Book Review: Sophie's Encore

By Melissa Amster

I was first introduced to Sophie when she had to make a choice between two men in Sophie's Turn. Then I got to spend more time with her when some pieces of her life fell into place, while others were falling apart, in Sophie's Run. So I was glad to keep up with the next chapter (or many chapters, in this case) of her life in Sophie's Encore, the final installment of the "Rock Star Romance" trilogy by Nicky Wells.



It’s all change for Sophie Jones—only this time, there is more at stake than just her happiness.

Rock star extraordinaire, Dan Hunter, has been her patient and caring friend through the highs and lows since her wedding day, but now he figures it is time for her to start over. By stealth, the rock singer draws Sophie into the behind-the-scenes work for his band’s latest album. Through the days and weeks spent together at the mixing desk, Sophie discovers whole new horizons for her life, yet before she can even begin to explore them, she faces the very real threat of losing her rock star for good.

Join Sophie and Dan in Sophie’s Encore to find out how their journey will end... (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Sophie's Encore was definitely my favorite of the trilogy. It was tighter than the previous two, for various reasons. It just flowed nicely throughout and I liked the cohesiveness that Sophie and Dan shared as best friends. I was recently talking to someone about book boyfriends and told them how Dan is my book boyfriend. (However, he looks more like a cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Gavin Rossdale in my head.) There was some travel involved throughout the story, whether it was a two-hour jaunt or other parts of the world. I enjoyed the armchair adventure appeal of it. I also enjoyed learning more about how sound is mixed behind the scenes. I even found myself thinking more in detail about songs I hear on the radio as a result. Some of the terminology was a bit over my head, but it was still very interesting. There was a lot of humor that I could relate to in the story, coming from a source that wasn't in the previous two novels. The presence of these characters added even more of an appeal for me. And best of all, there were some blush-worthy scenes. I always enjoy a book that requires a mental cigarette from my end (since I don't smoke, this is the best way to explain such scenes).

My only complaint (aside from Jon Bon Jovi not being hired as the cover model) was that the drama climaxed too soon in the story and once it was gone, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way through. Not to say the drama in the beginning wasn't awful because I even had "words" with Nicky over it. (No hard feelings though, and I got some reasons behind her choices as a result.) There was one other dramatic part, but the predictability factor squashed that intensity a bit. I guess this is just me being envious of Sophie for having it so easy after a certain point. Not everyone has a rock star for a best friend and benefits from the perks that go along with such a friendship. (I'm just talking financial ones here...really!) Of course, this is a novel and it's a fun way to escape into the decadent lives of others.

Overall, Sophie's Encore was a sweet story. It's definitely worth reading the first two books to get a feel for the connection between Sophie and Dan, but this novel is the icing on the delicious cake.  Join Sophie on the last leg of her ride and see what surprises are in store for her this time around.

Thanks to Nicky Wells for the book in exchange for an honest review. She's giving away a special prize package, which you can enter through her visit to CLC.

You can win a copy of Sophie's Encore at Goodreads.  (US, Canada and UK only. Ends September 5th...yes, tomorrow).

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