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Drummer Ryder Chord has been living half a life since he was sixteen and his twin sister was murdered. He throws himself into his music. When Lexi Evanovich joins the band, life becomes almost tolerable. Until one day when the rest of the band isn\u2019t there and Ryder and Lexi have to share a hotel room: with only one bed.<\/p>\n
Rule number one of band-dom: You never sleep with anyone in the band.<\/p>\n
Rule number one of bro code: You never sleep with anyone\u2019s sister. You definitely never sleep with your best friend\u2019s little sister.<\/p>\n
Rule number it\u2019s so obvious it\u2019s a count even a drummer can keep: You Never. Ever. Sleep with your best friend\u2019s little sister when she\u2019s in the band\u2026and he is too.<\/p>\n
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Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely impossible to take a risk where you put everything you have in jeopardy.\u00a0 Until.\u00a0 You grab hold of yourself, commit and breathe.\u00a0 You know why? \u2026 You find the person who\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 3.5 stars<\/b><\/p>\n This was a really intriguing read. My first by this author, it wasn\u2019t the typical rockstar romance that I was expecting, but is actually a dramatic and emotional read that is multilayered and complex. It\u2019s an in-depth look at life on the road with an up-and-coming rock band told through the eyes of its passionate and emotionally damaged drummer, and an intense romance that permeates through all of the different elements of that.<\/p>\n Ryder is the drummer and songwriter for rock band, Hard Chord. He is a wildly passionate artist, living and breathing all things music, and with a soundtrack to his life constantly running through his head. But lately Ryder\u2019s passion has a second target \u2013 his bandmate and the little sister of his best friend, Lexi. He has suddenly stopped seeing her as just Jace\u2019s little sister, and recognises her as a woman \u2013 a woman he wants, even though everything in him tells him it\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n Rule number one of band-dom: You never sleep with anyone in the band. Lexi grew up being in love with Ryder. It\u2019s taken her years to build up the courage to make her move, and when she does, Ryder is helpless to resist her. And while on a short break from their tour, the two of them spend a blissful week alone exploring each other in every way they can before work calls them back to the band and real life \u2013 a life where their feelings for each other complicate everything.<\/p>\n It sounds like a pretty simple set-up, but it\u2019s anything but straight-forward. A tragedy in his teen years has left Ryder deeply wounded and somewhat closed off, its soul shattering impact leaving a mark on every aspect of his life. And Lexi is struggling with her own issues, and with sharing the news of her and Ryder with her brother, which creates even more tension. But this book is so much more than just the love story. This is very much Ryder\u2019s story, his journey to deal with his demons and find happiness. It\u2019s also a story of band life \u2013 living on the road, the concerts, the music, the passion and love for their art, and the strong dynamics that bond not only the band, but their fellow musicians. Everything is explored in detail and you feel like you\u2019re experiencing it all right alongside them – the dizzying highs and the devastating lows, the teasing banter and arguments, and the incredible connection that ties the four of them together.<\/p>\n The supporting characters are such an important part of this book and bring a lot to the story. In particular fellow band members Jace and Hit Man (yes, that is apparently his name) \u2013 though total man-sluts, they are highly entertaining and have hearts of gold and the book follows their journey as well. The dynamics between them all is what makes the book what it is, and I loved watching the interplay and bond between them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are always a team. <\/i>Always. We carry our burdens, our fears, and our successes together. That\u2019s what we do. Even when it feels like we can\u2019t.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This book is written pretty much entirely from Ryder\u2019s POV, with a few glimpses from Lexi sprinkled throughout. It allows us to get up close and personal with this highly complex character, and at times it\u2019s a really heartwrenching read (his history is just tragic). He\u2019s going through so much, and he feels everything incredibly deeply, but he\u2019s also smart, sarcastic, funny and so damn sweet. I found the constant references to his internal jukebox to be a little bit much at times, as were the musical metaphors \u2013 it shows us how Ryder\u2019s life is so intertwined with his music, but it got a bit tiresome.<\/p>\n I found Roberts\u2019 writing style to be really unique, and it\u2019s actually difficult to explain why. It fits with the uniqueness of the story, but it was different from what I was used to and I admit I did have a bit of difficulty connecting with the story because of it. It\u2019s also a really long book, and though the detail sets the scene well, I feel like we didn\u2019t need quite so much of it.<\/p>\n The book ends well, and though there are threads left undone, they will most likely be answered in future books of the series. Next up is the wonderful Jace, and I\u2019m excited for him to find his HEA.<\/p>\n I enjoyed this one. 3.5 stars.<\/p>\n An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roberts is a multiple award-winning author including first place in the prestigious Summer Lovin\u2019 Romance Literary Contest 2015 for the novel Risk Your Heart<\/em>.<\/p>\n Roberts also writes under the pen name Natasha Action. Roberts is originally from New York but lives in the southern United States for the purpose of endless comic material.<\/p>\n She\u2019s married to a professional musician (A.K.A. The Rock and Roll God) because she is too busy tormenting imaginary characters and counting her blessing to pursue her longtime dream of Rock n\u2019 Roll stardom herself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Website\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Facebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Twitter\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nReview<\/b><\/h4>\n
\nRule number one of bro code: You never sleep with anyone\u2019s little sister.
\nRule number two of bro code: You definitely<\/i> never sleep with your best friend\u2019s little sister
\nRule number it\u2019s so obvious it\u2019s a one-two-three count even a deadbeat drummer can keep: <\/b><\/i>You never. Ever. Sleep with your best friend\u2019s little sister when she\u2019s in the band\u2026and he is too.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nGiveaway<\/strong><\/h4>\n
To celebrate the release of Rock Hard, M.J. Roberts is giving away a $75 iTunes Gift Card!<\/strong><\/h4>\n
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nAbout M.J. Roberts<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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M.J. Roberts is a writer, editor, and teacher \u2013 with more than two million copies of her stories in circulation worldwide, Roberts is well loved for creating characters who feel as real as your most cherished friends. Roberts works to diligently to create believable, lovable characters, witty dialogue, prose ripe with metaphor, exciting plot twists, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and romance scenes that sizzle.<\/p>\n