Christine Sullivan isn’t an easy person to love. She knows how the world sees her – aloof, standoffish, cold…perhaps even bitchy. After a lifetime in politics, including a stint with an expat government in exile, President Sullivan has taken her share of body blows, but now she’s back in Philadelphia…a widow, a recovering Republican, a former public servant seeking a quiet, private existence.
On … existence.
On her to-do list – rebuild her relationship with her estranged daughter and invent the rest of her life. She has her best friend Caroline, her brand spanking new condo, and her ever frustrating Secret Service detail to keep her company. That should be enough for anyone, right?
Until Alexander Guardiola comes along… liberal, emotionally unguarded, younger. A lot younger. Everything Christine isn’t. And isn’t ready for.
But opposites attract, don’t they? And hearts and minds can always be changed…
This is a standalone spinoff in the Bellator Saga series that takes place after the events of Bellator Saga #1-6.
Content Warning: grief, psychological and physical trauma, death
more
Once upon a time a conservative and liberal woman met in Congress and became best friends. The country went to Hell in a hand basket. The besties and their true loves sacrificed life and limb to save the free world, taking on leadership roles neither of them asked for or wanted. This is about what came after. And it is phenomenal.
At first blush, it’s a sexy second chance, contemporary romance featuring a Heroine of a certain age and a Hero fifteen years her junior. Rawr! Cougar alert!!!
But scratch the surface and it’s a rich full story about a brilliant, broken, sometimes brittle woman who had barely been on speaking terms with her own emotions most of her life, trying to reinvent her life. It’s bad enough being thrust into the over 50 dating pool, but as the former President of the United States? It’s almost too much.
But it’s also Dr. Christine Spencer, one of the best characters I have ever met on the pages of a book. She is the embodiment of GenX albeit in Prada heels and St John’s knits. Caroline’s ride or die bestie. And Cecilia London gives us and Christine the HEA she has earned. But to get there we have to sort through all of Christine’s baggage- Love Loss Self doubt Self loathing – which gives us a beautiful mediation on friendship. It’s a story about helping your friends accept themselves the way that you accept them, and finding away to be both a friend and parent to your adult children – especially the adult child who tries to fix you up with her perfectly awful boss – at his retirement party. Of course, hilarity ensues. The bestie banter and Chrissy’s inner monologues on her predicament had me howling. By the way, the cougar bait is the failed fix up’s luscious, activist son, who takes after his mother. Thank the goddess.
I adored this book. It’s quirky and caustic and joyous all at once. Moreover, it was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits in these strange days.
#TopReadof2020
Oh my… I’d miss these characters and this universe so much.
After all Caroline, Jack, their families and Christine went through, I was glad to see that time a « sense of normalcy » for two of my favorite heroines and besties.
I was so glad that Christine got her story. I missed her sarcastic interactions with Caroline, her BFF’s feminists rants and her family, and Jack…(still have a crush on that one)
Christine is a tough woman, introvert but not afraid to speak her mind, knowing to press where it hurts. A complicated relationship with her daughter and some heavy baggage, a bit lost after the end of her mandate as a president.
I loved this character, she wasn’t trying to please people, they had to accept her like she was.
I guess the author has written the perfect match for her, a man who managed to break her walls, and he wasn’t afraid to be honest and willing to fight for her battles, to push when she needed to but damn if she wasn’t fighting too hard. Most of all, he was accepting her wholeheartedly. Ah Alexander… swoon, swoon, swoon!
Christine could frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, stuck doggedly to her positions. I just wanted to feel like she could breathe again and finally live and not act.
Still, I adored every moment. I read it in one sitting and I was so delighted to discover more about Christine.
Alexander and Christine have such an amazing chemistry, a real connection and a banter I loved, filled with sarcasm, humour and outspokenness.
I just adored them together. Le freaking sigh!
Anyway, seeing again some characters I fell in love with warmed my heart. I was so happy to watch them reunite, to catch a glimpse of their lives after facing such tremendous trials for freedom.
Cecilia London almost made me cry with that story. Songbird was such a beautiful and emotional journey.
Songbird is the 7th book in Cecilia London’s Bellator Saga Series. This is a great series. This book is Christine story. She was pivotal character in the last books and this being her book is perfect.
Christine is one tough character in so many ways. She one to show her strength on the outside but there is so much to her on inside.
After all Christine, Caroline, and Jack have been through you can only hope that all get there chance to find that happiness. When Alexander comes in he will be the one that Christine needs to start again. Although you never forget your first love you never want close the hope for a second chance at love not matter the age you are. Alexander seem to be the one able to show Christine this.
I love this book and this series. I give it five stars!!!