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DirtSlap #1
Fuel
“Is there any line she won’t cross?”
Cassie Dalton escapes her narrow-minded hometown and will do whatever it takes to make a life for herself—on her own terms. Getting stranded in Nashville on her twenty-first birthday is fine…running into the one man she never thought she’d see again is mind-blowing. She doesn’t want, or need, a hero, but he opens her heart to feelings she’d stopped believing in. She’s always loved him, but is he worth risking her heart?
Thrand Medlam is content with his life as a studio drummer, until Cassie slams into his world at full throttle. Grown up and running wide ass open, she sparks the fire he never knew he’d lost. The girl from his past digs up all the regret and remorse he’d buried when he left. Torn between the guilt of long ago and the vibrant girl in front of him, he must make a choice. Honor a promise he made to his best friend, Cassie’s dead brother, or love her.
In the midst of their chaos, a band, with a little bit of country, a dash of metal and a whole lot of dirt, is born… DirtSlap.
Cassie Dalton escapes her narrow-minded hometown and will do whatever it takes to make a life for herself—on her own terms. Getting stranded in Nashville on her twenty-first birthday is fine…running into the one man she never thought she’d see again is mind-blowing. She doesn’t want, or need, a hero, but he opens her heart to feelings she’d stopped believing in. She’s always loved him, but is he worth risking her heart?
Thrand Medlam is content with his life as a studio drummer, until Cassie slams into his world at full throttle. Grown up and running wide ass open, she sparks the fire he never knew he’d lost. The girl from his past digs up all the regret and remorse he’d buried when he left. Torn between the guilt of long ago and the vibrant girl in front of him, he must make a choice. Honor a promise he made to his best friend, Cassie’s dead brother, or love her.
In the midst of their chaos, a band, with a little bit of country, a dash of metal and a whole lot of dirt, is born… DirtSlap.
- GenresRomance
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2015
7 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Ashlynn Pearce
9 books83 followersWere it not for Hope...the Heart would Break
.
Ashlynn Pearce is an award winning author who writes fiery, passionate romances. Her characters are perfectly imperfect. She's a true believer that damaged people need love too.
Born and bred in Oklahoma, she lives with her husband, son and four pups. Despite four strokes, she continues to fight to keep her publishing dream alive.
After several visits to Nashville, she created the DirtSlap series. DirtSlap is a band - a little bit country, a dash of metal & a whole lot of dirt. Included in the series are FUEL, WRECK, KRUSH and FIXT…with more coming.
If you're searching for a bit hotter...leather clad...erotic...tattoos, look no further than the new series, Rolling Asylum Motorcycle Club——ON EDGE
She loves to hear from her fans, so you can contact her at:
Social Media: @ashlynnpearceauthor
.
Ashlynn Pearce is an award winning author who writes fiery, passionate romances. Her characters are perfectly imperfect. She's a true believer that damaged people need love too.
Born and bred in Oklahoma, she lives with her husband, son and four pups. Despite four strokes, she continues to fight to keep her publishing dream alive.
After several visits to Nashville, she created the DirtSlap series. DirtSlap is a band - a little bit country, a dash of metal & a whole lot of dirt. Included in the series are FUEL, WRECK, KRUSH and FIXT…with more coming.
If you're searching for a bit hotter...leather clad...erotic...tattoos, look no further than the new series, Rolling Asylum Motorcycle Club——ON EDGE
She loves to hear from her fans, so you can contact her at:
Social Media: @ashlynnpearceauthor
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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February 7, 2015
4 1/2 stars. Like rock, country and romance? Check out FUEL, the first book in the DirtSlap (country/rock band) series. This is a best friend's little sister trope with an emotional twist. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
January 31, 2015
The ARC (Advanced Review Copy) of this book was recommended to me. And I'm grateful to the lady who did so.
I'll admit, the opening gave me pause. My first thought was that this would be a country song without music, especially as it takes place in Nashville. As I am not a country music fan, I was, quite frankly, expecting to be bored with the plot.
I was so very wrong.
Yes, the story sounds like something of a Nashville release--girl finds boy she loved who walked away from her and gets a second chance at making him hers--but the emotions are so...raw, so real that the tune changes, giving it an edge more like Memphis' rock 'n' roll.
The author is not from Nashville, but writes as if she is a native, giving the reader as great a feel for the city as she does for the characters.
Her writing style is clear, despite offering up complex human characters dealing with complicated, emotional situations that could drive anyone insane.
Perhaps what interested me most, was her male characters, while definitely macho and manly, also struggled with the same emotional dilemmas and uncertainty usually reserved for the female characters.
If you enjoy emotional roller coasters with an ending that leaves you craving another ride, give this first--and thankfully not last--entry in a "country with but with a little dirt" series.
I'll definitely be on the look out for the next installment.
I'll admit, the opening gave me pause. My first thought was that this would be a country song without music, especially as it takes place in Nashville. As I am not a country music fan, I was, quite frankly, expecting to be bored with the plot.
I was so very wrong.
Yes, the story sounds like something of a Nashville release--girl finds boy she loved who walked away from her and gets a second chance at making him hers--but the emotions are so...raw, so real that the tune changes, giving it an edge more like Memphis' rock 'n' roll.
The author is not from Nashville, but writes as if she is a native, giving the reader as great a feel for the city as she does for the characters.
Her writing style is clear, despite offering up complex human characters dealing with complicated, emotional situations that could drive anyone insane.
Perhaps what interested me most, was her male characters, while definitely macho and manly, also struggled with the same emotional dilemmas and uncertainty usually reserved for the female characters.
If you enjoy emotional roller coasters with an ending that leaves you craving another ride, give this first--and thankfully not last--entry in a "country with but with a little dirt" series.
I'll definitely be on the look out for the next installment.
January 28, 2015
This was the first book I've read by Ashlynn Pearce, and I can't wait to read more! Plenty of angst and frustration to keep the reader turning pages, wanting to know what will happen next. Cassie is the headstrong and determined heroine who has come from an abusive background and just wants to escape and start her life over. Thrand (I love that name!) was her deceased brother's best friend, until he escaped their small, backwoods town. Unbeknownst to him, Cassie had a crush on him when they were younger.
Their accidental meeting in Nashville, when neither knew the other was in town, works, if you know Nashville at all. It's a big city and yet a small town and it's entirely possible to bump into an old friend on the street.
The rest of the book centers around both characters growing- individually as well as together. We also get to watch as the band, Dirtslap, comes together. Oh, and the author gives us a taste of book two, as well, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the next happily ever after in the series. Well done, Ashlynn!
Their accidental meeting in Nashville, when neither knew the other was in town, works, if you know Nashville at all. It's a big city and yet a small town and it's entirely possible to bump into an old friend on the street.
The rest of the book centers around both characters growing- individually as well as together. We also get to watch as the band, Dirtslap, comes together. Oh, and the author gives us a taste of book two, as well, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the next happily ever after in the series. Well done, Ashlynn!
January 28, 2015
I received an ARC for an honest review of this book. Loved it. Cassie is strong and unpredictable and I love that she is not your typical damsel. She calls Thrand on his shit and knows just how to rile him up. And rile him she does. I love the minute we see his control slip. I love that he wants to protect her, even from himself. They have great chemistry, and when the control finally slips, it is so worth it. Here is my only problem…the author included chapter 1 of Wreck, book 2 in this series at the end of Fuel and now I am itching to read that. Sounds like it’s coming out this year though, so that is exciting. I’ll be waiting anxiously until then. Great spicy contemporary read.
February 11, 2015
So many contemporaries today are centered around billionaire premises...not that I mind those. But Ashlynn's first installment in her DirtSlap series gives us a good old-fashioned taste of the real life...particularly from a New Adult perspective. It was nice to explore a story founded on more realistic, everyday expectations and to experience the raw emotions of two younger people working their way free of a troublesome past. From a pace and writing style perspective, Ashlynn's story is so easy to follow, the kind of book you can just relax and enjoy the story.
Definitely a fun read for those who want a realistic view of New Adult situations and passion.
Definitely a fun read for those who want a realistic view of New Adult situations and passion.
January 23, 2015
****I was given an ARC of this book in return for an honest review****
The above being said, I freaking loved this book. I will read any sequels (which are pretty well set up in this one). I loved the attitude, and the descriptions. I was so into the music aspect of it, and I loved that the author called out some of my favorite music artists. The sex was smoking hot! What more could you ask for? Nothing, I tell you, NOTHING!!!!
A great book, y'all should go read it. I mean it. Now.
The above being said, I freaking loved this book. I will read any sequels (which are pretty well set up in this one). I loved the attitude, and the descriptions. I was so into the music aspect of it, and I loved that the author called out some of my favorite music artists. The sex was smoking hot! What more could you ask for? Nothing, I tell you, NOTHING!!!!
A great book, y'all should go read it. I mean it. Now.
January 18, 2015
Omg I absolutely loved this book. Thrand was everything you could think in a hero. A bit stubborn, but I loved that. I loved his relationship with Cassie. I loved Cassie's wild but carefree nature. I loved this book and can't wait for the next installment.
December 14, 2015
Review to come...
January 19, 2023
“He wanted more of this crazy girl who made her own rules.”
Based on the blurb I expected this rockstar romance to be dark and filled with angst. I was wrong. While there were some emotionally challenging moments, most of this book was like Cassie, joyful and upbeat. After surviving a brutal childhood I don’t know how she managed to stay so filled with happiness and love. What a strong woman. Thrand is absolutely nothing like most rockstar heroes. While he’s hot, charming and talented he avoids all the negative parts of being a professional musician. He’s not a womanizer, he’s not out of control and he’s not drunk or high all the time. I actually loved him and thought Cassie on lucky lady.
This series and the author are new to me. I plan to read the rest of the series and have already purchased book two, which is Ethan’s story. I also highly recommend this book and the series. While it’s not really a traditional rockstar romance, it’s still quite enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Based on the blurb I expected this rockstar romance to be dark and filled with angst. I was wrong. While there were some emotionally challenging moments, most of this book was like Cassie, joyful and upbeat. After surviving a brutal childhood I don’t know how she managed to stay so filled with happiness and love. What a strong woman. Thrand is absolutely nothing like most rockstar heroes. While he’s hot, charming and talented he avoids all the negative parts of being a professional musician. He’s not a womanizer, he’s not out of control and he’s not drunk or high all the time. I actually loved him and thought Cassie on lucky lady.
This series and the author are new to me. I plan to read the rest of the series and have already purchased book two, which is Ethan’s story. I also highly recommend this book and the series. While it’s not really a traditional rockstar romance, it’s still quite enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 31, 2022
Love this story! The characters and storyline are top notch I can’t wait to read the rest of the stories and find out who’s gonna get which guy. Cassie and Thrand have a past, one that is filled with heartbreak. When Cassie runs into Thrand after being left stranded on Tennessee on her way to New York he was the last person she ever expected to run into 7 years later! Has to much time and distance ruined their friendship?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 1, 2023
I liked the plot, vulnerability of the men and music references but thought some more detail as to what Cassie had endured would have helped understand her personality better.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2015
This was a great read. I might be biased as I love the "I love her but I don't want to love her" kind of stories.
Heat Level: 3 or 4, depending on your disposition. Some sexy stuff shown but not too in detail. Reader mostly views heavy petting and making out.
Synopsis: Thrand, a man that went to Nashville to escape his small town past, runs into Cassie, the last person he'd want to see from his past. They grew up together as Thrand was Cassie's older brother's best friend. When Cassie's brother dies in a tragic accident, Thrand blames himself and runs out of town without saying goodbye to Cassie. Meanwhile, Cassie has blossomed into a passionate woman trying to make it on her own. She's a little bit wild and crazy but in a totally endearing way. Thrand and Cassie fight their feelings for each other despite the incredibly magnetic pull between them.
This was a great read. I might be biased as I love the "I love her but I don't want to love her" kind of stories. Have you ever had a thing for the drummer in a band? A man that falls into the rhythm of the music and everything else just falls away? You like a female lead with some sass and wildness about her. Cassie is just the right kind of crazy for Thrand.
It was a steamy and passionate read despite me wanting to reach in the pages and push Thrand and Cassie's faces together to make them just kiss already!! The anticipation was great though and had a wonderful payoff. I loved the nuanced layers of back story that is slowly revealed to the readers which shows the undercurrent of conflict between Thrand and Cassie.
In the end, I loved this story and I'm looking forward to others in the DirtSlap universe. Pearce has set up the series for another book and another possible love story between two characters. This is a series about a band and the women who can't resist them.
Heat Level: 3 or 4, depending on your disposition. Some sexy stuff shown but not too in detail. Reader mostly views heavy petting and making out.
Synopsis: Thrand, a man that went to Nashville to escape his small town past, runs into Cassie, the last person he'd want to see from his past. They grew up together as Thrand was Cassie's older brother's best friend. When Cassie's brother dies in a tragic accident, Thrand blames himself and runs out of town without saying goodbye to Cassie. Meanwhile, Cassie has blossomed into a passionate woman trying to make it on her own. She's a little bit wild and crazy but in a totally endearing way. Thrand and Cassie fight their feelings for each other despite the incredibly magnetic pull between them.
This was a great read. I might be biased as I love the "I love her but I don't want to love her" kind of stories. Have you ever had a thing for the drummer in a band? A man that falls into the rhythm of the music and everything else just falls away? You like a female lead with some sass and wildness about her. Cassie is just the right kind of crazy for Thrand.
It was a steamy and passionate read despite me wanting to reach in the pages and push Thrand and Cassie's faces together to make them just kiss already!! The anticipation was great though and had a wonderful payoff. I loved the nuanced layers of back story that is slowly revealed to the readers which shows the undercurrent of conflict between Thrand and Cassie.
In the end, I loved this story and I'm looking forward to others in the DirtSlap universe. Pearce has set up the series for another book and another possible love story between two characters. This is a series about a band and the women who can't resist them.
May 6, 2015
Cassie has finally left the town where she was raised and the horrible life she had there. It's her twenty-first birthday and she plans to start a new beginning living life with no regrets. When her bus reaches Nashville, she discovers she'll have to spend the night there before catching the next bus to New York. Cassie gets a cheap hotel for the night and stops by a bar for a drink. When a handsy jerk tries to push her too far, she comes face to face with her past. Thrand was her brother's best friend and left with no word seven years ago. She loved him and has missed him over the years. She ends up staying with Thrand, getting a job and plans on winning his heart. Problem is, Thrand feels guilty about the feelings he has for his late best friend's little sister. He also regrets leaving her with her abusive dad.
This is a quick read. Cassie is a firecracker that's a happy, likeable character. She brings out feelings in Thrand that he thought he'd buried long ago. Thrand is a drummer in a band that's handsome and broody, yet you know he's a really good guy. You can't help but pull for these two to work out their problems and find a happy ending.
DirtSlap is the name of Thrand's band. The next book in this series is called Wreck and will be about band member Ethan and Shelby, a new waitress at the bar. We get a little sneak peak at the end of Fuel. I'm looking forward to what happens next with these characters.
This is a quick read. Cassie is a firecracker that's a happy, likeable character. She brings out feelings in Thrand that he thought he'd buried long ago. Thrand is a drummer in a band that's handsome and broody, yet you know he's a really good guy. You can't help but pull for these two to work out their problems and find a happy ending.
DirtSlap is the name of Thrand's band. The next book in this series is called Wreck and will be about band member Ethan and Shelby, a new waitress at the bar. We get a little sneak peak at the end of Fuel. I'm looking forward to what happens next with these characters.
May 29, 2015
The story was ok. I just felt like there was a lot of back story that should have been explained. Especially about Cassie & Thrand's younger years as friends. It's hard to see the connection because we don't really know a lot about how they were when they grew up together. It's like bit & pieces of a puzzle that we have to try & piece together.
I liked Cassie's wild side & how she just wants to live life to the fullest but she went overboard with certain things. Constantly getting pissy at Thrand & storming out like a kid throwing a tantrum was a getting a bit old. And she over-reacted way too much after they did the dirty deed. Disappearing for 2 weeks & acting reckless was just absolutely ridiculous. She took that to the extreme & it made me wanna slap her around.
Thrand was a hottie but a bit of dope with handling certain things. I liked his character but I would have made him a bit more firm & alpha male.
I liked Cassie's wild side & how she just wants to live life to the fullest but she went overboard with certain things. Constantly getting pissy at Thrand & storming out like a kid throwing a tantrum was a getting a bit old. And she over-reacted way too much after they did the dirty deed. Disappearing for 2 weeks & acting reckless was just absolutely ridiculous. She took that to the extreme & it made me wanna slap her around.
Thrand was a hottie but a bit of dope with handling certain things. I liked his character but I would have made him a bit more firm & alpha male.
March 3, 2015
4.5 stars! This book has it all--appealing characters with enough chemistry to set the sheets on fire, a great story, and an easy-going style perfectly suited for this book. Set in Nashville, this is the story of a couple of small-town Oklahoma kids--one who's making his dream in Music City, the other running away to discover what her life can be. Bumping into each other is fated and their shared past could be a roadblock to a future full of love and promise if they'll just find the way. Watching them do so makes for a great read! 
May 31, 2015
I absolutely LOVE this book!!
Well omg! This book is a unexpected treasure! You will automatically assume that its just another rock star romance but you'd be dead wrong! To quote the book "it's country with dirt" haha I can't believe what I read it was hot as sin and all around crazy good time! All the characters you'll meet will keep your head spinning and laughing because their personalities are the best! No one is what they seem and it's a serious breath of fresh air in the music romance books. It's a must have book!!
Well omg! This book is a unexpected treasure! You will automatically assume that its just another rock star romance but you'd be dead wrong! To quote the book "it's country with dirt" haha I can't believe what I read it was hot as sin and all around crazy good time! All the characters you'll meet will keep your head spinning and laughing because their personalities are the best! No one is what they seem and it's a serious breath of fresh air in the music romance books. It's a must have book!!
February 7, 2015
Cassie and Thrand haven't seen each other in years. When they met again in Nashville, wild girl Cassie rocks Thrand's world. The characters are immediately likeable. I rooted for them to find happiness and had a lot of fun along the way. If you are looking for an intense and super hot love story with some rock thrown in, Fuel is the book for you. I loved it and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!
April 17, 2015
Cassie is a firecracker. Thrand is a sexy drummer with a sensitive side.
Together they make a sweet sexy older brother's best friend romance set against the backdrop of the Tennessee music scene.
The author provides a fast paced non stop romance that I couldn't put down, and can't wait to get into further books in this series.
Together they make a sweet sexy older brother's best friend romance set against the backdrop of the Tennessee music scene.
The author provides a fast paced non stop romance that I couldn't put down, and can't wait to get into further books in this series.
May 23, 2015
Nice short book (only 1927 positions, ends at 92%). Likeable characters, good story. Some minor typos, but didn't bother me much. Would have given 4 stars but the second book is much much better (4.5), so this one paled in comparison to the sequel.
July 14, 2015
Received a copy for review for Fallen for Books
Loved this book! It's sweet sexy and full of drama. But the good kind of love angst drama. Never overdone. Perfect love story!!
Loved this book! It's sweet sexy and full of drama. But the good kind of love angst drama. Never overdone. Perfect love story!!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews