The Waitress and the Singer

By: Mark Laming

Many thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Blossom Spring Publishing for the gifted copy of this book!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Randall Moon instigates the break-up of one of the most famous rock bands in the world.

At the age of fifty, after three decades of playing with Frost Alert, he steps out of the limelight to start a new chapter of his life, without his wayward wife!

Meeting Jo, a waitress in a Manhattan diner, Randall catapults her into his chaotic and wealthy lifestyle, only to unveil an underlying nightmare that interrupts the magic. With everything centered on Randall, Jo’s intervention in troubled waters backfires leaving him in freefall, and she becomes the enemy at the door.

An air of uncertainty hangs over their heads; Jo can either hold her ground or shock Randall with her next move.

MY REVIEW

Laming writes mature and interesting characters in this novel. Randall was cool and down to earth. He has a lot of money and he does like to use it, but he’s not overly flashy. He likes to go to diners, eat burgers and fries, and doesn’t always need the best of hotels. Jo is lovely. She’s also down to earth and not interested in money. I will say, I was a little skeptical of her at first. But she proved to be genuine.

It’s nice to see a mature story about fame, about how someone who is not used to it navigates their way when dating someone that is famous. The relationship blossoms in what feels like real time. There is no insta-love, Randall and Jo take their time getting to know each other. He takes his time swooning her.

The band aspect of this story is very interesting. I especially loved when they were recording at Abbey Road. I have visited the outside of the studio and crossed the cross walk, so I could envision the area when I was reading the book.

The author writes very well – he’s a true storyteller.

If you’re interested in reading this book, you can find it here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My passion has always been writing and I am unable to imagine a day without putting the laptop through its paces. As a young boy I remember hiding in the wings of my father’s theatre in Harrogate, staring in awe at the actors rehearsing for a show that he had written. Irrefutably, a tiny slice of his magic, thankfully, rubbed off on me and became the catalyst for my storytelling.

To date, four of my novels have been published and I am in the process of writing another one. I have written over two hundred short stories of which four have been broadcast by the BBC. More recently I have become a regular contributor to a Dorset magazine group. My interests include horology and being grandfather to four colourful characters who continually test my mind and bank account!

I was nominated for The People’s Book Prize 2019 for my novel ‘Shadow with Nowhere to Fall’. The patrons are Frederick Forsyth CBE and Founding Patron: Dame Beryl Bainbridge. The last couple of years have been a busy time for me with local BBC radio interviews. I have also been featured as a guest on the American Author’s Show.

Finally, as many authors will confirm, it is a long and bumpy path getting published. If I had my time again, would I choose writing as my first love? You bet I would!