The Right Man (Once Upon A Rock Star, #1)

I’ve been dying to read the rest of this story ever since Michelle previewed it in an anthology. What a great spin on a classic fairytale! Nobody does rockstar love like her. Such a great read.

“Every guy had been wrong before him. All of them. Did he get it? Did he guess the truths that I couldn’t speak? I’d been lost before he found me on that street corner.”

I’m a big fan of the works of Michelle Mankin, she fulfills my rock star fantasies with her wondrous words. I’ve read many of her books, but I think this one is my fave. Well, no promises that I won’t say that again when I read the next one.

I am addicted to reading stories with broken characters and I definitely got my fix with this one. A destitute hooker and a jaded rock star, you can’t get better material to work with than that, right? They both had so many issues that it would take more than a fairy godmother’s magic wand to remove the obstacles standing in the way of a happily-ever-after for those two. You could dress her up and take her out, but you couldn’t remove her past. And hiding it…just ask a rock star how well that works for them. Yeah, the paparazzi are bloodhounds and they can smell a story no matter how well it’s hidden.

He wants her, and she wants him. But wanting and wishing don’t pay the bills. The circumstances that landed her on that street corner still exist. She tried to resist his pull, but “those eyes were like a mystical mirror, a mesmerizing conjurer that I had no countermeasures to resist.

I didn’t just like this story, I loved it. I connected with the characters and they made me feel their passion for art, music and each other. I yearned for them to find a way to be together and raged at those that tried to keep them apart. I wanted to stick the star end of my virtual magic wand up a certain someone’s ass for the trouble they stirred up. I knew they loved each other, “but what if love wasn’t enough?”

Michelle Mankin, are you reading this? Um, I have a request. There’s a certain badass bitch that needs her own story. I’ve already got her prince picked out and I’m hoping he is whispering in your ear demanding to be heard. You can’t write such awesome support characters and then just leave your readers hanging, right? Do I need to start a petition? The line forms here…

First time reader of Ms Mankin and I’m definitely going through her catalogue to see what else she’s written of interest. I was caught hook, line and sink…R. From the first page, I was enchanted by the storytelling and giggling like a little girl at Rush’s antics. The Right Man’s storyline was executed and delivered in a perfect manner. I found myself being the little girl eagerly listening to the story and hoping for my very own fairytale. The characters were well developed and relatable, My mind drifted to Pretty Woman as I read, this is a perfect modern Cinderella retelling. I experienced every emotion, love and lust, I swooned, was happy, felt sad, laughed and became angry. I cried both happy and sad tears until the very last page was turned. Highly recommend this one.

The Right Man could very well be Michelle Mankin’s most romantic book to date. The way she beautifully tells the story of the rockstar and the hooker had me swooning from the very first pages. The often broody Rush McMahon finds in Jewel Anderson the woman he didn’t even know he needed. She is truly the balm to his troubled soul as they navigate precious time together and wonder if an unexpected love like theirs can truly be the real deal.

Oh my. I truly lost myself in the pages of this book and fell hard for both Rush and Jewel. Getting to watch as they both transform into the very best versions of themselves even in a short amount of time was really beautiful. Jewel’s soft-spoken ways were exactly what Rush’s heart craved. Despite meeting on an L.A. street corner, there was a subtle chemistry right from the start and it only got stronger and hotter as the days went on. The passion is off the charts erotic between these two. Wildly sexy is an understatement! There is nothing they wouldn’t do or try and it yet it became so much more than just sex. I couldn’t blame either of them for not wanting their whirlwind ‘romance’ to end but, of course, it wasn’t long before that damn self-doubt crept in along with secrets long-held and it was anyone’s guess if they’d truly make it.

Mankin knows rockers like no one else and The Right Man has a ton of cameos by many of her best characters who I’ve come to adore through the years. These musical gods and goddesses provide the needed support, a bit of comic relief and the love that would ultimately see Rush and Jewel through their combined fears. And these friends never take away the spotlight, they are there to simply point out that love is sometimes all you need and to point them in the right direction when their road seemed littered with detours. Along with a dear, devoted friend in Cam, who often stole the spotlight without even trying, these two just had to make it. I wouldn’t accept anything less!!

The rhythm of this story couldn’t be more perfect. It flowed effortlessly and I found myself sighing often at how much Jewel and Rush were just so in tune with one another. You couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended, their timing and gestures gorgeously in sync. It’s like they finally found the missing pieces of their soul and couldn’t stand the thought of losing that essence. Sure their worlds were 180 degrees apart and they faced a myriad of issues and negativity but their well-crafted cocoon containing the most surprising kind of love was their super power against everything that threatened their happiness. They just had to believe it.

This book is like a mix of both Cinderella and Pretty Woman, with my huge smile for Rush and Jewel as proof that dreams can come true. You just have to find The Right Man.

A true delight that made me beyond happy at the joy that Mankin can always bring to my heart with her stellar words, I happily give The Right Man a huge 5 stars!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDYDJS3

Loved it! I highly recommend!

The Right Man is a beautiful modern retelling of Cinderella with a rock star romance twist.
Told in dual pov with a hea which gives us a better understanding of the character’s thoughts & sentiments.
Character’s are complex & resilient, as well as extremely likeable.
I was hooked right away until the very end & didn’t want to put it down.
The cadence of this novel was perfect as everything flowed through smoothly at a perfect pace.
A perfect mix of angst & romance with a writing style that is a stellar performance of a rock star romance.
With a absolutely sweet epilogue to end this modern day retelling fairytale.
I hope we get Brad & Cam’s story as I loved getting to know these supporting character’s.
A fabulous modern retelling of Cinderella that will leave you craving more. I loved this rock star romance.

This book is my now favorite by Michelle Mankin, I love rockstars, I love cinderella stories, this one starts just like the movie Ever After and loved the idea, this story was amazing for both cases. Rush McMahon and Jewel Anderson are now on my favorite couple lists. The transformation they both did together was a roller-coaster very well done, how Jewel had to do anything to survive and how they meet. I loved reading other previous characters in this story as well. The ending was more than perfect. I am looking forward for the author’s next book.

***5 ‘Wishes Are The Seeds of Desire in Our Heart’ Stars***

And we have another fairytale inspired romance done right, add in a good dose of rockstar smexy and you have a book I couldn’t put down and gave me all the feels right up until the very last words.

I adored Rush and Jewel. Both were a little bruised and battered by what life had thrown at them and the choices they had made, but they survived – with their hearts mostly intact – and found ways to keep going.

As for their journey to their HEA. It definitely has Pretty Woman vibes, but it is all theirs. The smexy going on between them was nuclear, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. The connection they had from the start was strong and I loved watching as it grew the longer they were together. They had a flow to them that made it easy to believe that they could have a forever if they’d only let it happen. As for the lovely (not so lovely) jack knife in their journey? I growled a little and readily admit that I wanted more groveling, but I understood how it could happen and that in the end I loved how they got back on track.

This was a great read from start to finish. I loved the dual 1st person POV’s and the pacing was a good one. The angst was there but in comparison to say the angst level in the RFC series, it falls on the low end of the scale, which I enjoyed. As for the supporting cast of characters, Ben, Brad and Jack definitely peaked my interest and a few of the Tempest crew make an appearance (still have to read those books…one day *crosses toes*) but it was Cam that captured my interest the most and I’m hoping she’ll get her own HEA down the road because if anyone deserves one, it’s her!

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~

Advanced copy generously provided and happily received!

WOW, I read a few chapters of this book in an anthology called Christmas with a Rockstar. I was really getting into this story and was so sad when I realized it was just a portion of the whole book which wasn’t released yet! How I patiently I waited and was rewarded by being given a copy to read ahead of its release! YAY! How I loved this book!

The prologue of The Right Man tells the story of a little girl named Jewel, who loves to hear the bedtime story of how her Gran and Grandad meet and fall in love, it’s her favorite story, especially the way her beloved Gran tells it. Fast forward many years later as grownup Jewel Anderson is still trying to get over the loss of her loving grandmother far away from her former Tennessee home in a new place, LA. Trying to make ends meet when life takes a bad turn, she has resorted to the last profession a girl would ever want…the ‘oldest profession’..that’s right, you guessed it, beautiful Jewel and her friend do what they have to to eat, survive, try to thrive and it’s so damn hard.

Meanwhile in an arena not too far away, Rush McMahon is having one of the worst days of his life. His ex fiancee is about to become his sister in law on this very day. He’s so tired of the sex, drugs, booze and ‘whatever he wants’ lifestyle that has been dragging him down…groupies, bad publicity, too much partying and too long on the endless road. Even the music he plays is decided upon by his label. NO ONE knows the true Rush in this rock and roll world, except his childhood friend and manager, Brad and his bandmates. Now, with this last show, he is finally and officially off the clock and onto some much needed drinking, forgetting and and finding some willing ladies until recording and touring starts up again.

Here is where the magic of fate takes the story in another direction! Rush gets really lost while driving himself to meet a planned hookup but, finds himself a hooker instead…you know who! They get off on the wrong foot, he’s too arrogant, a chart topping front man supposedly on top of the world, no one says no to him! She’s way too mouthy and sassy, doesn’t need to take money from his type but behind her eyes he senses fear. Rush is commanding, wants her with him NOW and yet he feels that this wild creature from the corner might bolt if he touches her. What might happen when the misunderstood rockstar and the gentle girl hiding behind those streetwalking clothes spend the night together???

Ahhh this story…loved it so much. Part Cinderella story, part rockstar lovers dream romance with a healthy dose of HOT and sexy off the charts steam thrown in for good measure. There is way, way more to the story than all that, if that wasn’t enough to grab your attention. Highs and lows as Rush tries to get into the mind and heart of an inaccessible, skittish woman of the night. Oh, my heart!!!! Michelle Mankin sure knows to write a killer rockstar romance as you might already know from her many fantastic books, many of which I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Make this a one click to make your Valentine’s week even better! Recommend this one for sure!

**The Right 5 Star Read!!**

The Right Man is definitely no average fairy tale … it is sultry and has a lot of heat built into the story. The shadows that lurk in the dark will keep you hanging on to the angst. The almost’s and should have’s are hanging on each breath of these characters. The darkness and monsters are there to swallow them up, until they find each other. I immediately was stuck on hero worship with Rush. But then I saw the naughty side of him and it was lust after! Our heroine Jewel is in survival mode and knows nothing else. She is a bit flighty at first, and ready to run. But once you get to understand her, you can’t help but hope for a little peace for her.

The characters are not so forgiving and they have to fight for what they want. This story will keep you on your toes and fall for The Right Man!