Treat yourself to this friends-to-lovers romance reviewers are calling “heart-melting” and “swoony” and “packed with heat and chemistry.” Weston Aldrich is known for his devastating looks and crisp Italian suits. He’s been groomed to take over his family business and is on the brink of closing a massive merger. Only two wild cards can derail him.Wild Card One: If anyone learns he moonlights as a … learns he moonlights as a masked DJ, his credibility will be toast.
Wild Card Two: Annie can’t-hold-a-job Ward.
The Annie Ward he promised to help raise after her brother died. The scatterbrained girl who makes it her mission in life to drive him crazy. The gorgeous woman he’s not supposed to fantasize about, let alone kiss.
Annie hates Wes’s insanely overprotective nature, and how his ridiculous bone structure makes him look like a Greek god. His jokes about her plethora of jobs are beyond irksome. She has no plans to tell him about her latest aspiration, to match beats as a budding DJ. Until she learns what Wes does at night. Now she plans to prove Weston Aldrich has met his match.
One-click this sassy and sexy romance today!
Each book in the Showmen series is STANDALONE:
New Orleans Rush
Don’t Go Stealing My Heart
The Beat Match
The Knockout Rule
more
“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review”
‘The beat match’ is the third book in the ‘Showmen’ series but each book in the series can be read as a standalone, so it’s not necessary to read the previous two books first, to read this one. However, I have read them and I enjoyed the stories very much, so I would recommend that you read them too.
If you are in the mood for something fun, sweet, light but still emotional and a bit of a slow burn romance story than I would recommend this book. However, if you’re looking for a story with lots of drama, fights, suspense, real enemies then don’t read it because you won’t find that in this story. But I think in these ‘crazy’ times we all need something light and fun to distract us and this book is perfect for that.
‘The beat match’ is about Weston (Wes) Aldrich, who grew up rich but his mother made sure that he didn’t end up as a spoiled guy. She did this by making him do volunteering work (from a young age) in a shelter, she made sure that he knew that not everyone is rich. That some people struggle and need help to survive the hard world we live in. And it’s in the shelter that he met Leo and his sister Anthea (Annie). Leo became his best friend and through him, Wes discovered many things, one of them was making music (as a DJ). And when Leo died, it didn’t only break Wes’s heart but also Annie’s heart. Wes felt responsible for her and during the following years, he has taking that responsibility very seriously. But things are changing between him and Annie. Can they have more than friendship or is it better to not cross that line?
This is a friends (who love to bicker with each other) to lovers story. I loved the both main characters very much. On first sight, Wes and Annie were complete opposite of each other. Wes was intelligent, bossy, very neat and organised and he loved to plan things, he’s a real thinker with a great eye for details. Where Annie was very impulsive, chaotic, creative and funny, she followed her heart in everything. So these two couldn’t be more opposite of each other but in some way that just made them perfect for each other. And if you looked really close, you discovered that they did have things in common, they were both very attentive, had a soft heart and were loyal to the other. They also had both lost someone important and they reacted each in their own way on this trauma. It was wonderful to see how they both healed from that. And the banter between them was funny and entertaining.
Just like in her previous books, the writer also wrote about some serious and sensitive subjects in the story. But she did this in a drama free, light but still emotional way. I liked that very much.
The story was told in both POV’s. And the secondary characters also brought fun in the story. But the focus was mostly on Wes and Annie, both lived very solitary so they didn’t have many friends.
The writer Kelly Siskind created in her own writing style, a fun, sweet and entertaining series and I’m looking forward to reading future stories in it.
Weston Aldrich is a man in control at work, in his personal life and even of his secret pastime. The only time he loses both control and perspective is while dealing with his best friend, Annie Ward.
When Wes is on the brink of closing a deal that will cement his position in the business world, all his control will start sipping out the proverbial window due to his father’s demands and his need to protect Annie from her own antics.
Wes and Annie are like the sun and the moon and they exasperate each other for fun, but their love runs deep and they have so much in common it’s hard to be without one another.
I loved this story from beginning to end. Wes and Annie are amazing characters with massive lingering issues, but their love is pure and ready for them to work through their problems.
Once again, the author does a great job bringing a fun, heartfelt and romantic story with a great backdrop. The characters’ background, the corporate espionage, the club scene, every single detail of Annie’s hobbies and great secondary characters are the perfect round up for this beautiful love story.
I dare you to give this book a chance and if you don’t love both Wes and Annie, you might not have a beating heart.
The Beat Match By Kelly Siskind
Kelly has a way of writing her characters that makes them feel authentic, relatable and loveable with a flair on the quirky side.
Annie and Weston’s “Wes” story has all of that plus theirs is a slow burn at times tear-inducing, beautiful friends to lovers romance. They met when she and her brother Leo were living in a shelter where Wes was volunteering. Wes and Leo became bestfriends even though they were from two different worlds. Wes was from a rich and privileged upbringing whereas Leo and his sister lived in a shelter. Unfortunately he was killed while they were out at a club leaving her alone which forced her into foster care. He promised Leo he would always take care and watch out for her. It has always irritated her how overprotective he is of her and how he teases her about her numerous different jobs and interests. She could never find anything that grabbed her heart and soul that is until she decides to start playing music again which she hasn’t done since her brother died seven years ago. She also was inspired to start her hand at DJing after seeing an amazing DJ known as Falcon.Then she discovers that Wes was using music as a way to honor and grieve her brother as well when she discovers he has been DJing undercover only if anyone found out it could ruin him and his family’s company. They become closer as they share their love for music, DJing and her late brother. It is a wonderful storyline that will draw you in till the very end. Another hit in the Showman Series.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
Five
Finally finished Ms. Kelly Siskind’s ,The Beat Match’, in one night!
It was good!
Received an ARC from author
I love how romance authors have always managed to speak about serious social and political issues while coating it with delicious, swoon-worthy, sweet romance goodness.
This time and this book, after reading, I particularly was left thinking of :
* Gun control issues and how it has destroyed lives and relationships
Leaving me thinking that in this matter, I am lucky that my government is picky on who gets to hold a gun
• The society’s and state’s lack of direct intervention and relief measures on its homeless citizens
With the little flashbacks on Annie’s past and how the author has remarked several times the need to view people on the streets as humans who got several bad hits in life
I am a political science student and this book made me promise myself that if my path ever leads to legislation, or in NGO’s, I will not only try to understand how much this issue is embedded in my country but try to address it . These people matter and they have gone on hard times and all of us should not settle on giving them scraps of food or a few loose change to ease our guilt and-
Ahhh maybe I’ll take this topic up as my thesis
Thank you Ms. Siskind!
Now, on the romance side of things:
• I loved that they knew each other so much already and how seamless their relationship was. It was just a flow from friends to lovers that is marked by a platonic kind of intimate friendship that lasted for years
• I loved that Wes knew what he wanted and had a clear line between his stress relieving hobby and the job that makes him flourish
• loved that Annie took on challenges head on and decides to act on it whether she was chasing a mystery man to discover his identity or help her boyfriend find the evil planted in his company
• I loved that the uncovering of Falcon’s identity happened early in the book because I do not like elaborate big lies
• I loved that the author continually gives good books to read and now she is in my -automatically read all her stuff if she has a new book out author.
And,
I loved how Clementine and Jack has a cameo on this book and now,
I will be re reading again, for the third time,Jack and Clementine’s book because of that short cameo
In case it was not clear on how many times I listed how i loved this book,
I loved it and it is a five!!!
I didn’t think Kelly could write another book that’d I’d love as much as I loved her New Orleans Rush (Showman Book 1). But she did! I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED The Beat Match! This book was so beautifully written. I chuckled many times reading the sassy banter between Annie and Wes which countered the few times I cried during the scenes they struggled with their fears of loss and commitment.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!
Thanks to the author for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Like good music THE BEAT MATCH will make your heart beat stronger and faster, make your heart sing sadness and happiness.
From the very first page to the perfect epilogue i lived with the characters, i loved them, i couldn’t leave them. I spent my time crying and laughing, sometimes doing both with the same sentence.
Kelly Siskind’s words are powerful, full of sensitivity. She has a vivid imagination, a great sense of humor, a romantic spirit, a heart of gold, a smart boldness, a beautiful and inspirational writing and so much creativity.
Wes struggles with his feelings for Annie, his late best friend’s sister, for different reasons making him touching even if he’s a tyrant with her. He’s overprotective and bossy with Annie but with her, and only her, he can be his true self. I dare you not to fall in love with him ! I loved everything about him, his motivations, his beliefs, his intentions, his need to protect, his passion, his selflessness, his heart…
Annie is honest about her feelings, about everything. She’s so brave and admirable. She’s also sassy and have a beautiful imagination. Her banter with Wes is just funny and addictive. She’s not impressed by his tailor suits and his bossy attitude. I loved everything about her, her habits, her hobbies, her clothes, her honesty, her strengh, her heart…
Their love is deep and true, they’re lovers and best friends.
« Exactly how Wes and she had melded their lives : perfectly synchronized, stretching and adjusting to fit into each other’s worlds, whether bickering or laughing or making love. A harmonious relationship built on years of friendship. »
This novel is not just a romance, it’s so much more!
Dealing everyday with grief, communication issues caused by deeply rooted fears, the benefits and the importance of music, a strong lesson of generosity and selflessness and bravery, the tough reality of loneliness and poverty, a bit of treason, new friendships, some big difficulties at work for Wes, Love of course and… the utility of an anxious rabbit.
The author also touched a tough topic with cleverness and sensitivity… and again she used the perfect words. « Your voice matters .»
The epilogue is perfect and so romantic, a beautiful gift from Kelly Siskind to her readers. I won’t spoil but there is a fabulous surprise that made me soooo happy!
The Beat Match is book 3 in the Showmen series (and now my favorite), it’s a standalone but it would be a shame not to read « New Orleans Rush » and « Don’t go stealing my heart ». They’re so good ! Now i can’t wait for book 4
« This was the definition of music. Inspiring. Empowering. Raw and honest. […] It was a partnership. Transactions traded in spirit, rising up, up, up until their joy punched through the ceiling. »
I loved this book! It made me laugh, cry and get mad at the characters! The story pulled me in and kept me there!
Kelly Siskind has a talent for creating characters with unique jobs and interests and bringing them to life filled to the brim with strong emotions!
Annie and Wes have been important parts of each others’ lives since they met while Annie was living in a shelter with her brother. Leo and Wes form an unlikely friendship that lasts for years – until tragedy strikes.
Annie and Wes continue to be close despite their obvious differences. He’s a Suit, she’s a free-spirit looking for her passion.
I loved the parts of the story devoted to DJing – something I knew very little about.
This book is full of heart and love and second chances – along with a good dose of humour. A fabulous read!
From the first moment I read Kelly’s words in the very first book I read by her, I knew I hit a pot of gold! All these years and several books later, she just keeps getting better and better! Her writing flows so easily and puts you right in the middle of the story. I absolutely adored Weston and Annie! So much so, that this was one of those books that I slowed down reading because I didn’t want it to end. There are some characters that you just don’t want to say goodbye to and believe me, these characters will live in my heart for a very long time. As I’ve come to expect from Kelly,’s spectacular writing, this story had witty, laugh out loud moments, heartfelt, heart wrenching moments, and of course, heat and chemistry between these two wonderful characters. This is so much more than a friends-to-lovers or older brothers best friend book. There’s a message in this book that is quite empowering and inspiring without being preachy. If you’ve never read Kelly’s work, do yourself a favor and start now! This is an incredible author that must be read & enjoyed! 10+ stars all the way!
I was looking foreword to read this book because i’ve heard so many great things about the other books by the author and i must admit that it really deserves all the hype. I do admit that i’m not a big fan of cartoonish covers and i went in blind and a bit sceptic of the story but i was engrossed in it in seconds.
It’s beautifully written, smart, witty and reliable characters that are just starting they journey of life and the decisions they have to take for their future are not the easies ones but i love how the author managed to project all the insecurities and fears of each one of them and how i got to get more close to their love story with each beat of the music played in the background.
It is my first book by the author but won’t be my last and i highly recommend it to all the romance lovers
***3 Stars***
I wanted to love this book. I thought the whole DJ battle thing was kinda cool and I’m always down for a good ‘ol “off limits” kind of romance, but in the end the love just wasn’t there. There is like though, and I’ve landed firmly in the like arena, which is always a wonky place to be in my world, but it is what it is.
I liked Weston. He’s protective and loyal, even to those that don’t deserve it. But he also has a huge tendency to be so blunt that it’s brutal and doesn’t always see what’s right in front of his face. Annie, I didn’t hate, but I will admit I had a rough time with her. She’s had a rough life and I totally admired how she didn’t allow it to drag her down, but I found her to be immature and hypocritical. The immature part I didn’t necessarily have an issue with because she was trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be, so I got that. It was the hypocrisy side that I couldn’t get around. To be fair, I did understand the why behind it when it was explained, I did, but she did and said things that I found to be quite unfair.
As for their journey to their HEA…when they were just being themselves and not trying to protect the other or fix something, I did like them together. They balanced each other out and pulled off the whole opposites attract thing. So, in the end, I was happy with where they ended up.
While this one may not be one of my fav reads by the author, I will say that it was filled with some deep emotions from both Weston and Annie and had some pretty awesome secondary characters that I wouldn’t mind spending a lot more time with if given the chance.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
It’s been some time since I’ve read this book, and the giddy feeling I had when I was reading it still lingers. Kelly has the gift of writing quirky, unique, imperfect characters you can’t not love.
Orphan siblings Annie and Leo met wealthy Wes when they were kids, and soon Leo and Wes became best friends. When tragedy hits the siblings, Wes protects Annie through the years, and they become best friends in their own way. Wes has been living a secret double life for some time, until Annie falls in love with his alter ego, threatening the friendship between them both.
As always the characters are imperfect and absolutely lovable, but when you mix it with great conversations, secrets, moles, a little suspense, an adorable fluffy bunny and loads of repressed chemistry, you have another winner book from Kelly Siskind. She has become an auto-buy author with this series.
I had been looking forward to reading a Kelly Siskind book for a while, especially the Showman series–I loved the blurbs for the first two books–so when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of her third book I was so excited. However, the novel fell a bit short for me.
This book had so many layers, and I think it could have cut back a little. There’s a fun premise of a popular club DJ with a secret identity, and an up-and-coming DJ trying to meet her hero, without realizing he’s actually a close friend. That would have been a great book, if the plot thread had stopped there. But on top of the secret identity trope, we thrown in “He’s a billionaire!” “And she’s his best friend’s sister!” “But the best friend is actually dead!” “And the male MC blames himself for his death!” “And, oh wait, did I mention there’s forced fake dating to secure a business deal?” Yeah… there’s a lot. Unfortunately, all these additions cheapened the story to the point it felt completely unoriginal and a parody. Secret identities, forbidden romance, billionaires, and fake dating all in one book feels like the author just tried to cram as many tropes in as she could until she met the page requirements for a novel.
It’s a shame, because I really like the DJ idea. I’m not much for the club scene and know nothing about DJing, but it was such a unique element for the story that really shown through. When the characters talked about matching beats and the club life was really when the writing came alive and I wish the story would have focused on that instead of trying to be something else. Siskand is an excellent writer, and her words have a lovely voice (and she does a great job with intimacy), the story just wasn’t there for me on this one. Love the idea, love the cover, but it ultimately wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!