Holiday Magic Meets Reality TV
Book Summary:
Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lotof money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.
Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.
While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.
My Review (Contains Spoilers):
I always have to remind myself that Tessa’s books start off slow but end strong. Initially, I was worried about this one—it just couldn’t hold my attention. There were simply too many subplots to follow: the rivalry between the mothers, Beat and Melody’s past and present, the reunion, and the blackmail. Shame on me for underestimating Tessa’s talent for weaving an incredible story. Once you stop trying to puzzle out which subplot to focus on or to remember all the details, and just enjoy the story, it truly becomes all-encompassing.
I’m beginning to understand the appeal of the “reality show trope.” It not only feeds the voyeuristic curiosity in us all, but it also provides an almost third-party viewpoint in a dual point-of-view narrative. The one aspect of the story that was somewhat unsettling was Beat’s overprotective nature towards Melody, but even that is acknowledged by the character, who makes an effort to temper it, which is admirable (you really do start to fall in love with Melody’s character!).
If you’re familiar with Tessa’s work, you’ll know that I don’t need to spell out the steaminess of her books—you’re aware it’s fiery and unforgettable. And for those seeking a bit of holiday cheer any time of year, I highly recommend this one!
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may or may not also include affiliate links for bookshop.org. The affiliates links in no way influence my reviews.

+ 368 Total Pages

Read it in All Devices

+ 3.5 Star Review
Book Features

Romance Category
Holiday Romance, Reality TV, Childhood Crush to Lovers

Spicy Factor
Hot

Formats Available
Paperback, Hardcover, Audiobook, and eBook

Part of Series?
At the time of this publishing, no.
About the Book Author
Tessa Bailey
Connect with Tessa Bailey
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may or may not also include affiliate links for bookshop.org. The affiliates links in no way influence my reviews.
