Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Feuds and Interludes
SERIES: Road to Rocktoberfest/Rock ‘n’ Romance Legends #1
AUTHOR: R L Merrill
PUBLISHER: Celie Bay Publications LLC
LENGTH: 313 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 13, 2024
BLURB:
From the award-winning author of Hurricane Reese, Summer of Hush, and You Can Do Magic comes a new rock star romance series inspired by legendary rock ‘n’ roll love affairs. Feuds and Interludes is a rivals-to-lovers, hurt/comfort love story complete with adorable septuagenarian lovebirds and beloved characters from Merrill’s previous rock-inspired series.
Boone Collins and Shane Butler are two of rock music’s brightest stars today. Their grandfathers founded a powerhouse rock supergroup that ruled the airwaves in the late 1970s, and the grandsons grew up in their shadows to become frontmen of their own successful bands. The epic rivalry between Boone and Shane is notorious, and it’s about to blow up.
When Shane’s grandfather Bruce inducts his deceased bandmate into the Rock Music Hall of Fame, he admits to the world that he wrote the band’s biggest hit about his best friend’s widow—Boone’s grandmother Vera Jean. The two want to rekindle their relationship, and their grandsons are determined to keep them apart. Only, working together for a common goal reveals surprising similarities between the rock stars as well as a chemistry they cannot ignore. Shane sees behind Boone’s glittery facade to the secrets he hides from his bandmates, and Boone is there to pick up the pieces when Shane’s professional world implodes. Together, they plot a musical collaboration to celebrate their grandfathers’ accomplishments instead of fighting—a star-studded tribute at the storied Rocktoberfest event in the Nevada desert—but will being in the spotlight prove to be too much for their fledgling romance to handle?
Feuds and Interludes is part of the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle, and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
REVIEW:
There’s a fine line between hate and lust/love. What catalyst ensues to enable the change? Grandparents falling in love should do it. Boone is obsessed with Shane, but Shane hates Boone, and the reasons are all connected to the past. But a shared goal brings them together—a truth, a catch, a kiss later, and bam – all changes.
Feuds and Interludes was a spicy read in which thoughts and feelings flip like a switch, and dynamics once believed impossible became the norm. It was an enjoyable read, but my lack of musical knowledge hampered my full reading experience.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Boone and Shane. Worldbuilding revolves around the ever-dynamically changing, fickle music business where the pursuit of musical immortality is a strong influence. The depth of musical knowledge was superb. But when talk got heavy in this department, I lost concentration as the area was akin to a foreign language – my bad. Readers with more music in their history will get more out of these parts. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the concerts, singing, and reactions.
Boone and Shane are interesting characters. Boone is a recently diagnosed diabetic trying to adhere to a doctor’s advice while having one of the worst careers to control it. I’d have liked to have more of this struggle highlighted as it would have given the tale a different focus to other stories. However, with the medical nature of the condition, I can understand why this minefield wasn’t delved into further.
Rocky fractious years led to the events in this tale. Once several realizations hit, the timeline of the transition from hate to more is somewhat abrupt. Then, the mutual admiration society swings into force, with elements of unsure vulnerability, lots of spice, a few raised temperatures, and kumbaya moments.
Feuds and Interludes is one of those tales that traverses the complicated, often illogical world of emotions, life, and the family history that affects it – all with the backdrop of music. RL Merrill is a superb writer – so if the blurb appeals to you, go for it.
RATING: 
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