Night Shifts Black By Alyson Santos

Goodreads Summary:

His name is Luke. But nobody knows that. He was an iconic musician before he gave up music. But nobody knows that either. They also don’t know he’s twenty-seven, that he used to have an infectious laugh, and that he’s way too young to be widowed. They certainly don’t know the rest of his tragic story. All they know is that he comes into their café at the same time every morning and stares at the same chair at the same table. They know he’s strange. They know he interrupts their breakfast with a cold blast of air as he hovers in the doorway, mustering the courage to confront a piece of furniture.

No one asks why. No one cares. He’s fine with that. He’s done with life. This isn’t even his story anymore. It’s actually Callie’s, the young writer who sat in his chair one day.

My Thoughts:

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. That being said, I still did, in fact, like this book. Something about the storytelling or the situations felt off or more than unbelievable even for rock star fiction. 

Callie's (the tortured writer girl) character didn't feel genuine to me for some reason. Luke (the hottie rock star with issues) felt forced or cliched. Casey (Luke's best friend) was really the only character that I decided that I could get behind from the first time we met him.

But still, I read the whole book and immediately picked up the second book in the series. I will say that it was a good enough story that I wanted to know more. Luke's story is definitely sad. Callie's story is definitely sad. Casey's story is definitely sad. I like that this book didn't try to sugar coat the sad. I like that the characters came together and learned to help each other heal from the shit they had going on in their own heads. It is a reminder that friends, new and old, are important. It is important to pay attention to those around you, you never know when someone will need a hand in getting through something.

I would recommend this book to rock star fiction lovers. This isn't the classic rock star story, which isn't a bad thing.

While writing this review I was listening to myself sniffle as my allergies are winning hard today.

Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

****I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ****

Goodreads Summary:

Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.

Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

My thoughts:

Each chapter started with a snippet of conversation between a reporter and someone from the town. This little exchange at the beginning of each chapter irritated me quite a bit. It felt jarring to be ripped out of the POV of Anna Kate or Natalie, which are the other two POVs that we experience through this book. This irritation was minor by the end of the book, but I still wish this element wasn't part of the book. That being said, overall, I enjoyed this book. There were parts that made me smile, laugh out loud, and sad parts which tugged at the few heartstrings I have left. I became fully invested in these characters, including all of the side characters. 

I don't want to give any spoilers as this book has not been published yet. So I will keep my review vague. The main person we follow through this book is Anna Kate. She is a relatable and likable woman figuring out how to navigate her life when the two most important people to her are no longer in the picture. In a way her story is a coming of age tail, but for adults. She has had a nomad existence and has been thrust into small town living without a road map on how to deal with being under a microscope.

Natalie is the other POV in this book. We learn through her that everyone has their own ways of coping and some are more healthy than others. I like Natalie. She is stronger than she realizes and I hope there are more books in this small town so I can see her grow further as a person.

I liked the small town of Wicklow. This town of weirdos and sweethearts was a balm to my disenchanted soul. It was nice to read a story about people coming together and loving one another. Additionally, I want to point out that I love the cover for this book. This is not something that I normally comment on but in this case, I just found the cover so attractive and therefore worth drawing attention to it.

I would recommend this book to fans of Sarah Addison Allen and readers of fiction who like a little pinch of supernatural in their reading. This is my first book by Heather Webber, I will likely see if I can get my hands on more of her titles. 

While writing this review I was listening to my dog growl at me for not giving her more attention. I should mention there is a dog in this read, and he is super cute.