Just an Illusion - Side A (The Illusion, #1) by D. Kelly

Jan 14, 2018 Jessica-❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance

Where do I begin? First, I want to say that I read this book straight through. I stayed up all night long to finish it. Second and third, I love the author's writing style, and I adore ALL of the characters she created. I absolutely think this is a good book.

That being said, I have a big problem. I'm not a person that is turned off by a love triangle. Nor am I scared of them. I don't worry about them being too much for my heart or any of that bullshit, but this time....things are different. I ...more

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Oct 30, 2016 Danielle ❤️ Pretty Mess Reading ❤️ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

*****5 STARS*****

FREE ON AMAZON

I found the prologue very interesting and I couldn't wait to dive into the story. I was looking forward to having all my questions answered.

Amelia is beautiful and is surrounded by beautiful men in the hottest rock band out!!! This rock band also come with twin brothers who both find her fascinating and can't wait to get to know her. Normally, it would be great to have two rock stars wanting you but when it's brothers and twin brothers at that, it has to be hard a ...more

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Apr 14, 2017 Tijuana *BookTwinsReviews* rated it really liked it

Just an Illusion is engaging, entertaining, and brilliantly executed! The writing is fantastic. The plot is fantastic. And above all, the main characters are so well done. Amelia and Noah are so sweet together.

Here's the breakdown: Amelia agrees to attend a concert and meet and greet with her best friend. She's a new author, but after much coaxing agrees to shadow the band and write their story. Sawyer and Noah notice her immediately. The attraction is palpable. The only problem? Noah and Sawye ...more

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Oct 29, 2016 Doris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, book-enthusiast, net-gallery, rock-star-romance

5+++ star rock romance read. Hopefully that got people’s attention because I don’t want anyone who loves rock romance to miss out on this fantastic book. You will definitely end up with a book hangover after reading this sexy and suspenseful rock romance.

Amelia Greyson is a bestselling author with some big secrets of her past that she tries to keep buried. These secrets are getting harder to contain especially when she is the person chosen to write the tell all book on the biggest rock band arou 5+++ star rock romance read. Hopefully that got people’s attention because I don’t want anyone who loves rock romance to miss out on this fantastic book. You will definitely end up with a book hangover after reading this sexy and suspenseful rock romance.

Amelia Greyson is a bestselling author with some big secrets of her past that she tries to keep buried. These secrets are getting harder to contain especially when she is the person chosen to write the tell all book on the biggest rock band around which means she will be going on tour with Bastards and Dangerous (BAD) for the next year. The Weston brothers of Noah and Sawyer head up this band of friends and even though they are twins they could not be any more different. Noah is the sweet one with a heart of gold that any girl would be more than lucky to be with and then there is Sawyer who is more of the bad boy that exudes sex. Both brothers want Amelia but how will this work when the three of them are living on a tour bus together for the next year. The Weston brothers let a woman come between them before and they can’t let it happen again because it almost tore the band and their family apart. What will happen when Amelia’s true identity is found out especially when they learn that she is the result of rock royalty at its finest?

Sawyer is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders from something he witnessed as a kid and this has been playing a big part of what makes Sawyer tick. Is Amelia going to be the one person who can break through everything that is making Sawyer self-destructive? That’s going to be a little tough because Noah has made his intentions regarding Amelia pretty clear and he definitely wants to have Amelia as his.

There is so much going on with these three along with a great storyline for the rest of the guys from the band and Amelia’s friend, rock magazine writer, Belle. This book has pulled me in so deep that you can’t put it down and with that said I am going to have a really hard time waiting for Side B to come out but believe me it will be the first book I grab to read when it’s available. This is my first time reading D. Kelly’s work and I am more than impressed with the way she tells a story. She gave me just enough in the middle of this book to set me trying to guess what the hell is going on only to get to the end which left me with my mouth hanging open only to then have so many words that came flying out of my mouth it wasn’t fit for anyone else to hear! Lol I can tell this book will occupy my mind for a while which for me is a tell mark for a great book. There are so many things that I HAVE to know and can’t wait to see how this will all play out. I can only hope that there are going to be many more books in this series because M. Kelly gave us plenty of people that need their stories told too.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
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Jul 30, 2018 Renee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: emotional-rollercoaster, romance

This is one of those books that sucked me in and made me want to read straight through without stopping. I adored the characters and it definitely had a decent dose of the angst I love.

The dialogue for the guys was a little young and feminine sounding in the first few chapters IMO (but that quickly resolved itself). That, along with the need for further editing cut this down to 4 stars (some proofing issues and a few areas that were a bit too long-winded).

However...for me, the wonderful story l ...more

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Oct 30, 2016 Samantha rated it really liked it

I need to stop reading series when they aren't compketed!!! Also, I'm Team Sawyer and I'm not even sorry. This book really interested me because the heroine is pretty awesome with her own issues and the twin brothers thing is fascinating to me. They are both gorgeous but total opposites and I personally think Sawyer's the way to go even though the heroine struggles with balance between the twins. The book lost an entire star for the heroine being an idiot and making a choice that's ridiculous in ...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Doris rated it really liked it

Will give a review when I am finished with the series.

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Nov 03, 2016 Taylor Fenner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, favorites, rock-stars, romance

When 28-year-old best-selling author Amelia "Mel" Greyson tags along to the BAD (Bastards and Dangerous) concert with her best friend Belle who is doing an interview with them for her magazine she is not a fan.

When she meets the band and immediately wins over the band by putting the sexy lead singer, Sawyer Weston, in his place Mel and Belle are offered an amazing opportunity - Belle will do once monthly features about BAD's upcoming farewell tour in her magazine and they want Mel to travel with When 28-year-old best-selling author Amelia "Mel" Greyson tags along to the BAD (Bastards and Dangerous) concert with her best friend Belle who is doing an interview with them for her magazine she is not a fan.

When she meets the band and immediately wins over the band by putting the sexy lead singer, Sawyer Weston, in his place Mel and Belle are offered an amazing opportunity - Belle will do once monthly features about BAD's upcoming farewell tour in her magazine and they want Mel to travel with the band on their one year tour and write the official book on the band. In exchange, the publisher of the book will also contract her bestselling self-published novel and coordinate a book tour for her to coincide with the band's tour.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Mel but in agreeing to go along for the ride she'll have to put her troubled childhood as the daughter of two rock legends - whose relationship had as many highs and lows as Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love - behind her once and for all.

Mel has instant chemistry with Sawyer but she pushes him away, chalking it up to his playboy rockstar ways, for the sake of professionalism but as she gets to know the band and spends time on the tour both Sawyer and his brother Noah begin to develop feelings for her. But which one will she choose? Sawyer, the sexy bad boy with demons of his own? Or Noah, the nice, do-gooder type that always says and does the right thing? At the same time Belle and BAD's drummer, Darren grow close but what will happen when a surprise changes everything for both of them?

As Mel makes her choice between the Weston brothers and allows herself to fall in love, a crazy ex of Mel's new guy reenters the picture and turns all of their lives upside down. The ex's instability soon shows that she's not willing to let Mel have him... even if she has to go to deadly means to tear them apart.

Let me start out by saying I LOVE rockstar romances. What woman hasn't fantasized about being with a rockstar at some point in their life?

Just An Illusion - Side A grabbed me right away and I devoured half the book in one sitting eager to see if maybe, just maybe Mel would end up with the brother I think is perfect for her. I was rooting for Sawyer from the moment I first read the blurb for Just An Illusion. What can I say? I've always gone for the damaged ones. Even though Noah really doesn't do it for me I could see that he loved her so much, and he was easy to like so I could see why Mel was drawn to him.

I loved this story and I enjoyed reading about all these amazing characters. Just An Illusion is sexy, addictive, and emotionally satisfying. By the end, you'll be dying to read the next book and see how everything turns out.

I thought the writing was excellent and right up there with Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series, Jamie Shaw's Mayhem series, and Emily Snow's Devoured books, so if you love a good rockstar romance, Just An Illusion is a definite Must Read! ...more

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Jun 25, 2017 Debbie I Heart YA Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance, music, new-adult, on-my-kindle, on-my-tbr, rocker-rock-stars, romance, series-companion, favorite

Love this book so much! On to read the second book!

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Nov 07, 2016 Siobhain rated it it was amazing

Once you go BAD, you never go back. D. Kelly rocked my book world and had me had me begging for Side B. Just an Illusion - Side A was the best rock star romance of the year. It was poetic, emotional, expressive, TWINTASTIC, and such a thrilling book. I fell in love with these characters (except one in particular). I am a huge fan of music and this book was so enlightening. The life of a rockstar isn’t always fun and games. I think we see this clearly with Amelia, Noah, and Sawyer’s experiences. Once you go BAD, you never go back. D. Kelly rocked my book world and had me had me begging for Side B. Just an Illusion - Side A was the best rock star romance of the year. It was poetic, emotional, expressive, TWINTASTIC, and such a thrilling book. I fell in love with these characters (except one in particular). I am a huge fan of music and this book was so enlightening. The life of a rockstar isn’t always fun and games. I think we see this clearly with Amelia, Noah, and Sawyer’s experiences. This trio of characters were some of the best written characters I have read about. Each character had a role in this book, whether i liked it or not. Amelia Greyson was a bestselling author who grew up in the music industry. She downplayed her writing success, had a best friend that is there for her no matter what, and who had the opportunity of a lifetime. One night at a concert of a band she wasn’t even a fan of rocked her world. Noah and Sawyer Weston are the front men of BAD and are bad in all the right ways. They are fraternal twins, but couldn’t be more opposite. Being a twin myself, I totally appreciated their relationship more and are the only pair of twins I would break my “no dating a twin” rule for. Noah is the perfect gentleman. Even though he has got the looks of a bad boy, he has the sweetest personality to match the sweetest eyes. He is boyfriend material, but is not one to trust so easily. He hasn’t thought about a future with a woman, until Amelia walks in with some smoking hot knee high boots. Sawyer notices too. Sawyer is the bad boy that you can’t help be attracted to. He has had a traumatic childhood that he is still working on overcoming. He uses sex as his therapy and doesn’t open up to many other than his family and bandmates. Amelia changes that in only one night. Amelia knows how to set him straight and has everyone mesmerized. What is it about this one woman that makes Noah and Sawyer want to open up to her? She knew she shouldn’t get involved with anyone on tour, especially with Noah or Sawyer. Her attraction to Sawyer was instant and almost led to something more, but Noah has a persistent charm about him. Can she write their farewell story and be involved with one of them? Noah or Sawyer? Is Amelia ready to be in the spotlight again? So many questions are answered and you will be a fan of this book and D. Kelly’s for life. D. Kelly is a writing genius and had me so enraptured in this story so much that I was ready to stand in line for some BAD tickets of my own ;) That cliffhanger was so unexpected. Even if i wanted more of the story, I can appreciate a phenomenal story and cliffhanger when I read one. Thanks for making me a BAD fan for life. Don't forget to "live today like there's no tomorrow"! ...more

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Jun 20, 2017 Sassy Southern rated it it was amazing

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book had my heart in my throat the ENTIRE time! I couldn't put it down and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these characters!

There were so many unexpected things happening that I couldn't even guess what was going to happen next.

I was going through so many emotions while reading this book and on the edge of my seat during a few moments. I loved the chemistry between Amelia, Noah and Sawyer and was so sad when the book came to an end because I was not ready to be done hearing their story ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 Bobbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rock-stars

Darn, this book. First up, a warning - major cliffhanger. I mean major. And I have no idea when the next book is due out. Just saying. Right, now that's out of the way, I can wax lyrical about the greatness of this story. I'm not a love triangle fan, I'm really not, but I'm not sure the situation with Sawyer and Noah really counts as a love triangle. Why mention it then? I hear you ask. Because it's a pretty major part of the story, and I'm not sure how to describe it without giving too much awa ...more

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Jan 09, 2017 Karin rated it it was amazing

This was my first book by this author and I loved it and her writing style. I was hooked from the prologue. I wanted to know so bad what was going on.

Amelia goes with her best friend to a concert and meets the fraternal twins Sawyer & Noah who want her to write their story. Only problem is going on tour with the sexy brothers while keeping herself and her secrets safe. She quickly realizes that the brothers are complete opposites & undeniablely sexy and they are both attracted to her.

Am ...more

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Jun 06, 2018 Leslie rated it really liked it

Shelves: musician, plus-half-star, read-in-2018, swoon-worthy-heros

4.5 ****

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Mar 29, 2018 Kayla (kaylareads) rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Extra points for a freebie on the kindle (I love a good freebie). I needed something a little lighter to read after serial killers and drug addicts. I could pretty much tell by the first few pages that I was going to enjoy it. It’s the first Book I’ve read like this that is centred around a rock star romance and it’s pretty hot. Not MC novel hot but hot none the less.
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. This follows Amelia as she joins BAD on their final tour to document their lives Extra points for a freebie on the kindle (I love a good freebie). I needed something a little lighter to read after serial killers and drug addicts. I could pretty much tell by the first few pages that I was going to enjoy it. It’s the first Book I’ve read like this that is centred around a rock star romance and it’s pretty hot. Not MC novel hot but hot none the less.
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. This follows Amelia as she joins BAD on their final tour to document their lives for a book she is going to write on them. I’ll say now though, there is nothing bastard and dangerous about the band, they have their issues, but I was surprised to see how sensitive and emotionally in tune they were. That doesn’t make for a bad read though.
There’s some good past histories/traumas going on which only add to the story, and it was a pretty original easy going read for me. Also, there’s no denying this author can write a decent sex scene, some of the best I’ve read were right here in this book.
The only criticism I have is that I didn’t feel like I really knew the characters before they were ripping each other’s clothes off. Buy me a drink first.
Things seemed to move really quickly between Noah and Mel, and while it was nice, I felt like I’d missed something. Often it seemed like what they were saying shouldn’t have came from them.Just for example, sawyer had known Mel all of five minutes before he tells her he wants to fuck her, I mean, that is something he would say but i wouldn’t know at that point as there had been no character development prior. That’s probably not a good example but it’s just the feeling i had at the beginning.
I’m not a massive fan of Noah..I found him pretty clingy, doesn’t build up to a sexual encounter very well. When it did happen it was worth the anticipation but he just made me cringe up to the point I thought/was kinda hoping he would be a terrible lay. Sawyer on the other hand..I was crying out for her to go to him from the beginning.
It sounds like I’m slating the book, but if you can overlook that and take it for what it is, a whirlwind romance with a rockstar or two, then you’re good. A sexy little 3.5/4 stars from me. ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 Liz's Book Bucket List added it · review of another edition

{Received in exchanged for an honest review}

Wow! This book took me by absolute surprise in the best possible way. It was addicting, funny, romantic and full of heart. The heart in this book is what really sets it apart from all other rocker romances and let’s be honest, there are a lot! I was blown away by this tight-knit group of characters that made me fall head-over-heels in love with them page by page. When this book was over, I was sad because I wanted more! This is going to be one of those {Received in exchanged for an honest review}

Wow! This book took me by absolute surprise in the best possible way. It was addicting, funny, romantic and full of heart. The heart in this book is what really sets it apart from all other rocker romances and let’s be honest, there are a lot! I was blown away by this tight-knit group of characters that made me fall head-over-heels in love with them page by page. When this book was over, I was sad because I wanted more! This is going to be one of those series that sucks you in and you never want it to let you go.

This is my first book by D. Kelly and I loved it! It had the addictive qualities of some of my absolute favorite books, which has landed it on the top of my list of guilty pleasure reads. Although this book is full of romance, angst and drama…it is also full of so much more. The story is told in first person, with Amelia being the main point of view. There are some blog posts thrown in from Belle (Amelia’s BFF) that gave the story a fun spin. The pacing was perfect. It moved swiftly, but also allowed time for great character development.

One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book was the characters! They were all amazing! D. Kelly did a great job of giving each of these characters their own personalities and traits. Each one was completely different, with great fleshed out histories. I think the characters are what really gives this story heart and makes it dynamic. It made me want to be part of these characters inner circle because the friendships and relationships all felt very genuine and sincere.

I loved Amelia as our main character. She was sassy, relatable and down-to-Earth. I also loved Amelia’s BFF, Belle. She was one of my favorite characters and I really can’t wait to see how her story unfolds in the next book! Noah was absolutely amazing, almost to the point of being too perfect, but I can overlook that! I loved that Noah was a good guy and has defiantly made it onto my list of favorite book characters. Sawyer was more standoff-ish and mysterious, but the moments he had when he opened up really made me like his character. He is the bad boy with the sweet side who consistently makes bad choices, but wants to change. All of the band members of BAD were great! They all seriously need their own book and I would devour each one of them.

The romance was amazing. When I read the synopsis for this book, I was both intrigued and also scared about where it could go. I am a reader who enjoys love triangles, but only if they are done right. And this one was done amazingly! Both love interests were equally swoon worthy. However, I felt like there was only a slight love triangle in this book. One relationship was far more developed than the other, but who knows how the next book will play out. I do not want to go too in-depth with the romance aspect of this book since it is kind of a spoiler, but know that it is some of the best romance I have read! I loved how cute it was and it most defiantly gave me all of the feels.

The other aspect I loved about the romance was that there were multiple romances throughout. I loved reading about the other relationships with the band members of BAD, which made the story feel more complex. I am really crossing my fingers and hoping that there may be some spin-off books featuring the side characters.

I am also going to warn readers that this ends on a HUGE cliffhanger. I finished this late at night and my mind was racing from the ending! If the second book would have been available, I would have had to stay up later to at least read the first couple chapters to see what was going to happen. Personally, I think cliffhangers are fun when the wait for the second book is not too long, but I know they drive some readers crazy.

Overall, I really loved this book. This year is going to be a hard one to rate my favorite reads because there have been so many, but this one is defiantly up there. I will be getting my hands on the second book as soon as possible and hope that there are several books to this series. If you like rock star contemporary romance, then defiantly pick this one up!

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Jan 07, 2017 Kim E. rated it it was ok

Shelves: dnf

DNF at 20%. I tried to chew through it, but ultimately I gave up the ghost. This book was not without potential - the idea of traveling with a band while the h is there to document for a biography incapturing their farewell tour is a good idea, and I liked the personalities of the band members, but the writing execution was lacking. The author had a tendency to write a rather long piece of dialogue, but wait until the end of the diatribe to mention who was actually doing the talking. I found mys ...more

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Jun 20, 2017 Nerdy Dirty & Flirty rated it really liked it

Deliciously angsty love…

Oh the drama! This is my first book by this author and I don’t think I was mentally ready for the whirlwind of emotions that this story brought out… Be prepared for a journey that will take your heart out and toy with it, just a wee bit…. Okay, who am I kidding, a LOT!

Amelia. Sawyer. Noah. Wait, wait. Who is falling in love here? Well, that’s not the easiest thing to decide when you have full on characters that feel right together. All of them… No, this isn’t a ménage rom ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Amber - TBR Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Dee Kelly reached out and told me about this release and I am SO glad she did!!!! Although I hate her a little for the cliffhanger and making me wait! I don't want to ruin this book for anyone going to read it (because you should read it) but I will give you some bits.

Amelia is familiar with rock royalty and the celebrity lifestyle and that doesn't impress her and she doesn't want to be involved in it. Her best friend Belle, is dragging her to the BAD concert (Mel has no idea who they are) and ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Kathy Aronoff rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Terrific Start

This new to me author wrote an incredible first book in a new rock series. Just an Illusion has everything you can want in a story, love, jealously, a to die for book boyfriend in Noah his awesome band mates including sexy, sinful tortured twin brother Sawyer. Amelia Greyson romance book author agrees to go to a concert with her music blogger bff Bella where they are both offered once in a lifetime opportunities to follow and write about the bands farewell tour. Amelia with secrets ...more

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Mar 27, 2017 Fiona Leung rated it it was amazing

Shelves: highly-rated, kindle, reviewed

Wow this was hot, hot, hot! Just an Illusion (Side A) by D. Kelly is the first book from The Illusion. We're told the story from Mel's perspective and she has so much to share. She's a best-selling author of a book called The O Factor and has a secret past that she wants to hide. When she was given an opportunity of a lifetime to embark on a one year tour with the band BAD and document their story in a book, she was reluctant to join but didn't pass up on the offer in the end.

BAD is fronted by f ...more

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Mar 22, 2017 Jamie Ellis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

OMG really?????

I knew this was going to be a two parter but dangit what an ending to side A. I really hate cliffys they SUCK butt. I am so in love with this set of characters and the storyline is brilliantly written. I just can't believe we were left hanging like that, but on saying that I really highly recommend this book.
Loving Amelia's character. She is a woman with a tragic past and not all of it is of her making. Just put it this way she is no stranger to the limelight and knows what its li ...more

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Apr 26, 2017 Kim rated it it was amazing

If you are a Rock Star Book Fan then this series .. IS FOR YOU !! The characters are stand up straight forward and SEXY as hell .. Everyone has a past .. good or badd .. and these characters have it ALL !! But when FATE crosses there path they ALL bring her in especially two twin brothers ..

Amelia become the writer that will put the truth the lies the past and the future down to a story about the guys in the Bastards and Dangerous but when she travels with them on there final tour for a year thi ...more

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Mar 26, 2017 Liz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this book and the characters. The BAD members are amazing and I loved Amelia and Belle. These characters were so likeable. And all the secondary characters brought it all together.

One night changed Amelia's life in a way she never expected. After writing her first novel, she is ready for what comes next, but what comes next it totally unexpected.

Because of her friend's obsession with the band BAD and her job, she winds up at one of their concerts to offer Belle support. When she meets ...more

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Apr 20, 2017 Joyce rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cliffhanger, contemporary-romance, erotica, interracial, kindle-owned, r2r, strong-female, music-musicians

Five fabulous starts from me! I think I loved everything about this se y rock star book, except the cliff at the end but that just leaves me wanting to continue read. This is my first time reading D. Kelly and I know it won't be the last!

The fun story line of a new author Amelia, has her very first book reach the best seller list. (The book was even about sex! I'm pretty sure I would love to read that book as described in Side A as well!) Amelia has a history with rock stars that makes her neve ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Coco.V marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: freebies

FREE on Amazon today (9/23/2017)!

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Jan 07, 2017 Meghana Sarathy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, arc, love-triangle, heart-throb-boyfriends

There are certain books that once you start reading, you can't possibly put it down and for me this was one such book. It's exactly the kind of book that I love and I consider myself really really lucky that I got a chance to read this. I am in love with the book, the story, the characters and surprisingly even the cliffhanger. Dying to get my hand on the second book. When is it coming out?! I will definitely be following the author to receive all updates. I want to pre-order it right this momen There are certain books that once you start reading, you can't possibly put it down and for me this was one such book. It's exactly the kind of book that I love and I consider myself really really lucky that I got a chance to read this. I am in love with the book, the story, the characters and surprisingly even the cliffhanger. Dying to get my hand on the second book. When is it coming out?! I will definitely be following the author to receive all updates. I want to pre-order it right this moment. This is my first book of the author and I am super glad that she has written so many books. I am going to be starting with them soon. Post this book, I have become a huge fan of D.Kelly and now I am actually 'fan-girling'. Happy sigh :):)
So let me talk about this book in particular. Where do I even start? Right from the first page this book hooked me and I am not even exaggerating. It has EVERYTHING I want and love in a book. i loved Amelia, she is such a cool character and I can totally understand why both Sawyer and Noah fall for her. Now coming to the BAD gang..they are really not bad..they are fucking awesome. Each and every one of them and I really can't pick a fav. Wyatt is adorable and he and Anna make such a cute couple, Darren is damn funny ( I totally loved his bang the bongo reference). Sawyer can be a jackass at times, but extremely caring too. He is the usually the kind of guy I tend to fall for in a book and I could have if only I could connect more with him. I didn't get to see much of him in this book, but hopefully I can in the next book. Noah is such a sweetheart and a Gem of a person. He is truly museum worthy. Anyone can gawk over him. He is a rockstar, and yet so compassionate, kind and benevolent. More than fame or money, all he wants is to settle down and have a family. He is a typical prince charming and is impossible not to love. Unfortunately he goes off the market pretty soon in the book and Amelia ( Mel) takes him, rather he gets enamored by her in their first meet and soon after when she is touring with them, they get together. Poor Sawyer doesn't even get a chance. But Noah is Noah and he is actually smart to make the first move. Now not to forget Belle. I love her friendship with Mel. And she is not sidelined in the story at all. She comes every alternate chapter and has her very own cute love story with Darren. Every character is given so much importance and book space- that's a big plus about this book. I honestly couldn't find any negatives.
Firstly, I loved the setup. Mel who is a best selling author, touring with the band for a whole year and Belle getting a chance to do an exclusive coverage of the tour and the band for slammed. It has rockstars, an author, journalist, psycho ( I must add ) old boyfriend and what not?! And yet, everything was balanced so beautifully. I loved the pacing and the unique style in which this book was written. There are certain chapters in the present, mostly of the past and also blog posts from Belle. What a combination! The chapters from the present really keeps alive the suspense and generates curiosity ( I can actually say desperation ) to know what the hell happened in the past three years and this book barely covered few months of that time period so that obviously means a hell lot has happened and I for one am dying to know more. A very smart move by the author to add the chapters in the present which builds the air of mystery. The way Mel's past is revealed is also very good. What I love the most about her is how matured and open she is about her feelings. It's very hard to be like that and I really admire her for it. The sex scenes were super hot. Noah though is such a sweet guy, he sure can speak super dirty and that too at the 'right-times'. Mel is very lucky in those regards. Again, I wouldn't call it a typical love triangle though it does involve Mel, Noah and Sawyer, but that's the beauty of this book. It's not typical and easy to guess. There is so much that unfolds that one will be left asking for more.
On an ending note I want to say I totally loved this book and wish to read the sequel as soon as it releases. Five stars and more. ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Melanie Kulpa-Effnert rated it it was amazing

Beyond awesome!!!

This was my first book by Dee Kelly and I could never be more thankful. This book has it all. God damn, I was on edge the whole book. It's so captivating and addicting. Just...WOW!

So about Just an Illusion - Side A:

One night changed her life…

Bestselling author Amelia Greyson has grown up in the music industry and isn’t the slightest bit fazed by fame or celebrities. However, when she attends a Bastards and Dangerous concert with her best friend Belle, her world shifts on its axi ...more

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Nov 01, 2016 bookbruin rated it it was amazing

Wow. This book was so good that I'm not sure I can even accurately express how I'm feeling right now. It had everything - love, sadness, drama, hope, tragedy, humor, mystery, swoons, and of course, steam. I was sucked right into the story from the start and only put this book down when I absolutely had to. Even still, I burned through it and am now experiencing a serious book hangover.

The story revolves around incredibly sweet and all around good guy Noah, his brooding and mysterious bad boy bro Wow. This book was so good that I'm not sure I can even accurately express how I'm feeling right now. It had everything - love, sadness, drama, hope, tragedy, humor, mystery, swoons, and of course, steam. I was sucked right into the story from the start and only put this book down when I absolutely had to. Even still, I burned through it and am now experiencing a serious book hangover.

The story revolves around incredibly sweet and all around good guy Noah, his brooding and mysterious bad boy brother, Sawyer, and Amelia (Mel), the woman both brothers want as their own. Some readers may have issues with love triangles, but this one for me, really worked. I liked that all 3 main characters aren't perfect and have their own demons and baggage to deal with. Noah probably came the closest to saint hood with all his swoony moments and philanthropic heart, but it didn't feel contrived and only made him more adorable. I hurt for Sawyer and everything in his past that's tormenting him, and savored the gentle and vulnerable moments where he showed his true self. I felt just as torn and confused as Mel, sorting through the emotions and wrestling with the pain and fear of ever driving these 2 brothers apart. I can't say for certain who I'm shipping at this point, since I think both guys have qualities and traits that I think Mel needs. If I really had to choose though after only reading this book, then I would say Team Noah. :)

I found the secondary characters in this book just as fun and amazing. Belle was a little too bubbly at times, but it's what makes her friendship with Mel work. They balance each other and they both stand by and support each other above all else. Throw hilarious Anna into the mix and that's definitely squad goals. I loved the entire Weston family (especially little Saylor) and of course, the other members of BAD, Wyatt and Darren. Everyone genuinely cares for each other and I loved how absolutely normal the family was despite the fame and success of the boys. There were perfect moments of comic relief (oh, Rhymin' Rieanne I could have read a whole chapter about you!) and just enough drama and angst to keep the reader guessing.

This is the first book I have read from D. Kelly, but I thought her writing was perfect. She wrote some seriously swoony moments and the song Just an Illusion had my heart breaking. The snippets from the present, weaving together with the past, left me wanting more and hello, that ending (even though I knew it was coming) just killed me in the best way. This book was just what I was looking for and I cannot wait for the next book! Is it 2017 yet?!

*Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC free of charge* ...more

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Nov 06, 2016 Crazy for Books (Stephanie) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romance, series-sequels, review-request

ARC provided by author for an honest review.

4 Rock Your World Stars

When Amelia "Mel" Greyson (aka Triton) reluctantly goes with her best friend, Belle, to meet the Rock Band BAD (Bastards and Dangerous), she has no idea what's in store for her future.

See... Mel has recently hit the Bestsellers List for her independently published romance novel, which everyone is raving about. She doesn't seem like the type who would write the type of book the whole country is raving about. So when Sawyer Westo ARC provided by author for an honest review.

4 Rock Your World Stars

When Amelia "Mel" Greyson (aka Triton) reluctantly goes with her best friend, Belle, to meet the Rock Band BAD (Bastards and Dangerous), she has no idea what's in store for her future.

See... Mel has recently hit the Bestsellers List for her independently published romance novel, which everyone is raving about. She doesn't seem like the type who would write the type of book the whole country is raving about. So when Sawyer Weston sticks his foot in his mouth by being his normal snarky self and Mel puts him in his place, she not only shocks him, but the entire band. Noah, Sawyer's twin and co-lead of the band, is immediately smitten.

Mel has her own past experience with the rock world and she has not patience for the personalities it breeds. She and Sawyer seem to have a spark that causes them both to go at each other, but it's Noah who's charm and sweetness draws her in.

Soon she's on tour with the band as their official biographer, where she opens up to the guys about who she really is and why she seems so comfortable among them and being on the road. She has a past that's so tragic and they all bond with her in their own way, becoming and extension of her family unit she has with Belle and Belle's mother.

But the darkness in Mel's past isn't what comes to haunt them. It's sweet Noah's. It turns out being nice doesn't always serve you. While Sawyer is coming to terms with what his relationship will have to be with Mel, Belle and Darren's good yet surprising news brings happiness to the group, but it's Noah's ex who throws a monkey wrench in Mel and Noah's life they are building.

I can't wait to read the next book. I have to say, I am torn as to who I want Mel to be with. I only see hurt and sadness for poor Sawyer as her relationship grows with Noah, which makes me so sad for him, based on his past. But I hope what I think is happening isn't what's happening. It would be just too heart-wrenching.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you what I think it is without giving it away, so all I can say is... Read this really great, yet very sad story. ...more

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