What do you think?
Rate this book
Head Over Heels #3
Playing With The Drummer
Entertainment journalist Lita Matthews is on the verge of making it big. As in her-own-TV-show big. She just needs amazing inside scoop on the year's hottest celebrity wedding. Instead, her big break is becoming a big nightmare—all thanks to rock star Rocky Cardano. Who apparently hasn't gotten over what happened between them four years ago...
Rocky is pretty damn familiar with just how far Lita will go for a “scoop.” Hell, their unbelievably hot hook-up in Mexico years ago was the story of a lifetime. Rocky's learned his lessons. He'll do whatever it takes to keep her from the story—even if he has to seduce her to the point of distraction!
But Lita has always had a way of getting under his skin. Only this time, he won't be able to just walk away...
Rocky is pretty damn familiar with just how far Lita will go for a “scoop.” Hell, their unbelievably hot hook-up in Mexico years ago was the story of a lifetime. Rocky's learned his lessons. He'll do whatever it takes to keep her from the story—even if he has to seduce her to the point of distraction!
But Lita has always had a way of getting under his skin. Only this time, he won't be able to just walk away...
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2014
9 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Robin Covington
54 books1,225 followersA USAToday and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her books. Her stories burn up the sheets…one page at a time. A biracial author of Native American descent, Robin proudly writes diverse romances where everyone gets their happily ever after.
A 2016 RITA® Award finalist, Robin’s books have won the National Reader’s Choice and Golden Leaf Awards and finaled in the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, the Holt Medallion Awards, and the Book Seller’s Best.
She is an unapologetic Indiginerd and comic book geek. She hoards red nail polish and stalks Chris Evans. She is thoroughly obsessed with her Corgis, Dixie Joan Wilder & Delilah Skye O’Malley
Drop her a line at [robin@robincovingtonromance.com](mailto:robin@robincovingtonromance.com) - she always writes back.
A 2016 RITA® Award finalist, Robin’s books have won the National Reader’s Choice and Golden Leaf Awards and finaled in the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, the Holt Medallion Awards, and the Book Seller’s Best.
She is an unapologetic Indiginerd and comic book geek. She hoards red nail polish and stalks Chris Evans. She is thoroughly obsessed with her Corgis, Dixie Joan Wilder & Delilah Skye O’Malley
Drop her a line at [robin@robincovingtonromance.com](mailto:robin@robincovingtonromance.com) - she always writes back.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
July 15, 2015
3.5 Sweet & Sexy Stars
I haven't read a Robin Covington book I haven't enjoyed yet, and this was definitely no exception. There's only one thing that can make a lovers reunited trope better for me and that's make them jilted lovers. Now make the guy a sexy, bearded and tatted up drummer? And I'm done for.
Four years ago Lita met Rocky on a getaway in Mexico and spent 3 unbelievable and erotic nights with him. Three nights that were just enough to fall head over heels for him, and three nights that were enough for him to break her heart. And you know what they say about a woman scorned... In her heartbroken haze, Lita did a spiteful thing that forever broke Rocky's trust in her. Even though their circles are closely intertwined, they've managed to skirt around each other and avoid any interaction. But now Lita's friend is marrying Rocky's bandmate AND she's agreed to report on it with a positive spin that her friend so desperately needs. Too bad it will also bring her face to face with the one man that she's never been able to move on from. But Rocky isn't exactly over her himself...
I really loved the first half of this book. The mix of hurt feelings with sexual tension hot enough to burn the pages definitely makes for a VERY interesting read.
It's obvious that both Lita and Rocky were equally to blame for the misunderstanding that happened those four years ago. Rocky thinks that Lita is a cut-throat reporter that will sell out her friends for the right scoop. And Lita just wants Rocky to see her for the woman beneath the career. And when these two finally give into the scorching hot chemistry that still runs between them? PHEW!
Rocky is this wonderful combination of sexy and yet just the right amount of sweet.
And Lita was a great heroine; tough as nails and yet endearingly vulnerable underneath the tough persona. The two of them together was fantastic as well.
So why not 5 stars? To be honest, it was more a personal bias than anything truly wrong with the book. I just found the last half of the book to be a little too predicable and at times too sweet and borderline cheesy for my tastes. I found the progression of their relationship to be too quick at the end as well. I understand that they have that history from 4 years ago, but it's still tough to believe the whole thing.
But I'm pretty sure that readers that enjoy sweet and sexy contemporary romance will love this. I just tend to be pickier than most ;)
Robin Covington's books are always an auto-read for me, and I can't wait to see what she'll have in store next.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
Four years hadn't cooled down any of the feelings he brought out in her. They were wrapped up in the freedom of their beginning and the death spiral of how they ended.
I haven't read a Robin Covington book I haven't enjoyed yet, and this was definitely no exception. There's only one thing that can make a lovers reunited trope better for me and that's make them jilted lovers. Now make the guy a sexy, bearded and tatted up drummer? And I'm done for.
Four years ago Lita met Rocky on a getaway in Mexico and spent 3 unbelievable and erotic nights with him. Three nights that were just enough to fall head over heels for him, and three nights that were enough for him to break her heart. And you know what they say about a woman scorned... In her heartbroken haze, Lita did a spiteful thing that forever broke Rocky's trust in her. Even though their circles are closely intertwined, they've managed to skirt around each other and avoid any interaction. But now Lita's friend is marrying Rocky's bandmate AND she's agreed to report on it with a positive spin that her friend so desperately needs. Too bad it will also bring her face to face with the one man that she's never been able to move on from. But Rocky isn't exactly over her himself...
I really loved the first half of this book. The mix of hurt feelings with sexual tension hot enough to burn the pages definitely makes for a VERY interesting read.
It's obvious that both Lita and Rocky were equally to blame for the misunderstanding that happened those four years ago. Rocky thinks that Lita is a cut-throat reporter that will sell out her friends for the right scoop. And Lita just wants Rocky to see her for the woman beneath the career. And when these two finally give into the scorching hot chemistry that still runs between them? PHEW!
Rocky is this wonderful combination of sexy and yet just the right amount of sweet.
And Lita was a great heroine; tough as nails and yet endearingly vulnerable underneath the tough persona. The two of them together was fantastic as well.
So why not 5 stars? To be honest, it was more a personal bias than anything truly wrong with the book. I just found the last half of the book to be a little too predicable and at times too sweet and borderline cheesy for my tastes. I found the progression of their relationship to be too quick at the end as well. I understand that they have that history from 4 years ago, but it's still tough to believe the whole thing.
But I'm pretty sure that readers that enjoy sweet and sexy contemporary romance will love this. I just tend to be pickier than most ;)
Robin Covington's books are always an auto-read for me, and I can't wait to see what she'll have in store next.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
December 29, 2014
ARC generously provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Rating ~3 stars
Lita Matthews and Rocky Cardano have a history unknown to their friends. They had an affair four years ago which ended badly to say the least, it left both parties heart broken and feeling betrayed.
Lita Matthews is a journalist, who is so close to getting own Television show. She’s covering her best friends’s sisters wedding as a assignment. Her parents are famous and she grew up in the Hollywood environment hence she’s in a way jaded with all the games and manipulations and doesn’t believe in love.
Rocky Cardano is a drummer for the band ‘The Rift’. He avoids the press and media like they are the plague. He guards his privacy and doesn’t want Lita to ruin his friends wedding with her schemes.
Lita and Rocky both met in mexcio where they were both hiding and dealing with some issues at the time, they didn’t tell each other their real identity till after they slept together a couple of times. Finding out who the other person lead to arguments and ultimately their break up.
I liked Lita, I thought she was great though she could be a bit of hothead and slightly emotional. Yes, she made a mistake but she owned upto it and apologized several times, she grew up but Rocky didn’t let it go. I did think that they moved too fast considering they not resolved any of their issues when they jumped back into bed which was what led their break up before (great sex but not much of understanding between them)
Lita and Rocky had great chemistry together and it was amusing to see their banter. which all had the undertone of heartbreak, anger and lust.
Quibbles:This wasn’t listed as a part of a series so I thought this was a standalone but it isn’t, its the third book in a series which meant that not only the characters had a history that was of-script but they were also it seems part of the earlier books and had some scenes there. So I felt I was missing quite a lot. Rocky’s behavior near the end made me mad:
I mean really, I thought you were in loovvveee Rocky then what the hell dude? I needed him to grovel more. Lita should have made him work harder and that ending felt too easy.
Overall,though I had a couple of issues, it was good story if a little predictable and too easy at times.
Rating ~3 stars
Lita Matthews and Rocky Cardano have a history unknown to their friends. They had an affair four years ago which ended badly to say the least, it left both parties heart broken and feeling betrayed.
Lita Matthews is a journalist, who is so close to getting own Television show. She’s covering her best friends’s sisters wedding as a assignment. Her parents are famous and she grew up in the Hollywood environment hence she’s in a way jaded with all the games and manipulations and doesn’t believe in love.
Rocky Cardano is a drummer for the band ‘The Rift’. He avoids the press and media like they are the plague. He guards his privacy and doesn’t want Lita to ruin his friends wedding with her schemes.
Lita and Rocky both met in mexcio where they were both hiding and dealing with some issues at the time, they didn’t tell each other their real identity till after they slept together a couple of times. Finding out who the other person lead to arguments and ultimately their break up.
I liked Lita, I thought she was great though she could be a bit of hothead and slightly emotional. Yes, she made a mistake but she owned upto it and apologized several times, she grew up but Rocky didn’t let it go. I did think that they moved too fast considering they not resolved any of their issues when they jumped back into bed which was what led their break up before (great sex but not much of understanding between them)
Lita and Rocky had great chemistry together and it was amusing to see their banter. which all had the undertone of heartbreak, anger and lust.
Quibbles:This wasn’t listed as a part of a series so I thought this was a standalone but it isn’t, its the third book in a series which meant that not only the characters had a history that was of-script but they were also it seems part of the earlier books and had some scenes there. So I felt I was missing quite a lot. Rocky’s behavior near the end made me mad:
I mean really, I thought you were in loovvveee Rocky then what the hell dude? I needed him to grovel more. Lita should have made him work harder and that ending felt too easy.
Overall,though I had a couple of issues, it was good story if a little predictable and too easy at times.
Read
December 10, 2014DNF @ 25 Percent
When I requested this book it was listed as a stand alone on NetGalley and wasn't listed on Goodreads so I wasn't aware that this was book 3 in a series which I haven't read. Still I went in and I just couldn't connect with the characters or the writing on this story.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
When I requested this book it was listed as a stand alone on NetGalley and wasn't listed on Goodreads so I wasn't aware that this was book 3 in a series which I haven't read. Still I went in and I just couldn't connect with the characters or the writing on this story.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
December 30, 2014
3.5 ★
This is the 3rd book in the series but it is a standalone. I myself have not read the other 2 and it was fine.
Lita and Rocky had a weekend together 4 years ago when they managed to embed themselves into each other's psyche and alienated each other at the same time by the end of it. Fast forward 4 years later and there's much distrust and hurt between the 2. So it's about overcoming that while dealing with the heat between them 2, and with what's happening with their friends' wedding and their personal/work lives.
Lita has her head on her shoulder for the most part. Rocky is your typical reclusive sexy musician with a past.
It's a quick delish read. You can feel the tension b/w the 2 and not in an overly angsty way, which was good. It did feel that some things were resolved pretty quickly, which I was ok with, as well. There's a whollotta sweetness going on... This is a first Robin Covington read for me, and I would definitely not mind reading more of her stuff.
*Complimentary ARC received from Entangled Publishing*
This is the 3rd book in the series but it is a standalone. I myself have not read the other 2 and it was fine.
Lita and Rocky had a weekend together 4 years ago when they managed to embed themselves into each other's psyche and alienated each other at the same time by the end of it. Fast forward 4 years later and there's much distrust and hurt between the 2. So it's about overcoming that while dealing with the heat between them 2, and with what's happening with their friends' wedding and their personal/work lives.
Lita has her head on her shoulder for the most part. Rocky is your typical reclusive sexy musician with a past.
It's a quick delish read. You can feel the tension b/w the 2 and not in an overly angsty way, which was good. It did feel that some things were resolved pretty quickly, which I was ok with, as well. There's a whollotta sweetness going on... This is a first Robin Covington read for me, and I would definitely not mind reading more of her stuff.
*Complimentary ARC received from Entangled Publishing*
December 27, 2014
I love a rockstar romance. There's something so sexy about a man in a band and Rocky Cardano is hot! Rocky and Lita have a history, they had a little fun together a couple years ago but things didn't end so well. I wish I would've read the other books in the series before reading this one though, it might've helped develop the connection between these characters a little better but overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more by this author!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
August 11, 2015
The first I wanna say is that this book can be read as a standalone, but, if you read all three stories you're going to get a great package about rock-band members and the women who tamed them! :) lol
This was a fantastically scorching hot second chance love story! Lita Matthews and Rocky Cardano shared a moment in time 4 years ago. A scorching moment in time where they managed to burn up the sheets and at the same time douse the flames LOL So now it's 4 years later and they're back face to face .....
I loved that Robin Covington created tension between these two that added to their connection without it being angsty and dramatic. The book had it's moments, but for the most part, it was a really good push-pull relationship to read! They were passionate and sweet and really steamy to read.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley for an honest review
This was a fantastically scorching hot second chance love story! Lita Matthews and Rocky Cardano shared a moment in time 4 years ago. A scorching moment in time where they managed to burn up the sheets and at the same time douse the flames LOL So now it's 4 years later and they're back face to face .....
I loved that Robin Covington created tension between these two that added to their connection without it being angsty and dramatic. The book had it's moments, but for the most part, it was a really good push-pull relationship to read! They were passionate and sweet and really steamy to read.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley for an honest review
January 12, 2015
**My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
Although this book is part of a series the story can be read as a stand-a-lone novel.
Both Rocky and Lita hooked up four years ago in Mexico where they had great fun and kinda fell for each other until Rocky found out about Lita's profession as a journalist and gave her the boot. Hurt, Lita exposed his hiding pace to other journalists.
Since then Lita and Rocky have avoided each other, yet no other man or woman has ever come close to what they shared in Mexico all that time ago.
Back together again by circumstance, the attraction between the two heat up the sheets and the emotions that each other seem to bring out.
There is hurt, betrayal and more hurt along the way, but there is also true happiness as more than one couple find their true way to happy ever after.
Although this book is part of a series the story can be read as a stand-a-lone novel.
Both Rocky and Lita hooked up four years ago in Mexico where they had great fun and kinda fell for each other until Rocky found out about Lita's profession as a journalist and gave her the boot. Hurt, Lita exposed his hiding pace to other journalists.
Since then Lita and Rocky have avoided each other, yet no other man or woman has ever come close to what they shared in Mexico all that time ago.
Back together again by circumstance, the attraction between the two heat up the sheets and the emotions that each other seem to bring out.
There is hurt, betrayal and more hurt along the way, but there is also true happiness as more than one couple find their true way to happy ever after.
December 30, 2014
4 stars
Playing With The Drummer was a hot and steamy read, great second chance love story.
Rocky and Lita are both passionate people and seeing them reconnect made for a very good read. From the start you can see they had great chemistry and they truly belonged together.
I'm a big fan of Robin Covington and once again she's given her readers a wonderful and entertaining read.
Thank you to Entangled Indulgence for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Playing With The Drummer was a hot and steamy read, great second chance love story.
Rocky and Lita are both passionate people and seeing them reconnect made for a very good read. From the start you can see they had great chemistry and they truly belonged together.
I'm a big fan of Robin Covington and once again she's given her readers a wonderful and entertaining read.
Thank you to Entangled Indulgence for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
February 14, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
4.5 stars
Robin Covington knows how to set up a story–and set it up she did with Playing with the Drummer! The scenes are scorching hot, the setting is gorgeous, and the characters are drawn out and thoroughly engaged with each other and their relationships are believable and real.
Lita Matthews has had it with relationships with men. Four years ago she thought she’d found the real thing with stranger-in-the-bar Rocky Cardano when they hooked up for three days in Mexico–that is, until he realized who she was and accused her of trying to out him to the public. Out of spite, she’d revealed his location to the press and proved him right, at least in that regard. But she never revealed the secrets that the two had shared during their shared idyll in those three sunny days and intimate nights–and neither of them could ever forget how incredibly good they were together, or how close they’d become…
Lita was Hollywood royalty–the child of an Oscar-winning film producer father and a famous model mother. After some setbacks she’s determined to be a journalist and is now angling to get her own shown on Entertainment Tonight. Her big break is covering the wedding of her best friend Lori Hanover’s sister Callie to Jake Mitchell, the lead singer of the hot band The Rift. It’s going to be a tightrope walk with her journalistic integrity on one side and loyalty to her friends on the other– but she feels like she can do it. However, it’s going to be harder than she realized because even though she thought her boss understood her position, it turns out he doesn’t care and he’s expecting the dirt only a close friend like Lita can bring. And leading with a soft story to help her friends isn’t going to do that. He expects her to totally bitch down and betray them to get the job she wants.
The engaged couple have faced lots of challenges since announcing their wedding, including an enraged ex-fiance who’s very vocal in the Hollywood media circles, painting herself as the victim of home-wrecker Callie. This has caused huge PR and business problems for Callie’s dream, Calliope Shoe Designs. That’s why Lori and her boyfriend Dash Mills, ex-member of The Rift, have asked Lita to come and cover the wedding from Callie’s point-of-view, to help get her some favorable coverage in the press, and to help build up her business again. It’s been a disaster, and Lori sees her sister crumbling from the stress.
Rocky Cardano has risen from a very ugly past, and he has a lot of very ugly secrets to match. That why he’s always been the reclusive, invisible member of The Rift. When he’d met Lita in Mexico four years earlier, they hadn’t known each other and both kept it that way, Lita asking that they keep it to first names only and only made up ones at that! He’d completely altered his appearance at the time, cutting his hair and shaving off his facial hair; Lita had been in Europe for several years and had not kept up with the American rock scene and had no clue who he was even if he’d looked the way he normally did. So he was really surprised to find out press credentials in her luggage and jumped to the wrong conclusions, attacked her, she left and retaliated without thinking. She later apologized but it was too late; Rocky and Lita were then forced for four years to ignore each other at functions and yet be sizzlingly aware of each other and remember how it was those three hot days in Mexico…
So it’s no surprise that Rocky doesn’t trust Lita’s motivations at the wedding. He thinks she’s there to get a shocking story to sell her way into her own show. He’s pretty sure even her friendship with Lori won’t stop her from betraying Jake and Callie–given the way that she’d betrayed him. So he’s detailed as groomsman to guard her and make sure that she stays on the straight and narrow. But watching her means he actually has to… watch her. And that opens a whole new can of worms for Rocky. He’s starting to remember their connection, and the fact that she did apologize, and that she hadn’t really betrayed more than his location. Had he ruined a good thing by pushing her away and not letting her explain?
Life loves to teach lessons, and even in glamorous made-up worlds trying to make everyone happy never works. Lita may be well-intentioned–but her boss isn’t; she’s in a volatile situation with Callie and Jake asking a whole lot of her; and Rocky is sitting like a gator on a log, just waiting for her to do the wrong thing. Countdown, three…two…VIDEO IS LIVE! Wha?!
4.5 stars
Robin Covington knows how to set up a story–and set it up she did with Playing with the Drummer! The scenes are scorching hot, the setting is gorgeous, and the characters are drawn out and thoroughly engaged with each other and their relationships are believable and real.
Lita Matthews has had it with relationships with men. Four years ago she thought she’d found the real thing with stranger-in-the-bar Rocky Cardano when they hooked up for three days in Mexico–that is, until he realized who she was and accused her of trying to out him to the public. Out of spite, she’d revealed his location to the press and proved him right, at least in that regard. But she never revealed the secrets that the two had shared during their shared idyll in those three sunny days and intimate nights–and neither of them could ever forget how incredibly good they were together, or how close they’d become…
Lita was Hollywood royalty–the child of an Oscar-winning film producer father and a famous model mother. After some setbacks she’s determined to be a journalist and is now angling to get her own shown on Entertainment Tonight. Her big break is covering the wedding of her best friend Lori Hanover’s sister Callie to Jake Mitchell, the lead singer of the hot band The Rift. It’s going to be a tightrope walk with her journalistic integrity on one side and loyalty to her friends on the other– but she feels like she can do it. However, it’s going to be harder than she realized because even though she thought her boss understood her position, it turns out he doesn’t care and he’s expecting the dirt only a close friend like Lita can bring. And leading with a soft story to help her friends isn’t going to do that. He expects her to totally bitch down and betray them to get the job she wants.
The engaged couple have faced lots of challenges since announcing their wedding, including an enraged ex-fiance who’s very vocal in the Hollywood media circles, painting herself as the victim of home-wrecker Callie. This has caused huge PR and business problems for Callie’s dream, Calliope Shoe Designs. That’s why Lori and her boyfriend Dash Mills, ex-member of The Rift, have asked Lita to come and cover the wedding from Callie’s point-of-view, to help get her some favorable coverage in the press, and to help build up her business again. It’s been a disaster, and Lori sees her sister crumbling from the stress.
Rocky Cardano has risen from a very ugly past, and he has a lot of very ugly secrets to match. That why he’s always been the reclusive, invisible member of The Rift. When he’d met Lita in Mexico four years earlier, they hadn’t known each other and both kept it that way, Lita asking that they keep it to first names only and only made up ones at that! He’d completely altered his appearance at the time, cutting his hair and shaving off his facial hair; Lita had been in Europe for several years and had not kept up with the American rock scene and had no clue who he was even if he’d looked the way he normally did. So he was really surprised to find out press credentials in her luggage and jumped to the wrong conclusions, attacked her, she left and retaliated without thinking. She later apologized but it was too late; Rocky and Lita were then forced for four years to ignore each other at functions and yet be sizzlingly aware of each other and remember how it was those three hot days in Mexico…
So it’s no surprise that Rocky doesn’t trust Lita’s motivations at the wedding. He thinks she’s there to get a shocking story to sell her way into her own show. He’s pretty sure even her friendship with Lori won’t stop her from betraying Jake and Callie–given the way that she’d betrayed him. So he’s detailed as groomsman to guard her and make sure that she stays on the straight and narrow. But watching her means he actually has to… watch her. And that opens a whole new can of worms for Rocky. He’s starting to remember their connection, and the fact that she did apologize, and that she hadn’t really betrayed more than his location. Had he ruined a good thing by pushing her away and not letting her explain?
Life loves to teach lessons, and even in glamorous made-up worlds trying to make everyone happy never works. Lita may be well-intentioned–but her boss isn’t; she’s in a volatile situation with Callie and Jake asking a whole lot of her; and Rocky is sitting like a gator on a log, just waiting for her to do the wrong thing. Countdown, three…two…VIDEO IS LIVE! Wha?!
January 21, 2016
At A Glance
An average contemporary romance.
The Good
I didn't know this was part of a series, so I haven't read the first two books. I am not sure if reading the first two would have changed my opinion, but Playing With the Drummer could be read as a standalone in my opinion.
Lita, the strong, ambitious reporter, and Rocky, the brooding drummer, had a magical weekend 4 years ago, then Lita made a mistake and Rocky has never forgiven her, like the little bitch he is. Whoa, were did that come from?
I loved Lita. She is obsessed with advancing her career as a reporter and gives zero fucks what people think. But she knows she isn't without her faults. She owns up to her mistakes and tries to make them right. Rocky really, really resents what Lita did all those years ago and it's hard for him to get over. Having her follow him and the band around with a camera and lots of questions isn't helping. Lita just want's to do her job: spin a positive story on the upcoming wedding of Rocky's band mate and her best friend's sister.
Lita and Rocky butt heads a lot because of Rocky's stubbornness, but eventfully things mellow out and they realize their attraction and passion 4 years ago is still alive today. I started liking Rocky more when he began letting go of things, but the big drama near the end devastated me, and left me dying to plow through to the end as fast as possible. Even though the ending was a bit cheesy, it left me satisfied.
The Bad
There was nothing special about this book. I have read 100 like it before. It also got really cheesy in the second half. Lita and Rocky getting back together was too easy and so was the ending. It was like the first half was super angsty and they were pissed at each other all the time, then the second half was like everything is forgiven without anything really being resolved. I found all this very annoying.
The Snuggly
We get some sex and it was hot, but nothing special.
Final Thoughts
I feel like I can sum up Playing With the Drummer with 'nothing special but still decent.' I wouldn't tell anyone to buy this book but if you got it for free, try it out. Not really any music stuff going on, it's more like a behind the scenes story. Pretty interesting. Kind of recommended.
Quotes
"Four years hadn't cooled down any of the feelings he brought out in her. They were wrapped up in the freedom of their beginning and the death spiral of how they ended."
"Lita had been the brightest part of his life for those few days. And she still glowed on his periphery, minimized but never dimmed."
This review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads
An average contemporary romance.
The Good
I didn't know this was part of a series, so I haven't read the first two books. I am not sure if reading the first two would have changed my opinion, but Playing With the Drummer could be read as a standalone in my opinion.
Lita, the strong, ambitious reporter, and Rocky, the brooding drummer, had a magical weekend 4 years ago, then Lita made a mistake and Rocky has never forgiven her, like the little bitch he is. Whoa, were did that come from?
I loved Lita. She is obsessed with advancing her career as a reporter and gives zero fucks what people think. But she knows she isn't without her faults. She owns up to her mistakes and tries to make them right. Rocky really, really resents what Lita did all those years ago and it's hard for him to get over. Having her follow him and the band around with a camera and lots of questions isn't helping. Lita just want's to do her job: spin a positive story on the upcoming wedding of Rocky's band mate and her best friend's sister.
Lita and Rocky butt heads a lot because of Rocky's stubbornness, but eventfully things mellow out and they realize their attraction and passion 4 years ago is still alive today. I started liking Rocky more when he began letting go of things, but the big drama near the end devastated me, and left me dying to plow through to the end as fast as possible. Even though the ending was a bit cheesy, it left me satisfied.
The Bad
There was nothing special about this book. I have read 100 like it before. It also got really cheesy in the second half. Lita and Rocky getting back together was too easy and so was the ending. It was like the first half was super angsty and they were pissed at each other all the time, then the second half was like everything is forgiven without anything really being resolved. I found all this very annoying.
The Snuggly
We get some sex and it was hot, but nothing special.
Final Thoughts
I feel like I can sum up Playing With the Drummer with 'nothing special but still decent.' I wouldn't tell anyone to buy this book but if you got it for free, try it out. Not really any music stuff going on, it's more like a behind the scenes story. Pretty interesting. Kind of recommended.
Quotes
"Four years hadn't cooled down any of the feelings he brought out in her. They were wrapped up in the freedom of their beginning and the death spiral of how they ended."
"Lita had been the brightest part of his life for those few days. And she still glowed on his periphery, minimized but never dimmed."
January 25, 2015
How much of herself will Lita sacrifice to get the job of her dreams? Will she betray her best friends just for a chance at her own show? Although I can’t say that I would struggle with a decision like this, in my book betraying someone’s trust is wrong no matter how you sugar coat it, I can’t help but sympathize with Lita’s situation. Not only is this the job she’s been working towards for years, she still feels this need to prove to everyone, including her parents that she’s someone other than a celebrity’s daughter.
First and foremost, I want to say that I have not read the previous books in the series. However, that being said, I had no difficulty following the storyline, the intricacies of the characters and their relationships with each other or their history. And boy what a history it is. Lita and Rocky have a history unknown even to their best friends, but the author does a phenomenal of letting the reader get a brief look at it without sacrificing the current story or making it so you need to have read the previous two books to be able to follow along.
It seemed to me that these two characters are all wrong for each other. Rocky is the reclusive musician with secrets he’s hiding and Lita is, of all things a reporter. Both of her parents were celebrities, which of course means she has spent her entire life in the spotlight… not exactly the place a recluse want to be. Yet when they’re not tearing in to each other verbally, these two are tearing each other’s clothes off. Very much true to life, their issues are not insurmountable. They can easily be overcome if they ever actually sat down and spoke to each other instead of assuming and jumping to conclusions.
Although I enjoyed reading this story, I have to admit that it didn’t wow me. It had all the markers for what I would consider a 5 star review but there was something missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. Perhaps it was their insistence on not learning form their past mistakes, or maybe it was Lita’s willingness to throw her friends under the bus for accolades from people who don’t matter. I’m not sure. Something was missing though.
Reviewed by Iris for Cocktails and Books
First and foremost, I want to say that I have not read the previous books in the series. However, that being said, I had no difficulty following the storyline, the intricacies of the characters and their relationships with each other or their history. And boy what a history it is. Lita and Rocky have a history unknown even to their best friends, but the author does a phenomenal of letting the reader get a brief look at it without sacrificing the current story or making it so you need to have read the previous two books to be able to follow along.
It seemed to me that these two characters are all wrong for each other. Rocky is the reclusive musician with secrets he’s hiding and Lita is, of all things a reporter. Both of her parents were celebrities, which of course means she has spent her entire life in the spotlight… not exactly the place a recluse want to be. Yet when they’re not tearing in to each other verbally, these two are tearing each other’s clothes off. Very much true to life, their issues are not insurmountable. They can easily be overcome if they ever actually sat down and spoke to each other instead of assuming and jumping to conclusions.
Although I enjoyed reading this story, I have to admit that it didn’t wow me. It had all the markers for what I would consider a 5 star review but there was something missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. Perhaps it was their insistence on not learning form their past mistakes, or maybe it was Lita’s willingness to throw her friends under the bus for accolades from people who don’t matter. I’m not sure. Something was missing though.
Reviewed by Iris for Cocktails and Books
December 26, 2014
Robin Covington is one of my auto-read authors and Playing with the Drummer is another fabulous addition to her repertoire. She never fails in bringing a man to fall in love with.
Rocky Cardano - drummer with The Rift, we have a brute a man with a vulnerable edge to him. I loved every overbearing, stubborn, gentle and sweet inch of him. And when reacquainted with the journalist covering his band-mates wedding, he's non too impressed - several years earlier she rocked his bed and then sold him out. With the wedding being Lita's chance to make it big and the fact she's BFF with the bride's sister giving her all the access she needs, she needs to make this the most perfect scoop of her career as long as grudge-holding Rocky doesn't ruin it for her. The grudge-holding rock-god who is like a moth to a flame...
Together Rocky and Lita generate passion, heat and some real sizzling bedroom antics. Their history brought heartfelt touching moments and there were some lovely surprises to their journey. I can't fault it. And with the epilogue tying things up perfectly, Robin has ended the Head over Heels series on a real high note.
“You are every song I have written or ever will write. You are the melody that keeps me awake at night. Your heartbeat is the only percussion, the thing that drives me.”
Whilst Playing with the Drummer follows on from Reforming the Rock Star by Christine Bell (#2) and Resisting the Musician by Ally Blake (#1), it could be read as a standalone.
4.5 stars.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion
Rocky Cardano - drummer with The Rift, we have a brute a man with a vulnerable edge to him. I loved every overbearing, stubborn, gentle and sweet inch of him. And when reacquainted with the journalist covering his band-mates wedding, he's non too impressed - several years earlier she rocked his bed and then sold him out. With the wedding being Lita's chance to make it big and the fact she's BFF with the bride's sister giving her all the access she needs, she needs to make this the most perfect scoop of her career as long as grudge-holding Rocky doesn't ruin it for her. The grudge-holding rock-god who is like a moth to a flame...
Together Rocky and Lita generate passion, heat and some real sizzling bedroom antics. Their history brought heartfelt touching moments and there were some lovely surprises to their journey. I can't fault it. And with the epilogue tying things up perfectly, Robin has ended the Head over Heels series on a real high note.
“You are every song I have written or ever will write. You are the melody that keeps me awake at night. Your heartbeat is the only percussion, the thing that drives me.”
Whilst Playing with the Drummer follows on from Reforming the Rock Star by Christine Bell (#2) and Resisting the Musician by Ally Blake (#1), it could be read as a standalone.
4.5 stars.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion
December 29, 2014
I was fortunate enough to be gifted this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book can be read standalone, but I would highly recommend reading the first two of the series, Resisting The Musician by Ally Blake and Reforming the Rock Star by Christine Bell as those stories all work together in creating a really fabulous fairy tale for a Rock band and their feisty women!
In the last installment of this series, Robin Covington brings the drummer, Rocky, to the forefront, a place he does NOT like to be. Rocky has been living his life in the shadows even though he is a big rock star. Enter Lita, the rich and famous daughter of a model and a producer, who wants nothing more than to anchor a big time news program. See the problem?
Only these two have history, and not necessarily a good one.
Forced back together for their friend's wedding four years later, and Lita working to bring a positive spotlight on the happy couple by doing an exclusive behind the scenes video, makes for a grumpy Rocky, because he just does not trust that she is doing good for the couple. But also a Rocky who is trying desperately not to cave in to his attraction for Lita.
Robin did a FANTASTIC job about bringing the moody and brooding drummer to life. The drama was well written, the attraction was convincing, the heartache was so damn lifelike, I actually cried. I have been reading Robin's books for a while now and I think I can safely say that she keeps getting better and better with each word written.
This series is fun, energetic, easy to read. With a little bit of everything thrown in.
This book can be read standalone, but I would highly recommend reading the first two of the series, Resisting The Musician by Ally Blake and Reforming the Rock Star by Christine Bell as those stories all work together in creating a really fabulous fairy tale for a Rock band and their feisty women!
In the last installment of this series, Robin Covington brings the drummer, Rocky, to the forefront, a place he does NOT like to be. Rocky has been living his life in the shadows even though he is a big rock star. Enter Lita, the rich and famous daughter of a model and a producer, who wants nothing more than to anchor a big time news program. See the problem?
Only these two have history, and not necessarily a good one.
Forced back together for their friend's wedding four years later, and Lita working to bring a positive spotlight on the happy couple by doing an exclusive behind the scenes video, makes for a grumpy Rocky, because he just does not trust that she is doing good for the couple. But also a Rocky who is trying desperately not to cave in to his attraction for Lita.
Robin did a FANTASTIC job about bringing the moody and brooding drummer to life. The drama was well written, the attraction was convincing, the heartache was so damn lifelike, I actually cried. I have been reading Robin's books for a while now and I think I can safely say that she keeps getting better and better with each word written.
This series is fun, energetic, easy to read. With a little bit of everything thrown in.
December 25, 2014
Playing With the Drummer by Robin Covington IS THE 3RD Book in this series. while it "could " be read as a stand alone I think I would have "Loved it" compared to my "liking it" I just felt I missed out on some of the story and background stuff. But that being said Mrs, Covington did a great job with this story. I really enjoyed her writing style and this story.
Any and everyone who knows my taste in books know I love Rockstar/bad boy books. So this was right up my Alley.
The basic plot of the book without giving too much aways was.....Lita Matthews is a up and coming Entertainment journalist she on the verge of making it big and getting her-own-TV-show only if she can get the inside scoop hottest celebrity wedding. Here steps in Rocky Cardano. One hot hookup in Mexico and Misunderstand later and we have this story. Its Lita trying to get a story and Rocky trying to get her.
Like I said It wasn't a 5 star for me but close I gave it 3.5 or 4 stars
December 20, 2014
Rocky and Lita have a past and now they need past it for multiple reasons. The most important reason would be that the passion never really burned out between the two of them. The flame only needed a little spark to burn out of control
.
Rocky has trust issues and a volatile past yet can't forget a magical three days in Mexico with a hot reporter but trust doesn't come easy for him.
Lita comes from Hollywood fame. Three days in Mexico changed her life till four years later she faces the hot drummer who broke her heart.
This is a wonderful love story with a little heat and lots of heart. The cast of characters are a great group. The storyline draws you in while moving at the perfect pace. Their story is far from a fairy tale but magical in the romance genre.
.
Rocky has trust issues and a volatile past yet can't forget a magical three days in Mexico with a hot reporter but trust doesn't come easy for him.
Lita comes from Hollywood fame. Three days in Mexico changed her life till four years later she faces the hot drummer who broke her heart.
This is a wonderful love story with a little heat and lots of heart. The cast of characters are a great group. The storyline draws you in while moving at the perfect pace. Their story is far from a fairy tale but magical in the romance genre.
December 13, 2014
Fantastic book!! Rocky is a rock n roll star but he hates the press and avoids them at all costs. Lita is an up and coming journalist with aspirations for her own TV show. They met four years ago and had an amazing weekend that neither has forgotten but their differences were to great to get over. Now they are thrown together again at the wedding of his band mate and one of her best friends. With the sparks still flying will they survive this time together?? I loved these two and you could feel the chemistry coming off the pages! I couldn't put this one down and highly recommend it to everyone.
December 30, 2014
I like the story but wish I had read the other books that came before this one because I kept getting lost. I would recommend reading this series from the beginning so this book will live up to the great book I know it can because Robin Covington is an amazing author.
December 9, 2014
Let's hear it for hot, alpha drummers with attitude, shall we?
December 29, 2014
Rock Stars, drama and betrayal play out in this contemporary novel. Full review to follow on http://www.tbqsbookpalace.com on December 31st.
December 30, 2014
Loved it, this was the first time I read anything from this author. It will not be my last. This book has everything you could want in a book.
January 10, 2015
Review to come......
December 23, 2014
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Playing with the Drummer by Robin Covington is the third and final novel in the multi-authored Head Over Heels series. This is a second chance romance and focuses on rock and roll band The Rift's drummer and an entertainment journalist who meet four years ago and spend three amazing days together only to have it all suddenly end when he suspects her of using him for a story. Fast forward four years later and they have no choice but to spend time together while celebrating the upcoming wedding of their friends.
Lita Matthews is an ambitious entertainment journalist who's working her to getting her own television show. Being invited as a guest to what's touted to be the biggest and most talked about wedding of the year will definitely help with that goal, all thanks to her being best friends with the bride's older sister. However, she doesn't want to abuse her friendship and refuses to be sucked into tabloid journalism. If only she can convince the one guy she's ever fallen for to believe she has no ulterior motives.
Rocky Cardano may be part of the world's most famous rock band, The Rift, but he's also known as the one member who doesn't like having the spotlight shone on him. He has his secrets and simply wants his privacy respected. He doesn't trust entertainment reporters, especially after having his location divulged during a trying time in his life by the very woman he spent three unforgettable days and nights with four years ago. Now, he's going to make sure she doesn't betray the trust of his friends the way she did his.
Even with all the tension between them and the fact that he doesn't trust her, Rocky and Lita can't deny that the pull they felt in Mexico is still very much alive. Rocky begins to see her differently when he sees her at work and suggests that they deal with their attraction in the manner they know best while they're stuck in Montana. But as their feelings from before come back with a vengeance, will they be able to deal with the reality of who they both are when a less than flattering video of their friends surfaces?
I liked the dynamic between the lead characters as well as the one they shared with their friends. There's definite chemistry between Rocky and Lita and unlike the two other books in the series, there's a history there that has made them wary of each other. Lita wants to be able to redeem herself and it's obvious that she's regretted what she did to him after he ended things with her. Rocky's lack of trust is understandable but it does wreak havoc on his relationship with Lita time and again.
Playing with the Drummer was the perfect way to end the Head Over Heels series and definitely became my favorite among the three books. It wrapped everything up in a manner that left me more than satisfied and I even ended up liking Lori Hanover, the female lead character from the first book (I wasn't a fan of hers while reading book one)! There were some editing issues but since this was an ARC, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that they were addressed. ^.^ Book three gets 4.5 stars, rounded off to five star for Goodreads! ♥
Release Date: 29 December 2014
Playing with the Drummer by Robin Covington is the third and final novel in the multi-authored Head Over Heels series. This is a second chance romance and focuses on rock and roll band The Rift's drummer and an entertainment journalist who meet four years ago and spend three amazing days together only to have it all suddenly end when he suspects her of using him for a story. Fast forward four years later and they have no choice but to spend time together while celebrating the upcoming wedding of their friends.
Lita Matthews is an ambitious entertainment journalist who's working her to getting her own television show. Being invited as a guest to what's touted to be the biggest and most talked about wedding of the year will definitely help with that goal, all thanks to her being best friends with the bride's older sister. However, she doesn't want to abuse her friendship and refuses to be sucked into tabloid journalism. If only she can convince the one guy she's ever fallen for to believe she has no ulterior motives.
Rocky Cardano may be part of the world's most famous rock band, The Rift, but he's also known as the one member who doesn't like having the spotlight shone on him. He has his secrets and simply wants his privacy respected. He doesn't trust entertainment reporters, especially after having his location divulged during a trying time in his life by the very woman he spent three unforgettable days and nights with four years ago. Now, he's going to make sure she doesn't betray the trust of his friends the way she did his.
Even with all the tension between them and the fact that he doesn't trust her, Rocky and Lita can't deny that the pull they felt in Mexico is still very much alive. Rocky begins to see her differently when he sees her at work and suggests that they deal with their attraction in the manner they know best while they're stuck in Montana. But as their feelings from before come back with a vengeance, will they be able to deal with the reality of who they both are when a less than flattering video of their friends surfaces?
I liked the dynamic between the lead characters as well as the one they shared with their friends. There's definite chemistry between Rocky and Lita and unlike the two other books in the series, there's a history there that has made them wary of each other. Lita wants to be able to redeem herself and it's obvious that she's regretted what she did to him after he ended things with her. Rocky's lack of trust is understandable but it does wreak havoc on his relationship with Lita time and again.
Playing with the Drummer was the perfect way to end the Head Over Heels series and definitely became my favorite among the three books. It wrapped everything up in a manner that left me more than satisfied and I even ended up liking Lori Hanover, the female lead character from the first book (I wasn't a fan of hers while reading book one)! There were some editing issues but since this was an ARC, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that they were addressed. ^.^ Book three gets 4.5 stars, rounded off to five star for Goodreads! ♥
Release Date: 29 December 2014
December 30, 2014
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I was really confused (and yes some of my friends will say that it doesn’t take much to make me that way) when I started reading Playing with the Drummer because the characters and setting were something I knew I had read before but I also knew this was my first book by Robin Covington after some research I figured out that this book is the third book in the Head over Heels series and there was a reason the characters were familiar because I’d “met” them all before in the previous books. So, despite thinking I’d gone completely bonkers I thoroughly enjoyed this story of friendship, longing, lust, and love and it made an excellent ending to a very strong series.
I really felt for journalist Lita Matthews as she tried to balance being true to her friends, telling a story good enough to please her boss, and trying to juggle her ex-lover who refuses to let bygones be bygones even after some really heartfelt apologies. Given the chance to show the wedding of her best friend’s younger sister to the lead singer from The Rift, Lita plans to showcase the wedding in all its glory and land her own show. She never plans to have to dodge hateful remark and rudeness from Rocky, the band’s drummer and her three day vacation mistake.
Rocky Cardano can’t believe his friends have given Lita carte blanche to film their wedding beginning with the parties before the event. After the stunt she pulled on him three years ago he doesn’t trust her and aims to get in her way of getting what she wants…too bad he still wants her.
Wow there was a lot of animosity between these two just proving once again that there is a thin line between love and hate. It didn’t take long before they couldn’t keep their hands, lips, and other body parts to themselves and while they tried to tell themselves it was just while they were at the wedding their hearts weren’t cooperating.
I felt bad for both Lita and Rocky as they tried to sift through what went wrong in the past, tried to move past it, and again as their new relationship started to take hold they were hit with another blow. I loved that they both put themselves out there at different times to prove to the other there was trust and love, and that they could make things work. While we didn’t “see” what happened three years prior the reader is given enough snippets to know that they both did some things they aren’t proud of and they’ve both matured and being able to own up to their mistakes and keep the lines of communication open helped them to grow as a couple.
I loved seeing all the couples from the previous books, watching these great friends enjoy each other, give each other a slap upside the head or a shoulder when they needed it, and being the voice of reason in a very rough sea.
Playing with the Drummer may be the first book I’ve read by Robin Covington but it won’t be my last, I very much enjoyed her writing style and felt she did justice to all of the characters previously introduced and she gave us a sensuous, sexy new romance to enjoy as well.
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I was really confused (and yes some of my friends will say that it doesn’t take much to make me that way) when I started reading Playing with the Drummer because the characters and setting were something I knew I had read before but I also knew this was my first book by Robin Covington after some research I figured out that this book is the third book in the Head over Heels series and there was a reason the characters were familiar because I’d “met” them all before in the previous books. So, despite thinking I’d gone completely bonkers I thoroughly enjoyed this story of friendship, longing, lust, and love and it made an excellent ending to a very strong series.
I really felt for journalist Lita Matthews as she tried to balance being true to her friends, telling a story good enough to please her boss, and trying to juggle her ex-lover who refuses to let bygones be bygones even after some really heartfelt apologies. Given the chance to show the wedding of her best friend’s younger sister to the lead singer from The Rift, Lita plans to showcase the wedding in all its glory and land her own show. She never plans to have to dodge hateful remark and rudeness from Rocky, the band’s drummer and her three day vacation mistake.
Rocky Cardano can’t believe his friends have given Lita carte blanche to film their wedding beginning with the parties before the event. After the stunt she pulled on him three years ago he doesn’t trust her and aims to get in her way of getting what she wants…too bad he still wants her.
Wow there was a lot of animosity between these two just proving once again that there is a thin line between love and hate. It didn’t take long before they couldn’t keep their hands, lips, and other body parts to themselves and while they tried to tell themselves it was just while they were at the wedding their hearts weren’t cooperating.
I felt bad for both Lita and Rocky as they tried to sift through what went wrong in the past, tried to move past it, and again as their new relationship started to take hold they were hit with another blow. I loved that they both put themselves out there at different times to prove to the other there was trust and love, and that they could make things work. While we didn’t “see” what happened three years prior the reader is given enough snippets to know that they both did some things they aren’t proud of and they’ve both matured and being able to own up to their mistakes and keep the lines of communication open helped them to grow as a couple.
I loved seeing all the couples from the previous books, watching these great friends enjoy each other, give each other a slap upside the head or a shoulder when they needed it, and being the voice of reason in a very rough sea.
Playing with the Drummer may be the first book I’ve read by Robin Covington but it won’t be my last, I very much enjoyed her writing style and felt she did justice to all of the characters previously introduced and she gave us a sensuous, sexy new romance to enjoy as well.
December 28, 2014
Take one brooding, sexy drummer. Add a daughter of Hollywood royalty. Throw in 3 days and nights of no names, no strings, and no worries sex in Mexico. Shake, let sit for four years then open and let loose at a wedding and watch the fun begin.
This is exactly what Robin Covington gives us with the final instalment of the Head Over Heels series. I love this authors books and jumped at the chance to read this book and I was not disappointed. We get The Rift drummer Rocky Cardano and Lita Matthews, reporter and Lori from book one’s bestie.
I loooved Rocky. OMG, if he was real I would fight Lita to the death for him. He is six feet plus of deliciousness. Yes I have developed a huge crush on him. The man is a dream. Yes he can be a bit gruff, but he is fiercely protective of those he loves. Oh and when he sprouts lines like this……swoon, panties melted.
“You are every song I have written or ever will write. You are the melody that keeps me awake at night. Your heartbeat is the only percussion, the thing that drives me.”
It was fun watching the sparks fly off these two. From their first encounter to their last, every time they were on the page together the sexual tension crackled from my kindle. Even when Rocky was putting his foot in his mouth with Lita it was still there. They have chemistry in spades.
“Good. Because when we’re done here, I’m going to take you up to my room, strip you naked, and do it all over again. It will be like before. We’ll wallow in lust for days, wring each other dry, and then go our separate ways. Any objection needs to happen right now, because once I’m inside you, it’s game on.”
But when angry sex, leads to more and that is jeopardised by Lita’s ass of a boss, who after finding out that she deliberately sat on a story about Rocky does the unthinkable to sabotage her career. Can they find their way back to the happiness they have found after four years or will past actions keep them apart for good this time?
Be prepared to tear up or shed a tear in the last chapter, I did and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The words spoken to each other were just beautiful and perfect for Rock and Lita.
The series is wrapped up beautifully. We get a wedding, happy couples and surprise announcement in the epilogue.
This book proved why this author is a favourite of mine. She can write a steamy book with feelings and humour and have you falling in love with the characters so fast your head will spin. Robin Covington is awesome.
This book was supplied by the author/publisher for an honest review.
This is exactly what Robin Covington gives us with the final instalment of the Head Over Heels series. I love this authors books and jumped at the chance to read this book and I was not disappointed. We get The Rift drummer Rocky Cardano and Lita Matthews, reporter and Lori from book one’s bestie.
I loooved Rocky. OMG, if he was real I would fight Lita to the death for him. He is six feet plus of deliciousness. Yes I have developed a huge crush on him. The man is a dream. Yes he can be a bit gruff, but he is fiercely protective of those he loves. Oh and when he sprouts lines like this……swoon, panties melted.
“You are every song I have written or ever will write. You are the melody that keeps me awake at night. Your heartbeat is the only percussion, the thing that drives me.”
It was fun watching the sparks fly off these two. From their first encounter to their last, every time they were on the page together the sexual tension crackled from my kindle. Even when Rocky was putting his foot in his mouth with Lita it was still there. They have chemistry in spades.
“Good. Because when we’re done here, I’m going to take you up to my room, strip you naked, and do it all over again. It will be like before. We’ll wallow in lust for days, wring each other dry, and then go our separate ways. Any objection needs to happen right now, because once I’m inside you, it’s game on.”
But when angry sex, leads to more and that is jeopardised by Lita’s ass of a boss, who after finding out that she deliberately sat on a story about Rocky does the unthinkable to sabotage her career. Can they find their way back to the happiness they have found after four years or will past actions keep them apart for good this time?
Be prepared to tear up or shed a tear in the last chapter, I did and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The words spoken to each other were just beautiful and perfect for Rock and Lita.
The series is wrapped up beautifully. We get a wedding, happy couples and surprise announcement in the epilogue.
This book proved why this author is a favourite of mine. She can write a steamy book with feelings and humour and have you falling in love with the characters so fast your head will spin. Robin Covington is awesome.
This book was supplied by the author/publisher for an honest review.
March 31, 2015
This lovers to enemies back to lovers again romance is the story of Rocky and Lita. Meeting as strangers 4 years earlier, they shared an intimate weekend until the reality of their lives - Lita as an entertainment reporter and Rocky as a reclusive media shy rock star killed their passion with a vengeance. But ending up being part of the same circle of friends means having to put up with seeing each other periodically and the wedding of Rocky's band mate with Lita as the invited reporter for the exclusive scoop means they are stuck together again. Passion was never their problem but trust is - will they let a second chance go to waste?
I loved this story! What a fun premise, to have two such opposites stuck together, trying to feign indifference when in reality they are so attracted to each other they are practically seeing stars. The sexual tension between them sizzles and the love scenes are tender and steamy as the couple decides to throw caution to the winds and get the lingering desire for each other out of their systems once and for all. But a relationship without trust won't last and that of course is the crux of the matter and the story, as the slow sharing of confidences leads to that trust and the realization that they might have something worth fighting for. I really enjoyed both characters in this story. Lita is passionate, fun loving, a dynamo in bed and out and the perfect fit for solid, cocky (not a pun, wink wink) dependable Rocky. Secondary characters are equally important to the plot and the comaradarie between the women and men both together and separately make for a dynamic, emotional and fun story. I regret to say that I had not read the previous stories in this series, but that will be swiftly remedied, as I found all of the characters to be intriguing and worth reading about. I enjoyed every minute of this sexy romance. 5 stars!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
I loved this story! What a fun premise, to have two such opposites stuck together, trying to feign indifference when in reality they are so attracted to each other they are practically seeing stars. The sexual tension between them sizzles and the love scenes are tender and steamy as the couple decides to throw caution to the winds and get the lingering desire for each other out of their systems once and for all. But a relationship without trust won't last and that of course is the crux of the matter and the story, as the slow sharing of confidences leads to that trust and the realization that they might have something worth fighting for. I really enjoyed both characters in this story. Lita is passionate, fun loving, a dynamo in bed and out and the perfect fit for solid, cocky (not a pun, wink wink) dependable Rocky. Secondary characters are equally important to the plot and the comaradarie between the women and men both together and separately make for a dynamic, emotional and fun story. I regret to say that I had not read the previous stories in this series, but that will be swiftly remedied, as I found all of the characters to be intriguing and worth reading about. I enjoyed every minute of this sexy romance. 5 stars!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
January 9, 2015
https://coffeebookslifeblog.wordpress...
Seventy-two hours of uninhibited lust and passion with a nameless person who sparked your body in all the right ways, sounds almost too go to be true. True enough to rock the foundations of both Rocky and Lita. Until the moment that names come to the faces that had them ripping their clothes off. Changing lust for anger in a split second, leaving a lot of harmful words and deeds in wake of something that left a lasting impression soul deep. Fast forward four years, Rocky and Lita skate around each other in social settings, while harboring both animosity and underlining desire. When paired together for friends wedding has both heads and clothes flying.
Lita loves the spotlight. Being the daughter of Hollywood and an entertainment reporter she knows all too well how the game is played. Being presented with an opportunity to fill her dream puts her in an awkward position. She surprised me by not being a ruthless, cut throat reporter. She has a sense of dignity and pride in what she does. She adds a bit of class to world that can be very ugly. She’s a true friend. She went out of her way, above and beyond and even surprise me by sacrificing something I didn’t think she would.
Rocky is the the hottest recluse known to man. Drummer for an amazing rock band who’s always in the media spotlight, Rocky prefers to sit behind his kit, playing music. He’s known for his dislike of reporters. Rocky will avoid them at all cost. He has his reasons. A private man who is fiercely loyal to those he cares about. Sexy, headed and protective, Rocky won my heart from the very beginning.
The chemistry and sexual tension between Rocky and Lita set the stage for this quick read. Tempers flair, passion flow and a few people learn who they really are and what they want in life. Playing with the Drummer hits the spot for a good Rocker Romance.
Seventy-two hours of uninhibited lust and passion with a nameless person who sparked your body in all the right ways, sounds almost too go to be true. True enough to rock the foundations of both Rocky and Lita. Until the moment that names come to the faces that had them ripping their clothes off. Changing lust for anger in a split second, leaving a lot of harmful words and deeds in wake of something that left a lasting impression soul deep. Fast forward four years, Rocky and Lita skate around each other in social settings, while harboring both animosity and underlining desire. When paired together for friends wedding has both heads and clothes flying.
Lita loves the spotlight. Being the daughter of Hollywood and an entertainment reporter she knows all too well how the game is played. Being presented with an opportunity to fill her dream puts her in an awkward position. She surprised me by not being a ruthless, cut throat reporter. She has a sense of dignity and pride in what she does. She adds a bit of class to world that can be very ugly. She’s a true friend. She went out of her way, above and beyond and even surprise me by sacrificing something I didn’t think she would.
Rocky is the the hottest recluse known to man. Drummer for an amazing rock band who’s always in the media spotlight, Rocky prefers to sit behind his kit, playing music. He’s known for his dislike of reporters. Rocky will avoid them at all cost. He has his reasons. A private man who is fiercely loyal to those he cares about. Sexy, headed and protective, Rocky won my heart from the very beginning.
The chemistry and sexual tension between Rocky and Lita set the stage for this quick read. Tempers flair, passion flow and a few people learn who they really are and what they want in life. Playing with the Drummer hits the spot for a good Rocker Romance.
December 28, 2014
3.5-4 stars.
Even though this was part of a series and the characters from the other books show up here, I didn’t feel you really need to read the rest of the series to understand this one.
So, we have Rocky and Lita, two people who hooked up years ago and for different reasons went their separate way and are now given a second chance.
I liked both Lita and Rocky. Lita was light in every part of her life, she thrived under the spotlight and had no problem shining that light on others if it meant she’d help. Which is what she wanted for her friends and their wedding, helping them show the world they were the real deal. I liked that she really worked for what she wanted, mostly in her professional life, and hated the idea of using her parents’ name to get ahead. I also liked that she owned up to her mistakes, particularly what happened with Rocky in the past, she wasn’t afraid to say she was sorry and show vulnerability when the time came.
Rocky was the opposite, he loved living in the darkness, hated the spotlight his life brought him. Once we hear about his past though, is easy to see how his armor came into place. I just wanted to hug him, although I did want to slap him a bit after being a bit of an ass to Lita. I also liked that in the end, he was willing to live in her world of light, even if it made him uncomfortable, just because she was there. :-) He ended up being a lot sweeter than what I thought, which strangely, suited him perfectly.
There was some drama in the end, and even though some parts were a little predictable, I thought it had the perfect resolution.
There were hot and sweet moments in this one and now I think I’ll read the rest of the series, both previous and upcoming books (if there are any more).
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
Even though this was part of a series and the characters from the other books show up here, I didn’t feel you really need to read the rest of the series to understand this one.
So, we have Rocky and Lita, two people who hooked up years ago and for different reasons went their separate way and are now given a second chance.
I liked both Lita and Rocky. Lita was light in every part of her life, she thrived under the spotlight and had no problem shining that light on others if it meant she’d help. Which is what she wanted for her friends and their wedding, helping them show the world they were the real deal. I liked that she really worked for what she wanted, mostly in her professional life, and hated the idea of using her parents’ name to get ahead. I also liked that she owned up to her mistakes, particularly what happened with Rocky in the past, she wasn’t afraid to say she was sorry and show vulnerability when the time came.
Rocky was the opposite, he loved living in the darkness, hated the spotlight his life brought him. Once we hear about his past though, is easy to see how his armor came into place. I just wanted to hug him, although I did want to slap him a bit after being a bit of an ass to Lita. I also liked that in the end, he was willing to live in her world of light, even if it made him uncomfortable, just because she was there. :-) He ended up being a lot sweeter than what I thought, which strangely, suited him perfectly.
There was some drama in the end, and even though some parts were a little predictable, I thought it had the perfect resolution.
There were hot and sweet moments in this one and now I think I’ll read the rest of the series, both previous and upcoming books (if there are any more).
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
December 26, 2014
Playing with the Drummer by Robin Covington is the 3rd book in the Head over Heels series. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, after reading it, I think it may have been better if I had read the other two books that preceded it. In the beginning, I was hesitant because I thought I would be missing something in the story. Despite that, I actually liked the book a lot. I am a big lover of bad boy books especially those with rock stars. This is a beautiful love story with a lot of heat. The storyline at a great pace and the writing style is absolutely great because I didn’t get lost trying to figure out the other characters from the previous books. There was just enough history to give me a sense of the complete story.
Rocky Cardano and Lita Matthews have a past but now they both need to put the past behind them for varied reasons. Lita is an up and coming journalist and she is just about to make it in the big leagues with her own TV show or as an anchor if she can just get the inside scoop on the hottest rock star wedding. Unfortunately, the groom just happens to be Rocky’s band mate. Four years ago, Lita and Rocky shared a hot hookup in Mexico that went bad due to some misunderstanding. Because of that, Rocky is not too thrilled for Lita to have tell his friend’s story. Rocky does not like to be in the limelight. He has his secrets and he likes his privacy and he definitely doesn’t want Lita exposing his friends.
Rocky has to try to put aside his feelings aside and try to work with Lita and when he does that, the sparks fly. The chemistry with Rocky and Lita is undeniable and eventually they both have to give in and realize that what they had in Mexico is nowhere near over and done with.
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 29, 2014
Having a career in the spotlight is never easy. Something that Lita Matthews knows all too well. As a journalist, Lita knows how hard it can be to break the latest news. Working towards her dream of working as a headliner on a television show, Lita knows that each story she reports could make or break her career. Now she is faced with a difficult decision. As a wedding attendee of one of the biggest and talked about weddings of the year, Lita must walk the line of reports the latest gossip or showcasing a friends event.
Tension is growing surrounding Lita’s spotlight on the wedding. One of the band members - Rocky Cardano - remembers his past with Lita. Their hook-up in Mexico ended with his whereabouts reported to every tabloid outlet around. With his privacy invaded, Rocky has never forgotten Lita’s role in exposing him to the media. His fears about her intentions towards the news of the wedding have him on edge. Can Lita convince Rocky that her intentions are honorable?
With tensions mounting, the duo find that the feelings they still hold for one another are still in the forefront of their minds. As they spend more time together, Rocky proposes they both enjoy each others company while staying in Montana. Things begin to pick up where the duo left off in Mexico. However, time is not on their side, and the pressures of the journalistic world will send the couple into a spiral. Will they be able to overcome the pressures of the outside world, and explore the depths of their relationship?
Rocky and Lita have a history that fuels doubt about their intentions. Each living with regret and a longing for the other. As they walk a fine line between romance and trust, both must relive the past to move forward. Playing With The Drummer was a wonderful addition to the Head Over Heels series!!
Tension is growing surrounding Lita’s spotlight on the wedding. One of the band members - Rocky Cardano - remembers his past with Lita. Their hook-up in Mexico ended with his whereabouts reported to every tabloid outlet around. With his privacy invaded, Rocky has never forgotten Lita’s role in exposing him to the media. His fears about her intentions towards the news of the wedding have him on edge. Can Lita convince Rocky that her intentions are honorable?
With tensions mounting, the duo find that the feelings they still hold for one another are still in the forefront of their minds. As they spend more time together, Rocky proposes they both enjoy each others company while staying in Montana. Things begin to pick up where the duo left off in Mexico. However, time is not on their side, and the pressures of the journalistic world will send the couple into a spiral. Will they be able to overcome the pressures of the outside world, and explore the depths of their relationship?
Rocky and Lita have a history that fuels doubt about their intentions. Each living with regret and a longing for the other. As they walk a fine line between romance and trust, both must relive the past to move forward. Playing With The Drummer was a wonderful addition to the Head Over Heels series!!
January 2, 2015
Privacy loving rock star drummer + limelight loving entertainment reporter = one hot read!
I really enjoyed Lita and Rocky’s story. This is the third book in the series and the first one I have read. The author does a great job filling in the blanks as needed, so the only thing I felt like I was missing was the pleasure of reading the first two books in the series!
On the surface Lita and Rocky couldn't appear more different. Lita lives for the limelight while Rocky avoids any type of press at all, a fact that ended their brief affair four years ago. And when they are thrown together at the wedding and find that the four years apart haven’t even come close to dousing the attraction between the two, they are also forced to confront the issues that drove them apart. Of course once they begin to scratch beneath the surface it seems that they are more alike than either of them could ever believe.
Rocky was a great brooding, moody, troubled past character. He’s got so many issues and secrets, but was so protective (sometimes to the extreme) of those he loves, it was hard to stay mad at him for some of his behavior. Lita was energy and fun, but she also carried a bunch of baggage from her high profile Hollywood upbringing. And when Lita has a lead on a story that can make her career, she is forced to make some tough choices that may impact the rest of her life.
Throw in some crazy wedding festivities, secrets from the past that won’t remain buried, a back-stabbing boss, and lots of hot, steamy and even tender times between Rocky and Lita, and this book had a bit of everything!
I would definitely recommend this book, and can’t wait to go back and read the first two in the series.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Lita and Rocky’s story. This is the third book in the series and the first one I have read. The author does a great job filling in the blanks as needed, so the only thing I felt like I was missing was the pleasure of reading the first two books in the series!
On the surface Lita and Rocky couldn't appear more different. Lita lives for the limelight while Rocky avoids any type of press at all, a fact that ended their brief affair four years ago. And when they are thrown together at the wedding and find that the four years apart haven’t even come close to dousing the attraction between the two, they are also forced to confront the issues that drove them apart. Of course once they begin to scratch beneath the surface it seems that they are more alike than either of them could ever believe.
Rocky was a great brooding, moody, troubled past character. He’s got so many issues and secrets, but was so protective (sometimes to the extreme) of those he loves, it was hard to stay mad at him for some of his behavior. Lita was energy and fun, but she also carried a bunch of baggage from her high profile Hollywood upbringing. And when Lita has a lead on a story that can make her career, she is forced to make some tough choices that may impact the rest of her life.
Throw in some crazy wedding festivities, secrets from the past that won’t remain buried, a back-stabbing boss, and lots of hot, steamy and even tender times between Rocky and Lita, and this book had a bit of everything!
I would definitely recommend this book, and can’t wait to go back and read the first two in the series.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews