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Reverb
Sex. Drugs. Rock ‘n Roll. Nick Gorman’s got it all. He’s on top of the world, living his dream, playing guitar on stage in front of thousands of people with non-other than Marlowe. The famous singer could have had his choice of anyone to replace his former guitarist, but he picked Nick to tour with him. Now Nick’s star is on the rise, all thanks to Marlowe, who’s not only Nick’s idol but is fast becoming a terrific friend.
In the blink of an eye, it all turns upside down. A drug-hazed time in a bed alone with Marlowe forces Nick to be aware that the rock star’s interest in him is more than just friendly. Then, before he can even react to that, both singer and guitarist are in a near-fatal accident that could ruin both their careers.
What now? Marlowe’s in jail for two years and Nick is broken. Could they ever play together again, let alone explore the sizzling reverberations that still exist between them?
In the blink of an eye, it all turns upside down. A drug-hazed time in a bed alone with Marlowe forces Nick to be aware that the rock star’s interest in him is more than just friendly. Then, before he can even react to that, both singer and guitarist are in a near-fatal accident that could ruin both their careers.
What now? Marlowe’s in jail for two years and Nick is broken. Could they ever play together again, let alone explore the sizzling reverberations that still exist between them?
309 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Jet Mykles
84 books975 followersJet is a writer of sexual fantasy with a firm belief that all men are at least partially gay, that vampires are just people with a liquid diet and shapeshifters live on every block.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 25, 2011
4.75 stars
I think this just might be the best Jet Mykles that I've read so far. I like the fact that she's taken something that she's done well and is successful at and really tried to make it better (gfy rockers). The subject matter, emotions, and the events in this new book are certainly taken to a new level from the popular Heaven Sent books. The world is grittier, the emotions are deeper, and she's given the story a lot more room to grow at almost double the pages of those other books.
I was certainly impressed that JM was able to take a world that she's written quite a bit in and show us a new side of it. I was also surprised and very impressed with how realistically the California music world is shown, in all its light and dark shades. The glimmering veil of success measured by partners and pockets full of pills and powder is ripped away quite early in the story and is like a harsh slap in the face to Marlowe, who has become somewhat of a bloated fish in a tiny pond, feeding off of the admiration until he's lost in it, until it disappears and he's cut adrift. I appreciated his growth throughout the story and I really believed in him.
I do get frustrated sometimes in JM's stories because a lot of the times the characters never really seem to talk to each other until they've built completely separate sides to the world their relationship encompasses, always presupposing what the other side looks and thinks like. I suppose I could say this is stereotypical of men, gay or straight, to not talk about their feelings, but I also feel like it runs deeper than that. I would have definitely rated this book as 5 stars if I felt like I understood more about Marlowe's past. It has quite a bit to do with his substance abuse and it is only ever briefly alluded to. I am, of course, but one person, and I don't always believe that more information is good for a story. However, in this case, where a lot of the second half of the book deals exclusively with the central relationship, I would have appreciated more background information.
All together, I enjoyed this book immensely. I certainly hope that JM decides to make this a series, as she often does. There were quite a few references to Female Unspeakable Parts and Dirty Acts with Women, but I suppose with a bi guy and a reformed straight man, this is to be expected. Its just too much for these gay eyes to read about :)
I think this just might be the best Jet Mykles that I've read so far. I like the fact that she's taken something that she's done well and is successful at and really tried to make it better (gfy rockers). The subject matter, emotions, and the events in this new book are certainly taken to a new level from the popular Heaven Sent books. The world is grittier, the emotions are deeper, and she's given the story a lot more room to grow at almost double the pages of those other books.
I was certainly impressed that JM was able to take a world that she's written quite a bit in and show us a new side of it. I was also surprised and very impressed with how realistically the California music world is shown, in all its light and dark shades. The glimmering veil of success measured by partners and pockets full of pills and powder is ripped away quite early in the story and is like a harsh slap in the face to Marlowe, who has become somewhat of a bloated fish in a tiny pond, feeding off of the admiration until he's lost in it, until it disappears and he's cut adrift. I appreciated his growth throughout the story and I really believed in him.
I do get frustrated sometimes in JM's stories because a lot of the times the characters never really seem to talk to each other until they've built completely separate sides to the world their relationship encompasses, always presupposing what the other side looks and thinks like. I suppose I could say this is stereotypical of men, gay or straight, to not talk about their feelings, but I also feel like it runs deeper than that. I would have definitely rated this book as 5 stars if I felt like I understood more about Marlowe's past. It has quite a bit to do with his substance abuse and it is only ever briefly alluded to. I am, of course, but one person, and I don't always believe that more information is good for a story. However, in this case, where a lot of the second half of the book deals exclusively with the central relationship, I would have appreciated more background information.
All together, I enjoyed this book immensely. I certainly hope that JM decides to make this a series, as she often does. There were quite a few references to Female Unspeakable Parts and Dirty Acts with Women, but I suppose with a bi guy and a reformed straight man, this is to be expected. Its just too much for these gay eyes to read about :)
September 27, 2011
This one is a hard one to rate. I generally love Jet Mykles' books. And this one, in some context, is no different.
I loved the characters even when I wanted to kill them. Their feelings for each other were genuine enough for me to believe it. I felt like the trials they went through to get where they ended up was both heartbreaking and entertaining but at the same time frustrating. I would definitely consider this an angsty book. No tissues needed but a clench of the heart here and there may happen. And while I wanted to stop reading a few times because something happened, a majority of the time I just couldn't put it down.
With that said, I had a lot of trouble with this book. I felt like I got knocked over the head with too many overly descriptive females. Now, don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem with female characters in general but when I'm reading a m/m book and all the females are being described in details like 'her freckles were like cinnamon in milk' or 'her cleavage was perky' or some other shit, it really annoys me. No. It pisses me off. I don't read m/m to read about the ladies even if the book has a straight man and a bisexual man.
On top of that, I felt like the switch from Nick being 'straight' to Nick being 'gay' happened from one second to another. There wasn't that much confusion on Nick's part especially since he was adamant (more than once) about being straight. And I didn't like his comments, even if they were made as a joke, of Marlowe making him gay. I guess what I'm saying is I didn't believe his switch had enough of the angst I desire which, I feel, should be apart of all GFY stories.
It's funny but I pretty much liked Marlowe more than Nick. Something happens towards the end, though, that I felt was so idiotic I wanted to punch him. I will say it wasn't all Marlowe's fault, though. Nick could have disagreed with what Marlowe said but he didn't. He agreed and with that, Marlowe went off the deep end. He was a fucking idiot. . Another thing, since the blurb mentions it, I was disappointed there weren't more scenes of Marlowe during his jail time. I guess I was a bit disappointed with that because I was so looking forward to it :(
On a high note, I did appreciate the musical descriptions. I crave rockstar books because I want to know the music, the experience they have onstage, offstage and in the studio and this book definitely gave that to me which was a point in its favor.
With that said, I loved the book and I hated it. It wasn't just Marlowe that pissed me off but Nick, too. I only had a few problems with it but those problems were big enough to lower my overall rating. In all honesty, I think Jet could have done better and so far think this is my least favorite of her books. In my opinion, even though her Heaven Sent series was short, it was far better. At least Hell and Faith were.
I loved the characters even when I wanted to kill them. Their feelings for each other were genuine enough for me to believe it. I felt like the trials they went through to get where they ended up was both heartbreaking and entertaining but at the same time frustrating. I would definitely consider this an angsty book. No tissues needed but a clench of the heart here and there may happen. And while I wanted to stop reading a few times because something happened, a majority of the time I just couldn't put it down.
With that said, I had a lot of trouble with this book. I felt like I got knocked over the head with too many overly descriptive females. Now, don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem with female characters in general but when I'm reading a m/m book and all the females are being described in details like 'her freckles were like cinnamon in milk' or 'her cleavage was perky' or some other shit, it really annoys me. No. It pisses me off. I don't read m/m to read about the ladies even if the book has a straight man and a bisexual man.
On top of that, I felt like the switch from Nick being 'straight' to Nick being 'gay' happened from one second to another. There wasn't that much confusion on Nick's part especially since he was adamant (more than once) about being straight. And I didn't like his comments, even if they were made as a joke, of Marlowe making him gay. I guess what I'm saying is I didn't believe his switch had enough of the angst I desire which, I feel, should be apart of all GFY stories.
It's funny but I pretty much liked Marlowe more than Nick. Something happens towards the end, though, that I felt was so idiotic I wanted to punch him. I will say it wasn't all Marlowe's fault, though. Nick could have disagreed with what Marlowe said but he didn't. He agreed and with that, Marlowe went off the deep end. He was a fucking idiot. . Another thing, since the blurb mentions it, I was disappointed there weren't more scenes of Marlowe during his jail time. I guess I was a bit disappointed with that because I was so looking forward to it :(
On a high note, I did appreciate the musical descriptions. I crave rockstar books because I want to know the music, the experience they have onstage, offstage and in the studio and this book definitely gave that to me which was a point in its favor.
With that said, I loved the book and I hated it. It wasn't just Marlowe that pissed me off but Nick, too. I only had a few problems with it but those problems were big enough to lower my overall rating. In all honesty, I think Jet could have done better and so far think this is my least favorite of her books. In my opinion, even though her Heaven Sent series was short, it was far better. At least Hell and Faith were.
May 4, 2012
Edited 2012-05-03: I found out that I wrote what I think of this book (beside "I love this book...") in a comment so I have to fix it :)
I was so frustrated during first part of this book. It was too emotional. It's so different from Jet's other books that I read like "Just for you" or "A rose is a rose". They're bright and fun. This one is dark and I think more "matured". And I have to say I really love new Marlowe with all his fears and struggles...
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I love this book :o)
I was so frustrated during first part of this book. It was too emotional. It's so different from Jet's other books that I read like "Just for you" or "A rose is a rose". They're bright and fun. This one is dark and I think more "matured". And I have to say I really love new Marlowe with all his fears and struggles...
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I love this book :o)
September 27, 2011
I love Jet's style with the pop star/rocker theme. I loved the Heaven sent series and this was just as good.
An emotional roller coaster so be prepared and have the tissues handy.
An emotional roller coaster so be prepared and have the tissues handy.
September 8, 2012
I must confess that I was sure that I would hate this book and at the beginning I almost dropped it, but I was very glad I read on.
For personal reasons - I don't care what one does with his life, but I have little sympathy for those who abuse drug or alcohol AND love it. At the beginning of the book Marlowe - and Nick too - use drugs with such a nonchalance that made me want to throw away my Kindle. Marlowe encourages Nick to take drugs in order to loosen him up a bit and seduce him more easily. I don't care that he was in love with Nick, what he did didn't made me sympathize with him. This was the point of the story, of course.
Marlowe reaches the bottom in his life. An unfortunate and reckless decision costs him his career, his freedom and Nick. He has to fight his addictions and learn to live without the help and the false security that drugs and alcohol gave him. He has also to face Nick's rejection. Without doubt, Marlowe was the most interesting character and by the end of the book, I came to care for him and I found his struggle believable and almost moving.
Nick's side of the story deals with the conflicted feelings he has for Marlowe. At the beginning there's a sort of reverence for the Marlowe as an artist and an attraction that stems from admiration or adoration. After the accident he almost hates Marlowe as the person who almost robbed him of his music. Then there's the confusion for the lust he can't ignore. Nick is straight, he's always been with women, he's never been attracted to a man, but he can't forget the brief encounter he had with Marlowe. The story has a gay-for-you theme on Nick's part (Marlowe is clearly bisexual), but it wasn't the stronger or more convincing part of the book. I think there was no need to insist so much on Nick being straight, instead of making his attraction for Marlowe more powerful, it weakened his story.
I also think the last part had too much sex, but it didn't really bring the story forth. It became a bit repetitive and after the first time, it lost heart. Sex is also a way to show the main couple's dynamics, but the biggest source of problems wasn't really shown in the bedroom, it was instead explained out of it, making the sex on page less meaningful. I also wish there had been more pages about their music.
Recommended if you like rockstars and reformed bad boys.
For personal reasons - I don't care what one does with his life, but I have little sympathy for those who abuse drug or alcohol AND love it. At the beginning of the book Marlowe - and Nick too - use drugs with such a nonchalance that made me want to throw away my Kindle. Marlowe encourages Nick to take drugs in order to loosen him up a bit and seduce him more easily. I don't care that he was in love with Nick, what he did didn't made me sympathize with him. This was the point of the story, of course.
Marlowe reaches the bottom in his life. An unfortunate and reckless decision costs him his career, his freedom and Nick. He has to fight his addictions and learn to live without the help and the false security that drugs and alcohol gave him. He has also to face Nick's rejection. Without doubt, Marlowe was the most interesting character and by the end of the book, I came to care for him and I found his struggle believable and almost moving.
Nick's side of the story deals with the conflicted feelings he has for Marlowe. At the beginning there's a sort of reverence for the Marlowe as an artist and an attraction that stems from admiration or adoration. After the accident he almost hates Marlowe as the person who almost robbed him of his music. Then there's the confusion for the lust he can't ignore. Nick is straight, he's always been with women, he's never been attracted to a man, but he can't forget the brief encounter he had with Marlowe. The story has a gay-for-you theme on Nick's part (Marlowe is clearly bisexual), but it wasn't the stronger or more convincing part of the book. I think there was no need to insist so much on Nick being straight, instead of making his attraction for Marlowe more powerful, it weakened his story.
I also think the last part had too much sex, but it didn't really bring the story forth. It became a bit repetitive and after the first time, it lost heart. Sex is also a way to show the main couple's dynamics, but the biggest source of problems wasn't really shown in the bedroom, it was instead explained out of it, making the sex on page less meaningful. I also wish there had been more pages about their music.
Recommended if you like rockstars and reformed bad boys.
July 16, 2011
For the GB Challenge recommended by Katie. 3.5 STARS
The flavor & the decadence of the music business is captured well in this novel. Little things would bother me here & there about this book like for instance, Nick's fluid sexuality. This is a true GFY book. In fact I think at some point Nick tells Marlowe he made him gay. In other GFY books I've read, there's been an effort made to show the character at least had a passing interest in men before. This one felt like Nick went from having a menage with two women to suddenly having sex with Marlowe. All the while, Nick still acts like he's straight. Maybe this is just the writer's style but it felt weird.
There were also some other things
The flavor & the decadence of the music business is captured well in this novel. Little things would bother me here & there about this book like for instance, Nick's fluid sexuality. This is a true GFY book. In fact I think at some point Nick tells Marlowe he made him gay. In other GFY books I've read, there's been an effort made to show the character at least had a passing interest in men before. This one felt like Nick went from having a menage with two women to suddenly having sex with Marlowe. All the while, Nick still acts like he's straight. Maybe this is just the writer's style but it felt weird.
There were also some other things
June 17, 2021
This is a new author for me and I liked the book but I didn't love it. After reading the blurb I think I expected more angst then this book provided. It definitely showed the decadence of a rock star's life although Marlowe getting 2 years for an accident that killed no one seemed far fetched based on the reality of what sentences famous people get in the real world I could over look that.
However, I had a hard time with Nick's sexuality. This was a true GFY in that Nick had never been attracted to a male before and was adamant that he was not gay. In fact, he and Marlowe have a lot of sex with many women. So Nick's acceptance of having sex with Marlowe came a little too easily and yet he continued to act like he was straight. I actually felt bad for Marlowe as it seemed Nick got everything he wanted and rarely considered Marlowe's feelings.
I also had a bit of a hard time with Marlowe going to a party with drugs and alcohol when he was trying to stay sober and the non-reaction it gets. Obviously Marlowe was in a bad place when he made this decision but this book almost makes it feel like as long as things are going well with Nick he will remain sober but another person can't keep you sober. It seemed that everyone just accepted the fact that he only fell off the wagon because he wasn't with Nick. I wish the author hadn't made it seem like Nick was the answer to Marlowe's addiction issues because that just isn't the case for anyone.
So while I enjoyed this story I had a few fairly large issues with it.
However, I had a hard time with Nick's sexuality. This was a true GFY in that Nick had never been attracted to a male before and was adamant that he was not gay. In fact, he and Marlowe have a lot of sex with many women. So Nick's acceptance of having sex with Marlowe came a little too easily and yet he continued to act like he was straight. I actually felt bad for Marlowe as it seemed Nick got everything he wanted and rarely considered Marlowe's feelings.
I also had a bit of a hard time with Marlowe going to a party with drugs and alcohol when he was trying to stay sober and the non-reaction it gets. Obviously Marlowe was in a bad place when he made this decision but this book almost makes it feel like as long as things are going well with Nick he will remain sober but another person can't keep you sober. It seemed that everyone just accepted the fact that he only fell off the wagon because he wasn't with Nick. I wish the author hadn't made it seem like Nick was the answer to Marlowe's addiction issues because that just isn't the case for anyone.
So while I enjoyed this story I had a few fairly large issues with it.
August 31, 2011
Like many others I’m a huge Jet Mykles fan and anything she writes is an auto-buy for me. Add in about musicians and a Gay For You theme and I’m pretty excited to read. Reverb doesn’t quite live up to the greatness of the Heaven Sent series but it’s an absorbing, gritty read about the reality of fame and drugs. The main couple is well crafted and the story itself flies by, almost too fast, with a lot of great secondary characters that catch your interest. The only real compliant I have is that once the couple gets together the last 100 pages or so is filled with sex scene after sex scene, perhaps making up for the lack in the previous 200 pages, but it also feels a bit repetitive without a lot of tension. This is a small compliant though and I highly doubt many fans will mind.
The story starts with singer Marlowe and guitarist Nick on a successful tour. Surrounded by alcohol, drugs, fame, and willing groupies the men in the band are flying high. Perhaps too high as the night Nick and Marlowe finally get together is a disastrous one. High on drugs Marlowe spins out of control, taking Nick with him. The resulting crash, literal and metaphorical, has long reaching affects and takes years for the two men to come together again. Once they do, their chemistry picks up where it left off but with both men changed, nothing is as easy as it seems.
Reverb feels like a classic Jet Mykles story with great writing, good characters, sizzling chemistry, and very enticing tension. The situations feel authentic and believable, easily sucking you into the rock and roll world. The pace is consistent and lets the story fly by, in fact I read this one much quicker than I expected. The writing feels familiar to Mykles in the best ways and comes with all the great tension and Gay For You themes that I come to expect and want from this author. The story is a bit grittier than previous rock star offerings and thus perhaps offers more of an impact for readers.
The drugs, fame, and easy sex of the lifestyle are very well depicted with a human edge. It doesn’t feel over the top or ridiculous but instead edgy and very real. Both main men show a lot of depth and emotion that makes their connection easy to understand and believe. It’s not easy but then again the story wouldn’t be half as good if it were, instead these two work better with that tension and strife between them for so long. When they finally get together, their reunion is satisfying and worth waiting for. Unfortunately that also leads to one of the slight issues I had with the story. When the two men get together it’s a lot of sex and studio recording so the story feels slight repetitive. There is some additional tension before their happy ending but to me it felt kind of obvious.
That’s not to say I was bored or didn’t enjoy the last third of the story; merely it didn’t hold the same grip on my attention and emotion. It was a nice prolonged ending with a lot of hot sex so I’m not really complaining. I think most readers and fans of the author will actually appreciate a lengthy happy ending rather than a quick wrap up. The other slight issue I had with the story is that there are a lot of great secondary characters that are used too briefly. Given the current length, they couldn’t really get any more page time but I definitely would like to read more about Kip and hope he gets his own book.
Overall the qualms I have are really quite minor in the face of a solid rock star offering from Mykles. It’s not my favorite of her backlist, I don’t think anything could top Heaven Sent, but it’s easily a story I’d read again.
The story starts with singer Marlowe and guitarist Nick on a successful tour. Surrounded by alcohol, drugs, fame, and willing groupies the men in the band are flying high. Perhaps too high as the night Nick and Marlowe finally get together is a disastrous one. High on drugs Marlowe spins out of control, taking Nick with him. The resulting crash, literal and metaphorical, has long reaching affects and takes years for the two men to come together again. Once they do, their chemistry picks up where it left off but with both men changed, nothing is as easy as it seems.
Reverb feels like a classic Jet Mykles story with great writing, good characters, sizzling chemistry, and very enticing tension. The situations feel authentic and believable, easily sucking you into the rock and roll world. The pace is consistent and lets the story fly by, in fact I read this one much quicker than I expected. The writing feels familiar to Mykles in the best ways and comes with all the great tension and Gay For You themes that I come to expect and want from this author. The story is a bit grittier than previous rock star offerings and thus perhaps offers more of an impact for readers.
The drugs, fame, and easy sex of the lifestyle are very well depicted with a human edge. It doesn’t feel over the top or ridiculous but instead edgy and very real. Both main men show a lot of depth and emotion that makes their connection easy to understand and believe. It’s not easy but then again the story wouldn’t be half as good if it were, instead these two work better with that tension and strife between them for so long. When they finally get together, their reunion is satisfying and worth waiting for. Unfortunately that also leads to one of the slight issues I had with the story. When the two men get together it’s a lot of sex and studio recording so the story feels slight repetitive. There is some additional tension before their happy ending but to me it felt kind of obvious.
That’s not to say I was bored or didn’t enjoy the last third of the story; merely it didn’t hold the same grip on my attention and emotion. It was a nice prolonged ending with a lot of hot sex so I’m not really complaining. I think most readers and fans of the author will actually appreciate a lengthy happy ending rather than a quick wrap up. The other slight issue I had with the story is that there are a lot of great secondary characters that are used too briefly. Given the current length, they couldn’t really get any more page time but I definitely would like to read more about Kip and hope he gets his own book.
Overall the qualms I have are really quite minor in the face of a solid rock star offering from Mykles. It’s not my favorite of her backlist, I don’t think anything could top Heaven Sent, but it’s easily a story I’d read again.
Read
June 7, 2011I’m used to the “pop culture” novels by Jet Mykles, actually the Heaven Sent series was probably the first yaoi style novels I read, and I like them. They are probably a must read for me, and that is the reason why I picked up Reverb as soon as it was out; and of course the cover by Laura Carboni was a nice bonus pushing me. True, Jet Mykles advised her fans that Reverb was a little more “dark” than the Heaven Sent series, this is a real sex, drugs and rock and roll themed novel, and the drugs IS a main part of the story, something that, odd as it sounds, in Heaven Sent was not, actually that series was pretty “vanilla”, and it’s saying a lot since it’s probably more on the erotica side than the romance one.
Indeed Reverb starts with a bump: Marlowe, the sexy singer who is “corrupting” young and naïve Nick to the dark side, goes to jail after causing an accident in which Nick is injured. Two years in prison, even if it’s more a rehab than anything else. But Marlowe is inside and Nick is outside, hating Marlowe for being the one who put a stop to his burgeoning career. If you are expecting, or are worried, this is a highly dramatic novel, with two starcrossed lovers suffering from separation, don’t worry. The two years go like a blow (no pun intended), and Marlowe and Nick have to face what is between them: is it sex? Love? Hate? It’s for them to decide.
There is a definitive change in mood from the first to the second part of the novel; the second part is more sweet and tender, more romantic. That is clear also in the change the character of Marlowe had undergone: after the rehab, Marlowe is more “present”, he has a stronger perception of reality, he has no more the drugs clouding his minds, and in this way he has a more raw approach to life and relationship. He is less “star” and more “man”; this change is not unnoticed to Nick, and in a way it was at first not a good change for him: Nick was fascinated by Marlowe, the star, Marlowe was like a hurricane, and it was difficult to refuse him something, even your body. The second Marlowe is a man who something needs to be reassured, to be comforted, he is more a taker than a giver (and yes, a little pun is intended). Nick is not sure he likes so much this second Marlowe, but in the end, it’s only with a man like that you can consider to have a future.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608202585/?...
Indeed Reverb starts with a bump: Marlowe, the sexy singer who is “corrupting” young and naïve Nick to the dark side, goes to jail after causing an accident in which Nick is injured. Two years in prison, even if it’s more a rehab than anything else. But Marlowe is inside and Nick is outside, hating Marlowe for being the one who put a stop to his burgeoning career. If you are expecting, or are worried, this is a highly dramatic novel, with two starcrossed lovers suffering from separation, don’t worry. The two years go like a blow (no pun intended), and Marlowe and Nick have to face what is between them: is it sex? Love? Hate? It’s for them to decide.
There is a definitive change in mood from the first to the second part of the novel; the second part is more sweet and tender, more romantic. That is clear also in the change the character of Marlowe had undergone: after the rehab, Marlowe is more “present”, he has a stronger perception of reality, he has no more the drugs clouding his minds, and in this way he has a more raw approach to life and relationship. He is less “star” and more “man”; this change is not unnoticed to Nick, and in a way it was at first not a good change for him: Nick was fascinated by Marlowe, the star, Marlowe was like a hurricane, and it was difficult to refuse him something, even your body. The second Marlowe is a man who something needs to be reassured, to be comforted, he is more a taker than a giver (and yes, a little pun is intended). Nick is not sure he likes so much this second Marlowe, but in the end, it’s only with a man like that you can consider to have a future.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608202585/?...
May 30, 2011
I wholeheartedly admit I'm a huge fan of the rock star genre and this story was no exception. I'm also a big fan of this author and all her rocker tales but this book seemed a little different to me. I felt more emotions from the characters, more real-life drama and a more realistic timeline for the relationship that developed.
The plot begins in a typical way; sex, drugs and rock & roll, but quickly escalates into something so much more. Marlowe is the epitome of a frontman, doing who and what he wants whenever he sees fit, and his transformation was truly fascinating to me. I've read the odd review that points out the flaws in how submissive he became but I have to disagree with that assessment. I believe Marlowe went through a life-changing experience, and that the author wrote his personality changes in both an interesting and realistic way. He became so devoted to the man he loved that he was willing to go to any lengths to be with him. I don't think he gave himself to Nick because of guilt but out of pure love.
Nick is a strong, personable character full of anger and angst and curiosity. He comes across as both star-struck and confident and I love the dialectical aspects of his character. In some ways he starts the book out as a little boy thrown into a world he's always dreamed about, then finishes up as a man who knows what he wants (shockingly one of those things is another man) and is unafraid to show it and go after it. Together Marlowe and Nick are an exceptional pairing, full of compromise and devotion and a tricky history that only seems to make them stronger.
I love the little twists and turns of the story - failed sobriety, regret, insecurity, deep-seated anger and emotionally-charged love. I'd gladly read more in the saga of Marlowe and Nick anytime.
The plot begins in a typical way; sex, drugs and rock & roll, but quickly escalates into something so much more. Marlowe is the epitome of a frontman, doing who and what he wants whenever he sees fit, and his transformation was truly fascinating to me. I've read the odd review that points out the flaws in how submissive he became but I have to disagree with that assessment. I believe Marlowe went through a life-changing experience, and that the author wrote his personality changes in both an interesting and realistic way. He became so devoted to the man he loved that he was willing to go to any lengths to be with him. I don't think he gave himself to Nick because of guilt but out of pure love.
Nick is a strong, personable character full of anger and angst and curiosity. He comes across as both star-struck and confident and I love the dialectical aspects of his character. In some ways he starts the book out as a little boy thrown into a world he's always dreamed about, then finishes up as a man who knows what he wants (shockingly one of those things is another man) and is unafraid to show it and go after it. Together Marlowe and Nick are an exceptional pairing, full of compromise and devotion and a tricky history that only seems to make them stronger.
I love the little twists and turns of the story - failed sobriety, regret, insecurity, deep-seated anger and emotionally-charged love. I'd gladly read more in the saga of Marlowe and Nick anytime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2012
This is by far the best rocker book written by Jet Mykles. And she's written quite a few of them. While I think her Heaven Sent series is decent, they're underdeveloped and a little too superficial for me. This book however, had a lot of the depth that her other rocker books are lacking.
Nick Gorman is finally where he's dreamed of being - playing lead guitar for a popular rock and roll band and working with his idol and lead singer, Marlowe. Nick has the guitar skills that Marlowe has been looking for, but Marlowe also feels that Nick is the man he's been looking for personally and is ready to make his move. Due to circumstances, stupidity, and a feeling of invincibility, however, Marlowe makes a rash decision that nearly ruins them both. With Marlowe in jail and Nick struggling to recover from physical injuries, will they ever get back all they have lost?
I enjoyed this story and I felt the characters were well written. This wasn't a typical man meets rocker romance, but it dug a little deeper to themes of forgiveness and redemption. This was one of my favorite rocker books.
Nick Gorman is finally where he's dreamed of being - playing lead guitar for a popular rock and roll band and working with his idol and lead singer, Marlowe. Nick has the guitar skills that Marlowe has been looking for, but Marlowe also feels that Nick is the man he's been looking for personally and is ready to make his move. Due to circumstances, stupidity, and a feeling of invincibility, however, Marlowe makes a rash decision that nearly ruins them both. With Marlowe in jail and Nick struggling to recover from physical injuries, will they ever get back all they have lost?
I enjoyed this story and I felt the characters were well written. This wasn't a typical man meets rocker romance, but it dug a little deeper to themes of forgiveness and redemption. This was one of my favorite rocker books.
April 24, 2017
4.5
I was completely captivated by this book from the start. Nick and Marlowe's emotional evolution kept me turning the pages and hoping for a life together built on a new foundation of trust. The events that take place in their lives really help to build the character development and really made me connect with Nick and Marlowe and provide a little insight into each of their thought processes.
I appreciated reading about their challenges, hopes and growth as the story progressed. I never felt like skimming through the book, or even skimming through the sex scenes; everything had a proper place within the story. I did get frustrated with the "miscommunication", but I still loved the story. Great read!
I was completely captivated by this book from the start. Nick and Marlowe's emotional evolution kept me turning the pages and hoping for a life together built on a new foundation of trust. The events that take place in their lives really help to build the character development and really made me connect with Nick and Marlowe and provide a little insight into each of their thought processes.
I appreciated reading about their challenges, hopes and growth as the story progressed. I never felt like skimming through the book, or even skimming through the sex scenes; everything had a proper place within the story. I did get frustrated with the "miscommunication", but I still loved the story. Great read!
February 20, 2016
This felt different from Jet Mykles usual in some ways. It was heavier. It still had the hot rockers, the GFY, and the sex. But it felt more serious and less fluff than her other books. It was also longer and spent a lot more time developing their relationship.
It was interesting that Marlowe and Nick were already in a band together for a year before the book started, and Marlowe was already in love with Nick. That is another difference from the norm. This is not the story of how they met. But I love friends to lovers stories so it was all fine with me. I really loved Marlowe and felt for him and I am so glad that Nick came around.
It was interesting that Marlowe and Nick were already in a band together for a year before the book started, and Marlowe was already in love with Nick. That is another difference from the norm. This is not the story of how they met. But I love friends to lovers stories so it was all fine with me. I really loved Marlowe and felt for him and I am so glad that Nick came around.
March 19, 2012
What a surprise this book was for me! I was hooked from the beginning. The drugs, the rocker lifestyle and all the troubles the characters faced came together to bring Marlowe and Nick together in an amazing story of love, loss, indulgence and hot sex!
The author did a wonderful job of detailing each character's struggles and their emotions, so that the reader was kept interested throughout. It was great to see how Marlowe overcame all his vices and Nicky came into his own.
A wonderful read, but then again, I love my rock star books, drama and great chemistry!
The author did a wonderful job of detailing each character's struggles and their emotions, so that the reader was kept interested throughout. It was great to see how Marlowe overcame all his vices and Nicky came into his own.
A wonderful read, but then again, I love my rock star books, drama and great chemistry!
September 15, 2014
God I love Jet Mykle's rockers books. So freaking hot. This one seemed a little less intense that some of her other ones but I loved it all the same. We have Nick and Marlowe who are in a band together and right when they're starting what could be a fabulous relationship, Marlowe fucks up. Then we have a hella long time passing before they even talk again. I was hoping for a little more angst and tears but not in this one. Fun read!
May 31, 2011
I think I like this as much as Heaven Sent... maybe more. Marlowe is a great character, I liked that he wasn't perfect, and that when he fell in love, he was steadfast.
May 17, 2011
Jet...Rockers...Hot Manlove...Need I say more?
March 18, 2012
This review was originally published on my blog Joyfully Jay.
Life is going great for guitarist Nick Gorman. His career has taken off and he is touring with the hugely popular musician Marlowe and his band. Marlowe is interested in Nick's songs and is planning to make them a part of the group's next album. Nick is living the rock star life, complete with wild parties and readily available sex, drugs, and alcohol.
Lead singer Marlowe is totally hot for Nick and senses that Nick shares the attraction, even if Nick doesn't really recognize his own interest in the other man. Although Marlowe enjoys women for his casual hookups, the encounters he really cares about are with men. One night after a successful show, he tempts Nick into a sexual encounter, easing the way with drugs that lower Nick's inhibitions. Nick is shocked to find out that not only is Marlowe interested in him, but that he shares the attraction. But before the men have a chance to really explore things, a near-fatal accident caused by Marlowe's irresponsibility turns their world upside down.
Nick survives the accident, but his arm is severely broken, keeping him from playing guitar for over a year. And Marlowe must pay for his crimes with jail time and rehab. Nick is furious with Marlowe and refuses to even talk about him, let alone forgive him for his actions. And Marlowe is a changed person, losing a lot of his bravado and realizing that he needs to reevaluate his life and his actions. He still cares for Nick greatly, but Marlowe doesn't know if they will ever be able to move past the accident and rebuild the relationship between them.
Wow, this was such a good story! It shows such a different side of the rock star life than we usually see in romance novels. Almost everyone involved in the story indulges in the ever present drugs and alcohol. They go to wild parties, are offered all kinds of vices, and sex is readily available from women constantly throwing themselves at the band. Marlowe is almost god-like, able to do whatever he wants because he is famous, talented, and incredibly magnetic. Seeing him start out this way, and watching him come to terms with the new person he has become after prison and rehab as he struggles with his insecurities and staying sober is incredibly powerful.
I really loved the way the relationship develops between the two men. Nick's anger at Marlowe is understandable and I was glad that the book doesn't go for the quick fix. Marlowe has to earn his way back into Nick's life and he recognizes the need to gain and keep Nick's trust again. It was also interesting to see how Marlowe overcompensates, wanting to give in on everything to please Nick and make him happy, and how it takes time for the men to find some balance in their relationship and really make things work. The book also nicely explores Nick realization of his attraction to Marlowe. He is surprised by his feelings at first, and it takes time for him to become truly comfortable with the physical side of things. I thought this was a nice change from many stories where the guy who previously identifies as straight jumps right into all aspects of a sexual relationship without needing any time to adjust.
This book really blew me away and I just loved it. If you have read Mykles' Heaven Sent series (which I also enjoyed), I think you will find the tone of this book quite different. Those are much lighter and glossier, whereas Reverb is a much more gritty and realistic portrayal of the music industry and the dangers of fame and readily available vices. It is a great story of finding forgiveness, as well examining your life and figuring out who you really are and who you want to be.
Life is going great for guitarist Nick Gorman. His career has taken off and he is touring with the hugely popular musician Marlowe and his band. Marlowe is interested in Nick's songs and is planning to make them a part of the group's next album. Nick is living the rock star life, complete with wild parties and readily available sex, drugs, and alcohol.
Lead singer Marlowe is totally hot for Nick and senses that Nick shares the attraction, even if Nick doesn't really recognize his own interest in the other man. Although Marlowe enjoys women for his casual hookups, the encounters he really cares about are with men. One night after a successful show, he tempts Nick into a sexual encounter, easing the way with drugs that lower Nick's inhibitions. Nick is shocked to find out that not only is Marlowe interested in him, but that he shares the attraction. But before the men have a chance to really explore things, a near-fatal accident caused by Marlowe's irresponsibility turns their world upside down.
Nick survives the accident, but his arm is severely broken, keeping him from playing guitar for over a year. And Marlowe must pay for his crimes with jail time and rehab. Nick is furious with Marlowe and refuses to even talk about him, let alone forgive him for his actions. And Marlowe is a changed person, losing a lot of his bravado and realizing that he needs to reevaluate his life and his actions. He still cares for Nick greatly, but Marlowe doesn't know if they will ever be able to move past the accident and rebuild the relationship between them.
Wow, this was such a good story! It shows such a different side of the rock star life than we usually see in romance novels. Almost everyone involved in the story indulges in the ever present drugs and alcohol. They go to wild parties, are offered all kinds of vices, and sex is readily available from women constantly throwing themselves at the band. Marlowe is almost god-like, able to do whatever he wants because he is famous, talented, and incredibly magnetic. Seeing him start out this way, and watching him come to terms with the new person he has become after prison and rehab as he struggles with his insecurities and staying sober is incredibly powerful.
I really loved the way the relationship develops between the two men. Nick's anger at Marlowe is understandable and I was glad that the book doesn't go for the quick fix. Marlowe has to earn his way back into Nick's life and he recognizes the need to gain and keep Nick's trust again. It was also interesting to see how Marlowe overcompensates, wanting to give in on everything to please Nick and make him happy, and how it takes time for the men to find some balance in their relationship and really make things work. The book also nicely explores Nick realization of his attraction to Marlowe. He is surprised by his feelings at first, and it takes time for him to become truly comfortable with the physical side of things. I thought this was a nice change from many stories where the guy who previously identifies as straight jumps right into all aspects of a sexual relationship without needing any time to adjust.
This book really blew me away and I just loved it. If you have read Mykles' Heaven Sent series (which I also enjoyed), I think you will find the tone of this book quite different. Those are much lighter and glossier, whereas Reverb is a much more gritty and realistic portrayal of the music industry and the dangers of fame and readily available vices. It is a great story of finding forgiveness, as well examining your life and figuring out who you really are and who you want to be.
June 18, 2011
I was torn as to how I felt about this book. I went with a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. On the one hand, I thought it was a better written book all around than other rocker books by Mykles. On the other however I felt like I never really got to know the characters the way I wanted to or needed to to really feel like the story was believable. It was odd how there was both a really strong well rounded story, without any sort of strong well rounded character.
Nick is an amazing guitarist. He is the nephew of a former famous guitarist and gets compared to Jimi Hendrix. He is straight (at least that's what he keeps telling us) and finally living out his dream as part of the back up band for Marlowe. Marlowe is a bigger than life musician, bisexual and completely in love with Nick from their first meeting. From the blurb you know that the two of them hook up during a drug haze and then there is an accident and Marlowe ends up in jail and Nick is injured. The problem is we only see then on one night prior to the accident, so everything we know about the nature of their relationship is based on watching it through their drug & alcohol glazed eyes and what they say. For me, I wasn't sure where Nick's feelings come from. There is zero to indicate that he ever thought he might be gay or at least attracted to another man. And then suddenly he is really ok with it. It just seems like we gloss over all his confusion. And what I really never get is why these two me are attracted to each other to begin with. Besides the fact that they are both hot. They never really have a conversation that isn't about music, sex, or what they think the other wants to hear about their relationship. The secondary characters are all also pretty flat, except for Kip.
I know, how is this a 4 (3.5) with all these complaints. Because at the end of the day I like rock star m/m books and I go in to a Jet Mykles book knowing exactly what I'm going to get, so my expectations were very realistic.
Nick is an amazing guitarist. He is the nephew of a former famous guitarist and gets compared to Jimi Hendrix. He is straight (at least that's what he keeps telling us) and finally living out his dream as part of the back up band for Marlowe. Marlowe is a bigger than life musician, bisexual and completely in love with Nick from their first meeting. From the blurb you know that the two of them hook up during a drug haze and then there is an accident and Marlowe ends up in jail and Nick is injured. The problem is we only see then on one night prior to the accident, so everything we know about the nature of their relationship is based on watching it through their drug & alcohol glazed eyes and what they say. For me, I wasn't sure where Nick's feelings come from. There is zero to indicate that he ever thought he might be gay or at least attracted to another man. And then suddenly he is really ok with it. It just seems like we gloss over all his confusion. And what I really never get is why these two me are attracted to each other to begin with. Besides the fact that they are both hot. They never really have a conversation that isn't about music, sex, or what they think the other wants to hear about their relationship. The secondary characters are all also pretty flat, except for Kip.
I know, how is this a 4 (3.5) with all these complaints. Because at the end of the day I like rock star m/m books and I go in to a Jet Mykles book knowing exactly what I'm going to get, so my expectations were very realistic.
July 21, 2011
Author: Jet Mykles
Publisher: MLR Press
Word Count: 86,849
Published: 2011
Before I even start, I must confess that I enjoyed Mykles’ first “band” series (Heaven) – although after the first two, they did seem to be repeating the same themes. That being said, I was excited and a bit weary before reading this one – and I had no reason to worry! This felt like an entirely different story and I was glad that Mykles was able to add new life into this setting. Be forewarned, the story isn’t as straightforward as it appears to be in the beginning few pages – there are some interesting twists and turns (ok, really only one, but still).
As in typical Mykles style, the sex is very… tame and vanilla. The characters are well-written and go through surface transformations; there was room for additional growth, but overall you were able to connect with both characters and laugh and cry, depending on the situation. The strength in this story is the setting (who doesn’t love the fantasy of being with the band?) and the plot. While I was definitely engaged in the characters and excited to see where they went and what happened, they weren’t standouts per se. I’m curious if this will become another series and if so, who will be the next character – I sure hope it’s the manager, not other members of the band…
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥
Plot: ♥♥♥
I think I may have lost my edge if I’m leaving this as an overall three, but it was an entertaining read and a nice rocker love story (even if the sex was tame). This is a great read for beginners, fans of rock gods, and anyone who’s looking for some light m/m romance entertainment.
Publisher: MLR Press
Word Count: 86,849
Published: 2011
Before I even start, I must confess that I enjoyed Mykles’ first “band” series (Heaven) – although after the first two, they did seem to be repeating the same themes. That being said, I was excited and a bit weary before reading this one – and I had no reason to worry! This felt like an entirely different story and I was glad that Mykles was able to add new life into this setting. Be forewarned, the story isn’t as straightforward as it appears to be in the beginning few pages – there are some interesting twists and turns (ok, really only one, but still).
As in typical Mykles style, the sex is very… tame and vanilla. The characters are well-written and go through surface transformations; there was room for additional growth, but overall you were able to connect with both characters and laugh and cry, depending on the situation. The strength in this story is the setting (who doesn’t love the fantasy of being with the band?) and the plot. While I was definitely engaged in the characters and excited to see where they went and what happened, they weren’t standouts per se. I’m curious if this will become another series and if so, who will be the next character – I sure hope it’s the manager, not other members of the band…
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥
Plot: ♥♥♥
I think I may have lost my edge if I’m leaving this as an overall three, but it was an entertaining read and a nice rocker love story (even if the sex was tame). This is a great read for beginners, fans of rock gods, and anyone who’s looking for some light m/m romance entertainment.
June 21, 2011
Very satisfying read, more realistic than author's previous books about music industry. Nick wasn't gay in three seconds flat, he didn't forgive Marlowe at once, there was no great coming out scene (willing or forced), the grittier parts of the business were not overlooked, etc. There were funny and cute moments as well as very emotional ones. The moment when Marlowe fell off the wagon was heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes. Like some other readers, I was slightly bothered by Marlowe's complete personality change, including entirely one-sided sexual relationship. Even if he was drugged out of his mind since he was 13, Marlowe's sobriety was treated almost as a brain transplant. I understand why this was done, but I also wanted more balance in his personality and Nick's and Marlowe's relationship (his talent against his insecurities, more than one sex scene at the end to show how their relationship changed, etc.). Kip was a delightful character and I hope he'll get the story of his own. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2011
Oh my God!! This was completely unputdownable! I mean, I cried when the accident happened and I was so angry at Marlowe but he was in so much pain. And then when he and Nick finally kinda got together I wanted to lock the pair of them in a room together and MAKE them talk to each other.
This book was painful but in a completely brilliant way. I love the fact that it wasn't easy for them, that they had to work to be together. I thought Kip was absolutely fantastic and I really hope we get a story with him in it.
As always, the sex was steaming hot, like WHOA! I read it in one go, then re-read it because I wanted to soak up the details I missed the first time. So different from the guys in Heaven Sent but so fantastic. This was completely awesome - just brilliant!
This book was painful but in a completely brilliant way. I love the fact that it wasn't easy for them, that they had to work to be together. I thought Kip was absolutely fantastic and I really hope we get a story with him in it.
As always, the sex was steaming hot, like WHOA! I read it in one go, then re-read it because I wanted to soak up the details I missed the first time. So different from the guys in Heaven Sent but so fantastic. This was completely awesome - just brilliant!
December 17, 2014
I love rocker books and I really enjoyed the storyline in this one. I loved seeing the struggle with drugs and alcohol for Marlowe and his realization of hitting rock bottom, figuring out what was most important, and even a subsequent slip up which is not unrealistic. Enjoyed the relationship between Nick and Marlowe although I would have loved more dialogue written between them as they were becoming friends again. The book kind of seemed to jump a few weeks/months where they were getting along and I would have liked a little more development here to help explain why Nick all of a sudden had no problems with Marlowe after so long. Great book overall.
May 16, 2011
The story was pretty good and emotionally deep. I liked the characters and how the plot developed from the start till the end. In general it was good written story full of sex, rock and drugs, but then that's what review said. All main characters were interesting and filled the story completely. Recommended emotional romantic story!
December 25, 2012
I love rocker stories, and Jet writes them perfectly. I loved this one - I loved Marlowe and Nick so much that it made my heart hurt. This wasn't as easy going as I expected, it's got a fair bit of angst to it, but I really enjoyed it and loved the ending too. Wish we could see more of this couple!
May 24, 2011
Excellent m/m romance about the lead singer of a rock band who's really attracted to his straight lead guitarist and finally has the opportunity to seduce him... and then things go very, very wrong. Keep your hankies handy for this one!
June 5, 2011
The beginning pelted out something fierce and serious, the middle of the story went slow, but was to be expected and towards the end it just did it for me. Hands down, no doubt Jet has done it for me again with one of her books.
May 25, 2011
Jet at her finest.
May 31, 2021
Excellent
I don't read a lot of books with musicians but I'm really glad I picked this one up. When I read in the blurb that Marlowe goes to jail, my curiosity was peaked and I wanted to know how his relationship with Nick could possibly survive. I liked that Nick's anger wasn't brushed aside and I enjoyed seeing him come to terms with his feelings for Marlowe. I'm not sure why I haven't read this author before but I won't hesitate to read another one.
I don't read a lot of books with musicians but I'm really glad I picked this one up. When I read in the blurb that Marlowe goes to jail, my curiosity was peaked and I wanted to know how his relationship with Nick could possibly survive. I liked that Nick's anger wasn't brushed aside and I enjoyed seeing him come to terms with his feelings for Marlowe. I'm not sure why I haven't read this author before but I won't hesitate to read another one.
August 3, 2017
Terrible, and this is from someone who loves JM. She is the only author that I read her rocker romances, since I hate this genre. It was not romantic, it was depressing, it felt longer than it is, it is certainly "darker" since there are lots of drugs and booze.... and drugs and sex... and drugs and drugs.
I hate that Marlowe induced Nicky into the world of drugs, I hate that he drugged Nicky in order to seduce him. I hate that stupid accident, how much of an ass Marlowe was, how resentful Nicky was, how stupid their whole fight was. I hate how they are in love with each other but sleep with hundreds of girls instead (but they are all girls.. no men... which is supposed to be "less" meaningful). I hate how from one second to the other, Nicky was from hating Marlowe to pounding him. I hate that I also feel like Marlowe was just an ass for Nicky, no reciprocation there. I hate that Marlowe, who was struggling against his addiction, has one fight and goes looking for them plus sleeping with other guys. No, he doesn't sleep with anyone, but he french-kisses 2 guys, takes drugs and that's it. Cheating and fall into addiction again. What a wimp.
Gosh, I hated everything, now that I think about it. From the beginning to the end.
I hate that Marlowe induced Nicky into the world of drugs, I hate that he drugged Nicky in order to seduce him. I hate that stupid accident, how much of an ass Marlowe was, how resentful Nicky was, how stupid their whole fight was. I hate how they are in love with each other but sleep with hundreds of girls instead (but they are all girls.. no men... which is supposed to be "less" meaningful). I hate how from one second to the other, Nicky was from hating Marlowe to pounding him. I hate that I also feel like Marlowe was just an ass for Nicky, no reciprocation there. I hate that Marlowe, who was struggling against his addiction, has one fight and goes looking for them plus sleeping with other guys. No, he doesn't sleep with anyone, but he french-kisses 2 guys, takes drugs and that's it. Cheating and fall into addiction again. What a wimp.
Gosh, I hated everything, now that I think about it. From the beginning to the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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