Thursday, July 31, 2014

Blog Tour: Lead (Stage Dive #3) by Kylie Scott {Review & Giveaway}


Lead banner




NA Contemporary Romance
Stage Dive #3
ARC Provided by publisher via Netgalley
 






lead
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.


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Where should I begin this review? Hmm.. that's a tough choice. Should I begin by telling you I was and wasn't looking forward to reading LEAD? Since the moment I finished LICK (Stage Dive #1) I knew I was going to be a goner for this series. The other thing I knew was that, after meeting Jimmy, David Ferris' brother and lead singer of the band, there was no possible way I could forgive him for what he did to his brother or couldn't possibly like and or fall in love with him. Ugh-uh. Nope. Wouldn't happen. SO I opened it up and I read...and I read. And Jimmy was harsh, and stubborn and damaged. Yet I melted by the time it was all said and done. LEAD was better than I expected and more than I had hoped for.

So Jimmy Ferris is the oldest brother. Though his lifestyle is lavish and encrusted with diamonds and top of the line champagne NOW it wasn't always that way. Once upon a time, Jimmy lived in less than savory conditions with a drunken junkie mother who took out her frustrations on him that he tried to keep his younger brother from. Like mother like son, Jimmy has spent most of his life with plentiful drugs, booze and easy women. Well.... maybe not JUST like his mom. After it finally catches up to him and the band issuing an ultimatum to get clean or get out he's got to change his ways for good now. Losing so many PR reps who either quit or were fired by him, his last hope comes in the form of a snarky yet curvaceous bombshell, Lena. At Mal's insistence she is to move in with the lead singer and shadow him, making sure he doesn't fall into old patterns again. She gets her first taste of exactly what Jimmy can be like after a tragedy befalls one of the band members family and everything between them changes during one emotional moment. A blossoming friendship and a handful of unrequited feelings later and the entire landscape of the story is shaken up.

Before I get into telling you why I loved Jimmy, I should first tell you why I LOVED LENA! This woman was snarky, sarcastic, hardheaded and determined. She was strong on the outside, a veritable fortress but inside she was as soft as a cotton ball. Lena was the PERFECT woman to go against Jimmy because she matched him attitude for attitude. When he got short with her she gave it right back and they say Iron sharpens Iron. Lena wasn't afraid to put Jimmy right back in his place whenever he got pushy or said the wrong things. She's not your average thin, blond, perky bimbo that the guys in the band have been used to seeing constantly. She's got curves and the best part about her and my number one reason for having this girl crush is...she loves PIE! There was an honesty about her character that drew me in from the beginning. Once she develops feelings for Jimmy and finally lets him in on the secret he tries to help her get over her "crush" on him by following a Cosmo quiz with one of the requirements being to get more exercise. Poor Lena is dragged out day after day to run alongside him cursing her love of Pie the entire time. Lena was a woman after my own heart in so many ways but her past relationship problems are what really had me in her corner. Losing a boyfriend to her sister was painful and left several emotional scars on her heart. I loved that no matter how she felt about Jimmy she never deluded herself to to think things would work out. She went in with her eyes wide open and kept a firm grip on her heart and a clear head on her shoulders and for that reason alone she is my number one favorite female in these books!

Now onto Jimmy. The A-typical damaged heartthrob Rock star. Boohoo, his mama didn't love him enough and boohoo he's so rich now he can't spend all his money fast enough. *eye roll* I was totally not wanting to like him at all but sometimes these things are out of our control. First of all, Jimmy was a dick. From start to almost finish. It took a while for him to get it but the good news is...he does. It's a painful and patience trying journey but it DOES happen. If you haven't read LICK (spoiler alert) Jimmy broke his brothers heart in the past by sleeping with his girlfriend, the love of David's life back then. It caused a lot of turmoil between the two and the band as a whole. Along with the alcohol and women Jimmy's taste for hardcore drugs is what almost costs him everything. He's been in and out of rehab and OD'd several times and the guys just can't take it anymore. Not just because of their success being on the line but they don't want to see Jimmy hurt himself anymore. One of the surprising things I learned about Jimmy in this book was how sensitive he is. His gruff, quiet and off putting personality hides the fact that he feels. Deeply. About everything. He's not superman and little things hurt him. What his brother thinks about him, hurts him. He has no real friends outside of the band members until Lena comes along and her steady friendship is what finally breaks him open like a Cadbury cream egg. Little by little he starts opening up and sharing things with her and letting her in. It was amazing to see him for who he really is and he's a character that didn't hide the truth from himself or anyone else often times bluntly stating facts so there was no confusion. 

Have you ever tried pouring Karo syrup from a bottle? Feels like it takes Fooorevverrr! Well that's sort of what the relationship between Lena and Jimmy was like. Nothing between them happens with any sort of speed. The chemistry they share is buried deep and needs to be cultivated like rich soil. Where David and Evelyn had a connection instantly also Mal and Anne, Jimmy and Lena fight tooth and nail against theirs. Well... mainly Jimmy, poor Lena already knows she won't survive Hurricane Ferris but does her best to keep it to herself. God, this was so much fun to watch them fall. Once Lena started to realize she cared for Jimmy her attraction was misinterpreted to be her just being a creeper when he would catch her staring at him at any given time. I laughed so much watching him get aggravated at her but she couldn't help it. He IS pretty damn hot with his tattoos and blue eyes. So they fight it and they avoid it and Jimmy tries to set Lena up on dates and get her to stop feeling things for him but his unspoken jealousy and her overall failed success at dating doesn't seem to pan out for either of them. When the suggestion comes from Jimmy to get each other out of their systems the heat is soooo on. It may take a while but damn did Scott bring it. Sex fixes everything and they live happily ever after! *cue the wedding march, toss the bouquet* and get your head out of your ass because that ain't happnin'! Yes they finally get together and sizzle in that department but the test of their foundation comes shortly after because Jimmy is....he's just Jimmy. He's a man, a very broken man who at his core feels unworthy so you know that won't be easy. I have to give it to Kylie on this one, she really took her time developing these two and it made for a more believable romance.

What's the best part of continuing on with a series for you? For me it's seeing my favorite characters again and I got all I asked for with LEAD. David and Evelyn make several appearances along with Mal and Anne. Not to mention bass player Ben and Anne's sister Lizzy. The whole gang comes together for several reasons and the women really take a liking to Lena and quickly bring her into the fold as one of them. I loved seeing the girls interact and give Lena tips and help her figure everything out and really just guide her on how to handle being with a rocker. This entire group is a close knit family and it shows with how everyone looks after each other and takes care of whatever the friends may need. *cue Friends theme song*. Lead was definitely the more emotional of the three so far but true to his character, Jimmy's book was fantastic as well and fits right in with the others. I loved where Scott took both Lena and Jimmy by the end and didn't take the easy way out. She really stuck it to us this time around and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way honestly. Everything these characters faced was a test of their strength and though it may have stung a little from time to time it was definitely worth the growing pains. Another one bites the dust..and then there was ONE! This is a fantastic series that never disappoints and I'm absolutely looking forward to book #4, DEEP. BEN'S STORY!! YIPPEEE!! *Happy Dance* If you haven't read these books then let Kylie Scott LICK, PLAY and LEAD you to the dark side *muahahah* (OK, that was lame. Just go read the damn books!)






Quotes:

I might have been asked to moderate my attitude a time or two. but really, life was too short to take shit. Let people walk all over you and you got what you deserved. I'd learned that the hard way.  eARC 2%

History dictated once foolish enough to grow feelings for a guy, my heart stayed stuck till the bitter end. My collection of idiot exes was epic. When it comes to mixing penises with emotions, I couldn't be trusted. eARC 14%

"Thing is, you're never going to have much of a life being at my beck and call. You're better off away from me, and I know that, and I still don't care. That, Lena, is who I am." eARC 33%

"Hey, now. Everyone needs someone special to fuck and cuddle. There is no shame in that." eARC 34% {GOD! I love Mal!!}

"Sometimes," said Ev, throwing her arm around my neck.
"You just have to follow Jimmy's lead."
 "Are you insane? He'll lead me straight to hell."
"Perhaps. But he likes you, so I'm guessing he'll bring you back out safe and sound." eARC 62%

"Don't hate me Lena," he whispered.
 "You want to be mad at me when
 I do dumb things, that's fine. But don't ever hate me.
 I couldn't take that, not from you." 
eARC 88%





{Click covers for Goodreads info}

Hootie's Reviews:







Giveaway:



About Kylie Scott:
Kylie Scott


Kylie is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.









The Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott:

Lick (Stage Dive #1): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads
Play (Stage Dive #2): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads
Lead (Stage Dive #3) Amazon // B&N // iTunes


Deep (Stage Dive #4) available on January 6th, 2015: Amazon / B&N /Goodreads (Pre-Order)


    
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2 comments:

  1. I know how much you hate rich, entitled assholes, so the fact you eventually liked Jimmy says a lot.

    I'm hoping to start this series soon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really do need to start these. That's awesome she won you over. I think I would have had a damn big issue with that man going in too.

    ReplyDelete

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