Synister - Push Series Book 1

Push #1

by Alexis Riddley

As I took the steps to the stage I soaked in the moment, allowing the feeling and emotion to fill the void. I knew their love for me was only temporary, but it was enough. Enough to keep me going forward, and enough to sate any desire for permanency. This was my reality, all I was capable of feeling. A brief encounter with a sea of nameless faces, the anonymity kept them from seeing me for who I really was at my core. To them I was Synister Smith, and god damn it they loved me.

Genres: Romance

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Samantha Ortegon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my first story by Alexis Riddley, but damn did she remind me of how captivated I get by her writing. Synister is my first story dealing with rock and roll lifestyle, the musicians, the women they sleep with and the women they love. This is a book that once you have started it, it will be one that you won't want to put down. It is dark, heartbreaking, suspenseful, tragic with a love story so strong that is destined to be.

Synister, is the drummer in the rock band Push, he can have any woman he wants. Unless, it's the one woman he feels he can never deserve. Syn puts his brother and his best friend Brooklyn before anything, they have his heart and he has proved that all his life. His past will break your heart and his future seems desolate. His biggest obstacle is feeling deserving of love, but how many times will he be able to push the one woman he has always loved away?

Brooklyn is Synister's best friend and inspiration, she is everything he wants but can never have. Brooklyn has lived her life and has always been able to keep up with Synister's rock and roll lifestyle being that she is the rock that holds this band together. At the happiest moment of her life it will take a tragic turn. Will the love that Synister and Brooklyn have be enough to get them through this emotional time in their life?

Alexis Riddley had me a emotional mess with Synister, I cried and my heart felt heavy. I found myself crying for a moment of happiness for Syn. This story is a emotional roller coaster of a read and deals with situations of child abuse/molestation and rape. The biggest thing I took away from this story is through all of those traumatic moments in ones life, it is the love of a woman/ best friend, band mates and a brother that will make life easier and as long as Syn realizes that he will have everything he needs. This is a 5 star must read.

I was given a ARC for a honest review

[Jeanne McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synister = hell yes!! As the drummer for the rock band Push, Synister Smith is everything that is expected of a man in his station. Or is he? He plays hard and f**ks harder, but even more so, he loves with all his heart. A love that he fights against because he feels he doesn't deserve the woman of his dreams.

Brooklyn = one kick ass babe! Brooklyn Reigns isn't your every day groupie. She is strong, independent, and knows how to knock Synister on his ass when he needs it most. She's the rock of the band and the soul of Synister. But as we all know, sometimes our minds get in the way of our hearts and that typically leads to trouble.

When tragedy strikes, these two friends are forced to face the reality that is their lives. Together, they have to overcome their obstacles, but is their bond strong enough to withstand the strain of the unknown.

Synister is a fast paced, engaging read. From the first word you're drawn into this hot mess character and his distorted sense of reality. He's f***ed up in every sense of the word, but as a rock star he knows how to use that to his advantage. He's hard, he's gruff, but deep inside his heart he's a marshmallow. I loved the contrast of his character and the author did an amazing job making his two sides believable. While there is a disturbing scene (sadly a rape does occur), the author handles the situation with grace and poise. I usually shy away from books that contain rape, but I found this to be tastefully done, having focused on the trauma and emotion of the tragedy rather than actual situation itself.

Overall, this one was a page turner and a book I would highly recommend.

[Ashley Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

God this book was to much. So much pain.....
I don't even know what to say....
But this book covers rape f/m & m/m, mental abuse, physical abuse, addiction and etc
So many triggers.
Overall I did enjoy it.

[Sarah Reads "Reading in Sarah's Corner" · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard Alexis Riddley had started writing a rocker series, I did a little happy danced. I just loved her writing style when I read the Enough Series and could not wait to see what she had in store for her readers with her new series. And let me tell you she did not let us down with this book! Holy crow did this book keep me engaged and dying for the next book when I finished it. In my opinion, this Push Series will be a smashing hit!

Alexis Riddley always does a fine job with her descriptive details and she did not let us down with Synister! There was numerous time my heart ached as I read this story. The way Alexis Riddley described Synister’s background had me wanting to jump into the book and wrap my arms around him. She also had me wanting jump in the book and have a little fun with Synister. {Cheeky grin}

This book starts out with us getting a glimpse of Synister Smith’s not so rosy past. It set us up to see why he is the man he is today. Synister is a man who does not let many into his world. But if you are oh so lucky to get to meet the real Syn you are one special person. He loves with all he is and would do anything for those he loves.

Syn’s best friend and the person he leans on most is Brooklyn Reigns. He loves her more than anything, even if he does not want to admit it. Brooklyn is his calm. Brooklyn aka “B” is one tough chick. I loved how strong and independent this girl was. Everyone cleared a path for B when she entered the scene.

My favorite part of this story was watching B and Syn find their way to one another. Both loved the other more than anything but did not want to entangle the other one up in their world. Syn wanted to protect his girl and B wanted to make sure Syn would be okay. And line him out when she needed to.

I have to mention the song that Syn writes in the book. I was blown away at the lyrics. I would love to see some raspy rocker take Alexis Riddley's song and make it a hit. It is so damn good. No girl could resist Synister if he sang to her like this.

There are so many great quotes in this book, but since Amazon seems to block my reviews with quotes I will just tell you my kindle is one big highlighted mess. LOL

I cannot wait to see what Alexis Riddley has in store for us next. I am really hoping we get Scottie next but honestly, I will devour any book Alexis kicks out in this PUSH SERIES.

[Melissa Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Synister
Author: Alexis Riddley
Series: Push Series, Book 1
Release Date: August 2, 2016
Genre(s): Rock Star Romance
Page Count: 175
Heat Level: 3.5 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

As I took the steps to the stage I soaked in the moment, allowing the feeling and emotion to fill the void. I knew their love for me was only temporary, but it was enough. Enough to keep me going forward, and enough to sate any desire for permanency. This was my reality, all I was capable of feeling. A brief encounter with a sea of nameless faces, the anonymity kept them from seeing me for who I really was at my core. To them I was Synister Smith, and god damn it they loved me.

Review:
“I swear she made me melt and want to lick every inch of her flesh when she flashed those pearly whites. And, Jesus, don’t get me started on her skin. It was always the warmest shade of honey no matter the season.”

5 gripping stars!! Such an emotional journey… but so worth the ride!

This book starts out with a punch and it just goes up from there!! You will fill the emotional pull that Synister feels and your heart will break with him!! I loved the whole story and you can’t help but fall for the dark, complicated man. The story is fast paced and hard to put down once you start reading!! I loved this start to the series and can’t wait to see where it goes next!



ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club

[Kerry Callaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I have had such a book hangover after reading Synister. When I started to read this book I didn't intend to read it in one sitting but once I started to read it I couldn't put it down.
Syn and Brooklyn are best friends, in fact Brooklyn has come to the rescue for Syn more times than he can count. Omg, I love this book couple SO much. Synister is your badass drummer as you would come to expect in a rock band but his weakness is Brooklyn, he just feels he doesn't deserve her and the angst and torture he puts himself through has you wanting to hug him hard. Brooklyn is just as badass, she has to be to put up with Synister and his shenanigans.
Synister's story made my heart ache and what these two characters experience individually and as a couple will have you in bits. The twists in this story were so unpredictable and gripping, it was almost as though I was afraid to blink while reading Synister because I didn't want to lose the moment. I had complete tunnel vision reading this book.
Synister is an awesome story, very well written with an intensity that just made me want to drink in this whole story and its characters. The emotions that enveloped and were conjured up between the characters were enough to entice me to feel everything that Alexis Riddley had written it was as though I was in the scenes with them. A stunningly intense, beautiful story with its dark aspects that evoked loads of emotion. A pure enjoyment to read.

[Confessions_of_a_Serial_Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synister had it all. Fame, fortune, women, excess of major proportion. On the inside he had nothing. The only thing keeping him tethered to life is the one woman he can't lose. His very heart living outside of his body. His best friend Brooklyn.

Brooklyn has dropped everything -for the last decade- at a single phone call from Synister. The years have been hard watching some she loves so deeply slowly crumble.

This last phone call though, it's different. Brooklyn didnt expect to get the news that she did. She knows that the time has come to be honest with each other about their feelings.

When tragedy strikes and almost destroys both Brooklyn, Synister and their fragile love, will they be able rise from the ashes? Can Synister come to terms with his own tragic past to heal his true live? What happens when the music stops?

This is my confession: I will admit that I had a hard time putting this book down. I was captivated by it. Especially what horrifying medical news Synister revealed to Brooklyn after his SOS call. I was thinking the worst, but some how the truth was even more tragic. Brooklyn as an h was great. I loved her fire. The tragedy that encapsulated her was handled well, considering. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

WARNING: This book does contain subject matter including child abuse/molestation and rape that may be uncomfortable for some readers.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready for Synister Smith to rock your world? This book is gritty, raw and fast paced. You are taken into the world of a rockstar and see all the good and bad that comes with it. I absolutely loved this book and it pulls you in from the start.