Forbidden Song

Hearts Of Metal #5

by Brooklyn Ann

BREAKING FREE


After having one of the worst experiences a young teenager could endure at the hands of cruel musicians, Christine Mayne's rock star brother Quinn tried to lock her away from the world. She had to fight to live her life, go to college, get her master's and enter her PhD program. Now, she's determined to complete her research on group dynamics by touring with Bleeding Vengeance, even it means deceiving her brother and lying to the band's fabulous lead singer, Cliff Tracey.


Cliff Tracey hates being manipulated, lied to and deceived. He'd know, having gone through a string of exes who had done just that. When he thinks he's found a kindred spirit, and a beautiful babe to boot, imagine his surprise - and disappointment - when he learns she played him so she can tour with his band to complete her PhD. When he finds out why, he knows he's in double trouble because Quinn Mayne will kill anyone who touches his sister, and Cliff Tracey has all sorts of plans for Christine Mayne that involves more than either of them ever expected.

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

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2018

About the author

Author also writes as Brooklyn Ann Butler

Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance, urban fantasy, and horror novels featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, rockstar romance in the award-winning, “Hearts of Metal” series, and horror in the “Final Couples” series, horror romances riffing on the 1970s and 1980s B horror movies that feature a Final Couple instead of a Final Girl.

She also writes horror under the pen name Brooklyn Ann Butler.

She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her gamer son, rockstar/IT Guy boyfriend, three cats, a few project cars, an extensive book collection, and miscellaneous horror memorabilia.

She can be found online at https://brooklynannauthor.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.

For exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for Brooklyn Ann’s Newsletter at https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/new...

Reviews

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Forbidden Song
Author: Brooklyn Ann
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Series: Hearts of Metal Book 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Forbidden Song" by Brooklyn Ann

My Thoughts....

I loved this series 'Hearts of Metal Book 5 'Forbidden Son' that featured Cliff Tracey who was the lead singer of rock band, Bleeding Vengeance and Christine Mayne who was the over protective younger sister of Quinn Mayne who was the lead singer of rock band, Vicious. At this time Christine was wanting to work on her PhD dissertation in Psychology studying the dynamic of a rock band relationship. Now the only thing about this was getting a band that would let her study them. With her brother Quinn being so protective and all how will this happen? This will be quite a good read where one will find out a lots of what goes on with this metal band and a few others bands like Rage of Angels. I did enjoy this read as we see how well the story will all come together in 'this sweet and sensual roller coaster ride that is full of angst and self realization as the past events fuel the unexpected connection between two very different people.' In the end will Christine who is struggling to get control of her life after a sexual assaulted during her teenage years in which her brother Quinn blames himself being unable to let her go [after ten years] and live her own life in her own way especially since she is now a grown women of twenty-three? However, from all of what has gone on in her life has presented problems causing Christine to feel she had to tell lies to get what she wanted. I didn't like the lies she felt she had to tell to her band friends but oh well after it all comes out I am sure she even felt sorry for the lies she felt she had to tell. Now, to get the whole story to why Christine did all she did you will have to pick up "Forbidden Song" to see how well this author brings it out so well to the readers. Be ready for a read where there will be drama, emotions, humours moments, angst, passion, tears, along with some hot sexy scenes that will keep your attention all the way through this interesting storyline. I enjoyed seeing growth of both of the main characters by the end of the read. I will say that the ending was finished up so very well and definitely leaving the reader with a sweet HEAFN.

[Adria's Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews

* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.


What’s it About? Christine Mayne’s rock star brother Quinn has basically kept her locked up like a princess in an ivory tower since the day she was attacked by his first band’s members. Now she’s determined to get out from under her brother’s thumb by finishing her research on group dynamics, completing her Ph.D program and becoming independent once and for all. So she lies to her brother in order to tour with rock group Bleeding Vengeance but since they also know her brother she lies to them too. While on tour she forms an unlikely connection with their womanizing lead singer Cliff Tracey. Meanwhile Cliff can’t figure out why Christine is different from all the women he’s met, all he knows is that he wants to get to know her, and be with her but when he finds out who she is he is angry and hurt. The few times he ever tried to have a relationship with a woman ended in lies, manipulations, and trust issues but his growing affection for Christine has him seriously considering something more with her, that is if her brother doesn’t kill him first.


Overall reaction to the story? I was rubbing my hands in glee when I found out that Forbidden Song was Cliff’s story cause I wanted that guy to fall in love so bad! Not because I hated him or anything but because he was the womanizer, the playboy who didn’t take much seriously and had a massive ego to go with his fame. By the time I was halfway through I was doing fist pumps because Brooklyn Ann gave me exactly what I wanted: The supreme humbling of one Cliff Tracey! There were hard times, good times, sexy times, and funny times in this book and honestly I didn’t want it to end but I’m glad that Cliff and Christine’s romance went down the way it did. The realness of the characters and plot is part of what attracts me to this author’s work and keeps me coming back for more.



Describe the hero in five words: Cocky. Smart. Charming. Empathetic. Fun.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Cliff has always been the cocky playboy that had it all but from the start of Forbidden Song there’s something different about him. With two of his band mates in love with each other, Cliff is a tad envious and confused since he was used to getting all the women. He’s never really been the guy to do “the feels” or even self reflection. He really let readers in and you get to see the surprisingly solid guy he is. For the first time he doubts himself and yes, I do love the moments where a normally arrogant character starts doubting their powers of persuasion. Cliff’s moments of seeing himself through other people’s eyes felt like he was in essence shedding his old, useless persona in order to tackle the next part of life where he had to grow up.

Describe the heroine in five words: Shy. Curious. Intelligent. Kind. Innocent.
Did you like her? Yes which surprised me.
Why? Christine was super innocent which should have annoyed the crap out of me since I can’t stand innocent women in contemporary romance. However, Christine’s innocence comes from her rock star brother locking her up and guarding her more than a dragon guards his treasure because of a horrifying experience at the hands of said brother’s first band. She immediately had my sympathy and my admiration for surviving something like that and for being determined enough to seize her freedom when her brother’s protectiveness was overwhelming. She had a mind that analyzed everything around her which I could relate to and it was nice to have a heroine that wasn’t directly involved in the music industry. I wanted to see how someone like Christine would affect the dynamics between the band and how her future profession would influence her relationship with Cliff.

Let’s talk about the romance: There was a big difference in the romance in Forbidden Song and it worked for me. Christine was not only the sister of a rock star who would beat anyone down for messing with her, she was sheltered and innocent, a direct contrast to Cliff’s more indiscriminate sex life. I love that the author didn’t make them jump into bed together because that would just seem like another one of Cliff’s hookups and if Christine was meant to be different from them and mean more to Cliff, then their romance had to play out differently. And it did. It was more emotionally driven than physically with Cliff having to get his head out of his butt in order to realize what was happening between them and Christine having to secure her inner strength and confidence before taking on someone with Cliff’s past. Christine may not have known how to handle Cliff as a man in the beginning but she knew how to handle emotions a lot better than him so while he was more experienced *cough* playboy *cough* she was the real adult. It put a different spin on the romance for me that I really enjoyed.


How about that supporting cast? Summing up Cliff’s band mates is pretty easy: They’re all nuts. But in a good way. They’re friends, they’re band mates, but more importantly, they’re human and the author has them react to situations in a very human way. They get on each other’s nerves, they get angry at each other, and they fight because it’s a natural reaction to being shoved on a bus for days on end with nothing to do but see each other’s faces. I enjoyed their dynamic and the different personalities of each member. It was also interesting to see the effect of having a new member of the band that happened to be a woman, I loved it because she was “one of the guys” while still maintaining her own identity. Her presence had a big impact on Cliff as well which was a very interesting development I didn’t see coming.

I will say that Christine’s brother Quinn needed a punch in the junk because dang was that guy over the top obsessive about keeping her safe. I could understand why Christine wanted to get out of his control ASAP. He did some not okay things in order to keep her compliant and really, he needed his butt kicked.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. Forbidden Song handles the love story of notorious womanizer Cliff Tracey in a way that shows his emotional and mental growth but also shows the strength Christine Mayne has kept hidden for so long. They were worked beautifully together.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Mayne is on a mission. She wants a band, desperately. She's getting her Ph.D. and is studying the effects of group dynamics within metal bands under stress. To do this she needs to be able to travel with a band and document her observations. As the little sister of rock star Quinn Mayne, the lead singer of Vicious she should have an in with the metal industry but due to a violent attack when she was a young teen, her brother is overprotective and shields her completely from the rock world. Determined, Christine convinces (tricks) Cliff Tracey, lead singer of Bleeding Vengeance into allowing her to accompany his band on their tour. When the truth comes out Christine is allowed to stay with the band if she tells her brother. Christine fits in well with the band, getting tons of good data and even helping them along the way. She and Cliff find themselves to be kindred spirits with lots in common, as well as a strong attraction towards one another. As the tour progresses they get closer, both wanting more than is possible and when it turns out that Christine has lied, Cliff feels betrayed. Knowing that he has been played Christine is kicked off of the tour. Her dissertation is at risk but that's nothing compared to her broken heart.

Forbidden Song surprised me. I expected it to be entertaining but I didn't believe that I would like Cliff after his introduction in earlier books. The lessons his father taught him about using women disgusted and saddened me. Rockers married to their guitar and spending each night with a new, nameless groupie turn me off. Cliff had been portrayed as a dumb man-whore. This was not an apt description. There was so much more to be discovered about Cliff. He's certainly not dumb. He's cocky, too slutty, and at times self-absorbed. But he's also talented, thoughtful, loyal, and ready to grow up. He's ready for more. Christine is intelligent but so sheltered. Her anger over being controlled led her to not be honest but she's not a bad person. She did cause some damage due to her naivety and fear but never with any ill intention. Her chemistry with Cliff was undeniable.

With the focus being on Christine's dissertation, there was more story about the dynamics of the band and their personal issues than there was a romantic angle. To be honest I would have liked more time with Cliff and Christine. Cliff tried holding on to his anger towards her to keep her away for a longer period than they were together. And together they were so good! I wanted more, especially with that ending. More, more, more.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLEASANTLY DIFFERENT

The difference is a lovely one - the author makes the focus of affairs the metal band scene, and makes the usual tumult of young love take place among the riffs and chords of a group trying to make it, and a young woman making her way into the demanding career of a therapist - through a research PhD.
The group is wonderful. I enjoyed them, a lot. This is a nice, light book, but is a bit different from this author's usual work in that it has - ummm, well, less bite.

[JoRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden Song (Hearts of Metal Book 5) by Brooklyn Ann This is the fifth book in the Hearts of Metal series but I promise it can definitely be read as a standalone. I know this because I’ve only read the previous book yet I never felt lost. I love how the author was able to weave so many characters into one book without making it feel convoluted. All of them felt true to their nature, including “slutty” Cliff, who can still be a jerk at times but now that we start seeing things from his POV it’s impossible not to have feelings for the guy. Christine’s independent spirit causes more trouble than not but even so she was a lovable character because it was not mischief what drove her but an honest will to live her own life. I felt this book centered more around the dynamics of the band’s members and their personal struggles, but even so it did not lack in the romance department. Christine and Cliff’s relationship may take a backseat at times but it’s always present throughout the book. Their emotions are all palpable and when they were together it was all but fire on the pages! The mix of drama and funny, laugh-out-loud moments made this book pretty enjoyable. And the fact that we get to visit with all of the other bands, including Rage of Angels (from the Bride of Prophecies series) makes it a memorable one as well. In short, I think this story is the perfect tease because if anyone picks this one up before the previous books in the series will want to get them all and start reading them asap. ***I received this book at no cost to me and I volunteered to read it; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.***

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers will find themselves part of the band in this sweet and sensual roller coaster ride full of angst and self-realizations as past events fuel the unexpected connection between two very different people. Though this is the fifth installment in the Hearts of Metal series it stands nicely on its own, reuniting readers with bandmates that feel more like family, while showing us a more vulnerable side to the cocky womanizer Cliff Tracey.

Christine Mayne’s still struggling to get control of her life after a sexual assault in her teens at the hands of another rock band that her brother Quinn still carries immense guilt over. In his need to keep her safe he’s smothering her as he controls every aspect of her life, both financially and physically. Tired of feeling like a prisoner she lies her way onto the Bleeding Vengeance tour to work on her PhD, but soon finds herself falling for Cliff and finally getting to experience life in many sweet and erotic encounters. Christine’s a likable heroine who’s been through a lot in life. Though it’s admirable that her brother wants to protect her he’s far too overbearing. He’s controlled so many aspects of her life that she’s left uncertain and teeming with immaturity that was sometimes frustrating and sometimes endearing. My biggest issue with her related to all the lies she told. Considering how little control she had in her life I know she felt she had no choice, but standing her ground and speaking her mind in a more thoughtful way would’ve proved her maturity much sooner. I did enjoy her relationship with Cliff though as it was a carefree connection, not weighed down by her past, that was full of joy and self-empowerment. Sweet and erotically-charged encounters showed Christine and Cliff to be a dynamic duo that were better people together than apart.

Cliff Tracey’s always seen women as a benefit to being a rock star, a momentary appetizer to be quickly forgotten. As the son of a rock star he was taught that lesson from an early age, but seeing all his friends start to find their HEAs has him feeling lost and alone. He sees everyone leaving him for others, and while he wants someone to call his own, he’s scared to put his heart on the line. The moment he sees Christine he wants to call her his own, even though he knows their relationship will cause problems. Being with her brings him a sense of happiness and peace, makes him a better man that has him thinking of the future, until all her lies and Quinn’s anger pulls them apart. Through all their ups and downs Cliff is a delicious hero. Early on he appears as the quintessential rock god, but being around Christine shows a more personable and thoughtful man. He’s sexy but also sweet in his gentle wooing of Christine. I felt sympathetic towards him throughout the story and his feelings of loneliness and fear over the changes in his band constantly had me wanting to hug him. Though he was understandably hurt by Christine’s actions he’s quick to admit his feelings and makes a heartwarming grand gesture to win her back that brought a smile to my face.

The romance between Christine and Cliff is a satisfying one and their hard-fought HEA was a cheer-worthy one. Readers repeatedly get pulled into the rock star world through the vividly depicted concert scenes that dripped of sweat and sensuality as well as the decadence of the backstage and endlessness boredom of touring. We get reunited with past couples while getting more insight into future pairings as Ms. Ann beautifully juggles three different rock bands throughout the narrative. While all these rock stars have become like family there’s a few who stood out...for better and worse. Quinn’s a caring and loving brother but his actions were over the top and frustrating. He nicely redeemed himself at the end though and it will remind readers of why they fell for him to begin with. British drummer Rod fully tempted me here as he too has been feeling left out and unsure of his place. By the end of the story though I have great hope for his future and am waiting with breathless anticipation for his story to be told. Fans of rock star romances will want to immerse themselves in the sexy and emotionally intense world these bands inhabit and now is the perfect time to start!

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that this book was about Cliff getting his HEA, I wasn't real excited for it. Cliff wasn't an interesting character to me when he was first introduced. A bit of a jerk, a womanizer, and even the main heroine didn't like him much when she finally met him.
But the rejection Cliff received from Kat helped him grow in Forbidden Song. He learned that just because he's a pretty voice doesn't mean he's going to always get what he asks for or wants. But then enters Christine. He tries to keep a cold shoulder to her. He tries so hard to not like her.
Christine is held under the thumb of her other brother Quinn. It seems forced to have him be so adamant about her staying away from the music scene. I mean, why not ask a favor of your good buddy Klement and make sure she's traveling with a band you know and trust for her to write her dissertation, instead of risk her traveling with one that you don't know much about or one you don't like? At least you would know where she's at. You could still get plenty of drama from the known numerals in that equation, instead of having the lies and deceit knot.

I like that Cliff grew as a character.
I don't like that Christine was mentioned a single time and we knew nothing about her but yet she's a big deal because she's the little sister of a main character from a previous book.

[Behind Closed Doors Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amount of sex 2.5 / 5
How explicit 2.5 / 5
Story 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5 (Rounded to 5 / 5)

Forbidden Song is the fifth book in the ‘Hearts of Metal’ series by author Brooklyn Ann. I believe this story could be read as a standalone, although I highly recommend starting from the beginning of the series. Understanding the backstories will gain the reader a better foundation to fully appreciate the storyline.

I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about Cliff Tracey, the lead singer of Bleeding Vengeance. He often acts like an arrogant womanizer in the other stories. As I began the book, I was immediately drawn into Cliff and Christine’s story. I was captivated by the drama, angst, and passion of the storyline. I could understand how Christine felt and why she did certain things in the book. There was a lot of emotions while reading their story and it was great to watch Cliff grow to be a better man.

Like I have said before, I fall more in love with this series with each book that Brooklyn Ann writes!

A must read series!

*Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Copy*

[Jane Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Mayne is working towards her PHD in studying group dynamics within heavy metal bands. Her brother is Quinn Mayne the lead singer for the metal band 'Vicious' and he is not happy that his sister wants to be hanging around metal bands because he knows what goes on. Also, his protectiveness goes beyond normal because of a traumatic event in Chrissy's past. Cliff Tracey is the lead singer for 'Bleeding Vengeance' another metal band and Chrissy happens to have a huge crush on him. By a lucky chance Cliff doesn't recognize her as Quinn's little sister and agrees to smuggle her on board their tour bus. At last she can observe a metal band up close and personal, which is something she would like to be doing with Cliff Tracey. Inevitably Cliff's band mates find out who she is and her brother Quinn find's out who she is with… I did enjoy this book but I was amazed how long it took for Chrissy to be outed. However, the ending made it all worthwhile!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One more great book that kept me reading till late at night. Once I started it, I felt so happy to have found this story. It hooked me from the first pages.

Cliff and Christine have wonderful chemistry from the start. I really cared about them, and everything they went through resonated with me. Both characters are well-developed, with deep internal conflicts. Quinn sometimes goes over the top, but I still find him a good character — and he’s right in his own way.

Every chapter moved the story forward. It was so great to see all those amazing metal people from the first two books (I skipped some stories, but I’m going to return to them).

The world of this story became so close to me that I feel somehow bound to every character I’ve met. It’s one of those cases when I feel a bit frustrated that I’ve finished reading 😄 Thank you for this book! I highly recommend it to every rock and metal fangirl, and to anyone who loves that page-turning effect. 🤘❤️‍🔥

[Maddy Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cliff is your typical rockstar, talented, good looking and with the added benefit of being the lead singer he had no shortage of female companions. Lately he’s been a bit unsatisfied, and has been questioning his life choices. He’s kept away from relationships and ladies in general, until he meets Christine. One look at her green eyes and he’s agreeing to let her travel with the band so she can study them and write her dissertation for her PhD in psychology. He can’t seem to keep away from Christine, but he has to because her brother would kill him if he went near her. Of cause he loses that battle. This story is so good, I loved it. Christine and Cliff are so good together, this book is hot. When they got together I thought my kindle would blow up. I’m giving this book five stars and highly recommend it. Can’t wait to start book six.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite Bleeding Vengeance story. Christine's past is tragic and her brother has made it worse. I loved how she was striving to become independent, even though she used some subterfuge to get there. Cliff was a surprise for me, considering his reputation and actions in the other books, and I enjoyed seeing this side of him. I was a little emotional as this story unfolded with happy tears at the end. I highly recommend this book and series.

I received a copy of this story as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Cliff and Christine’s love story. She didn’t tell him who she was related to and it caused trouble for him and the band. However before Quinn showed up she did help out the band and had a steamy time with Cliff. This book showed that Cliff was more than he appears. A wonderful story that kept me turning the pages. I received an arc and the views and opinions are my own. I would recommend this book and series.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good addition to the Brooklyn Ann Rock books. This story tales us back to the guys in Bleeding Vengeance and their charismatic lead singer who unknowingly falls for the sheltered sister of the lead singer of the headlining band Vicious. What ensues is lies, omissions and heartbreak and a very sweet HEA. Brooklyn Ann writes about 3 different bands, so you may want to check out her blacklist to know who's who.

[Rebecca Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Brooklyn has created another great read in her Hearts of Metal series. I have never personally liked Cliff and his womanizing ways, but Christine is an amazing character that has worked hard to overcome her past and towards her chosen degree. Brooklyn writes in such a way as to show you the character development. Well worth reading.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always great to me to see someone decide to make changes for the better. A one night stand lifestyle gets old for Cliff and seeing this change in him was great. Having him finding is Happily Ever After was wonderful. I Loved It!!! Great Rock Story! No Spoilers!

I received an ARC from BookSirens and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and Loved this Story!!!

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. A wonderful addition to the series. I enjoyed how the story line pulled the bands together like a family.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Great characters.

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read.

[Emma bramley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in this series by this author. This author brings you amazing characters, which have overcome there own problem pasts. This book can be read as a stand alone read. This book will have you reaching for the tissues at the end for all those happy tears. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.



Highly recommended series

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book
https://www.obsessedbookreviews.com/

[Deanna Palladino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

Book 5 is by far my favorite book in this series. Cliff and Christine steal your heart from the start, as forbidden love can. It's tough to put this book down once you start. You still see may of the other characters from the previous books, and if you loved Quinn in book one, be prepared to love and hate him more than ever! Reading the series in order does help, but it's not 100% necessary. Enjoy and I hope you love it as much as I did!

[Bev Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

I love this series! I love everything Brooklyn Ann writes!! Another winner in the Rock and roll series!
I knew Cliff was really a good guy!