Todd O'Malley has been called many things, from filthy mouthed jerk to legendary Rock God. With his outlandish cocky demeanor - tatted up and pierced, compared in looks to Adam Levine - his constant use of the F-bomb, and the seductive gyrations he performs for the ladies on stage, affirm he is a man every woman craves. But there is only one woman who is able to capture his heart, Kyra Edwards. That chance meeting at a little coffee shop in Evanston began their journey of compromise, pain, dedication and love. From the night he took her virginity to Todd's past sex-capades and consequences threatening their relationship, will Kyra be able to deal with it? With Todd and his band Avenue touring on the road, can he prove to Kyra that he is a changed man? Can he be faithful and avoid temptation? Jennifer Theriot brings us yet another contemporary romance love story that will capture our hearts. This is truly a story of Beauty and the Beast, where we admire the beauty that is Kyra and adore the beast known as Todd.
You loved him in Out of the Box Awakening and Out of the Box Regifted. In the pages of Toccata Obbligato ~Serenading Kyra, you'll get inside his head - see what makes him tick and get to know the woman who captured his heart......
This rock star romance short story is a companion novella of the Out of the Box series. It contains adult situations and language, and is intended for readers over the age of 18.
USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Theriot (pronounced 'Terrio') hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO for a Texas based, female-owned real estate investment firm. She felt something was missing and discovered her passion for writing novels–mostly at night and on weekends.
Jennifer took a chance that there could be an interest in romance with middle aged couples who are finding themselves at a crossroads and wrote her debut novel Out of the Box Awakening, which centers on the hope of finding happiness and passion through unexpected heartache. "Grownup Romance from the Other Side of 30' is how she describes her writing. She and her silver fox hubby have three grown kids and five grand kids - all of whom they adore!
Oh my goodness. Absolutely loved it. It was from Todd's point of view and kept with it the whole time. Never deviated. I can not wait till book 3 of the Out Of The Box series. Find out what all happened with everyone else. Good Job Jennifer.
Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra by Jennifer Theriot is one of the best stories I have read in quite a while. From the first of the story, I was drawn in by the characters, the story and the depth of emotions this short novella packs. By page 20, I had tears. By the end of the story, I was sobbing.
Todd is the bad boy rocker who may possibly have a heart of gold. We are seeing through all the layers of his character and exploring what he is capable of feeling. Kyra is the beautiful student, more interested in university studies than the world of music. Like most important events in our lives, their meeting is unplanned and unexpected. That's the beginning. The end of this story will rip your heart out.
You will want to read Out Of The Box Awakening as well as Out Of The Box Regifted by Jennifer Theriot before you read this novella, but you do not have to in order to understand Toccato Obbligato. Reading those books will give you more insight into the background of Todd O’Malley and his world.
I highly recommend this book. Like it's title, it is a lyrical work only set to words instead of music.
Excellent take on a very bad boy. A self proclaimed bad boy. Under it all is hiding a romantic looking for someone to see who he really is. Since we are talking Todd here, nothing is easy. But it is intense.
Book: Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra (Book #2.5) Author: Jennifer Theriot Publication Date: 10/2014 Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts My Rating: 5 Stars
REVIEW I was so overjoyed to see another book in this series. When I read the first book by this author I fell in love with the story and Todd well he is a big part of the story so I was really happy to read this. Todd comes across as a airhead in my opinion but he has the biggest , sweetest soul of anyone in the story. He finally finds the woman for him but almost loses her a few times through out the story. Olivia is of course his best friend besides Tommy and she is there for him when he needs help the most. So pick up your copy of this awesome continuation in the story and read it !! Kyra and Todd will delight you.
I am impatiently awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.
All I can say is grab this authors books in this series they are fantastic !!
I was gifted a copy of this book for my honest review. Jennifer Theriot
Rock and roll and committed relationships aren’t an easy fit, especially when the rock and roller is used to living a quintessentially bad-boy lifestyle. In this novel we see how hard Todd must struggle, with himself and circumstances, to grow up and claim what he truly wants, a life with Kyra.
Jennifer Theriot has deftly managed a difficult task in this book. She gets us inside Todd’s head and helps us understand what makes him tick. We witness him growing and maturing as he discovers what it takes to be the person he wants to be. We truly get to know the soft heart residing behind the bad-boy facade.
This is a surprisingly sweet love story, F-bombs and all. It reminds us that everyone, regardless of how they appear to the world, is both capable and deserving of love.
Oh, and a side note: I urge everyone to make use of the Spotify Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra Playlist Ms. Theriot provides. It’s a truly nice bonus. You can find it here :https://play.spotify.com/user/1227401...
From the first sentence this book grabbed my attention! Todd- A musician who has no trouble when it comes to the ladies! Touring and hooking up with random groupies is his norm, but he wants more.. He wants to meet his "one and only" He doesn't have ant family, although he does have one very good friend Olivia. She wants the best for Todd and tells him when the right woman comes along there will be no doubt what so ever that she is the one for you..
Kyra- college student, smart and very innocent. A chance meeting at a coffee shop brings these to together. In the few minutes they share Todd feels that Kyra is "the one"
What happens when two people are so different? Can Todd change his ways? He has quite a reputation..
Will they come together and make it work? Is Todds past to much for the very innocent Kyra? Will Todd go back to his old ways? For all this and more read the book! Very fast paced excellent read. I can not wait to see what comes next!
Before I begin… If you haven’t read Out Of The Box Awakening & Out Of The Box Regifted then this book might be a bit confusing. I highly recommend reading those first so you can capture the full Todd O’Malley experience! Todd is everything you should avoid but when you try… You just want him more! I absolutely loved this book! It explained some of the questions that bounced in my head from reading OOTBA & OOTBR, and you get to know a little more about that sexy, mouthy musician. You also get to know Kyra, she’s so sweet and innocent I hope she can handle the lifestyle of a rock star. If you like mouthy musicians who resemble Adam Levine (tattoos and all!) Then grab this book, you will love it!
What an awesome book from Todd's (Bert) point of view. I loved him from the Out of the Box series already, but this made me love him more! (All except the fact that he looks like Adam Levine....hehehehe so not my fave, but not a deal breaker.) He's a self proclaimed man-whore, f-bomb dropping, tatted,rocker guy with a heart of gold. Todd finds the woman of his dreams at a coffee shop while killing time waiting for an appointment to see a classic car (he's a collector). Kyra is college student and can't understand what a rocker could possibly want with her. Somehow the two get it together and you'll have to read the how and details yourself!
The gorgeous cover and the intriguing title caught my eye and invited me in. The story inside was even more delicious. This is the first book I've read from Jennifer and this short novella hooked me. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word drew me in and kept me reading. I couldn't put it down, Once i learned there were more books (and larger ones) in the series, i ran and bought them. Her writing style is interesting, fast paced and keeps you turning pages. I truly cannot wait to read the other books in the series and look forward to even more details and wonderful chapters to escape into.
I am totally blown away by Todd and Kyra's story. We got some great glimpses in the previous Out of The Box installment, which left me wanting more. I am not disappointed at all. I truly loved watching Todd grow into the loving, caring man Kyra deserves. This is a tale of true strength, the kind that is only available to those who love unconditionally and forever. There is no doubt that this fairy tale man and his woman can make it through anything that the world throws in their way.
Hmm... I believe I started this series in the midst of it, but you know what? It didn't matter to me, I was taken in by the rough and rugged (and mushy at heart), Todd. His personality is one I can completely relate with. Then there's the humor, awesome additional characters and touching story line. Yup, I'll be reading more from Jennifer VERY soon! This time, I'll start at the beginning :) Toccata Obbligato is a great read for any fans of the genre to escape their reality with.
"No, Kyra, you're not a dork. You're the most beautiful girl in the world."
I loved Todd O'Malley in Out of the Box Awakening and I love him even more here in Ms. Theriot's Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra.
I hopped over to read this story after devouring Out of the Box Awakening. In that story, we meet Todd as he becomes a best friend of sorts to Olivia as she transitions into a new life far from home in a north suburb of Chicago. An up and coming rock star with some body art in more than the typical places, Todd is quite the character. He's a great friend. A loving grandson. Has a sensitive side. Is quite sexual. And has a habit of stringing F-bombs together and using them for every part of speech in the same sentence. But when he meets Kyra, a student at Northwestern...things change. You know the saying: Opposites attract. Boy do they. Then crash.
There is more to this story than the romance, the split, and the finding their way back to each other. I love the messages that make this story more. This is NOT a story of hard drugs or lots of sex with the groupies. This is Todd and Kyra's love story. It's a short, perfectly sized novella that gives the reader a little more of Todd O'Malley, and I loved it. Heading back to the series now. There are a lot more characters, and I need to read their stories.
I am not going to use a rating for this review. The reason behind that is because I have both read this book and listened to it. I absolutely, whole-heartedly love this story. Todd is one of my favorite male characters, funny, loyal, loving and not as tough as he wants people to think he is. Kyra is sweet, funny and lovable. The story line is quick paced and attention keeping. That being said, I felt very let down with the audio version. The narration was flat and monotone. All of the emotions that are so vibrant in the written work were completely drained out of the audio book. This really disappointed me and I am very happy that I read the book first.
*A copy given by author, in return for an honest review.*
☆☆☆☆☆ 5 Sweet Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
This is a real short and sweet story on how Todd finally finds his person.
Todd is in the band Avenue, he had been enjoying having different woman and having lots of fun. But lately he realized that he’s done with that part of his life, he wants to find the person that will love him for who he is. His friend Olivia had told him that when you find the one, you would know. There would be no question on your mind if that person is the one for you, once you know you would just feel it.
One day in a busy coffee shop he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Since the coffee shop had been packed there was nowhere to sit. So motioned the pretty girl to sit with him. She took the offer and thank him for sharing his table, because she was there to study. She took her highlighters and books out, she was so organized and he thought it as just the cutest thing he has ever seen. Back and forth flirting went on, while they had little conversations about themselves. He loved that Kyra didn’t know who he was or his band, which is like a fresh start for him. Before leaving the coffee shop Todd got Kyra to agree to go out with him on a date.
This date will be Todd’s first in a long time and he had never been so nervous in his life. The date went on, they both enjoyed each other’s company and decided to go out again. The 2nd date was hot and sweet, but when Todd finds out Kyra’s secret he ran scared. He was scared of how much he was falling for her and that he wasn’t good enough for her.
As Todd and Kyra go through ups and downs of their relationship, they also go through the sweetest an cutest moment as a couple. When things get too tough, Todd seems to always run and Olivia always helps him get his head straight. Then his crazy past started to catch up to him.
Will Todd finally get a hold of his feelings and accept how much he loves Kyra and fight for her? Or will Kyra get tired of him running and end what they have for good. Read and find out.
This book is so short and fast paced, you won’t even know what hit you until you get to the last page. I cannot wait to read the next chapter of Todd and Kyra’s lives, it’s too bad I have to wait for it until next year.
Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra is a rock star novella that I suspect many readers will absolutely love. I, however, am not one of them. Toccata Obbligato lives up to the definition in the front of the book in that it most certainly is fast moving and lightly fingered, but not having read the other books in the Out of the Box series, I cannot attest to whether it is indispensable or not. What I can say is that events within the book move at an almost manic pace that left my head spinning at times because before I had time to digest a scene, we were on to the next one.
While the rock star lifestyle usually lends itself well to fast pacing, it really didn’t work for me this time. Why? Because within 3-4 outings, Todd meets Kyra, takes her out, beds her (she’s a virgin by the way), sneaks out on her, makes up with her, and is ready to spend the rest of his life with her. The book is told in the first person, from Todd’s point of view – which I usually love. But not getting Kyra’s point of view made it difficult to believe that a college student who is a self-professed nerd and had never heard of Todd or his band, would give someone her virginity after only a few dates, especially when she had a negative opinion of musicians in general. On top of that, most of the time Todd presents with the emotional maturity of a 16 year-old girl and he is such a drama queen that I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. I will say that Theriot wrote one of the funniest Prince Albert scenes I have ever read in a book – I don’t think I’ve ever actually laughed at a male piercing scene before. The sex scenes seemed to focus more on the foreplay than the actual act, which made them steamy without being erotic and I quite enjoyed the effect.
Ultimately I think that while Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra is well written, the author just tried to put too much into the novella format which resulted in scenes that would have enabled me to connect with the character being skipped over or alluded to (i.e., we talked for hours). Because of this, I found the book to be a “just okay” read for me. This is one of those books that I strongly suggest you download the sample and check out for yourself because I suspect my opinion will be in the minority because it’s not a bad book, it just didn’t appeal to me.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
*** Gifted by Author in Exchange for an Honest Review. ***
Todd O’Malley plays the part of the stereotypical rock star lead guitarist -slash- man-whore. He's in a band called Avenue based out of a little town about half hour North of Chicago, Illinois. He's jaded and tired of the groupie game. Kyra Edwards is a student at the university in Evanston. She's more about studying than partying, so meeting a rock star in the coffee shop between classes was not wholly impressive to her.
------------------------- Hot Factor: 3.25 -------------------------
Unique. Ms. Theriot manages to find a way to climb into an early-20's male lead's head to give a POV that packs a punch with his uncensored opinions. I immediately began to notice references to the other characters in a manner that would suggest that this in NOT a stand alone novella and discovered that it is tied to the "Out of the Box" series. The secondary characters are sporadic. The chemistry, interaction and dialogue feel genuinely human. Todd and Kyra are new adults, they are flawed. The author does an excellent job of conveying these imperfections without making them out to be completely hopeless. The plot moves along smoothly. There are plenty of mild to moderate conflicts throughout the story and most of them are resolved, however the other issues are left unresolved. The closing page makes mention that the story continues in the next book, which may explain the open ending.
Jennifer Theriot has written a dynamite novella that once again exhibits her talent as a high-caliber romance author! I had read her Out of the Box series (terrific) and one of my favorite characters from those books is Todd, an irreverent but charming rocker. This book is Todd's first-person narrative about falling in love. As a sexy rock band musician,Todd has always taken on the ladies in droves. Then he meets the beautiful, sweet Kyra.
Todd's older and wiser friend Olivia, the fantastic protagonist in the Out of the Box books, has told Todd that when he meets his soul mate, he will know it, and there won't be any question about it. Toccata Obbligato is the story of Todd meeting his soul mate, Kyra, and their falling in love. There are misunderstandings and conflicts--including with Kyra's father, who thinks Todd is trash and not good enough for his daughter--that threaten to tear these two apart. But Todd's evolving empathy and all-consuming love are more than enough to overcome any obstacles. Kyra meets him with her equal strength, and the story unfolds to be one of such endearing romance that I almost swooned at the end. Okay, I didn't actually swoon, I just got goosebumps; but I can't recall the last time I got (those sweet kind of) goosebumps while reading a romance novel. This is strictly attributable to the author's talent. Toccata Obbligato is a beautifully written, deeply moving story. I'm looking forward more, more, more such wonderful books from Jennifer Theriot!
If you have become a fan of Jennifer Theriot’s Out of the Box series, you probably have fallen in love with the foul mouth, tattooed yet very sexy man Todd O’Malley. The author has taken 70 pages and given us a behind the scenes view of this man. From the moment he met Kyra to the event that we have all been waiting for this is Todd’s chance at setting the record straight for us readers. Every page is Todd’s voice, no longer sharing the stage with the other characters we have met in the series; Todd finally tells us what he was going through as the story played out. You might think you are prepared for a lot of f bombs and crazy thinking, which he still delivers, but this time you get to see the heart of the man. His fears, concerns, regrets all play out for us to understand what Olivia saw in him from day one. If you are like me, you wondered if Kyra really understood her man, now I can feel more comfortable with their relationship and love her a bit more because she is the perfect woman for our Todd. Can you read the Out of the Box story without this novella, yes, but will you find the real gift of Todd O’Malley without it, I highly doubt it. I would strongly recommend you grab your copy today and live the life of our f bomb King and see the man he really is behind the tattoos.
*Copy provided for review* Reviewed by Tbird for Crystal's Many Reviewers
Rough and dangerous on the outside, Todd portrays the image of a Rock god perfectly. Since he has no one special in his life he also adopts the rock bad boy lifestyle. He has enough money to collect expensive toys. In seeking out one such toy he finds his most amazing treasure.
If you have read the other Out Of The Box books (which I gave 5 stars) you will have a better understanding of what Todd is going through in this novella. This is the same story told from Todd's perspective. He fills in the blanks of his thoughts and emotions. I think if you read the other books, and I suggest you do, you will have more compassion for Todd and find him more likeable.
Kyra is the sweet, innocent, over-protective only daughter of a wealthy man. Her family has dreams and expectations for her and so far she has toed the line. Perhaps she has reached the rebellious phase some of us discover sooner. Todd holds an attraction to Kyra for several reasons. I had to smile when I read that Kyra's mother had also dated a rock musician before settling down with her husband.
When Todd's past rears an ugly shadow on his future, will he and Kyra (and their love) be able to survive? I was pleased to know we will be reading more about them.
I did receive a copy of this book from the author to review because I asked for it. The opinions are my own.
I could not put this book down. The unique style was refreshing and Todd was an engaging protagonist. It's very different to see a man who knows from the moment he sees the heroine that she's his, and yet the story was filled with angst, tears, pain, and more. Filled with an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows, this book wrung me out by the end. You do not want to miss this tale. You will deeply regret it. Do yourself a favor, and pick this one up!
This was an awesome book! I'm about half way through the first book in the series; this book happens to be a short in the series. I was able to pick it up and follow along no problem. It only makes me want to read the rest of the series ASAP!
Todd is a rock and roll back boy who has met the virginal, spunky Kyra. His total match and who won't take crap. The dialogue is fun, spicy, and heart wrenching. This abbreviated short story, I was very pleased to find, will be out full force as a full fledged novel. This novella follows Todd's pursuit of Kyra, their romance/rejection/goofiness, and to a happily sigh worth ending.
The characters were easy to fall in love with, and I also wanted to kick their butts at times for their mistakes. I swept up this book in about an hour. Sexy scenes were hot, but not overpowering OR misplaced like in some NA novels I've read lately! It followed with the story and romance and simply added to the story rather than taking away.
I met the lovely Jennifer at an author even in Houston August 2014 and she's such a nice and open lady!
I haven't read any of this author's work and and seeing that this novella is about a bad boy rock star, I couldn't resist.
Todd is a very talented all round musician who likes fast cars and women. He likes his independence and doesn't commit to a relationship, mainly due to his past history. He is also the epitome of a bad boy.
Kyra is a bright and conscientious student, the complete opposite of Todd. They have a chance meeting which forces Todd to rethink his mindset as he is totally besotted by her. The thing is, can he change his ways to enter in a serious relationship? Can Kyra adapt to his ways?
Kyra is a very mature and strong character and Todd accepts that he has some shortfalls too. This novella is very comprehensive and everything slots nicely into place. It's a quick and easy read and well deserving of the five star rating.
Free download. Well I'm not sure what to say about this novella, the reviews were good, I read it in no time and although the story was promising it didn't really show any depth. Todd is a rocker with the typical rocker lifestyle but he's bored of it. He looking for his soul mate and when he meets Kyra he knows it's her, but will his past always get in the way of his future. This was a short read, and although the plot is not original it had promise unfortunately I didn't think it reached the kind of empathy required for a romance where you feel for the lead character. The writing lacked depth of character, it was too wooden and the love story was too quick. Obviously it had plenty of angst, the sex was, well too short and no descriptions, the romance was ok. It was an ok read but not a story I would have paid for.
This is the story of a rock star musician named Todd… Todd has many nights of experience under his belt with his groupies. I believed they helped him fill a void he had from being so lonely. He was a player, a party goer and everything in between – living the life of a rock star. Until he meets Kyra. Kyra is her total opposite and she is not falling for him so easily. She doesn’t want to be like his other dates. She doesn’t want to be another notch to his bed post. Does her reluctance motivate him to get under her skin? Will she fall for him or not? The writing is great but different from what I’m used to read. I had a feeling that Todd was talking to me personnally. At first, it made me dizzy but after 2-3 chapters, it was alright. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading more. It is a quick read and the end of the book will leave you wanting more. Thumbs up
OMG this book is AWESOME, and too short. I couldn't get enough of it.
Todd O'Malley is a rock star that has been called many things. From filthy mouthed jerk to legendary Rock God, one thing doesn't change, he is a man every woman wants. After a chance meeting at a coffee shop, everything changes when he meet Kyra Edwards, and he wants her for the long haul. Can he prove to her that he's a changed man, and that she's no groupie?
This story is fast paced, exciting, and hot! The author has a well written story line that flows smoothly. I was captivated from the beginning, couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, and then was upset when I finished it, as I could have read about them all night! The book is from Todd's POV, and Jennifer Theriot did an amazing job with it. I CANNOT WAIT to read more about these two fantastic character's journey, hopefully very soon!
A Toccata is a piece of music for the piano or a similar instrument that is played very quickly.
Obbligato means not to be omitted.
What a perfect title for this book. My favorite character from this series has always been Todd. From the beginning he won my heart with his humor, and his absolute realness. He is the epitome of a rocker with a heart of gold. Heck his best friend is his his other best friend's step-mother! The best way for him to express himself is through his music. Todd is my Fairytale Man for sure!
Kyra needed someone to shake up her life. Who better than Todd! I like that she gives him chances to redeem himself.
This novella shows what happened with Todd and Kyra in the previous book, but from Todd's perspective. Now I can't wait for the next book!
Jennifer Theriot's book Toccata Obbligato - Serenading Kyra (Out of the Box) is beyond OMG. Hold on to your seat because once you begin it you won't put it down until the end. Yes it is a short book but it really packs a whallop. This is Todd's story. He is a rocker and has a persona as a bad boy. He's fallen for Kyra. He has a horrible foul mouth but not when he talks with Kyra. Kyra wonders if his stage persona is just for fans or is that really him. Who really is Todd? Will her parents approve of him? Questions but you must read the book to find out. Can't wait for the next one in the series. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves more. I highly recommend it to everyone. I look forward to more from Jennifer Theriot.
Todd was a favorite from the Out of the Box series. He is a burgeoning rock star, who has lost those close to him and has a surrogate mother in Olivia. He has fallen for Kyra, and his challenge is to believe that he's worth loving and that he isn't going to lose everyone he loves. And then there is the sexy Skype scene.
This is his POV novella. It's reads offers a shortened version of some of the events from Out of the Box Regifted, so this can be read as a standalone, but it is better if you read the first two books in the series.
I would have liked it too have been a bit longer and not re solve the situation so quickly. I'd like to have had more time to get to know Todd and Kyra.
Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra by Jennifer Theriot is a novella that caught my interest and made me curious from the start. The authors realistic writing style made this a very good read. Certainly is an attention grabber! Welcome to Todd O'Malley's life. A lead guitarist for a band called Avenue. This is a rock stars life and everything that goes along with it. Sex and drugs and rock & roll.
The story is out there! There is no holding back. The dialog is as real as it gets and the storyline is gripping. Like I said, no holding back!
Quote ~
She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and she's curled up with her hand under her cheek, peacefully sleeping. All I can think of is I need to get the hell out of here and get out of her life before I cause more pain.