Review: Truly a wonderful read that makes you think about Perceptions and how they effect us
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 27, 2014
Collaboration is the story of two superstar musicians, Country Music Star, Taryn Starr and Rapper Trace.. yes Trace has a longer name but I am not telling you as the telling of his full name within the book is part of a slowly unraveling backstory that I thought was so well done!So Collaboration which released on Grammy night, opens on Grammy night! With scenes that really had me loving these characters and wanting more. It pulled me right in and has me wanting to know Taryn and Trace.Taryn and Trace are thrown together by their record label and it becomes clear to the reader early on that there is an attraction, as the authors did a wonderful job using alternating POV's to express the attraction and connection they feel to each other.Taryn and Trace are both in demand artist, both on tour, so their connection is build on the phone, via text messages truly allowing them to become friends, getting to know each other and allowing the reader to get to know them.I loved the moment they first connect, it was hot and engaging and has the reader believing that these two truly felt like the only two in the room.Ok so for the elephant in the room and the thing I have not mentioned yet, this book is an interracial romance, because yes Trace is an African American rapper and Taryn is a white girl from down South.Now I want to say that as it applied to the romance and the connection in this story race was not an issue and I love that!  It did feel so real to me that for some around these two and sadly for some in American it was an issue. It is something that felt true to the story and I thought it was handled in a classy fashion with the focus on the artists safety and not the speeches or context of the hate that finds them.The book also makes the reader think about perception and stereotypes both Taryn and Trace are in the eye of the media, painted and almost focused by their record label to be what the consumer expects.  What these authors did an amazing job with was peeling back the layers and showing the reader what lies underneath, the truth about these two is not what the media sees or what those who listen to their music would have expected.But in the end the truth always comes out; will they be embraced when secrets are revealed or rejected… well I won't tell you that nor will I tell you the secrets but I will say I loved loved the backstory assigned to each!The end of this book was powerful and had me white knocking my Kindle, as those truths are revealed and the life of a celebrity comes screeching at these two, events transpire that will forever change them.The Epilogue was amazing and it truly reflected both of these characters and how far they had some.I also wanted to add that the events that brought them to this place really spoke to what it often takes to force someone to take stock of their live and focus on what is truly important!Thank you to the authors for a very enjoyable read.I am very much looking forward to book 2 in this series one that I hope will tell the story of Gina, Taryn and Trace's mutual friend and one that will allow me to see these two happy in the background!!Oh and ps book 3 for Ryder, Taryn's guitarist!Bonus scene coming to Shh Mom's Reading April 2nd