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Rock Chick #7
Rock Chick Regret
Sadie Townsend is known by all as The Ice Princess and she’s worked hard to earn her reputation. Her father, a now-incarcerated Drug Lord, has kept her under his thumb her whole life and she’s learned enough from living in his world to give everyone the cold shoulder. But one inebriated night, she shows the Real Sadie to the undercover agent she knows is investigating her father, the handsome Hector Chavez, and he knows he’ll stop at nothing to have her.
Hector makes one (huge) mistake; he waits for Sadie to come to him. Tragedy strikes and Sadie’s got a choice, she can retreat behind her Ice Fortress or she can embrace the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch World. Guided by Hector, the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch and her new gay roommates, Buddy and Ralphie, Sadie negotiates a life out from under her father’s thumb, a life that includes poison, arson and learning how to make s’mores.
Hector makes one (huge) mistake; he waits for Sadie to come to him. Tragedy strikes and Sadie’s got a choice, she can retreat behind her Ice Fortress or she can embrace the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch World. Guided by Hector, the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch and her new gay roommates, Buddy and Ralphie, Sadie negotiates a life out from under her father’s thumb, a life that includes poison, arson and learning how to make s’mores.
504 pages, ebook
First published December 9, 2011
963 people are currently reading
7344 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
134 books39.5k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,760 reviews
February 20, 2012
I guess I better explain the two stars - it isn't the writing - that is fine and not as wordy as KA can be. It isn't the heroine, she has had a very tough life and she holds it together really well through some very trying situations including brutal assault and rape. Which brings me to the POS masquerading as a hero in this story and the rest of the high schoolish little witch group known as the Rock chicks.
Sadie's dad was a huge drug dealer, think Scarface without the cocaine addiction. He was controlling, obsessive and she had to submerge her persona in a perfect ice princess facade to avoid his wrath. She has had a very sheltered and controlled life but she does her best to help an undercover DEA agent take down her father. She doesn't realize he knows she is trying to help her and one night they have an intense make-out encounter that shows them how attracted they really are. Hector makes a comment about waiting for Sadie to go slumming and Sadie feels highly offended and hurt that he would judge her that way.
There is another woman named Daisy who is part of the Rock chick clique and thinks that Sadie was talking about her behind her back at a high society event and got her little stripper feelings hurt. (no offense to strippers, but if your husband's a minor criminal and you're a former stripper, I am not too sure how accepting perfect social pedigreed society ladies are going to be) In actuality, Sadie had not said anything bad at all about Daisy, she liked her and wanted to be her friend. Sadie tries to explain this to Daisy but she is prevented by Daisy's husband Marcus who wants Daisy far away from Sadie's father. Marcus lets Daisy think Sadie deliberately maligned her and Daisy of course tells all her friends who hate Sadie now. Sadie tries to avenge Daisy's social slighting by outing the gay husband of the socialite at a major society party. Daisy doesn't know this but finds out later.
Finally Sadie's dad goes to prison and Sadie is trying to form her own life, she has an art gallery and is happy finding herself when she starts getting threats from a rival drug dealing group of brothers. This scares her enough that she goes to Lee Nightingale's agency for protection as he runs a body guard/security business and is supposed to be the best. Hector is now an employee of Lee's and has decided to wait until Sadie approaches him for a relationship but he is supposedly very interested and attracted to her. It is made very clear throughout this series that Lee and his employees are very protective of women etc, etc while also being males sluts until they fall in love.
The issue is that Lee is the husband of the queen bitch of the Rock chicks, Indy and because Indy is bff with Daisy and because Lee did not like Sadie's dad, he refuses to help her. Hector doesn't intervene and ask Lee to take her case either. This makes no sense because supposedly they knew she was having problems from the rival drug gang and supposedly this group is supposed to be the knight-errants of vulnerable women everywhere. Lee does refer her to someone else but turns out he isn't available. Hector does follow her home but leaves to go jump in bed with some casual pick up (we find this out later) and in the meantime Sadie gets beaten and raped and manages to make to the Nightingale offices where they get her to the hospital with multiple injuries.
Of course there is massive remorse when everyone realizes how wrong they are about Sadie and Lee and Hector feel terrible and decide they are going to protect her now, while Daisy and Indy and the rest of the Rock chippies broadcast Sadie's rape and abuse to everyone in the Western US. They decide they all need to be Sadie's bff's and frankly this pretty much disgusted me so much I nearly broke my ereader.
If Hector slimeball was so interested in Sadie why did he not ask Lee to help her? If Lee is so friggin noble why did he not put his biases aside and help her? Why do the Rock slags decide Sadie is an acceptable friend now when she wasn't before? Sadie hadn't really revealed her personality at this point and why in the hell do these people think they have any right to any information about what happened to Sadie, much less think it is their civic duty to broadcast it all over town?
If Hector is so into Sadie why is he out shagging some pick up, why isn't he going after the woman he supposedly wants? Frankly Hector blew his hero status right at the get go and IMO he never gets it back. Thankfully Sadie never knows that Hector had been half-assedly trying to protect her, so she doesn't get the full betrayal effect. Hector is consistently pushy with Sadie in wanting all this commitment from her, pouting when he doesn't get it and refuses to talk with her about his feelings and refuses to see things from Sadie's POV.
Sadie deserved better and did not get it, cause with friends like these, she really did not need any enemies. There is no believable way that Sadie could remain friends with these people. I would have preferred it if she had kicked them all out, gone overseas and had a fabulous life, never having to deal with any of them again.
The behavior of the other female characters in this book was pretty childish and petty, the behavior of the supposed hero was a disgrace and there is not enough pink sparklies and adult beverages in the world to make me believe the HEA or the relationships in this one. The one big strength of the book is Sadie herself, she comes a very long way in a very short amount of time and she is really likable. Unfortunately she is so likable, it makes nearly every other character in the book seem even worse in comparison.
Sadie's dad was a huge drug dealer, think Scarface without the cocaine addiction. He was controlling, obsessive and she had to submerge her persona in a perfect ice princess facade to avoid his wrath. She has had a very sheltered and controlled life but she does her best to help an undercover DEA agent take down her father. She doesn't realize he knows she is trying to help her and one night they have an intense make-out encounter that shows them how attracted they really are. Hector makes a comment about waiting for Sadie to go slumming and Sadie feels highly offended and hurt that he would judge her that way.
There is another woman named Daisy who is part of the Rock chick clique and thinks that Sadie was talking about her behind her back at a high society event and got her little stripper feelings hurt. (no offense to strippers, but if your husband's a minor criminal and you're a former stripper, I am not too sure how accepting perfect social pedigreed society ladies are going to be) In actuality, Sadie had not said anything bad at all about Daisy, she liked her and wanted to be her friend. Sadie tries to explain this to Daisy but she is prevented by Daisy's husband Marcus who wants Daisy far away from Sadie's father. Marcus lets Daisy think Sadie deliberately maligned her and Daisy of course tells all her friends who hate Sadie now. Sadie tries to avenge Daisy's social slighting by outing the gay husband of the socialite at a major society party. Daisy doesn't know this but finds out later.
Finally Sadie's dad goes to prison and Sadie is trying to form her own life, she has an art gallery and is happy finding herself when she starts getting threats from a rival drug dealing group of brothers. This scares her enough that she goes to Lee Nightingale's agency for protection as he runs a body guard/security business and is supposed to be the best. Hector is now an employee of Lee's and has decided to wait until Sadie approaches him for a relationship but he is supposedly very interested and attracted to her. It is made very clear throughout this series that Lee and his employees are very protective of women etc, etc while also being males sluts until they fall in love.
The issue is that Lee is the husband of the queen bitch of the Rock chicks, Indy and because Indy is bff with Daisy and because Lee did not like Sadie's dad, he refuses to help her. Hector doesn't intervene and ask Lee to take her case either. This makes no sense because supposedly they knew she was having problems from the rival drug gang and supposedly this group is supposed to be the knight-errants of vulnerable women everywhere. Lee does refer her to someone else but turns out he isn't available. Hector does follow her home but leaves to go jump in bed with some casual pick up (we find this out later) and in the meantime Sadie gets beaten and raped and manages to make to the Nightingale offices where they get her to the hospital with multiple injuries.
Of course there is massive remorse when everyone realizes how wrong they are about Sadie and Lee and Hector feel terrible and decide they are going to protect her now, while Daisy and Indy and the rest of the Rock chippies broadcast Sadie's rape and abuse to everyone in the Western US. They decide they all need to be Sadie's bff's and frankly this pretty much disgusted me so much I nearly broke my ereader.
If Hector slimeball was so interested in Sadie why did he not ask Lee to help her? If Lee is so friggin noble why did he not put his biases aside and help her? Why do the Rock slags decide Sadie is an acceptable friend now when she wasn't before? Sadie hadn't really revealed her personality at this point and why in the hell do these people think they have any right to any information about what happened to Sadie, much less think it is their civic duty to broadcast it all over town?
If Hector is so into Sadie why is he out shagging some pick up, why isn't he going after the woman he supposedly wants? Frankly Hector blew his hero status right at the get go and IMO he never gets it back. Thankfully Sadie never knows that Hector had been half-assedly trying to protect her, so she doesn't get the full betrayal effect. Hector is consistently pushy with Sadie in wanting all this commitment from her, pouting when he doesn't get it and refuses to talk with her about his feelings and refuses to see things from Sadie's POV.
Sadie deserved better and did not get it, cause with friends like these, she really did not need any enemies. There is no believable way that Sadie could remain friends with these people. I would have preferred it if she had kicked them all out, gone overseas and had a fabulous life, never having to deal with any of them again.
The behavior of the other female characters in this book was pretty childish and petty, the behavior of the supposed hero was a disgrace and there is not enough pink sparklies and adult beverages in the world to make me believe the HEA or the relationships in this one. The one big strength of the book is Sadie herself, she comes a very long way in a very short amount of time and she is really likable. Unfortunately she is so likable, it makes nearly every other character in the book seem even worse in comparison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
“No really,” I whispered, letting the sweet, peaceful feeling steal over me. “It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.”
Poor Sadie :(
For me, this is the most emotional RC so far.
Such a sad but still beautiful story, I love it like crazy <3
Most of the scenes with Sadie were just heartbreaking because of how she felt about herself :(
Hector was sooo amazing, I love him so much <3 He is understanding, and nice but still hot and badass, ahhh the perfect combination <3
This is just an awesome book and I know I will re-read it loads of times and totally enjoy it, like I enjoyed this re-read <3
November 15, 2024
11/15/2024: Edited my rating down to 1 star from 2.
Original review from May 2013:
**Potential Spoilers Ahead**
Things that drove me insane, and not in the good way:
• "Blooming heck." What the hell is this phrase?! It comes across as a really lame version of "bloody hell." Wherever it came from, it's overused, it's juvenile, and it's ridiculous considering what I'm supposed to believe about the character using it: that she's a wealthy, educated Denver socialite who grew up with a Drug Lord father and surrounded by his "gentleman army," has no friends, and is an Ice Princess...yet she says "blooming heck" all the time.
• Excessive use of the word, "bizarre," usually in the question form of "How bizarre is that?" and almost always about something that isn't actually bizarre.
• Bizarre chronology (see what I did there?). Why are we jumping around in time? Don't tell me what happens then go back to explain how we got there. Once I know what happens I don't really care how it happened because the "surprise," if you will, is ruined. Just show me how we got there in the natural flow of the story instead of giving me spoilers then explaining them.
• Use of the phrase "certain sure." OMFG, those words in sequence pulled me right out of the story!! Every time I saw those words together, I wanted to throw the book. Without fail, my brain would go on a mini-rant about how an educated socialite—who had etiquette classes for God's sake—would NEVER use that kind of terrible grammar.
• Every little bad or embarrassing event being called a trauma. The rape was a trauma. Almost dropping some silverware was not.
• Oh, the silverware reminds me: who the F takes a girl who suffered a very severe trauma on a first date to their effing mother's house?! And makes sure to tell said mother about said trauma before hand so she can be sure to make this date even more uncomfortable by bringing it up?! An absolute moron, that's who.
• I was insanely annoyed by the fact that Sadie was magically related to the Rock Chicks. "Oh, yeah, honey, you're the daughter of my dead wife's best friend (ignore the fact that in every other book that job was filled by Lee's Mom). We're really sorry that once she disappeared we stopped paying attention to what happened to you until you were raped. Our bad. Let us be best good friends now and forget that we abandoned you for 20-something years to your dickhead father who may or may not have been involved in your mother's murder, because we have photos of your mom." Seriously, this aspect of the story made me wonder what the author thinks about her readers intelligence.
• Do not tell me a character is smart then have them do a bunch of really stupid things. Example: Sadie's mom--the wife of a rising star in the criminal world-- "disappeared" 18 years ago with no word, no trace. Do not tell me Sadie is smart then have her be utterly shocked that her mother didn't run away but is actually dead. What smart person, in that situation, wouldn't have at least had the thought that she is probably dead? And then when she's so stupid with that note "from her mom" at the bar? Gah!
• Every One of the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch (are you shitting me with this name?) dislike Sadie for stupid and shallow reasons and pass on helping her (except apparently Hector, and fat lot of good his stalking—I mean following—Sadie home was)...then she's raped and suddenly they are all concerned about her and pretend that they are best friends—showing up at the hospital, lying to receive medical information about Sadie that they have no right to, sitting in her hospital room with her, invading her space and privacy. There's no real in between, no building of friendship and actually getting to know one another, they just all dump themselves into her life and demand that she be happy about and thankful for their presence. This really bothered me.
• The reason Lee Nightingale gave for not helping Sadie was that their schedule was full—although he later admits to Hank or Eddie that he could have fit her in if he'd tried, the asshole. If I were Sadie and he told me that, and then I went out with the Rock Chicks and found out that they always have an escort I'd have been pissed off beyond belief. It would have gone like this: "Oh, so you couldn't fit in me paying you to prevent my rape but you can fit in escorting a bunch of dumb bitches around while they're out drinking, partying and getting themselves into trouble? Fuck all y'all."
• As "payback" for saying mean things about Daisy, Sadie "outs" some socialites husband at some big soirée. Um, that is not at all the way you get back at someone for being a jerk. Because, seriously, the husband had nothing to do with that situation and if he hadn't publicly stated he was gay it was not at all Sadie's place to announce it. It'd be like me getting back at my cousin for throwing a water balloon at me by throwing acid at my aunt; a complete overreaction towards the wrong person that had the potential to seriously injure.
• If one more person said Sadie looked like a fairy princess I was going to lose my effing mind! First of all, how are so many people on the same page in regards to what a fairy princess looks like? Are we talking Tinkerbell? Does she have pointy ears and wings? In addition, what does Sadie looking like a fairy princess have to do with anything? One could look like a fairy princess and be a raving bitch, a total psychopath, a scheming criminal. Looks are superficial. Also, I didn't like what the "how could someone hurt you, you look like a fairy princess" implied; does that mean someone who looks less beautiful or innocent or otherworldly or whatever the fairy princess thing was supposed to imply is more deserving of brutal treatment? In this situation, looks shouldn't have factored. It should have been, "How could anyone hurt another person in this way?" Period. It also, as another reviewer pointed out, made Sadie seem childlike, in a way, which was just icky and a little creepy to me.
• For people who are supposed to be the best at their job, the Nightingale group is terrible at guarding Sadie. First they turn her away when she asks for protection and she gets raped and beaten half to death. And then, even though they've bugged all her phones and put cameras everywhere to monitor Sadie's every move she's kidnapped twice from under their noses—once from their flipping offices! Oh yeah, and her art gallery is burned down while they watch. I think they have to do all of this stuff free of charge because they're completely incompetent!
• Sadie makes plans to "disappear." First, I have to point out that it isn't "disappearing" if you are going to a property you own and can therefore be traced to. Second, these plans are announced to every person she knows and probably half of Colorado when her financial advisor comes to her gallery opening and just throws her private business out there for all to hear. Seriously, in the middle of a crowded art gallery, this guy, supposedly a long time financial guru, just blurts out her confidential financial information. Clearly this happened for the added drama, not because it was in any way realistic. In real life, he might have come to the opening, but he would have gone to Sadie's office to speak with her--especially after she made it clear she did not want to talk about it in her gallery with everyone around.
• Last, but Most Importantly: I'm genuinely disturbed by the treatment of rape in this book. I'm pissed off by the fact that all of the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch seem to have blabbed about Sadie's rape to anyone who'll listen. What. The. Hell. That is not their business to tell, and it was especially bothersome because, as I mentioned before, I don't feel like any real friendship was developed between Sadie and the Rock Chick posse. Perfect strangers walking up to me and the only thing they know about me is that I was brutally raped and beaten? Not cool. They never let Sadie forget for even an evening that this terrible thing happened to her—someone was always bringing it up either verbally or by stroking or staring at her scar. I'd be all about escaping that situation, and it made no sense that Sadie wasn't insanely uncomfortable and irate that these people were spreading her personal information all over town. Rape is not something you just casually mention to every person in your acquaintance, but especially not when you weren't the one raped. This almost made the book a DNF for me, I was so disturbed by this lack of regard for Sadie's privacy. Just, no. Having known women who have actually been raped, this books treatment of the subject really bothered me. It made the rape a plot device, not the serious issue it really is. I saw a friends life completely derailed by rape—and I didn't know about the rape for months because it was so hard for her to even admit it. She eventually got her life back on track because she had support from her friends and family, and she finally got counseling. But it took years. Now, I know everyone is different (for example, some rape survivors have a hard time being around men, and some immerse themselves in male company and some want to act like it never happened)...but it is pretty clear this subject wasn't researched, or taken seriously. Sadie is being pushed into going on dates after a month, she is being pressured into a physical relationship her freak out says she is not ready for, she is being gossiped about around every corner and behind every door. She never gets to make a fresh start because everyone is more than willing to remind her that she was raped and beaten. The reason so many rapes go unreported is because of the feeling of violation telling about rape brings forth—often described by rape survivors as feeling like a second rape. And the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch go around telling everyone about what happened to Sadie...how many further violations must that have been?
Things that are sort of positive about this book (I'm really reaching here, people):
• Sadie, until she was forced into the Rock Chick mold and suddenly became a complete moron. She was a survivor—whether she was surviving her situation with her Dad or surviving her assault, she picked herself up and found ways to move forward. Once the author tried to make her into a Rock Chick, though, she became just as air headed and empty as Indy and Daisy and Jet. I'd have preferred if she hadn't been shoved in with the rest of them, if she'd just stayed on the periphery and been cooly polite to them but not friendly—it still would have been more than they deserved.
• Hector, sometimes. He could be sweet and thoughtful, and in those moments I could understand his allure. As is par for the KA course, he was very bossy and alpha, but especially after Sadie's rape these qualities bothered me when they came into play with her. I really needed him to be a bit more of a Hank or Mitch for Sadie, and a bit less of the alphahole. I also disliked the "I'm giving her a month to heal, after that she's mine" thing. Dude, after a month she wasn't even physically healed, forget about her being emotionally healed enough to be someone's "woman." In addition, I was extremely put off by the fact that he's so attracted to Sadie and for him she's "The One," yet he apparently continued to sleep with a bunch of other women while "waiting for Sadie." Because his male appetites are apparently just so ravenous that he couldn't help but plant his junk in any attractive woman who was willing or he'd risk a sperm backup and explode. But he Really only loves Sadie. Those other women were just to pass the time until Sadie wised up and sought him out. Hector, you have to inform a girl you're interested, first of all. And making out with her once while on an undercover job in which she doesn't even know your real name and then insulting her and making her feel like you just want a quick roll in the hay, nothing more, doesn't count. Secondly, if you were really waiting for Sadie, you'd have actually, ya know, waited for her, none of this random hook-up business. It just made his claims about loving Sadie and knowing she was The One seem tainted, because even though he knew that, he still went out and screwed a bunch of other women. How am I not supposed to wonder if he would go find some other woman for solace if he and Sadie ever got into a big fight or had a rough patch?
• Ralphie and Buddy were great most of the time, although Ralphie became a bit too much a few times, and they were both gay stereotype characters. But they were pretty much the only people in the story whom I felt genuinely cared about Sadie—they wanted to be there for her, help her find her way in the new reality she found herself in, listen to her when she needed to talk or rant, comfort her when she needed to cry, keep her company when she wanted to be quiet. Ralphie and Buddy were true friends to Sadie, and they wanted nothing in return but her friendship and happiness. Their existence in the story made the farce that was the Rock Chicks friendship with Sadie look that much more twisted and desperate.
• The general storyline. Though, it was often way too melodramatic. Also, I felt like the romance part built too quickly. Sadie did not even know herself, let alone Hector, and there is no way Hector knew her if she didn't even know herself. Also, the suspense and drama part took way too long. See above for my remarks about Nightingale's ineptitude.
• The occasional humor. Although there was a lot of people laughing at really weird and inappropriate times: "Sadie was just kidnapped and almost raped again? Lets all grin and try to hide our amusement at her "antics" when we bust in to save her!"—left a definite sour taste in my mouth. People also gathered at weird and inappropriate times and places (a crime scene, really? Not the time or place for your Rock Bitch Powwow, idiots).
I guess what I'm saying is that I didn't enjoy this book. If it hadn't been on my Kindle, this book would have been flying across the room constantly from frustration. There was way too much annoying me throughout the story—the characters, the dialogue, the narration, and often it was the story itself that got on my last nerve. Even the things that were sort of positive had huge downsides. I got tired of being told that someone was one way, then shown the exact opposite by their actions. I was also often extremely uncomfortable with the way Sadie's rape was handled by the other characters. For all that these characters are supposed to understand this sort of trauma from their vast personal experience (really, is there a female in the Rock Chicks who hasn't been raped, almost raped, or somehow assaulted?), they come across as knowing absolutely nothing about it.
Original review from May 2013:
**Potential Spoilers Ahead**
Things that drove me insane, and not in the good way:
• "Blooming heck." What the hell is this phrase?! It comes across as a really lame version of "bloody hell." Wherever it came from, it's overused, it's juvenile, and it's ridiculous considering what I'm supposed to believe about the character using it: that she's a wealthy, educated Denver socialite who grew up with a Drug Lord father and surrounded by his "gentleman army," has no friends, and is an Ice Princess...yet she says "blooming heck" all the time.
• Excessive use of the word, "bizarre," usually in the question form of "How bizarre is that?" and almost always about something that isn't actually bizarre.
• Bizarre chronology (see what I did there?). Why are we jumping around in time? Don't tell me what happens then go back to explain how we got there. Once I know what happens I don't really care how it happened because the "surprise," if you will, is ruined. Just show me how we got there in the natural flow of the story instead of giving me spoilers then explaining them.
• Use of the phrase "certain sure." OMFG, those words in sequence pulled me right out of the story!! Every time I saw those words together, I wanted to throw the book. Without fail, my brain would go on a mini-rant about how an educated socialite—who had etiquette classes for God's sake—would NEVER use that kind of terrible grammar.
• Every little bad or embarrassing event being called a trauma. The rape was a trauma. Almost dropping some silverware was not.
• Oh, the silverware reminds me: who the F takes a girl who suffered a very severe trauma on a first date to their effing mother's house?! And makes sure to tell said mother about said trauma before hand so she can be sure to make this date even more uncomfortable by bringing it up?! An absolute moron, that's who.
• I was insanely annoyed by the fact that Sadie was magically related to the Rock Chicks. "Oh, yeah, honey, you're the daughter of my dead wife's best friend (ignore the fact that in every other book that job was filled by Lee's Mom). We're really sorry that once she disappeared we stopped paying attention to what happened to you until you were raped. Our bad. Let us be best good friends now and forget that we abandoned you for 20-something years to your dickhead father who may or may not have been involved in your mother's murder, because we have photos of your mom." Seriously, this aspect of the story made me wonder what the author thinks about her readers intelligence.
• Do not tell me a character is smart then have them do a bunch of really stupid things. Example: Sadie's mom--the wife of a rising star in the criminal world-- "disappeared" 18 years ago with no word, no trace. Do not tell me Sadie is smart then have her be utterly shocked that her mother didn't run away but is actually dead. What smart person, in that situation, wouldn't have at least had the thought that she is probably dead? And then when she's so stupid with that note "from her mom" at the bar? Gah!
• Every One of the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch (are you shitting me with this name?) dislike Sadie for stupid and shallow reasons and pass on helping her (except apparently Hector, and fat lot of good his stalking—I mean following—Sadie home was)...then she's raped and suddenly they are all concerned about her and pretend that they are best friends—showing up at the hospital, lying to receive medical information about Sadie that they have no right to, sitting in her hospital room with her, invading her space and privacy. There's no real in between, no building of friendship and actually getting to know one another, they just all dump themselves into her life and demand that she be happy about and thankful for their presence. This really bothered me.
• The reason Lee Nightingale gave for not helping Sadie was that their schedule was full—although he later admits to Hank or Eddie that he could have fit her in if he'd tried, the asshole. If I were Sadie and he told me that, and then I went out with the Rock Chicks and found out that they always have an escort I'd have been pissed off beyond belief. It would have gone like this: "Oh, so you couldn't fit in me paying you to prevent my rape but you can fit in escorting a bunch of dumb bitches around while they're out drinking, partying and getting themselves into trouble? Fuck all y'all."
• As "payback" for saying mean things about Daisy, Sadie "outs" some socialites husband at some big soirée. Um, that is not at all the way you get back at someone for being a jerk. Because, seriously, the husband had nothing to do with that situation and if he hadn't publicly stated he was gay it was not at all Sadie's place to announce it. It'd be like me getting back at my cousin for throwing a water balloon at me by throwing acid at my aunt; a complete overreaction towards the wrong person that had the potential to seriously injure.
• If one more person said Sadie looked like a fairy princess I was going to lose my effing mind! First of all, how are so many people on the same page in regards to what a fairy princess looks like? Are we talking Tinkerbell? Does she have pointy ears and wings? In addition, what does Sadie looking like a fairy princess have to do with anything? One could look like a fairy princess and be a raving bitch, a total psychopath, a scheming criminal. Looks are superficial. Also, I didn't like what the "how could someone hurt you, you look like a fairy princess" implied; does that mean someone who looks less beautiful or innocent or otherworldly or whatever the fairy princess thing was supposed to imply is more deserving of brutal treatment? In this situation, looks shouldn't have factored. It should have been, "How could anyone hurt another person in this way?" Period. It also, as another reviewer pointed out, made Sadie seem childlike, in a way, which was just icky and a little creepy to me.
• For people who are supposed to be the best at their job, the Nightingale group is terrible at guarding Sadie. First they turn her away when she asks for protection and she gets raped and beaten half to death. And then, even though they've bugged all her phones and put cameras everywhere to monitor Sadie's every move she's kidnapped twice from under their noses—once from their flipping offices! Oh yeah, and her art gallery is burned down while they watch. I think they have to do all of this stuff free of charge because they're completely incompetent!
• Sadie makes plans to "disappear." First, I have to point out that it isn't "disappearing" if you are going to a property you own and can therefore be traced to. Second, these plans are announced to every person she knows and probably half of Colorado when her financial advisor comes to her gallery opening and just throws her private business out there for all to hear. Seriously, in the middle of a crowded art gallery, this guy, supposedly a long time financial guru, just blurts out her confidential financial information. Clearly this happened for the added drama, not because it was in any way realistic. In real life, he might have come to the opening, but he would have gone to Sadie's office to speak with her--especially after she made it clear she did not want to talk about it in her gallery with everyone around.
• Last, but Most Importantly: I'm genuinely disturbed by the treatment of rape in this book. I'm pissed off by the fact that all of the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch seem to have blabbed about Sadie's rape to anyone who'll listen. What. The. Hell. That is not their business to tell, and it was especially bothersome because, as I mentioned before, I don't feel like any real friendship was developed between Sadie and the Rock Chick posse. Perfect strangers walking up to me and the only thing they know about me is that I was brutally raped and beaten? Not cool. They never let Sadie forget for even an evening that this terrible thing happened to her—someone was always bringing it up either verbally or by stroking or staring at her scar. I'd be all about escaping that situation, and it made no sense that Sadie wasn't insanely uncomfortable and irate that these people were spreading her personal information all over town. Rape is not something you just casually mention to every person in your acquaintance, but especially not when you weren't the one raped. This almost made the book a DNF for me, I was so disturbed by this lack of regard for Sadie's privacy. Just, no. Having known women who have actually been raped, this books treatment of the subject really bothered me. It made the rape a plot device, not the serious issue it really is. I saw a friends life completely derailed by rape—and I didn't know about the rape for months because it was so hard for her to even admit it. She eventually got her life back on track because she had support from her friends and family, and she finally got counseling. But it took years. Now, I know everyone is different (for example, some rape survivors have a hard time being around men, and some immerse themselves in male company and some want to act like it never happened)...but it is pretty clear this subject wasn't researched, or taken seriously. Sadie is being pushed into going on dates after a month, she is being pressured into a physical relationship her freak out says she is not ready for, she is being gossiped about around every corner and behind every door. She never gets to make a fresh start because everyone is more than willing to remind her that she was raped and beaten. The reason so many rapes go unreported is because of the feeling of violation telling about rape brings forth—often described by rape survivors as feeling like a second rape. And the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch go around telling everyone about what happened to Sadie...how many further violations must that have been?
Things that are sort of positive about this book (I'm really reaching here, people):
• Sadie, until she was forced into the Rock Chick mold and suddenly became a complete moron. She was a survivor—whether she was surviving her situation with her Dad or surviving her assault, she picked herself up and found ways to move forward. Once the author tried to make her into a Rock Chick, though, she became just as air headed and empty as Indy and Daisy and Jet. I'd have preferred if she hadn't been shoved in with the rest of them, if she'd just stayed on the periphery and been cooly polite to them but not friendly—it still would have been more than they deserved.
• Hector, sometimes. He could be sweet and thoughtful, and in those moments I could understand his allure. As is par for the KA course, he was very bossy and alpha, but especially after Sadie's rape these qualities bothered me when they came into play with her. I really needed him to be a bit more of a Hank or Mitch for Sadie, and a bit less of the alphahole. I also disliked the "I'm giving her a month to heal, after that she's mine" thing. Dude, after a month she wasn't even physically healed, forget about her being emotionally healed enough to be someone's "woman." In addition, I was extremely put off by the fact that he's so attracted to Sadie and for him she's "The One," yet he apparently continued to sleep with a bunch of other women while "waiting for Sadie." Because his male appetites are apparently just so ravenous that he couldn't help but plant his junk in any attractive woman who was willing or he'd risk a sperm backup and explode. But he Really only loves Sadie. Those other women were just to pass the time until Sadie wised up and sought him out. Hector, you have to inform a girl you're interested, first of all. And making out with her once while on an undercover job in which she doesn't even know your real name and then insulting her and making her feel like you just want a quick roll in the hay, nothing more, doesn't count. Secondly, if you were really waiting for Sadie, you'd have actually, ya know, waited for her, none of this random hook-up business. It just made his claims about loving Sadie and knowing she was The One seem tainted, because even though he knew that, he still went out and screwed a bunch of other women. How am I not supposed to wonder if he would go find some other woman for solace if he and Sadie ever got into a big fight or had a rough patch?
• Ralphie and Buddy were great most of the time, although Ralphie became a bit too much a few times, and they were both gay stereotype characters. But they were pretty much the only people in the story whom I felt genuinely cared about Sadie—they wanted to be there for her, help her find her way in the new reality she found herself in, listen to her when she needed to talk or rant, comfort her when she needed to cry, keep her company when she wanted to be quiet. Ralphie and Buddy were true friends to Sadie, and they wanted nothing in return but her friendship and happiness. Their existence in the story made the farce that was the Rock Chicks friendship with Sadie look that much more twisted and desperate.
• The general storyline. Though, it was often way too melodramatic. Also, I felt like the romance part built too quickly. Sadie did not even know herself, let alone Hector, and there is no way Hector knew her if she didn't even know herself. Also, the suspense and drama part took way too long. See above for my remarks about Nightingale's ineptitude.
• The occasional humor. Although there was a lot of people laughing at really weird and inappropriate times: "Sadie was just kidnapped and almost raped again? Lets all grin and try to hide our amusement at her "antics" when we bust in to save her!"—left a definite sour taste in my mouth. People also gathered at weird and inappropriate times and places (a crime scene, really? Not the time or place for your Rock Bitch Powwow, idiots).
I guess what I'm saying is that I didn't enjoy this book. If it hadn't been on my Kindle, this book would have been flying across the room constantly from frustration. There was way too much annoying me throughout the story—the characters, the dialogue, the narration, and often it was the story itself that got on my last nerve. Even the things that were sort of positive had huge downsides. I got tired of being told that someone was one way, then shown the exact opposite by their actions. I was also often extremely uncomfortable with the way Sadie's rape was handled by the other characters. For all that these characters are supposed to understand this sort of trauma from their vast personal experience (really, is there a female in the Rock Chicks who hasn't been raped, almost raped, or somehow assaulted?), they come across as knowing absolutely nothing about it.
February 3, 2015
★★★★★
5 Stars!!!!!
Hector and Sadie met a while ago. When Hector was working undercover for the DEA to bring down her drug dealer father. Sadie hasn’t had the easiest life. Her mother hasn’t been in the picture since she was a child, and she has lived her life under her fathers thumb. She has had to learn how to protect herself. She has to become Ice Princess Sadie to get through. Sadie realizes what Hector is right off the bat and tries to help him. Eventually, Sadie’s dad gets put behind bars. Fast forward a few months... Sadie needs help. Since her dad has been in prison, some of her fathers enemies have come out of the woodwork. She doesn’t feel safe. And for good reason. Just an fyi, some of the subject matter in this one isn’t easy to read about. Sadie gets attacked and goes to Nightingale for help. When the guys find Sadie... talk about heart breaking.
Hector feels that connection and will do anything to protect Sadie. He isn’t going to let anything bad happen to her again. But he also knows after the trauma she went through, he needs to give her time before he makes his move.
Hector ‘Oh My God’ Chavez has made it towards the top of my Hot Bunch book boyfriends. They are just all so damn perfect, it’s hard to choose! There was just something about him. He was a badass alpha, but he was also soft and gentle when he needed to be. He took Sadie’s needs into consideration and was loving and patient with her.
Not only did I love Hector, but I also loved Sadie! She really did have a will of steel. Going through all she went through, and being able to heal, open up and develop relationships with people. She was pretty amazing. It was hard for her to get past all the fake Sadies, and show only the real one, but she did it.
Here are some of the best quotes:
The FUNNY
The SEXY
I got two words for you... Shower sex.
The SWEET
This book made me crazy emotional! Even Tex had a line that made me cry...
This is tied with Rock Chick Renegade (Jules and Vance’s story) for my top Rock Chick book.
This one was intense and emotional, but it also had the perfect amount of KA humor, action, and swoonyness. An all around wonderful and engaging read! The epilogue was perfect! I’m sad that there is only one book left in this series... but I am looking forward to reading more about Ren :)
5 Stars!!!!!
Hector and Sadie met a while ago. When Hector was working undercover for the DEA to bring down her drug dealer father. Sadie hasn’t had the easiest life. Her mother hasn’t been in the picture since she was a child, and she has lived her life under her fathers thumb. She has had to learn how to protect herself. She has to become Ice Princess Sadie to get through. Sadie realizes what Hector is right off the bat and tries to help him. Eventually, Sadie’s dad gets put behind bars. Fast forward a few months... Sadie needs help. Since her dad has been in prison, some of her fathers enemies have come out of the woodwork. She doesn’t feel safe. And for good reason. Just an fyi, some of the subject matter in this one isn’t easy to read about. Sadie gets attacked and goes to Nightingale for help. When the guys find Sadie... talk about heart breaking.
“It’s okay if I don’t wake up.” “Sadie, don’t say that.” “No, really. It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t’ wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.”Sadie has been judged her entire life by her fathers actions and lifestyle. She doesn’t have many real friends. Thankfully, her friends Ralphie and Buddy take her in after the incident. With lots of support and love, they help her come into her own, and move past what happened to her.
Hector feels that connection and will do anything to protect Sadie. He isn’t going to let anything bad happen to her again. But he also knows after the trauma she went through, he needs to give her time before he makes his move.
Hector ‘Oh My God’ Chavez has made it towards the top of my Hot Bunch book boyfriends. They are just all so damn perfect, it’s hard to choose! There was just something about him. He was a badass alpha, but he was also soft and gentle when he needed to be. He took Sadie’s needs into consideration and was loving and patient with her.
Not only did I love Hector, but I also loved Sadie! She really did have a will of steel. Going through all she went through, and being able to heal, open up and develop relationships with people. She was pretty amazing. It was hard for her to get past all the fake Sadies, and show only the real one, but she did it.
Here are some of the best quotes:
The FUNNY
Sadie’s bff Ralphie was hilarious! He had so many funny lines!
“Well Buddy’s in the kitchen grating cheese like a grating fool. We’ve decided to do nacho’s. Ralphie’s gaze moved to Hector and he informed him, “It’s the food of your people.”
“I call them as I see ‘em. He’s Hispanic…” Ralphie lifted one hand and then continued, “And he’s hot.” He lifted his other hand and then shoved them together like he was squeezing an accordion. “Hence, Hispanic Hottie.”
“You...are...a...miracle worker! You are officially Ralphie’s Man of the Week. No! Man of the Month! I’m making you a certificate!”
The SEXY
I got two words for you... Shower sex.
The SWEET
Hector and his spanish terms of endearment... he just made me MELT!
“And you think you can help me find my way?”
He shook his head, his eyes went warm and I got another neck squeeze, coupled with a tightening of his arm around my waist. “Mamita, only you can find your way. I just wanna be along for the ride.”
This book made me crazy emotional! Even Tex had a line that made me cry...
“You been through what you been through and you’re still standin’. Lotsa women wouldn’t only bend, they’d break but you didn’t do either and you’re still standin’. You were my daughter, I’d be so fuckin’ proud, I’d shout it from the rooftops. I figure, so would your Ma. And you can take that to the fuckin’ bank!”
This is tied with Rock Chick Renegade (Jules and Vance’s story) for my top Rock Chick book.
This one was intense and emotional, but it also had the perfect amount of KA humor, action, and swoonyness. An all around wonderful and engaging read! The epilogue was perfect! I’m sad that there is only one book left in this series... but I am looking forward to reading more about Ren :)
July 28, 2013
“I want you in my bed, I want you in my house, I wanna come home to you.”
Pure 5-star swoony awesomeness!!
This book just grips you right from the start. I literally gasped my way through the first chapter with wide eyes and all sorts of “oh my god, did that really just happen?!” thoughts.
This story, much like the last one, deals with some very intense scenarios. Sadie is the rich, beautiful daughter of a high ranking drug dealer. She is used to being judged for her father’s sins and since her mother disappeared when she was young, she grew up with very little family connections and/or friends. As a defense mechanism, she becomes cold and emotionally untouchable – a way of protecting herself from the world. Hector worked as an undercover agent in an operation to take down her father during which they first met. But despite their undeniable connection, it wasn’t the right time them and although he had already decided that she was his, he couldn’t do anything about it or he would have blown his cover and he ends up pushing her away and deeply hurting her feelings. But when her father is put in jail, she starts to feel threatened by some of his enemies and comes to Nightingale Investigations for help… I don’t want to give too many details but very early on in the story, she ends up being attacked and raped (yes, raped!) by some of her father’s enemies and let me tell you, if you thought you’d seen the Hot Bunch pissed before, you should see them now!
“Lee recruited men who, it turned out, had a strong ethic about women and how to treat them and an even stronger ethic about how they felt about men who didn’t treat them right. This wasn’t on the job application but, bottom line, it was the only kind of man Lee would have in his employ.”
After being released from the hospital, Sadie’s two gay buddies take her in and slowly, through constant love and support, they help her heal, and learn to trust again and to let her guard down that she has spent her whole life building up. Hector gives her alone time to heal before pushing into her life but when he senses that she is ready, he very slowly, gently, and carefully begins to show her how much she means to him and what he’s willing to do to make her his.
Hector “Oh My God” Chavez. How can I say enough good about him? He is kinda perfect actually. And because he’s dealing with a rape victim who is still healing, it makes him bring out his “Gentle Alpha” side in spades.
“And you think you can help me find my way?”
He shook his head, his eyes went warm and I got another neck squeeze, coupled with a tightening of his arm around my waist. “Mamita, only you can find your way. I just wanna be along for the ride.”
He is just so carefully tender, incredibly gentle and endlessly patient with her. Never rushing her, never pushing her, just constantly showing her through his actions and words that he’s there for her, that he’s gonna always be there for her, and that he’s not going to let anything ever hurt her again.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No,” I answered…
Then… He promised, “You will be.”
That being said, he’s still an Alpha and his intentions are clear from the start. He views Sadie as his woman even though he’s willing to take the long road to get there.
Watching Sadie’s transformation from from this cold and totally emotionally guarded Ice Princess Stepford Sadie to this strong, sassy, and feisty Rock Chick was just so beautiful. Seeing her finally stand up for her self, and not let anyone get the better of her was cute, humorous and just so heart warming.
“Hector? You call him Hector ?”
“Well I can hardly call out, “Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez, when he makes me climax, now can I?” I snapped”
Almost the whole story is told from Sadie’s POV and the main focus of the story is her healing and her relationship with Hector. It was so wonderful to see the story focus on them together as a couple for so much of the book. Hector doesn’t ever let anything come between then and once he gets through her emotional defenses enough for her to feel comfortable being herself around him, we actually get to see them functionally together despite them their fair share of issues to work though.
Oh and their sexy scenes were HOTTTT!!! Gentle, swoony KA Alpha …
“Mamita,” his voice was rough with what sounded like laughter and something else altogether, “You think you could handle my mouth between your legs without you freaking out?”
Seriously though, this book is has some intense action scenes and KA really knows how to write BADASS like no one else. I swear, you feel like you are right there. And after so long knowing these characters, when they are put into life threatening situations, let me tell you, I felt real fear while reading.
But the real thing about these books that makes me smile (even while writing this), SQUEEE out loud, and keeps me absolutely desperate to just read more and more of KA’s books is the way she writes her Alpha males. Just the depth of the emotion behind their protectiveness of their women and each other, the way they all have each others back and how they will literally let no one fuck with them or their women is just so incredible swoony, it makes my heart race even just thinking about it. These guys really are the human equivalent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood vamps.
And the side characters! I fell in love with her gay best friend Ralphie. He brought the perfect blend of tender love and comfort as well as great comedic relief in the midst of some really serious subject matters.
“I call them as I see ‘em. He’s Hispanic…” Ralphie lifted one hand and then continued, “And he’s hot.” He lifted his other hand and then shoved them together like he was squeezing an accordion. “Hence, Hispanic Hottie.”
The emotional side of this book is deep and beautiful – I cried once and got teary 3-4 times. Especially the ending – oh it tugged at my heartstrings! And not to mention the absolutely amazing epilogue where we are treated to 2 (yes, TWO!) utterly swoony weddings *happy sigh* and given a delightful intro into the next, and sadly last, book in this series.
How I see Hector and Sadie:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page
Pure 5-star swoony awesomeness!!
This book just grips you right from the start. I literally gasped my way through the first chapter with wide eyes and all sorts of “oh my god, did that really just happen?!” thoughts.
This story, much like the last one, deals with some very intense scenarios. Sadie is the rich, beautiful daughter of a high ranking drug dealer. She is used to being judged for her father’s sins and since her mother disappeared when she was young, she grew up with very little family connections and/or friends. As a defense mechanism, she becomes cold and emotionally untouchable – a way of protecting herself from the world. Hector worked as an undercover agent in an operation to take down her father during which they first met. But despite their undeniable connection, it wasn’t the right time them and although he had already decided that she was his, he couldn’t do anything about it or he would have blown his cover and he ends up pushing her away and deeply hurting her feelings. But when her father is put in jail, she starts to feel threatened by some of his enemies and comes to Nightingale Investigations for help… I don’t want to give too many details but very early on in the story, she ends up being attacked and raped (yes, raped!) by some of her father’s enemies and let me tell you, if you thought you’d seen the Hot Bunch pissed before, you should see them now!
“Lee recruited men who, it turned out, had a strong ethic about women and how to treat them and an even stronger ethic about how they felt about men who didn’t treat them right. This wasn’t on the job application but, bottom line, it was the only kind of man Lee would have in his employ.”
After being released from the hospital, Sadie’s two gay buddies take her in and slowly, through constant love and support, they help her heal, and learn to trust again and to let her guard down that she has spent her whole life building up. Hector gives her alone time to heal before pushing into her life but when he senses that she is ready, he very slowly, gently, and carefully begins to show her how much she means to him and what he’s willing to do to make her his.
Hector “Oh My God” Chavez. How can I say enough good about him? He is kinda perfect actually. And because he’s dealing with a rape victim who is still healing, it makes him bring out his “Gentle Alpha” side in spades.
“And you think you can help me find my way?”
He shook his head, his eyes went warm and I got another neck squeeze, coupled with a tightening of his arm around my waist. “Mamita, only you can find your way. I just wanna be along for the ride.”
He is just so carefully tender, incredibly gentle and endlessly patient with her. Never rushing her, never pushing her, just constantly showing her through his actions and words that he’s there for her, that he’s gonna always be there for her, and that he’s not going to let anything ever hurt her again.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No,” I answered…
Then… He promised, “You will be.”
That being said, he’s still an Alpha and his intentions are clear from the start. He views Sadie as his woman even though he’s willing to take the long road to get there.
Watching Sadie’s transformation from from this cold and totally emotionally guarded Ice Princess Stepford Sadie to this strong, sassy, and feisty Rock Chick was just so beautiful. Seeing her finally stand up for her self, and not let anyone get the better of her was cute, humorous and just so heart warming.
“Hector? You call him Hector ?”
“Well I can hardly call out, “Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez, when he makes me climax, now can I?” I snapped”
Almost the whole story is told from Sadie’s POV and the main focus of the story is her healing and her relationship with Hector. It was so wonderful to see the story focus on them together as a couple for so much of the book. Hector doesn’t ever let anything come between then and once he gets through her emotional defenses enough for her to feel comfortable being herself around him, we actually get to see them functionally together despite them their fair share of issues to work though.
Oh and their sexy scenes were HOTTTT!!! Gentle, swoony KA Alpha …
“Mamita,” his voice was rough with what sounded like laughter and something else altogether, “You think you could handle my mouth between your legs without you freaking out?”
Seriously though, this book is has some intense action scenes and KA really knows how to write BADASS like no one else. I swear, you feel like you are right there. And after so long knowing these characters, when they are put into life threatening situations, let me tell you, I felt real fear while reading.
But the real thing about these books that makes me smile (even while writing this), SQUEEE out loud, and keeps me absolutely desperate to just read more and more of KA’s books is the way she writes her Alpha males. Just the depth of the emotion behind their protectiveness of their women and each other, the way they all have each others back and how they will literally let no one fuck with them or their women is just so incredible swoony, it makes my heart race even just thinking about it. These guys really are the human equivalent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood vamps.
And the side characters! I fell in love with her gay best friend Ralphie. He brought the perfect blend of tender love and comfort as well as great comedic relief in the midst of some really serious subject matters.
“I call them as I see ‘em. He’s Hispanic…” Ralphie lifted one hand and then continued, “And he’s hot.” He lifted his other hand and then shoved them together like he was squeezing an accordion. “Hence, Hispanic Hottie.”
The emotional side of this book is deep and beautiful – I cried once and got teary 3-4 times. Especially the ending – oh it tugged at my heartstrings! And not to mention the absolutely amazing epilogue where we are treated to 2 (yes, TWO!) utterly swoony weddings *happy sigh* and given a delightful intro into the next, and sadly last, book in this series.
How I see Hector and Sadie:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page
March 25, 2018
Yep, it's another re-read review.
I feel a touch guilty that my favourite parts of Rock Chick Regret are the worst bits. It's almost like these emotional bits are a way for me to deal with my frustrations (HORMONES!!), lack of energy (HORMONES) and stress (HORMONES!!). I know that at certain times in my life (HORMONES!!), I need a re-read/listen that helps me get my emotions out.
I'm on a KA Marathon and it's time to say bye bye to the Rock Chicks and hello to The Gamble, Sweet Dreams and Lady Luck. Then, I'm thinking Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynastyand Fantastical. I don't know where I'll head next, but it will probably be time for another emotional read (HORMONES!!) so I'm thinking I might have to visit Joe and Vi in At Peace.
Rubbing my hands in glee...KA marathons are so much fun!!!
**********
A re-read review -
**********
Well how bizarre was that?
This is an audio review.
Rock Chick Regret audible has seen me through a few events this year. I listened as I baked numerous birthday cakes, cookies and Christmas cookies, it even helped me survive being laid up with food poisoning. It's my own little escape from the world around me. My boys have to nudge me to get my attention to ask why I was cracking up laughing? Then shaking their heads in confusion as I tried to explain Sadie's "how bizarre" comments. Hubby walks in after a huge tear fest and patiently listens as I explain how devastating it is that Hector couldn't get to her when he knows she needs him. These are normal occurrences in my household, but my boys love me and they're used to it. I've read and listened to Hector and Sadie's story a few times, but each time it still hits me with the same punch.
Sadie has lived a very protected life with her father being Seth Townsend. He is a bad man, Sadie knows it and decides to do something about it. Hector Chavez was working undercover for the DEA to bring down Townsend, Sadie finds out and tries to help. Hector is shocked but also concerned for Sadie because if she gets found out, it would not end well. There is also a mutual attraction between the two of them, but they're not on the same page...like really not on the same page. One intimate encounter and both of them say things they don't really mean and it ends badly. Rock Chick Regret is the story of how these two come together after the fall of Seth Townsend and how EVERYONE had Sadie all wrong. She wasn't just the Ice Pricess.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It's gut wrenching, draining and emotional while also sweet, funny and sexy. This woman has been through every woman's worse nightmare, but still manages to find love waiting for her on the other side. Her trials spanned decades, but she lived through them and conquered them. Unfortunately for Hector he knows all of her trials and what she has lived through. His challenge and hope is that she gets to the other side whole and unbroken.
Sadie has been sheltered for so long she doesn't realise her reactions to circumstances are funny. Sadie gets excited about sanding and painting walls...while weird to most, for her it was an opportunity to be normal. Her joy at these tasks made me laugh and her generosity (and Hector's reactions to it) crack me up.
The narrator is brilliant in this series and her ability to change her voice remarkable. The slight changes made it easy to tell when a different character was talking which made it very easy to listen to. I have listened to this series over and over again. Each story caters to my mood. If I feel like a beer and want to feel young and crazy - Lee and Indy. If I'm having a fat day - Luke and Ava. I'm tough and strong and feeling invincible - Vance and Jules. Wouldn't mind a tear fest - Hector and Sadie. To be honest, they all bring me back to earth. There is no way I want to be a Rock Chick in real life, but I don't mind visiting and thinking like one every now and then.
I love all of the characters in this story, but there was one scene where Lee and Luke come in guns blazing and Hector tells Sadie that they (Lee and Luke) know what they're doing. Shivers up my spine...made me want to go back to Lee and Luke's stories to see them in action again. Then Vance kissed Jules...and Mace called Stella kitten...and Jet gives that smile...and Daisy does that tinkering laugh...and Indy gets given the good...
LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE LISTENING TO ANOTHER ROCK CHICK...THE QUESTION IS - WHICH ONE???
I feel a touch guilty that my favourite parts of Rock Chick Regret are the worst bits. It's almost like these emotional bits are a way for me to deal with my frustrations (HORMONES!!), lack of energy (HORMONES) and stress (HORMONES!!). I know that at certain times in my life (HORMONES!!), I need a re-read/listen that helps me get my emotions out.
I'm on a KA Marathon and it's time to say bye bye to the Rock Chicks and hello to The Gamble, Sweet Dreams and Lady Luck. Then, I'm thinking Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynastyand Fantastical. I don't know where I'll head next, but it will probably be time for another emotional read (HORMONES!!) so I'm thinking I might have to visit Joe and Vi in At Peace.
Rubbing my hands in glee...KA marathons are so much fun!!!
**********
A re-read review -
**********
Well how bizarre was that?
This is an audio review.
Rock Chick Regret audible has seen me through a few events this year. I listened as I baked numerous birthday cakes, cookies and Christmas cookies, it even helped me survive being laid up with food poisoning. It's my own little escape from the world around me. My boys have to nudge me to get my attention to ask why I was cracking up laughing? Then shaking their heads in confusion as I tried to explain Sadie's "how bizarre" comments. Hubby walks in after a huge tear fest and patiently listens as I explain how devastating it is that Hector couldn't get to her when he knows she needs him. These are normal occurrences in my household, but my boys love me and they're used to it. I've read and listened to Hector and Sadie's story a few times, but each time it still hits me with the same punch.
Sadie has lived a very protected life with her father being Seth Townsend. He is a bad man, Sadie knows it and decides to do something about it. Hector Chavez was working undercover for the DEA to bring down Townsend, Sadie finds out and tries to help. Hector is shocked but also concerned for Sadie because if she gets found out, it would not end well. There is also a mutual attraction between the two of them, but they're not on the same page...like really not on the same page. One intimate encounter and both of them say things they don't really mean and it ends badly. Rock Chick Regret is the story of how these two come together after the fall of Seth Townsend and how EVERYONE had Sadie all wrong. She wasn't just the Ice Pricess.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It's gut wrenching, draining and emotional while also sweet, funny and sexy. This woman has been through every woman's worse nightmare, but still manages to find love waiting for her on the other side. Her trials spanned decades, but she lived through them and conquered them. Unfortunately for Hector he knows all of her trials and what she has lived through. His challenge and hope is that she gets to the other side whole and unbroken.
Sadie has been sheltered for so long she doesn't realise her reactions to circumstances are funny. Sadie gets excited about sanding and painting walls...while weird to most, for her it was an opportunity to be normal. Her joy at these tasks made me laugh and her generosity (and Hector's reactions to it) crack me up.
The narrator is brilliant in this series and her ability to change her voice remarkable. The slight changes made it easy to tell when a different character was talking which made it very easy to listen to. I have listened to this series over and over again. Each story caters to my mood. If I feel like a beer and want to feel young and crazy - Lee and Indy. If I'm having a fat day - Luke and Ava. I'm tough and strong and feeling invincible - Vance and Jules. Wouldn't mind a tear fest - Hector and Sadie. To be honest, they all bring me back to earth. There is no way I want to be a Rock Chick in real life, but I don't mind visiting and thinking like one every now and then.
I love all of the characters in this story, but there was one scene where Lee and Luke come in guns blazing and Hector tells Sadie that they (Lee and Luke) know what they're doing. Shivers up my spine...made me want to go back to Lee and Luke's stories to see them in action again. Then Vance kissed Jules...and Mace called Stella kitten...and Jet gives that smile...and Daisy does that tinkering laugh...and Indy gets given the good...
LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE LISTENING TO ANOTHER ROCK CHICK...THE QUESTION IS - WHICH ONE???
February 16, 2021
4.5 Stars
Wow, I think this is the most heartbreaking in the series. Sadie should’ve just boarded that plane to Greece with Buddy and Ralhpie and left the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch behind. I need a moment to collect myself from the flow of tears and emotion.
P.S. In case it isn’t obvious, I love love love love Sadie. She’s a diamond in the rough. I only liked Hector because everytime he called Sadie mamita, preciousa, mi cielo, or mi amor, I turned ✧ soft ✧ and immediately wanted to jump him.
(Read as an Audiobook)
Wow, I think this is the most heartbreaking in the series. Sadie should’ve just boarded that plane to Greece with Buddy and Ralhpie and left the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch behind. I need a moment to collect myself from the flow of tears and emotion.
P.S. In case it isn’t obvious, I love love love love Sadie. She’s a diamond in the rough. I only liked Hector because everytime he called Sadie mamita, preciousa, mi cielo, or mi amor, I turned ✧ soft ✧ and immediately wanted to jump him.
(Read as an Audiobook)
September 28, 2025
I have dabbled in this series, but have yet to find one that hits home like some of KA’s other stories. I chose this one because it had the highest rating of all the books in this series.
Everyone on GR loves this book. Please don’t read my absolutely bitchy, rambling and filled-with-spoilers review.
SPOILERS BELOW.
I REALLY dislike the way Sadie’s attack is handled at the beginning of this book.
And WTF with the doctor violating HIPPA by telling everyone and their mother about Sadie's injuries.
“Five broken ribs, a broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, severe concussion and multiple cuts and contusions. She’s had to have a deep cut on her cheek stitched.”
Not to mention she has also been brutally raped, horribly enough that she has blood streaming down her thighs when they find her.
Exactly one month later (one month!!!!), she’s going on a first date with Hector. The guy she had a huge crush on when he was undercover at her father‘s house, and even though he thought she was “the one” he continues to have sex with OW.
In fact, on or around the evening, she was raped, he was with a waitress (see quote below). Furthermore, why does it take her being attacked for him to suddenly decide she is his woman? What was stopping him before this???
“He’s nailed me and half the women in this place. Girls look at him as a challenge. I know because I did it too. He’s got the reputation for bein’ good, as in good, which by the way, he was.”
The rock chick women were horrible to Sadie…and after she is viciously beaten and raped, she is somehow friendworthy now? Also why the fuck do these women go around telling everyone that Sadie was raped?
Yes, Ralphie and Buddy are gay stereotypes, but they were the ONLY characters that honestly seemed to truly care about Sadie.
I could go on, but I really, really disliked this story. Sadie deserved a Mitch-like KA hero, not this disgusting caricature of a man.
I’m going with a 2-star rating because I liked the fmc.
Everyone on GR loves this book. Please don’t read my absolutely bitchy, rambling and filled-with-spoilers review.
SPOILERS BELOW.
I REALLY dislike the way Sadie’s attack is handled at the beginning of this book.
And WTF with the doctor violating HIPPA by telling everyone and their mother about Sadie's injuries.
“Five broken ribs, a broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, severe concussion and multiple cuts and contusions. She’s had to have a deep cut on her cheek stitched.”
Not to mention she has also been brutally raped, horribly enough that she has blood streaming down her thighs when they find her.
Exactly one month later (one month!!!!), she’s going on a first date with Hector. The guy she had a huge crush on when he was undercover at her father‘s house, and even though he thought she was “the one” he continues to have sex with OW.
In fact, on or around the evening, she was raped, he was with a waitress (see quote below). Furthermore, why does it take her being attacked for him to suddenly decide she is his woman? What was stopping him before this???
“He’s nailed me and half the women in this place. Girls look at him as a challenge. I know because I did it too. He’s got the reputation for bein’ good, as in good, which by the way, he was.”
The rock chick women were horrible to Sadie…and after she is viciously beaten and raped, she is somehow friendworthy now? Also why the fuck do these women go around telling everyone that Sadie was raped?
Yes, Ralphie and Buddy are gay stereotypes, but they were the ONLY characters that honestly seemed to truly care about Sadie.
I could go on, but I really, really disliked this story. Sadie deserved a Mitch-like KA hero, not this disgusting caricature of a man.
I’m going with a 2-star rating because I liked the fmc.
November 22, 2015
Re-read Review - September 1-2, 2013
You know, I have loved each re-read so far, but this is my favorite. Sadie's story is so heartbreaking, so beautiful, I just couldn't put it down. Such a great story.
My only problem with the story is that I can't decide which Hispanic Hottie I love more, Hector or Eddie. I might have to re-read their stories a few more times to decide.
It's a dirty job...
Original Review-
Rock Chick Regret is the seventh book in the Rock Chick series and one of my favorites! The story is truly awesome… heartbreaking, inspiring, romantic and very sexy… a delicious tale served up in true Kristen Ashley form.
I’m in love with Hector Chavez. What an amazing, incredible, all kinds of awesome man. Hector alone made this book worth reading, but then throw in the beautiful, loving, compassionate Sadie and the rest of the Rock Chick cast and this story could be nothing less than 5 stars.
I might do a longer review someday… or maybe not. But if you’re not sure this is a book for you, read the kjillion totally awesome reviews that have been written, then waste no more time. Buy it. You won’t regret it!!!
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If you're a Kristen Ashley addict, or just interested in checking her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
August 13, 2013
5 stars
WOW! I love everything about this book!
Rock Chick Regret has the perfect combination of humor, angst, romance, suspense, drama, fluff, and steamy eroticism. This book has a similar feel to Heaven and Hell (one of my all-time favorite books). It deals with delicate and traumatic circumstances realistically, appropriately, and, at time, heartbreakingly. But, Kristen Ashley also adds splashes of wonderful and endearing humor to counterbalance the darker feel inherent in such a book, making Rock Chick Regret one fantastic and enjoyable read. It's easily become one of my all-time favorite Kristen Ashley books.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
WOW! I love everything about this book!
Rock Chick Regret has the perfect combination of humor, angst, romance, suspense, drama, fluff, and steamy eroticism. This book has a similar feel to Heaven and Hell (one of my all-time favorite books). It deals with delicate and traumatic circumstances realistically, appropriately, and, at time, heartbreakingly. But, Kristen Ashley also adds splashes of wonderful and endearing humor to counterbalance the darker feel inherent in such a book, making Rock Chick Regret one fantastic and enjoyable read. It's easily become one of my all-time favorite Kristen Ashley books.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
January 26, 2012
My favorite "quote" - it made me go all awwwww...
"Sadie?"
"What?"
"You with me?"
I blinked in confusion and said, "Yes." And I was, wasn't I? I was standing in his arms for goodness sake.
"This is Sadie?" Hector went on.
I blinked again. "Yes."
"My Sadie?" he kept at it.
This time I blinked for a different reason.
His Sadie? Was there a Hector's Sadie? Was I Hector's Sadie? Did Hector think I was his Sadie?
Oh…my…God.
Before I could process what he said or get close to processing what that meant, I watched him smile, then he bent his head and kissed my lips.
"Yeah," he said, his face an inch away. "It's my Sadie."
4.5 stars.
Sadie Townsend is the daughter of a drug lord and by association scum of the earth. Hector Chavez is a former DEA Agent. He brought Sadie's father and his whole empire down. Sadie has an appointment at Lee Nightingale's office because she doesn't feel safe and she needs a bodyguard. Even though her father is imprisoned, the crime doesn't go away. There's a war to see who will be the new king and the Balducci brothers mean trouble (trouble with a capital T). Unfortunately, Lee "can't" help her and later on something very evil happens to Sadie. I was so sorry and hurt for Sadie! This was an incredibly intense part of Rock Chick Regret and absolutely outstanding!
Hector aka Double H (it stands for Hispanic Hottie) is smart, sharp, and loyal. He's a gorgeous and bossy alpha male, yet there is something incredibly gentle and tender about this guy. Wow, Hector's got sexy and very warm eyes. Every time his gaze went warm my belly did a flip! Hector is totally Dee-licious!
The Pretend Sadie is scared that Hector could find out what lies beneath her façade. She pretends to be The Ice Princess but she is someone else. It's a defense mechanism and being The Ice Princess is helping her to cope after she lost her mom when she was a kid. Furthermore, it helps her to deal with her drug lord father. Hector vows to pull the real Sadie out, and he became really good at ignoring Sadie's Chill Factor Sub-Zero Glares!
Until Sadie met Hector, the Rock Chicks and their men she didn't have any friends of her own. She did not have fun and her life was pretty empty and without kindness. She has never learned to truly trust someone. Sadie didn't know how to deal with Hector either. I know that Sadie had a right to act the way she did but honestly, it was quite exhausting at times! Even Hector said that she was a pain in the ass. Oh, Sadie, clue in, mamita!
I loved the endearment mamita. I instantly adored it. It's so sweet and Sadie needed all the gentleness she could get from Hector. As always the cast of secondary characters is great and every character is wonderfully fleshed out! I especially loved the two gay guys Ralphie and Buddy. They were sweet, funny, and very kind. The whole bunch of Rock Chicks are their own brand of trouble - um, good and hilarious trouble, of course! Rock Chick Regret mainly revolves around the developing relationship between H/h, even though there is some action intertwined into the story. The whole story is embraced by a serious undertone then again, you'll find enough well-placed humour. The first half of the book was fabulous! But the second half lost a little bit of its sparkle and lost a tad of its pace. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but I just hoped for another fabulous half. Yes, such darn expectations. Always.
BTW, I have to disagree, Sadie. There certainly are beautiful AND comfortable shoes. I can't believe you haven't found them yet!
If you're a Kristen Ashley addict then I highly recommend you to read Rock Chick Regret! It's another great, engaging and sometimes very intense and painful story.
"Sadie?"
"What?"
"You with me?"
I blinked in confusion and said, "Yes." And I was, wasn't I? I was standing in his arms for goodness sake.
"This is Sadie?" Hector went on.
I blinked again. "Yes."
"My Sadie?" he kept at it.
This time I blinked for a different reason.
His Sadie? Was there a Hector's Sadie? Was I Hector's Sadie? Did Hector think I was his Sadie?
Oh…my…God.
Before I could process what he said or get close to processing what that meant, I watched him smile, then he bent his head and kissed my lips.
"Yeah," he said, his face an inch away. "It's my Sadie."
4.5 stars.
Sadie Townsend is the daughter of a drug lord and by association scum of the earth. Hector Chavez is a former DEA Agent. He brought Sadie's father and his whole empire down. Sadie has an appointment at Lee Nightingale's office because she doesn't feel safe and she needs a bodyguard. Even though her father is imprisoned, the crime doesn't go away. There's a war to see who will be the new king and the Balducci brothers mean trouble (trouble with a capital T). Unfortunately, Lee "can't" help her and later on something very evil happens to Sadie. I was so sorry and hurt for Sadie! This was an incredibly intense part of Rock Chick Regret and absolutely outstanding!
Hector aka Double H (it stands for Hispanic Hottie) is smart, sharp, and loyal. He's a gorgeous and bossy alpha male, yet there is something incredibly gentle and tender about this guy. Wow, Hector's got sexy and very warm eyes. Every time his gaze went warm my belly did a flip! Hector is totally Dee-licious!
The Pretend Sadie is scared that Hector could find out what lies beneath her façade. She pretends to be The Ice Princess but she is someone else. It's a defense mechanism and being The Ice Princess is helping her to cope after she lost her mom when she was a kid. Furthermore, it helps her to deal with her drug lord father. Hector vows to pull the real Sadie out, and he became really good at ignoring Sadie's Chill Factor Sub-Zero Glares!
Until Sadie met Hector, the Rock Chicks and their men she didn't have any friends of her own. She did not have fun and her life was pretty empty and without kindness. She has never learned to truly trust someone. Sadie didn't know how to deal with Hector either. I know that Sadie had a right to act the way she did but honestly, it was quite exhausting at times! Even Hector said that she was a pain in the ass. Oh, Sadie, clue in, mamita!
I loved the endearment mamita. I instantly adored it. It's so sweet and Sadie needed all the gentleness she could get from Hector. As always the cast of secondary characters is great and every character is wonderfully fleshed out! I especially loved the two gay guys Ralphie and Buddy. They were sweet, funny, and very kind. The whole bunch of Rock Chicks are their own brand of trouble - um, good and hilarious trouble, of course! Rock Chick Regret mainly revolves around the developing relationship between H/h, even though there is some action intertwined into the story. The whole story is embraced by a serious undertone then again, you'll find enough well-placed humour. The first half of the book was fabulous! But the second half lost a little bit of its sparkle and lost a tad of its pace. Don't get me wrong, it was very good but I just hoped for another fabulous half. Yes, such darn expectations. Always.
BTW, I have to disagree, Sadie. There certainly are beautiful AND comfortable shoes. I can't believe you haven't found them yet!
If you're a Kristen Ashley addict then I highly recommend you to read Rock Chick Regret! It's another great, engaging and sometimes very intense and painful story.
February 18, 2016
Another Week another KA book with my girls at Buddies Books & Baubles
4.5 Emotion Filled Stars
The beginning of this story of one of the most heart breaking and difficult I’ve read in a while. Usually Kristen Ashley waits until somewhere in the middle of a book to rip out my heart but she did it almost immediately and it was rough.
Sadie needs some help and protection after her father is put away for selling drugs and she doesn’t have his protection anymore. But she had to be hard her entire life and isn’t good at asking for help. She didn’t let the Nightingale group know just how serious the danger she was facing was and Hector thought he’d have more time to get her out of trouble.
He did not…..and I *wailed* because what happens is awful. (most off page thank goodness, but it was still rough)
To Sadie’s rescue are some friends Buddy and Ralphie. They are there to help Sadie after tragedy struck and they help get her back on her feet. They move her into their house and they help her heal in only a way gay men can. Meanwhile Hector bides his time letting Sadie heal a bit but making sure she is protected the entire time. But when the time comes he makes sure she knows that she is his and game on.
It was easy to root for Hector and Sadie. Especially after Sadie’s tragic beginning in this. There was more than one time that the tears fell down my face. I was doing okay until Daisy came in with her tender heart and then I lost it. But add in a bunch of Rock Chicks, a woman trying to discover who she is, an Alpha who is two parts patience and one part studmuffin and TEX, shake that all up and there is now way that this story wouldn’t be spectacular.
And there are Stun Guns….because what would a Rock Chick Book be without stun guns, kidnappings, alpha male territorial behavior and ‘The Truth’ according to Duke.
The only bad parts are I kind of felt like her recovery was maybe a little too easy…but *shrugs* no personal experience so hard to say for sure. Also I didn’t like that late in the book there was also another threat of rape to come up against Sadie. Other than that there weren’t any other huge complaints. There is some ridiculousness but this is a KA book and I expect and actually look forward to some of it….especially the kidnappings.
4.5 Emotion Filled Stars
“No, really,” I whispered, letting the sweet, peaceful feeling steal over me. “It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.”
The beginning of this story of one of the most heart breaking and difficult I’ve read in a while. Usually Kristen Ashley waits until somewhere in the middle of a book to rip out my heart but she did it almost immediately and it was rough.
Sadie needs some help and protection after her father is put away for selling drugs and she doesn’t have his protection anymore. But she had to be hard her entire life and isn’t good at asking for help. She didn’t let the Nightingale group know just how serious the danger she was facing was and Hector thought he’d have more time to get her out of trouble.
That night, he followed her from her gallery to her apartment and waited outside in case she went out. She stayed in. He left her, thinking she’d be safe in a high rise with security.
He did not…..and I *wailed* because what happens is awful. (most off page thank goodness, but it was still rough)
To Sadie’s rescue are some friends Buddy and Ralphie. They are there to help Sadie after tragedy struck and they help get her back on her feet. They move her into their house and they help her heal in only a way gay men can. Meanwhile Hector bides his time letting Sadie heal a bit but making sure she is protected the entire time. But when the time comes he makes sure she knows that she is his and game on.
It was easy to root for Hector and Sadie. Especially after Sadie’s tragic beginning in this. There was more than one time that the tears fell down my face. I was doing okay until Daisy came in with her tender heart and then I lost it. But add in a bunch of Rock Chicks, a woman trying to discover who she is, an Alpha who is two parts patience and one part studmuffin and TEX, shake that all up and there is now way that this story wouldn’t be spectacular.
And there are Stun Guns….because what would a Rock Chick Book be without stun guns, kidnappings, alpha male territorial behavior and ‘The Truth’ according to Duke.
The only bad parts are I kind of felt like her recovery was maybe a little too easy…but *shrugs* no personal experience so hard to say for sure. Also I didn’t like that late in the book there was also another threat of rape to come up against Sadie. Other than that there weren’t any other huge complaints. There is some ridiculousness but this is a KA book and I expect and actually look forward to some of it….especially the kidnappings.
July 13, 2019
Re read July 2019
Re read May 2017
First read July 2013
Re read May 2017
First read July 2013
February 14, 2016
So, I took a little break from the Rock Chick series in order to let my Buddy Group catch up with me. Also, I needed a break from the alpha males in them. Most of you know me as an alpha female because I am, so sometimes it's hard for me to swallow all of the alpha male crap that other people find romantic. I don't find pushy, aggressive men attractive. I do, however, like men who are assertive, confident, and protective. It's a fine line and the Rock Chick guys cross over it a little too much for my tastes.
All that said, I thought Hector was a much better hero than some of the past guys like Mace and Eddie. He was really careful with Sadie because she had been raped. BUT, once he got comfortable, he did piss me off when he told her that she couldn't dress how she wanted because she needed to cover herself up as his woman. And, later, after he gets in a bar fight with some guy who says something about Sadie, he blamed her way of dressing. But, the guy had known Sadie for a long time and had been having dirty thoughts about her for years. Does that mean that Sadie's outfit was to blame (she showed a little cleavage - gimme a break)? Hector used that guy's dickery to try and control Sadie. And, then he blamed her, which is shaming her. It's the oldest story in the world when women's clothing is an excuse for men's bad behavior. It's just wrong. So wrong...
Yes!! You tell them, girlfriend!
Okay, and now let's talk about using rape as a plot device. Don't.
There is way too much rape, threats of rape, almost rapes, and rapey talk in these books. Please stop!
And, finally, my last complaint: Sadie's use of the expression "Blooming Heck". First off, I don't think that's a thing.
I've never heard an American use "blooming" as an adjective in general, but "blooming heck" makes it even worse. Stupider. More Stupid. Blooming Stupid.
And, she says it a lot. Like at least once a page. Just stop!
Okay, now the things I liked, cuz there were a few things.
First, I thought that Hector was actually pretty sweet and kind for the first half of the book. He didn't even try to kiss Sadie for a long time because he didn't want her to feel pushed and didn't want the rape PTSD to activate. He gave her time and space, and would ask her permission before he touched her. That gave him points (before he lost them on the telling her how to dress thing).
Second, we got some new characters in Ralphie and Buddy, Sadie's gay friends. They were more than awesome and super supportive of her. She felt like she had nobody who cared about her, but they did. She really just wouldn't allow anyone to get close. They swooped in after she was attacked and gave her what she needed to heal. They brought in a rape crisis counselor, but never pushed her. They allowed her to heal in her own time. They were amazing! I want to be their friend!
Finally, the whole Rock Chick world has developed and I love that we are seeing these relationships grow. There are lots of weddings and babies these days. I am just waiting for the next book to get Ally's story. Also, I wish there would have been a book that had Darius's story, but I think this series is done. That's a shame because he is definitely interesting.
All that said, I thought Hector was a much better hero than some of the past guys like Mace and Eddie. He was really careful with Sadie because she had been raped. BUT, once he got comfortable, he did piss me off when he told her that she couldn't dress how she wanted because she needed to cover herself up as his woman. And, later, after he gets in a bar fight with some guy who says something about Sadie, he blamed her way of dressing. But, the guy had known Sadie for a long time and had been having dirty thoughts about her for years. Does that mean that Sadie's outfit was to blame (she showed a little cleavage - gimme a break)? Hector used that guy's dickery to try and control Sadie. And, then he blamed her, which is shaming her. It's the oldest story in the world when women's clothing is an excuse for men's bad behavior. It's just wrong. So wrong...
Yes!! You tell them, girlfriend!
Okay, and now let's talk about using rape as a plot device. Don't.
There is way too much rape, threats of rape, almost rapes, and rapey talk in these books. Please stop!
And, finally, my last complaint: Sadie's use of the expression "Blooming Heck". First off, I don't think that's a thing.
I've never heard an American use "blooming" as an adjective in general, but "blooming heck" makes it even worse. Stupider. More Stupid. Blooming Stupid.
And, she says it a lot. Like at least once a page. Just stop!
Okay, now the things I liked, cuz there were a few things.
First, I thought that Hector was actually pretty sweet and kind for the first half of the book. He didn't even try to kiss Sadie for a long time because he didn't want her to feel pushed and didn't want the rape PTSD to activate. He gave her time and space, and would ask her permission before he touched her. That gave him points (before he lost them on the telling her how to dress thing).
Second, we got some new characters in Ralphie and Buddy, Sadie's gay friends. They were more than awesome and super supportive of her. She felt like she had nobody who cared about her, but they did. She really just wouldn't allow anyone to get close. They swooped in after she was attacked and gave her what she needed to heal. They brought in a rape crisis counselor, but never pushed her. They allowed her to heal in her own time. They were amazing! I want to be their friend!
Finally, the whole Rock Chick world has developed and I love that we are seeing these relationships grow. There are lots of weddings and babies these days. I am just waiting for the next book to get Ally's story. Also, I wish there would have been a book that had Darius's story, but I think this series is done. That's a shame because he is definitely interesting.
May 29, 2012
5 Stars! Another hit in the Rock Chick series. I’m on a Hector and Sadie HIGH!! I’ll be honest with you; Hector pissed me off in the beginning when Sadie went into Nightingale Investigations to inquire about hiring them for her protection. He let everyone believe that she was everything they thought she was, when he knew better. Hector was aware that Sadie was nothing like her father, even tried to help him when he was undercover and he never opened his mouth to tell them any different. That’s what made what happened to her even more heartbreaking. BUT like a true Hot Bunch hero, he stepped up to the plate…big time!! I believe he was angry with himself, as he should have been, gave her everything he had to make it right, and I loved that he let her find her way on her own. Hector just pointed her in the right direction...into his arms, bed and eventually his heart, *sigh*!
Sadie was feisty, funny and totally clueless when it came to all things Rock Chick or for that matter, just being a girl with girlfriends, being part of a family, living a normal life. Sadie’s transition from Ice Princess to “just” Sadie was fun to watch. OMG…when Sadie had her breakdown in the gallery…I was running with her, crying, she was so broken *sob*. Duke, what you did, what you said…perfect. You are the man!!
Oh Hector, just like those in the Hot Bunch who came before, you are a dream come true. So sweet, so deliciously HOT, so alpha…RAWRRRR!!! You can take possession of me anytime…all of me…my heart, my body and my soul…you and me babe…s’mores at my house, I don’t have a hot tub, but we’ll figure something out!! I’ll spray you with my misting fan, get you all wet and…okay forget it!
Of course the regulars were back and I love them all, but we also got to meet two very enjoyable characters that really added to the humor and emotion in the book. Ralphie and Buddy…adorable and hilarious! Tod and Stevie are great, but Ralphie and Buddy need to be my friends. I want to hang out with them. I’m thinkin’ since Sadie’s moved out, they’ve got room for me!! Lemon Drops and Veronica Mars! I’m so there. I got a thing for Marcus too…wouldn’t it be great if KA wrote a novella about him and Daisy? I would love to know more about what makes him tick!
I’m so sad that we only have one more book in the series. I’m going to miss all of them. I was hoping that Eric and Darius…even Carl would get some lovin’…but alas, it’s not meant to be. Oh well, I’ll just have to start with book one and love them all over again!
Hector “Hispanic Hottie-Double H” Chavez, had thick, black, wavy hair, black eyes, long legs, broad shoulders and a lean, amazing body. He was magnetic.
Sadie was feisty, funny and totally clueless when it came to all things Rock Chick or for that matter, just being a girl with girlfriends, being part of a family, living a normal life. Sadie’s transition from Ice Princess to “just” Sadie was fun to watch. OMG…when Sadie had her breakdown in the gallery…I was running with her, crying, she was so broken *sob*. Duke, what you did, what you said…perfect. You are the man!!
Oh Hector, just like those in the Hot Bunch who came before, you are a dream come true. So sweet, so deliciously HOT, so alpha…RAWRRRR!!! You can take possession of me anytime…all of me…my heart, my body and my soul…you and me babe…s’mores at my house, I don’t have a hot tub, but we’ll figure something out!! I’ll spray you with my misting fan, get you all wet and…okay forget it!
Of course the regulars were back and I love them all, but we also got to meet two very enjoyable characters that really added to the humor and emotion in the book. Ralphie and Buddy…adorable and hilarious! Tod and Stevie are great, but Ralphie and Buddy need to be my friends. I want to hang out with them. I’m thinkin’ since Sadie’s moved out, they’ve got room for me!! Lemon Drops and Veronica Mars! I’m so there. I got a thing for Marcus too…wouldn’t it be great if KA wrote a novella about him and Daisy? I would love to know more about what makes him tick!
I’m so sad that we only have one more book in the series. I’m going to miss all of them. I was hoping that Eric and Darius…even Carl would get some lovin’…but alas, it’s not meant to be. Oh well, I’ll just have to start with book one and love them all over again!
Hector “Hispanic Hottie-Double H” Chavez, had thick, black, wavy hair, black eyes, long legs, broad shoulders and a lean, amazing body. He was magnetic.
November 28, 2017
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Love the males, dislike the females*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Re-read: 28.11.2017
I don't know why I decided to re-read this one, but I guess I needed some KA alpha males. However, I still find the Rock Chicks so annoying and immature and I really dislike that in serious situations, things aren't serious enough. There's too much joy or sassiness to take it seriously, and those things really get on my nerves.
First read review:
What started out pretty great, got pretty boring at the end... Really. It was awesome in the beginning. I loved Sadie Marie Townsend (29) attitude, her “Ice Princess”, and I loved her reaction to things. At least in the beginning. Eventually, as the story went, things got boring as Sadie changed, as in become more into herself, but as I dislike most of the Rock Chicks and Sadie become more like them, I lost interest. Though I adored Lee Nightingale with Sadie, and I wish we had gotten a stronger bond between them. Like a brother-sister bond. I love Lee, okay.
“No really,” I whispered, letting the sweet, peaceful feeling steal over me. “It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.”
Hector Chavez (how old is he?) was hot, sexy, interesting and patient with Sadie. Which she both needed and didn't need. He gave her what she needed to find herself. Though Hector wasn't my favorite of the Hot Bunch in this series, I still liked him, but I didn't love him, just liked him a lot. Overall, the story was interesting enough, but dragged out, and long. On top of that it all, the story became all lovey-dovey and I'm not in for that. I like romance, but not too much of it. Final word is that the book was alright, but not my favorite.
“Life!' Vito exploded, making me jump. "Up and down, good and bad, birth and death, celebration and devastation. If you got any balls at all, you roll with the punches and get the fuck on with it, pardon my French.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance
Series: - Series (Standalone), Book Seven
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Umm... Lee Nightingale?
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5/3 stars.
August 12, 2024
Re-read number 10 or more :p
5 Regret Stars
I CAN’T CHOOSE! TIE FOR MY FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.
Yep, I have 2 because I like them both in different ways. This is Favorite ½ lol.
I mean we get Hector “Oh my God” Chavez! Jumps up and down… I mean really!
Sadie and Hector’s story:
This story by far is the most emotional for me, not to say the other books didn’t have their fair share of emotions. This book made me cry and tear up multiple times and not just once but every time I re-read it.
Sadie isn’t your average everyday girl, she grew up with a father who was head of crime and drugs. No real affection after the passing of her mother. She hasn’t had a real genuine friend all her life. So she protects herself with armor, whether that’s designer clothes or the facade of Sadie the Ice Princess. Who never lets anyone close because she never knew if they were there for her or to get to her father.
“It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.” – Sadie
The book starts off right away with rape and I know what you’re thinking it’s going to be a downer she is going to be broken and upset and not a fun character. And who would blame her, rape is terrible. But that’s not Sadie she tackles what life throws at her with strength and determination like no other Rock Chick yet.
Yes, she is wounded and broken but enter in Hector “Oh my God” Chavez and he helps her see the real Sadie and bring her out. He is incredible, patient and finds Sadie utterly hilarious and I love that.
Hector is also Eddie’s brother so we see Blanca again yay I love when she showed up in Eddie and Jet’s book she was funny then and she is funny in this book as well.
“If he gets up before me, he tucks the covers around me so I won’t be cold.” -Sadie
Hector is just an all-around great character. Oh and Buddy and Ralphie who is her gay best friends/family. They are who also help her heal with the aid of Veronica Mars and the best friends a girl could ask for.
‘ “Ralphie, get away from the wind,” Buddy ordered.
I lifted my head to see Ralphie holding the curtain wide and standing, bold as you please, staring out the window.
“It’s Hispanic Hottie this time,” Ralphie informed us. ‘
*All my Reviews are 100% honest and my own.*
5 Regret Stars
I CAN’T CHOOSE! TIE FOR MY FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.
Yep, I have 2 because I like them both in different ways. This is Favorite ½ lol.
I mean we get Hector “Oh my God” Chavez! Jumps up and down… I mean really!
Sadie and Hector’s story:
This story by far is the most emotional for me, not to say the other books didn’t have their fair share of emotions. This book made me cry and tear up multiple times and not just once but every time I re-read it.
Sadie isn’t your average everyday girl, she grew up with a father who was head of crime and drugs. No real affection after the passing of her mother. She hasn’t had a real genuine friend all her life. So she protects herself with armor, whether that’s designer clothes or the facade of Sadie the Ice Princess. Who never lets anyone close because she never knew if they were there for her or to get to her father.
“It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.” – Sadie
The book starts off right away with rape and I know what you’re thinking it’s going to be a downer she is going to be broken and upset and not a fun character. And who would blame her, rape is terrible. But that’s not Sadie she tackles what life throws at her with strength and determination like no other Rock Chick yet.
Yes, she is wounded and broken but enter in Hector “Oh my God” Chavez and he helps her see the real Sadie and bring her out. He is incredible, patient and finds Sadie utterly hilarious and I love that.
Hector is also Eddie’s brother so we see Blanca again yay I love when she showed up in Eddie and Jet’s book she was funny then and she is funny in this book as well.
“If he gets up before me, he tucks the covers around me so I won’t be cold.” -Sadie
Hector is just an all-around great character. Oh and Buddy and Ralphie who is her gay best friends/family. They are who also help her heal with the aid of Veronica Mars and the best friends a girl could ask for.
‘ “Ralphie, get away from the wind,” Buddy ordered.
I lifted my head to see Ralphie holding the curtain wide and standing, bold as you please, staring out the window.
“It’s Hispanic Hottie this time,” Ralphie informed us. ‘
*All my Reviews are 100% honest and my own.*
August 4, 2016
This book didn't justify its high ratings, at least not to me.
The beggining was heartbreaking and for me, the strongest part of the book. Afterwards, it went downhill.
Throughout the series we witness The Hot Bunch being very protective of their women, or women in general. So, there comes this girl, who everyone agrees looks like a fairy princess, and quite desperately asks for help and protection, for which she's denied for reasons, I honestly can't comprehend. What's even worse, they knew she was in danger and still didn't do anything. And then the girl everyone agrees looks like a fairy princess, got beaten up and raped.
Because of their behavior I lost my interest in this book, and well, in this series. I'm reading Ally's story half-heartedly.
You know, the sole reason I gave Rock Chick Renegade (book #4) a star more than I really wanted to, is how The Rock Chicks and The Hot Bunch worried about Jules after she got shot (otherwise I hated it and I hated the heroine). Every one of them was in the waiting room in the hospital, offering support, worrying about Jules, and she wasn't even that much part of the gang. And in this book, with how they acted towards Sadie in the beginning, they completely unmade every good opinion I had about them.
Of course, they tried to make it better later, but I just didn't feel the love. Not with The Rock Chicks, nor with Hector.
I don't even want to start about Hector. Worst hero of the series, definitely.
I loved Sadie's character a lot; how she could talk herself out of difficult situations or how she handled with everything happening to her. In my opinion, she should've stayed close to Ralphie and Buddy and send everyone else to hell.
The beggining was heartbreaking and for me, the strongest part of the book. Afterwards, it went downhill.
Throughout the series we witness The Hot Bunch being very protective of their women, or women in general. So, there comes this girl, who everyone agrees looks like a fairy princess, and quite desperately asks for help and protection, for which she's denied for reasons, I honestly can't comprehend. What's even worse, they knew she was in danger and still didn't do anything. And then the girl everyone agrees looks like a fairy princess, got beaten up and raped.
Because of their behavior I lost my interest in this book, and well, in this series. I'm reading Ally's story half-heartedly.
You know, the sole reason I gave Rock Chick Renegade (book #4) a star more than I really wanted to, is how The Rock Chicks and The Hot Bunch worried about Jules after she got shot (otherwise I hated it and I hated the heroine). Every one of them was in the waiting room in the hospital, offering support, worrying about Jules, and she wasn't even that much part of the gang. And in this book, with how they acted towards Sadie in the beginning, they completely unmade every good opinion I had about them.
Of course, they tried to make it better later, but I just didn't feel the love. Not with The Rock Chicks, nor with Hector.
I don't even want to start about Hector. Worst hero of the series, definitely.
I loved Sadie's character a lot; how she could talk herself out of difficult situations or how she handled with everything happening to her. In my opinion, she should've stayed close to Ralphie and Buddy and send everyone else to hell.
April 19, 2018
3.5-4 stars
Expectations. I normally don't go into books with them, but I had read that this book was very angsty and I was so excited to read it. Well...... it really wasn't all that angsty. Maybe the first 10% or so? After that not so much. And while I still enjoyed this book a lot, I was a bit let down because of the expectations I had going into this book.
This book is about Hector and Sadie. Sadie is the ice queen and daughter of a drug lord and Hector is the agent who brought her father down. Hector and Sadie were almost a thing, and then Hector made a mistake and expected Sadie to come back to him. Sadie finds herself in trouble and that's when Hector comes to the rescue.
This story has a very brutal beginning and while it was a lot, I loved that aspect of it. The rest of the book was sweet but a tad bit too long (as is per Kristen Ashley's style) which I normally don't mind, but in the 60-70% I found myself skimming. A very sweet ending that I think lots of readers will love. Actually I think readers will love the WHOLE book. My angst expectations held me back a bit to a like and not a love.
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Expectations. I normally don't go into books with them, but I had read that this book was very angsty and I was so excited to read it. Well...... it really wasn't all that angsty. Maybe the first 10% or so? After that not so much. And while I still enjoyed this book a lot, I was a bit let down because of the expectations I had going into this book.
This book is about Hector and Sadie. Sadie is the ice queen and daughter of a drug lord and Hector is the agent who brought her father down. Hector and Sadie were almost a thing, and then Hector made a mistake and expected Sadie to come back to him. Sadie finds herself in trouble and that's when Hector comes to the rescue.
This story has a very brutal beginning and while it was a lot, I loved that aspect of it. The rest of the book was sweet but a tad bit too long (as is per Kristen Ashley's style) which I normally don't mind, but in the 60-70% I found myself skimming. A very sweet ending that I think lots of readers will love. Actually I think readers will love the WHOLE book. My angst expectations held me back a bit to a like and not a love.
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November 23, 2014
4 Sexy Stars!
In this seven installment we get to the story of Hector (Eddie’s brother!) and Sadie.
Sadie is the daughter of a fallen drug-lord and when her father dies, a war for winning his drug territory begins and Sadie is the prize.
Whoever gets Sadie first wins the territory.
Unfortunately for them, Hector (that previously had a “thing” with Sadie”) gets in action and well… things will get rough and hot.
And oh-so-hot!
I will be very quick on this one. I have to say that only start reading this book because I wanted to get to Ally’s story and my non-diagnosed OCD doesn’t allow me to skip books in the middle of a series.
I started this with zero expectations and close to zero enthusiasm, Hector was never a very active character so I didn’t have any kind of connection with him. But this was a wonderful surprise.
Both characters were very strong and their story was pretty damn great. I guess Kristen Ashley really can make us fall in love with a book… even when we don’t expect much of it.
I love when books turn out to be so much better than what we initially thought! ;)
In this seven installment we get to the story of Hector (Eddie’s brother!) and Sadie.
Sadie is the daughter of a fallen drug-lord and when her father dies, a war for winning his drug territory begins and Sadie is the prize.
Whoever gets Sadie first wins the territory.
Unfortunately for them, Hector (that previously had a “thing” with Sadie”) gets in action and well… things will get rough and hot.
And oh-so-hot!
I will be very quick on this one. I have to say that only start reading this book because I wanted to get to Ally’s story and my non-diagnosed OCD doesn’t allow me to skip books in the middle of a series.
I started this with zero expectations and close to zero enthusiasm, Hector was never a very active character so I didn’t have any kind of connection with him. But this was a wonderful surprise.
Both characters were very strong and their story was pretty damn great. I guess Kristen Ashley really can make us fall in love with a book… even when we don’t expect much of it.
I love when books turn out to be so much better than what we initially thought! ;)
April 20, 2023
Re-read: June 2019
First read April 23-25, 2012
One of my favorite parts of this book was the "Author's Note".
"And this, my loyal readers, is exactly what the entire series of 'Rock Chicks' is about, as Sadie learns in the story you are about to read. You are never alone, not when you have friends.
Learn from my stories and, through thick and thin, remember, if you have friends you are never alone".
LOVED Hector Sadie together (amazing couple)!
I loved how Sadie discovered she had friends (the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch, Tex and Duke), and that she had people she could count on who became her 'family'.
I liked reading Sadie's journey to find out 'who she really was' without having to wear all the different masks to protect her heart and her soul.
She truly did 'shine' when her true self came out.
..and as always Kristen Ashley writes an 'amazing' Epilogue!!
Really enjoyed this read, can't wait to read Ally's story!
Second read December 2014
Really enjoyed this re-read, and Rock Chick Regret is still one of my favorites.

First read April 23-25, 2012
One of my favorite parts of this book was the "Author's Note".
"And this, my loyal readers, is exactly what the entire series of 'Rock Chicks' is about, as Sadie learns in the story you are about to read. You are never alone, not when you have friends.
Learn from my stories and, through thick and thin, remember, if you have friends you are never alone".
LOVED Hector Sadie together (amazing couple)!
I loved how Sadie discovered she had friends (the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch, Tex and Duke), and that she had people she could count on who became her 'family'.
I liked reading Sadie's journey to find out 'who she really was' without having to wear all the different masks to protect her heart and her soul.
She truly did 'shine' when her true self came out.
..and as always Kristen Ashley writes an 'amazing' Epilogue!!
Really enjoyed this read, can't wait to read Ally's story!
Second read December 2014
Really enjoyed this re-read, and Rock Chick Regret is still one of my favorites.

January 27, 2015
This one really bugged me because of the shoddy treatment of rape & rape survivors & also because of issues with the story Here's why:
1. Sadie gets raped, there is no explanation of what happened. Rape is very painful & traumatic & I feel that since KA chose to use her rape as part of the story then she should have at least shown what she went through. This would get the reader emotionally invested in a "I feel your pain/ struggle" kind of way.
2. Sadie asked Lee for help while Hector was in the room before her rape ordeal. They say NO & treat her horribly. the Rock chicks also treat Sadie coldly & ignore her. She gets raped & suddenly they are all BFFs, life is fun & all is forgiven! I expected MORE GROVELLING! After all the shit they put her through I wanted them to EARN their way back into her life. Sorry but NO.
3.The Rock chicks, the hot bunch & Hector all spread far & wide to anyone who is willing to listen to them that Sadie has been raped. This by FAR was what left a bad taste in my mouth. Many rape survivors have a hard time verbalising what happened to them & many feel like talking about what happened is akin to going through a SECOND RAPE. Her so called friends spreading this story to everyone barely a MONTH after the incident strikes me as cold, mean, callous & just plain shitty behavior. It's not their story to tell, it's not their trauma to tell! With "friends" like this who needs enemies?
4. Sadie & Hector start dating and a sexual relationship between these two starts a MONTH after she has gone through a brutal rape. She still has her cast on for gods sakes!! WHO DOES THAT? granted, rape survivors all heal at varying levels but already, taking into account that the man she's supposed to be having sex with let her walk out of the door unaided to her rape..strikes me as unbelievable! What compounds this for me is Hector never apologises for his prior treatment of her. it's as if it never happened!
5. Hector treated Sadie horribly before the rape & we never see them talk about this. It hurt her very much but they never resolve this issue. It seems like they just ignore it. The mistreatment at the hand of the rock chicks is similarly not dealt with. In fact, there's a scene where Sadie is at the gallery, the girls come over to see her & she ignores them. In the book, she is made to feel GUILTY for brushing them off! I think this could have been better handled. KA could have taken this dynamic, the tension between the characters & turned it into literary gold! I would have loved to see Sadie angry, how she deals with her rape, her mistrust of the rock chicks & hot bunch & how they manage to get her to trust them, Hector showing himself as worthy of her...all of this instead of jumping right to the sex & skipping over all the necessary healing. I give 2 stars because I really enjoyed reading the interraction between Sadie & her gay pals.
1. Sadie gets raped, there is no explanation of what happened. Rape is very painful & traumatic & I feel that since KA chose to use her rape as part of the story then she should have at least shown what she went through. This would get the reader emotionally invested in a "I feel your pain/ struggle" kind of way.
2. Sadie asked Lee for help while Hector was in the room before her rape ordeal. They say NO & treat her horribly. the Rock chicks also treat Sadie coldly & ignore her. She gets raped & suddenly they are all BFFs, life is fun & all is forgiven! I expected MORE GROVELLING! After all the shit they put her through I wanted them to EARN their way back into her life. Sorry but NO.
3.The Rock chicks, the hot bunch & Hector all spread far & wide to anyone who is willing to listen to them that Sadie has been raped. This by FAR was what left a bad taste in my mouth. Many rape survivors have a hard time verbalising what happened to them & many feel like talking about what happened is akin to going through a SECOND RAPE. Her so called friends spreading this story to everyone barely a MONTH after the incident strikes me as cold, mean, callous & just plain shitty behavior. It's not their story to tell, it's not their trauma to tell! With "friends" like this who needs enemies?
4. Sadie & Hector start dating and a sexual relationship between these two starts a MONTH after she has gone through a brutal rape. She still has her cast on for gods sakes!! WHO DOES THAT? granted, rape survivors all heal at varying levels but already, taking into account that the man she's supposed to be having sex with let her walk out of the door unaided to her rape..strikes me as unbelievable! What compounds this for me is Hector never apologises for his prior treatment of her. it's as if it never happened!
5. Hector treated Sadie horribly before the rape & we never see them talk about this. It hurt her very much but they never resolve this issue. It seems like they just ignore it. The mistreatment at the hand of the rock chicks is similarly not dealt with. In fact, there's a scene where Sadie is at the gallery, the girls come over to see her & she ignores them. In the book, she is made to feel GUILTY for brushing them off! I think this could have been better handled. KA could have taken this dynamic, the tension between the characters & turned it into literary gold! I would have loved to see Sadie angry, how she deals with her rape, her mistrust of the rock chicks & hot bunch & how they manage to get her to trust them, Hector showing himself as worthy of her...all of this instead of jumping right to the sex & skipping over all the necessary healing. I give 2 stars because I really enjoyed reading the interraction between Sadie & her gay pals.
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October 3, 2020
✰ 6++ stars ✰
✨ HectorSadie have my heart and soul, they’re the softest KA couple I’ve read so far and they deserve everything ✨
also I loved Sadie as the h!! My heart broke for what she’s been through but this is the first KA h where I was never once annoyed with her in the book. Hector was perfect for Sadie and, well, it’s not exactly a surprise I loved him as I had loved every single KA H so far. <33
can we please have a book on Sadie’s parents?? I’m honestly interested because, after getting a glimpse of how Seth (Sadie’s dad) was dealing with the fall out, I have no doubt I’ll fall in love with the journey of their romance.
(if you can resist Agnes, you have a strong ass heart cause I know I wouldn’t be able to)
✨ HectorSadie have my heart and soul, they’re the softest KA couple I’ve read so far and they deserve everything ✨
also I loved Sadie as the h!! My heart broke for what she’s been through but this is the first KA h where I was never once annoyed with her in the book. Hector was perfect for Sadie and, well, it’s not exactly a surprise I loved him as I had loved every single KA H so far. <33
can we please have a book on Sadie’s parents?? I’m honestly interested because, after getting a glimpse of how Seth (Sadie’s dad) was dealing with the fall out, I have no doubt I’ll fall in love with the journey of their romance.
(if you can resist Agnes, you have a strong ass heart cause I know I wouldn’t be able to)
April 17, 2012
Okay, so this is one of those books I don't quite know how to rate...Though I'm pretty sure I've got an overall dissenting opinion of it.....
On the one hand it's a typical enjoyable KA title,( at least the last half, )
On the other, there are two reasons I can't say that I honestly liked this. So ok.
One.
blooming Heck. I know it's stupid, and I know there are people who don't like to curse....and I've no problem with them. But blooming heck? Seriously? blooming heck? And it's used through the whole damn book? Who takes a heroine seriously when she keeps saying blooming heck? Whats next, sprouting poop.? Jeez.
Two.
Okay this point is more serious. The rape. It's treated like a plot device rather then the serious issue it is....and it laughs in the face of everything we're taught about rape and rape victims.
The scene itself is never described...I can understand that, I'm sure writing it, would be beyond difficult, just like reading it would be. However, the absolute lack of any details whatsoever, make it feels like it's glossed over, Like we don't get the full emotional impact we should...in Ava's book, even though she isn't fully raped ( meaning no penetration), she's violated, and we get the scene...which helps us connect with the story and with her. But, in Regret, since we don't get the scene, we never really connect with Sadie, at least I didn't... It felt like she hardly reacted at all..yes there were a few scenes showing her issues, but they're few and far between and she gets over them somewhat quickly.
Then there's the fact that with the exception at the begining of the book, and the times she yells about it, she doesn't come off as a rape victim. She could have easily been the victim of some other crime. a mugging, a beating, etc
Oh and my biggest issue....I know rape victims are all different and react in various way..but 30 days? Most victims can take years to recuperate and 30 mother fucking days after her attack, she's out partying? Getting set up on dates? Seriously? Being forced into situations /relationahips ( because apparently being raped didn't take enough of her choices away, her new gay bestie ( who's stereotypical gayness, irritated me beyond all blooming heck) , decided to make all her decisions for her) again and again. Having the fact that she's been raped announced to all and fucking sundry, and her not having an issue with it? None of that seems synonymous with what we learn about rape victims. So yeah, they're all different, but I cant help but feel, like the issue doesn't get the due diligence that it rightly deserves...
And the fact that it's the rock chicks themselves that go about making sure everyone in their social circle knows she was raped...well it makes me think a whole lot less of them...it's a little too naively callous, not to mention flat out insensitive.
Oh and the hot bunch? They're supposed to be all about women in trouble and they turn her over to someone else...And to some small, tiny degree, I even get why...but really, if lee's the big badass, who takes care of women, why wouldn't he have called this associate he sends Sadie( the h) to just to give him a heads up? I would have loved me to be in lees head when they found out about the rape...even after the fact. ..there's a bit where he feels bad, but then he gets over it pretty dammed quickly...
The whole thing leaves me with a bad taste. Thinking it over, I'd say 2 stars 1 star. I tried giving it 2, as I like KA, but I think I'm a little too offended to give it anything other then a one.
Side note: The first review I wrote for RC Regret, was a hell of a lot worse, chock full of anger and curse words, and full on non stop ranting and soap boxing so I think I've toned it down to a somewhat coherent review, but I may still come back and try and clean this up... but at the mo' I think I'm taking a break from KA...At least til I can forge how angry this book made me.
ETA: it's even worse now, because I'm reading another book with has a rape victim in it, but is treating he whole topic better than KA did.
On the one hand it's a typical enjoyable KA title,( at least the last half, )
On the other, there are two reasons I can't say that I honestly liked this. So ok.
One.
blooming Heck. I know it's stupid, and I know there are people who don't like to curse....and I've no problem with them. But blooming heck? Seriously? blooming heck? And it's used through the whole damn book? Who takes a heroine seriously when she keeps saying blooming heck? Whats next, sprouting poop.? Jeez.
Two.
Okay this point is more serious. The rape. It's treated like a plot device rather then the serious issue it is....and it laughs in the face of everything we're taught about rape and rape victims.
The scene itself is never described...I can understand that, I'm sure writing it, would be beyond difficult, just like reading it would be. However, the absolute lack of any details whatsoever, make it feels like it's glossed over, Like we don't get the full emotional impact we should...in Ava's book, even though she isn't fully raped ( meaning no penetration), she's violated, and we get the scene...which helps us connect with the story and with her. But, in Regret, since we don't get the scene, we never really connect with Sadie, at least I didn't... It felt like she hardly reacted at all..yes there were a few scenes showing her issues, but they're few and far between and she gets over them somewhat quickly.
Then there's the fact that with the exception at the begining of the book, and the times she yells about it, she doesn't come off as a rape victim. She could have easily been the victim of some other crime. a mugging, a beating, etc
Oh and my biggest issue....I know rape victims are all different and react in various way..but 30 days? Most victims can take years to recuperate and 30 mother fucking days after her attack, she's out partying? Getting set up on dates? Seriously? Being forced into situations /relationahips ( because apparently being raped didn't take enough of her choices away, her new gay bestie ( who's stereotypical gayness, irritated me beyond all blooming heck) , decided to make all her decisions for her) again and again. Having the fact that she's been raped announced to all and fucking sundry, and her not having an issue with it? None of that seems synonymous with what we learn about rape victims. So yeah, they're all different, but I cant help but feel, like the issue doesn't get the due diligence that it rightly deserves...
And the fact that it's the rock chicks themselves that go about making sure everyone in their social circle knows she was raped...well it makes me think a whole lot less of them...it's a little too naively callous, not to mention flat out insensitive.
Oh and the hot bunch? They're supposed to be all about women in trouble and they turn her over to someone else...And to some small, tiny degree, I even get why...but really, if lee's the big badass, who takes care of women, why wouldn't he have called this associate he sends Sadie( the h) to just to give him a heads up? I would have loved me to be in lees head when they found out about the rape...even after the fact. ..there's a bit where he feels bad, but then he gets over it pretty dammed quickly...
The whole thing leaves me with a bad taste. Thinking it over, I'd say
Side note: The first review I wrote for RC Regret, was a hell of a lot worse, chock full of anger and curse words, and full on non stop ranting and soap boxing so I think I've toned it down to a somewhat coherent review, but I may still come back and try and clean this up... but at the mo' I think I'm taking a break from KA...At least til I can forge how angry this book made me.
ETA: it's even worse now, because I'm reading another book with has a rape victim in it, but is treating he whole topic better than KA did.
February 14, 2016
*** 3.75 ***
A buddy read with my fellow KA addicts at BB&B
I am here to once again admit that I am a KA addict and I have no intention of going sober. Because her books are like junk food for the soul - you know that there is no nutritional value what soever, but you can't stop eating them no matter what....
This book is all about recognizing who your friends are and being the best friend and person you could be. Sadie is known as the Ice Princess, the rich daddy's girl, who has it all and her ride is payed for by her dad's dirty machinations in the criminal world. Hector was an undercover agent responsible for taking her dad down. One night during his undercover work the agent and the Princess had a moment of heat and neither of them can forget it. Months later he is working for Lee Nightingale Security and Sadie comes looking for protection from some really bad guys. Their paths cross again and they have to find a way to break the barriers between them in order to light the flames of something more than passion. Are they strong enough to deal with all their differences and would those around them let them be? Well that is why you have to read it, of course:-)
I do have to warn potential readers that if you are sensitive to rape and violence, this might not be a read for you. This tale is brutal at times and I admit to crying in the beginning. However, KA surrounds us with old friends and hot, overprotective alpha males, puts the action in our favorite book/coffee Shop and all the love those characters exude towards us keeps us strong through the hardest experiences, including the usual kidnapping, fighting, and heavy fire shootouts. After all, it would not be a Rock Chicks book without them:-)
I enjoyed this seventh installment in the series and am sad that we are getting to its conclusion with the next volume. So, let's hope we get to the finish line with a bang and be grateful for our little addiction support group in BB&B!!?! Thanks to all my fellow buddy readers and see you next week:-)
A buddy read with my fellow KA addicts at BB&B
I am here to once again admit that I am a KA addict and I have no intention of going sober. Because her books are like junk food for the soul - you know that there is no nutritional value what soever, but you can't stop eating them no matter what....
This book is all about recognizing who your friends are and being the best friend and person you could be. Sadie is known as the Ice Princess, the rich daddy's girl, who has it all and her ride is payed for by her dad's dirty machinations in the criminal world. Hector was an undercover agent responsible for taking her dad down. One night during his undercover work the agent and the Princess had a moment of heat and neither of them can forget it. Months later he is working for Lee Nightingale Security and Sadie comes looking for protection from some really bad guys. Their paths cross again and they have to find a way to break the barriers between them in order to light the flames of something more than passion. Are they strong enough to deal with all their differences and would those around them let them be? Well that is why you have to read it, of course:-)
I do have to warn potential readers that if you are sensitive to rape and violence, this might not be a read for you. This tale is brutal at times and I admit to crying in the beginning. However, KA surrounds us with old friends and hot, overprotective alpha males, puts the action in our favorite book/coffee Shop and all the love those characters exude towards us keeps us strong through the hardest experiences, including the usual kidnapping, fighting, and heavy fire shootouts. After all, it would not be a Rock Chicks book without them:-)
I enjoyed this seventh installment in the series and am sad that we are getting to its conclusion with the next volume. So, let's hope we get to the finish line with a bang and be grateful for our little addiction support group in BB&B!!?! Thanks to all my fellow buddy readers and see you next week:-)
January 31, 2021
I've not kept up with Romance genre trends, so I don't know who the popular authors in the Current Year are. A few years back, everybody was gushing about Kristen Ashley. For all I know, they still are. Optimistically, I purchased about a half dozen of her e-books and gave her a shot. First, I read "Lacybourne Manor" although I didn't really care for the writing style, nor the screwball, immature-in-mind-but-not-in-years heroine. But you all know what they say about falling off a horse. Plus, if I don't like something the first time, I'll give it a second just to make sure the dissatisfaction wasn't a one-off thing.
It wasn't.
In vain I attempted to complete Kristeen Ashley's "Rock Chick Regret." I read as much as I could tolerate, then noped out of that book at 50%. Kristen Ashley is just not my cuppa. I don't rate DNF books unless I get at least halfway through. Since I passed that mark, I can with a clear conscience give this book a big thumbs down.
I cannot relate to the people and world Ashley creates. Her characters are vapid, shallow, and immature at best, and cardboard cutouts and stereotypes at worst.
To any Ashley fans, I mean no offense with my words. Everybody has different tastes and that has no bearing on the kind of person one is. There are people who genuinely like Anisette liqueur and black licorice and I will never understand why. Then again, I despise mayonnaise, ketchup, and tomatoes. That's pretty weird.
I have low standards when it comes to entertainment. All I ask is that it provides me with some form of enjoyment. It need not be highbrow, popular with audiences, or critically lauded. My 2nd favorite Star Wars film is unironically "Attack of the Clones." If one looks at my GR reviews, one will find 4- or 5-star ratings for various books that the majority of readers hated.
There's no handling this with kid gloves; I hated "Rock Chick Regret." I know it's kind of stupid to jump into book 7 of a series, but I'd gotten the impression from reviews that this was the best of the bunch. If you've read the novel, you know the plot. Briefly, the daughter of a crime boss is raped and goes to the "Hot Bunch"--a security team-- for protection, especially seeking out "the guy-who could-have-been" Hector. Hector used to work for Sadie's dad and now is fiercely protective of her after her tragedy.
Yada, yada, yada, Sadie and Hector's romance unfolds as The Hot Bunch, Hector, and Sadie plan to get the bad guys.
These people are in their thirties and forties and refer to themselves as the "Rock Chicks" and "Hot Bunch." I know 30 is the new 21, and even I, at the decrepit age of 43, still enjoy a bit of a boho life. However, these adults in their 30s carry on like teenagers, posing like "cool kids," partying, and being overall vapid as can be. All they care about are clothes, and not just any clothes, but designer brands, described in painstaking detail that would have GRR Martin, or Bertrice Small (RIP) say: "Hold on, there, don't you think that's a bit too much clothes porn?"
The Rock Chicks are utter cows, the catty, cliquey types that make me happy that, other than my many sisters, my relationships with female friends are on a one-on-one basis. First, they're bitchy to Sadie, then after they find out about her tragic rape, they turn around and are suddenly BFFs for life, shouting to all and sundry about Sadie's rape.
The characters are just reduced down to superficial basics: Hector, the Hispanic hottie who calls Sadie his Mamacita (look, I'm Latina and I know that Mami & Papi are used as terms of affection between lovers, but that's always been a no-no in my family. My man is my man, not my Daddy); the gay cuddly bffs that are used as "purse puppies" to show how open and cool Sadie is (hat-tip to Ya Boi Zack for that term); cut-out villains that are evil because good is dumb; Sadie, the icy cold blonde princess, who's really not icy at all, no matter how many times we're told that; the super, awesome girlfriends; and their uber-alpha, buff, ultra-possessive men.
There's a scene where Sadie's friend Buddy introduces to her "his lesbian friend, Bex." Who does that? "Hi, this is my bi-polar friend Sal, my vegan friend Polly and my Indigenous Peoples friend Joaquin." People aren't people in this book, they're distilled to traits.
This book was so bad, it made me question myself. Was I that much of a hoity-toity snob that I couldn't appreciate a little bit of check-your-brains-at-the-door-fun-and-just-enjoy-the-ride romance? Me hoity-toity about my reading tastes? Me, the anti-censorship stalwart, the staunch defender of unPC 70's-80's bodice rippers, a reader of really, crappy Zebra, Pinnacle, and Playboy Press pulps?
Reading this book made me feel like Homer Simpson, the iconic cartoon schlub, in that episode where he moves to the boonies and the local yokels accuse him of putting on airs:
Farmer 1: Well, well. Look at the city slicker pulling up in his fancy German car.
Homer: This car was made in Guatemala.
Farmer 2: Well, pardon us, Mr. Gucci loafers.
Homer: I bought these shoes from a hobo.
Farmer 1: Well, la-de-da, Mr. Park Avenue manicure.
Homer: I'm sorry, I believe in good grooming.
There's a lot of popular stuff out there I don't like. Fortunately, those authors have legions of fans to buy their books and provide adulation, so a peon like me writing a bad review is no biggie. It's a big world with plenty of stories, and hopefully, we can all agree that while not everything is for everybody, there are somethings out there for everyone.
1 Star
It wasn't.
In vain I attempted to complete Kristeen Ashley's "Rock Chick Regret." I read as much as I could tolerate, then noped out of that book at 50%. Kristen Ashley is just not my cuppa. I don't rate DNF books unless I get at least halfway through. Since I passed that mark, I can with a clear conscience give this book a big thumbs down.
I cannot relate to the people and world Ashley creates. Her characters are vapid, shallow, and immature at best, and cardboard cutouts and stereotypes at worst.
To any Ashley fans, I mean no offense with my words. Everybody has different tastes and that has no bearing on the kind of person one is. There are people who genuinely like Anisette liqueur and black licorice and I will never understand why. Then again, I despise mayonnaise, ketchup, and tomatoes. That's pretty weird.
I have low standards when it comes to entertainment. All I ask is that it provides me with some form of enjoyment. It need not be highbrow, popular with audiences, or critically lauded. My 2nd favorite Star Wars film is unironically "Attack of the Clones." If one looks at my GR reviews, one will find 4- or 5-star ratings for various books that the majority of readers hated.
There's no handling this with kid gloves; I hated "Rock Chick Regret." I know it's kind of stupid to jump into book 7 of a series, but I'd gotten the impression from reviews that this was the best of the bunch. If you've read the novel, you know the plot. Briefly, the daughter of a crime boss is raped and goes to the "Hot Bunch"--a security team-- for protection, especially seeking out "the guy-who could-have-been" Hector. Hector used to work for Sadie's dad and now is fiercely protective of her after her tragedy.
Yada, yada, yada, Sadie and Hector's romance unfolds as The Hot Bunch, Hector, and Sadie plan to get the bad guys.
These people are in their thirties and forties and refer to themselves as the "Rock Chicks" and "Hot Bunch." I know 30 is the new 21, and even I, at the decrepit age of 43, still enjoy a bit of a boho life. However, these adults in their 30s carry on like teenagers, posing like "cool kids," partying, and being overall vapid as can be. All they care about are clothes, and not just any clothes, but designer brands, described in painstaking detail that would have GRR Martin, or Bertrice Small (RIP) say: "Hold on, there, don't you think that's a bit too much clothes porn?"
The Rock Chicks are utter cows, the catty, cliquey types that make me happy that, other than my many sisters, my relationships with female friends are on a one-on-one basis. First, they're bitchy to Sadie, then after they find out about her tragic rape, they turn around and are suddenly BFFs for life, shouting to all and sundry about Sadie's rape.
The characters are just reduced down to superficial basics: Hector, the Hispanic hottie who calls Sadie his Mamacita (look, I'm Latina and I know that Mami & Papi are used as terms of affection between lovers, but that's always been a no-no in my family. My man is my man, not my Daddy); the gay cuddly bffs that are used as "purse puppies" to show how open and cool Sadie is (hat-tip to Ya Boi Zack for that term); cut-out villains that are evil because good is dumb; Sadie, the icy cold blonde princess, who's really not icy at all, no matter how many times we're told that; the super, awesome girlfriends; and their uber-alpha, buff, ultra-possessive men.
There's a scene where Sadie's friend Buddy introduces to her "his lesbian friend, Bex." Who does that? "Hi, this is my bi-polar friend Sal, my vegan friend Polly and my Indigenous Peoples friend Joaquin." People aren't people in this book, they're distilled to traits.
This book was so bad, it made me question myself. Was I that much of a hoity-toity snob that I couldn't appreciate a little bit of check-your-brains-at-the-door-fun-and-just-enjoy-the-ride romance? Me hoity-toity about my reading tastes? Me, the anti-censorship stalwart, the staunch defender of unPC 70's-80's bodice rippers, a reader of really, crappy Zebra, Pinnacle, and Playboy Press pulps?
Reading this book made me feel like Homer Simpson, the iconic cartoon schlub, in that episode where he moves to the boonies and the local yokels accuse him of putting on airs:
Farmer 1: Well, well. Look at the city slicker pulling up in his fancy German car.
Homer: This car was made in Guatemala.
Farmer 2: Well, pardon us, Mr. Gucci loafers.
Homer: I bought these shoes from a hobo.
Farmer 1: Well, la-de-da, Mr. Park Avenue manicure.
Homer: I'm sorry, I believe in good grooming.
There's a lot of popular stuff out there I don't like. Fortunately, those authors have legions of fans to buy their books and provide adulation, so a peon like me writing a bad review is no biggie. It's a big world with plenty of stories, and hopefully, we can all agree that while not everything is for everybody, there are somethings out there for everyone.
1 Star
June 9, 2022
*Re-read again 10/15/2017 - still loved it and still cried in places. What a great 'go to' book when I just want to read something familiar and loved.
The difference with this time reading was that I did read it with the audiobook that I've had FOREVER. I wasn't a fan of audiobooks because sometimes I don't think the narrators are as great as reading the characters as how I think the characters are read in my head. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE this book, but the narrator, who was pretty good, was a little off with Hector's voice. She tried to have a slight hispanic access, which I thought fell a little flat. And in my head Hector is Mexican American meaning I think he's born here so I would think he would have a completely American accent (or as American as someone in Colorado. I'm from Chicago so we have a flat mid-western accent). I wasn't happy with that part. But I did think she did a great job when she pronounced all the spanish words. All in all (aside from Hector's accent) I really did enjoy reading and listening to this book at the same time.
____________________
This must be the 10th time I've read this book since I purchased it last October 2013. It is still my favorite Kristen Ashley book of all time. It never fails, but, again (like the 9 times before), I cried like a baby during the first two chapters. Good thing I was home sick since I was at home in bed with a big box of kleenex already next to me.
Now that her father, a crime/drug lord, is in prison Sadie can let go of the Ice Princess persona she has used to distance herself from others while living under her father's rule. She is able to walk away from her old life after the Feds seized all the assets belonging to her father and move on to a new life, namely run her art gallery named 'Art', which she kept 'clean' and separate from her father's dirty business dealings. However before she can really begin to live her new, clean life tragedy strikes. Hector is the DEA agent who took down Sadie's drug lord father. He is the typical KA uber alpha-male. However, after reading all the previous Rock Chick books you expect him to come on strong with Sadie, but he doesn't. He is patient and sweet, at least initially. I love Hector and Sadie, they are my favorite KA couple by far.
I also love Buddy and Ralphie, who are Sadie's gay roommates. Ralphie is a riot and he gave Hector his nickname 'Hispanic Hottie' which eventually shortened to 'Double H'. As for Buddy, I thought it was wonderful that KA him in the book. If you read the author's note at the beginning of the book you'll understand what I mean.
Finally, though I don't want to give it away, tattoos are HOT! I think the meaning they have in this book really struck something deep in me. I don't think I've felt that way in any other book (though in the Grabbed series by Lolita Lopez I kinda like how she describes the tattoos on the heroes).
The difference with this time reading was that I did read it with the audiobook that I've had FOREVER. I wasn't a fan of audiobooks because sometimes I don't think the narrators are as great as reading the characters as how I think the characters are read in my head. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE this book, but the narrator, who was pretty good, was a little off with Hector's voice. She tried to have a slight hispanic access, which I thought fell a little flat. And in my head Hector is Mexican American meaning I think he's born here so I would think he would have a completely American accent (or as American as someone in Colorado. I'm from Chicago so we have a flat mid-western accent). I wasn't happy with that part. But I did think she did a great job when she pronounced all the spanish words. All in all (aside from Hector's accent) I really did enjoy reading and listening to this book at the same time.
____________________
This must be the 10th time I've read this book since I purchased it last October 2013. It is still my favorite Kristen Ashley book of all time. It never fails, but, again (like the 9 times before), I cried like a baby during the first two chapters. Good thing I was home sick since I was at home in bed with a big box of kleenex already next to me.
Now that her father, a crime/drug lord, is in prison Sadie can let go of the Ice Princess persona she has used to distance herself from others while living under her father's rule. She is able to walk away from her old life after the Feds seized all the assets belonging to her father and move on to a new life, namely run her art gallery named 'Art', which she kept 'clean' and separate from her father's dirty business dealings. However before she can really begin to live her new, clean life tragedy strikes. Hector is the DEA agent who took down Sadie's drug lord father. He is the typical KA uber alpha-male. However, after reading all the previous Rock Chick books you expect him to come on strong with Sadie, but he doesn't. He is patient and sweet, at least initially. I love Hector and Sadie, they are my favorite KA couple by far.
I also love Buddy and Ralphie, who are Sadie's gay roommates. Ralphie is a riot and he gave Hector his nickname 'Hispanic Hottie' which eventually shortened to 'Double H'. As for Buddy, I thought it was wonderful that KA him in the book. If you read the author's note at the beginning of the book you'll understand what I mean.
Finally, though I don't want to give it away, tattoos are HOT! I think the meaning they have in this book really struck something deep in me. I don't think I've felt that way in any other book (though in the Grabbed series by Lolita Lopez I kinda like how she describes the tattoos on the heroes).
January 25, 2023
reread #2 (september 2020) — 4.5 stars
im just gonna say it idc but... the Rock Chicks don't deserve Sadie. she's waaayyy too good for them. oops.
RTC
* * *
original rating (may 2019) — 5+ stars
im just gonna say it idc but... the Rock Chicks don't deserve Sadie. she's waaayyy too good for them. oops.
RTC
* * *
original rating (may 2019) — 5+ stars
December 4, 2013
“I call them as I see ‘em. He’s Hispanic…” Ralphie lifted one hand and then continued, “And he’s hot.” He lifted his other hand and then shoved them together like he was squeezing an accordion. “Hence, Hispanic Hottie.”
= = > I may swear and have small spoilers! .Don’t say you weren’t warned < = =
This is how Ralphie see’s the rest of the Hot Bunch.
Hawaiian Hottie
Hispanic Hottie
Just Plain Old Hot Hottie
Alaskan Hottie
Surfer Dude Hottie
African American Hottie
Native American Hottie
(Not including Lee, Hank, Eddie, Jack)
I’ve said it before but I will say it again. KA is a G-E-N-I-U-S!
This book was fantastically written! It takes you into very dark issues, Rape, abduction, drug lords etc. The way it is written you have information to form your own idea without it being spelled out for you. It is dark enough to get the VERY Serious issues across but enough humour to know that you are reading a KA book.
Things I loved about this book - -
Hector -- **Sigh** He is literally a knight in shining armour. We not only find out the reason he left the DEA and joined Lee’s team, we fall in love with him for it. The way he takes care of Sadie is just beautiful. He is def a wildcard that I wasn’t expecting to love but I sure as hell do now! He’s an alpha like the rest of them down to the core, but he is also incredibly sweet and gentle as well.
I loved that he knew what he wanted and was a bit of a rebel. Fighting to stay in the hospital room, that it took all the boys to hold him back when Sadie went off at him and ran to her house. I just love him!
We all know that Eddie used the term “Mamita” with Jet but my heart absolutely melted when he not only used “Mamita” but also Mi Cielo mi Corazon and I got all happy and fuzzy when he finally said Y tea mo tambien, mi cielo. (I love you too my sky) The guy is just AMAZING!
Sadie - Will of Fucking Steel alright! My heart broke for her after she went through. That she had no family. No friends. She was the most vulnerable of all the rock chicks, BUT she was also the strongest in my eyes! She took what came at her. Let it affect her for a few minutes; and then BANG she bounced back. I loved that she was naive and just clueless sometimes. I loved that she loved Veronica Mars and after seeing Lottie she wanted to be a stripper. I loved that she wanted to be a rock star like Stella. That she wanted to sand Hector’s floor. That when she was kidnapped she was thinking about what colour to paint Hector’s room! In the end I just loved her. She really did make me smile and I was so happy that she now officially a rock chick! And her wedding/Christmas presents made me smile and laugh. Oh and also the way she stood up to Blanca and helped Jet out.
Daisy She really stepped up to the plate in this one. I have always loved her. And I REALLY want to know in details the story of her and Marcus (who I also love!) but when she beat the shit out of Harvey I was in Hysterics! You little fire cracker you! Even though they weren’t friends, that she was there for Sadie as soon as Marcus told her what happened!
The Rock Chicks - Hands down best bunch of chicks ever! I want to be them!
The Hot Bunch ***HUGE MO’FO SIGH** Aren’t they just the SHIT?! The way they looked after each one of the girls and also Sadie was just .. *sigh* I don’t just mean by protecting but making her one of them, the hugs, temple kisses etc.
Ralphie and Buddy The best! LOVE THEM!
Just everything!
I can’t wait to read about Ally and Ren! Especially after the end of the book where they get in an argument. What’s that all about?! Oh now to play the waiting game!
Some of my Fav parts were: (Sorry Highlighted a bit in this one! LOL)
Then before I could stop it, to my horror, I started crying.
Really! Where was my Ice Princess? Why did she come along when she wasn’t wanted and disappeared when I needed her? She was beginning to really annoy me.
When the Ice Princess didn’t show, with no other choice so he wouldn’t see me cry, I shoved my face in his neck.
He dropped to the side on his back taking me with him. He rolled us and then we were lying on the couch, me snug between the heat of him and the soft back of the couch.
One of his arms held me close at the waist; the other hand cupped the back of my head and held my face to his throat.
“Let me take care of you,” he whispered through my sobs.
“Okay,” I whispered through my sobs too, too tired to fight it anymore
…………………………………
Take hold of life and live it beautiful...
…………………………….
"And this, my loyal readers, is exactly what the entire series of 'Rock Chicks' is about, as Sadie learns in the story you are about to read. You are never alone, not when you have friends.
Learn from my stories and, through thick and thin, remember, if you have friends you are never alone". –Kristen Ashley (Authors Note)
……………………………..
"Sadie?"
"What?"
"You with me?"
I blinked in confusion and said, "Yes." And I was, wasn't I? I was standing in his arms for goodness sake.
"This is Sadie?" Hector went on.
I blinked again. "Yes."
"My Sadie?" he kept at it.
This time I blinked for a different reason.
His Sadie? Was there a Hector's Sadie? Was I Hector's Sadie? Did Hector think I was his Sadie?
Oh…my…God.
Before I could process what he said or get close to processing what that meant, I watched him smile, then he bent his head and kissed my lips.
"Yeah," he said, his face an inch away. "It's my Sadie."
………………………………..
“Well Buddy’s in the kitchen grating cheese like a grating fool. We’ve decided to do nacho’s. Ralphie’s gaze moved to Hector and he informed him, “It’s the food of your people.”
………………………………..
“Okay kids,” Ralphie said, trailing me. “Don’t be too late. Don’t do any drugs, drive smart and even if all the other kids are doing, think twice. If you’re going to be over your curfew then make sure you call your’s Daddies or we’ll get worried.”
……………………………….
“Mamita, only you can find your way. I just wanna be along for the ride.”
………………………………
“Hector? You call him Hector?”
“Well, I can hardly call out ‘Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez,’ when he makes me climax now can I?”
………………………………
“Life!” Vita exploded, making me jump. “Up and down, good and bad, birth and death, celebration and devastation. If you got any balls at all, you roll with the punches and get the fuck on with it. Pardon my French.”
…………………………….
“This is a Rock Chick Powow. The rules of a Rock Chiclk Powwow are, you gotta be a girl, a gay, Duke or Tex. No one else allowed.”
“Why are Duke and Tex allowed?”
“Who knows? Who cares? It just happened, It was organic. But now its Rock Chick Law.”
……………………………..
You been through what you been through and you’re still standin’. Lotsa women wouldn’t only bend, they’d break but you didn’t do either and you’re still standin’. You were my daughter, I’d be so fuckin’ proud, I’d shout it from the rooftops. I figure, so would your Ma. And you can take that to the fuckin’ bank!” - - - - God I love TEX! Lol
…………………………….
“Maybe I should go put on my ragged white dress and stone necklace and you can put on your leopard skin tunic and we can pedal in our stone car to the roadhouse before you go bowling with Barney and I go shopping with Betty, Fred.”
= = > I may swear and have small spoilers! .Don’t say you weren’t warned < = =
This is how Ralphie see’s the rest of the Hot Bunch.
Hawaiian Hottie
Hispanic Hottie
Just Plain Old Hot Hottie
Alaskan Hottie
Surfer Dude Hottie
African American Hottie
Native American Hottie
(Not including Lee, Hank, Eddie, Jack)
I’ve said it before but I will say it again. KA is a G-E-N-I-U-S!
This book was fantastically written! It takes you into very dark issues, Rape, abduction, drug lords etc. The way it is written you have information to form your own idea without it being spelled out for you. It is dark enough to get the VERY Serious issues across but enough humour to know that you are reading a KA book.
Things I loved about this book - -
Hector -- **Sigh** He is literally a knight in shining armour. We not only find out the reason he left the DEA and joined Lee’s team, we fall in love with him for it. The way he takes care of Sadie is just beautiful. He is def a wildcard that I wasn’t expecting to love but I sure as hell do now! He’s an alpha like the rest of them down to the core, but he is also incredibly sweet and gentle as well.
I loved that he knew what he wanted and was a bit of a rebel. Fighting to stay in the hospital room, that it took all the boys to hold him back when Sadie went off at him and ran to her house. I just love him!
We all know that Eddie used the term “Mamita” with Jet but my heart absolutely melted when he not only used “Mamita” but also Mi Cielo mi Corazon and I got all happy and fuzzy when he finally said Y tea mo tambien, mi cielo. (I love you too my sky) The guy is just AMAZING!
Sadie - Will of Fucking Steel alright! My heart broke for her after she went through. That she had no family. No friends. She was the most vulnerable of all the rock chicks, BUT she was also the strongest in my eyes! She took what came at her. Let it affect her for a few minutes; and then BANG she bounced back. I loved that she was naive and just clueless sometimes. I loved that she loved Veronica Mars and after seeing Lottie she wanted to be a stripper. I loved that she wanted to be a rock star like Stella. That she wanted to sand Hector’s floor. That when she was kidnapped she was thinking about what colour to paint Hector’s room! In the end I just loved her. She really did make me smile and I was so happy that she now officially a rock chick! And her wedding/Christmas presents made me smile and laugh. Oh and also the way she stood up to Blanca and helped Jet out.
Daisy She really stepped up to the plate in this one. I have always loved her. And I REALLY want to know in details the story of her and Marcus (who I also love!) but when she beat the shit out of Harvey I was in Hysterics! You little fire cracker you! Even though they weren’t friends, that she was there for Sadie as soon as Marcus told her what happened!
The Rock Chicks - Hands down best bunch of chicks ever! I want to be them!
The Hot Bunch ***HUGE MO’FO SIGH** Aren’t they just the SHIT?! The way they looked after each one of the girls and also Sadie was just .. *sigh* I don’t just mean by protecting but making her one of them, the hugs, temple kisses etc.
Ralphie and Buddy The best! LOVE THEM!
Just everything!
I can’t wait to read about Ally and Ren! Especially after the end of the book where they get in an argument. What’s that all about?! Oh now to play the waiting game!
Some of my Fav parts were: (Sorry Highlighted a bit in this one! LOL)
Then before I could stop it, to my horror, I started crying.
Really! Where was my Ice Princess? Why did she come along when she wasn’t wanted and disappeared when I needed her? She was beginning to really annoy me.
When the Ice Princess didn’t show, with no other choice so he wouldn’t see me cry, I shoved my face in his neck.
He dropped to the side on his back taking me with him. He rolled us and then we were lying on the couch, me snug between the heat of him and the soft back of the couch.
One of his arms held me close at the waist; the other hand cupped the back of my head and held my face to his throat.
“Let me take care of you,” he whispered through my sobs.
“Okay,” I whispered through my sobs too, too tired to fight it anymore
…………………………………
Take hold of life and live it beautiful...
…………………………….
"And this, my loyal readers, is exactly what the entire series of 'Rock Chicks' is about, as Sadie learns in the story you are about to read. You are never alone, not when you have friends.
Learn from my stories and, through thick and thin, remember, if you have friends you are never alone". –Kristen Ashley (Authors Note)
……………………………..
"Sadie?"
"What?"
"You with me?"
I blinked in confusion and said, "Yes." And I was, wasn't I? I was standing in his arms for goodness sake.
"This is Sadie?" Hector went on.
I blinked again. "Yes."
"My Sadie?" he kept at it.
This time I blinked for a different reason.
His Sadie? Was there a Hector's Sadie? Was I Hector's Sadie? Did Hector think I was his Sadie?
Oh…my…God.
Before I could process what he said or get close to processing what that meant, I watched him smile, then he bent his head and kissed my lips.
"Yeah," he said, his face an inch away. "It's my Sadie."
………………………………..
“Well Buddy’s in the kitchen grating cheese like a grating fool. We’ve decided to do nacho’s. Ralphie’s gaze moved to Hector and he informed him, “It’s the food of your people.”
………………………………..
“Okay kids,” Ralphie said, trailing me. “Don’t be too late. Don’t do any drugs, drive smart and even if all the other kids are doing, think twice. If you’re going to be over your curfew then make sure you call your’s Daddies or we’ll get worried.”
……………………………….
“Mamita, only you can find your way. I just wanna be along for the ride.”
………………………………
“Hector? You call him Hector?”
“Well, I can hardly call out ‘Agent Chavez, oo Agent Chavez,’ when he makes me climax now can I?”
………………………………
“Life!” Vita exploded, making me jump. “Up and down, good and bad, birth and death, celebration and devastation. If you got any balls at all, you roll with the punches and get the fuck on with it. Pardon my French.”
…………………………….
“This is a Rock Chick Powow. The rules of a Rock Chiclk Powwow are, you gotta be a girl, a gay, Duke or Tex. No one else allowed.”
“Why are Duke and Tex allowed?”
“Who knows? Who cares? It just happened, It was organic. But now its Rock Chick Law.”
……………………………..
You been through what you been through and you’re still standin’. Lotsa women wouldn’t only bend, they’d break but you didn’t do either and you’re still standin’. You were my daughter, I’d be so fuckin’ proud, I’d shout it from the rooftops. I figure, so would your Ma. And you can take that to the fuckin’ bank!” - - - - God I love TEX! Lol
…………………………….
“Maybe I should go put on my ragged white dress and stone necklace and you can put on your leopard skin tunic and we can pedal in our stone car to the roadhouse before you go bowling with Barney and I go shopping with Betty, Fred.”
October 25, 2014
I am DNFing this book at about 50%, not because I don't like Sadie, but because I do, and I think she deserves sooo much more than this crap. Here is my issue. Sadie goes to Lee Nightengale for help. It is difficult for her. After dismissing her concerns as irrational (just those hysterical female "vapours," folks. Nothing to REALLY worry about), she pleads with him to help her. He turns her down, because he and his manly men are too busy to help. He apparently cannot even spare 10 minutes to help her with advice, or to freaking check that the man he refers her to is in town. Hector stands by and let's this go down, without a word. He watches the woman who he apparently cares about BEG for help, and doesn't speak up.
So Sadie leaves, and that same night is attacked, beaten and raped. And low and behold, Lee Nightengale's tremendously busy schedule miraculously clears up enough that his boys can watch her 24/7 for the next month. Amazing that once her fears are legitimized, now he can spare the time, men, and resources. What does it say that we always have to wait for something bad to go down to "legitimize" a woman's worry about her safety?
Worse, it turns out Lee actually DID already know Sadie's concerns were legitimate! We learn this later. So he is an a$$hole who is really just torturing her in his office, trying to make her spit out embarrassing stuff that he already knows, when he is aware she is in danger. So, not only was he never going to help her, he has to demean her and humiliate her before he says no. Why? Because Lee is an a$$hole and one of the Rock Chicks got her feelings hurt. Oh boo freakin' hoo. I'm sure that helps Sadie sleep at night. I'm sure when she can't go back to her own home, or into an underground parking garage, or looks at the scar on her face, I'm just sure Lee's invisible and belated heroic honor and Daisy's hurt feelings make it all better.
But that is okay, Lee is in no way culpable. He is reassured about this several times by several people. "Well, you were busy, Lee, so you didn't even have time to double check a referral to protect a woman you know is a bone caught between four rabid dogs you know are crazy."
Even worse, Sadie is not allowed to be upset by this. Sadie's own justifiable anger is "disappointing" to her new roomies, so of course can't be a part of this new "good" Sadie. Good Sadie can't possibly blame Lee! Good Sadie must, in fact, forgive Lee and make him feel good about what he did. So she tells him not to feel guilty. Off the hook, Lee magnanimously promises that he will never feel guilty. Wow. How special is he?
Honestly, the rest of the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch were just as bad, and I found myself loathing them all, even ones I previously liked, for how suddenly and conveniently they all had time to care about Sadie, spend time with Sadie, bug Sadie's purse and car and gallery and living space. They all seemed so petty and judgemental. In the hospital, Ice Queen Sadie makes a comment about how Daisy and Marcus just came to gawp at how far the might have fallen. It hurts Daisy's feelings, and we are all supposed to feel bad for Daisy. I kinda thought the Ice Queen had a point, and Daisy was being a spoiled child, caring about her feelings considering what the Sadie went through, as if a few mean words said by someone else while Sadie was in proximity hurt Daisy as badly as cuts, bruises, a concussion, several broken ribs, and being raped. And how dare any of these people feel they have the right to even sit at Sadie's bedside, much less include themselves in her life and demand access to her private medical information to share with EVERYONE ELSE THEY KNOW (seriously, those at the hospital tell everyone. Friends, family, cops, strangers on the street!) At what point before they all had a reason to feel guilty did even one, even Hector, lift a single finger to help Sadie? To be blunt, which of them, besides her employee and his partner, really "help" her after that? Nothing they do does anything for Sadie.
It honestly made me sick, and I had to stop, or I couldn't ever reread previous books. It might be too late already. I am going to picture Sadie dumping all of these jerks, going to Greece, meeting a hot Greek guy who treats her well, allows her to feel angry when she deserves to feel angry, protects her, keeps her safe, and, best of all, has genuinely kind friends. I think that after what she went through, she deserves that.
So Sadie leaves, and that same night is attacked, beaten and raped. And low and behold, Lee Nightengale's tremendously busy schedule miraculously clears up enough that his boys can watch her 24/7 for the next month. Amazing that once her fears are legitimized, now he can spare the time, men, and resources. What does it say that we always have to wait for something bad to go down to "legitimize" a woman's worry about her safety?
Worse, it turns out Lee actually DID already know Sadie's concerns were legitimate! We learn this later. So he is an a$$hole who is really just torturing her in his office, trying to make her spit out embarrassing stuff that he already knows, when he is aware she is in danger. So, not only was he never going to help her, he has to demean her and humiliate her before he says no. Why? Because Lee is an a$$hole and one of the Rock Chicks got her feelings hurt. Oh boo freakin' hoo. I'm sure that helps Sadie sleep at night. I'm sure when she can't go back to her own home, or into an underground parking garage, or looks at the scar on her face, I'm just sure Lee's invisible and belated heroic honor and Daisy's hurt feelings make it all better.
But that is okay, Lee is in no way culpable. He is reassured about this several times by several people. "Well, you were busy, Lee, so you didn't even have time to double check a referral to protect a woman you know is a bone caught between four rabid dogs you know are crazy."
Even worse, Sadie is not allowed to be upset by this. Sadie's own justifiable anger is "disappointing" to her new roomies, so of course can't be a part of this new "good" Sadie. Good Sadie can't possibly blame Lee! Good Sadie must, in fact, forgive Lee and make him feel good about what he did. So she tells him not to feel guilty. Off the hook, Lee magnanimously promises that he will never feel guilty. Wow. How special is he?
Honestly, the rest of the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch were just as bad, and I found myself loathing them all, even ones I previously liked, for how suddenly and conveniently they all had time to care about Sadie, spend time with Sadie, bug Sadie's purse and car and gallery and living space. They all seemed so petty and judgemental. In the hospital, Ice Queen Sadie makes a comment about how Daisy and Marcus just came to gawp at how far the might have fallen. It hurts Daisy's feelings, and we are all supposed to feel bad for Daisy. I kinda thought the Ice Queen had a point, and Daisy was being a spoiled child, caring about her feelings considering what the Sadie went through, as if a few mean words said by someone else while Sadie was in proximity hurt Daisy as badly as cuts, bruises, a concussion, several broken ribs, and being raped. And how dare any of these people feel they have the right to even sit at Sadie's bedside, much less include themselves in her life and demand access to her private medical information to share with EVERYONE ELSE THEY KNOW (seriously, those at the hospital tell everyone. Friends, family, cops, strangers on the street!) At what point before they all had a reason to feel guilty did even one, even Hector, lift a single finger to help Sadie? To be blunt, which of them, besides her employee and his partner, really "help" her after that? Nothing they do does anything for Sadie.
It honestly made me sick, and I had to stop, or I couldn't ever reread previous books. It might be too late already. I am going to picture Sadie dumping all of these jerks, going to Greece, meeting a hot Greek guy who treats her well, allows her to feel angry when she deserves to feel angry, protects her, keeps her safe, and, best of all, has genuinely kind friends. I think that after what she went through, she deserves that.
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