'Song Bird' by Christine M. Knight is the ongoing story of Mavis “Nikki” Mills. Mavis’ music career takes off. Her character develops as she faces the challenges of life as a professional musician, woman, mother, and daughter. In 'Song Bird', we meet the rock star as she returns from a very successful European tour. Nikki quickly learns that there is a price to fame. The biggest cost is the relationship with her son, Dan. While trying to bridge the gap with Dan, Nikki opens herself up to the idea of an adult relationship. She is attracted to two different men. Either of them could make or break her career. Guarding her heart and her son, Nikki cautiously makes a choice. Torn between her old self, “Mavis,” and her new identity of “Nikki,” this song bird's personal life is exploited by the media. Clinging to her family and her band, Nikki steps out and bravely makes her past life known. Standing in the shadow of her success is the man of her dreams. The question is: will she wake up and give love another chance?

Sticking with her Australian roots, Christine Knight portrays the life of her characters in the setting of Australia. Keeping it authentic, she wrote 'Song Bird' with British English and included many Australian terms. (Thank goodness for the glossary at the end.) The writing style is delightful and transparent. As a reader, you share in the dynamic growth of Mavis, as she transforms into the character of Nikki Mills. All of the characters develop and grow through challenges and mistakes, making them genuinely appealing or offensive. Focusing on the method of “keeping it real,” Knight includes real people and life events in the narrative, which intensifies the plot progression. I felt that having the Nikki Mills Band entertain the troops in the Tour de Force Tour and the effect of 9/11 on the band expanded the plot, making it more than just a budding romance in the music pop culture. I enjoyed all the nuggets of truth hidden within musical overtones. Christine Knight wrote a lyrical narrative that will keep the reader humming its tune, anxiously awaiting the next verse in the life of Nikki Mills.

In 'Song Bird' by Christine M Knight, Mavis Mills is a working single mother trying to balance the responsibilities of motherhood with her career. Mavis is also known as Nikki Mills of the Nikki Mills band. She dreamed of the freedom and lifestyle that came with being a platinum record artist, and now she has become an international singing sensation. She still struggles with all the insecurities of her Mavis personality and the terrible things that happened because of her need to please. Life on tour is often glamorous, but home is where her heart is. Nikki is determined not to be defined by the fan and media circus that surrounds her. When some unscrupulous reporters unearth the past she is trying to overcome, Nikki attempts to withstand the media assault and maintain her equilibrium.

Christine M Knight gave me a look behind the scenes of a celebrity's life that felt very real. The way Mavis's new celebrity status and her lack of privacy affected her entire family almost made me feel sorry for her success. Even though I celebrated the 'rags to riches' part, I couldn't help but feel the loss that came with it. Song Bird's tale of how Mavis struggled with her own identity, questioned her judgment based on her past decisions, and how she dealt with betrayal and disappointment from people she chose to trust made me think about how I'd feel in similar circumstances. It made me wonder if I'd welcome fame and fortune given its price tag.

The cast of characters was believable and I liked the way they interacted as a family - even the band members who were close to Mavis. She was strong, and the way she learned from her mistakes made me like her very much. Her interactions with her son, “Dan the Man” were sweet, and he was one of my favorite characters. His need to know about his father, and the truth behind Mavis's past added realism that I connected with on a personal level. Her response to reporters who uncovered her secrets and hinted at the truth about Dan's father was the most seriously emotional point of the book for me. I was rooting for and against certain romantic relationships throughout the story that added an extra measure of conflict. 'Song Bird' painted a picture of parenting and relationships when success overwhelmed and it read like a true story. It was thought provoking as well as entertaining. I enjoyed it.

'Song Bird' is a contemporary novel by Christine M. Knight which centers on Nikki Mills, a single mother who makes a huge success as an international recording artist. A family-centered drama at heart, the novel chronicles Nikki’s life on the road and at home as her career continues to climb, and explores her relationships with her family as well as the new acquaintances that stardom has brought her way. Amidst this success, however, a dark and personal secret is waiting to be unleashed, and Nikki’s former life as Mavis Mills is always just below the surface of her new confident self. This transformative story deals with the issues of balancing one’s life and deciding what’s really important, and what’s worth striving for.

'Song Bird' is a visually rich novel with characters who leap off the page in their realism and relatability. I enjoyed the shifting perspectives that Christine M. Knight brings to the narrative, detailing the lives and inner thoughts of those around Nikki as well as the heroine herself. The secret in Nikki’s past surprised me and I found the issues of self-esteem that she dealt with to be very moving, as well as a strikingly good reflection of how the media twists celebrity culture now. I was also extremely interested in the Australian setting for the novel, and the beautiful and uniquely cultural descriptions of the country only added extra flavour to the tale. Overall, 'Song Bird' was a pleasant and vivid read with an inspiring message and a very exciting ending.

Cheryl E Rodriguez is right when she says Song Bird is 'a lyrical narrative that will keep the reader humming its tune, anxiously awaiting the next verse in the life of Nikki Mills.' This has been very true of my response. I loved the layered story telling and the fact that it is anchored in the social, historical, and physical setting of the times. Like Tina Gibbons, Dan the Man was one of my favorite characters as was Zoey, and Nikki.

was as excited as a kid at Christmas when I received my copy of Song Bird. I rushed the family through dinner, bath time and bedtime stories so that I could resume the journey with Mavis, now known by her stage name, Nikki Mills.

From the first page, I knew I'd loved this story too. I had resolved to protract my enjoyment by reading one chapter per night. At the end of the first chapter, I had a Doh! moment because the chapter had passed far too quickly, and I regretted my one chapter/night decision.

So, I put the book on my bedside and went to share a movie with my husband. About thirty minutes into the movie, I opted out of it and my earlier decision to prolong the reading experience.I returned to the world of Song Bird and read into the early hours of the morning.

What a wonderful and rich story! While the novel is incredibly easy to read, it also has incredible depth.

I think Song Bird should be rated as 6/5 stars. It is exceptional.

From the get go of Nikki Mills return to Oz, I found 'Song Bird' to be a riveting read. The allusions to my favorite children's classic 'The Wizard of Oz' added a fascinating dimension to the real world of this story. 'Song Bird' is not a children's story though; it is very adult.

There are lots of realistic and logical twists in the story telling. It is very different from other stories about female musicians and not at all predictable in the cliche sense.

Although the central character is an awesome superstar, she was very easy to care about and relate to. Surprisingly, her issues were akin to a number of ordinary people I know. All of the characters emerge as real people. It is hard to believe they are fictional. I cared about all of them.

'Song Bird' is easy to read as well as being a novel of substance. It is anchored in the times in which it is set: 2000-2002. Yes, 9/11 features as well as the Australian involvement in East Timor.

'Song Bird' explores themes that necessitate the need for courage and resilience. It also explores the complex nature of love including intimacy.

This is a novel that I will treasure and reread.

Although SONG BIRD Is the sequel to LIFE SONG it works as a stand alone novel. I particuarly liked the artful way Knight wove in the backstory and her style of writing - so easy to read.

This novel built significantly on the lives of the characters taking them into unexpected directions. The plot is a page turner. I just loved the two novels and time I spent with Nikki (aka Mavis) _ the central character.

'Song Bird' has an original plot that explores universal themes told from a unique perspective.

The characters were real to me. Each one played a significant part in the lives of Nikki and her son,
Dan.

Dan's predicament was very moving. He
desperately wanted to have a traditional family and you could really feel his emotional struggle as his mother grew into her fame.

I was moved by Nikki's issues of self-esteem hidden behind her mask of confidence. It's so true of many talented people, isn't it? The cause of her conflicted self-esteem issues took me by surprise and helped me better understand the ripple effect that trauma can have on a person.

The novel was such a vivid read I not only imagined the places and people fully, I felt like I was there, actually in the story as a silent witness.

Not only did I enjoy this novel, somehow Nikki Mills' struggles helped me with my own.

After reading the novel I went to Ms Knight's website. I just love all of her music! The song that I bought from iTunes is 'Move On' as it has real relevance for me and helps me in dark days.