This Nashville star novel will be a winner for many listeners. The readers are some of the best in the business! I love that this one starts out as an audiobook exclusive, way to encourage more to try books with their ears. If you love watching famous singers like Beyonce and TSwift, then you'll enjoy this new talent reaching her full potential with a guitar in tow. Full of soul and heart, don't miss out on Amara's journey to find her voice. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️🌶️

Ugh this book! All the feels! I loved it from beginning to end! I didn’t know what I was getting into but I loved Amara’s journey to fame in this one! As a fellow lover of country music, this story spoke to me and grabbed me!

Listen. Jake was the one, okay?! The tension and push and pull between him and Amara was so high! I liked seeing the him be professional and support her in her career the best way that he could but I loved for his narrative where he showed how weak he truly was for her. Their dynamic was intense and passionate in more ways than just the music!

Amara has so much she was trying to balance and discover about her life and her love of music. This truly was a story about legacy and family. There was so much personal growth on her end and I feel like I was really along on this crazy ride with her. Trying to follow her heart while also doing what was best for her wasn’t always a straight line. There was a struggle in being who she was meant to be and what was expected of her. I was rooting for her and her success. I really enjoyed learning with her!

Fuck Philip! That’s it on the matter. He made me want to punch something real bad.

The resolution/HEA was perfection! I cannot wait to own a copy of this book for my shelf 🥰

I would recommend this book to my romance lovers who enjoy angst and celebrity romance! A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this for review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I found the story interesting and inspiring. I liked how Amara followed her dreams later in life and didn't give up even when everyone seemed to be against her. I loathed her fiancee and thought the author did a great job of describing him. Amaras relationship with Jack was sweet and had a great build up. Both of their development was nicely done and I liked how they helped each other through their problems. And the music component was lovely.

Amara has a good life. She's an art teacher, engaged to the man of her dreams, and content with life. All that changes after she sings at her Grandfather's funeral - "Stoney" Johnson. Stoney was once thought to be the next big country/blues star but for some unknown reason, he fades into the shadows and becomes forgotten. Due to his lifestyle and a brief affair with an unknown woman, Amara's father and grandfather never had a good relationship, keeping Amara from truly knowing Stoney.

Blown away by her soul-stirring voice, Jake approaches Amara and convinces her that her voice is something special and the world needs to hear it. Instantly the sparks fly and she has to remind herself that she's already spoken for but the attraction seems irresistible. Jake-the manager of one of the most well-known and celebrated country music stars in the world- offers to help her develop her career over summer break and all seems well.

While here she uncovers parts of herself she never knew existed, examines the stability of her relationship, and finds out exactly why her grandfather never achieved the fame he deserved from reading letters he left behind for her.

I listened to the audio version of this book and it was great. This romance had the perfect balance of everything I enjoy in a romance. I especially loved that in the process of beginning her new journey, Amara never got too caught up or lost the essence of who she was.

I recommend this read.

I enjoyed the plot and storyline. I felt that this was a little different than what I have read before. Although I figured out who was "shady" it didn't take away from the story. I loved the slow progression into the friendship/relationship between Mari and Jake.

Overall, I thought that this book was a reminder to never let your dreams fall and become a nonfactor. Never dull your light because someone else can't handle your shine. I loved all of the music aspects of this story as I love all types of music. Jakes passion...I have so many thoughts that I can't put into words currently. The Rifts and Refrains poem at the end...LOVED it!!

Wow the narrators did amazing💗

It was my first time reading tiye and it won’t be the last 💗
It was a quick read and it felt like I was watching a movie honestly the narrators were perfection 💗

4.0⭐️

🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧
📚Rifts and Refrains by TIYE
🎤Benjamin Charles & liKane

It's always fun to take a chance on a new author and narrator. All three of these were brand new to me with this audio. This story was very good & a compelling one too. Tiye weaves together multiple themes such as discovering one's identity, family ties & music. The characters are rich & interesting and develop as the story unfolds. Tiye not only tells a love story but tackles a very complicated story about family. How the legacy of a human being can weigh one down & pressure consume you if you let it.

This is a story of Amara, whose essentially trying to find her own voice not only in life but in the music industry. Jake is there to try and help her make her dreams come true and find out more about her grandfather. This is a slow burn and the romance is sweet and tender.

I found the whole music aspect of the story very fresh and interesting. A lot of history about the blues and country music which was very entertaining. This is a book that is for someone who loves a good slow burn, lots of family dynamics & stories about self-discovery. It's actually very well written & has lots of heartwarming moments.

🎧Let's talk narration....both of these narrators are totally new to me & even though they weren't my favorite, there were parts of the story I really enjoyed from them. You definitely get the "vibe" that Tiye was going for I think. They did a good job at differentiating between characters & especially expressing the emotions from the story. I'll most certainly be interested to see what Tiye comes out with next. Overall, a great audio to listen to with a very interesting story.

Thank you NetGalley, Tiye & Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review. Rifts and Refrains is available now in audio.

Being a Nashville resident, this was a really enjoyable listen. Benjamin Charles & IiKane did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. Both are new to me narrators and I loved it. Tiye's words were drafted in such a way that I just couldn't stop listening. I lost hours being totally entrenched in this one.

This wasn't a Hollywood tourist take on Nashville but it was authentic to the roots and culture here. I was so happy to be immersed in a story that I felt was so real. I loved getting to see Amara find her passion and do what she was meant to do. I loved that Jake was on a similar, but not identical, journey of his own.

Amara Johnson never expected attending her grandfather’s funeral would give her the opportunity to learn more about her estranged grandfather and explore her talent as a singer. As she encounters Jake Barnes, she realizes he would be instrumental in assisting her with both. While embarking on the journey to find out the truth about her reclusive soulful blues singing grandfather, secrets are uncovered that will impact the foundation of Jake and Amara’s relationship.

Tiye did a great job penning Amara and Jake’s story. The character development was on point where readers will love the budding relationship Jake and Amara fight to keep boundaries, but the heart knows what it wants. Jake heard Amara’s voice at the funeral and knew she had a gift, much like her grandfather and wanted her to share it with the world. He was not expecting his heart would get involved so quickly and he fell hard. There are a few secondary characters I did not like and felt could never be redeem. When the secrets are revealed, Jake must make a choice. Who does he choose, family or a woman he can’t help but love. Loved the story line and flow. Overall a good read.

Note: I received an advance audio copy from Netgalley

This was such a delightful book to listen to. I loved the story line, the characters and the Narrators took it to a totally new level. Normally when I'm listening to audio books, I'm able to like work around the house. Not so with this one. I was so captivated by the story and the narrators, All i could do was lie there and listen. This has turned into one of the best productions of a book I've listened to all year. And the emotions in this story is top tier. I love book by this author, and I can't wait for the next book from her.

Love the narration!

I enjoyed this story. I love the wholesome yet steamy aspect of it.
This story reminds me that I need more Black and non white main characters in this realm of romance. The country realm that is.
This taking of space made me a fan of it all over again. And honestly if there were more of it I would be a bigger fan.

I think my biggest problem with this book was the female narrator, her delivery felt really robotic to me and it kept taking me out of the story.

I liked the storyline enough. The connection with her grandpa was interesting but I never felt fully invested or connected with this one, had it not been an ALC I might have chose to DNF.

I was given an ALC of this audiobook and my opinions were my own.

Oh this was good, would be perfect as a movie!!!
The narration was top tier and kept me wrapped up in this story. I liked how this story highlighted that music is for everyone and how different genres intertwine. Also enjoyed the history and back story, as this has been the unfortunate case for many black musicians. It was the perfect book about redemption ,love, legacy, and redefining who you are at any point in your life.

This book really took me by surprise. It had such an amazing storyline that was so much deeper than they met and fell in love (although that part was amazing too). It was really a story about discovery, about forgiveness, and about finding yourself. I really loved our FMC, she was super relatable for me. Someone who was going through life and just OK with everything, even though she wasn't living her dream. The MMC was on a similar journey, but wasn't quite as developed for me.

Overall, this book had me laughing, and a little teary eyed at the end, I truly enjoyed the whole roller coaster of emotions.

Rifts and Refrains
By @tiye28always
🎧 By: @iikane_books @benjamincharlesvoice
🗓️ Audio out now!
Rating: 👍🏻
Spice: open

💛Music legacy
🎧Alpha Hero
💛Forbidden love
🎧Workplace - He's Her Manager
💛Slow burn
🎧Love Triangle ish
💛Family secrets
🎧Curvy fmc
💛Close Proximity

Y'all I loved this so much! This is definitely a 5 star audio for me. She's engaged to this absolute douchecanoe. She's at her grandfather's funeral (where of course her fiance couldn't come 🙄) and meets this man. He's Mysterious and knows much more about her grandpa then she knew. After he heard her sing he had to meet her. Together they light her love for black music history, music, performing and her grandfather.
But they also ignite a little something else 🤭🤭. There isnt cheating... But there is angst and tension. Then a fire 🔥 relationship blooming.

This was overall such a fun audiobook but also emotional, steamy and filled with drama and family secrets.

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for this ALC.

I enjoy the narration of this book. It had some good moments for Amara, finding her passion for music and herself. I loved this for her—the way she found out more about her grandfather, who had the same dream as hers. I was hoping to love this one a lot more than I did since I loved the premise of it. This book felt a little repetitive to me and didn't stand out much.

This story was an absolute delight. Often, novels set in Nashville, particularly those focusing on the country music scene, can fall into clichés. However, this one truly honored Nashville, showcasing the author's meticulous attention to detail. I appreciated that the plot wasn't solely centered on the romance between the leads but rather on their journeys of self-discovery and healing old family wounds, all while supporting each other. The characters were compelling, with Amara standing out as a particularly strong and likable protagonist. Highly recommend!

Wow! I listened to this in a day. Love the narrators! The storyline is very unique! I definitely recommend this one!

Normally imma read the book before I listen kind of gal but let me say this just listening and not knowing what’s next was very refreshing. The narrators BENJAMIN CHARLES & IIKANE brought this story to life. The tones and pitches of the voices kept me locked in. The ease in following the different voice for different characters was top tier. I’m a fan of Tiye and if I wasn’t after listening the narrators bring her words to life I would’ve definitely become one by the ending of this story. It was something a little different from Tiye but still entertainingly satisfying.

I love a rockstar romance 🥰 this was so well done it’s probably my favorite one of the year! I enjoyed this audiobook and definitely recommend it to everyone