Ross Macalester is forty-three, rich, famous, and plain worn out. Life has been nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll for twenty years, and he’s not sure he can stomach one more minute of the party. When an invitation to his twenty-fifth high school reunion shows up, Ross decides he has nothing to lose–after all, he already lost his daughter’s love and a fair amount of self-respect. So he … catches a flight back to his hometown, but when he walks in the door of the high school gym, his gaze lands on someone he never expected to see again.
Carly Ellis is busy, getting by, and most days pretty happy. Life hasn’t always been easy, but she has her teenage son, a good job in real estate, and an ex who doesn’t cause too much trouble. Granted, she’d rather skip her high school reunion, but when your best friend is on the organizing committee, there’s no getting out of it. Then she walks through the door of the high school gym and her gaze lands on someone she never expected to see again.
Once upon a time, Carly was Ross’s high school prom date. One very sweet night that both of them knew didn’t mean a thing. Now they have a chance to do it again. Same conditions. Same game. But after a night in Carly’s arms, Ross isn’t sure he wants it to end. Could she be the answer to everything he’s been missing? A key to the future he secretly wants? With life offering him a second act, will Ross be able to pull off his most important encore ever?
Encore is an uplifting rockstar, second-chance, single parent, high school reunion romance with a hero who needs a little reboot, a heroine who’s strong enough to give it to him, two sassy teens, a perfect HEA, and an iguana named Chuck–just because.
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Loved this book! Loved the characters & writing, can’t wait to see what’s next. Great writing. I usually don’t read rockstar books but this one was actually good.
I had a great time reading this amazing book that full of characters that are well developed and engaging and full of chemistry between the characters. The storyline held my attention from the beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Selena Lawrence is one of my favorite authors, and Encore didn’t disappoint! It is a sweet and sexy second chance story. The characters and situations were so relatable that you could picture it happening to your friends. Ross and Carly’s relationship was so interesting to watch unfold. The twists and turns keep you guessing and hoping for a HEA for them. Their relationships with their kids was heartwarming, and so real. And who couldn’t laugh at an iguana named Chuck? There was a perfect amount of humor, angst, and most importantly, love, with the HEA wrapped up with a beautiful bow. I hope you will give this fun and sexy feel good book a try. You won’t be sorry!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first book by Selena Laurence and I was entertained. I was digging the older mature vibe to this book and all the teen drama that add to my enjoyment of the book.
I look forward to reading more from this author for sure.
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review***
I liked Encore very much. Finally a rock star romance with mature characters who made their fair share of mistakes and reckless decisions but they learned to accept and live with them. I liked both Carly and Ross as individuals and together as well. I liked Ross’ determination to make it work with his daughter. Carly was such a great person. She did everything to help Ross even when it broke her heart.
I liked Selena Laurence’s writing. The story and its execution too were entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You can go home again
Rocker Ross is tired. Tired of the fame, tired of the constant traveling. Just plain tired. When he goes home for the first time for his 25th High School reunion, he realizes what he’s been missing. And it’s not just the feeling of being home, but it’s the girl that he left behind. Now all he has to do is untangle his life – and become that father that he hasn’t been to his daughter back in LA.
Carly has a satisfying life. She has a good relationship with her son’s father, a successful career in real estate and some really close friends. But when she sees Ross at their reunion, she sees what’s missing, and it’s the hot rocker. But they agree that it would only be for one night, just like peon night all those years ago. But can they keep it to just once?
I’m looking forward to more from this author.
> Encore
Encore
by Selena Laurence (Goodreads Author)
Andrea’s review
Feb 13, 2020 · edit
it was amazing
From the outside, Ross McAllaster has it all. Looking closely, you’d find a man who has just about all the fame he wants, looking for something else in life. His friend suggests that he should go back to his 25th Class Reunion, just to see if his friends are still there and if he can still call it his home. Carly, a successful realtor and single mother to her son, Quinn, spots him at the reunion and wonders if the prom date she knew in high school, still exists under that Rockstar image. Ross is estranged from his daughter, Sara, and he now sees what the years of neglect have done to her. Carly and Ross realize that they did have feelings for one another in high school and this is their chance to make a new beginning for them. Encore is such a sweet story and it’s written with wit and consistency. The characters couldn’t be more delightful, especially Chuck, the guard iguana! Fabulous epilogue!
This is a really awesome story about two mature adults who fall in love. Ross and Carly had been friends in school. Twenty five years later when they meet again the attraction is still there. Ross is at a point in his life and career where he needs to make a change to feel more fulfilled. Coming back to his roots and connecting with the things and people he left behind seems to be just what is needed. Carly is a single mom and confident career woman. She is rooted in her community and doesn’t want to change that.
The characters are wonderful and lovable. The dialogue is realistic and will keep you turning the pages. There is the opportunity to laugh out loud and to empathize with the vagaries of parenting a teen and trying to date. It is a beautifully written story that is well worth reading more than once.
LOVED this book! Ross is a legendary rock star and has been touring for 25 years with a teenage daughter that he barely knows. Carly is a divorced single mom of a teenage son. He goes to his HS reunion where the attraction for his “just friends” prom date reignite. This is a perfect example of how to do an over 40 romance. All of the characters have depth. There are no threads that are dangling. This story is written so that you become immersed in pages and reality is blurred – at least it was for me. Ross’ words are so honest and genuine. There was no hiding behind an “alpha” demeanor – despite that basically being his profession for his entire adult life. I fell in love with the love in this town and the connection between all of the characters. I highly recommend this book. I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Second chance, 25th high school reunion and a rock star makes for a great read! Ross is tired and wants to change his life. He wants to be a father to his 14 yr old after missing so much with being on the road. Now being back home for the reunion he sees his prom date Carly again. Carly has a 16 yr old, a great job and great friends. I love this book and watching Ross deal with life, the band, his daughter, Carly, and all his feelings.
Rockstar Ross is tired of his life on the road and decides to attend his 25th high school reunion, where he reconnects with Carly, his prom date from 25 years ago
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Sparks fly between the two once again, but each of them has a life to navigate before they can find any sort of happily-ever-after. They’ve each been married and it’s important to each of them to see to their children’s needs. This is nothing new for Carly, but Ross is struggling to mend fences with his teenage daughter, and it’s not easy.
I loved Ross’s genuineness, and Selena Laurence does a deft job of letting the reader see things from both his and Carly’s points of view.
I’m not usually a rock star romance fan, but I loved this story. I was immediately drawn into Ross & Carly’s world and could not wait to see if they could make things work.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review which I was happy to provide.
3.5 Star rating
Second chance romance, second chances at life in general, but can he get it right?
SOME SPOILERS
Ross has given up so much to be frontman for Odyssey, his 14-year-old daughter Sara barely knows him.
It’s time for his school reunion and that reunion leads him back to Carly and she’s hotter than he remembers.
One month break he buys a house in his hometown and has Sara live there and away from the LA lifestyle, it’s time to build some bridges with his daughter and show her how much she’s loved by him and that he wants be there every day for her.
His life is going better than planned, he just needs to win over his bandmates to go along with his future’s plan.
Carly is now a single mother to Quinn and his pet iguana Chuck, she’s at the reunion and the last person she thought would be there is Ross Macalester, her one who she gave her V-card. One thing leads to another and that night is being relived–one night no-strings. If only they can stick to the rules.
Will they all get the HEA they deserve? Will the bandmates throw spanner in the works?
Will Sara learn to see him as a dad and not just a cheque ever month?
Will Chuck give his approval and learn to play nice?
I loved the story between Ross and Carly. From high school prom dates till they see each other again after 25 years there sexual attraction never wavered between them. The Lizard Chuck was hilariously thrown in the mix. Great job Selena Laurence
Ross is a successful musicians who has a daughter, Sara. But he doesn’t see her often and he’s missing out, he’ll ask for her go back to his home town to see where he grew up. He has a 25th school reunion to go to and he’s craving to be the simple man that he was before stardom. Seeing Carly at his reunion sent him back in time, she was his first! Carly is divorced with a son, Quinn. Both are excited to see where this can go. Can this work? Will Sara leave California for her dad home town? Starting fresh brings hope!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this story. Sometimes in life you’re given second chances and sometimes just sometimes they bring you right back to that fork where you first made a decision. Now obviously it’ll be later, could be years and years, so things will have changed BUT sometimes you are given another chance to make either the same choice or a different one. Which will you choose?
After Ross graduated high school he left his small town to become a rock star. And he not only was he one he became the most sought after rock star there was. He achieved everything he could as a rock star BUT he failed in one event in life. Now given another chance to make things better. Things are looking good…until they aren’t.
I loved the characters and the small town!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ross Macalaster is 43 years old and is tired of his rock star lifestyle that has caused him to miss his daughter Sara growing up and now she hates him. He decides to go back to his hometown of Grove City to attend his 25th reunion as he has nothing else to lose.
Carly Ellis is a single mom to Quinn and a successful real estate agent who has always been happy living in Grove City. Her life has been dedicated to Quinn and is lucky that she gets along with his dad.
When the reunion brings Carly and Ross together for the first time since prom the two reminisce about their “no strings” prom night and wonder if they can pull off another one.
But when an incident occurs Ross must decide if he wants to give small town living a chance and maybe this can heal his lost relationships.
This was a great book about healing your heart and doing what you want to do after you’ve had too much of the fast pace lifestyle.
I liked Ross and I felt like he deserved to take a break after touring for so many years at the loss of a relationship with his daughter. I got why he needed to get away from it all and really needed to find a place where he felt like he belonged. I liked the comfort that he found in Grove City and being back with his best friend Craig.
Carly was a great character that I could completely relate to with being a single mom who put their kid first. She was doing a great job with Quinn and I really liked the respect that they showed each other through the book. I liked how she was also able to give Ross a different look at things when it came to his relationship with Sara. At the same time I also understood why she was super hesitant to get involved with Ross as she didn’t want to end up with a broken heart.
The chemistry between Ross and Carly was apparent from the moment they saw each other at the reunion and I loved how the two just got caught up with their respective pasts and felt completely at ease with each other. When Ross is faced with a small dilemma with Sara I love what Carly suggests and how she believes it will bring Ross and Sara closer together.
At the beginning I understood why Sara was so mad as Ross had never been there for her before and had never really been a “dad” to her except in handing out the money she needed. I loved watching the relationship between Ross and Sara change from strangers to an amazing father/daughter relationship.
The “drama” with Ross’s job was tough and intense at times. I understood why he was tired of being on the road with Odyssey and needed a break but the reaction he got from his band mate Stone was crazy. I did understand why Stone was upset as he had been doing it for so long and was obviously not ready to slow down but the things he threatened and did were ridiculous.
My heart broke for Ross, Sara and Carly in the aftermath of the “incident” as I knew what Ross felt like he had to do and I was so upset. I was a little mad at his ex-wife Christine as she didn’t want to budge but at the same time I can say that I probably wouldn’t either.
I was so proud of Sara at the end of the book for forcing Ross to do something he was afraid to do and it made me so happy that he followed her lead!! The very end was awesome and I can’t wait for more!
What did I think about ENCORE by author Selena Laurence? I absolutely ADORED it. From start to finish, this is just the sort of book that I want to read, and I loved every single page.
Although not universally true, I find that contemporary romance largely focuses on characters much younger than myself, and, while I enjoy them, I find it a bit hard to relate to them at times. Finding characters that are at midlife, and still very vital, thank you very much, Selena, is such a welcome change. Ross, Carly, and their friends are in their lives, being the parents, doing the hard work, making lives for themselves and the ones that they love. That the Universe offers them a second chance to recapture the spark that began back in high school is magical, and watching them get to their happy is a real treat.
I love the way that Selena handles the reality of these characters. Ross’s weariness of a life lived in the limelight and away from the place and the people that made him who he is, his responsibility to do right by a daughter that he’s had little to do with raising, the hard decisions he has to make when it comes to what he has to do versus what he’d like to do. And Carly, a mom and businesswoman in her own right, setting a solid example for her son, staying true to herself and letting go of the thing that has revived her spark, in the name of doing the right thing. Selena writes their story so very well, and I found myself totally immersed.
ENCORE was a quick read for me, mostly because I couldn’t put it down, and is solidly on my ‘best of’ list of 2020. I would not hesitate to recommend it, and feel pretty sure that it’s one that I’ll go back to again, any time that I’m looking for a feel-good read. Because sometimes life gives you what you didn’t know you were missing, and it’s a lovely thing.
I loved that this wasn’t your typical rockstar book. Ross was a rockstar that didn’t act like the stereotypical rockstar. I also loved that he was a little older. Second chance is one of my favorites and there were so many second chances in here. I loved the little small town gossips, who when it came down to it, was protective of their own. It takes a village and Ross needed one. I loved that Carly knew him before and was helping shape Ross into the person he wanted to be.
A well written story about Ross Macalester and Carly Ellis who are in their forties and get a second chance at love. This is an Author I have not read before. I enjoyed reading this book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was a fantastic read. I love the fact that this rock star book featured characters in their middle age years versus twenties.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.