This was a difficult book to get through. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with either character or their relationship. I found the dialogue inauthentic and the drama forced. This one was a miss for me.

I didnt finish this one because I didnt find myself caring if they got together in the end or not. Nothing about this one stood out for me. It felt forced and fake in terms of the relationship.

Very slow book, gave it my best go but just couldn't get into it. Both characters lacked any personality

It was an okay book or maybe just not for me. I coulldn't get into the story, didn't like the characters.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. Therein lay the potential for a strong story but for a variety of reasons, it struggled to deliver.

Ava is an amazing musician who is none too happy about collaborating on a biography with Bianca, but she's more than happy to work with Bianca on other things.

Bianca's character seems quite simple as the biographer and the lines quickly cross between her work and play.

The delivery is clunky, the dialogue doesn't flow or seem realistic and the story ultimately becomes superficial.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43628057-without-pretense" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Without Pretense" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1548018481m/43628057.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43628057-without-pretense">Without Pretense</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15049444.T_J_Thomas">T.J. Thomas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2746101639">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for review.<br />Ava (violinist) and Bianca (journalist) are the main characters in this romance with sex (lots of it). I couldn't really connect with the leads and storyline and plodded through to the end. Sadly, I can only give a rating of 2 stars.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Violinist Ava Wellington needs a boost to her career, so while she's on tour over the summer her manager has a journalist follow her around to write her biography. It just so happens she's already met said journalist, Bianca Vega, and shared a steamy kiss with her more than two years before. Lust and affection complicates an already tricky relationship. Ava's secret she's held for so long is threatened by Bianca's presence and her insistent quest to write a truthful and brilliant biography about Ava.

This was a little too insta-love and insta-lust for such a sensitive time when Bianca had just lost her wife. It was an interesting premise for a book but I think it was missing a little realism in some places and got a little weighed down by tension and drama that was a little repetitive. I found myself skimming a lot of the second half of the book due to lack of communication between the mains, the secrets that dragged on, and the repetitive, although well written, sex scenes.

I was really looking forward to the music aspect of this book, but it wasn't as big a part as I had expected. I feel like it would have added a little balance to the weighted tension in the later half of the book.

I really enjoyed the imagery and the descriptions in this author's writing style. This is my first book by this author, but I will definitely see what they have to offer next.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This starts in Tanglewood. Amazing. I mean, it’s the perfect way to start for the book, but, just, personally, I loved the descriptions of Tanglewood and that it started there in the first place. Nerdy fun!

The novel isn’t technically about Tanglewood though, but, Ava and Bianca. Ava is a world class violinist. Her manger has hired a writer to write Ava’s bio (but didn’t tell Ava). Bianca is that writer. Except, that’s not the first time that they meet in the book (which was awesome, loved that part/scene).

It’s bumpy at the beginning and then they seem to go all in with each other really fast, and then it’s even bumpier for the two of them near the end too.

It was definitely a ride of a story. I liked most of the characters (glad we didn’t have to see much of Hank and I wish there’d been more of Lara) I did also feel like at a couple of places in the book I missed some story connective tissue or something, and I had to go back and read a couple of passages again to make sure I hadn’t inadvertently skimmed paragraphs or something (I hadn’t).

It was a fun story though, and a fast read too. And I really really loved the violin parts (I remember playing a 1/16th, a 1/8th, and a quarter-sized violin in my youth. And then graduating to the full size and being so damn proud, so, that hit a chord).

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.

Eh. That was unfortunately my feelings right from the beginning of this book. To elaborate, I hate when characters do the whole "I've just met you but I already feel like I've known you forever" bit right off the bat. Like that's almost the exact dialogue. I'm much more intrigued with a book and it's characters when they have to get to know each other and THEN feel that strong of a connection.

I just need a much better lead in. My favorite part of a book is the push and pull between the two main characters getting together and you don't get to experience that at all with this book.

Eh.

Journalist Bianca Vega is greiving from the loss of her wife when renowned violinist Ava Wellington briefly touches her soul. Two years go by when they meet again, rediscovering their connection but this time with Bianca looking to write Ava's biography. Ava doesn't want her story written as she doesn't want the secrets of her past discovered and more importantly, is afraid of how Bianca will react if she finds out her secret.
I quite liked the storyline as Ava's secret developed and I was left guessing as to how the story would unfold although I would have liked the ending to be a little more drawn out. Overall a good read and I would definitely like to read more books from this author.

When taking a break from her practise, violinist Ava Wellington runs into a very attractive woman. The two form an instant connection and the woman – Bianca – talks about her wife who died in a plane crash. Ava then has to continue her concert tour and never hears from Bianca again, but she can never forget that meeting. Two years later her manager ambushes her with the announcement that he has hired someone to write Ava’s biography, even though she has repeatedly stated that she doesn’t want that to happen. When the writer turns out to be Bianca, Ava is torn between happiness about seeing her again and fear that she will uncover the secret that’s the reason Ava doesn’t want anybody to know.

The reader learns that secret (or part of it) quickly: Ava got pregnant at 15 because a condom failed and gave the baby up for adoption. Since she is a celebrity, she worries that the story getting out would also drag the child, the adoptive parents and the biological father in the spotlight, who, after all, did not sign up for that. Besides, Bianca lost not only her wife but also their unborn child in the crash and Ava worries that Bianca - who so wanted a child and then never got to meet it - would judge her for simply giving up hers.

That could have made for a cute story with low angst and mostly internal conflict: Ava dealing with her own wants and needs versus those of the people she cares about and Bianca overcoming her grief and dealing with the fact that she’s falling for the person she’s supposed to be writing about. Unfortunately, any promise the story has is overshadowed by the prose which is just plain bad. There’s no getting around it. There are no unique - or even distinguishable - voices. It doesn’t matter who is talking (or giving page-long internal monologues about their feelings). It doesn’t matter if they’re making light-hearted banter or discussing serious issues. Everything and everybody sounds the same. When Ava laments how much she worries that Bianca discovering her secret would ruin her relationship she sounds no different than when she tells Bianca that she just had a really mind-shattering orgasm. And that sounds no different than Bianca talking about her family or any side-character telling stories about Ava.

We also get gems like this, when Bianca asks one of Ava’s friends how he met her:

“It’s quite embarrassing really.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, it involves a reality television show called Salon Wars, a hair dryer, and a dumpster.”
“I’m all ears.”
By the time Steven had finished his story, Bianca was laughing so hard her sides hurt.

No. We never hear that story. But we’re told that it’s hilarious. Just like we’re told that Bianca feels extremely moved by Ava’s music. Or that Ava feels different about Bianca than she did about all her previous one-night-stands/short term relationships. They just have this special connection. At least that’s what we’re told. We’re never shown anything that would make me believe any of those things. When Bianca watches Ava perform we get an exact description of the clothes Ava wears on stage, followed by “The music she played was lovely. Tender and heart wrenching. Bianca felt like she was playing all the emotions she had shared that afternoon.” and another paragraph full of sentences starting with Bianca felt but not what any of those emotions are doing to her. And that’s the approach to everything in the book. (The sex scenes boil down to And then she did this and then she put her hand there and then she had a mind-blowing orgasm, which is not very erotic).

I really can't recommend this book. With all the telling instead of showing none of the characters felt real. They were cardboard-cutouts I didn't care about.

This was an enjoyable read with music, family, regret, loss, and romance as our guide. Ava Wellington, concert violinist with a player image when the need propels her. Bianca Vega, journalist with a broken heart and spirit. Ava is pushed by her manager to have her biography written and has hired the talented Bianca. They initially meet in a very interesting yet unusual way and the deepness of their initial meeting is a little unbelievable but hey, it is a story. There is instant attraction. They talk to each other and share stories but there is a secret that blocks the depth of getting to know each other. The secret will come out, as a reader you just wonder when.

After reading other books from Ms Thomas, that I enjoyed, I was very disappointed with this offering. I didn’t like either the world class violinist Ava Wellington or journalist Bianca Vega. After three chapters I didn’t really care what career ending secret Ava was worried about. The whole story was so lacking any depth I couldn’t go any farther. As I said I’ve read and enjoyed Ms Thomas’s other works so I fully expect her next offering will be more like the stories I’m used to reading from this author. I really hate giving a bad review so I try to always find something positive to say re a book but not this time. I couldn’t find any.
ARC via NetGalley

It took me a long time to get through this one. I didn't really like it, mostly because it felt like it was looking to hit its story beats and then move on. It didn't really earn its drama because of that.

Ava Wellington is a prodigal musician who is less than keen to have her life's story being told. Her manager goes and hires a biographer anyways. When the biographer turns out to be a woman she met two years ago, Ava decides to give it a shot, if only to get to know Bianca Vega better.

If anything, the beginning of the story felt a little to on point. Its really simple and easy to follow, with a lot of really great sex scenes thrown in there to help make things more fun. There was one encounter that I thought was really funny and awkward but it did it for the characters. Ava and Bianca are great together, and it shows. The problem is when the drama actually hits. I thought there were too many times it was just there as a plot point and not much else.

I'm not sure I understand the title? There was certainly a lot of pretense.
I had problems getting through this story. I felt it was very slow and repetitive. Especially the sex scenes...I actually started skimming those too...so many and very repetitive. It's a very small storyline with multiple excursions to tourist sites, benefit events and of course Eva's concert. And then frantic, backed against the wall, sex scenes. About 90% into the story, it got a bit exciting but again went on and on.

Just in time for the end of #Sapphicathon and right before publication, I finished this one up during a healing soak this evening. Perfect way to end a weekend and prepare for the upcoming week. Epsom Soak. Eucalyptus oil. Matcha latte. And a lesfic ARC.

World renowned musician Ava Wellington wants nothing to do with the biographer her agent has hired to profile her, but when Bianca Vega, the woman Ava felt a spark with two years ago turns out to be the journalist writing her biography, she tentatively agrees to at least an article on her. As the two grow closer, Ava's secret becomes harder to hide, and if Bianca discovers what she's hiding, it may spell disaster for their growing relationship.

This is a good romance for Valentine's day, and I'm a sucker for books about music and musicians, particularly those who play classical music beautifully. This book is sappy. It's dramatic, and Ava and Bianca are cute. I am always a bit wary when a couple gets together too early in a book. Sometimes it can ruin the romantic tension a bit. This one did pretty well with that, however. Even though they begin a relationship pretty soon, it makes sense, and they take things slow enough for tension to build. Also, the secret keeps popping up to add to the tension.

There is a tad bit of awkward dialogue here and there, but overall, it was an enjoyable romance. There are plenty of hot scenes if that's your bag, and the supporting characters are pretty amazing, too.

It's out sooner than you think. Tuesday, to be exact, so keep an eye out for it,

Very sweet romance. The instant attraction draws you in from the very beginning. The music and adventure of each town kept me wanting more no way could i stop reading until the end.

T J Thomas did such a thorough good job of character development throughout the book but especially at the beginning which gave me a deeper insight into what each character did or did not do. The story revolves around two women, one a famous world-class solo violinist and the other a woman who is a writer. One afternoon before a concert Ava was walking through the grounds and gardens where her symphonic concert was to take place comes across Bianca Who is sitting on the bench in one of the gardens crying. Ava stops and talks to Bianca in an effort to help her feel better, but how do you make someone feel better who recently lost her wife and unborn baby? The two women have a deep and unexplainable connection to each other but had no contact with one another after that day and night of the concert until without her knowledge Ava's manager hires Bianca to write a biography of Ava. While Ava is very excited to see Bianca again there is no way she wants her or anyone to write her life story because Ava is hiding a significant family secret, that if exposed, could hurt the people she loves the most. Both women want to continue to see each other and how they work through making that happen is the beginning of an incredible journey the two women embark on as they try to learn more about each other without Ava disclosing her significant family secret. While it's very clear these two women love one another they are on able to say the words about how they feel. Could their lack of communication and honesty be their downfall.?
This book is so well written and take the reader on quite a journey that for me deserves a second read. I highly recommend this book for so many reasons and once you read it you'll understand why.

Without Pretense by T.J. Thomas is a contemporary romance about two women, solo violinist Ava Wellington and journalist Bianca (BJ) Vega. They meet briefly not long after Bianca has lost her wife in a plane crash. Then a couple of years later they meet again when Bianca is given a contract to write Ava’s biography. There is instant attraction between the two but also a lot of misunderstandings that will follow them throughout the story.

I really liked this story at the beginning. It had a lot of promise. The premise of the story was appealing, the characters seem to be developing well for the tale, and the connection between the two was evident. Then, about a third of the way through the book I noticed that I was starting to skim. That’s not good. I did finish the book, and there are some good parts to the story, but I kind of felt cheated because it had the potential to be so much better.

For me, one of the biggest problems was that much of the story was told through dialogue. That is not always a bad thing, but here the dialogue went on and on with few visual clues, body language, or even thoughts mentioned to help the reader get a feel for how the words were being said and what emotions they were supposed to convey. Some of the dialogue felt fake because of this. The story is not all bad. As I said above, the premise of the story as well as the connection with the main characters are good. If you love a good steamy romance that is fairly easy to read, and you don’t mind a lot of dialogue, you might like this book.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

The book had such a promising start... Everything was there - the chemistry, the plot, good characters... The plot was even perfect. But - something just crumbled further on, in my opinion... The big issue Ava had was kind of dragged a bit too much, up to the point of getting everything unreal and overly dramatic.