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Coffee Sonata universe
Wayworn Lovers
Renowned composer and lyricist Giselle Bonnaire suffers from anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. She needs a driver and housekeeper or she won’t be able to work. Tierney Edwards, a restless, wandering soul, is on the move again, never staying in one place more than a few months. The two women are each other’s opposites, one nomad and one recluse, but when destiny places them together, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. Giselle knows her heart will break when Tierney moves on again. But Tierney has never felt so at home, which scares her. Can these women, so bruised by life and experience, find a way to break free of the past—or will they have to say good-bye?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
19 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Gun Brooke
40 books226 followersGun Brooke resides in the countryside in Sweden with her very patient family. A retired neonatal intensive care nurse, she now writes full time, only rarely taking a break to create web sites for herself or others and to do computer graphics. Gun writes both romances and sci-fi. She is the recipient of the 2009 Alice B. Medal for "body of work."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 3, 2019
'NetGalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review'
*'A writer has to read.It's almost as important as the actual writing itself...Believe in your idea.Full stop..'
Fairly okay story!
Having been a fan and read a few of this author's other books i did not hesitate to try another so when it came to choosing WAYWORN LOVERS which sounded so amazing just from its well crafted synopsis that really consisted of some substantive topics but what finally ended up happening is a dud of a storyline with few characters that i seem to cannot connect with. Realism and logistics does not coincide together in the writing--repeating of facetious dialogue way to many times,extremely weird supporting cast and romance between every couple because the author was trying way to hard to impress the readers with these forced friendship/relationship. Despite Giselle's cold reception,for the first time in years,Tierney felt drawn to her and at home which made her eventually start to open up and exorcise more of her past stuff (issues/phobias) while dealing with her being able to embrace an uncertain future and to trust again. WAYWORN LOVERS also deftly explores the subtle nuances of the foster-care system (and some of its many problems),friendship,relationship,a look at different phobias,mental illness and what it means to be functioning in today's society with any psychological or emotional illness,while delighting readers as its unmemorable heroine both act on impulses we might have all been guilty of having i think. For all that was going on in this story,there was not very much action to report or it was not intriguing enough. That said,if you're a fan of Gun Brooke or curious about this book,then go for it.
*'A writer has to read.It's almost as important as the actual writing itself...Believe in your idea.Full stop..'
Fairly okay story!
Having been a fan and read a few of this author's other books i did not hesitate to try another so when it came to choosing WAYWORN LOVERS which sounded so amazing just from its well crafted synopsis that really consisted of some substantive topics but what finally ended up happening is a dud of a storyline with few characters that i seem to cannot connect with. Realism and logistics does not coincide together in the writing--repeating of facetious dialogue way to many times,extremely weird supporting cast and romance between every couple because the author was trying way to hard to impress the readers with these forced friendship/relationship. Despite Giselle's cold reception,for the first time in years,Tierney felt drawn to her and at home which made her eventually start to open up and exorcise more of her past stuff (issues/phobias) while dealing with her being able to embrace an uncertain future and to trust again. WAYWORN LOVERS also deftly explores the subtle nuances of the foster-care system (and some of its many problems),friendship,relationship,a look at different phobias,mental illness and what it means to be functioning in today's society with any psychological or emotional illness,while delighting readers as its unmemorable heroine both act on impulses we might have all been guilty of having i think. For all that was going on in this story,there was not very much action to report or it was not intriguing enough. That said,if you're a fan of Gun Brooke or curious about this book,then go for it.
June 13, 2018
3.25 Stars. I’m a Brooke fan but this was not one of my favorites of hers. In fact it reminded me a lot of her book Fierce Overture, which I wasn’t big on either. The characters in this book are more likeable, but I was missing that good chemistry Brooke normally writes in her couples. Just to add I’m going to keep this review shorter than I normally do. I’m dealing with a massive head cold that is making being on the computer for any length of time painful.
I liked the main storyline and the backgrounds of both characters. Tierney is a bit of a nomad after growing up in the foster care system. She doesn’t have any roots and travels around doing odd jobs. Giselle is the other main character who is a famous composer. Giselle has crippling anxiety which often stops her from leaving her home. Tierney takes a job as Giselle’s assistant and the two become closer.
As I mentioned in the beginning, while I found both characters to be likeable and I cared about them, I found almost no chemistry between them. They seemed like great friends but anything beyond that just did not sit right.
There were a few plot issues I didn’t care for. One was this odd friction with a women and her cop husband. The issue never went anywhere and just did not seem to fit in this story. The other issue I had was with the big conflict at the end. The conflict was so forced it seemed totally unbelievable. I don’t get why Brooke didn’t just leave them alone and instead work on strengthening their fragile connection.
The highlight of the book was Mike and Viv from Coffee Sonata in this book. It’s like Brooke can stick Mike into any of her books and she makes them better. If you were a fan of Coffee Sonata you might wish to read this. This wasn’t bad, just not Brooke at her best.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
I liked the main storyline and the backgrounds of both characters. Tierney is a bit of a nomad after growing up in the foster care system. She doesn’t have any roots and travels around doing odd jobs. Giselle is the other main character who is a famous composer. Giselle has crippling anxiety which often stops her from leaving her home. Tierney takes a job as Giselle’s assistant and the two become closer.
As I mentioned in the beginning, while I found both characters to be likeable and I cared about them, I found almost no chemistry between them. They seemed like great friends but anything beyond that just did not sit right.
There were a few plot issues I didn’t care for. One was this odd friction with a women and her cop husband. The issue never went anywhere and just did not seem to fit in this story. The other issue I had was with the big conflict at the end. The conflict was so forced it seemed totally unbelievable. I don’t get why Brooke didn’t just leave them alone and instead work on strengthening their fragile connection.
The highlight of the book was Mike and Viv from Coffee Sonata in this book. It’s like Brooke can stick Mike into any of her books and she makes them better. If you were a fan of Coffee Sonata you might wish to read this. This wasn’t bad, just not Brooke at her best.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
May 23, 2018
Giselle Bonnaire is agoraphobic and prone to panic attacks. She’s also a classically trained musician who writes music for a few bands and singers. Tierney Edwards is a nomad looking for work in East Quay when she bumps into two women who suggest she try for employment with Giselle seeing as her housekeeper has just left her. Wary at first, Giselle employs her for a couple of days.
What follows is a lovely story of two women pushing each other out of their comfort zones. It was made more enjoyable by the cast of Coffee Sonata becoming fairly integral to the story. Issues like agoraphobia, the foster care system and panic attacks are dealt with in a very simplistic manner but I didn’t mind.
I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I enjoyed Coffee Sonata and I think that’s partly because there were four main characters which gave it a much more complicated story line. I don’t think they have to be read in sequence and perhaps this would have been more complex if I didn’t already know who Vivian, Mike, Manon and Eryn were. I did enjoy the easiness of Wayworn Lovers and it ended up being a quick, feel-good read. Three and a half stars rounded up.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
What follows is a lovely story of two women pushing each other out of their comfort zones. It was made more enjoyable by the cast of Coffee Sonata becoming fairly integral to the story. Issues like agoraphobia, the foster care system and panic attacks are dealt with in a very simplistic manner but I didn’t mind.
I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I enjoyed Coffee Sonata and I think that’s partly because there were four main characters which gave it a much more complicated story line. I don’t think they have to be read in sequence and perhaps this would have been more complex if I didn’t already know who Vivian, Mike, Manon and Eryn were. I did enjoy the easiness of Wayworn Lovers and it ended up being a quick, feel-good read. Three and a half stars rounded up.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
June 20, 2018
Not for me, this one! Things were happening way to quickly between the pair.. like a few days... It didn't feel like they were any chemistry between the two either...
For me, I like a book that I can't put down... but don't want to end either.. in this case I found myself skipping pages once I got to the 80% spot.
Like I say... that's just me.. but it might be your kind of read...
For me, I like a book that I can't put down... but don't want to end either.. in this case I found myself skipping pages once I got to the 80% spot.
Like I say... that's just me.. but it might be your kind of read...
June 27, 2018
A gripping story!
Gun Brooke did an incredible job in writing this very emotional story. Music, panic attacks, foster care system, a teenager that you are going to love, a cute dog and a touching romance are the ingredients that makes this book so fantastic. It had a great build up with a perfect ending. I definitely recommend this amazing book.
Gun Brooke did an incredible job in writing this very emotional story. Music, panic attacks, foster care system, a teenager that you are going to love, a cute dog and a touching romance are the ingredients that makes this book so fantastic. It had a great build up with a perfect ending. I definitely recommend this amazing book.
May 16, 2018
This is one of Gun Brooke’s best works so far. I loved the book! It was intense, it deals with very serious psychological and social issues without anything just being mentioned and then let it spontaneously slide into oblivion or put into background of the story; it amazing chemistry between Gisselle and Tierney and the relationship development! I would definitely recommend this book to everyone! Great work and 5 stars from me!
October 8, 2018
I liked this book well enough, but not as much as some of the others Brooke has written. The storyline was too similar to some of the other books in this series but not as strong. There is an issue about Tearney’s sealed juvenile records and a conflict with the sherif and his wife that makes no sense to me as it was never really followed up in the story. The conflict at the end of the book was too contrived and then too easily settled. I liked the main characters in the book. It was nice to read about characters from the older stories again. I hope there will be another book because I would like to know more about what happens with Giselle, Tierney and Stephanie and the others, especially Manon and Eryn and Vivian and Mike.
I rate this book 3,8. All in all a good read. Recommend.
I rate this book 3,8. All in all a good read. Recommend.
July 24, 2019
I’m not sure how to rate this. It was an ok book, but a forgettable one.
I had a problem with the sex scene, couldn’t wrap my head around the skittish, trust issues, orphan and the I like to take orders in bed attitude, but that’s really subjective, who am I to know what anyone wants to do in bed?
Another thing. The foster kids plot, Steph in specific. It felt rushed and incomplete. At the beginning I thought it was cute a mini Tierney, but it felt as if the author thought that writing something relevant about how they took care of the teen (bonded, develop a relationship) was a waste of time, so she just skipped it.
That’s all I could remember.
I had a problem with the sex scene, couldn’t wrap my head around the skittish, trust issues, orphan and the I like to take orders in bed attitude, but that’s really subjective, who am I to know what anyone wants to do in bed?
Another thing. The foster kids plot, Steph in specific. It felt rushed and incomplete. At the beginning I thought it was cute a mini Tierney, but it felt as if the author thought that writing something relevant about how they took care of the teen (bonded, develop a relationship) was a waste of time, so she just skipped it.
That’s all I could remember.
December 8, 2018
I had mixed feelings about this book.
What I liked:
Tierney. I liked her heart for others whether it be other kids in the system, a dog in need of training or an agoraphobic composer. She quickly develops feelings for Giselle but fears revealing her interest in case it is not reciprocated.
I liked the appearance of Mike and Vivian from Coffee Sonata. I’m not usually a fan of cameo appearances but I fondly remembered these two characters and it was a treat to catch up with their lives. They added some needed warmth to the awkward stage Giselle and Tierney were travelling through in their friendship.
The music. I loved watching Giselle composing and Tierney throwing lyrics at songs with her heart written all over them. I loved the harmonies with Vivian even if many scenes felt uncomfortable thanks to Tierney’s reluctance to showcase her talents.
The late night rescue road trip taken by Tierney and Giselle. I was fully invested in their story during this stage of their relationship.
What I liked less;
Giselle was a difficult person to like thanks to her phobias, depressing inner monologue. She is not an ice queen in the traditional sense of the term but she is hard to warm up to as a character and as a love interest.
While it appears there is instant attraction between both mains it takes forever for the two to even broach the subject of this attraction. Too many hurdles and self doubt left me doubting Tierney and Giselle should be anything more than business partners,
The musical group Chicory Ariose is mentioned twenty one times. I grew tired of listening to this band being referred to every time Giselle sat down at the keyboard. Yes, she is their composer but ugh, so much repetition.
A nice read for music lovers and romantics.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
What I liked:
Tierney. I liked her heart for others whether it be other kids in the system, a dog in need of training or an agoraphobic composer. She quickly develops feelings for Giselle but fears revealing her interest in case it is not reciprocated.
I liked the appearance of Mike and Vivian from Coffee Sonata. I’m not usually a fan of cameo appearances but I fondly remembered these two characters and it was a treat to catch up with their lives. They added some needed warmth to the awkward stage Giselle and Tierney were travelling through in their friendship.
The music. I loved watching Giselle composing and Tierney throwing lyrics at songs with her heart written all over them. I loved the harmonies with Vivian even if many scenes felt uncomfortable thanks to Tierney’s reluctance to showcase her talents.
The late night rescue road trip taken by Tierney and Giselle. I was fully invested in their story during this stage of their relationship.
What I liked less;
Giselle was a difficult person to like thanks to her phobias, depressing inner monologue. She is not an ice queen in the traditional sense of the term but she is hard to warm up to as a character and as a love interest.
While it appears there is instant attraction between both mains it takes forever for the two to even broach the subject of this attraction. Too many hurdles and self doubt left me doubting Tierney and Giselle should be anything more than business partners,
The musical group Chicory Ariose is mentioned twenty one times. I grew tired of listening to this band being referred to every time Giselle sat down at the keyboard. Yes, she is their composer but ugh, so much repetition.
A nice read for music lovers and romantics.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
July 19, 2018
I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Without music, life would be a mistake - Fredrich Nietzsche
Now that I have gotten that out of my system, let me start off by saying that this is a beautiful book. Music is something I love as it is a escape from reality. For a city dweller, it's literally the only thing that saves you from losing your sanity. I hadn't read anything by this author, and the synopsis was the only thing I read and I was kinda obsessed then and there itself.
This is the kind of story I love. A recluse, who refuses to communicate with people being brought out of her shell by a total stranger. For some reason I find this really endearing. Giselle(Her name is so apt!) is an agoraphobic person(someone who hates open spaces and crowds). Shes a brilliant musician who could have been the next big thing but her anxieties and fears didn't let her to be so. So now she's a person leading a solitary existence in a small town. Tierney is a woman who has no roots and moves from place to place in search of jobs to make a living. She happens to stumble upon the town where Giselle stays, and manages to convince her to hire her as her help for everyday tasks. So they now end up in close quarters and sparks fly...duh.
I love a book that has two contrasting characters. Giselle is a introvert, has anxiety and is a recluse, while Tierney is a wee outspoke and she is an anti-thesis of Giselle.
I loved how the story progressed. It wasn't exactly a slow burn romance, as they don't acknowledge their feelings up to around the 65-70% mark. Till then it's more about how they are getting adjusted to each other and trying to accommodate each other. The supporting characters were nice enough and thank God they didn't take up much story time. I found it extremely intriguing to read about Giselle and Tierney as strangers in a closed space. A lot of stuff are touched upon in the story, including Foster homes and childhood trauma. I felt that it blended in with the story and so I was fine with it.
While most of the things in this book clicked, I did not like the last 10%. There was absolutely no reason for that to have happened and I was really close too banging my head against the wall. I will never understand why Giselle made that choice. It's like the author didn't have a conflict and had to make something up. Also it isn't revealed as to how Giselle came by to having full blown agoraphobia, I was kinda expecting that throughout.
All said and done, this is a great book. The story is intense, and a wee unrealistic, but that's what books are for. To allow for an escape from the real book. I would totally recommend this book if you're a music fan or just someone interested in good fiction.
My rating: 4 stars out of 5
Without music, life would be a mistake - Fredrich Nietzsche
Now that I have gotten that out of my system, let me start off by saying that this is a beautiful book. Music is something I love as it is a escape from reality. For a city dweller, it's literally the only thing that saves you from losing your sanity. I hadn't read anything by this author, and the synopsis was the only thing I read and I was kinda obsessed then and there itself.
This is the kind of story I love. A recluse, who refuses to communicate with people being brought out of her shell by a total stranger. For some reason I find this really endearing. Giselle(Her name is so apt!) is an agoraphobic person(someone who hates open spaces and crowds). Shes a brilliant musician who could have been the next big thing but her anxieties and fears didn't let her to be so. So now she's a person leading a solitary existence in a small town. Tierney is a woman who has no roots and moves from place to place in search of jobs to make a living. She happens to stumble upon the town where Giselle stays, and manages to convince her to hire her as her help for everyday tasks. So they now end up in close quarters and sparks fly...duh.
I love a book that has two contrasting characters. Giselle is a introvert, has anxiety and is a recluse, while Tierney is a wee outspoke and she is an anti-thesis of Giselle.
I loved how the story progressed. It wasn't exactly a slow burn romance, as they don't acknowledge their feelings up to around the 65-70% mark. Till then it's more about how they are getting adjusted to each other and trying to accommodate each other. The supporting characters were nice enough and thank God they didn't take up much story time. I found it extremely intriguing to read about Giselle and Tierney as strangers in a closed space. A lot of stuff are touched upon in the story, including Foster homes and childhood trauma. I felt that it blended in with the story and so I was fine with it.
While most of the things in this book clicked, I did not like the last 10%. There was absolutely no reason for that to have happened and I was really close too banging my head against the wall. I will never understand why Giselle made that choice. It's like the author didn't have a conflict and had to make something up. Also it isn't revealed as to how Giselle came by to having full blown agoraphobia, I was kinda expecting that throughout.
All said and done, this is a great book. The story is intense, and a wee unrealistic, but that's what books are for. To allow for an escape from the real book. I would totally recommend this book if you're a music fan or just someone interested in good fiction.
My rating: 4 stars out of 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2018
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a fan of Gun’s, I’ve read all of her stories, and Coffee Sonata (which this book is an off-shoot of) is a favourite of mine. Unfortunately this did not live up to it.
Tierney is a former foster child who makes her living doing odd jobs as she moves from place to place, Giselle is a composer/musician who suffers from agoraphobia who hires Tierney to help her when her assistant suddenly leaves. The first part of the story of them getting to know each other and adapting to living together was alright, and I enjoyed Vivienne and Mike from Coffee coming into the story as well.
Things veer off track at the halfway mark though. First is the implausibility of Tierney having magical singing/song writing superpowers and being able to provide not just Gisele, but also Vivienne and Mike’s group and later also Noelle (from Fierce Overture, one of my least favourite Gun books) with music they love. Having all of the characters from Coffee Sonata show up wasn’t a surprise as they all live in East Quay and work together, but adding Noelle and Helena to the mix was just too much. I don’t know why Gun feels the need to cram as many past characters into a book as she can, but I really wish she’d stop.
Apart from Tierney’s magical music ability, there’s also an even more implausible storyline involving a foster child, which is solved because of Manon’s connections and ability to appoint people as foster parents without any kind of checks being run at all. I confess that I don’t know much about the foster system, but I would hope it is not run the way it’s depicted in this story.
There’s also an unnecessary subplot involving some of the townspeople that adds no value to the story. We then have the mandatory contrived breakup near the end which is magically resolved in a few pages, followed by a HEA epilogue.
This isn’t Gun’s best work, but fans of her other stories may enjoy catching up with past characters. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
I’m a fan of Gun’s, I’ve read all of her stories, and Coffee Sonata (which this book is an off-shoot of) is a favourite of mine. Unfortunately this did not live up to it.
Tierney is a former foster child who makes her living doing odd jobs as she moves from place to place, Giselle is a composer/musician who suffers from agoraphobia who hires Tierney to help her when her assistant suddenly leaves. The first part of the story of them getting to know each other and adapting to living together was alright, and I enjoyed Vivienne and Mike from Coffee coming into the story as well.
Things veer off track at the halfway mark though. First is the implausibility of Tierney having magical singing/song writing superpowers and being able to provide not just Gisele, but also Vivienne and Mike’s group and later also Noelle (from Fierce Overture, one of my least favourite Gun books) with music they love. Having all of the characters from Coffee Sonata show up wasn’t a surprise as they all live in East Quay and work together, but adding Noelle and Helena to the mix was just too much. I don’t know why Gun feels the need to cram as many past characters into a book as she can, but I really wish she’d stop.
Apart from Tierney’s magical music ability, there’s also an even more implausible storyline involving a foster child, which is solved because of Manon’s connections and ability to appoint people as foster parents without any kind of checks being run at all. I confess that I don’t know much about the foster system, but I would hope it is not run the way it’s depicted in this story.
There’s also an unnecessary subplot involving some of the townspeople that adds no value to the story. We then have the mandatory contrived breakup near the end which is magically resolved in a few pages, followed by a HEA epilogue.
This isn’t Gun’s best work, but fans of her other stories may enjoy catching up with past characters. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
May 20, 2018
5 stars
I really loved this excellent romance with two interesting leads with all kind of issues and some well done minor characters. The story worked for me and I enjoyed it without any real complain. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author especially because of the characters from her previous books that appear here. Highly recommended to all who like some drama and romance interwoven in the same story.
eARC via NetGalley
I really loved this excellent romance with two interesting leads with all kind of issues and some well done minor characters. The story worked for me and I enjoyed it without any real complain. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author especially because of the characters from her previous books that appear here. Highly recommended to all who like some drama and romance interwoven in the same story.
eARC via NetGalley
May 20, 2018
According to current research, anxiety is on the rise and it can manifest itself in many ways. In addition, the foster care system is broken and some would say because there are not enough decent caring people willing to take children into their home. Others would say, if the system would just be more open and willing to appreciate diverse families, there would be less of a problem related to a lack of available homes. This is a read about two issues I care about and am interested in. Tierney Edwards has found herself (so she thinks) by moving from place to place after aging out of the foster care system. It is difficult for her to trust and when the situation gets emotionally tough, she moves on. On the other hand, Tierney never forgets where she came from and demonstrates a saying I like by Angela Davis, "We must always attempt to lift as we climb". Giselle Bonnaire has found herself (so she thinks) by staying secluded in her home. When these two meet, there is hesitation yet caring. Although the storyline was fairytalish to some extent, being the romantic I am, I want to believe in the best of people and this read provided that in spades.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
July 18, 2018
It is not that this is not a pleasant or good read (it is) so much as that it is just not (for me, at least) up there with the rest of Gun Brooke's outstanding and wonderfully touching and affecting novels. I always _feel_ when I read her books and this time I just really felt there was something missing and that the characters I love from her other tales (i.e. from the outstanding Coffee Sonata) kind of fall flat. I am going to revisit Wayworn Lovers at some point as it could just be that I am at a point right now where it is something missing in me and not in the book itself...
August 19, 2020
Another enjoyable installment in the coffee sonata series of books.
Giselle is a renound composer but suffers from panic attacks and agoraphobic tendencies. She is in need of a new housekeeper/assistant to help her with the day to day things she cannot cope with.
Tierney is an ex foster kid who lives a nomadic life going from place to place doing odd jobs, never really settling down. She has a knack for poetry and lyrics and soon the inevitable combination of composer and lyricist is discovered.
Both are drawn to eachothers vulnerabilities. Both women bring out the best in eachother. But are scared of their emotions.
They also get involved with a young teen who was living in a bad situation and end up taking care of her, too. Which I found very sweet. Albeit a little too easily arranged.
My only complaint was the typical breakup towards the end, instigated by Giselle because she feels she will be holding Tierney back as she will come to resent her, and cannot offer the foster kid a suitable home because of her issues.
So they're apart for a month, miserable of course. Until of course a friend intervenes with some home truths. However it annoyed me that Tierney had to be the one to go over there and confront Giselle about what she was doing in pushing people away. Giselle just never did seem to step up for her spouse or the foster kid, which made me not really want to root for her.
I have to admit to not being completely sold on these 3 Gun Brooke novels. They all seemed to struggle with the same one sided relationship issues, manufactured drama and a fair few perfectly arranged circumstances that took me out of the believability. So I'm not sure if I would read any further books by this author.
Giselle is a renound composer but suffers from panic attacks and agoraphobic tendencies. She is in need of a new housekeeper/assistant to help her with the day to day things she cannot cope with.
Tierney is an ex foster kid who lives a nomadic life going from place to place doing odd jobs, never really settling down. She has a knack for poetry and lyrics and soon the inevitable combination of composer and lyricist is discovered.
Both are drawn to eachothers vulnerabilities. Both women bring out the best in eachother. But are scared of their emotions.
They also get involved with a young teen who was living in a bad situation and end up taking care of her, too. Which I found very sweet. Albeit a little too easily arranged.
My only complaint was the typical breakup towards the end, instigated by Giselle because she feels she will be holding Tierney back as she will come to resent her, and cannot offer the foster kid a suitable home because of her issues.
So they're apart for a month, miserable of course. Until of course a friend intervenes with some home truths. However it annoyed me that Tierney had to be the one to go over there and confront Giselle about what she was doing in pushing people away. Giselle just never did seem to step up for her spouse or the foster kid, which made me not really want to root for her.
I have to admit to not being completely sold on these 3 Gun Brooke novels. They all seemed to struggle with the same one sided relationship issues, manufactured drama and a fair few perfectly arranged circumstances that took me out of the believability. So I'm not sure if I would read any further books by this author.
July 24, 2018
So I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. It was just an okay read for me. I really like the author and think she does really good work, but sometimes for me it is just an okay read. I liked the idea and thought the characters were individually good, but together I didn't buy in to their relationship. It just felt flat... I liked the character of Giselle and felt like she could have really had some awesome moments. I think for a character written such as her it would take a very special character to help her overcome such a fear. I didn't feel that in the book. Not that I disliked Tierney... it just would have taken more than her I feel to overcome such fears. I felt as though some of those fears were overcome too easily. Overall it was an okay read, but for me not one of Brooke's best books.
July 10, 2018
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was a very sweet read, Brooke was able to dig deep into anxiety and phobias that made the characters more relatable and 3 dimensional. The plot was very good but what really made me like this book was Stephanie, the relationship between her Giselle and Tierney. I was very invested in what happened to her, and this book gave me a great ending for Stephanie's future. The only issue I had with this book was the love story between Giselle and Tierney, the chemistry wasn't there, which had me the loose investment in the two characters. Stephanie and Charley are what kept me turning pages. Overall a very nice read, if you like Gun Brooke you will enjoy this book.
May 22, 2018
Quirky characters showing that one’s anxiety and agoraphobia can interact with the other’s emotionally cautious nature. In this heartwarming story, Giselle and Tierney have different emotional sensitivities based on temperament or childhood trauma. They also have strengths and talents that the other woman needs. The romance poignantly works through or at least around each woman’s issues to develop their connections. Worth the read.
June 12, 2018
I have previously enjoyed Gun Brooke's books especially those that have the characters struggling with some medical condition that adds to the complexity of the relationship. I felt this would be in the same boat as the others I have enjoyed. However I did really struggle to connect with the characters in this one. It felt to me like the characters and story line was too dramatized for my liking.
This one just wasn't for me unfortunately.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
This one just wasn't for me unfortunately.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
July 9, 2018
I think that this book is Brooke's best. A slow burn romance, as I like them. She mixes different characters, a musician, with psychological problems, a teenager out of the clutches of the foster system and a young woman who flees her past, not to mention a well trained dog. Everything mixes harmoniously, and everything is done to have a very very pleasant reading. A very beautiful romance, a book to read absolutely!
Je pense que ce livre est le meilleur de Brooke. Une slow burn romance, comme je les aime. Elle mélange différents personnages, une musicienne, avec des problèmes psychologiques, une adolescente sortie des griffes du système d'accueil et une jeune femme qui fuit son passé, sans parler d'un chien bien entraîné. Tout se mélange harmonieusement, et tout est fait pour avoir une lecture très très agréable. Une très belle histoire d'amour, un livre à lire absolument!
Je pense que ce livre est le meilleur de Brooke. Une slow burn romance, comme je les aime. Elle mélange différents personnages, une musicienne, avec des problèmes psychologiques, une adolescente sortie des griffes du système d'accueil et une jeune femme qui fuit son passé, sans parler d'un chien bien entraîné. Tout se mélange harmonieusement, et tout est fait pour avoir une lecture très très agréable. Une très belle histoire d'amour, un livre à lire absolument!
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September 19, 2018I have read novels by Gun Brooke before, and they're always a rather interesting read. This book touched upon certain human conditions I was unfamiliar with due to my lack of experience and knowledge with them. Agoraphobia is something many people seem to suffer with the ease of which technology affords people to interact less face-to-face. One of the main characters, Giselle, suffers from this phobia yet throughout the novel, the reader sees her strive to overcome this, with the help of Tierney, a wanderer and jack-of-all trades who has problems of her own who comes to be Giselle's assistant. Throughout the novel, the women begin to bond over their love of music and fears of wanting to find a place, or a person, to call home. The novel allows the reader to steadily view the lives of these two women and those around them at a comfortable pace. The imagery was spot on and there are many moments where one's heart can be touched by the ordeals these women go through. If you're looking for a slow burn romance, where the romance is not overshadowing the rest of the characters or events that occur in the story, this is definitely the story for you.
March 31, 2021
3.8 star ratings
This was both sweet and entertaining. The bulk of the story was invested on the two protagonist companionship and that for me was really good.
On the downside, there wasn't enough investment on their separation so it seemed that aspect was rushed.
I must confess aspects of the story such as having a phobic hire a stranger right off is difficult to believe. Approving temporary abode for stephanie on just a reference seems far fetched.
This was both sweet and entertaining. The bulk of the story was invested on the two protagonist companionship and that for me was really good.
On the downside, there wasn't enough investment on their separation so it seemed that aspect was rushed.
I must confess aspects of the story such as having a phobic hire a stranger right off is difficult to believe. Approving temporary abode for stephanie on just a reference seems far fetched.
June 11, 2018
Ms Brooke again gives us a book well worth reading. Composer and lyricist Giselle Bonnaire writes the most beautiful music but having agoraphobia along with an anxiety disorder doesn’t help. Her long time housekeeper has to leave, leaving Giselle on her own. Tierney Edwards has grown up in foster care so when she becomes an adult she travels from place to place not really trusting anyone. But she needs a job so she takes on the challenge of running Giselle’s home. But she hasn’t forgotten where she came from so she keeps in touch with others in the foster system, helping where she can. I’ve read many books by Ms Brooke and have never been disappointed. Very enjoyable read.
eARC via NetGalley
eARC via NetGalley
February 3, 2020
Wayworn Lovers is a super dramatic, angsty read, very much in line with Brooke’s other contemporary romances. I’ve found they can be more polarizing than her sci fi romances, so that readers either love them or don’t, and I’m definitely in the “love them” camp. Some of the story’s circumstances had me raising my eyebrows, especially with Tierney’s past, but I enjoyed the book on a whole.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/wayw...
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/wayw...
May 28, 2018
Well I don't normally cry while reading a book unless a favorite character dies. But this one unexpectedly had me crying happy tears. It's a sweet story about 3 wonderful but lonely souls finding their home and family. It's a very pleasant read and will leave you feeling very warm.
August 14, 2018
Blurb (taken from the publisher)
Renowned composer and lyricist Giselle Bonnaire suffers from anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. She needs a driver and housekeeper or she won’t be able to work. Tierney Edwards, a restless, wandering soul, is on the move again, never staying in one place more than a few months. The two women are each other’s opposites, one nomad and one recluse, but when destiny places them together, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. Giselle knows her heart will break when Tierney moves on again. But Tierney has never felt so at home, which scares her. Can these women, so bruised by life and experience, find a way to break free of the past—or will they have to say good-bye?
As a queer woman with an anxiety disorder and agoraphobia I was really excited to read this book and for the most part it did not disappoint. The romance is a little slower than I usually like but it seemed right in this book. With Giselle’s anxiety disorder it felt like she needed things to move slowly and it worked well in this context.
One of the things I loved about this book is that although Giselle has an anxiety disorder and is unable to leave her property at the beginning of this book, she is still portrayed as having a full life. She has friends, a career, pets. Her life isn’t portrayed as a tragedy even though she often can’t leave her home. Giselle is very privileged so of course it’s not realistic for most people with agoraphobia but this is a romance novel and agoraphobic people who can’t leave their homes should be able to read an idealised version of their lives with agoraphobia (ideally I would not be agoraphobic at all but that isn’t an option for me so reading about someone who is able to live happily with agoraphobia is important).
I love reading novels with characters who are care experienced and there are two characters in this book. Tierney is a care leaver and Stephanie, a teenager who Tierney has been in contact with through an online group for care experienced people, is still in foster care. I thought the characters were very well written.
Overall I thought Giselle’s anxiety disorder and agoraphobia were written well and I could really relate to her and her reactions.
Rating: 4/5
Content warning (spoiler)
The only thing that I really did not like in this book is that there’s a scene when Giselle is having a panic attack and Tierney touches her, Giselle asks Tierney not to touch her and Tierney does not let go. So often neurodivergent/mentally ill people are touched without consent during panic attacks and meltdowns and for me it is a big violation of that person’s trust. I think in these situations people should seek consent before touching so to have a character who not only does not get consent but ignores the characters expressed wishes was a big problem for me.
At the end of the novel Giselle has had her dog trained as an emotional support dog and although she still struggles she is able to leave her home. I liked this. I thought it was realistic (emotional support dogs are amazing and I wish everyone who needed one had access to one) and it showed that there is hope for agoraphobic people.
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Renowned composer and lyricist Giselle Bonnaire suffers from anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. She needs a driver and housekeeper or she won’t be able to work. Tierney Edwards, a restless, wandering soul, is on the move again, never staying in one place more than a few months. The two women are each other’s opposites, one nomad and one recluse, but when destiny places them together, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. Giselle knows her heart will break when Tierney moves on again. But Tierney has never felt so at home, which scares her. Can these women, so bruised by life and experience, find a way to break free of the past—or will they have to say good-bye?
As a queer woman with an anxiety disorder and agoraphobia I was really excited to read this book and for the most part it did not disappoint. The romance is a little slower than I usually like but it seemed right in this book. With Giselle’s anxiety disorder it felt like she needed things to move slowly and it worked well in this context.
One of the things I loved about this book is that although Giselle has an anxiety disorder and is unable to leave her property at the beginning of this book, she is still portrayed as having a full life. She has friends, a career, pets. Her life isn’t portrayed as a tragedy even though she often can’t leave her home. Giselle is very privileged so of course it’s not realistic for most people with agoraphobia but this is a romance novel and agoraphobic people who can’t leave their homes should be able to read an idealised version of their lives with agoraphobia (ideally I would not be agoraphobic at all but that isn’t an option for me so reading about someone who is able to live happily with agoraphobia is important).
I love reading novels with characters who are care experienced and there are two characters in this book. Tierney is a care leaver and Stephanie, a teenager who Tierney has been in contact with through an online group for care experienced people, is still in foster care. I thought the characters were very well written.
Overall I thought Giselle’s anxiety disorder and agoraphobia were written well and I could really relate to her and her reactions.
Rating: 4/5
Content warning (spoiler)
The only thing that I really did not like in this book is that there’s a scene when Giselle is having a panic attack and Tierney touches her, Giselle asks Tierney not to touch her and Tierney does not let go. So often neurodivergent/mentally ill people are touched without consent during panic attacks and meltdowns and for me it is a big violation of that person’s trust. I think in these situations people should seek consent before touching so to have a character who not only does not get consent but ignores the characters expressed wishes was a big problem for me.
At the end of the novel Giselle has had her dog trained as an emotional support dog and although she still struggles she is able to leave her home. I liked this. I thought it was realistic (emotional support dogs are amazing and I wish everyone who needed one had access to one) and it showed that there is hope for agoraphobic people.
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2018
In this outing, Brooke introduces Giselle Bonnaire, a renown composer who suffers from anxiety attacks so debilitating she doesn’t go beyond her yard, never drives her own car during the day, and relies on a housekeeper to do the grocery shopping and other errands. When her housekeeper/driver quits to take care of her sister, Giselle is not sure how she will cope. Enter Tierney Edwards, a drifter who finds herself in the small town of Quay, and needs to stop long enough to earn some money so she can keep moving. A helpful townswoman suggests she go to the Bonnaire house to work for the composer.
Brooke has created a character who suffers from a little-understood disorder in a sympathetic way to help those who don’t understand the complexities of anxiety and panic attacks causing the walls to close in, her breathing to become labored, and feeling like her heart will stop. She makes the reader understand that the character cannot simply “get over it.” Her secondary character, Tierney, has lost her ability to trust after having spent a goodly portion of her young life in the system in abusive foster homes.
While Giselle’s disorder is an important part of this story, Brooke puts it into context and doesn’t let it dominate the story. This book is about two people, one older, who come together and must overcome trust issues that not many of us have to face. They have a hard time communicating because neither has the know-how to do it. There are funny dialogue interchanges and cute moments with Giselle’s dog. There is drama around whether two very different women can be together.
This book is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, but it deserves to be read by anyone who knows someone suffering from anxiety attacks or who has personal knowledge about them.
Brooke has created a character who suffers from a little-understood disorder in a sympathetic way to help those who don’t understand the complexities of anxiety and panic attacks causing the walls to close in, her breathing to become labored, and feeling like her heart will stop. She makes the reader understand that the character cannot simply “get over it.” Her secondary character, Tierney, has lost her ability to trust after having spent a goodly portion of her young life in the system in abusive foster homes.
While Giselle’s disorder is an important part of this story, Brooke puts it into context and doesn’t let it dominate the story. This book is about two people, one older, who come together and must overcome trust issues that not many of us have to face. They have a hard time communicating because neither has the know-how to do it. There are funny dialogue interchanges and cute moments with Giselle’s dog. There is drama around whether two very different women can be together.
This book is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, but it deserves to be read by anyone who knows someone suffering from anxiety attacks or who has personal knowledge about them.
June 15, 2018
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion*
3 Stars. I enjoyed book, but I also had some issues with it. This book was about Giselle, a recluse composer who has agoraphobia and hasn't been outside in a long time, and Tierney, an orphan drifter who finds herself as Giselle's assistant. Tierney starts as Giselle's assistant and starts to walk her dogs, and make herself at home. Their relationship evolves as they get to know each other and they spend more time together. My main complaint with this book is it really takes place over a week or maybe two, and it seems like their relationship evolves way way too fast for that time period. Giselle has a lot of fears and they seem to just disappear so quickly. It seems like what is happening in the book should have been over a longer period of time.
It was an alright book with the character development and how the book is paced. I am not sure if I would recommend this book as it was just alright and not my favorite book. I mostly felt like both characters moved too fast away from their personalities, they had changed within a week. There was so much that happened within that time period that it seems crazy. It does have a good story otherwise, but there are other books that are better than this one.
3 Stars. I enjoyed book, but I also had some issues with it. This book was about Giselle, a recluse composer who has agoraphobia and hasn't been outside in a long time, and Tierney, an orphan drifter who finds herself as Giselle's assistant. Tierney starts as Giselle's assistant and starts to walk her dogs, and make herself at home. Their relationship evolves as they get to know each other and they spend more time together. My main complaint with this book is it really takes place over a week or maybe two, and it seems like their relationship evolves way way too fast for that time period. Giselle has a lot of fears and they seem to just disappear so quickly. It seems like what is happening in the book should have been over a longer period of time.
It was an alright book with the character development and how the book is paced. I am not sure if I would recommend this book as it was just alright and not my favorite book. I mostly felt like both characters moved too fast away from their personalities, they had changed within a week. There was so much that happened within that time period that it seems crazy. It does have a good story otherwise, but there are other books that are better than this one.
June 9, 2018
I recived this book as an ARC thanks to Net Galley and Bold Strokes press.
Wayworn Lovers is the story of Tierney an Orphan with a musical soul and Giselle a composer whos only escapes from her constant fears and mental demons is the pieces she composes. this book is about so much it was overwhelming at times but in the best ways possible, this story was part steamy hallmark movie part lifetime movie with amazing indepth and informative looks at the foster care system at large and in person. mental health issues and the power and finding yourself to vanquish even the most hideous of Demons. I laughed I cried and i learned and loved So much!
Wayworn Lovers is the story of Tierney an Orphan with a musical soul and Giselle a composer whos only escapes from her constant fears and mental demons is the pieces she composes. this book is about so much it was overwhelming at times but in the best ways possible, this story was part steamy hallmark movie part lifetime movie with amazing indepth and informative looks at the foster care system at large and in person. mental health issues and the power and finding yourself to vanquish even the most hideous of Demons. I laughed I cried and i learned and loved So much!
July 6, 2018
Book received from NetGalley and Bold Stroked Books for an honest review.
Giselle suffers from attacks, while Tierney lives the life of a nomad. Never long in one place, this is a result of her youth in fostercare.
I have a double feeling with this book. I didn't feel the passion between the two main characters. While I have so in other books of Gun. Rest in me the question has this been a conscious choice given the characters of the two protagonists. If this is a conscious choice it has been brilliant but if not..... therefore, from me only 4 stars.
It is a good book, with heart-warming story of Stephanie and her relationship with Charley the dog and what a great epiloge!
Giselle suffers from attacks, while Tierney lives the life of a nomad. Never long in one place, this is a result of her youth in fostercare.
I have a double feeling with this book. I didn't feel the passion between the two main characters. While I have so in other books of Gun. Rest in me the question has this been a conscious choice given the characters of the two protagonists. If this is a conscious choice it has been brilliant but if not..... therefore, from me only 4 stars.
It is a good book, with heart-warming story of Stephanie and her relationship with Charley the dog and what a great epiloge!
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