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Sleeping Dogs #2
Face the Music
Author’s Note: A strong, successful woman and a party boy joker. A match made in heaven, right? Throw in inappropriate grannies, a surprise pregnancy, a lot of laughs, some scorching hot sex scenes, and a misunderstood bad boy’s redemption, and you have a love story that hits all the right notes.
I'm Denise Lathan. I manage the super-successful rock band, Sleeping Dogs, and I’m always in control of every situation. I’m the one who makes sure that everything runs smoothly, and that everyone is doing what they should be.
So why is my personal life turning into such a mess? My boyfriend admitted he hates everything about me, from how I dress and do my make-up, to who I work for, to who my friends are. So I did the only logical thing. I dumped his ass. Now if only he would take the hint and stay gone, I'd be set.
Then those two pink lines show up, and I find myself rolling with the punches instead of controlling the fight. This is not the Denise Lathan that I’ve worked so hard to become.
Oh, and did I mention that the man I’ve had a crush on for fifteen years has finally confessed his undying love for me? Now that it’s impossible to act on? Leave it to Ryder Sullivan to have such good timing.
Not that I think Ryder is ready to stop being the hard-partying, womanizing, lead guitar player that fans of Sleeping Dogs have come to know and love. He’s been out of control for so long that I don’t even think he knows how to be good.
Nope. I’m the only one I can count on. Time to get it together and take back control of my life. I just need to stay away from Ryder long enough to stop myself from falling in love with him. Should be easy, right?
TW: mentions of domestic violence, childbirth, and stalking
I'm Denise Lathan. I manage the super-successful rock band, Sleeping Dogs, and I’m always in control of every situation. I’m the one who makes sure that everything runs smoothly, and that everyone is doing what they should be.
So why is my personal life turning into such a mess? My boyfriend admitted he hates everything about me, from how I dress and do my make-up, to who I work for, to who my friends are. So I did the only logical thing. I dumped his ass. Now if only he would take the hint and stay gone, I'd be set.
Then those two pink lines show up, and I find myself rolling with the punches instead of controlling the fight. This is not the Denise Lathan that I’ve worked so hard to become.
Oh, and did I mention that the man I’ve had a crush on for fifteen years has finally confessed his undying love for me? Now that it’s impossible to act on? Leave it to Ryder Sullivan to have such good timing.
Not that I think Ryder is ready to stop being the hard-partying, womanizing, lead guitar player that fans of Sleeping Dogs have come to know and love. He’s been out of control for so long that I don’t even think he knows how to be good.
Nope. I’m the only one I can count on. Time to get it together and take back control of my life. I just need to stay away from Ryder long enough to stop myself from falling in love with him. Should be easy, right?
TW: mentions of domestic violence, childbirth, and stalking
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2021
20 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Chantal Roome
26 books37 followersI’m a Canadian spicy rom-com author, lifelong book lover, coffee addict, and nap aficionado who’s lived in four provinces (BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and my current home, Alberta). My writing journey started just five years ago, and my debut novel, Second Chance, was the first book I had the courage to publish. You can grab it for free at your favourite digital retailer!
My passion lies in writing spicy, feel-good romantic comedies filled with swoon-worthy cinnamon roll heroes and strong, relatable female heroines, with the odd cameo from other characters in the same world. I want my books to make you swoon, sigh, and laugh until you cry (and maybe pee your pants a little).
My passion lies in writing spicy, feel-good romantic comedies filled with swoon-worthy cinnamon roll heroes and strong, relatable female heroines, with the odd cameo from other characters in the same world. I want my books to make you swoon, sigh, and laugh until you cry (and maybe pee your pants a little).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 31, 2021
In the second book about the band Sleeping Dogs, we get Ryder and Denise’s story.
Denise is the manager of Sleeping Dogs, intelligent, determined, and in charge of her professional life. Unfortunately, her personal life is a hot mess. She is dating a guy who wants her to change, crushing on someone in her band, and a few other complications that creep up. Can she take back control of her life? Thank goodness for Alex. She is a calming voice in the chaos.
Ryder loves the lifestyle that comes with being a lead guitar player. His reputation for the last fifteen years is legendary. Is he really out of control? Will he grow up?
As Denise and Ryder become friends, will he show her all his cards? Denise gets to discover all sorts of surprises about Ryder along the way. Will the timing be right?
The secondary characters bring humor to the story. Devon, the band security, and the Grannies steal any chapter they appear. I am looking forward to whose story comes next.
Thank you to Booksprout and the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Denise is the manager of Sleeping Dogs, intelligent, determined, and in charge of her professional life. Unfortunately, her personal life is a hot mess. She is dating a guy who wants her to change, crushing on someone in her band, and a few other complications that creep up. Can she take back control of her life? Thank goodness for Alex. She is a calming voice in the chaos.
Ryder loves the lifestyle that comes with being a lead guitar player. His reputation for the last fifteen years is legendary. Is he really out of control? Will he grow up?
As Denise and Ryder become friends, will he show her all his cards? Denise gets to discover all sorts of surprises about Ryder along the way. Will the timing be right?
The secondary characters bring humor to the story. Devon, the band security, and the Grannies steal any chapter they appear. I am looking forward to whose story comes next.
Thank you to Booksprout and the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
March 18, 2025
4.5⭐|2🌶|6%🌶frequency
This book is so funny 🤣
Yes, it has heavier topics but still, the funny parts are more.
Ryder and Denise are so cute. When you have known someone for 15 years and are working so closely with each other... But it's not just that.
Ryder is the absolute playboy and womanizer in the band. He takes every v... he can get. That's what everyone thinks about him. But is he really? The guys in this band aren't what everyone expects them to be. But it's not everyone outside who thinks Ryder is what he lets everyone know. The band thinks it and Denise thinks it, too.
But actually, he is so super cute 🥰 He is an absolute golden retriever 😍
There wasn't much about Andrew (Denise's boyfriend) in the first book, but I already knew I hated him. And during this book, the hate skyrocketed! I could quote here again, but better not... Just saying if he were ☠️ I would have had a party 😎
Denise is such an independent and strong woman. She needs to as the manager of a rock band. Being around 5 guys all the time isn't easy 🙈
Most of you may already know me and know how much I love it when there are oldies in a book. And OMG, Ryder's gran... 🙈 When they visit her at the retirement community. First, I love the idea of them having their own cottages 🩷 But Gran and her best friend Gladys are the best. Let me quote Denise "Those women are hilarious".
But there is also the scene when Ryder is telling the story of him, Alex, and Becca at the waxing 🤣 It's already part of the previous book. I just say "peenjazzling" 🤣🤣🤣
When you read the review, I've already finished the whole series 🙈 But while I write it, I'm excited to jump right into the 3rd book 🤩
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
This book is so funny 🤣
Yes, it has heavier topics but still, the funny parts are more.
Ryder and Denise are so cute. When you have known someone for 15 years and are working so closely with each other... But it's not just that.
Ryder is the absolute playboy and womanizer in the band. He takes every v... he can get. That's what everyone thinks about him. But is he really? The guys in this band aren't what everyone expects them to be. But it's not everyone outside who thinks Ryder is what he lets everyone know. The band thinks it and Denise thinks it, too.
But actually, he is so super cute 🥰 He is an absolute golden retriever 😍
There wasn't much about Andrew (Denise's boyfriend) in the first book, but I already knew I hated him. And during this book, the hate skyrocketed! I could quote here again, but better not... Just saying if he were ☠️ I would have had a party 😎
Denise is such an independent and strong woman. She needs to as the manager of a rock band. Being around 5 guys all the time isn't easy 🙈
Most of you may already know me and know how much I love it when there are oldies in a book. And OMG, Ryder's gran... 🙈 When they visit her at the retirement community. First, I love the idea of them having their own cottages 🩷 But Gran and her best friend Gladys are the best. Let me quote Denise "Those women are hilarious".
But there is also the scene when Ryder is telling the story of him, Alex, and Becca at the waxing 🤣 It's already part of the previous book. I just say "peenjazzling" 🤣🤣🤣
When you read the review, I've already finished the whole series 🙈 But while I write it, I'm excited to jump right into the 3rd book 🤩
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
August 16, 2021
Book 2 of the Sleeping Dogs series. Ryder and Denises story is engaging and riveting! It shows how a Woman so in control of her surroundings and then BOOM! she is so out of control with her life and the plans she made that she is having a really hard time dealing with her life situations and the man that has some influence on her actions and decisions! Ryder being the partying bad boy that he is with no plans to settle finds himself in a dicey situation that only he can control and decide! Decisions! Decisions! What will happen when everything is out in the open and there is no telling who will fall first or being left standing last! I recommend Miss Roome and hope that you will take a chance with this author and her engaging characters that will have your heat swooning and your tears flowing. So do not forget to grab the tissues when you pick up this story!
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.
May 18, 2023
Ryder has had feelings for Denise since forever. They were both very young when she started managing his band and he was heavily into the rock and roll lifestyle. Fast forward years later and he wants Denise more then ever so he tells her how he feels. The problem now Denise has a boyfriend, everyone hates him. Even Denise isn’t crazy about him, but there’s a complication and Denise feels the need to give Andrew a second chance. Ryder is not going to make it easy for her. I really liked this story. Ryder does a full 160 and becomes the man Denise deserves and she certainly deserves it. These two have great chemistry and I loved the changes and challenges they go through. I’m giving this book four stars and recommend it.
April 9, 2025
Storyline went downhill
I thought that Ryder and Denise were good together, although Denise was a bit much at times. Ryder was really sweet most of the time. I had a few chuckles while reading, but the old ladies, including Ryder’s gran, were ridiculously unfunny, unbelievable, and perverted. I don’t like cursing—in books or otherwise—but what I wouldn’t have given for a hell or a d*mn instead of the f-word every paragraph or so.
The proofreading was only okay, with some grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It was nothing too distracting.
I got into the story fairly quickly, but it just got worse as it went on, & I probably should’ve relegated it to my DNF stack.
I thought that Ryder and Denise were good together, although Denise was a bit much at times. Ryder was really sweet most of the time. I had a few chuckles while reading, but the old ladies, including Ryder’s gran, were ridiculously unfunny, unbelievable, and perverted. I don’t like cursing—in books or otherwise—but what I wouldn’t have given for a hell or a d*mn instead of the f-word every paragraph or so.
The proofreading was only okay, with some grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It was nothing too distracting.
I got into the story fairly quickly, but it just got worse as it went on, & I probably should’ve relegated it to my DNF stack.
August 4, 2021
Ryder and Denise . . .
Denise Lathan manages a successful rock band, Sleeping Dogs. Her personal life is a mess, though. Her boyfriend insulted her and she got rid of him, only to find she is pregnant. And Ryder Sullivan, lead guitar player whom she has crushed on for 15 years, now is ready to be in love with her. But he probably doesn’t know how to give up his wild, womanizer ways. So in order to take back control of her life again, she will stay away from Ryder and never fall in love with him. How long will that resolution last?
Denise Lathan manages a successful rock band, Sleeping Dogs. Her personal life is a mess, though. Her boyfriend insulted her and she got rid of him, only to find she is pregnant. And Ryder Sullivan, lead guitar player whom she has crushed on for 15 years, now is ready to be in love with her. But he probably doesn’t know how to give up his wild, womanizer ways. So in order to take back control of her life again, she will stay away from Ryder and never fall in love with him. How long will that resolution last?
August 23, 2023
life plans
Denise is a control freak. When she says she is going to manage a rock group she does. Ryder, one the band members develops a crush on Denise which he feels he should act on and Denise had a crush on Ryder. Her mother sets her up with a guy who turns out to be a jerk. When Denise brakes up with her boyfriend Ryder decides to tell her how he feels. All types of things happen from this part. A good read.
Denise is a control freak. When she says she is going to manage a rock group she does. Ryder, one the band members develops a crush on Denise which he feels he should act on and Denise had a crush on Ryder. Her mother sets her up with a guy who turns out to be a jerk. When Denise brakes up with her boyfriend Ryder decides to tell her how he feels. All types of things happen from this part. A good read.
May 23, 2025
This was such a great book and laughed like I haven't in a long time - Loved how well Chantal got it right!!! The two old ladies......... had me hysterical! Absolutely adding her to my favorite writers list!
If you need a cheer up read this book. I don't like reading series books and started with this Book no 2 in the series. I will definitely revisit the Sleeping Dogs Band in the near future. Excellent Writing and FUN!❤️
If you need a cheer up read this book. I don't like reading series books and started with this Book no 2 in the series. I will definitely revisit the Sleeping Dogs Band in the near future. Excellent Writing and FUN!❤️
August 7, 2021
This is an amazing story that once I started it I couldn't put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I really connected with the characters and got drawn into their story. I loved every minute of reading this book and would totally recommend this book to any book lover out there. Happy reading everyone!!
Want to read
July 30, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/30/2023)! 🎁
September 7, 2024
Good
Good book would read again at a later date and time to get a good idea of what I was doing for you and the other day
Good book would read again at a later date and time to get a good idea of what I was doing for you and the other day
January 30, 2025
Hey highly amusing story
There's hilarity to be had in this story! All the good guys are comfortable enough together to rag on each other and it all makes for a laugh fest.
There's hilarity to be had in this story! All the good guys are comfortable enough together to rag on each other and it all makes for a laugh fest.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews