I got smitten. I hear there's a sequel planned, and I'll definitely follow up with another book.
Broken Records was utterly enjoyable. It’s wordy and descriptive, has a specific flow to the phrasing, and manages to be both poetic and dirty. It was the book that I could just sit and read effortlessly page after page.
Nico’s career is going great as he styles some of the hottest celebrities. He loves his work for the most part, but he’s completely exhausted. He sees a magazine shoot of Grady just moments before the man enters his office unexpectedly and that’s about all it takes for them both to fall hard and fast.
When these guys first get together, Nico tries to resist. There is the distance for one thing and there is the matter of the tabloids exploiting Grady for being seen with numerous dates, both male and female, with one female singer in a more regular rotation. Then there is also the matter of Nico’s self esteem. He styles the hottest celebrities, yet he wears his own clothes as armor secretly thinking he is not good enough. But when he first gets his hands on Grady, Nico knows immediately that it’s different.
Time passes quickly in this book much like life. The entire book has a dream-like quality that flows and ripples and it’s the atmosphere of the book that stayed with me after the last page. In addition to all of that, this book has entertaining inner dialogue, all nighters, flavored condoms, M&Ms, laughter, and love. Even better is that this is the start of a series and I am definitely ready for more.
I've read every one of Suzanne's books and they're all fantastic, but this is definitely her best. And there's more to come!!
I love that this book is solely from Nico's point of view. I don't think I read too much of that in romance nowadays and I don't know that it would necessarily work for every book. As an author, holy hell is that hard to pull off! Kudos to Suzanne. But I loved being inside Nico's head for the duration of this ride. Nico is so loveable, even when he's being stubborn or doing things that make me SIDEEYE HIM SO HARD. God bless that man.
I am also in love with Grady. In love. He just needs hugs and snuggles and attention. I volunteer as tribute. He's harder to know in some ways because we don't get his point of view -- but where I think Suzanne really characterizes masterfully -- there are times when I felt like it was easier to know or access Grady than Nico from inside Nico's head.
I loved reading a story about two about men who are trying to reconnect with personal passions (career-wise) because they've gotten lost somewhere along the way.
I loved Broken Records. I started reading it while waiting for my partner to join me for dinner, and by the time she arrived I was ready to tell her that she could come back in a couple hours when I was done! (I didn’t, though, and we wound up having a lovely dinner–but I couldn’t wait to get back to this book.)
Lives in the spotlight are always fascinating for those of us on the outside, and Nico and Grady’s were no exception. Though not technically in the spotlight at the beginning of the book, Nico is close enough on the sidelines that he’s brushed by it. Grady, on the other hand, is a fully-fledged star, and it was fun to watch their two lives intersect. As someone who’s a fan of the TV show Nashville, I loved that Lilah Suzanne didn’t keep the pair in LA, but let Nico and us readers make the trek out to Tennessee.
The scenes between Nico and Grady in Grady’s home were as soft and intimate as I’d hoped, and were by far my favourite of the book. I loved being able to see these two men interact on their own, and their sexual chemistry was lip-bitingly delectable. I’m so glad that this is just the first book in a series, because I can’t wait to read more!
Also I 100% have a crush on Gwen, Nico’s business partner, and I am really excited that she’ll be a big part of the sequel ;)
I received an ebook of this novel through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
Adult romance is a very tricky genre for me. This is entirely a me thing, because it just very quickly rubs me the wrong way. But I wanted to give this a try since I've enjoyed other books by this publisher, and it's LGBTQ+. And I'm quite glad I did!
I was drawn into this book from the very first page, and I enjoyed it so much. It's exactly what I would want from a romcom. It's fast-paced and funny, and I especially liked how detailed the writing was. This made for a very atmospheric read. And the main character is just amazing, I loved him a lot.
I did think the book could have done with more communication between the main character and the love interest, because this was mostly left until the end, while I thought it was quite necessary earlier on in the story as well.
Rep: gay Japanese MC, bisexual love interest, f/f couple
CWs: graphic sex scenes, addiction, alcohol consumption, hospital visit, mention of a panic attack
*copy provided to bayou book junkie by the author/publisher via Pride Promotions in exchange for an honest review*
Celebrity fashion stylist, Nico meets Country music star, Grady when Grady barges into his office requesting help for a photo shoot.
I liked the story. I adored the MC's, but I just didn't care for the authors writing style. There was too much detail given. I don't need to be told every step the character takes. "He got out the car, closed the door, pressed the lock button, headed up the limestone walkway to the purple wooden door". I completely understand some people love this much detail, but I don't. I find myself wanting to skim the description and get to the physical story.
I loved the characters and story, but I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
I'll happily admit that I love Lilah's style—easy, free-flowing, real. There's a charm to her writing that reminds me a little of Nora Ephron, and it's alive and well in Broken Records, a story of reluctant love at the intersection of Hollywood glamor and the Nashville country music scene.
Wow! I loved this book. Suzanne's writing is lyrical and romantic without veering into purple prose. The sex was incredibly hot but also served to further the story, which is rare in this genre. I think it's safe to say I'll read the entire series.
It’s a damn good thing Lilah Suzanne has already committed to writing at least one other novel in this series, because I am definitely not ready to say goodbye to Grady Dawson and Nico Takahashi. These two amazing men got under my skin almost immediately, and their stories, both separately and together, really took a hold of my heart.
A sharp-tongued, guarded, and independent man, Nico is a talented Los Angeles based celebrity stylist. When country music superstar Grady Dawson asks for his help with an upcoming event, Nico is immediately attracted to the man, but put off by his less-than-wholesome reputation. He agrees to help for a single event, but its success prompts Nico to take a chance on working with Grady again. It’s not long before Nico and Grady’s connection brings them together, and I felt myself yearning for this almost as much as they did.
While Nico and Grady’s road to relationship bliss is relatively angst-free, they do face a couple of barriers, due primarily to Nico’s insecurities about his worthiness and Grady’s rumoured involvement with a female superstar. Suzanne weaves in a very socially relevant subplot of being on the receiving side of fandom attention, from the perspective of both the man experiencing the fame, and the man who inadvertently finds himself involved in this very public existence that he didn’t sign up for.
I fell in love with both men, albeit in different ways, and it would be impossible to imagine them not completely falling in love with each other. I so much enjoyed the glimpses I got into Grady’s headspace – that Nico wasn’t privy too – and Grady’s early on implied commitment to Nico was actually squeal-worthy.
What I love most about this story is how both Nico and Grady came alive visually in my brain, and emotionally in my heart. The detailed focus on fashion that was shown in every outfit Nico chose for both himself and Grady, as well as for the women in Nico’s life, was so fun and made the novel even more boldly visual. I couldn’t stop picturing the two men in my mind, and daydreaming about all of the character’s looks.
While I was very attracted to Nico’s fashion career, I was not particularly enthusiastic about the country music aspect of the novel prior to reading it. However, I quickly realized that while music is clearly a large part of Grady’s life and soul, that theme isn’t so much about the genre as it about the intrinsic emotion of the music and the outlet that it provides Grady. Country music lovers will be satisfied, while others like myself will find that the music is generic enough to fit in with anyone’s taste. Not to mention that Grady’s bandmates are a blast!
As with Lilah Suzanne’s last two books, this story has such a graceful flow to it and excellent pacing. Her gift for comedy brings a playful tone to the story, and both the heart-stirring romance and the scorchingly hot sex are actually inspiring.
I am so much looking forward to the next installment in Suzanne’s Spotlight series (and hoping to see some discussion of Grady’s bisexuality!), as I know my love affair with Nico and Grady, as well as with Nico’s friends Gwen and Flora, will continue to blossom as much as their love affair with each other will.
I was so excited to get the opportunity to be an advance reader for Broken Records, the first book in the new Spotlight series by Lilah Suzanne. Having read her two previous novels Pivot and Slip and Spice, I was definitely looking forward to diving into another romance. From the title I expected a story along the line of your standard country song, filled with romance and heartbreak that captures the emotion of the reader. However this novel went deeper into the true heart and soul of country, and I found myself becoming more invested in her characters than I ever expected.
“What is it like, Nico wonders, to be loved by millions of people and still be lonely?”
The novel is told from the point of view of Nico Takahashi, a celebrity stylist who is accustomed to the grit behind the glamor of the LA celebrity scene. As talented as he is, Nico finds himself less and less inspired by his life and career. I found myself as cautious as Nico when Gwen, his partner in fashion, tells him that country star Grady Dawson is a potential client. Playboy and country music may not seem like a typical combination, but we soon learn that Grady is known for his rumored romantic connections just as much as (if not more than) his unique and original sound. Nevertheless, Nico takes on the job and an eventful trip to Nashville leaves him with artistic inspiration and the pride of a styling job well done. There’s just one problem…Nico can’t get Grady out of his mind. Discovering the man behind the famous musician in the magazines alongside Nico was a wonderful experience, despite the looming worry that something will bring their too-good-to-be-true connection tumbling down. After all it’s one thing to provide the fashion for stars that have fans and gossip sites buzzing, it’s another to be a cause of a story yourself…
Lilah writes all of her characters very well, a prime example being that I became invested in everyone’s story, from the troubled teen that is the first of Nico’s clients to be introduced to Gwen’s frustrated wife. My only regret in this respect was that the novel length didn’t allow for even more development. Here’s hoping we see more of them in the next book in the series! Grady is so swoon-worthy that I found myself falling for him just as fast as any of his fanbase. “It’s no wonder that half the damn world wants a piece of Grady Dawson,” Nico observes, and any reader of this novel will be inclined to agree. As sweet and romantic as Nico and Grady’s story is, these elements are well balanced with erotica as hot as Nashville’s music scene.
Nico knows more than anyone else that those in the public eye wear a mask, a persona they sell to fans and cameras every day. He makes his living perfecting that persona. So can he truly trust Grady and separate the truth from the lies? Can Grady overcome Nico’s cynicism about the business that is so central to both of their lives? Or will their time together be reduced to “a night he will not forget for a very long time. But it’s over. And that’s that.”
Whether country music is your go-to station or not, this sweet and sensual romance is a must read. Find out for yourself what happens when you blur the line between professional and personal by getting Broken Records!
Broken Records by Lilah Suzanne is the first book in a series called Spotlight. Since I’m quite fond of bylines involving music, particularly country music, I figured this book would be a good fit.
The story is told from the point of view of Nico Takahashi. Nico is a well-known celebrity stylist working in Los Angeles, where he’s approached by country music star Grady Dawson, who’s looking to change up his style. There’s instant attraction on Nico’s part, but he’s reluctant to let his attraction interfere with the business relationship. Grady entices Nico to come to the CMA awards in Nashville, and over a week’s time they progress from a professional relationship to a personal one.
THE STYLIST/ROCK STAR RELATIONSHIP WAS A UNIQUE ELEMENT
The storyline was smooth and flowed neatly from one scene to the next. I was certainly interested in seeing how Nico and Grady’s relationship would pan out, especially in regards to Nico’s fear of being in the media’s spotlight and Grady’s bisexual, bad boy nature. Once the boys finally get together the sex scenes were a lot of fun and very realistic, with laughter and commentary and emotion.
I found myself enjoying the author’s writing style. I usually find repeating words for emphasis overly dramatic, and the technique worked here. But, overall, I found that the writing itself was choppy, with quite a few technical and grammatical errors. The story could have ended at one point and I would have been satisfied, yet the author choose to give us a viewpoint two years later. It was a nice touch.
THE SEX SCENES WERE A LOT OF FUN AND VERY REALISTIC
Some additional notes – I usually read the back matter after the story is over. Author bios and upcoming works are wonderful, but I was seriously thrown by the discussion questions at the end. A book club book? That was surprising enough, but the few questions I read were teenager-ish in nature. This is no young adult novel. There is very real, very graphic sex here. I’d rather have not seen that at the end of this story.
Broken Records was an interesting read with humor, angst, and bits of Japanese culture, with the plausible life of a bisexual country music star thrown in. The stylist/rock star relationship was a unique element, and definitely lent a helping hand to the ratings, along with realistic viewpoints and scenarios.
In the spotlight, two unlikely men will meet and have to overcome the greatest obstacles to find each other
Los Angeles-based stylist Nico Takahashi loves his job—or at least, he used to. Feeling fed up and exhausted from the cutthroat, gossip-fueled business of Hollywood, Nico daydreams about packing it all in and leaving for good. So when Grady Dawson—sexy country music star and rumored playboy—asks Nico to style him, Nico is reluctant. But after styling a career-changing photo-shoot, Nico follows Grady to Nashville where he finds it increasingly difficult to resist Grady’s charms. Can Nico make peace with show business and all its trappings, or will Grady’s public persona get in the way of their private attraction to each other? (Goodreads Blurb)
If there’s anything I’ve come to learn to appreciate in 2015, it’s how tempting and decadent two men finding each other irresistible have become. Lilah Suzanne’s Broken Record’s is one that needs to be mentioned simply because her two leading men are the types you never would have expected to see or feel their attraction: the star and the makeup/fashion artist; an unlikely pair to say the least. These men learn what it means to trust each other in a business where sexuality sells and the tabloids thrive on the slightest evidence of trouble in paradise, and what it means to live in the limelight and in the safety of each other’s arms. As a first time reader of Lilah Suzanne’s, I must freely admit that when I read the blurb, I was more than intrigued and wanted to know more about the author – however, I refused to do any research or read any review to avoid being swayed by other’s opinions. I was only too happy I did as such since my experience was more appealing, captivating, enticing and especially decadent. Ilah Suzanne is one author I would love to continue to follow in the future. . **Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and reviewed by Kathleen for Alpha Book Club**
Broken Records was a wonderful read. It's a lovely romantic tale that tells the story of Nico and Grady. They come from very different backgrounds, but end up in the intertwined worlds of fashion and music.
Lilah offers rich descriptions of what the characters wear as it speaks to their personalities, while the music speaks to their hearts. Oh and I loved Grady's hobby. So cute! But you have to read the story to find out what it is!
If you're a fan of Lilah's previous two novels, then Broken Records is a must read. If you're new to her writing, she crafts stories that tug at your heartstrings, have dumb boys in love that make you swoon, and interesting supporting characters that enrich the world of these stories.
And I'm really happy there's going to be more Nico and Grady and Gwen. It will be interesting to see where Lilah takes this series!
I really really enjoyed this book. The characters were so loveable! I absolutely adored Grady, who despite being a HUGE celebrity, was down to earth and grounded.
Meanwhile Nico has to deal with all that comes with falling for a celebrity... the fans, the invasion of privacy, the rumors, etc.
I will say that I didn't care for what tipped Nico over the edge, I thought it just seemed a bit forced, but I loved the way he handled it.
I haven't read this author before, but I'd be willing to read more of her because I was sucked into the story and connected with the men and could easily follow the plot with her smooth writing style.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Four Great Stars! Nico is working in the tough entertainment industry. He feels burnt out and exhausted. Grady is a hot sexy playboy Country music singer who meets Nico. Nico has a difficult time avoiding Grady's sex appeal and follows him to Nashville. Will the two of them finally give in to their attraction? The story flows and is an easy read. This is book one of the Spotlight Series.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.
It probably helped that before I read this, I'd finished a Nashville viewing binge.
It was almost too easy to envision Grady Dawson as played by actor Chris Carmack. That made the sex scenes pretty hot!
Nico also had an easy-to-place look, and I liked that he's a bit of a jerk. The funny parts about fashion and style were lighthearted. And the conflicts were a bit too easily solved. But it made for fun reading, with several very funny moments.
I'm happy to see that this is part of a series because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to all of those characters. Now I can be looking forward to the next book.
I really enjoyed this a lot. I adore Ms Suzanne's writing style and after having read her previous works I trusted her to once again introduce me to charmingly flawed and human characters I'd want to be friends with, and I was not disappointed.
I've been waiting to read this book since I read a snippet in the back of another Interlude Press book. I'm a sucker for stories with famous characters. Either way, I was excited to see that there was an MC who was a POC. I enjoyed this book and characters very much and can't wait to read the next one!
I enjoyed this story very much. All the characters were well developed and appealing. The two main characters' romance was lovely as well as well written. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.
This was well written and flowed well but the romance lacked any sort of emotional build-up. For the most part I had no idea what either of the characters, be it love interest or protagonist, were feeling or what they wanted from each other, and they didn't seem to think it necessary to talk about it to each other either. Similarly the drama/conflict came out of nowhere and felt out of place, without backup from the characterization. Would have benefitted from less sex scenes and more focus on the feelings of the characters.
Lilah Suzanne became a somewhat unexpected favourite of mine in 2015. First I loved Spice, then I got ridiculously psyched about Broken Records (like, stalking the postman level of psyched), even if the premise filled me with some doubt – not about Lilah Suzanne’s abilities but about my ability to remain enthusiastic about a story focusing on fashion and country music, two fields which don’t interest me that much on the best days. Oh well.
Okay, so I still couldn’t care less about country music, but I do care a lot about Nico and Grady, the two protagonists of the novel. Especially Nico – I still need to get used to Grady’s aggressive cheerfulness. (But I like hugging and knitting, so it’s not a hopeless case!) The famous-person-falls-in-love-with-not-so-famous-person plot in itself is such a tired trope, but Broken Records is anything but tired: Nico and Grady’s story is only partly about falling in love, the more important bit comes after – that falling in love is rarely enough. Love in itself doesn’t guarantee a happy ending of any kind, you need to put in a lot of work, and sometimes even that is not enough, sometimes what you need is perhaps a lucky chance to overcome all sorts of difficulties. I really appreciate this sober and realistic approach in a romance novel – and don’t worry, it’s not all seriousness and cold reasoning to please grumpy readers like, the novel is all kinds of fun and hot and very smart, and I didn’t even mind the country music stuff. I and my postman are looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
Broken Records was ok. I was hoping it would be as good as Spice, but no such luck.
Grady, a country music star, sees Nico, a celebrity stylist, at an event and hires Nico to work with him. Nico is instantly attracted to Grady and agrees. He cuts Grady's hair and styles him away from cliche country to a more sophisticated country look. The morning after they go out on a date, Nico has an unfortunate conversation with Grady's nasty assistant, Spencer. Spencer confirms the worries Nico already has about having a relationship with Grady and Nico bolts without saying goodbye or leaving a note. After missing Grady like crazy for a while, Nico flies to where Grady is staying that night.
There's a little more plot, but not much. Tbh, there doesn't need to be a lot of plot; Spice was great and it was just the story of two guys falling in love. My biggest problem with this book is that Grady was just too perfect. He was gorgeous, super talented, forgiving, great in bed, everyone loves him, and he even visits children's wards in hospitals on his days off. It was a bit much for me.
There's a second book about Nico's partner Gwen and her marriage to Flora with Grady and Nico's relationship problems as the subplot. The third book returns to focusing on Grady and Nico.
Interesting reading experience. I was drawn right in, the waffled in and out throughout, but couldn't put it down. The persistent present-tense was somewhat off-putting, like an ongoing commentary. Yes, it's Nico's POV, but in third person present-tense, which means a lot of verbs ending in "s" and that's kind of an issue when you keep noticing it while reading.
There's also a lot of sex (well-written), once the guys give in to their mutual attraction. It's not quite "sex is the story," but in a way it is the story, because their intense physical attraction is what leads them to stick it out in a difficult situations, and admit that there's a lot more going on between them. They are both such genuinely good people. Even though both Nico and Grady have a hard time seeing that quality in themselves, they recognize it in each other and are drawn to it.
This is a deeper story than I expected. It's a sensitively written story of what it's like to attempt a relationship with someone whose fame has lead them to being treated as "public property."
Nico's business-partner and friend, Gwen, and her wife are well-drawn. And although the MCs' family members and histories don't take up too much of the narrative, they give us some a strong sense of the MC's backgrounds. There's potential for a sequel.
Nico's wardrobe "menus" for himself and others were delicious. I was convinced that the superficial may indeed be elevated to an art. :)
Having read all three in this series, I have to say I loved the story as a whole. I absolutely adored Nico and Grady. Their story, mainly focused on in books 1 and 3, really stole my heart. But, saying that, I also enjoyed Flora and Gwen's book, and also the 'add ons', kindly provided by Ms Suzanne.
All of the books contains good writing, solid editing, fun/funny, witty characters and ultimately lots of love & romance. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between the Grady and Nico. It made their falling in love part so much more real.
Nico was a little over snarky with Grady at times, but I came to realise that's what he was about, and often covered up his deeper feelings with said snark. Grady was an unexpected delight. What a guy, such a sweetheart, and so vulnerable. I'd love me a Grady in my life! There is some angst in the book, but I could understand Nico's situation and it takes a 'come to Jesus' moment on his part to realise he's got to give Grady a chance.
By the third book the understanding between each other is beautiful. This is a beautifully written story that moves quickly. I read the three books in one go, I didn’t want to stop reading until I got what I came for. A fabulous happy ever after ending.
Throughout there was strong character development letting us share the story with the characters, becoming invested in their stories. A definite keeper.
Sweet romance between Nico, stylist to celebrities, who is asked to style country singer Grady Dawson for a photo shoot because he is trying to change his image. Sparks fly between the two and eventually Nico finds himself in Nashville styling Grady for the Country Music Awards. Grady and Nico are like night and day but they manage to find some common ground and the really like each other. Enough to spend the night together. Then Nico realizes that they are much to different to have any kind of relationship and flees to LA. But has second thoughts. He really liked Grady and felt like Grady liked him too.... SO one drunken night when his assistant is staying at his house he texts Grady from her phone and fins out where he is. And goes to him. And they reconnect. Evreything is not all sunshine and roses for Grady and Niko but they try to work it out. This is a sweet love story between a super famous country star with a bad boy rep bi-sexual and a quiet stylist who shuns the spotlight. I really enjoyed this story and will look for others by the same author. Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!
wavering between 3-4* here, but I'll bump it up for "it's not the book, it's me" reasons - there is A Lot of sex in A Lot of detail in this novel, and at some point I hit a limit and was skimming those scenes impatient to get back to the talking. So...not so much a flaw with the book as a hint that I'm apparently picky about the ideal number of pages dedicated to the naughty parts.
But the story was a good one - I really enjoyed how down to earth it was amid the Romancelandia (and Hollywood/Nashville) fantasy. There's a bit of drama and a big gesture or two, but even at those moments the characters are mostly doing the respectful, reasonable thing of sorting out their own baggage and talking things through. And watching Nico be great at his job was lovely (and made me covet fancy clothes...). There are a couple really sweet, wise moments in here that will stick in my mind for sure.