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Encore #1
Final Encore
When hunky aspiring country singer Billy Eagan heads to Nashville in search of his big break, a relationship and love are the furthest things from his mind. Taking a foreman's job at the Lazy H ranch and not knowing how he will be accepted, Billy decides to fly under the radar and stay as closeted as he can without denying who he really is. It's immediately confirmed that he made the right decision when he discovers that homophobia is still alive and well in Tennessee. Then Billy gets his break and meets gorgeous record label executive Ian Dillon. Their worlds collide both professionally and personally, and Billy falls hard. But Ian is still haunted by the mysterious betrayal of his one and only lover, and knowing Billy possesses the power to emotionally destroy him, Ian decides to cut his losses and simply walk away. Determined not to give up on the man he loves, Billy secretly starts to unravel the past and quickly finds that it's not what it appears. Can Billy rescue Ian’s heart, or will bigotry and hatred win over love?
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2010
4 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Scotty Cade
39 books199 followersScotty Cade left Corporate America and twenty-five years of Marketing and Public Relations behind to buy an Inn & Restaurant on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with his partner of over twenty years. He started writing stories as soon as he could read, but just five years ago for publication. When not at the Inn, you can find him on the bow of his boat writing gay romance novels with his Shetland sheepdog Mavis at his side. Being from the south and a lover of commitment and fidelity, most of his characters find their way to long healthy relationships, however long it takes them to get there. He believes that in the end, the boy should always get the boy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 13, 2010
When I read the review for this book I really wanted to read the book. But then I started it and it was just okay...., I was telling myself "let's me see where the story will lead me, maybe my first impression is wrong".
But I was not wrong. From the start we got this explanation of Billy's family and his life, the way he grown up, but then as he leaves home into his future, there is like a cut. Like he become an orphan, or something, even if we get the info that Billy talks with his folks true the week at list three or two times we didn't see it. So this type of writing is really not enjoyable. I didn't get the feeling for characters. Okay you do get the feeling for Billy... because everything circles around him, but then that's all.
And other character is Ian... and that is just Ian. I didn't get the feeling for him at all. He was really boring character. And then the last part of the story, the main mystery of Ian's past, the plot of his so called unforgettable hurt full past...is just...BLAH, SIMPLE... If someone would die or being raped or what ever more hurtful then just simple LIE from his parents, which lead Ian to his mysterious horrible past it's just silly. Everyone would tell him to grow up and live on, you're not the only one being lied to.
So simple said the writing style need a lot of polishing it was totally turn off. It would be more enjoyable to experience the story and the character lives not just getting information about it.
And at last I didn't feel the true chemistry between Billy and Ian
But I was not wrong. From the start we got this explanation of Billy's family and his life, the way he grown up, but then as he leaves home into his future, there is like a cut. Like he become an orphan, or something, even if we get the info that Billy talks with his folks true the week at list three or two times we didn't see it. So this type of writing is really not enjoyable. I didn't get the feeling for characters. Okay you do get the feeling for Billy... because everything circles around him, but then that's all.
And other character is Ian... and that is just Ian. I didn't get the feeling for him at all. He was really boring character. And then the last part of the story, the main mystery of Ian's past, the plot of his so called unforgettable hurt full past...is just...BLAH, SIMPLE... If someone would die or being raped or what ever more hurtful then just simple LIE from his parents, which lead Ian to his mysterious horrible past it's just silly. Everyone would tell him to grow up and live on, you're not the only one being lied to.
So simple said the writing style need a lot of polishing it was totally turn off. It would be more enjoyable to experience the story and the character lives not just getting information about it.
And at last I didn't feel the true chemistry between Billy and Ian
October 12, 2012
An exercise in ''tell, don't show''. And the sobbing around of the MCs is also a constant. Not my thing, sorry!
June 27, 2018
Loved This Story
What a good book. I loved the characters, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
What a good book. I loved the characters, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
May 11, 2013
If you're looking for a cure for insomnia, then you've got the right book. Otherwise, skip it. I picked up this book based upon the other reviews and let's say I wasn't so much disappointed as disgusted. Seriously, dreamspinner editors? The first chapter is all backstory. Boo-hoo, tragic past, starting over, got it. But pages and pages of this? gag me. Then, starting with the second chapter, the rapid and paragraph to paragraph switches in POV is enough to give you a migraine trying to figure out who's talking. The only interesting character is the girl who can't sing. It's funny how Billy can carry Ian around without breaking a sweat even though no man I've ever known would (a) allow this or (b) be able to lift 200+ pounds of gym bunny muscle (Billy makes a point of describing Ian's six-pack and other qualities -- funny how he's a gym bunny who never goes to the gym!) Then, the house Ian lives in? I don't even know any women who live in a house like that. Puh-lease. This is so mushy and unrealistic it may as well be a lifetime movie, except those have better plots. I'll never pick up another book by this author and I'd recommend you find a cheaper way to put yourself to sleep...
October 18, 2012
A big no for me and a complete waste of time and brain cells. The "telling" was horrible. It literally made my brain explode. Characters didn't shown one bit of chemistry. Sex scenes, Omg, really? Does that really happens, anywhere? And I so dislike whiny, crying characters. What's with that, every now and then a character cries his eyes out.
Although the above were plenty for me not to even bother rate this book, the decision was made for me when the confession time came and the protagonist made the fatal mistake to "tell and show" his lover what he did with his ex. As in literally giving all details of their first sexual encounter...
No further comment. Many flaws that made this a horrible read.
Although the above were plenty for me not to even bother rate this book, the decision was made for me when the confession time came and the protagonist made the fatal mistake to "tell and show" his lover what he did with his ex. As in literally giving all details of their first sexual encounter...
No further comment. Many flaws that made this a horrible read.
June 24, 2013
I loved it!
Very sweet, honest and reliable characters, just as I like them! Straightforward and enjoyable story with little bit of angst and a very satisfying ending. I especially liked how the whole situation with Todd was handled, since I'm usually very wary about past lovers and such, but here it was done with so much tact! Billy and Ian are perfect together <3
Very sweet, honest and reliable characters, just as I like them! Straightforward and enjoyable story with little bit of angst and a very satisfying ending. I especially liked how the whole situation with Todd was handled, since I'm usually very wary about past lovers and such, but here it was done with so much tact! Billy and Ian are perfect together <3
January 6, 2016
So much narrative! I don't mind a bit of an info dump but there are ways of doing it that don't make it feel as though I'm reading a report. That and the whiplash POV changes from paragraph to paragraph made this a DNF for me which is a shame as the blurb sounded great.
May 31, 2012
Pages and pages and pages of narrative. Telling, no showing. Couldn't get past chapter 2.
June 15, 2018
An easy read with no real big dramas or real angst. Overall rather simplistic and shallow but I enjoyed it. I see there are now two other books in the series, one telling Ian's prior story and one five years later. I have no great hankering to read either.
3.5 stars(4 stars - just - for GR)
3.5 stars(4 stars - just - for GR)
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January 24, 2023Overall I liked this story and found the plot engaging. Billy is a country singer and is seeking his fame and fortune. He starts working as a ranch foreman and sings at Open Mic Night at the bar owned by his employers. They are good people and draw the attention of their friend Ian who comes along to hear Billy perform. Ian is a talent scout for a music label and he sees great potential in Billy.
One of the main issues faced by the men is Ian's reluctance to put his heart on the line "He had long ago decided that he could never totally give his hear to another man, never totally trust anyone again. The risk of loving, trusting, and possibly losing was far too great. The stakes were too high, and his heart, even after so much time had passed, was still too sensitive to chance it." Plus there is drama caused by someone holding a grudge which injects a bit of excitement.
I love a good cowboy and a good musician romance so had high expectations for this story. However it didn't quite achieve the heights of my expectation. This was mainly due to a couple of factors. In the early chapters of the book I felt like the story was being told but it wasn't drawing me in. And some parts of the story had a slightly unnatural feel about them. For example, when Ian finally shares some details of his history and recounts an episode from his past, it has a strange level of really specific detail that I wouldn't normally expect in a memory being shared, recounting every look and touch.
I like country music, as in I don't mind listening to it but I don't usually seek it out. so it was really interesting to see the songs sung by Billy. I took the opportunity to look them up and enjoyed being introduced to something new. The songs were:
"Moments" by Emerson Drive
"Love Me If You Can" by Toby Keith
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" by Tracy Lawrence
"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flats
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
One of the main issues faced by the men is Ian's reluctance to put his heart on the line "He had long ago decided that he could never totally give his hear to another man, never totally trust anyone again. The risk of loving, trusting, and possibly losing was far too great. The stakes were too high, and his heart, even after so much time had passed, was still too sensitive to chance it." Plus there is drama caused by someone holding a grudge which injects a bit of excitement.
I love a good cowboy and a good musician romance so had high expectations for this story. However it didn't quite achieve the heights of my expectation. This was mainly due to a couple of factors. In the early chapters of the book I felt like the story was being told but it wasn't drawing me in. And some parts of the story had a slightly unnatural feel about them. For example, when Ian finally shares some details of his history and recounts an episode from his past, it has a strange level of really specific detail that I wouldn't normally expect in a memory being shared, recounting every look and touch.
I like country music, as in I don't mind listening to it but I don't usually seek it out. so it was really interesting to see the songs sung by Billy. I took the opportunity to look them up and enjoyed being introduced to something new. The songs were:
"Moments" by Emerson Drive
"Love Me If You Can" by Toby Keith
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" by Tracy Lawrence
"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flats
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
October 5, 2011
I just read all four for Scotty's books consecutively. Nice enough stories but this last one, more than the previous three, irked me somewhat - same M.O. (for starters) with the villain appearing to commit some last minute crime as with the previous book. But the thing that threw me was that there was one particular sex scene that was, word for word, identical to the 'big' sex scene in the previous book. Same descriptions, same emotions, same everything. The only difference was that the names of the characters were changed. I thought that was cheap and would be very noticeable to readers who read the author's other books.
With that said the story was OK. Time to get rid of the last minute murder attempts, though! Oh and if you are going to include sex/love scenes please use original phrasing. :)
With that said the story was OK. Time to get rid of the last minute murder attempts, though! Oh and if you are going to include sex/love scenes please use original phrasing. :)
February 1, 2012
Some might think that this story is a little corny but I think instead that exudes love and positivity of each page, Cade is a writer who describes the feelings so sweet and never boring not being afraid to talk even when there is pain and suffering which leads to the realization that it truly lives when you have someone to love or like Ian says, "to lose".
March 8, 2020
Romance novels are, I’ve seen, the most successful genre in publishing. More people read romance than any other kind of novel. In reading Scotty Cade’s Final Encore, I found myself wondering what about romance appeals to the reader. Certainly, Cade’s book is in a special sub-category of romance, as it is a gay romance, so I definitely understand why it would attract readers who are eager to read love stories featuring characters who think like they do, act like they do. But, comparing Final Encore to other heterosexually based romances I’ve read—and I admit my experience with the genre is limited—I see this book follows a similar pattern of any romance novel: likeable characters who fall in love quickly, suffer only mild conflicts, and live happily ever after while enjoying quite a bit of healthy sex. I was drawn to Final Encore by its setting. I love country music, and I love showbiz stories. In the world of country music, newcomer Billy Eagan comes to Nashville to hopefully become a star. He quickly meets Jules and Jean, married ranch and bar owners, who take a liking to him, and introduce him to music executive Ian. An instant attraction ensues and Ian is in a position to help Billy with his career, so it’s a one-two whammy. As stated earlier, there is very little conflict, although hints of trouble do come to a head at the end of the book. For my taste, I would have wanted things to have developed a bit more slowly, for Billy not to have had opportunities dropped into his lap, for the “villain” of the piece to be more integrated into the plot. But that’s not romance. Final Encore follows an established pattern and since it is well-written, colorful in plot and setting, and has enough steamy encounters to satisfy, it is a book that should please those looking for this sort of thing. And for those who truly love the book and its characters, there is both a prequel and a sequel so exploring them further is no problem.
January 12, 2023
OMG !! What a terrible story !! The MC's story was so boring !!! Insta love here I come !!
What drove me crazy ?
First, there is Ian's injury. He hurts his ankle falling from a horse. Then we get pages and pages of endless description of how Billy takes care of Ian. 20 minutes icing, then 20 minutes without ice, then 20 minutes icing, then... well, you get it, right !! So boring !! Pretty much all the book is an endless description of everything !!
Secondly, the stupid parts !! So Ian and Billy have been involved for like 2 weeks and Billy has been living in Nashville for not much longer than that. Then Billy says to Ian: "I have been so involved in my career that I did not have the time for ..." I almost peed myself when I read this !! Come on ! What career ?
Now, the Buck part !! Buck is an asshole who goes crazy and decides he wants his former girlfriend and Billy dead. So, he tries to burn them in an old cabin. The plot is so ridiculous, it's not even funny. Then here comes the funny part ! Billy wants to stall the man and tries to convince him not to set them on fire. He tells Buck that Tina(the girlfriend) has no talent whatsoever and Buck answers with : "Don't try to sweet talk to me!!!" I just laughed so hard at this one !! Unbelievable !!
Thirdly, the story around Todd(former Ian's boyfriend) and Ian when they were young ! Todd's parents telling him Ian accepted 20 000$ to leave the town and Ian's parents telling him Todd accused him of raping him and so on and on with the crap !! God, that was bad writing !
Lastly, Billy is supposedly close to his family but we never hear anything regarding them from the time he goes to Nashville. He never calls them and they do not communicate with him at all. That's kinf of lame to me. It shows the bad story telling.
Conclusion !! Don't waste your time on this serie !! I won't read the last book, that's for sure !!
What drove me crazy ?
First, there is Ian's injury. He hurts his ankle falling from a horse. Then we get pages and pages of endless description of how Billy takes care of Ian. 20 minutes icing, then 20 minutes without ice, then 20 minutes icing, then... well, you get it, right !! So boring !! Pretty much all the book is an endless description of everything !!
Secondly, the stupid parts !! So Ian and Billy have been involved for like 2 weeks and Billy has been living in Nashville for not much longer than that. Then Billy says to Ian: "I have been so involved in my career that I did not have the time for ..." I almost peed myself when I read this !! Come on ! What career ?
Now, the Buck part !! Buck is an asshole who goes crazy and decides he wants his former girlfriend and Billy dead. So, he tries to burn them in an old cabin. The plot is so ridiculous, it's not even funny. Then here comes the funny part ! Billy wants to stall the man and tries to convince him not to set them on fire. He tells Buck that Tina(the girlfriend) has no talent whatsoever and Buck answers with : "Don't try to sweet talk to me!!!" I just laughed so hard at this one !! Unbelievable !!
Thirdly, the story around Todd(former Ian's boyfriend) and Ian when they were young ! Todd's parents telling him Ian accepted 20 000$ to leave the town and Ian's parents telling him Todd accused him of raping him and so on and on with the crap !! God, that was bad writing !
Lastly, Billy is supposedly close to his family but we never hear anything regarding them from the time he goes to Nashville. He never calls them and they do not communicate with him at all. That's kinf of lame to me. It shows the bad story telling.
Conclusion !! Don't waste your time on this serie !! I won't read the last book, that's for sure !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
Wow and wow 5 plus stars.🌟... I loved this story. This is the sequel to Before The Encore which this had me connect to Billy and Ian in a big way. The first book was fantastic but this one was way better. Scotty Cade is an amazing writer and tottally one of my favorites. This has a love story with an element of danger but you know who it is, but the when you wont see coming. Hot scenes are smokin for this couple. I'll be planning to grab the next book..
Billy had big hopes when he leaves for Nashville to become a country singer. Arriving he needed a job as priority luckily he landed a job as a horse ranch foreman.
Lady lucks with him as his new boss Jules and his wife owns a club in town. Jean's Magnolia Saloon was no small club. There open mic nights just might be his opening.
Ian was a talent scout when he got a call from Jean about her new singer to come see Billy. Is it lady luck or destiny.
Billy had big hopes when he leaves for Nashville to become a country singer. Arriving he needed a job as priority luckily he landed a job as a horse ranch foreman.
Lady lucks with him as his new boss Jules and his wife owns a club in town. Jean's Magnolia Saloon was no small club. There open mic nights just might be his opening.
Ian was a talent scout when he got a call from Jean about her new singer to come see Billy. Is it lady luck or destiny.
April 1, 2015
4 star review by Vicki
This book starts as Billy Eagan is on his way to Nashville to become a country music star. He gets in to Nashville, finds a cheap hotel and starts looking for a job, while scoping out the music scene. After a bit of searching, he is hired to be a ranch foreman by Jules James, the owner of the Lazy H ranch. He settles in to his new job, and is quite happy to learn that Jules and his wife Jean, own a club in downtown Nashville, that has an open night competition every month. Billy signs up and gets ready to sing…
Singing at the Magnolia Saloon turns out to be the best thing to ever happy to Billy. Not only does it jump start his career, it also brings Ian Dillon in to his life. Ian has been in Nashville for nine years, he had some serious family and relationship drama at home and was forced to leave. He arrived in Nashville and found his way to the Magnolia Saloon, and was pretty much saved by Jean. She gave him a job, a home, a career, and a family. The only thing he hasn’t had is a boyfriend. The drama he ran from has caused some major emotional damage, and he has been alone ever since.
Jean calls him one day to come listen to a new singer, and Ian is not only amazed by Billy Eagan’s talent, but is surprised to find himself attracted to the man. Ian wants to get Billy started with the record company he works for, and maybe get to know him on a personal basis as well. Ian starts to work his magic with Capital Records, bringing his boss in to hear Billy, and the two start to date. Unfortunately on their first date, poor Ian is thrown from a horse and sprains his ankle. This does however, give the very nurturing Billy the opportunity to baby Ian and get to know him better. This begins their romance… While this romance is going on, Ian gets Billy’s career off to one hell of a start. There is also a bit of homophobic drama going on that nearly brings it all crashing down.
Let’s talk about what I liked about this book. I love Billy and Ian, and the sweet relationship they developed. I liked that they both had a bit of drama in their pasts. Billy is such an open and loving person, a total optimist, that he is able to get past his trust issues and truly love Ian. On the other hand we have Ian. He can’t let go of his past, even after NINE years, and it really takes some effort and more drama to get him to let go. I loved Jules and Jean and their involvement in this story, they are just the parental influence that both of these men need. I liked the setting of the saloon, and the music industry in general, to give some structure to the romance. I’m not a country music fan, but I could appreciate Nashville and the music, even though I didn’t know all of the songs that were referenced. I liked the emotional connection and the physical connection between Ian and Billy. I liked the drama that was added by a homophobic asshole character that I won’t tell you much about for fear of ruining the story, but that added a great element to the book. I liked the writing, Scotty seems to either really know his country music, or did some great research, because all of the details worked for me.
What I didn’t like about this book was the ease of which Billy gets his stardom. There was never a set back in his career. He walks in, sings, gets a contract, and is a star. It went all way too smoothly for me to accept. It didn’t feel real to me. I wanted him to face some rejection and adversity in his career. He does in his relationship with Ian, there is some drama, but nothing in his career. It’s too easy. The same with his job at the ranch. He is immediately hired as a ranch foreman, when he’s had no experience other than “time he’d spent with his dad raising quarter horses”. There is no way someone like Jules, a ranch owner, would hire this kid from New Orleans as a foreman over his other hands, on such a large ranch. I can see him being hired as a ranch hand, but not as the foreman. I also felt the drama that comes up between Ian and Billy, when Ian freaks out, was a bit over the top for something that happened nine years ago. It did create some drama between them, that was ok, but the cause of it didn’t work for me. Trying to dance around plot stuff here…. There is also crap that this asshole does to them that felt a bit off to me, unrealistic, and there is a long gap between the first incidence of behavior and the final incident. There is also no mention of what happens to this character after he does what he does.
Overall I liked this book, there was more that I liked than didn’t like. It was a good book, I see that it was Scotty’s first book, and I’m glad it was re-edited and re-released. Basically it was a good but somewhat unbelievable story, involving characters that I really liked. I just had to really suspend my belief with the plot.
If you are a fan of country music this would be a good book to read! If you are a Scotty Cade fan, you’ll probably like this one.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
This book starts as Billy Eagan is on his way to Nashville to become a country music star. He gets in to Nashville, finds a cheap hotel and starts looking for a job, while scoping out the music scene. After a bit of searching, he is hired to be a ranch foreman by Jules James, the owner of the Lazy H ranch. He settles in to his new job, and is quite happy to learn that Jules and his wife Jean, own a club in downtown Nashville, that has an open night competition every month. Billy signs up and gets ready to sing…
Singing at the Magnolia Saloon turns out to be the best thing to ever happy to Billy. Not only does it jump start his career, it also brings Ian Dillon in to his life. Ian has been in Nashville for nine years, he had some serious family and relationship drama at home and was forced to leave. He arrived in Nashville and found his way to the Magnolia Saloon, and was pretty much saved by Jean. She gave him a job, a home, a career, and a family. The only thing he hasn’t had is a boyfriend. The drama he ran from has caused some major emotional damage, and he has been alone ever since.
Jean calls him one day to come listen to a new singer, and Ian is not only amazed by Billy Eagan’s talent, but is surprised to find himself attracted to the man. Ian wants to get Billy started with the record company he works for, and maybe get to know him on a personal basis as well. Ian starts to work his magic with Capital Records, bringing his boss in to hear Billy, and the two start to date. Unfortunately on their first date, poor Ian is thrown from a horse and sprains his ankle. This does however, give the very nurturing Billy the opportunity to baby Ian and get to know him better. This begins their romance… While this romance is going on, Ian gets Billy’s career off to one hell of a start. There is also a bit of homophobic drama going on that nearly brings it all crashing down.
Let’s talk about what I liked about this book. I love Billy and Ian, and the sweet relationship they developed. I liked that they both had a bit of drama in their pasts. Billy is such an open and loving person, a total optimist, that he is able to get past his trust issues and truly love Ian. On the other hand we have Ian. He can’t let go of his past, even after NINE years, and it really takes some effort and more drama to get him to let go. I loved Jules and Jean and their involvement in this story, they are just the parental influence that both of these men need. I liked the setting of the saloon, and the music industry in general, to give some structure to the romance. I’m not a country music fan, but I could appreciate Nashville and the music, even though I didn’t know all of the songs that were referenced. I liked the emotional connection and the physical connection between Ian and Billy. I liked the drama that was added by a homophobic asshole character that I won’t tell you much about for fear of ruining the story, but that added a great element to the book. I liked the writing, Scotty seems to either really know his country music, or did some great research, because all of the details worked for me.
What I didn’t like about this book was the ease of which Billy gets his stardom. There was never a set back in his career. He walks in, sings, gets a contract, and is a star. It went all way too smoothly for me to accept. It didn’t feel real to me. I wanted him to face some rejection and adversity in his career. He does in his relationship with Ian, there is some drama, but nothing in his career. It’s too easy. The same with his job at the ranch. He is immediately hired as a ranch foreman, when he’s had no experience other than “time he’d spent with his dad raising quarter horses”. There is no way someone like Jules, a ranch owner, would hire this kid from New Orleans as a foreman over his other hands, on such a large ranch. I can see him being hired as a ranch hand, but not as the foreman. I also felt the drama that comes up between Ian and Billy, when Ian freaks out, was a bit over the top for something that happened nine years ago. It did create some drama between them, that was ok, but the cause of it didn’t work for me. Trying to dance around plot stuff here…. There is also crap that this asshole does to them that felt a bit off to me, unrealistic, and there is a long gap between the first incidence of behavior and the final incident. There is also no mention of what happens to this character after he does what he does.
Overall I liked this book, there was more that I liked than didn’t like. It was a good book, I see that it was Scotty’s first book, and I’m glad it was re-edited and re-released. Basically it was a good but somewhat unbelievable story, involving characters that I really liked. I just had to really suspend my belief with the plot.
If you are a fan of country music this would be a good book to read! If you are a Scotty Cade fan, you’ll probably like this one.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
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August 18, 2025pRdsp
April 8, 2011
Nashville and all her glory, fame, and broken dreams are featured in Final Encore. The descriptions of the town, her people, and an extraordinary love story compelled me to look further into this seemingly magical place. I was impressed by the quality of Mr. Cade's first published book, and look forward to more from this author.
Admittedly I'm completely ignorant of the country music scene and the artists mentioned in the book. I did however, enjoy the time spent checking out the songs referenced by the author. Each song Mr. Cade mentioned held a special significance for the setting or emotion he intended to portray. I was enraptured while listening to Bless the Broken Road, by Rascal Flatts, and teared up picturing Billy singing this song to Ian. Both men had suffered so much to get to where they were, and that song was an absolutely brilliant illustration of their journey to find each other.
The protagonists were both very strong, successful, yet damaged men. I truly felt a connection to Billy as he demonstrated his love and devotion to Ian in such romantic ways. Ian's character was a refreshing break from the traditional role of submissive, exhibiting strength that really amazed me. The dialogue between these two men really allowed me to get into their heads and understand their actions and emotions. Their lovemaking was smoking hot at times, and tender at others. Both were wonderfully written and conveyed their affection well.
I loved the attention to detail as the author highlighted Nashville's natural beauty. The detail continued by mentioning many artists, songs, and places that would have enhanced the effect of the book if I would have been familiar with these things. I felt like the author skipped several important steps, explaining things retroactively in places. For instance, the “no labels” rule was mentioned without a conversation occurring between the two men to explain why the rule was in place.
I'm genuinely happy I had the opportunity to review this book. Mr. Cade certainly knows how to write an enchanting tale with a storyline and characters that are enjoyable to read. I recommend this book to any M/M romance reader, especially if you are a country music fan. I'll end this review with my favorite quote from Final Encore: “In that moment, looking into Ian's eyes was like seeing everything: the sun, the stars, the universe, past the universe.”
Originally posted at http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
Admittedly I'm completely ignorant of the country music scene and the artists mentioned in the book. I did however, enjoy the time spent checking out the songs referenced by the author. Each song Mr. Cade mentioned held a special significance for the setting or emotion he intended to portray. I was enraptured while listening to Bless the Broken Road, by Rascal Flatts, and teared up picturing Billy singing this song to Ian. Both men had suffered so much to get to where they were, and that song was an absolutely brilliant illustration of their journey to find each other.
The protagonists were both very strong, successful, yet damaged men. I truly felt a connection to Billy as he demonstrated his love and devotion to Ian in such romantic ways. Ian's character was a refreshing break from the traditional role of submissive, exhibiting strength that really amazed me. The dialogue between these two men really allowed me to get into their heads and understand their actions and emotions. Their lovemaking was smoking hot at times, and tender at others. Both were wonderfully written and conveyed their affection well.
I loved the attention to detail as the author highlighted Nashville's natural beauty. The detail continued by mentioning many artists, songs, and places that would have enhanced the effect of the book if I would have been familiar with these things. I felt like the author skipped several important steps, explaining things retroactively in places. For instance, the “no labels” rule was mentioned without a conversation occurring between the two men to explain why the rule was in place.
I'm genuinely happy I had the opportunity to review this book. Mr. Cade certainly knows how to write an enchanting tale with a storyline and characters that are enjoyable to read. I recommend this book to any M/M romance reader, especially if you are a country music fan. I'll end this review with my favorite quote from Final Encore: “In that moment, looking into Ian's eyes was like seeing everything: the sun, the stars, the universe, past the universe.”
Originally posted at http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
June 13, 2015
After years of living for everyone else, Billy Eagan sets off for Nashville to follow his dream of breaking into country music. Soon after he arrives, he finds a job at the Lazy H Ranch. Owners Jean and Jules also own a club, and when Billy finds out they do open-mic nights he’s excited. The crowds love him, and when he meets Jean and Jules’ friend, sexy agent Ian, he’s convinced things can’t get any better for him.
Ian’s attracted to Jules as well, but his past makes him hesitant to trust. Not to mention the fact that he wants to help Billy break into the business. Ian’s fears might not be the only problem they face, however. Not everyone’s happy about Billy’s success…
Final Encore is a tale of love, luck, success, and revenge, with a big dose of the country music business. Billy’s a sweet, simple, talented guy who has a knack for making friends. Ian’s an excellent talent scout whose put-together exterior hides a damaged, lonely interior. Of the two, I admit I preferred Ian. Despite his occasional wishy-washiness, Ian was easy to root for. I could sympathize with his fears about letting Billy close, although he caved awfully quickly. Billy, on the other hand, sometimes struck me as too perfect, and too lucky, to be true. It was hard to believe that an aspiring star could have such a quick, easy rise to a big record deal.
Along with the love story between Billy and Ian, there are the parallel storylines of Billy’s rise to fame and the attempts by another character to get revenge on Billy. I enjoyed the romance aspects of the story most, even if things went very quickly on that front. I really liked that Billy didn’t waffle in his attitude toward Ian, no matter what Ian did, and that he was willing to try to help Ian past his issues. Billy’s experiences in the music world were interesting, and would probably appeal a lot to a country music fan. As for the revenge story, it was pretty tame until the end, when a huge incident came kind of out of nowhere. I have to admit, that despite the lack of suspense as to who the bad guy was (it was revealed at the beginning), the revenge attempt still got my attention.
While everything might have been a bit too quick and easy in Final Encore, it’s nonetheless an entertaining read. It’s quick and sweet, and sure to appeal to fans of country music and rags-to-riches tales.
This book was reviewed by Cassie for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
Ian’s attracted to Jules as well, but his past makes him hesitant to trust. Not to mention the fact that he wants to help Billy break into the business. Ian’s fears might not be the only problem they face, however. Not everyone’s happy about Billy’s success…
Final Encore is a tale of love, luck, success, and revenge, with a big dose of the country music business. Billy’s a sweet, simple, talented guy who has a knack for making friends. Ian’s an excellent talent scout whose put-together exterior hides a damaged, lonely interior. Of the two, I admit I preferred Ian. Despite his occasional wishy-washiness, Ian was easy to root for. I could sympathize with his fears about letting Billy close, although he caved awfully quickly. Billy, on the other hand, sometimes struck me as too perfect, and too lucky, to be true. It was hard to believe that an aspiring star could have such a quick, easy rise to a big record deal.
Along with the love story between Billy and Ian, there are the parallel storylines of Billy’s rise to fame and the attempts by another character to get revenge on Billy. I enjoyed the romance aspects of the story most, even if things went very quickly on that front. I really liked that Billy didn’t waffle in his attitude toward Ian, no matter what Ian did, and that he was willing to try to help Ian past his issues. Billy’s experiences in the music world were interesting, and would probably appeal a lot to a country music fan. As for the revenge story, it was pretty tame until the end, when a huge incident came kind of out of nowhere. I have to admit, that despite the lack of suspense as to who the bad guy was (it was revealed at the beginning), the revenge attempt still got my attention.
While everything might have been a bit too quick and easy in Final Encore, it’s nonetheless an entertaining read. It’s quick and sweet, and sure to appeal to fans of country music and rags-to-riches tales.
This book was reviewed by Cassie for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
May 1, 2011
This is the second book of Scotty Cade's that I read. Although I thoroughly enjoyed Wings of Love and in the end gave it a 5-star rating, it took me awhile to get into the story. Not so with Final Encore. From the first line to the last, this book grabbed my attention and held me throughout. For a debut novel this was for me a remarkable achievement.
I love how the author infused songs and artists into his story. My favorite being when Billy sang Bless the Broken road. I played the song while rereading this scene and I admit I shed a few tears. Both Billy and Ian were so broken that it was as if this song had been written with the two of them in mind.
It's been years since I've been to Nashville, but it was as if I were returning there through the pages of Final Encore. The bright lights, excitement and hope feel of the city I felt all those years ago came alive and the author did an amazing job of portraying this exciting city.
Now as well as the place was developed, everyone who knows me will tell you that you can describe Buckingham Palace in all it's regal glory to perfection but if you don't develop your characters I'm going to pout! For me the most important thing in any good book is allowing me to take the journey with the characters.
I want in their heads, I want to experience their heartbreak, happiness and every other emotion they experience. By the end of Final Encore I truly felt as if I knew the strong, romantic and sexy Billy and Ian.....sigh. From tears caused by the pain each of them had endured in their past, the romance that made me sigh to the hot sex I truly experienced their journey!! This book was not perfect, but the characters in my humble opinion were!
I love how the author infused songs and artists into his story. My favorite being when Billy sang Bless the Broken road. I played the song while rereading this scene and I admit I shed a few tears. Both Billy and Ian were so broken that it was as if this song had been written with the two of them in mind.
It's been years since I've been to Nashville, but it was as if I were returning there through the pages of Final Encore. The bright lights, excitement and hope feel of the city I felt all those years ago came alive and the author did an amazing job of portraying this exciting city.
Now as well as the place was developed, everyone who knows me will tell you that you can describe Buckingham Palace in all it's regal glory to perfection but if you don't develop your characters I'm going to pout! For me the most important thing in any good book is allowing me to take the journey with the characters.
I want in their heads, I want to experience their heartbreak, happiness and every other emotion they experience. By the end of Final Encore I truly felt as if I knew the strong, romantic and sexy Billy and Ian.....sigh. From tears caused by the pain each of them had endured in their past, the romance that made me sigh to the hot sex I truly experienced their journey!! This book was not perfect, but the characters in my humble opinion were!
July 15, 2016
I received a copy of Final Encore from Scotty Cade on his blog tour with Kimmers Erotic Book Banter.
Final Encore is technically the 2nd book in the series Before the Final Encore *Free Read* and give the back story to Ian one of the m/c's.
Ian has worked hard to make a life for himself after being disowned by his parents for being gay!!. He lands in Nashville on the doorstep of Jules and Jean who run a bar, they take him in give him a job and a place to stay. Which gives him the time and the confidence to heal and make something of his life.
Billy Eagan has come to Nashville to follow his dreams of being the next country star. Working with Jules at The Lazy H Ranch during the day and competing at night at Jeans bar's open mic nights to follow his dreams.
From the moment Ian and Billy meet there is a connection thats too strong to ignore but can Billy help Ian overcome his trust issues and fear of love.
I really enjoyed Final Encore. Ian and Billy are great together, Billy is so sweet, caring and protective of Ian you can't help but want them to have their forever no matter who or what tries to get in there way. <3
Final Encore is technically the 2nd book in the series Before the Final Encore *Free Read* and give the back story to Ian one of the m/c's.
Ian has worked hard to make a life for himself after being disowned by his parents for being gay!!. He lands in Nashville on the doorstep of Jules and Jean who run a bar, they take him in give him a job and a place to stay. Which gives him the time and the confidence to heal and make something of his life.
Billy Eagan has come to Nashville to follow his dreams of being the next country star. Working with Jules at The Lazy H Ranch during the day and competing at night at Jeans bar's open mic nights to follow his dreams.
From the moment Ian and Billy meet there is a connection thats too strong to ignore but can Billy help Ian overcome his trust issues and fear of love.
I really enjoyed Final Encore. Ian and Billy are great together, Billy is so sweet, caring and protective of Ian you can't help but want them to have their forever no matter who or what tries to get in there way. <3
October 25, 2011
I was expecting more ranch and less country-music themes, but in the end, I was satisfied with the story and learning about the music industry. I felt a little less of an emotional connection with these two than the leads in Wings of Love, but as usual read this book straight through and wasn't disappointed.
I see some other reviewers were not as complimentary, but it's still a good love story, well-written, and fits the genre. We had some good development of the secondary characters, and while the 'hurt' in the story is a little contrived (been there, done that) it was very believable, and therefore came across as genuine.
Don't skip this book if you like the author's writing. I recommend it.
I see some other reviewers were not as complimentary, but it's still a good love story, well-written, and fits the genre. We had some good development of the secondary characters, and while the 'hurt' in the story is a little contrived (been there, done that) it was very believable, and therefore came across as genuine.
Don't skip this book if you like the author's writing. I recommend it.
January 12, 2015
A 2.5* read for me, and I picked this up free at DSP. I have enjoyed other Scotty Cade books but this one just didnt get going for me.
The story premise was fine, Billy newly arrived in Nashville from NO, finds a job, welcome and a talent spot. Ian, the 'adopted' son of Billy's mentors is a talent scout and those meddlesome parents bring the two together with great personal and professional success. The is the homophobic baddie and a deep dark secret in Ian's past. All the right ingredients, but just not for me. I found the touchy feely vibe to the book a bit much and didnt buyi into the thought dialogues.
The story premise was fine, Billy newly arrived in Nashville from NO, finds a job, welcome and a talent spot. Ian, the 'adopted' son of Billy's mentors is a talent scout and those meddlesome parents bring the two together with great personal and professional success. The is the homophobic baddie and a deep dark secret in Ian's past. All the right ingredients, but just not for me. I found the touchy feely vibe to the book a bit much and didnt buyi into the thought dialogues.
November 25, 2012
I rated this book 5 stars because I not only liked the story, but I loved the characters and not just the MCs. Scotty has done a masterful job of describing that amazing feeling when love is fresh and new and also bringing in reality that anyone over the age of puberty (or possibly younger) comes with history, hurt and "baggage". It's an important message that it is not about the baggage, per se, but finding someone you are willing to let in and help unpack and put away that baggage, Kudos to Scotty on an amazing book and looking forward to reading more from him.
December 14, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed Scotty Cade's first novel and am looking forward to many more. It was hard to believe it was a first! He had a wonderful mix of characters and a warmth in his writing that made me feel that I personally knew the characters. Also, he captured the country music scene --with which I have first hand familiarity -- beautifully. This is a wonderful,e ntertianing, warm and romantic read - all that it promised to be and then some. I look forward to more from Scotty!
January 10, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
Final Encore was Scotty Cade's first published novel. It has since been re-edited and expanded a bit. I never read the first edition, so I can not speak to the differences between the editions. This review focuses on the second edition recently released by Dreamspinner Press.
For Complete review see Prism Book Alliance: http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
September 26, 2016
I couldn't get into this story because I didn't feel a part of it. Very few places on the story had me living through the events as they happened. I wanted to like this story and I did finish it but was never drawn in. I rather think this may be that it was earlier book by this author b/c I have read "Wings of Love" and didn't have the same response.
June 28, 2012
Although this book is sugary sweet at times I found it very enjoyable. The reason for Ian being unable to commit to a relationship I found rather weak and maybe more could have been made of Buck and the ranch. The writing was good though and the story flowed effortlessly - a good book to read on vacation on the beach where you don't need anything too taxing or much thought.
December 12, 2015
3.5*
I liked this book! Both Billy and Ian just clicked! Billy is a very unassuming country singer looking for his big break. Ian has had his heart so broken that he guards it very well. The only part that I couldn't get behind was Ian's ex-boyfriend and that whole episode. It just wasn't believable to me. But will read the next one in this series.
I liked this book! Both Billy and Ian just clicked! Billy is a very unassuming country singer looking for his big break. Ian has had his heart so broken that he guards it very well. The only part that I couldn't get behind was Ian's ex-boyfriend and that whole episode. It just wasn't believable to me. But will read the next one in this series.
December 14, 2010
I just finished reading this book. I love the authentic way the author writes. I want to hang out with Billy Eagan. Very real characters. Gotta love a man in a cowboy hat! Here is a tip of the hat to author Scotty Cade. Can't wait for your next book.
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