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More than Music
(Chasing the Dream #1)
by
Classical musician Maddie Taylor secretly dreams of a louder life, but geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With ...more
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With ...more
ebook, 199 pages
Published
June 17th 2014
(first published June 10th 2014)
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Showing 1-30

Start your review of More than Music (Chasing the Dream, #1)

Oct 30, 2015
NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance-young-adult-etc,
music-rock-etc
***4,25 "Not Okay?" stars especially for Maddie and Jared***

Everyone who knows me probably already knows that i love books with musicians and i'm after them!!!
And this certain book was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise!!!

I loved this story and i had so much fun reading it... It drown me inside of it!!!
I liked that i witnessed how all those shows on TV are working and that was a really interesting experience...
I liked the way that our main characters was loving music... More than anyth ...more

Everyone who knows me probably already knows that i love books with musicians and i'm after them!!!
And this certain book was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise!!!

I loved this story and i had so much fun reading it... It drown me inside of it!!!
I liked that i witnessed how all those shows on TV are working and that was a really interesting experience...
I liked the way that our main characters was loving music... More than anyth ...more

3.5 'Bad Romance' stars

Maddie is a quiet, geeky girl who always takes the safe choice and never dares to dream of something bigger. Until she meets her friend's brother, Jared and somehow he's asking from her to replace their bassist for an audition in the reality TV show 'The Sound'.
As the show evolves the two of them come close, even though nobody seems to want them together. Not the producers of the show, not their bandmates. Everyone wants Jared to be the villain, the bad boy who flirts wit ...more

Maddie is a quiet, geeky girl who always takes the safe choice and never dares to dream of something bigger. Until she meets her friend's brother, Jared and somehow he's asking from her to replace their bassist for an audition in the reality TV show 'The Sound'.
As the show evolves the two of them come close, even though nobody seems to want them together. Not the producers of the show, not their bandmates. Everyone wants Jared to be the villain, the bad boy who flirts wit ...more

3.25 Stars
”I”d lost myself in the show, in Jared, in the impossible dream and the beautiful lie.”
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This story was well written and centers around a band being contestants onThe Voice The Sound television show. The Sound is completely identical to The Voice with one exception, there are bands competing under the guidance of a washed out or popular celebrity.
Maddie is a piano student in college who finds herself in a position to follow her secret dream of being a rock and roll guit ...more
”I”d lost myself in the show, in Jared, in the impossible dream and the beautiful lie.”
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This story was well written and centers around a band being contestants on
Maddie is a piano student in college who finds herself in a position to follow her secret dream of being a rock and roll guit ...more


FREE on Amazon US today (9/25/2016)
Stand-alone book 1.
BLURB:
Classical musician Maddie Taylor secretly dreams of a louder life, but geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignor ...more

3.5 stars!
If you are in the mood for sweet rock star story that's low in angst and drama, this one is a great choice. It was easy and quick read, which I enjoyed. ...more
If you are in the mood for sweet rock star story that's low in angst and drama, this one is a great choice. It was easy and quick read, which I enjoyed. ...more

Apr 08, 2014
Elizabeth Briggs
marked it as my-books
· (Review from the author)
·
review of another edition
More Than Music is a stand-alone New Adult contemporary romance, suitable for readers 17+ due to mature content. It features rock music, lots of geeky references, and a TV show loosely based on The Voice. There is no cliffhanger ending - the next books are about Maddie's friends finding love. I hope you enjoy it!
You can get the prequel novella, More Than Exes, for FREE by signing up for my reader list!
Here are some teasers!

...more
You can get the prequel novella, More Than Exes, for FREE by signing up for my reader list!
Here are some teasers!



Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm okay with books that has a music theme in it. I'm not really a modern music enthusiast and mostly I listened to 70's - 90's song. I recognize some of those mentioned in this book, which is great because I like some of them. I think this book showcased it really good. I like how the characters expressed their passion in music and it makes me want to learn how to play a music instrument. In my opinion ...more
I'm okay with books that has a music theme in it. I'm not really a modern music enthusiast and mostly I listened to 70's - 90's song. I recognize some of those mentioned in this book, which is great because I like some of them. I think this book showcased it really good. I like how the characters expressed their passion in music and it makes me want to learn how to play a music instrument. In my opinion ...more

Sep 23, 2016
Rachel E. Carter
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
author-friends-do-not-rate-books
This whole series is like my NA reality show guilty pleasure:) If you love the voice and Adam Levine, read this book. I can't wait to read the rest!
...more

This book reminded me why I love reading so much. Ms. Briggs has brought back a style of writing and story telling that has almost turned into a lost art. It’s not overly angsty or sexual, the writing sells itself without the need of flashy gimmicks and over the top antics. This first full length novel in the Chasing the Dream series contains, dare I say it, good old fashioned writing that has become quit hard to find as of late. The morning after I finished reading More Than Music I actually wo
...more

OH. MY. GOD. This is such a good book! I can't even describe my feels. Lol. I love every single page of it. I need the paperback. I need to inhale the scent of the book. Eeek. Jared is soooo hot! Hahaha! Yes, I'm fangirling over the guy again. :p
I love everything about Maddie. She has some faults but hey, no one is perfect. I love she plays guitar, piano, violin, and clarinet. It was one of my dream to know how to play guitar. So, a heroine that could play guitar, a Strat for that matter, OMG. M ...more
I love everything about Maddie. She has some faults but hey, no one is perfect. I love she plays guitar, piano, violin, and clarinet. It was one of my dream to know how to play guitar. So, a heroine that could play guitar, a Strat for that matter, OMG. M ...more


I am not a writer; I have no idea how does that feel like or how hard it might be.
But I am a reader and as a reader I do have expectations.
When I read a book I want to ‘live’ in it for a while, I want to ‘be’ the main character through it all, to ‘have’ that life and make the best out of it. And every now and then I read a book with so, but sooo much potential that I wish (from the bottom of my heart) I had enjoyed it a lot more, because I know that it would have been possible.
This being sai ...more

Anyone that knows me knows that I love rock star romances. So when I found myself with no ARCs to read and some unexpected free reading time, I couldn't resist the draw of this.
Maddie was my type of girl. She was shy and loved music. And she was so real. She wasn't a complete klutz (which is often popular) and she wasn't model perfection personified either. She was real. She was awkward with Jared (who was beyond hot) and a good friend and yes, a little klutzy at times (we all are) but there w ...more
Maddie was my type of girl. She was shy and loved music. And she was so real. She wasn't a complete klutz (which is often popular) and she wasn't model perfection personified either. She was real. She was awkward with Jared (who was beyond hot) and a good friend and yes, a little klutzy at times (we all are) but there w ...more

Review of: “More than Music” by Elizabeth Briggs
4 1/2 Stars
I enjoyed “More than Music” by Elizabeth Briggs a lot. I thought it was well written. I liked the author’s writing style and voice, and the story line was a nice change of pace from the typical new adult books where the female main character is running from a secret, or the male character has a secret, or both.
I really liked the game show idea. It made the story very relatable since most people have heard of the various singing reality ...more
4 1/2 Stars
I enjoyed “More than Music” by Elizabeth Briggs a lot. I thought it was well written. I liked the author’s writing style and voice, and the story line was a nice change of pace from the typical new adult books where the female main character is running from a secret, or the male character has a secret, or both.
I really liked the game show idea. It made the story very relatable since most people have heard of the various singing reality ...more

A sweet 4 stars for Elizabeth Briggs's More Than Music. This novel is very much a new adult sweet fest with the way the story plays out. Having said that, it is a really good read. The writing is much better than I thought it would be and am happy to say that.
The story has a very redeemable male character and a female character trying to really come into herself. They are both music lovers while he's in a rock band and she's been walking the classic line for years. Jared and Maddie have never a ...more
The story has a very redeemable male character and a female character trying to really come into herself. They are both music lovers while he's in a rock band and she's been walking the classic line for years. Jared and Maddie have never a ...more

Sexy, fun, and heartfelt, More Than Music will bring out the rockstar in anyone. A truly passionate love story--both in music and romance. Jared and Maddie's story is a great example of how important it is to be true to yourself and step out onto your own stage.
...more

I loved this book! My assistant, Sullivan McPig, sent it to me for Christmas as one of her favorite finds from this year, and she was spot-on that I'd be into it, too. A super fun contemporary romance set in Los Angeles, with a framework plot of bands competing on a show like The Voice. The competition gave a terrific acceleration of anticipation as I rooted for MY band to make it - and also provided convincing and effective conflict to escalate the sexual tension between the hero and heroine. I
...more

Don't pass this story up!
They can't resist each other, but their secret romance might tear their band apart...
Music major Maddie Taylor secretly dreams of a louder life, but geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With each performance their ...more
They can't resist each other, but their secret romance might tear their band apart...
Music major Maddie Taylor secretly dreams of a louder life, but geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there's more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation. With each performance their ...more

Sep 08, 2015
Ralou by Collector Of Book Boyfriends
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
ARC provided in exchange of an honest review
Review original post:
http://collectorofbookboyfriends.com/...
book review: 4.5 stars!!
Well, with this book, I definitely claimed the title FREAK since, the first day that I started it, I reached the 70% of the book in less than 6 hours. Crazy, huh? Tell me about it!!!!
From the first chapter, I was deep deep into this story and without realizing how much time had passed, I was over the half of it. I was reading and reading and reading with hardly any ...more
Review original post:
http://collectorofbookboyfriends.com/...
book review: 4.5 stars!!
Well, with this book, I definitely claimed the title FREAK since, the first day that I started it, I reached the 70% of the book in less than 6 hours. Crazy, huh? Tell me about it!!!!
From the first chapter, I was deep deep into this story and without realizing how much time had passed, I was over the half of it. I was reading and reading and reading with hardly any ...more

3.5 stars
At A Glance
Fun and interesting, but not the best read ever.
The Good
I have to be honest, I might have liked this book more than most because A) my obsession with rock star romances and B) I loved seeing a possible version of what it’s like behind the scenes of shows like The Voice or X Factor. It was crazy!!! I would hate dealing with all that drama and cattiness, so I am happy I got to experience it through Maddie’s eyes.
Maddie is a music and comic book geek who gets pulled into a band ...more
At A Glance
Fun and interesting, but not the best read ever.
The Good
I have to be honest, I might have liked this book more than most because A) my obsession with rock star romances and B) I loved seeing a possible version of what it’s like behind the scenes of shows like The Voice or X Factor. It was crazy!!! I would hate dealing with all that drama and cattiness, so I am happy I got to experience it through Maddie’s eyes.
Maddie is a music and comic book geek who gets pulled into a band ...more

4.5 stars
I think this is my first ARC ever and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read because it was AMAZING! I LOVED IT! The first thing that happened in the book that made me think *OMG I LOVE YOU ALREADY* was that one of the characters was half Portuguese I was so happy because usually Portuguese people or the country aren't mentioned in books so when a book mentions my country I start jumping around and screaming OMG THERE'S PORTUGUESE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK *faints* Well I think this was a ...more
I think this is my first ARC ever and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read because it was AMAZING! I LOVED IT! The first thing that happened in the book that made me think *OMG I LOVE YOU ALREADY* was that one of the characters was half Portuguese I was so happy because usually Portuguese people or the country aren't mentioned in books so when a book mentions my country I start jumping around and screaming OMG THERE'S PORTUGUESE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK *faints* Well I think this was a ...more

Read full review HERE

This is the only book from the bundle Banged: Rock Stars, Bad Boys & Dirty Deeds that’s I’ll review alone, and that is because I requested this bundle only because of this book. And because this is the fourth book I read in this series, having previously read More Than Comics, More Than Once and More Than Exes (now I just need to get my hands on Julie’s story!).
I already said my praise for Briggs’ writing in previous reviews, so I’m gonna skip that. I already loved Maddie an ...more

This is the only book from the bundle Banged: Rock Stars, Bad Boys & Dirty Deeds that’s I’ll review alone, and that is because I requested this bundle only because of this book. And because this is the fourth book I read in this series, having previously read More Than Comics, More Than Once and More Than Exes (now I just need to get my hands on Julie’s story!).
I already said my praise for Briggs’ writing in previous reviews, so I’m gonna skip that. I already loved Maddie an ...more

GIVE ME MORE ELIZABETH BRIGGS BOOKS.
>>>>>
REVIEW TIME:
Holy damn. Elizabeth Briggs you are now one of my faves. More Than Music was so fun to read and I had never read something like this! It was also so geeky (I adoreeeeed) and full with nice and sexy guys. Perfect right?
The Allies
Jared and Maddie were so cute since the first time they saw each other. Maddie, gosh, Maddie - I totally could relate to her and I loved her the way she was and how she acted and everything she experienced. Her persona ...more
>>>>>
REVIEW TIME:
Holy damn. Elizabeth Briggs you are now one of my faves. More Than Music was so fun to read and I had never read something like this! It was also so geeky (I adoreeeeed) and full with nice and sexy guys. Perfect right?
The Allies
Jared and Maddie were so cute since the first time they saw each other. Maddie, gosh, Maddie - I totally could relate to her and I loved her the way she was and how she acted and everything she experienced. Her persona ...more

1 "barely there" star and I am PISSED
I cannot believe I wasted 3 whole hours to conclude that this is one of the worst books I've read.
First 60% - Jared, you're so sexy, please notice me; Jared, you're so different than anybody else (but we've barely talked at all) ... At this point I wanted to send the main character in the pits of hell. This continued so long and the whole "show" they were starring in came and went so quickly (just like the story), that I couldn't wrap my head around it ...more
I cannot believe I wasted 3 whole hours to conclude that this is one of the worst books I've read.
First 60% - Jared, you're so sexy, please notice me; Jared, you're so different than anybody else (but we've barely talked at all) ... At this point I wanted to send the main character in the pits of hell. This continued so long and the whole "show" they were starring in came and went so quickly (just like the story), that I couldn't wrap my head around it ...more

Oh my. Oh my my my. I've had mixed feelings about New Adult as a genre for quite awhile, simply because it seemed as though most stories were so dark, twisty, and filled with overly dramatic turmoil. More Than Music is such a breath of fresh air! An NA book that's fun and romantic that I ended up reading in one sitting because I just had to know what happened with Jared and Maddie. Oh and speaking of Jared...anyone with a rocker fantasy needs to read this book asap, because Jared's hotness can o
...more

This is the first book in the Chasing the Dream Series and I loved it. Unassuming Maddie Taylor is a college student majoring in music. Her friend's band loses a member right before they're supposed to be on a TV music competition, so she's asked to join the band temporarily. Not only is Maddie terrified at the prospect but she has a fierce crush on Jared Cross, the gorgeous lead singer who has a reputation with the ladies. She decides to be brave and help them out and learns a lot about herself
...more

This was just okay for me. The premise of the book reminded me of the tv show The Voice. The ending felt really rushed. You're given Jared and Maddie's story and their sexual attraction for one another and you know it's working up to something and then
THE END
...more


Maddie Taylor is a classically trained musician with an internship with the symphony, so what is she doing playing rock guitar on a reality music competition show (like an all-band version of The Voice)? It started out as a favor to her friend Kyle, whose band Villain Complex had one of its members quit when they were on the verge of their big break on the reality show The Sound, but when she met Kyle's brother Jared, even Jared's playboy ways couldn't keep Maddie from falling for him.
I read two ...more
I read two ...more

*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*
Thank you to Elizabeth Briggs for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.
I remember anticipating this book so much last year. When I first read the plot, I was so sure that I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE I'M GOING TO LOVE IT that I practically begged Liz for an ARC. I practically begged her to tour the book with me too because PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOVE THIS BOOK I MUST GET THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE. That was how my mind wa ...more
Thank you to Elizabeth Briggs for the review copy! This in no way affected my views of the novel.
I remember anticipating this book so much last year. When I first read the plot, I was so sure that I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE I'M GOING TO LOVE IT that I practically begged Liz for an ARC. I practically begged her to tour the book with me too because PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOVE THIS BOOK I MUST GET THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE. That was how my mind wa ...more

I absolutely loved this book. It contains so much fun, so much swoon, and so much character development. Our main character Maddie is a classically trained pianist. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd who doesn’t see herself as anything special, except that she has a secret talent for playing guitar. Maddie’s love interest is Jared, a tattooed “bad boy” and the lead singer of a band. You might think based on these characters that you’ve read this story before, but you definitely haven’t. Sure, More Tha
...more

b>3.75 out of 5 stars
Initial Reaction: It was a really fun read and I blew through the story really fast. You become immersed in the story, caught up with the music, and the thrill of the competition.
Full Review:
Maddie Taylor is a music major with a secret rock side. From afar, she has always been secretly in love with Jared Cross, the lead singer and guitarist of Villain Complex. When their bassist quits just days before their audition on The Sound, Jared gets on his knees (literally) and begs ...more
Initial Reaction: It was a really fun read and I blew through the story really fast. You become immersed in the story, caught up with the music, and the thrill of the competition.
Full Review:
Maddie Taylor is a music major with a secret rock side. From afar, she has always been secretly in love with Jared Cross, the lead singer and guitarist of Villain Complex. When their bassist quits just days before their audition on The Sound, Jared gets on his knees (literally) and begs ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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YA Buddy Readers'...: More than Music (Chasing the Dream #1) by Elizabeth Briggs - Starting Date: August 8,2015 | 20 | 25 | Aug 14, 2015 11:12AM |
Elizabeth Briggs is the New York Times bestselling author of unputdownable paranormal and fantasy romance with bold heroines and fearless heroes. She's worked for an international law firm, mentored teens in writing, and volunteered with dog rescue groups. Now she’s a full-time geek who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter, and a pack of fluffy dogs. Find her online at http://www.
...more
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Chasing the Dream
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Kerine Wint is a software engineering graduate with more love for books than for computers. As an avid reader, writer, and fan of all things...
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“Our lives were covered in gold foil, but if you scratched hard enough, you’d see the rust underneath.”
—
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“When Jared leaned into the mic and sang, his smooth voice washed over me like a soft caress. It was like the last, decadent bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry. The smoky burn of whiskey as it slipped down your throat. The final night of passion before your lover left forever.”
—
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