Rock stars don’t chase college dropouts. It’s not a story worth writing.
4.5 Wickedly Good Stars!
"Box Sets" or "Complete Series" are usually a big no no for me.... why would I chance buying an entire series when I'm not sure if I will like it? I mean if by middle of book 1 I'm leaning towards the DNF pile, I wasted my money.....which I hate more than wasting my time. On the other hand, if I love it I have the entire series in one place for a discounted price. Luckily, I faced no such dilemma since this one was an ARC. I love rocker romance so I figured this would be at the very least, a decent read. Having already read & liked one of Piper's other books, the chances of me liking this were a little higher. What I didn't quite expect was a series that took the rocker sub-genre & turned it upside down. It is a journey of epicness, a journey of highs & lows.... characters I loved one minute & hated the next. It isn't just about the bright lights & fame, but what happens when that rocker has had enough & what is given up in the chase for fame.
"The month I wrote my first piece of code, Jax Jamieson launched his third platinum album. The week I drank my first beer, he spent in jail. The day I got under his skin, I wound up on his tour. And the night he gave me his hoodie… I fell in love forever."
Book Facts: Told in dual POV, this three part series is a rocker romance that takes the meaning of slow burn to the next level. The biggest rockstar on the planet & the college girl that loved him before she ever met him. The tour that brought them together, the label & man that tore them apart. Everything sacrificed for the love of the music. One man wanting to run away from his legacy while one woman runs desperately towards the legacy she wants to save. When he's brought back, will they have a second chance at an epic ending or the start of a legendary love? Includes a HFN ending, with the fourth book releasing early 2020!
Timeline of Thoughts:
Starting: I know this is going to be good, but it is SO LONG.
2%: I actually really like Haley & the entire vibe of the book so far.
12%: I love that there is a softness to Jax almost immediately where Haley is concerned. I'm rooting for them hard even though I know with 3 books this is going to be a long journey to HEA.
23%: I seriously love them....IDC that its a torturous slow burn, its so worth it in the little moments.
29%: I can't come up with the words for how I feel right now....its been a while since I've truly been this wrapped up in a fictional couple.
30%: Poor Haley, but I hope she lets Jax explain.
32%: End of Good Girl--- girl you know closure is not what you are getting in Atlanta.
Starting Bad Girl: They better have some bedroom action in this one or I'm rioting....period.
39%: "recording the groan"---I am SO with you Haley.
49%: So. Worth. It & 100% them entirely.
56%: Am I supposed to like Grace? Because I haven't gotten to any point in this book where I have.
58%: Poor, poor Mace.
61%: This is about the ONLY issue I'm not a fan of Haley's on. For some reason where Wicked & Cross are concerned, she rubs me the wrong way.
63%: This is SO sweet, but I have a feeling Haley is going to break my heart. Which will make her go on my hate list, at least for a short time.
66%: I know I should "understand" or feel for Haley, but I really don't. Going on my hate list for the time being.
67%: I HATE how she is willing to use how he feels (or felt) about her to get what she wants.
Starting Wicked Girl: I'm sure this is going to go "her way", but I kinda hope it doesn't. Haley is on my sh*t list right now.
79%: Oh GOD! Poor Annie.... but I love her little comebacks!
81%: Oh no! I still don't like Haley though.
85%: Gawh I LOVE Jax....& although Haley hasn't 100% won me back over, I can "end" her time on my hate list.
87%: Uh oh, don't start on the grammar/typo issues....we have a good thing going & then two back to back.
88%: Gawh Todd might be my most hated character in this entire trilogy.
93%: Okay Cross, not such an a-hole as I thought.
98%: I didn't even know how much I NEEDED this meeting until now! Thank you Piper!
Finished: I was going to be slightly mad at that "open" ending, until I saw Forever Wicked coming in 2020!
"The Five"x 3:
Loves from Book: "Hales", Jerry, "Inside", Lita, the guys of Riot Act, Serena, "his groan", the hoodie, Merry Thanksoween, Kyle's "love" for all things charity, "Hallelujah", Annie's "reasons", how Annie gets back at other kids (tampons, pictures, etc), Team Jaley/Herry, Cross' "reason"
Hates from Book (okay 11): Cross, their inability to just get "together", Nina (in quite a few parts of the book), Grace, Haley's inability to understand Jax's issue with Wicked/Cross, Haley's choice, Haley (66%-85%), Todd, Derek, the reason for her 2 calls, I REALLY hate Derek & Todd, Carter.
Quotes:
"Jax Jamieson isn’t someone you f. He’s someone you study and watch and learn from. He’s someone you worship." "Yeah, with your tongue."
-Haley & Serena
For a second, I resent the fact that Jax Jamieson is beloved the world over, because it means everyone wants a piece of him. And there’s only one of him to go around.
-Haley
“You don’t need to save my soul, Hales.” “But I like that you want to.”
-Jax
"My friend Serena says she doesn’t know how I was so strong. The thing is I wasn’t. You were. You were there for me, and you didn’t even know it."
-Haley
“I’ve got enough darkness in me to swallow the world, and enough scar tissue to bury it with. You? You’re bright. And shiny. And so damn new it’s a crime to take you out of the box.”
-Jax
“Hales. You shouldn’t be here.” “Yeah, well, a lot of things shouldn’t happen,” I inform him. “Good people shouldn’t die young. Studios shouldn’t reissue vinyl albums as cut from the master when they’re not.” I glance over my shoulder. “Kyle shouldn’t answer the door wearing nothing but underwear.”
-Jax & Haley
“Did I do something wrong? The other night, I mean.” “No. No, you didn’t do a damn thing wrong. You couldn’t if you tried.”
-Haley & Jax
This girl’s my shadow. We’re bound together by a thread that won’t let go even though we’re opposites in so many ways— she’s bright, I’m dark; she’s new, I’m jaded; she’s curious, I’m closed off. But from the second I noticed her, I can’t unsee her.
-Jax
Jax’s kiss turns hungry on a groan I want to record. Not because that sound alone would sell a million copies, but because I want there to be one copy. And I want to listen to it every night with my hand between my thighs.
-Haley
She’s innocent, but she’s not. She’s sweet, but she’s not. She’s tough, but she’s not, and… How the hell did my arm get around her waist?
-Jax
“I’m going to rip your balls off and sell them on eBay,” I mumble. “There’s my girl,” he murmurs, his lips rubbing mine and sending sparks everywhere.
-Haley & Jax
“That’s the stupid part, Jax. You cut yourself off at the knees,” he mutters. “You’re on top of the damn universe, and instead of riding the ride, you stepped off.”
-Mase
“She’s not a kid anymore,” Lita says softly. “She never was, and that’s the problem,” I reply. “The first time she set foot on tour, she was her father’s daughter. She wanted an empire. She got one.”
-Lita & Jax
“I’ve made millions with words. Every time I see you, I can’t think of a single one.”
-Jax
“Yeah. But that’s you and Jerry. Team Jaley. Wait, that could be us. Team Herry.”
-Jax
“What are you waiting for, Jax Jamieson? Rock my fucking world.”
-Haley
Final Thoughts (in "Five"x2):
1. Because this is three book complete set, I knew this would either be a very slow building romance or a romance that had tons of ups & downs (including break ups & years apart).... or possibly a little a both. This kind of thing normally irritates me, but how these two are written & their undeniable connection makes it not so hard to deal with. I love love love them!
2. I love how these two create a connection so much deeper than anything sexual or physical....its almost as if they love each other LONG before they ever touch. Its freaking magical.
3. Haley in a way is broken....her inability & discomfort with human touch was an annoying quirk at times BUT made the "touches" that much more powerful. Same with Jax, he's broken in his own ways too.... so when he sacrifices what he's wanted for her future it speaks volumes.
4. I cannot get over how masterfully written these two are together. Piper stays true to the characters she created in every single scene while giving them the room & freedom to grow. Their first time? It is seriously just as awkward & cringey as it is totally hot & sexy.
5. I love that through this book we see every aspect of being a rockstar/musician.... from the touring & God-like life to the breathing moments when its finally over, to the darkest moments (for some) when their identity (creating music) is taken away from them, to the backstabbing & everything in between. It was refreshing to see it in so many different ways instead of the common "celebrity/rockstar touring" lifestyle.
6. It makes sense how things happened & I can even understand to a certain extent the decision she makes.....however, I can't get behind ANY heroine who completely takes for granted love like she was shown. I mean the biggest rock star on the planet does things he swore off doing (ex. performing a song he hasn't in a decade, doing a "cover", etc) & literally worships you & you turn your back? Nope, Haley is not a fav....AT ALL.
7. I hated how book 2 ends with her making promises based on how she knows he feels for her. She broke his heart & stomped on it, but to save her "baby" she is willing to shove herself back into his life to get him to do something she knows he wants no part of. She's gross to me.
8. I love I got to witness the relationship between Jax & Annie. I appreciated it wasn't always easy, there for a while I felt so bad for Jax. But it felt geniune & authentic. I forgot many times this wasn't "real".
9. I REALLY HATE Todd. & Derek. But Todd a lot more.
10. I cannot wait for Forever Wicked!
"I love the shit out of you. I think it started the night you got my phone back. Or maybe when you told me I was second best to Leonard Cohen.” His dry comment has me grinning. “The point is… If you’re my cliff, I’ll take you every time without looking back."
Overall, I was hesistant to start this....I didn't have time to read & review this (especially if it was bad). I am so thankful I took the plunge bc this turned out to be one of my favs of 2019. Now to wait impatiently for Forever Wicked!
"I realized that I don’t want to do something bigger than us, Jax. I don’t want to believe there’s anything bigger than us. And we can’t have an ending, because I’m not done loving you yet."
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.