Beautiful, Gritty, and Unputdownable
Key Change
Common Threads (Book 3)
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Rockstar Romance
Smartypants Romance
October 7th, 2021
ebook, paperback, audiobook
535
Before Hannah was a 9-5 working, dinner making, homebody, she was Ashton James: a paparazzi-stalked pop star with more enemies than friends.
These days she has one priority: keeping her sister safe and away from the public eye.
Hannah was doing a great job, until the pesky little brother of an ex-fling discovers where she is, and wants her help launching his career.
Now she has to trust Johnny—whom she betrayed in more ways than one—to protect her whereabouts. Johnny may have an infuriating moral compass and the timing of a storybook hero, but is he immune to the temptation of revenge?
Johnny’s focus has always been his music business, and a bad influence like Hannah is the last thing he needs at work, or around his brother.
But some things are too powerful to be stopped. For someone like Hannah, second chances—in life and in true love—don’t exist. She didn’t think so, at least.
Johnny is about to prove her wrong, and being wrong has never felt so right.
'Key Change' is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #3 in the Common Threads series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
“She had forgotten this part. The part about discovering your soul inside a melody and the effect being weightlessness.”
Key Change by Heidi Hutchinson is the third standalone in the Common Threads series from Smartypants Romance. Set in Chicago, Key Change is a slow burn romance that swept me off my feet in the best of ways.
I’m not making this claim lightly—Key Change might be one of the best Rockstar romance books that I’ve ever read. Heidi Hutchinson wrote one helluva book. Key Change is about Hannah Lee and her journey towards forgiveness, putting her past to rest, and finding out how to live her life in way that is truest to herself. This is a struggle for her because she’s not alone. She’s the guardian of her younger sister, Piper. Hannah also finds herself put back into the orbit of Johnny, a recording studio owner who has held a grudge since their last night together. And while Hannah isn’t a Rockstar currently, she was at the top of her stratosphere before she cleaned up her act and disappeared from the spotlight. Key Change isn’t just a redemption story for Hannah, it also reads like an apology note to herself and those around her.
“All I can do is all I can do.”
Hannah and Johnny are two characters that are so similar yet are dynamic enough that their differences complete each other. I loved their romance, it was sweet, but it had smolder and the best kind of lead up to its finale of heart wrenching HEA. Hannah struggles with coming to terms with her actions in the past and how to move forward in her current future. Johnny and his brother, Shawn, become a catalyst for change in Hannah’s life. Key Change is a well thought out and well-crafted romance and it is chock full of book magic.
“I will do anything to capture that wild heart of yours. I don’t care how long it takes or what ways you try to push me away. I see you. And I’m coming for you.”
I honestly could not get enough of this story. Hannah is unabashedly herself, yet her transformation is both authentic and beautiful to see unfold. Johnny’s feelings towards Hannah as well as his character arc are two aspects that I couldn’t get enough of. Every scene was special between these two characters. Piper and Shawn also bring levity to an emotional plot, and the glimpses of Smartypants Romance characters as well as Pennyverse characters add an additional injection of lightness that plays perfectly against the more serious tones.
Key Change is wonderful, gritty, and totally unputdownable. Heidi Hutchinson has brought a wonderful new addition to the Smartypants Romance world. This is one story that I guarantee you will enjoy! Grab your copy today!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
