A review by nietzschesghost
Music City Dreamers by Robyn Nyx

2.0

Robyn Nyx has a solid stable of enjoyable and compelling novels behind her; however, for me, this was a big disappointment. I was drawn to it because of the unusual Nashville setting and the diverse characters. The two main characters who became somewhat romantically involved were both lesbians, but that's where the similarities end. Louie is described as butch, Heather as petite and conventionally pretty. Louie is loud, proud and takes no prisoners when it comes to her sexuality, whereas Heather is in the closet about it all so as not to lose her hard-earned reputation as a record label mogul. They are chalk and cheese and it felt a little like Ms Nyx was playing to stereotypes in putting them together. Also, if I'm brutally honest, I found the whole narrative boring and slow-moving; not at all what I would expect from such a talented author.

I felt that there was a massive focus on pushing the sexualities of these people to the forefront of the reader's mind that it created characters whose personality traits were hugely lacking. Each of these things contributed to a forced and contrived feeling plot. That said, Nyx very adeptly and realistically portrayed the homophobia and racism that is sadly woven tightly into the fabric of our societies. We claim to be so forward-thinking, modern and accepting, but we are mere neanderthals.

Many thanks to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for an ARC.