cadiva's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this one, just shades as my favourite of the three because Michelin needed Lucky to help him find his way but when he decided to go for it, he took it full on with no apology.
I felt so bad for Michelin through most of this book, I loved his demisexual status too and I think Annabeth did really well getting it across how he needed the emotional connection to let loose with his desires.
The sexual tensions in this one were both hot and steamy but also hugely emotional and tender and I loved how Lucky was quick to pick up on what was needed for Michelin to let himself free.
Great to see the guys from the other books, even in passing, and I liked the exploration of that last bastion of 'traditions' - country music - which is also finding it needs to move with the times when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.
I felt so bad for Michelin through most of this book, I loved his demisexual status too and I think Annabeth did really well getting it across how he needed the emotional connection to let loose with his desires.
The sexual tensions in this one were both hot and steamy but also hugely emotional and tender and I loved how Lucky was quick to pick up on what was needed for Michelin to let himself free.
Great to see the guys from the other books, even in passing, and I liked the exploration of that last bastion of 'traditions' - country music - which is also finding it needs to move with the times when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.
janetted's review against another edition
4.0
I was worried at first that All Note Long might be the first story to really challenge my expectations for one of Annabeth Albert's stories. Lucky and Michelin were a tad bit frustrating and they could not, for the love, stay out of their own way. Something I love about Annabeth Albert's books is that they guarantee a great ride; she's true to her characters in a way some writers struggle with, and it's refreshing to see their growth and evolution. Because of my faith in Albert's writing I didn't let Lucky and Michelin's strife dissuade me, and it paid off. In SO MANY WAYS. This story is an extremely fulfilling journey from start to finish, one readers won't want to miss.
snakeyghost's review
2.0
2 stars
I have very mixed feelings about this series. Book one didn’t work for me, but I loved book 2 so I was very hopeful that I would enjoy this one too, but sadly, it also didn’t work for me.
Quick summary: Michelin is closeted country star and Lucky is a go go dancer trying to make it into the dancing world and Michelin goes to the club where Lucky dances and Michelin ends up being outed. Michelin and Lucky start to fake date because the label think it might help Michelin’s career.
Let me just start by saying that I don’t really enjoy angst, I like when my books are happy and I don’t have a high tolerance for angst, which really didn’t help me here because this entire book is very sad and angsty, so thats the first thing that didn’t work for me. I really appreciated Michelin’s character but he had a lot of internalized homophobia and it got way too heavy for me after a while. It was really well done though, just not for me.
Honestly, there are a couple of things that really bothered me with this book but the biggest one is Lucky. I just didn’t like him, at all. He wasn’t very nice to Michelin most of the time and it really bothered me, I just thought he could have done much better.
I really want to talk about one thing though. So the big conflict of the book was because Michelin didn’t want to be an out and proud country singer, he just wanted to stay in his corner and sign his music and Lucky wanted him to be proud of them or he couldn’t be with him. So they break up at 75% because of that. But Lucky also betrays Michelin in the worst way, which I thought was way worst than what Michelin did. Yet Michelin was the only one to apologize and do a public gesture where he signs a song he wrote for Lucky, but Lucky barely apologized for betraying him and I thought it wasn’t fair at all. Like sure Michelin had some issues and maybe wasn’t the most proud, but he wasn’t the one the worst one in the situation to me. To explain it, Michelin told Lucky that was in love with a guy before and that he broke his heart and then Lucky accepts to dance in that guy’s music video (that is only doing it to hurt Michelin) because it will help his career and he never cares about hurting Michelin’s feelings. And then Lucky backs out of it BUT he says it’s because it would make him look bad and all and not because of Michelin. To me he should have said no because it would hurt his man and he knew it. I really really hated that. It was a massive betrayal to me and I didn’t like how it was shown like it wasn’t a big thing, it was really important to me. And I don’t see how they can have a strong relationship after that.
I just want to mention one thing that I really liked and that was the fact that Michelin is demisexual. It was really nicely done and I loved how he discovered his sexuality and how he burned for Lucky, that was really nice.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
I have very mixed feelings about this series. Book one didn’t work for me, but I loved book 2 so I was very hopeful that I would enjoy this one too, but sadly, it also didn’t work for me.
Quick summary: Michelin is closeted country star and Lucky is a go go dancer trying to make it into the dancing world and Michelin goes to the club where Lucky dances and Michelin ends up being outed. Michelin and Lucky start to fake date because the label think it might help Michelin’s career.
Let me just start by saying that I don’t really enjoy angst, I like when my books are happy and I don’t have a high tolerance for angst, which really didn’t help me here because this entire book is very sad and angsty, so thats the first thing that didn’t work for me. I really appreciated Michelin’s character but he had a lot of internalized homophobia and it got way too heavy for me after a while. It was really well done though, just not for me.
Honestly, there are a couple of things that really bothered me with this book but the biggest one is Lucky. I just didn’t like him, at all. He wasn’t very nice to Michelin most of the time and it really bothered me, I just thought he could have done much better.
I really want to talk about one thing though. So the big conflict of the book was because Michelin didn’t want to be an out and proud country singer, he just wanted to stay in his corner and sign his music and Lucky wanted him to be proud of them or he couldn’t be with him. So they break up at 75% because of that. But Lucky also betrays Michelin in the worst way, which I thought was way worst than what Michelin did. Yet Michelin was the only one to apologize and do a public gesture where he signs a song he wrote for Lucky, but Lucky barely apologized for betraying him and I thought it wasn’t fair at all. Like sure Michelin had some issues and maybe wasn’t the most proud, but he wasn’t the one the worst one in the situation to me. To explain it, Michelin told Lucky that was in love with a guy before and that he broke his heart and then Lucky accepts to dance in that guy’s music video (that is only doing it to hurt Michelin) because it will help his career and he never cares about hurting Michelin’s feelings. And then Lucky backs out of it BUT he says it’s because it would make him look bad and all and not because of Michelin. To me he should have said no because it would hurt his man and he knew it. I really really hated that. It was a massive betrayal to me and I didn’t like how it was shown like it wasn’t a big thing, it was really important to me. And I don’t see how they can have a strong relationship after that.
I just want to mention one thing that I really liked and that was the fact that Michelin is demisexual. It was really nicely done and I loved how he discovered his sexuality and how he burned for Lucky, that was really nice.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
maureenforrester's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
I skipped the first two books in this series so I think it’s safe to say this can be read as a standalone. The guys from the first two books do make appearances but the story is still easy to read on its own. And I pretty much loved it so I’m going to have to go back and read books 1 and 2. The writing was great as always with Ms. Albert and I loved, loved, loved the ‘tweets’ at the beginning of each chapter!
Michelin and Lucky get off to a rough start which pretty much spirals out of control. As the story unfolds, we find that both men are more than what we see on the surface. I didn’t like that Michelin let so much of his life be dictated by his record company. Once he was outed, it almost felt like he wanted to go back in the closet. And for such a big star he seemed so disconnected from the world. His insecurities did endear me to him though (and for some reason I’m always a sucker for a big guy that stutters) and I love how he was so amenable to Lucky physically. He basically melted whenever Lucky touched him. When he finally pulled his head out of his a$$, the story was pretty perfect.
Lucky was awesome. He is definitely more than meets the eye and was perfect for Michelin, seeing what he needed right from the beginning. He stood up for himself and wouldn’t become a pawn in the record company’s game. And hello – Argentinian….HOT! (Just look at that cover!)
I’m interested to see if there will be another book and who it will be about as there doesn’t seem to be many characters left to talk about.
This is definitely a series worth checking out!
Michelin and Lucky get off to a rough start which pretty much spirals out of control. As the story unfolds, we find that both men are more than what we see on the surface. I didn’t like that Michelin let so much of his life be dictated by his record company. Once he was outed, it almost felt like he wanted to go back in the closet. And for such a big star he seemed so disconnected from the world. His insecurities did endear me to him though (and for some reason I’m always a sucker for a big guy that stutters) and I love how he was so amenable to Lucky physically. He basically melted whenever Lucky touched him. When he finally pulled his head out of his a$$, the story was pretty perfect.
Lucky was awesome. He is definitely more than meets the eye and was perfect for Michelin, seeing what he needed right from the beginning. He stood up for himself and wouldn’t become a pawn in the record company’s game. And hello – Argentinian….HOT! (Just look at that cover!)
I’m interested to see if there will be another book and who it will be about as there doesn’t seem to be many characters left to talk about.
This is definitely a series worth checking out!
melinda's review against another edition
4.0
This author just makes me feel good with every single book she writes and this was no exception. This series revolves around singing - which I love. Michelin was a pretty big character in the earlier books in this series as well, another thing I love when authors do - bring in side characters that we're already familiar with and make them the MC of their own book. Because then I'm already a tiny bit in love with them. Totally the case here. Since Michelin is a country singer I wasn't so sure how much I'd love him because country music - just meh. Not to worry - I fell in love!
To balance out that country side of things we have Lucky, who is more out there and not nearly as conservative as Michelin is. Lucky is lovable, fun, and outgoing. And very out of the closet while Michelin is DEEP in his.
I really enjoyed their interactions and pretty much this whole book. It was very much what I've come to expect from Albert - sweet and lovable. I like being able to have an author I can depend on like that!
ARC provide by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
To balance out that country side of things we have Lucky, who is more out there and not nearly as conservative as Michelin is. Lucky is lovable, fun, and outgoing. And very out of the closet while Michelin is DEEP in his.
I really enjoyed their interactions and pretty much this whole book. It was very much what I've come to expect from Albert - sweet and lovable. I like being able to have an author I can depend on like that!
ARC provide by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
cadiva's review
4.0
Loved this one, just shades as my favourite of the three because Michelin needed Lucky to help him find his way but when he decided to go for it, he took it full on with no apology.
I felt so bad for Michelin through most of this book, I loved his demisexual status too and I think Annabeth did really well getting it across how he needed the emotional connection to let loose with his desires.
The sexual tensions in this one were both hot and steamy but also hugely emotional and tender and I loved how Lucky was quick to pick up on what was needed for Michelin to let himself free.
Great to see the guys from the other books, even in passing, and I liked the exploration of that last bastion of 'traditions' - country music - which is also finding it needs to move with the times when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.
I felt so bad for Michelin through most of this book, I loved his demisexual status too and I think Annabeth did really well getting it across how he needed the emotional connection to let loose with his desires.
The sexual tensions in this one were both hot and steamy but also hugely emotional and tender and I loved how Lucky was quick to pick up on what was needed for Michelin to let himself free.
Great to see the guys from the other books, even in passing, and I liked the exploration of that last bastion of 'traditions' - country music - which is also finding it needs to move with the times when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.
susanscribs's review
3.0
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).
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).