This novel is a work of fiction and intended for mature readers. Events and persons depicted are of a fictional nature and use language, make choices, and face situations inappropriate for younger readers.His name is Luke. But nobody knows that. He was an iconic musician before he gave up music. But nobody knows that either. They also don’t know he’s twenty-seven, that he used to have an … an infectious laugh, and that he’s way too young to be widowed. They certainly don’t know the rest of his tragic story. All they know is that he comes into their café at the same time every morning and stares at the same chair at the same table. They know he’s strange. They know he interrupts their breakfast with a cold blast of air as he hovers in the doorway, mustering the courage to confront a piece of furniture.
No one asks why. No one cares. He’s fine with that. He’s done with life. This isn’t even his story anymore. It’s actually Callie’s, the young writer who sat in his chair one day.
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A great story that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. I was amazed by this story and the depth it went to in discussing depression and suicide. I love music but the parts where it went into details about all the aspects of the production kind of made me lose focus on the story. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series and others from this author.
Night Shifts Black is definitely a different rock romance and exactly why I enjoyed it. This story is all about the characters Luke, Callie and Casey. It’s their story. They are incredible. All three of them. I was hooked from the moment Luke enters Jemma’s cafe and asks Callie for her chair. I was mesmerized and intrigued. What was going on with Luke and why was that certain chair so important.
Callie is a fantastic character and tries so hard to not frazzle Luke and just gives him time. Their silences holds so much emotion and tension and that’s all because of the fabulous writing from Alyson Santos. Luke is a broken man and he finds hope in Callie. A light. Their friendship is something special. Casey who’s Luke’s closest friend has so many layers and I just enjoyed peeling them off one by one.
Night Shifts Black deals with heavy topics such as depression and suicide which gives it a dark emotional feeling at times but I liked that.
Luke, Callie and Casey are all in their own way lost and together they find hope, passion and love. A wonderful first book in the NSB series.
4 BadAssDirtyAnchorStars
This is another one of those beautifully written books that I couldn’t finish reading. The writing itself flows nicely, the pacing is good, the characters are intriguing, and the dialogue is fresh and snappy. So, why a DNF rating? Well, it’s like this…
This is a little spoilery, but nothing you wouldn’t see already on the other Goodreads and Amazon reviews, so let me just say that when I see a man’s name in the book blurb of a romance novel, I assume that man is the hero. So, I get all invested in him and start to care about his HEA with the heroine. When stuff starts shifting at around the 35% mark of the book and I realize that the male character—who’s name was in the blurb, mind you—is actually NOT the hero, I feel a little deceived. Like my time’s been wasted learning about a guy who isn’t the hero. And a blogger who feels like her time’s been wasted and that she’s been deceived is not a happy blogger.
But honestly, even before all that nonsense, I was pretty sure I was going to DNF this book. Luke (aka: guy who I became invested in who IS NOT THE HERO) is a complete trainwreck. Not brooding and angsty in a sexy way. I’m talking emotionally FUBAR, to the point that I’m not entirely convinced he wouldn’t hurt the heroine. When she shows up at his hotel room after he’s displayed lots of freaky, kind of disturbed behavior, I was side-eyeing her pretty hard, wondering what the hell she could possibly be thinking. I don’t care how handsome the dude is, a smart girl would NEVER go the hotel room of a disturbed individual who has been carrying on conversations with an empty chair for the first 30% of the book.
On a positive note, there’s a description of depression somewhere around the 28%-30% of the story that is the most eloquent I’ve ever read. It should be printed in all psychology textbooks, in my opinion.
And on a final positive note, there’s nothing wrong with the guy who actually IS the hero of the book. He’s a decent dude, swoon-worthy and sexy in his own not-crazy way. He just wasn’t swoon-worthy and sexy enough for me to get over my feelings of betrayal.
Long-story-short: technically, there’s nothing wrong with this book. It’s a beautifully written mind-fuck. A more open-minded reader could probably enjoy the crap out of this one. (Haters of angst should stay far, far away, though.)
Some books are like the fast food restaurants. Quick reads. Other books are more fulfilling when you read, absorb, read, then absorb. For me, Night Shifts Black was one of those books. Callie controls the story. It’s her thoughts and eyes you are participating from. Luke is a puzzle, and you want to know everything, yet it’s only fair to take a little at a time. He isn’t a complex person but rather all his experiences create that feeling. There is no do over, nor anything Luke can do to correct what happened,and he struggles to just deal by shutting down. This is where reading at a pace can allow you to embrace the character and appreciate Luke’s transferation from who he was, who he is, and who he will be. Callie, a stranger, is a key component.
I enjoyed the introduction of Luke’s friend Casey, and the thoughts of a possible love interest with one or the other. The focus of friendship and platonic love make this book humble and heartfelt. If you had friends like Cassie and Casey, you should treasure them.
This is one of the most moving books I have read in the past couple years. It is emotionally charged, the realistic story and characters are so well written!! I love that it wasn’t about sex!
I also enjoyed the detail info on song making!! I very much look forward to reading more from Alyson Santos!!