Review: Great first effort!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 15, 2014
This book had a strong start--a real "meet cute" in which Marcus also manages to demonstrate his awesome dad abilities--loved it! Ryan wasn't too overwhelmed by her new boss's star power to stand up for herself, which was fantastic--for much of the book, she was a really strong character. I liked that she had such a solid understanding of kids and was able to get a handle on Marcus's two, Charlotte and Miles, right from the start.As Ryan says at one point, "Adults were crazy; kids were a piece of cake."Charlotte and Miles really steal the show. Whether they're interacting with Marcus, Ryan, Smitty (lead guitarist), or a combination, they practically jump off the page--especially six-year-old Marcus. You can really tell that the author has spent a lot of time around children--no frighteningly fictional kids here!The setting of being on a national rock tour was definitely different one--it makes for an interesting view into the life of a famous musician. One can only imagine how difficult it must be to be so much in the public eye all the time, and Ryan naturally is not at all used to the pressure. That said, however, the two times that she snaps--one early on, one about halfway through--really seemed out of character for her. They do play a big part in future events, but still those two scenes just didn't sit right with me.It felt like Marcus and Ryan's relationship progressed a bit too quickly, especially given the previous experiences of the two (Ryan was badly hurt by a cheating boyfriend, and Marcus hadn't had any relationships at all since his bitter divorce four years earlier). Initially, both felt the attraction and resisted, knowing that it wasn't a good idea to act on it--and rightly so. (The image of big, burly Smitty acting as a cautioning angel on Marcus's shoulder was particularly amusing.) Next thing you knew, though, their resolutions were out the window. I almost thought I'd missed something there, because it still didn't seem like a smart idea to me--hormones or no. It seemed at odds with the more mature Marcus and his dedication to his kids, not to mention usually level-headed Ryan.Don't get me wrong, I wanted them to get together--but the timing didn't feel quite right there.Marcus--and Ryan, by going along with him--made a really questionable choice during his last concert stop that really had me questioning his judgement. He was called on it, though, and ended up realizing that he'd made a poor choice, which went a long way toward redeeming him--and that aspect of the plot.The ending, like the beginning, was strong. I appreciated that their relationship, when not on tour, slowed down to a reasonable pace given their lives and situations. I finished the book with a smile, the overall feel-good ending overshadowing the earlier elements that had given me pause. I'll definitely be interested to see what Ms. Taylor has for us in the future.B+ rating.I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.