Author: Showandah Terrill
Publisher: Short Horse Press
Genre: Fictional Autobiography
Synopsis: Divorced Hollywood producer falls in love with the author of the book he’s optioned for a TV series–who is already married.
Series: Peter Aarons (Book #2)
Formats: Hardcover, Ebook
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Number of Pages: 326 pages
MSRP: $45.00 HC/$9.99 Ebook
Website: peteraarons.com
Purchase Site: Click Here
Reviewed by: E.M. Lounsbury
Final Score: 5 Moons (out of 5)
Award: Brilliant Moon Winner
It’s been 26 years since we last were invited into Peter Aloysha Aarons story in the first Peter Aarons’ novel, Glory Days. When we left off, Peter was about to embark on a classical music cruise where he would have the opportunity to play for classical music aficionados, including some individuals of influence that could possibly help him keep his promise to his sister, Esther – completing his Doctorate from Juilliard, and pursuing his musical career. He was an actor, and a good one, but music was his heart’s cry, his passion.
Fast forward to the first chapter of Another Man’s Wife. Peter’s good friend and partner in Bellwether Productions,Tommy Sinclair, is desperate to convince Peter to read some #1 best selling book by a “new on the scene” author named P.K. Tyler. Tommy wants Peter to agree to assist with writing the screenplay for and then act in the lead role in the production of the miniseries based on this book.
This is the last thing Peter wants to do! His heart and mind are set on playing Sergei Rachmaninoff in an upcoming production and he doesn’t want anything to stand in his way of securing that part! Nevertheless, he agrees to meet with Ms. Tyler.
Story
Just as the first Peter Aarons’ novel did, this one had me hooked from the first chapter. (I read the whole book in 3 days, and it only took that long because I had to go to work.) Always a pleaser and never wanting to disappoint those who count on him, Peter agrees to help write the screenplay and play the roll of Mark Kincaid, documentary filmmaker, in the miniseries based on Ms. Tyler’s book. He agrees to play a lead role opposite Philippa Kate Tyler (if he can convince her to take the part) in the screenplay of her book. What he didn’t expect was to end up playing a lead role opposite Philippa in the screenplay of her life.
Can Peter keep a professional distance between himself and Philippa, who is married but whose husband seems distant, always traveling? As he begins to uncover some of the secrets that Philippa hides about her marriage, ones that she’s not willing to openly discuss, can he leave it alone, or will he find himself unable to ignore the truth of what he knows, unable to stay out of it? Will relationships from his own past threaten to once again take his life off course, in a direction born of duty but not the direction he wants to be headed in?
As the closing of this book, much like the end of the first book, I was satisfied with the ending of the key storyline of the book, but left with strong anticipation for the continuation of new stories that were birthed throughout the novel.
Dynamics
With so many new characters introduced in this book, I was thrilled that Glory and Rafael Ruiz were still in Peter’s life and in his story. Decades after their relationship first started, the Ruiz’s have become like trusted advisors and almost second parents to Peter. Peter’s interactions with own father and mother still come with challenges that weave throughout the storyline, especially towards the end of the book. Will Peter ever truly be good enough for his father? Like in the first book, the author has a way of making you understand and have an ounce of sympathy even for those in the book who you want to hate. She shows the complexity of their humanity, and in doing so also has me contemplating some of my own humanity and how I relate to others who are not like me, or who struggle with things that I don’t. I don’t just read the story, I feel like I experience the story right along with the characters.
Audience Fit
This novel has a bit of mystery, drama and romance in it. Anyone who loves a good book with great character development and an engaging storyline would enjoy this book. It’s relatable and challenging, once again shining a light into what could be considered gray areas of morality or responsibility, causing the reader to think and engage with the story. It’s the kind of book that you want to re-read (and I’m going to) because there was just so much complexity to the story, you want to go back and experience it again – see what you missed.
Closing Thoughts
So much has happened in the first two Peter Aaron’s novels, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to read the rest of the story. There are mysteries from both the first and second book not yet fully explained, and I’m eager to see them resolved and how this impacts the rest of Peter’s story. You’ll have to check it out for yourself, but if you have not yet read Glory Days, the first book in the series, please read that first. You’ll simply not be able to understand the depth and breadth of the relationships in the second book if you don’t have the foundation of the first book.
Story: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Dynamics: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Audience Fit: 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
Final Score (not an average): 5.0 Moons (out of 5)
