Tag: jesse

Posted in Family, Music, Terri Anne Browning

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

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

17852261Synopsis

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.

Posted in Terri Anne Browning

GIVEAWAY!! One eCopy of The Rocker That Savors Me – Terri Anne Browning

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

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Terri Anne Browning has been kind enough to let me host a giveaway for Jesse’s book – The Rocker That Savors Me.

If you have yet to read the first two books in ‘The Rocker’ series, then you are missing out big time and it’s time that you download them….or yano, download The Rocker That Holds Me then enter this giveaway and cross everything that you win it when the randomizer picks 😉

You can check out my review of The Rocker That Holds Me HERE
And my review of The Rocker That Savors Me HERE.

Don’t wait any longer to get these boys and Emmy in your life, they will hook, link and sink you until you are begging for more!!

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Click on the Rafflecopter link to enter the giveaway.

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Posted in 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 by Z. Elizabeth

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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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Syn17735785opsis

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!

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

The Rocker That Holds Me – Terri Anne Browning

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

17285983Synopsis

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!

Posted in Jade C. Jamison, New Adult

Right Now (Nicki Sosebee #4) by Jade C. Jamison

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13111144Synopsis

Nicki is becoming a better reporter, so much so that her boss Neal leans on her more and more to get the good stuff. So when a rash of robberies hits the downtown Winchester area, Nicki is reporting the damage…and probably getting a little too close for the bad guys’ comfort. As if that weren’t enough, Nicki finds herself in a full-fledged love triangle between Jesse and Sean…and she can’t bear to choose between them.

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

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My Review

Nicki is climbing the ranks at the Winchester Tribune and Neal has given her the story of a number of robberies downtown. Nothing of importance has been stolen but it’s her job to report the damage and find out what is going on.

It doesn’t help that her love life has broken down and a fully fledged triangle between Sean, Jesse and herself has blown up. Jesse has dumped Nicki, Sean seems to be leading her on and Nicki is confused and hurt over both of them.

Nicki has matured so much over ditching the one night stands for a relationship and she actually pours her heart out crying when she and Jesse break up as she actually was falling for him. The only mistake is going to Sean’s to try and see what his feelings are, which then made everything so much more awkward again. With a broken heart, she seems to want to retreat back to her old self of picking up guys, if only to try and make Jesse jealous.

Jesse seems to have some trust and self-esteem issues with Sean and Nicki’s relationship. I could understand his reservation since he found out about their one night stand 8 years ago, but I couldn’t exactly sympathize with him, since Nicki was adamant nothing would ever happen again (even though she’s been wanting it to in book one and two) but Sean annoyed me when he wouldn’t back Nicki up. It only made Jesse that much stingier about them, making himself become detached from Nicki because he just couldn’t bare to see her and Sean hang out, no matter how long they have known each other.

Sean annoyed me. As much as I like his character, it seems he doesn’t know what the hell is going on with his feelings and that way, he’s hurting Nicki, which is completely unfair. He seems to know Nicki’s feelings for him, yet when he reels her in, he throws her back out asap. You do see his conflictions about them being together throughout the book, when he’s talking to Nicki and in some ways I could empathize with him not wanting to – not because he doesn’t want to, but because he would fuck it all up and their friendship. It’s obvious they have chemistry and this energy attracting them to each other that Jesse can see and even Will, Nicki’s brother, but we’ll just have to see what happens in the next few books regarding these two. I have no idea who I want Nicki to be with now. I love both Jesse and Sean – that is one hard decision to make.

I loved the storyline with Matt, the boy toy. It was a nice touch to kind of see Nicki teach him about sex and how to make him better at it. It did keep her mind off her heartbreak and it made Matt that much more confident in pursuing and conducting sex.

We did get to find out who the rapist was from No Place To Hide, and it was definitely who Nicki and I thought it was!

I really liked this book. Nicki didn’t end up trying to save her life this time, the only thing she was trying to protect was her breaking heart and in the end, her love life returns, but which guy is it? You’ll have to read and find out!

Posted in Jade C. Jamison, New Adult

No Place to Hide (Nicki Sosebee #3) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13111143Synopsis

The hottest Nicki book yet!

The Winchester Tribune publishes an article warning the women of Winchester that there is a sexual predator on the loose in the streets of the town they once thought was safe. Danger doesn’t stop Nicki, though, and it’s not till it’s too late that she discovers the criminal in the place she least suspects. And there’s no one who can save her this time. Meanwhile, she decides that her new love interest Jesse might be worth more of her time…but he’s not making it easy.

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

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My Review

Oh my god! I have to start by saying this book was turned up a notch…it was heated, steamy and too addictive to stop reading!

In ‘No place To Hide’ the females of Winchester are being targeted by a sexual predator, and Nicki is the one who is following the story for The Winchester Tribune newspaper. Happy that she has been given a bigger piece, meaning she is slowly going up the ranks, where the predator seems to be attacking girls is around where she works. Although she doesn’t have to walk far from work to her car and she doesn’t get involved in truly delving too far into the story as she doesn’t want to be another victim, luck just doesn’t seem to be on her side, and it’s not until it’s too late that she discovers that the criminal is closer than she expects.

Nicki’s character definitely matures in this book. Instead of one-night stands with randomers, she is now dating Jesse – as you kind of see developing in ‘Dead’. It was great that she starts to feel something strong for Jesse and sees him in a new light than she used to. It shows that she is growing up – as she’s nearly thirty – and that she’s found someone who she feels she can probably fall in love with and also Jesse makes her forget about Sean and makes her keep all her focus on him.

The scenes where they just talk were really nice. It was great to see character development of Jesse too – as he’s sweet and worries about Nicki working downtown when the criminal is roaming the streets. He just wants to make sure she is safe. He’s not your stereotypical tattooed and pierced guy, he’s caring and is finally glad to have Nicki as his girlfriend as he’s been pining for her since High School. I really loved all the scenes with Jesse in as you got to know him more and see his character shine through.

Sean is back in this book, albeit, not a lot, but the scene in the garage between him and Nicki was particularly tense and I KNEW from reading ‘Got The Life’ that he must have some sort of feelings for Nicki. Although he doesn’t say it as such, you can certainly feel the chemistry sizzling between them and coming through the book. It definitely IS a triangle now and I cannot wait to see what happens!

As I started this review, this book is definitely the hottest book so far. Sex, Sex, Sex for Nicki and Jesse! Wowza. Jesse seemed to know his way around Nicki’s body and knew what she liked which made it so much more exciting to read. The sex scenes were really intense, especially as it makes Nicki think over her feelings for Jesse and how she said it was the best sex she’d ever had.

With the rapist, you don’t find out who it is, although Nicki suspects who it may be, which I actually thought it was him when she was speaking to him. I’m quite good at guessing when I watch programmes like Lie To Me and The Mentalist, so I’m hoping Nicki and myself are right and that maybe, in Right Now, Jade tells us who the criminal was.

I definitely recommend the Nicki Sosebee books, but you NEED to read this one. Sex is piping hot and Jesse is delicious you just want to eat him all up.

Posted in Jade C. Jamison, New Adult

Dead (Nicki Sosebee #2) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13111142Synopsis

Nicki Sosebee’s adventures continue…

Nicki’s love life might suck, but her sex life is great. The only way both could be spectacular would be if her best friend Sean would look at her as more than just a friend. Nicki knows she’s stuck in the friend zone, so she focuses her energies on her job. She’s becoming a better reporter every day, so when her editor asks her to interview a local politician, Nicki is thrilled. But when the politician’s secretary ends up dead, it’s anybody’s guess as to who did it. Nicki has a few ideas, though, and finds herself in deep trouble as she pokes her nose where she thinks it belongs.

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

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My Review

Dead continues a two weeks after where Got the Life finished.

As the Political reporter at the local newspaper is off on a deserved two week holiday, Neal has got Nicki to fill his place, and so off she goes to interview the local Politician, who takes the time to continually talk himself up, causing Nicki to become agitated by it, not that she would show it.

The next day though, his secretary, Sara, is found dead and that’s when Nicki begins to delve into her death. But you know with Nicki, nothing is ever straight forward and she begins to try and find out who killed Sara. But it causes more harm than good for everyone she speaks to and since she’s been poking her nose around, there’s one person who doesn’t want her reporting on the story and would rather her be 6 feet under too.

Nicki has a lot of character development in the second book and with her being called a ‘rookie’ by her boss, I feel she has actually come so far in her reporting; asking questions, trying to get the truth, and seeing different angles to the local news stories. Although she still harbours feelings for Sean, she begins to see Jesse in another light, after they spend a bit of time together at a function held by Commissioner Cannon. I felt her emotions when she was completely dumbfounded over seeing Jesse in a different light. It’s one thing to know someone likes you, but when someone seems to flick a switch and you suddenly see them differently too, it can come all at once and I felt that’s what happened to Nicki, even if she doesn’t particularly want to admit it.

Sean is still his charming self and although there isn’t much of him in this book, as I think it focuses more on Nicki’s life and introducing Jesse to the readers, he’s still in the background as the best friend.

Jesse! I’ve been hearing a lot about him from fellow Nicki Sosebee lovers and although he’s mentioned in Got The Life, you finally get to see a bit more of him in Dead. Although I’m not a fan of kissing smokers, he would definitely be one I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on. He and Nicki have known each other since school and he has been advancing her every since, but Nicki doesn’t really see him as anything but Sean’s friend, but now things have started to change. Jesse is the one who ends up saving Nicki this time, and I can’t wait to see their friendship/relationship develop in the other books. It seems that he could be the one to try and keep Sean off her mind, and it always helps that he sounds utterly delicious.

Jade had gotten me hooked on her books from Madversary, and with all the guys in her books, I’m most definitely in love with them all right now. Ooooh someone pass me a cold drink!

Onwards and upwards to continue book three ‘No Place To Hide.’ Give me more Sean and Jesse!

Posted in Jade C. Jamison, New Adult

Got the Life (A Nicki Sosebee Novel #1) – Jade C. Jamison

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

13111146Synopsis

Nicki Sosebee wants her first headline, but she doesn’t want it to read “Reporter found dead.”

Nicki Sosebee has been working low-paying jobs ever since she finished school, but now that she’s older, she wants more. She’s a novice reporter trying to learn the ropes. Just as she’s getting her career goals on track, though, her love life gets worse and worse. Sure, she has no problems picking up good-looking guys for brief flings, but relationships? Out of the question. Maybe it’s because Sean, her gorgeous best friend, just can’t see her as more than a buddy. So when Sean encourages her as she pursues her first headline-producing story, Nicki realizes that her life’s pretty sweet…if only she can live long enough to see tomorrow’s front page.

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

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My Review

Why do all bad boys have to be so fucking cute?

Nicki Sosebee is a freelance court reporter for her local newspaper and there’s one court case coming up that has caught her attention. But could playing investigative reporter be more trouble than its worth?

Nicki works three jobs to help pay her bills; reporter, waitress at the local pizzeria and a door to door saleswomen selling make-up. One night working a shift at the pizzeria, she picks up a hunky tattooed male in the name of Carlos, who is in town ‘for business.’ Hooking up with him is no trouble at all; it keeps her mind off to best friend Sean – whom she has feelings for but when Carlos leaves, her mind is stuck on Sean once again.

Retrieving some details about the upcoming court case, digging into the story is proving a dangerous move and now it’s up to Sean to save her before something dreadful happens to her.

I instantly liked Nicki. I could kind of relate to her in a way – not with the sleeping around – but with her having no idea what she wants to do, even if she is in her late twenties where most people are normally happily settled down and in a stable job. But with her delving into this story, it would put her higher up on the radar, especially if the story became front page news 😉 I do wonder if it does?! With the sleeping around, I think it kind of helps her keep her mind of Sean, for a while at least, but she also seems so like a commitment-phobe, maybe as she’s hoping that one day Sean will decide he wants more from her. I will just have to see what happens in this department.

The character of Sean drew me in the moment he was mentioned. He was described to a Tee and he sounds absolutely gorgeous – especially as he owns a motorbike repair shop. A guy who gets his hands dirty? Oh yes please. He was an alpha male type, jealous and protective of Nicki, even if Nicki could hold her ground – which you do see a lot. He’s also a proud friend, which I loved and even though things do happened in the book, they always get their friendship back on track. It seems that although Sean is best friends with Nicki, he may, slightly have some sort of feelings for her; just he doesn’t know how to act upon them in fear of losing her for good? They only really got over the incident between them 8 years ago.

Lastly, LOOK AT THAT COVER! Oh gosh, I just want to run my hands over his fiiiiine abs! haha. If the cover doesn’t entice you to read this book as well, I don’t know what you are after!

This is book one in the Nicki Sosebee series, and I am now going to read book two, Dead, to continue her story and what happens with Sean. Will they, won’t they? And Jesse! What is going to happen there? Dead awaits me…

Posted in Romance, Suspense

Enemies and Playmates – Darcia Helle

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

“When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser’s world might just shatter. Lauren Covington’s family maintains a grand facade that hides the private abuse they suffer at the hands of her father. Jesse Ryder, a private detective, steps into that world and, in the process, falls in love with Lauren. Together, Lauren and Jesse dodge death and expose the truth behind the facade.”

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My review

I have to say, at first the book cover didn’t entice me into reading it, but because it was free and the synopsis intrigued me, I downloaded it. it had taken me a while to get round to reading this book as I thought it might be all about sex but I have to say I was drawn into it within the first few pages and it’s taken me a few hours to read as I couldn’t put it down. It deals with abuse, dominating power and control and love – not my usual reading material. I hated Alex (the father) from the start- how can a man even think about doing something so horrid to his family and have the nerve to do everything he does in the book! I was so glad of the ending, but I did wish it happened so much earlier on so he could piss off and let Kara (the mother) and Lauren live their life. I loved Lauren and how she would stand up to her dad and try to protect her mum and brother. Her relationship with Jesse was adorable, considering everything that was going on in both their life’s and the way Jesse was going out of his way to protect Lauren and try to end her father’s rein.

I don’t think I could ever forgive a friend that deceived me like Gina did to Lauren and I really wanted Lauren to stand her ground and be like ‘no way in hell am I forgiving you’ but then I suppose Gina was a victim of Alex’s and was lured into becoming his plaything when she was only 16 (shes now 22) but still you would never think to do what she did to a best friend! This book had me conveying all sorts of emotions throughout it and I just needed to finish it to know who would survive and I’m so glad that it ended how it did. Not sure how I’d feel if it didn’t end that way but i was in so much suspense over what would happen. But men like Alex do not deserve to be alive- to hire people to kill people, especially your family makes me so disgusted at certain members of the human race and I know it’s just a book but who’s to say this doesn’t happen in real life?! Other than my little rant, I shall definitely be recommending this book.