Title: When Frankie Meets Johnny (Frankie & Johnny #1)
Author: Xio Axelrod
Rating: 4/5 stars
“Originally published in volume two of the Love Is All anthology!
Scottish ex-pat Frankie Llewellyn lives and breathes music. Working late nights at WKMP, a radio station in suburban Philadelphia, he can play what he wants, sleep in every morning, and no one gives him any grief. No one but his most recent ex-boyfriend. Frankie is a serial monogamist, but after this latest break-up, he’s worried he’ll end up alone with nothing but his records to keep him warm at night.
When the station hires someone to do some much-needed renovations, Frankie is horrified to find out the work will be done during his overnight shift. But it makes the most sense, so he’s resolved to take one for the team. After he meets the mysterious contractor, a gorgeous, lumberjack of a man named John Burton, Frankie decides it may not be such a hardship after all.
John is reserved, and a bit mysterious. Quite the contrast to Frankie’s drama-filled life. But, as their friendship grows, John’s quiet presence has Frankie singing a new song.” (description from Goodreads)
Being that I’ve been finding it hard to even finish novellas lately, it’s a good sign that I plowed through this one in a day (total of a few hours, but yeah, a day’s read). I’m glad I stumbled upon this one when grabbing a copy of Axelrod’s new release The Girl With the Stars in Her Eyes. I was able to get a taste of the author’s writing before diving into a full-length novel.
What I enjoyed the most from this novella was Frankie’s love for music and how it helped the story along. I’m always drawn to books with characters so immersed in music. And this book didn’t disappoint. I’m just glad the author made a Spotify playlist so I can keep living in the “sounds” of the story even after being done reading.
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel novella Let the Music Play to continue on the journey of Frankie and Johnny. I feel that Axelrod was able to give the reader two great characters with this first one, but I would really like to explore them more. With just one novella, I was only able to scratch the surface of what makes them tick, especially Johnny. I’m confident I’ll continue to enjoy the two of them and where they’re headed.
If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:
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About the Author:
Xio Axelrod is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes different flavors of contemporary romance and what she likes to call, “strange, twisted tales.”
Xio grew up in the recording industry and began performing at a very young age. As a result, her knowledge of popular music is nearly encyclopedic. Seriously, look her up on quiz night. She might even be up for some karaoke!
A completely unapologetic, badge-wearing, fic-writing fangirl, Xio finds inspiration in everything around her. From her quirky neighbors to the lyrics of whatever song she currently has on repeat, to the latest clips from her favorite TV series, SKAM, Xio weaves her passions into her books.
(And if you’re curious about SKAM, ask her about it. Just be prepared to settle in for the long haul.)
When she isn’t working on the next story, Xio can be found behind a microphone in a studio, writing songs in her bedroom-turned-recording-booth, or performing on international stages under a different, not-so-secret name.
She lives in complete denial of the last five minutes of Buffy with one very patient, full-time, indoor husband, and several part-time, supremely pampered, outdoor cats.
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