ARC Review: Fall ~ Karina Bliss

Fall
Karina Bliss
Contemporary Romance
Rock Solid Series/Book 2
Karina Bliss/November 15, 2016

Keep Rage together at all costs...

Powerhouse PA Dimity Graham is off her game. Her career is everything to her and she never lets anything personal mess that up. So how can she explain getting busy between the sheets with Rage's nice-guy drummer Seth Curran? She's supposed to be keeping this band out of trouble, not getting into it.

But before she can put everything back where it belongs, Seth needs her help.Faking a relationship seemed like a good idea that night, right before they fell into bed together. But standing on New Zealand soil, facing the people he disappointed to pursue his dream, Seth doubts he and Dimity will convince anyone they're hot and crazy for each other. To his surprise, Dimity is working her magic on everyone and they're all convinced this is the real deal. The problem is, he's almost convinced, too.

After reading and loving RISE, the first book in the series, I was thrilled to get my hands on FALL, Seth and Dimity book. Seth and Dimity at first glance may come across and fire and water but there is so much more to them as we find out.

Dimity Graham is a whirlwind who can kick ass without breaking a sweat. She may come across as aloof and all business, but in her heart, she is all about taking care of the people she loves. Those people are the family she has found in the band members of Rage. The ability to bring this rock band back to life and achieve world wide popularity is not just due to the band members but to Dimity's ability to manage all aspects of their lives as rock gods.

I loved how we see Dimity as the intelligent, tough business woman and then see how she does so much for the band not only because she wants them, and her, to be successful but because she truly cares about them. It's not a persona most of the people she interacts with ever get to see. Only a select few, and even then she would most likely deny it. She's a strong, gutsy heroine who works as a perfect match for Seth.

Seth Curran is the easy going drummer of Rage. Drummer's keep the beat and Seth is, in a way, the heart beat of the band. While the other members tend to act more erratic, more like rock stars, Seth is down to earth and makes himself easily approachable to his fans. He doesn't go for the diva attitude but when he does take a hard stand on something, you know it's important to him. I liked him a lot and thought his easy going personality is just what Dimity needed in her life.

The other members of the band are present and it was interesting to see not only how they all interact but how they support each other and have formed not only a band but a family in the short time they have been together. We get more insight to what makes both Dimity and Seth reach for their goals and we see it's not all about the fame and fortune. Their families, as many families do, had a great impact on them. I also enjoyed seeing a little more other the other band members, Jared and Moss. Jared's story is in the anthology You Had Me at Christmas (loved it!) and Moss' story I hope is next. I'm extremely curious to find out more about him and his backstory.  And I can't forget catching up with Zander Freedman. We get to see how he and Elizabeth are doing. Loved seeing them again!

Ms. Bliss keeps the plot moving along at a good pace. The romance between Dimity and Seth has that friends to lovers quality I love! It was obvious from the beginning that they cared for each other and the writing made it easy to believe that friendship could and did lead to a more intimate relationship. If you love rock and roll, romance and great friendships, you'll love this series.

Rating: A

Rock Solid Series ~

Rise
Play (novella in You Had Me at Christmas)
Fall

ARC Review: RISE

RISE
Karina Bliss
Contemporary Romance
Rock Solid/Book 1
Self Published/January 28, 2015

Acclaimed literary biographer Elizabeth Winston writes about long-dead heroes.  So bad-boy rock icon Zander Freedman couldn't possibly tempt her to write his memoir. Except the man is a mass of fascinating contradictions – manipulative, honest, gifted, charismatic and morally ambiguous.  In short, everything she seeks in a biography subject. When in her life will she get another chance to work with a living legend?

Suddenly she’s having heated fantasies about her subject, fantasies this blue-eyed devil is only too willing to stoke. She thought self-control was in her DNA; after all, she grew up a minister’s daughter. 

She thought wrong.

Rock star Zander Freedman has been an outlier–many would say an outcast–for most of his life. But there’s no disaster he can’t overcome, from the breakup of his band to the inevitable damage to his reputation. His Resurrection Tour is shaping up to be his greatest triumph – if his golden voice holds out. 

Contracting a respected biographer is simply about creating more buzz. Elizabeth’s integrity is the key to consolidating his legacy as one of rock’s greats. All the damn woman has to do is write down what he tells her. Not force him to think. Or encourage the good guy struggling to get out.  And certainly not make him fall in love for the first time in his life.

It's been a few years since What the Librarian Did was released and when I first met Zander Freedman. He was an ass. A drunk, entitled, rude, immature ass.  Hero material he wasn't.  Or was he?  No way could I believe Zander could change.  Boy was I wrong!

Zander Freedman is determined to bring his band back on top, even if it means doing it with all new band mates. What he also needs is money to make it happen. In addition to touring, Zander has been writing his memoir but it's not going well. Then Elizabeth Winston comes into his life and Zander finds someone who doesn't cower under his angry glare. At the beginning, Zander had already started his transition from stereo-typical rock star indulging in excesses of parties, women and drugs to a more responsible businessman when he meets Elizabeth. I loved seeing how Zander continues to change under Elizabeth's influence, even though he'd probably deny it. He's stubborn like that.

Elizabeth Winston finds herself in a foreign world of opulence, excess and fame. It becomes a learning experience in not only what is real and what is fake but how she fits in to this very different reality. I adored Elizabeth for her intelligence, kindness and her faith. Watching how she reacted to Zander who was like a wild animal and completely out of her realm of experience, was a pleasure. The concert scenes, with Elizabeth experiencing the full impact of Zander on stage, were thrilling.

As Elizabeth becomes more integrated into Zander's world, Zander becomes more open to Elizabeth, allowing her to see him at his most vulnerable. It wasn't easy for him to do this and he didn't do it all at once, he fought it, which made it that much more believable. He also made some mistakes along the way which only made his rebirth more genuine.

I'm so very happy Ms. Bliss decided to give Zander a chance and paired him up with Elizabeth. There was a scene when Zander and Elizabeth were flying and Elizabeth is nervous (read terrified). Zander begins reading an aviation safety manual to Elizabeth, to take her mind off of her fears. It was one of those quiet moments, a small gesture showing what a big heart he has. Yes, Zander Freeman is a hero.

Rating: A

Rock Solid Series ~

RISE

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)