Release Day Reviews: You Really Got Me: Erika Kelly
Erika Kelly
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Expected January 6, 2014
The first irresistible novel in a hot new series about a rock star on his way up—and the woman he wants to take all the way…
Emmie Valencia has what it takes to be the music industry’s hottest band manager. She just needs to prove it. Determined to discover a killer new band, Emmie is ready to make her move. First stop: Austin, Texas.
As a sizzling-hot lead singer, Slater Vaughn has no trouble raising heart rates—but his band’s been flat-lining for years. When Emmie, his bandmate’s sister, crashes with them in exchange for some free management, her industry know-how lands them a spot in the biggest music festival in Texas. But it isn’t just her business acumen that catches Slater’s attention. Emmie is sexy and warm, and—for the first time in his life—he wants more.
But as irresistible as Slater is, Emmie is done with musicians. In her experience, a man can’t be a rock star and someone to trust with your heart—but Slater is determined to show her he’s both.
After a disappointment, she takes a hiatus from her NY life and heads to Austin, Texas to help her brother Derek's struggling band to improve their image and get noticed.
Soon she is also noticing the lead singer Slater Vaughn. He first seems to be a rocker sex God with a line of groupies waiting. He is handsome, charismatic, talented, and owns the stage.
His first impression of her is that she is innocent and meek, but soon comes to see a woman with drive, fire, and is naturally attractive. But is also has best friend's sister and helping them so should be off limits.
But she's done her time with a musician and knows it usually only ends in heartbreak. Both have walls up and have issue from their pasts and families that have marked them and made them feel like they have to prove themselves. There is plenty of sexual tension and frustration, fear, confusion, and anxiety. They have both been conditioned not to trust easily. And there are several reasons why pursuing anything is not a good idea. Their relationship built gradually over time simmering to a boiling point. Slater really could be intense and swoony. And they encounter real issues and conflicts.
This story centers on a woman who wants to prove herself worthy in business and a reformed player who wants to prove himself worthy of love and commitment. But they are already working against a time limit. And what happens if she actually helps them meet their goals which means they will also be leaving and touring? Life on the road often ruins relationships especially with many factors involved and wanting a piece of the band.
The characters were well developed and had depth, and the story was built at a realistic pace. It was not an overly unique story line but she layered it and developed it well, but sometimes the slower pace made the story seem to drag a bit to me. It was told in both points of view, but at times I felt the the transitions were a bit disjointed and I had to figure out how we got there. And I found some of it to be pretty predictable.
I adored Slater. I really liked Emmie and the band... Pete, Ben and Cooper as well as Ben's girlfriend Tiana. They had such a good rapport and developed friendships with Emmie as well. They added humor and camaraderie and some extra drama. Her brother Derek will be the subject of the next book I Want You to Want Me. I already really like his character. There were some other characters causing frustration and agitation. One in particular, made me want to throw my kindle. There was miscommunication, mistrust, drama and angst. Overall, it was a sweet, romantic, passionate start to this new rocker series.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I Want You to Want Me (Rock Star Romance #2)Add to Goodreads
Expected July 7, 2015
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From the award-winning author of You Really Got Me comes the next romance in her red-hot Rock Star Romance series, about a rocker who lives for his music—and loves with all his heart.
Derek Valencia finally has the success he’s worked so hard for. His band is touring its debut album and great reviews are rolling in. But when pictures of him tossing naked groupies off a balcony go viral, it’s damage-control time. He’s assigned a “babysitter” whose sole job is to keep him out of trouble.
Violet Davis swore she’d never work in the music industry again, but being a minder for a rock star will earn her enough to pay off the mortgage on her wildflower farm. And for a girl brought up in the foster care system, owning her own home means more to her than anything.
Though at first the two bang heads, the rocker and the farm girl soon grow close and realize that they make sweet music together. But can a girl who craves the stability of life on a farm really make it work with a man whose life is spent on the road with his band?
Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life—she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.
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