Review: Very, very good!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 23, 2012
Set mostly in Dublin, Ireland. Artist representative, Eilis Kennedy, had been raised in the worst area of Dublin's Northside. She had worked hard to better herself and get away. Now she works for Eireann Records. Eilis always keeps an ear out for talent. When she discovers Kieran Vaughan playing in a seedy pub in Northside, Eilis knows he is a rare find and offers him a contract.Kieran is an aspiring blues guitarist. Just as he is about to give up his dream of a career in music, Eilis walks in and says she wants to be his manager. Neither Kieran, nor Eilis, expects it when they feel such a strong desire for each other. Kieran recovers first. Accepting the contract would put him exactly where he wants to be - on the road to stardom and in the company of a woman he desires. But Eilis is much more wary. The few times anyone had shown an interest in her, it had been for their own gain. Therefore, Eilis thinks her feelings are not honestly returned by Kieran. Eilis has a full, curvy figure and believes she is less than pretty.Fergus Manley is Eilis's boss at Eireann Records. When he notices Kieran's interest in Eilis, he is jealous. Fergus has been trying to lure Eilis into his bed for quite some time. Determined to add Eilis's notch to his bedpost, Fergus decides that he may need to stoop to an all-time-low tactic.**** FOUR STARS! This author was born and raised in Northern California. In 1997 she went to live in Ireland for six months, where she married a man who convinced her to stay. Since then, Kemberlee Shortland has been picking up some Irish words and British slang. This information is told in the back of the book. I mention it because Kemberlee uses slang in this story several times. If you are like me and have never heard the slang word(s) before, you will have no trouble figuring out what the word means by how it is used in the sentence. (In fact, there was only one slang used that I am not positive that I figured out correctly or not - Bickie.) Since the author still spends time in both Ireland and America, she knows what readers from both parts of the world enjoy in their romance stories - and she delivers.This story will especially appeal to those who are full-figured or consider themselves to be lacking in appearance or self esteem. (Let's face it; this describes most people in the world.) None of the characters in this tale are perfect. They actually come across to the reader as human and realistic. Those who play first or secondary characters have well developed backgrounds.I am also proof that you do not need to be a fan of the Blues of Jazz to appreciate Kieran's smooth voice. (I actually kept hearing Randy Travis in my head.) The notes played and the talent described still manages to reach the reader. The rhythm of this story will capture the hearts of many. ****Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.