Rock King

Nothing but Trouble #1

by Tara Leigh

Fans of Kristen Callihan and Kylie Scott will scream for this sizzling bad boy rock star romance!

I'm not who you think I am.

Shane Hawthorne has it all. At least, that's what the headlines say about me. I have millions of fans, awards, more money - and women - than I know what to do with. But what you don't see is the wreckage I've caused. The memories and pain I can't escape, even when I pour them into music and spin them into gold.

I tried to forget. To lose myself in booze and groupies. It didn't work. It hurt me and - worse - it hurt my band. That's the last thing I want to do, so I'm cleaning up my act... starting with Delaney Fraser.

Gorgeous, smart, drama-free, and even nice - Delaney is the perfect "girlfriend." When I'm with her I don't have to pretend. It's like she sees the real me. And I can see a future with her. But that's dangerous. Because the truth is, Shane Hawthorne doesn't actually exist. He's a shield to hide who I really am. Fraud. Runaway. Addict. Murderer.

And it's impossible to love a lie, right?

The Nothing but Trouble series:
Rock King
Rock Legend
Rock Rebel

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Music, New Adult, Celebrity, Adult

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2018

About the author

Want to keep up with Tara Leigh and hear all the news & behind the scenes details about her books? Just click here: http://bit.ly/TaraLeighNwsltr. And are you a member of her exclusive readers group? http://bit.ly/TaraLeighReaders

Tara Leigh writes sexy contemporary romance about billionaires and rock stars that are alpha without being ***holes.

She attended Washington University in St. Louis and Columbia Business School in New York, and worked on Wall Street and Main Street before “retiring” to become a wife and mother. When the people in her head became just as real as the people in her life, she decided to put their stories on paper. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children and fur-baby, Pixie.

Do you love signed paperbacks? Want to know if Tara will be signing at an event? Do want to check out all the gorgeous teasers for Tara's books? Are you a writer looking for tips on writing and publishing? Check her website! https://www.taraleighbooks.com

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Reviews

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Now Available***

I told myself this year that I needed to seek out new authors, embrace some new, try to find some I like. Seems like I don't need to embrace any really, they are literally planting themselves as new favorites on my lists.
Tara Leigh is one of them.


Rock King is the first in her Nothing But Trouble series, and let me start by saying


Going into a new release, by a new to me author, I am always nervous. This story, one of my favorite tropes, Rock Stars-duh, I knew I wouldn't have a problem. Boy was I wrong, this book, it owned me, it took me captive and still has its grip on me. I didn't just enjoy it, I loved it.

I want you to know although I loved it, it gave me some seriously gray hair, some missing hair, some chewed up fingernails, and some not so happy kids since I locked myself in the bedroom to finish reading this. Okay, okay, bare with me here, I can't give any spoilers away but

"We were on a goddamn merry-go-round of secrets and lies. Bliss and betrayal. Fuck-ups and forgiveness"

The angst in this book, at about 90% I was literally ready to jump ship. It was intense and my emotions were everywhere by that point

Rock god Shane Hawthorne has everything he wants, or so everyone thinks he does. Delaney Fraser has been running from a life changing lie that has completely changed her life, she's constantly running from her past because she can't forget it. Life throws these two individuals together and the pull between them is so strong, neither of them can say no. Their chemistry is so thick, their passion, so undeniable. Will they both stop running and fess up to all their past mistakes and tragedies? Will they become honest with each so they can find their HEA? Or will their pasts catch up to them and ruin any chance at happiness that they both deserve?

If you love angst, if you love rockstars, if you definitely enjoy some real life issues (drugs, alcohol, texting and driving) and of course if you enjoy a good ole written love story, definitely pick this one up. I definitely recommend it. I am counting down the days until the next book is out

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I would destroy her. But maybe, just maybe…she could save me.”

Rock King is book one in the Nothing But Trouble series by Tara Leigh. Tara is a new to me author so what better chance to introduce myself to a new author than with her brand new series.

Shane Hawthorne is a rock king, the lead singer of Nothing but Trouble, one of the most popular rock bands of the decade. Named sexiest man alive more than once, it would appear that Shane had it all. But it was all a sham. Shane was a sham. He had secrets, big ones. He tried using alcohol, drugs and endless women to keep himself from feeling, but it didn’t work. Then, he and his manager came up with a new way, a way that was working. Then he met “her,” and everything changed.

“I was a jagged knife, the tip of my blade edged with poison. Brutal. Messy. Lethal.”



Delaney Fraser ran away from her ghosts as well. She hadn’t intended to end up in Los Angeles, it’s just where she ran out of money. Now a waitress, she is beyond shocked when Piper walks in to the restaurant she is working at. She knew Piper from her home town. Piper’s boss, Travis, insists she bring Delaney to a party that night at his house. He knew right away that Delaney was exactly what he was looking for, that she would be perfect for Shane.

“What was it about Delaney that made me think she could fill the cracks in my soul, that maybe I could fill the ones in hers?”



For Shane and Delaney, the attraction was immediate. But Delaney was different than anyone else Shane had ever known. His cheesy lines didn’t work on her. She didn’t just melt by being in his presence as most women did. He knew, though, as much as he knew he needed to breathe, that he needed Delaney in his life. But he also knew he was toxic, and she was everything good. Was he selfish enough to keep her with him, even though he knew he could ruin her?

“Tonight, right now, there was only one thing I knew for sure. Delaney and I, we were linked by something I didn’t quite understand yet, but I already cherished.”



Delaney finds herself falling for Shane, but not the Shane that he lets everyone else see, but the real man she finds underneath. The man who is broken and hurting, the man that needs her as much as she needs him. This is a world, though, that she knows nothing of. The world of paparazzi, tabloids, and endless fans. Could she survive in Shane’s world?



“Living with Shane was like standing in the path of an incoming storm, gathering force and speed. I was already swept up in his chaotic energy, and there was no escape in sight. Either I could bend and sway, let myself be pulled into Shane’s whirlwind. Or I could stand my ground, dig in my heels, and hope I wouldn’t snap in two.”



I do love a good rock star romance, and this one didn’t disappoint. Shane and Delaney were so broken. They had so many secrets. But they both deserved love, forgiveness, redemption. The steam level of this book is off the charts. These two together were scorching. It is a heavy book, though. Both of these characters are so broken. It was right on the border of being too much for me. I usually like my books to be a little lighter. I did enjoy it, though, and won’t soon be forgetting these two. The next book in this series is Rock Legend, Piper and Landon (the drummer)’s story.

“Shane Hawthorne, I’m yours.”

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

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Stand-alone.
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Blurb:
I'm not who you think I am.
Shane Hawthorne has it all. At least, that's what the headlines say about me. I have millions of fans, awards, more money - and women - than I know what to do with. But what you don't see is the wreckage I've caused. The memories and pain I can't escape, even when I pour them into music and spin them into gold.
I tried to forget. To lose myself in booze and groupies. It didn't work. It hurt me and - worse - it hurt my band. That's the last thing I want to do, so I'm cleaning up my act... starting with Delaney Fraser.
Gorgeous, smart, drama-free, and even nice - Delaney is the perfect "girlfriend." When I'm with her I don't have to pretend. It's like she sees the real me. And I can see a future with her. But that's dangerous. Because the truth is, Shane Hawthorne doesn't actually exist. He's a shield to hide who I really am. Fraud. Runaway. Addict. Murderer.
And it's impossible to love a lie, right?

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
 
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
So color me surprised because I really enjoyed this book A LOT. I'll be honest, I usually avoid rock star books like the plague. They all tend to have the same cliché plots complete with OTT other women drama, groupies, and/or cheating. Thankfully, this one was a bit different. I was also impressed by how well written it was. The pace was fairly good. I think maybe it was a tad too long as some parts dragged a bit but not enough for me to lose interest in the story. The plot was quite engaging as well. Last, it was all wrapped up in an OK ending. I think Delaney should have made Shane grovel A LOT more than she did (or at all) because he pulled a righteous a$$hole move at the end that cost him some points in my eyes. 


~HERO~
SHANE...I liked him a lot. I liked that he was slightly different from the usual cliché rock star hero. Oh, he was still an uber manwhore in his past and I could have done with a little less bringing up of that fact throughout the book. But when he hired a fake girlfriend, he was monogamous while they were together. He was just a really sympathetic character. His past was tragic, and I just wanted to give the guy a hug. He pretty much fell for Delaney from the minute he meets her. That said like I mentioned above he lost some love in my eyes with the incredibly douchey move he pulled at the end. 


~HEROINE~
DELANEY...I liked her character a lot as well. Although I do wish she would have had more than one bad sexual experience before Shane. I am really tired of the uber whore being paired with an (almost) virgin. Delaney also has a tragic past that will break your heart. But she was a strong heroine who stood by Shane's side through everything.


 

~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
There were quite a few secondary characters in this one. From Shane's manager Travis, and his brother Gavin (who I hope gets a book of his own) to Piper a friend of Delaney's that works for Travis. And of course Shane's bandmates (mostly Landon). In fact, next up is Piper and Landon's book and as much as I enjoyed this one I have no interest in reading their book AT ALL. Landon's character is pretty much your standard nasty uber manwhore. He grossed me out in this book and the brief look we get at his book (he just finishes up having had sex with two women) at the end of this one sealed the deal for me. I was kind of hoping this author would buck the trend when it comes to rock star books, but alas it seems like maybe this book was just a fluke...sigh.


~HEAT LEVEL~
Medium. This one had some smokin' sex scenes, and the frequency felt organic to the story. Both were tested, and the heroine is on the pill so they don't use condoms.


~ANGST LEVEL~
Medium. Most of the angst in this one comes from this couple's relationship. Their pasts. The secrets they are keeping. The contract. Stuff like that. There isn't any groupie or OW drama or OM drama. 


~IN THE END~
Like I said earlier, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Getting me to read, let alone LIKE a book featuring a rock star is tricky at best. But this author did a good job of avoiding the typical clichés found in this trope. She had two well written and intriguing individuals (along with a well developed plot) whose issues carried the book without adding in a lot of the typical outside drama. So kudos to her for that. Now I only wish she had continued along that line with Landon and Piper's book. C'est la vie. Yours truly is giving this one two solid thumbs up. 

[CristiinaReads୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳A romance filled with rock music, lust, passion, and dominance that brings you to your knees to the next level...



➳Knowing Tara's writing and how she likes to proceed with the category of romance for her main characters, I have gotten used to how she likes to express them. Shane and Delaney are two main characters that are brought to the page in a retrospective filled with hunger, both in the carnal department and also the emotional one. As a rock-star, Shane has everything he can have with the blink of an eye, asks for it, he gets it, demands it, people go down on their knees to give with no hesitations because he is that famous and respected as an individual that does not have a terrible reputation with the press. Yes, as a celebrity he has that disadvantage of not having privacy, but he doesn't like to cause any sort of attention either.

➳Delaney is the opposite. Shy, pleasant, beauty to an essence of wanting more from her in the emotional aspect. She has a past that is trying to resurface to an extend that may come in the way between Shane and her, one that would not be appealing due to the contract they both have for an extended amount of time. This romance is a trope that I actually enjoyed by far more than I was expecting. This review is short for sure, but I don't want to say much since there is so much drama that needs the reader's attention for further explanation.



➳Overall, this was a romance that I truly did enjoy reading and am already guessing who is coming next in this upcoming series, **wink wink TARA!** I highly recommend this puppy if you are looking for a romance that is filled with real life issues, drugs, sex, appealing rock-star celebrities that doe everything that is meant to be destroyed for the level of pleasure, then this is the ideal book for you!

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[Aisling Zena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Review now posted 30/3/18



I always find it difficult to review a book that hasn't stirred powerful emotions in me. Be it anger or love, strong emotions tend to fuel my reviewing. So when a book comes along that does neither, I find it hard to articulate how it made me feel and describe to others what it evoked. It's also worse when I have this feeling that everyone else loved it but for some reason I didn't. I'm the odd one out. Again. So let me just say from the get go that just because I didn't fall head over heels for this doesn't mean you will not.



My problem with this book, is the same problem I had with the previous book I read by this author. And it's also the reason I feel like the odd one out. This specific style of writing just doesn't agree with me. There's barely any dialogue,any actual interaction. It's all introspection, inner thoughts and self analysis.



Shane Hawthorne is a rockstar. He appears to have it all. Fame, fortune and his every whim catered too. He's also an addict. Losing himself in his addictions in order to forget. Until he has a wake up call and decides to clean up his act. His "fixer"/manager comes up with the perfect idea. Hire "girlfriends"/nannies to stop him from indulging in his addictions. Someone that's with him all the time without attracting the media attention as anything other than the next flavor of the month. Shane's voice took some getting used to. I stopped and started this book at least 5 times until I managed to stick through it and come to Delaney's POV.



Delaney is working as a waitress when a former classmate bumps into her and introduces her to her boss, Shane's manager. He immediately sees her as the perfect next "girlfriend" for Shane. Her POV was smoother, less douchey but still so wordy. So much inner castigation all around. They both had tragic backstories that you find out later on in the book. They set up much of the colour and tone in the book and it's mostly dramatic. Not so much actual drama, just more dramatic and in my opinion more melodramatic than anything. It depressed me. Both POVs brought me down so low. They both make excuse after excuse especially Delaney. It just made me so tired.

"The truth was, no one deserved me. I was a jagged knife,the tip of my blade edged with the poison. Brutal. Messy. Lethal."

"At my core I'm a hustler, too. Been hauling around a five-pound sack filled with ten pounds of problems since the day I was born."

"Who am I?I don't even know anymore. Fraud."

"Then again, I didn't know what home felt like. Never had, really. Was it a place, a concept?"

"Her tears were because of me. Because I was an inconsiderate, self-centered asshole. And she was right."

"I would destroy her. But maybe, just maybe.. she could save me. It had been done before, right? I mean, billions of people believed they were saved."

"I was falling for Shane, every minute with him another chance to break my heart. And yet with every fibre of my being, I wanted to heal his."

"I was just scrounging for an excuse to linger in the darkness myself."

"Because the truth wasn't going away. It was out there, as restless and angry as the lighting I felt in my bones but couldn't yet see."

All these quotes are inner reflections. I'm not saying that what they went through wasn't traumatic or major. Just after the whole murderer mention in the blurb, I expected actual bloody murder. Maybe my interpretation of that word is wrong...

murder
ˈməːdə/Submit
noun
1.
the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.
"the brutal murder of a German holidaymaker"
synonyms: killing, homicide, assassination, liquidation, extermination, execution, slaughter, butchery, massacre;

And so my perception and expectations of this were altered. It was just too melodramatic for me after the revelations. The interactions with the secondary characters were at the very minimum making it even more esoteric and the building of relationships and bonds to be strictly between Shane and Delaney. Even a reunion with Shane and his brother got bare bones coverage.

As you can see all this is purely a matter of taste. I know many people that love the drama and the dramatic and the melodrama. I'm just not one of them. Don't let my review stop you from giving this one a try if it intrigues you.





**ARC kindly provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author, so I was very curious as to how it would be...especially since "rockstars" is one of my favorite tropes ;)

I am happy to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by this one !



The storyline isn't really original if I am being honest. I have read many books with the same sort of plot, some better, some not. But since I am being honest here... I really don't care. If it works it works and this one worked for me, even though it wasn't the first in it's kind.



Now I am also a big fan of asshole alpha's...especially when they are rockstars, so that fact may have something to do with me liking this story ;)

Shane is your typical rockstar. He has been leading a life of "sex, drugs and rock and roll". Of course there is a reason for his behavior.



Shane meets Delaney at a Hollywood party. Imagine meeting your childhood idol...I would freak !!!

They both hit it off and Shane's manager thinks she would be a perfect "fake girlfriend / sobriety buddy for Shane. So she signs on the dotted line and joins him on tour.

Now Delaney wasn't my most favorite heroine, but we all know how hard I am on the ladies, so you might want to take my opinion with a grain of salt. I just prefer my heroines to be pretty though and kickass. They need to stand their ground and demand lots of groveling LOL.



Still I enjoyed reading this one, the steam was pretty nice and it had the right amount of angst for me. I will definitely be checking this authors future work ;)

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firs I want to thank the author for giving me this book. It has no influence whatsoever on my rating.


3 "it's not you it's me" stars

Let me say something already: I've read this book after having finished a monstrously powerful book and it was a disservice to this story. It's really difficult to come right after a phenomenal read.


What is the plot and who might love this book?

The plot is a classic trope of singer rock star plagued by demons and hiring a "fake" girlfriend to keep groupies at bay and keep him in line. Said "girl friend" has her own demons and need the mone paired with another promise dear to her heart.

Shane has been battling with addiction for years. Alcohol, drugs and sex. He knows that he can't lose his status as it's protecting him from a dark and dramatic past that we'll discover later.

Delaney has her own secret, her own guilt and wants really badly to help her father.

Instant attraction. Delaney fights it as she does not want to be discarded with a borken heart later.


If you love these tropes with really attractive heroes but harboring deep secrets and thinking they don't deserve love then you'll love it.


Why didn't it work for me, book hangover aside?

Well I had a problem with the author's writing. Not that she did a bad job but her style was not my cup of tea.

When I read :"Shane raked a hand through the famously rugged hair that framed his face like a lion’s mane. Paired with his luminous topaz eyes, he bore a vague resemblance to Mufasa, surveying his domain with a wary kind of confidence. When Rolling Stone proclaimed Shane Hawthorne the new King of Rock, they had definitely gotten it right." I think it's overdone.

Overdone as in less adjectives and exaltation. Don't describe the hero. Make me feel him. Make me taste what he eats. Make me feel his sweat crawling between his ribs after a concert. This is the Showing vs Telling.

Don't tell me what he looks like. Make me experience it. Show it.


As a result I never really connected with the characters. I got that their pas was sad but I wasn't sad. It wasn't my emotions.


Now as I said it's a personal taste and this book is getting many good reviews so I would advise you to try it. Or try a sample and see if it floats your boat.

I'm only one reader in a sea of millions. One small fish in a vast ocean.


Have you read it? Did you undrestand what I clumsily tried to explain about the writing?

Thanks for reading once again!

Meeting you Monday.
Sophie

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[Sentranced Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rock King (Nothing But Trouble #1)
Author: Tara Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: February 20, 2018

This is my first Tara Leigh book and I am officially a fan!
Ok. Wow. This book... Damn...I really enjoyed reading this one.
I'll admit that this book was sexy AF..I mean oh my gosh!!! The sexual tension in this book is YUM!!! Hehehe 😈 Shane and Delaney's chemistry is off the charts!

Shane is the epitome of rocker bad-boy  dream! Delaney is a sweetheart with a spunk!

I have a bad habit of getting 'influenced' by what I read so, pardon my language but Holy Shit! I loved Rock Star! This book had it all- Angst galore! Rocker galore! This book will keep you at the edge of your seats, it will make you wish you could read faster so that the anticipation won't kill you yet it will make you wish the book was longer.

Yes, this book is basically everything we want in a rock star romance but beneath it all, it underlines the beauty of forgiveness and second chances.

I'd highly recommend this book ❤️



For more ...
www.jemimajamir.com

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane is Nothing But Trouble's lead singer. The most famous band worldwide.

But he's a troubled guy. He manages to stay away from drugs and alcohol by focusing on music and his girlfriend of the moment. His hired girlfriend. His agent hires girls for him. To be with him, watch out for him, take care of him, be seen with him. It's the only way Shane survives.

Delaney ran away from New York after her dad went to jail for killing her mother. But that's not the whole story. Not by a long shot.

She's jobbing as a waitress and Shane's agent sees her and wants her as the next girlfriend.

Shane and Delaney have this extreme instant attraction, but both have too much pain and too many secrets and too much guilt in their pasts ... this can never be something real, or can it??

And what happens when they and the world find out what they're both hiding?

════════════════════════





#ROCKSTARROMANCE!!!!



Eeep! I'm the biggest rockstar romance fan ever! I just had to read this book.

And I reall enjoyed it!

Tara writes really beautifully .... it might even be a bit too much for me. She goes on and on and poetically describes everything and every thought. It could've been a few words less here and there - BUT! I really loved the story. Shane is amazing. Your typical tortured artist with a past. And Delaney is just the same. She was a bit too insecure for my liking. Every time something happened she told herself it was all planned by Shane and his team - ugh - got on my nerves a bit.

But I really loved reading this book!

Even if it's sounds as if I disliked! NOT TRUE. Also - another little thing that made me almost stop reading - it happens pretty late into the story, so I won't say what it is, but it was just ridiculous. Lawyers could've stopped the whole thing before it started!

BUT AGAIN- I really liked the book - even if it doesn't sound like I did.☺☺☺ I know, I'm weird!

It was ROCKSTAR-ish, sexy, adorable, moving, sad, frustrating, beautiful.
And I can't wait to see what Landon and Piper's story will be like!☺

ROCK KING was such a beautiful & sexy & moving #RockStarRomance! Hurry to your nearest amazon - Shane will be sold out in no time!!!

♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane is Nothing But Trouble's lead singer. The most famous band worldwide.

But he's a troubled guy. He manages to stay away from drugs and alcohol by focusing on music and his girlfriend of the moment. His hired girlfriend. His agent hires girls for him. To be with him, watch out for him, take care of him, be seen with him. It's the only way Shane survives.

Delaney ran away from New York after her dad went to jail for killing her mother. But that's not the whole story. Not by a long shot.

She's jobbing as a waitress and Shane's agent sees her and wants her as the next girlfriend.

Shane and Delaney have this extreme instant attraction, but both have too much pain and too many secrets and too much guilt in their pasts ... this can never be something real, or can it??

And what happens when they and the world find out what they're both hiding?

══════════════════════════





#ROCKSTARROMANCE!!!!



Eeep! I'm the biggest rockstar romance fan ever! I just had to read this book.

And I reall enjoyed it!

Tara writes really beautifully .... it might even be a bit too much for me. She goes on and on and poetically describes everything and every thought. It could've been a few words less here and there - BUT! I really loved the story. Shane is amazing. Your typical tortured artist with a past. And Delaney is just the same. She was a bit too insecure for my liking. Every time something happened she told herself it was all planned by Shane and his team - ugh - got on my nerves a bit.

But I really loved reading this book!

Even if it's sounds as if I disliked! NOT TRUE. Also - another little thing that made me almost stop reading - it happens pretty late into the story, so I won't say what it is, but it was just ridiculous. Lawyers could've stopped the whole thing before it started!

BUT AGAIN- I really liked the book - even if it doesn't sound like I did.☺☺☺ I know, I'm weird!

It was ROCKSTAR-ish, sexy, adorable, moving, sad, frustrating, beautiful.
And I can't wait to see what Landon and Piper's story will be like!☺

ROCK KING was such a beautiful & sexy & moving #RockStarRomance! Hurry to your nearest amazon - Shane will be sold out in no time!!!

♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★'s

Shane is the lead singer of the Nothing but Trouble rock band and while he certainly has had his share of the rock king's lifestyle, he and his manager have come up with a good way to keep things more level and calm. The solution is to hire a fake girlfriend to be with him on tour. And...that's exactly what his manager, Travis, sets up for him to find.

And find he does...in the form of Delaney. The interesting part of Delaney is that she that while she's a fan, she's not fanatic and she's not willing to do anything to be with Shane. That is, until they make a deal with her about her Dad and then she's all in.

Shane has two personas, the rock king and the normal human being and it's the normal one that Delaney wants. Unfortunately, Shane has some secrets and the best way to keep those controls shut down is by bringing that persona out more and more.

There's more reasons that Shane and Delaney are drawn to each other. They each have a huge block on their shoulders from a mistake they made and they share similar circumstances.



Delaney is legitimately falling for Shane (and Shane for her) but Delaney can't trust things the way they are...being under contract and doing things for the paparazzi. It's messing with her mind...and her heart.

The drama happens when things about Shane come to light. I really enjoyed how Shane and Delaney's relationship developed and the realness of it while they were dealing with the drama.

I thought it was pretty amazing what Delaney was able to do after going through similar things with Shane. And it was even better how things worked out. However, I did feel like there was a fatalistic feel to the characters and a little too much inner dialogue.

The next book, Rock Legend, is about Piper and Landon and coming out July 17, 2018...it should be pretty interesting!

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still haven't read many rock star romances, but this one I found myself to be quite fond of. Shane was making himself into a legend and his media presence wasn't really doing him justice. He felt like his entire life was a sham, no one really knew the man inside, and he had to constantly remind himself of his purpose. In order to stay away from temptation, especially on tour, he hired women to play the role of his 'girlfriend' to keep him on the straight and narrow. That's where Delaney fits in. Her personality was nothing like what he thought he wanted, but she was exactly who he needed.

This story was about the internal struggles that these characters constantly faced. Guilt for past acts and for unforeseeable tragedies ate away at them. I kept screaming for them to unburden themselves to each other. But their resistance to spilling the truth added to the angst of the novel. This story was well-written, although it did lag in some places, and gave me the chance to feel something. Delaney angered the heck out of me. So I'd say the book was worthwhile.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 angsty rocker stars!

I loved this book! A beautifully intense rockstar romance that is SO much more than I was expecting. Dramatic and emotional, angsty and romantic, with epic chemistry, I fell in love with these characters and their story, and I can’t wait for more from this series!

Shane Hawthorne is a rock god. Dubbed the sexiest man alive more than once, he is the lead singer of a hugely successful rock band, and is loved and adored by millions worldwide. But in private he is a tortured man, drowning in guilt and grief over things that happened years ago. Lonely and tormented, he has lost himself in women, alcohol and drugs, but he has pulled himself out of that nightmare and is trying hard to stay straight and concentrate on his career and the high that he gets from performing.

Delaney Fraser has her own grief and guilt to deal with, and for the last three years she has been trying to move forward with her life, though she still struggles with her own demons. When a chance encounter sees her end up at a Hollywood party, the last person she expects to meet is the man who graced the walls of her childhood bedroom, Shane Hawthorne.

The chemistry between Shane and Delaney is sizzling right from the very start. Their conversation is easy, they are clearly attracted to each other, and they share a connection that surprises them both. When Shane’s agent presents Delaney with a contract asking her to act as Shane’s girlfriend for the duration of his upcoming tour, it threatens to ruin everything that had started to develop between them. But as the situation is explained as more of a safety net for Shane, and the promise of her getting her life back afterwards, she agrees. Though with the lines blurred well before she signs on the dotted line, the stage is set for epic angst and sexual tension.

Angsty books are usually a bit hit and miss for me, but I revelled in this one! It’s dramatic and emotional, and my heart was pounding as Shane and Delaney wrestled with their situation and their growing feelings for each other, and it was so freaking good!

“You want Delaney, I can tell. So, what’s the problem?”
Nothing. Except that she made me feel things. Want things. I didn’t have a right to want. Not anymore. Maybe not ever.

They are both so broken by their pasts, and though they know what they are feeling for the other, there’s a whole heap of other stuff getting in the way, and I could feel is as they wrestled to figure it all out.

There was only one thing I knew for sure. Delaney and I, we were linked by something I didn’t quite understand yet, but I already cherished.

“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
… “No … I’m not asking. You’re my girl. Period.”

It’s heartachingly beautiful, steamy and passionate in every way, and the emotions are intense as they let go and experience it all – there for each other in a way that both of them have been missing, bravely following their hearts, becoming a true partnership, and finding something so beautiful together. I loved the strength they found in each other and the strong emotional aspect to their relationship.

“Baby, I’ve already given you every piece of me.” I dropped my forehead to hers, cupping her gorgeous face within my palms, feeling as if I’d been stripped bare. “You have it all.”
Delaney wound her legs around my hips, pulling me in tight, tighter. “I’ll take good care of you. I promise.”

But their demons have a strong hold on both of them, and they’re not done yet. There are secrets to be uncovered, and as much as they feel for each other it’s not an easy ride for them. They both need to learn to stop running from the past, and when those tragedies threaten their future together, they will have to learn to stand strong together to get the happy ending they so badly want.

I loved this book. It’s beautifully written, and I felt every heartfelt moment of Shane and Delaney’s story. It’s angsty and intense, passionate and emotional, and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

This is my first read from this author, and I was really impressed. She’s given us a gorgeous story, and I loved the introduction to the other boys in Shane’s band, Nothing But Trouble, and I am so excited for Landon’s book up next!

A fantastic read - 4.5 stars

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam I AMNreader]

DNF at 35%
The book is densely populated with exposition (and holy metaphors in there too!), so much so that we know the hero whose name may or may not be Shane is definitely an addict times three. And we know the heroine was just the type he likes. Insta-lust and he needs a girlfriend for tour.
This characters meet based on a set up by Shane’s manager—based on all those criteria that Shane find attractive. Fancy that, she fits the bill perfectly, like a turquoise-eyed goldilocks who likes his music but, you know, not too much. But Delaney has a secret too. Both characters are pretty broken and have absolutely no issue letting the readers know it in the first 10% of the book.

This plot line echoed Lead in the sense that Jimmy had a sober companion. That is where the similarities to the other authors referenced in the blurb ends. Delaney is hired to be a stand in girlfriend that is encouraged to participate in a sexual relationship with the hero.

“Why me?” a question my favorite heroines rarely ask. And if they do, maybe not right up front. In the case of this book, it’s due to insta-lust. Isn’t that clear? You’re hot. Then you said no.

Oh, but the exchange:

“Why me?”
“why not you?”
“I asked the question first”
“I asked second.”

This isn’t a reasonable conversation for twenty-somethings. *pinches bridge of nose, closes eyes.* I’m at 25%.

Shane has been following Delaney around, getting into her space/putting hands on her after being asked not to, and advancing on her when she says no. He basically coerced her into working with him/living with him through the job. He’s the kind of alpha-hole I don't care for. And when the heroine can’t match him, something else has got to make me want to continue reading. This isn’t the set up for a romance, it’s the set up of a horror novel. For me, this isn’t take-charge alpha sexiness, it’s manipulative.

At the point the heroine called herself worse than groupies: an idiot, tease, and a prude, I’m done. I was going to attempt to finish, but a weak heroine vs a manipulative alpha hole isn’t one of the things I’m willing to tolerate. I’ll save my rockstar fix for heroines able to handle them.

Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for the copy of this book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A rock star romance that was high on drama and angst.
Both Shane Hawthorne and Delaney Fraser (the H&h) have a similar dark secret from their past that haunts them both and affects their ability to lead a normal life.
So when they meet there is a connection that is deeper than their initial sexual attraction and chemistry .
Though Shane wants to hire Delaney as his fake girlfriend for an upcoming tour, part of him wants to step away for fear of ruining her with his lifestyle. His world is full of paparazzi, sleazy tabloids, and unrelenting fans. In the past Shane has used drugs, alcohol and meaningless sex to numb his feelings and avoid facing his past and inner demons. The "fake girlfriend" thing is how he currently avoids these temptations.
Travis (his lawyer) draws up the contracts for all these pseudo relationships. Delaney reluctantly agrees to this plan when Travis is smart enough to discover something that he can do to help her father in return.
Delaney recognizes a fellow troubled soul in Shane and wants to help him. As their relationship progresses she finds herself developing stronger feelings for him, but even when he opens up to her about his deeply troubled past she still remains silent about her own.

This was very much the rock star romance novel.
Shane and Delaney were both so deserving of love and happiness even though they were both broken people in need of redemption.
It was also a very "steamy" and sexy book but the "angst" level was so high that I almost had to put it down at times. It was a lot more than I can usually deal with but I enjoyed this book and I am happy that I read it.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Mada Linx]

DNF 46%. No rating.
I think I tortured my brain enough.

This book had a great start and I thought I’d love it, unfortunately for me, it did not happen.
I’m not a fan of insta-lust or insta-love or insta-anything, I like to get to know the characters first, see what makes them tick and who they really are, so I can understand the mixture of feelings they start having for each other. But, Jesus, everything in this book was insta. Everything.

We get a tortured hero, lead singer of Nothing but Trouble band, who has loads of money, fame and women who throw themselves at him.
Nothing new here. Then, add to the mixture a tortured heroine too. I mean why not, you can’t go wrong with it.

The storyline is week, repetitive with no depth, both hero and heroine are shallow, and I got quickly bored only reading about their massive sexual attraction for each other, (and is a dual pov too), which to be honest, did nothing for me other than roll my eyes and like them even less.
If only they had just a bit of personality, not much, just a bit, maybe I’d have enjoyed this book.


Yeah....so.....Nope.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well damn – this one blew me away. I loved it, loved it, loved it. Can someone give me book two right this moment? I need more, and I need it now.

Having read and enjoyed Tara Leigh’s Deal Breaker, the second book in her Billionaire Bosses series, I knew I needed more of the author’s work. Already I have Penthouse Player sitting on my Kindle waiting for me to dive into, but I found myself reading Rock King first. How could I not dive into it as soon as the chance arose? The synopsis alone was enough to leave me begging, in dire need of more. I went in with high expectations, and I was not disappointed in the least.

Deal Breaker earned a four-star rating from me, yet it pales in comparison to Rock King. Rock King is a solid four-point-five-star rating – one of those books where the picky side of me prevented me from handing off a five-star rating. It happens more often than it should, with quite a few of my favourite books having a four-star rating for something small. It’s odd – you see, I hate giving out one-star ratings yet it seems I’m more willing to hand them out than five-star ratings. Rock King is a prime example of how I always hold back on those top ratings. This is good, damn good. I’m sure most will gladly hand over a five-star rating. When compared to other rock star romances I have read, this one certainly sits at the top. In fact, it has set the standard of what I expect from future rock star romances so high that I’m questioning whether any will live up to this one. There is no doubt this is my favourite rock star romance, one you need to pick up.

I’ll be honest, I was a little bit tentative at first. The synopsis had me expecting something quite dark. Part of me was imaging a dark suspense filled read, one that would suck me into a truly twisted story. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and due to that I was worried. Despite my worries, I found I was sucked in for other reasons. I was lost to the story, turning page after page at a rapid pace. It may not have been what I was expecting, but it was a powerful read in many other ways. In fact, I came to love it all the more because it surprised me.

You see, this book is filled with emotion. I don’t simply mean the romance – which is wonderful within itself, something I will come back to – I mean it in regards to so many elements of the story. Each of the characters has a painful past, has secrets they are keeping buried deep. The way they are played with, the events that occur, make for a deeply moving story. On the surface there is a lot of drama, a lot of secrets, but when you look deeper there are so many layers to be found. Loving oneself, loving others, forgiving, coming to terms with the past, and so much more occurs throughout this one – it hits a number of hard places, a knock to the solar plexus of those who can find a connection to any of the deep topics mentioned throughout.

More obvious, what everyone sees on the surface, is the brilliant romance between the two characters. I was pulled into their relationship straight away, loving the play between the two of them. I loved the characters as individuals, and completely adored them as a couple. They went so well together, and I found myself desperate for more. Even the element that didn’t win me over due to personal preference when reading romance – the speed of things, the way everything happened too fast for my liking – managed to win me over in the end, with there being plenty layers added to the story.

Without a doubt, Rock King was a wonderful read. There is no doubt I will be reading the second book in the Nothing but Trouble series, as I have very high hopes for the places this series will go.

Bring on book two – I need to know what happens with the side characters I’m so intrigued about!

[Coco.V]

💝 ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💝

[Nicole ReadingBetweenTheSheets · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those amazing books you read, that are so well written, with such a fantastic storyline, that you start panicking when you are coming down to the last 10% of the book because you don’t want it to end…YEP! Rock King by Tara Leigh is one of THOSE books! YES, Tara! You knocked it out of the park with this book! This is an eye opening perspective on the Rock World and groupies and obsessive music fans! The concept of a “contractual girlfriend” is…WOW! The instant chemistry and the banter between Delaney Fraser, a struggling waitress with a deep, hidden secret, and the rock legend, Shane Hawthorne, is soul biting! The twists and turns in this book have you at the edge of your seat and not wanting to put the book down! Plus, the sexual interactions in this book are delish!

When rock star, Shane Hawthorne, is heading out on tour, his manager, Travis, arranges to find a fake girlfriend/assistant to help keep him out of trouble. After some hesitation, and reading the contract and what she will get from it, (which involves helping her dad who is locked up for killing her mom) Delaney Fraser agrees. “You’re being paid to act like his girlfriend. What you do in private is entirely up to you and Shane.”

The Rock King has a few deep, dark, hidden secrets and many moments that will have you gasping!
I LOVED this book! I went through a full circle of emotions while reading this! I literally felt the love and the heartbreak…and (without too much “spoiler alert”) there was one part where I was reading with my jaw dropped!!!

The Rock King was SO well written! The storyline, literally, was one of the best! Plus, I loved how Tara addressed the issues of drinking and driving, texting and driving, drug abuse and recovery.

I can’t wait for Piper and Landon’s story!!!

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not great. Decent


This wasn't a bad romance, just a pretty typical one.

Cute characters, decent plot. Nothing to write home about, but good enough to make me want to finish reading it. There are a milion other books out there just like this, those easy to read, cute but forgettable ones (just like a decent pizza, just not your favourite one).


Worth reading if you have nothing better to try.

[Carlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like everyone else who has read Rock King, I was attracted to this book thanks to the cover and the fantastic blurb. It's my first Tara Leigh book and one of the rare occurrences where I have reached for a book about a rockstar, because I usually have too high of expectations for them. In this case, I thought the rockstar persona, the secrets, the partying, all of it, was very accurate. Shane Hawthorne is the rockstar, the hearthrob, the guy everyone loves, everyone except himself. He has secrets, he has pain, and though he has a desire of being better, he doesn't actually seem to be doing much to fix it beyond his image. Delaney is a sweet, struggling young woman who doesn't have desires to make it big in the glittering of world, she'd rather just be able to make it through life in general. She too carries a heavy weight on her shoulders, something Shane could help make better, first she'd have to be willing to sign an agreement she doesn't quite agree with. I really liked Shane and Delaney as individuals, they're really fantastic, complex characters that have more depth than your usual cliche rockstar romance. Despite the initial lack of connection between them, they grew on me as a pair as well and I really appreciated that the storyline was really about them and their pasts, rather than the fame.

"I wanted Delany to be real. Not a publicity stunt. Not a placeholder. And I wanted her to be mine."

Unfortunately, I really struggled with the lack of chemistry between Shane and Delaney. The contract between them felt more secure than their relationship, something I felt was based on lust more than anything else. They seem to spend more time getting it on than anything else, though I suppose I would too if I had Shane in front of me. I felt this way for most of the book, at least until the end, when everything gets revealed and trust finally blooms between them. I felt like I had to work to get through the first part of the book, it had a lot of detail to it, but later on that worked out for the story and the context was appreciated. There were also a few plot discrepancies that threw me off a bit, things that'll probably be fixed before release, so I won't comment further on them.

"Liars recognized each other, in the same way a magician is rarely fooled by another's tricks. And we were liars."

Rock King was a solid first read from Tara Leigh and I'm interestested in seeing what she does with the Nothing but Trouble band. I wish we had seen more of the people Shane and Delaney interacted with, I felt like the secondary character list was limited to just four people, with a handful of others that I've already forgotten, so maybe the future novels will give us more.


ARC provided.

[BookSmackedMel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock King was a introduction to me to Tara Leigh’s writing as I’ve never read a book by her before and I absolutely loved it.

It sucked me in from the beginning and I felt my heart beating fast through many moments in this book.

Normally when I’ve read a rock star romance it’s the rock star that is severely flawed or has a deep dark secret. In this story both characters have secrets, both seem to be seemingly running from their past and both seem to be going through life on auto pilot.
That in itself was a storyline that had me gripped.

And I do like that in this book we know the reasonings why even if we aren’t sure about the full story behind those pasts until later on in the book.

These two enter into an unconventional relationship and sparks fly but it’s more then just sparks and their chemistry and connection is something that I could feel as I was reading.

I connected to these two immediately and I could feel their story. The storyline was intriguing it was sad it was heart breaking and boy did I crave an ending that would make me sigh and have those romance swoony feels. You know the ones I’m talking about the ones where boy meets girl, boy saves girl etc.. in this case I think it was just that but both saved each other in a sense.

I’m a fan of this book and I definitely can’t wait for the next book which Tara does such a great job I will say leaving crumbs and juicy morsels for what we can expect next.

Love finding new to me authors and so glad that I stumbled across this book.

[~Kristin~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
This was so not what I was hoping for, I'm not a fan of insta-love, flip floppy MCs, and the constant lies...not great!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Author and Buoni Amici Press***

This book is a rock star romance, and there are certain elements that always exist in this trope. the rock star is going to be sexy, and at least a bit of a bad boy. The woman he gets involved with is either going to be hired to be around him, or from a completely different world. This was all in here...and yet it was done in a way that felt a little different, I think because even though he is tough on the outside, you get Shane's POV and you know that he is pretty much in love with Delaney from about their second meeting.

I liked this. I liked the story of the bad boy who really relies on the girl. And, I liked how vulnerable he allowed himself to be. There are a couple of really heartbreaking moments in the book, both around her possibly leaving or him thinking that she will choose to leave, that really drew me to the character and to the emotion of the story.

I also thought her "secret", the thing she is keeping from Shane and the world was realistic and that Shane's reaction was authentic. So often, the horrible end of the relationship break up that happens in a romance feels like it is there because the plot requires it (and let's face it, it really often does) but in this title, it felt real.

This is the second title by this author that I have read. I enjoyed, but didn't love the first one. This one, however, was very well done and enjoyable from beginning to end.

I recommend this title, and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

***This and other reviews featured on our blog Booked All Night http://bookedallnightblog.com/***

[TeriLyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "Be bad with me..." Stars

I loved the characters in Rock King. I loved the plot and the story behind each character, where they came from and their histories. Their connection is palpable and the intensity of their relationship was perfect for romance lovers who dig the angsty push/pull of tortured characters. The friendship and trust building between the two also kept me so interested in their story. Secondary characters allowed me to get more invested in the story on a broader level, interest in other band members for example. However, the repetitive conflict of the story and they way it was continuously played out kept me from rating this book higher. It seemed like every chapter the same conflict and issues would arise with each character and those same issues would be presented with a different euphemism or analogy to mask them as being fresh. A handful of times I noted it within the book and thought it cumbersome while reading. Some of those points could have been fleshed out more with more depth to really make this stand out more. If you like rock star romance this book is definitely worth the read.

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect when reading a Rockstar novel ?

Well there are basically two no wait THREE ways this experience can go.

Lets start with the worst… something superficial over the top with unlikeable characters – ok lets forget about this third option fast…

The other two options are for one .. the cliché … the Rockstar that has everything plus a fan falling in love with him. They meet - he falls for the fan … - some drama is about to happen – they reconnect and hopefully HEA.
That is the classic version and it’s a good one – no misunderstandings …

And then there is this last option – the one that you really have to search for. It’s the one that offers you more then the other – this version will offer you all the classics plus more. That more can be pain, depth, deeper characters and if you are lucky even some suspense.

And if you happen to stumble across this review here than that is because you came across a book of that third category. Rock King (Nothing But Trouble #1) by Tara Leigh is such a book. It is the first book from this author that I read and I like he writing style. The character development as well as the plot development is also great. So those points are all ticked off with a YES.

On the surface you have the almost classical setting of the Rockstar that seems to have everything yet is missing something. And instead of the Fangirl – Shane Hawthorne gets Delaney his Babysitter. But this is already the point where the classics end. Because the Leading and Supporting characters in this novel are much deeper than the average. It will take the reader a long time to figure out their actual motivation.

The reader gets to peel away layer after layer of Shane and while doing that we find out more and more about the secondary characters too. I have to admit they intrigued me as much as they annoyed me. And some of the revelations were more surprising than I would have imagined. Which makes me look forward to the next books in this series.

I struggled with one fact a little but as I try to refrain from spoilers as much as possible it is not easy to explain my thoughts on that. Lets say I am a little fact obsessed and if I compare the two most important facts the reader learns about both leads I feel that from the law point of view the handling and reasoning was not sooooooooo totally realistic BUT … it felt OK within the story flow. (and wow that means something if I say it like that because only this week I “killed” a book in my review for almost that same reason – but in that case I could not get over that fact because the story would not “carry” me there)

There are a lot of bumps in the road of this story and there is a question mark if this Babysitting can turn into a Romance, also the reader will have tons of reasons to worry if they will make it or not. – SO what more can a reader wish for …

Oh wait I know … the next book in the series …

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[MarytheBookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Opinion:
Loved this rocker read! It had the emotional, physical and the mental, this book has all the emotions you can drum up. Rocker Shane has had a sad past that he walked away from years ago because of one fateful night. He would never be the same...Until he met Delaney.

These two are hot, spunky and full of lust for each other. Their scenes are hot and I was able to connect with them being a couple. I loved that they went through similar things and had to get over their past mistakes. I can completely understand this. I loved reading their love story and I am eager to read the next in the series. I was a Piper fan from the beginning!

The only thing I had against this being a 5 star book was the beating themselves up over what happened. Pages of this dragging on even till the end. If there had just been a little less of that, this would have been a 5 star book. It was well written, flowed well, and it was clear who was talking throughout the book which is a big plus. I do not like guessing.

I also really enjoyed the backstage and the stage scenes and the whole contract girlfriend. I enjoyed this book very much. I loved reading this new rocker series and look forward to all this band has to give!

I give this book 4.5 of 5 stars!

[Tara Leigh]

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[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕]