4.5 Smooches

Synopsis

Violinist Effie Murphy moved to New York to pick up the pieces of her life. After six months, she’s still broken, not to mention flat broke. But everything changes one weird night, when she meets Elias, the lead of one of the hottest bands in the world. Except, she doesn’t know that. She also doesn’t know he’s leaving the country soon.

Elias hates life in the spotlight. So when he meets Effie at a random party, he pretends to be an unemployed deadbeat. Why not? He’ll never see her again. Except, he can’t stop thinking about the wild woman who helped him write songs that night.

*Erotic content and adult language. Not for readers under 18.

Head-Tripped is the second book in the Ad Agency Series and can be read as a standalone. However, it’s a more fluid experience to start with Book 1, since many of Road-Tripped’s characters are threaded into this book

Review

Effie is a struggling violinist who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life but it isn’t going well and being flat broke on top of that isn’t helping. But everything changes when one night she meets Elias, someone she thinks is struggling just as much as her but as it turns out that’s not quite true…. in fact he is a member of one of the hottest bands in the world. What will happen when their worlds collide? When Effie finds out the truth? And will they both be able to realise what they have in each other and not let obstacles stand in the way of their HEA. 

“If you love someone, you must love all of them. Even the dark parts – the craters of the moon.”

This was a interesting, quirky, romantic, funny and refreshingly real romance with hero’s and heroine’s who both have demons. 

“This wasn’t going to last. Bliss never lasted – it disappeared in an instant.”

I really loved Effie! She was so real and honest. It was refreshing to read about a heroine who is not perfect. Effie had real demons and issues and was struggling with trying to get back on her feet. Despite this her strength and determination to get back on her feet was admirable and I was really rooting for her. Elias was also a really likeable character. He was going through his own struggles but his obvious adoration of Effie was so sweet to read about and was really swoon worthy to read about. I honestly think they matched each other perfectly and could help mend each others broken pieces. 

‘”I know this sucks to hear, but if he can’t deal with your past, then he can’t deal with your future. That’s not love, Eff. That’s conditonal. Real love heals and forgives.”‘

The story was really easy to read because the characters felt so real and had personalities you easily connected with and fell in love with. We have a real, interesting, beautiful read of two people both struggling in their own way and both needing help to move on and get back to their happy selves. The plot really is about following Effie and Elias on the journey of their relationship and their recovery- we of course have drama and obstacles and I both laughed and cried throughout the book which I really liked because in the darkness you need light to help balance it out. 

“Making music, making love, and making each other laugh—life with his half orange was pretty damn sweet.”

Really captivating, beautiful characters and a real, honest and sometimes hard story about a two people trying to find their way and build a relationship with each other. 

~Bethany

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4.5 Smooches

Synopsis

Rock star Kendrick Main is living the dream—or so it seems to the outside world.

In reality, he’s trapped in a lie that’s consuming his soul and destroying his family. For years, the owner of his record label has manipulated and blackmailed him, forcing him to deceive the world and hide the existence of those he loves the most: his wife and children.

Unable to see a way out that won’t destroy the lives of his bandmates and brothers, he loses himself in the bottle. His downward spiral ends when he wakes up in intensive care after a near-fatal drunken crash. With nothing left to lose, he buys out of his contract and announces the existence of his wife and kids to the waiting paparazzi.

Penniless and lost, he has nothing to show for his former success but a broken family and a mile-long list of people he’s let down. When the pain and suffering that surrounds him trickles down to his children, Kendrick vows to right his wrongs—hopefully taking down the man who ruined his life and winning his wife back in the process.

Review

Kendrick has hit rock bottom, being forced to leave the band he loves because of an awful contract that was forced upon him, the wife he loves to bits but he that he has had to hide from the world has enforced a separation and he’s in AA to try and stop his drinking after drunk driving and crashing. But once you hit rock bottom, the only way you can go is up right? Kendrick is determined to right all the wrongs, get back his beautiful wife Eliza and expose the person who helped destroy his band, family life and happiness. 

“Whatever she’s looking for, I hope she finds it soon, because I’m dying without her.”

I have been really hooked into band reads at the moment and Interlude was definitely up there with some of the best I have read over the last month or so. It was slightly different to the others as well because we focused a lot on one main guy and how he was struggling. Kendrick was an interesting character with a lot of depth and I really felt for him throughout the story. 

“Then I lean in and kiss her tenderly on the cheek. Like an addict, I just can’t seem to help myself. The only thing I crave more than alcohol is touching her.”

Kendrick was really the main character throughout. He was a complicated guy, he was really having a hard time of it and wasn’t afraid to show it and ask for help which I really admired. I loved his dedication to his wife Eliza and although he shouldn’t have shouldered all of the guilt he did, it was another admirable trait that he wanted to fix so many wrongs of those people in his life. 

“Just the sound of my love’s name is enough to make me soften. He has no idea just how much I get it. No matter what happens with my marriage, for me there will never be any moving on from Eliza—she’s it for me.”

Then we had Eliza and all the other band members and their friends. I liked that Eliza stuck to her guns with their separation because she knew they needed it and that Kendrick needed to get better and happier without her constant support. The fact she was still supported him and helped him in his darkest moments showed the depth of their love for each other. All the other guys in the band had well developed personalities and their relationships with each other were entertaining to read and I can’t wait to read each of their stories. 

“I sing of how my post-FourMain life has been waiting for me, and though I have no idea what lies ahead, I won’t be alone—my family, friends, and fans will support me.”

This wasn’t your classic rock and roll novel and instead we were able to really delve into one specific person and be with them step by step as they struggled and fought to put their life back together again. Because of this, I was easily dragged into and hooked on the read because I felt so invested in finding out in Kendrick would finally get back to a happy life. There was no shortage of plot lines to keep you entertained; trying to determine if Eliza and Kendrick would get back together, if the other guys in FourMain were hiding secrets themselves and what was going to happen when THAT book was released. The story flowed really well and the characters were easy to connect to and I am genuinely looking forward to coming back to the FourMain group and reading more about the other members.  

~Bethany

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4.5 Smooches

Synopsis

I’m known for being formal. Meticulous. Professional.

So you’d never suspect I spend my nights photographing my impressive junk for a NSFW blog. Don’t roll your eyes. I’m not bragging. I have millions of followers who’ll tell you they live for my posts.

I’m like a superhero, saving humanity one dick pic at a time.

Except leading a double life means I need someone to help me protect my anonymity, so that no one, especially my family, ever discovers my online celebrity.

When I call one of the most respected law firms in town, I expect quality legal advice and confidentiality. Not a sinfully sexy attorney whose dangerous curves and soul-piercing gray eyes make me want to personally demonstrate my particular skill set.

I shouldn’t be tempted.

Especially when she knows all of my best-kept secrets. But everyone has a breaking point. And I’ve met mine.

Review

I love both these authors so to see them collaborate on a project was so exciting. All About The D was a easy, funny and extremely sexy read that entertained me from the start. Evie and Josh’s story was equal parts silly and endearing and from the moment they met I loved them together. They had off the charts chemistry and I eagerly read the book in one day!

My one qualm with the story was that for me personally there was almost too much sex and not enough angst. I know it is a rom com so I didn’t expect high angst but a tad bit more would have been amazing. That being said this was not something I think should deter you from reading the book. It will have you laughing out loud and I promise you will have a smile on your face for days to come. Definitely something I think you should read when you need you spirits lifted. I can’t wait to see what these two bring us next!

~miranda