When Caleb Chance walked out in Detroit five years ago, leaving his band, millions of his fans and his lover behind, Leo knew he could never forgive. Some things, no matter what the cause, are unforgivable.But Leo never expected Caleb to show up again, clean and sober and wanting to get their band, Star Shadow, back together. He definitely never expected to agree to Caleb’s plan.He never expected … plan.
He never expected to confront the love of his life again—or the disaster of his past, the hopelessness of his future, and every terrible thing he’s been carrying inside him.
But maybe some things aren’t so terrible after all.
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This was a heart wrenching but heart warming book of workmates, broken love and healing! Absolutely adored Caleb and Leo’s journey to be whole together again!
Leo and Caleb who are bandmates with Star Shadow and lovers. Caleb ends up walking away from Leo and Star Shadow. Leo is left broken and caring very little just merely existing. Five years later Caleb returns wanting back into the band.
This is a high-angst, slow-burn with a second chance at romance. I really enjoyed reading this story I definitely recommend.
This is my first book from this author. I love a good rockstar and m/m romance read so I was excited to read this story. It was a good read. I enjoyed the characters, the drama and the laughs. This book focuses more on Leo and Caleb’s love story but it also gave me information on the other band members of Star Shadow that makes me want to read their story. There is a lot of hold back when it comes to relationships with these characters. The chemistry between Leo and Caleb was undeniable and I was happy that they got their HEA. There were a few things that disliked about this story that stopped it from being a five star read for me, but I do look forward to giving the next book in this series a try.
Sometimes forgiveness is just too much to ask for. When Leo’s love of his life, Caleb, disappears without a trace, he took away everything that was good with him, leaving Leo broken and caring very little about anything. Leo merely existed. Then, five years later, Caleb returns, expecting to get their band back together for a reunion tour. It was a very big ask. When the other band members want to do it, Leo feels he has no choice. It’s going to be a long road to travel, and no one knows what it’s going to look like on the other side.
The book started off slow, in my opinion, but it had to set up the story, so I tried not to focus on it too much. Once I got a few chapters in, I quickly became obsessed with these guys. I could feel their emotions in the words, and I could picture the story clearly as I continued reading. Caleb and Leo’s story was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Sometimes life isn’t sunshine and roses. Life can be hard and painful, and still be good. There’s no doubt they loved each other. It’s just a question of is it enough and can there be forgiveness.
This is book one in the series, and I feel like the author did a beautiful job setting it up. The side characters were very present throughout the story, so you get to know them very well. I’m really looking forward to reading more from the author, and I’m definitely looking forward to the other books in this series.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Leo and Caleb were in a boy band Star Shadow along with 3 other friends. They fell in love as teenagers, but with circumstances beyond their control Caleb became an alcoholic and disappeared after a show one night. Fast forward 5 years and Caleb shows back up wanting the band to get back together and resume their tour. This story was full of angst and heart break, gave me ugly tears! It was so good. Definitely recommend…..
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Oh my God this book broke me. Leo’s pain was so deep and real, he touched my heart and I ached for him and Caleb. I loved it that the author made them work very very hard to get to their much deserved happy ending. I loved it that it took them time and effort to get back together. Second chance and music stars are some of favorite tropes in romance and this book did them so well. I’m going to go read book two immediately!
Moving MM rock romance: the boys of the band grow up, but can they face their truths?
June 14, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 stars
A very emotional and well-written story about loss, heartbreak and the long road to forgiveness and reconciliation. I really like well put together MM rock romances and this one had good, complex characters in its five members of a boy band that disbanded abruptly when Caleb self-destructed and ran away in the middle of a tour. Boyfriend and lead singer Leo has never recovered from the loss and does not think he ever can when Caleb suddenly reappears. The story focuses on the emotional challenges of the band members as they reunite to finish their suspended contract. There’s some heat, but mostly close camaraderie and gobs of feelings, including their resurrected high from performing.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I loved Terrible Things, it had a real nice pace that let Caleb and Leo’s story be told. I liked the story had bits of their past intermixed. I loved the interaction between Leo and Caleb, it was hot, sexy and so sugary sweet (the good kind). The rest of the band were great characters too. I really look forward to the rest of the Star Shadow series. I totally recommend this book.
Loved this book so much I didn’t want to put it down to adult.
The blurb doesn’t mention that Caleb forces the issue of getting the band back together by holding the contract over their heads. If you’ve ever lived with an alcoholic, even a sober one, you know that they are prone to extremes, so it was not surprising to me that he’d take such a drastic step to get attention.
Leo’s codependency was quite believable to me, too. I’m glad he didn’t run straight back into Caleb’s arms, and I’m glad Caleb didn’t try to push him. I enjoyed their journey back to trust.
The secondary characters are interesting and I hope to see them again in future books.
I received an arc of this book.
Caleb and Leo were soulmates. That was clear from the beginning of this sometimes difficult – but always beautiful – story. The record label their band signed with controlled them to the point of forcing them to hide their love, which was more than the young men, especially Caleb, could deal with. My heart broke for them, and I loved every step they took back to each other when a healed Caleb reappeared years later. Leo went through horrendous pain during the time Caleb was gone, like no one should have to endure; and it wasn’t unreasonable to think he might not be able to forgive. Caleb, with his perfect smile and loving heart, understood that, but he wanted everything with the man he still loved.
I adored all the bandmates, as well as Leo’s brother. There were several relationships floundering here, but the focus remained on the main couple. This book stole my heart. It was painful and difficult, but it was also sweet and comforting. And when it turned sexy, it was just, wow! I loved the path Caleb and Leo took to find their HEA. I loved seeing this all unfold from Leo’s point of view. And now, I find myself still worrying about the secondary relationships. I just want everyone to be happy. Maybe if I hope really hard, the author will give us another book (or two) to let the other guys in the band find their own romances. I would love that.
I want to preface this review by saying that I am incredibly biased when it comes to music in books. Reading/writing is my first love, and music is without a doubt my second. That said, this book was amazing. Leo and Caleb’s love story was an emotional rollercoaster from the very beginning. At first, I won’t lie, I was a little put off by how Caleb just rolled back into Leo’s life and how it seemed to emotionally wreck Leo…and then I got deeper into their story. The author did a very good job of addressing Caleb’s addiction and downward spiral and how hard Leo fought for him. In the end, I’m sold. This goes down as one of my favorite all time male/male romance reads and I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars
This is an intense and emotional story of second chances and forgiveness with a lovely slow-burn pace. The writing is beautiful and powerful that had me hooked from the very first page and had me captivated until the very last page. And don’t let the title fool you. This book has the most wonderful and amazing things.
The book tells the story of the former members of the band Star Shadow. The focus is on Leo and Caleb, but the other boys, Benji, Diego, and Max have their own significant role. Five years after it all went downhill, the boys, now men, come together for a reunion tour. Much has happened during those five years. The most important that Caleb has found his way back to being the person he was before the band started. Not the same, but also not that different. More an intriguing mix of both. Surprisingly the story is told from Leo’s point of view. Although he is not the one who had to go to rehab, he had his own battles to fight and is still fighting them. The author does an amazing job describing all the feelings of hurt, grief, betrayal, guilt, and love. And just like Rome is not built in a day, it takes time for Leo to come to terms with all that had happened. He has to sort out his feelings, one day at a time, and he has to find in his heart if he can forgive Caleb.
Both Caleb and Leo are interesting and complex characters. At first, I didn’t like Caleb all that much until I learned more about him. Then it was Leo with whom I had trouble with because he was so stubborn and dare I say a bit self-pitying. This happened a few more times in the book. I was constantly switching back and forth with my sympathy, but they grew on me, and in the end, I was rooting for them both. Throughout the story, their love was shining through, strong and deep. They didn’t always show it in the wisest ways, and they certainly took their time. I wanted to shake them so many times to get their heads out of their you-know-what and just go for what was so blatantly obvious. That they were meant to be together from the moment they met.
Their friends, Diego, Benji and Max, and to a lesser extent, Felix, Leo’s brother, make up a stellar secondary cast. They have their own issues to deal with. But instead of keeping Leo and Caleb out of the spotlights, it deepened the complicated journey Leo and Caleb had to travel.
The only thing I had a bit of trouble with that at times, I found their tone and actions were not always appropriate of their age. They are twenty-six, but sometimes I felt they were much younger. This could be explained by the several interludes in which they look back to five years prior, but even in the present time, their “voice” didn’t always feel suited for their age.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Leo and Caleb’s story, and I am looking forward to reading more about Star Shadow.