Tuesday 1 May 2018

Review: Lennon Reborn, A Preload novel by Scarlett Cole




Lennon McCartney is not a broken man. Because being broken implies being whole once. When a horrific accident deprives him of the one thing he loves—his talent as a fierce and explosive drummer—Lennon is left with a life chained by an abusive mother, by crushing guilt over a tragic past. A life he doesn’t want.

Dr. Georgia Starr is a legend. She’s one of the most successful neurosurgeons in the world, coming from a long-line of respected New York doctors. Her life is built around solving complex medical cases in order to bring relief and hope to sick children. But the one problem she can’t solve is how to live her life. How to be shake loose the burden of being her elitist, arrogant father’s daughter. How to be free.

Can a man who despises his life and a woman who desperately needs to live find the answers, and love, with each other?


Lennon's story didn't disappoint in this highly anticipated fourth novel in the Preload series.

Lennon McCartney's early life was a nightmare and although given a second chance, the scars of his early childhood still run sufficiently deep for him to just wish his life away. During a journey to a gig, the tour coach crashes leading him to sustain life-changing injuries. However, with the assistance of a woman who cared for him at the scene of the accident, he's given reason to hope for a better future. Now he just has to take it.

Dr Georgia Starr is an esteemed neurosurgeon but despite her stellar reputation, she still doesn't garner the respect from her father in the same way her brothers do. When she witnesses a coach crash, she helps care for an injured man until emergency services arrived. Despite the difficult circumstances, his plight becomes her concern. Their lifestyle may be dissimilar, only, she sees a man she can help and in doing so, realises she's giving her heart to him too.

Although I'd only read one previous book in this series, Lennon for me is the character I wanted to get to know the most. As couplings go, he and Gia are not two people you'd expect to be in a relationship. With vastly differing backgrounds, why would they be? Yet, fate stepped in due to unforeseen and heartbreaking circumstances and brought them together. The result? They learn from each other about taking a gamble in life by not settling what is familiar, even if it seems like the right decision to make. Gia gives Lennon the courage to face his life-changing injuries head-on; to accept help to overcome his disabilities so he can get back to what he loves doing. In return, Gia realises that it is possible to be around people who love you for who you are and not what you are.

One outstanding aspect of this novel is the quality of the writing; from the dialogue to the facts provided within the narrative. The emotions of the protagonists can be felt by the reader along with caring attitudes of those close to Lennon and the frosty indifference shown by Gia's family. Of course, plenty of chances are provided to catch-up with the other band members and their significant others. Their banter is entertaining as always and adds another meaningful dimension to the overall enjoyment of this novel. This satisfying, unexpected romance, is both sexy and emotionally fulfilling and I couldn't be more happy for Lennon and Gia.

5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Swerve-St Martin's Press via NetGalley***



Born in England, Scarlett Cole traveled the world, living in Japan and the United States before settling in Canada where she met her own personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. She now lives with her husband and children in Manchester, England where she's at work on her next book. She is the author of The Strongest Steel.