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Coffee Sonata universe
Insult to Injury
World famous violinist Gail Owen is devastated after a car accident leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument. She withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island.
Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. After being wrongfully arrested, she hitchhikes back to Rhode Island and, out of money and options, hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in, unaware that the new owner is about to move in permanently.
When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. Romi is torn between feeling guilty for lying to Gail and enamored of her, and she fears the truth will set them on a path toward heartbreak.
Cover Artist: Gun Brooke and Sheri Halal
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Words: 67,500
Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. After being wrongfully arrested, she hitchhikes back to Rhode Island and, out of money and options, hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in, unaware that the new owner is about to move in permanently.
When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. Romi is torn between feeling guilty for lying to Gail and enamored of her, and she fears the truth will set them on a path toward heartbreak.
Cover Artist: Gun Brooke and Sheri Halal
Genres: Contemporary / Romance
Words: 67,500
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
18 people are currently reading
132 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 41 reviews
July 13, 2019
3.5 Stars. I don’t think this was one of Brooke’s best, but I still enjoyed it. To be honest it’s one of those stories where I could see some possible eye rolls, but I personally chose not to take things too seriously so it worked for me. Even with a main character that has a major injury and the other main character who is homeless, this is not really a deep book. It’s more of a fluffy, feel good, good things finally happen book. I found when I stopped looking for the deeper meaning behind everything, I started to enjoy the book.
This story does stand on its own. However, it is a part of the Coffee Sonata universe so there are plenty of secondary characters from Brooke’s other books. I think anyone would enjoy this book more if they at least read Coffee Sonata first. In my opinion it’s one of Brooke’s best and has some wonderful characters. One of my favorite parts of reading Insult to Injury was spending more time with Manon, Mike and Vivian.
I was happy with both new mains we were introduced to. We don’t see many homeless characters in lesfic so I have to give Brooke some props for that. This is an age-gap romance. I do have to say I thought Romi at 22 felt a little young compared to Gail in her 30’s. It is something that felt a bit off in the beginning, but as I saw Romi attraction to Gail, through Romi’s eyes, it made me feel a little better about the age-gap.
The romance was a little faster moving than I prefer. It’s not insta-love but they did seem to get a little obsessed with each other pretty fast. Again like I mentioned above, the chemistry was also more potent as seen through Romi’s eyes. This book switches POV’s but Romi to me was definitely the heart of the book. The final resolution was a bit corny, but I still had a big smile on my face when the book ended.
Not my favorite book by Brooke and it had its bumps, but I still had fun reading it. I would recommend it to people who like the setting and characters of East Quay in the Coffee Sonata universe. If you are new to Brooke, I would not start here. Coffee Sonata is a great first book to read because not only is it good, but it will give you a good feel of the kind of author Brooke is.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This story does stand on its own. However, it is a part of the Coffee Sonata universe so there are plenty of secondary characters from Brooke’s other books. I think anyone would enjoy this book more if they at least read Coffee Sonata first. In my opinion it’s one of Brooke’s best and has some wonderful characters. One of my favorite parts of reading Insult to Injury was spending more time with Manon, Mike and Vivian.
I was happy with both new mains we were introduced to. We don’t see many homeless characters in lesfic so I have to give Brooke some props for that. This is an age-gap romance. I do have to say I thought Romi at 22 felt a little young compared to Gail in her 30’s. It is something that felt a bit off in the beginning, but as I saw Romi attraction to Gail, through Romi’s eyes, it made me feel a little better about the age-gap.
The romance was a little faster moving than I prefer. It’s not insta-love but they did seem to get a little obsessed with each other pretty fast. Again like I mentioned above, the chemistry was also more potent as seen through Romi’s eyes. This book switches POV’s but Romi to me was definitely the heart of the book. The final resolution was a bit corny, but I still had a big smile on my face when the book ended.
Not my favorite book by Brooke and it had its bumps, but I still had fun reading it. I would recommend it to people who like the setting and characters of East Quay in the Coffee Sonata universe. If you are new to Brooke, I would not start here. Coffee Sonata is a great first book to read because not only is it good, but it will give you a good feel of the kind of author Brooke is.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
June 27, 2019
This is an addition to the utopia of lesbian musicians in East Quay and while it uses a number of themes common to Brooke’s books it is still an enjoyable read which tugs at the heartstrings. Twenty-two year old Romi returns to East Quay in an attempt to escape being charged for something she didn’t do. The only place she can think of to go is her late Aunt Clara’s house until she can figure out what to do. Virtuoso violinist, Gail Owen, still doesn’t have full function of her right arm after a devastating car crash and seeks to like her wounds in the solitude of the farmhouse she’s just bought in East Quay.
Written in first person from alternating points of view, the reader has insight into both main characters. It’s a style I quite enjoy and I liked the way the ending of one point of view overlapped into the next giving the story good continuity. Romi and Gail are both lovely characters but I preferred Romi’s grit and determination to survive.
I’m fairly certain it can be read as a standalone but there is so much richness in the secondary characters’ own backstories that it might seem like you’re missing something if you haven’t read any of the other novels centred in East Quay. It’s a good romance with no real surprises and exactly the kind of book I was hoping to get.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Written in first person from alternating points of view, the reader has insight into both main characters. It’s a style I quite enjoy and I liked the way the ending of one point of view overlapped into the next giving the story good continuity. Romi and Gail are both lovely characters but I preferred Romi’s grit and determination to survive.
I’m fairly certain it can be read as a standalone but there is so much richness in the secondary characters’ own backstories that it might seem like you’re missing something if you haven’t read any of the other novels centred in East Quay. It’s a good romance with no real surprises and exactly the kind of book I was hoping to get.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
July 16, 2019
🏳️🌈👭📚⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received (via NetGalley) an ARC of « Insult To Injury » from BSB (Thanks for that) … So, here it is !!
My rating : 3 ⭐️.
The story takes place in East Quay (Rhode Island) and focuses on Romi Shepherd, a 22 years old homeless woman who barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway and flees NYC after being wrongfully arrested. & Gail Owen, a self-centered world famous violinist who withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island after a car accident devastated her life and leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument …
After having hitchhiked from NYC, out of money and options, Romi hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in unaware, at first, that the new owner (=Gail) is about to move in permanently … When they meet, Gail thinks that Romi lives somewhere in the neighborhood and has absolutely no clue about the « stowaway » coming with the house she bought…
« Insult To Injury » is not released as part of a « East Quay » series per se since this series doesn’t seem to exist but it should … Why ??? Because, after the lil investigation I had to make after the beginning of the reading, the novel brings back as secondary characters some people from Gun Brooke’s previous novels : Manon, Eryn, Vivian and Mike from ‘Coffee Sonata’ / Giselle and Tierney from ‘Wayward Lovers’ & Flynn from ‘Thorns of the Past’ … At least, it should be said that the book’s a « standalone with interconnecting characters » … this way, I (and probably some other readers too) wouldn’t have felt like I was missing something …
The Pros :
° a disabled MC
° the different structure of the novel (becoming quite popular lately, though) where the narration’s made in the present tense and in the first person alternating between each MC’s POV.
° the (sometimes) heartbreaking & seemingly realistic description of Romi’s life while homeless for 6 years in the Big Apple
° the age gap romance
° the lil touches of humor found from time to time
The Cons :
° there are some good ideas behind this story but nothing seems to be deeply worked, like if some complete chapters were missing …
° the « Narnia » side of the book where everything falls into place far too easily & the lack of real drama and action to spice up the novel => it would have made more sense to have a police investigation after Romi ran away from a police station ; to have Gail conscious there was something happening in her house when she first moved in (some noises making her think the house was haunted or something like that …) ; from the moment she found the teen bedroom, to have Gail wondering what happened to the girl who lived there ; to have Gail checking out the place where the light she saw at night came from & make her discover the old house ; to have some time to allow a credible change in Gail’s behavior since she was supposedly a devastated and angry 4-stars bitch …
° the lack of a real development in Gail & Romi’s relationship. Serisouly, there was absolutely no time for a real connexion / chemistery to appear between the MCs but they became like obsessed by each other. There should have been more interaction (= shared time and activities) between the MCs to make their growing love for one another credible knowing they come from two polar opposite worlds … Maybe like this the title would have make more sense.
° a few inconsistencies in the time line.
° the repetitive use of an expression which grated with me (using some synonyms would have been better)
° East Quay … this little town sounds like a lesbian utopia to me …
° something in the plot …At the end of the blurb, it’s said « When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. » => OK … but it’s not like this that it happens in the book …
It was my first book by this author … Even if it didn’t totally work for me, I’ll still give Gun Brooke’s work another try … someday … &, hopefully, next time I’ll find a novel more thoroughly worked …
Guys and gals… Now it’s your turn … So, grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👭📚⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received (via NetGalley) an ARC of « Insult To Injury » from BSB (Thanks for that) … So, here it is !!
My rating : 3 ⭐️.
The story takes place in East Quay (Rhode Island) and focuses on Romi Shepherd, a 22 years old homeless woman who barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway and flees NYC after being wrongfully arrested. & Gail Owen, a self-centered world famous violinist who withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island after a car accident devastated her life and leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument …
After having hitchhiked from NYC, out of money and options, Romi hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in unaware, at first, that the new owner (=Gail) is about to move in permanently … When they meet, Gail thinks that Romi lives somewhere in the neighborhood and has absolutely no clue about the « stowaway » coming with the house she bought…
« Insult To Injury » is not released as part of a « East Quay » series per se since this series doesn’t seem to exist but it should … Why ??? Because, after the lil investigation I had to make after the beginning of the reading, the novel brings back as secondary characters some people from Gun Brooke’s previous novels : Manon, Eryn, Vivian and Mike from ‘Coffee Sonata’ / Giselle and Tierney from ‘Wayward Lovers’ & Flynn from ‘Thorns of the Past’ … At least, it should be said that the book’s a « standalone with interconnecting characters » … this way, I (and probably some other readers too) wouldn’t have felt like I was missing something …
The Pros :
° a disabled MC
° the different structure of the novel (becoming quite popular lately, though) where the narration’s made in the present tense and in the first person alternating between each MC’s POV.
° the (sometimes) heartbreaking & seemingly realistic description of Romi’s life while homeless for 6 years in the Big Apple
° the age gap romance
° the lil touches of humor found from time to time
The Cons :
° there are some good ideas behind this story but nothing seems to be deeply worked, like if some complete chapters were missing …
° the « Narnia » side of the book where everything falls into place far too easily & the lack of real drama and action to spice up the novel => it would have made more sense to have a police investigation after Romi ran away from a police station ; to have Gail conscious there was something happening in her house when she first moved in (some noises making her think the house was haunted or something like that …) ; from the moment she found the teen bedroom, to have Gail wondering what happened to the girl who lived there ; to have Gail checking out the place where the light she saw at night came from & make her discover the old house ; to have some time to allow a credible change in Gail’s behavior since she was supposedly a devastated and angry 4-stars bitch …
° the lack of a real development in Gail & Romi’s relationship. Serisouly, there was absolutely no time for a real connexion / chemistery to appear between the MCs but they became like obsessed by each other. There should have been more interaction (= shared time and activities) between the MCs to make their growing love for one another credible knowing they come from two polar opposite worlds … Maybe like this the title would have make more sense.
° a few inconsistencies in the time line.
° the repetitive use of an expression which grated with me (using some synonyms would have been better)
° East Quay … this little town sounds like a lesbian utopia to me …
° something in the plot …At the end of the blurb, it’s said « When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. » => OK … but it’s not like this that it happens in the book …
It was my first book by this author … Even if it didn’t totally work for me, I’ll still give Gun Brooke’s work another try … someday … &, hopefully, next time I’ll find a novel more thoroughly worked …
Guys and gals… Now it’s your turn … So, grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👭📚⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
July 3, 2019
It’s not something I’d want in all my books but once in a while I love it when almost every character is gay. It feels safe and relaxing. Insult to Injury takes place in East Quay, in the same universe as Coffee Sonata and it was great to spend time with such wonderful characters as Vivian, Mike, Manon and Eryn again. The new ones, MCs Romi and Gail, and the secondary cast are really good too.
The structure of the book is different, it’s told in the first person alternating between Gail and Romi’s POVs.
After a car accident ends her career as a violinist, Gail moves to an old farmhouse in East Quay, far from her world. She meets Romi, a younger woman, whom she soon finds is one of the few who can reach beyond the walls she has erected around herself. But Romi’s secrets stand between them. Romi is back in East Quay after having run away when she was sixteen. She spent the following years on the streets of New York and only came back to flee the police. She moves into a secret room in the basement of the house she grew up in only to realize that the house is now occupied by the fascinating Gail.
This novel tugged at my heart all the way, much the same way as Coffee Sonata. It’s a story of new beginnings, of rediscovering oneself, of trusting again (both others and oneself). I haven’t read many of Gun Brooke’s books but this one makes me think I should.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The structure of the book is different, it’s told in the first person alternating between Gail and Romi’s POVs.
After a car accident ends her career as a violinist, Gail moves to an old farmhouse in East Quay, far from her world. She meets Romi, a younger woman, whom she soon finds is one of the few who can reach beyond the walls she has erected around herself. But Romi’s secrets stand between them. Romi is back in East Quay after having run away when she was sixteen. She spent the following years on the streets of New York and only came back to flee the police. She moves into a secret room in the basement of the house she grew up in only to realize that the house is now occupied by the fascinating Gail.
This novel tugged at my heart all the way, much the same way as Coffee Sonata. It’s a story of new beginnings, of rediscovering oneself, of trusting again (both others and oneself). I haven’t read many of Gun Brooke’s books but this one makes me think I should.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2020
I really enjoyed the unique storyline for this, but it has some hiccups but wins too.
Romi is 22, almost 23 and homeless since 16, after running away from her fickle aunt. She sings and busks for money. When she is accused of something she didn't do she runs away from police and flees back to her childhood home. The home of her now passed uncaring Aunt.
Gail, 37, a former famous concert violinist had bought the home, and it's contents to get away from it all after an accident left her arm and hand severely injured and making her unable to play music.
Romi is living in the hidden bunker her crazy aunt's husband made behind a hidden shelf, but she feels a lot of guilt for doing so, and feels like she is taking advantage of the woman now living in the house without her knowledge. She finds herself eavesdropping but caring about the woman in the house above her, and has compassion for her troubles, despite her own. Romi is a very caring and empathetic individual, wanting to reach out to help and support Gail, despite her own poor circumstances.
Gail I found a little harder to warm to, she's a bit more aloof and feeling sorry for herself despite her privilege. But both are drawn to eachother despite their differences.
I did sometimes find the writing and dialogue a bit stilted, and robotic, finding it hard to connect to at times. Often it felt very much like: "I did this, and I did that, and then I felt this, and that; as I proceeded to... etcetc" the writing just wasn't as emotive as it could have been. And neither was Gail.
Things work out for Romi though, when she is offered a dream job with no qualms by kindly rich benefactors, who can see she has fallen on hard times but don't really go into her background despite her working with other wayward youths in similar or worse circumstances as she was raised.
That side of things, and how the book ended in very perfectly tied up bows with no real explanation had me feeling a bit out of it, because of how unrealistic and 'perfect' the conclusion all was. I'm not normally so bitter about HEA's but it felt so very hard to swallow in its perfection.
The police issue is dropped completely. As if the police wouldn't come after someone arrested IN NAME who ran. And as if people in charge of troubled youths would allow a stranger to take over their care without much background checks and just 'trust their instincts' because she's a good person. Like come on.
The one bit of realism I did really love, and we don't see enough of, was in the love scene. Neither were very experienced especially the younger one, and so there was actual instruction going on in the bedroom and not just mindless porn star behavior that plagues new lovers in lesbian romance.
So that itself earns a rounding stir of applause from me of communication in the bedroom with the older one giving direction and tips on how to please her and it not just all coming naturally.
(HAH coming naturally... ahem, I'll see myself out.)
Romi is 22, almost 23 and homeless since 16, after running away from her fickle aunt. She sings and busks for money. When she is accused of something she didn't do she runs away from police and flees back to her childhood home. The home of her now passed uncaring Aunt.
Gail, 37, a former famous concert violinist had bought the home, and it's contents to get away from it all after an accident left her arm and hand severely injured and making her unable to play music.
Romi is living in the hidden bunker her crazy aunt's husband made behind a hidden shelf, but she feels a lot of guilt for doing so, and feels like she is taking advantage of the woman now living in the house without her knowledge. She finds herself eavesdropping but caring about the woman in the house above her, and has compassion for her troubles, despite her own. Romi is a very caring and empathetic individual, wanting to reach out to help and support Gail, despite her own poor circumstances.
Gail I found a little harder to warm to, she's a bit more aloof and feeling sorry for herself despite her privilege. But both are drawn to eachother despite their differences.
I did sometimes find the writing and dialogue a bit stilted, and robotic, finding it hard to connect to at times. Often it felt very much like: "I did this, and I did that, and then I felt this, and that; as I proceeded to... etcetc" the writing just wasn't as emotive as it could have been. And neither was Gail.
Things work out for Romi though, when she is offered a dream job with no qualms by kindly rich benefactors, who can see she has fallen on hard times but don't really go into her background despite her working with other wayward youths in similar or worse circumstances as she was raised.
That side of things, and how the book ended in very perfectly tied up bows with no real explanation had me feeling a bit out of it, because of how unrealistic and 'perfect' the conclusion all was. I'm not normally so bitter about HEA's but it felt so very hard to swallow in its perfection.
The police issue is dropped completely. As if the police wouldn't come after someone arrested IN NAME who ran. And as if people in charge of troubled youths would allow a stranger to take over their care without much background checks and just 'trust their instincts' because she's a good person. Like come on.
The one bit of realism I did really love, and we don't see enough of, was in the love scene. Neither were very experienced especially the younger one, and so there was actual instruction going on in the bedroom and not just mindless porn star behavior that plagues new lovers in lesbian romance.
So that itself earns a rounding stir of applause from me of communication in the bedroom with the older one giving direction and tips on how to please her and it not just all coming naturally.
(HAH coming naturally... ahem, I'll see myself out.)
July 11, 2019
Gun Brooke’s newest contemporary romance novel, Insult to Injury, is a story I really enjoyed. It is the fourth book in the Coffee Sonata Universe, but it is not necessary to read the other books first. This book works well as a standalone novel.
The story revolves around Gail Owen, a famous violinist until a car accident injures her arm and hand so badly that she is unable to play. Mourning her lost career, she withdraws from her life in New York and buys an old farmhouse just outside of East Quay, Rhode Island. The story also centers around Romi Shepherd, a young woman who has been living as a homeless person in New York until she comes under suspicion for a break and enter crime she did not commit. She flees back to her old home just outside of East Quay, a farmhouse that her Aunt Clara owned until she died, and it was sold to Gail. The meeting of these two women causes an almost instant attraction, but also a lot of problems. They come from such different backgrounds, different lives altogether, and this leads to a great deal of the angst in the tale.
This is a character driven story, and I must say, I really connected with the two main characters, especially Romi. Something about her character just drew me in. I liked Gail too, but something about Romi was just special to me. This is the mark of a good author to create characters that grab the reader this way. The plot of this story is kind of unique. I would never have thought of pairing two such diverse characters together as a couple, but it works here. This is a lovely romance.
Some of the characters from former books in this series do show up as secondary characters in this tale. I mention this so those of you who have read the other books and would like to see how these characters are doing will know to check this book out.
This is a sweet romantic story that I was definitely partial to. If you love a good, slow-burn romantic novel, then grab this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
The story revolves around Gail Owen, a famous violinist until a car accident injures her arm and hand so badly that she is unable to play. Mourning her lost career, she withdraws from her life in New York and buys an old farmhouse just outside of East Quay, Rhode Island. The story also centers around Romi Shepherd, a young woman who has been living as a homeless person in New York until she comes under suspicion for a break and enter crime she did not commit. She flees back to her old home just outside of East Quay, a farmhouse that her Aunt Clara owned until she died, and it was sold to Gail. The meeting of these two women causes an almost instant attraction, but also a lot of problems. They come from such different backgrounds, different lives altogether, and this leads to a great deal of the angst in the tale.
This is a character driven story, and I must say, I really connected with the two main characters, especially Romi. Something about her character just drew me in. I liked Gail too, but something about Romi was just special to me. This is the mark of a good author to create characters that grab the reader this way. The plot of this story is kind of unique. I would never have thought of pairing two such diverse characters together as a couple, but it works here. This is a lovely romance.
Some of the characters from former books in this series do show up as secondary characters in this tale. I mention this so those of you who have read the other books and would like to see how these characters are doing will know to check this book out.
This is a sweet romantic story that I was definitely partial to. If you love a good, slow-burn romantic novel, then grab this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
July 5, 2019
This book has both good and bad sides. I was actually in love with descriptions of Romi's cravings, her fears and habits of living practically homeless life and sleeping in shelters for years. On moments I was heartbroken, how realistic the details sounded.
On the other hand, I had a big problem with Gail-Romi relationship development. There was practically no development at all - there wasn't time to create chemistry between them; I feel like it was a matter of few pages between the beginning of something happening and love statements. I would've preferred more build-up and slower development.
On the other hand, I had a big problem with Gail-Romi relationship development. There was practically no development at all - there wasn't time to create chemistry between them; I feel like it was a matter of few pages between the beginning of something happening and love statements. I would've preferred more build-up and slower development.
June 28, 2019
2.75 stars - Insult to Injury by Gun Brooke is about Romi, a 22-year-old who ran away from home when she was 16. Trying to escape charges made against her for something she didn’t do in New York, Romi returns to East Quay where she thinks her aunt’s home is uninhabited and sneaks into the basement to find shelter. Gail, a world-renowned violinist, retreats to East Quay after her hand was injured in a car accident taking away her livelihood and passion.
This was my first Gun Brooke, and so, I didn’t have any expectations, really. The synopsis really drew me in, and I was looking forward to discovering a new author (I have some of her backlisted books on my TBR and still plan on reading them).
I hate to say this, but I was a bit let down by this read. I was immediately pulled into the story, I wanted to know what would happen, but at the same time, I feel the story is too simple and overly dramatic at times. I’m still confused about some of the events that took place.
The writing is decent, and the story is told in first person from both Romi and Gail’s POVs which is something that I really enjoy. However, even though we get insights from both MCs, I still cannot believe in this romance. I have no idea why they are attracted to each other and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Gail is not someone who trusts easily, yet she doesn’t even bat an eyelash when she learns that Romi had been sneaking into her basement? Not to mention that Romi’s character reads like a teenager. If she’s been living on her own, out in the streets, surviving for 6 years, she’d be a lot more mature. I get more of a mother/child sort of relationship from their interactions than anything romantic.
Apparently, in East Quay everyone’s gay and musically inclined. Even though I never read anything else by Brooke, I figured out that some of the characters from her previous books make appearances in this one, and that’s always something that I really enjoy. This said you don’t have to have read the author’s previous books to read this one. It’s a standalone.
So overall, this book was alright. Nothing is inherently bad about it, but the characters or the story aren’t that memorable. It’s a shame because this had the potential to be a lot deeper and more heartfelt. I’m still going to read more books from Gun Brooke.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me with a free copy of this title via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Gun Brooke, and so, I didn’t have any expectations, really. The synopsis really drew me in, and I was looking forward to discovering a new author (I have some of her backlisted books on my TBR and still plan on reading them).
I hate to say this, but I was a bit let down by this read. I was immediately pulled into the story, I wanted to know what would happen, but at the same time, I feel the story is too simple and overly dramatic at times. I’m still confused about some of the events that took place.
The writing is decent, and the story is told in first person from both Romi and Gail’s POVs which is something that I really enjoy. However, even though we get insights from both MCs, I still cannot believe in this romance. I have no idea why they are attracted to each other and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Gail is not someone who trusts easily, yet she doesn’t even bat an eyelash when she learns that Romi had been sneaking into her basement? Not to mention that Romi’s character reads like a teenager. If she’s been living on her own, out in the streets, surviving for 6 years, she’d be a lot more mature. I get more of a mother/child sort of relationship from their interactions than anything romantic.
Apparently, in East Quay everyone’s gay and musically inclined. Even though I never read anything else by Brooke, I figured out that some of the characters from her previous books make appearances in this one, and that’s always something that I really enjoy. This said you don’t have to have read the author’s previous books to read this one. It’s a standalone.
So overall, this book was alright. Nothing is inherently bad about it, but the characters or the story aren’t that memorable. It’s a shame because this had the potential to be a lot deeper and more heartfelt. I’m still going to read more books from Gun Brooke.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me with a free copy of this title via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2021
4.6 stars
I saw this book mentioned on Goodreads and remembered that it was on my kindle. Very nice romance and I loved to read about characters from former books. It’s a stand alone and you don’t need to read the other books to enjoy it. Great writing as you can expect from Gun Brooke and very nice story. Recommend.
I saw this book mentioned on Goodreads and remembered that it was on my kindle. Very nice romance and I loved to read about characters from former books. It’s a stand alone and you don’t need to read the other books to enjoy it. Great writing as you can expect from Gun Brooke and very nice story. Recommend.
July 7, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm. Ok, I usually enjoy Gun’s stories, and this is an off-shoot of Coffee Sonata, which is one of Gun’s better stories, but I couldn’t get into this one.
This features MC Gail, a concert violinist with an arm injury, and Romi, a homeless 22 year old who is returning to East Quay on the run from the law. Romi is arrested for no reason, and then makes a run for it and heads back to her aunt’s abandoned house, which Gail has just bought. Romi doesn’t know that Gail is moving in and her aunts house conveniently has a bomb shelter in it that Romi can live in and Gail doesn’t know about, even though you’d think the people who sold her the house would know it existed. The house has been abandoned for years, but everything in the bomb shelter still works perfectly, which was one of many conceits that had me shaking my head in disbelief.
So, even if you want to accept this off-the-wall contrivance, things then get further muddied by Romi immediately falling in with the East Quay crowd, and though they don’t know her, in mere minutes she has a job with the choir run by Manon and is hobnobbing with them all at dinner, as you do. She’s also getting to know Gail, who doesn’t realise that Romi is living in her house. Romi can hear what Gail does through some magical vent that only transfers noise one way, because she never suspects Romi is living beneath her feet. Romi feels bad about this and moves out and into another terrible living situation. Gail and Romi fall in love (practically overnight) but there’s still time for an overwrought breakup that then features an even more over-dramatic resolution, and honestly, I rolled my eyes so much at that point they were in danger of falling out.
The other major issue is that there’s an age gap in this book (which is not unusual, all of Gun’s books feature an age gap), but this is the first one I found creepy. Romi is 22, but seems much younger. She’s homeless, has barley any prospects and the imbalance between them is huge. Romi had more in common with Stephanie (adopted daughter of Tierney and Giselle from book 2), who I think is about 15 here. Several times I thought she’d have been a better match for Romi. I couldn’t get past the age gap here, the whole relationship felt off and rushed, but Romi’s situation just made it worse.
I’ve re-read Coffee Sonata several times, but this one won’t be in my re-read pile. 2.5 stars, rounded up just because it’s Gun and fans of the other books may enjoy the cameos by the characters here.
Hmm. Ok, I usually enjoy Gun’s stories, and this is an off-shoot of Coffee Sonata, which is one of Gun’s better stories, but I couldn’t get into this one.
This features MC Gail, a concert violinist with an arm injury, and Romi, a homeless 22 year old who is returning to East Quay on the run from the law. Romi is arrested for no reason, and then makes a run for it and heads back to her aunt’s abandoned house, which Gail has just bought. Romi doesn’t know that Gail is moving in and her aunts house conveniently has a bomb shelter in it that Romi can live in and Gail doesn’t know about, even though you’d think the people who sold her the house would know it existed. The house has been abandoned for years, but everything in the bomb shelter still works perfectly, which was one of many conceits that had me shaking my head in disbelief.
So, even if you want to accept this off-the-wall contrivance, things then get further muddied by Romi immediately falling in with the East Quay crowd, and though they don’t know her, in mere minutes she has a job with the choir run by Manon and is hobnobbing with them all at dinner, as you do. She’s also getting to know Gail, who doesn’t realise that Romi is living in her house. Romi can hear what Gail does through some magical vent that only transfers noise one way, because she never suspects Romi is living beneath her feet. Romi feels bad about this and moves out and into another terrible living situation. Gail and Romi fall in love (practically overnight) but there’s still time for an overwrought breakup that then features an even more over-dramatic resolution, and honestly, I rolled my eyes so much at that point they were in danger of falling out.
The other major issue is that there’s an age gap in this book (which is not unusual, all of Gun’s books feature an age gap), but this is the first one I found creepy. Romi is 22, but seems much younger. She’s homeless, has barley any prospects and the imbalance between them is huge. Romi had more in common with Stephanie (adopted daughter of Tierney and Giselle from book 2), who I think is about 15 here. Several times I thought she’d have been a better match for Romi. I couldn’t get past the age gap here, the whole relationship felt off and rushed, but Romi’s situation just made it worse.
I’ve re-read Coffee Sonata several times, but this one won’t be in my re-read pile. 2.5 stars, rounded up just because it’s Gun and fans of the other books may enjoy the cameos by the characters here.
June 27, 2019
This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
It's the second book that I'm reading from this author (the first one was "Course of Action" a few years ago) and it certainly won't be the last.
Romi has lived on the streets of New York for almost six years . After the NYPD accuses her of the breaking and entering of a mansion when her wallet was found there, she escapes custody and she manages to escape to East Quay. There she heads to the home of her Aunt Clara where she moves into a secret bomb shelter in the basement of her aunt's house.
Gail, the new owner of the house, was once a world famous violinist. After a terrible car accident, her right hand was left severely injured and as a consequence her music career ended abruptly. Being unable to deal with this she buys a home in East Quay in order to reorganize her life.
I liked both Romi and Gail, I could really feel how broken they were but how they really wanted to find love in their lives. Both were very well written characters and the pace of the book was fast and kept me interested till the end. The only issue I had was that there was basically no build up to the romantic side of the story so the romantic swift of the relationship between the two MCs felt very sudden.
Overall I would certainly recommend this book.
It's the second book that I'm reading from this author (the first one was "Course of Action" a few years ago) and it certainly won't be the last.
Romi has lived on the streets of New York for almost six years . After the NYPD accuses her of the breaking and entering of a mansion when her wallet was found there, she escapes custody and she manages to escape to East Quay. There she heads to the home of her Aunt Clara where she moves into a secret bomb shelter in the basement of her aunt's house.
Gail, the new owner of the house, was once a world famous violinist. After a terrible car accident, her right hand was left severely injured and as a consequence her music career ended abruptly. Being unable to deal with this she buys a home in East Quay in order to reorganize her life.
I liked both Romi and Gail, I could really feel how broken they were but how they really wanted to find love in their lives. Both were very well written characters and the pace of the book was fast and kept me interested till the end. The only issue I had was that there was basically no build up to the romantic side of the story so the romantic swift of the relationship between the two MCs felt very sudden.
Overall I would certainly recommend this book.
July 14, 2019
I've only recently discovered Gun Brooke's contemporary romances. Brooke has knocked a few out of the park, but all them have been solid romances with a good dose of angst (and sometimes a good dose of angst in a romance novel is just what you need).
This is Brooke's newest and it's set in the same town as two of her previous books, Coffee Sonata and Wayworn Lovers. As characters from each of those books are strong secondary characters in this one, I would suggest you read the others first so you aren't trying to keep up with who's who and some of the backstories. Although its nice to revisit characters you enjoyed and to have them connect with the new characters, I think the town of East Quay is hitting critical mass for lesbian musicians with tragic backstories.
Insult to Injury is told in first person POV, switching off between the two main characters - Romi and Gail. With the dual POV, the reader is able to empathize with both of the rather crappy deals life has handed them and how they perceive themselves and each other.
After running away from her aunt's home at 16, Romi has been surviving on the streets of New York by signing in the subway stations. Picked up by the police in a case of mistaken identity, she manages to bolt and returns to East Quay to hide out in a secret bomb shelter in the now abandoned house she grew up in. Unbeknownst to Romi, the house has been purchased by Gail, a virtuoso violinist who is now recovering from a catastrophic car accident that has left her with a damaged arm and hand. It's a bit of an odd (and could be uber-creepy) set up - Romi living in the basement without Gail knowing and the two of them running into one another outside the house and starting to build a hesitant friendship, but it works. The ending is a bit cheesy and overwrought, but overall I enjoyed reading the book and really didn't care because I was liked the characters and the overall story.
Despite the hardship the last few years have inflicted on her, Romi's still optimistic and,as she begins to build a new life in East Quay, she comes into her own. Gail, on the other hand, has some anger and resentment to work her way through but through her connection with Romi and the other women in East Quay, her frosty demeanor slowly melts. The characters work well together with a juxtaposition of social/economic status, age, and experience but at times there's a bit of an imbalance between the two characters and Romi's guilt and actions from staying in the house in the secret shelter is a bit overboard and slightly immature.
They both have a pretty traumatic backstory and plenty of reason to wallow in angst, but the overall tone of the book is more positive. This isn't deeply introspective around the issues that the women have faced and is a lighter read than the set up may suggest. Gail is a bit harder to warm up to as she begins as a rather negative and angry character, but is humanized through Romi - both as you perceive her through Romi's POV and also as Gail shifts her own perceptions and attitude in her own POV. There's a nice bit of chemistry between the two that helps smooth over some of the story elements that may strain credulity.
Are the bumps and issues with the book - yeah, if you stop and think too hard. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this one - its a light romance that left me with just the right amount of "aw shucks" at the end.
Thank you to BSB and Netgalley for an advance copy that was provided for a fair and honest review.
This is Brooke's newest and it's set in the same town as two of her previous books, Coffee Sonata and Wayworn Lovers. As characters from each of those books are strong secondary characters in this one, I would suggest you read the others first so you aren't trying to keep up with who's who and some of the backstories. Although its nice to revisit characters you enjoyed and to have them connect with the new characters, I think the town of East Quay is hitting critical mass for lesbian musicians with tragic backstories.
Insult to Injury is told in first person POV, switching off between the two main characters - Romi and Gail. With the dual POV, the reader is able to empathize with both of the rather crappy deals life has handed them and how they perceive themselves and each other.
After running away from her aunt's home at 16, Romi has been surviving on the streets of New York by signing in the subway stations. Picked up by the police in a case of mistaken identity, she manages to bolt and returns to East Quay to hide out in a secret bomb shelter in the now abandoned house she grew up in. Unbeknownst to Romi, the house has been purchased by Gail, a virtuoso violinist who is now recovering from a catastrophic car accident that has left her with a damaged arm and hand. It's a bit of an odd (and could be uber-creepy) set up - Romi living in the basement without Gail knowing and the two of them running into one another outside the house and starting to build a hesitant friendship, but it works. The ending is a bit cheesy and overwrought, but overall I enjoyed reading the book and really didn't care because I was liked the characters and the overall story.
Despite the hardship the last few years have inflicted on her, Romi's still optimistic and,as she begins to build a new life in East Quay, she comes into her own. Gail, on the other hand, has some anger and resentment to work her way through but through her connection with Romi and the other women in East Quay, her frosty demeanor slowly melts. The characters work well together with a juxtaposition of social/economic status, age, and experience but at times there's a bit of an imbalance between the two characters and Romi's guilt and actions from staying in the house in the secret shelter is a bit overboard and slightly immature.
They both have a pretty traumatic backstory and plenty of reason to wallow in angst, but the overall tone of the book is more positive. This isn't deeply introspective around the issues that the women have faced and is a lighter read than the set up may suggest. Gail is a bit harder to warm up to as she begins as a rather negative and angry character, but is humanized through Romi - both as you perceive her through Romi's POV and also as Gail shifts her own perceptions and attitude in her own POV. There's a nice bit of chemistry between the two that helps smooth over some of the story elements that may strain credulity.
Are the bumps and issues with the book - yeah, if you stop and think too hard. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this one - its a light romance that left me with just the right amount of "aw shucks" at the end.
Thank you to BSB and Netgalley for an advance copy that was provided for a fair and honest review.
Read
June 26, 2019This is story is a rich girl/poor girl romance and also an age gap romance. Romi has been homeless for 6 years living on the streets of NYC. Gail is a famous violinist who has injured her arm in a car accident. Both Romi and Gail flee (separately) to Rhode Island to escape. When Romi flees she goes back to the home where she grew up with her aunt. Her aunt is now deceased but she knows where the spare key is and lives in a secret room in the basement. Gail has no idea when she moves in that Romi is living there. She meets younger woman as she is moving in and is instantly drawn to her. The story builds from there.
So, I liked Insult to Injury. I still haven't figure out why it's called that, but I still liked it. As I read this story I was really drawn to Romi. Even though she is homeless, she is a very decent person who is kind and caring. I thought Gail seemed older than what she was, but she was a decent character. She liked to refer to herself as a bitch, but I am happy to say she didn't come off as one. Even though I liked this, I wish there was more character development. I kept wondering if I were either character would I fall in love? I am on the fence about that one. There was some chemistry for Romi, but I didn't necessarily see any chemistry coming from Gail. I do love a romance where the romance is instant, but I am not bothered the way they are presented in Insult to Injury. One major prop I have to give to the Author on this one is that she kept my attention. I just really wanted to see how this one was going to end. If it weren't for this fact, I would have likely given this one a 3.25, but because of that I will gladly give it 3.75 as I think the story is interesting enough to keep you reading.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
So, I liked Insult to Injury. I still haven't figure out why it's called that, but I still liked it. As I read this story I was really drawn to Romi. Even though she is homeless, she is a very decent person who is kind and caring. I thought Gail seemed older than what she was, but she was a decent character. She liked to refer to herself as a bitch, but I am happy to say she didn't come off as one. Even though I liked this, I wish there was more character development. I kept wondering if I were either character would I fall in love? I am on the fence about that one. There was some chemistry for Romi, but I didn't necessarily see any chemistry coming from Gail. I do love a romance where the romance is instant, but I am not bothered the way they are presented in Insult to Injury. One major prop I have to give to the Author on this one is that she kept my attention. I just really wanted to see how this one was going to end. If it weren't for this fact, I would have likely given this one a 3.25, but because of that I will gladly give it 3.75 as I think the story is interesting enough to keep you reading.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
July 5, 2019
This story was about overcoming tremendous odds to find happiness, stability, and a home. Two very different people that slowly realize they need each other. Romi Shepherd, is a well-written character that you want to cheer for and care about. What a life she lives taking care of herself by singing in subways. The description of her homeless life really pulls at your heart strings. Gail Owens, talented and successful violinist decides to step away from her career after a car accident damages her hand and takes refuge in a farmhouse in Rhode Island. I like the fact that the author continued the age gap relationships and included characters from Coffee Sonata. Such supportive and caring women that want to help. This is a read that leaves you believing that challenges can be overcome and people want to be helpful. What a setting for lesbians, to perfect maybe??
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley.
July 4, 2019
This was my first book I have read by this author. I have some of her earlier books to read so will be on a reading binge soon.
Comi is homeless and runs away back to East Quay from New York City where she was singing in Subways to try and make some money. Gail is a famous Musician (Violinist) who has had a car accident leaving her unable to play. The violin is her life, and she is devastated that she cannot play that she flees to the sticks to be on her own.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book. Once I got into it, it was hard to put it down. I enjoyed the story line, and I loved Comi from the beginning and Gail took me a little longer. I felt that the age gap was a bit much for my liking, although; I know there are bigger age gaps that work out perfectly well (it's just not for me). The pace was just about right in some parts and a little slow in others but it didn't take my enjoyment away from the book. The secondary characters were a great bunch. All in all I enjoyed the book and would recommend reading it.
If you like age gap romances and or rich/poor then this will be the book for you.
Comi is homeless and runs away back to East Quay from New York City where she was singing in Subways to try and make some money. Gail is a famous Musician (Violinist) who has had a car accident leaving her unable to play. The violin is her life, and she is devastated that she cannot play that she flees to the sticks to be on her own.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book. Once I got into it, it was hard to put it down. I enjoyed the story line, and I loved Comi from the beginning and Gail took me a little longer. I felt that the age gap was a bit much for my liking, although; I know there are bigger age gaps that work out perfectly well (it's just not for me). The pace was just about right in some parts and a little slow in others but it didn't take my enjoyment away from the book. The secondary characters were a great bunch. All in all I enjoyed the book and would recommend reading it.
If you like age gap romances and or rich/poor then this will be the book for you.
June 26, 2019
Romi has lived on the streets of NYC for six years. She's surviving, but just barely. When she's picked up and accused by the NYPD of being involved in the breaking and entering of a mansion because her wallet was found there, she manages to escape custody. She flees to East Quay, RI, and returns to the home of her Aunt Clara that she’d left six years earlier because it was a loveless home and she thought she could find something better in NYC.
Soon after Romi moves into a secret bomb shelter built in the basement of Clara's house, the new owner moves in upstairs. Gail was a world-renown violinist whose car was t-boned by a SUV. Her right hand is severely injured. She can't deal with the loss of the use of her hand nor the loss of her music. She buys an old farmhouse in East Quay in an effort to run away from the pain of her losses.
The story is told in the first-person by both Romi and Gail in alternating chapters. Romi is the better written character. It is clear both women are afraid of commitment, but both want love in their lives. Yes, the falling in love part of the book is a little fast, but there is so much more to this book than that. Yes, coincidences abound, but contrary to our jaded present, good things do seem to occasionally fall into our lap unexpectantly just as they do for Romi.
Brooke has done a good job of capturing Romi’s experiences as a homeless teen and young adult so the reader experiences both her survival techniques and the joy of having a steady source of applesauce and pickles.
This a good, fast read full of sweetness and angst and love. This book should be on your to-be-read list, if not at the top of the list, then somewhere near it.
Soon after Romi moves into a secret bomb shelter built in the basement of Clara's house, the new owner moves in upstairs. Gail was a world-renown violinist whose car was t-boned by a SUV. Her right hand is severely injured. She can't deal with the loss of the use of her hand nor the loss of her music. She buys an old farmhouse in East Quay in an effort to run away from the pain of her losses.
The story is told in the first-person by both Romi and Gail in alternating chapters. Romi is the better written character. It is clear both women are afraid of commitment, but both want love in their lives. Yes, the falling in love part of the book is a little fast, but there is so much more to this book than that. Yes, coincidences abound, but contrary to our jaded present, good things do seem to occasionally fall into our lap unexpectantly just as they do for Romi.
Brooke has done a good job of capturing Romi’s experiences as a homeless teen and young adult so the reader experiences both her survival techniques and the joy of having a steady source of applesauce and pickles.
This a good, fast read full of sweetness and angst and love. This book should be on your to-be-read list, if not at the top of the list, then somewhere near it.
June 28, 2019
4/5 ⭐️
This was a wild ride from start to finish. I really enjoyed that the characters were adults. I also really liked how it wasn’t a “insta love “ type of romance. The characters saw each other and over time grew into something more. Surprisingly this book had me a bit Geary eyed by the end so congrats to the author!
This was a wild ride from start to finish. I really enjoyed that the characters were adults. I also really liked how it wasn’t a “insta love “ type of romance. The characters saw each other and over time grew into something more. Surprisingly this book had me a bit Geary eyed by the end so congrats to the author!
June 22, 2019
The Rhode Island town of East Quay has returned with another tale of two lost souls finding each other. Both Gail and Romi are troubled women from very different battered and tragic circumstances that immediately draw you in. Interestingly, those circumstances are the forming foundation that nudge them together as if they had to go through the pain to get to each other on the other side. The journey is worth it, as is their story and the characters that surround them and support them. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2021
Just loved it!
Loved this addition to the East Quay series. You can read them as standalone but you will miss the background stories of the “old” characters and that would be a shame. In this story we follow two women, Romi and Gail, who couldn't be more opposite. One rich, one poor, the age difference, one is always striving for perfection, the other tries to survive and the impact of their past are just some of the factors why a relationship is doomed to fail. But as always, love conquers a lot. I loved all the characters, the dialogues, the plot of the story and the great writing style. Gun Brooke always knows how to touch me with her books. I highly recommend Insult To Injury.
Loved this addition to the East Quay series. You can read them as standalone but you will miss the background stories of the “old” characters and that would be a shame. In this story we follow two women, Romi and Gail, who couldn't be more opposite. One rich, one poor, the age difference, one is always striving for perfection, the other tries to survive and the impact of their past are just some of the factors why a relationship is doomed to fail. But as always, love conquers a lot. I loved all the characters, the dialogues, the plot of the story and the great writing style. Gun Brooke always knows how to touch me with her books. I highly recommend Insult To Injury.
June 23, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Romi is orphan who went to live with her father Aunt Clara but she wasn't as great of person so when Romi turn sixteen she ran away to New York where she barely survived singing for money. When she wrongfully accused of crime she didn't commit she escape police custody when a fight broke out so she decide to head back to her aunt house which she thought was abandon and sneaks in to sleep in the basement that had a secret room.
Gail is accomplish violinist who was in a car accident that leaves her unable to play she withdrew from her life by moving to to an old farm house.
Romi and Gail first meet when Romi see Gail struggling with her luggage help her into her aunt house which is Gail now when Gail hire her to help clean out the basement she afraid Gail will found the secret room and she also feels guilty for taking her money when she been living in the basement without her knowledge so she leaves and goes to live in old cottage that in the woods.
We meet others secondary characters who help Romi with a job when she sing a open mic night. I like these characters because they didn't judge her and waited until she was comforable to tell her story.
The romance of this book was ok I mean I like the characters of Romi and Gail I just think their romance shoulda been more developed then it was.
Romi is orphan who went to live with her father Aunt Clara but she wasn't as great of person so when Romi turn sixteen she ran away to New York where she barely survived singing for money. When she wrongfully accused of crime she didn't commit she escape police custody when a fight broke out so she decide to head back to her aunt house which she thought was abandon and sneaks in to sleep in the basement that had a secret room.
Gail is accomplish violinist who was in a car accident that leaves her unable to play she withdrew from her life by moving to to an old farm house.
Romi and Gail first meet when Romi see Gail struggling with her luggage help her into her aunt house which is Gail now when Gail hire her to help clean out the basement she afraid Gail will found the secret room and she also feels guilty for taking her money when she been living in the basement without her knowledge so she leaves and goes to live in old cottage that in the woods.
We meet others secondary characters who help Romi with a job when she sing a open mic night. I like these characters because they didn't judge her and waited until she was comforable to tell her story.
The romance of this book was ok I mean I like the characters of Romi and Gail I just think their romance shoulda been more developed then it was.
July 4, 2019
I know this book wasn’t released as a series book but if you don’t read Ms Brooke’s other books with East Quay as the setting you will feel like you’re missing something. These books follows the lives of these characters, starting off with ‘Coffee Sonata’ with Manon, Eryn, Vivian and Mike/ ‘Wayward Lovers’, with Giselle and Tierney/ ‘Thorns of the Past’, with Flynn and Sabrina.
Now with this new book Ms Brooke introduces us to two more women who make their home in East Quay.
Romi Shepherd lost her mother when she was only 4 yrs old and unfortunately the only one to step up to raise her was her aunt, who did it more as a duty than actually wanting to be a mother figure. So after saving all the money she could, at the age of 16, she decides it's time fend for herself. Life in New York surely can’t be any worse than living with her aunt. Finding herself homeless she does the only thing she can to try making enough money to at least eat once in a while. Singing in the subway system was better than nothing. When she’s arrested for something she didn’t do she does what she does best, she runs. She heads back to East Quay hoping she can find somewhere safe to live.
Gail Owen, a world famous violinist has just moved to East Quay hoping to find a little peace and quiet. A car accident has left her unable to play so now she buys an old house that unknown to her was where Romi spent her childhood. Gail isn’t known to be all that nice with other people, often giving others the feeling that Gail feel she’s better than everyone else, so she doesn’t have a lot of friends. On the day she moves into her new home is the first time she meets Romi.
Ms Brooke knows how to tell a good story and if you are already a fan you will be very happy with this book. Very, very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books
Now with this new book Ms Brooke introduces us to two more women who make their home in East Quay.
Romi Shepherd lost her mother when she was only 4 yrs old and unfortunately the only one to step up to raise her was her aunt, who did it more as a duty than actually wanting to be a mother figure. So after saving all the money she could, at the age of 16, she decides it's time fend for herself. Life in New York surely can’t be any worse than living with her aunt. Finding herself homeless she does the only thing she can to try making enough money to at least eat once in a while. Singing in the subway system was better than nothing. When she’s arrested for something she didn’t do she does what she does best, she runs. She heads back to East Quay hoping she can find somewhere safe to live.
Gail Owen, a world famous violinist has just moved to East Quay hoping to find a little peace and quiet. A car accident has left her unable to play so now she buys an old house that unknown to her was where Romi spent her childhood. Gail isn’t known to be all that nice with other people, often giving others the feeling that Gail feel she’s better than everyone else, so she doesn’t have a lot of friends. On the day she moves into her new home is the first time she meets Romi.
Ms Brooke knows how to tell a good story and if you are already a fan you will be very happy with this book. Very, very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books
February 3, 2021
Not a very deep read set in some sort of a lesbian paradise town, this book is a read-and-leave kind of practically templated story. Rich-girl-poor-girl, successful-musician-homeless-struggler, about a decade of age gap and inexplicable deep love unfurling are the themes.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
July 8, 2019
I love Gun Brooke's stories, especially those set in fictional East Quay. Like with the author Jae, it amazes me that she can write so well in her non-native language. I don't love the title here - I don't think it suits the story, and the person on the cover resembles neither Romi nor Gail in my mind from the descriptions. That aside, this is a winner if you can suspend disbelief in several areas: The aunt and uncle who owned the farmhouse don't seem the type to me to put in a self-sufficient bomb shelter where years later everything is clean and still works; everyone in the town is a lesbian and a famous-to-some-degree music legend; the retired Gail would just so happen to end up in East Quay and buy a furnished house.
I chose to just read it happily and love the new and old characters. It's an age gap story (22/36 but they both seem older based on their life experiences) and rich/poor story (although we don't see much evidence of Gail's money as she doesn't throw it around), both of which are tropes I enjoy. There are a couple of side characters that I feel like have been set up for their own stories in the future.
I also thought that the alternating first person present tense POV suited this story perfectly, as both Gail and Romi had fascinating stories to tell.
I chose to just read it happily and love the new and old characters. It's an age gap story (22/36 but they both seem older based on their life experiences) and rich/poor story (although we don't see much evidence of Gail's money as she doesn't throw it around), both of which are tropes I enjoy. There are a couple of side characters that I feel like have been set up for their own stories in the future.
I also thought that the alternating first person present tense POV suited this story perfectly, as both Gail and Romi had fascinating stories to tell.
July 6, 2019
I love the women of East Quay, RI. You can always count on women who you’d love to be friends with and also wild adventures that are usually totally unexpected. Gun Brooke wrote a story about Romi and Gail that is not only heartbreaking but heart lifting. In the mix of the story she brings in old friends Vivian and Mike along with Mamon and Eryn, These four wonderful women more in the book Coffee Sonata by Ms. Brooke. I love stories that bring back favorite characters and this book does it incredibly well.
Romi is a young woman who runs away from New York when she is arrested, and being homeless for the last six years she had nowhere to go to except home to East Quay. She remembers that the basement of her old home had a shelter that she could stay in and as luck would have it there was also shelves of canned fruit and vegetables that were still good, these were left over from her aunt. Believing the house is abandoned an empty Romi makes her self comfortable and starts to devise a plan on how she can earn money. While living in New York she earn money by singing on the subway. Then one day much to her surprise she realizes that someone is living in the house. She meets the woman, Gail, and by helping her out the to become friends. When singing at an open mic event in town Mamon and Eryn realize that she has an amazing talent and they want her to conduct a chorus they have established. Romi desperately wants to take the job but she knows when they look into her background and see she was arrested that will be the end of their relationship. Or will it?
At the same time Romy and Gail develop a beautiful relationship as they’re both very perceptive of each other‘s moods , needs ,and facial expressions. They both realize that there is something deep that is developing between them But Romi knows if Gail finds out her secret she will leave her, and Gail fears that the age difference between the two women would never work in a lasting relationship. With the odds stacked against them can these two women find them selves willing to take a risk to find true love or is the relationship doomed?
Gun Brooke has a marvelous way of writing romantic fiction that draws you in from the first few pages because she is so adept with character development. This is clearly a book on my “to read again list “ as well as Coffee Sonata because they’re just that good. This is an excellent book , but be aware once you buy it and start to read it you won’t be able to put it down until the last page.
Romi is a young woman who runs away from New York when she is arrested, and being homeless for the last six years she had nowhere to go to except home to East Quay. She remembers that the basement of her old home had a shelter that she could stay in and as luck would have it there was also shelves of canned fruit and vegetables that were still good, these were left over from her aunt. Believing the house is abandoned an empty Romi makes her self comfortable and starts to devise a plan on how she can earn money. While living in New York she earn money by singing on the subway. Then one day much to her surprise she realizes that someone is living in the house. She meets the woman, Gail, and by helping her out the to become friends. When singing at an open mic event in town Mamon and Eryn realize that she has an amazing talent and they want her to conduct a chorus they have established. Romi desperately wants to take the job but she knows when they look into her background and see she was arrested that will be the end of their relationship. Or will it?
At the same time Romy and Gail develop a beautiful relationship as they’re both very perceptive of each other‘s moods , needs ,and facial expressions. They both realize that there is something deep that is developing between them But Romi knows if Gail finds out her secret she will leave her, and Gail fears that the age difference between the two women would never work in a lasting relationship. With the odds stacked against them can these two women find them selves willing to take a risk to find true love or is the relationship doomed?
Gun Brooke has a marvelous way of writing romantic fiction that draws you in from the first few pages because she is so adept with character development. This is clearly a book on my “to read again list “ as well as Coffee Sonata because they’re just that good. This is an excellent book , but be aware once you buy it and start to read it you won’t be able to put it down until the last page.
February 26, 2022
• Insult to Injury
• Gun Brooke
• MC Gail & Romi
• Age-gap
• Coffee Sonata Universal
Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. World famous violinist Gail Owen is devastated after a car accident leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument.
This is a story and Romi a young woman who has been homeless for
The past 6 years she left her aunt house her only living relative. The Aunt was cruel To Romi and put her down so she run away .
Gail is at a cross road in her life she is sad and lost after traumatizing
Event in her life and buys a home in a town East Quay to reset and
Start over or find a new purpose for her life.
There are supporting CharactersAre from the previous books
In the Coffee Sonata all the girl were kind and very helpful
When they needed to find Romi .
Romi POV she felt so horrible because she stayed inside the house for that
Short time Gail would have helped her only if she let her in gave more Information . The love scene is very nice but Romi is fighting with her inner Thoughts she was convinced that she had destroyed everything and she only had one night To show girl how much she love her.
The book is about love and trust two wounded souls Who
Both want to be loved and feel like they belonged
They both found a home in each other.
I highly recommend this book 3.2 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gun Brooke is amazing
• Gun Brooke
• MC Gail & Romi
• Age-gap
• Coffee Sonata Universal
Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. World famous violinist Gail Owen is devastated after a car accident leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument.
This is a story and Romi a young woman who has been homeless for
The past 6 years she left her aunt house her only living relative. The Aunt was cruel To Romi and put her down so she run away .
Gail is at a cross road in her life she is sad and lost after traumatizing
Event in her life and buys a home in a town East Quay to reset and
Start over or find a new purpose for her life.
There are supporting CharactersAre from the previous books
In the Coffee Sonata all the girl were kind and very helpful
When they needed to find Romi .
Romi POV she felt so horrible because she stayed inside the house for that
Short time Gail would have helped her only if she let her in gave more Information . The love scene is very nice but Romi is fighting with her inner Thoughts she was convinced that she had destroyed everything and she only had one night To show girl how much she love her.
The book is about love and trust two wounded souls Who
Both want to be loved and feel like they belonged
They both found a home in each other.
I highly recommend this book 3.2 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gun Brooke is amazing
July 13, 2019
This was a great read by Gun Brooks...I read some of her other books, a few hits and a few missed, but this one was a knock out of the park for me. I loved the slowly developing romance between Romi, young homeless girl returning to her home town and Gail , the once elite violinist but now having to deal with not being able to play after a car accident.
The characters got depth, were like-able and you could understand the connection they shared. If you like a good romance with great main (and supporting) characters that seem to find their way in a reasonably realistic manner do not forget to pick this one up!
The characters got depth, were like-able and you could understand the connection they shared. If you like a good romance with great main (and supporting) characters that seem to find their way in a reasonably realistic manner do not forget to pick this one up!
July 8, 2019
World renowned violinist Gail Owen was involved in a car accident which has left her unable to play her violin. She retreats from the world and buys a farmhouse in Rhode Island. The farmhouse was owned by Romi Shepherd's aunt and is the place where Romi grew up after the death of her parents. Romi's aunt was cold and heartless and Romi left at sixteen years of age to pursue her music dreams in New York, she ends up on the streets then returns to her aunt's home to find Gail has moved in and an unlikely relationship between the two begins.
I found this storyline a bit hard digest, you had a girl who left home at sixteen and had been on the streets for six years and at twenty two years of age and still homeless begins a relationship with a wealthy, well travelled, driven woman who's in her thirties. I can't even imagine the emotional baggage that Romi must be carrying after leaving home so young and being on the streets for so long and the next thing we know Romi and Gail have apparently some sort of sexual chemistry going on and they're talking about falling in love. It just happened so quick and I couldn't imagine either person was emotionally ready for it. Clearly there needed to be a lot more relationship development between the two.
I found this storyline a bit hard digest, you had a girl who left home at sixteen and had been on the streets for six years and at twenty two years of age and still homeless begins a relationship with a wealthy, well travelled, driven woman who's in her thirties. I can't even imagine the emotional baggage that Romi must be carrying after leaving home so young and being on the streets for so long and the next thing we know Romi and Gail have apparently some sort of sexual chemistry going on and they're talking about falling in love. It just happened so quick and I couldn't imagine either person was emotionally ready for it. Clearly there needed to be a lot more relationship development between the two.
July 10, 2019
2.5 stars |
July 3, 2019
Interesting ideas that grab your attention as there is more here than just a straight forward romance. Lots of old friends from other books are here too, but it doesn’t feel stale as they are incorporated well. A bit more suspense, such as hearing noises, wondering if the house is haunted, would have added some intrigue to the plot, but overall an enjoyable read.
January 1, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via. NetGalley for an exchange of my honest review.
The Result: Enjoyable.
Insult to Injury
Man, this book was great for me a refreshing experience especially from the last train wreck I set my eyes on; coughs* Blood of the Pack *coughs. It took me a while to read this book, due to the fact that I was at work and well I read it twice. To me this book was well leveled and grounded in deep roots of emotion; now mind you I might be a bit bias since it’s been about seven plus years since I’ve read Brooke’s books. Now I have to say, she’s still got it. To me it was a great find as I loved Gail and Romi’s relationship and the guarded personalities they had to work with. After reading other reviews, I know most commented on how the two didn’t have much interaction making it seem too fast; but for me the raw pain of loss with both women, is what saved the plot in a lot of ways.
The story had more realistic characters when it came to their moods and feelings of love, loss, and redemption. Sure, there were some spots that were sketchy like the secret bomb room; as I had to read it repeatedly to get the picture in my head. Now I could’ve dealt without the kids or the useless side characters, but it didn’t bother me as much. As well as I didn’t really care for the community, as they were all rich white lesbian musicians and Gail’s goal was to get away from the music life; but still I could make an exception for it all, as the power and tension between Romi and Gail felt palpable under the pages.
However, I’m not going to blame the author so much for the all-white lesbian super-rich squad that wants to help the whales and the children; because well Brooke showed another side in Romi as she was poor. For me that earned points in the diversity factor as being poor is something along the lines of an inhuman social justice, no matter the race or sexual orientation. It’s not hard to find it when you look, as I see the trending pattern with lesbian writers as they write about their communities and all their friends being rich-white-lesbians; to me I know such a thing exists in some circles, but it doesn’t seem realistic. As a lesbian, author, and person of color I don’t have that many lesbian friends and nor do I intend to for personal reasons; and with some of us women who like women that is the case as well, but I can’t blame Brooke for a writing habit these publishing houses have overused to death.
I loved the age gap as I found it to be sexy amongst the steamy sessions; which supplemented the desire Romi and Gail felt as their sentiments jumped right off the page and for once, it felt like I was reading a REAL lesbian series. This series was a real sweet read for me and it was nicely done. I enjoyed how Gail and Romi found themselves within the same points in life, both alone and wanting to heal but not knowing which way to do so. Which makes me love the day to day struggle with Gail’s disability and Romi’s homelessness. It gives a voice to people that have disabilities and others who are homeless; and since disabilities are a hot topic right now in lesbian fiction, I find it to be refreshing. I just only hope these authors could hold that same passion when it comes to people of color as their main characters in the future.
All in all, this book was a solid four for me. I enjoyed Gail’s icy behavior and Romi's innocence and self-eating guilt; all of it was balanced and it didn’t seem to be overbearing. None of these characters had the Mary-Sue factor which made the experience of reading enjoyable. It was a tight read and good one, it gave me hope that the writing world for lesbians hasn’t gone down the drain.
The Result: Enjoyable.
Insult to Injury
Man, this book was great for me a refreshing experience especially from the last train wreck I set my eyes on; coughs* Blood of the Pack *coughs. It took me a while to read this book, due to the fact that I was at work and well I read it twice. To me this book was well leveled and grounded in deep roots of emotion; now mind you I might be a bit bias since it’s been about seven plus years since I’ve read Brooke’s books. Now I have to say, she’s still got it. To me it was a great find as I loved Gail and Romi’s relationship and the guarded personalities they had to work with. After reading other reviews, I know most commented on how the two didn’t have much interaction making it seem too fast; but for me the raw pain of loss with both women, is what saved the plot in a lot of ways.
The story had more realistic characters when it came to their moods and feelings of love, loss, and redemption. Sure, there were some spots that were sketchy like the secret bomb room; as I had to read it repeatedly to get the picture in my head. Now I could’ve dealt without the kids or the useless side characters, but it didn’t bother me as much. As well as I didn’t really care for the community, as they were all rich white lesbian musicians and Gail’s goal was to get away from the music life; but still I could make an exception for it all, as the power and tension between Romi and Gail felt palpable under the pages.
However, I’m not going to blame the author so much for the all-white lesbian super-rich squad that wants to help the whales and the children; because well Brooke showed another side in Romi as she was poor. For me that earned points in the diversity factor as being poor is something along the lines of an inhuman social justice, no matter the race or sexual orientation. It’s not hard to find it when you look, as I see the trending pattern with lesbian writers as they write about their communities and all their friends being rich-white-lesbians; to me I know such a thing exists in some circles, but it doesn’t seem realistic. As a lesbian, author, and person of color I don’t have that many lesbian friends and nor do I intend to for personal reasons; and with some of us women who like women that is the case as well, but I can’t blame Brooke for a writing habit these publishing houses have overused to death.
I loved the age gap as I found it to be sexy amongst the steamy sessions; which supplemented the desire Romi and Gail felt as their sentiments jumped right off the page and for once, it felt like I was reading a REAL lesbian series. This series was a real sweet read for me and it was nicely done. I enjoyed how Gail and Romi found themselves within the same points in life, both alone and wanting to heal but not knowing which way to do so. Which makes me love the day to day struggle with Gail’s disability and Romi’s homelessness. It gives a voice to people that have disabilities and others who are homeless; and since disabilities are a hot topic right now in lesbian fiction, I find it to be refreshing. I just only hope these authors could hold that same passion when it comes to people of color as their main characters in the future.
All in all, this book was a solid four for me. I enjoyed Gail’s icy behavior and Romi's innocence and self-eating guilt; all of it was balanced and it didn’t seem to be overbearing. None of these characters had the Mary-Sue factor which made the experience of reading enjoyable. It was a tight read and good one, it gave me hope that the writing world for lesbians hasn’t gone down the drain.
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