RECKLESS - Part 1

The Reckless #1

by Alice Ward

This is the first part of RECKLESS - a five part steamy new adult series by Alice Ward.

Even the best laid plans can be derailed.

Andrea Mercer had her entire life mapped out—everything from her career as a top journalist to her future CEO husband, white picket fence, and two-point five children. All she had to do was make it to graduation—three more months—and that perfect life would begin.

But Andrea isn’t immune to the life-altering forces that can derail even the best-laid plans . . . In Andrea’s case, that force is Jace Richardson, the tattooed sexy rocker god on campus. Cocky, suave, and chauvinistic, Jace is everything that she can’t stand in a man. But it’s either cover the story on Jace’s band, Reckless, or lose the one thing that matters to her the most: her position at the campus paper. Only, as she begins to work on the column, Andrea learns that there’s more to the campus god than meets the eye.

Will Andrea be able to hold onto her dreams for the future as the sexy vocal guitarist flips her entire life upside down? Or will Jace light a fire in her that she never knew existed?

The RECKLESS Series is intended for a mature audience, 18+ only.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Music, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, College

140 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2014

About the author

Alice Ward is the bestselling author of dozens of hot and steamy contemporary romances. She’s an amazingly prolific writer, releasing a new book almost every single month. Her books are widely read, especially by women and any other lovers of the romance genre. My Stepbrother, My Lover, was her first smash hit.

*** Get a Free VIP Exclusive Alice Ward book here: authoraliceward.com/free-book ***

Alice lives in Miami with her hunky husband. The beach is her all time favorite place to relax with her laptop and write.


Alice loves to connect with her readers:
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Reviews

[LIZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty much your typical girl meets bad boy book. A little different, but still the same idea. Andrea has her whole life's plan down to a T. Then she meets Jace. The rock star bad boy who shows up and turns her life upside-down. Whoa, never heard of a book like this before. (<- That was sarcasm)

There is a scene in the beginning of the book that made me furious. I'm glad I was able to get over it and finish the book. But honestly, I was really really close to ending the book then and there. Don't get me wrong, I am all for not objectifying women and women equality, but when she exploded in the coffee shop, I got got mad at her. She was rude and ridiculous. Jace was offering to buy Andrea and, her friend, Becca coffee, NOT buying her for the night. She exploded on him for no reason. Why is that considered sexy? Because she was dramatic? Ugh, Maybe that's why I'm single. Lol.

But what makes me even angrier, is when after the Cafe scene she goes to his concert in a very strappy and revealing top. She wants to make him jealous by showing off her body. Which is counter-intuitive to what she did in the Cafe. She is objectifying her body, to make him jealous. Jealous of what; I have no idea. That was the point where I had to decide whether I was going to continue or not. That was horrible. Let's hope fellow readers and women don't find this acceptable behavior and expect a man to love them after it.

The first half of the book she is a fast-witted, strong woman, but after the concert she become a mushy dopey airhead. Why do people think women become brain dead after seeing a handsome man? Lol.


Then Andrea's crazy boyfriend, Sean, comes into play. I get men wanting to be protective and territorial, but what he did was uncalled for, and then she takes him back! I can't even. You've got to be kidding me. I don't care if she was with him for a week or for four years; That behavior is never ok. Never.

After all this ranting and issues with the book, I really did enjoy it. I like Andrea's determination to reach her dreams and goals, whether or not a boy is in the equation. Her dream > Boys. I love Becca. She is blunt, strong, and caring. I wish she could be my friend in real life. I would have loved to see and meet the band members or some of Jace's friends. He brings them up, but we never see them. It felt like Jace, Becca, Andrea, and Sean are the only characters existing in the entire Reckless book world.

I enjoyed the realistic view of Jace and Andrea's, and Andrea and Sean's relationship. It was not overly idealized and fantastical. These relationships show how life can change on a whim. How people change over time; and how sometimes who you are with is not who you are meant to be with. Showing the difference between who you should love and who you do love.

[Laura Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to the series. I actually read all the books in the series prior to my review.

I am a huge Alice Ward fan. I read all of her books.

This series happens to be one of my favorite. I love Jace. He is surprisingly sweet. I thought the story was extremely well written. I loved the way the conversation flowed, which happens to be a pet peeve of mine when it is written in a way that is believable. Andrea was a little whiny at times but I loved her all the same. And life doesn't always go the way we plan but in some cases, as this story it works out for the best.

Definite must read series

[AJ Swen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the series..
Andrea is in a long-distance relationship with her fiancé, Sean. She's finishing up her senior year in college, and has a prime job at the school newspaper. Her last assignment is to cover the "Entertainment" section of the paper, and attend the upcoming concert.
Before the concert, she meets Jace Richardson, the lead singer, and she's rude, blunt, and sassy. Now, she has to interview him?
As Andy struggles with her long-distance relationship, she and Jace seem to build onto more than just a "interview".
Great/quick read.

[Misty Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. It captured my attention. Jace is great. Andrea is a whiny, annoying sap sometimes. I wish that I could reach into the book and slap her sometimes. If I had paid closer attention, I probably wouldn't have read the first two installments that are currently free because a book published in segments is really irritating. However, now I want to know where the story goes, even if I want to still make Andrea's teeth rattle. Well played on hooking a reader, Alice Ward, well played.

[J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t like to write negative reviews but wanted to say I kind of liked the singer. What bothered me was Andy calling her job at the school paper a “career”. Honey. That is not a career. Also the whole scene being a bitch over a guy paying for your coffee. That’s just bitchy. Then the “sexy” top. ... Yeah, no. This book isn’t for me.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming soon!

[Juli Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Jace seems like a really good guy, hope Andrea can see that and not go back to that douche bag boyfriend of hers. I can't wait for the next installment.

[Janejellyroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the funniest things about reading a lot of Kindle freebies is the frequency at which I finish a story and think to myself "What does this title have to do with the book?"

I assume the recklessness in this story happens after the first part, because the only time in this story that recklessness in this story is when Andrea orders a beer, alone, at a concert and then deliberately leaves it so that she can go to the restroom instead of 1) just ordering the beer afterwards or 2) taking it with her to the restroom. I would never order a beer and then just leave it at a college concert because my first thought would be 1) someone is just going to take it and chug it and 2) if it is there when you get back, for goodness sake, don't drink it, honey!

Actually, that does make me realize that there is ONE truly reckless thing that happens in this book. When Jace, the local college rock star, finds Andrea passed out in the grass, he doesn't tell anyone or contact the police or ask any of the women around to help her. He picks her up and takes her to his apartment, where they can be alone. He carries an unconscious woman, who he assumes has been roofied, to his apartment. I guess in a world full of men who are under the false impression that the biggest problem between men and women are men being falsely accused of sexual assault, Jace is the outlier who cannot imagine a situation where he would ever be accused of sexual assault, even if a woman who can't remember anything about the night after drinking her second beer evening wakes up in his bed with nobody else around (Jace's explanation is that it would be frightening to wake up in a hospital or a police station, but both of those sound MUCH BETTER to me than waking up, undressed, in the bed of a man that I've only briefly met after being drugged). And Andrea's like, "Yeah, I'm a student journalist and this sounds reasonable to me despite the fact that a couple of days ago I couldn't shut up about what a sexist manipulator you are."

This is the point where I realized we had abandoned reality as I know it and I just had to finish the book. So it's finished, at least to the point of the cliffhanger ending. Will Andrea realize that she needs to leave her fiance and get with Jace, the guy all the women at school want? Will Jace stop staring at Andrea in a tormented fashion? Will there be any further recklessness? Will we find out why Andrea's number one goal is a "top news column" and why she thought writing about local politics for the college paper would allow her to obtain that when she graduated?

[Thereadingbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a a very fast read and a good story to follow. Hot rocker meets college paper reporter and her world starts to fall apart. She is shocked by her response to the cocky rocker at least that is what she thinks about him. In the end he is not typical rocker looking for a groupie. He has his eyes set on her and some how he becomes the hero and saves the day more than once. The electricity is flowing the hearts are beating will it happen for these two. She is engaged to her long time boyfriend back home they only time together is having phone sex. An incident happens the boy friend flies out and he becomes a jerk she learns of his true nature is is obsessive and jealous. She has a lot to think about who will win her heart well i guess i must carry on and read the next book to find out. if you like romance novels this is a cute story and very fast read. The characters are enjoyable the plot is some what predictable but it still leaves you wanting to read more. Off to book 2 for I want to know what happens.

[Christine B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea was a planner she had everything mapped out in her life, college, married Sean her fiancé and 2.5 kids with Sean as an CEO and Andrea a new editor. However, something has off, she wasn't filling fulfilled in her life. Then she got an assignment for an entertainment piece and as Andrea was getting coffee met a gorgeous rock god of a man smiling at her and Becca her best friend told her who he was, Jace the lead singer and base guitar player from Reckless.

Andrea would teach Jace a lesson and ended up bombing on the interview and was left in awe of Jace until he dismissed her after finding out she was engaged.Within days Andrea made a complete mess of her entire life because she always over think everything. Without having spoilers I will say read the series because now Andrea has to put her life back together and find out which man she wants The save controlling finance or the gorgeous rock god.

[Mary Winstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea is almost done with college 3 more months. She's engaged to her boyfriend of 4 years Sean. She thinks precludes set to go until her and her roommate go to the coffeehouse to get coffee and that's when a gorgeous guys wants to buy her coffee. Being Mrs independent she goes off on him and walks out. Only to realize she went off on the lead singer of the band she has to interview that weekend. She asks her publisher if she could trade but nope she has to do it or lose her job. What is she gonna do. Need to read. I cannot wait to read the entire series..

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

in love already

[HG7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

started off fine...but really unrealistic side bars in the story that were just not plausible. classic storyline but sweet

[Terri West · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a complete series although I quite enjoyed it I could quite happily have punched Andrea in the face. She is a bit whiny and seriously over thinks everything to the point of nausea.

[Ivette Ramirez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the best

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so.Shelley MA

[~~LAJ~~]

What a fucking bitch! No thank you.

[LaDonna]

As the year comes close to an end, I have been digging back through my Kindle catching on up on books that have been sitting, waiting for much too long. As I plan to kick my rockstar romance blog back up a few notches when the new year begins, a lot of my focus has been on the stories of that genre. I noticed the first 2 books of this series and decided to give them a try.

I liked this, much more than I initially thought I would. Andrea is a college senior, a journalism major with a political focus. She has a fiance back home, her whole life planned out down to the street her house with the white picket fence would be, in proximity to the private schools her 2.5 kids would best overachieve at while being bastians of political correctness and uptight liberal rhetoric. Okay, I exagerate a bit, but like I said, I truly wasn't prepared to like this book, and I don't remember all the details of how she wound up having to cover a dreaded rock concert for the school paper for the same reason. I do remember her roommate pointing out the guy she had just insulted at the coffe shop as being a mysoginistic pig was the same man she was assigned to interview for the paper, their silly revenge plot against him, and everything after that. Jace Richardson is very well portrayed as a rock god with a heart of gold, and a chilvarous gentleman to boot. The book ends on a cliffhanger, making me glad that I have book two already in my library to delve into as soon as I finish this review (even though I had told myself I was not going to binge on series even though that meant putting off books by some of my favorite authors - I was set on discovering as many new authors as I could this month.)

So, with all this praise, why only 4 stars? The biggest is probably that it could really use a good editor. Some places the wrong word was used (more than once), timeline issues and a few other little things here and there that could be caught and fixed pretty easily with another good run through. As I beta read a lot of books, it rather annoys me to find myself highlighting passages that need to be looked at automatically in books that I am reading because I had picked them up on their own merit. I also can't say that I have really invested in the heroine yet, but I do like the way Ms. Ward has written her discovering and questioning herself and her relationships. I like her best friend and roommate, Becca, a lot - probably more than the heroine herself at this point. While I do hope to see more of Becca as the series progresses, I hope I quicklycome to feel more of a connection to Andy.

Probably should recommend for mature audiences, but there are very few explicit passages, and though a main character is drugged, nothing bad happens as a result of it. Overall, a pretty clean read.

[~lil maso~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrea, aka Andy is a little bit of a stubborn, over the top, control freak. She and her fiancé, Sean, have everything planned out. The house with the white picket fence and the kiddies in toe. After her career in Journalism, of course. But things aren't as perfect as their plans, things are a miss with these two, regardless of the love.

When Andy is pulled off her political column for the campus paper and handed an assignment, to attend and write about Reckless, the rock band playing on campus, she is less than thrilled, and after a rather rude chance encounter with the delicious lead singer, Andy is dreading it even more.

Jace Richardson, the sex on legs Rock God comes across as the cocky, tattooed heart breaker. Your typical rockstar with a flock of groupies hanging off his every word. And that may be the case, but there is more to Jace.

After popping her concert cherry, the chemistry between these two are off the charts, until the mention of then fiancé that is.
Finding Andy in a dangerous situation, Jace comes to her rescue and takes her home, his home.

With a now jealous and freaked out fiancé, Andy is left feeling all kinds of emotions.
lust, need, guilt ....
The more time she spends with Jace, the more she wants to know, the more she can not stop thinking about him. But the guilt is eating away at her, she loves Sean and isn't ready to throw away 5 years over an infatuation. But that doesn't stop her from craving the sexy rocker who is proving to be more of a gentleman with a cocky attitude then a douche.

Will I stick around for part 2? Yes, these two have a sweet thing blossoming and I'd like to see where the author takes them in the remanding 4 parts, hopefully somewhere steamy ;)

*ARC received in exchange for a honest review*

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[Koko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free and said why not read it. OMG it got me hooked! So andrea has her life in order and knows everything want she wants in the future. Or that's what she thought. It didn't work that way. Right now she is a long distance relationship with Sean and they've been together for five years. She thought he was it. But then she had to do this column on the band. That's when she met jace Richardson. The singer. She hated him at first and thought he was a player. But as she interviewed them kept running into him she saw him as something else. Something more. She estates feeling something for him. She didn't know how to feel about them though because she was engaged to Sean. Well in the end she ends up kissing him and then runs away for the weekend. Sean ends up ending their relationship and she's all depressed for two weeks. And that's how it ends. I can't wait to read more about it. I hope she ends up with jace!

[Wrenà · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Reckless - Part 1" is my first introduction to author Alice Ward. I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy this book, wondering if it would be 'too young'. But I was curious enough, and always like finding new authors, that I gave it a shot. So glad that I did!! The story of Andy and Jace drew me in from the very beginning and I couldn't wait to find out where things went. What I am enjoying the most - now that I am almost finished with the second book - is that the story builds .... it's not just "they meet, they jump in bed, end of story" ... and has a little more substance. Which I was not expecting, but pleased with!! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story, a quick read, something with a little more depth & just enough drama and spice where needed!!

[K3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I enjoyed this book a lot. I had a bit of a hard time with Andy. She was almost over the top and not in a good way. There were just certain situations that you could tell she wasn't happy in her current relationship. Then when she meets Jace- he makes her feel alive.
What came out of left field was her fiancé's attitude. He went from a loving guy to prick with anger issues in less than 60 seconds.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. I LOVED Jace. Of course it leaves you hanging. I am hoping that book #2, Andy will loosen up a bit.

[Alice Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello dear readers,

I'm so excited to share with you my new NA Romance series. I really enjoyed writing it. And I keep writing those next parts for you. You won't believe what's coming!

I hope you like it :)

Don't forget to follow along on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliceWard

And my website:
http://authoraliceward.com/

Don't get left Behind!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Loved the mysterious Jace from the first moment in the coffee shop. The ending of the first book was harsh, it made me yell at my Kindle - I couldn't believe that the book finished just there. The good news is that I moved straight onto book 2, the bad news it appears to be over 5 books so there will be will definitely be a wait for some instalments.

A brilliant read overall and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

So where to start. First, I found Andrea annoying a lot of the book with her attitude and how she was so type A she couldn't let anything go. Parts of the book I really liked her and was hoping she was starting to change her ways and loosen up a bit. Jace was interesting, but not completely developed. You find a lot of information about him, but he doesn't get anymore developed then that. I did by the end find myself wanting to know what happens next so I will probably read the next book.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has a lot going for it. It is nice to see a different spin on the rocker romance. (at least in part 1). Jace has morals. He actually appears to be a good guy. And Andy...she's a good girl that's a little confused. hopefully she realizes that he's not the reason that she's questioning her future... I'm starting part 2 now

[Holly Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea led me to believe that her fiance was a very sweet man..everything ahe ever wanted but then gets angry and even physical after ONE little thing? You cannot expect me to believe that there were no prior signs or warnings of this coming!

I have it 4 stars as I am excited to see where this relationshi bewtween Andrea and Jace goes. So far, I adore Jace...can I have one of my own?

[Kimberly Walden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of Kindle Unlimited. Had a great start but a little flat to me. Rock star of the college meets girl 3 months from graduation with long-term, long-distance relationship. Will she give up her dreams.... cliffhanger.

[Leighanne Cooper nottingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace!!!

I love this book so far... I'm kind of bummed it is in 5 parts...I wish it could be in one book. I however have been suckered into buying the next book because this is really good and Jace is really hot!!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this story was even though it was Taboo for Alice to like Jace. She did anyway. She fought the attraction from the beginning. She had a good man at home. Waiting for her. But was he a good man? Was he the man she had always known? :)