I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Band Together by Piper Sheldon Series: Teachers' Lounge #2
Published by Smartypants Romance on May 2, 2024
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance, Adult Rock Star Romance
Pages: 272
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
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Blurb:
Leo Cooper is back in Green Valley to hide.
Not fall in love with the tenacious band director who’s determined to drag him into the light.
After being kicked out of his massively successful rock band, Leo is content to spend Bunco nights with his mom, lay low making snacks, and lick his wounds. He’d rather work in his garden than give any attention to his failed music career.
Cut to the gorgeous high school band director relentlessly popping up in his life, making demands, and talking about giving back to the community.
Mari Mitchell knows what it’s like to be overlooked. She’s determined to do whatever it takes to ensure her students get the best shot possible even if that means running herself ragged. And when a former rockstar returns to town, who could be better to help her favorite student make their dreams come true?
Does it matter that he’s a moody musician who reminds her of a handsome tragic hero of an old-timey movie?
NO!
She’s too busy for things like burning hot physical attraction and chemistry that won’t quit. She needs Leo for more than his irresistible drummer arms. No matter how amazing they feel wrapped around her…
But what nobody knows is that the hit to Leo’s pride was a big one, and Mari might be asking too much.
Can these two band together? Or will their painful pasts prevent them from having the future they deserve?
‘Band Together’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #2 in the Teachers’ Lounge series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Grab your copy TODAY!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3UBSpdR
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CVK9HRM2
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CVK9HRM2
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CVK9HRM2
My Review
The first thing I loved about this was how it overlapped time wise with the first book in the series, Passing Notes. While I had a little bit of a bumpy/slow start with this one, once I really got to see the characters and some of their real thoughts and feelings, I was hooked and wanted to see how these two could make the opposites attract trope work out for their HEA.
It started with me needing to know more about Leo. I mean why did he leave his band? Why did he come back to this town that he couldn’t wait to leave? Why was he so nervous or scared to pick up the drumsticks and play again? His reluctance to be around other people made sense and as the story went on it filled in a lot of the spaces for me in what had happened to him.
And then there was Mari. She was such a great person, with such a big heart for her students and her friends, but I totally got how she felt that everyone left her. While for the most part I don’t have those same family issues, I definitely get the feelings about friends who move on after a while. I have also felt the same way wondering why I was so easy to leave. There were sometimes in this story that I kind of felt like my life was being used for her story, lol.
I’m still angry every time they share about the jerk of a principal or the lousy librarian they have at the school. Ugh. I think I need to write a story for this series about a new librarian that is what these students deserve, and give her the HEA I’ll probably never get, but I deserve too!
In the end though, the third act break up was fitting for how these two characters felt about themselves, and the big drama that came between them also was exactly fitting for the whole story. While I didn’t see it coming, when it was there, I knew it was the perfect plot point and really I love how the author did that! Not to mention the final bit where the grand gesture happened, and yeah, just adored this one!
I can’t wait to hopefully read more in this series from these authors in future SmartyPants releases, and yay for this wonderful new world in my favorite fictional town of Green Valley!
About the Author
Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance. Her books are a little funny, a lotta romantic, and with just a little twist of something more. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two needy dogs at home in the desert Southwest. She finds writing bios in the third person an extreme sport of awkwardness.
Find Piper Sheldon online
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lAvr8A
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GR_pipes
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kx2RVn
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2lxxV7H
Website: http://bit.ly/2kitH3H
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This looks like a very good read. Thanks for sharing.
It’s nice when you can relate to a character’s feelings on life. Makes the story way more personal. Happy to hear you enjoyed the story.
It was fun and I look forward to more in this series!