A Different Kind of Rocker

I just finished a rockstar book that was unlike the other 100+ I've read this year. Jag by Stevie J. Cole. And how I found this book...not typical. A fellow author posted a picture of the second book in Stevie's rocker series, Rush, because the guy on the cover was hot. After recovering from my brain melting hot flash I went online to find the reviews for the first book in the series. Everyone said it was gritty and raw...and different. Some reviewers didn't like the book, but the people who actually read the disclaimer, that the author posted, and knew what they were getting into seemed to really love it, so I gave it a shot.

And let me just say....wow! Read in a day.

And just a side note....if the author posts a disclaimer, don't post a bad review because you chose not to pay attention to the disclaimer. Obviously it was put there for a reason!

I can honestly say that after the over 4,000 romances I've read in the last 20 years, this one was definitely different. First of all, the entire book is in Jag's point of view and you don't meet Roxy, the heroine, until almost a third of the way in. That's a total no-no for traditionally published romance. And that is one of the best parts about indie pubbing. The author can do whatever she wants. It allows for a huge variety in books and that's what we, as readers, want.

But make sure you read the disclaimer. If you don't want to see drug use and the hero having sex with other women, then you might want to skip this one. But if you want a gritty story where you can feel the pain that these characters experience, and see the gripping hold addiction can have, then I would suggest this book. I would say that over 90% of the rocker romances out there don't show the rampant drug use and the crazy, and sometimes questionable, rock lifestyle. Usually the book starts after the rockstar has gone through rehab and is trying to fix his life. This book throws you right into the mayhem and insanity.

You'll want to punch Jag in the face for his stupidity, but you will feel for him as well. The description of how the drugs make him feel and the pain and suffering that both he and Roxy have experienced were completely vivid. Jag broke my heart and I wanted him to beat his addiction and be happy with Roxy, sober. His story was honest and painful and I couldn't put it down.

"Everybody's broken, chipped, damaged, and we just have to find the one person that can accept our flaws and love them, the one that can take the ugliest part of us and paint something beautiful with it."

So if you are looking for a book that is a heart wrenching tale that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. A gritty rocker romance that isn't full of hearts and flowers. Then I recommend you pick this one up. And now I'm off to start book two, Rush...the cover that started it all!

And by the way, I showed this cover to my husband and he said that no one actually looks like this. I called him a dream-killer and left the room!

Happy Reading!

Reveiw of Solving for Nic by Lexxi Callahan

Bring on the Alpha men. I don’t want a boy that I can share my jeans with…you know, if I could fit my ass into skinny jeans! I mean, unless it’s a rockstar. They can pull off tight pants…or I can pull them off…
Sorry, getting off topic!

Last week I read the second in Lexxi Callahan’s Southern Style Romance series, Solving for Nic. I knew I was in for a yummy alpha treat after reading her first book Sweetened with a Kiss last year. Her heroes remind me of heroes from romance novels I read years ago. Old fashioned alphas that can be overbearing and you want to kick them in the ass, but they would lay down their lives for the heroine. I love that!  

Her characters are believable and well-developed. They come off the page with their witty banter and realistic issues. No over the top angst or huge misunderstandings…I hate big misunderstandings…they make me want to yell at the characters and tell them to have a freaking conversation! This was just a wonderful love story that I’m pretty sure I read in one sitting. 

The sexual tension was fantastic and I was rooting for them from the first page. Lizzie is the little sister of Nic's friend/business partner (Stefan from book 1) and they’ve wanted each other for years, but due to a ten year age gap, and Nic’s emotional hang-ups, he tries to just see her as just a little sister. Of course he can’t...and then we get to the banter and steamy sex scenes...and everything else I love about romance. And the heroine is a super smart mathlete…no too-stupid-to-live heroines here!

So if you are looking for a hot alpha male and a smarty pants heroine with great sexual tension, not too much angst, and a sweet love story that will leave you swooning, I definitely recommend this book.
Oh, and the epilogue...it's adorable. Loved seeing Nic show his softer and funnier side with Lizzie.

Now go and grab this book, and the first one too. Trust me, you’ll love Stefan and Jen as much as you'll love Nic and Lizzie.

Happy reading and remember, real men don’t wear skinny jeans!

I Dare You To Not Fall In Love With Archer Hale!

I know it’s been awhile, but have you ever read a book that you just had to talk about it? Well, I kept hearing about this book, Archer’s Voice, by Mia Sheridan, and that it was a top read for 2014.  I’m not sure what took me so long to download it, but I finally bought it this week. And my first thought when I started to read it was why the hell did I wait so long! It hooked me from page one and I read it in a day and a half. I would have finished it sooner if the damn day job hadn’t gotten in my way. Let’s just say I took a lot of breaks!

So, Archer Hale…I think I love you.

I’ve read so many alpha heroes lately…and don’t get me wrong, I love those bossy, sexy alphas. But it was nice to read about a different type of hero. There was just something about Archer. Something that drew me in instantly and I couldn’t put the book down. My heart ached for his tragic past, his vulnerability, and his silence. Due to a horrible accident as a child, he’s mute. He’s literally the strong and silent type! There were so many moments when I wanted to jump into my Kindle and hug him.

Bree is the perfect match for him. She’s had her own tragedies and is trying to start a new life when she meets Archer. She’s drawn to him just as we, the reader, are. She patient and understanding as she tries to get to know him, and that was my favorite part. I loved how funny Archer is. He’s basically a hermit and misunderstood, but Bree is determined to get to know him and it leads to some funny and awkward moments. I found myself grinning as I read his early responses to Bree as she tries to pull him out of his shell. And I could totally relate to her nervous chatter!

“Do you want to get a pizza or something?” I blurted out, my eyes widening. I hadn’t exactly decided to go there, I just had. I looked at him hopefully.

He stared back like I was an advanced math problem he couldn’t interpret.

He frowned at me and then brought his pen to the pad, never breaking eye contact. Finally he looked down as he wrote and raised the pad to me:

NO.

I couldn’t help the laugh that erupted. He didn’t smile, just kept looking at me warily. My laughter died. I whispered, “No?”

A brief look of confusion passed over his face as he watched me and he picked up his pad and wrote something else. When he held it up, he had added a word under his first one. It now said:

NO,

THANKS.

Love it. Awkward and funny scenes are my favorite, since, let’s face it, most of us are awkward and funny!

And the scene where she cuts his hair. So steamy I thought I was having hot flashes.

Yes it’s a little angsty, but it didn’t come across as over the top and melodramatic. It wasn’t insta-love. I enjoyed watching them fall in love, watching them figure things out. The storyline played out in a logical and steady pace. No rushing to the good stuff, but actually experiencing their developing relationship with them. I hate when books rush to the good stuff. I want to see the ups and downs of their relationship, how they work through the issues and fall in love with each other. And Mia Sheridan, you did not disappoint!

I will warn you that you will probably need to break out the tissues. I’m a big cry baby and there were times that I couldn’t see the words on my Kindle because of the tears. But Archer is worth it!

Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.

This book will tug at your heartstrings, make you grin like an idiot, give you hot flashes and make you ugly cry. I think the best books make you laugh and cry. As long as it has a happy ending, I will deal with my blotchy red tear-streaked face. I just wouldn’t recommend reading this book at the gym. People will give you strange looks if you are crying on the elliptical!

I didn’t want to give too much away, so hopefully this will intrigue you to go out and buy that book. And right now it’s only 99 cents, so you have no excuse to not buy it.

Happy Reading!

Ewww, it smells like I stepped in something...nope, that's just the outdoors!"

Hello out there. Yes, that title is a direct quote of mine during our vacation two weeks ago. I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted…vacations are not restful in our household and then I was sick. But don’t worry, I’m still reading, and sometimes writing. I know I should feel rested after a 10 day vacation, but the hubs and I don’t really do relaxing vacas…10 nights…6 towns. I didn’t even have time to read more than a book or two. That’s just so very wrong! At least it was September, so the weather is cooler and it wasn’t the height of tourist season. And I turned part of it into a research trip. As a writer, you never know when inspiration will strike. Spent a lovely day at Crater Lake…writing.

 Stunning Crater Lake

Sure I hiked for about 2 miles around the top while my husband ventured down to the actual lake. The guide said the trail to the lake was strenuous so I skipped it! Me and strenuous aren’t really friends. But the best part of that day was the writing. I’m working on a complete rewrite…the dreaded blank page (cue Jaws music). It’s daunting if you haven’t tried it. But three and a half hours later I had 2500 new words…and a cookie, or two…and it inspired me for the rest of the trip. My characters are talking again. They do that, you know? Writers aren’t crazy, we just have a bunch of voices in our heads that we need to juggle around!

 My writing view for the day

And now it’s time to take a writing break and get back to reading. That is what this blog is about, right?

I haven’t had the greatest luck recently. I think I’ve read too many rocker books that had potential, but I didn’t love. Any recommendations?

Happy reading!