In Emma Douglas’ new novel, No Place Like You, home–the island village of Cloud Bay–is where the heart is. . . . . Leah Santelli always knew that Zach Harper, son of a rock legend and her best friend’s brother, was painfully out of reach. Then, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Leah shocked herself by asking for–and receiving–the gift she wanted: one night of passion with Zach before … night of passion with Zach before he left town to pursue his rock star dreams. Now, years later, Zach is back in Cloud Bay to record his first solo album. His return could also be Leah’s big chance to step up her own music career. But getting the producing credit she needs means spending long hours with Zach in the recording studio…and falling back into the habit of longing for him, for better or worse.
Zach used to believe that a man must put his past behind him. But coming back home for Cloud Bay’s famed music festival has allowed him to finally make amends with his family and, much to his surprise, reunite with Leah. He might have left her once but now it seems he can’t stay away. Trouble is, even though the heat between them burns hotter than ever, Leah has old wounds in need of healing before she can give Zach a real chance. Can he find a way to convince her that they can make more than just great music together–and that she’s the one that he wants for all time?
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In Emma Douglas’ latest in her Cloud Bay series the author treats us to a sometimes intense yet heartwarming second chance story. Zack Harper, son of famous Blacklight rock star Grey Harper and rock star in his own right, and Leah Santelli grew up together in Cloud Bay. Leah is Zack’s sister, Faith’s best friend. Leah is part of the Blacklight family in that she is the daughter of Blacklight’s music producer and is following in her father’s footsteps trying to break into the music production industry herself. Leah had a crush on Zack when they were younger. She acted on her attraction to Zack on her eighteenth birthday when she precipitated a one-night-stand with him, her desperation act before he planned to leave Cloud Bay to launch a music career. Ten years later Zack’s back and the attraction on both sides still exists.
Emma Douglas does an excellent job of telling Zack and Leah’s story of their HEA. The plot flows smoothly and the story held my attention throughout. The sex scenes were hot starting with up against the wall sex. The author cast the scenes very well to describe the emotions and reactions of our hero and heroine. She made me feel a part of the story and very invested in what occurred with Zack and Leah. I really enjoyed this book!
I voluntarily read an ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
I haven’t read any other book by this author, but not I have to get the previous books. I really liked this story and the characters. Zach left home years ago and rarely comes back. His sisters are mad at him right now and he is trying to make up with them. Leah has loved Zach since they were kids and now that he is back, she needs to keep her heart safe because she knows he will be leaving again. She has just gone through a divorce and can’t let her heart be battered like that again. And Zach is just the person who can do that to her. The problem is that she will be working closely with him and there is such an attraction that it makes things awkward. She comes up with the idea of having only a physical relationship with no strings attached. Easy! Right!? Maybe.
Leah works as a sound engineer but really wants to produce music. She has been around it all her life and loves it. Zach is the son of a rocker and half owns the company Leah works for. He comes back after his group breaks up and starts working on his own album. He needs a great producer and when Leah asks for the job, he turns her down. When the producer he picks doesn’t give him what he wants, he turns to Leah. Leah and Zach had a one night stand on her eighteenth birthday and then he left. She knows he’s not sticking around so she proposes they have sex until he leaves. But when he gets a chance to work with his ideal producer, he takes off and leaves Leah broken hearted. Zach realizes the mistake he has made and goes back home. Will he win back his girl and get his career off the ground? Good story. Leaves you with a little cliffhanger. Good characters. The sex is not very descriptive. One or two was but the rest wasn’t. This was my first book by this author. I’ll be checking out the rest of her books. * Voluntarily read and reviewed this for netgalley *
Zach Harper constantly feels like he is living in the shadow of his famous father, and it’s a daily struggle for him to break free of the shadow and earn a reputation in the music world on his own merit. He thought leaving Cloud Bay behind, and going out on his own would help him find the stardom he craved, but things didn’t quite pan out like he thought, and now he finds himself returning home to face all that he left behind. Namely, Leah, a beautiful woman he spent one night with, and then walked away from without so much as a goodbye…
Leah Santelli has harbored a serious crush on Zach Harper for as long as she can remember, and the one night that they shared years ago, still lingers with her everyday. She so desperately wanted to explore the feelings their one night brought about, but Zach had other things on his mind, a music career that would bring him the stardom he craved. So, she reluctantly moved on, married another, but things didn’t turn out like they were supposed to, and now she is a divorced woman trying to find her way in the music world. When she hears that Zach is returning home she is filled with reservations about seeing him again after all these years, but he could also be the one person who can help her break into the music world… problem is the moody musician has no interest in what she has to offer.
No Place Like You is a touching read that is filled with moments that will push your emotional buttons, and moments that will have your heart singing. This is my second visit to the series and I have to say I enjoyed this trip just as much as the first, these wonderful characters pulled me into their world, made me feel right at home, and their journey to finding forever left my heart happy. The story line was well crafted, it was poignant, rich with emotion, and kept me captivated from start to finish! Highly recommend you make a visit to Cloud Bay, the folks there will pull you into their world and have you never wanting to leave!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
No Place Like You by Emma Douglas
Cloud Bay #3
On a small island off the coast of California lies Lansing Island and where the ferry lands is the town of Cloud Bay. A small island brought to the world’s attention by a rock group that settled there and created a venue for the annual rock festival “Cloud Fest”. One family, the Harpers, is at the forefront of the island and of this series – at least so far. In book one Faith Harper falls for tennis player Caleb White and breaks all of her island rules to achieve a HEA that thrills both of them. In book two the story of widow Mina Harper and whiskey distiller Will Fraser find love. And, in book three Zach Harper comes home to lick his wounds, make a record and get a second chance at love.
Leah Santelli has worked with her father, Sal, for years and has begun to make a name as a sound mixer who has aspirations of producing records. She has been married and divorced and perhaps has always treasured her one night of passion with Zach. Now Zach Harper is an entitled wannabe rock star. He is part of a ban that suddenly finds itself on hiatus for at least a year and all the members are scrambling for what to do next. Zach has opted to write songs that will push his career forward IF all goes well. Being back home for him is a mixed bag…still rather entitled, a bit at loose ends, still driven, sometimes unable to see beyond his own needs and yet…as time goes by he does seem to begin to realize how his past behavior might have impacted others. The question, in the end, is what will prove to be most important to Zach and whether or not his second chance with Leah will become more than a no strings fun time for the two of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
What’s it like to grow up as a musically talented son to a big rock star? To grow up believing the music is the only thing that matters? Zach has treated his friends & sisters like crap in his quest for stardom but insists he isn’t like his father. He was single & everyone knew he wasn’t staying around. He did feel guilty about bailing on his sister though. Now his band mate has bailed on the rest of the band & he gets what it feels like. He’s decided to come home & see if he can produce a solo album. That means he has to apologize to his sisters & make amends.
Leah had a crush on Zach for years & finally got him to notice her on her 18th birthday. Then he left the island. Now Leah is earning a reputation as a sound engineer in the studio, has been married & divorced & is ready for another challenge. After hearing Zach is back to try to create a solo album, she wants the chance to produce some of his songs. Can they get past the awkwardness of being together again? Can they keep their hearts from being involved? Will Zach bail on everyone again?
I enjoyed this third installment of the Blacklight kids. While it is part of the series, it can be read as a stand alone. The characters are well developed & complex. Zach has moments where he comes across as an egotistical player but also moments where he is vulnerable. As a reader, I could sense the times when his father, Gray’s, attitudes & influences crept in & affected the scene. Leah was a little too willing to put herself on the line & needed to learn her wants were just as important in the relationship. I can’t wait to see what we find out in book four!