Mick McGraw is an aggressive Hollywood agent who reps famous singers. Moira Halimi-Joubert is a headstrong criminal defense attorney who studied opera. Brad Davenport is an arrogant billionaire hedge-fund manager who has a soft spot for dogs. Mick wants to make Moira a superstar, but she may have to dump Brad. What does the battle of the sexes look like when the combatants are equally matched—and might actually like each other? #MeThree? The twisty plot takes you inside a big-time movieland packaging agency as Mick’s team scrambles to put together a stadium concert patterned on Cher’s “Farewell Tour.” The superstar they’ve scheduled has canceled just nine weeks before opening night. They need a totally new show theme - and a new star. With Moira in the role, her “Follow This!” show brings back famous names and songs from pop culture - and surprises everyone, including Moira, who must decide whether to pay the high price of fame. The contentious but lighthearted story of Mick & Moira & Brad engages this trio in a “full and frank exchange of views.”
Jones’s prose is fleet and conversational, and the setting and scenes come across vividly. Characters are engaging and witty, especially in their responses to each other; Jones is adept at the parry-and-riposte nature of romantic-comedy dialogue, and his showbiz chatter likewise shines. At times, the character of Brad is opaque, his choices driving the story forward but not always clearly rooted in what readers know of him. Of course, that’s also how it feels to Moira, a cunning and smart woman, whose existence has been upended by surprising new obligations. Jones never lets the comedy—or the element of wish-fulfillment fantasy—inherent in Moira's situation obscure the real emotion at the story’s heart.
The stakes are high—millions of dollars are on the line—but the novel’s breezy, at times even low-key, with Moira already accomplished and established before her fateful choice. That means the narrative at times lacks urgency, but the wit, quips, and situations continually engage. Romantic comedy readers with a love for dry humor may find this right up their alley.
Takeaway: Romantic comedy readers will enjoy this story of a lawyer-turned-music star and her love triangle.
Great for fans of: Virginia DeBerry, Terry McMillan.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Moira Halimi-Joubert is a criminal defense lawyer who also studied opera. She helps her boyfriend, the billionaire hedge-fund manager, to close deals. Mick McGraw, a relentless Hollywood agent who represents the top-tier characters in the industry, is at his wit's end when he and his team are left hanging as the superstar they have scheduled for a stadium concert cancels nine weeks before the opening night. Mick needs someone to fill the spot, and Moira might be the missing jewel. Mick is determined to make a superstar out of Moira, but with her growing attraction for Mick, her options become more complicated.
Mick & Moira & Brad: A Romantic Comedy by Gerald Everett Jones brilliantly showcases pop culture and provides scenes and passages that will enthrall music aficionados. The author lifts the veil to show readers what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood, offering characters that are as sophisticated as they are lovable. The pages of this romance sparkle with Jones' beautiful prose and dialogues that are driven by witticism. The plot is unexpectedly twisty and the climates of the hearts of the characters are intelligently drawn. This is a radiant tale that features a consistent, irresistible narrative voice. This tale will tug on the heartstrings of readers and keep them turning the pages to discover what happens next. Mick & Moira & Brad is hilarious in its humor and spellbinding in its suspenseful development.
A star is born? Not anymore. A star is manufactured. Gerald Everett Jones in a style of storytelling that is uniquely his and endearingly superb has spun a riveting yarn of an epic makeover, a young lady who's plucked from the legal profession and thrust into the limelight of pop stardom. It's a fascinating look behind-the-curtain at what goes into the creation of music icons like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé . As he characterizes it . . .
"Show business wasn’t just a job change. She’d jumped into an alternate universe, a phantasmic place with its eccentric traditions, rules, and jargon. A place where talent was never enough, where emotions are manufactured, delivered, and manipulated as a product."
But is it what she really wanted out of life?
Every story has two sides. Because of a love triangle, this one has three. And we don't know until the last page what she will decide. A great read and a fun journey . . . especially if you like roller coasters!
It sucked me in. I had to finish it (not a long book) to find out what Moira was going to do. Altogether, a very satisfying read, "A Star Is Born" for intellectuals.
A seamless blend of witty dialogue, humor, and romance makes Mick and Moira and Brad a thoroughly entertaining read you don't want to put down. Gerald Everett Jones's novel is a treat for anyone who loves romantic comedies. With a fast-paced plot and vibrant characters - who you're not going to forget soon - the narrative feels like a breeze. The three main characters, Mick, Moira, and Brad, all have strong yet distinct personalities that create a compelling dynamic, which is a delight to the reader. Their interaction involved some humorous and quick back-and-forth dialogue, and those were some of my favorite scenes from the book. If romantic comedy is your go-to genre, you will have a blast with this one.
This is smartly written with strong, sometimes very witty, dialogue. The narrative is rich with insights into “the biz,” particularly the music industry. Jones nails the latest in upscale fashion and other contemporary cultural trends. The story is fun, it moves fast, and it’s about Hollywood.
