Thump..^…^..Thump…^…^..Thump…^…^…My heart beats to the rhythm of each stroke he makes.EMMYFall in love with a rocker, bad plan.Fall in love at sixteen, even worse.Doesn’t matter, he’s on his way to his next gig. Life is complicated but has a way of coming together in strange places.That’s what I keep telling myself. Now, I’m facing a man who wants me, but someone else stands in the … wants me, but someone else stands in the way.
Someone from my past. Someone from his present. What if I choose the wrong one?
ALEX
I’ve got problems, but women aren’t one of them.
I’m sick in the worst possible way. Then she steps into my life, again. If only I could remember her.
Doesn’t matter, she’s already spoken for.
Life is complicated and has a way of throwing in obstacles on the road to success.
That’s what I keep telling myself. Now, I’m facing a life-altering battle and need someone to stand by me.
Someone I want. Someone who knows me. How the hell do I convince her?
Timing is everything.
And now is the time to fight for what’s mine!
more
Before the Second Show
By Thia Finn
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading this book. Before the Second Show by Thia Finn pulled me in from the very beginning and I found that I didn’t want to put it down until I finished the final page. I loved reading about the characters of Emmy and Alex. Emmy fell in love with a rock star at sixteen. He, however, moves on with ease to his next tour. Years later life has a way of becoming complicated when she has one man wanting her and another standing in the way. Alex has never had a problem with women. He could have anyone he wants. What happens when someone from the past who he can’t remember reenters his life? Alex is finding that he is starting to have feelings/emotions for this girl. What does the future hold for Emmy and Alex? Will a life-altering battle change everything for Alex? Read this book to find out. This story has emotional moments. It also has moments when characters banter back and forth with each other and I found myself laughing. The characters of Alex and Emmy are likable, and I couldn’t help but care about what happens in their lives. I really enjoyed the character that is Emmy’s bestie and their interactions. Don’t miss out on a wonderful story that will have you reading late into the night to find out what happens. I would highly recommend reading this book.
Thia Finn was a new author for me. I absolutely love her! This book was outstanding. I personally have always had a fantasy of a band member falling in love with me. This book let me read my fantasy come true! I can’t wait to read more of her books. Emmy and Alex are some of the greatest characters I’ve read to date.
4 Stars
Before the Second Show by Thia Finn is a superb Rockstar romance. It is my first read from Thia Finn- and wow, have I been missing out on some great reading by not having discovered her sooner. Something I plan to rectify now, by diving into her catalogue of books in the very near future.
I will be completely honest here and let you know that initially I chose this book as a bit of a ‘palate cleanser’, after some really intense stories left me with a heavy book-hangover. I wanted something light and fun, an easy read to get me back on track. While this was all those things- I definitely underestimated the story- because even though I knew I would love it (because, DUH- Rockstar romance, what’s not to love), I found that I loved it far more than I thought I would. It only took a couple of pages into the book, and I was hooked- avidly reading to discover where the story would lead. I became far more invested in the story and the characters than I expected- which made this book a fantastic ‘surprise’.
While there were times I didn’t like where the story was headed, or what the characters were doing- and times I wanted to shake some sense into them- I still couldn’t tear myself away from the story, and ended up reading it in one sitting.
There were a few little issues which confused me- but in the end they didn’t detract too much from the overall storyline.
I will definitely be reading more of Thia Finn’s books- I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me!
Thank you, Thia Finn!
This is the first book that I have read from Thia Finn and I loved it. It’s sometimes hard to branch out from different authors that we love but this one definitely made the group! This story captivated me and I could not stop reading! Even if hearts are broken and paths are crossed again you learn that there are different sides to every story and LOVE will always win. This is one emotional story but one that was so beautiful to read! I cannot wait to read more from Thia Finn!!!!!
I was in love with this book from the first chapter. I think almost every 16 year old can relate to Em and having a crush on a rock star. As her story unfolded, I couldn’t relate to her hardly anymore, but as I finished the book I can see that Em has some class about her. She’s not like a lot of woman. I can say I didn’t like Marcus right off the bat, it’s almost like he was too perfect. It kind of amazes me how she writes about Alex and Em because I understood how they connected so fast because thats how my husband and I were. It really feels like fiction because of a rock star and a girl who had a crush on him ended up together, but once you start reading the story it’s really well wrote. I rarely will read a book more than once, however I’d read this one over and over again. I’ll for sure read more books from Thia Finn.
Before the Second Show by Thia Finn a five-star read that will rock you. Rockstar romance are a hard one to get right, so I usually avoid them unless I know the author and enjoy their style already, but I took a chance on this one and I am so glad I did as this was brilliant. This was such a fast paced read for one that spans such a great length of time, but it was so well done as you get to see Emmy go from wide eyes 16 year old, to a woman in her own right, but as we all know that first major crush has a lot of miles to it, especially when the guy your with isn’t all he thinks he is. This is a stand-alone, but there are so many great characters I would love to hear more from, I will be eagerly watching this author to see if this becomes a series as I will be reading them if they do.
I’m a big rocker romance fan. It’s rare to find a story that steps outside the norm. I was pleasantly surprised to read Before the Second Show which came at the trope from a different and refreshing angle. Emmy Tillis and her boundary pushing bestie Rylee are girls I’d like to be friends with. Alex Trace and his is a larger than life rock star. Emmy turns herself inside out dreaming of being the object of his affection. It’s a hard lesson to learn that they move on to the next city without looking back.
The book is a testament to timing, love will find a way when it’s supposed to, there’s no forcing it. Fate had a hand in putting the couple back into each other’s orbit when they were ready. I also loved the different kinds of love in the book. The brothers love and their bond with their band mates with large personalities.
Finn draws wonderful visuals with her words and Austin itself is a character with night life, eateries and natural wonders. I’m a fan and I will be reading more of her stories.
Before the Second Show by Thia Finn. This story is every teenage girls dream come true! Its the story of the band Trace and 16 year old Emmy. Emmy and her friend Rylee go to a Trace concert and they get backstage. Rylee tries to convince Emmy the lead guitarist Alex, is in love with her so they kiss and its magical. Emmy doesn’t see Alex for a long time because after that concert they head off on a world tour and when she finally does see him, he doesn’t remember her. Emmy moves on and lives her life and has finally found a guy named Marcus who is in her field of work and is a stand up guy but Emmy just doesn’t feel the spark that she felt with Alex. When Emmy has decided that Marcus is the guy for her and not Alex, Alex shows back up needing her and she is left so conflicted. Will she make the right choice? Read Before the Second Show to find out!
This is my first Thia Finn book but it definitely will not be my last! This was so well written! I was immediately drawn in and absolutely fell in love with Emmy and Alex! Well, maybe not so much with Alex but I definitely grew to love him! LOL!
Who doesn’t dream of meeting their rock star crush??? But what happens when you do meet them, more than once, and they don’t remember you at all? You’ve spent years between meetings pining away for a guy your 16 year old self fell in love with just to find out you meant nothing to them. Just a blip on their rocker radar! This is the life of Emmy. Now hardened to men. Even when she meets a great guy, she can’t totally fall because of how devastated she was by her past.
Alex, super hot, typical rocker…a life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Now he’s trying to get himself together and finds himself face to face with Emmy, who he still doesn’t remember but who he is completely drawn to. Problem now is not just that Emmy has hardened herself to him, but that she is now also taken!
This was such a great story! I loved following along through the lives of Emmy, Alex, and the rest of Alex’s band! 5 Stars for Before The Second Show! I am looking forward to more from this author!
Love Alex and Emmy’s story. Love the connection between the two of them and how their story went through the ups and downs. Love all the characters.
Thia Finn is a new author to me and this book couldn’t have been a better way to be introduced to her writing. I completely enjoyed reading Before the Second Show. This book is a sweet romance that will rock your socks off along the way. Emmy always loved the rockstar life and found it intriguing. Then we have Alex who is immersed in the life and a rockstar himself that has experienced the joys and the trials that come with being famous. These two will cross paths and their lives will never be the same. Will they come out on top with a happily ever after or will they end up alone? I loved how light and easy this book was to read. I found myself devouring it quickly and in pretty much one sitting. I look forward to seeing what else might be available and what will come from Thia Finn in the future.
5 Star
Before the Second Show by Thia Finn is a wonderfully written story that I found myself lost in the pages and couldn’t stop reading till the end. I absolutely love second chance romance especially if there’s a Rockstar involved somehow. Emmy and Alex ,she fell in love at sixteen with a Rockstar but he easily moves on to the next tour. Several years later she has one man wanting her and another who is standing in the way. What will happen when someone from the past reenters his life but they have no memory? Can these two have a future together? There were moments when my emotions were all over the place and other moments where I was laughing. Find out what happens next in this must read.
I enjoyed every page of this book. From start to finish I was drawn in and didn’t want the book to end. I found myself drawn to the music and the characters and the storyline. It was beautifully written and I simply loved every moment. I will be reading it again as soon as possible.
Before the Second Show by Thia Finn a great read it really spoke to my heart. This is my first book by Thia and I loved it. I did want to have words with Emmy at times but the overall story and Thia’s writing wormed its way in and I could not put it down once I started it. Alex needed to realise that there is more to life than drugs, sex and rock and roll and Emmy need to find her way from teenage crush to womanhood. Now they are both a little older and wiser they are just where they need to be in life.
Emmy fell in love with a musician as a teenager and thought he felt the same way only to realise years later he had no idea who she was. Left devastated at the time but now as an adult she was finally in a place to open up to a relationship. Unfortunately, fate wasn’t done with her heart and once again she finds herself in the same place, she left behind so many years ago.
Alex lived the life a musician and rode the path of indulgence but after years of being on the road he wanted a place to call home. Now his past is finally catching up to him, there is one thing that he finds he needs more than anything, even though their paths had crossed before, but he doesn’t remember.
I truly enjoyed this story and was sorry to see it end. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
What if your teenage crush on the rock star on the stage could be something more??? Emmy thinks maybe and then no, she grows up and meets her crush again, could this be their time? Maybe, join Emmy and Alex as they meet again and see if that tiny spark could be more?
Loved Alex and Emmy’s love story and can’t wait for the next book to see the rest of the band find their own love stories.
Thia Finn is a new author for me and this was a brilliant introduction to them! This author definitely has a way with words, a brilliant storyline has been created along with in-depth characters that I thoroughly enjoyed to read, it was well developed from the start and I was hooked within minutes. I loved the characters that this author created, they were each real, relatable and helped push the story forward. This story definitely brings you all the emotions but with it, I couldn’t put the read down. I can’t wait to see what else this author brings us!
Before the Second Show was a great way to start off 2020. This is the book that I will be comparing to other books. I will carry the emotions throughout the year.
I will hold Emmy’s broken heart, cradle it, and smile when she finds the strength to take it back. I will happily hold the flashlight for Alex on his emotional journey. I will cherish the satisfaction I felt as Emmy grew strong, capable and determined.
I don’t read blurbs. I like to be surprised. I like those “oh my word” moments. I like to choose who I will like, who I will root for and who I will despise. I like the story to grab me. Before the Second show gave me so many of those moments. It was AMAZING!!!!
I don’t consider this book a love triangle but a dramatic triangle. Thank you Thia Finn so much drama. Thank you Thia Finn for giving me a memory of my youth, standing in front of the stage, trying to get the attention of the band. Thank you for allowing me to live vicariously through Emmy.
This author really know how to write Rockstar stories and she definitely has another hit on her hands. The book had all the feels as we watch Alex and Emmy struggle to find their way to a relationship. Life isn’t all sweetness and roses and this was a very good story. Hooked me from the start and now I want more from the other guys. Hopefully with other books, we can keep in touch with Alex and Emmy because I fell for them! Get the book!!!
Teenage angst, hopes and dreams, and young love that leave butterfly wings fluttering in your stomach. Your first crush that gives you just enough promise of things to come. All to come crashing down when you realize he doesn’t even remember you let alone love you. Thia Finn delivers a story that absolutely shattered Emmy into pieces, over and over, and over.
Emmy fell for Alex, guitar god and first love. When Emmy first meets Alex he gives her vibes and hopes. Ones she holds onto from her high school crush to her college desire. Unfortunately, her second meeting was empty. Time to move on. So she did. However, no relationship seemed to hold her heart fully.
Alex was definitely your typical musician. Sex, drugs, and alcohol reigned supreme. Emmy was just one of many females that worshipped him. Except he couldn’t remember her yet her ghost seemed intent on resurrecting something in him.
When circumstances bring them together, the timing is definitely bad, especially for Alex. Personal issues and his health are factors he never anticipated but answers so many questions.
Emmy is taken but Alex wants her. Is she an obstacle or a saving grace?
I empathized with Marcus. He deserved better. Emmy was never invested in Marcus from start to finish. He was always just a place holder for a dream- a dream that eventually came true! I tolerated Emmy for most of the book; she was immature, selfish, and prickly. The last chapter made me really dislike her, when she left Alex and went home because he didn’t say the exact words she wanted!!! He showed her a 1000 ways each day through his actions. Seeing red. Grrr… I loved Alex, but not her.