The Album

The Album, A Cruise Control Novel, Sian Ceinwen

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction

OK, start with my usual moan. Women's Fiction – why? Men write romance, men read romance., 'nuff said...

So, this trope is a real favourite of mine and I really enjoyed Sian's writing style. What didn't work, and stopped this being a five was the past present format that lasted the majority of the book. We know right from the start they've been broken up for two years, and I was hoping all the way through that this chapter we'd finally leave the past and get to Now. That didn't happen until the every end though and though that was absolutely perfect, angst and heartbreak just as I love it did mean it felt rushed.
I'd have liked to read more of how the band felt about them being together, what they said etc. we get a sneak preview of this for book two but I wanted more.
I did feel Arianna was a bit pigheaded, stubborn in the extreme although her fears were real. Gabriel showed no signs of being like her uncle and I think she could have recognised her issues and maybe sought therapy for them. She'd learned what she lost when they were apart but I felt unless she'd actually dealt with her fame/limelight issues they cold be headed for heartbreak again. Time helps, it doesn't heal automatically though.
An excellent debut novel, good things to come from Sian I'm certain, it was just the story format that let this down for me. If we'd left the past about a third or even halfway through, it would have worked better for me.
BTW I Loved, Loved the mean girls, the bitchy groupies, I was hoping their manager would prove to be a bit difficult too- one of the reason I love this trope is the potential for jealousies, back stabbing and some real b itchy characters.

Stars: four, a great read, excellent story and I'm looking forward to book two.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

A charming, heartfelt romance. The author did a great job showing the different outlooks of the relationship between Gage and Ariana. There were various friends gave the story a twist here and there.

I absolutely loved this book from the first page! Ariana and Gabe are destined to be together but everything stands in their way. The way that it switches between the past and present keep you hooked for longer and makes it harder to predict what might happen. I loved the end and went straight to download the sequel only it isn’t out yet! I will definitely be recommending this book!

*ARC kindly provided via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.*

WOW. JUST WOW!!!! What an amazing story!

Gabriel is the lead singer of the band Cruise Control. A seemingly bad boy but with a heart of gold. Ariane is a real estator. She’s been trying for a while to forget her time with Gabriel. Two years after she ran away, she finds herself at a Cruise Control concert.

This is the story of how they ended here! I loved how the book was written. It’s sectioned like a music album and every chapter is a song that brings back a certain memory they share.

For being the author’s debut novel, this book is amazing! I could feel all the emotions alongside the characters; The love, the distancing, the bitterness, the hurt. Every feeling is right there for the reader to experience.

The author definitely won me over with this story and I can’t wait to see what she has coming next! I’ll be eagerly waiting...!

The Album is a rockstar romance done right. The author used a creative structure to the story. I liked the characters especially Gabe. Ariana had me shaking my head a few times in regards to her decision-making which shows how invested was in the story. I would like to return to the world of Cruise Control in future books. Thanks BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the arc of this title.

<b>Chris Russell meets Anna Todd in this teen boyband romance that's heartfelt, steamy and fast-paced </b>

Boyband romances are my guilty pleasure so I absolutely devoured The Album in less than 48 hours. It brings me great pleasure to write this review:

The Album is the first book in the Cruise Control series for teens 18+. After an unexpected encounter at a charity gala, recent-graduate Ariana Chamberlain finds herself swept in a consuming and steamy around-the-world romance with Gabriel Knight, lead singer of the world's hottest rock band.
With a famous uncle, Ariana's seen what the invasions of privacy and the sacrifices that come with fame look like - something <i> she </i> wishes to steer well clear of. But Gabe's front-page media presence and his burning desire to share their relationship with the world soon becomes the third wheel in their relationship.

From dreading the red carpet (or "the Gauntlet" as the band call it) to the stinging comments on tabloid sites, the anxiety of having her whole life scrutinised by the press and the band's fans leaves Ariana no choice but to run back to her home comforts. After weeks of Ariana ignoring Gabe’s anguishing voicemails - and his angry/worried bandmates’ too - he finally lets her go.
The chapters in The Album are divided between present day and two years ago, told by a third-person omniscient narrator. In the present day, real estate agent Arianna Chamberlain is awarded employee of the year at her firm, winning two VIP tickets to no other than Cruise Control's home concert. There, she works up the courage to join her work-best-friend Charlotte (aka Cruise Control fan-girl extraordinaire) backstage - but she's completely oblivious to Ariana's heartbreaking history with Gabe. The band - who are still angry at Ariana and fear Gabe’s reaction - quickly spot her and rush to kick her out but Gabe notices her just before she runs away, again. Not expecting Ariana to ever walk back into his life like that, he seeks her out and visits her at work. Much to her dismay, he admits he's moved on with someone new. Is this truly the end of Gabe and Ari or can they unite the spark they thought they both left behind all those years ago?

Each chapter is named after the songs in Cruise Control's latest album (lyricising Gabe's heartbreak after Ari left) and takes the reader back to a memory from two years ago. Their romance is a compelling read - there are some steamy sex-scenes throughout the book, and while I must admit the first one came as a surprise, they are fast-paced and not cringe-worthy like in some other books.
I am already so invested in this series! The next book in the Cruise Control series will follow Heather, longstanding girlfriend of Gabe's band-member Harrison. She's a lovely character and becomes like an older sister and Close friend to Ariana in the first story - but after the two years she's still so angry with her for the mess she left behind so I can't wait to read her story!

If you sign up to Sian Ceinwen's newsletter you can read an exclusive extract of The Album told from Gabriel's point of view.

<b>The Album and the Cruise Control series is perfect for fans of Anna Todd and older YA romances, or for fans of Chris Russell and teen boyband novels who are looking for something a bit older. </b>

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher BooksGoSocial for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Album in exchange for an honest review. </i>

This author is a new for me and what a great debut this was for her. Two years ago Ariana Chamberlain had stepped away from a relationship with hot rock star Gabriel Knight and become a star real estate agent. When she wins tickets his band's concert she almost doesn't go but then decides she would like to see him one last time. Even though she has tried to convince herself that she is happy and that she is over him, as soon as she sees him perform again she cannot fool herself any longer.

This story is written in a very original format in that each part of the story is a flashback paired with a song from the band's latest album as Gabriel performs it at the concert. As Alana sits through the concert memories come back from when they first met to the present. It is a story that really tugs at the heartstrings as we see a hot rock star adored by the world but brought to his knees by a girl who is too insecure in herself to trust him and how much he loves her.

I was totally enthralled by this story right from the beginning it was so well written bringing together beautifully the feelings of love, pain and loss that both main characters experience which brought me almost to tears.

Thank you for writing such an amazing story, I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This story sucked me in right from the very beginning, I loved the plot (One of the reasons I wanted to read this book) and I thought Sian Ceinwen did a great job hooking me in. So much so that I cannont wait until the second book releases. The characters were presented very well, both sides (although it mainly follows the female characters thoughts) and the drama was mostly believable :)
The only thing I did not particularly care for was that most of the book was written looking into the past. It did however give great backround on the characters mentioned in this book (and hopefully the characters in the next book).
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the great characters, the depth of emotion, and for literally pulling me in from the beginning (I literally did not put this book down after I started reading it).
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thought and opinions expressed within are my own.

This book is really good. While I’ve read some books that were similar but this one is one of the best. Exceptionally good. 4.5 stars.

I liked how the book would use each song as a chapter to transport back to Gabe and Ari's life from two years ago. The split timeline and transitions worked well in this instance.

I wanted to know the rest of the band's reaction at the end, especially Heather's. However, it sounds like that will be covered more in the next book.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is pretty good and I loved the style the author used. It’s starts nicely with Ariana meeting a band she like. Gabe is a successful rock star, handsome, sexy and did I mention he’s a rock star. The story starts fast and before you can take a deep breath you’re in chapter five. Ariana meets Gabe and she’s only twenty-two but they fall in love and he takes her on tour with him. Instead of chapters it’s song numbers. Between songs she’s thinking of their past and why she left him two years ago. She was an insecure idiot and I found it difficult to like her. I would have liked the story more if she had stop back flashing because that went to almost the end of the book. She was dating someone else and the ending that should have been spectacular was disappointing.

Two years ago Ariana made a huge mistake, walking away from the love of her life, rockstar Gabriel. She thought leaving him would be the best option as she had no desire to live in the limelight.

Now, she has won tickets to his concert - going would mean bring back all the pain, but also all the happy times. Can she handle it?

I loved the way this story progressed through the songs during the concert. It’s was very cleverly done and incredibly unique. I am looking forward to reading more by this local WA writer.

I really enjoyed reading this. I'm a sucker for the famous guy trope. I do wish there was more of the story based in the present time. The flashbacks were alright, I didn't mind getting their back story but again I wanted it to more about them now. I was sucked in while reading, I could put the book down. I would say if you like the famous, celebrity trope and don't mind flashbacks to give this story a read!

What a brilliant book The story is split into each song that is sung at a concert with a good story behind each one.

Ariana Chamberlin and Gabriel Knight are the main characters and this is their love story. You are carried along by a rockstar life (Gabriel) and the life they lead on the road with the band Cruise Control.

After 2 years Ariana ran away from the band and broke Gabriel's heart because she couldn't deal with the fame side of things and her life being in the spotlight. Then she wins tickets to see a Cruise control concert and she melts at the sight of Gabriel, but he doesn't know she is there and we are left wondering will he forgive her......
I loved everything about this book the words literally burnt off the page and sometimes became very hot.
I'm going forward to the continuation of this story.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book xx

I loved the structure of The Album! A woman accidentally ends up at a rock concert of her ex-boyfriend's band. The ex-boyfriend wrote an album that is essentially about their relationship. Each chapter is her at the concert listening to a song and remembering each step that their relationship took. A great rock star romance, but a truly unique story structure. This book does not fit into the mold of a typical rock star romance, in a really good way. I would definitely read more from this author.

I'm always easily pulled in by the promise of a rockstar romance. I liked that this one was done a little differently.
The author told this story primarily in flashbacks triggered by songs from the musician's album. It was clever. You saw how their relationship started, grew and eventually imploded. Most of the present day story was told from the main character, Ariana's perspective as she's watching Cruise Control perform in concert.

The book was equal parts sweet and romantic and heartbreaking. You see things that Ariana could have done differently but have to remind yourself that she was young when she went through everything initially. Still it seems that so much could have been avoided if she'd actually communicated better at the time. However, I still enjoyed the story and found myself pulling for the characters.