Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Published by MTV Books; July 16, 2013

Hardcover, 288 pages

Received from publisher through NetGalley - thanks!

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

- Description from Goodreads.com

I think I've become hooked on Jennifer Echols now. And here's why:

The characters are the most UNLIKEABLE people ever (except for Ace. I love you, man). Three-quarters of the time, I wanted to punch them and kick them but somehow, Miss Echols managed to keep me under control. And uhh, actually like the characters at some points. 

Take Sam, for instance. He is a nice-looking boy, all Southern charm and class but he's known to be a heartbreaker - and don't forget absolutely SELFISH. He really never thinks about other people and when he does, it's always because he gets something from it. Always. But then all of a sudden, he goes all sweet and charming on me. And what happens to all my anger? Flies straight out the window.

It's confusing, all right! I never know what to expect from the characters. Are they going to tolerable or are they totally going to make me blow my top? Sometimes, the way the characters switch from mood to mood feels completely off but it's too much of a breather for me to complain.

And come on, who can resist Jennifer's writing? It runs smoothly and easily and at times, it was almost lulling me to sleep, to forget the issues I had with the characters.

Great, easy read! But I agree with the other Jennifer Echols fans, read this AFTER you've already established yourself as an Echols lover!