Tag: gay rockstar romance

Review: Hazardous Things (Star Shadow #3) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 4🌈

Hazardous Things is the third story in the Star Shadow series and the review I’m having the most problems writing.

One one hand I genuinely love the characters of Felix Humphries and Max McCloud, Star Shadow’s drummer. Felix has been a snarky bundle of intelligent judgment and wry humor from the beginning with the unusual perspective that he’s both known everyone since the band formed as teenagers, he’s the younger brother of one, but also as a non musician has remained on the edge of it all. A sort of edgy, brilliant Greek chorus of one.

Max who’s always been the quiet one of the band, writing but without drama. He’s the been the one who, after Caleb disappeared, Felix became the closest to, as they both watched Leo shatter.

Over the two preceding books, the Max and Felix we started to get to know were great people, and it was hinted at the long time crush Felix has had on the “straight” Max.

Hazardous Things takes Max on a sexual awakening as he becomes aware of his attraction to Felix during an enforced period of physical closeness due to surgery.

It’s a realistic one in which Max doesn’t assign a name to his new sexuality but more realizes that what he’s calling “new” feelings are emotions that have deep roots that he’s never identified before.

The thought processes, the fear, the insecurity… everything that Max goes through feels exceptionally believable.

As does Felix’s reaction and inability to trust Max’s judgement and new sexuality. Especially when trust or the ability to trust is such a huge issue with Felix to begin with.

All that? Yep awesome. Because that’s got obstacles and misunderstandings stamped all over it and I get that. Well done.

What’s less credible in the storyline is Max’s (and others) inability to trust Felix’s judgement. Granted he’s younger than all of them but throughout all the novels, Felix is the one who pulls everything and everyone together. From the tours, band’s accounts, payrolls… everything. It’s Felix. Again and again, they tell each other how brilliant he is etc. They trust him with every aspect of their lives, professionally speaking and even personally.

However, here Max brings up that he doesn’t trust Felix to know what’s best for his own future?

That’s so illogical from the standpoint of a man who was as close as he’s been to Felix. Especially given their past and present history. It seems only like a ploy narratively speaking.

It and some of the other plot “barriers“ feel forced and unnecessary, because there’s enough real issues to work through between them before a satisfying relationship can occur.

While there’s a age gap between them it’s not a issue here. No, a matter of Max’s previous sexuality or perceived sexual identity. And Felix overcoming his fears.

That the heart and center here. And I wish some of the “extra drama” had been trimmed away to focus on that.

Still Felix and Max are a terrific couple, they have enormous chemistry, and I enjoyed their story.

And I’m recommending it. Read all the stories in the order they were written. Now onto book 4.

Star Shadow series:

Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1)

Impossible Things #2

Hazardous Things #3

Extraordinary Things #4

Synopsis:

Felix Humphries can’t even remember the first time he crushed on Star Shadow’s drummer, Max McCloud.

It’s been an embarrassingly long time, but he’s still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brother’s best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.

But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix can’t leave his friend in the lurch. He’s all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.

Max isn’t straight after all, and what Max wants is Felix—but only in his bed, not in his heart.

Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.

Hazardous Things

Review: Impossible Things (Star Shadow #2} by Beth Bolden

Rating: 3.5 stars

After the emotionally traumatic, narratively heavy first story (Terrible Things), I had wondered how the author was going to top that. It was a great story and had a charismatic couple at its heart.

Did I find that with Impossible Things? Not exactly.

This story has one of the issues that I see in other reviews and stories. A character that is both so well written that he feels believable and isn’t very likable. At least in my opinion. That would be Benji

He’s my grandmother’s Erica Kane, aka the actor Susan Lucci , who my grandmother talked about as though that character was absolutely real and shouldn’t be doing all those awful things.

Characters like Benji have ,unfortunately, caused some poor books to get low ratings because, again, the reviewer just “hated” the character.

Never mind that the writer had done such a superb job crafting that character that the reviewer had become emotionally wrapped up in them. SMH.

Anyway, Benji is that one character here I’m not connecting with. Well done, with motivations you can understand if not agree with. Sigh.

But while I’m not connecting with Benji, my biggest issue here is the central friends to lover romance between Benji and Diego.

What I liked about the first story, the chemistry, the communication, as well as the depth to the couple, seems to be missing here.

Yes, these men face a separate set of circumstances and barriers. It’s how they approach each other, after years of friendship, and supposed knowledge of one another that’s disappointing. It’s fraught with miscommunication, stalling, if not outright lies. Add on to that self promotion, Benji’s hugely ambitious outlook that in itself isn’t inherently bad but how the person handles it, plus Benji never explains to Diego , not once, where his insecurities and need to succeed come from. Nor does Diego ever ask.

That lack of curiosity bothers me. Partners, lovers don’t ask about such major issues?

Elements like that kept me from connecting with them, especially when I had an additional hurdle of not being able to really like Benji to begin with. That could have been overcome if Diego had convinced me to see what he loved about Benji.

Did I ever feel I saw into that? Not really. After all those years, it still felt… unfinished. Unlike Leo and Caleb.

Perhaps they set too high a bar for the other couples to follow. I’ve seen that happen in series too.

So what did I find in Impossible Things? A good well written story with well constructed characters. But with a romance that I thought needed something more. Maybe more layers, more satisfying personal “work” to make it feel as believable as the men.

A Epilogue with them off on vacation together with Diego’s daughter just doesn’t fill in those emotional blanks. At least for me.

Still recommending it because I recognize that not everyone will feel about Benji the way I do.. And if you’re reading the series, you should read all the books in the order they were written.

Now onto Hazardous Things which is Max’s story along with a certain younger brother. I’m looking forward to this.

Star Shadow series:

Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1)

Impossible Things #2

Hazardous Things #3

Extraordinary Things #4

Synopsis:

When Benji saw Diego for the first time, he never expected to fall irrevocably and painfully in love with him.

It wasn’t something either of them could face, so he buried it. For ten long years.

Ten years during which he survived the pain of his own disastrous marriage and the heartbreak of watching Diego raise a child with another woman.

Through the heights of rock stardom and the depths of their band breaking up, Benji’s heart always came back to Diego. To his best friend. His bandmate. His secret desire.

Now, enough is enough.

He knows Diego loves him too. He knows they could have it all, no holds barred, with every string attached — if only they can find the courage to bring their feelings into the spotlight.

It’s time to tackle the impossible: life-altering, world-shaking, totally inevitable love.

Impossible Things is the second book in the Star Shadow series and should be read in order.

https://www.goodreads.com › showImpossible Things (Star Shadow #2) by Beth Bolden – Goodreads

Review: Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 4.5🌈

Terrible Things is another terrific start to a contemporary rock band romance series by Beth Bolden.

Set in southern California, the location allows the author to fold in characters from her other series (Kitchen Gods, Food Truck Warriors) into making guest appearances where needed. Or even serving up as locations ala Terrior Restaurant and Chef Aquino.

Star Shadow is a defunct teenage rock band that disbanded when one of its members disappeared at the height of its world tour. Unable to continue, the band crumbled under the pain and betrayal.

The remaining four members keeping in contact personally while going different directions professionally.

That’ll the surface facts that the story opens up with.

The truth behind that traumatic breakup and the repercussions that are still hammering at the band members presently begin with the return of that missing musician and friend. Caleb Chance. He wants to resume that ill fated tour

Where he’s been, what happened all those years ago, and the deeply held pain and torn relationships is the beginning here.

The format the author employs includes the use of Interludes, important chapters from the past that highlights a pivotal moment in this couple’s and the band’s journey. Whether it’s from the moment they met or the moment it all imploded, the Interludes work better here then any flashback because the contrast emotionally between past and present if often stark and telling.

Told from the perspective of Leo Humphries, the man Caleb Chance left behind and who’s leaving shattered him almost completely, a one person pov makes this a strong story. It’s an unusual choice because I think most writers would have included Caleb’s as well given his own personal demons and battles. But to do that justice would have doubled this story easily.

Their romance, their tortuous journey back to each other, to forgiveness and love is hard and raw. And honestly as it deals with Caleb’s addiction to alcohol and how Leo had to deal with the everyday ramifications of having a alcoholic lover, maybe be hard to read if this is a trigger.

For me it also left some parts feeling less than fleshed out here too with regards to Caleb’s rehabilitation. He used aversion therapy at the end but there’s no real explanation here of that. Just that all other type of rehab clinics hadn’t been effective.

I would have expected something more definitive here. Especially considering that the men are honest about other stages and parts of their feelings and expectations for their new relationship.

I’ve come to relish and prefer stories where the relationships are emotionally adult. They talk, communicating their feelings, thoughts, and share elements with their partners those aspects of their lives that bring them closer together . Or learn how to do that…it’s a process.

That’s shown here in all its pain, truth, recovery, and love.

It’s quite the journey.

I wonder where all the books will take us and them. I intend to find out. I recommend you start here.

Star Shadow series:

Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1)

Impossible Things #2

Hazardous Things #3

Extraordinary Things #4

Synopsis:

When Caleb Chance walked out in Detroit five years ago, leaving his band, millions of his fans and his lover behind, Leo knew he could never forgive.

Some things, no matter what the cause, are unforgivable.

But Leo never expected Caleb to show up again, clean and sober and wanting to get their band, Star Shadow, back together. He definitely never expected to agree to Caleb’s plan.

He never expected to confront the love of his life again—or the disaster of his past, the hopelessness of his future, and every terrible thing he’s been carrying inside him.

But maybe some things aren’t so terrible after all.