“As Melody Gallard walked into the office, Beat was reminded why he’d never called. The feeling that swept through him was so fierce, he launched to his feet at the sight of her without thinking hastily buttoning his suit jacket. Wow. He’d always wondered if his memory was playing tricks on him, but no. That same urge to protect her that he’d experienced at sixteen was still alive and kicking inside of him at thirty.”
Wreck the Halls is a classic Tessa Bailey rom-com with a holiday twist.
Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.
Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.
While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.
I do like a Tessa Bailey rom-com. They are such fun and easy books to get lost in. Wreck the Halls was everything I had hoped it would be. I’m not always a fan of spicy Christmas romances. I prefer my holiday romances charming, not super spicy. So, the reason I enjoyed this book is because Christmas really doesn’t play a front-and-center role in the overall story. Christmas is the deadline that Mel and Beat have to complete their task by. There are no Christmas shenanigans, and there is no real mention of anything holiday-related. The focus of this story is Mel and Beat working together to convince their mothers to perform a concert at Rockefeller Center. Overall, this story is a lot of fun. It’s a fast-paced read; things move along quickly, which means there is something to keep you entertained at all times. I really enjoyed the whole reality TV/streaming part of this story. It added just the right amount of drama and tension and helped the plot move in entertaining directions. I also thought it was great that Tessa touches upon the darker side of social media and how women, young and old, are often judged in a more negative light than men are.
I really liked Mel and Beat. They have this great chemistry between them. It’s fun and sweet with a dash of lust. Mel is a more quiet, geeky, quirky character. She has really kept to herself over the years, and this is because, as a teen, she was judged harshly by the media and society. On top of that, anyone she interacts with is usually only interested in getting the dirty details about her mother. It’s one of the reasons why Beat is so protective of Mel. He doesn’t want her to have to experience what she went through as a teen again. However, as this reality TV quest takes off, the world falls head over heels in love with Mel’s quirky humour. It was sweet watching her grow in confidence as the story progresses. Beat is slightly different from Tessa’s other heroes, who tend to be very grumpy and gruff. He is very personable and charming and knows how to work a crowd. He still possesses that protective instinct that many of Tessa’s heroes have. Beat’s growth in this story is in learning to trust and to let people into his life. He has some big and slightly dark secrets, and he doesn’t know how to let people in to help him with those secrets that are burdening him.
If you are new to Tessa Bailey’s book, you should know that she is known as the queen of dirty talk. Wreck the Halls is not her spiciest book, but it definitely heats up a little over halfway through. I loved Beat and Mel together. I am a sucker for a protective hero, and watching Beat get fluttery around Mel as he tries to keep her safe from the media and this growing fanbase was catnip to my soul. There was also just the right amount of pinning from both characters. Mel has had a crush on Beat since they were teenagers, and time has not erased that crush. Beat is also harbouring some strong, lusty feelings for Mel. I enjoyed the will they, won’t they dance that went on between them. I really enjoyed them together, and it’s because they both understand what it was like to grow up under the shadow of a Rockstar diva mother. There is this kinship that just felt right.
Wreck the Halls is an easy-to-love rom-com with oh-so-nice spice.
