Rye

Nashville Nights, Book 2

By: Heidi McLaughlin

Narrated by: Melissa Moran, Oliver Highpoint

Rye Hayes has built the perfect walls around her heart—and for good reason. Ten years ago, a musician boyfriend left her with nothing. Now she manages Nashville's most respected songwriter venue, raising her daughter Lily and keeping "rock tourists" at arm's length.

Darian Mercer's fifteen-year career just imploded. His best friend and business partner betrayed him, leaving Darian with nothing but a legal mess and a one-way ticket to Nashville. Trading rock arenas for intimate songwriter rounds feels like starting over at thirty-four—if he can convince the skeptical venue manager to give him a chance.

When Darian performs, his raw honesty and authentic songs catch Rye off guard. Despite her better judgment, she offers him a regular slot. He's nothing like the selfish musician who abandoned her.

As their professional collaboration deepens, Darian's vengeful ex-partner arrives in Nashville with lawyers and a plan for revenge. Industry pressure mounts, custody of Lily becomes threatened, and Rye must choose between the life she's built and the risky promise of love.

Can a woman who's sworn off musicians trust her heart to a man whose ex-partner will stop at nothing to destroy him?

©2025 Heidi McLaughlin (P)2025 Tantor Media

Good second chance story

A great second chance, slow burn story. Darian is trying to figure out where he belongs in life. His former band broke up, after about bandmate did him and his sister wrong. Now he is in Nashville and at loose ends. He goes to the Songbird, a bar that has an open mic night unlike any other he has been too, but he also sees Rye, the owner of the bar, and he is intrigued. Rye is a single mother who is complacent in life, but Darian sparks something in her.

I liked the slow burn of their relationship and how they brought something missing out of each other. There is angst, emotion and heartfelt moments throughout this book that kept me turning the pages. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Emotion, heart and feeling were present in every word. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.