Sound Effects

Ripple Effects #2

by L.J. Greene

What is YOUR passion?

When an uncharacteristically rash decision lands law school graduate Melody Grayson in San Francisco’s dicey Tenderloin District, she comes face to face with a dangerously tempting man who embodies every mistake she swore she would never repeat. Passionate, sexy, and far more insightful than she’d care to admit, he causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her future. Now she’ll have to decide where the bigger risk lies: in the prudent path she has been working tirelessly to pursue, or in the intriguing but uncertain one he’s offering.

Up-and-coming, Irish-born musician Jamie Callahan is no stranger to chaos; he’s lived a lifetime of it. But in the fall of 2004, when the music industry is on the verge of massive upheaval, the life he aspires to could come at a heavier price than he’s prepared to pay. And while Melody may be the ideal person to help him navigate the gambles he must take, a relationship with her might be his biggest gamble yet.

SOUND EFFECTS is a standalone dual POV adult contemporary romance that captures the gloriously unpredictable nature of life, in which the path from who you are, to who you’re meant to become may not be a straight one. It may also have a few bumps. Sexy, humor-filled, and relatable, Sound Effects is a story about living passionately, staying true to yourself, and finding that one magic person who makes the journey of self-discovery an adventure worth taking.

Genres: Romance, Music, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2016

About the author

LJ Greene is a self-professed obsessive multi-tasker who writes boring stuff by day and lets her inner romantic fly by night. This California native is married to the most amazing man and has two incredible children who feed her soul every day. She’s an avid reader of all genres with an embarrassingly large ebook collection, and a weird penchant for reading the acknowledgements at the end of a novel. She’s also a music lover with no apparent musical talent, a travel enthusiast, and a cheese connoisseur.

Reviews

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release Date: October 11, 2016

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I dove into this book, but I got more than I bargained for. That's for sure. The author created wholesome characters.

I know... I know! Who does that?! No one was spiteful, mean spirited, callous, jealous, rude, etc. No one! And the book still worked!!

This story involved budding rock star Jamie and fresh out of law school, Melody. It was basically love at first sight for both of them. No question. And although there was a bit of an upset at the beginning...

... straight-laced Mel had to dig deep to accept Jamie's artistic force, and there was very little angst between this couple. Honestly, the "problems" ranked really low on the real problem scale. And it still totally worked!

I was caught up in the words. The author wrote this story beautifully. I loved how she illustrated the events, the camaraderie between the main and side characters, and the depth of emotion felt by all. I especially loved how she detailed the music. She made it its own entity and it was pure magic. This story was light and magical.

ARC generously given in exchange for an honest review

[Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome book by L.J. Greene! Jamie and Mel together are the perfect couple! Amazing chemistry! And, they're both soulful characters. They're both attracted to each other when they first meet as they begin their relationship in 2004 when the whole music scene is changing. Digital music is introduced as iTunes makes its debut. Social media is catching on. And, MySpace takes on the growing crowd of people being friends via the computer. This was not your typical bad boy drinking and drug use themed rockstar romance. This was more the beginning of a poor rockstar's quest to get his band off the ground and the ups and downs of the somewhat unstable music industry as times were changing. It was interesting and so believable. You can tell that Ms. Greene did the research to show the book's support. Both Mel and Jamie were brilliant characters, but it's Jamie's Irish words of tenderness and beauty that just made me swoon. While Jamie was a breathtaking male, Mel was such a confident and caring young woman. She understood Jamie and was so supportive of him through good times and bad. Such a powerful couple together. And, the heat between the two is very passionate. I loved their love story, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! The characters, the storyline, and the writing was just a gem of a read!!!

[Dawn West · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**

Confession time: I may have squealed like a schoolgirl at the end of this book...



I like rock star romances just as much as anyone and went into this one expecting it to be more of the same but this story surprised me in several ways.

Melody knows what she is supposed to do with her life. Or at least, she thinks so. Maybe not. She is about to become a lawyer and finally put her years of hard work to good use. It's just too bad that she doesn't feel passionate about her career. In fact, she doesn't feel passionate about much of anything.

The pinnacle of Mel's confusion occurs when she meets Jamie, who has passion for many things but mostly his music. Melody admires his dedication and wants to be part of his world. However, his aspiring musical career is only one of Jamie's troubles. And though he wants desperately to be with Melody, he also struggles to convince himself that he deserves her.

The characters were complex and real. Melody immediately entertained me with her inner dialogue and I felt for her as she tried to navigate her struggles while maintaining her positive and hopeful attitude. It was a pleasure to follow her.

At the same time, Jamie was a breath of fresh rock star air. He was probably the first rocker I've read about that I never considered to be a possible "cheater", taking advantage of his limelight. He was conflicted, in several ways, and while he didn't always handle those in the best manner, I didn't worry about him running into the arms of other women. My respect for him only continued to grow throughout the book.

The plot was fairly predictable but the story was told in a way that made it believable and enjoyable. There was humor and plenty of steamy romance. When I got to the end, I squealed to myself (and anyone else in earshot) because it was just so adorable. This truly was a great read!

In closing...
I think I would read near anything this author handed to me. The storytelling was just that good. Five suns!

Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/review-tour-sound-effects-by-lj-greene.html

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

“Sound Effects” by L.J. Greene is part of the ‘Ripple Effects’ series and is a semi-contemporary adult romance. This story is a mesmerizing look at a group of people on the cusp of changes. Mel (Melody) Grayson is about to become a full-fledged lawyer while Jamie Callahan and his buddies are about to become the next big thing—if everything goes as planned.

I love the way the author gradually shares bits and pieces of each main character’s life, with little glimpses of the secondary characters, and allows the reader to become ensnared and invested in their struggle just as they themselves gradually move past being strangers. I often dislike first-person stories because they feel forced and awkward to me, and the angst is wearying, but I was delighted to become more and more enthralled with the story as I watched the growth and maturation of both the main characters and their relationship.

This was an interesting look at the challenges of balancing dreams and practicality, the difficulties of remaining true to one’s beliefs, and the determination required to not accept the roles others would impose upon you. There are painful emotional scenes but those are leavened by the bursts of humor as well as the intense and endearing honesty displayed by these characters. I was a little frustrated with Mel’s passivity at times which seemed to contradict the personality required for her chosen profession but I breathed a sigh of relief at the end, despite knowing there are a few threads that undoubtedly will (hopefully) lead to other stories. This is part of a series, yet stands alone just fine, and I am delighted to find a new author to follow and will definitely be on the lookout for other stories written by her.

A copy of this story was provided to me for review

[Bookworm027 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Sound Effects" is the story of an almost-lawyer going beyond her comfort zone and discovering who she really is. On the flip side, it's also the story of a band's front man: his dreams and staying true to himself and his music.

I really enjoyed how Greene intertwined Melody's and Jamie's backstory throughout the book. Everyone has a past, and Greene did a fantastic job using the past to show how her characters have grown. She touches on a couple of sensitive topics, but in a tasteful way that won't leave you wishing for a toothbrush.

I give this book 4 stars! Keep up the nice work Ms. Greene!

[Ally Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT!! HOT!! HOT!!

I truly enjoyed reading this book!! It was very hard to put down!!

Although this book is book two of the Ripple Effects Book Series, it can absolutely be read alone. But maybe why would you want to read it alone? If book one is anything like book two than count me in!! LOL!!

This book was such a fun, hot, sexy read filled with excitement, love, romance, adventure, and passion! This book was well written and thoroughly researched.

This book has strong, well developed characters that are honest, realistic, and totally relatable.

Melody Grayson is a smart, confident, headstrong woman, who is organized, cautious, and on a well detailed and thought-out plan for her future. Jamie Callahan is an up-and-coming Irish born singer who constantly takes risks, doesn’t plan, and lives life each day by day. Jamie is basically the complete opposite of Melody. However, when these two meet there are fireworks and Melody learns that maybe every minute of the day shouldn’t be planned out, that there’s more to life out there, and that living your life requires trying new things and taking chances. They say opposites attract right?

I am definitely more of a Melody. I am a huge planner and I make lists for like everything lol. I have met some Jamie’s – not quite the full package, but close. Finding that person who looks at life differently and inspires you to think outside the box and take chances – well isn’t that what your better half is supposed to do? Help make you a stronger person that is passionate and loves life?

This book is a true love story, as it not only focuses on the good times; it touches on the hard and difficult times that real couples face. It isn’t all butterflies and rainbows all the time. After the confetti settles, Jamie and Mel still have to work at their relationship.

I am new to L.J. Greene’s works, but this definitely won’t be the only book of hers that I will be checking out!

I absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, hot, sexy read filled with excitement, love, romance, adventure, and passion!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody has been invited to a barbeque by Dan who she just met at the grocery store. Inside the apartment she notices a keyboard and three guitars. She is not too happy about that as she has had several bad experiences with musicians. Dan says no, he isn't a musician and the place belongs to some friends. Dan went to get her something to drink and in walks Jamie. When Dan appears with her drink and sees how attracted they are to each other he leaves them alone to get better acquainted. Jamie is a musician, but the chemistry can't make her walk away. They have some tough times, as musicians can be moody and disappear sometimes for days. I won this book on Goodreads.

[Liz Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love me some Irish

Sexy Irish rocker - check.
Dual first-person POV - check.
Steamy bedroom action - check.
Strong female lead - check.
Engaging story - check.

Sound Effects has it all and then some. Complex characters and realistic plot skillfully developed by L. J. Greene. This is my first time reading her books, but it won't be the last. If you enjoy reading well fleshed-out characters in believable stories, this book is for you. Just don't begin reading it late at night because you won't want to put it down.

[Carol Mickelson-shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and laugh out loud funny, the love story of Mel and Jamie hooks you from the first page.Darker undercurrents run through out the story and cause your heart to break for the child Jaime was and the upbringing he was forced to endure. The city of San Francisco and the recording industry are also woven into the story line,enhancing the plot and creating a beautiful backdrop for the love story. I rooted for Jaime and Mel to overcome the obstacles placed in their path and find "true love".

[Nik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

First of all, I'd like to start with the good stuff. LJ Greene is a fantastic writer. Not once through the book did I have to stop and take a break just because something was written badly. I felt the emotions I was supposed to feel, the scenes were vivid, and the characters' personalities were real, dynamic, and interesting. I very much enjoyed reading her words.

My problem, though, was Jamie. I just simply didn't like him or the relationship they both had going together. I was overwhelmingly reminded of one of my worst and most dysfunctional relationships as I read through the middle third of the book. When you completely ditch and ignore your significant other for a month and a half, you don't get to get to show up in public to somewhere you know they're going to be so that they can't make a fuss, then later when they try to engage in a conversation about how your behavior was unacceptable, just say "But I'm here now" and magically allow everything to be fine again. Also, women, physical abuse is never a good reaction to emotional abuse. Just walk away. Just leave. Stop hitting (scratching....?) him; it's not going to end well.
It was such a vivid reminder of how I badly handled a situation in which I should not have even allowed myself to be in, that I couldn't even enjoy myself. The book was over for me once he dropped off the map the first time in the name of his music. No thank you.

That being said, maybe I'm clingy? Maybe it won't bother anyone else. LJ Greene is a good writer. I promise.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads and now need to get my hands on Ripple Effects. Yes the cover art was nice to look at and the book went well with it. Back ground stories are often full of things we don't expect , yet they shape characters into being for us. I liked that each band member was touched upon and as always words and music are sometimes the best entertainment around. It made me think about some of my favorite bands and how they formed. Sometimes rocky starts have the sweetest journey or endings. We need to enjoy the ride.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody Grayson is a serious law school graduate, that seems to have a weakness for musicians. More than one has broke her heart, and had her swearing off of them forever. That changes when she meets Jamie Callahan at a party where she was meeting another man. He's passionate, and sexy, and all of her vows are thrown out the window the minute he kisses her. He's also very sensitive, and insightful, as he shows her how to live her life to the fullest. On the verge of stardom, Irish born hottie, Jamie Callahan has grown up living with chaos his whole life, but when his dream is but a signature away, he can't seem to pay the heavy price, which throws his life into the biggest chaos yet. Melody is the one person who is perfect to navigate him through all the stormy waters while he keeps trying to achieve his dream, but he tells himself that he's not good enough for her. Will he learn that all she wants is him?

I absolutely LOVED this story so much! It was refreshing to read about a budding rock star, that isn't quite the bad boy as the majority of most. Plus, no psycho females that are trying to do anything to hurt his new relationship. The character development is great, with a seriously entertaining cast of secondaries to give breaks from the painful angsty moments. And believe me, there were moments that had me on the verge of tears. It's not only a musician, but one with a seriously sexy accent, so the simmering chemistry boiled over, like a pot with no lid on it, into SCORCHIN' HOT sexy scene goodness. I haven't read L.J. Greene before, but her talented writing style hooked me from the very beginning, and I couldn't put it down, so I didn't get out of my jammies until the very last page. I loved the no drug/alcohol filled partying of bands, and even without that factor, the story just had a very realistic feel to it, and I have to reiterate the originality of it. I'm really excited to read more by this author, so I'm going to HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Sound Effects to all who love to read!

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you open your heart, put your life’s ambition on the line, and just jump and take a gamble that may or may not pay off for you some time in the future? Yes, you have to ask yourself. What is my passion? Sometimes that passion can be all encompassing or it can expand.

Mel has a chance meeting with one sexy, sinfully good musician, Jamie. He gives her more to think about that just the direction of her career. He pushes her to test her dreams and ideals about her future and where it could go as opposed to where it was going. Mel and Jamie has some rather instant chemistry. That never allows for everyone to be happy someone somewhere has to be unhappy because you are happy.

The angst around this budding love was rather low on the scale. The ability to weave a story around the two main characters was high on the scale. The secondary characters and the interplay between them and the main characters were high also. The value of the music and the part it played may for interesting stepping stones. The life endured by Jamie was the emotional factor that drew you deeper in. The crown was seeing things from both Jamie and Mel’s POV. It allowed for a deeper concept of where each was coming from and how they perceived the goings-on

[Kathy Herink]

Good book, held interest, steamy sex passages.