Wednesday, February 4, 2015

[Kame's Review]: "Hearts on Fire"

Hearts on Fire by Alison Packard
Publisher: Alison Packard (February 3, 2015)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Country music star Jessie Grant has it all. An amazing voice, a string of multi-platinum albums, and a sold-out concert tour. But just before her Hearts on Fire tour rolls into Las Vegas, her lead guitarist is badly injured and is unable to play. Desperate to find a replacement before the night of a televised live show, Jessie is forced to accept help from the last person on earth she wants to see again.

Drew Carmichael has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best up-and-coming musicians in Nashville, without cashing in on his renowned father’s name. When Jessie’s manager calls and asks him to fill in for her band’s injured guitar player, he agrees to help Jessie out even though she cut him out of her life four months ago.

In Sin City, sparks fly between Jessie and Drew, and it isn’t long before they give in to their mutual attraction. But when the dark past Jessie has successfully hidden for ten years explodes in the media, their tenuous bond is put to the test, and both Jessie and Drew must learn to trust each other if they don’t want their newfound romantic relationship to go up in flames.



Where to Buy*:
Kindle | NOOK
More Info:

Reviews of Packard's Previous Novels:

The Winning Season (#2) -- Kame
Catching Heat (#3) -- Kame
Breaking His Rules (#4) -- Kame

A Christmas for Carrie -- Kame


Kame's Review:

Jessie’s life is what country music songs are all about. She was discovered while singing for her survival. Since then her life has changed more than anyone can imagine. If people would believe all they read in the tabloids they would think that she has had a lot of love in her life too; however that is not the case.  There is only one person she ever came close to telling how she felt and when she knocked another woman opened his door.


I really liked how Alison Packard had little details to show how Jessie has not let her success overtake where she came from. There are times where you can just feel that Jessie has a true sense of loneliness even in a crowd. Sometimes I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and give her a hug. Jessie is days away from the biggest live performance in her country music career when her lead guitarist dives into the crowd at a concert and breaks his arm. Fortunately her manager knows of one fantastic guitarist who knows all her music and has played with the band before. Drew has agreed to fly to Vegas the next morning, Jessie should be calm but the idea of seeing Drew again is exciting and torture at the same time.



“Not bad for a first kiss,” he said. “But next time we’ll do it a lot slower, and a helluva lot longer.”



Drew has his own history he is keeping quiet from everyone, if he is going to make it in country music it will be on his own merit; not by riding coattails. I can not decide which artist he reminds me of so I am settling on a cross between Brad Paisley and Keith Urban – an out of this world guitar player who is easy on the eyes. As the story progressed it was easy to see that Drew was just a fantastic guy too, he cared about Jessie, not the artist who wowed thousands at each concert, but the woman who stole his heart.


The plot was short and concise as it happened just over the few days prior to Jessie’s first major live televised concert. The setting of Vegas made it easy to imagine the setting, which allowed the relationship between Jessie and Drew to shine. Through a few well place recollections we see that Drew and Jessie realized there was something special about their connection the first time they met, and it grew into a deep feeling for each other. Caring that did not stop when the door at Drew’s apartment opened that night. Their relationship was more than physical attraction, and it was evident in the first time they were together. I adored the respect Drew had for Jessie, his deep feelings for her and protective instincts towards her. When they finally acted on their feelings I could feel the unspoken love between the two of them during the sizzling steamy intimate scenes. The conflict that threatened their HEA was believable and helped tie up some lose ends. I enjoyed the short epilogue that gave a peak at their life together.


Anyone who follows my reviews should know that even though I live in the suburbs I am obsessed with cowboys, however what many may not know is I am equally obsessed with contemporary country music. This was the perfect novella for me as I could imagine many of my favorite artists as the inspiration for this couple. I was sucked into the story in the first paragraph and I really didn’t want to see this book end. I am hoping that by dipping her toe into the country music storyline Alison Packard is on her way of writing more about this interesting genre of music and the people who bring it to life. I myself would just put the series on autobuy!



I received this super-secret novella from the author before it ever was mentioned in her newsletter for my honest review. I will be purchasing my own copy on release day to add it to my collection! 



5 STARS! 


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Kame received an e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for her honest opinion.

*Note: The quote used belongs to Alison Packard; Kame and TBQ's Book Palace do not claim it.

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Thanks for the review, Kame! Wow, I'll definitely have to add this one to my list! 

Have you read Alison Packard? Do you have a favorite of hers?



Enjoy!


Until Next Time,


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  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

5 comments :

Alison Packard said...

Kame and Danielle: Thanks so much for the review and for featuring it on your TBQ. You guys are the best. (And I'm thrilled you loved Jessie and Drew's story). :-)

The_Book_Queen said...

;) You're very welcome, always happy to have you on the blog, Alison!

Sophia Rose said...

I love the sound of this one too and ooh, a cross with Urban and Paisley got my attention. ;) Thanks for putting me onto this one, Kame!

KAMEBookReview said...

It is awesome - and I really do help it is the beginning of many more from Alison!

KAMEBookReview said...

Thank you so much for letting me be one of the first!