Rating: 2.75🌈
Midnight Riff (great title) is another story in the multi author collection, The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023. Written by Lynn Michaels, it’s a follow up to a book published in 2022, Midnight Reunion-Road to Rocktoberfest 2022. I’m not sure if reading that would have helped understanding the characters or dynamics in play here, but for me, something more than what was written was needed to make this work.
Primarily, the main issue is the character of Wolf and his troubled romance with the lawyer Harrison. That’s the drama that the story opens up with.
For me to stay invested in a book and whatever themes the author has planned for their characters, I have to like or at least find in them something worth exploring. A big flag is a main character whose personality is that of a narcissistic personality, or one that borders on it. Especially if the author asks us to commit to him as a main character and not as a protagonist.
But as with Wolf, the rockstar we meet. It’s immediately clear, he’s a clueless , self involved personality. One, that admittedly, isn’t interested in what’s going on emotionally or even, at the most superficial level, in what happened with the man , Harrison, who’s is/was a relationship with him.
He acts like a child while telling everyone he’s finally acting like an adult. And continues with this behavior for chapters.
Moreover , when the author’s narrative involves him putting the blame on the other person or persons , the lack of introspection is astonishing. The use of personality traits such as these in a main character, especially when it’s not seen as being avoidance tactics, or other self absorbed behaviors, and then include a another main character with a lackluster personality that feels just sad.
“I couldn’t believe it. I stood there staring at the hotel door, unable to internalize what happened. Sure, Harrison had complained before, but he’d never left. Why would he do that?”
— Midnight Riff: The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 by Lynn Michaels
That’s Wolf. The rockstar with not a thought about the person he’s been having an affair with, not a clue as to how that person has been feeling. Or even who that man really is. Wolf’s not certain if he cares to make an effort. Even as he whines about Harrison being it for him.
That’s the story and relationship. It’s all Wolf , indecisive, self involved, all the time. While Harrison keeps coming back for more punishment in the form of “do you know what you want, is it me?” Sort of stuff. And he’s supposed to be a great lawyer. Not believable.
I couldn’t actually finish. Came close though. But this type of character, relationship, and plot just isn’t something I wish to invest my time in.
Perhaps it’s something someone else might, someone who read and liked the previous book. I’ll leave that up to you.
The Road to Rocktoberfest-12 books
✓ Rocking Karma by Kage Harper
◦ Axe to Grind by Gabbi Grey
◦ Key Change by Ari McKay
◦ More Than October by Blake Allwood
◦ Faded Dreams by BL Maxwell
✓ Midnight Riff by Lynn Michaels
◦ Damaged Saints by Layla Dorine
✓ Music & Dreams by JP Sayles
◦ Seltzer’s Taylor: Embrace the Fear book 3 by TL Travis
◦ Loose Strings by Christie Gordon
◦ Killer Notes by CJ Barlowe
Buy Link
Midnight Riff: The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023
Blurb:
Rocktoberfest 2023 was coming, bringing either romance or chaos to Midnight Hunt
Wolf thought everything was going fine with the sexy entertainment lawyer, Harrison. Just because he used to date his bandmate didn’t mean they couldn’t rock it out. But Harrison seemed to be tired of all his hijinks.
Harrison wanted a serious relationship, and he thought Wolf could be ‘the one’ but something wasn’t working, and chasing his man across the country and back was wearing him out.
Get ready for a rockstar rendezvous romance! It’s a back-and-forth will they/won’t they filled with music and a killer rock festival!
Midnight Riff is a follow-up to Midnight Reunion, The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022.
Midnight Riff is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
• Publisher: Blue Eyed Dreams, LLC (October 24, 2023)
• Publication date: October 24, 2023
• Print length: 176 pages
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