You Really Got Me

Rock Star Romance #1

by Erika Kelly

The first irresistible novel in a hot new series about a rock star on his way up—and the woman he wants to take all the way…

Emmie Valencia has what it takes to be the music industry’s hottest band manager. She just needs to prove it. Determined to discover a killer new band, Emmie is ready to make her move. First stop: Austin, Texas.

As a sizzling-hot lead singer, Slater Vaughn has no trouble raising heart rates—but his band’s been flat-lining for years. When Emmie, his bandmate’s sister, crashes with them in exchange for some free management, her industry know-how lands them a spot in the biggest music festival in Texas. But it isn’t just her business acumen that catches Slater’s attention. Emmie is sexy and warm, and—for the first time in his life—he wants more.

But as irresistible as Slater is, Emmie is done with musicians. In her experience, a man can’t be a rock star and someone to trust with your heart—but Slater is determined to show her he’s both.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Music, New Adult, Musicians, Fiction

454 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

Award-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.

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Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Words later. Kisses now."

Let me tell you, that this book is really terrible. I mean, VERY TERRIBLE. The writing is just atrocious. Not the grammar or spelling - the plot and dialogue.

"Slater" Vaughn is a rock star - of sorts. The biggest college band in Texas. His band is still at that stage where they are working at Best Buy and then going to gigs - hoping for their big break.

Emmie Valencia is frustrated with her job. She's been a personal assistant to the biggest music industry head in the business for 8 years, but she wants to be more than just a glorified secretary. She wants to be a talent scout. She's only slept with one man - a rock star named Alex - and he completely broke her heart by cheating on her and saying hurtful things like

Why did she let him affect her? It wasn't like she missed him or even wanted him. He'd cheated on her.

"The sex is fine. It's just not... you're not wild, you know? You SERVICE me."

She cringed remembering his words.

"A guy wants more than that."
...

THE BAD

I don't even know where to begin on this. Okay.

Do you remember when Orlando Bloom fanfiction was flooding the Internet? Pirates of the Caribbean and LOTR had come out, and all the female (and sometimes male) fan-fiction writers started inventing these... um... unrealistic scenarios where she would meet "Orli" on a plane or at the grocery store or something, and he'd fall madly in love with her even though she was completely ordinary (but also specially perfect in every way), and all his "BFFs" from Lord of the Rings like Viggo, Eli, and Sean would become her BFFs too, and they would all go rock-climbing together in New Zealand or something? While "Orli" had tons of very romantic sex with her and made tons of flowery proclamations of love? And sometimes there was a really catty actress girl who was trying to get her "claws" in "Orli," and she was a manipulative "slut" but then in the end, "Orli" and fangirl283754 would be together 4eva?*

Um... Is there something you want to tell me about your browsing history, Carmen? I'm worried.

Nah, I'm not even attracted to Orlando Bloom. You should know by now that he's not my type. I like Jack Black circa School of Rock and The Holiday.** That is more what I want in a man. ANYWAY.

This book is exactly like Orlando Bloom fanfiction. EXACTLY. And that is a bad sign.

I've seriously never laughed so hard while reading a book that was taking itself seriously. I laughed so hard reading this that I was literally wheezing. Oh, gosh. And the author is just playing this tripe COMPLETELY straight. I kept waiting for her to be like, "wink, wink, it's all a joke" or something, but NO.

Let me give you an example of how awful this book is.

There are about a zillion times when this happens:

Emmie is insecure about something in her life. She talks to Slater about it. Slater COMPLETELY solves her insecurity and problems by spewing cliches at her and telling her stuff she should already KNOW.

Here's her insecurity about her ability to tell if a band is good or not:

"Why, are you interested in signing them?"

"Well, I don't know."

He cut her a quick look, obviously hearing the frustration in her voice.

She glanced at his profile, wondering if she could confide in him. A week ago, she wouldn't have dared. He'd been so standoffish. But now? "How do I know? I mean, how can you tell if there's potential? I just... sometimes I'm completely befuddled."

He grinned. "Befuddled?"

"Yeah. I've watched Irwin [my boss]. He gets this expression when he's hearing something good. It's how I know he's into a band. And I try hard to listen, but, I swear, I don't know what he hears."

"Stop trying to hear what he hears and just listen for yourself. It's about you responding to something in the music. Not Irwin. And that's the good news. BECAUSE it's so subjective, it means there's a band for you to discover that Irwin never would."

She smiled. "I like that. A lot." And wow, the more she thought about it, the more significant it became. She let the idea sit with her, letting it expand and push out the doubts. "You know something? You just did something huge for me. You took the focus off Irwin, off trying to please HIM, and onto the bands. Onto ME." She wanted to touch his arm, let him know how much she appreciated what he'd said, but she squeezed her hands together instead. "That's really cool."

BAM! She is instantly relieved of any insecurities or doubts about herself. *Carmen stares at the book dubiously* I kept waiting for her anxiety to crop up again, but nope! Instantly because of what he's said she's got supreme confidence now! Presto chango!

This happens SO MANY times in the book. Let's eavesdrop on this conversation Slater and Emmie have at dinner. She tells him she's writing an article for Rolling Stone.

"You're published?"

She nodded, setting the candle down. "Yeah, they've printed a few of my articles. I don't have much time to write. But sometimes an idea comes to me, and I just knock it out."

"Published in Rolling Stone? That's fucking impressive."

"Well, I'm Irwin's assistant. It gives me certain advantages."

"I didn't know you were a writer. Derek never said anything."

"Oh, no. No, no. I just write articles because... well, I have certain insights that Rolling Stone readers appreciate." She looked away, cocking her head as though she was just realizing something. "Well, yeah, I kind of am a writer. I mean, I don't write very often because I don't have time. But I keep a journal. I write articles... so, you know what? I am a writer. It's how I work out my thoughts, my issues. It's how I express myself. So yes, I'm a writer." She looked so happy, so triumphant, he had to smile. Her features turned pink.

*Carmen sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose* So... let me get this straight. She was published... in flippin' Rolling Stone magazine... multiple times... but it takes this random rock dude to be like, "You're a writer" and suddenly she's like "Wow, I am a writer!!!!!" As if a lightbulb has just gone on in her brain, or something.

This is unreal. Expect about 88 more "platitudes from Slater lead Emmie to have a huge revelation" moments. I hope you like them a lot, because they are numerous.

Skeeve

Let's talk about the skeeviness and grossness that permeates every aspect of "rock star romance." Shall we? There's a reason I avoid this little romance subgenre: it's filled with groupies, meaningless sex, drugs, alcoholism, and men who probably haven't been very vigilant about wearing condoms with the thousands of women (sometimes underage) that they've had sex with.

This book completely embraces all that, of course. It must be part of the "appeal" of the genre that I just don't get. I don't think men who blindly and mindlessly have sex with a different woman every night (or two or three) without even learning their names are glamorous. I don't think snorting coke in the back room of the studio is sexy. I don't think getting wasted and trashing hotel rooms before projectile vomiting off a balcony is hot. There's a major disconnect here for me.

Now. Please take into account that I am about as FAR away from a "groupie" as you could possibly be. I can barely remember the names of bands or song titles. I've never crushed on a famous (or not famous) musician. I've never pinned posters of bands to my walls. Even as a teenager. I've been to exactly two concerts in my life, and one was completely a miserable waste of time.

I've dated musical (not musician) guys before. The kind who strum on their guitar at parties or at the campfire. The kind who have a good singing voice but don't belong to a band. And I just DO NOT get it. I loved the men, but every time they started singing to me or playing me a song on their guitar it was like *Carmen fakes interest. Gushes politely when they are done. Prays they never do that again.* I'm just missing this "OMG drummers (or guitar-players or singers or whatever) are SO hot, rock gods, blah blah blah" gene. It goes right over my head.

This missing gene, PLUS my disdain for party-hard,-fuck-every-groupie,-leather pants just really makes this subgenre icky for me.

Angst

Another thing I should mention about this book is that it is angst-filled. Again, harkening back to my Orlando Bloom fanfic comparison. Emmie and Slater break up and reunite (usually with intense back-together sex) approximately eight thousand times in this novel. Expect tons of crying, doubting, anger, self-recrimination, and misunderstandings. Over. And over. And over.

How's the sex, Carmen?

Okay, if you are asking me about the sex scenes, there are completely underwhelming and also repetitive. In my opinion. Did NOTHING for me. The characters wait and wait to have sex. Putting it off because of extreme-angst reasons. When they finally do have sex, it is in the back seat of his car. And over in about five minutes. Are you FUCKING kidding me? Well, okay, perhaps the next time will be better. But no, the next time is giving him a blowjob while he's driving. I'm not okay with this on MANY levels. The sex never improves much. UGH.

But, we've got this other factor: Ben Wa balls.

"If you want to pleasure yourself, light a candle, lube yourself up, and figure out what gets you off." He leaned closer. "And then shove those Ben Wa balls in your pussy and walk around with them in there."

This is Slater's masturbation advice to Emmie. Who he's known for about... 3 days. It made me laugh almost hysterically. And then to make it SO MUCH more comical... Oh, gosh. Okay, the next 8 or so times he sees her, he... Let me explain.

Here is TWO PAGES LATER after telling her to use Ben Wa balls. She's just broke the news to the band that she got them this awesome gig.

They continued to talk excitedly about the gig, and Emmie turned back to the counter. Slater couldn't stop thinking about the Ben Wa balls, so he got up and stood beside her. As she sliced an avocado, he leaned over and said, "Are they inside you?"

OMG. I expected her to slap him. I expected her to look at him like he was the biggest perv ever and explain calmly that, "No, you sicko, I'm just excited about the band's news." But INSTEAD, she's like

She nodded, rolling her eyes with the lustiest expression he'd ever seen. She blew out a slow breath. A rush of desire tore through him, powering through his dick, making his legs go weak and his mind bob in a sea of lust. Right then, right beside him, she was slick and aroused, practically squirming against the counter, and he could imagine what it would feel like to slide inside of her.

"Oh, my God," she whispered, opening her mouth wide, her eyes rolling back in her head.

I'm just expecting for the author to make a joke. Surely this is leading up to a joke, right? She's pulling his leg. She's - any second now - going to whack his arm, laugh, and tell him he's too easy. Right? RIGHT?

No. Apparently she DOES have the balls inside her, she IS totally comfortable telling her new rock god friend all the details, and you know, she's doing all this while SLICING AVOCADO for the SIX MEN who she LIVES WITH AND WHO ARE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH HER. One of whom is her older brother. What. WHAT. I mean, what??!!?

I honestly have to tell you that I laughed for a good solid two or three minutes after this scene alone. OMGosh, I thought I was going to rupture something.

And it gets worse, because Skeever here asks her "if the balls are inside her" the next 6 or 7 times he sees her. When she's washing dishes. When she's sitting at the computer. He's just obsessed with the idea and feels perfectly comfortable bringing it up to her EVERY flippin' time he sees her.

I'm sorry, this is NOT sexy. It is like the opposite of sexy. It is so skeevy and gross. Please no. Do not want. So she has some sex toys. So she uses them. How is when or where she uses them ANY of this fucker's business? It's not. Fucking pervert. Gross. Did I mention they haven't even known each other for a week at this point? I did? Great.

What else?

Oh, yeah, the heroine refers to the hero's penis as "his private parts."

*Carmen dies laughing*


Slut-Shaming.

Look at this:

She closed her eyes, remembering the icy sensation coursing through her when she'd read those messages. Four of them. She could still see the girls' profile pictures - so slutty. So unlike Emmie.

She's not a slut like those OTHER girls! When she sleeps with rock stars, it's true love, okay?!!?!?

Heroine

She snoops around in her boyfriend's e-mail and Facebook. She is very insecure and whiny. When she finally does get Slater as a lover halfway through the book, she spends the next half of the book pushing him away "for his own good" and insisting that "she can't love him" etc. She shoots herself in the foot (metaphorically) about ten or twelve times. She invents her own problems and she loves and craves drama.

Hero

When Emmie tearfully confesses to him that she caught her ex-boyfriend naked with two groupies, Mr. Sensitive over here exclaims,

"That's so fucking hot."

Wow. Great. Where can I get one of these men, sign me up! <--- sarcasm.

I already told you he's a pervert.

He goes into her room and reads her private notes.

He acts snarly, standoffish and angry with her all the time to "hide his attraction" from her. He gropes other women in front of her.

He's an inconsiderate man-child who apparently had NO sexual or romantic development past age 15.

"It's three in the afternoon. Why aren't you dressed?" If he didn't know her better, he'd think going without a bra and wearing those thin little pajama shorts were a ploy to get her to throw her down and fuck her senseless.

"What do you care what I wear? Besides, I've been writing all day. I'm on a roll."

SEE? She didn't have it in her to manipulate a guy.

You know, women are manipulative. Women who are not completely covered in layers are just begging to be thrown down and fucked. WTF?!?!!?!?

What about this crisis of the faith he has when she fails to drool over his shirtless state:

Only when he returned did he realize he was wearing gym shorts and nothing else. He smiled. "I think we're becoming too comfortable with each other."

She cocked her head. She didn't get it. Way to hit him where it hurt. Did she not notice he wore no shirt? Onstage, the chicks loved it.

"Duh, the "chicks" love when I take my shirt off onstage! How come this woman isn't falling to her knees and offering to suck me off when I take my shirt off in front of her! What if she doesn't think I'm hot?!?!!?!?!?!!? *Slater's head explodes from this thought* *he dies* *end of novel*
...

THE GOOD

Let me end on a positive note. There were some sweet scenes in the novel. *scans notes* Two. Two sweet parts.

1.) He sighed. "Okay, here's my list of things to worry about before [evil catty sexy rival]. Ready?"

Her smile was tentative, wary.

"One, a zombie apocalypse. Two, a land shark attack. And, three, incurable boils." He reached for her hand. "Do I need to go on? Because I can. And I still won't get to [evil catty sexy rival]."


2.) He couldn't take it anymore. He unbuttoned the top of her jeans, unzipped them, and then tore them off her body. He pulled back, taking in her black lace thong. "What the fuck is this?"

"A going-away present."

"But you hate these things."

"Yeah, but you don't."

Hooking a finger in either side, he knelt as he eased them down her legs, licking her inner thighs. She shuddered, her legs trembling. He balled the thong in his fist and stuffed it in the wastebasket. "I don't need to see you in shit like that unless they make YOU feel good. I just want you."

Aw, that was sweetness. <3
...




Tl;dr - I do not have the space in this review to list all the problems with this book. On the plus side, I probably haven't laughed so hard in years. YEARS. Do not read this unless you are going to do so ironically and snarkily. If you're doing it sincerely you are going to be extremely disappointed. I've never seen such stilted, inorganic and trite dialogue in my life a long time. I can't tell you how much of my notes consisted of:

Page 91: This page is very stupid.

Save yourself.



*Not dissing fanfiction, there's some amazing stuff out there - even in the "Oh, Orli!" genre. ;) Not trying to hate on anyone here.

Here's an Orlando Bloom FanFic link that surprisingly still works:

http://www.theorlandobloomfiles.com/b...

**JACK BLACK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBjRzn... - *swoon* OMG he is so attractive here. Why did they not let him have any sexy scenes in this film?!!?!? WHY?!?!!? Scumbag dirtbag skeever Jude Law got to have sex scenes!!!!! I was so heartbroken and disappointed. :( I wanted more Jack-Black-kissing and much less Skeevy-McSkeeverson-kissing. Ew, Jude Law. Ew. Scumbag.

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She’s not a girlfriend. She’s my fucking heart.”


HOLY SEXUAL TENSION!! We have a new book boyfriend and we’re already predicting it’s going to take a lot to beat him this year! Yep, we fell HARD for Slater Vaughn and You Really Got Me. Did we mention our new book boyfriend is a soulful and sensual rock star? Yup…he is!


“I’m fucking crazy about you.”
“You are?”
“I am.”


We loved everything about this story; from the love of music that shone through every page to the passion and emotion it elicited. Music themed romances are our weakness and Erika Kelly left us breathless with the way in which she captured Slaters stage presence so perfectly. She made us feel every moment of Slater’s caresses right along with Emmie as though we were in her shoes. Our hearts were fully captured never to be let go.


‘He didn’t just sing. He sang to someone.’


Emmie Valencia has the music business in her blood. Working as a PA for Irwin, Head of Amoeba Records, Emmie’s at a crossroads in her life. She’s feeling a lack of confidence and satisfaction in her personal and professional life; in other words Emmie is lost looking for that big break. She’s excellent at her job and that’s the crux of the problem. She craves a promotion for personal reasons that have followed her through life, but her boss is hesitant to let her out of his clutches though Irwin has his reasons. We completely felt the dilemma this girl went through and as we learnt of her relationship with her parents we truly felt for her.


Taking a time out to in Austin visiting her brother Derek, Emmie tries to find herself. She needs to decide what she wants out of life and it’s here that powerful moment happens; she meets Slater Vaughn the lead singer in her brothers up and coming band, Snatch. The connection between Emmie and Slater was incredibly powerful. It had everything that makes the reader feel and experience along with the characters. It was absolutely beautiful! If it’s possible to feel jealous of a heroine…well this is it, because wow!


“I want the part you don’t want to give.”


As for Slater; oh wow, our book heroes do not get any better than this. Slater has an incredible soul which he transfers into lyrics on notepaper. He then caresses his audience with these words, bringing sensuality to his music that literally leaps off the pages giving us goose bumps as we experience firsthand the intensity of his performance. Whilst Slater appeared cocky and somewhat arrogant, there was an intense vulnerability and powerful beauty to this man which touched our hearts. He was soulful, surprisingly honest, and says what he feels, screw the consequences. If ever there was a candidate for the saying; he wears his heart on his sleeve then it’s this guy. Such a beautiful sexy man with a romantic heart that had us in puddles on the floor throughout the story.


“I want you to own me. I want you to fucking possess me. “


Emmie and Slater’s relationship was a slow build and for that we were really grateful as it gave us a chance to firstly enjoy the banter and lightness of a friendship, all the while gripping our Kindles over the sexual tension that rippled through every page. We were left in a constant state of exhaustion wanting these two to act on their feelings. Well, it was truly worth the wait because the resulting passion between Emmie and Slater set our kindles and hearts on fire! WOW!!!!


“Sex is naughty, Emmie. It’s hot and filthy, and it drives you wild. It makes you literally lose your mind. There’s nothing fun about it. Sex is raw, sweaty, and dirty.”
She contemplated his words. “Then I’ve never had sex at all.”


This was a straight out winner for us and we can’t wait for MORE! Though the next book follows a different character we’re desperately hoping we get more Emmie and Slater down the track because we feel as though we’ve only just experienced the beginning of their sometimes rocky relationship and we’re hungry for more.


We have this bond this connection, that I can’t fucking explain, but it’s’ there and it’s perfect and I want it, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to live without it.”


We loved the passion, the emotion, the journey into the music world and we loved the relationship between Emmie and Slater, and the other band members. WE LOVED SLATER. WE LOVED THIS BOOK!!


ARC Copy provided, with thanks, by Berkley/Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.






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[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She’s not a girlfriend. She’s my fucking heart.”

HOLY SEXUAL TENSION!! We have a new book boyfriend and we’re already predicting it’s going to take a lot to beat him this year! Yep, we fell HARD for Slater Vaughn and You Really Got Me. Did we mention our new book boyfriend is a soulful and sensual rock star? Yup…he is!

“I’m fucking crazy about you.”
“You are?”
“I am.”

We loved everything about this story; from the love of music that shone through every page to the passion and emotion it elicited. Music themed romances are our weakness and Erika Kelly left us breathless with the way in which she captured Slaters stage presence so perfectly. She made us feel every moment of Slater’s caresses right along with Emmie as though we were in her shoes. Our hearts were fully captured never to be let go.

‘He didn’t just sing. He sang to someone.’

Emmie Valencia has the music business in her blood. Working as a PA for Irwin, Head of Amoeba Records, Emmie’s at a crossroads in her life. She’s feeling a lack of confidence and satisfaction in her personal and professional life; in other words Emmie is lost looking for that big break. She’s excellent at her job and that’s the crux of the problem. She craves a promotion for personal reasons that have followed her through life, but her boss is hesitant to let her out of his clutches though Irwin has his reasons. We completely felt the dilemma this girl went through and as we learnt of her relationship with her parents we truly felt for her.

Taking a time out to in Austin visiting her brother Derek, Emmie tries to find herself. She needs to decide what she wants out of life and it’s here that powerful moment happens; she meets Slater Vaughn the lead singer in her brothers up and coming band, Snatch. The connection between Emmie and Slater was incredibly powerful. It had everything that makes the reader feel and experience along with the characters. It was absolutely beautiful! If it’s possible to feel jealous of a heroine…well this is it, because wow!

“I want the part you don’t want to give.”

As for Slater; oh wow, our book heroes do not get any better than this. Slater has an incredible soul which he transfers into lyrics on notepaper. He then caresses his audience with these words, bringing sensuality to his music that literally leaps off the pages giving us goose bumps as we experience firsthand the intensity of his performance. Whilst Slater appeared cocky and somewhat arrogant, there was an intense vulnerability and powerful beauty to this man which touched our hearts. He was soulful, surprisingly honest, and says what he feels, screw the consequences. If ever there was a candidate for the saying; he wears his heart on his sleeve then it’s this guy. Such a beautiful sexy man with a romantic heart that had us in puddles on the floor throughout the story.

“I want you to own me. I want you to fucking possess me. “

Emmie and Slater’s relationship was a slow build and for that we were really grateful as it gave us a chance to firstly enjoy the banter and lightness of a friendship, all the while gripping our Kindles over the sexual tension that rippled through every page. We were left in a constant state of exhaustion wanting these two to act on their feelings. Well, it was truly worth the wait because the resulting passion between Emmie and Slater set our kindles and hearts on fire! WOW!!!!

“Sex is naughty, Emmie. It’s hot and filthy, and it drives you wild. It makes you literally lose your mind. There’s nothing fun about it. Sex is raw, sweaty, and dirty.”
She contemplated his words. “Then I’ve never had sex at all.”

This was a straight out winner for us and we can’t wait for MORE! Though the next book follows a different character we’re desperately hoping we get more Emmie and Slater down the track because we feel as though we’ve only just experienced the beginning of their sometimes rocky relationship and we’re hungry for more.

"We have this bond this connection, that I can’t fucking explain, but it’s’ there and it’s perfect and I want it, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to live without it.”

We loved the passion, the emotion, the journey into the music world and we loved the relationship between Emmie and Slater, and the other band members. WE LOVED SLATER. WE LOVED THIS BOOK!!

ARC Copy provided, with thanks, by Berkley/Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.




✦✦< TB Blog :TotallybookedBlog
✦✦✦ Come say Hi : TB on Facebook
✦✦✦Follow us: TB on Twitter
✦✦✦Check out: TB on Pinterest
✦✦✦ We're on TSU: TB on TSU

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've made a huge mistake.

I have no excuses. Carmen's Review was RIGHT there with one star.

But instead, I read like 75% of this book. It starts out like this:

25 year old heroine thinks she's paid her dues in the music biz. Old legendary boss wants to keep her as assistant despite her 8 year tenure. She takes a break. Heads to Austin. Shacks down with elder brother, Derek.

Is immediately led around by her sexual desire and her recent break up of 3 years with rocker Alex, who obviously misses her despite cheating on her once he hit it big. WILL do anything to avoid falling for Slater. (Plot twist: he's the hero)

So, yeah, insert every rock star stereotype here. I don't really mind that, to be honest cause this is why I read rock star romance from time to time. I like tight jeans and sexy voices. I like sweaty long hair and stage presence. I have no-NONE-musical skillz. I like the fantasy.

I do not like one-dimensional characters. Poor Emmie. She's on her path to sexual discovery to be told how it is by Slater. Everyone loves a little mansplaining. (I actually don't think her plan to discover herself was a BAD one. It starts with you, after all. Slater thought it was silly and just told her if the chemistry was there it should work. And that she's hot enough.)

Apparently, also, Emmie is the house mom b/c none of these late 20 year olds can care for themselves by picking up milk or cheese. These were actual things in the book. Which means I really hope they make it big because obviously they might starve if they don't have a mother figure otherwise.

Emmie's still trying to bust into the music scene to sign the next big thing, and gets tips from SLATER to become successful. Man, this hero is a jack of all trades--especially that one where you tell women how to best do everything.

I kept reading. There was some more insecurity, but honestly where I can't anymore is the righteous rockstar. He's boring. She's boring, to the point she never talks with anyone or thinks about anything but Slater, so she sucks, she has a friend, but they only talk about the hot guys in the band....

I should've resorted to rereading (or moving on in the series) Most Eligible Billionaire, or at the very least realized that 30% into the book there's never been an actual non-sex-related conversation.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title:You Really Got Me
Series:Rock Star Romance #1
Author:Erika Kelly
Release date: January 6, 2015
Rating:3 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA: Yes



I don't know if the shine is starting to rub off of the Rockstar romance veneer or what, but I've been finding it very hard to drum up much enthusiasm for this genre lately. I mean, there have been a few exceptions, but I'm just not having a whole lot of luck. The more I read, the more I need something that is going to bring something fresh and unpredictable to the table.



Because reading about the same old bad boy musician turned romantic fool because of the sweet, good girl heroine isn't doing much for me anymore it seems. I'm sure a lot of others would find this plot sexy and somewhat angsty, but personally, I was left needing a little bit more.

Emmie is trying to move her career in the music industry from a big shot's personal assistant to someone who works directly with the artistic talent day to day. But to do that, she needs her boss to see her as someone capable of that and after 8 years in his employ, he's not showing signs of wanting to promote her. Emmie takes a 4 week leave of absence to prove herself to him by finding some talent. She takes off to stay with her brother and his band and when she comes face to face with the lead singer, Slater, she's stunned by his charisma and talent. She's very much attracted to him, but puts him in the friend-zone.



After being cheated on by her ex (also a musician) she's determined to stay far away from anyone in a band. And her main focus is furthering her career-he's not a distraction she can afford.

I had an extremely hard time getting into this story in the first half. To me, it felt like it was dragging at a snail's pace and I tried to pinpoint the source of that. It could be because I just wasn't feeling the chemistry over our MC's. So much of the plot revolved around the heroine's talent search and finding her inner sex kitten.



The hero was very stand-off-ish and viewed her as a plain jane good girl. Then it seemed like once he decided to pursue her, it was like a switch flipped. He was so intensely obsessed with her and determined to make her pursue a real relationship with him. Yes, it was hot and passionate. There were actually some pretty intense moments when they succumbed to their desires. And that's what bumped up my rating some. Because once they really connected, everything kicked into overdrive.

What I didn't like was the unneeded drama with the singer who wanted into Slater's pants, manipulate everyone, and break him and Emmy up. Let me tell you, she got tiresome real fast.



Her meddling and scheming played on Emmy's insecurities and predictably drove a wedge between them. I wasn't surprised when the big bombshell hit, just resigned.

While the book ended on a higher note for me, overall, there were too many plot points that didn't leave much to anticipate or question. You Really Got Me has a decent amount of steam, a low level of angst, and takes you on a colorful trip through the music world. You go backstage and on tour with the band and each character, including the supporting characters had their own fleshed out story. If you're just looking for a light and easy read, this could be the one for you.

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[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 You Got Me Stars

Emmie wants to discover bands and launch them, but as an assistant to the biggest music manager she isn’t going anywhere in her career. She takes a risk and decides to branch away from her boss and try to launch her brother’s band.

The band currently lives together in a house. Since Emmie is really serious about launching them, she moves in with them. Talk about a hot book right? One girl and a group of guys?! Yes please. Most of them treat Emmie as a sister and Emmie’s brother forces everyone in the band to promise no one will go after Emmie.

Emmie has no desire to form a relationship with any band member. After catching her ex cheating on the road during a tour, she doesn’t want to date a musician again. She believes they can never be faithful.

Slater Vaughn is the lead singer, he’s attractive, a player and loves the single life. He loves to sing and his dream is to get signed on. He knows Emmie is off limits, but it makes it difficult for him leave her alone when she is only a few doors down from his room.

I love the summary. I loved that Emmie is this tough and driven girl. It takes guts to leave your current job and to go after your dream. I also love that she is launching her brother’s band, so there is some history there and it really makes the book flow.

Slater and Emmie have great banter. Slater is super attractive to Emmie and wants to sleep with her, but knows he can’t. Emmie is super attractive to Slater, but she doesn’t want to date another musician. I get Emmie’s issues against dating rockers, but at times she does get a little bit frustrating.

The book is mainly about the guys trying to get signed on while Emmie and Slater figure out the relationship.

She pushes Slater away a lot and then it kind of forces Slater pull back and retreat. Slater does try hard to stay on the good path and it’s very adorable. You feel for him and you want him to break down Emmie’s walls. There’s a healthy amount of tug and pull between the two. I wished the novel focused a little more on the guys touring, but overall it was an easy read.

If you are a book rocker fan that likes a mild touch of angst, then this is for you.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

AMAZON

**Paperback giveaway will be posted on my Facebook page on 2/7/2015

[~Kristin~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
LOVED THIS BOOK!


It is difficult to write a book about rock stars or and group of guys, who are struggling and on the verge, with out it being same old same old...because it has been done a lot. This story was not the every day rock star story, it completely grabbed ahold of me and sucked me into its world. I don't want to give the story away but I will say I absolutely enjoyed this and can not wait to read the next book by this author.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I luuuurved it! 1] Sexy rocker that'll make you pant 2] determined heroine that's trying to figure life out 3] great band to back them up 4] music you could practically feel coming off the pages 5] some panty melting love scenes featuring sexy rocker that'll make you pant from #1. Sweet Mary. Yes. He is a threat to panties everywhere. Lordy be! You Really Got Me was fabulous!

Alright the quick of it is that Emmie is at a dead end with her current job so she's taken off to prove herself to her current boss by finding a new band to sign to his record label which'll force him to realize she's finally ready for the next level of things. So she lands in Austin to scope out the music scene and hang with her brother helping his band in exchange for a place to stay for a few weeks. She's just gotta keep her eye on the prize and not the sexy as sin lead singer...

So. Slater. Lead singer. Playboy. And one I would do some oh so naughty things for. To. With. Whateves. lol  He's tasty! He's got that whole bad boy rep going  but he's so much more than that and gah this guy. The things he says. The things he does. Totally undid me.

And Emmie. She's been hurt by musicians all her life including her ex who did a number on her confidence and she's wanting to explore her sexy side now and gonna do her damndest to avoid all musical types including the singer that's staring in ALL of her fantasies. She's a bit damaged and hell bent on proving herself. I did love her determination (even if it held her up in some ways). She's an organizer and makes things happen and is just sweet and honest and impossible not to like (even when you want to give her a wake up shake).

The two together were really rather perfect if they didn't let themselves get in the way of things. They had a comfortable chemistry that could be so sweet and light then turn incredibly passionate and deep. It was wonderful watching them become friends and fall for each other. Even with the bumps in the road they hit. And omg they hit some doozies. I was ready to quit at chapter 14 when they finally got together because there were still like 160 pages to go and I just knew it was going to be a rough ride for them and damn me it was. They broke my heart a bit watching them struggle with life changes and insecurity and separation. But it was well worth the heartache in the end.

You Really Got Me was just a fabulous start to a new series. You could feel the passion, excitement, energy flowing off the pages and damn but it made me want to jump right in and join in the experience. It's a great group of musicians and I really can't wait to see how their stories all turn out. It'll definitely be an interesting ride. Of that I'm certain.

[Julie Mulhern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to read an ARC of You Really Got Me. Fair notice, I am not a lover of contemporary romance. That said, I loved this book.

You Really Got Me gave me an uncompromising, fascinating view into the music industry. Better than that, Slater and Emmie's story felt real and moving and utterly romantic.

Slater, the rock star, has been struggling to make it in the music industry but he's still playing the college circuit.

Emmie has big dreams but she's stuck in a fabulous job that has no future. The daughter of a selfish musician, she's dated selfish musicians - she wants nothing to do with them. Until she meets Slater...handsome, groupie-bait, compelling...he's exactly what she doesn't want in a man.

As Emmie and Slater find their way to love, they are waylayed by manipulative divas and their own insecurities.

Real characters finding their way in a real world I knew nothing about. Loved every word.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was surprisingly really good with some unique (ish) characterisation, especially the heroine who I actually liked. Huh, imagine that...

Nice open set up with oodles of potential for originality and intense sexual chemistry kept me clicking through the chapters like a woman possessed. These two were quite electric there up until roughly halfway through, maybe a bit before. All my sizzling expectations and eager compulsion evaporated in the wake of predictable scenes and situations. The heroines insecurities are magnified and exaggerated beyond the eye rolling point and into the growly-grind-ya-teeth territory. The hero - obvs hot and gorgeous man-whore - turns into a vulnerable simpering needy whimp ... aaaand the plot reveals like ALL the other rock star books.

Bleh, I got bored .... but I guess it was okay, overall. What a shame ...

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Beverly Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

He played with his phone, bringing up the original text. “If you love something, set it free?” He moved in menacingly. “I don’t want you to set me free. I want you to own me. I want you to fucking possess me. How do you not understand what I want? How the fuck did anything I say or do in the past twenty-four hours lead you to believe I wanted my freedom”

Oh my Heart! I loved this story! It definitely was a good rockstar romance story! It had everything. The Hot as Hell rockstar and don't forget manwhore. The girl with a low self-confidence all because of his Ex ( Yes the Ex was a rockstar ). The sexual tension because the girl our hot rockstar wants is off limits ( she is his bandmate's sister ) and we have angst.



The characters are really funny and lovable. Our main characters are adorable. Slater is hot, sweet and sexy. Emmie is just your girl next door.


Erika Kelly wrote a great story and I can't wait to read Derek's story!

He pulled out his phone and texted her.
Tell umbrella man your boyfriend’s coming to get you”

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! It was fantastic! A wonderful story with these great characters filled with so much passion. It was just an exciting read!

Emmie and Slater were excellent characters. Emmie Valencia, this girl. Wanting so much but having so many insecurities, trying to be strong and push through them. She's so sweet and smart, just a normal girl. I totally got her and understood her. Sometimes I wanted to shake her and say "you got this" but I could totally relate to why she held back at times. Slater Vaughn, this man. Oh goodness, he was fantastic. Talented, sexy, protective, and sweet. There were moments where Slater really showed how vulnerable he was and it made my heart melt. I loved the fact that this is from both of their POV’s, that’s one of my favorite things.

I love how Emmie and Slater were friends first and their relationship really grew and evolved from there. I could feel the build between them, it was so great to get all those different levels of emotion from them while they were fighting their feelings. It was a steady build that really grew and developed and it was timed perfectly. I kept getting tingly feelings in my body and my stomach flipped while reading because I could feel their connection. Together they had this undeniable passion that built and built and then bam! combustible! I loved their hotness together, just the perfect amount.

I was excited learning all the details and how things developed, I was hooked from the beginning! Besides Emmie and Slater, there was also the story about the band. I really liked all the guys and getting to know them. I loved the connection that Emmie had with her brother Derek and I’m excited that the next story is about him. I was into everything that was happening with the band and and the conflicts involved. Besides the passion, there was a lot of anxiety and tension. I got stressed out on more than one occasion. Not a fan of Piper Lee but she was a definitely a well written bad guy.

This was just a full wonderful story that was full of passion, had really good development, and awesome characters. Loved it!

[Downward dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

I received a copy of this book to write an honest review for Cocktails and Books.

YOU REALLY GOT ME is an enthralling story about a band on the cusp of success. Slater Vaughn is the lead singer for the country/rock band Snatch. He’s a handsome multi talented singer and songwriter with incredible stage presence, soulful eyes and women constantly falling all over him. Emmie Valencia has worked in the music business for years helping artists pursue their dreams and she is now helping Slater and his band. Emmie has many connections in the business and she instinctively knows what steps to take to take Snatch to the next level and achieve the success they are looking for. Emmie’ is also ready for some changes in her own life, but is apprehensive and isn’t exactly sure what she wants. She loves working in the crazy cut throat music business, but she will never get personally involved with musicians, because they only break your heart.
This is a fascinating story with well developed characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat and managed to hit all my emotions. Slater is a sex god, but as the story develops, we learn he has many facets to his personality. Behind his façade he’s a warm, sensitive, caring guy who happens to be very talented. He helps Emmie with her self esteem issues and as she gains back her confidence, a friendship develops between them, but they are both afraid of relationships. I cared about Slater and Emmie and wanted them to work through their problems, because whenever Slater and Emmie are in the same room together, there’s a lot of heat between them.

[Tracie Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!!! Awesome characters, angst like crazy and fantastic dialogue. Perfect rockstar book

[Bonnie-Anne Carmichael (Love Triangles Are Fucking Stupid.) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't usually mark the books I don't finish, because I don't finish A LOT of books. Sometimes because I'm hating the book, sometimes I'm just not feeling it at the moment but I might go back to it at some point, and sometimes I'm not liking the book for really stupid personal reasons. So I usually just move on to the next book and try to forget what I've just read.

I need to shelve this book though.

I've been in a major book funk lately and I've DNF so many books that I'm at my wits end. So even when the hero and heroine and the whole book was annoying the hell out of me I was determined to keep reading. It was a pretty long book, tooooooo long man, so I kept thinking it might get better.

It did kinda get better at one point when the hero grew some balls and decided that he did want to have a relationship with the heroine he really liked and became obsessed with her. I enjoyed some of that part a wee bit. But then that started annoying me too because I was like, when did he suddenly decide he wanted a relationship with her when he was too wimpy for one before? Then he kept getting annoyed that she didn't trust him straightaway and I was like hello? You did just tell her that you weren't a relationship man, what else is she meant to think? Just because you suddenly change your mind she is supposed to keep up? Come on. Here are some "lovely" hero quotes before the obsession starts...

When he tries to stop her from going on a date,

"'Why, Slater? Are you gonna to date me?' He took a step back, looking wounded and a little scared."

Don't worry about him feeling wounded he let some groupies rub up against him and necked them a little in revenge for her actually going on the date after his wonderful effort to stop it.

When they have a mini hookup,

"'While I do, on some level, like your vision of sharing my life with a girl in a cottage on the lake, it's not something I would even contemplate for years. Because I'm going to become the rock legend my dad groomed me to be. I'm going to play stadiums, tour the world, make acceptances, and give interviews. And nothing - not even a pretty, sexy girl who tempts me like no one else ever has - is going to sway me.'"

And he wonders why she doesn't suddenly believe his change of heart?!

And now my favourite folks, she tells him about how her arse of an ex kept cheating on her and how she found out and he just keeps constantly asking her to get to the wicked sex details. He did try and convince her that her ex was the problem and not her but when she tells him that she walked in on her ex having a threesome with twins his reply is,

"'That's hot.'"

As I write this, I have no idea how I made it to 62%. What the hell kind of response is that???

I'm about to be hypocritical here because I was annoyed that he was annoyed that she didn't trust him but geezo that did irritate me too sometimes. The thing is, I totally got all her trust issues BUT she was just too over the top with them. I understand not fully trusting him but when you see him meet the pretty singer you set him and his band up to support on tour for the first time and in your head you think about how perfect they are together and that they are soul mates, then you girl, are nuts. She constantly kept saying in her head that him and this lassie were soul mates. For NO reason. I'll admit that he gave her reason to believe he wouldn't want to stay in a relationship with her but he didn't really give her any reason to think he would cheat on her. I understood why she felt the way she did but the whole "soul mate" thing was just proper crazy!

Oh, that pretty singer? Yeah she totally has the hots for him and basically has that ever popular sign saying "I'm the villainous girl" above her head. So it's so obvious there is gonna be drama there and honestly I just don't have the patience for that.

Also he hasn't slept with anyone since like the second time he met her which was only a couple of weeks before the first time they have sex. Guess what? They don't use a condom because he has been tested and is clean! I'm sorry but that just stretches the imagination because when exactly did he have the time to go to the doctors and conveniently be tested? Also she was super insecure and had major trust issues in regards to cheating men and the first time she has sex with him, she does it unprotected? What. The. Hell?

But you know what? I was still gonna keep going until the main lassie, Emmie turned into the biggest asshole on the planet. She is at one of their gigs and her friend shows up and says that her ex Ben, who is in the band, invited her and has just stared at her all night. Why is he her ex? Oh yeah, when he found out the band was going on tour he dumped her so that he wasn't weighed down and could go out and get laid constantly. Their relationship is always on and off because he dumps her so he can screw around ALL THE TIME. She always goes back to him because she realises that he doesn't really like the rock star man whore lifestyle he just does it because he feels like he has too, he really wants a committed relationship with her. Poor wee soul that he is. He is always the one that asks her to come back when he gets bored of sleeping around. IS THIS REAL LIFE? SOMEBODY SHOOT ME. So anyway when Emmies FRIEND tells her about how Ben keeps staring at her, what does the lovely Emmie say? "He loves you. He really does. I see him, T. He just looks...sad." First of all, cry me a fucking river Ben. Second of all, Emmie, you Miss are no friend. Like who the hell says that to her friend? You tell your friend TO RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM THAT KIND OF POISONOUS RELATIONSHIP.

So yeah. I made it to 62% and just no. Hell no.

[KristenReviews]

DNF 25%

Nothing particularly wrong with this book other than it wasn't able to capture or hold my attention.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero and heroines backstories are compelling and the opposites attracts pull between the leads engaging.

Emmie's journey to have the career she wants is worth reading as is the hero coming to terms with his childhood in a new way.

However, most of the side characters are annoying and shallow. The rest of the band members (even the heroine's brother) make awful choices and seem to not really care about music. So, why is the heroine so committed to them? Why does she and the hero like them so much? They are selfish and not bright. We don't get enough of them to make these behaviors mistakes. Also,surrounded by self reflective characters, their actions become really hard to stomach.

And then there is the drama, angst and insecurity when the hero and the heroine get together. Oy! Not a pleasure.

There is a lots of good moments here but I didn't like it overall. I have the next book in the series which I will read. I hope it is better.

[Sammy ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 You Come First Stars

It's been a long time since I've read a rockstar romance, the synopsis for this had me intrigued along with the highly stared reviews.

Emmie is the daughter of a rockstar, she's grown up living and breathing music, making her dream career to be in A&R. Working as the PA to the boss of the most sought after Record label, she knows she has connections to get her there. But the man who asks her to pick out ties and grab his coffee doesn't think she has what it takes. Going out on a limb she quits her job, determined to prove her worth by finding the perfect band to sign.

Slade is the Manwhoreing lead singer of Snatch. His goal in life is to make it in the music business, something his father drove to achieve before he died. Stepping off the stage one night draped in groupies he meets his best friends sister, she's different to what he's used to and he's determined to get to know her, and so the chase begins.

Emmie takes on the role as band manager helping her brother and the boys of Snatch to make it big. In the meantime Slade and Emmie archived a really great friendship and I started to build a likeness for these two. But somewhere in the middle everything started to get a bit complicated. Wires were crossed and drama was building, which I agree is a what makes a good story, but I felt like I'd heard it all before. Emmie started to loose her spunky attitude and became extremely insecure. Slade lost his rock star swagga and went a little soft. The writing in this book is good and I think that's what helped me Finnish, but the story itself didn't wow me.

Maybe I've read my fair share of Rockstars!

[Zizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5stars

This was such a refreshing read. Nowadays, we get treated to mostly lazy writing/plot development. As if a dominant character, off-the-charts angst, throbbing members at every look and insta-love make up a story.

The author obviously had a story to tell and boy, did she work hard at it.
Proper plot progression - check
Character development - check
Banter - check
Believable chemistry between H and h - check

Instead of intense, we get funny and cute moments. And in real life, isn't that how attraction starts off? Not with a girl getting wet all over the place but with interactions that actually make your heart beat faster, your head giddy and your body a bit tingly?

I loved it so much and would have given it 5stars up to a certain point. My issue was that it lost a bit of steam. I didn't feel like it was a true representation of what aspiring rock stars do when they finally reach that goal or at least it's within reach. While I do believe in one changing his ways and redemption, I thought it was a bit too much. I wanted my bad ass rock star not some chimp who was an idiot in love. There is groveling and there was Slater (boy scout/guidance counselor) on tour.

BUT I loved Em. She was the heart of this book and I loved her journey to finding her true calling in life. That last dinner with Irwin = GOLDEN.

[Cath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really don't know why I couldn't get into this when there are some high ratings. It's not that the writing was bad but I just didn't connect with the characters and I really wasn't keen on the story :-(

[Kandace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had everything I love in a rocker book. The dialogue was perfect. I loved the story stayed focused on them. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars
Emmie Valencia has been in the periphery of the music industry her whole life....Her Dad, her brother and even her ex are musicians and she has been the personal assistant to one of the biggest A&R guys in the business for years. She is organized, well liked, and gets the job done. But she really wants a chance to prove herself worthy in being in A&R and be involved in the development and success of the bands.

After a disappointment, she takes a hiatus from her NY life and heads to Austin, Texas to help her brother Derek's struggling band to improve their image and get noticed.

Soon she is also noticing the lead singer Slater Vaughn. He first seems to be a rocker sex God with a line of groupies waiting. He is handsome, charismatic, talented, and owns the stage.

His first impression of her is that she is innocent and meek, but soon comes to see a woman with drive, fire, and is naturally attractive. But is also has best friend's sister and helping them so should be off limits.

Soon Slater's perceptions start to change. The endless cycle of groupies and partying is not appealing to him anymore. We start to see under his facade to the deeper man who is a bit broken, vulnerable, serious, and just wants to be a successful musician and not just a Rock God. I totally fell for him. She encourages him to better himself and his performance and he in turn has faith in her.

But she's done her time with a musician and knows it usually only ends in heartbreak. Both have walls up and have issue from their pasts and families that have marked them and made them feel like they have to prove themselves. There is plenty of sexual tension and frustration, fear, confusion, and anxiety. They have both been conditioned not to trust easily. And there are several reasons why pursuing anything is not a good idea. Their relationship built gradually over time simmering to a boiling point. Slater really could be intense and swoony. And they encounter real issues and conflicts.

This story centers on a woman who wants to prove herself worthy in business and a reformed player who wants to prove himself worthy of love and commitment. But they are already working against a time limit. And what happens if she actually helps them meet their goals which means they will also be leaving and touring? Life on the road often ruins relationships especially with many factors involved and wanting a piece of the band.

The characters were well developed and had depth, and the story was built at a realistic pace. It was not an overly unique story line but she layered it and developed it well, but sometimes the slower pace made the story seem to drag a bit to me. It was told in both points of view, but at times I felt the the transitions were a bit disjointed and I had to figure out how we got there. And I found some of it to be pretty predictable.

I adored Slater. I really liked Emmie and the band... Pete, Ben and Cooper as well as Ben's girlfriend Tiana. They had such a good rapport and developed friendships with Emmie as well. They added humor and camaraderie and some extra drama. Her brother Derek will be the subject of the next book I Want You to Want Me. I already really like his character. There were some other characters causing frustration and agitation. One in particular, made me want to throw my kindle. There was miscommunication, mistrust, drama and angst. Overall, it was a sweet, romantic, passionate start to this new rocker series.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot damn, I really liked this one. It had everything for me: Good story, well written, feels and steam. Winner!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Emmie is the assistant to Irwin Ledger, one of the most powerful A&R men for one of the most illustrious record labels. Emmie has worked for Irwin for nearly a decade, excelling at her job and becoming the most trusted person in Irwin’s life, however she wants to become more of an insider in the music world. She wants Irwin to give her a chance of becoming an A&R rep, scouting and developing new talent for the label. Between Irwin’s lack of support for her change in career and the messy breakup between her and Alex, a musician signed to one of the bands their label represents, Emmie finds herself in crisis mode. She decides to take a sabbatical of sorts and moves temporarily to Austin, TX, where her brother is in a band. Austin, the music capitol of the southwest, is home to many bands looking to make it big. It is there that she decides that she is going to find a group herself to represent, and once finding the “next big thing”, there’s no way that Irwin can deny her.

Slater is the front man for Snatch, the band that Emmie’s brother Derek is a part of. Slater is the stereotypical rock and roll bad boy. He’s a womanizer and likes to party. So when he sets his sights on Emmie, red flags go up all around. Emmie, after being burned by her last musician boyfriend has sworn off musicians, and Derek, knowing what Slater is like, becomes extra protective of his sister. But as Emmie, who shares a house with the band, spends more time with Slater, she begins to maybe think there is more to him than what his rocker persona lets on.

Emmie attempts to find a local band to represent and there are a couple of possibilities, but she soon realizes that her possible ticket to the big time lies with Snatch. She begins to publicize them, trying to get them to tour with Piper Lee, a major act that could help increase Snatch’s fan base exponentially. But when Snatch goes out on tour and Slater is caught in compromising positions with Piper, after pledging his fidelity to Emmie, will it all go up in flames? Will Emmie’s faith in men go right with it?

Emmie must come to terms with the challenges she faces not only as a woman trying to pursue an A&R career, but as the girlfriend of a musician that is quickly becoming a hot commodity. As she continues to work with the band, she finds her involvement with them changing, taking on jobs that she never would have thought she could do otherwise. Is it possible maybe Irwin is right and she’s not cut out for A&R? After having been a major player in securing Snatch’s success is she ready to back to being the assistant, or is there a new career out there she just hasn’t discovered yet?

You Really Got Me really had me from the first page. Emmie is a different kind of heroine. Even with her broken past she still managed to persevere, taking what she wanted, both professionally and sexually. Even as she dealt with the rejection from Irwin she exuded a confidence that made her a likeable character, one that you just couldn’t help but root for. The story is well written and the characters, and the relationships between them, were all relatable, even as rock stars. There just seemed to be a sort of vulnerability with a band on the brink of stardom that made the story a little more believable. The chemistry between Emmie and Slater is hot and Slater himself is sex on a stick. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, I Want You To Want Me, due out in mid 2015. The books, while part of a series, are standalone novels with no cliffhangers, just the way I like them!

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU REALLY GOT ME is an enthralling story about a band on the cusp of success. Slater Vaughn is the lead singer for the country/rock band Snatch. He’s a handsome multi talented singer and songwriter with incredible stage presence, soulful eyes and women constantly falling all over him. Emmie Valencia has worked in the music business for years helping artists pursue their dreams and she is now helping Slater and his band. Emmie has many connections in the business and she instinctively knows how to help Snatch get to the next level and achieve the success they are looking for. Emmie’ is also ready for some changes in her own life, but is apprehensive and isn’t exactly sure what she wants. She loves working in the crazy cut throat music business, but she will never get personally involved with musicians, because they only break your heart.

This is a fascinating story with well developed characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat and managed to hit all my emotions. Slater is a sex god, but as the story develops, we learn he has many facets to his personality. Behind his façade he’s a warm, sensitive, caring guy who happens to be very talented. He helps Emmie with her self esteem issues and as she gains back her confidence, a friendship develops between them, but they are both afraid of relationships. I cared about Slater and Emmie and wanted them to work through their problems, because whenever Slater and Emmie are in the same room together, there’s a lot of heat between them.

Reviewed by Karen for Cocktails and Books

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

5 STARS

Review copy provided for an honest review


I really love it when a new to me author draws me in to the story from the first chapter and keeps me there until the last word and Erika Kelly did just that in You Really Got Me. I love stories about rock and roll bands especially those on the cusp of being discovered and this book was a fantastic look at what happens when a band goes from obscurity to stardom. What happens when a woman who vows never to be involved with a musician again falls for the lead singer and songwriter in her brother’s band? A whole lot of sexual tension and innuendo, two people discovering so much about each other and throughout it all they find a love they never imagined. Entertaining, sexy and exciting this is a book you don’t want to miss!
Emmie Valencia has been around musicians all of her life, worked with them, dated one for years, had her heart broken, and has vowed to never get involved with one again but when she takes a leave of absence from her job and heads to Austin she finds herself enthralled with Slater “Jonny” Vaughn, lead singer and man-whore of the band Snatch. There was so much that I loved about Emmie including her deciding to go after what she wanted in her career, the way she jumped in to help her brother’s band achieve their dreams, and the way she sees so much in Jonny, much more than anyone else has ever seen. Sometimes all it takes is one person to change your life and for Jonny that one person is Emmie; from the minute she blasts into town and begins to make changes with their band he knows she is something special but he also knows she’s his best friend’s sister. I loved the way these two fell into a relationship and the fact that they really got to know one another on a deeper level before they ever took that first leap into bed.
This story was a roller coaster ride from start to finish and it wasn’t all pretty. Both Emmie and Jonny had some baggage they had to deal with but what I loved was that they both were able to offer each other advice on some of what was holding them back from being happy. Even though Emmie had some moments of insecurity some which were warranted and Jonny had a few asshole moments for the most part these two did a great job of communicating what they wanted, needed, as well as their fears, hopes and dreams. Despite some drama (which is to be expected with a rock star romance) there was a real maturity to the relationship between Emmie and Jonny.
While the love story was front and center throughout this book it also gave the reader a great look at the music industry and what happens as a band becomes discovered and the rise to stardom that comes quickly.
A little bit of drama, a whole lot of sexy loving, some humor, interesting characters and an intriguing plot make You Really Got Me a spectacular book and I can add another author to watch to my ever growing list of favorites!

[Radd Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

“We’re going to last because we take hold of each other and hang on with all we’ve got. Jobs come and go, money doesn’t bring happiness, and when I die, the only thing I know I get to keep is my love for you. Are we clear?”

“Stop making decisions based on fear. Live the life you dream about, not the one you settle on because you’re too afraid to reach for more.”

- Who is the Hero? Slater Vaughn, Age: late 20’s, I think, Occupation: lead singer of Snatch
~ Slater is the lead singer of a mildly famous college band. But he has layers and his passion is actually songwriting.
~ “He liked singing and writing—well, he needed to write. Couldn’t stop the lyrics and tunes from coming. But the rest of it? Couldn’t give a shit.”

Slater’s father passed away years ago and he has a complicated relationship with his mother.

- Who is the Heroine? Emmie Valencia, Age: 25, Occupation: Personal Assistant to music A&R guy
~ Emmie grew up around musicians. so she is well aware of what kind of lifestyle they have. Plus, her last boyfriend was a muscian who cheated on her while on tour, so she will never again fall for a musician.

Emmie always felt like she was on the outside looking in - and it hurts. She’s been a PA to a top record guy for 8 years and she can’t seem to get him to see she deserves a promotion. He likes her exactly where she is - taking care of him. But when she’s told someone else is going to go on the business trip to Australia - she has a wake up call and quits.
~ “The unbearable pain of being shut out again rolled in and threatened to crush her. God, it hurt. She wanted in so badly. Why was it so elusive?”

Plot overview:
~ Emmie is having a bad day. First, she sees her ex feeling up the receptionist. Damn - that hurt. Next, she has to try to talk her boss’ daughter out of hanging out with a drug addict muscian. That didn’t end well - she was called a bitch. And the icing on the cake…..the day before she leaves for a six week business trip to Australia, her boss has cut her out of the trip so she can stay in the states and watch over his wayward daughter. Are you kidding???? She was the one who had spent months planning all the little details around the trip - including the best places to get coffee. But more than that - it was her chance to move up.
~ “This trip meant more than assisting Irwin. She’d gotten him to agree to let her go off and discover some bands of her own. So she could finally get that promotion. But now, the day before departure, he was telling her she couldn’t go. Because . . .
“Wait a minute. You want me to babysit?”

After 8 years as a PA, she knows she deserves a promotion, so she quits.
~ “I can’t be your personal assistant the rest of my life. You get that, right? I’ve loved working for you, but it’s supposed to be a stepping stone. You’ve just shown me it’s a cage. I deserve more.”

Emmie heads to TX for six weeks to be with her brother and his band. She’s determined to find a great up and coming band that will prove she deserves to be an A&R music coordinator. When she goes to a bar to hear her brother play, she’s captivated by the lead singer and knows she can use her insight to propel them to the next stage of their career.

When Derek’s sister shows up and has some ideas about how to push the band to the next level, Slater is all in.
~ “Bottom line,” Derek continued. “We don’t need someone to mold us into some kind of fake image. We don’t need anyone building us into rock stars. What we need is someone to get us to that next level. Because, guys? We’ve done all we can here. We might be the biggest college band in Texas, but that’s all we are. And we’ve been that for too long. If we don’t take it to the next level, we become just another sad wedding band. I’m not down for that.”

Slater and Emmie didn’t have the best first impressions of each other. Slater thought Emmie was a little too innocent and pure and Emmie saw Slater as the typical rock guy (too many women in his bed).
~ “Did she live on a prairie? Seriously, she looked like she churned her own butter.”

~ “There’s so much more to me than you realize.” “
“Yeah? Well, you might consider showing me more than the player if you don’t want to keep getting your feelings hurt.”

But as they get to know each other they both begin to see beyond the surface and first impressions and realize they have a much deeper connection.

As the fame of Slater’s band rises, they are thrust into the rock and roll scene and Emmie’s not so sure their new found relationship will survive the temptations of the touring road.
~ “I want you to want me so completely you’d engage in hand-to-hand combat with a pack of sex-starved groupies to hold on to me.”

** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * The way Alex was introduced in the beginning of the book I thought he was going to be the hero. A few chapters later I realized the Hero was going to be a different guy, so it was a bit of an odd start for me.

* * Emmie needed a backbone. She was waaaaayyyy to insecure. The push / pull angst focused around Emmie’s insecurities got old

* * it took a really long time to build up to the successful career of Snatch (what an awful name!!).

* * I think the story could have been about 100 pages shorter.

* * I was disappointed it was so predictable.

* * Slater didn’t grovel enough. He needed a grand gesture.

* * I was a little confused. I thought Emmie quit her job, so I was surprised she was having conversations with Irwin about a promotion. I either needed a clean break or a better explanation of what happened when Emmie walked out on him.

* * I did like that Slater was willing to listen to Emmie’s rebranding suggestions. He showed he was a guy without a massive ego.

* * Slater and Emmie both had their hang-ups. I thought they were good for each other because they were able to say the right things to support and encourage as they each worked to let go of past hurts.

**Overview:**
- Content Warning: typical rock star scenes (sex and drugs), loss of parent (off page)
- Setting: Austin, Texas
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: mildly famous rock star
- Hero likeable? Yes. I liked Slater. He had a few issues he needed to work through (he was out to prove something to his dead father and he had a strained relationship with his mom). But I thought he had a good sense of who he was as a person.
- heroine likeable? I struggled with Emmie. When she wasn’t being insecure I liked her, but her constant need for reassurance made her seem immature. She was a bit of a one-dimensional character.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 48%
- First time they sleep together: 50%
- Safe sex? Yes. Condoms were used
- First time they say I Love You 71%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- Chemistry? it took a while to build up. I thought their chemistry got better the more they got to know each other
- OW/OM drama? Yes.
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? a month or so
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? Yes. Slater did a good job of building up Emmie’s confidence in herself and that made him swoony. Plus, Slater has a good heart
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? a couple months later
- Recommend? I struggled with Emmie at times and I thought the book dragged at times. So it was so-so for me.

Quotes:
“Hearing the truth after blaming yourself for someone else’s bad behavior only feels twisted. Until it sinks in.”

“There isn’t a woman in Texas who wouldn’t run down her own grandma to get that man to look at her like that.”

“Her date hadn’t lit any sparklers in her panties.”

“If you don’t put your whole heart in, what do you expect to get back?”

“Don’t let your past make your decision. Let us make it.”

“You make me a better man.”

“Don’t give up on me, Emmie.”

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn about this book because for the first half I was really enjoying the story, but after that it sort of lost its spark. The repetitive problems that seemed to be constant just started to get on my nerves.  But overall, I still enjoyed this take on rock stars.  It feels a little more subdued than others I've read and that was a nice change of plans.

Emmie Valencia has been working for a record label for years, but never in her dream job.  She's the boss's personal assistant and she wants a promotion to A&R.  So she takes a leave of absence and goes to visit her brother in Texas.  Her brother who happens to be in a band trying to get a record contract.  She lives with him and the rest of the band while she's looking for new talent that she can come back to her boss with and hopefully get that promotion.

But she wasn't planning on her immediate connection to the manwhore lead singer of her brother's band, Slater.  Their chemistry is instant and a friendship quickly develops.  Which then leads to more.  I was happy with the pace of Emmie and Slater's relationship, it set a good foundation and makes it more than believable that they fell in love.

I really liked the hero and the fact that once he falls in love he's focused and just knows that he wants to be with Emmie.  He's willing to work through all the problems she throws his way.  He always wants to put her first.  That is delightful to see, especially with the hot lead singer of a band.  That was probably my favorite thing about the story.

I have to honestly say that, although I liked the heroine, her insecurities really were my least favorite thing about this book.  And towards the end they were getting on my nerves.  If I put myself in Slater's shoes, I would feel as if I'm walking on eggshells because she will always think the worst of any situation before talking things through.  Because she's not good enough, because he should be with X, Y and Z.  Her insecurities overpowered the story for me, and I just didn't get to understand the backstory of why she was like that (the thing with her father).

After I read the excerpt for the next book at the end of this one, I'm excited because I liked Derek the best out of all the band members.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly, how did I wait so long to read this book? I am a sucker for a rock star romance, so this book immediately had me intrigued. Little did I know, the story inside held amazing characters and an even more amazing romance.

Emmie has been the personal assistant to one of the top music producers for the past 8 years and is ready to make a name for herself, which means she has to go to Texas to find the next hottest band. Rooming with her brother and his bandmates, the last thing Emmie wants to do is get involved with a musician. To Slater, Emmie is too pure for his taste, and as the lead singer of her brother's band, she is completely off limits. The more time the two spend together, though, the more they start to fall for one another. But can Emmie fully give her heart to a musician when there is so much more that the rock 'n roll lifestyle has to offer than she can ever give?

The first part that I loved about this book was definitely Emmie. I loved how driven she was and how vulnerable she was. It was so sad when she talked about being played by a musician already, which definitely explained why she was so guarded around Slater. Ugh, Slater. What a heartbreaker. Of course, he started out as the total cliche lead singer who slept with any girl who shimmied her way to him. But it was so cute watching him start to fall for Emmie and realize that hooking up with nameless girls wasn't really all that great.

Not only was the main couple amazing with some serious sexual tension that was driving me crazy, the other characters were amazing as well. Derek, Emmie's brother, was such a good brother and I loved their relationship. Then, we got to meet Slater's mom and get to know his whole relationship with her and his father, which added a very important emotional element to the story. There were just so many relationships that developed and were dissected, creating much more dimension in the story. I cared about all of the characters and the scars they were battling.

Thank goodness I finally picked this book up because I loved every second of it. There was intense chemistry, sexy musicians, and moments that pulled on the hearts strings-- what more could you want? Any romance fan must pick up You Really Got Me. I know that I already can't wait to read book two and see Derek find his happily eve after and see some more of the Snatch musicians I've gotten to know and love.