Fame & Obsession (Lords of Lyre Book 2) by Cora Kenborn

Review by Cattigan

Book Blurb:
An empty house in Hollywood isn’t what Phoebe Ryan envisioned when she said “yes” to a rock star’s proposal…

Phoebe is pregnant and alone in Tinseltown. She had hoped for a fresh start, but instead gets flashing cameras and tabloid gossip while her famous fiancé is on tour. Then the body of a young woman surfaces, bearing the same scars Phoebe has kept hidden for years. Phoebe fears the nightmare she can’t forget has come to collect an overdue debt.

Julian Bale struggles to balance his life as a touring rock star and his new role as a family man…

Everyone wants something from him, but he just wants to go home to the woman he’s fought so hard to keep. When inside information comes to light, threatening his fiancée and unborn child, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s his, even if it costs him everything he’s worked for.

Phoebe and Julian thought they left the drama and danger behind, but they thought wrong…

When the monster from Phoebe’s past claims the most innocent of victims, accusations and grief shred what they’ve fought to build. Some say tragedy can make or break a family, but can Phoebe and Julian unite to fight for what was taken from them, or will fame and secrets ruin everyone?


I had a hard time getting lost in this book at first.  Our heroine Phoebe is pregnant and it seems that her pregnancy hormones are affecting everything, including the story.  This book didn't have  Kenborn's usual style of banter between characters.   Julian and Phoebe's relationship is filled with angst and animosity which confused me since Fame and Obsession ended with them working a lot of their crap out together and now we jump back to square one. 

 

Then BAM! They start acting like the couple I remember from the original book.

 

The suspense and climax had me reading faster and feeling disappointed when it ended.  

 

Parts I loved: Phoebe's colorful cursing at Ryker and the doctor while in labor (this is the Kenborn  styleI know and love!).  I love the made up jumble of obsenities. I also love Cletus the Fetus, the use of the word "snarkism", and our hero and heroine's special line about traffic.  I was also thrilled to see a blurb about the next book in this series and am looking forward to it. Overall though I think I have to give this installment three out of  five cups.

Fame & Obsession by Cora Kenborn

Review by Cattigan

When the Book Hangover blog and Facebook page went public, I watched it a little.  I wanted to see who read it, who liked it, what was said about it, who liked me, and who shared it.  As Sally Field said “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.” My best friend, my sister, my aunt, a girlfriend from college were all on the list.  THEN I saw those other names…. AUTHORS I had just met at an event and was stalking myself.  (HAPPY DANCE!)  THEN Lo and behold, a name I didn’t recognize.  I had my first non-related, never met in my life fan! I had to casually peruse my fan’s Facebook page and (that favorite word of mine) STALK!  

Cora Kenborn’s Facebook page claims she is a “Romantic suspense writer living on coffee & box wine. Autocorrect thinks I’m obsessed w/ ducks.”

 How could she not be my bestie?!? I messaged her, we chatted, she turned down my bestie offer because hers is KA Ware (remember her?!). I looked up her book on my favorite online retailer and was bummed to find out that it wasn't released yet. You mean I'd have to wait a few weeks to read this awesome woman of marvelous words?!? I forgot I review books and can sometimes have an “in” getting books early.  It was so nice of Cora to remind me!

Blurb:

Struggling writer Phoebe Ryan abandons her southern roots and heads to New York, determined to leave her nightmarish past behind…

She was not expecting to meet a famous rock star, or to be coerced into ghostwriting his autobiography. But she tries to maintain focus on her dream of becoming an author, despite the attraction she feels for the sexy rocker, not to mention the baggage that comes with him.

Julian Bale’s world was shattered one drunken night, and it almost ruined him…

Weighed down by guilt, he blames himself for an accident he could’ve prevented. He will play the game, but swears his hot little ghostwriter will never get that story out of him. As much as he wants her, if he has to choose between his dream and hers, it’s no contest.

Phoebe and Julian give in to a forbidden attraction, and their public romance risks both their lives…

An obsessive fan is on the loose and now that the secret’s out, it’s made them both targets. The psychotic stalker is determined to have Julian for herself, even if she has to reveal their sordid pasts and eliminate Phoebe to do it.

He lives for fame. She lives to hide. Obsession lives to ruin them both.

I fell in love with the author even more when I read her dedication. Author Cora Kenborn has a remarkable way with words and was meant to write.

“This book is dedicated to the little girls everywhere who had a dream and grew up to find that life got in the way of it. You may be wondering now if your time has passed.

It hasn’t. Close your eyes and leap.

To those who said I’d never push past the first few chapters and that I’d have an easier time being struck by lightning than being published.

I’d take cover if I were you."

Finally, to those who’ve read my articles, social media posts, texts, or emails and giggled with repeated responses of, “When are you going to write a book, girl?”

You’re holding it.”

I usually highlight my favorite lines or passages in book as I read.  Fame and Obsession had me so caught up in the story that I forgot to do it. 

I love books that have strong female leads who challenge the alpha male with suspense and sexual tension thrown in.  Writer Phoebe catches the eye of rocker Julian with her sass and fire. Both have their own issues that their juggling while keeping each other at arm's length. This book has sarcastic banter in spades which I love! The plot thickens with a stalker lurking and I was kept guessing until the very end as to their identity. My guess was off! I would have had the wrong person arrested.

As soon as I finished Fame and Obsession, I contacted Cora with “Oh my god! When does the next one come out?!?” It was 12:27am.  There are characters I want to know more about! Gage? Faith? Zane? Oh my! A sign of a great read is when I can’t wait to read the next one.  Bring on more books, Cora Kenborn!