Rising Star

I’m sooo in love with Sam and Maddie and the girls. This was truly a beautiful and touching book. The depth of their trauma and relationship, the realism and depth of the characters, I couldn’t stop rooting for them and the hae even though events towards the end scared me for a moment. Reading Emmanuelle Snow is like reading Nicholas Spark with more spice. It breaks you and fix you all at once. Can’t wait to read SnowBound now.

This is book 2 in Sam and Maddie's story, and let me tell you, the anxiousness to get on to this book after finishing the last one, Fallen Legend, did not leave me disappointed. We dropped right back into this angsty tense situation between Sam and Maddie and you get to watch the ebb and flow between them as they fight the draw between them and the urges that they are struggling to control. The tour dates are nearing and everyone is preparing for the transition and despite their better judgement Sam asks that Maddie move in full time, to prepare for the eventual move on to the tour bus.

The tension continues to grow between Sam and Maddie but in all the best ways- until it snaps. Sam can no longer be the little dutch boy with his finger in the dam. He lets it flow and it's magic. Watching Maddie get closer to his girls solidifies his feelings for her. Unfortunately, one week before they are scheduled to leave on tour, life shows everyone how unpredictable it can be and it leaves Sam scrambling to make some important decisions. Their lives will be changed for ever, and he has to choose between what his heart wants and what his head knows is the right thing to do.

There was literally a point in this book, where I was looking at how much more I had to read in this story and deciding that things were going too well. I stopped and put the book down and was like, I do not have it in me right now to watch you two go through what we both know is coming. I had to call my book bestie Sara, who turned me onto this author and ask, Is she a masochist, does she believe in HEA's? Because I am so invested right now that if things aren't a princess perfect HEA I don't know how I can continue reading. I need to live in my bubble of ignorance. She reassured me that all will be well, and my heart will survive but I should have a box of tissues and maybe some chocolate nearby. She was right. So if you're in it for the HEA, we got you boo!

Maddie and Sam's story moved me to tears several times in this book. We finally learn a bit more about Maddie's story and we see her struggle hard and them try to navigate these difficult waters together. I was about to get full on MAD when Jacob reappeared, but I think it was a necessary catalyst for Maddie at the stage of healing she was in.

As a mother I was loving the daddy side of Sam and seeing how Maddie loved his girls unconditionally melted his heart and mine. I know that is not everyone's cup of tea, so if you don't like kids, don't read it...it's not for you.

I think I found a new favorite author to read through her back list. Because now I need to know everyone else's stories too! Emmanuelle Snow pulls at your heartstrings in the best ways. She writes complex characters with complex emotions and relatable stories. Which is crazy because this is a celebrity romance.... It's just so well done.

Formerly Legend and Country (Carter Hills Band 7), now part 2 of the Lonesome Heart Duet.

I absolutely adore Emmanuelle Snow - all of her books (I’ve read all 7 Carter Hills Band series now), and her as a person. She’s just so incredible! A brilliant author (amazing!), and such a kind and beautiful person.

Legend and Country - WOW! This one has so much depth, so many layers and emotions … so much going on here. It really needs all 580 pages for you to experience everything and heal along with the characters.

Sam, musician extraordinaire (nickname “Legend”, formerly friend of the Carter Hills Band, and who we know from previous books, a tiny bit), left the country music scene when his wife left him and his two very young daughters because being a wife and mom just wasn’t for her, leaving behind three broken people.

Fast forward two years, and Riley (manager), who we know and love from the previous books, tries to bring Sam back from the depths of depression and barely surviving, by getting him to think about getting back into music and touring again, with a nanny he’s heard of. Enter Madison… who changed everything, even though she’s had a hard life, and things continue being extremely difficult with twists that no one could have ever predicted (because every Emmanuelle Snow book has to have extreme circumstances that bring out all the tears, even for this non-emotional reader, and that’s just life)!!

It’s absolutely incredible, heart-wrenching, a tearjerker (get your tissues, chocolate and wine ready!), and you won’t want to put it down so make sure you have a really long block of time free. One of her absolute best, and one of the very best books around, and probably of this whole year (yeah, I know it’s only January)!

I received an advance review copy from the author, and this is my honest feedback.

Sam »the legend« Stevens has had his entire world destroyed when his (ex) wife walks out and leaves him to raise their 2 girls.

He's closed off and is doing all it takes to make sure his daughters are taken care of. But now the opportunity of a lifetime is presented to him and he wants to take it. Enters Maddie who’s a young girl, who's had a rough childhood and when she's presented the opportunity to work for Sam and help take care of the girls, she's all in. These two have a lot to workout in order to make their relationship work and I'm here for it.

Emmanuelle has a way of writing characters that are very relatable. I was so immersed in their story. I cried, laughed, got nervous, worried, and sad. All the emotions. Their story was absolutely beautiful. I can honestly say there is not one story or couple I love more than the other because they each have such strong and amazing stories in their own ways.
Emmanuelle writes such strong woman.