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Rock Rhapsody #1
Rock Her
She’s a small town nurse who had to grow up fast. He’s rock music’s most infamous guitarist. When a day at the beach turns life or death, their worlds collide, and no one will ever be the same.
Kate Gibson’s life has been all about family. She spent her high school years taking care of her dying mother, and her college years raising her younger sister.
Alec Sawyer’s past was an excess of everything: drugs, parties, rock, sex, and money. His downfall had been long, spectacular, and public.
Thrown together by fate and the media, Kate and Alec find themselves falling in love. But dating in the spotlight has its downside, and some secrets are better left in the dark.
Kate Gibson’s life has been all about family. She spent her high school years taking care of her dying mother, and her college years raising her younger sister.
Alec Sawyer’s past was an excess of everything: drugs, parties, rock, sex, and money. His downfall had been long, spectacular, and public.
Thrown together by fate and the media, Kate and Alec find themselves falling in love. But dating in the spotlight has its downside, and some secrets are better left in the dark.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2013
46 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Cross
22 books156 followersRachel Cross writes fast-paced contemporary romance with a twist. She lives by the beach in SoCal with her husband, two children and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 5, 2015
*ACR copy for an honest review ! *
First things first, :) i Actually loved this book,with its strong plot, fun scenarios and lively dialogues,there was no way i could have rated this book a star below 3.
By now, im sure your wondering why i rated it less than 5 stars unlike everyone else ?
Well,honestly ? it was the characters because at this one point i couldn't really understand how the author was trying to relate them to the plot.
For example,take Dr.Billingsly, he kinna appeared at the beginning ,got locked out in between and never really showed up by the end.I mean come on,given his role in the book. i Really expected him to go crazy for Kate,
And her father Matt,he did absolutley EVERYTHING i expected Billingsly to do. Which got me further frustrated,because i found it humongosuley difficult to sympathies with KATE when things went wrong between her and sister, Emma.
Cause come on Kate this was tottally ur fault,so yeah girl....um..
BUT YOU ALEC ! OMG ! CAN I LIKE LICK YOU NOW ? ;D LOL
i would definatley love to see more of him !
RECOMMENDATION: :To everyone searching for a fun,great read with a dash of mystery in it.
First things first, :) i Actually loved this book,with its strong plot, fun scenarios and lively dialogues,there was no way i could have rated this book a star below 3.
By now, im sure your wondering why i rated it less than 5 stars unlike everyone else ?
Well,honestly ? it was the characters because at this one point i couldn't really understand how the author was trying to relate them to the plot.
For example,take Dr.Billingsly, he kinna appeared at the beginning ,got locked out in between and never really showed up by the end.I mean come on,given his role in the book. i Really expected him to go crazy for Kate,
And her father Matt,he did absolutley EVERYTHING i expected Billingsly to do. Which got me further frustrated,because i found it humongosuley difficult to sympathies with KATE when things went wrong between her and sister, Emma.
Cause come on Kate this was tottally ur fault,so yeah girl....um..
BUT YOU ALEC ! OMG ! CAN I LIKE LICK YOU NOW ? ;D LOL
i would definatley love to see more of him !
RECOMMENDATION: :To everyone searching for a fun,great read with a dash of mystery in it.
August 3, 2013
Rock Her was an exciting and quick read full of suspense, but most notably a sweet romance.
Twenty-five year old Kate has put her romantic life on hold for the most part. She had to step in as mother and provider to her eleven year old sister at the very young age of eighteen when her mother dies. Her father is a real piece of work (certainly a piece of something!) and so she is basically on her own with Emma, her sister. This makes romance and boyfriends the least of her worries through the years. But with Emma off to college, her life is open to new possibilities. Performing a heroic rescue puts Kate right into the path of Alec Sawyer and he quickly disrupts her life in both good and bad ways.
Alec Sawyer was part of a hugely famous rock band, and lived life on the edge with drugs, alcohol and women, until one of his band mates overdoses. Real life and consequences smack him in the face waking him up to the big picture. Now ten years sober, he stays out of the lime light and lives a quite life in the little town of Cielito. That is until Kate stumbles into his life and gives it a little shake.
It’s fun to read about reluctant lovers slowly losing their battle against falling in love. Kate and Alec have some emotional hurdles to get over, but nothing too frustrating or drawn out. Their attraction is not easy to ignore. Every time they're around each other, fires ignite! Kate is sweet and innocent, but also smart, and accomplished, putting herself through nursing school. If anyone deserved an exciting lusty romance, that would be Kate!! She gets that and more from Alec. He’s quite a bit older at thirty-eight, and has the experience to prove it! Oh my….Even with all his experience Alecs’s surprised by how much Kate affects him:
“his feelings were impossible to ignore. This was different. She was different. He racked his brain, trying to remember if he’d ever felt this tender affection and wonder for another soul. It was like being stripped bare.”
Besides the romance, there is excitement and danger that make you want to read through to see how things turn out. There is some definite creep factor with a stalker and a criminal father!
I have to say, I was disappointed with both Kate and Alec in a couple of spots; Kate for being a pushover with Alec, and Alec for being a jerk. Emma, Kate’s sister was very annoying thorough most of this read, and I really wanted to give her a good smack for being so selfish. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive and sexy read!
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5-4 Stars
Twenty-five year old Kate has put her romantic life on hold for the most part. She had to step in as mother and provider to her eleven year old sister at the very young age of eighteen when her mother dies. Her father is a real piece of work (certainly a piece of something!) and so she is basically on her own with Emma, her sister. This makes romance and boyfriends the least of her worries through the years. But with Emma off to college, her life is open to new possibilities. Performing a heroic rescue puts Kate right into the path of Alec Sawyer and he quickly disrupts her life in both good and bad ways.
Alec Sawyer was part of a hugely famous rock band, and lived life on the edge with drugs, alcohol and women, until one of his band mates overdoses. Real life and consequences smack him in the face waking him up to the big picture. Now ten years sober, he stays out of the lime light and lives a quite life in the little town of Cielito. That is until Kate stumbles into his life and gives it a little shake.
It’s fun to read about reluctant lovers slowly losing their battle against falling in love. Kate and Alec have some emotional hurdles to get over, but nothing too frustrating or drawn out. Their attraction is not easy to ignore. Every time they're around each other, fires ignite! Kate is sweet and innocent, but also smart, and accomplished, putting herself through nursing school. If anyone deserved an exciting lusty romance, that would be Kate!! She gets that and more from Alec. He’s quite a bit older at thirty-eight, and has the experience to prove it! Oh my….Even with all his experience Alecs’s surprised by how much Kate affects him:
“his feelings were impossible to ignore. This was different. She was different. He racked his brain, trying to remember if he’d ever felt this tender affection and wonder for another soul. It was like being stripped bare.”
Besides the romance, there is excitement and danger that make you want to read through to see how things turn out. There is some definite creep factor with a stalker and a criminal father!
I have to say, I was disappointed with both Kate and Alec in a couple of spots; Kate for being a pushover with Alec, and Alec for being a jerk. Emma, Kate’s sister was very annoying thorough most of this read, and I really wanted to give her a good smack for being so selfish. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive and sexy read!
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5-4 Stars
June 27, 2013
**Review copy courtesy of the publisher**
**This is a really long review with a lot of snark and bitchiness. You've been warned.**
**Reviewed for Evie at Evie-Knight.com**
Hmmm, I wonder if I'm missing something? I see that this book has a lot of really high ratings (4+stars). Well, no matter. I don't give two shits that everyone else liked this book. I thought the characters were dicks which is why I rated it so low. Lemme 'splain...
Before I start throwing my hissy fit, let me tell you that I loved the writing in this book. I thought it was paced pretty well and the author absolutely sucked me in. I really only wanted to quit this book at the 75% mark due to my absolute disgust with the characters. Oh and this book is friggin hot! There were a couple of scenes... umm, well nevermind. Just trust me that they were really hot and totally awesome. Because of this, I gave the book 2 stars. I could probably go with 3 but I'm still pissed so deal with it.
Now, we have our heroine, Kate. Kate's mom died when Kate was 18 and Kate had to raise her 11-year old sister from that time on. She's made ends meet due to her mom's healthy life insurance policy but also due to the fact that Kate works like a dog. She's a nurse and takes all the overtime and extra shifts she can get her hands on! Right after we meet Kate, she ends up saving a surfer who has a seizure while out on the water. She gets a lot of attention for her rescue due to the fact that the man who helped her is a big rock star. Well, former rock star but we'll get to him later. So Kate is awesome, right? She's a nurse and she's out there saving people and she's raised her little sister and she's a great person! I loved her! But after she meets her rock star, she slowly starts to change. See, she goes on this date with a doctor who asked her out. The date doesn't go well (yes, I'm being vague on purpose) but at least she's out there, right? Later on, she starts seeing a red Mercedes everywhere she goes and it has a unique license plate. She thinks nothing of it except something like, "Hm, I feel like I've seen that car around a lot..." Oh really, you dumb shit? You go on a shitty date with a shitty guy who creeps you out and when you see a car over and over again, you think nothing of it??! How has this chick NOT been attacked and murdered yet if that's how her sense of self preservation works?!? Then later, she gets into some danger and ohhh here comes the big, strong man to save and protect her. I just threw up all over my Feminists' Manual. To top her massive stupidity off, the money is running low from her mom's life insurance (that's how she pays for her sister's college) and her sister is blowing through cash like a hooker at cocaine convention and she's all wringing her hands and "Oh dear whatever shall I do?" You know what you do? Tell your bitch of a spoiled sister that she can pay for her own damn school. Jesus H You-Know-Who! I could LITERALLY go on with like 6 more examples of where these two sisters made me want to gouge my eyes out but this review is already too long and I haven't even started on the dude. So hopefully you get my point about these chicks, even if you don't agree with me. I require, REQUIRE a good heroine. And this one sucked a rotten egg for most of the book.
Which brings us to Alec. Oh Alec. How pathetic you are. For those of you that just luuuuurve rock stars, you'll probably dig him. But for me, I have a very hard time picturing a rock star without picturing gross Tommy Lee or Vince McNeil or whatever his name was. Oh, or that dude that was banging chicks on VH1 and now remodels RV's (oh how the mighty have fallen). And for ME, those dudes are NOT attractive. And they're not even like Carrot Top who I'd do just for the fascination or creepy factor and to see if his face ever moves. No, they're just... yuck. So I'm a little handicapped from the start, in my opinion. But let's just try to imagine that Alec looks like Ryan Gosling or Henry Cavill or whoever your flavor of the month is, ok? He (Alec, not Ryan or Henry) seems pretty great even though he used to be a serious drug addict. He's been clean and sober for like 10 years now and he's an entertainment lawyer. Good dude, right? I really liked him! I love seeing a hero battle his demons and all that good stuff. But once he and Kate get more serious, he starts to have this tendency to bail. Like literally. They're at a party, two hours away from Kate's home. They have mind-blowing sex against a wall (seriously, it was HOT!), he freaks out and bolts while she's in the bathroom. HE WAS DRIVING! SHE HAS NO WAY HOME! Oh well, he gives a thousand dollars to one of the catering people to find her and take her home. Oh what a greaaaaaaaat guy!! (<---- Sarcasm.) No. No way. No WAY would a guy ever get within 100 yards of me after pulling a stunt like that! I don't care what the excuse was! Oh, oh, you were kidnapped? Oh dear... well guess what, I don't give a shit and by the way, meet my Tazer, asshole! Later they make up (oh of-fricking-course), and he's explaining why he took off at the party and says that he was afraid he hurt her or some shit and she tells him she was into it and he's all, "You were?"... Seriously. Take a minute to absorb that. Did her moans not give it away? Her dripping wet lady bits (excuse my rudeness there)? Her sighs of satisfaction after? The kissing after? Yeah, this dude is some rock god who's gotten more tail than a taxidermist and he didn't get that she was into it. Wait, what's that? Oops, its my eyeballs on the floor. They fell out after I rolled them so hard. UGH!!!
So I hope you can see why I rated this one so low. I love a stupid character as much as the next girl but even I have my limits. I knew I was over this book when Alec professes his love saying that its crappy timing and I thought, "Uhh, no the book is almost over so your timing is just about spot on, dude." I was already out of the book and into making fun of it already. I won't even get into the side plot with the triangle of Kate, Kate's father and Kate's sister. Its way too much.
If you like weak, ineffectual heroines and moronic heroes, you might like this one. On the other hand, I think that has some really great plot points and the characters are really taken through the wringer. As much as I hated the characters (all of them), I couldn't wait to see what the secrets were and how the mysteries would end! I feel like if you really can overlook the character flaws OR if you think the things I mentioned were not character flaws, then you should for sure read this book! It has some really great aspects. I just felt that the characters dragged it down too much for me. What do YOU think??
**This is a really long review with a lot of snark and bitchiness. You've been warned.**
**Reviewed for Evie at Evie-Knight.com**
Hmmm, I wonder if I'm missing something? I see that this book has a lot of really high ratings (4+stars). Well, no matter. I don't give two shits that everyone else liked this book. I thought the characters were dicks which is why I rated it so low. Lemme 'splain...
Before I start throwing my hissy fit, let me tell you that I loved the writing in this book. I thought it was paced pretty well and the author absolutely sucked me in. I really only wanted to quit this book at the 75% mark due to my absolute disgust with the characters. Oh and this book is friggin hot! There were a couple of scenes... umm, well nevermind. Just trust me that they were really hot and totally awesome. Because of this, I gave the book 2 stars. I could probably go with 3 but I'm still pissed so deal with it.
Now, we have our heroine, Kate. Kate's mom died when Kate was 18 and Kate had to raise her 11-year old sister from that time on. She's made ends meet due to her mom's healthy life insurance policy but also due to the fact that Kate works like a dog. She's a nurse and takes all the overtime and extra shifts she can get her hands on! Right after we meet Kate, she ends up saving a surfer who has a seizure while out on the water. She gets a lot of attention for her rescue due to the fact that the man who helped her is a big rock star. Well, former rock star but we'll get to him later. So Kate is awesome, right? She's a nurse and she's out there saving people and she's raised her little sister and she's a great person! I loved her! But after she meets her rock star, she slowly starts to change. See, she goes on this date with a doctor who asked her out. The date doesn't go well (yes, I'm being vague on purpose) but at least she's out there, right? Later on, she starts seeing a red Mercedes everywhere she goes and it has a unique license plate. She thinks nothing of it except something like, "Hm, I feel like I've seen that car around a lot..." Oh really, you dumb shit? You go on a shitty date with a shitty guy who creeps you out and when you see a car over and over again, you think nothing of it??! How has this chick NOT been attacked and murdered yet if that's how her sense of self preservation works?!? Then later, she gets into some danger and ohhh here comes the big, strong man to save and protect her. I just threw up all over my Feminists' Manual. To top her massive stupidity off, the money is running low from her mom's life insurance (that's how she pays for her sister's college) and her sister is blowing through cash like a hooker at cocaine convention and she's all wringing her hands and "Oh dear whatever shall I do?" You know what you do? Tell your bitch of a spoiled sister that she can pay for her own damn school. Jesus H You-Know-Who! I could LITERALLY go on with like 6 more examples of where these two sisters made me want to gouge my eyes out but this review is already too long and I haven't even started on the dude. So hopefully you get my point about these chicks, even if you don't agree with me. I require, REQUIRE a good heroine. And this one sucked a rotten egg for most of the book.
Which brings us to Alec. Oh Alec. How pathetic you are. For those of you that just luuuuurve rock stars, you'll probably dig him. But for me, I have a very hard time picturing a rock star without picturing gross Tommy Lee or Vince McNeil or whatever his name was. Oh, or that dude that was banging chicks on VH1 and now remodels RV's (oh how the mighty have fallen). And for ME, those dudes are NOT attractive. And they're not even like Carrot Top who I'd do just for the fascination or creepy factor and to see if his face ever moves. No, they're just... yuck. So I'm a little handicapped from the start, in my opinion. But let's just try to imagine that Alec looks like Ryan Gosling or Henry Cavill or whoever your flavor of the month is, ok? He (Alec, not Ryan or Henry) seems pretty great even though he used to be a serious drug addict. He's been clean and sober for like 10 years now and he's an entertainment lawyer. Good dude, right? I really liked him! I love seeing a hero battle his demons and all that good stuff. But once he and Kate get more serious, he starts to have this tendency to bail. Like literally. They're at a party, two hours away from Kate's home. They have mind-blowing sex against a wall (seriously, it was HOT!), he freaks out and bolts while she's in the bathroom. HE WAS DRIVING! SHE HAS NO WAY HOME! Oh well, he gives a thousand dollars to one of the catering people to find her and take her home. Oh what a greaaaaaaaat guy!! (<---- Sarcasm.) No. No way. No WAY would a guy ever get within 100 yards of me after pulling a stunt like that! I don't care what the excuse was! Oh, oh, you were kidnapped? Oh dear... well guess what, I don't give a shit and by the way, meet my Tazer, asshole! Later they make up (oh of-fricking-course), and he's explaining why he took off at the party and says that he was afraid he hurt her or some shit and she tells him she was into it and he's all, "You were?"... Seriously. Take a minute to absorb that. Did her moans not give it away? Her dripping wet lady bits (excuse my rudeness there)? Her sighs of satisfaction after? The kissing after? Yeah, this dude is some rock god who's gotten more tail than a taxidermist and he didn't get that she was into it. Wait, what's that? Oops, its my eyeballs on the floor. They fell out after I rolled them so hard. UGH!!!
So I hope you can see why I rated this one so low. I love a stupid character as much as the next girl but even I have my limits. I knew I was over this book when Alec professes his love saying that its crappy timing and I thought, "Uhh, no the book is almost over so your timing is just about spot on, dude." I was already out of the book and into making fun of it already. I won't even get into the side plot with the triangle of Kate, Kate's father and Kate's sister. Its way too much.
If you like weak, ineffectual heroines and moronic heroes, you might like this one. On the other hand, I think that has some really great plot points and the characters are really taken through the wringer. As much as I hated the characters (all of them), I couldn't wait to see what the secrets were and how the mysteries would end! I feel like if you really can overlook the character flaws OR if you think the things I mentioned were not character flaws, then you should for sure read this book! It has some really great aspects. I just felt that the characters dragged it down too much for me. What do YOU think??
June 13, 2013
This was a fun, page turning, sweet romance and i loved it! I liked the two MC’s and the story line. This was the debut novel for Rachel Cross who asked me to read and review her book. A first for me, and i was concerned how i would react to her book. Well I can safely say I reacted wonderfully! I loved her story and the ease of her writing and the flow of the book.
Kate is young, but because of circumstances she is wise beyond her years. Emotionally strong, independent, caring, she is also a nurse and taking care of her younger sister Emma after their mother dies of cancer. What I didn’t understand about Kate was why she kept certain things from her sister Emma. And while i understand wanting to protect her younger sister it created some unnecessary friction between them. And it opened the door to their dead beat dad to walk into their lives (we hate him).
And then there is Alec, oh my my is he yummy! And while physically he is hot stuff, he is also someone who has his own painful past and has learned from his mistakes. He has depth and caring and still some lingering scars to get past. He is not perfect, he has fears that at times get the better of him. Honestly, a couple of times he pissed me off! I wanted to hit him over the head with something hard and yell at him to stop! But eventually Alec would wise up and be absolutely wonderful, and I would absolutely forgive him.
The sex/love scenes between these two characters were wonderful, sweet and captivating, but I would have liked them to last a little longer, and maybe a bit more hot, they seemed rather “quick” to me at times.
Overall, an entertaining, fun, sweet page turning book. I found myself reaching for this book at every available moment once i started reading it. I will be looking forward to more books from this talented author.
4 happy stars!
Kate is young, but because of circumstances she is wise beyond her years. Emotionally strong, independent, caring, she is also a nurse and taking care of her younger sister Emma after their mother dies of cancer. What I didn’t understand about Kate was why she kept certain things from her sister Emma. And while i understand wanting to protect her younger sister it created some unnecessary friction between them. And it opened the door to their dead beat dad to walk into their lives (we hate him).
And then there is Alec, oh my my is he yummy! And while physically he is hot stuff, he is also someone who has his own painful past and has learned from his mistakes. He has depth and caring and still some lingering scars to get past. He is not perfect, he has fears that at times get the better of him. Honestly, a couple of times he pissed me off! I wanted to hit him over the head with something hard and yell at him to stop! But eventually Alec would wise up and be absolutely wonderful, and I would absolutely forgive him.
The sex/love scenes between these two characters were wonderful, sweet and captivating, but I would have liked them to last a little longer, and maybe a bit more hot, they seemed rather “quick” to me at times.
Overall, an entertaining, fun, sweet page turning book. I found myself reaching for this book at every available moment once i started reading it. I will be looking forward to more books from this talented author.
4 happy stars!
June 14, 2013
I just love Alec and Kate! I wanted more!
Kate is an innocent but still older than her years having to raise her little sister after their mother died....
Alec is a rock star recovering addict who walked away from the business. He is also many years Kates senior.
The two of them meet on the beach and it sets in motion a wonderful love story.
I really did/do want more of these two. I would of liked some more sex scenes and they could of been longer, they seemed a little hurried (Except for the one at the party).
Great debut novel. Will definatly read this authors work again.
*ARC provided by author for honest review*
Kate is an innocent but still older than her years having to raise her little sister after their mother died....
Alec is a rock star recovering addict who walked away from the business. He is also many years Kates senior.
The two of them meet on the beach and it sets in motion a wonderful love story.
I really did/do want more of these two. I would of liked some more sex scenes and they could of been longer, they seemed a little hurried (Except for the one at the party).
Great debut novel. Will definatly read this authors work again.
*ARC provided by author for honest review*
September 12, 2016
Rated 4 Stars
An Opposites attract story.
An Opposites attract story.
July 17, 2013
Here is another great N/A. I love this genre and this worked for me.
August 31, 2022
The writing was a bit dry. I was never able to connect.
Kate’s sister, Emma, was a spoiled brat. She needed to get a job.
Kate’s sister, Emma, was a spoiled brat. She needed to get a job.
August 12, 2013
I know I’m not the only one who’s under the dilemma of never knowing what to write about a certain book. It's not that I don’t like it; it’s just that I don’t love it either and that makes it harder coz I can't seem to place my thoughts for this one. So, I'll just try to take it step by step…
When Kate saves a young surfer who goes underneath the water with the help of another savior Alec, she never thought that her life would spin off drastically after that.
Alec Sawyer was The Alec Sawyer - famous guitarist from a retired band; alcoholic turned workaholic.
When the news spins around that they become a hero for a day, words travel fast that they’re also a couple - thus start a relationship from friends, lust and duh love.
People may have loved that same plot flow I have given you above but I guess I have read my fair share of contemporary romance making this like an ordinary one. There is so much more from this story and I really do appreciate the author’s way of wovening the lives of this two strangers but my search to find something new and banging came up a bit empty.
Character wise, I really like Kate – selfless, strong and very accepting; She's forced to grow up fast what with her mom dying leaving her to fend for her and her younger sister. As for Alec, well I was skeptical about him - he's older and wiser yet he's the one who seem to be acting like a child with all his dramatics and test to Kate.
The insta-love and the fight that leads to their semi-separation was honestly eye-roll inducing but fortunately I feel this certain genuineness between them that I know at some point, if well developed their insta-love would work.
Well, in all it was an okay read for me. Contemporary lover? Yep, you could pick this one up.
When Kate saves a young surfer who goes underneath the water with the help of another savior Alec, she never thought that her life would spin off drastically after that.
Alec Sawyer was The Alec Sawyer - famous guitarist from a retired band; alcoholic turned workaholic.
When the news spins around that they become a hero for a day, words travel fast that they’re also a couple - thus start a relationship from friends, lust and duh love.
People may have loved that same plot flow I have given you above but I guess I have read my fair share of contemporary romance making this like an ordinary one. There is so much more from this story and I really do appreciate the author’s way of wovening the lives of this two strangers but my search to find something new and banging came up a bit empty.
Character wise, I really like Kate – selfless, strong and very accepting; She's forced to grow up fast what with her mom dying leaving her to fend for her and her younger sister. As for Alec, well I was skeptical about him - he's older and wiser yet he's the one who seem to be acting like a child with all his dramatics and test to Kate.
The insta-love and the fight that leads to their semi-separation was honestly eye-roll inducing but fortunately I feel this certain genuineness between them that I know at some point, if well developed their insta-love would work.
Well, in all it was an okay read for me. Contemporary lover? Yep, you could pick this one up.
May 9, 2016
Brain candy with some substance. Interesting characters that didn't get on my nerves. Alec is a former rock star that managed to rehabilitate himself from the world of drugs and abuse he lived. He also doesn't kid himself, he's still an addict. Kate is a small town girl who works as a nurse in the local community hospital. She raised her little sister when their mother died of cancer, all she knows is taking care of her family and protecting Emma. Alec and Kate have a chance meeting when they rescue a surfer. Because of Alec's celebrity status, Kate is pulled into the world populated by the paparazzi. Alec tries to shelter her as much as possible, but his world keeps coming up to bite him in the butt one way or another. As the story develops, he realizes that Kate has secrets of her own.
This isn't a light read, per se, but it isn't especially deep, either. It's interesting and the characters are easy to like.
This isn't a light read, per se, but it isn't especially deep, either. It's interesting and the characters are easy to like.
October 30, 2017
This was just an okay read. There were some good things about it but also some things I really did not care for. One of the good things about it was that it did hold my interest for the most part. I wanted to keep reading it, though I did have to skim a few times toward the end. When the story started out I was excited because it seemed like it would be free from cliches. But as the story got going, the cliches came out in full force. Like the part where she monologues about how sexy he is and how she really likes him and wants him and then we have to listen to Alec monologue the exact same thing but about her. So that gets repetitive and it's very unoriginal writing. It's the way 90% of romance novels are written. Also the insta lust/love discredits the romance so much that I wasn't as invested as I could have been had the author taken the time to really build heir relationship and take it slow. So they are both almost instantly monologuing in succession about how they both want each other and the sexiness of the other. And that's where ta cliched. It would be better to Get rid of the two just so immediately lusting over eachother and constantly wondering what it is about the other that they are just so drawn to and in love with so immediately. Trust me, I'm wondering the same thing as a reader. How do characters just know so instantly that they love someone differently than anyone else they've ever met after knowing them for two seconds? Alec and Kate are actually okay characters though. So it's too bad the author didn't do a slow building romance with them. when characters are in love after only like a week, especially when one of them is a known player who seems like he'd act like this with any girl-trying to just get with them quickly, it isn't believable that it's a different type of relationship this time. Insta lust is a key move of a player so when he acts like this with Kate, just because he says it's different this time doesn't make me believe it. I'd rather he show me that Kate is different by TREATING her differently than he would a quick lay. He's nice and everything, but again, when the author gives us insta lust it's hard to feel invested in their relationship. It feels like any of his other relationships to me. If the relationship was developed slowly and more carefully, then I could believe that it was different. But if they don't show me it's different by their actions, it isn't credible to me. I do like how the two have long 'getting to know one another' type conversations during their relationship. I just wish those all took place way before they become romantic. Not after. That would have showed me the two getting closer and getting to know one another in a way that would lead to a more believable romance. I also didn't love the way the author over emphasized how amazing Kate was because of these 4 things: she raised her sister, she went through cancer with her mom, she went through nursing school, and she saved a drowning guy. These things are definitely awesome and amazing, but I got it the first time they were mentioned. I can see that she is a great character. I don't need to be reminded of these four things at regular intervals throughout the entire story. It wasn't too terrible, but it was still overdone. I also really liked that Alec wasn't perfect. He messed up. He's a flawed character. That's the good thing. But it was annoying how easily Kate just let him off the hook. He treated her like crap and she just goes right back to him the second he comes calling. Grrr. Yes he's sorry which is great but he should have to earn her trust back. So that knocked Kate down a few notches for me. I also thought the whole stalker thing was handled very clumsily. I liked the idea of it, I just thought it seemed way too author contrived. It didn't fit very naturally into the story. It needed to be handled better. I liked the end though when Kate was a bad ass. That was unique for the woman to take care of business instead of the man, so that was cool. I wish the author could just go back through this story and dig just a bit deeper and add some realistic layering to the story so it isn't as straightforward. Because it's a compelling story with a lot happening so it could be really good with a little fine tuning. I also don't like when the author switches to a random characters point of view, which she does during one chapter in the middle. This is a very amateur move and really discredits the story quite a bit. It just needed to be done in Kate's perspective only, not this random side character that she is with. It is unnecessary. I get that the author was trying to really emphasize how much Alec really liked Kate by using his friends perspective but this is why I feel like this is an amateur move. I should be able to see how much Alec loves her. The story should speak for itself. I shouldn't have to be told the things I'm supposed to glean from the pages. I should just be able to see it from the actions of the characters. So again, this was not horribly done at all and it wasn't a terrible story or anything. It was better than other similar books I've ready but I definitely wanted more from it. Overall an okay story that was compelling enough to want to read as I have no problem stopping a book if I want to.
January 9, 2018
I liked the characters. I think the beginning of the book started off strong I was sucked in right away .
More I got into the book I couldn't picture Alec as a rockstar or former rockstar even. I wasn't a fan of the storyline with the other dude from the hospital or the story line with her bio dad. For me they would of been great if it was in their own stories. I also never connected with the characters.
More I got into the book I couldn't picture Alec as a rockstar or former rockstar even. I wasn't a fan of the storyline with the other dude from the hospital or the story line with her bio dad. For me they would of been great if it was in their own stories. I also never connected with the characters.
March 17, 2021
Opposites attract romance.....some adventure and fun, too. It was okay for me. A quick read!
June 30, 2022
This book had a lot of grammatical errors. Too many to be honest. In the end it just got to be to distracting for me to really enjoy the book.
November 3, 2013
Alec is a 10 year sober former musician now an entertainment law. Kate is a nurse who raised her sister after their mothers' death of cancer. Kate is running on the beach when she spots two surfers. When she looks again, one of the surfers is nowhere to be found, and his board is face down. Without even stopping to think, Kate charges into the water and rescues the drowning man. Alec, is the second surfer, and upon seeing what is going on a few feet from him, helps Kate out. When the press gets wind of their heroics, Alec and Kate are on a whirlwind adventure to promote their heroism. Kate wants to shy away from the spotlight, her reasons being vague.
When a reporter asks if Alec and Kate are now romantically involved, Kate is the first to deny it, and then promptly makes out with Alec in a cab later that night, which then leads them into a very, complicated relationship, since neither one is eager to commit.
There were many different plot points throughout this story, and each chapter ended abruptly, leaving the reader with lots of questions, some of which were answered in the next chapter, some not answered until the end of the book.
One of the plot points that made little to no sense was when a doctor asked Kate out, and then on their date never took his eyes off of his cell phone. When Kate left him over dessert, that set into motion this doctor's true colors- that he doesn't take no for an answer and will do anything, from stalking Kate to physically harming her, to get her to go out with him again.
Another plot point, that could have fit better into the story if the author had put the time and energy into it, was the absentee father. Emma, Kate's sister had never met her father, and he was never talked about at home while she was growing up. When Emma questions why Kate was given custody of her after the death of their mother and not their father, Kate tells her that he was a bad man. What the author reveals later is that the man was a criminal, and abusive. It is later revealed that the father raped the mother after she had kicked him to the curb, and Emma was a product of that rape- a fact that Kate keeps from Emma.
What I didn't like about this book was the abruptness of the ending of the book. There were so many strings left untied that even an epilogue would have sufficed, but the author left this reader unsatisfied in that area. However, I did enjoy the aspect of the blossoming romance between Kate and Alec, and how both of them felt that they couldn't trust the other, but in the end realized that they could. Kate was clearly a strong female, having to have control over everything, and you understand why she felt the need to be in control, after losing her mother at such a young age. Alec also, having hit rock bottom years before, felt the need to be in control of his life, never wanting to let go in fear that he would lose control and fall off the sobriety wagon again.
I liked how the two characters were well developed and were self aware of their short-comings in the relationship department. I also liked that this was a fast, enjoyable read.
When a reporter asks if Alec and Kate are now romantically involved, Kate is the first to deny it, and then promptly makes out with Alec in a cab later that night, which then leads them into a very, complicated relationship, since neither one is eager to commit.
There were many different plot points throughout this story, and each chapter ended abruptly, leaving the reader with lots of questions, some of which were answered in the next chapter, some not answered until the end of the book.
One of the plot points that made little to no sense was when a doctor asked Kate out, and then on their date never took his eyes off of his cell phone. When Kate left him over dessert, that set into motion this doctor's true colors- that he doesn't take no for an answer and will do anything, from stalking Kate to physically harming her, to get her to go out with him again.
Another plot point, that could have fit better into the story if the author had put the time and energy into it, was the absentee father. Emma, Kate's sister had never met her father, and he was never talked about at home while she was growing up. When Emma questions why Kate was given custody of her after the death of their mother and not their father, Kate tells her that he was a bad man. What the author reveals later is that the man was a criminal, and abusive. It is later revealed that the father raped the mother after she had kicked him to the curb, and Emma was a product of that rape- a fact that Kate keeps from Emma.
What I didn't like about this book was the abruptness of the ending of the book. There were so many strings left untied that even an epilogue would have sufficed, but the author left this reader unsatisfied in that area. However, I did enjoy the aspect of the blossoming romance between Kate and Alec, and how both of them felt that they couldn't trust the other, but in the end realized that they could. Kate was clearly a strong female, having to have control over everything, and you understand why she felt the need to be in control, after losing her mother at such a young age. Alec also, having hit rock bottom years before, felt the need to be in control of his life, never wanting to let go in fear that he would lose control and fall off the sobriety wagon again.
I liked how the two characters were well developed and were self aware of their short-comings in the relationship department. I also liked that this was a fast, enjoyable read.
August 6, 2013
This review, and many other can be found on my blog, My Written Romance.
This is the debut novel from Rachel Cross. I was quite chuffed when she approached me through this site and asked if I would like to review Rock Her. I have to say that I was impressed with how this story was crafted. From their meeting during a dramatic rescue to the media attention that followed to the reappearance of past demons, Ms Cross didn't shy away from giving Kate and Alec some full-on issues to deal with and how she was able to bring about a situation where you find yourself cheering for them and their story as opposed to simply feeling pity for their struggle.
Kate has been mother, counsellor and all-round rock for her younger sister, Emma, since they lost their mother to cancer seven years earlier. Her happiness and personal life has taken a back seat to providing a better future for her sister. It's hard for some to imagine why Kate has kept aspects of the past secret from Emma, but I think she was incredibly brave to do that - knowing what certain people from the past were capable of. I admire her desire to protect her sister from the ugliness.
Alec has made some major-league mistakes in his life. Years of rock-star excess - drugs, alcohol and women - have left marks on him. Twice married and divorced, Alec felt he had to leave behind this past to become a healthier, happier person. He often lets his regrets about his behaviour cloud his thinking and judgement, but there wouldn't be too many of us that haven't done that from time to time. I think that just made him see more human.
There are some significant differences between Kate and Alec - 14 years, his fame, her innocence - however they make nothing other than a believable couple. These differences are balanced out by their potent chemistry and shared experiences. I loved that Alec treats Kate's innocence with respect - he is gentle with her, but doesn't put her up on some unattainable pedestal.
The sexytimes are hot - well-written and captivating without feeling like they are there purely for titillation.
Rock Her's supporting characters added some real spice to the story. Trust me when I tell you there are characters that you will love (Ava, Emma, Asher) and those who make you stabby (Dr Billingsley and Kate's father). The way the story ends, it appears to be left open for a possible romance for Asher. This is a story I would definitely be keen to read.
This is a fantastic debut effort, and I am very much looking forward to reading more from Ms Cross in the future.
My rating: 4 out of 5
Note: I was generously provided with an advanced reader copy by the author, Rachel Cross, in exchange for an honest review.
This is the debut novel from Rachel Cross. I was quite chuffed when she approached me through this site and asked if I would like to review Rock Her. I have to say that I was impressed with how this story was crafted. From their meeting during a dramatic rescue to the media attention that followed to the reappearance of past demons, Ms Cross didn't shy away from giving Kate and Alec some full-on issues to deal with and how she was able to bring about a situation where you find yourself cheering for them and their story as opposed to simply feeling pity for their struggle.
Kate has been mother, counsellor and all-round rock for her younger sister, Emma, since they lost their mother to cancer seven years earlier. Her happiness and personal life has taken a back seat to providing a better future for her sister. It's hard for some to imagine why Kate has kept aspects of the past secret from Emma, but I think she was incredibly brave to do that - knowing what certain people from the past were capable of. I admire her desire to protect her sister from the ugliness.
Alec has made some major-league mistakes in his life. Years of rock-star excess - drugs, alcohol and women - have left marks on him. Twice married and divorced, Alec felt he had to leave behind this past to become a healthier, happier person. He often lets his regrets about his behaviour cloud his thinking and judgement, but there wouldn't be too many of us that haven't done that from time to time. I think that just made him see more human.
There are some significant differences between Kate and Alec - 14 years, his fame, her innocence - however they make nothing other than a believable couple. These differences are balanced out by their potent chemistry and shared experiences. I loved that Alec treats Kate's innocence with respect - he is gentle with her, but doesn't put her up on some unattainable pedestal.
The sexytimes are hot - well-written and captivating without feeling like they are there purely for titillation.
Rock Her's supporting characters added some real spice to the story. Trust me when I tell you there are characters that you will love (Ava, Emma, Asher) and those who make you stabby (Dr Billingsley and Kate's father). The way the story ends, it appears to be left open for a possible romance for Asher. This is a story I would definitely be keen to read.
This is a fantastic debut effort, and I am very much looking forward to reading more from Ms Cross in the future.
My rating: 4 out of 5
Note: I was generously provided with an advanced reader copy by the author, Rachel Cross, in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2013
Reviewed for: Lets Get Romantical
I really did enjoy this book; I pretty much consumed it in one sitting. It was a face paced with a lot going on. Both characters were pretty likable. Basic our hero and heroine were thrown together when a surfer was drowning. Kate was jogging by and ran to the rescue. Alec was nearby and helped Kate with the victim. Due to Alec’s semi celebrity status the media got wind of it and created a hailstorm.
The attraction between Alec and Kate is instantaneous. Of course Kate is predictably a virgin and the attraction scares her on one level but on the other she finally feels alive. Kate is a virgin but she’s not to naïve so it wasn’t annoying that here we have the worldly womanizer male with the naïve sheltered virgin…again… I thought the characters were believable. Kate was too busy raising her sister to really date seriously and flings when you have a teenager to raise in a small town and have an example to set is just not feasible. Alec is a former rock star and a recovering addict. The recovering aspect was pretty believable it is portrayed as a constant struggle. It is a constant balance that he has to maintain. He went from alcohol to drugs to a workaholic which is a different sort of addiction. Alec is aware of his flaws and struggles to overcome them. Of the two I probably liked Alec a bit better but not by much. Kate is a sweetheart so it is hard to dislike her.
What I don’t particularly understand is why Kate didn’t explain to her sister about their finances and father a long time ago. I understood the concept of money way before I was 18 and Kate’s not talking about it really just makes the situation all that worse as we saw here. I don’t know its kind of a pet peeve of mine to let teenagers clueless when it comes to finances, this is what leads to bad financial decisions when they are in college and then they have destroyed credit by the time they are 19. LOL. Sorry occupational hazard and I digress. Lol So I guess it’s not a bad thing that my biggest bone to pick with this book is a financial pet peeve of mine.
Overall it was a good entertaining book, that I would have no problems recommending to readers. It is steamy, fast paced with likeable characters. I was originally going to give this one a 4.5 but had to lower it a bit to 4 due to memorability. I kind of forgot I even read the book; I enjoyed it while I was reading it and even after for a while but then it slipped my mind.
Rating: 4 Romanticals
*This copy was provided to me by the author for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
I really did enjoy this book; I pretty much consumed it in one sitting. It was a face paced with a lot going on. Both characters were pretty likable. Basic our hero and heroine were thrown together when a surfer was drowning. Kate was jogging by and ran to the rescue. Alec was nearby and helped Kate with the victim. Due to Alec’s semi celebrity status the media got wind of it and created a hailstorm.
The attraction between Alec and Kate is instantaneous. Of course Kate is predictably a virgin and the attraction scares her on one level but on the other she finally feels alive. Kate is a virgin but she’s not to naïve so it wasn’t annoying that here we have the worldly womanizer male with the naïve sheltered virgin…again… I thought the characters were believable. Kate was too busy raising her sister to really date seriously and flings when you have a teenager to raise in a small town and have an example to set is just not feasible. Alec is a former rock star and a recovering addict. The recovering aspect was pretty believable it is portrayed as a constant struggle. It is a constant balance that he has to maintain. He went from alcohol to drugs to a workaholic which is a different sort of addiction. Alec is aware of his flaws and struggles to overcome them. Of the two I probably liked Alec a bit better but not by much. Kate is a sweetheart so it is hard to dislike her.
What I don’t particularly understand is why Kate didn’t explain to her sister about their finances and father a long time ago. I understood the concept of money way before I was 18 and Kate’s not talking about it really just makes the situation all that worse as we saw here. I don’t know its kind of a pet peeve of mine to let teenagers clueless when it comes to finances, this is what leads to bad financial decisions when they are in college and then they have destroyed credit by the time they are 19. LOL. Sorry occupational hazard and I digress. Lol So I guess it’s not a bad thing that my biggest bone to pick with this book is a financial pet peeve of mine.
Overall it was a good entertaining book, that I would have no problems recommending to readers. It is steamy, fast paced with likeable characters. I was originally going to give this one a 4.5 but had to lower it a bit to 4 due to memorability. I kind of forgot I even read the book; I enjoyed it while I was reading it and even after for a while but then it slipped my mind.
Rating: 4 Romanticals
*This copy was provided to me by the author for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
July 15, 2015
Fun
Related but not really a sequel to Rock Him. Alec Sawyer was the guitarist of the rock band Rendered Bliss, retired for 10 years. Ten years ago, he nearly imploded from drugs and booze, one of his rock band buddies died of overdose, so he went into rehab and the band disassembled. Now he's a lawyer, sober and drug-free for 10 years, representing artists like he used to be. Kate Gibson is a nurse. She raised her younger sister who is now attending college and spending more money than Kate can afford.
One morning, after a graveyard shift, Kate was running on the beach, to get really tired for sleeping. She notices two surfers going one way, and when she returns, there is only one, but two surfboards. She runs into the ocean, drags the man to the surface and the other surfer helps her to move him ashore. With this heroic act, Kate meets Alec, who was the other surfer. Alec is very impressed with Kate, she was so small, yet so fiery and courageous. They keep on meeting and liking and so on. I could tell what Alec saw in Kate, but couldn't see what Kate saw in Alec, apart from being so gorgeous and having a nice dog. Anyway, later he was shown to be kind, attentive and understanding with Kate's issues, except a workaholic. He was 13 years older than Kate. I liked when Kate would kid him about the differences in age. I also liked that Alec was concerned about her youth and innocence. But chemistry was stronger than scruples and they had a good run in this book. Asher Lowe appears in this book, with his tattoos and bad boy attitude, but no Maddie boohoo. Seems this book was set before he met Maddie. It would have been great to read about them, once married.
Other issues in this book was Kate's father. There is a bad history about him, and Kate is protecting Emma from him. This adds a subtle layer of suspense to this book, different from Rock Him. It was just as good and entertaining, totally recommend.
Related but not really a sequel to Rock Him. Alec Sawyer was the guitarist of the rock band Rendered Bliss, retired for 10 years. Ten years ago, he nearly imploded from drugs and booze, one of his rock band buddies died of overdose, so he went into rehab and the band disassembled. Now he's a lawyer, sober and drug-free for 10 years, representing artists like he used to be. Kate Gibson is a nurse. She raised her younger sister who is now attending college and spending more money than Kate can afford.
One morning, after a graveyard shift, Kate was running on the beach, to get really tired for sleeping. She notices two surfers going one way, and when she returns, there is only one, but two surfboards. She runs into the ocean, drags the man to the surface and the other surfer helps her to move him ashore. With this heroic act, Kate meets Alec, who was the other surfer. Alec is very impressed with Kate, she was so small, yet so fiery and courageous. They keep on meeting and liking and so on. I could tell what Alec saw in Kate, but couldn't see what Kate saw in Alec, apart from being so gorgeous and having a nice dog. Anyway, later he was shown to be kind, attentive and understanding with Kate's issues, except a workaholic. He was 13 years older than Kate. I liked when Kate would kid him about the differences in age. I also liked that Alec was concerned about her youth and innocence. But chemistry was stronger than scruples and they had a good run in this book. Asher Lowe appears in this book, with his tattoos and bad boy attitude, but no Maddie boohoo. Seems this book was set before he met Maddie. It would have been great to read about them, once married.
Other issues in this book was Kate's father. There is a bad history about him, and Kate is protecting Emma from him. This adds a subtle layer of suspense to this book, different from Rock Him. It was just as good and entertaining, totally recommend.
February 19, 2017
Good read.
Interesting and entertaining. Rachel Cross takes us into the glamour and intrigues of a glittering world that few of us really know. I like the way she juxtaposes two different worlds; that of the heady world of the rich and famous and those that inhabit that world; and that of the world of "ordinary" people. She brings together two people, one from each world; and shows that two people from totally disparate backgrounds, can come together and find common ground.
Interesting and entertaining. Rachel Cross takes us into the glamour and intrigues of a glittering world that few of us really know. I like the way she juxtaposes two different worlds; that of the heady world of the rich and famous and those that inhabit that world; and that of the world of "ordinary" people. She brings together two people, one from each world; and shows that two people from totally disparate backgrounds, can come together and find common ground.
June 5, 2013
Rachel Cross’s debut novel, Rock Her, embraced me from the beginning. What an amazing job weaving the two main characters lives together in such a way that I was rooting from page one. There wasn’t a slow moment in this book, which says a lot for a contemporary romance.
Kate, the heroine, is such a strong, selfless woman – becoming a “parent” at an early age, taking care of her sister after her mom died. I could so relate to this character as I’m sure many women will. She’s always thinking of others instead of herself to such a point that she ends up saving a surfer’s life – putting her own life in danger.
Luckily, she meets THE Alec Sawyer from this incident and the two lives intermingle in ways that neither of them expect. Alec, a past rock star and now attorney, is a little older, wiser and still a heartthrob. Despite being able to catch any woman he wants, innocent Kate catches his eye and they form a quick relationship that had my heart pitter-pattering and at times desiring to take a cold shower to “cool off.”
What I loved about these two the most was their genuine love for one another. Not once did I doubt it and the words and actions of the characters proved it to me. I didn’t have to guess.
Ms. Cross blew me out of the water with her debut novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Kate, the heroine, is such a strong, selfless woman – becoming a “parent” at an early age, taking care of her sister after her mom died. I could so relate to this character as I’m sure many women will. She’s always thinking of others instead of herself to such a point that she ends up saving a surfer’s life – putting her own life in danger.
Luckily, she meets THE Alec Sawyer from this incident and the two lives intermingle in ways that neither of them expect. Alec, a past rock star and now attorney, is a little older, wiser and still a heartthrob. Despite being able to catch any woman he wants, innocent Kate catches his eye and they form a quick relationship that had my heart pitter-pattering and at times desiring to take a cold shower to “cool off.”
What I loved about these two the most was their genuine love for one another. Not once did I doubt it and the words and actions of the characters proved it to me. I didn’t have to guess.
Ms. Cross blew me out of the water with her debut novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 6, 2013
Kate & Alec meet when Kate is jogging on the beach & she sees a surfer missing from his board & she goes to rescue him. She's in the water attempting the rescue when Alec assists. They're thrown together in a media storm due to Alec's infamous past & at his suggestion as a way to spin the press to their advantage.
During their trip to NY for TV interviews they start to get to know each other & strong feelings start to develop. Alec gets so strongly attached to Kate, that he loses some of his control at an industry party & does her up against a door then is tempted to lose his sobriety. Then the asshat leaves her at the party by herself & runs off thinking he's hurt her with his loss of control.
Kate's heart is understandably broken & it takes some good groveling to get back in her good graces, plus a little help with some sexual harassment & stalking issues with one of Kate's co-workers. Things seem to be back on track then until Kate's no-good-criminal father gets back into town & tries to extort money then kill Alec. Kate then decides it's too dangerous for her & Alec to be together & tries to break things off for good but Alec gets her back with some help from friends & family.
During their trip to NY for TV interviews they start to get to know each other & strong feelings start to develop. Alec gets so strongly attached to Kate, that he loses some of his control at an industry party & does her up against a door then is tempted to lose his sobriety. Then the asshat leaves her at the party by herself & runs off thinking he's hurt her with his loss of control.
Kate's heart is understandably broken & it takes some good groveling to get back in her good graces, plus a little help with some sexual harassment & stalking issues with one of Kate's co-workers. Things seem to be back on track then until Kate's no-good-criminal father gets back into town & tries to extort money then kill Alec. Kate then decides it's too dangerous for her & Alec to be together & tries to break things off for good but Alec gets her back with some help from friends & family.
May 11, 2013
A thrilling read that opens with a dramatic splash, and hurtles the reader through to the climax with plenty of action, steam, and a gritty realism that packs real emotional punch - this book is definitely rocking!!
Ms Cross does a fabulous job of crafting her hero and heroine. Alec is a believable faded rock star, with plenty of hang-ups to work through before he can admit his feelings to both himself and Kate. He's got some serious addictions in his past, and despite cleaning himself up, is aware of the need to distance himself from temptation.
Kate is the rock that holds her small family together, and she has plenty of demons in her own past to deal with, along with the added burden of keeping them a secret from her younger sister.
Ms Cross weaves a believable love story between these polar opposites, and skillfully adds plenty of drama into the mix, not to mention some hot and heavy scenes that will surprise you - both Kate and Alec don't always behave as you would expect them to!
All in all, a fabulous read that I strongly recommend!
Ms Cross does a fabulous job of crafting her hero and heroine. Alec is a believable faded rock star, with plenty of hang-ups to work through before he can admit his feelings to both himself and Kate. He's got some serious addictions in his past, and despite cleaning himself up, is aware of the need to distance himself from temptation.
Kate is the rock that holds her small family together, and she has plenty of demons in her own past to deal with, along with the added burden of keeping them a secret from her younger sister.
Ms Cross weaves a believable love story between these polar opposites, and skillfully adds plenty of drama into the mix, not to mention some hot and heavy scenes that will surprise you - both Kate and Alec don't always behave as you would expect them to!
All in all, a fabulous read that I strongly recommend!
June 13, 2013
ROCK HER started off strong and kept me turning the pages: I read it in one sitting. The characters are well drawn and engaging. This is the first book about a former rock star that I find completely believable and relatable. Alec’s struggles once ran deep and he pulls you into his back story little by little, until you feel you were there all along with him, drowning and then surviving--I wondered if the opening was a metaphor, if so: very clever and well done by the author. Alec is flawed and real. You see him become the man he wants to be right before your eyes. Kate Gibson handled her own struggles at an early age and her strength and quiet dignity are perfect matches for Alec’s demons. You fall in love with these characters and root for them from page one. I love that I could totally see what each one saw in the other. There are also a few twists and turns that give the story depth. This one stayed with me long after reading it. I am looking forward to more books by this author!
November 9, 2014
Let me warn you right now - once you start reading Rock Her by Rachel Cross, you won't be able to put it down! This rocking book grabs you from the beginning, and doesn't let you go until its supremely satisfying end. No fangirl rock fantasy here, but a beautifully crafted love story between two people who are portrayed with refreshing honesty. Though hero Alec has come out the other side of his former rock 'n roll decadence, Ms. Cross doesn't shy away from the reality of who he once was or how independent, responsible heroine Kate deals with it. And the chemistry between these two is so sizzling you'll feel the heat radiating off the page! This one is a must-read. Rock Her is rock romance at its very best!
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2014
So another good book in the rock romance category. I finished this one in one day which should say enough for itself if I couldn't stop reading it.
Ms. Cross did a great job of the characters of Kate & Alec. It seems like this author is not afraid to hook up "normal" girls with rock stars. (I read Rock Him first...and well worth it) Since reading Rock Him first it was sort of nice when Ms. Cross was referring to Asher. There were parts with Asher in that were pretty funny.
When Ms. Cross spoke of Alec's addiction she hit some things right on the head. It was good to see that she didn't have him relapsing but still dealt with the everyday battle of fitting his problem.
If Ms. Cross writes any more rock romance books I definitely will read them.
Ms. Cross did a great job of the characters of Kate & Alec. It seems like this author is not afraid to hook up "normal" girls with rock stars. (I read Rock Him first...and well worth it) Since reading Rock Him first it was sort of nice when Ms. Cross was referring to Asher. There were parts with Asher in that were pretty funny.
When Ms. Cross spoke of Alec's addiction she hit some things right on the head. It was good to see that she didn't have him relapsing but still dealt with the everyday battle of fitting his problem.
If Ms. Cross writes any more rock romance books I definitely will read them.
March 31, 2015
A sweet read.
A fun entertaining plot, interesting characters, witty sassy dialogue, and some sexy heat.
Both characters meet when they save a drowning surfer and they feels some chemistry but they both think of reasons why they should not get together......but fate lends a hand.
Alec has lots of personal problems that he has overcome and is so worried about going back to that life that he does not want to taint innocent Kate. Kate also has had some problems in her past and she maybe innocent in some ways but she is strong. They have so much going against them as they struggle to make their relationship work but somethings can't stay buried.....and come back to destory them.
This was a fun amazing read.....so looking forward to reading more from this author.
A fun entertaining plot, interesting characters, witty sassy dialogue, and some sexy heat.
Both characters meet when they save a drowning surfer and they feels some chemistry but they both think of reasons why they should not get together......but fate lends a hand.
Alec has lots of personal problems that he has overcome and is so worried about going back to that life that he does not want to taint innocent Kate. Kate also has had some problems in her past and she maybe innocent in some ways but she is strong. They have so much going against them as they struggle to make their relationship work but somethings can't stay buried.....and come back to destory them.
This was a fun amazing read.....so looking forward to reading more from this author.
May 16, 2013
Ms. Cross hits it out of the park with her debut novel, Rock Her. It has everything: sexy romance, a rock star hero, danger and intrigue, and all the emotion you would expect from a great romance. Our heroine is a competent nurse with a complicated past. Enter our hero, former rock star turned attorney with an equally complicated past, and watch the sparks fly. Ms. Cross seamlessly blends the beautiful developing romance with the crazy life these two lead outside of their relationship. The sex is hot, the love is sweet, and the action is crazy. Check out Rock Her; you'll be glad you did!
June 9, 2013
The main characters had depth and I was immediately captivated with their individual stories and also their story together. I love me a good sex scene and I wasn't disappointed with this book. Alec was interesting, accomplished, damaged, loving and HOT.
Kate was caring, naive but not ridiculous (in certain areas) not jaded regardless of her past. I'm glad Kate was not portrayed as a model type, she seemed more realistic and someone that I would want to be friends with.
I inhaled this book, thank you so very much for allowing me to read it. I connected with these characters and would recommend it to others as a great read.
Kate was caring, naive but not ridiculous (in certain areas) not jaded regardless of her past. I'm glad Kate was not portrayed as a model type, she seemed more realistic and someone that I would want to be friends with.
I inhaled this book, thank you so very much for allowing me to read it. I connected with these characters and would recommend it to others as a great read.
June 28, 2013
I prefer historical romances, and have easily read thousands of them. Occasionally, however, I pick up a contemporary just to break things up, and I have to tell you I was really impressed with this book. In fact, I read it in a few hours. The characters pulled you right in. They were complex, with well-developed back stories to flesh out their personalities. The pacing was great, and their relationship changed and grew in a convincing way. The passion between them was HOT, and really well done, and the story's conclusion was really satisfying. I think that Ms. Cross has a great future in this genre, and I'm looking forward to more of her work. A great summer or anytime read!
July 31, 2013
In Rock Her by Rachel Cross, Kate Gibson’s life has been all about her family, taking care of her dying mother and then after her death when Kate was 18, she had to continue raising her 11 year-old sister. For that reason she has lived a sheltered life, thankfully since she is a nurse she is not too naïve, but enough that she is still a virgin.
Alec Sawyer is a former rock star and now a recovering addict. He lives a constant struggle to keep his life in balance so he doesn’t fall into the old pitfalls again. Read More...
Alec Sawyer is a former rock star and now a recovering addict. He lives a constant struggle to keep his life in balance so he doesn’t fall into the old pitfalls again. Read More...
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