The Backstage pass into Milestoneville.Read Reviews about the author. Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite - There is a line in chapter eight, a chapter before a full metal armor sword fight at a Renaissance fair happens but after JBT is interrupted when cooking for Claire, where JBT and G are rappelling down a waterfall and G says, “Safety first.” A male friend who is familiar with Golden November novels but new to A Song Was Playing changed his line to “Safety second!” We all fell over laughing because it is a genuinely accurate line for how November makes characters work for their supper. My favorite exchange in the entire book is the back-and-forth jabs between Tessa and Flower Rose, which is brilliantly delivered in November's single-line zings. This is, yet again, another winner for Milestoneville and was a blast to play act. Reviewed by K.C. Finn Author Golden November is always on hand to provide an exhilarating and delightful read that exudes character and charm on every page. The pursuit of the rare first edition by G and JBT provided an engaging central plot filled with twists and turns, but as always, there are plenty of side plots, fascinating characters, and amusing vignettes to dive into that widen the portrayal of an immersive world of adventure. Golden November’s ability to create distinct and memorable characters through dialogue alone is consistently impressive, and the script format is easy to read with each character's unique voice and style brought to life so vividly. The dry humor was perfectly balanced, making the book not only entertaining but also light-hearted and enjoyable, and at this point in this multi-book series, the setting of Milestoneville really feels like a character in itself. The comedic elements provided a refreshing contrast to the action and were well-balanced to shift the mood just when things might get stale. Overall, Downtown Milestoneville is another fun adventure in the series, and it has left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. Keith Mbuya for Readers' Lovers of urban fiction and drama will not be able to peel their eyes off the pages of Golden November’s Downtown Milestoneville once they flip open this gripping read. Unfolding the intriguing plot using conversations rich with pop culture, November features a huge and fascinating cast. The colorful images and evocative depictions made reading this book feel like watching a Hollywood adventure comedy. Fans of the movie The Lost City will relish this read. The spell-binding plot twists, suspense, adventure, and thrills had me hooked. November adds a tremendous dramatic touch to the scenes, giving the narration a witty backdrop. I could not get enough of the characters working in the shadows and their clumsy plans to rob brokers and book collectors. November harnesses sentiment to the narration, allowing me to experience the cast’s emotions. This made it easy for me to connect with them. Asher Syed My teenage daughter played the role of Flower Rose's college frenemies and I have to say it was her best performance yet! The book on the whole is interesting because Golden November, or at least as far as I've read of their work, usually dives right into the action. We know the characters because of what they tell us and over time they feel like real people, but unlike real people, we cannot ask how the heck they came to be in the professions they are in. Sure, new cast members join the regulars in their own little spin-offs and we see vineyards and tour company-owning characters, but as a rare book dealer, Flower Rose has always been a little mysterious. The book isn't just about Flower Rose and it does switch to other scenarios. The comedy is deadpan and hilarious and crisp, Very highly recommended. Jamie Michele Our readout for the novel was, as it tends to be now, a party game. We changed it slightly by drawing names out of a hat randomly and it was while having to comb through hundreds of pages to write down individual names that I discovered a flaw in the book's composition: it is in desperate need of a list of characters so selection can happen in full before the acting begins. I would have enjoyed the task of writing everything down if I had one of Chatsworth's famed pens but alas I had a lowly off-brand plastic, and again was wishing for November to supply me with names. The intelligent wit and turns of phrases that November is so skilled at were on point, the photography is crisp and had a sprinkling of black and whites mixed in, and I got to play the part of Thorpe and let everyone know that the value of “my” rock collection was worth over twenty-million bucks. Overall, it was a great day. Very highly recommended. Asher Syed for Readers' My favorite scenes in all of the Golden November books land, quite literally, in a recurring category, and I was so pleased that All The Characters carried on with the tradition and even added a few for good measure. In every book, someone is always in the air, and a lot of times that person is in a ridiculous extreme sporting contraption that they are clueless about how to use. This installment has multiple! What are you in the mood for? We have traditional aircraft, helicopters, parachutes, gliders, flying cars, and hot air balloons, among a couple of extra surprises. Where would you like to land? We have in a tree, in a lake, somewhere a mile from where you're supposed to be but mysteriously near a hot air balloon...this story is your oyster. However, in All The Characters, it is the Twist and Twirl Granny who steals the show in an insane feat of aerobatics that you have to act out to believe. There is truth in what Willow says although it applies to all: “You're a mysterious, intriguing professional adventurer.” True indeed for the Milestoneville cast. Very true indeed. Vincent Dublado Golden November’s unconventional storytelling has produced one of the finest looks at life in this spinoff novel. The author is undoubtedly a humorist who writes characters that are well-defined by their values and characteristics such as their craftiness, resourcefulness, wit, sincerity, frankness. Practically everything falls under the emotional spectrum as Flower Rose gives you her life story. These characters strike me as bittersweet meditations on the human experience, and it distinguishes November’s attitude to the subject matter. If Garrison Keillor has his Lake Wobegon and Edgar Lee Masters has his Spoon River, then November has Milestoneville. It may well etch its own name in the list of popular fictional places that have their own colorful and unabashed tapestry. Anyone drawn to stories with strong, diverse characters and settings will likely find it here.