Jaded producer Palmer Elliston finds herself working on a reality TV show with prickly singer Liberty Bell. Despite her attraction to the girl, Palmer knows she shouldn't act on that interest....

Not to be mean, but this is the third or fourth book I've read with the plot line of 'Romance at a American idol expy.'

Well written, but everyone constantly singing (heh!) Libby's praises got old after a bit. Mind you, I did like her and Elliston, but...

Overall, good story, the conflict is interesting (but weirdly unresolved) and the romance mostly worked for me.
It also felt like the wrap up didn't fully work for me either.

3 1/2 stars out of 5. Not bad, but not terrific.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was ok read.

Liberty has been on her own since her father and his new family reject her. She loves to sing and she gets her chance when she gets on the talent show and everyone is blow away by her singing. Palmer was on top until a scandal ruin her reputation even though she wasn’t even in the wrong you’ll see when you read it. She reluctant returns to be a coach to the singers and when she meets Liberty there is an attraction but because she afraid what would happen tries to keep Liberty at arm’s length. As they both grow closer Liberty has to deal with her family as she forms some great friendships. I like this read but I wish we got more drama with the other contestants but overall good.

I am such a sucker for queer books about TV shows, and this is right up my alley.

Palmer agrees to try to jumpstart her music producing career again by joining as a coach of a new music talent show called Limelight. Liberty Bell (yes, that's her real name) is one of the contestants who, from the start, is seen as the one to beat. As Palmer coaches Liberty, there appears to be an undeniable spark between them. But will they let their careers get in the way?

This book includes characters from a previous Gun Brooke novel - Fierce Overture, which I had not read before and it didn't seem to impact my enjoyment of this one. This is a slow-burn minor age-gap (9 years) novel that includes navigating harsh pasts and budding careers.

I was a big fan of what was going on up until the last three chapters. The ending felt super rushed compared to how well-paced the rest of the story was done. I loved the support from the side characters, This was a first for me by this author, but I would definitely read another.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: 𝚂𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲. 𝙼𝚄𝚂𝙸𝙲. 𝙰𝙶𝙴 𝙶𝙰𝙿. 𝙲𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙱𝚁𝙸𝚃𝚈. 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈. 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴.

📚 ᴀʀᴄ 🏳️‍🌈⁠

𝚂𝚄𝙼𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚈:
I enjoyed this one. The emotions were truly engaging. I mean... that slow-burrrrnnnnn was burning. The "I want you but I can't have you" yet was definitely something to behold. The friends around the main characters were also really endearing. The heart wants what it wants and my heart wanted a more civilised but also heavy clap back towards Bell's parents. I wanted more, but what I got was also good, esp Palmer's aftercare... sweet.


𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧:
I don't usually enjoy competition or music books.. I prefer celebrities in acting or fashion or some other stuff. The author wrote the music scenes really well, mainly the emotional part of them and how they audience felt, which was only mainly Palmer.

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦:
Liberty Bell: There was depth to her character and her emotions and reactions were mature because I imagine myself in her shoes, I wouldn't have been so mature. The way she loved Palmer, now that was something beautiful. That mentioned moment when Bell met her half-sisters and they didn't recognise her, damn.

Palmer Elliston: Now, that was sad what Palmer went through. But love found her, and it was beautiful and the rest was confetti.

Team Palmer: My boy Carl was adorable as always. Mona was unexpectedly such a sweetheart. Helene and Noelle, I wonder if there is a book about those two, It would probably align with the time when Palmer was going thru stuff... I need to investigate. Bell's parents can just sod off.


𝐏𝐒: In most books, authors build angst, like the one between Bell and her parents, I was rooting for a heavy clap back, Like real heavy confrontation. Oh the drama.


𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

I liked this story, but it didn't seem up to par for what I'm used to with Ms. Brooke. Characters Libby and Palmer have a great chemistry, were very believable, and there were definitely parts that continued to draw you in to read more. My issue is that the conflict that came from outside of the main storyline, seemed to almost be perfunctory and there just as a way to continue to draw conflict. It just didn't fit in the way that I'm used to reading from the author., there just wasn't the development to make it flow together. The story arc was one that has been done before, but the unique spin did make it an enjoyable read. Overall its going to be a definite read again, but not a full on go to like many of her other stories.

This story takes place over a period of a month or so, during the duration of a musical talent show on television.

The protagonists are Liberty, an aspiring singer chosen for the contest, and Palmer, a very successful music producer who is ostracized due to an event in her past.

For fans of this author, you will like to know that the two promoters of the talent show are Halena Forsyte and Noelle Laurent, the protagonists of Fierce Overture, another excellent story of the musical environment.

Liberty is no longer a child, she is in her late twenties, older than most of the other contestants. And Palmer is in her late thirties, so the age difference between them isn't much.

As is obvious, Liberty and Palmer are going to interact with each other differently than they will with the rest of the characters, their attraction and the effect they have on each other is undeniable. Liberty will improve under Palmer's advice and Palmer will feel useful and capable again after her personal tragedy.

The story has typical things in contests and competitions in general, cliché characters. Also in relation to Liberty's relatives there is some tabloid press and topical sensationalism. But it is to be expected, as happens in reality.