ROCK WEDDING (Rock Kiss #4) by Nalini Singh-Review, Book tour and Giveaway
ROCK WEDDING
Rock Kiss #4
by Nalini Singh
Genre: adult, contemporary, rock star, romance
Release Date: July 19, 2016
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 19, 2016
After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.
Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love…even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.
But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?
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REVIEW: ROCK WEDDING is the fourth and final full-length installment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult ROCK KISS romance series focusing on the members of the rock group Schoolboy Choir. This is Schoolboy Choir’s keyboard player/vocalist Abe Bellamy, and business entrepreneur Sarah Smith-Bellamy’s story line. ROCK WEDDING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and history.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Abe and Sarah) ROCK WEDDING is a story of second chances and happily ever afters. Throughout the series the reader becomes aware of the rocky relationship between Abe Bellamy and his (ex) wife Sarah Smith-Bellamy but the truth behind Abe’s destructive behavior comes to light in the current story line. Two years together and a devastating loss find our heroine running towards freedom, a divorce and a new start to life. Fast forward to present day wherein Sarah finds herself the victim of another relationship that goes horribly wrong, and Abe comes calling hoping for a second chance. What ensues are Abe’s attempts to become a better man, a better husband and a better friend to the people he loves.
ROCK WEDDING is an emotional story line; a story about overwhelming loss, the destructive nature of addiction, and the struggle to forgive and move forward. Abe’s story is heartbreaking-a man unable to let go of the grief and guilt from his past. Sarah is a woman whose earlier years were filled with rejection and abuse. Wanting a family to call her own is everything Sarah had hoped and dreamed but her marriage to Abe was anything but. Abe’s addictions and subsequent verbally abusive behavior pushed our heroine over the edge and into the arms of something worse.
The relationship between Abe and Sarah is one of second chances. Abe’s past treatment of Sarah is reprehensible and destructive not to mention the accusations meant to destroy the human psyche. Rehab and working towards a cleaner lifestyle find Abe hoping for a second chance with the woman he has always loved. Abe’s grief and guilt will forever remain but he must learn to deal with the emotional and physical fall out of his actions. In the end both Abe and Sarah are stronger for the losses they have endured. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.
All of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles. There are several weddings, proposals and marriages as each member of the band gets his happily ever after. The world building focuses on second chances and forgiveness-the music, the tours, and the band are secondary to the story and almost non existent. There are some issues of repetition and redundancy but easily overlooked.
ROCK WEDDING is the final installment in the Rock Kiss series but Nalini Singh has revealed she will be writing a few novellas and short stories to update the reader on some of our favorite Schoolboy Choir romances, and the potential for a spin off series in the works. The story line saw the evolution of four relationships culminating in a series of weddings and celebrations. The premise is entertaining and emotional but the angst is limited to the events of the past; the characters are broken but strong; the romance is a second chance at a happily ever after.
Reading Order and Previous reviews
Rock Addiction
Rock Hard
Rock Courtship
Rock Redemption
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
Having worked nonstop for days, she’d given herself the afternoon off. First, she’d gone to see her son. The anniversary had rolled around again, and though she hurt, this month wasn’t one of the bad ones. She’d talked to him, told him about her day, left him with a kiss.
Her plan for the rest of the day had been to get into her pj’s and curl up on the couch with Flossie to binge-watch a favorite television series. Then had come the buzz at the gate that made her heart thunder and her skin flush… and the delivery of a most unexpected package.
I hope you’re doing okay today. Say hi to Aaron for me. I’m sorry I threw your books in the pool. I was a dick. – Abe
Sarah stared at the note card again, still not certain she was reading it right. The first two lines, they turned her throat thick, but the rest… He’d been so high that day that she’d have bet her business he had no memory of the ugly incident. Sarah had never forgotten it: she could still feel the wrenching ache of the sobs that had overwhelmed her as she tried futilely to fish out books that had been well and truly drenched.
Abe, meanwhile, had moved on to throwing the pool furniture into the shimmering blue water.
Her fingers trembled as she picked up a leather-bound copy of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. It matched the other Austen novels he’d sent her, the set a lovely reissue packaged for collectors. Beside the fancy collector’s editions lay cheerful paperbacks with laughing couples and/or dogs on the covers.
She stifled a wet laugh. He’d clearly chosen those at random, but it was cute that he’d remembered she liked romances with animals in them. Half the time when she’d read to him or talked to him about her favorites, she’d thought he was mostly asleep. It hadn’t mattered—she’d just liked being with him.
The most surprising book in the package was the one about the entrepreneur who’d gone from rags to riches on stubborn grit and sheer determination.
It gave her a funny, fluttery feeling in her tummy to realize Abe really did take her business endeavor seriously. It wasn’t mockery, not when he’d gone to the effort of choosing these other books with her likes specifically in mind. He’d thought she’d like the book because she was an entrepreneur too.
Her eyes burned.
Her hand went to her phone, but she hesitated, the memories of her awful loneliness while she’d been with Abe holding her in place. Curling her fingers into her palm, she picked up the television remote instead.
She had to keep her distance if she was to have any chance of protecting her battered heart. Because this Abe? The one who sent her flowers and books and who dropped by to make sure she was all right? He was more dangerous than the man who’d broken her to pieces.
© Copyright 2016 by Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.
If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.
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Great review, Sandy. I am behind on this series. I think I read the first 3, not sure. One day I’ll catch up.
Wonderful review Sandy. I love Nalini’s books and series.
Fantastic review, thanks Sandy.
wonderful review, sandy. i think i am going to give this series a try. looks very good.
Great review. I have not read this series, but I love Nalini Singh’s other two series.
Fantastic review Sandy. Looks like an emotional read. Congratulations to Nalini on the new release.
Terrific review, Sandy. Sounds great, but no surprise since its Nalini Singh.