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Behind the Curtain
Cultures clash and passion ignites in the novel that will leave you begging for more—from the bestselling author of The Affair and Looking Inside. There’s something about this woman… On a break between overseas jobs, journalist Asher Gaites returns to his hometown of Chicago—and allows his friends to persuade him to check out a hot new singer. At a downtown jazz club, he’s soon transfixed by the lyrical voice and sensuous body of a woman who performs behind a thin, shimmering veil... …That could bring a man to his knees. The veil gives Moroccan-American Laila Barek the anonymity she needs since she has never been able to reconcile her family’s values with her passion for music. But one man is inexplicably drawn to her. And when Asher confronts her on a subway platform after a gig, he’s shocked to recognize the woman who walked away from him nine years ago... Laila has never been able to forget the touch, the feel, the taste of Asher. And despite the doubt and fear that wind their way into their lives, they must trust the heat of their desire to burn down the walls the world has placed between them…MATURE AUDIENCE
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
59 people are currently reading
868 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kery
186 books2,696 followersBeth Kery is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of over thirty novels, novellas and serials. She writes contemporary romances as well as erotic contemporary romances, her hallmarks being emotional intensity, leap-off-the-page realistic characters and steamy sexual tension.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 30, 2018
Review available at Under the Pages.
June 25, 2017
**5 stars**
This story was captivating. The writing was engaging and I was immersed in Laila and Asher from the opening chapter on. Scene after scene, and page after page, it was only getting better and better. I loved both Laila and Asher. They were amazing together. And, oh my, all those hot, steaming hot, scenes. I love them all. Please give it a go, I promise you it’s worth it!
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5
This story was captivating. The writing was engaging and I was immersed in Laila and Asher from the opening chapter on. Scene after scene, and page after page, it was only getting better and better. I loved both Laila and Asher. They were amazing together. And, oh my, all those hot, steaming hot, scenes. I love them all. Please give it a go, I promise you it’s worth it!
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5
March 6, 2017
Behind the Curtain is a beautiful second chance romance that I thoroughly enjoyed--I even got a bit emotional and teared up at the end!
The story is told partly in flashback from the time Asher (now 30) and Laila (27) first met 8 years ago while both were vacationing at lakeside Crescent Bay, Michigan. Laila and Asher had an instant physical connection--like being struck by a thunderbolt--and it was just a matter of time before they were involved in a sizzling summer romance. But Laila's age, her faith (Muslim), her heritage (Moroccan), and her ties to her family would get in the way of a future with Asher. Her parents would never approve of Laila 'seeing' a white man who was not of their faith or country. Asher tries to understand but gets frustrated. He doesn't have the same close family ties that Laila has. In fact, his relationship with his cold, often calculating parents who want him to join the family publishing empire is often strained. Asher is determined to make a name for himself on his own, and has lined up a job that could lead to a career as a foreign correspondent. Laila is still in college, taking courses that her family approves of. Her passion though is to be a singer and songwriter. Asher encourages her to be true to her desires but Laila has difficulty going against family expectations. Of course this all comes to a heartbreaking end when their relationship is exposed and Laila is forced to make a decision between her love for Asher, or her family.
Asher...
Laila...
So fast forward 8 years. Asher and Laila meet again, when Asher goes to a nightclub in Chicago to hear the latest singing sensation: a sensual woman who performs behind a thin curtain on stage. The way she moves and sounds makes Asher wonder...could that be Laila? Has she broken ties with her family? Why is she hiding behind a veil? Does he want to get involved with her and risk rejection and heartbreak again? Does Laila now have the courage to go for what she wants and risk alienation from her family?
Oh, the more I think about this the more I realize how unique and how well written this story was. And I started imagining it as a movie--always a good sign! Not only was it a rather unique storyline (for me, anyway), but it was filled with oodles of detail (love that), hot, sensual love scenes (love that), characters who came to life on the page (love that!)--and I learned a thing or two (especially about Laila's customs and religion). I felt sorry for Laila that she was so constricted by her upbringing, but I could understand how hard it was for her to make a choice between her family and the man she loved. But I thought at 27 she knew what she wanted, and her family? Then they were the ones who were going to have to compromise, or miss out.
I loved both of these characters--their relationship was intense. I sure would like to read more, though. An epilogue would've been nice. A novella about these two characters would be even better. Please....please, Beth Kery...
5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
The story is told partly in flashback from the time Asher (now 30) and Laila (27) first met 8 years ago while both were vacationing at lakeside Crescent Bay, Michigan. Laila and Asher had an instant physical connection--like being struck by a thunderbolt--and it was just a matter of time before they were involved in a sizzling summer romance. But Laila's age, her faith (Muslim), her heritage (Moroccan), and her ties to her family would get in the way of a future with Asher. Her parents would never approve of Laila 'seeing' a white man who was not of their faith or country. Asher tries to understand but gets frustrated. He doesn't have the same close family ties that Laila has. In fact, his relationship with his cold, often calculating parents who want him to join the family publishing empire is often strained. Asher is determined to make a name for himself on his own, and has lined up a job that could lead to a career as a foreign correspondent. Laila is still in college, taking courses that her family approves of. Her passion though is to be a singer and songwriter. Asher encourages her to be true to her desires but Laila has difficulty going against family expectations. Of course this all comes to a heartbreaking end when their relationship is exposed and Laila is forced to make a decision between her love for Asher, or her family.
Asher...
Laila...
So fast forward 8 years. Asher and Laila meet again, when Asher goes to a nightclub in Chicago to hear the latest singing sensation: a sensual woman who performs behind a thin curtain on stage. The way she moves and sounds makes Asher wonder...could that be Laila? Has she broken ties with her family? Why is she hiding behind a veil? Does he want to get involved with her and risk rejection and heartbreak again? Does Laila now have the courage to go for what she wants and risk alienation from her family?
Oh, the more I think about this the more I realize how unique and how well written this story was. And I started imagining it as a movie--always a good sign! Not only was it a rather unique storyline (for me, anyway), but it was filled with oodles of detail (love that), hot, sensual love scenes (love that), characters who came to life on the page (love that!)--and I learned a thing or two (especially about Laila's customs and religion). I felt sorry for Laila that she was so constricted by her upbringing, but I could understand how hard it was for her to make a choice between her family and the man she loved. But I thought at 27 she knew what she wanted, and her family? Then they were the ones who were going to have to compromise, or miss out.
I loved both of these characters--their relationship was intense. I sure would like to read more, though. An epilogue would've been nice. A novella about these two characters would be even better. Please....please, Beth Kery...
5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
April 9, 2017
Forbidden, provocative, intense, passionate, and emotionally driven.
It's very rare, but sometimes you come across a story that touches you in the most unexpected way. It reaches down into your soul and changes the way you view things in your life. BEHIND THE CURTAIN by Beth Kery was that story for me. The minute I started this, it was like I was transported to my own little world where nothing and no one could reach me. And from that moment on it was just myself and these incredible characters and their heart wrenching love story. I had to make a conscious effort to not pick this book right back up and start reading it all over again, to experience the love and loss ALL OVER AGAIN. To experience the pain, the joy, the passion, the happiness ALL. OVER. AGAIN. Beth Kery ALWAYS takes this genre to the next level, and yet, I'm constantly surprised when she takes me there.
"From the moment I first saw you, heard you even, something told me you were mine."
I don't think I can even get into the story without breaking down, but just know that you will experience SO MUCH EMOTION from the very beginning, you will NOT know what to do with yourself. Ms. Kery transports us to the past where Asher and Laila first meet. Be prepared, your heart will melt, solidify, and then completely break. Then, she forces us to the present where they meet again, and it will be like deja vu with your heart. Melt, solidify, and break once again. Two people who live two VERY different lives are drawn together only to have it all ripped away. When they find one another again, the struggle to keep their hearts intact this time around is incredibly real. Nothing has changed - with their family life or with the love and fondness they have for one another. Two cultures that threaten to rip them apart once again...will their love be strong enough to withstand it this go-round?
For me, it was an incredibly EASY decision to make, when I picked this to be a FAVORITE of the year for me. Impeccable writing, complex characters, a forbidden premise within the storyline. Beth Kery does absolutely NO WRONG in my book. I was completely mesmerized by Asher and Laila's emotional and beautiful romance. And I NEVER wanted it to end. I was so overjoyed to bask in their heartwarming love for each other and my heart was incredibly full by the very end. I CANNOT recommend BEHIND THE CURTAIN highly enough!
May 17, 2017
5 STARS
Shivers. I have honest to god shivers. This author is simply incomparable. She writes such raw, emotional, sensual stories that are unlike any I've ever read. What makes them so memorable is that they're just so...real. They're immeasurably satisfying but without having to be wrapped up in a perfect little bow at the end. I truly believe that Behind The Curtain is Kery's best book to date and easily my favorite by her. It was such a beautiful and poignant second chance romance that was packed with as much heat as it had feeling. I love every page of it.
Eight years ago, behind the veil of youthful innocence and nativity, Asher Gaites and Laila Barek fell in love. It was was lovely, pure, and true. Asher was just out of university and about to take on his career outside of his parent's influence and pull. Laila was a sheltered young woman just discovering the wonders of love and lust. They had all the odds stacked against them; Laila's conservative Moroccan family, Asher's upcoming move to a different state to begin his job, yet none of it could stop them from falling head over heels...only to be ripped apart.
Eight years has passed since that wondrous Michigan summer. Asher is now hardened and renowned journalist that's traveled all over the world one war torn country at a time. Getting together with his two best friends for drinks, the last thing he expects is to see a performance that rocks him to his very core. He sees nothing but her shadowed figure behind a sheer veil and hears nothing but her haunting voice as she sings, but something about the woman strikes him as familiar. He can't get her out of his head and he doesn't know why. He has no idea that the woman behind the veil is the girl that got away. The girl that he never got over. The girl that he never forgot.
I absolutely LOVED the way the story unfolded. The author did an incredible job with transitions of past to present. It was flawless. You start in the present, then get the entire flashback to the past, to then continue in the present. There's no back and forth. It's fluid and perfect and utterly spellbinding.
Asher only got more intense with the years while Laila really grew up into a strong young woman. I loved watching them discover each other again and experiencing everything right along with them. Did I mention that no one writes a sweat inducing love scene like Beth Kery? Because OMG!
If you haven't read a book by this author yet, you can't start with a better book than this one. It was so much more than just a romance. I loved every page of it and simply can't recommend it enough.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
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Part of you is always a bit of a mystery to me. Uncommitted. Unavailable. A little bit of you is always veiled.”
Shivers. I have honest to god shivers. This author is simply incomparable. She writes such raw, emotional, sensual stories that are unlike any I've ever read. What makes them so memorable is that they're just so...real. They're immeasurably satisfying but without having to be wrapped up in a perfect little bow at the end. I truly believe that Behind The Curtain is Kery's best book to date and easily my favorite by her. It was such a beautiful and poignant second chance romance that was packed with as much heat as it had feeling. I love every page of it.
Eight years ago, behind the veil of youthful innocence and nativity, Asher Gaites and Laila Barek fell in love. It was was lovely, pure, and true. Asher was just out of university and about to take on his career outside of his parent's influence and pull. Laila was a sheltered young woman just discovering the wonders of love and lust. They had all the odds stacked against them; Laila's conservative Moroccan family, Asher's upcoming move to a different state to begin his job, yet none of it could stop them from falling head over heels...only to be ripped apart.
Eight years has passed since that wondrous Michigan summer. Asher is now hardened and renowned journalist that's traveled all over the world one war torn country at a time. Getting together with his two best friends for drinks, the last thing he expects is to see a performance that rocks him to his very core. He sees nothing but her shadowed figure behind a sheer veil and hears nothing but her haunting voice as she sings, but something about the woman strikes him as familiar. He can't get her out of his head and he doesn't know why. He has no idea that the woman behind the veil is the girl that got away. The girl that he never got over. The girl that he never forgot.
I absolutely LOVED the way the story unfolded. The author did an incredible job with transitions of past to present. It was flawless. You start in the present, then get the entire flashback to the past, to then continue in the present. There's no back and forth. It's fluid and perfect and utterly spellbinding.
Asher only got more intense with the years while Laila really grew up into a strong young woman. I loved watching them discover each other again and experiencing everything right along with them. Did I mention that no one writes a sweat inducing love scene like Beth Kery? Because OMG!
If you haven't read a book by this author yet, you can't start with a better book than this one. It was so much more than just a romance. I loved every page of it and simply can't recommend it enough.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
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May 4, 2017
If you like angst, emotional young love, and a books that give you "all the feels" Behind the Curtain is for you. We start in present day, with our hero Asher returning to Chicago for some relaxation before he starts his new job in London. Asher has been traveling the world as a reporter, stationed mostly in the middle east. His family owns a large media company and it was assumed he would work for his father, but Asher wanted to travel, and make his way on his own. He gives up his trust fund to live his own life, and he is happy for it. The only thing that still haunts him is the girl he fell in love with one summer eight years previously.
Laila is that girl, and she still thinks about Asher as well. Laila is Moroccan-American, born in Detroit and raised with very traditional values. Laila's dreams include writing and performing her own music, something she knows her parents would frown upon. After graduating college with a business degree, she moves to Chicago with her cousin, and secretly pursues her musical passion. She starts performing at a night club under the name "Yesenia", behind a shimmery veil, so no one can really see her face, but they can hear her voice and she becomes very popular. Asher and two of his college friends go to this club, and Asher is shocked to realize that the woman behind the veil could be his lost love.
"Yesenia performs behind a curtain," Rudy continued as if Jimmy hadn't spoken. "It's a sheer curtain, so you can make out her smoking body and the way she moves and everything. But you can't really see the details of her face. Her performances and lyrics are supposed to be off-the-charts sexy, but in an understated, unique way. The press has taken to calling her the Veiled Siren."
Then we head back into the past for a lot of the book, when Asher and Laila first meet. They both are vacationing in Crescent Bay, Michigan for the summer. Laila is nineteen and I think Asher is a couple of years older. They meet by chance as Laila is swimming in "her" secret lake and Asher arrives at "his"secret lake (aka the same lake) and they have an instant connection. Asher falls hard. Laila falls hard but their romance is not easy. Laila's parents are very strict and protective when it comes to Laila seeing boys, and they want her to marry a Moroccan man. She has to start sneaking out and lying to her parents to meet with him. Laila loves her parents dearly and it's a struggle for her to follow her heart, and obey her parents.
Because of this, when they do meet, it's so intense. They don't know how much time they have, and there is always the threat that Laila could be caught. With the help of her two cousins whom she is very close with, Laila and Asher are able to have a love affair that summer.
Asher is also struggling with his parents but for different reasons. He has to tell them he isn't going to work for the family and this pressure really weighs on him. He also doesn't always understand Laila's parents and their strict rules. He never pressures Laila though and is always kind and thoughtful. He encourages her to pursue her dreams - he opens up her smaller world and allows her to see what her life could be in a bigger picture. She trusts him so much, and even tells him her biggest passion in life is writing and performing music:
"I've never told another soul that before."
"You haven't?" he asked her slowly.
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"Because it's a stupid, childish obsession." The words burst out of her throat. "I don't even know why I do it!"
"Yes, you do."
"I do?" she asked, stunned by his confidence.
"Yeah." He squeezed her hands under the water. "Think about it for a minute."
[...]
"It makes me happy," she whispered, a tremor of feeling going through her a the realization.
This book is super sexy - maybe could even be classified as erotic. Their love and passion for each other worked so well for me - both in the past and present. I just adored Laila and her discovery of romance and learning things about herself. I love that she respects her parents even though they make it difficult for her to pursue Asher.
Eventually we head back to the present, where Asher and Laila meet once again - after years apart - after that fateful summer. It's intense and emotional...and you will have to read to see how it all works out in the end.
Beth Kery has an absolutely beautiful voice in this book.
Grade: B+
Laila is that girl, and she still thinks about Asher as well. Laila is Moroccan-American, born in Detroit and raised with very traditional values. Laila's dreams include writing and performing her own music, something she knows her parents would frown upon. After graduating college with a business degree, she moves to Chicago with her cousin, and secretly pursues her musical passion. She starts performing at a night club under the name "Yesenia", behind a shimmery veil, so no one can really see her face, but they can hear her voice and she becomes very popular. Asher and two of his college friends go to this club, and Asher is shocked to realize that the woman behind the veil could be his lost love.
"Yesenia performs behind a curtain," Rudy continued as if Jimmy hadn't spoken. "It's a sheer curtain, so you can make out her smoking body and the way she moves and everything. But you can't really see the details of her face. Her performances and lyrics are supposed to be off-the-charts sexy, but in an understated, unique way. The press has taken to calling her the Veiled Siren."
Then we head back into the past for a lot of the book, when Asher and Laila first meet. They both are vacationing in Crescent Bay, Michigan for the summer. Laila is nineteen and I think Asher is a couple of years older. They meet by chance as Laila is swimming in "her" secret lake and Asher arrives at "his"secret lake (aka the same lake) and they have an instant connection. Asher falls hard. Laila falls hard but their romance is not easy. Laila's parents are very strict and protective when it comes to Laila seeing boys, and they want her to marry a Moroccan man. She has to start sneaking out and lying to her parents to meet with him. Laila loves her parents dearly and it's a struggle for her to follow her heart, and obey her parents.
Because of this, when they do meet, it's so intense. They don't know how much time they have, and there is always the threat that Laila could be caught. With the help of her two cousins whom she is very close with, Laila and Asher are able to have a love affair that summer.
Asher is also struggling with his parents but for different reasons. He has to tell them he isn't going to work for the family and this pressure really weighs on him. He also doesn't always understand Laila's parents and their strict rules. He never pressures Laila though and is always kind and thoughtful. He encourages her to pursue her dreams - he opens up her smaller world and allows her to see what her life could be in a bigger picture. She trusts him so much, and even tells him her biggest passion in life is writing and performing music:
"I've never told another soul that before."
"You haven't?" he asked her slowly.
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"Because it's a stupid, childish obsession." The words burst out of her throat. "I don't even know why I do it!"
"Yes, you do."
"I do?" she asked, stunned by his confidence.
"Yeah." He squeezed her hands under the water. "Think about it for a minute."
[...]
"It makes me happy," she whispered, a tremor of feeling going through her a the realization.
This book is super sexy - maybe could even be classified as erotic. Their love and passion for each other worked so well for me - both in the past and present. I just adored Laila and her discovery of romance and learning things about herself. I love that she respects her parents even though they make it difficult for her to pursue Asher.
Eventually we head back to the present, where Asher and Laila meet once again - after years apart - after that fateful summer. It's intense and emotional...and you will have to read to see how it all works out in the end.
Beth Kery has an absolutely beautiful voice in this book.
Grade: B+
September 4, 2017
My introduction to Beth Kery was her erotic One Night of Passion series, originally started under her pen name Bethany Kane back in 2011. I love that series, and it put her on my radar. Since then, however, the majority of her books have been released as serials which are not my cup of tea. Behind the Curtain in contrast is a complete novel, and one I am quite happy to have gotten into my hands. It contains some of my favorite themes – a summer ‘first love’ relationship that is bittersweet, and a second chance/reunion romance to bring the couple back together. It’s also a study in cultural differences and the realities of how they impact relationships. Heartbreaking and intense, this romance – with a happy ending that is all the more precious for its challenges – is one that won’t be leaving my memory any time soon.
Behind the Curtain starts in the present, in Chicago. Asher Gaites is a foreign correspondent and a well-known name in international journalism, having been nominated for a Pulitzer prize for his writing about families in war torn Syria. He’s reluctantly home to tell his parents in person that he’s rejecting the trust fund he’s eligible to inherit now that he’s turned thirty, and has taken a job as bureau chief in London. While home, he reconnects with some longtime friends who take him to a jazz nightclub. There, a woman who sings from behind a veil sparks in him the memories of a summer love affair . In fact, her voice is so evocative that he can’t stop wondering if she could be the girl of his dreams. A little detective work brings them face to face, and it is indeed her.
The story then slips eight years back into the past when Laila Barek is with her traditional Moroccan-American family at Crescent Bay. She meets Asher when he comes across her at a secluded beach, and again when she and her cousins meet him and his friends at a local shop. The attraction between them is instant, and somewhat frightening for Laila who is inexperienced with men, but neither can resist the force that draws them to each other. They have only a short time to spend together but it doesn’t stop them from making some decisions that will affect them for years to come. It doesn’t seem possible that they will get their happy ending – until fate brings them together again. Has their time finally come, or will their hearts be left broken once again?
This romance held me in its grip from start to finish. The story doesn’t move back and forth with tidbits of the past , but delivers the whole of their fateful relationship in one go, taking up half the pages before moving to the present once again. It’s got lots of angst, as the reader knows that they aren’t going to get their happy ever after as young adults, but at the same time, you can’t help rooting for them to overcome the obvious barriers between them.
Both Asher and Laila have family backgrounds that they realize will make a future together pretty well impossible. Asher is from a very wealthy, high society family. They have a media empire and the summer Asher spends in Crescent Bay is meant to give him one last taste of freedom before assuming his position in the family company. Asher comes across as a young man struggling under the weight expectations, yet determined to go his own way no matter the consequences. In this frame of mind, when he meets Laila he knows she won’t fit his parents’ picture of the ideal partner for him. But he doesn’t care. The passion he feels for her is unlike any other he’s experienced and he can’t get enough of being with her, no matter if they are just talking or sinking deeper into a physical relationship.
Laila comes from more restricted and protective background. As a Muslim woman, her family has certain expectations for her behavior and for the most part she abides by them. At the lake with her extended family, she is given more freedom because she’s with her two female cousins and they explore the local hangouts together. She’s a lovely young woman, a bit shy, who has a passion for writing poetry and music and for singing – talents she shares with no one, until she meets Asher. He’s the first person to accept all of her as she is and it’s no wonder she gets swept up in a romance with him, despite knowing it will likely not end well. He’s handsome, he’s thoughtful, he’s understanding (to a point) of her family obligations, and he’s clearly attracted to her. The summer days she spends with Asher change her character, make her bolder and stronger. When they go their separate ways, both hearts shattered, she finds a way to achive her desire to be true to herself while still maintaining a strong relationship with her family. The author does a deft job of showing the complicated reality for many young women of ethnic descent who must try to find balance between American culture and their own.
The sexual relationship between Asher and Laila develops somewhat tentatively at first but rapidly escalates, with the knowledge for both that their time together is limited. Asher is a patient and caring lover, understanding that Laila is inexperienced but eager to learn and their love scenes are fraught with emotion. Youthful lust tries to overtake common sense on more than one occasion. Asher is torn over the risks Laila takes risks to be with him, selfishly wanting to see her as much as possible while understanding the real danger it could mean if her parents find out. As older adults when they meet again, they are emboldened by the knowledge that they can do as they wish, and their passionate affair picks up easily, with some very steamy scenes. There’s no doubt that they love each other, and have been in love since that first summer. But just because they are older doesn’t mean that their families will accept them as a couple. This time however, they have the maturity and understanding of how it feels and what it means to be apart to enable them to fight their way through to a very well deserved happy ending. Behind the Curtain is an evocative and passionate second chance romance.
This review also appears at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Behind the Curtain starts in the present, in Chicago. Asher Gaites is a foreign correspondent and a well-known name in international journalism, having been nominated for a Pulitzer prize for his writing about families in war torn Syria. He’s reluctantly home to tell his parents in person that he’s rejecting the trust fund he’s eligible to inherit now that he’s turned thirty, and has taken a job as bureau chief in London. While home, he reconnects with some longtime friends who take him to a jazz nightclub. There, a woman who sings from behind a veil sparks in him the memories of a summer love affair . In fact, her voice is so evocative that he can’t stop wondering if she could be the girl of his dreams. A little detective work brings them face to face, and it is indeed her.
The story then slips eight years back into the past when Laila Barek is with her traditional Moroccan-American family at Crescent Bay. She meets Asher when he comes across her at a secluded beach, and again when she and her cousins meet him and his friends at a local shop. The attraction between them is instant, and somewhat frightening for Laila who is inexperienced with men, but neither can resist the force that draws them to each other. They have only a short time to spend together but it doesn’t stop them from making some decisions that will affect them for years to come. It doesn’t seem possible that they will get their happy ending – until fate brings them together again. Has their time finally come, or will their hearts be left broken once again?
This romance held me in its grip from start to finish. The story doesn’t move back and forth with tidbits of the past , but delivers the whole of their fateful relationship in one go, taking up half the pages before moving to the present once again. It’s got lots of angst, as the reader knows that they aren’t going to get their happy ever after as young adults, but at the same time, you can’t help rooting for them to overcome the obvious barriers between them.
Both Asher and Laila have family backgrounds that they realize will make a future together pretty well impossible. Asher is from a very wealthy, high society family. They have a media empire and the summer Asher spends in Crescent Bay is meant to give him one last taste of freedom before assuming his position in the family company. Asher comes across as a young man struggling under the weight expectations, yet determined to go his own way no matter the consequences. In this frame of mind, when he meets Laila he knows she won’t fit his parents’ picture of the ideal partner for him. But he doesn’t care. The passion he feels for her is unlike any other he’s experienced and he can’t get enough of being with her, no matter if they are just talking or sinking deeper into a physical relationship.
Laila comes from more restricted and protective background. As a Muslim woman, her family has certain expectations for her behavior and for the most part she abides by them. At the lake with her extended family, she is given more freedom because she’s with her two female cousins and they explore the local hangouts together. She’s a lovely young woman, a bit shy, who has a passion for writing poetry and music and for singing – talents she shares with no one, until she meets Asher. He’s the first person to accept all of her as she is and it’s no wonder she gets swept up in a romance with him, despite knowing it will likely not end well. He’s handsome, he’s thoughtful, he’s understanding (to a point) of her family obligations, and he’s clearly attracted to her. The summer days she spends with Asher change her character, make her bolder and stronger. When they go their separate ways, both hearts shattered, she finds a way to achive her desire to be true to herself while still maintaining a strong relationship with her family. The author does a deft job of showing the complicated reality for many young women of ethnic descent who must try to find balance between American culture and their own.
The sexual relationship between Asher and Laila develops somewhat tentatively at first but rapidly escalates, with the knowledge for both that their time together is limited. Asher is a patient and caring lover, understanding that Laila is inexperienced but eager to learn and their love scenes are fraught with emotion. Youthful lust tries to overtake common sense on more than one occasion. Asher is torn over the risks Laila takes risks to be with him, selfishly wanting to see her as much as possible while understanding the real danger it could mean if her parents find out. As older adults when they meet again, they are emboldened by the knowledge that they can do as they wish, and their passionate affair picks up easily, with some very steamy scenes. There’s no doubt that they love each other, and have been in love since that first summer. But just because they are older doesn’t mean that their families will accept them as a couple. This time however, they have the maturity and understanding of how it feels and what it means to be apart to enable them to fight their way through to a very well deserved happy ending. Behind the Curtain is an evocative and passionate second chance romance.
This review also appears at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
June 12, 2024
First things first, because it is what I do .... #CoverWIN!!
Now on to the book .... what an emotional ride this was! One of the loveliest second chance romances that I have ever read! I've said this many times before, it's very rare when a story has such an impact on your heart that it just settles there for the long haul. Most of the time, it's the characters that will settle in your heart, if anything at all. You can still enjoy the heck out of a book, but when a story reaches in to your soul and captures it, that's magic, and it's rare. This story did that for me. Maybe it was the cultural struggles or religious struggles or family struggles ... I don't really know how to pin point it to just one thing ... because it was the entire story as a package.
I really loved how the story flowed from the past to the present. It was seamless and flawless. The journey that Laila and Asher went thru to achieve their kismet HEA was a roller-coaster of heart-break and heart-warmth all wrapped up in a cloud of feel good. The voice of this book was incredible. I felt everything. It was an incredible read!
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
Now on to the book .... what an emotional ride this was! One of the loveliest second chance romances that I have ever read! I've said this many times before, it's very rare when a story has such an impact on your heart that it just settles there for the long haul. Most of the time, it's the characters that will settle in your heart, if anything at all. You can still enjoy the heck out of a book, but when a story reaches in to your soul and captures it, that's magic, and it's rare. This story did that for me. Maybe it was the cultural struggles or religious struggles or family struggles ... I don't really know how to pin point it to just one thing ... because it was the entire story as a package.
I really loved how the story flowed from the past to the present. It was seamless and flawless. The journey that Laila and Asher went thru to achieve their kismet HEA was a roller-coaster of heart-break and heart-warmth all wrapped up in a cloud of feel good. The voice of this book was incredible. I felt everything. It was an incredible read!
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
October 5, 2017
A beautifully written story that made my heart ache and swell with the hero and heroine in the story.
This book portrayed the intricate relationship between couples from two different culture perfectly.i have learn lots about Moroccan Culture through this book, how fascinating.
Absolutely lovable hero and heroine, expertly written dialogue and plots. A wonderfully written book.
This book portrayed the intricate relationship between couples from two different culture perfectly.i have learn lots about Moroccan Culture through this book, how fascinating.
Absolutely lovable hero and heroine, expertly written dialogue and plots. A wonderfully written book.
November 29, 2022
Behind The Curtain is a standalone written by Beth Kery. This is a story that I just randomly picked up as I have been wanting to read more of this author's work. I will be honest in that I had no idea what this book was really about before I picked it up. I just knew it was an emotional one and had a flashback, but that was pretty much it. Sometimes it can be a refreshing experience to pick up a book that you don't know much about and I am glad that I did so with this. Now I rotated this one out with the ebook and audiobook. I do feel like I enjoyed it more in physically reading this one over listening to it. So listen to the sample, as this narrator isn't my favorite to listen to. Something about her voice just rubs me the wrong way, but she may work for you if you enjoy her work.
Behind the Curtain, is a story that begins with our hero who is out with his two best friends, at a jazz club, and there is a woman dancing and singing behind a curtain so only you just her motions but not what she truly looks like. But there is something that the hero recognizes, and he meets her behind the club on the subway and comes face to face with the woman he never gave up loving and broke his heart. Then we are taken to a flashback (this flashback is about half the book but there is no going back and forth) we see our two MC's fall in love and see what tears them apart. Then we are brought back to the present, where our heroine is determined to fight for their love and show the hero she is willing to fight for them now that she more mature and able to stand on her own.
Behind the Curtain was such a beautiful story and I absolutely adored this one in every way. I think if I had just stuck with the ebook, it would have been a full five-star. I did knock down my rating half a star due to the narrator. I will say that this one is one of the most beautiful romances that I have ever read. And as a plus, it was also a diverse romance that was so well done. The representation was so perfect! We need more diverse romances just like this! And it also has the type of vibe to the erotic romance that I wish was in more books. It just has a more classy feel to it which I wish more erotic romance had these days.
There are so many aspects to this story that will appeal to the romantic reader. First off, the romance itself is beyond beautiful and intense emotion is portrayed. The deep connection between these two is epic and beyond memorable. We also have an interracial relationship. The heroine is of Morrocan decent and the way that the author handled the representation was so on point. For this not being a recently published book, it was just right. I really enjoyed how their relationship was developed all the way through and even the flashback I didn't mind seeing in this one here. I also was quite curious in seeing how they would develop their romance and overcome the "forbidden" aspect to i. What breaks them apart in the beginning, actually makes sense, and seeing them find each other again when they were both mature made it possible for them to fight to be together. The heroine especially needed to grow in her maturity, she was too reliant on family and hadn't developed her own character yet but once she had, then she was a fighter in the relationship and loved the GROVEL from the heroine. We just don't see a good grovel from the heroines when they wrong the hero, but the way that she proves herself in this one was beyond epic. The only thing about this story I would have changed is wishing the author added an epilogue, I think that would have made a difference here.
Overall I found Behind The Curtain to be a story that capitalizes on the beauty of difference and diversity and a love overcoming ALL!!
Behind the Curtain, is a story that begins with our hero who is out with his two best friends, at a jazz club, and there is a woman dancing and singing behind a curtain so only you just her motions but not what she truly looks like. But there is something that the hero recognizes, and he meets her behind the club on the subway and comes face to face with the woman he never gave up loving and broke his heart. Then we are taken to a flashback (this flashback is about half the book but there is no going back and forth) we see our two MC's fall in love and see what tears them apart. Then we are brought back to the present, where our heroine is determined to fight for their love and show the hero she is willing to fight for them now that she more mature and able to stand on her own.
Behind the Curtain was such a beautiful story and I absolutely adored this one in every way. I think if I had just stuck with the ebook, it would have been a full five-star. I did knock down my rating half a star due to the narrator. I will say that this one is one of the most beautiful romances that I have ever read. And as a plus, it was also a diverse romance that was so well done. The representation was so perfect! We need more diverse romances just like this! And it also has the type of vibe to the erotic romance that I wish was in more books. It just has a more classy feel to it which I wish more erotic romance had these days.
There are so many aspects to this story that will appeal to the romantic reader. First off, the romance itself is beyond beautiful and intense emotion is portrayed. The deep connection between these two is epic and beyond memorable. We also have an interracial relationship. The heroine is of Morrocan decent and the way that the author handled the representation was so on point. For this not being a recently published book, it was just right. I really enjoyed how their relationship was developed all the way through and even the flashback I didn't mind seeing in this one here. I also was quite curious in seeing how they would develop their romance and overcome the "forbidden" aspect to i. What breaks them apart in the beginning, actually makes sense, and seeing them find each other again when they were both mature made it possible for them to fight to be together. The heroine especially needed to grow in her maturity, she was too reliant on family and hadn't developed her own character yet but once she had, then she was a fighter in the relationship and loved the GROVEL from the heroine. We just don't see a good grovel from the heroines when they wrong the hero, but the way that she proves herself in this one was beyond epic. The only thing about this story I would have changed is wishing the author added an epilogue, I think that would have made a difference here.
Overall I found Behind The Curtain to be a story that capitalizes on the beauty of difference and diversity and a love overcoming ALL!!
August 11, 2017
Behind the Curtain by Beth Kery
Author: Beth Kery
Title: Behind the Curtain
Series:
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
There’s something about this woman…On a break between overseas jobs, journalist Asher Gaites returns to his hometown of Chicago—and allows his friends to persuade him to check out a hot new singer. At a downtown jazz club, he’s soon transfixed by the lyrical voice and sensuous body of a woman who performs behind a thin, shimmering veil...…That could bring a man to his knees.The veil gives Moroccan American Laila Barek the anonymity she needs since she has never been able to reconcile her family’s values with her passion for music. But one man is inexplicably drawn to her. And when Asher confronts her on a subway platform after a gig, he’s shocked to recognize the woman who walked away from him nine years ago...Laila has never been able to forget the touch, the feel, the taste of Asher. And despite the doubt and fear that wind their way into their lives, they must trust the heat of their desire to burn down the walls the world has placed between them…
I felt it a little odd that there was so much emphasis on the fact that Laila and Asher were of different races, I understood they were different and that it was an issue for them personally but there is so much opposites and tension in our characters just on their own that it spills over into their relationship which kept me from really investing in them as a couple.
Same thing can be said for everything in this story for me is that there is a lot of push and pull of the environments being described one way but then being another the characters being one way but doing another.
Another thing that didn't quite feel organic for me was why so much time was spent on certain details that in the end wound up not really mattering at all.
Behind the Curtain was a good read and the whole sort of romeo/ juliet feel to the whole thing was okay but the natural even flow of the story and the romance between our h/h felt a little disjointed and out of place which made it a little difficult to enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Penguin Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
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Author: Beth Kery
Title: Behind the Curtain
Series:
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
There’s something about this woman…On a break between overseas jobs, journalist Asher Gaites returns to his hometown of Chicago—and allows his friends to persuade him to check out a hot new singer. At a downtown jazz club, he’s soon transfixed by the lyrical voice and sensuous body of a woman who performs behind a thin, shimmering veil...…That could bring a man to his knees.The veil gives Moroccan American Laila Barek the anonymity she needs since she has never been able to reconcile her family’s values with her passion for music. But one man is inexplicably drawn to her. And when Asher confronts her on a subway platform after a gig, he’s shocked to recognize the woman who walked away from him nine years ago...Laila has never been able to forget the touch, the feel, the taste of Asher. And despite the doubt and fear that wind their way into their lives, they must trust the heat of their desire to burn down the walls the world has placed between them…
I felt it a little odd that there was so much emphasis on the fact that Laila and Asher were of different races, I understood they were different and that it was an issue for them personally but there is so much opposites and tension in our characters just on their own that it spills over into their relationship which kept me from really investing in them as a couple.
Same thing can be said for everything in this story for me is that there is a lot of push and pull of the environments being described one way but then being another the characters being one way but doing another.
Another thing that didn't quite feel organic for me was why so much time was spent on certain details that in the end wound up not really mattering at all.
Behind the Curtain was a good read and the whole sort of romeo/ juliet feel to the whole thing was okay but the natural even flow of the story and the romance between our h/h felt a little disjointed and out of place which made it a little difficult to enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Penguin Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has a QR code for your phone!
Save
May 24, 2018
Behind The Curtain is about a woman named Laila and a man named Asher who spend a few weeks together and fall in love during a summer vacation eight years ago but could not date/pursue each other because Laila’s family wanted her to date someone who was Moroccan like her family. After not talking for eight years, they are reunited because Asher goes to Chicago and somehow recognizes that she is “Yesenia,” a popular singer that performs behind a veil to hide her identity. They continue their love and face the obstacles that they were too young to face back then.
I am not happy with the outcome of this book at all. The beginning, when you find out the story of Asher and Laila during those few weeks in the summer, was nice to read and kept me interested. I actually enjoyed reading about their few weeks together and how they fell in love. But everything once they reunited was horrible!
First of all, the whole book Laila is all about family family family. Well she literally cut all ties with her family at the end. I understand that Asher taught her that she needs to follow her own desires and not do everything to please others, but I felt that family was part of what she valued, so I was shocked that she gave them up entirely. At the end it states that they were planning to call their families after getting married. I wish we could have seen how that went.
Second of all, why was there a whole chapter on Laila and Tahi asking their cousin to help locate their other cousin Zara, who ran away from home years ago, when they weren’t going to even end up pursue finding her?
Third of all, I really thought this book was going to include more about Laila’s career as Yesenia, but the whole “singing behind the veil” thing was just to show that she does everything to please her family (ie. lying to them about working at Microsoft when she really sings at a bar).
I think this book ended too abruptly for my liking. I also think the ending took the easy way out just to have a “happy ending”. If some more of my questions had been answered, I might have enjoyed it more. Read this book if you like a love story with a lot of sex scenes. Otherwise, I think it could have been written better.
I am not happy with the outcome of this book at all. The beginning, when you find out the story of Asher and Laila during those few weeks in the summer, was nice to read and kept me interested. I actually enjoyed reading about their few weeks together and how they fell in love. But everything once they reunited was horrible!
First of all, the whole book Laila is all about family family family. Well she literally cut all ties with her family at the end. I understand that Asher taught her that she needs to follow her own desires and not do everything to please others, but I felt that family was part of what she valued, so I was shocked that she gave them up entirely. At the end it states that they were planning to call their families after getting married. I wish we could have seen how that went.
Second of all, why was there a whole chapter on Laila and Tahi asking their cousin to help locate their other cousin Zara, who ran away from home years ago, when they weren’t going to even end up pursue finding her?
Third of all, I really thought this book was going to include more about Laila’s career as Yesenia, but the whole “singing behind the veil” thing was just to show that she does everything to please her family (ie. lying to them about working at Microsoft when she really sings at a bar).
I think this book ended too abruptly for my liking. I also think the ending took the easy way out just to have a “happy ending”. If some more of my questions had been answered, I might have enjoyed it more. Read this book if you like a love story with a lot of sex scenes. Otherwise, I think it could have been written better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2017
What an utterly beautiful story!
Not only is the chemistry and connection between the hero and heroine fabulous, but there is some good digging into the meaning of family and what it means to walk the line between personal freedom and familial duty.
Not only is the chemistry and connection between the hero and heroine fabulous, but there is some good digging into the meaning of family and what it means to walk the line between personal freedom and familial duty.
August 21, 2017
This book came at the perfect time - the end of summer and I was ready to curl up with a little story about 2 people who meet on the shores of lake Michigan.
Behind the Curtain starts out present day Chicago (another favorite setting of mine) when Laila and Asher are surprisingly reunited for a brief moment. In that instant you can feel the connection and the pain! You are immediately transported back 8 years as their story unfolds.
I was so mesmerized!!! A definite 4.75 stars! This was a beautiful end of summer romance. I was enchanted by the lake, the breeze, the outdoor sleeping patio, cousins, secrets, summer nights, secret meetings, Insta love. And the Music!!!! This book definitely had that soul connection. The love, and the pain you feel when 2 people can not be together simply because their backgrounds and cultures are different.
A new to me author - but I will definitely be checking out her other books!
Behind the Curtain starts out present day Chicago (another favorite setting of mine) when Laila and Asher are surprisingly reunited for a brief moment. In that instant you can feel the connection and the pain! You are immediately transported back 8 years as their story unfolds.
I was so mesmerized!!! A definite 4.75 stars! This was a beautiful end of summer romance. I was enchanted by the lake, the breeze, the outdoor sleeping patio, cousins, secrets, summer nights, secret meetings, Insta love. And the Music!!!! This book definitely had that soul connection. The love, and the pain you feel when 2 people can not be together simply because their backgrounds and cultures are different.
A new to me author - but I will definitely be checking out her other books!
June 27, 2017
3.5 stars because of that ending. Why end the book like that?! Is there going to be a book two or an extended epilogue?! Why waste time on those sex scenes if you're going to end the book like that? Why not skip some of those scenes so that we could have a great ending? Ugh so many questions. I don't like open endings
May 10, 2017
Behind the Curtain is one of Beth Kery’s best book to date. This is a multi-cultural Contemporary romance that has so much win on the pages. Not only does the main couple have incredible chemistry, but the underlying message here is powerful. It’s all about destiny and fate, but also doing what’s best for yourself, even though your family, and some of your friends may be against it. This has a Romeo and Juliet feel to it, based on the flashbacks of our heroine and hero when they were young. These flashbacks cement the emotional intensity between these two, and an all consuming love that can’t be denied.
Asher Gaites is an international reporter who will most likely win a Pulitzer for his amazing work soon. He comes back to the US after years of being abroad during some dangerous situations. Asher comes from money. His father owns a media conglomerate, and his parents expected him to run the company. He’s a disappointment in their eyes because he doesn’t do what they want him to do. Asher loves his work, but he feels adrift in life. He wants to live his life on his own terms, and not be ruled by his father’s iron fist. While in his hometown of Chicago, he catches up with his two best buds of many years. They want him to enjoy what Chicago has to offer before he’s off and running to report on some war in another country. There is a mysterious singer who has a voice of angel. She sings in a nightclub, but behind a curtain. No one knows what she looks like.
Asher goes to hear the singer, and is struck dumb when he recognizes her voice. She is Laila, the woman he first met when he graduated college, and she only nineteen one summer. They fell for one another hard. She was his first love. But because they were caught together (literarily in bed), they were separated. Now that he’s back, he won’t let Laila go.
Laila comes from a very traditional Moroccan family. Her parents, and she were born in the USA but they are very dedicated to their Moroccan heritage. Her parents are very protective of Laila, even thought she’s an independent woman who has tried to live the life she wants and not what her parents expect of her. She sings behind a curtain so she can hide her identity, although she is ready to take off. She is going to record her first album, plus the media wants to know who Laila really is. Everything is about to be unveiled, especially when she meets a blast from her past- Asher, the man who was her first love in every sense of the word. Now that he’s back, temptation arises again for Laila to renew her relationship with the man she has never forgotten.
But even though Laila and Asher are adults, their past haunts them because of their parents who are very set in their ways. Asher’s rich WASP parents refuse to listen to Asher’s wants and needs. Laila’s parents want her to embrace her roots more, which means settling down with a family and marrying a men they approve of. Can Asher and Laila be together and loving one another in the open even though they may be turned away by those they love?
Behind the Curtain is one of the best romances of 2017. Every page had me hooked from beginning to end. This is a smart romance featuring a mature couple who connect in so many ways. Both Asher and Laila are in awe of one another, not just because of their physical attraction for each other, but because of their insight and intelligence. They steam up the pages in so many ways. One love scene, which gets two big thumbs up from me is straight from a steamy train scene ala the 1983 movie, Risky Business (also takes place in Chicago). Woo wee, I was very hot and bothered, but in a good way.
The one downside is Asher’s father. He comes across as too one-dimensional and stereotypical. I can understand he wants Asher to work for the family company, but he is too authoritarian, and clueless to Asher’s success. His mother is wishy-washy and doesn’t bring too much to the story. Laila’s parents and extended family members are so colorful and wonderful in their personalities. You understand better why her parents want certain things of Laila because their culture is well portrayed here. Also the ending is a bit abrupt, and a somewhat different HEA that some readers may be disappointed with. But these small issues I have don’t take away the richness and loveliness Behind the Curtain has to offer.
Behind the Curtain is a much read romance for 2017. This is romance done right, including proving how love and acceptance in all forms makes the world a much better place. A MUST READ!
Asher Gaites is an international reporter who will most likely win a Pulitzer for his amazing work soon. He comes back to the US after years of being abroad during some dangerous situations. Asher comes from money. His father owns a media conglomerate, and his parents expected him to run the company. He’s a disappointment in their eyes because he doesn’t do what they want him to do. Asher loves his work, but he feels adrift in life. He wants to live his life on his own terms, and not be ruled by his father’s iron fist. While in his hometown of Chicago, he catches up with his two best buds of many years. They want him to enjoy what Chicago has to offer before he’s off and running to report on some war in another country. There is a mysterious singer who has a voice of angel. She sings in a nightclub, but behind a curtain. No one knows what she looks like.
Asher goes to hear the singer, and is struck dumb when he recognizes her voice. She is Laila, the woman he first met when he graduated college, and she only nineteen one summer. They fell for one another hard. She was his first love. But because they were caught together (literarily in bed), they were separated. Now that he’s back, he won’t let Laila go.
Laila comes from a very traditional Moroccan family. Her parents, and she were born in the USA but they are very dedicated to their Moroccan heritage. Her parents are very protective of Laila, even thought she’s an independent woman who has tried to live the life she wants and not what her parents expect of her. She sings behind a curtain so she can hide her identity, although she is ready to take off. She is going to record her first album, plus the media wants to know who Laila really is. Everything is about to be unveiled, especially when she meets a blast from her past- Asher, the man who was her first love in every sense of the word. Now that he’s back, temptation arises again for Laila to renew her relationship with the man she has never forgotten.
But even though Laila and Asher are adults, their past haunts them because of their parents who are very set in their ways. Asher’s rich WASP parents refuse to listen to Asher’s wants and needs. Laila’s parents want her to embrace her roots more, which means settling down with a family and marrying a men they approve of. Can Asher and Laila be together and loving one another in the open even though they may be turned away by those they love?
Behind the Curtain is one of the best romances of 2017. Every page had me hooked from beginning to end. This is a smart romance featuring a mature couple who connect in so many ways. Both Asher and Laila are in awe of one another, not just because of their physical attraction for each other, but because of their insight and intelligence. They steam up the pages in so many ways. One love scene, which gets two big thumbs up from me is straight from a steamy train scene ala the 1983 movie, Risky Business (also takes place in Chicago). Woo wee, I was very hot and bothered, but in a good way.
The one downside is Asher’s father. He comes across as too one-dimensional and stereotypical. I can understand he wants Asher to work for the family company, but he is too authoritarian, and clueless to Asher’s success. His mother is wishy-washy and doesn’t bring too much to the story. Laila’s parents and extended family members are so colorful and wonderful in their personalities. You understand better why her parents want certain things of Laila because their culture is well portrayed here. Also the ending is a bit abrupt, and a somewhat different HEA that some readers may be disappointed with. But these small issues I have don’t take away the richness and loveliness Behind the Curtain has to offer.
Behind the Curtain is a much read romance for 2017. This is romance done right, including proving how love and acceptance in all forms makes the world a much better place. A MUST READ!
March 23, 2017
Behind the Curtain isn't your typical love story. Well, it is in the sense that it's boy meets girl. But this boy and this girl are from two different worlds even if they are both staying in the same town for the summer.
Laila is smart, beautiful, and very musically talented. Her family is Moroccan and her parents expect her to marry a Moroccan man. But what happens when she falls for someone who isn't?
Asher. Oh, how I love him. He comes from a very wealthy family who has expectations of him working for the family business. That's not his plan, though. He wants to chart his own course and work where he wants.
When Laila and Asher meet on the beach that summer, their chemistry is magical. They both feel it and can't resist the pull to one another. Life isn't always easy, however. They have obstacles in their way. Huge ones at that. I'd love to tell you more, but you're going to have read this amazing book to find out what happens.
This book was intense and raw. The emotions run high and the story pulls you and has you holding on until the very last page. From the past to the present, Asher and Laila's love is all-consuming. I absolutely loved this book. It's different and that made it even better. Beth Kery is one of my favorite authors. Be sure to grab this book and her others. You won't be disappointed.
Laila is smart, beautiful, and very musically talented. Her family is Moroccan and her parents expect her to marry a Moroccan man. But what happens when she falls for someone who isn't?
Asher. Oh, how I love him. He comes from a very wealthy family who has expectations of him working for the family business. That's not his plan, though. He wants to chart his own course and work where he wants.
When Laila and Asher meet on the beach that summer, their chemistry is magical. They both feel it and can't resist the pull to one another. Life isn't always easy, however. They have obstacles in their way. Huge ones at that. I'd love to tell you more, but you're going to have read this amazing book to find out what happens.
This book was intense and raw. The emotions run high and the story pulls you and has you holding on until the very last page. From the past to the present, Asher and Laila's love is all-consuming. I absolutely loved this book. It's different and that made it even better. Beth Kery is one of my favorite authors. Be sure to grab this book and her others. You won't be disappointed.
Want to read
March 1, 2017Omg I'm so excited for this one <33
July 22, 2017
Asher, Asher, Asher and oh did I say Asher? There were things I loved about this book (um, Asher) but other things I did not.
I don't think Beth Kerry has ever broached interracial relationships before in her novels and if she has I've never read it and I've read many of her books.
Asher is American, Laila, the heroine, is Moroccan with strict family values. One of them includes marrying her own kind because her parents feel it would be easier. And at 19, she still has to follow their rules as she lives under their roof.
I'll be honest. I didn't like Laila too much. When they met on summer break Asher knew he would forego everything, move heaven and earth to be with her. Their connection was so strong. Laila loved him too, this I don't doubt, but she wasn't willing to fight for what they had.
The night her family came running over like the Mafia to Asher's summer house was crazy. The fact that she walked away back then didn't set right with me but I kept reading because once you love someone it never goes away, no matter who tries to keep you apart. And, of course, Beth Kerry's books always end up being worth it.
Fast forward 8 years, they meet again. Laila has followed her dreams and so has Asher. This was the best part of the book for me. And even though Laila walked away, she never forgot.
The ending was sort of sad. Even though it was a HEA, their parents were still stubborn, still ignorant, still caught up in their own beliefs they became selfish when it came to their children's happiness. Luckily, Asher and Laila didn't let it stop them.
Good book.
I don't think Beth Kerry has ever broached interracial relationships before in her novels and if she has I've never read it and I've read many of her books.
Asher is American, Laila, the heroine, is Moroccan with strict family values. One of them includes marrying her own kind because her parents feel it would be easier. And at 19, she still has to follow their rules as she lives under their roof.
I'll be honest. I didn't like Laila too much. When they met on summer break Asher knew he would forego everything, move heaven and earth to be with her. Their connection was so strong. Laila loved him too, this I don't doubt, but she wasn't willing to fight for what they had.
The night her family came running over like the Mafia to Asher's summer house was crazy. The fact that she walked away back then didn't set right with me but I kept reading because once you love someone it never goes away, no matter who tries to keep you apart. And, of course, Beth Kerry's books always end up being worth it.
Fast forward 8 years, they meet again. Laila has followed her dreams and so has Asher. This was the best part of the book for me. And even though Laila walked away, she never forgot.
The ending was sort of sad. Even though it was a HEA, their parents were still stubborn, still ignorant, still caught up in their own beliefs they became selfish when it came to their children's happiness. Luckily, Asher and Laila didn't let it stop them.
Good book.
March 23, 2017
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lzobEs
I love a good flashback-time jumping read and this book gave me that in troves. We started in the present and then jumped back. Second chance romances always warm my heart and this book was no different.
Beth has us dive into this book in the present, then we backtrack and get the ENTIRE history of these characters. You truly feel like you get the tragedy before the HEA. It was a great way to read the story.
Laila and Asher hurt my heart. Also, they had me fanning myself. It was hit or miss depending on the page.
The culture in this book was one of the best parts to be honest. I loved learning while I read and fighting for the lost that these two felt. It was tortured and I just wanted them to get what they both deserved.
Not a long review for this one. You will love it. Young love grown to adult is always a favorite of mine and truly enjoy seeing that first love, while also seeing the developed love it can become as teens grow to adults.
Hands down beautiful.
Synopsis:
Cultures clash and passion ignites in the novel that will leave you begging for more—from the bestselling author of The Affair and Looking Inside.
There’s something about this woman…
On a break between overseas jobs, journalist Asher Gaites returns to his hometown of Chicago—and allows his friends to persuade him to check out a hot new singer. At a downtown jazz club, he’s soon transfixed by the lyrical voice and sensuous body of a woman who performs behind a thin, shimmering veil...
…That could bring a man to his knees.
The veil gives Moroccan American Laila Barek the anonymity she needs since she has never been able to reconcile her family’s values with her passion for music. But one man is inexplicably drawn to her. And when Asher confronts her on a subway platform after a gig, he’s shocked to recognize the woman who walked away from him nine years ago...
Laila has never been able to forget the touch, the feel, the taste of Asher. And despite the doubt and fear that wind their way into their lives, they must trust the heat of their desire to burn down the walls the world has placed between them…
March 23, 2021
This book was hard to rate as the beginning was very slow. It however started to pick up the pace towards the middle right to the end. It became heart warming and sensual.
August 17, 2024
É a história de encontros, desencontros, preconceitos, sonhos e medos de Laila e Asher. O que começa um um amor de verão, torna-se o amor de uma vida com muito sexo à mistura.
April 19, 2017
Behind The Curtain was a very interesting, poignant romance, with the majority of the book taking place as a flashback.
Asher knows the moment he hears her voice onstage, behind a veil, that the woman singing is the one woman who brought him to his knees years before. Having been out of the US for years, and only newly back on home soil, he’d only wanted to get out and enjoy an evening with his friends. Instead he finds himself instantly reliving his past in the sultry voice of the woman he once loved.
Being a Moroccan American means Laila straddles a line between her family/faith and the American way of life. As a teenager, even her love for Asher couldn’t trump her need to please her family. Now as an adult she’s determined to show Asher that they should fight for the love they once shared.
When I picked this one up I figured it would alternate between the past and the present, but about 75% of the book takes place when Laila is a teenager and Asher is in his early twenties. Because of that, the romance is there but it’s very tentative since Laila is so young and inexperienced. I would call it more sensual than sexual, at least until the last 20% of the book where it fast forwards back to present day. It was very well done overall, even if it took a different road in getting there. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but it was a beautiful story that spanned years.
I really enjoyed the ethnic thread that Kery has woven into her characters in this book. I thought she portrayed Laila and her family very well, explaining their traditions and familial ties that bind them so close together. Laila was in a tough situation as a teenager, between her family and her budding attraction and love for Asher. Knowing her family would never approve of her dating him caused her to lie and sneak around which inevitably made it worse when everything is revealed.
Although there is no series name at this time, Asher’s two friends play a large part of the book (both in the past and the present) and I’m betting they each end up getting a book of their own.
I give Behind The Curtain by Beth Kery 4 stars!
Asher knows the moment he hears her voice onstage, behind a veil, that the woman singing is the one woman who brought him to his knees years before. Having been out of the US for years, and only newly back on home soil, he’d only wanted to get out and enjoy an evening with his friends. Instead he finds himself instantly reliving his past in the sultry voice of the woman he once loved.
Being a Moroccan American means Laila straddles a line between her family/faith and the American way of life. As a teenager, even her love for Asher couldn’t trump her need to please her family. Now as an adult she’s determined to show Asher that they should fight for the love they once shared.
When I picked this one up I figured it would alternate between the past and the present, but about 75% of the book takes place when Laila is a teenager and Asher is in his early twenties. Because of that, the romance is there but it’s very tentative since Laila is so young and inexperienced. I would call it more sensual than sexual, at least until the last 20% of the book where it fast forwards back to present day. It was very well done overall, even if it took a different road in getting there. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but it was a beautiful story that spanned years.
I really enjoyed the ethnic thread that Kery has woven into her characters in this book. I thought she portrayed Laila and her family very well, explaining their traditions and familial ties that bind them so close together. Laila was in a tough situation as a teenager, between her family and her budding attraction and love for Asher. Knowing her family would never approve of her dating him caused her to lie and sneak around which inevitably made it worse when everything is revealed.
Although there is no series name at this time, Asher’s two friends play a large part of the book (both in the past and the present) and I’m betting they each end up getting a book of their own.
I give Behind The Curtain by Beth Kery 4 stars!
April 25, 2017
Loved this one, review to follow.
July 1, 2019
Se gosta do género erótico este será um livro a não perder!!
Á muito que não lia um livro de Beth Kery e já tinha saudades.
Ficamos cativados com a história de Laila e Ascher e queremos que o amor de verão vença os obstáculos e as barreiras familiares. Duas pessoas com passados tão diferentes...
Uma coisa é certa, a cena do comboio vai estar certamente no top!! Hot!!Hot!!
Á muito que não lia um livro de Beth Kery e já tinha saudades.
Ficamos cativados com a história de Laila e Ascher e queremos que o amor de verão vença os obstáculos e as barreiras familiares. Duas pessoas com passados tão diferentes...
Uma coisa é certa, a cena do comboio vai estar certamente no top!! Hot!!Hot!!
July 19, 2017
For Contemporary / New Adult Romance fans, here's yet another by Beth Kery for you. If you're into Second Chance Romance, then this story will hit you from all angles. There's that taste of young love, bordering on naive (but in the sexy way) to adult love in which you're older, know yourself a bit better and how well (or not so well) you fit with someone else.
Image it's yet another summer of the traditional, "we've been going here since I was a kid", family vacation spot. Except this year is different. This year will make for a lasting memory...like really lasting...but will it be Happily Ever After lasting? Well read to find out! It's worth figuring out whether these two can make it despite their differences. Beth was great in keeping it realistic and she keeps you rooting for them chapter to chapter. There's the right amount of blushing steam, but there's still room for an interesting story-line. Character development was great in that readers were really able to see the two different cultures of the lovers and though they grew closer in their relationship, their cultures continued to drive them apart.
I loved this story, but what I love most is that it keeps readers wondering. What would you do for love? Would you risk severing ties with those you've known your whole life, to remain with the love of your life? And is your partner willing to do the same?
Image it's yet another summer of the traditional, "we've been going here since I was a kid", family vacation spot. Except this year is different. This year will make for a lasting memory...like really lasting...but will it be Happily Ever After lasting? Well read to find out! It's worth figuring out whether these two can make it despite their differences. Beth was great in keeping it realistic and she keeps you rooting for them chapter to chapter. There's the right amount of blushing steam, but there's still room for an interesting story-line. Character development was great in that readers were really able to see the two different cultures of the lovers and though they grew closer in their relationship, their cultures continued to drive them apart.
I loved this story, but what I love most is that it keeps readers wondering. What would you do for love? Would you risk severing ties with those you've known your whole life, to remain with the love of your life? And is your partner willing to do the same?
February 24, 2017
There are times Laila can have quite the backbone, “that’s not fair! What exactly would you have me do, Asher? You’re here for another week. Do you want me to drive you up to my parents’house and explain to them how we’re sleeping together every chance we get, because apparently we have no self-control when it comes to each other?” I loved sweet Asher, "he cut her off by seizing her mouth in a quick kiss. “Don’t let them get to you. You’re too special for that, Laila. You’re worth a thousand of them. A million.” I enjoyed this book, I liked Asher.
May 4, 2017
I am a huge Beth Kerry fan. I usually cant wait to read whatever she writes and was so looking forward to reading this latest one. However I can hardly believe that she wrote it. It is so phoned in and disappointing , it lacks her usual steamy scenarios and great sexual chemistry. It's just another generic romance that could have been written by anyone. I defiantly wont be per-ordering her books any longer.
February 6, 2018
Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by this love story.
I’m a fan of Beth Kerry, but this book was so dull, I even skimmed the sex scenes.
I’m a fan of Beth Kerry, but this book was so dull, I even skimmed the sex scenes.
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