Ten years. Five women. One concert. Your reunion was never this good. Or this complicated. A decade ago, Callie Smalls walked away from her top-selling, all-girl music group to pursue her solo career in fashion and television, leaving the other members high and dry. Following her stint hosting the acclaimed reality TV show, Made for Me, Callie realizes that the only way to boost her fading career … way to boost her fading career is to book a one-night-only reunion gig at a major music festival, without talking to her former bandmates. Scattered across the country, at different points in their lives, can they come together to rekindle the magic in their music?
A soccer mom whose husband doesn’t know about her past. A fading star, sacrificing all to stay in the spotlight just one second more. A party girl, challenged with her most important role yet. A tiger mom, fighting for her son. A desperate woman, unhappy and alone.
A lot can change in the course of a decade. Will it be harmony or hatred for the Sassy Cats?
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DNF. 10% in, I couldn’t get into it. Couldn’t even keep the characters straight…or care about any of them.
Tried to save this until a beach day…couldn’t wait and am glad it was good throughout. Lots of fun!
Fantastic Story & NarrationMesmerizing!
Once in a Lifetime
By: Kathryn R. Biel
Narrated by: Lisa Beacom
I enjoyed this book immensely, it is well written with interesting storylines that grabbed my attention right from the start and held it straight to the end. The Sassy Cats was an all girl band who broke up 10 years ago, each member went their own separate way. When one member, Callie, takes it upon herself to book the band for a reunion for a big music show. She needs to get everyone on board quickly, which is easier said than done, it has been ten years and they all fell out of touch. Some of the members are resistant they do no want to revisit that time of their life. But Callie manages to get them all to agree. I liked how we get each band members point of view, we see where life lead them and what their current situation is as well as views into their past. Callie Smalls is a reality TV show host for “Made for Me” her goes is to become a fashion designer. She is bossy and thinks she runs the show but no worries others put her in her place. Angie is also in the business, she is a dancer in a reality show with her partner Sergei, which is added drama to her situation. Tabitha is more of a glam society girl, she is the mom of a new born so her life is forever changing. Dauen-phen aka Daphne is married, she and her husband Jerry have a son with Autism, they are a great team and doing the best for their son. Mandy is married with three kids, a daughter and twin sons, her husband Myles is a jerk and flies off the handle when he learns she hid her past rom him, never telling him about her time in the band. There is a lot of history between Mandy and Dauen so their situation is even more complex. There are some great secondary characters in the book as well. I liked how everything plays out in this book, the story is uniquely told and plotted, all the pieces fall together leading up to what may be a phenomenal reunion wonder or a phenomenal disaster. I know I am late to the party and that this book is several years old but I hope the author is not finished with these characters yet, would love to hear more about them, especially Mandy. Kathryn R. Biel, thank you for this great novel.
I listened to the Audible edition, Lisa Beacom is a fabulously talented narrator and voice artist. She brings these characters to life, humanizes them, giving each their own distinct voice making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. Her portrayal of the characters is spot on, she takes each role and makes it her own. grasping their persona as well as all their emotions which is reflected in her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this fabulous listen
Loved this original story about a former girl band reuniting. The characters stay with you long after you finish the book!
Yet another awesome book from Kathryn Biel! Once I started reading I couldn’t put this one down. I always feel her characters are so easy to relate to. You can easily see yourself in anyone of the Sassy Cats. Once in a Lifetime makes you think can you ever really go back to what you had before? It was great to see Callie Smalls in another one of Ms. Biel’s books. I love how she ties some of the books together but doesn’t leave you in the dark if this is your first one. Can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!