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Love of a Rockstar #2

Broken Lullabies

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Three years ago, Camille Barker was held at knife point but her attacker wasn't the one who haunted her dreams. No, it was the man that stood a-washed in the yellow glow of the street light, his stare observant but heedless. A witness to the senseless act. The venom that dripped from his twisted lips saved Camille's life and set her soul ablaze. Reemerging from the ashes, she set upon the well worn path her parent’s always dreamed she would take. That is until rock n roller, Matthew Lee, shows her that you can only bask in the sun so long before the monsters come out to play.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2015

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624 people want to read

About the author

Nicole Simone

13 books166 followers
Nicole Simone works in digital media by day and at night, pen’s character-driven romance novels that will make your mama blush. She lives in Portland, OR with her lab mix, Loki.

She loves hearing from her readers and can be reached at info@authornicolesimone.com

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for ~Stéphanie~.
623 reviews361 followers
July 31, 2015
This is the part I don't like as a reviewer. When an author contacts me to review her book and when at the end it's not a 5 star read like I would want it to be. I find it so hard to criticize a book when someone personally asks for your honest opinion. I just want to hide right now but I hope Nicole you will see my review as constructive and not something bad because you seem a really sweet person and I did like your book even if I had some issues.

Broken Lullabies is the second book in the Love a rockstar series and will tell you the story of Camille and Matthew.

While I found the book pretty well written and cute at times, I had two main issues:

1- The lack of background
2- The weak twist

1- When you read a stand-alone book and when it's part of a series. If the two main characters have already met in certain circumstance in the previous book, I think it's best to give an overview of what happened in said book.
I felt like I was missing a part of their connections. I know I can now write the first book to know what happened but to me a small recollection from their pov would have been better.

From there, I had questions in my mind and it disrupted my reading quite a lot. And being who I am I think I lost a good portion of the book trying to guess and in conclusion I missed Camille and Matthew's connections, why they were attracted to each other in the first place.
With the twist I could understand Matthew's attraction but on Camille's side, not at all.

I also lacked some background regarding the band. I know it's not a book about music or the band itself but names are mentioned and I had no idea who they were. Once again I had to guess they were part of the group. We get the information but after I was already introduced to two members.

Matthew and Camille are complex characters, they have both something that happened in their past and they are still carrying the after-effects in their lives.

Camille is the one who's suffering the most. Her life has changed after an assault that took place when she was 18. She had plans to become a journalist but instead she decided to follow psychiatrist studies. She lost some of her friends and she became the shadow of herself.

When she meets Matthew, she found someone that can make her laugh again, that put her at ease. She felt attracted to his charms but she knows he's hiding something.

Matthew is a secret guy. He has a strong attraction towards Camille but he won't let himself go and feel more than it should. To him, he's not worthy.

2-That leads me to the twist. I found it a little weak but I'll put my thoughts behind spoilers because I will certainly reveal things and I don't want other readers to know what happened. If you read it, remember that it's only my opinion ;)



Overall I enjoyed it and that's why I gave it 3 star. They are sweets and beautiful moments between Camille and Matthew. After some time, you can see they are good for each other.

I think for fans of this series, it could be great to have a small novella because to me it end a little to abruptly and I wanted them to have a real HEA or maybe a small epilogue?

Now that being said, I'm going to hide in my cave

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~ARC provided by the author for an honest review~

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Profile Image for ✿kawehi.reviews.
1,453 reviews429 followers
June 23, 2015
☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

Broken Lullabies answered all of the answered quandaries I had about Matthew and Camille’s estranged relationship leading from To Cherish and To Hold . The initial beginning of the book made me go “??”at first, but as you read, you start to piece things together and how intricately inter-linked Matthew and Camille’s lives really are.

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It’s like how Matthew puts it, they could have been literally "high school sweethearts"- in a sense of ironic paradox, since they seemed to be always right within each other’s reach, but just missed the other by an nth.

“I sunk into a strange sense of melancholy for the parallel universe where Camille and I were high school sweethearts. She would have made the ride to fame a lot less lonely, that was for sure.”

Now fate has finally brought them together in a dissident chain of twisted but delicious events and the two find themselves falling in love while battling demons of the past, guilt, trauma, forgiveness, family, careers, and their futures.

Can Camille move forward and let go of the shards that still haunt and torment her, and find re-find herself? And Matthew. Can he also do the same while finding absolution and exoneration in himself?

I really enjoyed this sort of “modern day version of Romeo and Juliet” tale. Can’t wait for Sean’s story!

Kawehi
Profile Image for Markéta.
267 reviews102 followers
September 26, 2015
2.5 stars! **

I don't know what happened. The first two books were great and this one was so disappointing. Most of the book was boring and static. Not many things really happened.



Camille has been attacked four years ago by some frat guy. His friend "saved" her by insulting her, the attacker just let her go. Even after of years of therapy she haven't dealt with it. She still can't stand to look at herself in the mirror.

Matthew was the frontman of the band that Luke from Love of a Rockstar was part too. Now that the band is over he's got nothing to do, he doesn't know what he wants to do. Maybe nothing, maybe work with Luke on his own record label, maybe do some solo stuff, maybe join some other band.

He is instantly attracted to Camille and she is to him, but what she doesn't know is that he was the one who "saved" her that night four years ago.



Four years is being the vital information. She was almost scared of her own shadow for four years and therapy did nothing to her. She let go of her dream and stared studying psychology. FOUR years. I know that PTSD is a serious thing but she wasn't afraid of being attacked. She was afraid of herself.

And to be honest, she was asking for it. Or at least for getting slaped.



I really didn't connect with anyone in BROKEN LULLABIES. It was shallow, boring, not interesting, there was too much inner drama. It didn't flow naturally, most of it felt forced. I didn't see any real chemistry or love.

I might read the rest of the series, but BROKEN LULLABIES was a serious let down.

For more reviews visit: http://do-notdiewondering.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Nicole Simone.
Author 13 books166 followers
April 21, 2016
Camila and Mattews love story isn't rainbows and unicorns. It's dark, gritty and as complicated as a rubics cube. As a writer, Broken Lullabies, pushed me out of my comfort zone and presented a challenge of two characters who were destined for heartbreak from the very beginning. It has taken me three months to solve but I finally did and oh boy, you guys are either gonna hate me or love me.

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Profile Image for Marie Vasquez.
1,598 reviews78 followers
August 8, 2016
3.75 stars

Plenty of angst. Storyline was good, but predictable. My only issue is the need for more editing. For a book that's over a year old, the errors were too many. Had this been an ARC, I wouldn't have had an issue but as the final product it's not acceptable to me.
Profile Image for Melyssa Winchester.
Author 32 books240 followers
July 14, 2015
description

Title: Broken Lullabies
Author: Nicole Simone
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Series or Standalone: Standalone Series (Love of a Rockstar #2)
Rating: 4 Stars

Review

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Broken Lullabies is the story of Camille Barker and your friendly neighborhood rockstar, Matthew Lee.

It’s not an easy story, but no story worth reading ever really is easy.

Camille hasn’t exactly had the best life. Sure she’s had opportunities and been given a lot so in that regard her life doesn’t seem that hard, but that’s only on the outside looking in. The real story is, she experienced something three years before, something so heinous and so debilitating that it changed her life forever.

Enter Matt. A singer in a rock band dealing with his own set of demons from the past. Demons that can threaten all that he hold dear in the future.

Put these two together and given the circumstances of the past, it looks like a disaster waiting to happen, but is far from it. Through Matt, Camille is seen to be living again. Stepping out from the darkness that has hung over her and into this light where she’s being shown that life can be more than what you’ve been through.

I loved watching the progression of their relationship. It was a treat seeing it go from complete avoidance into something more. There was an innocence that surrounded them here, and I believed in them as a couple because of it. I wanted to see them together and happy just as much as I wanted to see them individually happy.

Matt, god love him, stole my heart. To be honest, his appearances in the others books had already set that in motion, but it truly did take flight here. He put so much pressure on himself based on what happened in the past and despite knowing he had done something horrible, something he had a hard time forgiving himself for, I still wanted to hug him.

Deep down he was a good guy that had gotten himself into a situation that wasn’t so good and had done what he thought at the time was best to put a stop to it. He had no idea at the time just how much what he did say and do would affect the person, but once he learned, it damn near broke him in two.

And Camille. I cried for her. She had all of these hopes and dreams that were crushed under the weight of what happened to her three years prior and even though she’d put on a brave face for her friends and the rest of the world, was still haunted by it each and every day.

Two broken people, coming together and becoming unbroken. That’s what this story was to me, start to finish. It wasn’t an easy ride to happiness, it was quite the opposite, but it was definitely a ride I’m glad that I took because it was definitely worth the payoff.

I did feel as though the reveal of the truth came a little too close to the end, which in turn made what happened next feel a little rushed, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the story for me or take away from the way I felt about them as a couple. I was still as invested at that point as I had been throughout.

Luke and Marlene this story was not. So if you’re coming to this story based on them, be prepared for an altogether different experience. This was all uniquely Camille and Matthew and a story that at the end of the day proves that some of the best things can be born from the worst situations.

Thank you Nicole for yet again writing another story that once I started it, I just couldn’t put down. Characters that just in being themselves made me love them and a journey that was as unique as they are. It was a pleasure.
Profile Image for Judy Miracle.
1,198 reviews12 followers
July 2, 2015
This book.. amazing.. another great read by Nicole. Camille and Matthew are stuck in the past for something that happened 4 years ago But only one of them knows who the other is. Camille was attacked 4 years ago and it shattered her world with the words that were spewed from her savior but to her he has been one of the monsters who plagued her for the past 4 years. Matthew comes into her life and although she tries to avoid him he is becoming her happy place. He makes her happy and makes her realize the girl from before the incident is still within her. But Matthew is hiding a secret. When it comes out will Camille still see Matthew the same way? Or will he own up to the arrogant rock star jerk she always thought he was?

Is Matthew the Savior Camille needs or is he the Monster she cannot seem to forget?

Loved that the characters were well developed and it only gave you so much into the past that it kept you reading and reading to know what was going to happen. Loved how she alternated POV between Matthew and Camille. Cant wait to read more from Nicole and to see what she brings in Sean's story next.
Profile Image for Renee at Book Happiness.
1,486 reviews36 followers
July 17, 2015
I recieved this for an honest review.. I have to say that this series just freaking blows me away... This was such a good read one that I didn't want to put down.. This book and these characters just pull at you in a way that is so hard to explain.. This story is two broken souls finding each other and the love that they share.. WELL DONE!!!

Profile Image for Lisa.
1,430 reviews119 followers
July 3, 2015
I received a copy of this story for an honest review for The Reading Room Blog.

Author Nicole Simone has completely captured my attention with her Love Of A Rockstar series. With achingly real lead characters and relationships that have true emotional heft, these books are a welcome change of pace in the rock n' roll genre. The newest addition - Broken Lullabies - had me intermittently tearing up and swooning. You aren't going to want to miss this one.

A brutal attack dimmed a light in Camille Barker that years of therapy have been unable to reignite. A dark deed tainted Five Guys lead singer Matthew Lee hard fought success and haunts his dreams. When their two best friends get married, Matt and Camille are forced together and something sparks between them... they're just not sure if it's lust or loathing. Can the two bond over their personal demons or will the truth about their first meeting detonate everything and everyone around them?

What I Loved: Once I started reading Broken Lullabies I couldn't put it down. Matt and Camille are fully formed characters and I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and hug and save from their pain. The final dialogue between Matt and Camille left me with the biggest grin and completely satisfied with the characters journeys.

What I Didn't Love: A key plot point of Broken Lullabies involves a past tragedy that connects Matt and Camille. I won't give spoilers but I didn't feel that the issue of this event was completely resolved between the pair.

Favorite Quotes:

"As I said earlier, Camille was a fucking grenade that shouldn't be toyed with. However, when she turned those green eyes on me, shock and annoyance narrowing them into slits, my hands itched to pull the pin. The damage would be worth it."

"Idiotic. Unwise. And downright harebrained. Maybe if I repeated those words enough, my heart would get the message."

"You are my sun, my moon, and my stars. You are my everything, Camille. I'll never stop waiting for you because you're it. The end of the line."


Broken Lullabies can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend checking out the beginning reads Love of a Rock Star and To Cherish And to Hold. Both are 4.5 star reads that will add additional depth to Matt and Camille's story. The Love of A Rockstar series will continue with Melody of Truth, focusing on Five Guys drummer Sean. I will 100% be back to check it out.

Happy reading.
Profile Image for Book-Bosomed  blog.
516 reviews259 followers
July 13, 2015
“‛I’m the darkness in your dreams
You’re the moon that lights my starless sky
I’m the crow by your windowsill that sings — a broken lullaby.’”

One devastating night sealed Camille Barker and Matthew Lee’s fate when they were strangers. Now they meet again. Only time has blurred the image and instead of the emotionally abusive monster that Camille saw that night, she now sees the gorgeous likes of rock star and lead singer Matthew Lee of The Five Guys.

“Now here she was, dropped into my life like a goddamn grenade. I wanted to dismantle it and avoid the wreckage Camille’s presence would cause, but it felt like a moot point. Once the grenade landed, you only had seconds before it blew. You had to close your eyes and hope you made it out alive with all your limbs intact.”

Both Camille and Matthew struggle with that night when they were different people. It’s colored the way they see themselves, and it’s made them both feel like a lesser person.

“What I had to remember was that angels don’t fall in love with the devil.”

Camille is actually a pretty feisty, strong willed character, but she’s been broken by the night of her attack and still wrestles with nightmares, anxiety, and feelings of insecurity—both physical and emotional.

Matthew is equally as tormented by the same night and his role in it. As a result he struggles with his identity. In actuality, there are many sides to Matthew which an agreement to help Camille live life to the fullest again allows her and the reader to see. In the meantime, they must also wrestle with the attraction they feel towards each other and the boundaries they aren’t sure should be crossed.

“‛I don’t care if we f*ck upside down, sideways, or on all fours…’”

Told via Camille and Matthew’s alternating first person POV, this story is about learning to move on from the past, finding your true self—the person you want to be, and living your dreams. While the premise sounds somewhat dark, the message is positive and the angst is pleasingly minimal.

Once again Nicole Simone does a great job of taking a “hero” who has made some majorly wrong choices against the heroine and turning him into a guy that you still root for. Speaking of which, Luke and Marlene from Love of a Rockstar and To Cherish and To Hold make appearances as minor characters in this one. And band mate, Sean, will be featured in the next book, Melody of Truth. (A sample is included at the end). Still Broken Lullabies can be read as a stand-alone so choose either title to get started in this series today!
Profile Image for Doris.
3,617 reviews138 followers
August 8, 2015
How does something so good come from something so bad? That is how Camille and Matthew’s love story goes. Camille had a life changing event happen to her 4 years ago and to say life changing is probably minimizing what happened to her. So how does Matthew fit into this equation?

First of all they recently met at a friend’s wedding and there was something that clicked between the two. So much came from this meeting some good and some bad. Camille lacks in knowing her true self-worth stemming from her past and Matthew is a big reason for this even if Camille doesn’t realize or admit to it. Matthew will do anything to get Camille to see herself as he sees her, beautiful and talented and Matthew would know about beautiful women since he is the lead singer in a popular rock band and he has women throwing themselves at him. He could have anyone he wants but he has Camille interwoven into his soul. Even as much as he tries to push Camille away and the feelings that he has for her, it’s easier said than done. And Camille is falling hard for Matthew. Her walls are beginning to break down and Matthew is the one helping her make this happen even if she doesn’t admit to herself that he is the reason that she had to build these walls to protect herself.

This book is one that you read in a day because it is that good. You are in the back hoping upon all hopes that Camille and Matthew can find and hold onto that special love that has grown between them. It’s about forgiveness and coming out on top at the end. And yes, it is about the sexual tension that exists between these two also and let me say Matthew knows how to rock Camille’s world!

This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Danielle .
2,565 reviews76 followers
July 16, 2015

3 stars

Camille Barker is a broken soul. She has had a dramatic past which has now left her a shell of who she used to be. Going to school, and overcoming her past is her only goals in life. And to be honest, they aren't even her "real" goals.

Matthew Lee is a rock star. He too is coming to terms with his band breaking up and what lies ahead for him. The present is not as bad as his past. He knows what happened to Camille all those years ago. He knows because he witnessed it first hand. Matthew has been keeping this secret to himself for all these years.

Now Camille and Matthew's paths have crossed again. Only one of them knows the whole truth about what happened to Camille that night. If Matthew tells Camille everything, it could end things between them.
But, can he have a real relationship built on lies?
This book was very angsty, at times, too much angst. I wanted to love Matthew but he was very back and forth. At time, he was almost causing Camille more pain than he should. He was like a yo-yo playing with her heart.
This is book 2 in the series. I didn't read book one and this could be a standalone for sure. Some recurring characters were crossover in this one. I think I will read book 3 and see how this series continues.
Profile Image for Debbie Gabrielson.
9 reviews2 followers
June 20, 2015
I thought it was good sequel to the first and the second books in the series. It had a total different vibe than Marlene and Luke's story. This one seemed to have everything stacked against the possibility of a HEA for Camille and Matthew. I have to say though, I think it would have been better if you had explored the aspect of this couple when they obtained their happy ending. I would have enjoyed a little more of the Happy aspect as opposed to all that angst to get there. Can't wait to read the next installment! I hope that will be soon? I won this copy in exchange for an honest review. I think it is worth a read. I recommend it and look forward to the next book "Melody of Truth". I have to say I love your writing Nicole Simone, you are definitely one of my favourite writers. I would appreciate you keeping me in mind for the opportunity of reviewing your next book! Thank you. Looks like "Melody of Truth" is being released on my Birthday. What a coincidence!! HINT HINT ha ha.

Profile Image for Heather 123.
954 reviews7 followers
September 10, 2015
I did not read the first book in this series and while this book can stand alone I think it would have helped to read the first book to understand some of the other characters mentioned.

The story of the two main characters begins years prior when Camille is the victim of a violent crime and Matthew is a witness who does not come forward. While is saves her from the man who is attacking her, how he saved her is something she will never forget and is something that she has allowed to define who she is since that incident. Camille and Matthew meet again years later at a wedding, he immediately recognizes her from that night, she isn't sure she remembers him although his voice is familiar from that night. The two become unlikely friends despite Matthew's attempts to push her away and convince her that he is no good for her.

When the truth is revealed, can love prevail? Is love enough?
Profile Image for The Sweet & Sinful Book Nerds.
1,390 reviews14 followers
June 29, 2015
This story was about how people let their past define them. It was a very emotional read. Camille has let her past change her dreams and who she is. That one night rules all her decisions. Matthew has also let one night convince himself he is a monster. The chemistry between these two characters is so thick you could probably touch it. Camille holds herself back from letting too much emotion in. Matthews holds himself back because he feels unworthy. These two have a lot of unresolved issues that need to be aired out. Both of them hoping that what they have will survive.

I LOVED these characters. I love the way the story was written. It kept me hooked and reeled in. Cannot wait to see what is in store next!

213 reviews
June 28, 2015
Is Matthew Camille's savior or monster that is the question! ?  I just loved this story that I am giving a 5+++++ rating.  The author did a really good job of developing her characters and awesome story.  Matthew is a sexy rock star that regrets a bad decision he made four years ago. Camille is a graduate student that experienced something horrible four years ago.  Together Camille and Matthew are down right combustible with adventure, foreplay, and amazing SEX. Lots of suspense in this story.  I can't wait for Nicole's Simone next story.
Donna
FMR Book Grind
Profile Image for wendy Shelton(obsessedbybooks).
2,554 reviews27 followers
June 22, 2015
* * ARC given on behalf of obsessed by books for an honest review * *

This book broke me, it's much different that Luke and Marlene. This story is about two broken souls Camille and Matthew . They had everything against them, me personally I wasn't sure if a HEA was in thier future. Thier relationship was definitely a sugge but the story told is amazing. great job.
843 reviews
August 11, 2015
It was okay. The hero is holding a dark secret and tries to stay away from the heroine, but their chemistry and connection do not allow that. The secret has to obviously come out. Their friendship turns into lovers, which eventually turns into love. They do find their HEA.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
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