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MacLaine Girls #2
Her New Groove
An R&B songstress….
The bad boy that got away…
Can they get a second chance at love?
Monique Starr’s music career is at an all-time low: she’s in danger of losing her label contract and an embarrassing event has her front and center in all the gossip blogs—for all the wrong reasons! She decides to head back to D.C. and the MacLaine Academy of the Performing Arts to revamp her image, give her career a badly needed boost, and get her groove back. But she comes home to find her old Academy ailing financially, her mentor battling cancer, and her ex—whom she left behind to seek fame and fortune—very angry and unwilling to give her a second chance. But being back home reminds Monique of her old dreams and what she lost along the way to success. Now faced with second chances, will the music diva choose between love or fame, passion or ambition?
The bad boy that got away…
Can they get a second chance at love?
Monique Starr’s music career is at an all-time low: she’s in danger of losing her label contract and an embarrassing event has her front and center in all the gossip blogs—for all the wrong reasons! She decides to head back to D.C. and the MacLaine Academy of the Performing Arts to revamp her image, give her career a badly needed boost, and get her groove back. But she comes home to find her old Academy ailing financially, her mentor battling cancer, and her ex—whom she left behind to seek fame and fortune—very angry and unwilling to give her a second chance. But being back home reminds Monique of her old dreams and what she lost along the way to success. Now faced with second chances, will the music diva choose between love or fame, passion or ambition?
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
16 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Ellis
16 books378 followersShelly Ellis is a NAACP Image Award-nominated women's fiction/romance author and creator of the Gibbons Gold Digger and Chesterton Scandal series. Her fiction writing career began when she became one of four finalists in a First-Time Writers Contest when she was 19 years old. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published ten novels and was a finalist for 2015 NAACP Image Award in the Literary Fiction Category, a three-time finalist for the African American Literary Award in the romance category (2012, 2016, and 2017), and a finalist for the 2015 RT Reviewers' Choice Award in Multicultural Romance category.
She is married and lives in Prince George's County, Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.
She is married and lives in Prince George's County, Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 19, 2022
I Enjoyed the second chance romance between Monique Star & Officer Justin. It seemed that Justin held on to his grudge with Monique far to long and he prevented them from rekindling their relationship a lot sooner. Phoenix McKay did a nice job of narrating all of the characters in this story.
September 17, 2020
I liked this except for the hero's attitude about the heroine potentially giving up her entertainment career and then his behavior in their final fight. Was not a fan of either. Otherwise the second chance story really worked for me.
May 13, 2018
review to come
November 15, 2019
Decent second chance romance
Justin and Monique didn't last as as a teenage romance. She chased fame, he self-destructed until he got his life together. Now she's a famous singer in LA, and he's a police officer in their hometown. After life goes south for her in California, she returns home temporarily to regroup.
The good: The lead characters are engaging, including Justin's daughter, Kayla. Familiar characters from the first book reappear, a comforting familiarity. Steamy sex scenes.
The bad: It's a novella, so situations are wrapped up with unrealistic speed. Lack of communication creates false dramatic tension that harkens back to their foolish teenage selves. Other dramatic tension carries over from book 1 that served only to give Miss Yvonne her shining moment.
The writing is engaging, but these may be better as more fully developed novels. I'll still read the third in the series. An example of the writing:
"Justin could try to dismiss how much seeing Monique today had affected him, but in his heart, he knew the truth. Her presence dredged up all these unresolved feelings he had stowed away for years. He didn’t want to examine or contemplate them. He just wanted to shove them back into the box they had been sitting in for the past decade, and he might be able to do that if he didn’t have to ever see Monique again."
Justin and Monique didn't last as as a teenage romance. She chased fame, he self-destructed until he got his life together. Now she's a famous singer in LA, and he's a police officer in their hometown. After life goes south for her in California, she returns home temporarily to regroup.
The good: The lead characters are engaging, including Justin's daughter, Kayla. Familiar characters from the first book reappear, a comforting familiarity. Steamy sex scenes.
The bad: It's a novella, so situations are wrapped up with unrealistic speed. Lack of communication creates false dramatic tension that harkens back to their foolish teenage selves. Other dramatic tension carries over from book 1 that served only to give Miss Yvonne her shining moment.
The writing is engaging, but these may be better as more fully developed novels. I'll still read the third in the series. An example of the writing:
"Justin could try to dismiss how much seeing Monique today had affected him, but in his heart, he knew the truth. Her presence dredged up all these unresolved feelings he had stowed away for years. He didn’t want to examine or contemplate them. He just wanted to shove them back into the box they had been sitting in for the past decade, and he might be able to do that if he didn’t have to ever see Monique again."
February 12, 2019
Book 2 centers around Monique Newmann, now known as singer Monique Starr. After a failed publicity stunt to boost record sales, Monique comes back to the Center to help not only the center, but hopefully her career. Monique runs into her old former bad boy boyfriend, Justin and they both have to wonder if sparks are still there. I also enjoyed that there was mention of another favorite series of mine, The Branch Avenue Boy's Series in this story. There were several times I didn't like Justin because he seemed to not want to listen, but I enjoyed watching his growth in this book. And I enjoyed watching Monique's growth as well. And like the previous story, it included a cliffhanger, for the next book in the series. Normally I don't like them, but I didn't mind since I was able to plow through all 3 books in the series without waiting.
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August 1, 2019"He stared at her helplessly, unsure of what to say. He had never seen their lives that way. He had always thought of himself as the one who was left behind, whose heart remained in suspended animation, unable to get over her. He never thought her heart was in the same state."
A solid second-chance/reunion romance, with a lot of readjustment of their individual perspectives on their history and, in Monique's case, on herself. I liked this, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book of this series.
A solid second-chance/reunion romance, with a lot of readjustment of their individual perspectives on their history and, in Monique's case, on herself. I liked this, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book of this series.
October 13, 2018
I enjoyed the second entry in this series. Ellis continues to world build, and give nods to book one while creating an entirely new story about the diva and the bad boy turned cop she left behind. I liked the characters, the dialogue, and the plot.
April 16, 2019
Interesting second chance story
Different from most, this story had the heroine fighting for a second chance . It was a good change in roles but still frustrating nonetheless. Stubborn people... Great story though. Well written and intriguing.
Different from most, this story had the heroine fighting for a second chance . It was a good change in roles but still frustrating nonetheless. Stubborn people... Great story though. Well written and intriguing.
March 30, 2020
Another good one!!!
This series is really good. If you haven't yet read it, you really should!!!!
Take this as my official recommendation and start with book one in the series. You won't be disappointed!
This series is really good. If you haven't yet read it, you really should!!!!
Take this as my official recommendation and start with book one in the series. You won't be disappointed!
January 9, 2022
Monique and Justin both got off to a rocky start for me, but I really liked seeing their character arcs as individuals, and the way they came together as a couple. I also really liked the premise for the book!
(3.5 star rounded up)
(3.5 star rounded up)
May 4, 2018
So worth the wait!
Loved this second installment of this series. Shell y Ellis does it again. Makes you truly believe in love. Next...
Loved this second installment of this series. Shell y Ellis does it again. Makes you truly believe in love. Next...
May 20, 2018
Loved it!
September 12, 2018
I enjoyed reading the continuation to this series. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending that left a cliffhanger. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
December 27, 2018
Love Love Love
Really enjoyed Monique's story.
Nice mix of a fresh story and a hint of drama from the first book.
Can't wait to read book 3!
Really enjoyed Monique's story.
Nice mix of a fresh story and a hint of drama from the first book.
Can't wait to read book 3!
March 17, 2019
Loved it!!!
I'm really loving this Maclaine Girls series. Monique and Justin were so good together, and Kayla was a great addition to the story, can't wait to read the next one.
I'm really loving this Maclaine Girls series. Monique and Justin were so good together, and Kayla was a great addition to the story, can't wait to read the next one.
March 22, 2019
The new groove was great
Monique brought back the love and peace when she went home to DC to refresh from her disastrous life. A former bad guy turned good was a nice touch.
Monique brought back the love and peace when she went home to DC to refresh from her disastrous life. A former bad guy turned good was a nice touch.
April 25, 2019
Second chance romance set in realistic Washington, DC. Loved how much tension she was able to put in a novella.
April 19, 2020
Really enjoyed the continuation of this series. Glad how it ended too. Looking forward to picking up the final book. I'd love to explore more of Ms. Ellis' books in the future.
May 8, 2020
I enjoyed this more than the first novella, on pointe...
March 9, 2021
Loved this story. Great read.
February 3, 2023
Hmmm, I’m conflicted about “Her New Groove”. This book ended abruptly.
January 15, 2024
Monique's story isn't the worse story, but she definitely wants a better life. Better just doesn't look like what she always dreamed about.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews