Exile by Kevin Emerson Review

Exile by Kevin Emerson
(Exile #1)
Release Date: April 29, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; 320 pages
Rating: 

Catherine Summer Carlson knows how to manage bands like a professional—she’s a student at the PopArts Academy at Mount Hope High, where rock legends Allegiance to North got their start. Summer knows that falling for the lead singer of her latest band is the least professional thing a manager can do. But Caleb Daniels isn’t an ordinary band boy—he’s a hot, dreamy, sweet-singing, exiled-from-his-old-band, possibly-with-a-deep-dark-side band boy. And he can do that thing. That thing when someone sings a song and it inhabits you, possesses you, and moves you like a marionette to its will.

Summer also finds herself at the center of a mystery she never saw coming. When Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father, one band’s past becomes another’s present, and Summer finds it harder and harder to be both band manager and girlfriend. She knows what the well-mannered Catherine side of her would do, but she also knows what her heart is telling her. Maybe it’s time to accept who she really is, even if it means becoming an exile herself. . . .

On sale in April 2014, Kevin Emerson’s EXILE is a witty and passionate ode to love, rock and roll, and the freedom that comes in the moment when somebody believes in you, even if you’re not quite ready to believe in yourself.

 I love rock music.  For me there is no genre like rock music.  It's just so versatile.  So of course I was immediately drawn to this book.  Also mysteries really intrigue me.  So one day I decided that I was going to curl up and read this book.  And lets just say this book sure was rockin'!  I really adored Summer.  She's a great main character.  She's fun and also super smart.  Believe it or not for a short period in my life, I actually wanted to be in the music industry.  But my lack of musical talent quickly made that dream disappear very fast.

Summer is a band manager.  She's more of a music enthusiast and can spot talent.  She shows you that you don't have to actually play music to understand it.  In the beginning of the book Summer is pretty much broken.  The band that she managed was signed to a major record label and her cheating boyfriend who also happens to be the lead singer of said band dumped her.  As a reader you're pretty much sympathetic to Summer from the get go because she's pretty much had 2 things she loved snatched away from her.  Her parents pretty much don't take her love for music seriously, and assume that once she's finished with high school, she'll go to college and get a "real job".  Summer's relationship with her parents is pretty much something that everyone can relate to.  You want to please your parents, but at the same time you want to live your life.

When Summer meets Caleb I was really impressed with their instant attraction.  There is just something sexy about a man with a guitar.  Add a beautiful singing voice to said man, and the hotness factor just skyrockets.  But Caleb of course has baggage.  And that baggage affects his and Summer's relationship.  But while I loved their initial meeting, their relationship as a whole didn't really gel with me.  At times I felt a lack of chemistry and something just felt like it was missing.  They just weren't strong enough for me romantically.

The story as a whole is still good though.  There's a lot more to it than Summer and Caleb's relationship with each other.  There's great character development of their relationships with themselves.  Summer is determined not to let history repeat itself.  And Caleb wants to find a connection with his father.  As mentioned before there is a great mystery to be solved as well.  I was hooked on them putting the pieces together.

I believe initially this book was supposed to be a standalone.  And honestly I was pretty satisfied with the ending.  But I was very happy to find out that the story will be continuing.  It was a simple and quick read that I enjoyed.  This book is not heavy, yes there are some heartfelt moments.  But it's not angst ridden.  Plus the song lyrics are a definite added plus.  And even though I usually don't buy audio books, I am seriously contemplating buying this one because I love the songs!