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!