Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Spotlight

SERIES:  Famous

AUTHOR:  Eden Finley

NARRATOR:  Iggy Toma

PUBLISHER:  Tantor Audio

LENGTH:  8 hours and 58 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  November 17. 2020

BLURB:

Ryder

When I quit the biggest boy band on the planet, I was supposed to get my life back.

It’s not that I wanted to leave the spotlight. I felt like I had to for my daughter. Her picture shouldn’t be splashed all over the tabloids. I thought I could do this parenting thing on my own, but it’s obvious I need help. I just didn’t expect to find it in the form of a gorgeous guy I meet by chance. I can put my attraction aside for my daughter’s sake. I’ve put my whole life on hold for her.

If only he wasn’t so tempting.

Lyric

Working as a nanny is my backup to my backup plan. My first plan is fame, but something always holds me back. When I randomly run into Ryder Kennedy and end up becoming his daughter’s nanny, I figure it’ll be a short-term thing. But then Ryder finds out I can sing. He wasn’t ready to give up music, and now he’s found a new way to have it: through me. He wants to produce my demo and make me a star. He says I was born to be in the spotlight, but I think I was born to run from it.

It doesn’t help that each day I’m with him and his daughter, the deeper I fall into fantasies of being part of their family. And not just as the nanny.

Contains mature themes.

REVIEW:

Note:  This is book 2 in this series and contains some spoilers for Book 1.  That being said, it can be read as a standalone, but I recommend the first book 🙂

Ryder walked away from his music career after fathering his young daughter, Kaley.  She’s a preschooler with a big personality.  He does everything for her, including and most importantly, staying out of the limelight.  That doesn’t stop the paparazzi from stalking him.  While at a play place with his daughter, he meets a guy who is there with his nephew.  Said guy starts off on the wrong foot with Ryder.  When he finds out his name is Lyric 😉 he’s intrigued.  But he needs Lyric’s help to successfully get out of the place and get home without a bunch of pictures getting out.

Lyric offers his help with Kaley – she’s having some issues with the preschool that Ryder has her enrolled in.  Lyric takes care of his nephew after school and he gigs on the weekends.  He’s an aspiring singer/songwriter.  He’s got a great education but he’s not getting anywhere with his auditions. he’s got a pretty jaded view of the music business due to some family history.  The one thing he REALLY doesn’t want is Ryder’s help getting a record deal.

After Ryder hears Lyric sing, he can’t believe he hasn’t been picked up.  But there is obviously something that he’s doing at auditions that are turning off the producers.  Lyric knows it’s about him, but he’s not really wanting to be anyone else and he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about doing it all on his own.

Ryder has been in the closet his whole career.  His family is not keen on it and he managed to father Kaley – and that’s a whole other story – and he’s putting her first.  But he can’t help his attraction to Lyric.  Lyric is upfront about his sexuality and he’s not willing to compromise on that either for the sake of a music career.  Ryder comes clean with Lyric but he explains why he’s made the decisions he’s made.  So they agree to keep any relationship they have on the DL.

The Harley Valentine comes a-calling.  We met Harley, another member of Ryder’s boyband, in Famous, the first book in this series.  Harley is ready to start his own label and he wants to get the band back together 😀  Ryder has no interest in that – won’t subject his family to it.  But then Harley hears Lyric’s demo tracks and wants to sign him.  Oh boy.  There is a lot there to think about.  For everyone.

I’m really really liking this series 🙂  I can’t wait to see what happens next!  I’m not sure how or if there will be more in tis series, but I’m really hoping so.  I’m not really a boyband fan, but I have really enjoyed getting to see this glimpse into the crazy fame and the life of these characters.  I loved Lyric and was happy that he was able to grow in this story and get out of his own way and accept that NOBODY in this life does everyone all on their own.  His family was also so supportive – love his brother and wife and nephew.  I really like Ryder and his story.  His love for his daughter and his friend Maggie, Kaley’s mother were so sweet.  Maggie is a great character and I can’t wait to learn more about here if there are going to be more books.  I loved seeing the characters from the past book also.  Once again Iggy Toma hits it out of the park.  He’s a fantastic narrator and I highly recommend this series.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Audible