I loved Reverb by Anna Zabo. It's a well-written story featuring staring Mish, an apparently pansexual-but-no-labels rock goddess and bassist of a very queer rock band, and David, her not-straight-but-very-queer bodyguard.
So much to like here. The main characters are written well and with integrity. Everything about the band's identity and David and Mish's attraction is just completely accepted as the way it is. The language used to describe David's gender identity and presentation is honest and real. On top of all that, there are some really hot scenes in this story.
Four-and-a-half stars but worth rounding up! I really enjoyed reading this book.
Thank you for this ARC.

Heat Factor: Lots of sex, lots of details, lots of fun
Character Chemistry: We are mature adults who can articulate our desires, which means we are extra sexy!
Plot: Rock star gets it on with her hot bodyguard
Overall: Loved the characters, didn’t love the prose


Romance novels come in a couple of different flavors when it comes to the relationships they depict:
1. Protagonists have no chemistry, so why I am even reading this?
2. Protagonists argue all the time, and then have make-up sex, and this is supposed to be a healthy relationship?
3. Protagonists are bad at articulating their feelings, resulting in many misunderstandings. But at least they have things in common and sometimes talk to each other.
4. Protagonists are emotionally mature adults who communicate well.

Reverb is an example of #4. In other words, it’s the kind of romance novel that actually models the work that goes into a successful relationship, instead the Happily Ever After being pure wish-fulfilment. That is not to say that the road to true love isn’t without a few bumps, but the main hurdle that the characters face in their relationship about two-thirds of the way through the book is a legitimate problem in terms of competing wants and needs.

It helps that the protagonists are imminently likeable, and in addition to actually talking to each other, they also have banging sexual chemistry.

The reader meets Mish, the heroine, in the hospital. She has just sprained her hand punching an overzealous fan who came at her with scissors and cut off some of her hair for a souvenir (!!!). No need for security though, because she gave him a thorough ass-kicking. I should also mention that she’s the bassist in a band that is just making it big. And that she fills the role of band mom to her fellow musicians, who she refers to as “the boys.” Needless to say, she can take care of herself, and does not approve of the plan to hire a bodyguard for the band’s upcoming tour.

That is, until the bodyguard in question shows up. David is competent and can definitely hold his own in a fight if necessary, but he doesn’t do that Alpha posturing thing where he makes all the decisions for the lady’s own good. Instead, he gives Mish and the rest of the band all the information about security threats they face, and then acquiesces to their wishes as appropriate. Like I said, Mature Adults! David also happens to be trans, which means that when Mish talks about maneuvering through the world as a woman and the defensive measures she routinely takes, he understands exactly what she means.

As one might expect, Mish and David get hot and heavy, but also share an emotional connection that neither expected to find. Their relationship is both sexy and sweet, and I am all about it.

However, I had a hard time getting to that point because I didn’t love Zabo’s prose. Specifically, the language is meant to evoke the characters’ thoughts, which Zabo does by frequently leaving the subject out of a sentence. An example of what I mean for those who aren’t grammar nerds:

"Yeah, the camera loved her. Loved every member of Twisted Wishes. Beautiful people, all of them."

The writing style makes things more immediate - the reader gets closer to the characters. However, I prefer things a little more polished and removed, so I found the immediacy and rhythm of the words distracting. This may not be a problem for other readers.

I close with a quick content warning: If you do not like profanity, skip this one. Lots of fucks to be had here.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

While this one wasnt a total hit out of the park for me I really enjoyed this latest addition to the Twisted Wishes Family. I loved Mish so much and David I liked how they developed and the elements of kink and how the threat of the stalker was handled. How Mish felt about it and how everyone considered David part of the family. Found family is my catnip so seeing the band and the other couples in this was really a treat

My only downside was use of the break up trope. I personally hate this trope and it was used twice in this book in such a manner that when they do both get back together we dont get enough page time to see them fully work things out and show that they can be a semi functional couple.

Otherwise I loved Mish and David but wish that the end had worked out differently

After reading the book description, I thought this is not my usual storyline interest but I thought what the heck, try it. Turns out, I am glad I did. This is a read about finding comfort and contentment in self. There is no right way to discover love. Mish Sullivan is the bass player for a successful band. She looks at the love her fellow band mates enjoy with their partners and wishes she had some of that. David Altet, former military, martial arts expert and current for hire bodyguard. David is hired to protect Mish and her fellow band members from a stalker. When David and Mish meet, there is an attraction. Will they or will they not find a connection that goes beyond a few days, weeks or months a a theme that permeates the read. I enjoyed the back and forth self-talk of Mish and David. It was interesting to know what was going on in their heads and hearts. Provided a connection with the characters which in my opinion, was a good thing.

Already being invested in this series made it easy to love this book, but I have a feeling I would have loved it anyway. I loved the major role the characters from the first two books played in the story, but Mish and David carried the story even without them.

Mish's self-reliance and refusal to allow anyone to take care of her was grating at times but was consistent with her character and background. I liked that even Mish can see where she sometimes makes things worse by being so stubbornly self-reliant. It added a depth to the character that a lot of books are missing. A lot of times characters are written as if they are completely blind to their faults. Mish knows what her weaknesses are and still struggles to overcome them.

David is also written with a lot of depth and integrity. Although I definitely wanted to kick David in the head at various times throughout the book, I could see why he was reacting the way he was. It just took him longer to get to the "being this way is actually hurting me" than it did for Mish. Of course, he also had a lot more changing he needed to do than she did. David's reactions are very much shaped by his identity as a man and his life experiences. I loved that his identity as a trans man was woven into the story so smoothly (including in their sexual interactions), but David is a fully-embodied person. His trans identity is never treated as a side-show.

A very satisfying ending to the series.

This series has meant a lot to me, and Reverb is no different. We finally get Rock Queen Mish’s story and David is such a wonderful partner for her. Mish is the bass player of Twisted Wishes, but suddenly she’s getting strange emails and comments that lead to someone taking a lock her her hair, and the band’s response is to hide security for the band. Mish and David have immediate attraction and chemistry, and their banter especially is wonderful. As they explore their attraction and build a relationship, the emails/comments from Mish’s stalker get scarier and more intense, Mish feeling like she recognizes the voice but unable to place it.

I really loved this book. Zabo writes some of the very best BDSM sex scenes and the heat and trust between Mish and David is wonderful. I also really liked the ways David’s body is handled. I like that David, unapologetically and unabashedly trans, gets to have this story and his body is respected and it doesn’t feel like a kink in any way, shape, or form. And seeing a trans man get this kind of happy ending in and of itself feels so good to see.

I adore the band and their Found family vibes. Watching the interactions between Ray, Dom, Zavier, Mish, and Adrian really makes this series for me in a lot of ways. They love each other so much and support each other, and I absolutely live for the queer found family. I especially loved seeing more nuance, if you will, regarding Zavier and his aromanticness and his relationship with Ray. It still means so much to me that Zavier exists and this series is as well-loved as it is.

In conclusion, this book is excellent. If you love queer found family, romance, rock band romance, and kinky sex, you should definitely pick up this series and give it all the love!

I took a chance reading this because I knew going in that this was about a transgendered male and a woman. I didn't know what to expect but thought why not. I am happy to say I am glad I took a chance on this one.

Mish Sullivan is a bada** bassist in a Rock band and she had a stalker. She can take care of herself, but the other band members and their manager decide that the group needs to have a Bodyguard. They hire David Altet to be their personal body guard. Everyone pretty much knows that David will be more so responsible for keeping Mish safe. Mish doesn't want a body guard, but after meeting David and seeing how easily he fits into the group she decides to go with it.

So I overall enjoyed the love story between Mish and David. The band Twisted Wishes is a queer band and Mish could be considered queer. She has dated a mixture of people and could be considered non-binary (my words). From the moment they meet you can tell they have great chemistry together. Mish is for sure attracted to David and David to Mish. They flirt easily with each other and you can easy see the attraction. I also enjoyed the overall plot of this one. David must protect Mish and he has to decide if becoming involved with her will jeopardize her safety or even the bands safety. The one downfall of this romance is it was long and a bit slow. I did find myself a few times skimming to get to the dialogue. I think if I was have given a better glimpse into the stalker, the length would not be a problem and the pace would have picked up.

I have to admit that I learned a great deal from reading this book. I didn't have an understanding of what transgendered people could go through and Reverb gave me a glimpse of what it could be like to walk in their shoes. I understand there are some other books before this one and it seems that not reading those wasn't a big deal.

I will give this one 3.5 stars

What a wonderful end to an amazing series!

The good:

- Mish is a pansexual cis woman, David is a trans man, and they're in a book full of lots of queer folks written by a non-binary person. All the yes.

- The romance is like-likes-like, which I don't see very often. Mish and David both see themselves as protectors and have a similar personality type, and as a result they have a feel for what makes each other tick. It brings them closer while also contributing to issues down the line.

- I love that Zabo doesn't have Big Miscommunications in their books. People talk to each other about their feelings like the adults they are - insert mock gasp of shock here. 😉

- The found family dynamic runs through the series and is extra strong here. You can sense that the group is nearly complete and that David is the last puzzle piece. And him fitting goes both ways - the band accepts him as part of the family, and he has to realize and accept that he both fits and is wanted.

- There's a natural friendship between David and Adrian as the two guys who are with the band but don't play on stage and it works so well.

- The queerness of the band is never forgotten, and they are totally there for their fans and each other, from lead singer down through the roadies.

- Little realities of touring ring true and make sense. For example, when they get donuts at a rest stop they make sure to buy the most garish ones they can find because they'll look good on Instagram.

- There's tons of positive modelling, showing how delicate situations should be handled. When David sees a crew member hesitating to enter the men's room, unsure of their reception, he warmly says "come with me" and strikes up a conversation.

- In a similar vein, David is cis-passing, so Mish doesn't realize that he's trans. We see him come out to her from his point of view, worried she won't be accepting. Her reaction is honest, real, unforced, and utterly respectful and accepting. We see how much it means to David, and I fell in love with both of them even more.

Neither here-nor-there:

- The BDSM element so strong in the first two books is really light here. That being said, if you're interested at all in this series I suggest you start with book one, Syncopation, in order to enjoy the character arcs and warm fuzzies to their fullest.

The not-so-good:

- Nothing in particular!

I'm both sad to see this series end and excited to see what Zabo does next - it appears that Twisted Wishes' opening band could get its own spin off series and I hope it does, and soon!

This is a solid 3.5.

I still haven’t read the first book in this series but after enjoying Counterpoint so much, I knew I had to read Mish’s story. And this was a fun read for the most part and I quite liked the slightly mysterious part of it too.

Mish Sullivan is a badass and hates showing her vulnerable side to anyone. She can seem bull headed at times, but I liked knowing the reasons for the way she is. She is confident and amazing and totally in her element on stage, she enjoys her interactions with fans but there is also a good deal of unwanted attention. The author does a great job of showing us how even fans or people in general treat female artists differently when compared to their own male band mates. The way everyone feels entitled to tell Mish how she should behave or what clothes she should wear or even questioning her sexuality (which she is pretty open about) is a testament to how women in general are constantly questioned for making their own decisions. I really loved Mish for never backing down, despite being stalked but I also really liked that gradually, she let her friends take care of her a little.

David is a bodyguard that Mish doesn’t want, but he is extremely respectful of her decisions while also making sure she is protected. The attraction between them is crackling right from the get go and it was wonderful to see both of them never backing down. I especially loved the emphasis on consent and asking each other about their preferences every time they got together - it was written with such beauty and thoughtfulness, it was great to read. His being trans is also never an issue between them but we can see that he had issues in the past, but he is in a better space now. The author manages to capture the conflict that David feels about protecting Mish as a job vs because of his relationship and his worry about how his feelings might affect his job. He is really hard on himself and while everyone can see that, he can be a little adamant too. While it felt like the relationship moved into serious territory pretty quickly, it felt very organic and David and Mish were just so good for each other.

My favorite part of this book and the series in general is still the band. They are an amazing group of people who love their music, their art and their fans but they mean so much more to each other. It’s a perfect found family dynamic and I love how everyone of them is always there for each other. Mish might not want to show any vulnerability, but Zav and Ray are always ready to shoulder her burdens or just let her express her feelings. I also loved seeing Adrian become such an inseparable part of the group and his budding friendship with David was a delight to read. It’s pretty evident from the beginning that David fits in perfectly with the group and I absolutely adored the scenes where they were all together just goofing off.

This is only my second book by Anna Zabo but I’ve quickly realized they’re awesome at writing banter. The back and forth and conversations in this book are flirty, sweet and heartfelt and I had a big smile on my face for most of it. The situations in the story also feel very realistic and it felt like a good depiction of the darker side of fame and social media. The writing was also very easy to read and I finished very quickly. It would have been a solid 4 or maybe more but the conflict after about 70% felt so irrational and pointless to me. David had his reasons but just like Mish, I couldn’t agree with them and it just shocked for me for a while. But I’m glad the author didn’t drag it out a lot and the ending was really sweet.

This is a nice love story which works well as a stand-alone but I thinking reading the previous installments gives it more depth. If you love badass female rockstars who are never afraid to punch someone who deserves it, you should definitely check this out. This series also has some of the best friend groups I’ve read in recent times and I am totally in love with Twisted Wishes.

I wanted to read something different and ‘Reverb’ fulfilled that for some aspects but was also very similar in trope to so much of what I read. Mish Sullivan is the 6’2” red-haired bass player for the highly successful band ‘Twisted Wishes’. When she’s attacked by a scissors-wielding fan it becomes apparent that her stalker needs to be taken a little more seriously. The band hires David Altet, an ex-military martial arts expert as their security and Mish’s bodyguard. David is awed by Mish and it seems she’s just as attracted to him in return, not caring at all about his gender reassignment.

One of the things I really liked about this novel is having a trans character as the main character and also that his transition and identity is a non-issue. However, on the same theme, I wish there had been more information about his background and struggles for no other reason than it would have made him a much richer character with more depth. Mish’s background was also a little glossed over but that might be because this is the third novel in a series and I haven’t read the first two.

Mish’s stalker doesn’t have a threatening enough presence for most of the novel and I found the pace to be quite slow going. In some ways the story reads like a young adult novel but Mish is 35-years-old and David 45-years-old so it doesn’t really fit into the category. The thing I struggled most with though, is that the band with their partners is a close-knit group and consider each other family. It’s a lovely sentiment but I would rather have seen it via their actions and dialogue than it being drummed into me continuously. There are no less than 50 mentions of family as well as a loads more allusions using different words.

That said, it is still a good read and answered questions that I didn’t even know to ask. The last quarter is where the pace picks up and I enjoyed that section the most.

Book received from Netgalley and Carina Press for an honest review.

Loved this! I already loved Mish in the first two books in the series and was super excited to get her story too. And with David she got a fantastic partner by her side. The chemistry between Mish and David is explosive. And while I'm a bit sad that the series is over now, I know there will be many re-reads to come!

Highly recommend this!

Full review closer to release date.

Although not my favorite in the series, Reverb is a great third book. I love all the characters in and out of the band so much, and I am sad at the possibility that this is the last we'll see of them. Anna Zabo is a great author, and I look forward to reading more from them. I'm not even a huge fan of band romances typically, but I devoured all three of these.

Twisted Wishes is a hot band. Since they've become a big deal, their bass player, Mish, has begun receiving creepy, stalker emails. The band has decided it's time to hire security. Enter David. Even though he is hired to protect the band, he quickly becomes Mish's personal bodyguard. They immediately have a spark. Now David has to find a way to stay focused and protect the band while slowly becoming one of the family. I loved everything about this book. With music, romance, and suspense, this is such a good balance of everything I enjoy. I highly recommend you grab a copy.

Reverb's the third and final book in the Twisted Wishes series. It follows Mish who appeared in the first two books, and introduced David. The basic trope of this is bodyguard/famous person. 

I can say I liked it, but not as much as the first two books. I did find the plot really engaging, and I liked both Mish and David a lot. And while I did enjoy the romance, I wouldn't say I was that... I guess attached? This probably stems from not loving m/f romances most of the time. But I can still say this was a great book. I love all of the characters, 

I don't have much to say really. I liked it, just not as much as the first two books. I'm happy to see that Mish has found her person, since I've loved her from Syncopation.

Reverb follows the romance of the rock band’s bass-player, Mish Sullivan. Mish is lone woman on their stage, and even though the guys she built the band with are her friends and family-of-the-heart, she’s still used to taking care of herself, along with all of them. So when a creepy stalker focuses on her and her alone, she’s not willing to look weak or need protection. At least not until she meets her new bodyguard, David Altet. Their chemistry is instant, and David finds himself too focused on Mish to think he’s doing his job - no matter how much getting close to Mish IS the job. He gets all the way in, both to Mish’s heart and the family of the band, only to pull all the way out when the stalker starts to close in. In the end, he keeps Mish safe from her creeper, but not her heartbreak.

VERDICT: Reverb is a terrific play on the classic bodyguard romance, but with a whole lot of twists - and kinks. Unlike the previous books in this series, it is not M/M, while still being queer romance as Mish is both pansexual and kinky, while David is trans. It’s also far from the standard alpha male romance, as David is a fascinating beta hero. Recommended for lovers of rock star romances, and those looking for fresh takes on the genre and its protagonists.

Reverb read a lot like a love letter for Twisted Wishes fans. The fans of both the band and the series. Anna Zabo constructed such a lovely book about overcoming one's pride to accept others into their lives. In David, we all get such a charming, easy-to-love hero. I was so enamored by this book because it felt like a gentle and very necessary hug. The romance between David and Mish sparkled in my mind. I loved their banter, the ease with which they had fun together, and the utter trust they had when they were intimitate. Zabo succeeded in writing a book for Mish and David as well as signing off on a series that means so much to me. Reverb feels like the family I choose to have: Utterly my own and loving without hesitation.

Needless to say, Anna Zabo was able to catch my attention immediately with this fresh concept and abundant group of characters. I didn't realize this book was a part of the series so if you're interested in getting to know some of the side characters such as Ray and Zavier, I would definitely advise that you take a chance to catch up with the earlier books. Furthermore, “Reverb” definitely had a great mesh of characters that weresexy, down right funny and had some great depth/background to them. I will mentioned that this could've ended sooner than it actually did. Half way through, I caught myself counting down the pages to the end. I don't know what it was exactly but It started to loose it momentum and I wished it had that little umph to keep me going. Overall I'm impressed by Anna Zabo work and the earlier parts of this series are definitely in my plan to read list.

Sexy AND thoughtful! I loved spending time with Mish and David, and the rest of the Twisted Wishes family. This is the first time where I've read a romance and immediately purchased all of the previously published novels in the series. Zabo is a writer to watch, and I look forward to reading their other stories.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novel!

Title: Reverb
Author: Anna Zobo
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: Pansexual MC and trans MC. Pretty much every character in this book is LGBTQ+

Disclaimer: I haven't actually read the other two books in this series, but this one can be read as a standalone. After reading this, I can't wait to pick up the previous books! I think this could've been potentially more amazing if I had read the other two first though.

David is a 43-year-old bodyguard, who's next assignment is guarding Mish, a 33-year-old rock star after she starts receiving threatening messages from a potential stalker.

David is a trans man, this is not the focus of the story at all, which I loved. Mish is pansexual and when David and her first meet they are instantly attracted to each other.

I will admit to saying that I am not usually a fan of "music" or "rock" romances, but I couldn't pass this one up when I realised it had trans and pan rep!

I loved Mish, she was hilarious and such a strong woman. Their relationship was spot on, amazing chemistry between them.

I loved the strong theme of family, found/chosen family in particular. How all the characters had each other's back, protected each other and cared about one another.

I did find the plot too slow at points and the story began to get very monotonous. Same thing again and again which did get a bit boring after a while. Slowly paced plots are not necessarily bad, but I prefer fast-paced.

Overall I am so happy I read this book and I would recommend this to anyone who likes diverse characters, romance and music.

This is my first time with Anna Zabo and while Reverb is the third book in the Twisted Wishes series, the story definitely stands alone. However, after finishing Reverb I now need to immediately read the first two books in the series, so if you haven't yet you definitely have a little time to tackle them while waiting for Reverb's release on May 6, 2019.

Reverb is a classic rock star and body guard romance with a deliciously queer and sexy cast of characters and I loved it!

When David Altet is hired on as a bodyguard for the band Twisted Wishes after its bassist and rock queen Mish is assaulted by a dangerously over-zealous fan, he finds himself falling in love with both the band's found family and Mish herself, a feeling which threatens his own sense of security in being able to get the job done.

Mish is also falling for the handsome and delicious security expert and wants him in her bed and her life more than she wants his protection. Mish knows how to take care of herself, but as the threats grow these two will need to figure out how their two completely separate worlds can ever be combined.

What I adored the best about this story is that while David is a trans-man, his gender is not the driving point of the plot. I'm a White, cis-het woman so I'm not an expert in this own-voices book, but I thought the way David told Mish his story was beautiful and total relationship goals. I loved how Zabo has Mish, a queer woman with many lovers of many different genders, easily accept David for exactly who he is and love him completely while also allowing her to discuss with David the best way to do so, both mentally and physically.

I also adored the secondary characters who obviously have their own books, and can't wait to read more about them!