David Bowie, Robert Dimery

David Bowie, Robert Dimery

Genre: Biography & memoirs. Non-fiction

I’m a child of the seventies, had the Bowie posters on my wall back in 72, much to dad’s horror. He never did approve of my musical tastes, Bowie, Queen, Slade ( mum gave them a pass as she liked Noddy, til she read about him bragging how many women he’d had sex with!)Alice cooper, T Rex, Mott the Hoople….many of them get mentions here and I enjoyed that.

I’m the typical average Bowie fan of the seventies, bought the records, followed the career, copied the man. I wanted to learn more about Bowie the person, how he began, how the music started, what inspired certain songs, his musical influences and connections, and the beginning felt like that.
Then it moved into areas that seemed to leave much of Bowie behind in favour of mentions of others and analysis of his music. His son barely gets a passing mention it felt, and yet he must have had a huge impact in his life. Looking after a child is huge, you can’t just flit off and leave them home alone for a coupe of weeks….How did he manage, was his son brought with him, left with others, did Angie look after him? Though given her issues that’s unlikely, but that’s the kind of thing I was curious about. The practicalities. How did he afford to continue, where did the money come from? Record companies I assume, but what were the strings?
I loved little snippets like him giving Mott the Hoople All The Young Dudes, and the interactions with Marc Bolan that the first part held and was sure this was going to be a book I’d love. If that kind of detail had continued, I would have loved it.
Later though I felt it became very in depth, too in depth on the wrong ( for me ) focus, citing people, people and yet more people, giving far more opinions about the music than the facts and snippets around its inception I would have loved, and I was lost. I didn’t know these specific people from the music world. I know nothing of labels, producers, directors, stylists, and all the back staff, I barely know what they do, have no idea who they are. They meant nothing to me other than how they affect Bowie. I had to keep tracking back working out where and why and how and I didn’t enjoy that.

I didn’t feel the book focused enough on Bowie himself and the reasons for the music, but more on how his rise grew through others, bringing those others into the book more than I wanted. I didn’t know them, wasn’t invested in their stories. That’s me though, and others will find just what they want from this.

Stars: Three. Bowie was a musical genius, and I don’t feel this book does him justice. Its got some interest to it, but overall he didn’t feel the focus to me, his life and influences was what I wanted, not the myriad of ancillary label people.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Keyed Up, Laura M. Baird

Keyed Up, Laura M. Baird

Genre: women’s fiction, Romance

I was looking forward to this, I’m a sucker for a second chance romance, but though it was a really well written book the story itself just wasn’t great for me. a decent read, but not one that I’d want to reread.

I felt as though I was reading part two of a duo, where book one would have covered Penelope and Sebastian’s earlier romance, it just felt like I had missing gaps in the story. That was all covered eventually, but at first it felt somewhat odd to me.

Penelope is a very confident lady, the way she takes charge of the others, although they’ve been there years, is something only someone very self assured could do, and yet at other times she feels very shy and lacking in self esteem…
Sebastian, I really didn’t ever get to grips with why he stopped their romance on the first place. There are reasons given later but for me they weren’t strong enough to give up on a love if its serious.
That’s part of the issue for me though, I didn’t really feel the *love* between them, didn’t see that magic connection I needed. There are moments when they get very hot and heavy but TBH that just feels like classic lust, not because there’s anything more serious between them. That ten year gap – if they really felt that strongly why did they let it go so long, why leave it to chance before they come into contact together?

Still, as ever that’s just me, just my thoughts and you may feel very differently.
It is a very well written story, great characters, no missing parts, or plots left in mid air but it was just the story itself that wasn’t quite right for me. I enjoyed it, but wouldn’t reread.

Stars: Three, well written but lacking in emotion and drama for me.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

The Prince’s Plan, E. M. Youman

The Prince’s Plan,  E. M. Youman

Genre:  New Adult, Romance

I really didn’t know what to expect with this, loved the description but the author only has a 14 page short, and a quick non fic read out, so they weren’t any help for me to try to see if her writing style and I gel.
I hummed and hawed for a bit and finally took the plunge.

And I’m so glad I did. Don’t be fooled by the title, this is no fluffy romance, no fifty times removed royalty tale, but a very realistic and at times gritty romance. I really enjoyed it even though it was very slow to get started.

That start was just so, so slow though, and TBH I didn’t like what we saw of either Danny or Marnie to begin. He comes over as a typical selfish, arrogant star, only wanting to help Marnie to appease guilt he feels over his past. Marnie is just an enigma, we don’t know why or how but she’s prostituting herself for drugs, and doesn’t want to get clean.
I really couldn’t take to them, and maybe if this hadn’t been a review I’d have given up, but that would be a shame and I’d have missed out on what’s been a great read, with characters that are flawed, do things wrong, aren’t always grateful for help – real people actually just like most of us.

Addicts have their own code of morality – basically everything is someone else’s fault. They steal, its your fault for putting temptation in front of them, take drugs when they’ve promised to give up – your fault again for believing them…and that’s how it goes. they’ll lie, cheat, steal from closest family, nothing matters when they need the next hit.
So after a real tragedy Danny is currently clean, and when he sees Marnie he sees a chance to help someone. Its not all goodness of the heart stuff though, his main reasons are his conscience and hoping to pay for some past issues that way. You can’t change the past though, whatever good deeds you do in the present.
Marnie comes to stay, but is sullen, unhappy, argues with him….and you’d think being an addict himself he’d know all that is par for the course, but he’s kind of shocked, he expected her to be grateful.
He’s tough with her though, insists she works hard, sticks to a routine and slowly things start to work out.
Right from the start there’s a sizzle between them but he’s determined not to go there and makes that plain to Marnie from day one.

Working so closely they get to understand each other better, and of course want to help each other. That doesn’t always go well, especially as like us they only know parts of the past.
Marnie’s clearly holding a huge secret, and its not until quite well in the book we begin to get hints of what it is and why she fell into drugs. When it does come out its heart-breaking, and by then I’d come to like her and admire what she was trying to do, even though when she lapsed I was wanting to shout at her “no…Marnie, no!”
There’s so much going on here as well as the fame and drugs story, and its so real, so true and sad, when often books tend to romanticise drugs and addiction. You know the sort, 30 days in rehab and they come out clean and perfect, when most times its a hard slog with lots of setbacks.

There’s an incident towards the end that shocked me, came out of the blue and led to some huge changes. One part of me was saying “what the heck is going on? where did that come from? and why?” Yet odd things like that really do happen, and they have a huge impact on so many lives. It seemed to bring Danny and Marnie much closer, made them look at each other and how they feel.

Its a not a sex fest romance, Danny does have *interludes* with other ladies, but between him and Marnie very little happens until the end. That works, fits the story, and the reasoning and incidences that led to that felt very genuine.
I really enjoyed this book, far more than I thought I would. Its very character based, really gets into the minds of both of them, and how addiction changes people, how easy it is to get started and how hard to stop.
It shows well too how family and friends get hurt by addicts, how they lose trust, faith, can’t ever really believe they are clean until a proven time has passed. Even then addicts are always addicts, it only takes one time to spiral them back.

If you want light and fluffy romance, a spicy, sensual easy read this isn’t the book for you.
If you want some tough and gritty drama, real characters and situations with a romance that finally ends in a HEA then try this. Its got all that and more!!

Stars: Four and a half, a great read, but I wish it hard been a little quicker to start, and that I’d have liked Marnie and Danny earlier. That would have made it a five for me.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher

Inspired!, True Stories Behind Famous Art, Literature, Music, and Film, Maria Bukhonina

Inspired!, True Stories Behind Famous Art, Literature, Music, and Film,  Maria Bukhonina

Genre:   Biographies and memoirs

I love the stories about who, why and how inspiration brought about paintings, stories and relationships so this was a fun read.

I’m a bit of a wiki addict and this was very much like reading that, but in a bit more depth.
There’s some fascinating stories here, and I was absorbed reading about them. I didn’t read right through, but picked up and put down absorbing individual stories, rather than info-dumping with too much.
My husband brought me some paperback about individual artists a few years back and some of this overlapped but there was also much more that I didn’t know, which let me onto a fact finding mission via the internet for more details.

I’m always pondering how and what inspired works, and thinking if things were different, if people hadn’t met in that way, or perhaps not at all, if their families had been more or less supportive, it makes me wonder just how things evolve.
In my own case it was being suddenly disabled and retired from work that led me down the art path – if things had been different would I have taken that journey or gone a different way. so much of our lives interacts with what we do that there are many possible different ways unfolding over the years.

If you like not only looking at paintings, reading books, watching films and going to theatre but researching how these things came about you’ll find this a fascinating read.
I have it as a kindle file and its ok like that but its one of the few books that I feel are best appreciated in traditional prints format.

Stars: Four, an interesting and absorbing read.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Deep, Kylie Scott

Deep, Kylie Scott
Genre:  Contemporary romance, New Adult.
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I bought and loved the first two books, somehow missed book three ( one to catch up on) so when I saw this I really wanted to review it!
Once again Kylie has brought in the magic of the music scene, and tied it to a gripping story full of emotion and drama and with some scorching sensual moments. I loved Liz, sister to Anna, Mal’s wife, who when she sees Ben is just smitten. She can’t get him out of her mind and pursues him putting herself where he’ll see her,and texting him constantly once she’s deviously got his number. Now Ben’s already been warned off by Mal, he doesn’t do relationships, simply one nighters, and that’s not what Anna and Mal want for little sister Liz. So he could have just avoided her, didn’t have to respond to the texts, and keep up the flirty messages….but he didn’t, so I feel when Liz says she’s to blame for everything I think she’s being harsh on herself. She’s 21, he’s 29 and should have had more control – if he wanted it – or admit to his part, instead of letting everything fall on her. When he first finds out she’s pregnant he’s a real ar se, talks about lawyers etc and poor Liz, though she says she didn’t want the fairy-tale, didn’t expect more, I feel that inside herself she was hoping anyway, so his talk of contracts and lawyers comes as a real shock of cold water to her. She’s gutted, and tells him to get lost. Good for her! At this point I thought he was a real jerk, a hot one, but an ar sehole jerk none the less….
Then time moves on and we see more of him, and I understand a bit more why he’s this way. Liz is incredibly understanding, she gives him so many chances, and he just tramples her when he says it’ll be different and then it isn’t. How many times can she give him another chance? At some point she has to look for herself and what its doing to her, and when something Huge gets out – breaking all hope she had she finally gets tough. That was a real low ( high for me of course) point – she was devastated, absolutely torn up, and it showed. Is there anyway on from that or is it the end for them? It really feels this time its the point of no return but maybe, just maybe, Ben will finally realise what’s in front of him, and what he’s risking by his failure to commit, and perhaps he needs to face his fears and man up.
A great read, full of drama, and lots of emotion. I enjoyed meeting the other band members and their ladies, and getting an update on them. Vaughan from the supporting band was a great character. I’m hoping there’s a book in store for him as he deserves one.

Stars: five, a great story full of love and drama.
ARC provided by Netgalley and publishers.

Untwisted (book 2.5 in the Lost in Oblivion rock-star series)Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott

Untwisted (book 2.5 in the Lost in Oblivion rock-star series)Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott
Genre: N/A, Romance
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I love this series, great mix of heat and sensuality, sex and story and fun, friendly characters. I love Gray and Jazz, right from book one I was rooting for them but its taken time for them to get past all the barriers of their pasts. Now they’re starting their own family and Gray wants to marry Jazz. Of course its not so simple as just asking and arranging a date, he wants to keep it low key, no media – just he and Jazz and their friends. Oh and Jazz doesn’t know he’s planning it either! Of course there’s the problems of his parents…and Jazz family also…what to do?
Its a short and sweet read. As always some scorching sex, some funny moments and some very emotional ones too. Its a good addition to the series, adding a snippet of Gray and Jazz’ life that’s not enough to fill a full book. There are appearances from other band members, but mostly its just Jazz and Gray getting their fairy-tale ending, though not without plenty of dramatics along the way!
Stars: Stars: Five, a fun read and good addition to the series

ARC provided by Netgalley and publishers

Bulletproof Weeks, When You’re Gone Book 2, Taryn Elliot

 

Bulletproof Weeks, When You’re Gone Book 2, Taryn Elliot
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Contemporary Romance,

I loved part one and have been waiting for this book. I got the idea somehow though that this was a two part novel, and its not…when I got to around 80% and there was still lots to happen it dawned on me there’s more to come…and when we get to the end there’s one of my big hates – a damn cliff-hanger..grrr! Still, thankfully Taryn isn’t one of those authors that makes us wait months, years even, before we get more and part three – the final part – is out March 24th, so not too long. I love to read books like this back to back once all parts are out, and that way I really get to enjoy the story best. When I started this one I had to look up what happened at the end of the last book, as though it wasn’t long ago I’ve read a couple of hundred books since then…
Anyway, we’re back with Bella, she’s still heartbroken and working furiously. Working herself so hard that her bank balance is growing but she’s at breaking point. Her friend and business partner Nic is worried about her. Bella doesn’t know why Logan dropped her, just that he did and she feels shattered by it, and embarrassed that her heartbreak was made so public. Logan had his reasons though, he loves her but can’t let her be put in danger by his unstable and unpredictable stalker. He made a huge mistake being with the woman, it was supposed to be a bit of fun, and now he’s paying for it by losing the woman he loves. He’s arranged security for Bella unknown to her, and then she spots her guard, after six months they’ve done well to stay hidden with all the travelling she’s been doing, but now the game changes. Bella wants answers and that brings her back to Logan and his reasons for putting a guard on her. She needs to choose, can she accept all that comes with being with him? They compromise where they can, and she tries to stay out of the limelight. Then things heat up – and that brings us to that crashing, climatic cliff hanger – arghh! that was a real doozie…and I hate waiting.
Its another fabulous read, people with real characters, ones I could identify with, with plots that feel genuine and realistic storylines. The price of fame is tough, the media do misrepresent people, only wanting to sell stories not the truth, and of course those with deep pockets like his jealous stalker are to be feared. She holds all the aces, and with her families billions behind her its already clear that she’s escaped justice in the past, and legal measures will do nothing this time either. How on earth can they be together, but they can’t stay apart.I’m keen for part three now to see how it all works out.

Stars: Five again – and I loved too the cameos from some of the characters from Oblivion ( another great series) which add to the fun.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers.

More Than Music, Elizabeth Briggs

More Than Music, Elizabeth Briggs
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, New Adult

This book is a perfect example of what I love about the New Adult Genre, a fun, easy to read story, characters the reader can love ( and hate) and some solid drama.
Maddie, oh Maddie, has has the hots for her good friend Kyle’s big brother Jared for ages. Maddie’s the good girl, works hard, and has a steady music career lined up. Secretly though she loves her guitar, and has dreams of a rock star life. That’s all fine until Jared’s band is in need of a new member very quickly, as their Bassist has left after Jared did his usual thing, had a one night stand and she wanted more. Hector and Kyle are furious with him, he’s hit too close to home this time and they’re in danger of being unable to audition for the reality show The Sound. Maddie is looking round the new studio at Kyle’s invite, and can’t resist picking up Jared’s guitar and playing. No-one is around to hear her so she lets rips, gives it everything and then is shocked to find Jared is there. Of course next day the problem with the bassist crops up and Jared suggests Maddie. Kyle isn’t happy – there’s a reason he’s kept Maddie away from Jared for the past three years, and now they will be very close, but they’ve no time to find someone else with the audition being so close. It’s persuade Maddie or drop out and try next year.
Anyway – that’s the start and of course despite assuring the others they’ll stay away from each other it proves harder to do…

Well, its a great fun read, with a great description of their TV experiences and the competition. Its not all smooth sailing, more a rough, stormy ride and I loved the way their first experiences were so tough, with the promised help not happening. Then there’s Lacey, one of the other contestants who’s clearly out for revenge after Jared turned her down and she blames Maddie…I love that b itchy stuff, and lots of jealousy. Maddie and Jared find each other too attractive to live up to their promises, but for the band and for the show they have to hide their feelings….Secrets – we know what happens with them though don’t we, they always sneak out at just the wrong moment. There’s also a tie in to Maddie’s background that makes this part interesting, and adds to the feeling of reality about what eventually happened.

I really enjoyed the story, I felt as if I was there with the band, and they were such a good bunch I wanted things to go well for them. I liked knowing more about the other bands too, and seeing how motivation can make people do things they wouldn’t usually do. Its not just a bland romance but one full of problems and pitfalls, happiness and heartbreak, drama and despair. As well as rooting for Maddie and Jared I was rooting for the band’s success on the show too.
Its a decent length at just over 300 pages and that lets the plots and characters be fully expanded, and gives me the feeling I understand them and what’s happening. Its a read I really enjoyed and I’m looking forward to more from the series.

Stars: Five, its a great solid read, good fun, though one I’m unlikely to re read.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher.

Rock, Rattle and Roll, Rock Star Romance, Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott.

 

Rock, Rattle and Roll, Rock Star Romance, Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott.
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
Third book in series, ( though it’s 1.5 – a novella) and it focusses on the fast moving romance between band member Deacon and chef Harper. We met them in the last book, and I loved that. Their romance hasn’t been without it’s hurdles though, and poor Harper has barely paused for breath with Deacon determined to get her tied to him before she changes her mind 🙂 Now the band are signed up with new label, an album to come up with, another tour coming up and Harper is having great success with her new business too. It means the newlyweds are barely seeing each other, just passing like ships in the night.
So, Deacon arranges a week alone at one of their favourite spots. What a guy he is, he’s so thoughtful, so loving especially when we know he’s not had that in his own background. Harper adores him, but isn’t afraid to argue when she disagrees but how can anyone disagree with this? She’s a terrific person too – really sees and understands Deacon. He’s not just the tatted, hunky, band member but a man first, band member second to her. So, there they are having fun, enjoying the setting, and can’t keep their hands off each other when – bam- something comes up to throw yet another hurdle in front of them. And this one is massive, one there’s no way around but which they need to make some fierce decisions…quickly.
It’s a read so full of emotion, and I understood both of them and their reactions. From that point and as a novella it works but…for me it’s a sexy, erotic read but somehow it didn’t have that magic spark. I think maybe its that I love so much the first flutterings of a romance, that will he/she or won’t he/she feeling…is there attraction, is either of them going to make a move – all that stuff, and here we’ve Deacon and Harper already in a relationship, passed that bit. I’d have loved this novella as part of a larger book but on its own it just beomces an OK read for me. I’m sure others will 5* it, but we’re all different and though as always its well written and plotted it just didn’t do a lot for me.
Stars: Three
ARC provided by Netgalley and publishers.

The Crescendo ,(A Musical Interlude 2) , KaSonndra Leigh

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The Crescendo ,(A Musical Interlude 2) , KaSonndra Leigh
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews

An Aria in Venice (A Standalone Companion to the Prelude) Now Available!
The Prelude An International Bestseller!
The Crescendo (Book #2) Coming May 27, 2014
The Dark Duet (Book #3) Coming June 24, 2014
The Overture (Book #4) Coming August, 2014
The Finale (Release date, TBA)

I’m onto this one having read Aria and Prelude so I’m beginning to get a feel for the nature of the people involved. It’s a beautiful setting, Italy, music and dance, and of course the Black Butterfly design studio…
I loved Alek and Erin in Prelude, then saw a little of them in Aria, and now we’re back with them. Alek’s mother is still a controlling Alpha bi tch and doesn’t accept that he wants Erin, she’s not the type of person she has in mind for her beloved son! She’ll do whatever she can to separate them…add in problems from Alek’s past that are coming forward and taking up his time, and the person from Erin’s past who – courtesy of Katerina – has become a large part of her new life, and there’s fireworks. Lots of misunderstood communications, feelings of being kept out, drama and emotion and of course as always some scorching, sizzling and sensual love scenes. It’s clear to everyone that Alek and Erin are very deeply in love – but is that enough to overcome all the drama surrounding them. They really are tested in this book, both emotionally, and physically with life threatening events happening once again.
It’s a story full of passion, drama, emotion. The Russian Mob connections are becoming more prevalent, with danger from two separate angles there. And of course Erin is never going to be good enough for Alek in Katerina’s eyes so she’ll stop at little to separate them, regardless of how Alek feels about it. He needs to be strong, and I think he is, but he also doesn’t want to alienate Katerina if it can be avoided. So its a tangled and passionate romance, tied up with problems from the pasts of both of them, and the present which seems to be catching up with them….A great love story, and heart stopping monments of danger. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger as regards Erin and Alek, but there’s a definate drama at the end signalling an emotional and dangerous time to come.
I found the start a bit slow, I’ve a love really for dialogue based novels, and the beginning here seemed to me to be quite long inner monolugues and musings of whats happening, could happen, and what could be done. I guess I want more action less thinking! I wanted to say “get on with it!!” but that just me, and the action heated up pretty quickly once the pace picked up. After that there was much more dialogye to shape how the story was panning out. Then it’s a lurch from one crisis to another, from danger to heartbreak, and back to love – very fast paced, with scarcely a moment to breathe…I guess they needed that early gentle start to prepare! What I really love too, is that Kassondra has clearly worked out much of these books ahead of time, so the release dates are just months apart not years as too often happens, and so the series will remain fresh in my mind when the next part is out. Then once everything released it’ll be a great series to read back to back, my preferred way of reading, so I can get all the story without waiting for parts.
Stars: Four – a great read.
ARC supplied via Author.