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Bird on a Wire
After putting in her time playing bars, festivals and opening acts for bigger names, Robin Wren “Birdie” Scott has finally become a bona fide rock star with her latest album. Multiple Grammy nominations, legions of adoring fans and a hit single topping the charts, her career is exactly where she wants it to be. Her personal life, on the other hand, could use some work.
She’s always felt pulled in two. She’s famous, but she craves solitude. She was born a country girl, but she’s drawn to the vitality of city life. She adores her mother, but she can’t forgive her for the hurtful things she said when Birdie came out. She loves her wife, Della, but her marriage is not what it once was. All of her friendships have somehow turned into business relationships. Even the rush of performing has lost its luster.
When her sold-out tour is interrupted by the unexpected death of her mother, dropping everything and driving off into the mountains back to the small hometown she hasn’t visited in nearly two decades almost feels like a relief. Sorting out the conflicting emotions that come with losing her mother would be hard enough on its own. Add to that the reappearance of her childhood best friend and first love, Sara, and this trip home could be life changing in more ways than one.
She’s always felt pulled in two. She’s famous, but she craves solitude. She was born a country girl, but she’s drawn to the vitality of city life. She adores her mother, but she can’t forgive her for the hurtful things she said when Birdie came out. She loves her wife, Della, but her marriage is not what it once was. All of her friendships have somehow turned into business relationships. Even the rush of performing has lost its luster.
When her sold-out tour is interrupted by the unexpected death of her mother, dropping everything and driving off into the mountains back to the small hometown she hasn’t visited in nearly two decades almost feels like a relief. Sorting out the conflicting emotions that come with losing her mother would be hard enough on its own. Add to that the reappearance of her childhood best friend and first love, Sara, and this trip home could be life changing in more ways than one.
Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2018
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About the author
Tagan Shepard
17 books82 followersTagan Shepard has always spent quiet moments weaving stories in her head. It didn't occur to her until recently to take the time to write them down. Now that she's started, she can't seem to stop. When not writing, she makes her living in a hospital laboratory.
She is a cardio junkie, history buff, and unrepentant nerd, happily wasting countless hours of her life on video games and science fiction/fantasy of every stripe. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her very patient wife and two rather surly cats.
She is a cardio junkie, history buff, and unrepentant nerd, happily wasting countless hours of her life on video games and science fiction/fantasy of every stripe. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her very patient wife and two rather surly cats.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 6, 2018
This is the second book I have read by Shepard. While I enjoyed Visiting Hours, about the same as this book, I think this book was slightly better written. This book is different than her first as Visiting Hours was a romance and I would consider this a drama with a little romance.
Robin manages to escape her small hometown by being a real rock star. She has a new life in LA, with her wife and a band that tours all over the world. When she hears about her mother’s unexpected death, Robin drops everything to come back to her childhood home. Between dealing with her grief, a marriage that is rocky, and seeing her former best friend and first love, nothing about this trip is going to be easy.
This book is in third person, but Robin is really the only main character. I was actually surprised that Shepard didn’t choose first person for this book, but it ended up working well anyway. There was no disconnecting with the main character. You are right in Robin’s head feeling what she feels. You are so connected to everything Robin is going through. This is something I experience more in first person books, so I’m really impressed with how well this was written.
This is definitely a drama. I cried where I had to get tissues at least twice. The grief Robin is going through, her unresolved issues with her mother, they definitely got to me. I will say there are some romance elements to this story. I’m not going to explain it at all or it would be too spoilerish. This is a book I had no idea how it would end. It looked like one way, then another. Shepard kept me turning the pages since I had no idea. I will say I was very happy with the ending. It was what I was hoping for.
I will say the one semi issue is Robin is not always the easiest character to like. She is absolutely flawed and has issues to work out. Sometimes I was mad at her, other times I was proud. What really helped me is that she actually grew. Her character eventually recognized her behavior and changed. I’m okay with flawed characters if they grow and this is a perfect example.
This is Shepard’s second book and both have been good. She has become an author that I will automatically read now. If you are looking for a good drama book with a little romance, give this a read.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
Robin manages to escape her small hometown by being a real rock star. She has a new life in LA, with her wife and a band that tours all over the world. When she hears about her mother’s unexpected death, Robin drops everything to come back to her childhood home. Between dealing with her grief, a marriage that is rocky, and seeing her former best friend and first love, nothing about this trip is going to be easy.
This book is in third person, but Robin is really the only main character. I was actually surprised that Shepard didn’t choose first person for this book, but it ended up working well anyway. There was no disconnecting with the main character. You are right in Robin’s head feeling what she feels. You are so connected to everything Robin is going through. This is something I experience more in first person books, so I’m really impressed with how well this was written.
This is definitely a drama. I cried where I had to get tissues at least twice. The grief Robin is going through, her unresolved issues with her mother, they definitely got to me. I will say there are some romance elements to this story. I’m not going to explain it at all or it would be too spoilerish. This is a book I had no idea how it would end. It looked like one way, then another. Shepard kept me turning the pages since I had no idea. I will say I was very happy with the ending. It was what I was hoping for.
I will say the one semi issue is Robin is not always the easiest character to like. She is absolutely flawed and has issues to work out. Sometimes I was mad at her, other times I was proud. What really helped me is that she actually grew. Her character eventually recognized her behavior and changed. I’m okay with flawed characters if they grow and this is a perfect example.
This is Shepard’s second book and both have been good. She has become an author that I will automatically read now. If you are looking for a good drama book with a little romance, give this a read.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
May 6, 2018
This is the second novel by Tagan Shepard. I said for her successful debut that it is a sign that many more fine books are yet to come. I am glad that I was right. Bird on a Wire is even better than Visiting Hours. Although it is marked as a romance, it is in its essence more of a family drama with romantic elements as well as some sort of belated coming of age story of the main character Robin (35). She is in fact the only real main character here. Her wife Della (37) and childhood best friend Sara (35) are definitely secondary in importance to the protagonist, not her equal as a character at all.
The whole plot happens in just a few days but with a lot of flashbacks. I am not a fan of flashbacks, but I have nothing against them if they are reasonable and well-executed, as here. Robin is a good person, but her behavior can sometimes be quite frustrating and contradictory, and the author uses that very successfully to create some fine-tuned drama and tension all the way to the end. With all main elements done well, this makes for another very good book by this author. Keep them coming!
4 stars
May 6,2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
The whole plot happens in just a few days but with a lot of flashbacks. I am not a fan of flashbacks, but I have nothing against them if they are reasonable and well-executed, as here. Robin is a good person, but her behavior can sometimes be quite frustrating and contradictory, and the author uses that very successfully to create some fine-tuned drama and tension all the way to the end. With all main elements done well, this makes for another very good book by this author. Keep them coming!
4 stars
May 6,2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
January 6, 2020
+This is one of the most fucked up books that I have ever read.
+It's only January the 6th and I already have a candidate for the villain in Lesfic category.
+ Tagan Shepard has balls, I was planning on ripping them apart and putting them inside the woodchipper but towards the last part of the book, I just want to strangle her.
+ This is not romance, this is a bloody motherf#%@!/% psychological thriller featuring disturbing sociopaths, the cream of the crop.
+What I didn’t expect going in was to be gutted, like a fish. I’m talking ripped from sternum to belly button, leaving my beating heart and pile of guts exposed and vulnerable.
+ For the twisted plot twist, this book deserves more than just the one star I was planning on giving it.
+ Looks at one of my new year's resolution - Do not have murderous thoughts on fictional characters. Screw you list!
+ I need to find a corner, a paper bag, a blanket, a couple of Snickers bar and nurse myself back to sanity.
+It's only January the 6th and I already have a candidate for the villain in Lesfic category.
+ Tagan Shepard has balls, I was planning on ripping them apart and putting them inside the woodchipper but towards the last part of the book, I just want to strangle her.
+ This is not romance, this is a bloody motherf#%@!/% psychological thriller featuring disturbing sociopaths, the cream of the crop.
+What I didn’t expect going in was to be gutted, like a fish. I’m talking ripped from sternum to belly button, leaving my beating heart and pile of guts exposed and vulnerable.
+ For the twisted plot twist, this book deserves more than just the one star I was planning on giving it.
+ Looks at one of my new year's resolution - Do not have murderous thoughts on fictional characters. Screw you list!
+ I need to find a corner, a paper bag, a blanket, a couple of Snickers bar and nurse myself back to sanity.
July 6, 2018
3.5 stars
I've got mixed feelings about this one. I was pulled in by the sadness surrounding Robin's return to Sperryville following the death of her mother. I appreciated the almost catatonic state one finds oneself in when faced with this kind of loss. Mixed with that sympathy for Robin was a growing need to shake the main character into seeing what was right in front of her and to not dwell on the past, a past which comes roaring up to greet her when she arrives in her old home town.
I can only assume messing with my emotions was intentional so kudos to the author. She had me ranting a few times. The ending pushed my drama llama buttons and forced a few eye rolls but on the whole, not a bad read.
I've got mixed feelings about this one. I was pulled in by the sadness surrounding Robin's return to Sperryville following the death of her mother. I appreciated the almost catatonic state one finds oneself in when faced with this kind of loss. Mixed with that sympathy for Robin was a growing need to shake the main character into seeing what was right in front of her and to not dwell on the past, a past which comes roaring up to greet her when she arrives in her old home town.
I can only assume messing with my emotions was intentional so kudos to the author. She had me ranting a few times. The ending pushed my drama llama buttons and forced a few eye rolls but on the whole, not a bad read.
July 18, 2019
Last Saturday night I had the opportunity to watch as Shepard, who was barely 10 feet from me, get her Goldie award for this book at this year's GCLS in Pittsburg. When she got on stage and up to the mic in front of probably 1,000 people she said something to the effect of, 'As I say a little about this book, bare with me I might cry. And as a soft butch I'm allowed.' She did. And then so did I. A major theme to this book was the acceptance, or in the MC's case here (and author), non-acceptance for her orientation. Then when she got back to her table I saw her wife with tears in her eyes as well. It was glaringly apparent that she was not only proud of Tagan but that she hung the moon in her eyes. It was a powerful moment and one that I won't forget. And again I teared up seeing them. Sue me, I'm a softie, you'all know this.
As far as this book goes. I struggled with my own rating. One one hand it's about brutal sadness and loss, also with a touch of temptation. The teeter totter I use to gauge how much of the bad feels weighs down with the good feels on the other side clearly weighs more heavily on the bad here. Yet I have to ask myself did the author provoke the emotion that she intended here. Clearly that's a yes. It's a powerful book. I'm not gonna lie. It's not only well written, paced well, strong (and not so strong) characters's, and pretty engrossing. Another of my gauges as to how a book sits with me overall is how much time I've lost without realizing it. The only critique I might have with it is the bow at the end. I felt that the resolution could have been drawn out more so that it would have given me more of the good feels on that end of the teeter totter that is so obviously important to me as a reader.
Overall I'm glad to have read it, and encourage others to give it a shot also.
August 22, 2018
Robin 'Birdie' Scott cancels the rest of her tour when her mother dies. She returns home to the small town (which is a real town in Virginia), that she escaped as soon as she could, to lay her mother to rest. Her wife of 16 years (I think) follows shortly after. Coming home brings her face to face with all the reasons she left and the familiarity of home. Her childhood crush still lives there too.
This is an exploration of relationships and so much of it is between the lines which, for me, made it a really good read but it wasn't a very comfortable one. Robin's relationship with her mother was complicated and it affected the choices she made as well as colouring her view of her past. Her relationship with her wife is beautifully subtle. I found my opinions and emotions being constantly shifted with each new piece of information. My allegiances were pushed around just as much.
This is an exploration of relationships and so much of it is between the lines which, for me, made it a really good read but it wasn't a very comfortable one. Robin's relationship with her mother was complicated and it affected the choices she made as well as colouring her view of her past. Her relationship with her wife is beautifully subtle. I found my opinions and emotions being constantly shifted with each new piece of information. My allegiances were pushed around just as much.
January 3, 2020
Incredible book, I devoured this in a day.
Full review to follow when I'm back to my laptop but I wanted to post this much asap because it's just *that* good!
Full review to follow when I'm back to my laptop but I wanted to post this much asap because it's just *that* good!
May 20, 2018
Very absorbing story, with smooth writing. I was totally rooting for Della, but story ended without the main characters really communicating the drift between them. Story could have been longer.
May 17, 2020
Kept me guessing all the while, more about grief and love, of what ifs and maybe nots. Very moving. Thank you
January 19, 2024
I don't know if I would call this book a romance novel. It certainly isn't a feel good story. In fact it was a little sad. It's mostly about Robin being in her childhood home again after her mother died. She hasn't been there often the last 15 years and she reminisces about the past a lot. Her wife Della is with her an there seems to be some tension in their relationship. Why is not clear to me. The first half is absolutely not a love story. Robin's childhood friend Sara apears only a few times and there are some memories about Sara. There is really not much happening. It even gets dull maybe. I don't really know what to make of it. Some parts I thought were good, but some I did not get. Shepard also tended to elaborate on things that were neither relevant nor interesting. Later on, out of the blue, there is a strange chapter where Robin visits an old friend. At that point the story suddenly seems to be going nowhere. There were a lot of mixed signals too. In some parts Della seems to be a real catch and in other parts not so. Same about Sara. Overall it wasn't bad really. It just gave of a mixed vibe. Still I was curious where it was going to go, so I kept reading. Then the ending. When I was done didn't know if the story had a happy ending. Maybe it was, but did I not recognise it as such, because I was expecting something else. I still don't know how I feel about that really. But at least it was an ending that wasn't set clear from the beginning.
May 13, 2019
Great story
I was frustrated through most of the book because there were so many things left unsaid between Robin and her wife, Robin and her mother, Robin and her best friend as teenagers, etc. Spoiler alert: I was ultimately happy in the end because alt hi ought her mother has died and their relationship cant be improved, Robin finally sees Sara and Della both for who they each really are and the love Della and Robin share is strengthened for it.
If you like this story, you should read Visiting Hours by this author because it's even better!
I was frustrated through most of the book because there were so many things left unsaid between Robin and her wife, Robin and her mother, Robin and her best friend as teenagers, etc. Spoiler alert: I was ultimately happy in the end because alt hi ought her mother has died and their relationship cant be improved, Robin finally sees Sara and Della both for who they each really are and the love Della and Robin share is strengthened for it.
If you like this story, you should read Visiting Hours by this author because it's even better!
December 13, 2020
Real and Raw
How refreshing to have a flawed character trying to make sense out of life. Too many romances are clichés and don't have any bearing on how complicated life can be. Birdie Scott is a real and conflicted character, which makes Shepard's book so intriguing.
This book kept me wondering up until the very end, which is a welcome rarity.
How refreshing to have a flawed character trying to make sense out of life. Too many romances are clichés and don't have any bearing on how complicated life can be. Birdie Scott is a real and conflicted character, which makes Shepard's book so intriguing.
This book kept me wondering up until the very end, which is a welcome rarity.
November 22, 2018
Brilliant!
So we'll written, this book had me going and almost made think the story was going in one direction and then made the switch to a much better conclusion. The characters are well written and relatable. The clues are there if you can see them lol.
So we'll written, this book had me going and almost made think the story was going in one direction and then made the switch to a much better conclusion. The characters are well written and relatable. The clues are there if you can see them lol.
July 8, 2024
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I understad others have been written. Basically, this is a love story with some horrible events happening throughout the book. At times the story flew and then drag. Overall reading this book was a good way to spend a long hot day.
May 24, 2018
Birdie's an ass but the town and the people seem lovely.
September 26, 2018
Started like a fairytale romance, ended with reality.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews