My true love gave me...
Rock Kiss Series by Nalini Singh
Strangely for me, I started with the first book in this series. If you ask my roommates I have a crazy habit of reading books out of order because I don’t always stop to check if a book is in a series.
I fell in love with this series from the opening pages of the first book and ravished the rest as soon as possible. I haven’t been able to get ahold of the two novellas that go with the series but I hope to someday soon.
The series in order is:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship
Rock Hard
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding
Rock Addiction is the story of Molly Webster and Zachary Fox. Molly is a librarian living in New Zealand like I need any more reasons to move or visit there. The first half of the book takes place there as Zachary Fox the lead singer of a rock band that just so happens to be the rock band her half-sister is the publicist for. You have to hand it to Nalini Singh she gives characters the most heartbreaking and sob worthy backstories. I endeavor to get this good at character backstories. Molly has been scared from the light fame can shed on a person, being the daughter of a political father who went through a public scandal. A scandal that was a factor in her parents losing their lives. Zachary or Fox as he is known to everyone in the world falls head over heels for Molly and will do everything in his power to make her happy. His abandonment issues are heartbreaking and I won’t spoil it for you, just go read it.
Rock Courtship is the story of David the drummer in Zachary Fox’s band and Thea, the band's publicist and Molly’s half-sister. David has been in love with Thea for years, watched her go through a messy divorce, and now wants his chance to prove to her that they deserve a shot. Sadly Thea doesn’t date clients, hell she doesn’t date at all. Her ex-husband did a number on her self-esteem and she fears that she can’t be as amazing at her job and have someone in her life at the same time. Look forward to some steamy memos between the two of them.
Rock Hard is the story of Gabriel Bishop a former Rugby player and now a wealthy businessman and Charlotte Baird who just happens to be Molly Webster’s best friend from Rock Addiction. This book is a return to New Zealand and a lot of it sprinkled in Rock Addiction so it is fantastic to read what was really happening and the things Charlotte didn’t tell Molly. Gabriel is the new CEO of the failing company that Charlotte works for. Charlotte has been doing double duty at work; her own job and the CEO’s assistant’s job on the side without anyone else knowing. When it is clear to Gabriel who should be his assistant he gives Charlotte the choice to take the assistant job or she is fired. An amazing story of a woman taking her power back and a man willing to stand with her, not in front of her.
Rock Redemption is the story of guitarist Noah St. John and Kit Devigny. You first meet Kit in Rock Addiction when Molly mistakes her for an ex-lover of Fox’s, after some growing pains the two women become fast friends. Noah has a troubled past and tries to bury it in sleepless nights with any willing groupie. Kit fell for Noah but when he rejects her she grows to loath him unknowing the hurt buried deep in Noah. Noah has no idea what a healthy relationship is and is drowning. I have to admit out of the whole series this was my least favorite, not because it is bad in any way. It brought up my own childhood trauma and I would have to put it down and breathe a few times, every now and again. I love the way Kit finds to help Noah find ways to live with himself in healthy ways.
Rock Wedding is the last in the series and is a story of Abe Bellamy the keyboardist for the band and his ex-wife, Sarah Smith. This is a true redemption story of two hearts finding each other and mending their broken hearts when they are older and wiser. Abe has been deep in unhealthy grief for his baby sister and hit rock bottom while he was first married to Sarah. Sarah moved on when Abe made her run, she is now a successful entrepreneur in her own right, newly divorced from her 2nd marriage and grieving the loss of her stillborn son. Abe realizes that he never stopped loving Sarah and he wants to help her any way he can now that he is sober and on the right track himself. The weddings in this novel are better than anything else.
This series was my first introduction to Nalini Singh but it has started a love affair that has changed my life. Because of these books, I picked up her Archangel series which will definitely be featured in my 25 days of Bookmas.
Here’s wishing you all happy reading and a Merry Bookmas!
Personally, how am I celebrating Bookmas here at home?
I came up with the idea to celebrate Bookmas instead of Christmas over 5 years ago. We lost two members of our family before October that year and we were having a hard time not only did we lose members of our family we also lost their income. The home in which we were staying needed us to move out by October. We were lucky that we found a home quickly in our budget range (just barely) and due to some lovely friends we were able to make the move. The looming holidays were causing so much stress on us with societal expectations. I ran across a post of this Icelandic holiday I am sure you have seen this on your social media feeds a time or two.
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The idea struck me why do we have to do the standard Christmas, why can’t we have something none stressful and lowkey. So we decided to give it a try. Here is what we came up with. No buying presents for anyone instead, we send cards saying we give you permission to share in our holiday and read a book and ignore your family drama for the holiday. We pick a book, turn on the crackling fire on YouTube, pick some chocolate, put some fix it and forget it meal on, and sit and read the entire day.
I would love to hear if you have any bookish holiday traditions in your family.
Reading: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
Listening too: Hexed on Audiobook the 2nd novel in the Iron Druid series
Something that made me smile today: My dog AJ wouldn't even let me get a drink this morning, she demanded her snuggle time before letting me get truly ready for them.
My Reading Challenge numbers: So far I have read 220 books in 2020
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