Night Shifts Black

By: Alyson Santos

Narrated by: Veronica Worthington

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's Summary

His name is Luke. But nobody knows that. He was an iconic musician before he gave up music. But nobody knows that either. They also don't know he's 27, that he used to have an infectious laugh, and that he's way too young to be widowed. They certainly don't know the rest of his tragic story.

All they know is that he comes into their cafe at the same time every morning and stares at the same chair at the same table. They know he's strange. They know he interrupts their breakfast with a cold blast of air as he hovers in the doorway, mustering the courage to confront a piece of furniture.

No one asks why. No one cares. He's fine with that. He's done with life. This isn't even his story anymore. It's actually Callie's, the young writer who sat in his chair one day.

Contains mature themes.

©2016 Alyson Santos (P)2018 Tantor

Compelling story that tackles really hard issues

If you've ever struggled with depression or suicide or know someone who has, you will find that this story has captured many of the facets of the struggle. The characters are believable which is only augmented by the narrator. She hit the voices perfectly. I am in awe of the flawless switch between American and south African accents. Highly recommend this book but do realize it could trigger those deep in the struggle with depression. This ongoing discussion of mental health is long overdue.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Music and Soul

This book will make your heart feel every beat of music, the one you feel in your soul and the one you feel when you look into another’s.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A STORY OF HEARTACHE, HEALING, FRIENDSHIP & LOVE

Well what a wonderful surprise.. what a unique, compelling, beautiful, emotional journey that’s guaranteed to be a totally different rockstar romance than you’ve ever listened to before. There’s so much heart.. and absolutely no heat within its chapters.. and it isn’t full of many secondary characters either. It’s told from Callie’s POV, she’s an unpublished Writer/Poet and, while quietly sipping tea in her local Cafe, Callie’s approached by a handsome tattooed guy who asks her to please move to another seat.. stares hopelessly at the now empty seat and then suddenly leaves. This starts a very fragile tentative relationship.. a relationship that slowly unfolds with its truths.. with its traumas.. with its breakthroughs.. and with its beauty. I cannot say more without spoilers.

Worth a credit? This story won’t be for everyone.. it’s about grief, guilt, loss, depression, the reawakening of a lost soul, moving on and a brand new love. It’s got absolutely no sex and no possessive alpha types.. but there’s beautiful words, heartfelt sentiments and a moving story about a complex rockstar, a writer, making music and the famous band Night Shifts Black. The narration grew on me, the storyline was a unique slow-build to perfection, I can’t wait for book 2 and yes, for me, this was very creditworthy.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

This one hit me hard

What a beautiful woven story about a subject that is so complex. Such great characters. Such great friends. I loved everything about this story.
Narration was perfect.

Boring with excellent narration

What could have been a compelling story (rock star recovering from devastating personal loss meets caring quirky woman who helps him emotionally, plus a love story) turns out to be flat and boring.

The characters were flat. The story nonsensical. I gave up half way.

A must read

wow an amazing book I felt like I was in the book I would most likely read again

Author changed the story??

I felt like this story was headed one way, the author didnt like the way it was going but didnt want to re-write it, so she settled on a different approach. This was NOT a romance story. I felt no connection of love between the two she decided to get together. This is a story about friendship and love. It was cute. 3 solid stars. I think it would have been better if she would have kept it going in the direction it was originally headed.

I loved this rock star book highly recommended

this storie is about a lead singer Luke who lost his wife and goes through the struggles of the lost . Callie meets Luke at a coffee shop and she helps him through his struggles. very heart felt with a little bit of tears.

Greetings From the Inside

Once I finished this book, I decided to take a couple of days to thoroughly digest it before writing my review. In full disclosure, I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for my review. However, due to complications while downloading (aka I’m technically-challenged), I just ended up buying it on Audible… and it was well worth the price! While this is technically a “romance novel”, I disagree! I feel that book is about how we (humans) should be caring for each other; it's a lesson in compassion, as well as an insight to clinical depression. Many other reviewers said they liked the beginning of the book but disliked the turn in later chapters, but I much preferred the second half of the book…this is where the reader really begins to understand what depression really is like.

"Greetings From the Inside: You let yourself see a distorted reflection of yourself that becomes reality. It traps you, and you can't overcome it until you learn to recognize the lie."

At times I was concerned that Callie should’ve gotten Luke professional help, yet I believe the love Callie shows Luke, and their friendship, is really the heart of this story with the lesson simply being that caring about, never giving-up on, and just being present for another can have a profound impact for good.

I can’t wait to read more of the NSB series!!

Wonderful, compelling story.

A story told with love, sensitivity, understanding, compassion and, yes, great humour. Alyson Santos tells us a tale of loss, a mind in turmoil, plagued with grief, who meets a kind, thoughtful, soulful poetess, who is not prepared to see him lose. This is a beautiful love story, exploring the many faces of love and how it brings both strength and vulnerability. I love Callie, Luke and Casey as a result of the strength of the writing. They jump off the page and into my welcoming ears. It is a wonderfully written book told with verve and style by Veronica Worthington and had me totally engrossed from start to finish. I am now going to download Tracing Holland immediately! 5 plus stars.