Fame: a love story

by R.J. Rome

It's been five years since Jenna divorced me. She's everywhere in my mind, yet, nowhere in my reality.

Still, I wear my wedding band around my neck, reminding myself the magnitude of what I've lost, because when she left, she took everything.

I see her down the sidewalk, I promised no contact, but it's fate we're here at the same time. I follow her and take my chances, as I call out to her.

She sees me and when she hears her nickname roll off my tongue she runs. I contemplate letting her go. Too much history, too many broken promises flood the road between us, as she crosses the street to get away from me.

No. I'm not letting her go this time, not that easy. I grab her and spin her to me. She's gorgeous in a white pant suit, her light brown hair flowing all around her.

My mind goes blank and I'm immediately thrown back in time to that night, in 1996, when I saw her for the first time.

The night that I pushed her away and made sure she stayed close at the same time.

She wanted fame, all I ever wanted was her.

Genres: Marriage

294 pages, ebook

Published May 14, 2019

Reviews

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

I want to preface this with this if just one of my personal opinions. The writing was fine, I just have an issue with Rock Romance and Divorces and Celibacy.

But I do hate rock star romances for a reason and this one confirmed it for me. I thought since he still wore his wedding ring around his neck, and he loved her so much it would be good, but just yuk. The whole book was not good. I wish I hadn't read it. Alcohol sex with other women is just not my jam. I need a mind eraser. I hated the woman he was with in the book. She caused the breakup and then he still slept with her later on.

Don't not read this because of me.

[Jennifer D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heart-wrenching tale of second chances! I felt every emotion along with the characters. I am not always a fan of books that go back and forth between past and present but it was really well done by the author. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down until the end. I found myself totally invested in Mark and Jenna's story and was rooting for them and their happily ever after - which they did find but it was a hard fought HEA.

I look forward to more books from RJ Rome!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Britney Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC in exchange for an honest view.
This is also my first book by R.J. Rome.

I will say I was a little shocked at how many chapters there are in this book BUT it wasn’t that bad. I got it done in a day hehe.

Fame: A Love Story, is heartbreakingly good! Man does this one pull the heart strings. I thought the flashbacks between each chapter was gonna be confusing but it wasn’t. It felt like I was reliving the past with the characters!

The chemistry between Mark and Jenna can be felt through the words. At least for me I could. All the stuff they went through, I felt them right along with them. I was rooting for them the whole book!

I also felt like the author really hit the nail on the head when it came to the fame aspect of the book. It wasn’t over done for dramatic moments, that is what I feel like fame does to people, especially young people.

This book was a 5 star read for me and I will gladly read more from this author!

[Lym Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

This book was very interesting and kept my interest until the end. Jenna p, the main character, has major issues that I won’t spoil. And those problems are consuming her daily. She knows what her problem is and how to fix it but knowing and actually doing are two different things.

I enjoyed how the author gave us chapters of her past and present that way the reader is able to follow her journey and emphasize with her. What I wasn’t so crazy about were the very short chapters.

Then we have Mark, a very, very hot mess and Rockstar. He was lovable but also overbearing at times.

But like any good romance novel there is a calm after the storm. And I loved seeing how their relationship grew and matured until the end. This book was packed with emotion and that will keep you turning pages.

I loved Lily and Max as well. They were great supporting characters.

Overall, great story.

[Samantha (Millennial Life Crisis Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really went into this book with no expectations and finished it loving it! The story is written both in current time as well as flashbacks, and it’s the flashbacks that really make this storyline and give us the understanding of the present time writing. Jenna meets Mark as a teenager as she sings backup for his band while she tries to make it in the music industry. The flashbacks provide insight into the rocky start the two had in meeting, then dating, and later marriage. Present time shows how after their divorce they are still drawn to each other and after a chance meeting become intertwined into each other’s worlds again. I will say that I was totally not expecting the ending of this story but it made it that much better, and I honestly didn’t want this book to end! The storyline was great, and style of writing was even better. Here’s to hoping we might Jamie’s story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that embedded itself into your soul? One of those you have a massive book hangover for a long time?
Well, that is what this book did to me. It grabbed hold of me from the beginning and didn't let me go until the end and then some.
Jenna and Mark don't have an easy relationship. Ever. Their story will chew you up and spit you back out.
I hurt for them so much throughout the entirety of the book, both rooting for them and wanting to smack some sense into them both.
An angsty, chemistry, emotion-filled, second chance rockstar romance that will have you wanting more!

I highly recommend this read!

[Amy M. (Amy Loves Reading Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Life got in the way - that’s why my reading dates are so far apart.*

This book!!! I love a good rockstar romance and oh goodness does this give you that and so much more! I’ve never read from this author but I loved the blurb so much I couldn’t help but want to read it!

I have to say that Mark and Jenna are some hot messes!! I loved some of the supporting characters Jamie, Lily and Max... I grew quite attached and cried when they hurt. Cried when they were happy...a lot of crying for me. Jenna made me so mad at times and I couldn’t help but just ache for her. At the beginning I didn’t understand... but just keep reading... so much happens!!!!! My heart broke, healed, broke again, shattered and even though I didn’t want to heal I knew it could be possible. I LOVED this story!

These people showed me something that I am going to take away from such tragic events in this book. Don’t waste precious time and some things happen for a reason. I whole heartedly believe that this book was brought to me to help me heal and I am honored I got to read it. You need Mark and Jenna in your life because even though their life is going chaotic and uncertain at times, they are surely to give you perspective on your own life! Truly a great book!! I really REALLY hope to see other characters from this book!! 😍😘💜

[Lorena Garcia -- Brittany's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor to Beta read this book and I can tell you that this story will suck you in from beginning to end.

I loved how we get the back and forth from past to present with Jenna and Mark's story because we at least know how it all starts and how it all ends eventually.

A true book about second chances. The chemistry between Mark and Jenna is undeniably strong no matter what happens with them throughout the years. They fell for each other from the moment they met and even though they had many ups and downs, they always managed to find ways to make it work between them.

This story has triggers with addiction, but I loved how this character found the help for this and straightened up their lives.

This rockstar book will definitely have you hooked!

5 Stars

[SassafrasfromAmazon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

. UNFINISHED REVIEW

[Athena D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS

Full review to come

[Dr. Leanna Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fame A Love Story is a rockstar romance about the power of love and second chances. The two main characters, Jenna and Mark, have a magnetic quality to them, and the reader gets caught up in the throes of their unique love story. Jenna and Mark are drawn to each other, and they have an electric connection, but there’s trouble in their relationship which rips their worlds apart. With the odds of a reconciliation farthest from Jenna’s mind, she finds that there’s an uncontrollable pull towards the very thing that hurt her the most. As Jenna tries to overcome loss and battle her inner demons, she has a chance meeting with the man she vowed to never see again. But, there are some types of love that you choose and others that choose you. There’s an underlying theme of fate guiding these two characters that leaves the reader curious about whether love really conquers all. There were surprises laced throughout the book that keep the reader fully engaged from start to finish. Just when you think you know how it will end, there’s another layer that is revealed making for an interesting and intriguing read.


On a more personal note, I really enjoyed the frequent flashbacks throughout the book. These flashbacks allowed me to see inside the characters’ minds with a bird’s eye view. More specifically, the flashback scenes allowed me to learn about the characters in a way that helped me relate to them, and it created an open portal for me to emotionally connect with the characters on a deeper level. I also thought that the short chapters were a refreshing change from some of the more traditional novels I read, and I liked that it created an easy and pleasant reading experience. The short chapters kept me on the edge pushing to read just one more chapter. Overall, this was an exciting read, and I recommend it to anyone looking to get wrapped up in a good love story.

[MyDogAteMyBookReview · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you follow my bookstagram, you know I’ve been on an epic virgin trope rant and it’s sexist AF tendencies. I regret nothing and I will die on this hill.

RJ asked me to read this to see if I would like it. Being a fan of many of her books, I was happy to give it a try and I’m happy to say I liked it.

This book is an emotional character journey for both Jenna & Mark together and on their own. It shows the cost of fame but also the cost of not communicating with each other.

Jenna asks Mark for a divorce and he lets her go, hoping she’ll come back. 5 years pass with zero contact. I’m glad she never came back, she had to grow up, spread her wings and become famous in her own right. Mark too had to grow up and realize he can’t fix everything for her, that being overbearing is stifling and clipping her wings.

This is a beautiful second chance romance. It’s heavy, emotional, raw and steamy.

It’s a perfect example of letting someone go and if they return to you, they’re yours.

[Tina's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an arc. I didn't like the back and forth with the dates but it works for this book and the timeline. This isn't the authors fault as it fits the story. I just personally don't like when books or movies jump back and forth between timelines. For these reasons I gave it 4 stars

Now for the good stuff. I loved this book from beginning to end.  This book gives the history of the characters so you understand how they think, what they feel and why they feel the way they do.

I felt every hurt, every tear down to my soul. Mark is such a lovable asshole at times but for the right reasons. It makes me believe love is absolute and true no matter how you mess it up. I was routing for them through the whole book. I love that the writer didn't make it one sided and just about the female but also about how Mark felt.

All I can say is "Is there a Mark out there for me too." My one main critique is why did this book have to end and when is the next book by RJ Rome coming!

[Catherine Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story without any expectation. I like second chance romances and this slowly wormed its way into my heart. This emotional read go back and forth between the past and present of the characters and it was like watching a movie.

Mark and Jenna was divorced, but when they meet after five years, they realize they still hold feelings for each other. But the past is not easy to face. My heart hurt every time Mark and Jenna met, so much love hidden. I'm glad how the story worked out for both the characters. We see how both characters grow and mature throughout the story.

So many ups and downs and relatable events makes the story more likeable. The story also talks about addiction, I'm glad it all worked out in the end. The book was very emotional at times. A nice and refreshing read for me.

[Maggie McGuinness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fame: a love story is full of passion, angst and heart-wrenching moments. It's an intense read that keeps you turning the pages to see if these two mixed-up characters who clearly love each other can ever sort things out. I wasn't a fan of the short chapters combined with the narrative jumping back and forth in time, as I found this interrupted the flow of the story for me. Perhaps this could have been reduced to some extent with longer sections set in each time period. The book was a really interesting look at fame, the associated lifestyle, and its repercussions, and this combined with the drama and emotion of the love story (and ex-love story) made for an intriguing read.

[Jennifer Charlinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAME is a powerful exploration of the ups and downs associated with becoming a world-renowned celebrity. Jenna is a relatable character caught in the throes of passion and Rome keeps the reader guessing whether her true passion is on the stage she performs on or in the arms of her lover. I enjoyed the bounce between the past and present day as there were lots of associations made between the two. It's interesting to see how one's life cycles. This easy read flows seamlessly and the writer made every effort to keep all of its many past/present parts connected. An enjoyable read and great insight into what a life of stardom can be; the glory to the gut-wrenching and everything in between.

[Jillian James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, emotional story

I loved reading about Jenna and Mark’s story! The story is dual pov as well as moving between the past and the present, but it only took a chapter or two to get used to and it ended up working well for the story.
I loved that it was gritty and real and dealt with some tough and emotional issues. The author handled them beautifully and respectfully and I was sucked i to the story and the angst.
A beautiful romance and an epic love story!

[Taryn Sloane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Full of highs and lows, drama and romance, Fame has it all! You will grow attached to Mark and Jenna and will root for them until the end. Grab some tissues, because you are going to need them! Pick this book up and you won't put it down until you finish it. I promise you!

[Emma Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful and realistic telling of second chances.

I felt every emotion throughout Mark and Jenna's story. A definite 5 star must read for all the second chance romance lovers out there!

[Mojo_Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5