Music – Z. Elizabeth

Favourite soundtrack: Safe and Sound – Taylor Swift – The Hunger Games

Posted on November 26, 2013November 24, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Okay, so over the weekend I went to watch Catching Fire and I am absolutely besotted with this series, with the books and the films (so far) (Despite the face the first film sucked ass). Book two – Catching Fire obvs – is my favourite of the series. To see it on screen, oh god, although knowing what was coming, it was still so stressful to watch and seeing the fog and the monkeys and that ending…holy crap, i was crying. SERIOUSLY though, get your ass to a cinema and watch it now!!

I love the soundtrack to both films, but I think this song is the one for me. The one that I had on repeat for weeks and now the second film is out, I have become obsessed with it yet again.

What is your favourite movie soundtrack?

Family, Music, Terri Anne Browning

The Rocker That Needs Me (#3) – Terri-Anne Browning

Posted on July 14, 2013July 13, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

The Demon…

I’ve been fighting my own demons for most of my life. The alcohol seems to numb the pain, but it never makes the nightmares go away. All I want in life is a little peace. When I met my angel it felt like I found it, but there is so much standing between us. Why does she have to be so young…?

The Demon’s Angel…

Meeting Drake was the best thing to ever happen to me. I found my friend, my soul mate. But he lets my age stand between us. There is something that haunts him, and I selfishly want to be the one that helps him conquer his ghosts. If he would just let me in, let me closer, I think I could help him…

4.5 / 5 stars

My review of The Rocker That Holds Me HERE
My review of The Rocker That Savors Me HERE

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My Review

Since I had found the first book in The Rocker series by Terri Anne Browning, you could say I have fallen in love. In love with her and with the band. Since The Rocker That Holds Me, I have become obsessed with the stories. Of wanting to know the past of each character, to wanting ALL the books out now so I can gobble up each of the guys and the girls and watch their happy endings after all the shit they have been through.

If you have read my review of book two – The Rocker That Savors Me, you will see that I have such a massive soft spot for Drake. Okay, not a soft spot, I am basically in love with this guy. There is just something about him that drew me in. His dark past, his vulnerability, and the fact I want to mollycoddle him and be the one to help him through his past, through his drinking and just be the one for him. I know, I know, hes fictional, but I don’t care. In my head, he can be as real as I want him to be! Hahah.

You could say that my excitement for this book is an understatement. I was PISSING myself over getting my hands on this book so when Terri-Anne emailed me about an ARC, well who the hell was I to pass up reading The Rocker That Needs Me and my book boyfriend? OF COURSE I wanted an arc. I needed to learn all about Drake and his past and his relationship with Lana.

Myself and Holly (@Hollyshotreads) are completely besotted by this series and by Drake that we waited until each other had finished our respected books and read it together. We have been sooo anxious for the past few weeks and were completely excited to finally read Drake’s story. The texts she was sending me were making me chuckle!!

My darling Drake. My darling, darling drake. His prologue killed me. It killed me. And I cried. Yes, I cried at the start of this book. I knew it was going to be a bumpy and emotional ride, I knew it would be a hard and long journey and I knew we would find out about his awful past and the reason why he drink excessively until he blacks out. I was hoping that this wasn’t going to be his past, but I just cried so much when it turned out just what his past was.

It was heartbreaking and it really made you understand part of the reason he drank. I completely understood though, it just broke my heart that he needed the alcohol to numb him, to make the pain and the past go away. To stop him feeling guilty too.

But then he spots his angel when moving Layla and her sisters back to their guest house. But his angel is 17 years old and hes 31. He feels like hes found his soul mate but shes too young. He wants to stay away but he can’t. It’s like he needs Lana to breathe. To fill his life with some kind of hope, hope that he can get over his demons in time and hope that he can turn his life around and stop the drinking once and for all.

You really do see Drake change over the course of the book. Because of the dual POV, we got inside Drake’s head, which I absolutely loved. You got to see his fears, his insecurities, how he thought of himself and his band brothers and Emmie, and especially how he thought of Lana – his angel.

Of course there are parts where you just want to smack Drake but I loved how he needed and wanted to get help. Help for his drinking and for his past, no matter how hard it was for him to dredge it all back up. I felt like a proud momma for Drake sorting his shit out. He did it for Lana, for Shane, for himself.

Drake really does come a long way. He is a strong character, despite the addiction to alcohol. He is vulnerable too and completely besotted with Lana, which I found so heart clenchingly adorable. You could really see the fear of losing her when something big happens, and that is what kicks him ass into gear to try and win her back, to be a better man for her. He never wants to be without her, ever.

Angel, or Lana, as her real name goes is so mature and grown up for her 17 years. So doesn’t get involved in petty situations in school, she works hard, and focuses on her future and getting through school. She and Drake instantly click. Despite the age gap, there is something there between them that although they try to ignore, it’s blatantly there. They spend all their time together and it’s obvious that feelings are changing between them both for each other even though they are petrified and would rather hide them.

I loved the fear Drake had in losing her (which you will read in The Rocker That Savors Me). It was pure and you see just how much he and Lana balance each other out. But when one situation changes everything, Lana needs to do what is best for her. She is such a strong, caring girl and you really do feel for her. She loves Drake so much, but this something, she just needs to get away. To try and forget what happened. To focus on herself now even though she cares so much for Drake, it’s down to him to make the change.

Being miles away from Drake, I think it made Lana grow up and grow into herself. She just needed that time away to be herself – to focus on school but also focus on what she wants. I was so proud of her for standing up for herself, for not taking crap off Emmie, whom, despite my love for her, seemed to have some sort of vendetta against her. (I’m hoping this works itself out) but as I’ve said, Lana is amazing, shes brilliant and she didn’t deserve the hate towards her because it wasn’t her fault at all. (You’ll see what I mean). But I am glad she got her happy ending and both her and Drake, well I love them together and I’m glad they got over the issues standing in the way.

Drake does get his happily ever after. My heart was clenching in sweetness and an overpowering feeling to cwtched the shit out of him and Lana. My darling Drake finally got there in the end. Got to a point in his life where he was completely and utterly happy, in love so deeply with the one girl who stole his heart from the first sight. His journey wasn’t an easy one in any means. Lots of hurdles and bumps along the way, but they made him stronger. He broke his own barrier down, he stopped drinking, he put his guilt behind him, knowing and learning it wasn’t his fault and he got the girl who he knew he wanted to change for and be a better man for. You really cannot get any better than Drake. No way.

If you have yet to read about my book boyfriends in The Rocker series by the fabulous Terri Anne, then you are completely missing out. Seriously, you are because from the first book I knew this would become a favourite series of mine and it has. You have a band of ‘brothers’ all who have different secrets from their childhood and have grown up together and they have Emmie, the glue to their family. The girl who they all protected when they were younger and still are in a way. You watch the separate band members find their own way in life now; finding the one girl they want to spend their life with, and watching them grow.

The Rocker series isn’t one I’ve read before. The Rocker aren’t party animals, they aren’t the drink and drugs types. They are tame and it’s now time for them all to find the love of their life.

So join me in loving this series so hard and find new book boyfriends in each one of them.

Author Interviews, Book Tours, Music, New Adult, Romance, Terri Anne Browning

BOOK TOUR: The Rocker That Savors Me – Terri Anne Browning (+ AUTHOR INTERVIEW)

Posted on June 18, 2013October 6, 2014 by Z. Elizabeth

Today is the The Book Lovers stop for The Rocker That Savors me. It includes a review and an Author Interview 🙂

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Synopsis

Layla…
…has had a hard life. On her own at a young age, always having to do what needed to be done just to survive. Now she has two other people depending on her and she needs a job fast before they get evicted. A job interview introduces her to Jesse Thornton, the delicious drummer for Demon’s Wings. He reminds her of all the mistakes of her past, but is also her hope for the future.

Jesse…
…has never let anyone in. The only real family he has ever had are his band brothers and Emmie—the only women he has ever loved. But then Layla comes into his life and he would do just about anything to get one taste. Can he move past his own insecurities and allow this woman into his heart?

5/5 Stars

My Review of The Rocker That Holds Me

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My Review

Jesse has only loved one girl in his life – Emmie. But he knows her heart has always belonged to his band mate and ‘brother’ Nik. The band and Emmie are his everything. They are the only real family he has and the only people he has let him, even if he is hiding some secrets from them – like the nightmares. But then Layla comes along and he will do anything to have her. Can Jesse move past his insecurities and allow himself to love and open his heart up to Layla?

Layla has had a tough life. From being on her own since the age of 16, she has had to do whatever she could to survive. Now she has two other people who depend on her and she needs a better job before they get evicted. When a job interview with Emmie introduces her to Demon Wing’s drummer Jesse Thornton, he reminds her of all the past mistake and the reason why she doesn’t date rockers. But there is something about him that she can’t stay away from. Can she move from her past and focus on her future with Jesse?

Ever since I read The Rocker That Holds Me I was really hoping that Terri Anna Browning would write books for the other members of the band. There were a lot of questions about each character that I wanted to know about. Wanted to know about their past and how it shaped them into who they are today. When she confirmed that there would be books for the others, I was holding my breath for them.

If you read my review of TRTHM, you will see that I loved Jesse. He is an amazing guy and an absolute godsend to Emmie for all of her life. He would and will do whatever he can to make sure she is safe and happy and I was so happy that his book was second.

As I’ve said before, you become drawn in to the characters lives. You feel for them, you want to know them in real life and you want to have a family circuit like the band and Emmie do. You can see the love they have for each other and how close they are. They have all grown up in similar households and they have been through thick and thin together. Terri Anne Browning brings all these emotions out of you when you read this book. I was grinning, crying, laughing, swooning and of course, the kindle throw when I became frustrated at Layla and Jesse (due to their stubbornness of not listening.)

Ms. Browning’s writing will have you hooked though. She definitely knows how to write sexy ass rockers. Sexy ass rockers who have a past and who, when they find the right girl, fall in love and in time learn to let go of the past. She writes with such emotion and depth that you can’t help but feel for these characters. It’s like they are real to me and you feel some kind of connection to them through the book. They really do take your heart.

Mentioned above, I love the bald, tattooed drummer that is Jesse. Growing up with a drunk of a father who used to beat him until Jesse was old enough to fight back, protecting Emmie along with his band mates was the only thing that mattered. Making sure she was safe, especially when the band became famous. Nothing mattered more than Emmie.

Jesse really is a brilliant character. He loves unconditionally, hes strong yet he’s gentle, hes confident and cocky but he never really uses his famous status, more content on being grounded and just basking in the love that all this band mates and Emmie share together.

As everyone in the band, he has a past. He’s never really had anyone who he has felt ‘more’ with apart from Emmie, but he’s just her best friend, so when he hears and meets Layla for the first time, its like a shock to the system. He can’t get this girl out of his head. He just needs her, needs to be with her and have her. It was so nice to see Jesse this way; to find someone who he wants to be with, to pursue romantically because he and Layla had this sizzling chemistry right from the start. As much as she told herself to stay away, she couldn’t, and Jesse was adamant on having her. Their pull just overtook them both and they just had to be together.

I loved how he (and the group) took Layla’s sisters under their wings, treating them with care and love. It was perfect to see this band, who love music and don’t care for the famous status to embrace three new characters into their dynamic and love them unconditionally too.

Jesse really would do anything to make Layla happy – even when they had a tipping point during parts of the book – but in the end, Jesse loved Layla with everything. You will find out just how much throughout the book ;).

Layla is an awesome character. I really, really loved reading her story and getting to know her throughout the book because she had such a strength you get drawn to. She has had one hell of a tough ride, from being kicked out at 16 and dropping out of school to doing whatever she could to survive the next few years, she had to grow up fast. Now she has custody of her two sisters, Lana – 17 and Lucy – 6, whom she loves more than anything, she wants them to achieve everything she never did. Layla loves fiercely, is protective, honest and a great friend to Emmie but she also had a vulnerable side to her at times. Mostly because of her past and the way she dislikes Rockstars because of her mother and her father. Although she didn’t want to fall in love with a rockstar, watching her with Jesse was so nice to see and it was great to see her so happy. To see her fall in love with Jesse and become close to the other band mates, as well as becoming best friends with Emmie.

There are a few scenes where you just want to shake Layla and tell her to listen to Lana and Emmie, listen to watch they are telling her and for her to stop being so stubborn. But you can kind of understand why she reacted that way (You’ll know what I’m on about when you read that scene). I’m just so glad that she and Jesse got their happily ever after. They both truly deserve it.

I particularly loved that Emmie and Nik (and Drake but we’ll get to him) had such a big role in this book as well. We see a very pregnant, stressed out Emmie but when she hires Layla, you see Emmie gladly welcome Layla and her sisters into their life. I loved having Emmie and Nik being a side part to The Rocker That Savors Me. You see how much they love one another, how they will always be there in an instance when one is hurting or upset (More Emmie on this), how they just can’t live without one another. I still love seeing the two of them like this after everything they had been through in The Rocker That Holds Me.

I adored how easy the three girls blended into the group dynamic. The guys all love Lucy because they remind them of Emmie at her age, but a much happier version than the little girl they had to save and keep protected and they all welcome Lana because she has this calming effect on Drake.

Now onto Drake. We all know that he drinks himself into a stupor to escape the demons of his past – which we do not know yet – but when Lana is introduced to him, it’s like something has clicked inside of him and he doesn’t need to pick up a bottle and get steaming. He’s adopted Lucy and treats her like his little sister, building sandcastles with her, taking her shopping. Just spoiling her rotten.

Then we come onto his ‘relationship’ with Lana. It’s like she is his muse. His muse to stop drinking, to start living life; to smile and laugh and show his artistic side, the one side that he has never, ever shared. Despite Lana being 17 and Drake 31, they have this special connection, and although Drake is petrified of the age gap, he just can’t be without Lana. There are sides to see to Drake that will tear you up, make your heart clench for him and that is why I cannot wait for book three. I NEED BOOK THREE NOW TERRI! I need more Drake in my life!

I can’t tell you how much that epilogue just….*sigh* I loved it so much. It was perfect and just holy moly, the most amazing way to end The Rocker That Savors Me. I am so not going into detail but Layla, Lucy and Jesse are just waaay too cute together and I’m smiling just thinking about what happens but I’m going to be good and not spoil it for you. You have to read it yourself to see why I am smiling to a computer screen like an idiot whilst typing this out. I can’t stop giggling and smiling at the amazingness of the epilogue. Too. Darn. Sweet.

If you loved The Rocker That Holds Me, then PLEASE grab your copy of The Rocker That Savors Me. You get more Emmie and Nik sweetness, you get to see Jesse fall in love, you get to see three beautiful ladies be added to the band’s family and you see character development, character’s grow and journey, characters fall in love and it ends perfectly for the next book in the series which is Drakes – The Rocker That Needs Me and by god, I need this book in my life right now, because, although all the characters stole my heart, Drake took a little bit extra in this book.

So yes, love sexy rockstars who have sexy times but also journey through their pasts to find love and acceptance? Then this series is definitely for you!

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Interview with Terri Anne Browning:-

When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
I was sixteen. It was summer vacation and I was so bored. I couldn’t find a book that would hold my attention for longer than 15 minutes. So my mom told me to write my own. She was sure that I could do a much better job. I pulled out one of my notebooks and got to work. Of course I got thirty pages into it and another idea for another story plot popped into my head. The first story didn’t get finished and neither did the second, but I had so much fun. I’ve been hooked ever since.

How did The Rocker That Holds Me come about?
I had been thinking about a character like Emmie for a while, but I couldn’t really get her personality down. I couldn’t decide what kind of hero would suit her, and then I realized that she needed more than one hero to make her complete. That was how Jesse, Drake and Shane were added in. Putting a rock theme into it was just the icing on the cake. The whole tattooed, bad boy persona for the guys really clicked for me as I brought them to life.

After you wrote The Rocker That Holds Me, did you ever plan to create a series or was it after fans of the book demanded more?
Even as I was writing The Rocker That Holds Me I was thinking ahead to Jesse’s book, but when the fans started screaming for a sequel I was ready to deliver.

The Rocker books all share (or are going to) the back stories of all the band mates and Emmie. Was it difficult to come up with different stories for them or did you know exactly what they were?
Jesse’s was the easiest to do because he is just so loveable. Everyone wants a Jesse in their life, either as a lover or a best-friend. Drake’s was easy to create because Jesse’s set the ground work, but he was just so gut-wrenching to write. But it’s Shane that is proving to be the most difficult of the band to write. I don’t know where he is going to take me and that can be terrifying.

In The Rocker That Savors Me, you introduce three more characters into the band and Emmie’s lives. What was your decision in doing this and not just introducing one?
Layla came as a package deal even as I was creating her in my notes. She just didn’t feel complete until I added in Lana and Lucy. She needs them just as much as they need her and that makes Jesse fall faster for her.

Drake held a big part in The Rocker That Savors Me, and he has become a favourite of mine now. Was this as to introduce him more as his book is next in the series?
Yes, although at the beginning it wasn’t where I was going. Drake had other ideas though and I went were he took me.

This may be a spoiler for those who haven’t read The Rocker That Savors Me, but what made you decide that Lana would be the one for Drake?
In the beginning even I wasn’t sure if that was going to work. The age thing was a big issue and for some that can really be the deal breaker. But there was just so much chemistry there and Drake couldn’t stay away. When you are that far into the dark you reach for the light whenever it is presented to you.

Do you have a favourite character? And who do you love to write the most?
I hate to pick favourites here, it’s like picking a favourite child…Jesse is my favourite though! He’s just so big and scary, but such a softy and so loveable. Jesse was created with my husband’s personality so I really do have a closer connection to him than the others. I love writing from Emmie’s POV, probably why I have included—and plan to include at least one POV from her in every book. She is such a strong and sassy character and I put a little of myself into her.

Do you have any other projects in the work for when you finish the series?
Well…If things work out the way I want them to, I’m hoping to continue on with the series through Axton Cage. I’m hoping that his book, which will be out next year sometime, will pave the way for more The Rocker… books with his band OtherWorld. But before that I’m really thinking about a follow up book that includes all four guys of Demon’s Wings.

Have you ever thought about who you would like to play each character if you’re books were made into films?
There are a few people that I have thought about. Mostly it has been Emmie’s character that I would love to see come to life. Emma Stone really comes to mind. I just love her attitude! But if I were to ever have the chance to do a movie, or a TV series which would really be awesome, I would want actors that are just starting out.

And lastly, is there a deep, dark secret you would like to reveal? 😉
Lol! Well, I don’t have many secrets. I don’t have a secret sex life, and I’m not hiding any bodies in my basement. I will reveal that I work under a pen name, but I almost always answer to it. I like the anonymity that comes with using the pen name. I don’t think half of my extended family even realize that I’m an author!

Music, Romance

Sound Bites: A Rock & Roll Love Story – Rachel K. Burke

Posted on May 23, 2013May 19, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Renee Evans has a knack for trouble. After walking in on her best friend and boyfriend in bed together, twenty-five year-old Renee flees sunny Los Angeles and her dream job as a music journalist and returns to her hometown of Boston – only to meet Dylan Cavallari, the mysterious, aspiring musician who lives in her apartment building. Dylan’s piercing gaze and womanizing demeanor make him exactly the type of guy that Renee should steer clear of – which is most likely the reason she falls for him. But when Renee’s troublesome ex comes back and threatens to drive her and Dylan apart, Renee is forced to face her past and save her relationship with Dylan before it’s too late.

Sound Bites dramatizes what happens when Renee finds herself caught between a painful past and an uncertain future. Happiness turns out to be within her grasp, but it all depends on whether she can trust herself enough to make the right decisions. Sound Bites is a novel about love, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, and the power of music to help you find your way

4 / 5 Stars

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My Review

*I’d like to thank Rachel K. Burke for sending me a review copy in return for an honest opinion*

After walking in on her best friend and boyfriend betraying her, Renee Evans flees LA and her dream job as a music journalist and returns back home to Boston.

Upon her return home and moving into her new flat, she meets her neighbour Dylan Cavallari. Dylan is mysterious, he’s gorgeous and an aspiring musician who lives in the flat above Renee. To Renee he is the typical womanizer and someone who she shouldn’t get involved with but she can’t help it. Despite a misunderstanding when they first meet, Renee and Dylan become friends fast, and over due course, they fall for each other.

But when all seems great for the pair, Renee’s ex comes back; begging for her back and his appearance threatens to drive her and Dylan apart. Can they figure it out or is it too late for them? In order to move on, Renee must face her past to save her relationship with Dylan.

Rachel K. Burke emailed me asking me if I would like a review copy of Sound Bites and after reading the synopsis, I emailed back, jumping at the chance. It sounded like a great book and one that I especially love reading. Hot musicians? Oh hells yes, give me some of that.

Ms. Burke’s writing style made the book flow from scene to scene. It was hard to put it down once I started, engrossed with every scene and every word on the page. She makes you care for the characters as they develop throughout the book, watching them grow up, go through their own problems and insecurities and watching them all care for one another throughout the different scenes that occurred.

As you all should know by now, my emotions tend to range when reading great books. It’s much the same with this one, I was smiling, frustration, panicky, laughing but I didn’t kindle throw as I was reading on my phone. I might have thrown my phone down though haha and shook my head over what was happening but that’s the sign that a book gets to me!

To briefly outline the book, 24 year old Renee went to LA with her best friend for college, but after walking in on her best friend Justine and her boyfriend, David getting down and dirty, she leaves sunny LA and heads back home to Boston to escape the pain of what she just saw.

Moving into a small building complex, one day she crashes into a hottie, quite literally crashes as she reverses into his car. Hes a bit of a douche with an attitude but she gets over it as she knows she probably won’t see him again. Oh uh, she does. Apparently he lives in the building complex.

As a diehard music fan, one night she hears someone playing an acoustic version of her favourite Jeff Buckley song so she goes out to investigate who the culprit is. What she doesn’t count on is the guy behind the door being the douche from outside.

Over time, the two of them become friends over their shared interest in music. Despite Dylan being confident and cocky, he sure is shy and nervous to play his music in front of people, preferring to confine his talent to his flat. But Renee knows awesomeness when she hears it and so she tries to persuade Dylan to join her friend’s band and after weeks of rehearsals, Dylan pushes through his nervousness and performs…in front of people…for the first time. This makes Renee so proud of him and her feelings for him become even stronger.

Throughout the weeks between hanging out and Dylan gigging, a big gig in New York arrives and Dylan asks Renee to go with him. Sharing a room, Renee tries to gauge a reaction from Dylan but nothing is working. She doesn’t know his feelings until she meets a guy and spends the night talking to him, which pisses Dylan off whom in turns storms off. When returning to the hotel, Dylan spills his guts about wanting to be with Renee, whom reciprocates the feelings, and they end up together.

Spending the days and nights together, their little love nest progresses to love and they decided to rent a house and have put a deposit down when Renee’s lease on her apartment is up but one night screws up everything they had going and their relationship is broken. It’s now up to Renee to face her past and look into her future before even attempting to try and win back Dylan’s heart. Can she do this or is it too late for them?

I think at some point in our life we can all relate to Renee’s character. She’s been heartbroken, had to give up her dream job, had to move back to her home town and then end up in a job she doesn’t want to be in. Renee could be deemed as stuck-up, strong, a music whore and although she was heartbroken, she just got up and dealt with it which takes courage to not let it stew in your mind. Despite her hot-headedness, she was a great character apart from when she began to get insecurities about her relationship with Dylan. I felt so sad for her to go from this strong woman to this woman who was questioning everything.

Dylan even picked up on that, and it tore me about how she was feeling as he did nothing to make her feel this way. But I suppose there is a point in ones relationship where it all gets to you and the love you feel for that person is so consuming that you wonder if it’s just you? Even though it’s obvious they love you too.

She could be immature and childish in parts and I got frustrated but then I thought about it and to be completely honest with you, I would be acting this way too if it was me. I got frustrated because she was pushing Dylan too far but in the end, I reckon that would be me too. Pushing him to succeed in something that he obviously loves and pushing him to get over his fear and become something amazing. She does grow up, she faces so much in this book from finding love to finding forgiveness and its all thanks to the power of music.

When we are first introduced to Dylan, he is a bit of a douche – but to be fair to him, you would be giving attitude if someone reversed into your van. But there is something about Dylan that you just cant help but love. It’s the mystery about him, the way he loves music (much like Renee) but doesn’t show anyone due to his intense bout of stage fright. He is confidence and cocky and attidtudy in his ‘real life’ but throw him on stage in front of people and make him sing? No way, he would pass out before he played the first chord.

I loved his growth of confidence throughout the book. Thanks to a massive push from Renee, he grow as a character comfortable enough to stand on stage and sing; relish in the audiences reaction to his songs and voice. I was so proud of him for building up the courage to do this as I knew that it took a lot for him to broadcast his talent. He finally got over his stage fright and began to love singing to the audiences, even if he still was petrified each time the crowd got bigger, he carried on. I think Renee was his rock, that he kind of needed her there at the beginning to push him into singing and calm him down, make him know she was proud of him.

Despite the mystery, we get to see a loveable side to Dylan, a side which is cute and sweet. You really do see the connection between the two of them and you can see just how much they love each other. When Renee suggests going back to her own flat to sleep, Dylan is having none of it and after Renee hints at moving in together, Dylan asks her and its all flowers and hearts for them. The perfect couple. I loved this side of Dylan. The confident, in love guy who would do anything for Renee.

When the shit hits the fan and there is a massive misunderstanding, we never really see Dylan’s side but we know he is hurting. He’s been betrayed – or so he thinks – by the one person he loved and trusted the most and he doesn’t know what to do. Music is now his therapy while he heals.

Music is basically what brings Renee and Dylan and will it bring them back together? You will have to wait and see what happens. Renee needs to forgive before getting to her present and when a surprise happens, she now needs to see Dylan and let him know exactly what is going on.

I reallllly loved the ending; it was a great way to end Sound Bites. You see both characters grow-up and go through a journey, together and alone. You see the characters forgive, characters love, characters bond, and characters get their happily ever after.

My favourite scene has to be when they tell each other their feelings. I’m a sucker for a sappy love spillage and you could see just how much Dylan was hurting over Renee going out with that guy after his show. You could see that he felt the same way and it hurt him to think of Renee with anyone other than him. The way he acted just tore my heart open and it was so great to see him – someone who is closed up – express himself and tell her his feelings. I loved it!

All in all thank you for sending me your book Rachel, I really enjoyed every second of it and hello Dylan, you can be a new book boyfriend for me. Everyone grab your copy of Sound Bites and be like me in turning the pages at lightning speed because you cannot put it down!

Books I've Bought, Erotica, Music, New Adult, Romance

Today’s splurges

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Whilst shopping online / shopping for e-books on Amazon, I came across quite a few books that I knew had to be on my Kindle. ‘So what are they?’ I hear you ask. Well, here they are:-

Saving Wishes (#1)- GJ Walker-Smith

368 pages
Published February 12th 2013
Amazon UK – £1.32

Synopsis
For Charli Blake, being seventeen is a tough gig.
She’s been branded a troublemaker, her reputation is in tatters and she’s stuck in Pipers Cove, a speck of a town on the coast of Tasmania.
Thankfully, it’s temporary. Her lifelong dream of travelling the world is just months away from becoming reality. All she has to do is ride out the last few months of high school, which is easier said than done thanks to a trio of mean girls known as The Beautifuls.
When Adam Décarie arrives in town, all the way from New York, life takes an unexpected turn. His arrival sets off a chain of events that alters her life forever, convincing her of one thing. Fate brought him to her.
Saving Wishes is the story of a girl who doesn’t quite fit the life she’s living, and the boy who helps her realise why.

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Mr. Insatiable – Serenity Woods

ebook, 155 pages
Published February 4th 2013

Amazon Uk – £3.25

Synopsis

Gossip says he is hot between the sheets. Has Mr. Insatiable finally met his match?

Enya’s been curious about Kit’s bedroom exploits ever since his ex-girlfriend spilled the beans about his…skill. But he’s not for her. Enya can’t provide what he wants from life, especially not between the sheets.

After Enya admits she’s not good at sex, Kit persuades her to trust in him. Together, they can create fireworks in the bedroom. A few drinks followed by a discussion about kinky sex, and Enya succumbs to his charm.

Thrilled he’s been proven correct, Kit can’t keep his hands off Enya, and she’s unable, and unwilling, to resist him. But is it just great sex…or something more?

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The Cirque – Ryann Kerekes

Ebook, 265 pages

Published February 25th 2013

Amazon UK – £1.99

Synopsis

A good girl trying to find herself.
A troubled boy running from his past.
The seductive allure of the cirque.
One summer that will change them both forever …

Eighteen-year-old ballerina Ariel is determined to experience life outside the dance studio. She auditions for the cirque on a whim, and though ballet training didn’t prepare her for dodging knives, she refuses to flinch and wins the spot of target girl alongside Gabriel, the mysterious knife-thrower. There’s something unmistakably dangerous yet tempting about Gabriel’s crystal blue eyes and tattoos. She’s determined to solve the mystery of his past after learning he’s on the run from the law. Especially since the distraction is just what she needs to avoid admitting to her parents she was dismissed from her ballet contract.

The more she learns about Gabriel, the scars on his body, the foster homes he grew up in, and his fascination with knives, she knows she should run the other way, but that boy’s like crack, oh so bad for you, yet addicting as hell. When he’s arrested and forced to deal with his past, she has to choose between putting her own life back together and dealing with her parents, or taking a chance on Gabriel, as no one else has.

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Hustle Me (#1)- Jennifer Foor

Ebook, 445 pages

Published February 21st 2013

Amazon Uk – £1.99

Synopsis

John (Jammer) Thomas is not one of the good guys your parents want you to end up with. He’s been on his own since he was seventeen, traveling from city to city, making enough money to survive by doing the only thing he’s ever been good at.
Playing pool.
He’s covered in tattoo’s and has a mouth that would make a grandmother cry.

He doesn’t do relationships.
He doesn’t care about anyone besides himself.
He’s a drifter.
A Hustler.

At first look, she’s just a pretty little thing behind the bar, but Charlene (Charlie) is so much more.

After her parents died in a fire she was put into the foster care system. Thanks to her good grades and hard work, she earned herself a scholarship.

Feeling like she was finally going to make something for herself, she finds out she has inherited a bar and a kid brother, from a father she never even knew.

While she tries to manage her new life, people from her father’s past come to collect old debts and threaten everything Charlie has left.

Can she really trust Jammer, or is he just helping her for what it pays out?

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The Rock Star Next Door – Lily Silver

Ebook, 288 pages

Published September 12th 2012

Amazon UK – £2.37

Synopsis

Sometimes love conquers time . . .

From the first moment he saw her, Lex recognizes Jessie.
He knows they were lovers in a past life and their souls are destined for a reunion. Can he convince her they belong together?

Jessica Kelly has reached the pinnacle of success with her hot new rock band. She and her friends have rented a house in Malibu. Living next door is the notorious rock legend. When Lex takes a personal and passionate interest in Jessie, can she afford to lose her heart to The Rock Star Next Door?

Lex learns someone is stalking Jessie. She refuses to let him help her and hides the identity of her tormentor. Will their tragic past be repeated, separating them for another lifetime? Can Lex prevent Jessie from being taken from him again by a malicious and violent force reaching across time to destroy them?

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Broken – Christa Cervone

Ebook, 183 pages

Published February 28th 2013

Amazon UK – £2.03

Synopsis

According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition of the word Broken is violently separated into parts. SHATTERED.

Yup, that pretty much sums me up. How do I handle things? I find my answers at the bottom of a bottle of Tequila and sleep with random men.

How did I get this way? Well, four years ago I made a decision that cost me the love of my life. I can’t undo what I did to drive Garrett out of my life. I haven’t seen or heard from him in four long years. But he still haunts me in my dreams or should I call them nightmares at this point? No matter how much booze I drink and how many men I sleep with, nothing fills the void. I feel like I am existing but I’m not really living.

I’m trying to get my life back on track. Well that was until. . . . Garrett walked back into my life. His reappearance threw me into another tailspin.
How do I put the pieces of our broken hearts back together? All before he walks out of my life again… this time for good. Or am I simply destined to just be Broken?

——————

Raid – Kristen Ashley

Ebook, 292 pages

Published February 28th 2013

Amazon UK – £2.71

Synopsis

Hanna Boudreaux has lived in the small town of Willow, Colorado all her life. The great-granddaughter of the town matriarch, she’s sweet, cute and quiet.

Too quiet.

Hanna has a moment of epiphany when she realizes her crush for forever, Raiden Ulysses Miller, is not ever going to be hers. She sees her life as narrow and decides to do something about it.

Raiden Miller is the town of Willow’s local hero. An ex-marine with the medal to prove his hero status, he comes home, shrouded in mystery. It takes a while but, eventually, Hanna catches his eye.

But after all these years of Raid and Hanna living in the same town, the question is, why? Is Raid interested in Hanna because she’s sweet and cute? Or does Raid have something else going on?

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So these are my splurges. Has anyone read any of these yet? Which ones did you enjoy?

Let me know!

Cover Reveal, Music, Romance

COVER REVEAL: Out Of Play – Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn

Posted on February 28, 2013February 27, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

I’m super excited to read Out Of Play! It sounds like such a freaking great book! And it stars a rockstar?! HELL YES i am so grabbing myself a copy when its out!

Blurb:

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn’t have a problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—deserve to party, right? Wrong. After taking a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.

Hockey player Penny Jones can’t imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who’ll take care of her absent-minded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered with the new tenants next door.

Penny’s too hung up on another guy to deal with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy
sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.

Out on August 6, 2013

Goodreads

BN.com

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Music, Romance

Perfect Partners – Stephanie Cage

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

“What’s he doing back in London after all this time?”

Eight years ago, Lisa Darby’s dancing partner and first love, Redmond Carrington, left London for a fun summer on the cruise ships – and never came back. Lisa’s grown up a bit since then, and she’d like to think she’s prepared for anything, but when Red comes back from America with a proposal for her, she’s not sure she’s ready for what he’s suggesting.

A TV studio is filming a knockout competition of six of the world’s best couples – each of them partners both on and off the dance floor. Redmond wants Lisa to pose as his girlfriend so that they can compete. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for an aspiring professional dancer, and the spectacular prize money would help save Lisa’s beloved dance studio, which is in need of major renovation. Scooping the prize is going to take the performance of a lifetime from Lisa and Redmond, but with the sizzling tension between them, they might just pull it off.

It turns out that putting on an act for the cameras is the least of Lisa’s worries. As time goes on and she rediscovers her feelings for Redmond, she’s left questioning what’s really behind his offer, and where their partnership is heading this time.

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My Review

It’s been eight years since Redmond walked out of Lisa’s life to work on a cruise ship for the summer. Eight years since he left and never looked back. Until now.

Redmond has spent the past eight years in America dancing. Lisa has tried to forget about him but being her dance partner and the guy who stole her heart at eighteen, it comes to a shock that he’s now back in London for a few weeks. He wants them both to compete in TV dancing show called Couples to win money to keep open and refurbish their old dancing school. Only thing is that they need to be an actual couple and so Lisa agrees to pretend, for the sake of saving the dance school.

It turns out that even after all those years apart, the chemistry is still as obvious as it was when they were teenagers and it was like they were never apart. Faking it in front of the cameras isn’t the hard part. The hard part is all the feelings resurfacing for Redmond which leaves her questioning his actions between the two of them and what he really wants out of this competition and them after so long.

Stephanie Cage emailed me last night asking if I would like to review Perfect Partners. Reading the synopsis and staring at the book cover instantly grabbed my attention and because I love dancing shows, I just had to email back and accept her offer of receiving a review copy. I was drawn in from the start. Instantly intrigued from the first page, as the opening line is “What’s he doing back in London after all this time?” Yes, I wanted to know why he was back too, so I knew I had to click through the pages, to find out the reason Redmond was back after so many years away.

Stephanie’s writing flowed with ease, from page to page. It was like I was hypnotized and I would not stop turning the pages, wanting to try and figure out myself why Redmond was back, if Lisa’s paranoia was something that was true, if they would win the contest. Perfect Partners really does hold your attention and before you know it, you would have finished without a second thought of the time passing you by.

The imagery Stephanie portrayed with all the descriptions of the dances had my mind playing out the sequences that Lisa and Red were doing, imagining all the costumes and make-up that Lisa had to wear too. It truly was a great way to imagine all the glitz and glamour of the dancing world and the chemistry that poured off Lisa and Red in my head during both the dances and outside the TV show.

Perfect Partners start with Lisa asking Elaine – the owner of the dance school – why Redmond was back in London and why he wanted her to dance with him in the TV competition. She agrees, after some deliberation and finds out that Redmond is downstairs, waiting for her. Pushing away her nerves, she goes to meet him and even after eight years, it was like all those years just merged into one.

I loved the fact Redmond and Lisa could just easily get back into how they were years ago. Remembering the old dance routines, keeping up with one another and pushing their boundaries with more daring moves. It was great that they could just flow back to the old times. Saying that, I did feel sorry for Lisa at the beginning. Although she and Red were nothing more than dance partners in their teenage years, she was burnt by him when he left and after a couple of postcards he just stopped all contact. For him to come back after all those years and not say anything about his going when they first saw each other again, made me so angry at him. But then I felt angry at Lisa too. She could have scowled him the moment she saw him about why he never came back, why he never stayed in touch. I would be fuming at him thinking he could just come back and make me enter a competition with him without so much as a ‘sorry’.

But throughout the book, you DO find out why Red didn’t return and why he didn’t keep in touch. It tore my heart that they both processed strong feelings for one another but Red was scared about them. But now he was back, he wanted to make it up to Lisa; to prove he won’t leave again.

You go through a journey of dance and emotions with both Red and Lisa. You see how much they fit together, how easy it was to fall back into being dance partners and friends once again. Especially with old feelings resurfacing for Red, from Lisa. It really was a love/hate with Red. At times I felt his feelings for Lisa were pure. That he really did want to be with her and he really did mean what he said but then when Lisa began doubting it, I did too. She planted these doubts in my head too with what she was over thinking.

I think that came from her independence though. She had spent so long being independent and for Red to come back and tell his feelings for her, it’s enough to turn your world a bit topsy turvy as you now have someone who wants to do things for you. I did admire her for not wanting anyone to do anything for her, because it proved she was a strong woman but Red let her be independent but would do anything for her, if she asked him too.

At the end, it all comes to light about why Redmond was back and why he wanted to do the TV show. I have to say, the amount of phone calls he got throughout the book and the trip back to America made me a bit suspicious about him. I really thought he had a kid back in America but thank god I was mistaken. I loved what he did and the reason for it.

He really did redeem himself though, and although he should have told her at the beginning what the calls were about, I could see why he didn’t too. But then everyone seemed to know apart from Lisa but I could see why he wouldn’t tell her because he’d been away and not spoken to her for so long that he just needed to know if she still felt the same way as he did.

I do love Red though. He did take me a while to warm up to, but after, I just wanted to be his dance partner. He’s all muscular and has such a passion for dancing. You can see the passion burning from within him, but other than dancing, his other passion is Lisa. There are hints throughout the book that the feeling is mutual, even though they haven’t said anything to each other, but Lisa is oblivious to it, until Redmond tells her his feelings. He’s not a man that speaks a lot, but reading his speeches, I was hooked on him. He was there for Lisa throughout everything that happened in the weeks they spent together and they were such the perfect couple, regardless of Lisa’s doubts that she planted in her mind. He didn’t do anything to make her distrust his feelings. Not really.

The scene I loved was the last one actually. I know what sounds really bad, but trust me, the book is amazing! But I just loved when Lisa’s was really upset and Red seemed panicked over it, wondering why she ran off and what was wrong. He told her everything and completely put her mind at ease that nothing about this was a publicity thing; that he kept everything a secret from her because he wanted to make sure she would talk to him. It was a great scene and you really felt and were shown the powerful feelings Red had for Lisa and that he would do anything for her, even if she thought dance was number one and she was number two, which at that present moment in time wasn’t true, as they had both missed the results of the winners, deeming her more important, especially after his confession.

Perfect Partners definitely has a Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars feel to it. I’ve been a fan of SCD for years and I knew I had to read it. It took me back to imagining the couples dancing together, the chemistry, the dance routines and dances and rooting for my favourite couple to win. Which of course, was Redmond and Lisa! You totally have to root for them!

Stephanie Cage has written a great book in Perfect Partners and if you are looking for a read which includes dancing, old and new feelings, a hunky man in the name of Redmond, perfect imagery and a journey throughout the show and their personal life, then definitely download this book tomorrow (Monday 25^th Feb). You won’t be disappointed at all!

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Partners-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00BFD2F9A
US: http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Partners-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00BFD2F9A

Family, Music, New Adult, Romance, Terri Anne Browning

The Rocker That Holds Me – Terri Anne Browning

Posted on February 11, 2013July 5, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Touring with four rockers is the thing of dreams…

At least that is what people tell me. To me those four rockers are my family. They have watched over me from the time I was five years old. Protecting me from my mother and her drunken, drug addict rages. When they made it big they still watched over me. And when my monster of a mother died they took over as my guardians.

In the six years since that happened I have watched over the four men that
mean everything to me. I take care of them just as they once took care of me. I handle all the dirty work behind the scenes of a rockers life. It isn’t always pretty. At times it came be damn near disgusting, especially when I have to get rid of their one night stands. Ugh!

Taking care of them doesn’t bother me though. I mean it’s not like I’m in love with one of them. That would be crazy. Falling for a rocker is NOT smart.

Okay, so I’m not smart. I love my guys, and one of them kind of holds my heart in his big old rocker hand. But I’m dealing. I’ve been able to keep it my little secret for years now.
I’m not, however, dealing with this bug that I seem to have caught. It scares the hell out of me. I hate doctors, but I’m suddenly more worried about finding out what is wrong with me than what the doctor might do to me.

When I get my test results back my life will never be the same again…

***Because of language and adult situations not suitable for readers under 17***

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My Review

“Yes, I am in love. There is this Ember in my heart that has hold of me and won’t let go.”

Ember didn’t have the best childhood. Living on a trailer park, her mother was a drunk, a druggy and would beat up Emmie when she was in a rage – which was most of the time. But at 7, Emmie had the four best friends she could have that looked after her when her mother beat her. Albeit, the guys were 10 years older, but they were always there for her, protecting her and cleaning her up.

They knew if the police got involved then their Emmie would be taken away from them and they didn’t want that. They were the ones that needed to keep her safe and protect her, not the social services.

At 15, Emmie’s mum died and since the guys were now in a famous band, they took Emmie in, telling social services that she was theirs and that was that. She has been touring and living with them for the past six years, taking care of them, like they did for her when she was younger and handling their dirty work aka getting rid of their one night stands!

As much as she loves them, there’s one rocker who holds her heart the most, but she knows he doesn’t feel the same as her, so she just needs to deal with it, but when she starts feeling ill and ends up at the hospital, all is not what it seems and when the results are back, she is in for a huge shock.

Although The Rocker That Holds Me is only 99 pages long, there is depth in the story, the characters are developed – albeit you don’t really find out about their home life on the trailer park apart from Emmie’s so I am hoping there are more books – and the little family they create is utterly perfect. I loved reading about how much they mean to each other, after all those terrible years during their childhood. From the beginning, you may think this book is filled with heavy issues but you would be wrong and as the story went on it was lighter although there are angsty bits along the way.

I spotted this book on Amazon last night, and because it contained Rockstars – my favourite – I knew I had to grab a copy and read it straight away. I was not disappointed at all and the story develops despite only being 99 pages long. You feel like you know these characters and they take a bit of your heart along with Emmie’s.

Emmie, as I’ve said, hasn’t had the best childhood. Subjected to abuse, the guys were her saviour; her guardian angels. So when her mum dies and she goes to ‘live’ with them, so knows she owes them everything for what they have done for her all these years. Emmie seems to have become stronger in herself, although she still has nightmares sometimes; she knows that the guys are only a few feet away if she needs them. She can hold her own against them but she still gets scared that they are going to disown her when they find out the news of what is wrong with her. But she should know by now that no matter what is wrong, these guys love her and would never let her go.

I ADORED the band! You first meet them when they are 17(?)(I had to work out their ages, still not sure if it’s right) and are tending to Emmie’s cuts. From the beginning you can see how much Emmie means to them all; they need to protect her. When they become famous, they don’t forget Emmie and they send her money, buy her things and give her a phone so when she needs them, she only has to call, so when her mother dies, they automatically leave to come back home to her – shes more important to them than the band and they will do anything for her. They truly love her and that’s why they took her with them instead of letting the social services take her. Shes part of their family and they have all been through so much together. She is theirs, and they are hers.

I freaking loved Jesse and Nik. More so Jesse because he was always there for Emmie, through the tears, through the ‘illness’ and he would do whatever it took to make her happy and smile again. It was really sweet to see how much her crying affected him and he hated it, it tore him up inside. For such a metal band, they aren’t afraid to show their emotions. He really was a big brother to her.

Now Nik. Holy moly, he sounded so hot! I can see why Emmie fell for him. Much the same as Jesse, he was there for her and you could really see how much he cared for her, a little bit more than ‘sister love’. All the little things he was saying/doing, I couldn’t understand how Emmie wasn’t picking up his feelings, but then I suppose when you’ve loved someone so long, and you think they only think of you as a ‘little sister’ then seeing beyond that wouldn’t cross your mind.

I did feel that all this will-they-wont-they could have easily been sorted out with either of them telling the other how they feel. They kind of kept mucking each other up, especially Nik, trying to make Emmie jealous to see if she really did have feelings for him?! BOY why would you do that to a girl? It isn’t fair at all to do that when it’s obvious she loves you. But when he finally spilled his guts, oh man, I fell even more for you, you sweetheart. Ugh you know just the right things to say and I love you for that.

The epilogue was a great ending to the book. It summed up the love that Nik and Emmie had together, along with a little surprise. I would love to know more about their relationship, so when Jesse’s book is out, I do hope they get some part in it!

I CANNOT wait for Jesse’s book next! I’d love to find out more about this brilliant drummer and his past story too. I’d also like to know more about Drake and Shane, especially Drake, who seemed to like his alcohol a bit too much, which was his way to forget his childhood demons. I want to know about their childhood – as they are brothers – and if they both went through the same things and are using different coping mechanisms to forget the past or if something just happened to Drake? Hmmm. I hope they do get their books; I’d love to know their story!

So if you like Rockstars, romance, sex, friendships and twists and turns, then The Rockstar That Holds Me is definitely the book for you. It’s a short read but it holds so much in the plot. I’d definitely recommend it to all of you, because I absolutely loved it!

Music, New Adult, Romance

The Mighty Storm (Book #1) – Samantha Towle

Posted on January 14, 2013January 14, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

It’s been twelve years since Tru Bennett last saw Jake Wethers, her former best friend and boy she once loved.

Jake Wethers, sexy, tattooed and deliciously bad lead singer, and brains behind The Mighty Storm, one of biggest bands in the world, left Tru with a broken heart when he moved from England to America with his family when they were both fourteen.

Sent to interview Jake for her music column by the magazine she works for, they are both unprepared for the sparks that fly the instant they reconnect. Only, there’s a complication to their instant feelings for one another – Will, Tru’s boyfriend of two years.

Then Jake makes Tru a job offer she can’t refuse – travelling the world with him and his band. But taking the job means leaving Will behind, and being on the road with the band means spending an inordinate amount of time with Jake.

Is Tru strong enough to resist the delectable bad boy who once held her heart so completely, or will she willingly risk it all for one night with the worlds most notorious womanizer?

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My Review

Trudy Bennett hasn’t seen her former best friend and the boy she once loved in over twelve years. Not since he moved to America from England when they were fourteen leaving her with a broken heart.

Now a music journalist at a small magazine, she is sent to interview the boy she once loved, Jake Wethers – now the brains behind and lead singer of the band The Mighty Storm, one of the biggest bands in the world. Albeit completely nervous to see Jake after 12 years, walking through that hotel suite and seeing his face brought back the sparks and feelings she felt for him at 14, but there’s a small complication in those feelings – Tru’s boyfriend of two years, Will.

Not wanting to let her go a second time, Jake offers Tru a job – write his autobiography which means she will be travelling the world with him and the band. It’s a great offer and it would be great for her career and the magazine, but it means leaving Will and spending a lot of time with Jake.

Saying ‘yes’ to his offer and spending 7 weeks with Jake, while trying to resist him will be so much more harder than it seems day by day. Will she resist him or end up risking everything for a night with her best friend and the world’s most renowned womanizer?

I have no idea why I waited so long to read this book. Everyone on Twitter raves about it and today, after a mad birthday weekend, I curled up in bed and read it all day. SHIIIIT I frigging fell in love with this book. It’s easy to see how everyone loves this book and now I am part of that group and part of the group of ladies that absolutely adore Jake Wethers.

Jake moved away when he was 14 to America with his mum and stepdad. During his years in England, he and Tru were best friends. They did everything together, spent all their time together and of course, fell in love with one another, even if they were too young to understand their feelings. When he left, they both felt the pain of being apart but when communication stopped between them, they never forgot one another.

Now a world famous bad boy musician in The Mighty Storm, his life is full of parties, booze, drugs and women – never with the same girl longer than a week and known in the media as a womanizer. He only fucks, he doesn’t do relationships.

But when Tru walks back into his life, all that stops. He stops it for her because he wants to be with her so bad. The spark between them reignited and he did everything in his power to make her stay in his life and prove that she’s the only one for him. Only problem? Her boyfriend.

Tru was completely heartbroken when Jake left. Finishing school and university she got a job at a small magazine and thus began her career as a music journalist. She never told anyone about her past and knowing Jake, but one drunken party and she spills to her really cool boss Vicky, who seems to always try and get Tru to get back in touch with him. Although Tru follows Jakes career, she doesn’t want to get back in touch but when Vicky manages to get an interview with Jake – who NEVER does interviews – she’s nervous for this meeting. Will he remember her? Hmm of course he does and they are both unprepared for the attraction to ignite and reconnect again, but Tru can’t do anything because of her boyfriend, Will, even though her feelings for Jake have resurfaced once again and she doesn’t know what to do. She loves Will but then she’s always loved Jake. You obviously know who she’s going to pick…but you need to read how they got there and what happens after.

I do have to say, this book deals with cheating, so if you don’t like books that include this topic, then maybe it won’t be for you. I don’t condone cheating at all but in this book, it’s handled well. It’s not drawn out and it’s only for a small part of the book, but in a way, you could see that Tru and Jake were meant to be together – they were soul mates – and the cheating kind of just pushed them along. It’s a difficult situation to write a review on, because cheating is so wrong, but in this instance, I could see why it happened because they had loved each other for so many years – even when they were apart and Will was told a few days later, so they weren’t having an affair for months. It did suck because Jake hated being ‘the other man’ and he just wanted Tru to himself and Tru hated it because she did care for Will but she just didn’t know how to tell him and she couldn’t stay away from Jake. Albeit, it was completely messy but Jake and Tru did get to be together in the end.

I will keep repeating this too, but Tru and Jake were truly meant to be together. The attraction they had is unbelievable and they had so much history, growing up together then spending years apart, it was really nice to see that they still felt the same way once they had become adults. They are intense together and you could feel the love pouring off the page. As a bad boy, you’d never imagine Jake to be romantic, but by gosh, he was such a sweetie and would literally do anything for Tru. Their love was so strong, it was breathtaking.

There were a few major incidents that happen, and it broke my heart. I hated what Jake was doing to himself after he promised he wouldn’t do it again and although Tru is a strong women and it took a lot to walk away, I would have done the same. But then Tru did annoy me at times especially when everyone was telling her it was a lie yet even though she knew it she didn’t want to believe it and found it easier to blank Jake. It made me want to put my hand through my kindle and give her a good slap and tell her to talk to him – he’s was hurting too, not being with her and having lies spread about him. But things do get resolved and the ending was so sweet! I was glad it all worked out.

Other than that, the supporting characters are brilliant. I loved the whole band, Stuart, Simone and Vicky. They also brought life to the book and were amazing to read. Stuart stole my heart and reading about him just made me want him as my best friend, as well as Simone. They were both great friends to Tru and Jake and were always there with them through thick and thin. You definitely need a friend like those two when you’re in the public eye – someone to keep you sane and to talk some sense into you *uhum*Tru*uhum*.

At the end, we are treated to the scene where they first meet in Jakes POV. Oh hell, I loved seeing his reaction to hoping it was HIS Tru walking through the door to interview him and once it was, you got to see his reaction and into his own thoughts in Tru and I loved reading it! Swooooon.

I love books that are about childhood sweethearts – as you’d know if you’re an avid reader of my reviews – and I loved how their love for each other hadn’t gone away in all the years they were apart. Although neither of them ever told the other they liked one another when they were younger, it was clear to see from the start, even in Tru’s POV throughout the book, that Jake didn’t ever want to be apart from Tru again, even when she thought he was in ‘big brother’ mode, which obviously he wasn’t – it was just jealousy raging through him.

I loved every single scene but the one that had me fluttering was in the car when Tru was being a bit of a tease and then Jake ended up being very naughty in the back of the car with her. Wowwy! I loved reading that part (and not because I’ve done it either ;)) But it’s such a thrill to do something when someone else is close by and them not having any idea what is happening. THAT is what made it sexy.

If you love reading about bad boys, musicians and childhood sweethearts who have great sex then definitely download this book and give it a read. It does deal with cheating and drugs but it’s not heavily focused on that at all. You will fall in love with Jake – he’s the sweetest guy ever and totally bares his soul to Tru – why can’t all guys do that? You can see they are made for one another. Now on go, read this book and become swooning for the amazing Jake Wethers too!

Jade C. Jamison, Music, New Adult

Everything But (Tangled Web #2) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on December 3, 2012December 3, 2012 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

High school English teacher Erin Lancaster is stuck with the unwelcome job of filling in for the injured cheerleading coach, but she wants to back out when she discovers she has to be auctioned as a date during the annual spring fundraiser. She’s horrified to find her rock star crush Riley Schultz, former frontman of Spawn, will be playing emcee for the event, but she’s even more shocked that he also happens to be the highest bidder for her affections, and sparks fly when she discovers that maybe their attraction is mutual.

Riley’s been in the music business long enough to know that true love is not in the cards for him, but the cute blonde he’s dropped a wad of cash on would be a welcome distraction during his vacation. He has no idea there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Will one week together be enough for them to quell the flames, to enjoy everything but?

Warning: Not for the faint of heart! This book contains explicit sex and naughty language. Proceed with caution…if you dare.

Everything But is the second novel in Jade C. Jamison’s Tangled Web series. It features a little fun with handcuffs, an everything but sex scene that’ll make you giggle and blush, and a lot of heat!

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My Review

“You know Mr Schultz, I was prepared to give you everything…everything but…”
“Love?”
“Yeah…but I think you even got that out of me.”
“Only fair, Ms. Lancaster, since you managed to get that out of me too.”

Erin is an English teacher – in no way is she a cheerleading coach – but that is exactly what she is for a couple of months since the Coach has busted up her leg and is now in a cast from thigh to toe. Reluctantly agreeing to sub the team, their annual spring fundraiser is coming up and Erin, as the sub coach, is dragged into be auctioned off for a date too, much to her dismay.

It’s one thing to be auctioned off but it’s another when Rockstar God Riley Schultz is presenting the auction, especially when Erin has a crush on him and as he’s the highest bid for Erin, earning himself a date with her.

Rockstar Riley has come back into town for a week or so, while his new album is being mixed. His mother – who is on the school committee – has volunteered Riley to be a part of the auction, and although he’d rather sit on his mothers couch watching DVD’s, when he spots Erin, he can’t take his eyes of her and so that’s why he’s the one to win a date with her…at $500!

I absolutely loved the sexual tension in the car on the way home from the date. Especially when Nine Inch Nails’ Closer came on the radio. Bloody love that song and oh my god, it was the perfect song for how Erin was feeling – all hot and bother, and I would have totally felt the same way too!

This story, in my opinion, is about two tormented souls who have been scorned by ex-lovers in the past. Spending the short time together, they both begin to feel something for the other, completely new and scary territory for the both of them as they don’t want it to end up like their previous relationships. They tackle some major issues during the days they spend together – Riley’s family included – and get to know one another, which makes them fall that little bit more for each other.

Since reading Tangled Web, I was so excited to read Riley’s story and this book was everything and more. Riley has been dragged through so much in his past, from drug taking, groupie sex, alcoholism and generally being a bad boy, but when he meets Erin, who is slightly conservative shall we say, and vows to be celibate after two crappy relationships, everything turns upside down for him and it was a nice change to see some feeling flair from Riley.

Although there is a part where he acts like a jackass, I could see the conflicting ways of his actions. He really liked Erin but didn’t know what she was after from him and so acting so out of character (to her) would make it easier for him to walk away. Hm big mistake there for him but whatever the outcome – from both their actions – they just can’t seem to stay away.

I now come onto the sex. Holy Jesus moley! Every sex scene had me wishing I was Erin, and I’d like to say – Riley can definitely handcuff me any day…I just need to find him first! I could feel the chemistry sizzling between them both and I loved the build-ups to each sex scene. There was so much passion I didn’t know what to do when I was reading it. I was getting flustered!

It has now totally turned out to be one of my favourite books. I was completely captivated by the storyline, especially how they were both afraid of love. Riley and Erin, albeit, seemed to go through so many rough patches during the week, finally came together at the end – pushing past everything that had happened throughout the week, to finally finding that they can’t be without each other, no matter what is put in their path to stop them.