LOVE EXACTLY (Sticks and Stones #1) by Cassandra Giovanni-A Review 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Released June 20, 2013

Emma Walker was a writer who’d lost herself to someone else’s anger–who had given up on ever feeling like herself again.

Evan Levesque was a rock-god–the one all the woman wanted, but he’d never gotten used to the loneliness between the stage and real life.

With just one cup of coffee they’ll begin a journey of self-discovery at each others sides, but can Emma handle Evan’s fame while dealing with her own demons? Emma’s checkered personal past, a bad relationship that haunts the edges of her memories, threatens to make everything implode on them when Evan takes matters into his own hands.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words…they’ll destroy my soul–Can Emma handle being put back together and facing who she’s become because of it?

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REVIEW: LOVE EXACTLY is the first storyline is Cassandra Giovanni’s New Adult romance series focusing on twenty three year old Emma Walker-a woman with a past mired in emotional and physical abuse- and Evan Levesque- a thirty something rock star who wants nothing more than to be normal. The loneliness on the road is eating away at his heart and his life.

The premise surrounds Emma, a budding photographer and journalist who finds herself in a relationship with Evan- a rock star with a reputation for the ladies. As their romance develops into something more, Evan will become protector and guardian when Emma comes face to face with her past but in doing so will probably place them both in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons.

The rock star/journalist premise is nothing new in the new adult/rock god genre but in this particular case Emma is not after a story about the man and his music. In fact, it is Evan, who continues to push Emma back into her career as a writer. But the pain and heartbreaking memories from a previous relationship have taken their toll on Emma’s self esteem and her ability to put words to paper. The central characters of Evan and Emma are relatable-neither one is an over the top caricature of a rock star or journalist and therefore their likeability follows throughout the story.

The writing style is simple. The sex scenes are mostly implied and fade to black; the relationship between Emma and Evan is friends to lovers as Evan knows that Emma has suffered in the past and he refuses to push her into a sexual relationship too early and by too early, it will be months before the couple takes the big step into full intimacy which may raise an eyebrow or two considering Evan’s reputation. There is very little angst or emotional drama although there are a few moments when Emma begins to question their relationship and what it means on the grand scale of life.

The story follows approximately a year in the life, with weeks where the couple is not together, and in doing so, advances the timeline the same. The character development centres mostly on Emma-her family, her career and her past but we learn very little about Evan’s past and his rise to musical stardom. Hopefully there is more to the rock star than meets the eye.

Cassandra Giovanni has written a sweet story of love and passion; heartbreak and painful memories; loneliness and need; rock stars and a happily ever after. She pulls the reader into a story where one woman tries to deal with the past but in doing so refuses to move forward. Once the demons have been excised, the path ahead will become clearer and much more promising.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy