Monday, April 8, 2013

Giving Up The Ghost by S. A. Price ~ Review

Source: GCR tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

Rhys Bellamy is the front man for the wildly successful 13 Shades of Red, a band hailing from New Orleans that is just a bit more then they appear. He’s sexy, caustic and on a path of self destruction that has everything to do with the fact that he can speak to the dead. A man hounded by the death of his fiancĂ©e, Rhys is a lothario of the highest caliber. His life, his band, and his agony celebrates his lost love, Phaedra, and it has made him a very popular man with the ladies, even if they will never mean anything to him. Too bad Phaedra has never and will never contact him.

When the band’s first US tour meets with some unforeseen management issues, Saffron Richards is brought in to take care of it. A veteran of the business, Saffron knows all about Rhys and his reputation and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. Too bad fate has it in for the both of them, and gives them an attraction neither can deny.

But life on the road with an up and coming band has its problems, from bosses to groupies to just plain old flat tires. And Phaedra, who has been watching from the mists and reveling in the misery of her lost lover doesn’t want to see him happy. Being together is harder than it sounds, especially when Phaedra crosses the veils on All Hallows Eve to reignite the love that Saffron has set to ash in Rhys. And Phaedra is not giving him up without a fight. Not because she loves him, but because she doesn’t ever want him to forget.

Warning: this is considered a New Adult genre release. Reader discretion is advised.


My Thoughts:

 

3 stars - A fabulous premise that mixes rock bands and ghosts!

When I was asked to read/review this book, I jumped at the chance.  I've been reading a lot of rock band books with hot rockers trying to figure out their heart and the thought of adding a ghost issue to that was exciting.  I wish I'd like it more.

The story breaks into the tale of two worlds for me.  One world is the rocker band scene with a young unknown tour manager trying to prove herself.  Though she feels the attraction to the lead singer, she can't act on it.  She needs this job to make her big break in the industry she loves.  Yeah, she has some experience but not A Thirteen Shades of Red experience.  This could make it for her.  So not ruining that.  But her indifference to the lead singer, Rhys, is so not what he expects from a hot chick.  He is in hot pursuit and fast.  That sounds like the making of an interesting rocker book, right?  Then add the other world.  Lead singer, Ryhs Bellamy, is also a medium.  He talks to ghosts.  He has a mentor, his grandfather, who guides him.  Trouble is the only ghost he's ever wanted to talk to is his dead fiancee but she's a no show.  That sounds like an interesting paranormal read, right?  I expected putting the two together would be awesome.  The crafting of them together just didn't work for me, though.  I think my expectations were too high.

The two world were kept apart too much for my taste.  I'm a HUGE urban fantasy fan and I love it when an author can weave a story between two world that doesn't have me forgetting I'm in one while I'm in the other.  This story lacked that for me.

The rocker story was hot and fun.

The paranormal story was interesting.

They just didn't weave together the way I wanted them to.

I liked the characters okay.  Saffron is a tough one, have to be to work in the rocker field.  She stands up to Ryhs and others with some surprising balls.  I enjoyed the relationship she had with Ryhs.  I loved that she really did mend his broken heart.  And I did like Ryhs.  His reaction to having his charms ignored was typical for a rock star.  None-the-less it was cute.  I enjoyed that part.

It's a fast read.  Read it in a day.

If you haven't read a lot of rocker stories lately and you do like the paranormal scene, then this one may be a good pick for you.  I may have read too many rocker stories lately and/or a lot of perfect urban fantasy world for this one to work for me. 


 

5 comments:

  1. This sounds interesting, but it's too bad the worlds didn't seem to mesh well. At least you liked the characters for the most part. I don't think this is one I would pick up. Great review as always Val.

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  2. I liked this, but agree about the meshing of the two worlds. I was actually curious if this was going to be steamier than you typically read! ;-)

    Great review, Pal!

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    1. It was steamier than I normally read and I'm not sure I liked that part.

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  3. This one sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I've been curious about this one, as I've been reading a lot of rock-star books lately. The paranormal aspect is what had me apprehensive...guess maybe I can hold off on this one for awhile without any guilt.

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