Member Reviews
New Orleans Rush is a book I knew I was going to love, but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did! It's a romance that takes place in New Orleans, and one of the main characters is a magician!
I love how quirky the story was. Huxley is a magician, who ropes Bea into being his assistant after she accidentally damages his car because she got it confused with someone else's. The jobs the characters had in the novel were a little out there, but it really added to the experience of the book. This was just such a fun story. There were so many parts of the story that are unrealistic, and in any other book I think I would have rolled my eyes, but I ate it all up here!
"Imperfections made people unique, each story and flaw mixing the colors that mapped their lives."
Bea is such a great character. She's still trying to figure out her life. She's going through a lot, she moved to a new city with her boyfriend who immediately dumped her once they got there, and on the run from someone who is trying to hurt her because her dad owes him money. She's usually a happy go lucky person, but she's on her guard and doesn't want to be hurt anymore. I loved seeing her grow and learn to trust Huxley and his brothers.
I really enjoyed Huxley as well. He's the oldest brother, and in charge of keeping his family's theater running. He's under a lot of stress, and even though he has his brothers as a support system, he tries to do everything on his own. I loved reading about him falling in love with Bea, and learning how to trust others.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it! I'm totally going to pick up a physical copy on review day because this is a book I know I'll want to reread when I need a pick me up.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy.
I will be checking out more from this author in the future. I hope that see continues writing in this interesting universe with these memorable characters.
I'd like to preface this review with the fact that I'd never read nor heard of Kelly Siskind. After reading this book however I think she's going to be added into my regular rotation.
Right away when this book started I fell in love with "Bea" not "Bee" she's quirky and kind and if Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood doesn't make you want to key your ex's car when drunk what kind of person are you? She was so charming and full of life and Huxley is such a charm in his seriously sullen way. Opposites attracted for sure in this book! Also can we talk about the meet-cute to end all other meet-cutes? Bea and Huxley won that for sure.
The Marvelous Marlow Brothers was a great act and a fun addition to the book.(the brothers themselves were super charming and will hopefully get their own stories!). I don't know if I've ever read a love story between a magician and his assistant before but I was into it. This was a very cute story and I have very little negative things to say about it. My one big thing was that the relationship between Bea and Huxley could have been flushed out more instead of all the side plots/events but it just added to the books charm and quirky-ness!
I so thoroughly enjoyed New Orleans Rush I didn't want the book to end! And reading on an e-book can be deceiving because it skews how much of the book you have left! Thank you to NetGalley and the pusblishers for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review. Can't wait to read more by Kelly Siskind. :)
<b>Romance books are supposed to be escape from the boring exhausting everyday life. And New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind is the perfect escape. It is pure magic. It is pure bliss. It is pure writing art.I am still under the spell and I am loving every magical moment.</b>
I love when the author uses the city as a character rather than a simple location. New Orleans is playing an important part with all her seductive, playful and boisterous glory. I was really amazed by the unique and unusual liason between Huxley and Bea. On one side we have the struggling , brooding, serious Magician with scars on his body and mind. And on the other side we have the lively, optimistic, cheery, adventurous and loving Artist. The story is pretty simple. Yet I could not breathe because I was so anxious to know what new turn will come in Bea and Huxley's journey. It was witty, funny, charming, deep, intense, emotional and every good thing I can think of.
Magic and Arts are integral part of the story. I loved all the characters equally. Each has their own personality that shines through the pages. The narrative was simply mindblowing. I was teetering on the edge between reality and surrealism. Kelly Siskind draws a vivid and intense picture with her words. The words sink in me and grasped me whole. She made me feel the one of a kind, soul capturing, all consuming love between Bea and Huxley.
<b> New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind was a crazy, dreamy and perfect ride. The magic was in the words. Art was in the storytelling. This was an unforgettable romance.</b>
Received ARC for Honest Review
Somewhere between 2.5 and 3 on this one.
New Orleans Rush has some cute points in the relationship between Bea and Huxley but there were a lot of silly subplots that lost my attention along the way. I thought the concept of the magician and his assistant would be entertaining but a lot of the “magic” references took away from the plot for me, unfortunately.
Thank you to EverAfter Romance for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book has laugh out loud, grab your butterfly filled chest, feel-good romance stamped all over it! I clicked request on this book because of the adorable illustrated cover, the magician hero, and the setting of New Orleans but I had no idea how much I'd end up enjoying it. You know when you spot a book and every single part of the outer packaging looks PERFECT for you? Then your intuition makes an appearance and whispers in your ear that you need to read it now. You try not to get your hopes up because, well...expectations. They ruin you. But guess what? New Orleans Rush exceeded all of my hopes and delivered a sexy, sassy rom-com that made me happy with every page I turned. Beatrice "Bea" charmed the pants off of me with her infectious joy and zest for life. Huxley tries to fool people into believing he's a stern stick-in-the-mud, but he's nothing but a pile of goo in her very capable hands.
From their first inauspicious meet, Bea begins making his life better. Okay, so she keyed his late father's vintage car and doesn't have the funds to pay for it. She also shakes up his gloomy, orderly life that has been filled with worry for too long. She revitalizes his stale magic show and helps him fill the empty seats again so he can hang on to his father's legacy. The dilapidated theater he inherited is falling down all around him and there's nothing he can do about it. With two brothers holding their hands out for money constantly, and an uncle constantly plotting his downfall, he has little time for fun anymore. But he sacrifices and works his fingers to the bone in order to hold onto it all. One disastrous day at a time. Huxley is the kind of person who would give a stranger the shirt off of his back or his last dollar to someone in need. Someone like Bea.
Bea is down on her luck as well. Her loser father drained her bank account and now has a loan shark threatening her bodily harm on his behalf. She's been dumped by her boyfriend, and has nowhere to live. But her eternal optimism doesn't let her wallow or give up. She steps into a scene with her quirky 50s pinup girl style, her bright colors, and artistic flair, and you can't help but smile right along with her. And lord, does this girl have sass. She handles Huxley's "lie detector" face and his brothers' shameless teasing like she was born to it. And that's one of the things I loved the most. How she not only paired as a perfect compliment to the hero, but she fit flawlessly into his family and finally had a feeling of being home. One thing they had in common was the fact that they didn't have a stable home life with their parents. As different as they were, they could relate on that very elemental level. And for the first time she knew what it was like for people to have her back. Just as she was set on having his back and easing the stress that was overwhelming him.
Bea and Huxley had chemistry in spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. She could have easily made him her rebound guy, but they both enter into a relationship with extreme caution. And how do they do that, you ask? By becoming roommates, with the strict rule that they won't get physical or go on a date. Two adults with sizzling attraction brushing up against each other at breakfast, giving secretive hot glances, teasing banter, and lots of bottled up pheromones. There was one scene where I chuckled so hard, I had to stop read it from the beginning. Yep. Just as funny the second time. They're texting back and forth, somehow the conversation starts getting more flirty than she intended. So she tries to back off and retreat. Hilarity ensues.
Huxley wears his heart on his sleeve for Bea. I mean...his nickname for her (Honeybee *swoon*) his constant chivalrous efforts, his willingness to wait for her until she's able to trust in his promises. I couldn't get enough of them and the anticipation for them to finally exit the friend zone ratcheted up to sky high levels. This book is low on drama, high on effervescent humor, and filled to the brim with heartwarming romance. I'm not kidding when I say that I didn't want it to end!! Kelly Siskind waved her wand and sprinkled magic on this delightful story. I rarely gush over books anymore, but in this case all I want to do is share how bright this book sparkles. Read this! One-click, READ THIS, and savor it just like I did.
This was really cute! The main character is a down-on-her-luck artist who finds herself unemployed, homeless, and in serious debt in New Orleans. She meets the Marvelous Marlow boys and the rest is history. This wasn’t a complicated book and it didn’t require anything out of me other than a few hours. It wasn’t emotionally wrenching and didn’t cause me to experience any deep connection with the characters, but it was entertaining.
The writing was also fine. It was quirky and silly at times and tended toward the cheesy and cliche, which was mildly irritating but totally fit the two main characters. I honestly really have nothing bad to say about this book—it was cute and the writing wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t blown away by it. Would recommend if you’re looking for a light read that focuses on a family and some unique characters in a unique profession.
this was literally - LITERALLY - the cutest dang book i have ever read. seriously.
this is my first book by this author but excuse me while i go add everything else to my tbr. I was a bit worried when I requested it, I don't normally request arcs when I've never heard of the author, but the cover was so darn cute and the synopsis sounded so fun, and I am SO glad I got it.
Bea is such a fun, strong, captivating character. I adored Huxley as well. Lord he was a swoony. I just adored them together. I don't think I've ever read anything with a magician in it before, didn't think it would be my jam but I really liked it. Also, artists aren't my favourite to read about because I just don't click with that or relate to that kind of personality at all, but I adored Bea and she was written in such a way it was impossible not to fall in love with her. She was so quirky and just fun. And of course, Huxley. I fell in love with him too. Sigh. I loved the brothers and their relationship. I just adored everything about this book.
I always struggle to talk about a book when I like it, I don't know why, just less words seem to come. But I really really enjoyed this one. I'd say it was more of a but it was so delightful that I am upping it to a 5. I read a couple of bad reviews and I guess we read different books because I did not see the issues they saw. I guess that's why there's a bunch of different books out there, aye?
So sad there wasn't an epilogue, but don't worry, I signed up for the newsletter to get it. I'll probably buy this one when it comes out, seriously, it was just too adorable.
Oh, friends.
This book.
THIS. BOOK.
This book has so many fun elements that aligns with Kelly's signature writing style, but has the right amount of "different" that makes this book a total page turner. Bea and Huxley's meet cute is classic Kelly. Something so realistic that makes you laugh and say, "oh shit" at the same time. The setting of a magician's assistant made me say outloud, "...okay, now that's pretty cool..." and is fun, unique, and had me anxious to know if Huxley's show would be a success or a flop. And the push/pull Kelly creates on the page is wonderful, making that happily ever after so worth it in the end.
I think this quote from John Green's The Fault In Our Stars sums up Bea and Huxley's relationship (and ultimately how I feel about this book): “....I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
**I won this ARC through an author sponsored giveaway.
This was cute and I liked the magic element (the guy is a magician this isn't fantasy), but Beatrice did not seem to be a well developed character? I liked her friendship with Della and wish that had been explored more. My favorite part was the New Orleans setting and the Marlow brother's relationship.
This was a cute romance novel that I had a fun time reading (hence the three stars), but the main characters were lacking.
The cover is also the cutest thing ever!
Kelly Siskind has delivered another wonderful book with New Orleans Rush. These characters are so unique and fun and quirky that I want to move to New Orleans and become their best friend. Beatrice, or Bea, is one of the best female characters that I have read in a long time. And Huxley, the broody magician can't help but be intrigued by her quirky flare. And their connection is a slow burn where they both need to learn how to trust, and be open with another person. And their story is one that will leave a huge smile on your smile while reading because these are two people that you want root for in every way with their lives, love and family! And this story is set in New Orleans and the author does a wonderful job immersing the reader in the local culture.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
That was a lot of fun.
Both Bea and Huxley were both a little down on their luck, when fate, and some minor criminal activity, brought them together.
I instantly loved Bea. Not only was she the good kind of quirky, but she was also able to stay upbeat and optimistic even when people she loved continuously disappointed her. Her sunny disposition and motivation endeared her to me, and I loved the way she automatically fit right into Marvelous Marlow Brothers fold.
Marvelous, indeed. These three brothers shared a fun dynamic. I really enjoyed all the scenes they shared together, and thought it was great they way they grew as a unit over the course of the story. Huxley easily emerged as the "head" of the family, and he was a great hero for Bea to fall in love with.
Huxley had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and had, like Bea, been let down by a parent. He had been caring for his brothers in some capacity for many years, and had been fighting to save the family theatre and legacy since his father's death. All this responsibility left him without much time for fun and romance, but meeting Bea was a game changer. She brought out that fun-loving side of Huxley, and it was a beautiful thing to see.
The two were very sweet together, and watching the romance blossom and become more was very rewarding. I love the idea of finding your "person", and Siskind gave these two someone special in each other.
There was fun and antics and even some nefarious plots, but most of all, I saw a lot of people connecting with each other in meaningful ways, and realizing that these connections were more important than anything else.
I sort of wish the epilogue was included, because anyone who knows me knows I am all about the closure, but I am looking forward to release day, because I feel like Siskind has something really special planned for this group.
New Orleans Rush is a contemporary romance set in the world of magic. We have Beatrice Baker, who is a painter and recently arrived to New Orleans and Huxley Marlow, a magician who runs a show along with his two brothers. They meet due to Beatrice having a horrible day. Due to some bad choices Beatrice is now in Huxley's debt. It is while she is working for him that they fall for each other. They begin to see in each other what is there beyond the physical aspect. They compliment each other very well. Beatrice and Huxley help each other overcome some issues that had held them back in the past. The romance was sweet and the sexy times very steamy.
The relationship between the brothers was very sweet. I enjoyed their bantering.
I really liked the concept of the story. It was cool to learn how some illusions were performed.
The only issue I had was that the story moved slow at times.
Good read!!
I have such mixed feelings about this book. One the one hand, the story was fun and I loved the how well the magic-show element and the New Orleans setting worked with each other. On the other, I feel like the characters and actual writing needed some work.
Maybe I didn't mesh well with this author's voice, but the writing felt strangely formal. The characters had a mile-long list of "quirks" which is way too many. Their flaws weren't actually flaws. The author also had an annoying tendency of explaining and then re-explaining two paragraphs later.
The pacing was the worst bit. It was so slow going! Especially the very first bit. I felt like she was getting drunk at the bar forever (while repeatedly telling the reader how she wasn't drunk, but maybe mixing alcohol and cold medicine wasn't a great idea.....and then ordering another drink) and pausing while she had a dizzy spell multiple times. We get it! Your drunk, but think you aren't drunk. Honestly, I feel like the story would have benefited from jumping off right when she decides to key her ex's car. It would have given the story the momentum it was lacking.
The setting and plot were great, but I kept getting distracted by the actual writing. Definitely didn't hold my attention since I feel that connecting with the characters is more important than having a quirky story line.
Beatrice Baker ends up meeting the man of her dreams in this ho-hum romantic comedy.
I had high hopes for New Orleans Rush. Helen Hoang herself gave it a glowing review. I went into this book expecting a home run only to discover myself at an empty ball game. It might have rated three stars from me if my disappointment had not been so great. So take this review for what it is – a novel I didn’t like that scored low because I wanted to like it.
Many people will read this book, enjoying the illusions and magic. Good for you! Me? Well, I was bored to tears. When am I going to learn me and magicians do not mix? I didn’t like Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus, I didn’t like Stephanie Garber’s Caraval, and I didn’t like this book. The magician trope does nothing for me. The only novel I’ve truly enjoyed featuring magicians is Nora Robert’s Honest Illusions, and it’s really a novel about jewelry thieves.
Beatrice and Huxley felt unreal. Beatrice was a little too happy-go-lucky, while Huxley was a dour sourpuss of a person. I understand the charm of putting the two together, but it did not work for me here. Perhaps if the characters had spent more than a couple of weeks together, I would have bought their romance and chemistry. Alas, this couple and their respective story lines are diluted by rushed pacing.
tl;dr I’m sure others will enjoy this opposites attract rom-com, but it was not for me.
*Disclaimer: An ARC was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way.
This book was unexpected in many ways. Immediately, I was refreshed by how much of a weirdo Beatrice was. I thought she was very well planned out and could definitely see her quirks right away. If I'm being honest, I was surprised that Huxley was going to be the main love interest upon meeting him. I first cast him off as just another borderline creep at the bar, but wow yes I was shocked when I realized this was going to be a love story about a down in the dumps magician and his on the run free-spirited assistant. Talk about a unique and creative storyline. I could see the chemistry the two main characters had, and I really liked Huxley's brothers and the whole "found family" aspect of this book, but there was something missing from the romance like I just couldn't believe it 100%. I genuinely did enjoy this story, but after the halfway mark I felt it dragging on and kind of just adding more plot points that ended up feeling a little muddy. I could have done without the entire loan shark plot, to be honest. Along with a lot of cringey dialogue, the steamy scenes left more to the imagination than I would have liked and something was missing. I also think for this book being titled New Orleans Rush, there should have been more emphasis and detail in the setting. Aside from a few destinations and observations, this story really could have taken place anywhere and I struggled to picture the setting because of this. Overall, I think this was a solid romance from an author I haven't read before and that's always fun. This was cute and quirky!
This author did not disappoint. I loved this novel. From the very first page this novel sucked me in and just would not let go until the very last. I loved Bea and Huxley. Oh my gosh I laughed out loud in parts. I love when a novel can make you smile, laugh out loud and leave you feeling happy. This novel did it for me. I loved the dialogue and the banter. It was so good!
Super cute rom-com! At first, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the "magic/magician" element, but I ended up really liking it. The brothers were super endearing (I hope they make it a series!!!) and I thought the chemistry between Huxley and Bea was on point. Rom-com fans will love this one - I would definitely recommend!
There is two main things that draw me towards a book by an author I have never read before; 1. The Cover. 2. The Blurb. For New Orleans Rush, it most definitely was the blurb. I had to know the ends and outs of Huxley and Beatrice, and to entail what their story was all about. I was not impressed. For starters, I did not enjoy this authors writing style. For me personally, I kept on getting confused on who said what, and who did what. That could be because of the third person, I don't know, or maybe it was because there was so much unnecessary information, and it took away from the overall story. Some of the words that this author used, felt so juvenile. Some of the things the characters did say, were repetitive, and things a immature teenager would say, not something people in their upper 20's and 30's would normally do. Also, I felt like there was not a lot of character growth in one of the main characters and that was rather disappointing. From what I could gather, the plots were just blah. It was too much for what the characters portray themselves as. So to me, it made me feel like these characters were fake. The whole time reading, I felt like I was stuck in a circus, and I hate clowns if that says anything. It was nothing ' MAGICAL' to me.
this was a very cute book. i had never read the author before but i enjoyed the writing. at first i thought the heroine was going to be too flighty but she turned out to be a very grounded character. i really liked the unique setting of a magic show. it wasn't overdone and zany. there was a sweet realness to this book that made the book enjoyable