Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not? by Thompson Square with Travis Thrasher

A love story. But someone pressed the pause button.

Daniel saw Casey for the first time the first day of classes their senior year in high school. Well, really saw her. There was attraction there but they struggle with their differences. The two create a song for a school event and find that they can write good music together. College separates them by distance yet they try to maintain a relationship. They write a few more songs, hit songs. Finally Daniel decides he has to try to make a name for himself in the music industry in New York. Life for each of them goes on. She marries the rich college football quarterback. He ends up writing songs for a kids' television show. He'd dated, even been engaged once. Then he's fired. He'd heard from a friend that Casey had divorced. His heart still longed for her. He knew they could make beautiful music together. Was there even a chance?

The authors use flash backs to take us along in the present while giving us the background of the last seventeen years. Theirs was a rough relationship, knowing they should be together but having so many impediments in the way. This is a novel of second changes, of remaining faithful to a dream even when it seems all is lost.

I am sure people interested in music, who listen to popular songs, will enjoy this book. While it does not reveal anything about the music industry, it does show the struggles musicians have to “make it” in the industry. It seems a certain chemistry is needed to compose a winning song. For me, the getting together to write a song, having a tiff, going apart – that was a bit repetitive.

There is a little mention of God and going to church but there is also mentions of swearing and lots of beer drinking by Daniel. I know, the Christian message does not have to be overt in every novel, but this one does come under the “Christian” imprint of Simon & Schuster, Howard Books. I would think there should be something Christian about it.

The story was inspired by the musical composition “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” written by Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy, recorded by Thompson Square.

Thompson Square is an American country music duo composed of husband and wife Keifer and Shawna Thompson. They were named Vocal Duo of the Year in 2012 by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Their breakout song “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” was a #1 hit and reached double platinum status, and it earned two GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance of the Year in 2012. Keifer and Shawna live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Travis Thrasher is the author of more than twenty works of fiction. He and his family live in a suburb of Chicago.

Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, 367 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.