Review by Ronny
Series Name: Stage Dive, # 3
Lead is another fabulous installment in the Stage Dive series.
Book Synopsis:
As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it’s booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.
Lena’s not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.
Review:
This series continues to delight and entertain me. This is the third book in the Stage Dive series, and it’s finally time for Jimmy’s story to unfold. Ok, before I dive into the review. I do want to make a quick note that Jimmy’s story arc has been unfolding in the previous two books. We really get to watch the continual fall of Jimmy’s character in these books and see him hit rock bottom. Now you can jump right into this book, but if you like rock star romances, I recommend reading the first two books before diving into this one. I think you will appreciate Jimmy’s growth in this book more if you do.
Up until this book, Jimmy’s character has been pretty damn unlikable. Let’s be honest, he has been a grade A, asshole. This book is Jimmy’s redemption story. Out of all the characters in this series, he is the one who has the most growth. The overall vibe of this story is more serious and has a more grown-up feel to it, which fits Jimmy’s character. I enjoyed his story. I thought Kylie did a great job of showing her readers the struggles and work a person has to deal with when recovering from an addiction. But also, how addictions can affect not only the addict’s life, but those around them. Kylie handles this challenging subject with care, and I thought she did a great job at intertwining it into this story. Even though this is a more serious book, it’s still a fun and quick read.
I loved Jimmy and Lena. Their story is swoony, fun, and very spicy at times. But as I mentioned before, there is this, shall I say, “maturity” to their love story. The reasons for being forced together are to help Jimmy maintain his sobriety and keep him from getting into more trouble. I liked their relationship, and their chemistry was perfect. Lena doesn’t take any of Jimmy’s crap and calls him on his bullshit. But she is also the only one who seems to get Jimmy and sees the person that he has been hiding under that badass Rockstar image he has created. There is this sassy, sharp feel to their banter. They are reluctant roommates, and neither of them wants to be around the other, which I love. There is nothing better than watching two MCs fight those growing feelings, because you know that the harder they fight those feelings, the harder they are going to fall.
Jimmy’s redemption is great in this book. It’s not a smooth ride, and that asshole behaviour keeps popping up throughout this book and ends up being the reason for the third-act break-up. I know not everyone is a fan of a third-act break-up, but I have to say that this is one of my favourite break-up scenes. It was just really well done, and it leads to a fabulous and unforgettable grand gesture scene at the end of the book.
You will enjoy this romance if you love it when two characters make a no-strings-attached sex deal, which you know is doomed to fail. These two crazy lovebirds know that there is sizzling chemistry going on between them. Both Jimmy and Lena think it’s just this physical attraction that is pulling them together, and that they can just get it out of their system by sleeping together. Any romance bookworm knows that this plan isn’t going to work out. But setting aside all the physical lusty vibes, there is this deeper emotional connection that is developing between these two. Out of all the couples, it’s Jimmy and Lena’s that has the most depth and meaning to it. I really liked spending time with them and watching them interact with each other.
Lead is another spicy rock star romance by the talented Kylie Scott.
