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Hot Under Her Collar #3
Not Another Rock Star
Suzannah DeWitt knows how to run a church: as long as she never lets her people see her sweat, she’ll lead them to do miraculous things. But when rock star Rush Perez shows up straight from rehab to play her church’s organ, she finds herself sweating with him quite a lot and feeling like a fool for it. She dated a rock star once, and she swore never to do so again.
Rush hates church, but since he’s in hiding from the paparazzi and his own band in San Francisco, he may as well help out the hot lady-priest. He’s fighting a secret battle with a disease that threatens to take away everything that matters, and an affair with Suzannah is the perfect way to forget his problems. She makes him optimistic about his chances of winning—almost.
Rush’s feelings for Suzannah develop into the epic emotions he usually only sings about. He wants something real, but first he has to stop hiding and let her into his heart. Once he does, will she trust hers to another rock star after all?
Rush hates church, but since he’s in hiding from the paparazzi and his own band in San Francisco, he may as well help out the hot lady-priest. He’s fighting a secret battle with a disease that threatens to take away everything that matters, and an affair with Suzannah is the perfect way to forget his problems. She makes him optimistic about his chances of winning—almost.
Rush’s feelings for Suzannah develop into the epic emotions he usually only sings about. He wants something real, but first he has to stop hiding and let her into his heart. Once he does, will she trust hers to another rock star after all?
250 pages, ebook
Published June 27, 2017
3 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Amber Belldene
17 books174 followersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/amberbelldene
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmberBelldene
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amberbelldene/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/WF3j5
Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.
Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write love stories, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of all the best books and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco and loves chatting with readers and other authors on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmberBelldene
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amberbelldene/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/WF3j5
Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.
Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write love stories, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of all the best books and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco and loves chatting with readers and other authors on social media!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 7, 2017
I've really enjoyed this series - this is a four-star read for me, but probably book one and two I liked better. This one is super sweet and cute, but the two characters didn't grab me like they did in previous books. But this is still a good read.
Suzannah DeWitt, better known as Suze, is an episcopal priest, former opera student, who is trying to make a good impression in her new church.
She pulled into her parking spot in the tiny lot. Rector, the hand-lettered sign read, then St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. Damn right, she was rector - the twenty-eight-year-old #girlboss.
She wants her parishioners to love her, and she wants to love them. She also wants to make some changes - like opening a food pantry to those in need in her San Francisco neighborhood. Some of the older, more traditional parishioners are wary of her gung-ho attitude, and Suze is learning she must tread carefully to make progress.
When her organist breaks her arm, Suze is shocked to see famous rock star, Rush Perez sitting in her church, taking over organ duties. Rush belongs to a very well-known band, but is on a break with them to deal with some personal issues. He was raised in San Francisco and took organ lessons from a local, which is partly why he is sitting is Suze's church. Rush is not religious - at all - he actually hasn't spoken to his very religious mother for ten years due to a falling out over God - so he is just as surprised as Suze to be inside a church. But he feels warmth for the person who taught him music lessons all those years ago, and truth be told - the female priest isn't too bad to look at.
The real reason Rush is in San Francisco is to see a doctor who can hopefully help him with a disease he has - which gives him severe vertigo and ringing in his ears. And most scary - potential hearing loss. Rush will do anything to save his hearing. While the public thinks his falls off stage are from drinking, it's really his vertigo. But he hasn't told anyone about the disease he has. Not even his band mates. He is too scared to admit it to anyone. His last resort before brain surgery is an experimental drug in San Francisco.
Suze doesn't want a gorgeous rock star playing her organ (well...at least not the CHURCH organ) and when he critiques her sermon as being too flashy with her opera voice, she definitely doesn't want him in her church. But as she gets to know him, she falls hard for the super sweet rock star.
All three books in this series feature heroines who are episcopal priests. While the other two push the envelope more, this one is more on the sweet side. Rush and Suze grow fond of one another pretty quick - even with their differences. Rush is a famous rock star, he doesn't believe in god and has a reputation that isn't squeaky clean. Suze is a former opera student turned priest who enjoys her scheduled days and wine with her girlfriends on Sunday evenings. They are an unlikely pair but this author makes their chemistry work well.
"Suzannah." Her name was a question - are you listening? - and a demand - pay attention.
She nodded stiffly against his firm hold.
"You need to know, I'm one of the broken hallelujahs."
"Aren't we all? That's what makes the song so good." She took hold of his wrist and slid his hand down, dragging his palm over her breast, her side, to settle it on her hip.
His hand tightened there, his fingers digging hard into her flesh. He bent his head and placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck, just under her ear.
Did I mention this is a sexy book?
They don't have a ton of conflict within their relationship except for the fact that Rush isn't local to San Fransisco and will have to leave in a few weeks. There is more external conflict surrounding some of Suze's parishioners and her pushing for the opening of the food pantry. But Rush is there, supporting her - all the while trying not to completely freak out over his vertigo disease.
As always, this author writes very well done supporting characters who add a lot to the story. I could picture Suze's church and parishioners. It may have gotten a little slow in the second half, but over all this is a nice and sexy rock star/priest book.We don't get many of those!
Grade: B
Suzannah DeWitt, better known as Suze, is an episcopal priest, former opera student, who is trying to make a good impression in her new church.
She pulled into her parking spot in the tiny lot. Rector, the hand-lettered sign read, then St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. Damn right, she was rector - the twenty-eight-year-old #girlboss.
She wants her parishioners to love her, and she wants to love them. She also wants to make some changes - like opening a food pantry to those in need in her San Francisco neighborhood. Some of the older, more traditional parishioners are wary of her gung-ho attitude, and Suze is learning she must tread carefully to make progress.
When her organist breaks her arm, Suze is shocked to see famous rock star, Rush Perez sitting in her church, taking over organ duties. Rush belongs to a very well-known band, but is on a break with them to deal with some personal issues. He was raised in San Francisco and took organ lessons from a local, which is partly why he is sitting is Suze's church. Rush is not religious - at all - he actually hasn't spoken to his very religious mother for ten years due to a falling out over God - so he is just as surprised as Suze to be inside a church. But he feels warmth for the person who taught him music lessons all those years ago, and truth be told - the female priest isn't too bad to look at.
The real reason Rush is in San Francisco is to see a doctor who can hopefully help him with a disease he has - which gives him severe vertigo and ringing in his ears. And most scary - potential hearing loss. Rush will do anything to save his hearing. While the public thinks his falls off stage are from drinking, it's really his vertigo. But he hasn't told anyone about the disease he has. Not even his band mates. He is too scared to admit it to anyone. His last resort before brain surgery is an experimental drug in San Francisco.
Suze doesn't want a gorgeous rock star playing her organ (well...at least not the CHURCH organ) and when he critiques her sermon as being too flashy with her opera voice, she definitely doesn't want him in her church. But as she gets to know him, she falls hard for the super sweet rock star.
All three books in this series feature heroines who are episcopal priests. While the other two push the envelope more, this one is more on the sweet side. Rush and Suze grow fond of one another pretty quick - even with their differences. Rush is a famous rock star, he doesn't believe in god and has a reputation that isn't squeaky clean. Suze is a former opera student turned priest who enjoys her scheduled days and wine with her girlfriends on Sunday evenings. They are an unlikely pair but this author makes their chemistry work well.
"Suzannah." Her name was a question - are you listening? - and a demand - pay attention.
She nodded stiffly against his firm hold.
"You need to know, I'm one of the broken hallelujahs."
"Aren't we all? That's what makes the song so good." She took hold of his wrist and slid his hand down, dragging his palm over her breast, her side, to settle it on her hip.
His hand tightened there, his fingers digging hard into her flesh. He bent his head and placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck, just under her ear.
Did I mention this is a sexy book?
They don't have a ton of conflict within their relationship except for the fact that Rush isn't local to San Fransisco and will have to leave in a few weeks. There is more external conflict surrounding some of Suze's parishioners and her pushing for the opening of the food pantry. But Rush is there, supporting her - all the while trying not to completely freak out over his vertigo disease.
As always, this author writes very well done supporting characters who add a lot to the story. I could picture Suze's church and parishioners. It may have gotten a little slow in the second half, but over all this is a nice and sexy rock star/priest book.We don't get many of those!
Grade: B
February 12, 2018
Romance narratives are alien to my personal experience and circumstances and I’m perfectly okay with this. It’s not what I look for in my reading and, as far as I’m concerned, “relatable” has always been a dirty-word. The important thing is that my primary fictive reading is “literarily” familiar to me: in other words, I always read Austen, the Brontës, Mrs. Gaskell, and male authors, for the romance. When I started reading romance, I finally realized what they were missing. They left me hungry for more ‘o’ that; I took my romance where I could find it. Amber Belldene’s Not Another Rock Star added a dimension to romance I’ve never experienced. It felt as close and familiar to my theological viewpoint as a romance novel can get. I say this because what I have to say about Not Another Rock Star will be coloured by that sympathetic prejudice. It isn’t part and parcel of the religious tradition in which I worship, but its theological ethos and romance raison d’être are deeply sympathetic and right. I may have lost perspective, in other words, but take the review as you will, with that in mind.
Let me start off by saying that Belldene, an Episcopal priest herself, does not write what the romance genre defines as inspirational romance. She includes religious and theological content, her heroine is a priest, but Not Another Rock Star doesn’t use a conversion narrative, or posit the idea that evangelical Christianity is the matrix of everyone’s “Come to Jesus” moment. Belldene also includes elements, pun intended, anathema to inspie romance: explicit love scenes of the premarital variety, an atheist hero and remains so, and quite a bit of spirit-imbibing, of the bottled variety.
If I’ve told you about the elements Belldene’s romance contains or doesn’t to make it inspirational-not, it’s also not like any romance I’ve ever read because it makes full and beautiful use of the Christian narrative-metaphor that crosses barriers of faith, culture, and creed. It does so by using a song that means a lot me and another that Belldene doesn’t reference, but fits her purpose, Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and “If It Be Your Will”. Belldene believes and works out in her characters that we are broken in a million ways, by ourselves, others, and the randomness of life. She believes and works out in her characters that we can be made whole and healed by love, for each other, for the vulnerable, for ourselves, and for God. She also believes that an attitude of “listening” to the “still, small voice” of God, or conscience, or whatever you choose to call it, answers, if we adopt an attitude of active surrender.
Belldene, unlike the majority of evangelical-Christianity-based inspirational romance, is not puritanical. She is, at least in theme, and as illustrated by her characters (I don’t purport to make these assumptions on a personal basis) moved by the beauty of a practicing faith as by art, music, friendship, and love. Her romance narrative is the story of people coming to love and matter to the other, bringing them to a commitment of fidelity and love, as much as it is about, to echo one of my favourite philosophers, Ivan Illych, convivial community. Friends, family, and community play important roles in the HEA-bound romance of rock-star-bad-boy Rush Perez and Episcopal-looker-priest Suzannah “Suze” DeWitt.
But does it work as a romance, you ask? (Except for a need for an editing hone) gloriously so. Rush and Suze are “thrown together” when Peggy, Suze’s organist at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, breaks her arm and brings in Rush as a replacement. The famous rock star, founder and heart of his band “Stentorian Hush,” is in San Francisco taking care of personal business, being treated for Meniere’s disease, which he keeps secret, suffering in fear and silence, terrified at losing his band and what he loves above all else, music. When he and Suze meet, he is, though strained and drawn, a beautiful rock god. Suze is still proving herself to St. Bart’s parishioners and doesn’t find the charismatic, brilliantly talented organist any help to her win-them-over campaign. Rush and Suze start out pretty antagonistic. But they’re attracted to each other and soon joined in a shared love of music in piano-bench duets, the most important of which is Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.
I absolutely loved that the allusion threading throughout Belldene’s romance novel was Cohen’s song. I’ve loved it, sang and sing it in car and shower, since it came out in Cohen’s Various Positions album (along with “Anthem,” “If It Be Your Will,” and “You Want It Darker,” Cohen’s greatest achievements). In Cohen’s song, Susannah and Rush find a mutual love of music for human and God’s glory and an apt metaphor for woundedness in Cohen’s “broken chord,” Susannah’s perfectionism, and Rush’s hearing loss. Belldene’s Rush and Suzannah recognize brokenness in themselves and each other:
“Suzannah.”
Her name was a question – are you listening? – and a demand – pay attention. She nodded stiffly against his firm hold.
“You need to know, I’m one of the broken hallelujahs.”
“Aren’t we all? That’s what makes the song so good.”
What answer does Belldene suggest in Rush and Suzannah? That brokenness is the given, but, to echo Cohen’s “Anthem”, “that’s how the light gets in”. To act freely in giving and receiving love is how the world and we can be mended. In the romance, the hero Rush, in this case, has to reach out for connection:
His ears were screwed up, and his Mama had long ago broken his heart. He wanted somebody to be broken with. He picked up his phone and sent her a text. How are you broken? Right away a symbol danced on his phone, indicating she was reading. Then the phone buzzed with her reply. Oh, the usual ways. A thousand tiny cracks and few deep fissures.
Connection and sharing heal brokenness. Rush and Suzannah must exercise their free will to connect to others in various ways: with each other, in play, conversation, the breaking of bread and sharing of bodies, and in the community, by helping and caring for others and each other, in family and friendships, by sharing the truth of themselves, of their brokenness, with each other and their family, friends, and community.
Like the Christian narrative that makes the world new through worship, prayer, and liturgy, brokenness also comes in the form of betrayal, indeed, betrayal is necessary to the working out of and towards renewal. One of the loveliest and most moving moments of Belldene’s romance is that she makes the moment of betrayal not a sin, not a bad choice, but a necessary one, a healing one, with kernels of light and possibility and love in it. Could this romance have been a more perfect one? Yes, with some pruning, with better pacing – could it have embodied what the romance narrative can and should be any better than it does? No. With or without Miss Austen, whose own faith was so circumspect, I would say in Amber Belldene’s Not Another Rock Star, “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Amber Belldene’s Not Another Rock Star is self-published. It was released on June 27, 2017, and may be found at your preferred vendors. I received an e-ARC from the author, via Netgalley.
Let me start off by saying that Belldene, an Episcopal priest herself, does not write what the romance genre defines as inspirational romance. She includes religious and theological content, her heroine is a priest, but Not Another Rock Star doesn’t use a conversion narrative, or posit the idea that evangelical Christianity is the matrix of everyone’s “Come to Jesus” moment. Belldene also includes elements, pun intended, anathema to inspie romance: explicit love scenes of the premarital variety, an atheist hero and remains so, and quite a bit of spirit-imbibing, of the bottled variety.
If I’ve told you about the elements Belldene’s romance contains or doesn’t to make it inspirational-not, it’s also not like any romance I’ve ever read because it makes full and beautiful use of the Christian narrative-metaphor that crosses barriers of faith, culture, and creed. It does so by using a song that means a lot me and another that Belldene doesn’t reference, but fits her purpose, Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and “If It Be Your Will”. Belldene believes and works out in her characters that we are broken in a million ways, by ourselves, others, and the randomness of life. She believes and works out in her characters that we can be made whole and healed by love, for each other, for the vulnerable, for ourselves, and for God. She also believes that an attitude of “listening” to the “still, small voice” of God, or conscience, or whatever you choose to call it, answers, if we adopt an attitude of active surrender.
Belldene, unlike the majority of evangelical-Christianity-based inspirational romance, is not puritanical. She is, at least in theme, and as illustrated by her characters (I don’t purport to make these assumptions on a personal basis) moved by the beauty of a practicing faith as by art, music, friendship, and love. Her romance narrative is the story of people coming to love and matter to the other, bringing them to a commitment of fidelity and love, as much as it is about, to echo one of my favourite philosophers, Ivan Illych, convivial community. Friends, family, and community play important roles in the HEA-bound romance of rock-star-bad-boy Rush Perez and Episcopal-looker-priest Suzannah “Suze” DeWitt.
But does it work as a romance, you ask? (Except for a need for an editing hone) gloriously so. Rush and Suze are “thrown together” when Peggy, Suze’s organist at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, breaks her arm and brings in Rush as a replacement. The famous rock star, founder and heart of his band “Stentorian Hush,” is in San Francisco taking care of personal business, being treated for Meniere’s disease, which he keeps secret, suffering in fear and silence, terrified at losing his band and what he loves above all else, music. When he and Suze meet, he is, though strained and drawn, a beautiful rock god. Suze is still proving herself to St. Bart’s parishioners and doesn’t find the charismatic, brilliantly talented organist any help to her win-them-over campaign. Rush and Suze start out pretty antagonistic. But they’re attracted to each other and soon joined in a shared love of music in piano-bench duets, the most important of which is Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.
I absolutely loved that the allusion threading throughout Belldene’s romance novel was Cohen’s song. I’ve loved it, sang and sing it in car and shower, since it came out in Cohen’s Various Positions album (along with “Anthem,” “If It Be Your Will,” and “You Want It Darker,” Cohen’s greatest achievements). In Cohen’s song, Susannah and Rush find a mutual love of music for human and God’s glory and an apt metaphor for woundedness in Cohen’s “broken chord,” Susannah’s perfectionism, and Rush’s hearing loss. Belldene’s Rush and Suzannah recognize brokenness in themselves and each other:
“Suzannah.”
Her name was a question – are you listening? – and a demand – pay attention. She nodded stiffly against his firm hold.
“You need to know, I’m one of the broken hallelujahs.”
“Aren’t we all? That’s what makes the song so good.”
What answer does Belldene suggest in Rush and Suzannah? That brokenness is the given, but, to echo Cohen’s “Anthem”, “that’s how the light gets in”. To act freely in giving and receiving love is how the world and we can be mended. In the romance, the hero Rush, in this case, has to reach out for connection:
His ears were screwed up, and his Mama had long ago broken his heart. He wanted somebody to be broken with. He picked up his phone and sent her a text. How are you broken? Right away a symbol danced on his phone, indicating she was reading. Then the phone buzzed with her reply. Oh, the usual ways. A thousand tiny cracks and few deep fissures.
Connection and sharing heal brokenness. Rush and Suzannah must exercise their free will to connect to others in various ways: with each other, in play, conversation, the breaking of bread and sharing of bodies, and in the community, by helping and caring for others and each other, in family and friendships, by sharing the truth of themselves, of their brokenness, with each other and their family, friends, and community.
Like the Christian narrative that makes the world new through worship, prayer, and liturgy, brokenness also comes in the form of betrayal, indeed, betrayal is necessary to the working out of and towards renewal. One of the loveliest and most moving moments of Belldene’s romance is that she makes the moment of betrayal not a sin, not a bad choice, but a necessary one, a healing one, with kernels of light and possibility and love in it. Could this romance have been a more perfect one? Yes, with some pruning, with better pacing – could it have embodied what the romance narrative can and should be any better than it does? No. With or without Miss Austen, whose own faith was so circumspect, I would say in Amber Belldene’s Not Another Rock Star, “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.
Amber Belldene’s Not Another Rock Star is self-published. It was released on June 27, 2017, and may be found at your preferred vendors. I received an e-ARC from the author, via Netgalley.
April 12, 2022
I had high hopes for this one: a female priest and a rock star??? Yes please! Unfortunately, the rest of this series hasn’t lived up to how amazing the first book was. That doesn’t mean it was all bad. It explored the concept of brokenness in some interesting ways—although I had concerns about the way it also intersected with Rush’s internalized ableism. Being one of the broken hallelujahs is a recurring theme for Suzannah and Rush, largely due to past toxic relationships with either family or an ex. It’s scary to take a chance on someone new and to let them really see you. Suzannah is quite practiced at putting on a mask and this can result in inauthenticity and performance in the way she leads her church, something Rush sees right through. I’m always a sucker for love interests seeing each other more clearly than anyone else and Rush helping Suze become her true self was quite compelling, especially since he’s not religious. I really appreciated their HEA did not rest on Rush believing in God in the end. That would have been really difficult for me to believe, as well as insulting. Plus, it wouldn’t have been a true reflection of the way Suze practices her faith, which is more inclusive and expansive than Christianity is often depicted.
However, the good did not overcome three main issues for me. First, an unnecessary reconciliation between Rush and his estranged mother. They haven’t been in contact for ten years, for very valid reasons, and there was no reason to bring her back into his life. I wish more books realized some family members need to stay estranged. Second, I hated a plot choice regarding the food pantry and unhoused people. It played into negative stereotypes and felt emotionally manipulative.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Rush’s internalized ableism about his hearing was very hard to read and I would urge caution for anyone where this would be a sensitive issue. Rush has Meniere’s Disease that is not responding to regular treatment. He has intense vertigo and tinnitus, as well as occasional deafness. It’s understandably hard for a musician to grapple with this. (Although not unheard of given the high decibels at concerts.) He hasn’t told anyone that he’s in San Francisco for treatment, not even the guys in his band or his manager. He believes they’ll just kick him out of his band if they know. This was extremely frustrating to read. He eventually tells Suze after much prodding and she pushes back against this. But the plot doesn’t really force Rush to deal with it or really grow.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Rush is a Latino character but this does not once mention his specific ethnicity, even when he talks about his parents immigrated to the US. It’s not completely one-note representation but there was much that could have been done to improve it.
Characters: Suzannah is a 28 year old white Episcopal priest and former opera singer. Rush is a 28 year old Latino (no ethnicity identified) lead singer and keyboard player of a rock band. This is set in San Francisco.
Content notes: MMC has Meniere’s disease (chronic vertigo and tinnitus, as well as occasional deafness), internalized ableism, panic attack, brain surgery, physical assault by unhoused person (see review), concussion, cops wrongly arrest unhoused person (see review), toxic mother (MMC is estranged from his mom for 10 years due to religious abuse but she reappears in this story; FMC’s mom isn’t that great either but she doesn’t seem aware of that), past religious abuse, past death of MMC’s father (accident), MMC was in rehab for alcoholism , sexual shame by FMC’s ex, fatphobia (uncountered, mostly from FMC’s mom), past death of parishioner/secondary character’s wife (hospice), unhoused secondary character with chronic infection in foot, FMC compares MMC’s look/wardrobe to unhoused person, vomit (vertigo-induced), on page sex, bondage, alcohol, cigars, Vicodin (to manage vertigo), STD joke, penis jokes, gendered insults, gender essentialism, ableist language, non-Native use of tribe, music-related reference to enslaved people, reference to relative whose husband was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s
However, the good did not overcome three main issues for me. First, an unnecessary reconciliation between Rush and his estranged mother. They haven’t been in contact for ten years, for very valid reasons, and there was no reason to bring her back into his life. I wish more books realized some family members need to stay estranged. Second, I hated a plot choice regarding the food pantry and unhoused people. It played into negative stereotypes and felt emotionally manipulative.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Rush’s internalized ableism about his hearing was very hard to read and I would urge caution for anyone where this would be a sensitive issue. Rush has Meniere’s Disease that is not responding to regular treatment. He has intense vertigo and tinnitus, as well as occasional deafness. It’s understandably hard for a musician to grapple with this. (Although not unheard of given the high decibels at concerts.) He hasn’t told anyone that he’s in San Francisco for treatment, not even the guys in his band or his manager. He believes they’ll just kick him out of his band if they know. This was extremely frustrating to read. He eventually tells Suze after much prodding and she pushes back against this. But the plot doesn’t really force Rush to deal with it or really grow.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Rush is a Latino character but this does not once mention his specific ethnicity, even when he talks about his parents immigrated to the US. It’s not completely one-note representation but there was much that could have been done to improve it.
Characters: Suzannah is a 28 year old white Episcopal priest and former opera singer. Rush is a 28 year old Latino (no ethnicity identified) lead singer and keyboard player of a rock band. This is set in San Francisco.
Content notes: MMC has Meniere’s disease (chronic vertigo and tinnitus, as well as occasional deafness), internalized ableism, panic attack, brain surgery, physical assault by unhoused person (see review), concussion, cops wrongly arrest unhoused person (see review), toxic mother (MMC is estranged from his mom for 10 years due to religious abuse but she reappears in this story; FMC’s mom isn’t that great either but she doesn’t seem aware of that), past religious abuse, past death of MMC’s father (accident), MMC was in rehab for alcoholism , sexual shame by FMC’s ex, fatphobia (uncountered, mostly from FMC’s mom), past death of parishioner/secondary character’s wife (hospice), unhoused secondary character with chronic infection in foot, FMC compares MMC’s look/wardrobe to unhoused person, vomit (vertigo-induced), on page sex, bondage, alcohol, cigars, Vicodin (to manage vertigo), STD joke, penis jokes, gendered insults, gender essentialism, ableist language, non-Native use of tribe, music-related reference to enslaved people, reference to relative whose husband was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s
July 1, 2017
This was fine! None of them have quite grabbed me like the first in the series did, but I liked this.
July 10, 2017
Suzannah DeWitt is a bit uptight. She’s trying so hard to be the best priest she can be to all of the members of St. Bartholomew’s. She may only be twenty-eight, but she’s out to prove that she’s more than meets the eye.
When St. Bart’s beloved organist is unexpectedly injured, the person that steps into help is none other than bad-boy rock star – Rush Perez.
Rush is well known in the church and is rumored to be in town for yet another visit to rehab. He’s as beautiful as he is infuriating and he’s a distraction that Suze can hardly afford.
“So what’s he like?” Lily took a sip of wine, her cheeks slightly flushed. “He can’t possibly be as good looking in person as he is in his videos.”
Suze tapped her fingernails on her wine glass. “He is absolutely just as hot, which is completely infuriating because he’s also a pompous ass.”
“I hate it when they know they’re hot.” Alma slumped into her chair, pouting.
Suze ought to clarify he was mostly pompous about music, not about being sex incarnate. Then again, why bother?
Rush Perez is hiding out in San Francisco. His band – Stentorian Hush – is taking a much-needed break so that their front man can seek treatment. But it’s not exactly for the reason that they think.
Rush has been secretly fighting a disease that could steal his hearing and his music. He’s undergoing an experimental treatment that could possibly be his saving grace. But he never counted on the beautiful priest who stole his heart and made him want something for more than just one night.
“Tie me to the bed,” he said.
“What?” Her brow furrowed, then smoothed. She tilted her head. “Really?”
“Lash my wrists to the bed posts and…” He shrugged. No way to say this part delicately. “Sit on my face.”
A belly laugh burst from her.
“Why?”
“I think you need to be in charge of this show, boss lady.”
“I’m not your boss.”
“You are for the next how ever many minutes, or hours, it takes for you to come.” He flung himself on the bed and raised his arms, crossed at the wrists.
“Use me.”
Amber Belldene has the most unique way of weaving all things divine into her seriously scorching romances and Not Another Rock Star is yet another great example of her undeniable talent!
She made me feel everything from hopeful to melancholy and then left me believing in the healing power of love.
It’s everything that I have come to expect when reading Amber’s books – it’s sweet and spicy with just the right amount of soul…
When St. Bart’s beloved organist is unexpectedly injured, the person that steps into help is none other than bad-boy rock star – Rush Perez.
Rush is well known in the church and is rumored to be in town for yet another visit to rehab. He’s as beautiful as he is infuriating and he’s a distraction that Suze can hardly afford.
“So what’s he like?” Lily took a sip of wine, her cheeks slightly flushed. “He can’t possibly be as good looking in person as he is in his videos.”
Suze tapped her fingernails on her wine glass. “He is absolutely just as hot, which is completely infuriating because he’s also a pompous ass.”
“I hate it when they know they’re hot.” Alma slumped into her chair, pouting.
Suze ought to clarify he was mostly pompous about music, not about being sex incarnate. Then again, why bother?
Rush Perez is hiding out in San Francisco. His band – Stentorian Hush – is taking a much-needed break so that their front man can seek treatment. But it’s not exactly for the reason that they think.
Rush has been secretly fighting a disease that could steal his hearing and his music. He’s undergoing an experimental treatment that could possibly be his saving grace. But he never counted on the beautiful priest who stole his heart and made him want something for more than just one night.
“Tie me to the bed,” he said.
“What?” Her brow furrowed, then smoothed. She tilted her head. “Really?”
“Lash my wrists to the bed posts and…” He shrugged. No way to say this part delicately. “Sit on my face.”
A belly laugh burst from her.
“Why?”
“I think you need to be in charge of this show, boss lady.”
“I’m not your boss.”
“You are for the next how ever many minutes, or hours, it takes for you to come.” He flung himself on the bed and raised his arms, crossed at the wrists.
“Use me.”
Amber Belldene has the most unique way of weaving all things divine into her seriously scorching romances and Not Another Rock Star is yet another great example of her undeniable talent!
She made me feel everything from hopeful to melancholy and then left me believing in the healing power of love.
It’s everything that I have come to expect when reading Amber’s books – it’s sweet and spicy with just the right amount of soul…
June 15, 2017
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
3.5 stars
There were a lot of things I liked about this book: how the hero and heroine (Rushmore Perez and Suzannah DeWitt) interacted, the hero and his serious and complex condition, the insight into the music creative process, the novelty of having a very young woman priest as the lead female character.
I liked how the author developed all these dimensions, particularly those about the disease, blending data with the real effects of it on the patient, and the hero as a music artist, the singularity of the creative process and the unique joy of playing (and listening to) music.
And I really enjoyed this lady-priest who is comfortable in her own sexual skin.
I was disappointed with a sudden twist (chapter 20, about 64%) when the heroine makes an assumption about the hero’s commitment based on his nature and her mother’s alleged wisdom that was out of character, just like the following fatalism.
Some things left me indifferent and distracted from the romance – both MC’s problematic relationships with their mothers and the hero’s with God and religion, the heroine’s previous failed romantic relationship, and, to an extent, the food pantry project.
The author’s tone sounded often detached and, at a certain point I was distancing myself from the characters and their circumstances too.
In the final part I was also confused about the hero’s decision on whether or not to go ahead with the surgery.
I was also a bit surprised with Suzannah’s youth (28 years old) – aren’t rectors supposed to have more (life) experience? But I admit I don’t know much about these matters, I’m not familiar with Episcopalian church.
I'm grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
3.5 stars
There were a lot of things I liked about this book: how the hero and heroine (Rushmore Perez and Suzannah DeWitt) interacted, the hero and his serious and complex condition, the insight into the music creative process, the novelty of having a very young woman priest as the lead female character.
I liked how the author developed all these dimensions, particularly those about the disease, blending data with the real effects of it on the patient, and the hero as a music artist, the singularity of the creative process and the unique joy of playing (and listening to) music.
And I really enjoyed this lady-priest who is comfortable in her own sexual skin.
I was disappointed with a sudden twist (chapter 20, about 64%) when the heroine makes an assumption about the hero’s commitment based on his nature and her mother’s alleged wisdom that was out of character, just like the following fatalism.
Some things left me indifferent and distracted from the romance – both MC’s problematic relationships with their mothers and the hero’s with God and religion, the heroine’s previous failed romantic relationship, and, to an extent, the food pantry project.
The author’s tone sounded often detached and, at a certain point I was distancing myself from the characters and their circumstances too.
In the final part I was also confused about the hero’s decision on whether or not to go ahead with the surgery.
I was also a bit surprised with Suzannah’s youth (28 years old) – aren’t rectors supposed to have more (life) experience? But I admit I don’t know much about these matters, I’m not familiar with Episcopalian church.
I'm grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
did-not-finish
April 16, 2020Unfortunately, going to have to DNF this. I'm leaving it unrated because it's not fair to the book or the author when it's a personal issue that has nothing to do with the book's content.
It was a bit instalusty, but that's not the reason. There's an aspect of it that was hitting a little too close to home for me, so I was finding myself putting it down and not wanting to read it.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
It was a bit instalusty, but that's not the reason. There's an aspect of it that was hitting a little too close to home for me, so I was finding myself putting it down and not wanting to read it.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2017
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded up.
Suze is an Episcopalian minister and finds a rock star called Rush standing in for her organist one Sunday morning. (Rush originally had classical music training). Rush has been diagnosed with Meniere's disease, a fact he is keeping a secret, including from his bandmates, while he tries a new treatment. He is suffering mainly from bouts of vertigo, but fears going deaf and being unable to perform music. Initially Suze and Rush clash - Suze's first boyfriend also became a rock star (why has this never happened to me?!) and then dumped her - but then one thing leads to another...
I enjoyed this story, especially the bits relating to Suze's job and the battle to open the food pantry. Should the church be about ministering to the community or about beautiful music and the arts? The transformation of Winston and Seymour was inspiring.
However, I thought the ending was a bit of a muddle -
Not mad keen on the cover.
3.5* rounded up.
Suze is an Episcopalian minister and finds a rock star called Rush standing in for her organist one Sunday morning. (Rush originally had classical music training). Rush has been diagnosed with Meniere's disease, a fact he is keeping a secret, including from his bandmates, while he tries a new treatment. He is suffering mainly from bouts of vertigo, but fears going deaf and being unable to perform music. Initially Suze and Rush clash - Suze's first boyfriend also became a rock star (why has this never happened to me?!) and then dumped her - but then one thing leads to another...
I enjoyed this story, especially the bits relating to Suze's job and the battle to open the food pantry. Should the church be about ministering to the community or about beautiful music and the arts? The transformation of Winston and Seymour was inspiring.
However, I thought the ending was a bit of a muddle -
Not mad keen on the cover.
May 26, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
read a fair number of romance novels. I don't often add them to my Goodreads because often they are not very good or interesting. I enjoy them as light reading for the end of hard days. I read this one because the author is in a group that I'm in and offered advanced copies so that there might be reviews the day that the book came out. And I thought a romance novel about clergywoman was something I wanted to read. I have not read the author's other books yet but probably will go back and read them now. I often find something to relate to in one or the other of the characters or in the story itself between them in a romance novel, but this one in the main character being a clergy woman I was intrigued by how well the story would reflect things that I could relate to as a clergy woman myself. In the end I couldn't put the book down because there were so many parallels to things I've experienced as a female pastor, a single dating woman, and other aspects of the story. It's also just a well written and interesting story. I love that The characters face struggles other than ones that are primarily about their relationship because that doesn't often happen in romance novels. I love that both of them have their own independent lives even in the end when they are together. And I like that their family stories on both sides are fleshed out. I Love that the protagonist, even in a scary situation isn't a damsel in distress and her romantic counterpart doesn't assume (and neither does she for him) that just because they're in a relationship their decision gets to be the primary one and choices about their individual lives and things like what's best for their health or careers. They have a mutual relationship that goes beyond the standard tropes of romance novels in which one person makes a decision, the other is upset about it and in the end one or the other of them have to give in. Here they actually respect one another, and each other's decisions in disagreement are not seen as ultimatums or punishment which is hugely refreshing.
read a fair number of romance novels. I don't often add them to my Goodreads because often they are not very good or interesting. I enjoy them as light reading for the end of hard days. I read this one because the author is in a group that I'm in and offered advanced copies so that there might be reviews the day that the book came out. And I thought a romance novel about clergywoman was something I wanted to read. I have not read the author's other books yet but probably will go back and read them now. I often find something to relate to in one or the other of the characters or in the story itself between them in a romance novel, but this one in the main character being a clergy woman I was intrigued by how well the story would reflect things that I could relate to as a clergy woman myself. In the end I couldn't put the book down because there were so many parallels to things I've experienced as a female pastor, a single dating woman, and other aspects of the story. It's also just a well written and interesting story. I love that The characters face struggles other than ones that are primarily about their relationship because that doesn't often happen in romance novels. I love that both of them have their own independent lives even in the end when they are together. And I like that their family stories on both sides are fleshed out. I Love that the protagonist, even in a scary situation isn't a damsel in distress and her romantic counterpart doesn't assume (and neither does she for him) that just because they're in a relationship their decision gets to be the primary one and choices about their individual lives and things like what's best for their health or careers. They have a mutual relationship that goes beyond the standard tropes of romance novels in which one person makes a decision, the other is upset about it and in the end one or the other of them have to give in. Here they actually respect one another, and each other's decisions in disagreement are not seen as ultimatums or punishment which is hugely refreshing.
June 28, 2017
In this novel, Ms. Belldene does a great job of writing a romance around the themes of ministry, pastoral care, healing, and redemption.
Rev. Suze is a young Episcopal priest in her first position. She wears a brittle mask to hide her fears and insecurities. She struggles with members of her new congregation who are challenged by her leadership and ministry, especially regarding the development of a food pantry and offering support to a homeless member of the congregation, amidst the fears of her parishioners of what it would mean to help "those people." She is a failed opera singer who has not yet found her church singing voice. She had a failed relationship that undermined her self confidence regarding dating.
Rush is a rock star who is facing his own crisis. He is the temporary musician at the church, filling in for his old teacher who had a recent injury. But he is not a church person. His mother's religion led her to reject him and his music. Not only was he estranged from his mother, but he has an illness which has estranged him from his band: Meniere's disease which threatens him with hearing loss. Seeing how Rev. Suze can grow, he helps her find her voice and self confidence. He helps her meet the challenges in bridging the divides within her congregation. But it is hard for him to let anyone in and get too close. At the same time, she gives him room to heal and bridge the estrangements while she offers him support in the midst of his crisis.
I gave this book a four, because there were gaps in the story line which were confusing, especially the epilogue. It could have used a bit more developmental editing in that regard, and perhaps a line by line edit in some places where it was hard to follow as I read along.
Rev. Suze is a young Episcopal priest in her first position. She wears a brittle mask to hide her fears and insecurities. She struggles with members of her new congregation who are challenged by her leadership and ministry, especially regarding the development of a food pantry and offering support to a homeless member of the congregation, amidst the fears of her parishioners of what it would mean to help "those people." She is a failed opera singer who has not yet found her church singing voice. She had a failed relationship that undermined her self confidence regarding dating.
Rush is a rock star who is facing his own crisis. He is the temporary musician at the church, filling in for his old teacher who had a recent injury. But he is not a church person. His mother's religion led her to reject him and his music. Not only was he estranged from his mother, but he has an illness which has estranged him from his band: Meniere's disease which threatens him with hearing loss. Seeing how Rev. Suze can grow, he helps her find her voice and self confidence. He helps her meet the challenges in bridging the divides within her congregation. But it is hard for him to let anyone in and get too close. At the same time, she gives him room to heal and bridge the estrangements while she offers him support in the midst of his crisis.
I gave this book a four, because there were gaps in the story line which were confusing, especially the epilogue. It could have used a bit more developmental editing in that regard, and perhaps a line by line edit in some places where it was hard to follow as I read along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2017
3.5 stars, rounded up. I have to say I was reluctant to read a romance with a religious element to it, but this was a pleasant surprise. It didn't seem preachy, and it didn't eliminate the physical aspects of the romance the way I expected.
The characters were fun, and I especially enjoyed the way the book explored the added difficulties of inhabiting a leadership position as a woman. This was especially interesting to explore when considering the added expectations of pastors; I'd never thought about it before, but many of the sermons I've heard rely a lot on pastors using their own shortcomings as examples, being personally vulnerable. So I paused to think a bit about how difficult that would be when also expected to maintain a position as a "strong leader."
The characters were fun. I loved that its world included the kind of diversity you'd expect to see in San Francisco. The protagonists had good chemistry, I thought. I just would've liked to see it go a little deeper; Suze's internal conflicts seemed a little unfocused. She had a lot going on with her relationship with her mom and her relationship with her parish and her relationship with her ex. Any one of those would have been fine, but including all three of those meant that none of them got quite the intensity they deserved.
I also thought the pace was a little off. The conflict reached its peak and everything resolved very quickly at the end of the novel. The ending could have benefited from being drawn out more, a little heightened dramatic tension before wrapping everything up.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm probably going to read some of the author's other books. But it wasn't a book I fell in love with either.
The characters were fun, and I especially enjoyed the way the book explored the added difficulties of inhabiting a leadership position as a woman. This was especially interesting to explore when considering the added expectations of pastors; I'd never thought about it before, but many of the sermons I've heard rely a lot on pastors using their own shortcomings as examples, being personally vulnerable. So I paused to think a bit about how difficult that would be when also expected to maintain a position as a "strong leader."
The characters were fun. I loved that its world included the kind of diversity you'd expect to see in San Francisco. The protagonists had good chemistry, I thought. I just would've liked to see it go a little deeper; Suze's internal conflicts seemed a little unfocused. She had a lot going on with her relationship with her mom and her relationship with her parish and her relationship with her ex. Any one of those would have been fine, but including all three of those meant that none of them got quite the intensity they deserved.
I also thought the pace was a little off. The conflict reached its peak and everything resolved very quickly at the end of the novel. The ending could have benefited from being drawn out more, a little heightened dramatic tension before wrapping everything up.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm probably going to read some of the author's other books. But it wasn't a book I fell in love with either.
June 19, 2017
Suzannah/Suze is a young Episcopalian minister who is trying to get a food pantry going. Rushmore/Rush is a rock star who has been classically music trained and steps in to play the organ at church one Sunday even though he hates church. Rush is hiding out from everyone : his band the media . Rush has been diagnosed with a disease and he is keeping that a secret from everyone even the band. Rush is in the process of trying a new treatment out. Rush is afraid he will go deaf and not be able to perform music anymore. At first Rush and Suze just don’t get along as Suze has the memory that she had dated before and had been painfully dumped by a rock star. But there was an attraction between Suze and Rush right away. Suze tried to fight it at first but it didn’t work and she finally decided to let Rush in.
I liked this story a lot but at times got a little confused. However this was well written and I liked the plot. I like how Rush encourages Suze and how she was always there for him. This kept my attention and I did enjoy this book. But I did feel the ending was a little rushed but did not ruin the story for me. I liked the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
I liked this story a lot but at times got a little confused. However this was well written and I liked the plot. I like how Rush encourages Suze and how she was always there for him. This kept my attention and I did enjoy this book. But I did feel the ending was a little rushed but did not ruin the story for me. I liked the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
June 27, 2017
This is my favorite of Amber's Hot Under Her Collar series. However unlikely it might seem that a rock star would end up playing the organ at a church, it makes for an excellent story (and it seems the more I know about the music world, the more I find that there are indeed rock stars who started out playing in their church!)
I enjoyed the way these two characters get together, their faults and flaws, and how much both characters grow over the course of the book. Both Suze and Rush must make sacrifices in their own lives to make things work, both professionally, and with their relationship. The characters are fully believable, honest, raw, and at times heartbreaking as they grow and struggle. There are heart-wrenching moments (and to be very honest, I didn't feel those heart-wrenching moments in her previous books. This one really made me want them to work things out!) Amber's storytelling gets better with each book she writes.
I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the way these two characters get together, their faults and flaws, and how much both characters grow over the course of the book. Both Suze and Rush must make sacrifices in their own lives to make things work, both professionally, and with their relationship. The characters are fully believable, honest, raw, and at times heartbreaking as they grow and struggle. There are heart-wrenching moments (and to be very honest, I didn't feel those heart-wrenching moments in her previous books. This one really made me want them to work things out!) Amber's storytelling gets better with each book she writes.
I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2017
This book captivated me from the start — the idea of a rock star playing the organ in an Episcopal church for the female priest was intriguing. It only got better from there. The story was a good one — the rock star is in his hometown of San Francisco for medical reasons, which he is hiding from everyone. The priest is new in her role and has been burned by love before — another rock star. The story may seem familiar but it is not, The author makes it her own with characters who are unique, full of life and certainly not the stereotypes one expects. They are, in fact, the opposite and fun to discover. The book is full of a great supporting cast and while the dominant storyline is great and is in the spotlight, the minor storylines are just as good and will leave you with the feels, too. Worth the read.
June 27, 2017
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Let me just start by saying that I am biased. As a young clergy woman who reads a fair amount of romance, I often feel like Amber Belldene's books were written just for me. This third installment of the Hot Under Her Collar series is no exception. I loved the slow burn of the romance, the chemistry between the two lead characters, and the way that Belldene writes male characters that I'd want to be in love with. Her characterization of the life and experience of a rock star is fascinating, as are the twists and turns in Rush's story were especially compelling. I recommend Belldene's books to any fan of romance, especially progressive Christians who aren't tied up in the notion that premarital sex is a sin. ;)
Let me just start by saying that I am biased. As a young clergy woman who reads a fair amount of romance, I often feel like Amber Belldene's books were written just for me. This third installment of the Hot Under Her Collar series is no exception. I loved the slow burn of the romance, the chemistry between the two lead characters, and the way that Belldene writes male characters that I'd want to be in love with. Her characterization of the life and experience of a rock star is fascinating, as are the twists and turns in Rush's story were especially compelling. I recommend Belldene's books to any fan of romance, especially progressive Christians who aren't tied up in the notion that premarital sex is a sin. ;)
August 1, 2017
I read to escape real life as I at the same time expect to be able to believe the story unless of course it is sci-fi. I had a hard time believing Suzannah acting the way she did while being a Rector at a church. Rush I can totally believe him acting the way he did except for the insta connection he felt to Suzannah. I had a hard time feeling the connection between the characters. Suzannah talks about her erotic collection and has no problem with cussing and premarital sex. While I know they are human and mistakes happen that is not this case. She makes sure certain things are laid out so that she won't get in trouble with the church. I find it hard to believe that the one preaching in front of everyone would be a huge hypocrite. Rush of course acts like the typical rock star thinking mainly of himself and the minute things get hard he gives up.
June 27, 2017
What I like about Amber Belldene's romances is that each character learns something about themselves and about being in relationship. No one character "saves" another. Two flawed people come together and help each other become a little more whole. That holds true in this latest installment in the "Hot Under Her Collar" series. I have noticed the male leads all seem to have daddy issues (though in this case the hero's shame/brokenness comes from his mother). Still, the emotional and relationship issues are well portrayed and developed. Fun and steamy bedroom scenes keep things exciting, too. I recommend the series for strong women who like contemporary romance where sex and spirituality are compatible.
I received an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2017
I couldn't put this down! I really enjoyed the story line and I LOVED that the lead female wasn't helpless! I had read #2 in the series and love it, but went and bought #1 in the series since I loved these so much!
The only reason I'm not giving it 5/5 is because
The only reason I'm not giving it 5/5 is because
August 18, 2017
I'm not one to usually read books that are of the religious theme, and having a main character who was a priest would be the kind of thing to turn me off. I almost put it down before finishing the first chapter but for some reason I kept reading, and did actually finish the book. Despite the underlying background and God talk, I did end up enjoying the other parts of the story. I liked the relationship between Rush and Suze.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 18, 2017
We meet Rushmore a rock star and Suzannah a priest . Their connection starts from the first time they meet . Suzan tries to fight it all she can but at the end gives up and gives Rush a chance . I loved how he was always encouraging her to be herself and how she never left him when he was at he's lowest . I would of like that the ending wouldn't be so rush and we would of gotten more to their love story
April 27, 2018
The church is strong in this, in a very good way
One doesn't often get such good theology in a romance novel.
Fun premise, flawlessly executed. I wasn't sure I'd be able to suspend the disbelief of a clergywoman who could afford a swanky SF flat, but both her character and the musician she winds up with are so engaging that I soon forgot about that. I also really, really appreciated that the problematic didn't come from her job. A terrific read.
One doesn't often get such good theology in a romance novel.
Fun premise, flawlessly executed. I wasn't sure I'd be able to suspend the disbelief of a clergywoman who could afford a swanky SF flat, but both her character and the musician she winds up with are so engaging that I soon forgot about that. I also really, really appreciated that the problematic didn't come from her job. A terrific read.
June 27, 2017
I thought that the characters were well-developed and the plot line was very interesting! As a priest, I felt like I related to a lot of the church dynamics and found myself laughing quite a bit. I wasn't impressed with it as a romance novel- I was expecting more steamy scenes! It was a quick read, and overall I enjoyed it. I received an advanced copy from the author.
July 4, 2017
Characters: opera singer turned priest, rock star/organist
World Building: church management, Meniere's disease
Plot: deal with potentially career ending illness, trials of being a new minister
Sex: medium, shows the character development
Read another: Always
World Building: church management, Meniere's disease
Plot: deal with potentially career ending illness, trials of being a new minister
Sex: medium, shows the character development
Read another: Always
July 24, 2017
I received an ARC in exchange for this review. I am a clergywoman and I must say I love this series of books. Realistic depictions of parish life, real people and sexually active clergywomen all make this a winning combination of good reading. Enjoy!!
June 4, 2017
netgalley
A different read that I liked. I haven't read a book with a female minister. I liked.
A different read that I liked. I haven't read a book with a female minister. I liked.
June 8, 2017
Review to come
October 20, 2018
I really like Belldene's writing. Her characters feel real, like people I could know and be friends with.
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