Review: Lead

Lead
Kylie Scott
Contemporary Romance
Stage Dive/Book 3
November 25, 2014
St. Martin's Griffin

As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it's booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble. 

Lena's not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

Well hello there blog.  It's been a while.  2014 was not the best year for Leslie's Psyche.  It seems the ole' psyche was on the fritz for most of the year.  Blogging just wasn't working for me.  I read a lot of wonderful books last year, but when it came to write about them, the words won't flow from the brain to the page.  Blogger's block.  It's a bitch.

So to start back on the road to recovery, I've decided it would be best to start with a winner.  That winner being Kylie Scott's Lead.  It's the third book in her Stage Dive series about four band members and each of their rocky roads to true love.  I enjoyed the first book, really liked the second book and the third book, I read in a day.  Yeah, it's that good.

First, I should start by saying if you haven't read the first two books in the series, I highly recommend reading those first.  Not only are they good reads, they also give a more complete look at the band and how they interact with each other.  But, if after reading this review you can't wait to read Lead, go for it.  But don't be surprised if you end up going back and reading the first two.

Lena Morrissey is having a bad day and it's about to get really weird.  Being offered a job when you're not applying for one is odd.  When the job is as an assistant for a wildly famous rock star, then you're in the twilight zone.  Lena takes the job, but doesn't let herself expect much to come of it.  She's a little out of her element but is smart and learns quickly how to deal with Jimmy.  Lena is not only smart, she's funny.  I found her so easy to relate to,  She isn't perfect and doesn't try to be someone she's not.  Take her as she is or find someone else.  Personally, she's one of my favorite contemporary heroines.  She stands up to Jimmy even when she's afraid.  Do it afraid seems to be her motto.  It's a good one to have.

Jimmy Ferris, lead singer for Stage Dive, is also a recovering addict.  He's working on getting clean but in his business, it isn't easy.  Everywhere there are temptations.  When he agrees to hire Lena to be his assistant he isn't expecting much.  What he really wants is to be left alone but instead Jimmy finds Lena hard to ignore.  Jimmy is an ass, bu in a good way.  Let me explain.  He's honest, tells it like it is and that can definitely come across as being an ass.  But wouldn't you rather have honesty over deception?  I really found myself liking Jimmy which was certainly different from the impression he left on me from the first two books.  Lick and Play left me thinking Jimmy was an immature, self-absorbed S.O. B.  After reading Lead, Jimmy managed to endear himself to me.  Not an easy feat.

The interaction between Lena and Jimmy is so well developed.  Scott takes her time with this romance.  There is no rush, rather a slow simmer, allowing Lena and Jimmy to learn about each other, often without realizing it.  It worked well to get them to the place where they could both trust each other.  Lead is funny, emotional and sometimes sad, but at it's heart it is a romance with wonderfully developed characters and a great way to start the new year.

Rating:  A

Stage Dive Series ~

Lick
Play
Lead
Deep (March 31, 2015)