Layla Beckett has a secret. For the past ten years, she’s run the most trafficked fan site on the Internet for her favorite band—under an alias, naturally. When she lands a job at the prestigious New York City music magazine The Rock Paper, she’s suddenly thrust into the world she’s only observed from the cheap seats. Now that she’s brushing elbows with sexy guitarists and hot frontmen, she wants … wants to play it cool and keep her superfan status on the down low. Although she’s dying to gush on her forum, posting her insider adventures online could expose her real-life identity and blow her cover.
And that’s all before one of those sexy musicians becomes a fan of her.
From the minute he meets Layla, Shane Morgan’s heart beats a heavy metal rhythm, but his head is full of doubt. Since only the most hardcore fans could pick the drummer out of a lineup, he’s resigned to groupies using him to get closer to the more famous guitarists. But he doesn’t want to be Layla’s passthrough.
As Layla gets to know the real people behind the music, she’s drawn to the less-than-flashy drummer’s sweet charms, fascinating mind, and banging hot body, but she worries about his insecurities. She needs to convince Shane she’s moved beyond fandom before he discovers her online history and loses all faith in her intentions.
But the Internet is forever, and secrets have a way of getting out.
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I’m a sucker for a shy hero with a good heart. If he’s also a musician with a messy head of auburn hair, I’m toast. Shane is my type of man, and I loved navigating the world of fandom through Layla’s eyes, especially when their chemistry lit the pages on fire. Kind of Famous is a great rock and roll romance from a different perspective that was a blast to read!
I don’t think I was the intended audience for this book. While I like all genres of romantic fiction, I had a difficult time getting into this book. I could not relate to the h at all. I found her obsessive fan-girling too much. Maybe because I was never like that even in my youth. This one was not for me.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
This is book #3, in Flirting With Fame series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this series in order.
Layla is starting work at a new job in New York. She wants to do well but it worried if anyone finds out about her past with her blog, it will be all over. Secrets make it hard to move forward.
Shane goes after what he wants – and he wants Layla. Right from the beginning they share a spark and a sense of humor. Can they make a future with the past staying hidden? If it all comes out will they get past the deceit of a withheld story?
The music business is treacherous at best, but the characters in this series are HOT and they know it. This story was full of sizzle and sexy. I loved that there was room for bonds of friendship to form under high pressure conditions too. The characters were complicated and made for an interesting read.
***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley and its publisher.
Layla finds out that being famous in her little corner isn’t easy!
Layla Beckett had finally gotten her foot in the door getting a job with a music magazine doing social media. Layla has a small secret that she runs a large fan site for some of her favorite bands because she has been to some concerts that she likes. She gets to chance to actually meet some of the members at a cookout but she connects with the drummer. Drummer Shane Morgan has always been the band member that most people don’t remember since he’s behind his drum kit but when he met Layla at a cookout, he became interested after talking to her and finding out she liked him more than his bandmate.
Layla is kind of famous in her small area of the internet but when she tries to keep her job, the fan site and her dating separate everything starts to fall apart.
Kind of Famous is a fun look at working at the music magazine and dating someone you know a lot about without letting them know that you are one of their biggest fans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What do you do when you met your biggest crush but can’t “fangirl” out
Kind of Famous is the first book I have read by Mary Ann Marlowe and I thought it was very enjoyable. The story is about Layla Beckett and Shane Morgan. Layla is adorable as she is trying to find her way in life and all the experiences that open her eyes. But she also has a big secret that she is afraid will come out. An alter ego who runs a huge fan site for her favorite rock band. So what does she do when she meets the super hot and red headed drummer, Shane Morgan. As soon as Shane sees Layla it is done and dusted for him. He wants her to be his and only his. Will the sweet, considerate, witty, smart, kind and sinfully sexy drummer have a chance when his flashier band mates are also there. Layla is a young woman who is able to see through all the fluff and recognizes that Shane is really the one for her. Now they just need to negotiate a new relationship while dealing with their own issues.
This book is well written with a solid story-line that was very interesting. The characters are nicely developed and have depth and range, while the supporting characters are woven into the story adeptly so that they sparkle but do not outshine Layla and Shane. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
4.5 stars!
In a very short period of time, I’ve found and read all the books Mary Ann Marlowe has published to date. I’ve come to enjoy her story telling and writing style. Her characters are people you’d like to be friends with. They’re not perfect, but their flaws make them approachable and likable. Kind of Famous features Layla Beckett, whom I met previously in another of Mary Ann’s books.
I loved Layla. She’s a fangirl at heart, but is able to separate fantasy from reality. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. I loved her chemistry with Shane. Shane Morgan is the drummer in a band. He’s not the most famous, as the lead singer Micah and another member Noah have all the groupies. However Layla sees through the flash and glamour and sees him for the gem he is. I love Shane for being a gentleman and so considerate of Layla. His insecurities are what made him easy to like, even though they caused lots of trouble down the line.
The story flows well and I enjoyed seeing how Shane and Layla handled being in a relationship that progressed quickly. I also loved seeing Jo and Micah from A Crazy Kind of Love and Eden and Adam from Some Kind of Magic. While Some Kind of Magic is the first book, any of these books can be read without spoiling the others, although for continuity’s sake you’ll want to start there. I’m hoping Mary Ann will write more set in this world. Noah might be surly, but he’s not irredeemable! And even if she doesn’t, I look forward to reading whatever she writes next!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last! I really enjoyed this story. It seems well thought out and delivered supremely well. The storyline was pretty unique and had just the right amount of humor and angst. I recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although lighthearted, the more serious themes were beautifully incorporated, without being forced. It’s a story about regular people (OK, slightly struck by celebrity 🙂 ) with their own fears, hopes, and desires, who find their very own one-of-a-kind love. The secondary characters are also beautifully fleshed and hope they’ll have books of their own.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The great character and storyline development kept me totally engaged as I turned each and every page! This was the first book that I have read from this author and it definitely will not be the last!
Super fan girl.
Layla is 28, just new to New York and starting a new job. Oh, and she’s Pumpkin39, super fan who runs a fan site of a popular band.
She meets Shane, a member of said band.
What I liked?
It’s a hipster peek into the music world with a heavy dose of social media fandom.
Told first person POV from Layla’s view point. I would have liked more Shane pov.
Verdict.
Enjoyable, light, kind of New Adult-y.
Layla Beckett just started her dream job for “Rock Paper”, a well-known music magazine in New York. She was ecstatic to turn her long-time music obsession into her real-life career! But when she got to her cubicle, there was no laptop for her. She stepped over to the woman in the next cubicle to ask where the IT group was when she was stunned to recognize Josie “Jo” Wilder. Jo wouldn’t know her, but Layla’s fan-base website had for 10 years idolized the Walking Disaster band and Jo had a connection with them. Jo was a relatively obscure photographer, not a celebrity herself. But she was the girlfriend of Micah Sinclair, whose sister was Eden Sinclair, whose husband was Adam Copeland, lead singer of Walking Disaster. It was a thrill for Layla to finally meet Jo in person! Jo’s boyfriend was out of town so she invited Layla over for dinner because they both could use the company.
To Layla’s delight, she feels even closer to her favorite band and begins to know the actual people involved in the music scene. Still keeping her secret role as the admin on her fan-base website makes her walk a precarious line of what is “right” as she now has insider information which she should ethically not reveal. It becomes even more awkward when she begins a relationship with one of the band members, Shane Morgan, whose own insecurities could view her dual life as betrayal. Will he trip over her internet site? Will he discover her alias and website, and dump her before she can hurt him?
This was a really wonderful book that makes a reader feel like part of the behind-the-scenes action. The dialog and characters were perfect for giving the reader the look and feel of both the good and bad parts of stardom. Grab your copy and enjoy this clever story line.
Marlowe has just the right mix for an engaging novel with a “rock-star” romance. Layla Beckett just started her dream job in NYC with a prestigious music magazine. Her first day on the job, she makes a friend who gives her access to her very favorite band. Perfect, right? Well, Layla has a secret life as the admin of the heavily trafficked fan site for this band. As Layla gets to know the real people behind the music, balancing the two becomes an issue especially when she falls into a relationship with a sexy musician who distrusts groupies. This is an entertaining book with witty dialogue, believable characters, and an interesting storyline with a bit of angst. The inside peek of fandoms shows the less than attractive side of being famous along with the perks. Kind of Famous is a sexy, fun read with original lyrics as part of the grand gesture which I loved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first book by Mary Ann—Robinbe Lee tweeted it—so I thought I would check it out. I loved the characters and the story. Will definitely read Mary Ann’s other books:)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.