Book Review: Everything

Everything (Songbird #3)

By: Melissa Pearl

Published By: Melissa Pearl

Publication Date: April 24, 2015

Page Count: 236

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: New Adult - Contemporary

Review of Book #1: Fever

Review of Book #2: Bulletproof

Melissa Pearl does it again in her 3rd Songbird novel, Everything!  

Poor Jody made some bad choices during her Freshman year of college and wound up pregnant by her professor. He wasn't willing to take responsibility for the child, but she decided to keep the baby anyway. Jody gave up her dream of Broadway to become a young single mother to her beautiful daughter, Angel. 

Jody moved home to have support from her sister and father. Unfortunately, Jody's father had a hard time forgiving Jody for her bad choices. He cod barely look at her, let alone speak to her. He loved Angel, but Jody felt like she was constantly walking on eggshells. 

Leo had just gone through a divorce which seemed like an afterthought to his disastrous marriage. He needed to get out of his own head and figure out what to do with his life. What better way than moving from Australia to...Los Angeles. He contacted his godfather, Bobby, and asked him to use his connections to see what he could do for Leo. 

 Of course, Leo and Jody happen to meet up on the street while Jody is lamenting her situation living at home and Leo is looking for renters in the apartment building he's managing. The stars align and Jody is able to get a job becoming the assistant manager in Leo's building, while also living in the spare apartment. 

 Both are grieving their losses, and Jody even comes face to face with Angel's father, which ends in disaster. But slowly they learn to trust one another. Their relationship is not smooth sailing and they encounter many roadblocks. However, if you've read the other Songbird novels, you can probably guess how this one ends. 

 I really loved reading this book! Leo was an amazing character and I loved that he had a song for every situation. It reminded me of my sister who randomly breaks into song whenever the situation calls for it. 

 My favorite addition to this Kindle version Songbird book was the clickable Spotify playlist! What a brilliant idea! I happily listened along while reading the book. 

 It was refreshing to see that Jody's experiences as a mom felt real. As a mom of 5 children, I know how it feels to be completely overwhelmed at times. I was glad that Jody's frustrations at being a single parent felt genuine. 

 Jody is not my favorite of the Songbird heroines (Team Morgan!), but I think Leo is probably my favorite of the men. OK- it might just be the Aussie accent, but I love the pictures of him on the cover. Something about the scruff and the beanie, coupled with his love for Angel makes him absolutely endearing. Of course, when you add in his amazing musical talent, what more could a woman ask for? Everything! 

 Content: Language, mild sexual content

Summary:

Jody Pritchett had a dream...but life had other plans. Instead of singing and dancing on Broadway, Jody's a twenty-year-old single mom, living at home with her disapproving father and overbearing sister. The choice to keep her little Angelia came with a high price and although she adores her baby girl, it doesn't take away the sting of kissing goodbye her chance at a career on the stage.

Leo Sinclair had his own dream...but got lost along the way. After a failed marriage that left him hollow and downtrodden, the Australian songwriter wonders what joy his future could possibly hold. Encouraged by the one family member who doesn't think he's a failure, Leo decides to stop living the life everyone expects him to and start chasing his dreams again. 

When the perfect opportunity comes knocking, Leo leaves Australia behind and hops a flight to LA. With his sights set on selling a musical to a Broadway producer, Leo is determined to finally realize his life-long dream. But life gets in the way again, when he spots a young mother outside his apartment in tears. He never realized how one person, one voice, and one Angel could have him contemplating abandoning his dreams once again. 

As these two burned hearts wrestle to overcome their past struggles, Leo and Jody must decide what dreams are worth clinging to...because, sometimes, everything you want is not everything you need.