Book Review: The Book Of Unheard Hits: #unheardhit by MV Meadow

Before I get to the book itself, I want to share a few things that need to be here right out of the gate:

1. Congratulations! It is not easy to write a book. Any book. Anyone who writes a book and puts it out there for public consumption, and criticism, is brave. This is the MV Meadow's debut as a published author. I give a star just for being able to accomplish that challenging feat, because it's not easy to do. The number of hours that go onto writing, and eventually publishing, a 301 page book, is only imaginable if one is actively doing it, or if one has worked with authors on a regular basis.

2. I am absolutely, positively, completely, and irrevocably in love with this author for his bravery and daring choices. The content alone is an unfathomed amount of his soul spilled onto the pages. There are things in here that I didn't know about him, that I presumed I'd know by now. The ability for the reader to "collaboread" and collaborate with the author, and the never seen before format, set this apart from any other book about lyrics and/or songwriting that has ever been published. Trust me...I LOOKED! One can't love the daring choice to write the book in the format presented.

2. Full disclosure: I personally know the author. Writing a book review for an author one personally knows is actually more difficult to do, especially a review that's completely honest, and if necessary, critical. Since I have written reviews for authors I do know personally, I did ask him if he wanted me to write a review. The caveat to that, was that he would have NO knowledge in advance regarding what I would write. That is the same caveat I give to EVERY author I know personally. He gave his blessing. That, is also daring and brave.

Let's get to The Book Of Unheard Hits...

The format is the best place to dive into the book. There is Part One and Part Two. In Part One, the format starts with a singer and a bit of their biographical information. A description of that musician's influence on the author's life follows. MV Meadow goes on to add some of his own personal experiences that tie him and that artist, together. For example: Billie Holiday. Of all the singers in the book, Billie Holiday is number one. There's one line that stood out, and that line made me think, "she is the icon of the icons for him." 

"Nothing sounds prettier than Billie Holiday's pain." Full stop. That one line says everything a reader needs to know about how the author feels about Billie Holiday.

Following the biographical and autobiographical connections is an original song, written by the author. The lyrics that follow are a mix of the heart and soul of the author. What follows is music paper. It's time for the reader to interact with the author and the lyrics by setting the lyrics to music. The type of music style they wish to use is left to the "collaboreader."

In Part Two, the lyrics are original songs by the author. How they came about is shared with the reader, and the reader is encouraged to set the lyrics to any style of music they wish. Other information about approaching the lyrics is part of the introduction and gives the reader free rein to do whatever they feel is best with the lyrics. The reader now becomes the decision maker when deciding if the chorus should go after a first verse, if there should be an instrumental solo, etc. You get the idea. There's a ton of freedom here for each reader.

So, is that it? No. I couldn't put the book down once I started. I even started to form music in my head as I read each song. I approached reading the lyrics as poetry without music. I am not a writer of songs. I've never even attempted to write a song. It's simply not one of my gifts. I can set words to music, and I can sing the Hell out of ANY song put in front of me. But writing lyrics isn't my gift.

This author is a singer, musician, a writer, a curator, and more. But HIS gift of ALL gifts is writing lyrics!!! Writing this book is a gift to every single person whoever wanted to set words to music, but didn't have a clue on where to start. Now you have your start. There are lyrics for every single person's personally favorite genre, because you get to decide how you want these words to sound.

All of the lyrics are under copyright, so if you intend to make commercial use of the songs written in the book, you must contact the author. You are given all of the information to do that at the beginning, along with encouragement to record it, hashtag it, and share it. Remember, you are a "collaboreader," so collaboration with the author is encouraged.

If you're asking, "what if there's not lyrics that speak to me personally?" I guarantee that there are. There are song lyrics in here that fit every situation. A breakup, true love, feeling powerful, feeling powerless, and so on. There is a song in the book called, "Hold My Hand." After I read the lyrics, I put a purple Post-It note on that song, drew a heart, and put my and my husband's name into the heart. The lyrics to "Self-Indulgent Prick" caught me by surprise. After I read those lyrics, I wrote a notation on the page that said, "that's what I call 'IN. YOUR. FACE.'" I *really* LOVED those lyrics! There are FIFTY SONGS in this book, so don't be surprised if a song hits you in good places, and even not-so-good places. 

Personally, I've been singing since I was 5 years old. Every song I love is lyrics intensive. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good dance mix, I do. I don't mind listening to a mix that repeats a certain phrase or chorus over and over. As a performer, lyrics are the delivery of a story or a message, and I prefer songs that have something to say. Every single song in The Book Of Unheard Hits has something to say about everything. I can't think of a single topic that doesn't appear in one of these FIFTY songs.

I decided to NOT critique any of the lyrics or any specific song. They are all works of art, art is subjective, and the author poured heart and soul into each word. I will say that every single set of lyrics in this book can be set into any genre the reader chooses. You CAN take a song called "Self-Indulgent Prick," you can have it be in your face, and you can turn it into a slow ballad, a fierce rock song, or hip hop, or Jazz, etc. You take whatever is inside of YOU and make it YOUR song, YOUR way.

My original rating was going to be 4.5 out of 5 stars. Because it's a first book and there's always room for improvement. And as I was editing this review I thought, "do I want to sit down and put music to some of these lyrics?" Did I want to at least try to do something I've never done before, now that the barrier of writing lyrics is out of my way? YES! For me, that's the purpose of the entire book. I added that 1/2 star right back in. FIVE "completely knocked me out" STARS!!! The book is available on Amazon and there is a sample that you can check out before ordering.

About The Author:

Female Drummer Kicks It In "Drummer Girl" by Ginger Scott

Arizona Wakefield is a girl who plays snare drum in her school's marching band. She's not confident about a lot of things, but she knows how to work it on her snare drum and she kicks butt on set with refined precision and expertise. She's got an issue she can't talk about. Even her parents are in chosen denial about it.

Jesse Barringer has a once famous, "one hit wonder" deadbeat dad, who is still trying to find ways to use Jesse's singing talent for his own gain. His father has no shame in trying to exploit his talented son who only wants to sing in his band, and like many other teenagers, wants to make it in music. Jesse's also bipolar. He's emotional, he's got a temper, he's coming unglued under all of the stress from his father, and he's barely holding onto his sanity.

Ginger Scott has always included issues like gang violence, the ups and downs of high school, Autism, suicide, the barriers of social status, physical disabilities (seen and unseen), the aftermath of surviving a school shooting, alcoholism, being a teenaged father, and so much more.

Some people know someone who has Autism. Some people know someone who is physically disabled. Some people know someone who is an alcoholic. EVERYBODY knows someone who has a mental illness or mental health issue, diagnosed or undiagnosed, even if that someone is themselves.

In Drummer Girl...THIS BOOK IS AMAZING...the issue tackled here is mental illness, the stigmas attached to them (which Ginger Scott strips away), and how to talk about it openly. And like every other book Ginger has written, she geniusly weaves an extremely real issue into a fictional, contemporary romance, that is thrilling, filled with emotion, and enjoyable.

If you expect a clean, sugary, and sappy love story, you won't get that here. But you will get a love story that shows how relationships take work. Hard work. Any relationship worth having, is worth the work you put into it. Jesse and Arizona's relationship is no different.

To read Jesse and Arizona's journey will give you all "the feels." 

You will get mad when Jesse gets angry. You will feel the angst that Arizona feels when she takes on the pain that Jesse feels. You will probably SCREAM at Arizona's parents to open their eyes and deal with it. I did. 

I want a book that can rip my heart out, tinker with it, and then put it back, all fixed up, without leaving me hanging. "Drummer Girl" gave me all of that and then, more.

You might be overwhelmed by two teenagers, who are not just trying to foster a relationship. But they're also fighting their own demons, trying to help each other cope, and trying to overcome all of the other hurdles that a teenager goes through. And this is on top of the intense, typically hormone-driven life of a teenager. Ginger Scott guides these two through those hurdles with impeccable grace and care. She uses real talk, her characters' love for music, just enough grit, and the power that love can have, to get you there. Trust her to carry you all the way to the end. You'll be glad you did.

One of these characters speaks openly about their mental health challenges. The other really doesn't talk about it, primarily because they don't really know exactly why they're taking medication. Ginger Scott doesn't just give you a romance. Trust me, there is plenty of that along with some mature sexual situations. She will also give you a spot on, honest look at how ALL the characters handle all of these issues. 

Overall, this is majestically written. It's definitely a thought provoker. And it's got everything you want in any contemporary romance. Story depth, character depth, conflict, emotional tugs, and a more than satisfying ending.

Five "KICK ASS" Stars!!!

Book Review: In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott

In "In Your Dreams," we meet Casey Coffield. Casey's a DJ with an extraordinary talent for mixing songs so well, bodies on the dance floor are hypnotized by the beat he lays down for them. But, according to a few others, like Casey's father, Casey's a screwup.

After a video surfaces on YouTube of Murphy singing a song she wrote called, "In Your Dreams, Casey Coffield," Casey realizes that whoever the girl in this video is may not be HIS biggest fan. But, he immediately becomes HER biggest fan. Casey is enamored with her voice. He's convinced that he can make her a star.

Murphy Sullivan is a singer with purple hair, grey eyes, and a raspy voice. She works with kids by day part-time teaching music to kids in elementary school. By night, she signs herself up for Open Mic nights at a local bar called "Paul's." And, she's acquired a bit of a following. She's got a brother, Lane, who has Down's Syndrome and lives at home with Lane and their mother. She's college-educated and lacks the confidence she needs to put herself out there and go for that record deal that she wants badly but doesn't quite yet realize that she deserves to have one.

Casey knows Murphy was in the same high school class as he was but, he simply can't remember who she is or why she would write a song bearing his name that is NOT meant to be a compliment. What he does know is that her voice is something that needs to be heard. The other thing that Casey is completely sure of is that Murphy is not the type of girl that you use as a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am," or a "love 'em and leave 'em." Chase just knows by something instinctual that he needs to move slow with her, work with her, get to know her and that she's the kind you work to keep.

I've heard many refer to this particular novel of Ms. Scott's as a "slow burner." And guess what? If Casey's relationship with Murphy is the kind of relationship where Casey needs to work for her, then a "slow burner" it must be. You can't have the relationship going at one speed and the book flying on all pistons. Ms. Scott definitely chose right when setting the tone and the speed at the same pace. That does NOT mean that you will be able to put the book DOWN. Oh no! That is NOT going to happen. There's a big difference between a "slow burner" and a "slow reader."

Ms. Scott displayed two her best gifts (she has many more) in this novel just as she's done in her others: writing the first kiss scene and the "first time" scene. As I read the first kiss scene in "In Your Dreams," what I saw in my head was literally slowed down to slow motion.  Oh GAWD was it absolutely fabulous. You WILL go back and read it over and over. I even read this a few times OUT LOUD because I wanted to hear what I would sound like if I was the one reading the audiobook version. 

The coveted "first time" scene? I can't say much about the scene itself because that would be telling. Trust me, you don't want it spoiled for you. But, let's just say that the "always willing to be daring" Ms. Scott went a different kind of "all the way" with it. And the best part? She's so damned GREAT at how she writes these scenes, one feels like one is somewhat of a voyeur looking in on it all. Man, oh man, did I love "watching" THAT.

I honestly could rave on and on about everything. The characters are all multi-dimensional, including the secondary characters. Ms. Scott always gives multiple layers to all of her characters. You'll definitely want to know HOW Murphy knows who Casey is and, why he doesn't remember HER. You'll probably be mad at Casey for a few pages. Trust me, you'll get past it.

I would have liked a longer, more detailed ending as well. But I just wanted more novel because I love reading Ginger Scott's books and I'm greedy for as much of her story writing as I can get. 

I liked how the book ended. The way the book was brought to its end could have been longer. But, it gives me a chance to make up my own theories about some of the time frames not covered. 

"In Your Dreams" is definitely a FIVE-STAR novel. If it rises to #1 on Amazon like other Ginger Scott novels have done, I won't be surprised. Not even a little bit.

I received an advanced reading copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Scott's timing is somewhat magical. As I was writing to her about some really BAD family news and asking her if the ARC's were ready yet because I needed escape so badly, she was sending the ARC to me. And I mean it came in the email as I was writing the email to her. Definitely magic! Just like Ms. Scott and just like "In Your Dreams." 

Bring on the withdrawal until the next book! How does one quell the withdrawal of the Ginger Scott novel? By reading all of her books over again, of course!

About The Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon bestselling author of eight young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, Wild Reckless and The Girl I Was Before.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).