THIS IS OUR SONG (The Shaughnessy Brothers #4) by Samantha Chase-Review, Excerpt and Giveaway
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About the book: Release Date December 6, 2016
She knows him by reputation
Riley Shaughnessy knew that to stand out in his large family, he’d have to go big. Making a name for himself as a musician wasn’t easy, but he followed his dreams to rock-star success. But the relentless expectations of fans is not helping the slump he’s in now. So of course the person who attracts him is the woman who is not impressed by fame.
Which gives Riley Shaughnessy a lot to prove
Entertainment reporter Savannah Daly is completely unfazed by pretty-boy rock stars. She’s just here to get her interview and write her story. But spending an entire month with the Shaughnessys is going to show Savannah a side of Riley she never could have guessed.
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REVIEW: THIS IS OUR SONG is the fourth installment in Samantha Chase’s THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS romance series focusing on the Shaughnessy family. This is rock star Riley Shaughnessy, and entertainment reporter Savannah Daly’s story line. THIS IS OUR SONG can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
SOME BACKGROUND: Seventeen years earlier the Shaughnessy’s lost their mother to a drunk driver that left six siblings (including a one year old infant) without a mother. Fast forward to present day where the now adult children continue to struggle with the loss. Riley’s connection to his mother is blessed with musical memories and an endearing song.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Riley and Savannah) THIS IS OUR SONG focuses on struggling rock star Riley Shaughnessy. Going solo should have been easy but one year earlier a scathing article debunking Riley’s stardom hit too close to home and our hero struggles to complete his latest album. To keep Riley in the spotlight, his publicist demands he willingly participates in a magazine interview that will find our hero falling in love with the entertainment reporter. Enter Savannah Daly-a journalist who goes into the interview with preconceived notions about Riley Shaughnessy, and a woman who battles her attraction to the man that calls to her heart.
Riley is a world famous rock star whose solo career has come to a grinding halt. Unable to complete his latest album Riley’s recording contract is in jeopardy-writer’s block and a fractured ego add to Riley’s list of personal demons. Savannah is a journalist who is reluctant to participate in Riley’s comeback. Entering into the Shaughnessy circle of family and friends finds our heroine falling in love with the Shaughnessy family and the man who will steal her heart. But Riley and Savannah’s future lies in jeopardy when the past catches up and fractures the building love between our leading couple. The $ex scenes are implied and fade to black.
All of the Shaughnessy brothers and sister Darcy, as well as patriarch Ian Shaughnessy and his girlfriend Martha play secondary and supporting roles. The Shaughnessy family continues to grow, and the next generation is close at hand.
THIS IS OUR SONG is a sweet, romantic story of family and love; struggle and moving forward; forgiveness and letting go of the past. The premise is heartwarming; the characters are passionate; the romance is intimate without the use of sexual imagery or text. Samantha Chase’s THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS is will captivate your imagination.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Made For Us
Love Walks In
Always My Girl
This is Our Song
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
Oh, no. That would have been too easy.
No, Savannah—who realized too late that she was a very sore loser—kept egging him on until he finally put the paddle down after beating her in twelve games. Twelve! Why did she have to keep taunting him? Even while they were playing she couldn’t make herself ask him anything important. They talked about useless stuff—favorite bands, favorite foods—hell, at one point she’d even asked him his favorite color.
She hung her head low in defeat and put her paddle on the table. Riley had excused himself and went to get them each a drink. She prayed it was vodka. Something to make her forget this humiliation.
His prize at the end of the first three games was that she’d stay and have dinner with him.
After the next three she’d stay for a movie.
She really thought she was going to beat him in the third round. Unfortunately, it had been her biggest loss, and he’d simply chuckled and said he’d have to think about his reward. And he’d repeated that after the fourth and final win.
Riley cleared his throat when he walked back into the room and handed her a glass of ice water. They drank in silence for a few minutes. “That was fun,” he finally said, and Savannah realized he wasn’t being obnoxious and he wasn’t gloating. He genuinely looked like he’d had a good time.
And despite all the losing, Savannah would have to agree. It was fun.
“How do you feel about salmon for dinner?”
“It’s one of my favorites,” she said and was relieved he wasn’t gloating.
“It’s kind of early yet. Maybe we can watch a movie first?”
That was a reasonable request, and she agreed. Together they picked out a classic Neil Simon movie from 1967, Barefoot in the Park. “Ooo…Robert Redford.” She sighed. “Another favorite.”
Tucked away in a corner was one of the biggest flat-screen TVs Savannah had ever seen. Riley noticed her stunned look. “It’s one hundred ten inches. They don’t come any bigger than this right now. The picture’s great too.”
Two oversized recliners were centered in front of the screen and they each sat down. Riley started the movie and within minutes Savannah was more relaxed and they were both laughing along with the story.
She kicked her sandals off and tucked her feet up on the chair beside her. Next she pulled the clip out of her hair so she could relax her head against the back of the comfortable chair. Looking to her right, she saw Riley was watching her. His expression was intense and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what was wrong. “Is everything okay?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“Riley?”
“I still have to decide what I get for winning those last two rounds,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Savannah nodded, hypnotized by the way his eyes had gone so dark.
“I’m going to combine them into one request,” he said, and it sounded more like a warning than a statement.
“Okay.” Her own voice was almost a breathy whisper.
Leaning closer, Riley’s eyes zeroed in on her lips before meeting her eyes. “Savannah?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to kiss you. Twice.”
“Oh.”
His hand snaked out and around her nape and slowly drew her closer to him. And then his lips touched hers and Savannah’s brain simply stopped functioning.
I’m one of those people who can multi-task. To a point. I do like almost complete silence while I write with the exception of my Sounds of the Ocean soundtrack playing. I can have twenty tabs open online and be on social media while I’m writing, but please don’t make me listen to anything! But amazingly enough, on most of my books I do end up with a playlist that helps me get the job done.
I just don’t listen to it while I’m writing.
I turn to it when I’m blocked – when I’m stuck in a scene and need to get hyper-focused on my characters. This is Our Song was kind of easy to have a playlist to because Riley is a musician. There were songs that I felt like I could imagine him singing or that the lyrics really applied to him.
So what was on my list and why? Here’s just one of the songs that was on my This is Our Song playlist!
True Love by Glenn Frey:
Even though Riley’s a world-famous rock star who is used to getting what he wants and not really having to work too hard at it because of his talent, that actually works against him with Savannah. Glen Frey’s song is all about learning to work toward true love and how rewarding that can be!
Favorite Line:
Out of the blue, out of the night
You came along and you changed my life
You got me feeling things, I swear I never felt before
I was lucky with This is Our Song because of Riley’s career. Some books it will just be a single (as in one) song that is on my playlist to help me over the humps. And sometimes I’ll have to listen to that song like five times in a row to get me in the proper mindset to write what I need to write.
Happy listening and I hope you enjoy This is Our Song!!
~~Samantha Chase~~
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New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in NorthCarolina.
NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the publisher.
Great review, Sandy. Looks like a fun read that I would enjoy.
Wonderful review. I love the premise of this book and series. Thanks.
Looks like a sweet story, thanks Sandy. Congrats to Samantha on the new release.
Great review Sandy. I loved this story and felt that Samantha Chase nailed it in the way she wrote Riley and Savannah. YAY Samantha!!!
Very nice review. I will add this series to my list to read.
wonderful review, sandy. looks like a wonderful new series for me to try.
Nice review! Love the sound of this series.
Very nice review Sandy. Thanks for the guest post Samantha. Congrats on the new release
Wonderful review, thanks Sandy. Love the ‘family’ genre.
Thanks for the review and guest post.