All Note Long

I haven't read the previous two books in this series, but I have enjoyed Annabeth Albert's Gaymer and Portland Heat series, so I was happy to see All Note Long available from Net Galley (in exchange for an honest review etc.). Unfortunately this was not my favorite book by the author. Part of it is the plot, one of those old groaners - the fake relationship. Michelin Moses is a very closeted country music star on the rise who gets caught in what appears to be a compromising position with go-go dancer Lucky Ramirez. Moses' publicist decides the best thing to do is take control of the story by having Moses finally come out as gay, with Lucky pretending to be his real boyfriend. As they play out their fake romance for the public and the press, Moses and Lucky start to fall for each other. But Moses isn't sure how much he wants to claim this new identity that risks alienating some of his fans. And Lucky doesn't want anything to get in the way of his dream of making it as a real dancer, especially a rich dude who wants to open his wallet but isn't sure he can open his heart.

I have to admit being more of a fan of computer geeks (Gaymers) and hipsters (Portland Heat) than country musicians and guys who can twerk, so Albert already had her work cut out for her in convincing me to connect with this story. Unfortunately, while Lucky was adorable, Michelin was for the most part grumpy, self-centered and wimpy. Apparently he was a secondary character in the previous books of this series, and I hope he built up lots of goodwill in those earlier appearances because here he was not at all endearing. By the time he got his act together and took a stand to be true to himself and his relationship with Lucky, I was half hoping that Lucky would move to Vegas and find a nice fellow dancer to love.

I really don't like the fake relationship plot. It forces the MCs to lie to each other about their true feelings far longer than if they had gotten to know each other through other, more natural circumstances. Albert did this well via road trip in Status Update and through normal everyday interactions in all of the Portland Heat novellas. She doesn't need the cliched trope to spin a convincing romance.

I'm still looking forward to more releases from this talented author, but this one struck a sour note (sorry).