Broken Records Review
I was so excited to get the opportunity to be an advance
reader for Broken Records, the first
book in the new Spotlight series by Lilah
Suzanne. Having read her two previous
novels Pivot and Slip and Spice, I was definitely looking forward
to diving into another romance. From the title I expected a story along the line of your standard country song, filled with romance and
heartbreak that captures the emotion of the reader. However this novel
went deeper into the true heart and soul of country, and I found myself
becoming more invested in her characters than I ever expected.
“What is it like, Nico
wonders, to be loved by millions of people and still be lonely?”
The novel is told from the point of view of Nico Takahashi,
a celebrity stylist who is accustomed to the grit behind the glamor of the LA
celebrity scene. As talented as he is, Nico finds himself less and less
inspired by his life and career. I found myself as cautious as Nico when Gwen,
his partner in fashion, tells him that country star Grady Dawson is a potential
client. Playboy and country music may not seem like a typical combination, but
we soon learn that Grady is known for his rumored romantic connections just as
much as (if not more than) his unique and original sound. Nevertheless, Nico takes
on the job and an eventful trip to Nashville leaves him with artistic
inspiration and the pride of a styling job well done. There’s just one problem…Nico
can’t get Grady out of his mind. Discovering the man behind the famous musician
in the magazines alongside Nico was a wonderful experience, despite the looming
worry that something will bring their too-good-to-be-true connection tumbling
down. After all it’s one thing to provide the fashion for stars that have fans
and gossip sites buzzing, it’s another to be a cause of a story yourself…
Lilah writes all of her characters very well, a prime
example being that I became invested in everyone’s story, from the troubled
teen that is the first of Nico’s clients to be introduced to Gwen’s frustrated
wife. My only regret in this respect was that the novel length didn’t allow for
even more development. Here’s hoping we see more of them in the next book in
the series! Grady is so swoon-worthy that I found myself falling for him just
as fast as any of his fanbase. “It’s no wonder that half the damn world wants a
piece of Grady Dawson,” Nico observes, and any reader of this novel will be
inclined to agree. As sweet and romantic as Nico and Grady’s story is, these
elements are well balanced with erotica as hot as Nashville’s music scene.
Nico knows more than anyone else that those in the public
eye wear a mask, a persona they sell to fans and cameras every day. He makes
his living perfecting that persona. So can he truly trust Grady and separate
the truth from the lies? Can Grady overcome Nico’s cynicism about the business
that is so central to both of their lives? Or will their time together be
reduced to “a night he will not forget for a very long time. But it’s over. And
that’s that.”
Whether country music is your go-to station or not, this
sweet and sensual romance is a must read. Find out for yourself what happens
when you blur the line between professional and personal by getting Broken Records on December 17th!
