Tag Archives: M.W. McKinley

Book Review: Please Live for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

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Please Live for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

A NA Romance Novel published by M.W. McKinley (03/29/23)

Summary:

“Even if our songs seem the same show after show, my solos communicate how I feel on this night, at this show, different from all the others.” (Kindle, 25%).
“It makes me hopeful that other disasters in my life can also turn into the same kind of magic.” (Kindle, 46%).

Brotherhood is back in the UK for a summer tour and this is Rob’s opportunity to convince Emily to give them another chance. Emily and Rob have been in love since they were fourteen, but Emily doesn’t want Rob to be held back by her. She was diagnosed with a lifelong medical condition as a teenager that affects her daily life and Rob has commitments to the band. Will they be able to work everything out before summer ends?

Keywords:

Love, Band, Guitarist, Artist, Tour, England, Bandmates, Best Friends, Brothers, Family, M/F, Dual Timeline

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

This is the third standalone story in the Brotherhood Series. The common thread between the books in the series is the band: Brotherhood. I love reading more in the world the author has built and we finally get Rob’s story – told as both present and past narrative. There is also the dueling POV’s between Emily and Rob in both past and present. The dance between the two voices and the two timelines is delicate and handled well. The pacing continues throughout the time and POV switching seamlessly and it’s difficult to put the book down because of the richness in voice and emotion.

The characters, their reactions, and their dialogue feels grounded and truthful. Each scene is carefully crafted using all the senses so much so that I felt fully immersed as I read. The details about music, musicianship, and MS felt so real to me. I empathized and rallied behind both Rob and Emily. As someone who used to play music but hasn’t for years the excitement, fervor, and longing in all the descriptions of playing brings me back and makes me nostalgic.

Both Emily and Rob have compelling stories full of emotional pull with rich and complex backstories that feed into their current dilemmas. There are many rare small glimpses into the personal lives of the characters that one would miss in real life but the author is able to highlight. These subtle insights through setting, dialogue, and actions reel you in as a reader as if you’ve been invited to watch something private and amazing going on between and within Emily and Rob. The way Rob is always there for Emily is immensely satisfying in a romance. The way Emily doesn’t want to let go of her independence is tough but also relatable, creating tension between them. Music is present throughout both of their lives as it pulls them together and pulls their story back to Brotherhood.

Overall, this book features beautiful writing, beautiful storytelling and serious relatable issues. If you’re a fan of wholesome and sweet romances, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read the next book by M.W. McKinley.

This novel was published by M.W. McKinley on 03/29/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

M. W. McKinley’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Please Fall for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

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Please Fall for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

A NA Romance Novel published by M.W. McKinley (11/16/21)

Summary:

“A brilliant smile takes over his face right before he leans in and kisses me with so much emotion, I can taste each unspoken word of love he sends my way.” (Kindle 78%).

Lei has decided to follow his band Brotherhood to NYC but he’s worried that this was the wrong decision. He has to leave behind his grandmother just as he finds out she has a heart condition. Brotherhood is without a drummer and the guy filling in, Felix refuses to join the band. Lei and Felix both feel an instant attraction for each other before Lei arrives in the states, but Felix doesn’t want to disappoint one more person in his life.

Keywords:

Love, Band, Bassist, Artist, NYC, England, Farewell, Bandmates, Best Friends, Brothers, Family, M/M, Disappointment, Addiction, Drummer, College

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

I really appreciate it when an author creates a world in a series where, over the course of multiple novels, multiple characters’ stories are told. The common thread between the books in this series is the band: Brotherhood. I love reading multiple stories and multiple narratives in a linear timeline throughout the series. I also really love reading the dueling POVs between Lei and Felix in this book.

Much like book one of the series, Please Fall for Me features two main characters with very compelling backstories that will pull you in emotionally. Both Lei and Felix have complex personal lives apart from each other before they meet. I love all the little details about each of their pasts and personalities. There are many rare small glimpses into the personal lives of the characters that one would miss in real life but the author is able to highlight. These subtle insights through setting, dialogue, and actions reel you in as a reader as if you’ve been invited to watch something private and amazing going on between and within Lei and Felix.

Each scene is carefully crafted using all the senses so much so that I felt fully immersed as I read. The details about music, musicianship, and addiction felt so real to me. I empathized and rallied behind the characters.

The relationship – friends to lovers – was very touching. Brotherhood and its members are so wholesome and loving to each other. I absolutely loved every interaction between roommates and band members Rob and Lei.

I often forgot that Lei was also a student in college while everything else is going on as there aren’t as many details or day-to-day insights into his time in classes or as a student.

Overall this book features beautiful writing and beautiful storytelling. If you’re a fan of wholesome and sweet romances, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series or any other book by M.W. McKinley.

This novel was published by M.W. McKinley on 11/16/2021 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

M. W. McKinley’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Please Stay for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

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Please Stay for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

A Contemporary YA Novel published by M.W. McKinley (12/18/20)

Summary:

“My plan to come to another country just to take photographs is slowly beginning to unravel as each new picture focuses on the face of someone I care about.” (Kindle Edition Chapter 14).

Avery is excited for her summer study abroad at Oxford University. She’ll have many opportunities to focus on her photography. After meeting Liam, she’ll also be focused on her new feelings of love. But he lives in England and she’ll be going home at the end of the summer. Liam is the lead singer of Brotherhood, but he also plays violin and has always wanted to attend Julliard. The band is starting to make waves and Liam will have to choose between the violin or the band. After meeting Avery, being in the same time zone as Avery will be more and more important as the summer comes to an end.

Keywords:

Love, Travel, Study Abroad, Band, Singer, Artist, Photography, England, Farewell, Bandmates, Best Friends, Brothers, Adoption, Family, Violin, Fate

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

I love books that have compelling backstories for their main characters, especially in romance novels. Please Stay for Me gives each main character very compelling and emotional backstories. Both characters have grown up with deep traumas related to their family. It’s interesting to see how Liam and Avery react to their own childhood traumas. Liam holds tighter to the bonds he formed himself – the family he’s chosen while Avery holds everyone at arm’s length – not wanting to get hurt again. Both characters were stronger despite their tragic backstories.

I felt deeply connected to the emotion the author wrote about, the trauma from the characters, and the heartaches they were going through.

I absolutely loved how communicative Liam and Avery were throughout their relationship. I was glad the author didn’t rely on miscommunication to push the plot along. The flow of the story felt natural. The relationship between Liam and Avery began one-sided with Liam pursuing Avery. This made sense due to Liam being completely open and Avery reticent to allow anyone to get too close. Eventually, Avery was won over by the charming Liam!

I wish there was more description and details related to Avery’s study abroad and her day-to-day but I didn’t miss it that much since the story was more focused on the character relationships, the romance between Avery and Liam and their backstories.

I really enjoyed the additional subplots and backstories of other characters and the similarities that were drawn between the relationships the other characters had with their families (or lack thereof). The side characters were an integral part of the story. I wanted more scenes between Avery and Katherine. I really liked Katherine. I also really liked Trinity, Rob, Hugh, Lei, and Emily. I can just imagine future books in this world where we see the relationship between Rob and Emily or a book devoted to Trinity or Katherine.

I loved the passion the author communicates from Liam and Avery for their art, the violin, and photography. Even Avery’s deep appreciation for music is strong and the way she connects to music through memories of her family is poignant.

This is a story for those who enjoy summer romances that are built upon strong character backstories and feature character relationships heavily.

This novel was published by M.W. McKinley on 12/18/2020 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

M. W. McKinley’s Website

Goodreads