Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Off the Record" by Skye McDonald

Today, I am excited to be participating in the release blitz celebrating Skye McDonald's "Off the Record," book #2 in the Anti-Belle series.  I have been looking forward to reading this story ever since we were introduced to the male lead character, Nick Field, in the first book of the series, and I am happy to report that it was totally worth the wait.  As usual, my complete review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I very much enjoyed this book with its well-developed, relatable characters and engaging storyline.  I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, especially readers who enjoy the Nashville music scene or stories of behind-the-scenes Hollywood. 

For a chance to win signed copies of the first two books in the Anti-Belle series, "Not Suitable for Work" and "Off the Record," courtesy of the author, Skye McDonald, click here! (Giveaway closes on December 18.)

About "Off the Record"

Not even Nashville’s summer heat can match the sizzle of first love.

Nick Field’s motto is “live free.” The huge promotion at work is great, but producing a pop star’s debut album isn’t going to change his life or anything. There’s always room for unwinding and having fun.

Mel Thomas works 24/7 as the media manager to America’s newest heartthrob. Building his image and writing her career make-or-break article are the stories of the summer. There’s no room to go off script.

Ten years ago, Nick and Mel were high school sweethearts. Reunited by chance, what should’ve been ancient history reignites into a passionate present. Too bad there’s no future in it.

Read an Excerpt from "Off the Record"

Nick

Jesse looked around. “Where’s Melody?”

Melody. The name tickled the hair on my neck and made me forget every single name I’d just committed to memory.

Peter said, “I think she was talking to the receptionist.” He jogged to the hallway calling, “Hey, Miss Twitter! You’re wanted in the lounge.”

I scratched my neck to make the tingling stop. “Did you say Melody?” Shut up. There’s no way it’s her. Focus.

“Yeah. She’s a hell of a writer and the best damn girlfriend a guy like me could ask for.” Jesse shrugged like we shared a joke.

The tingling started to close my throat. “Writer?”

But Peter reappeared, and the woman who followed him in confirmed every ounce of adrenaline coursing through my system. My pulse beat in my ears and muted the scene as her ocean-blue eyes landed on me.

Suddenly I was eighteen again, rocked by nostalgia and memories that had been locked away for a decade.

I saw the shock in her gaze, but she rearranged her expression to a placid mask fast. Her cool stare under those black—Black??—bangs made me hold my tongue and remember where we were.

His girlfriend. Jesus, I didn’t see this coming.

“Hi.”Her soft greeting turned my mouth to dust. I wondered if it was her hand or mine that was so cold when I reached to clasp her outstretched palm. I’m not sure if I spoke, but after a beat she withdrew.

Easy, man. Calm down. Jesse’s debut album is why you’re here. Don’t make a scene. I turned to Jesse. “Should we get started?”

He grinned. “Let’s do it.”

While he met the band and started rehearsing, I dropped into my chair behind the sound board and rolled my shoulders. The album is all that matters. All. That. Matters.

My Review

I very much enjoyed Skye McDonald's "Off the Record."  I am generally a fan of second chance romances, and this story featured a good one.  Both of the main characters, Nick and Melody, were well-developed and very likeable, and their chemistry was electric from the very beginning.  The people around them, especially Mel's erstwhile boyfriend, Jesse, must have been completely blind not to have noticed Mel and Nick's attraction right away!

I really liked Mel and found the way her brain worked to be quite interesting, especially how she was always mentally "revising" what was going on around her.  She was like the ultimate people watcher, and since I enjoy people watching myself, I could understand her thinking to a certain degree. However, this tendency became a problem after Mel reconnected with Nick and she was forced to choose between actually living her life and remaining a passive observer, forever a background piece of the "story" she created to help promote Jesse's career.  At first, Mel resisted getting into a real relationship with Nick, largely because she was afraid to take a chance on love due to her feelings of abandonment after her mother left when she was young.  It was safer for Mel to continue living inside the story she had created with Jesse, both because she could control it and because there was little risk of her getting seriously hurt.  It took a lot for her to realize that the story could have a different ending, but luckily she did realize it before it was too late for her and Nick.

I enjoyed being introduced to Nick in the first book of the Anti-Belle series, "Not Safe for Work," and was happy to get to know him better here.  He seemed like a really fun guy with a good heart, and his feelings for Mel were obviously sincere.  It was nice to catch up with Ben and Celeste, the main characters from book #1, as well.  It will be interesting to see who will be featured in the third book of this series - possibly Ben and Nick's friend Liv?  At any rate, I look forward to reading whatever Skye McDonald writes next!