Title: Home
Author: Rachel Smith
Series: Glenview #1
Release Date: March 20, 2014
After twelve years on top of the charts, country music
superstar Lily Rae has decided to hang up the microphone and move home. Becoming Lillian Raftzen again is harder than
she anticipated and soon, it seems running home is not enough to escape from
her manipulative ex-agent, who not only threatens to end her happiness, but her
life.
Clichés are clichés for a reason. They're true. "Home is where the heart is" is the epitome of a cliché. And that's what Home (the book) is all about. Going back to the place you love, to the people you love, rediscovering - or even changing - your dreams. Following your heart back to the place you really belong. It's a nice idea and, as someone that lives far from home, one that resonated with me.
Lily Raftzen has been at the top of the country music game for a dozen years but now, it's time to go home. After living her dream - and discovering it's not all it's cracked up to be - all she wants is to be left alone, to get control of her life back and to be with her family and her best friend since childhood, Justin DeLuca. Justin has been waiting 12 years for the girl he loves to come home. Now she's back and he's prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her with him always - and with her life threatened, that's not so easy.
There's an easiness to Home that I truly enjoyed. Yes, there was mystery. Yes, there was a twist. And yes, there was some sadness. But it was still what I'd call a "summer" read. It's light - nothing too taxing or depressing. Easily read in a few hours (preferably on a beach, cocktail in hand), with a few smiles along the way. Lily and Justin are a good pair. Their shared history is only briefly touched on but you can tell there's something there from the way they are together. The flashbacks to Lily's life as Lily Rae, country star, give flesh to the story and fuel to the central mystery. There are secondary characters that can, and likely will, have their own stories told. If they are anything like Home, I'd like to read those stories.
This is a standalone book, no cliffhanger.
~ Review by Beth
Home was a fun little story with some suspense elements thrown in. After being told her entire childhood she'd never make it as a country star, Lillian leave home for Nashville to make her dreams come through. She's discovered almost immediately and so begins her road to super stardom. Her dreams have all come true, but not without a price, she's fed up with the life she thought she wanted and just wants to go back Home.
Justin has loved Lillian as long as he can remember, but Lily Rae is not the girl he knew. When she waltzes back in to town, can he put aside his anger at her leaving or have they just grown too far apart?
I have to say that this book wasn't my favorite. I didn't love it, I liked it. I had a really hard time establishing a connection to these characters. While it wasn't a hit or a miss for me, somewhere in between, there were certain aspects of the story that were good and parts I did enjoy. Overall, it was a good plot but like I said earlier, I just lacked a connection with the characters.
~ Review by Erin
“I can’t do this anymore,” I said as I closed my eyes. I grabbed my phone, pushed a couple buttons
and put it to my ear.
“Who are you calling?” Sarah asked.
I just shook my head and looked to the floor. I heard the call be picked up on the other
side.
“Lillian, it’s late, is everything okay?”
“Mr. Vangoal. Sorry
to bother you at this hour. I need to
meet with you immediately. Can you be in
Des Moines, Iowa by tomorrow afternoon?” I asked.
Sarah’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion, likely wondering
why I was calling my lawyer at 11:30pm after having a nervous breakdown.
“I think that should be ok, Lillian. I’ll have my secretary check in the morning
and let you know the details. Are you in
some kind of trouble?” he asked.
“No trouble. I just
need your help.”
“Okay,” he said, but I could hear the concern in his voice.
“Thank you. And
please, this meeting needs to be confidential,” I stressed.
“As always, Miss Raftzen.
I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Good
night Mr. Vangoal.”
I pushed the button to end the call and tossed my phone onto
the bed.
“Can you please share with me what the hell is going on?”
Sarah asked.
I stood on shaky legs
and walked to make sure the door was securely locked. As I turned around, I could see the worry on
Sarah’s face. I was always so strong and
composed. Very rarely did I fall
apart. And when I did it was always when
I was completely alone. But now, the
wetness that had hit my eyes was beginning to take form and fall down my cheeks
in a steady stream.
“I’m going to meet with my lawyer tomorrow afternoon in Des
Moines,” I said quietly. “And together
we’re going to begin the process of me quitting the Country Music business.”
“Oh my God,” Sarah
breathed.
“I’m done.” I
said. Then the sob broke from my throat
and tore completely through my body. In
between hiccupping breaths I looked at my best friend and said the words I
never thought I’d hear myself say, “I want to home.”
Rachel Smith was born and
raised in small-town Iowa. After
spending a few years in the “big city” she now lives with her husband and two
children in Clear Lake. She works part
time from home and spends the rest of her time exercising, reading and taking
care of her family. Having always had a
vivid imagination, Rachel decided to bring her characters to life in Home, her
debut novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment