Little Monster

by Emberly Wyndham

He’s a literal rock star; there’s no way he’d want a girl like me.


Loaded God Complex, an insanely popular rock band, is looking for a violinist to play on one of their tracks, and in some weird twist of reality, they pick me. I get to meet Dex Reid, LGC’s lead singer and resident playboy. He’s arrogant and talented and has women waiting in line to spread their legs for him. So why do I feel his eyes on me every time I play? And why does it feel like he wants me as bad as I want him?

Despite being aware I’m not Dex’s usual type, I can’t deny the magnetic chemistry between us. But I know the Dex isn’t the settling-down type, especially not with a girl like me. I don’t want to have my heart broken, and when it comes to love, that’s all he’s good at.

I know better than to get involved. So why can’t I stay away?

★ A spicy rock star romance featuring a sexy celebrity playboy and a socially anxious FMC. In this story, the totally average introvert is the one who lands herself a rock star. Content is for mature readers only. Preorder your copy today. ★

Genres: Romance, Music, Contemporary, Celebrity

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Hi, I’m Emberly! I write spicy romance and love getting lost in my own fictional worlds.

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Reviews

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Rock Romance

Who would have ever thought that a rock band and a concert violinist would mesh! That is exactly what happens when shy, awkward and talented Nora gets the chance of a lifetime to perform a song with popular rock band Loaded God Complex. Their lead singer, Dex is known for being a player and the bandmates and others warn Nora off from Dex. Tell that to her heart when Dex finally shows interest in Nora that helps bring her out of her shell only to rip her heart out.

What a rollercoaster ride of emotions in this tantalizing rock romance that I couldn’t put down. This book had a great support character that I’m hoping will get their own books. This was a first time for me author and I will definitely be following her from here on out.

[SassypantsReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I wish Little Monster was dual-pov! I wish we could see where Dex’s head was during everything with Nora. I did love this story, a total opposites attract, rockstar romance. I don’t think Nora’s social anxiety was handled well; it was mentioned and it was a huge part of her personality, but it wasn’t really addressed. I was hoping for more from Dex on that front, but again, maybe we would’ve had that if it was dual-pov.

I received an ARC of Little Monster from BookSirens. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Regina Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great until the end. Dude takes 3 months to figure out his feelings… and she just welcomes him back with open arms. Hell no! She should have at least joked that it might take her 3 months to figure out whether or not she wanted him back in her life. Make him sweat a little…. He really needed to work to get her back. Earn her respect and her trust. This guy has women falling at his feet. She shouldn’t just take him back so easily…. He’ll never APPRECIATE her.

And as a mother i would never help the man who broke my baby’s heart. Surprise or not, I’d have to have a talk with her to get her stance first. Maybe she was so hurt she doesn’t want him back? Maybe she’s already burned that bridge and is moving on? I wouldn’t help guy weasel his way back into her life unless i knew for sure she actually wanted him back.

Overall it feels like this book was too short. I wanted more conversation between them…. Getting to know each other. It just feels like a really quick romance without actually knowing each other.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on July 23rd called, Little Monster. The onlyyy complaint that I have about this book was that it was not long enough! The main character is Nora, a violinist with anxiety and insecurities, she is down to earth and so relatable. She gets the opportunity to play violin on a track for a super popular rock band. She meets the band, who welcome her into their group, except for the lead singer Dex, who seems arrogant, quiet, and can't stop staring at her. And then he has the nerve to tell her, "try not to fall in love with me." As she spends time with the band, she and Dex get to know each other more. They end up discovering that they have a lot in common, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. But he's a rockstar, he's not the relationship type, and she doesn't want to get her heart broken by him. Yet they just can't seem to stay away from each other. I loved this story so, so much. This was such a fun and enjoyable read! 🩶📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Little Monster, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected

Slow for me, easy read but what I don’t get is the why Dex went after Nora. What and the why of the story doesn’t make sense. It wasn’t gripping towards the end when Dex dumbed Nora for another unknown reason, but maybe he thought she wanted something from him like his mom. It just don’t hold my attention but I did finish it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a tough call, but this may be my favorite book so far by Emberly Wyndham. Although it is hard to compare, as this is an opposites attract/rock star romance, and the others I read by her were all fantasies.

I was thinking, because of the title and her past books, that this was going to be a paranormal romance, but it isn't. Little Monster is Dex's nickname for Nora.

I absolutely loved this book, and I am looking forward to reading her next book!

Thanks to booksirens for the ARC!

[Dawn 🫶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

I came here for the plot, stayed for the smut.



Honestly this book was so good, just getting to know Nora and Dex was probably my favorite part of this book.

Nora is a down to earth very relatable character that struggles with anxiety and being socially anxious. During this book we watch her not only come out of her shell but do things that old her would never have imagined. While things may not go her way all the time, she's more than willing to try new things and come into who she should be.

Dex is a rough around the edges playboy rockstar that has always been the unattainable one. A little closed off but overall very confident in the way he carries himself and gives advice to those around him. While we watch him become an even bigger rockstar throughout this book we also figure out how he came to be so closed off. Things have never gone the way Dax has wanted him to, but could Nora be the one to change that?

Their story little had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little school girl, I love Emberly Wyndaham's writing and have just become a fan for life.



Thank you BookSirens & Emberlyn Wyndham for the ARC.
This review was left voluntarily.

[Kimberly Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora is a shy, second chair violinist for the LA Orchestra. Right before a performance she was called upon to step up to fill in for first chair. As fate would have it, the manager for famous rock group Loaded God Complex attended said concert and told her that the group was looking for a violinist to perform on their upcoming track and that she would be a perfect fit. She meets the group and attracts the attention of playboy lead singer, Dex. Despite their opposite personalities, they’re drawn to each other. She allows him to be himself without expectations and he brings her out of her shell.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved how shy Nora attracted rockstar Dex and despite everyone thinking they wouldn’t work, they just do. It seems like he craves normalcy and she yearns to be brave and they give that to each other. My only note is that I think the book could have benefited from a dual-POV narrative. There are lot of moments where Nora has caught Dex staring at her and I would have loved to know his POV. Primarily, what was it about Nora that set her apart from the rest of the starlets he surrounds himself with? Once they started spending time together it made sense, but what sparked his interest in her? I also feel like the surrounding characters stories weren’t really flushed out. But despite that I thought this was a great, short read.

[Meli · Rating 2 out of 5]

has potential

Quick read. The characters need more development. I wasn’t invested in them and the immediate instalove and obsession isn’t my forte.

[Mette Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ I received this as an ARC for exchange of a honest review ✨.

4.75 ⭐️.
This was so cute. I really liked Nora and actually think she was really sweet. She seems really innocent with an inner freak. I liked her kinda nerdy sides and how it so casually makes Nora and Dex to bound over. It becomes their thing together.

I get Dex and why he is so careful (thank you Dex mother), however he is described as a fuckboy and there weren’t any time in the book where he behaved as one. But I like him and how he end up surprising Nora and win her heart.

Sebastian and Michael are sweethearts, and have totally won my heart ❤️

Thank you for letting me read this! I really, really enjoyed it and read it so so fast. Under 24 hours. I’m definitely going to look up Emberlys other books. This was my first one by her.

[Tiffany Krantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY! I'm out of my reading slump! what an adorable story filled with love and angst and of course a classic third act breakup, but my goodness did Dex come through with the "get you back!" LOVE Nora's innocence that just clashes with bad boy Dex. loved this!

[quinn h · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whirlwind rock love story blew me away. Each character introduced had depth, energy and their own voice that made falling in love with Dex and Nora easy.

Each chapter gave me something new, and Emberly Wyndham's depictions of anxiety were authentic to my own personal experience.

This was such a fun read, and every emotion painted on the pages felt real and tangible, pulling me in before I even realized what was happening.

I know I'll be going back to Little Monster again and again if only for the window scene (iykyk 😉).

Honestly I've not rated a book like this 5 stars in quite a while and I'm very impressed with both Dex's growth as a character and Nora's personal revelation in a story of this length.


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I received an Advanced Copy of this work and am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad book but I finished it feeling very underwhelmed. The ‘romance’ read quite juvenile, the characters were either bland or contradictory with little to no character development, and the plot was fairly basic. At the end of the book I still had no idea what the couple actually saw in each other beyond their superficial qualities.

** SPOILERS BELOW **

Let’s start with the characters.

Nora, the FMC, is portrayed through her inner monologue as being a socially anxious introvert. There are a couple of things that support this—her mother has to talk her into auditioning to work with the rock band, she hesitates to audition for the position of concert master because she doesn’t think she can lead the orchestra. But when it comes to her interactions with Dex, the MMC, there’s literally no sign of that.
- She agrees to go out with the band after their recording session. People she hardly knows. Barely hesitates.
- She happily dresses up in a borrowed sexy dress and is not at all self-conscious.
- She smokes a joint with Dex and grinds against him on the dance floor.
- Quite assertive during their “sexy times”.
Oh and for some reason everyone in the band loves her. No idea why.

There’s no real growth for her throughout the book. Even when she ends up auditioning for the role in the orchestra she only does so because she promised Dex she would.
The most disappointing thing about her though was that despite being a professional musician she seemed to have almost no passion for music. She decided to play violin because it’s “hard”. When she’s upset she plays video games or does yoga rather than playing music. She happily leaves her violin, her source of income locked in a car in a parking lot overnight while she goes out with the band. It was baffling.

Dex, the MMC, has virtually no personality other than having a lip ring, having lots of tattoos, having a lip ring, enjoying video games, having a lip ring, wearing sunglasses inside, having a lip ring, having commitment issues. Oh, and did I mention he has a lip ring? I want to make sure I don’t overlook that very important fact because it’s mentioned EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME he’s on the page. But yeah, that’s about all we get on Dex. Maybe some POV chapters would have helped. Or maybe if the characters actually spent more time together we could get a bit more insight.

Which brings us to the “romance”.

Beyond physical attraction, what do these 2 even see in each other? He’s a rock star so presumably would have no trouble finding a hook up. Why her? And everyone warns her against getting involved with him, when they are together she constantly thinks about not being good enough and is sure he’s not serious about her, so why is she so invested?
Not to mention, they literally have 3 ‘dates’ (one of which being a group date) before they break up. Honestly it reads more like a high school, first crush kind of romance, not an adult relationship. The break-up is ridiculous, and so is the reconciliation.

So yeah. I don’t get it.

But it is an easy read and while it's frustrating to think about how much better it could have been, it wasn't frustrating enough to make me DNF. I've already bought another book by this author so will see if that's any better, but this one doesn't inspire me to check out more of her work.

[Maddy Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora is a concert violinist, not first chair but extremely talented. She’s pretty, painfully shy and introverted. On the best night of her life she gets a call from the representative of Loaded God Complex. They need a violinist to play on one of their tracks, and they want her to go in for an audition. The lady on the phone is shocked that Nora had to actually think about it. But after speaking to her parents she accepted. Even though Loaded God Complex is not her type of music, she knows their music well from listening to the radio in her car. She also looked up the band online, there she’s bombarded with pictures of Dex. He’s the lead singer, gorgeous, sexy, and with the kind of cool you have to be born with. So on the day of the audition, she’s lost in her instrument playing the song she has to play for the audition. When she opens her eyes she sees him clapping, yes Mr Hottie looks even hotter in person. So it begins. The chemistry of these two is off the hook. I like that we don’t get Dex’s POV, we just know him. When they got together I thought my Kindle was going to explode, like a lithium battery in a Bronx apartment. These two are just so sexy and Dex is romantic in a quiet broody kind of way. I started reading this book late last night, I haven’t been able to put it down. This is the kind of story you can wait until the happy ending but at the same time, you don’t want the book to end. The ending doesn’t disappoint, I sat there with a big smile on my face.
I love every member of this band and I seriously hope the author writes about them, no pressure. I’m giving this book five stars and highly recommend it.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’m on draft five, or six, of this review. Every time I sit down to write it I don’t know where to start.

Nora is a professional violinist, playing in an orchestra, and living in LA. She has a cat. She plays video games (well, one specific video game). She has anxiety. She’s boring.

Dex is a rockstar in a band. He sings. I don’t remember if he plays guitar or not. He has tattoos. He drinks and smokes weed. He’s, believe it or not, also boring.

At this point I have to be honest and say I don’t remember most of the details of this book. I can’t tell you why they broke up or how they got back together. I can’t tell you why they liked each other.
At one point Nora says that they’re just two people who know each other’s middle names and have had sex twice. (that’s roughly paraphrased - I saw it when I was searching for a different passage to reference). And she’s absolutely right. There’s nothing beyond that. They needed to be together so they did. (To be fair Nora also argues that there’s no reason she should be so attracted to him so at least she’s also aware of how stupid this is)

In fact these two were so generic Dex could have been an investment banker, or a trust fund baby, or any other rich dude(™) and it wouldn’t have changed 99% of the story. Nora could have been a barista, or a cashier, or a receptionist (any ‘average’ person job - no shame to any of these professions) and it wouldn’t have made a difference.

For a rockstar romance there was very little rock or star.

There will be spoilers from this point on. They will not be marked. Read at your own risk.

My biggest complaint was the lack of depth for the story and huge missed opportunities.

For example, Dex is covered in tattoos. Nora often notices them and wonders about them. She tells us ‘His arms are tattooed from fingertips up, the blackword so heavily done that I can barely see his pale skin through the ink.’ Later we learn about a few of the tattoos. Some knuckle tattoos and a dragon. Here’s a description of the dragon tattoo: ‘It’s a detailed piece, and the long tail curls all the way around his forearm, where more tattoos ink his pale skin.’ We spend almost two paragraphs looking at this dragon tattoo and then that’s the description we get of it.

In this same scene (with the dragon tattoo) Nora asks Dex how many tattoos he has. He flirts with her and says maybe she can count them. I honestly thought this would come back later. This is so obvious set up for sexy foreplay. Right? Or am I crazy? Apparently I’m crazy.

More tattoo nonsense: Nora has taken off Dex’s shirt and is admiring his tattoos. Here’s how she describes them this time: ‘They’re all in black and gray, not a hint of colored ink to be found …. There’s that tattoo that curls around his collarbone and up his neck.’ It’s all so devoid of detail. This scene also leads to the first sex scene and it’s really a shame that we didn’t call back to that ‘count my tattoos’ conversation… Instead Nora licks his neck tattoo - which she wanted to do earlier when it would have been inappropriate. I guess.

Another passive with a lot of words but not a lot of substance. Nora is seeing Dex’s house for the first time: ‘The furnishings are tasteful but… sparse. There are only a few pictures on the walls, but they feel like something a designer would pick out rather than something Dex would choose for himself.’ This doesn’t mean anything. A few words of actual description. The generic ‘Monet’ reprint wasn’t Dex’s style. And the abstract blue and green paint splattered canvas coudln’t have been less Dex with his dark and moody persona (I made both of those up on the spot and they’re already more interesting that what was in the book). Maybe my issue is that I believe that you should only describe something if it has some purpose. Giving me generic descriptions of nothing doesn’t add anything to the story. I supposed we could assume a lot of things. Dex is too busy to decorate. He doesn’t care about decorating. He doesn’t plan on living there for long. He just moved in. Those are too many things to wonder about. Nora should direct us to something specific. She implies that the artwork is ‘modern minimalist ink splotches’ but it’s all too little and too pointless. Descriptions should tie into something relevant. Even just pointing out one little personal thing and how it’s so ‘Dex’ would have gone so much further than a nothing paragraph with pointless description.

I can’t really critique the story. I don’t remember the point of the story. At one point they break up but are forced back together to film a music video. It’s all angsty and immature and I kept wondering if these two were adults or highly angsty teens (if they were teens I’d be far more forgiving of the over the top dramatics and refusals to communicate - because I remember being a teen and being dramatic) but the miscommunication or lack of communicating trope is by far one of my least favorite when there’s no reason.

I will say that there really wasn’t anything glaringly wrong with the writing. The book was well edited (from what my untrained eyes could see), and the plot did move forward in a mostly cohesive way. I just never cared about Nora or her ‘drama’. I never believed that she had a reason to fall in love with Dex. I never believed that he went from a playboy with one-night stands to Nora being his end all be all. None of it rang true.

I wanted some deep, difficult conversations. Some honesty and some raw emotion. I wanted them to share painful secrets about their pasts and actually bond. I don’t even care that this was insta-love. I don’t care that Nora acted out of character around Dex (I wish we could have had more of her internal narration about it, but I don’t care that she was different around him).

I’ve been randomly poking around the book on my kindle and just found the reason for the breakup. It was literally a lack of communication with a huge scoop of miscommunication on the side. While I understand the initial shock of the information Nora learns she handles it badly. I’m not blaming her for this but they break up when they were never really together. Because we don’t have Dex’s POV we have to wait for multiple chapters for this silly drama to play out. It’s exhausting.

Anyway, I know I’m of the minority opinion for this book. Plenty of people have loved it and I hope plenty more people can love it as well. I just can’t.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Molly Persson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Monster - Emberly Wyndham
5+✨
OMG, I thought The Pureblood Daughter by Emberly was a masterpiece and did not think it could be topped. Boy was I wrong, Little Monster is in a whole new league! I read through it like my life depended on it, and could barely sleep because I had to know how it was going to end! I loved that the time when Nora and Dex were apart weren’t dragged out for chapters and chapters, because honestly my heart wouldn’t be able to handle that. Also as a music producer I have to say that I was super impressed by how well the recording sessions were described, and the tiny details like how there are many mics on the drums! It really made it feel like Emberly really took the time to research music recording! (Or maybe she is a music producer in her free time like me and I just didn’t know😉) I also loved that Nora was a gaming gal with a love for her cat, because same!
Anywho this book is a must read for EVERYONE!
🎻 Rockstar x Classical violinist romance
🎻Gaming and cat loving FMC
🎻FMC with social anxiety
🎻Contemporary romance
🎻Celebrity playboy
🎻Opposites attracts
🎻Music
🎻Spice
Little Monster will be released on July 23, so preorder it now!
Thanks to Emberly, Booksirens and Enchanted Ink Publishing for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily💕

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally don't read rock star romances, but the title of this tale grabbed me for some reason. I found Nora to be very relatable - it felt like I was reading about myself… if I knew how to play the violin (haha). Dex was moody and arrogant, but as the tale moves, you get glimpses of his vulnerability and the strain that everyone wanting a piece of him has caused. Overall, it was a great tale. It moved smoothly, had a good build up, and really likeable characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie Greenstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

10.5.25 - felt like a novella; went from meeting, to “I love him”, to a breakup in like a matter of a week. No depth. Other woman drama was a letdown.

[The Reader of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to give this book 3.75 out of 5 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love all of the books that I've read by Ms Wyndham, so when I saw that I could ARC this book, I jumped right in.

Forbidden love, celebrity and a normal person, being more to a person than meets the eye, he falls first. This book has every check on the box for me in something I enjoy, including the enjoyment of Ms. Wyndham's writing style and story telling.

Nora is a somewhat typical MFC in these type of books, shy, but needing someone to break her out of her shell. Dex is of course the typical playboy who falls for the shy violinist when he hears her play.

I enjoyed the fact that finally a violinist gets the love in a book about a musician instead of the usual guitarists or drummers and the fact that she is second chair for the orchestra she is plays for, go Nora!

Her entire life changes when the band Dex plays for wants to recruit her for their newest song. Sparks fly for Nora but she is warned to stay away from him as he is a notorious playboy and she, in her eyes, is just a nerdy gamer who plays violin and has a cat named Margot. She also has a chance to become the Concertmistress for her orchestra, if she could just get the courage to do it.

I feel I knew more about Nora than Dex, but that's understandable as this story is told from Nora's POV, I would have liked to know a bit more about Dex than he's a playboy lead vocalist for a band and a secret nerd.

The pacing for this story was alright, it just suffers from everything happening all at once, but then nothing happening at all, which I've come to expect from this writer, but I am a glutton for her stories, so I can forgive her for that.

I personally would have enjoyed a bit more of the two of them growing in their relationship before the end of the story, but as this is the first book in the series, perhaps I'll get to see more of Nora and Dex as they become a couple. I also would have liked to see Nora take on more of her responsibilities in her orchestra as she grows as a person and goes for her audition.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, hopefully I can see more of these characters and learn a bit more about the side characters, as some of them were enjoyable as always!

[Yugie Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Emberly Wyndham's work ever since I went through all four books in her Season of the Witch series. So when I spotted this book and saw that it was a contemporary rock star romance - quite different from the cozy romantasy vibe of the Season of the Witch - I wanted immediately to read it and get a feel of her contemporary romance writing. Storytelling-wise, it was just as good as I've come to expect from her other books that I've read.

I liked the heroine in this story, Nora Miller. She's a gifted concert violinist, but in spite of her enormous talent she is plagued by a strong sense of insecurity and is burdened with social anxiety. However, I liked how she was fully aware of her weaknesses, and how willing she was each time to overcome them. I think that's a special kind of courage, one I admire deeply in a person.

So with all her perceived flaws, she is thus incredulous that she has caught the attention and interest of the lead singer of an insanely successful rock band. Dex Reid. Being the normal woman that she is, she cannot help but be attracted to Dex too, especially when he treats her like she is truly someone special.

Or so she thought. This is where I then bemoaned the fact that this story uses a singular POV (that of Nora). Because it is all from her point of view, all I could see is her heartbreak and the way she alone struggled in the aftermath of what Dex did to her. I was angry at Dex's character for that, because of course I couldn't know what he'd gone through that led him to act in that awful way towards Nora. I think I would have felt even more the emotional impact of the heartbreak had both their POVs she'd light on the matter.

Lastly, I also think there should have been more groveling done by Dex once he decided to make his apologies. Given what he did to Nora, she should have made it harder for him to earn her forgiveness. Thankfully, the events that transpired after that were more than enough to make up for the inadequate groveling. So I was still a very happy reader by the end of the book.

I received a free review copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily.

[♥ WishfulMiss ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

Loved the instant connection, the bad boy/good girl MCs and the organic progression of their romance made it so easy to get sucked into Dex and Nora's story. The emotional pull was strong, the simmering chemistry 100% believable and overall this story was a total page turner.

I loved Nora, she was such a sweet heart, a nerdy, classical music, cat lover and gamer! So many surprising and endearing characteristics. Watching her grow more confident and true to herself was one of the best parts of this story.

Dex was such a mystery. But his actions spoke to the type of man he is under the fame. The way he let Nora in, showing her the real him, it was what sucked me in! As much as Nora was, I was invested in finding out what the cynical Dex was really like when he finds someone as honest and free of ulterior motives as Nora was.

This is told solely through Nora's 1st person POV and I really wish we could have gotten inside Dex's head for a few chapters. I loved Nora and I loved Dex but there definitely needed to be a little more groveling from our leading man. Nora was too easy to forgive, IMO and even though I was happy they resolve their issues and we get a beyond sweet HEA, the fact that we get a front row seat to Nora's angst and heartbreak makes me want Dex to really have to work his a$$ off to get back into her good graces again. Call me petty but if you give me angst, I want a little payback, a little revenge. A little leveling the playing field per se.

Our girl has a big heart though and she understands him on a level that not many others can so I totally get why she accepts him, flaws and all. I was happy that Nora was happy so still a very high 4.5 stars for me! I would definitely recommend as it's short but packed full of emotion and just the right amount of heat!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

SAFETY INFO:
Ages : Not disclosed but I'd guess both MCs are in their mid to late 20s.

Cheating : None.

OM/OW drama : No but our introvert heroine is targets by online bullies that rip into her looks and draw ugly and mean comparisons between her and Dex's actress ex. This creates angst for the h.

Separation : 3 months. No mention of celibacy for Dex but I want to say he stayed faithful while being equally as miserable without Nora.

Triggers, Content Warnings, Kinks & icks: Rockstar MMC, Introvert FMC, open door/explicit sex, Dom/sub vibes, some bondage, dirty talk, reformed playboy, angst, third act break up, long (months) separation, anxiety/socially awkward FFM, cyber bullying, toxic side of fame. Not enough groveling, IMO.

HEA/HFN : HEA, ends on an epilogue several months later.

[Elspeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love rock star romance books and this one had a lot of potential. It reminded me of the movie "The Cutting Edge" where a rock band chooses a professional in a different field to help them get ahead. Nora is a concert violinist who is asked by a rock band to play violin on one of their songs. She meets and is attracted to the lead singer, who is attracted to her as well.

Unfortunately Nora was just such a hesitant, zero self confidence person it made no sense that she would have gotten as far in her field as she did. She was basically second chair of the violin section for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, yet she had to be convinced to agree to audition, then agree to try out for the head of the violin section when her colleague quit, etc. She was just way too self effacing and ready to give up when so many things worked out for her. You just don't get that far without knowing your worth.

Also, Dex, the lead singer, didn't just not fight for her but kind of disappeared after she asked him about their relationship (in a really weird way too). And everyone else related to the band were very quick to throw him under the bus.

Big note - if this ends up being a series, *no one* calls California "Cali" except maybe LL Cool J in the 80s, and if you go to a restaurant in Los Angeles, there are many many vegetarian options, and no one makes fun of you for being a vegetarian. That was weird.

I received a promotional copy and giving an honest review.

[Marie A · Rating 4 out of 5]

So if you are reading the reviews, hopefully you have read the synopsis. It is exactly what it claims to be, a spicy book with a plot. While I enjoyed it (hence my rating), I would have loved to see the characters fleshed out a bit more, especially MMC, Dex and FMC, Nora.

I loved the idea of a classically trained violinist playing on a famous rock band’s song. Even more, I loved the idea that they had wanted to add strings to their songs for a while but were looking for the right person.

The nerdy, geeky side of both Nora and Dex was refreshing to see and even more I loved how Nora was interested in the little things about Dex and not his money or celebrity. The scene where she pays for groceries because he paid for dinner made me smile. The fact that it flummoxed Dex made me laugh out loud.

I also like the fact that the band and Michael’s wife, Jordan and one of the girlfriends treated her like a new friend. Protective, but helping to push her out of her comfort zone. I also loved the fact that Nora was more interested in her dog rescue than the fact that she is married to a rock star.

If you are looking for a spicy book with sweet, frustrating and WTH moments, this may just be the book for you. Either way, it’s a fun, quick read. I would like to thank the author, Emberly Wyndham and BookSirens for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

[Stacey T · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Rockstar romance between a shy, introverted violinist and the lead singer of LGC (Loaded God Complex.) Nora suffers from social anxiety and likes to plan before meeting people. She would love to be concertmistress for the Orchestra but doesn’t think she could handle the social aspect of it. Dex is the lead singer/guitarist for LGC and known for his playboy ways – what else would you expect from a rockstar? Hiring a violinist for a track on their latest album will bring these two together, but no one expected feelings to develop for them both. Will Dex finally settle down and will Nora take a chance in life and in love?
I love rockstar romances, especially when the playboy rockstar gets brought to his knees by that one unexpected woman, however, this wasn’t it. I didn’t believe in the attraction from him and hers seemed instantaneous upon meeting him. She managed to overcome her anxiety easily and he became smitten with her after a few run-ins even if he denied it to himself. No chemistry between them and a lack of interaction and playfulness led me to feeling indifferent about the story. Overall, not a great representation of a rockstar romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Allison Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dex & Nora
I think that rockstar romance has quickly become one of my favorite tropes. Little Monster had Cherry Beats vibes, which I love! Dex and Nora met by chance when she came in and played the violin for his band's new song. Dex is the frontman for a popular band while Nora is a quiet, second chair violinist for the LA orchestra. Both are incredibily talented but their lives are worlds apart. Dex finds himself drawn to Nora and is shocked to find they share a lot in common despite their obvious differences. Try as they might, they can't seem to stay away from each other. That is, until Dex has to confront his feelings and isn't ready to acknowledge how strongly he feels for her. Luckily, Nora has some self respect and doesn't beg and stick around like Dex is used to. Despite her feelings, she keeps moving forward with her life, not knowing that Dex is struggling due to what he hadn't been ready to acknowledge. Luckily, this book gets a sweet, fun HEA. While I absolutely loved Dex, I kinda felt like there should have been a little more groveling, but I'll let that go because I adored the book too much.
** My only downside is this book is not dual POV. Having Dex's POV would have been AMAZING.
Can we please get Sebastian and Lucas' books??? I need this to be a series!

[Florida Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Monster: A Rock Star Romance is my first book by Emberly Wyndham and in the first few pages I was immediately invested in the story of the rock star and the concert violinist. I felt like it was an every girls fairy tale come to life! The anxious, shy Nora who comes alive when she plays and the edgy, hardened singer and song writer for a famous rock band are thrown together in a business meeting and the attraction begins! Nora fights social anxiety and Dex distrusts most people he meets outside of his band! Both characters were interesting but I would have like a dual POV so I could have understood what was going on in his head but that is my thing and it in no way took away from the breathtaking story of their journey of self discoveries. The emotion was so pure that I was brought to tears in a few part of the story. The plot was strong but the steam was boiling!

I am new fan and will be looking to read the rest of Emberly Wyndham's rock stars stories plus her previous titles.

I received an advanced review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily based solely on my reading experience.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book about Nora, a girl who doesn’t socialise, feels inferior to everyone, unless she has her violin in her hand and is on stage, and Dex the lead singer of a well known rock band, who is adored by many.
They meet by chance, and both feel a connection, but Dex, unable to understand his feelings for he, nearly loses her. Dex seems afraid of what he feels for Nora, having never felt like this before.
Though Nora is unsure of herself in social arenas, she is strong enough to question his feelings. Dex is a strong person, a known playboy, someone unlikely to settle down, with women falling at his feet, struggles to grasp his feelings for Nora, aware that it is something he hasn’t felt before, and doesn’t know how to respond. I loved both characters, Nora especially, being a girl unlike every other he has dated. They are also both gaming nerds!.
An absolutely fabulous read,

[GrowingInTheValley (Rhiannon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by author Emberly Wyndham, and I have to say, I can't wait to read more!

I had a bit of a mixed reaction to the protagonist, Nora. Emberly portrayed Nora’s social anxiety as a major part of her personality, but I didn't get to see how it impacted her day-to-day life. There were times when Nora's actions and behaviour were at odds with the introverted, anxious persona we were initially introduced to.

These shifts in her personality and behaviour were a bit hard for me to reconcile.

The sex scenes in this book were wonderfully steamy and well-written. Emberly has a real talent for crafting intimate moments that feel authentic and passionate. I only wish we could have gotten more insight into Dex's perspective during these scenes and throughout the story - I think a dual POV would have added an extra layer of depth.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a quick-escape read featuring a concert violinist who has all the stars lined up and her dreams and goals about to be filled. Nora is a second-chair violinist, but due to an emergency, she steps into the first chair one night, only to be seen by someone looking for someone with her talent.

Loaded God Complex, a rock band currently at the top, needs to add something to one of their tracks and offers Nora the opportunity.

Dex, lead singer for Loaded God Complex, is immediately smitten with Nora, but he is a rock god and enjoys all the perks of his job.

The rollercoaster ride these two will take you on is loaded with spice and heartache. Will yours be mended by the end?

Thank you to the Author and Booksprout for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[EM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It was fast paced, there was humour and feelings and the first half or so just made made me feel happy reading it, until the angst hit, however the angst was worth it. Nora was awesome, she was not "typical" and has her challenges, but she still gets on with the rockstars, I love how most of the group and their partners were so welcoming to her. Dex too had his issues, and while there were some aspects of his character and actions that were less than becoming (for reasons), I did still really like him too.

This is my first read by Emberly Wyndham and I will definitely be reading more (and I really hope the other band members get books too).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.