It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Echols’ books! (You can see my reviews here, here, here, or here.) So, when I heard that Katelyn from Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands was hosting Jennifer Echols Week I was on board! I read Jennifer’s newest book Dirty Little Secret a couple of months ago and have been dying to talk about it! I figured this was the perfect opportunity! You can add one more to that list of reviews of Jennifer Echols books I love!
Dirty Little Secret
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: MTV Books
Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Pages: 288 books
Source: ARC for review
About the Book: From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.
Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.
Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…
My Thoughts: Everything about this book drew me in before I even began reading it. I mean, Nashville, country music, wild child, family drama, THE FIDDLE!!! So much promise. And the cover! Cowboy boots and holding hands and again, THE FIDDLE! I have a bit of a thing for the fiddle. So wish I had musical ability!
Once I got past the excitement I was pleased to find a story I really loved. One of my favorite things about Jennifer Echols’ books is that I get so caught up in the characters’ lives. She does such a great job of setting the stage for the drama that plays out. And boy did Dirty Little Secret have drama! Of course there is the drama inherent in pursuing a musical career, especially country music in Nashville! However, there is a lot of other drama in Bailey’s life… most of it centering around her family. They really made me angry! Her parents! Ugh! Even though I couldn’t stand them (or, for most of the book, her sister!) I loved the way the whole background story was revealed as the book went. So much of Bailey’s story happened before we even meet her.
And of course there’s Sam. He is far from perfect (like, really far!) But I still liked him. I was interested in his story. I liked the tension he added. And I am such a sucker for a guy who is musical! I love, love, loved all the scenes where they were playing gigs or practicing or even just talking about music!!
Basically this books ranks right up there with the other Jennifer Echols’ books in my view! I always know that I’ll be satisfied when I finish her stories. They are probably the books that I reread most. If I’m ever in a reading slump I know she can get me out!
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