BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: Never Kiss a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Series: The NEVER TRUST Series, Book 2

Themes: Rockstar, No-Rules, Steamy Contemporary Romance

ONE NIGHT WITH THE DRUMMER OF SUNSET REVIVAL?

Yes, I'm game.

Dani Mills, drummer of the world-famous band, Sunset Revival, doesn’t have time for romance. Touring with her bandmates across the country, she’s content with meaningless sex: one-night-stands, no kissing, no personal details. These are her rules…and there are never exceptions.

John Michaels lives a life of seclusion in Corolla, North Carolina. He works, eats, and sleeps—and is perfectly content with his lifestyle. He doesn’t have the time, or energy, to deal with people. Or relationships. Especially women relationships.

When Sunset Revival gets stranded on the beach, it’s John who is asked for shelter. With his sexy-as-sin good looks—covered in ink with blue eyes so deep they shine—Dani finds herself desperate for one night in his bed. That’s all either of them wants, really…one night, no-strings, no promise of tomorrow.

Yet, when one night turns into two, both find themselves breaking their own rules. Thrust into a whirlwind of passion and desire, the pair struggle to maintain the upper hand, with John learning the hardest lesson of all…never kiss a Rockstar.

**NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the second book in Sarah Darlington's NEVER TRUST Series.

GOODREADS

~BOOK REVIEW~

4.5 Stars

Dani Mills, 27, is the drummer in a famous band. When her cousin and bandmate fell for a girl in Kill Devil Hills, the group took a hiatus from touring and, while on the coast, ended up crashing at John Michaels’s beach mansion one night. Readers of the original Kill Devil Hills series will remember John, 33, as Sydney’s older brother, who it turns out is a bit of a recluse.

I really liked the premise from the time I read the original blurb so I was anxious to read this one. There are just too many player/manwhore heroes and sheltered virgin heroines in romancelandia, and this is SO not that set-up.

As a girl rockstar and non virgin, Dani was super refreshing! I do gotta say though, Dani’s lack of safe sex practice did skeeve me out a bit. For John it was a first time thing, but Dani gave me the impression it was a habit with her. I tried to get past it though because for some archaic reason readers overlook it all the time when it comes to the “hero” and that double standard just isn’t okay.  And I was pleased that despite issues from her past that led Dani to her ONS lifestyle, she was still a strong female character who spoke her mind while holding everyone together. 

John was also a welcome addition to the current romance market. In fact, he’s a romance safety lover’s wet dream. He wasn’t just a non-manwhore, he’d been celibate four freaking years! There was no OW drama this time around. Zero. Zip.

It was pleasingly low-angst and sexy. I just adore romances like this one where the story stays focused on the hero and heroine working through their feelings and making their relationship work.

 "I hoped like hell she'd still be in my life in six weeks. I couldn't imagine a future where she wasn't. Fuck—the alternative would cripple me."

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, John and Dani were both great characters and were just what each other needed.

“‘I’ll make a trade…I see you watching my lips. I know what you want. I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want.’”

Kudos when a romance captures what is so important in any relationship—bringing out the best in each other.

Like the previous title, I was up to 1am again…okay more like 2am. (There were bonus chapters.) But the pacing and elements are much different this time. Plus there’s a bit of suspense. A reveal I did not begin to even guess. But I love a good twist that pulls things together better than you expected. In fact, I really need another bonus scene. Hell I might even need a spin-off book.

Also fans of PulledUnder from the original Kill Devil Hills series will want to be sure to read this one as Sydney and Rhett make several cute appearances and continue their HEA. They were a great addition to the story, especially their interactions with John.

Luke and Rebecca’s story is up next and I might just have to take chance on them as I’m starting to get sucked in.

*I volunteered to review this ARC. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

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Find the other books in the NEVER TRUST Series here...

Each can be read as a standalone.

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5)

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5)

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. These days, she calls Virginia home, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and large dog. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves creating stories through her writing. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: Never Trust a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Yes, please. Sign me up.

Emma has always been obsessed with Ollie Mills of the southern rock band, Sunset Revival. She follows his every move on Twitter, likes all his posts on Instagram, and stalks his page on Facebook. So when there’s a contest to win a date with the sexy-as-sin, bad-boy rockstar, of course she enters.

It’s a one in a million chance.

Caleb Mills has always been unlucky in love. From the girl who broke his heart, to every one-night stand in between, the lead singer of Sunset Revival barely feels anything anymore. He’s focused on his music and nothing more. Until he sees Emma, in a blue dress, on a hot night in Nashville. She’s meant to be his brother’s date, but the moment his eyes connect with hers he wants this beautiful girl all for himself.

Caleb knows, it will only take Ollie a minute to screw things up. And he’ll be there waiting to win this girl’s heart the moment he does. But can any girl, ever, really trust a rockstar?

*NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the first book in Sarah Darlington's Never Trust Series. Look for other books in the series, each available for preorder now. 

GOODREADS

~Book Review~

3.5/4 Stars

Winning a date with her favorite rockstar is a dream come true for Emma Winchester, 22.  That is until she actually meets him and discovers that the real catch is his brother.  Caleb Mills isn’t about to let his brother’s dick moves drive away the girl who’s caught his eye. If friendship is all it becomes he’ll be satisfied with that…until he isn’t.

This sucked me in right from the start. What began as I’ll just start this book before bed, became thirty chapters later at 1am. I’m pretty sure Caleb was to blame for keeping me up. He just had the whole cool, reserved good guy thing down, and it emanated from the page right from the start.

“‘But the second you don’t have a boyfriend I promise I will be all over you.’”

On the outside he’s hot lead singer; on the inside he’s a quietly struggling lyricist with a bit of middle child syndrome.

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, once he sees Emma, he’s all in for her. Caleb was really swoon-worthy.  He was so attentive to Emma and totally supportive of all she was going through.  He never had a big ego; instead he was down-to-Earth and came off as a sweet and sensitive guy.

““I’m trying my damnest to go slow with you. You seem to be trying your damnest to make that impossible for me.’”

Now the downside: I flew through the first two-thirds of this, totally engaged and with a smile on my face. The last third though was like hitting a wall at impact though. I really struggled with the OW drama and a trope I’m not fond of. In fact, I had to skip over it and go back and read it later.  I wish this section would have ditched the angsty twist for…well sex! I was okay with the slow burn until the drama got in the way of steamy times and her virginity became too much of an issue for my liking.

Despite my ending frustrations with the plot and pacing in the later half, I’m really looking forward to the next book with Dani and John.  Dani was a hoot in this one!

“‘Oh thank God!...We’re saved.’”

Set in Kill Devil Hills, we get appearances from some of our old friends from that series including the “blonde Jesus” (whose book was my fav.) But you don’t have to have read the other books to follow this story, though it did make me want to re-read.

*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

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Series Order:

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR (Nov. 5)

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR (Dec. 5)

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5)

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5)

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. She and her family call Virginia home these days. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves to write. Her creative bone and OCD personality mix well. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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BOOK REVIEW: Rockstar Daddy by Taryn Quinn

3.25 Stars

Kellan McQuire, 27, plans to spend his New Year’s Eve alone at his cabin with some beer. Do-gooder Maggie Kelly, 22, plans to spend it with a lonely old lady eating baked bread. But when a snowy road derails her car, they end up spending it together.

This was an okay read. Nothing spectacular, but nothing overly problematic either. Mostly, I struggled a bit to get a gauge on the characters.  It felt like the writers didn’t have a consistent handle on them either. Kellan mentions just a few too many times how he’s at the cabin to escape fame, yet he hasn’t quite achieved it yet.  He has aspirations to be a successful musician, but he’s already grown tired of the business.  He was a bit of a paradox.

Maggie too. One minute she was raised not to say swear words, the next she’s letting them flow freely. She has a reputation as a virgin, but she had a boyfriend for four years who she was sleeping with.  She seemed a bit flighty too.

“She was all cheerful like a Strawberry Shortcake doll on acid.”

Told via their alternating first person POV, they weren’t unlikable, but they weren’t easy to connect with either.  While Maggie was at least consistent, Kellan’s harsher voice in the early chapters didn’t feel like the same character as the softer later ones, though I preferred the later.  

I couldn’t help feel that the conflict was a little contrived. Maggie knows and agrees to their relationship being nothing more than a fling, a no strings attached arrangement, so the fact that Kellan withheld the details of his career didn’t seem like it was the betrayal it was made out to be.

“But she seemed ready to fillet my ass and serve it as a garnish for her steak dinner.”

And personally I thought Maggie’s friend overstepped her bounds. Her arrival was knee-jerk drama at the least and illogical at best. (Plane tickets aren’t cheap.)

The duo has a good amount of sexy encounters. There’s no skimping on the love scenes, and the story is safe.

“When he yanked open a bedside drawer and withdrew a strip of condoms, then tore open the first, that was the best sound ever.”

The only turn-off was Kellan’s admission (and more than one occasion reference) that he made out with Maggie’s older sister in high school. Thankfully, they never slept together and there is no OW drama, but it was a bit too close for comfort for me.

Don’t let the title mislead you, as noted in the front matter this is more about the baby making than Kellan’s daddy days, which I wish we could have seen more of. That cover is quite ovary weeping.

GOODREADS    AMAZON    B&N (paperback)

EXCERPT REVEAL: Tainted Kiss by Terri Anne Browning

Series: Tainted Knights #1

Release Date: March 7, 2017

~Blurb~

With one kiss she was his.

All it took was one look, one kiss.

The promises he made—I should have known better. He was a rock star and I had no time for a guy like him in my life.

I fell anyway.

I believed his promises. Held onto them and waited.

But the thing about rockers is that their private lives are never truly private. Seeing his face on the cover of every national tabloid from California to New York—with a new girl every single time—was the reality check I needed.

Now the memory of that first magical kiss was TAINTED.

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~Excerpt~

(Unedited and subjected to changes)

“Uh-oh,” Kassa’s sweet voice murmured as she joined us. “Is Kale coming down with something?” 

I pushed Kin’s hand away. “I’m fine.” 

“The last time you were this quiet, you had strep throat and couldn’t talk for three days,” Kassa reminded me. 

“Those three days where the most peaceful days of my life,” Kin teased, then turned serious. “But I don’t like seeing you all moody. That’s what Sin is for, not you.” 

“What are you three doing now?” Cash asked, handing me a bottle of water as he joined us. 

“Kale is sick,” Kassa told him, taking her turn to feel my forehead. “No fever, but you do have a glazed look in your eyes. Hmm,” she glanced over her shoulder and I knew she was looking at Santana, “maybe you aren’t sick after all.” Turning those bright blue eyes on me once again she stepped closer just as Kin had. “You got it bad for the photog? She’s hot.”

“Agreed,” Cash said half under his breath as he took a swallow from his water bottle. 

I tensed when I saw his eyes go toward her. “Don’t you even fucking think about it, dickhead.” 

Cash’s head snapped around. “What’d I do?” 

“Nothing yet, and you better keep it that way.” I straightened to my full height, which was only an inch taller than Cash, but the look in my eyes had his brows lifting toward the ceiling. “She’s mine.” 

“Dude, you haven’t even talked to her. How the hell can she be yours?” Cash shook his head. “You’re seriously losing your mind.” 

I took another step toward him, my fists balling at my sides as I fought the urge to knock his ass out. “She’s mine,” I said with a coldness that had rarely left my throat.

Pre-Order: AMAZON

Terri Anne Browning is the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Rocker...Series. She started writing her own novellas at the age of sixteen, forcing her sister to be her one woman fan club. Now she has a few more readers and a lot more passion for writing. Being dyslexic, she never thought a career in writing would be possible, yet she has been on best selling lists multiple times since 2013. Reese: A Safe Haven Novella was her first Indie published book. The Rocker Who Holds Me changed the tables and kicked off The Rocker... series featuring the sinfully delicious members of Demon's Wings. The Rocker... Series has since expanded to OtherWorld with Axton Cage and his band members. Other books by Terri Anne include the Angel's Halo MC Series as well as The Lucy & Harris Novella Series. Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons---err, children--and a loveable Olde English Bulldog named Link.

RELEASE/REVIEW: Fall With Me by Jayne Frost

Series: Sixth Street Bands #2

~Blurb~

As the bassist for the band Caged, the last three years have been one, long non-stop party. Sure, I’ve had some regrets. Everyone does. But getting trapped in a relationship isn’t one of them. I know good and well what happens when the attraction fades. I’ve seen it first hand. Love is a zero sum game, so why play? As long as I'm upfront about my feelings, no one gets hurt. Besides, I'm never in one place long enough to worry about tomorrow.

That is, until the band decided to take an extended hiatus in our hometown. That’s when I met Melody Sullivan. She’s the full-package. Whip smart and beautiful, with enough determination to take on anything life has in store. And the best part? Melody shares my philosophy on the fleeting nature of attraction. She doesn’t buy into the whole “happily ever after” crap anymore than I do. We’re perfect for each other. For now. And now is all I want.

With the expectations off the table, I can let my guard down and enjoy her company until the spark dies. And we both know it will. In a week, or a month. But until then, we’ll just keep having fun. The good kind, with lots of sex and no strings attached. And when it’s time to move on, we will. No drawn out goodbyes and no remorse.

That’s the plan, at least.

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Cover Design by Concierge Literary Designs.

~Book Review~

5 Stars

“Autumn’s gone baby, but you still remain. Under my skin, tumbling ‘round my brain.

Leaves have fallen, and the writing’s on the wall. You’re not coming back, but I’m lost in fall.”

A fast food joint probably isn’t where you’d expect to meet a rock star, nor is the crabby cashier likely the person to become the love of your life. While defying statistics and probability might go against Christian Sears and Melody Sullivan’s nature, it’s certainly in their fate.

I really enjoyed the unconventional way these two met and then got to know each other.  So often romance novellas lack the building of the romance, but that’s certainly not the case here. Not only could I feel Christian and Mel’s drawl to each other, I could discern the various moments when they were becoming something much more to each than they were looking for.

“I wondered if she smelled the same in summer, or if sunshine emanated from her pores. It was then I realized I really wanted to find out.”

There was definitely more than meets the eye to Christian than just being a rock star. He was a deeper guy. I adored the “nerdy” side to him and the way Mel was it for him even when he didn’t entirely realize it yet.

“I’d grown to believe she was my air. The fact I couldn’t breathe without her proved the hypothesis.”

And Mel, a student researcher, was a smart and strong female character, even when she perceived herself as flawed. Both characters were well developed, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books as well as how things progress with the band. 

This is the second story in the Sixth Street Bands series although it can easily be read as a standalone. Like the previous one, Gone for You, it’s also told entirely from the hero’s point a view and, like Cameron, Christian is an adorable book boyfriend. A lot of that might have to do with the fact that the stories favor a sweet and sexy romantic tale rather than sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The main focus is on the couples rather than the rock lifestyle, and there are plenty of steamy encounters. 💏

“‘I’m not worried about you touching you. That’s my job, angel. I’ll always take care of you.’”

Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)    LibraryThing

~Excerpt~

Pinning Mel to the cinder block wall in her tiny living room, I kissed her deeply, my fingers creeping under the hem of her blouse. She sighed, the back of her head bumping against the concrete as I palmed her breast.

“Fuck…sorry.” My hand disappeared into her blond locks, searching for a lump. “Are you all right?”

The girl had me so revved up I was ready to take her right here, inches from her front door.

Resting her palm against my chest, she laughed softly. “No permanent damage. I’ve got a hard head.”

Mel was hardheaded, all right. And smart. Not to mention sexy as hell.

Slipping out of my arms, she headed for the kitchen before I could devour her mouth again. I bit my lip when she ducked her head into the fridge, wiggling her ass as she poked around.

“Would you like something to drink? I’ve got water and…” She walked back with two bottles of Dasani. “Water.”

“Water’s fine.”

Twisting the cap off the bottle, I looked around the tiny apartment. Mel’s place was as bare bones as it got. Campus housing with concrete walls and worn carpet. Her entire kitchen would fit in the guest bathroom at my house.

Sinking onto the arm of the recliner, Mel snagged her lip between her teeth. “I’ve never had a one-nighter,” she admitted, like it was a bad thing. “So you’re going to have to tell me how this goes.”

Shifting my gaze to the large calendar on the wall in her dining room, I glanced over the neat stack of books on the table below. The girl was organized—OCD style—which was refreshing. But the fact that she was already planning for my imminent departure unnerved me.

Closing the gap between us, I twirled a lock of her hair around my finger.

“It goes the way it goes, angel. The only thing set in stone is your breakfast. Eggs, right?”

She looked up, the sparkle in her eyes faint at best. “I’m not expecting you to be here in the morning, Christian. We both know what this is. I’ve heard all the rumors. I’m not naïve, you know?”

I pulled away out of sheer reflex. All night long we were just Christian and Mel. My celebrity was barely mentioned. Hell, she didn’t even pump me for information about the band.

After a moment, I eased onto the chair.

“Really?” I slid her onto my lap. “What have you heard about me? I’m dying to know.”

Staring at the bottle in her hand, her fingernail skated over the label. “The usual. Oversexed rocker. Never in one place more than a night.”

Tucking a finger under her chin, I tilted her face until our gazes met.

“I’ve been in Austin for months, so you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

Her expression indicated she saw through my halfhearted attempt to address the rumors. I may have been in the same city, but that didn’t mean I was in the same bed. A Google search would turn up dozens of pictures to prove the point.

Mel slipped her arms around my neck. “I’m just letting you know that I get it. Guys like you don’t date—they fuck.” She fought to keep her smile. “And breakfast isn’t usually part of the deal.”

I tightened my grip on her waist, my thumb skimming the smooth skin above the waistband of her jeans. Conversations like this weren’t usually unnecessary. The chicks I hung out with knew the score. Hell, they were fine with it. No truths exchanged beyond the basics: hotel or tour bus, and where should the cab drop you off when we’re finished.

But Mel wasn’t like that. She spent her time in libraries, not waiting behind rope lines hoping to get my attention.

Taking her hand, I blew out a breath. “I’ve been on the road for four years. It’s a little hard to plan breakfast when you don’t know what city you’ll be come morning. But I can’t blame it all on my lifestyle. From a strictly biological standpoint, you know, attraction fades as soon as the hormone rush is over. Pheromones and all that.”  Chancing a peek at her face, I found her nodding in agreement, her green eyes glued to mine. I smiled, tracing a finger over the curve of her jaw. “I’m not saying I’m opposed to a repeat performance. I just don’t believe in making promises I can’t keep.”

Realization slammed me in the chest as she mulled over my declaration. Despite the passionate kiss at the door, Mel wasn’t a sure thing. She could ask me to leave. Hell, she might.

I held my breath as she shoved to her feet.

Propping a hand on her hip, she studied me for a long moment. “But you will be making me breakfast…is that what I’m hearing?”

Not quite a question, but a statement of fact. And one I’d gladly agree to if it meant a night in her bed.

“You can bet on it, angel.”

I stood with the intention of capturing her mouth.

Instead, Mel entwined our fingers and said, “Cool. I think I’ll take you to bed now.”

Book 1

As the guitarist for the rock band Caged, I know the rules: no relationships. No complications. Leave ‘em willing when you go, but always go. Besides, it’s not like I’m ever in one place for more than a few days at a time. As the next hottest thing out of Austin, the band and me are riding the wave, and the music is all that matters.

Until her…

Lily Tennison has “complication” written across her beautiful face. But I can’t get involved. The timing’s all wrong. But she’s under my skin, and I can’t resist her troubled eyes and sweet smile. And I do have a little time to kill. Not much, just a few days in Dallas.

So I’ll scratch the itch and move on, like I always do.

Simple, right?
BOOK REVIEW

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So…Who is Jayne?

As a writer you would think that would be a simple question…but it’s not. I spend so much time living in my characters heads, listening to their voices, that sometimes I forget about my own.

I guess I should start with the basics: the backstory. I was born and raised in California. At this point, I’m usually asked what it was like to grow up near the beach, but sadly, I don’t know. I grew up in the “other” part of California. Perfect for an aspiring writer, if you ask me. You learn a lot about keeping yourself busy when the nearest house is a mile away…and it belongs to your grandparents.

I spent all my time with my nose in a book, living vicariously through the characters, until I wrote a book of my own. I was ten at the time. It was a scintillating piece that cast the family pet as the protagonist.

By the time I went to high school, I moved on to romance. Why? Because I met my very own prince charming. I wrote love poems in my journal about the green-eyed boy who stole my heart. He promised, the way all storybook heroes do, to sweep me away and take me on a grand adventure. And he did.

We picked up and moved to the Lone Star State and began the story of us. The best stories begin without a road map or a compass. Veering off course makes the journey so much more interesting.

True to form, just when I thought my life was set, we started the next adventure. I traded in my cowboy boots and followed my green-eyed boy to Las Vegas. My home will always be in Texas, but my heart is anywhere that he is. Our beautiful daughter made the journey with us. Our son stayed in Texas, to write his own story.

Somehow, in the midst of the chaos that is our life, I find time to write. Writing is what I love. I might stray from romance every now and then if that is what moves me…but I always come back. Some of the stories don’t seem romantic at all. They are gritty stories about flawed characters that find each other and hold on tight. Those are the stories that speak to me. Because that’s life. I believe that every story should have a happy ending—even the difficult ones.

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RELEASE/REVIEW: Stand by T. Gephart

Series: Black Addiction #3

Genre: Rock Star Romance

~Blurb~

Good times didn’t last forever. While Beth Hart had enjoyed being the sometimes girlfriend of Max Reynolds—the hot bass player for Black Addiction—she knew it would never be more than a casual fling. He was destined for greatness, and she cared too much to hold him back. So, before she lost her heart and her sanity, she said goodbye to the Bronx, moved to Manhattan and left her party-girl days in the past—along with Max.

Nothing made Max happier than being a success in his own right. And in the last few years, he and his band had well and truly earned it. Moving to the city and enjoying the spoils of his new lifestyle made perfect sense, and he loved his new address. It wasn’t his new huge penthouse apartment that got him excited; it was his new neighbor. The one girl he regretted letting go—Beth.

He wanted her back and would do anything to make it happen. Hopefully it wasn’t too late. 

GOODREADS

~Book Review~

4.5 Stars

The third book in the Black Addiction rocker series, a spinoff of the Power Station books, Stand  features the last member of the band, bassist Max Reynolds and his long time love, Beth Hart. Beth has traded in her previous rocking life for a more mature one as an elementary school teacher, and that trade-in included Max.

Till he shows up at her doorstep.

Then it’s hard to put old feelings, old attractions, and all the old reasons for staying away behind.  And who can blame her. Not too far into the story and it’s easy to see Max is total book boyfriend material. Ever last inch of him.

“‘Um hello?...You ladies realize I’m still here right? Both me and my cock.’”

All of the Black Addiction and Power Station guys have been amazing fictional heroes and Max keeps up the tradition. He is super easy going, an all round great guy, and was always such a good sport (oh the things this poor dude endures), even when it came to adventures in babysitting. Speaking of babies—side note— sleep deprived, jacked up on Red Bull Joey so needs a novella HEA. (Hint, not-so-sublet-hint, T. Gephart!)  Just reading tidbits of his new roles as husband and dad made me crave more humorous adventures with him and Kenzie and Layla.

But back to Max…I loved how he was determined to win Beth once and for all and he never wavered from his goal. There are plenty of sexy times between the couple and quite a few humorous mishaps to keep the story interesting without ever resorting to melodrama or misunderstanding.

Like the previous books, the story can be read as a stand-alone, but I also recommend the series as it’s always a lot of fun with witty narration by the couple.

All in all, an enjoyable read about the past and present colliding to pave way for the future in this low angst, upbeat romance.

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

iBOOKS / B&N / KOBO

~Excerpt~

Prologue - Beth

Then

It was the calm before the storm.

Neither of us had spoken about it last night, both too caught up in each other to care what it all meant. He was irresistible and I saw no reason to fight the urge. No matter how many times we drifted apart, we always seemed to end up back together. Maybe it was sheer magnetism, maybe it was his amazing smile? Or maybe it was his delicious well-toned body that did amazing things to mine? It could have been any of those reasons, but mostly it was because of the way he made me feel.

Happy.

Some of my best memories featured the man sleeping soundly beside me. And it wasn’t even about the sex, although . . . yeah, his talents weren’t only restricted to the stage. There was just something about him. Something bigger than what he already was, and I knew living in the Bronx and working at Staples wasn’t his destiny.

Sadly, neither was I.

International rock sensation Power Station had seen it too, signing up Black Addiction—Max’s band—to be their support act for a huge stadium tour. They’d already wowed the crowds at Madison Square Garden, the other crowds would follow too and then the world would see what I already knew.

Max Reynolds was a rock star.

We’d taken a break from each other around three months ago. No messy break up, no drama—just our lives taking us in different directions. It wasn’t a new thing for us, and in some ways, it just worked. But last night wasn’t us getting back together; last night was something else entirely.

His eyes were shut tight as he slept, completely unaware as I watched him. His perfect lips parted just slightly as the air whistled past. And I knew this would be the last time we could do this; at some point we’d stop the revolving door.

“Hey.” He slid open an eye, his trademark panty-melting grin not far behind. “You’re awake. Feeling okay?”

“Yep, I know better than to try and keep up with you and your band.” I couldn’t help but smile back. “How about you? You had a pretty serious commitment with that bottle of Jäger.” Don’t know why I asked; I’d never seen him rocking the next morning regret like most of us did.

“Never felt better.” He smirked, his fingers trailing up my side, tickling my skin until they reached my breast. His talented fingers palmed me, hinting that he had other things on his mind other than his lack of hangover. “And my only commitment last night was pleasing you. So, tell me . . . how did I do?”

God, he was smooth.

He had this uncanny ability to make you feel like you were the only woman in the room, like nothing else mattered, and even if I knew it was temporary, I loved it.

“I think you got all the confirmation you needed last night.” I grinned as I nestled into his side. “If you want your ego stroked, you’ll have to go elsewhere.”

“That’s not what I want you to stroke, Beth,” he whispered into my ear, his voice loaded with suggestion.

“I should probably go.” It’s not that I didn’t want to stay, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know where this would end up. Sleep was not part of that equation.

“Why? Stay in bed with me.” His muscular, inked arms caged me against his body, the heat between us having nothing to do with the temperature in the room. “I’m almost positive you won’t regret it.”

I wouldn’t regret it.

I never would.

But in my heart I knew that this was the end of the road for the two of us. And as much as I wanted to keep going by his side, he had to walk it alone. How much longer could I stay? A week, a month, a year? He needed to be single. Free to do whatever he wanted to do when that spotlight finally hit him and not wonder if it would have been different without a girlfriend ball-and-chain. I wouldn’t be the source of anyone’s regrets, not least someone as special as Max. He was on the cusp of something great, and I cared too much to hold him back.

“You need sleep, you have a show tonight.” My hands moved over his chest. “We both know if I stay, there will be no sleep.” I tried in vain to free myself from his arm prison, my attempt laughable as he pulled me closer.

“Sleep’s overrated.” The words vibrated against my ear as I closed my eyes and remembered the moment. The one that would be the last time in his arms.

“You might not be dealing with a hangover, but you can’t outrun fatigue. Sleep and I’ll see you when you get back in town.”

It was a lie, an easy one to tell, knowing that when he came back things would be different. We would be different, and I think deep down he knew it was goodbye.

“Beth.” His lips pressed against the back of my neck, my short black hair offering me little protection as his hot breath defied logic and gave me goose bumps. “We’ll always end up like this, you and me.”

Not always, not anymore.

I didn’t dare say it. More because I didn’t want to hear it even though I knew it was the right thing to do.

“You going to let me go?” I asked, his arms showing no sign of releasing me

“For now.” He kissed my neck before loosening his hold and allowing me to sit up.

“You’re going to do great on this tour; this is what you’ve been waiting for.” I didn’t have to even force the smile on my face, I was genuinely happy for him. “Your life is about to change.”

“Whatever happens, happens.” His arms flexed and anchored at the back of his neck. “I’m still going to be me, that won’t ever change.”

“Good.” I fished my T-shirt from the edge of the bed and threw it over my head. “And I’ll be your biggest fan.” It was an easy promise to make; being supportive was something that I planned to continue. And something I could do even if it wasn’t by his side.

“Just promise you won’t get all weird and start stealing my underwear to sell on eBay.” He watched me as I slid on my own and grabbed my jeans from the floor.

“So, I should put back the pair I have stuffed into my purse?” I turned back to face him as I pulled up my jeans, batting my eyes seductively for effect.

I hadn’t actually stolen a pair of his boxer briefs, but it was easier than the inevitable so-this-is-where-it-ends that needed to happen.

“Call me, Beth.” He didn’t hesitate, his eyes looking directly into mine. It was as if he already knew that I probably wouldn’t but wouldn’t push the issue either. It was a weird stalemate, so much left unsaid, but all those words not spoken completely understood.

“See ya, Max.” I allowed myself one last look at him before scooping up my shoes and shuffling out of the room. The door closed behind me giving me a resting place for a second before I walked out of his house.

We both needed this. It wasn’t just for him; this was for me too. Together neither of us would reach our full potential, and we owed each other that. I was more than just a bass player’s girlfriend. I was more than a girl with tattoos, funky hair and a short skirt. If I stayed . . . he was too easy to fall in love with.

There was no sadness when I left; my heart wasn’t breaking. I was excited about what the future held for both of us and while I’d miss him, someday we would both be thankful.

In time we would both move on, and hopefully when he thought of me, he’d remember good things.

I would always, when I thought of him.

~Also in the Series~
#1 Slide

#2 Sticks

T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have traveled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley, the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident and who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. T set herself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from her own past "colorful" experiences and the amazing personalities she has surrounded herself with, she had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, her core characters are empowered women who don't have to sacrifice their femininity. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colorful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

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