Finding Marnie by MV Ellis

Just when I thought I had Marnie all figured out, this book comes along and turns my opinion completely on its head.

What’s it About? 

He is everything I want but know I can never have. Every fiber of my being has ached for Luke from the very first moment we met. However, with my parents’ legacy of toxic obsession woven into my DNA, I know love is pain and should be avoided at all costs. I’m unloved and unlovable. Still, in moments of weakness, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like if I was the kind of woman who deserved the love of a man like him.

She is hiding in plain sight, waiting for me to find her. Marnie has had my heart from day one, and always will. It’s just a shame I couldn’t muster the words to tell her so when we first locked eyes. It’s a failing I will live to regret for years to come. However, I’m determined to make things right, even if it takes me a lifetime. I need her to know she is enough. In fact, she is more than that. She is everything.

First Impressions

There are two surefire ways to win me over to a story. First, it must evoke some kind of emotion, whether it be sympathy, happiness, or even anger as it relates to our main characters. Second, if it can manage to change my opinion, or presuppositions surrounding a certain character, then we’ve really got something to talk about. This book manages to succeed in both endeavors. After reading the first three novels in this series, I was under the assumption that I knew everything there was to know about Marnie. A woman who I thought was in love with our rock star Arlo, yet was willing to settle for a f*ck buddy relationship with him.

When he called off this physical connection with her in favor of pursuing a meaningful relationship with London, it seemed like Marnie spiraled into a drunken depression. And then there’s Arlo’s twin, Luke, who is obviously in love with his brother’s long time lover, but whose sentiments have never been, and possibly never will be reciprocated. Imagine my surprise to discover within the first chapter of this fourth book that the only assumption I had correct in this drama was that Luke was desperately in love with Marnie. You know what they say happens when you assume! As we go along throughout the rest of this post, I’ll be highlighting the assumptions I had about both Marnie and Luke which were presented throughout the series, and then discuss how this fourth installment successfully manages to twist those assumptions on their head.

A Different Point of View

When it comes to any novel, we must always ask ourselves one important question. Who is telling the story? Up until this point in the Heartless Few series, we’ve seen events play out through two key characters: Arlo and London. Their viewpoints and opinions have influenced how we’ve seen the events of the story carry out, and have also had a profound impact on our assumptions when it comes to certain characters. This has especially been true for how we’ve viewed Marnie, which has primarily been negative. We’ve taken what Arlo and London have thought about her as pure fact, for the simple reason that we’ve never had any reason to doubt their version of things. London has always seen Marnie as competition vying for the attention of Arlo. She’s always been portrayed as a jilted lover who’s constantly wanted more from her relationship with Arlo, and goes into a jealous rage when Arlo’s dedication to London becomes public knowledge. Little did we know that Arlo and London’s interpretation of Marnie’s actions and affections have been completely wrong.

In this fourth installment, we finally get to see the story play out from the points of view of our supplementary characters: Marnie and Luke. For the first time, Arlo and London have been reduced to the role of background characters, and the entire novel is told from Marnie and Luke’s alternating viewpoints. This allows us to finally see the truth in regards to how Marnie saw her relationship with Arlo, and that there’s actually another Jones brother she’s desired since the beginning. Another unique feature of seeing things told from different characters is that we move away from Arlo being the center of all the drama. Even Marnie and Luke discover that for the longest time they have allowed Arlo to dictate certain aspects of their lives. This is especially true for Luke, who has been living and performing in Arlo’s shadow for years. You can’t help but appreciate the ironic symmetry of what can happen when our secondary characters, and even we as the reader, don’t see Arlo as the center of the story.

Who is Marnie? 

Every character has a backstory that influences who they are on the page, and this novel finally allows us to discover how the events of Marnie’s past have influenced who she is today. The story opens with Marnie as a teenager, and the tragedy that brought her into Luke and Arlo’s lives. One sad day, Marnie discovered that her parents committed suicide by drug overdose. They were fed up with life, and their love for each other was stronger to go out at the same time than it was to stay alive and care for Marnie. After the death of her parents, Marnie went to live with her grandmother, who happened to live in the same neighborhood where Luke and Arlo grew up. We then see how Luke became her one an only true friend in this new environment.

So how did Arlo come to be her f*ck buddy? Well, after witnessing the tragic downfall of her parents, and how their love was so over the top, Marnie vowed that she would never put herself in a position where she’d have such strong feelings for another person. When Arlo came on the scene, she recognized a similar soul, someone who didn’t want an emotional connection with someone else, but was more than happy to share a physical one. He was a “safe” choice. She knew that Arlo would never be someone who wanted to cuddle after sex, or who would ask what she was thinking/feeling at any given moment. London, Luke, and everyone else in their lives assumed that Arlo and Marnie had such a longstanding sexual relationship because one or both of them felt some kind of love for the other. They refused to believe Arlo and Marnie’s insistence that it was a matter of convenience rather than one of emotion. For Marnie, her parent’s downfall made her seek out a relationship that would forever protect her heart from being broken, and Arlo fulfilled that need. An even bigger surprise than discovering that Marnie never felt true love for Arlo was that she actually felt something stronger for Luke all along.

Love Unattainable

For the first three novels in the series, we knew without a doubt that Luke was in love with Marnie. We just assumed that Marnie actually had her sights set on Arlo, and that perhaps we’d need some big event to help Marnie open her eyes to the Jones brother that has been in love with her from the start. Imagine my surprise to discover fairly early on in this fourth story that Marnie’s feelings for Luke were just as strong from the first moment they met all those years ago. I thought Luke would have a major struggle on his hands to win over Marnie’s affections, and while he does have his work cut out for him in convincing Marnie to give a chance to their relationship, there has always been an underlying desire and love which Marnie has felt for Luke. Which begs to question, if Marnie has always desired Luke, and for Luke it was love at first sight, what exactly was preventing them from getting together?

Simple, Marnie’s past. As we’ve already discussed, Marnie wanted to protect her heart from ever feeling the same kind of hurt and tragedy which befell her parents. When she first meets Luke after moving in with her grandmother, she immediately recognizes that he’s someone she could fall head over heels in love with. Rather than having this draw them together, Marnie uses it as a reason to pull away. She refuses to end up like her parents, so in her mind she must distance herself from the one man who evokes any kind of feeling behind the walls she’s trying to erect. In addition, the suicide of her parents left some additional emotional and physical scars to Marnie which she believes are indicators that Luke deserves someone better. When Luke tries to convince her that they’re meant to be together, Marnie attempts to use the horrors of her past as a deterrent for Luke to continue pursuing her. Little does she realize that Luke sees these trials that she’s managed to overcome as strengths to her character. They’ve made her the strong person she is today. She might be trying to push him away, but it’s actually drawing him closer to her.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Heartless Few, Book 4. I must say, there’s a few other members of this band that I’d love to get to know.

Final Impressions: I really enjoyed this read! While I initially questioned if this book would succeed in making me warm up to Marnie, I was shocked that from the opening chapter you’re rooting for her to find happiness. It was fascinating to see some of the same events from the first few books retold in a different light now that they’re shown from Marnie and Luke’s viewpoint. The love story between Arlo and London captured our hearts, but dare I say I might have fallen in love with Marnie and Luke even more. Arlo and London struggled for a few months to find their happily ever after, but these two have been secretly desiring each other for years. We finally understand the full depth of their feelings, and hope that Marnie will realize she’s worthy of a life filled with all the happiness and love that Luke wants to provide her with.

Smut Level: Even though we’re dealing with the other Jones twin, there is one common theme that gets their blood pumping, and that would be a heated argument. There’s something about a verbal argument with the love of their life that sparks within them a desire to copulate on the nearest available flat surface.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $1.99 Kindle Price. Hot Tree Publishing. 342 Pages.

 

Pushing Arlo by MV Ellis

Well, we all knew Arlo and London’s time together in the sun couldn’t last forever. I just didn’t expect the inevitable fallout to come so soon!

What’s it About? 

He thought he had it all, until he met her. They say you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone, but for notorious womanizer Arlo Jones, it’s a case of not knowing what you want ’til it’s standing in front of you. The moment he meets London, he realizes she’s the piece of the puzzle he never knew was missing, but can’t live without. He does everything he can to get her, but just as he thinks she’s finally ready to give in to her feelings, he’s reminded how empty his life was without her in it.

She thought she had a plan, until she met him. They say the best-laid plans often go awry, and for aspiring photographer London Llwellyn, that’s definitely the case when she falls for Arlo. That was never part of her plan. She tries her best to avoid being pulled into his vortex, but he manages to turn her head upside down and her heart inside out. Just as she thinks she’s ready to commit to forever, she’s reminded of the reasons she resisted him for so long. He’s pulling her closer. How long can she keep pushing him away?

First Impressions

This book pretty much picks up right where book one left off, with a gallery premier of the coffee table book which London photographed of Arlo and his band’s most recent world tour. Things are seemingly off to a good start, with a decent shag before the premier, an awkward introduction to Arlo’s family afterwards, and an agreement for London to move in with Arlo. Such big steps in their relationship which all immediately come down the morning after when there’s a bit of scandal in the tabloids surrounding Arlo. And what else could it be when it comes to a former man-whoring reckless rock star like Arlo, but a sex tape? And who knew that it would cause a complete and total halt to Arlo and London’s relationship, not to mention her fleeing to the other side of the world to get away from him? Well, there’s some method to her madness which actually requires a closer look. Come along and let’s observe!

Why Sex Tapes are Never a Good Idea

Just when Arlo and London’s relationship appears to be at it’s peak, a crushing blow comes in the form of a sex tape that tears our two lovebirds apart. It also serves to sever the long-term friendship and f*ck-buddy status between Arlo and his childhood friend, Marnie. She appears to have filmed the two of them having sex almost six months prior, and allegedly leaked it to the press after Arlo publicly dismissed Marnie’s advances at the recent gallery showing. For Arlo, it’s a stab in the back from a supposed friend, but one that he’s initially not too concerned about. After all, he’s used to being in the public spotlight for his sexual exploits. What’s one more? Especially when he has London in his bed. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy for London to push aside. When an unknown person sends the sex video directly to London’s phone, it’s an invasion of privacy that she’s simply not used to, and it sparks within her an intense desire to flee. Which is just what she does.

Arlo is shocked that the leaking of this sexual encounter, an affair which occurred before he even met London, could signal an end to their relationship. He thought London trusted him, and yet she now seems to question when exactly this tape was recorded. How could a sexual act which held such little meaning to him have such a profound influence on his relationship with London? Eventually, after a lot of discussions with his fellow band-mates, he has a eureka moment which helps him understand what was going through London’s mind at the time. Arlo and his band have been in the spotlight of fame and paparazzi scandal for years. To quote Arlo’s insight, “This shit has been our ‘normal’ for so long that it can be easy to forget how overwhelming it can all be if you’re not used it.”

Ironically, I think it has almost become a ‘normal’ for us romance readers as well. Following London’s desertion of Arlo after the release of the sex tape, I too questioned if she was overreacting just a bit. But let’s face it, any rock star romance is basically guaranteed to feature some kind of misunderstanding with a paparazzi scandal. We as readers, just like Arlo, become almost numb to it. But to see it through London’s eyes, to see the invasion of privacy by having a stranger send such a shocking video to her own phone, signals that the likelihood of she and Arlo ever having a peaceful relationship with no intrusion is unlikely to the extreme. When we consider it in this regard, London’s instinct to flee makes more sense.

From New York to Australia

Following London’s flight to Australia, we see what I identify as both a major strength and weakness to the story. Let’s start with the strength. Firstly, the entire novel is told from Arlo’s point of view, which is an interesting departure from book one. The short sequel of this series was also told from Arlo’s point of view, but to have an entire full-length novel told through the eyes of the rock star was rather enlightening. Hands down my favorite aspect of this book was that it allowed us to see Arlo’s growing maturity during London’s absence. He realizes that if he has any chance of winning her back, he has to change his ways to the point where London will never have reason to question his actions.

This means no more partying, drugs, copious amounts of alcohol, etc., and instead taking a more active role in his business ventures and music production. He’s determined to clean up his act to prove himself worthy of London’s love, and the band mates who have become like brothers to him are there every step of the way. The connection that Arlo has with these men was a primary feature of the book, and one that draws you in from the get-go. You also see how far one man is willing to go for love. Before London, music was always his escape, and something which saved him from the possibility of going down a violent road as a youngster. And now that he’s an adult, London is saving him yet again, but this time from himself and his rock star lifestyle of excessive partying. London has a profound impact on Arlo’s life, even when she’s on the other side of the world.

But alas, this brings us to the noticeable downside of the story. Ummm…where the heck is London? She’s missing for over fifty percent of the story. While having the novel told from Arlo’s point of view was a benefit in seeing him grow as a person and develop an even stronger connection with his band, it was also a detriment in that during this entire time we never know what is going through London’s mind. It results in a one-sided story which could have benefited greatly from an additional scene or two where we see what’s happening with London on the other side of the world. We get the briefest of recaps upon London’s return to New York of conversations she had with her parents, but I wanted a closer look at what was going through her mind during that time away from Arlo.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Heartless Few, book 3. I’m excited to proceed with book 4 in the series, which will revolve around Arlo’s brother, Luke, and his long-time infatuation with Marnie. Can’t wait to see what might happen between those two.

Final Impressions: Similar to the sequel, this novel really highlights the transformation of the infamous Arlo Jones from a partying rock star into a caring lover who recognizes when it’s time to grow up. I especially loved any scene which highlighted the strong camaraderie between Arlo and his fellow musicians. The main downside to the story was that London was absent for such a large portion of it. While you can’t deny the importance of seeing Arlo take the necessary steps to clean up his life, as well as see his devotion to London cemented in her absence, I would have liked to see how London’s feelings towards Arlo may have changed during their time apart.

Smut Level: Considering that London is in another country for over half of the novel, this read isn’t quite as steamy as the first book in the series. That being said, Arlo and London do still have their sexy moments together upon her return. She continues to question whether or not she wants to let Arlo fully back into her life, but she can’t deny their physical chemistry.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Hot Tree Publishing. 280 Pages.

Cold, Hard, & Heartless by MV Ellis

An insightful look at our rock star’s point of view when it came to the events which played out in Catching London. See how immediate his infatuation with London truly was, as well as how he’d do just about anything to keep her in his life. Even if it involves…a hostile takeover?

What’s it About?

Cold. Hard. Heartless. If I don’t rise, I can’t fall. If I don’t give, I can’t take. If I don’t love, I can’t lose. If I don’t break, I can’t heal. If I don’t care, I can’t hurt. And if I don’t expose my heart, it can’t get broken.

As a boy, Arlo Jones learned that hearts could literally be broken. His shattered into a thousand tiny pieces when his dad died, and he vowed to never let that happen again. He had to be cold, hard, and heartless. As a man, he has his shtick with chicks. He’s never been in love, or even in lust. He gets horny, fucks, and sends them on their way. Rinse. Repeat. It ain’t broke, so no need to fix it. Until London. Meeting her is the start of something big, like the first bump of coke or hit of the pipe. From day one, the only way forward is deeper in, and there is no easy way out. If this is love, he’s never going to be the same again.

First Impressions

I’m always hesitant to read a sequel or prequel of a novel which focuses on the same story from book one being retold from another character’s point of view. After all, we’ve basically already seen how this story plays out, what more could we possibly stand to gain from seeing it a second time. As it turns out, there are several reasons why this particular retelling came across as insightful rather than repetitive. First of all, we don’t simply get a rehash of the entire first book. Thank goodness!

Whereas the first book was almost 400 pages, this sequel is a quick read at just 120 pages, providing us a brief snippet if you will into Arlo’s growing need for London. We don’t see the entire span of their relationship play out in this book, but instead focus on what was truly key. That first moment that Arlo looks upon London and realizes she’s provoking feelings in him he’s never felt for another woman before, as well as the progression of how he admits to himself that he’s not willing to give up on her. This sequel ends with the scene where Arlo implores upon London to go on tour with him and his band mates as their behind-the-scenes photographer, whereas in book one we saw how the entire tour carried out and concluded.

Arlo is Arlo

Another feature of this brief retelling that I particularly appreciated was the fact that while we do get to see a softer side of Arlo, his personality doesn’t undergo some sort of transformation into full-blown romantic simply because we are seeing things from his point of view. I feel like this is a trap that many authors can fall into, as though providing insight into the male psyche will make you forget, or even forgive, any flaws that the female lead focused on in the first book. Not the case here! Let’s be completely honest, at times Arlo can be selfish, kind of a dick, and quite the horn dog. Yes, we do see him admit to himself that what he feels for London is something new and different that he doesn’t quite know how to deal with, but it’s not like we suddenly see him fall in love at first sight.

Honestly, I think in the beginning Arlo did question what his ultimate endgame was in regards to London. Was it simply to get her into bed and fulfill his lust for her? Or did he want to explore a more meaningful relationship? It was enlightening to see the transition throughout this sequel as the initial need for sexual gratification did eventually turn into the desire for something more, but I think it was true to Arlo’s character that we see him struggle with this admission for the possibility of an emotional connection with London. If we’d suddenly seen him declare right off the bat that he knew he wanted to one day marry London and have a bunch of babies with her, I think I would have questioned who this impostor was from the character we grew to know in book one. Definitely refreshing to see Arlo’s personality and character hold firm, including the good and the bad.

The Brotherhood

Something we do see more of a focus on in this novel which was pretty absent from book one was the connection which Arlo had with his band mates, as well as his twin brother Luke. In the first book we saw that the majority of their interactions were pretty heated, especially when it came time for them to tour. Arlo’s infatuation with London on tour was something his band mates weren’t familiar with, and at times it was a cause of animosity in terms of how he would abandon them on stage to go search for London in the wings of the concert venue. However, the high point of this book for me was when we saw Arlo’s ability to open up with his band and his brother about these newfound feelings for London, and how he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with them.

In those moments, we saw how close these men are to each other, and it’s often the few times that Arlo can just be himself. He doesn’t have to be the lead singer of the Heartless Few when he’s with them, he can simply be Arlo, the man seeking advice on how to steal the heart of the girl who has captured his attention. The one area that I think could have benefited from more attention was specifically in Arlo’s relationship with his twin, Luke. We do get a few scenes following his initial meeting with London where Luke basically berates Arlo for being a sex fiend. However, I think it would have been fascinating to see an additional confrontation or two between these twins when Arlo realizes that Luke seems to be making more progress than he is at connecting with London. In my opinion, this was the sole area of the book that was lacking for me.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Heartless Few, Book 2. I’m excited to see what’s in store for Arlo and London following the conclusion of their world tour together. Will they manage to stay together considering all the drama and heartache that fame must undoubtedly bring? We’ll just have to see!

Final Impressions: A quick, enlightening read. I enjoyed that this wasn’t a rehash from start to finish of everything we saw go down in book 1. The fact this sequel concludes at basically the halfway point of the first novel was a stroke of genius. I was worried at first if entering the mind of Arlo would soften the bad boy we’d come to know previously to a point where we wouldn’t recognize him anymore. I’m happy to say that Arlo does remain Arlo in every sense, but here we truly get to see all of his personal struggles and frustrations when it comes to pursuing London.

Smut Level: Oh to be inside the male mind. Overall we saw more sex scenes in book one, but I’d say we definitely see more sexual musings in this one.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Hot Tree Publishing. 120 Pages.

Catching London by MV Ellis

There’s getting caught red-handed, and then there’s getting caught completely nude by your employer in his shower.

What’s it About? 

He’s not looking to change his bad boy ways.

Arlo Jones is a bad boy billionaire rock star with the world at his feet. He lives the “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle to the max, and believes in working hard and playing harder. He’s a man who always gets what he wants, especially when it comes to women. Until he meets London.

She’s a damaged dancer not looking to fall.

All London Llwellyn wants is to rebuild her life following the tragic car accident that robbed her of her fiancé, and ended her career as a professional ballet dancer. She’s working two jobs to scrape together the cash to set up her own studio, and reinvent herself as a photographer. The last thing she wants is to get involved. Arlo promises to always be there to catch her, but can London trust him enough to let herself fall?

First Impressions

My goodness are we presented with one hell of a meet cute! Nothing quite like our rock star lead, Arlo, catching London naked in his shower in her attempt to rid herself of a slew of spiders she encountered while cleaning his house. Arlo is the embodiment of an alpha male. He’s used to getting what he wants, and he wants London. At times he does cross the line of being too alpha. There was one scene in particular in which Arlo has publicly poured his heart out to London, and she doesn’t necessarily reciprocate in the way he was hoping for. He’s understandably upset, especially considering he’s never voiced such feelings of love for someone else before, and it results in him throwing a chair against a mirror in anger. While his frustration is clearly evident, it was almost too violent of a scene for my liking. That being said, London also manages to bring out the softer side in this rock star with such a tough exterior.

Let’s Get Physical

Sex is an important part of their relationship, whether it’s present in bringing them together, or absent entirely. Upon first meeting, there’s an obvious physical connection. They both want each other…badly. However, London is determined to distance herself from this man who has completely overwhelmed her. She hasn’t considered intimacy with anyone since the death of her fiancé, so her sudden feelings of lust and passion for Arlo are entirely overwhelming. She tries to leave him in the dust, but what Arlo wants, Arlo gets. He does everything he can to bring London back into his life, and it’s not long before their chemistry reaches a boiling point. They both admit the best strategy is to give into their passion, and just do the deed already.

But we all know these two are more than a simple one and done. I mean, does that seriously ever work? After they have a taste for each other, they find it difficult to separate. However, once Arlo proposes that London shadow him to photograph his band’s tour, London insists they need to draw a line in the sand that can’t be crossed. No sex between them on tour. As a matter of fact, she writes it into her contract before taking on the job. Again, we all know this no-sex clause isn’t going to last, but I must say I really appreciated when it was in place. It allows them to focus on a relationship that extends beyond the physical. They actually have a chance to get to know each other, and share some deep and intimate details of their pasts with each other.

An Expression of Love Through Art

At the start of their physical relationship, neither Arlo nor London are too keen to voice their true feelings for the other. It’s a source of vulnerability for them both. These two are artists who find it easier to proclaim love utilizing their own respective art forms. For Arlo, it’s through song. While we can’t hear the melody, we can see the poetry of his words on the page, and his love for London is more than evident. When it comes to London, she is much more hesitant to give into her feelings of love for Arlo. At first it’s definitely a source of frustration for us as the reader. He demonstrates in multiple ways that he’s serious and wants to commit to just her, even declaring his love in a public forum. And yet, she can’t admit to him even though she can admit to herself that she’s come to love this alpha rock star.

But then in a moment of clarity, London heart-breakingly admits her fear of loving Arlo in case things don’t eventually work out between them. She’s already lost one love of her life when her fiancé, Danny, tragically died. The thought of losing Arlo is another loss she’s not sure she could survive. It was an admission that gave us a window into London’s hesitancy to move on with someone else in her life. After shadowing Arlo on tour to produce a coffee table book of behind-the-scenes photos, London’s photography is what ultimately highlights her true love for Arlo. The only problem with this is that unlike a song where we can at least view the words, we don’t get enough of a description of her photography to allow us as the reader to truly appreciate her love for him. We see mention from multiple people that her photos clearly demonstrate her love for him, but more detail about what these photos entailed could have let us feel her love more clearly like we could through Arlo’s song.

A Trapeze Routine and Keeping Distance

Arlo may have started out in this read as a bit of a man-whore who would sleep with any woman on two legs, but in my opinion there were two moments which truly highlighted his love for London that went beyond their sexual relationship. During one of their first chats, London admits that while her focus growing up was constantly on ballet, her true desire as a youngster was to become a trapeze artist. This initially seemed like such a throwaway comment, and I’ll admit even I let this little detail slip from my mind. Yet, in the midst of the craziness of Arlo’s world tour, he manages to set aside time for the two of them in Paris to meet with an actual trapeze artist to teach them both a routine to perform with each other. He literally made one of her childhood dreams come true, and it was such a sweet and vulnerable moment that first made me realize Arlo isn’t just sticking around London for the sex. He truly cares about her, and wasn’t afraid to set aside his bad boy image to fly around on trapeze with the woman he’s come to love.

The second moment that demonstrates Arlo’s softer side came about at the end of their world tour together. It’s been an intense ride, and both Arlo and London know they’re in love with the other. We hope, as does Arlo, that the end of this tour can signal the start to an actual relationship between them. Unfortunately, the opposite happens. London feels that she and Arlo have been so close during this tour that she ultimately needs some space from him so she can focus on herself, and discover where this relationship can go. When she admits this to our alpha rock star, I was convinced it was either going to be the end of the two of them, or Arlo would ignore her request entirely to convince her they belong together. Imagine my utter shock when Arlo actually agrees to give her the space she asks for. He acknowledges that his instinct is to never let her go, but realizes that if he pushes too hard he could push her right out of his life. He might not be happy about it, but he places his faith in the connection between him and London, praying that eventually she’ll realize they’re meant to be together. The fact Arlo could put aside his inner alpha tendencies demonstrated that his character had truly grown and matured throughout the novel.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Heartless Few, book 1. I’m excited to see what’s in store next for Arlo and London, as well as some of the other characters we’re introduced to in this preliminary novel.

Final Impression: There’s an interesting give and take with these characters. In the beginning you can’t decide if you wanna slap Arlo, or push him up against a wall for ravishing. Eventually you see him open up with London, and admit feelings he’s never had for anyone else before. While London is clearly struggling with her feelings for a man other than her deceased fiancé, at times her acts of distancing herself and her emotions from Arlo are somewhat selfish. At the start it’s definitely an understandable defense mechanism where she’s trying to protect herself from hurt, but once Arlo’s true feelings are evident, you feel a sense of sadness that his attempts to wear his heart on his sleeve are brushed aside so abruptly by London. Two imperfect characters for sure, but you’ll definitely root for them to be together.

Smut Level: Arlo is every inch the dirty talking, pushy, alpha rock star you could ever hope for. We get a plethora of delectably delicious erotic scenes, and these two have the act of multiple orgasms down to an art form!

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Hot Tree Publishing. 387 Pages.

Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh

From New Zealand to Los Angeles, sometimes you have to take a chance and go the distance for true love. Even when it involves a world famous rock star.

What’s it About?

A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk… Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.

A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be… Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…

First Impressions

The meet cute is everything in a romance novel. When Molly first sets her eyes on Fox, in person, for the first time she is immediately smitten. She’s aware of his rock-star status, and is undeniably drawn to his sex appeal and dark persona. As someone who’s always played by the rules, Molly admits to herself that she could see herself taking a chance with this one. Even if it’s just for one night. Fox on the other hand? He’s been eyeing her from across the room all night long. He knows that Molly isn’t just someone he wants to take to bed, but rather is someone he wants to have a future with. She’s different than other women, and he’s dead set on convincing her that he’s different than other men. That they have a connection which is worth more than one night.

Now, why was it that Fox’s commitment beam was focused so specifically on Molly? Honestly, I have…no…idea. And it bugs me! Throughout the whole novel I kept waiting around for some sort of explanation, or window into what Fox was feeling that night. How, considering his life in the limelight, he knew that this woman was so different than any other woman who had come before. Sure, we could say that it’s because she just wanted one night with him when other women had always demanded more. We could perhaps theorize that it’s because Molly’s sister is his PR rep, and maybe she had shared with him the details of how amazing and special her sister was. But we never hear that from Fox directly, and it’s kind of killing me to wonder how he knew before even speaking to her that she was worth pursuing so vehemently. Perhaps we’re dealing with a rock star with a bad case of love at first sight.

From Part 1 to 2

While I didn’t really understand the logistics of their initial meet-cute, I must say the progression of their relationship was addicting to behold. A note to all the romance authors out there, this book is the perfect example of how to divide a novel into multiple parts. Part 1 of the book is set entirely in New Zealand, and is mainly focused on laying the foundation of Molly and Fox’s relationship. They’re getting to know each other, both physically and emotionally, and Fox is trying his damnedest to convince Molly to take a chance on him. She’s hesitant to enter into a long-term romantic relationship with him because she knows that if the paparazzi catch wind of their affair, then the sordid details of her family’s past will come to light. She’ll have to relive it all. But with Fox by her side, she realizes it just might be worth the risk. Cue Part 2.

About halfway through the book we get a “Part 2” heading, and we immediately switch gears to Fox’s home turf in Los Angeles. The focus changes to living life in the fast lane, and wondering if their relationship is strong enough to face the pressures of reality and celebrity. And I must say, it’s unbelievable how important that little “Part 2” heading was. If it hadn’t been indicated, I think the book would have felt ridiculously disconnected, almost as though we were dealing with two books smashed together into one. But just by having that little heading, I was able to mentally prepare myself for the story to veer off into another direction. This is when Molly and Fox’s relationship is truly put to the test.

Testing the Waters

There are bound to be disagreements and arguments in every relationship, especially when a couple moves in together. Considering this particular couple is moving in together after only knowing each other for a month, he’s a famous rock star, and she left behind all she knew in New Zealand to be with him? Yeah, you can prepare yourself for a spat or two. Now, I must say at times I found their dynamics during these arguments to be somewhat problematic. It seemed like Molly was always the one apologizing to Fox for whatever disagreement they seemed to be having. For example, at one point after the move to Los Angeles they get into a fight because she decides to buy groceries for them,  considering he’s always the one to purchase things.

Fox kind of goes off the rails and says she needs to get used to the fact that he’ll want to spoil her a bit and pay for things. Mkay, I must say this kind of upset me. This woman just quit her job, said goodbye to all of her friends, packed up, and moved all the way to the other side of the world to be with him. She’s getting situated into a new life where she’s trying to feel needed, helpful, useful, and instead she feels guilty for always accepting his money. Let her pay for the damn groceries! If this is a way that she feels she can contribute to the relationship while she’s trying to get her life in order as he creates music all day, why use it as a source for an argument? Just have kitchen sex or something and get over it. It’s just one example, but there were a few times in the novel where it seemed like Fox would kind of snip at Molly for trying to acclimate to his world.

The Truth Comes Out

Throughout the entire novel we are waiting for two major reveals. The first is the truth surrounding Molly’s family, specifically her father. The details are hinted at here and there, but we really have to wait a while before Molly has an honest and open discussion with Fox about the particulars. And I must say it is an utterly heartbreaking reveal. It finally makes sense why Molly was so hesitant to enter into a relationship with Fox. She didn’t want the paparazzi to start digging into her past, and drudge up all the horrific memories she’s tried to put behind her for so long. However, this sad past also highlights the beauty of her present relationship with Fox. She’s finally living her life for herself, taking chances and making decisions based on what she thinks will bring her true happiness. And for her that means Fox. He helps her learn how to live in the moment, and understand that a future with him can bring even more joy and love. Quite touching!

The other big moment that we’re waiting around for is the discovery of Molly and Fox’s relationship by the paparazzi. And of course something else which goes hand-in-hand with that: the insinuation by the paparazzi of infidelity. There was no way it could be avoided, but there’s the constant wonder of when and how it will happen. And when it finally does I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the aftermath. At first Molly is devastated, and her flight response kicks in. But then lo and behold she does something that most romance novel leading ladies in a similar situation always seem incapable of. She takes a moment to breathe, calm down, and think things through logically. Molly reminds herself of not only how much she loves Fox, but all the different ways he’s convinced her of how dedicated he is to her. She then proceeds to talk to him about her fears and doubts, and together they are able to find their way through the mishaps and misunderstandings. Who knew they could be such cool-headed adults!! Did it make for a somewhat uneventful read when dramatic reveals were handled in such a mindful way? Sure, in a way, but it was also unbelievably refreshing to not once again see a female lead who could be so easily dismayed and swindled by gossip rags.

Series: Rock Kiss, book 1. I’m excited to see the romance stories of our other bad boy members of the band who played such crucial supplemental roles in this first story. Each musician appears to have a distinct personality, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them more.

Should you read it? Definitely an interesting story arch as we see our couple build their relationship from the coast of New Zealand to the fast pace of LA. They have their ups and downs along the way, with both of their pasts coming back to test them. However, they also find strength in each other, which helps them through the inevitable challenges of fame and romance. I do wish we learned a bit more of the impetus for Fox’s initial link to Molly, and why he was so willing to fight for her considering the start of their relationship was primarily based around sex. They eventually develop a heartwarming emotional connection that has you crossing your fingers in the hope that they’ll succeed through all the paparazzi mayhem. Personally I really enjoyed their ability to not give into the artificial drama which was being created around them, but instead they could focus on the importance of their own relationship and that with their closest friends and band mates.

Smut Level: This romance definitely has an interesting balance of scenes which are kind of glossed over, and then others which are provided in explicit detail. You never quite know what you’re gonna get!

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $5.99 Kindle Price. TKA Distribution. 406 Pages.