J-Pop Love Song [Paperback]

Shiree McCarver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2008

African American Charlene Alfred, a 41-year-old writer is about to have her first best selling novel Blu's Diary turned into an internationally released miniseries which features a jaded Japanese rock star that has hit rock bottom. Her manager gives her an ultimatum: use the Japanese lead actor of their choice or forget the project. When 24-year-old Japanese pop sensation known as Kane hears that the writer he's always admired, strongly believe he's too young for the crucial role, he makes it his mission to change her mind; only to find that there is a connection between him and this woman that defies all reasoning and logic. The building of emotions and passions between these two characters keeps you almost breathless as you journey to the beautifully exotic city of Tokyo, mixed with new technology and old traditions. Come and experience this amazing love story that will put two careers in jeopardy and two lives in danger as possessiveness, buried secrets, and lies, are exposed. Will love be enough to fight the ghosts of the past?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shiree McCarver has a Website at www shireemccarver.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Parker Publishing Llc (July 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600430562
• ISBN-13: 978-1600430565
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,334,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shiree McCarver has always been a dreamer of the possibilities of being in love, but somewhat found her reality lacking the romance she always dreamt about. She decided to bring fantasies to life by creating stories of unconditional love with characters that are in it for the long haul no matter what or who hinders the process. It's this process that has her being the first author to write an Elizabethan romance featuring and African woman in an interracial relationship with an English royal. She is also the first author to pen a story about an aging African American woman and a younger Japanese Pop star in modern day Japan.

Alabama native Shiree McCarver is building a following for her Asian Heroes and her ability to go where no one has dared to go before in books featuring characters in an interracial relationship. Being an avid reader of romances Ms. McCarver decided to write the type of books she felt were missing from the genre.

Ms McCarver has written beautiful heart touching tales of love and she makes it work in the most seemingly impossible character pairing. No matter who you are you will be able to relate to the only thing that matters in a true romantic read; the developing love story between the characters.
When asked to explain--or as some might say...apologize--about her writing style, she laughingly replied...

"I am a chatty writer. I write stories for those who like long dialog between characters who spend more time together than apart. You know...Like real lovers, you learn more about each other by conversation and experiencing things together. You bring out the best and the worst in each other."

"I know there are readers who don't like a lot of wordage or dialog, so frankly, I'm not writing for them. They already have lots of authors to choose from. I'm writing for the readers that are out there searching for the style I write and stories I have to tell. I'm looking for the people that like to read outside the box."

Ms. McCarver's books are as blunt and in your face about issues as she is about the audience she's reaching out to. Her stories evoke questions we dare not ask and take us to places we dare not go; that is, unless you're one to read outside the box.

Shiree loves hearing from her readers!
E-mail: [e-mail]
More information and fun stuff from this author including sample chapters of her books can be found on the Internet at:
http://www.shireemccarver.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Love Song To Experience, July 21, 2008

By 

Priscilla C. Johnson "bookmaniac" (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: J-Pop Love Song (Paperback)

Shiree McCarver brings readers a very interesting story of romance in J-Pop Love Song. Charlene Alfred is about to embark on a new career. She is already a successful songwriter and best-selling romance author. Her first book, Blu's Diary, is being made into a motion picture and she is in the middle of screening actors for the lead male role. However, the financial backers have already decided who would have the role, Japanese pop star, Kane. Kane is young, sexy and perfect for the role. But Charlene believes he is too young and inexperienced to portray Blu's true character.

Kane has been performing on the stage since the age of 12. Eager to get from under the thumb of his manager/mentor, Takusa, Kane would do almost anything to be a part of this film. There is also something about Charlene that has been haunting him since he was 16 years old and he read her book. After convincing Charlene to come to Japan to meet him in person, Kane realizes that he is in love with her and he sets out to win her heart.

Set in Tokyo, McCarver introduces readers to Japanese culture. This story is about an African American woman and Japanese Man. It is about an older woman and a younger man. It is about western cultures mixing with eastern cultures. It is about forbidden love. It is about secrets and traditions and so much more. McCarver packed a lot in 280 pages but it was well worth reading. I cheered and cried with Charlene and Kane as they discovered their love for each other and struggled with secrets that tried to keep them apart. McCarver did an excellent job of explaining the culture and language for readers. This book is recommended for book clubs that are looking for a different type of romance that will spark plenty of discussion.

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Author offering free ebook edit copy on website, May 17, 2011

By 

Shiree Mccarver "Dare to Dream..." (North, AL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: J-Pop Love Song (Kindle Edition)

I apologize for the error filled copy of this book that continues to haunt me. The final proofed copy of this book was not the one that was published. I told them that from the beginning after get two boxes of error filled books that are still in my closet. You can download a free better edited e-copy of this book from a link on my website. The publisher refuses to do anything about this so I had someone to reproof it. If you didn't like the story in general there is no reason to bother because the story itself has not changed. If you have a problem with the use of simplified Japanese because you're more adverse in the language don't bother, because though I am learning I am flawed. If you demand complete perfection in your read, you will not find it here because I can't afford the editing staff that publishers have. If you don't like my style of writing or long dialog reads, don't bother that will not ever change either. Also I can't do anything about replacing the paperback copies. That's on the publisher who I've been trying to get to rectify this problem for going on 3 years. I can do nothing but acknowlege your dissapointment and apologize from the bottom of my heart for this is a story that I was and still am very proud to be the author of.

Sincerly,
Shiree McCarver

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor book editing, otherwise an intriguing premise for a love story, December 28, 2008

By 

MidoriC (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J-Pop Love Song (Paperback)

First, I have to say that as I'm writing this, I am not currently finished with this book. Perhaps once I am, I can write a more fully-rounded review of the story itself. That said, and before anyone criticizes me for reviewing this on what seems to be a premature note, I am frankly wondering if anyone edited this book before it went to press. I am having a difficult time enjoying the nuances of the plot, simply because of the poor grammar, tense usage and punctuation issues that continually riddle this book as I'm reading it, which is why I'm writing this review now. I'm sorry to sound as if this overshadows anything else about this book, but it's annoying to have to reread a sentence simply because punctuation placed where it doesn't belong, or not placed where it does, renders it senseless.

That said, as a writer myself, as well as being a nearly forty year old Japanese-American who's very much a fangirl of Gackt and Hyde (two of the influences Ms. McCarver cited in her dedication at the beginning of the book), I can definitely relate to aspects of this plotline. I first saw this book advertised in an issue of Romantic Times magazine, and was intrigued because I've long searched high and low for contemporary romance among Asian people, and more specifically, Japanese people. I agree with the male love interest, Japanese pop star Kane, who says that Japanese men are horribly steriotyped. (For more on Asian steriotyping, check out The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient) I'm hoping as I go along that Ms. McCarver manages to banish said steriotypes and creates what promises to be a wonderful love story.

That is, however, if I can attempt to ignore the glaringly obvious lack of editing. Thank you, though, to Ms. McCarver, for writing an entire novel in which my culture and my people are prominent.