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Back-Up #1
On Stage: In perfekter Harmonie
Leila Morinos größter Traum ist es, ein Rockstar zu werden. Durch einen glücklichen Umstand erhält sie die Möglichkeit, bei der aufstrebenden neuen Band The Devil's Lair vorzusingen. Und tatsächlich darf sie den unglaublich attraktiven Sänger der Band in Zukunft mit ihrer Stimme unterstützen.
Jack Lair ist genau das, was man sich unter einem Rockstar vorstellt: charismatisch, verwegen, anziehend und unerreichbar. Sein Leben scheint perfekt. Mit seiner Band ist er auf dem Weg zum Ruhm, die Frauen liegen ihm zu Füßen, er hat alles was er braucht … bis Leila in sein Leben tritt.
Zu Beginn noch zaghaft, beginnt ihre gegenseitige Anziehung sich schon bald in einen Strudel aus Gefühlen zu steigern. Aus Attraktion wird Liebe, das Leben zwischen Aufnahmestudio und verliebter Zweisamkeit ist perfekt. Bis ein Fehler aus Jacks Vergangenheit ihre gemeinsame Zukunft zu vernichten droht …
Jack Lair ist genau das, was man sich unter einem Rockstar vorstellt: charismatisch, verwegen, anziehend und unerreichbar. Sein Leben scheint perfekt. Mit seiner Band ist er auf dem Weg zum Ruhm, die Frauen liegen ihm zu Füßen, er hat alles was er braucht … bis Leila in sein Leben tritt.
Zu Beginn noch zaghaft, beginnt ihre gegenseitige Anziehung sich schon bald in einen Strudel aus Gefühlen zu steigern. Aus Attraktion wird Liebe, das Leben zwischen Aufnahmestudio und verliebter Zweisamkeit ist perfekt. Bis ein Fehler aus Jacks Vergangenheit ihre gemeinsame Zukunft zu vernichten droht …
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2013
418 people are currently reading
6257 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Madden
42 books2,460 followersA USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, A. M. Madden is also a Jersey girl whose addiction to romance started at twelve after reading Judy Blume’s Forever.
As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds.
In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers feel they know the characters personally.
When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soul mate, and a mother to two boys who she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.
AWARDS:
2016 eLit Gold Medalist - Best Romance Ebook - The Shortstop
2016 IPPY Silver Medalist - Best Romance Ebook - The Shortstop
2018 Book Excellence Finalist - Finding Mr. Wrong (co-written with Joanne Schwehm).
2019 Book Excellence Finalist - Scoring Mr. Romeo (co-written with Joanne Schwehm).
Sign up for A. M. Madden’s newsletter at www.ammadden.com to get up-to-date information on new releases, cover reveals, and exclusive excerpts.
website - www.ammadden.com
Facebook - A.M. Madden, Author
Twitter - @ammadden1
Instagram - ammadden1
Email - am.madden@aol.com
A.M. Madden is represented by Stephanie Phillips / SBR Media Agency.
Copyright © A.M. Madden, Author, All rights reserved.
A.M. Madden is a Goodreads Author and can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or at am.madden@aol.com
As a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she truly believes that true love knows no bounds.
In her books, she aspires to write fun, sexy, realistic love stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. She creates realistic characters and believes there’s no better compliment than when readers feel they know the characters personally.
When not writing, she’s busy being a wife to her soul mate, and a mother to two boys who she believes are the most handsome men on earth. She loves to cook, hates to bake, and dreams about living at the beach someday.
AWARDS:
2016 eLit Gold Medalist - Best Romance Ebook - The Shortstop
2016 IPPY Silver Medalist - Best Romance Ebook - The Shortstop
2018 Book Excellence Finalist - Finding Mr. Wrong (co-written with Joanne Schwehm).
2019 Book Excellence Finalist - Scoring Mr. Romeo (co-written with Joanne Schwehm).
Sign up for A. M. Madden’s newsletter at www.ammadden.com to get up-to-date information on new releases, cover reveals, and exclusive excerpts.
website - www.ammadden.com
Facebook - A.M. Madden, Author
Twitter - @ammadden1
Instagram - ammadden1
Email - am.madden@aol.com
A.M. Madden is represented by Stephanie Phillips / SBR Media Agency.
Copyright © A.M. Madden, Author, All rights reserved.
A.M. Madden is a Goodreads Author and can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or at am.madden@aol.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 722 reviews
September 17, 2017
4 stars!
This was a ‘rock star’ book that was highly entertaining, was very sweet and so much fun to read. I loved the relationship Jack and Leila had with each other. Watching them go from band mates, to friends, to fighting their attraction, then to falling in love. It wasn’t your typical rock star book and I mean that in the best way possible. The band members of Devil’s Lair felt like guys you could be friends with. They were very down to earth. Leila is a girl following her dreams and is a completely likable heroine. Jack is a guy who makes a lot of changes when he finds the one girl he wants.
I listened to Back-Up on audio and thought the narration was well done. The narrators did a great job capturing Jack and Leila. I thought this was a stand-alone rock star book (and that the next book would be about a different band member) but once I got towards the end, I knew there was no way. There was NOT a cliffhanger, but there is a lot still going on with this couple and a lot that is yet to come. I’m excited to read the rest of this series and read more about Leila, Jack, and the rest of Devil’s Lair. This was a easy to listen to book that I liked a lot. It gets a solid 4 stars from me!
This was a ‘rock star’ book that was highly entertaining, was very sweet and so much fun to read. I loved the relationship Jack and Leila had with each other. Watching them go from band mates, to friends, to fighting their attraction, then to falling in love. It wasn’t your typical rock star book and I mean that in the best way possible. The band members of Devil’s Lair felt like guys you could be friends with. They were very down to earth. Leila is a girl following her dreams and is a completely likable heroine. Jack is a guy who makes a lot of changes when he finds the one girl he wants.
I listened to Back-Up on audio and thought the narration was well done. The narrators did a great job capturing Jack and Leila. I thought this was a stand-alone rock star book (and that the next book would be about a different band member) but once I got towards the end, I knew there was no way. There was NOT a cliffhanger, but there is a lot still going on with this couple and a lot that is yet to come. I’m excited to read the rest of this series and read more about Leila, Jack, and the rest of Devil’s Lair. This was a easy to listen to book that I liked a lot. It gets a solid 4 stars from me!
November 19, 2013
Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heat Level ~ 4 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars, but also continuing
Overall Rating ~ 5 ROCKING STARS!
Now that was one FANTASTIC read. This is a full length novel at 445 pages, and that in itself really surprised me, because most romance released these days are much shorter in length. This book grabbed my attention right from the get go and kept me glued to every single page. The writing flowed and I had NO problem following the story. Also, the knowledge about what a rock band does during their everyday life, being at the studio, the different people who work behind the scenes and the rolls they play, made it very interesting. What happens when signing a new member into the band, and the parties, the bars, the groupies…A.M Madden did not drop the ball while writing this book, and it was all there. What I also LOVED was that the relationship building was out of this world good. ALL the characters, and there were many, were all done exceedingly well.
Jack was the perfect hero. He starts off as a total man whore and he is VERY promiscuous, LOL and you know what? I LOVED HIM!! Of course that makes him a total SEX GOD, and woman fall all over him. His looks and body are model perfect, and when he smiles, his dimples are on full display, and it’s known to make woman have the CCDS. What exactly is CCDS you’re thinking?! According to the heroine, Leila, it means Crotch Clench Dimple Showing smile. I also want to explain why I love that he is a man whore, because when a man whore finds THE ONE, they always fall hard!
Leila is also a wonderful character. I just loved reading about her nervousness, shyness, but also about how talented she was. Right from the start they share a definite attraction that just grows every time they are near each other.
They did not just jump on each other, as a matter of fact; it takes quite some time before they have sex. Once the deed is one, the two of them SIZZLED, and my glasses were practically fogged from the steam they radiated. By the time they finally admit their love for each other these scenes became even more heated. I really could feel their love for one another, and my crotch did plenty of clenching reading the scenes where they were intimate.
This book has many more things to offer other than just being rock romance. The secondary characters are very involved in the story and this added so much to the overall plot.
The last concert scene was phenomenal, and I was cheering them on too!
I was quite surprised to find out this was a continuing story as the ending was not a real big cliffhanger, but it definitely left me wanting MORE and wanting it NOW! This is my first read by A.M. Madden and I can hardly wait for the next book. A.M., if you’re reading this, please write faster!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to ALL readers who LOVE a VERY realistic rock n’ roll romance, where dreams do come true. Add in some great characters with a fantastic story line, and some very HEATED love scenes…what more could you ask for?!
*This book was gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Up Date, check out the new sexy book cover and run to Amazon and pick this book up. It's on sale for .99 so grab it while the sale is on!
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heat Level ~ 4 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars, but also continuing
Overall Rating ~ 5 ROCKING STARS!
Now that was one FANTASTIC read. This is a full length novel at 445 pages, and that in itself really surprised me, because most romance released these days are much shorter in length. This book grabbed my attention right from the get go and kept me glued to every single page. The writing flowed and I had NO problem following the story. Also, the knowledge about what a rock band does during their everyday life, being at the studio, the different people who work behind the scenes and the rolls they play, made it very interesting. What happens when signing a new member into the band, and the parties, the bars, the groupies…A.M Madden did not drop the ball while writing this book, and it was all there. What I also LOVED was that the relationship building was out of this world good. ALL the characters, and there were many, were all done exceedingly well.
Jack was the perfect hero. He starts off as a total man whore and he is VERY promiscuous, LOL and you know what? I LOVED HIM!! Of course that makes him a total SEX GOD, and woman fall all over him. His looks and body are model perfect, and when he smiles, his dimples are on full display, and it’s known to make woman have the CCDS. What exactly is CCDS you’re thinking?! According to the heroine, Leila, it means Crotch Clench Dimple Showing smile. I also want to explain why I love that he is a man whore, because when a man whore finds THE ONE, they always fall hard!
Leila is also a wonderful character. I just loved reading about her nervousness, shyness, but also about how talented she was. Right from the start they share a definite attraction that just grows every time they are near each other.
They did not just jump on each other, as a matter of fact; it takes quite some time before they have sex. Once the deed is one, the two of them SIZZLED, and my glasses were practically fogged from the steam they radiated. By the time they finally admit their love for each other these scenes became even more heated. I really could feel their love for one another, and my crotch did plenty of clenching reading the scenes where they were intimate.
This book has many more things to offer other than just being rock romance. The secondary characters are very involved in the story and this added so much to the overall plot.
The last concert scene was phenomenal, and I was cheering them on too!
I was quite surprised to find out this was a continuing story as the ending was not a real big cliffhanger, but it definitely left me wanting MORE and wanting it NOW! This is my first read by A.M. Madden and I can hardly wait for the next book. A.M., if you’re reading this, please write faster!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to ALL readers who LOVE a VERY realistic rock n’ roll romance, where dreams do come true. Add in some great characters with a fantastic story line, and some very HEATED love scenes…what more could you ask for?!
*This book was gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Up Date, check out the new sexy book cover and run to Amazon and pick this book up. It's on sale for .99 so grab it while the sale is on!
Want to read
June 18, 2017
FREE on Amazon US today (6/8/2017)
Book 1. Series complete
FREE: https://www.amazon.com/Back-up-Book-1...
BLURB:
Leila Marino’s biggest dream is to become a rock star. A lucky opportunity has her auditioning with an up & coming rock band named Devil’s Lair. The band hires Leila as their back-up singer, signing her up for months in the studio and touring on the road with the sexy bunch.
Jack is the quintessential rock star…gorgeous…sexy…a walking orgasm. Jack Lair is the lead singer of Devil’s Lair and his dreams are becoming reality as his band climbs the ladder of success. He’s living the perfect life, and enjoying every minute of it. With a steady stream of sexual conquests that satisfies his raging libido, he thinks he has all he needs in life…until Leila enters it.
Jack is not prepared for the sudden pull he feels towards Leila, and struggles daily to deny his attraction is anything more. Leila finds falling for her new boss is constant torment. Both convince themselves friendship is their only option.
An intimate moment causes their willpower to collapse, and their erotic love affair to begin. Finding love was a bonus that neither Jack nor Leila anticipated. As they begin their tour together professionally and personally, life couldn’t be any better for the couple. Until a mistake from Jack’s past threatens their new relationship, and their perfect future together.
FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day. I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 600 books)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
October 28, 2013
New review posted!
The reworked version is definitely better. You can definitely see the difference in terms of editing. It's more polish and there is no awkward word usage, phrases or whatever. The story remained intact. I find Leila and Jack's voice to be stronger and clear cut here.
Jack is still lovable and I still contend that Jack Lair is not a bad boy. A charmer and a manwhore, yes, but definitely sweet when he puts his mind to it. And that's definitely okay. I still loved Evan and Leila's friendship. I felt that their back story and that huge revelation with Leila's dad was done very well. I did not see that one coming.
Kudos to the author for having the courage to re-edit and re-work some aspects of this book. Looking forward to Front and Center soon. I'm already anticipating lots and lots of drama with that book.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
One of the most difficult book to rate. I feel that the potential is definitely there, the whole idea is there but the execution seems to be lacking, at least for me.
Back-Up tells a story of a 25-year old aspiring rock and roll singer, Leila Marino, who suddenly found herself singing back-up for an up-coming band Devil's Lair. Jack Lair (love that name) is the Devil's Lair frontman. He's the unapologetic manwhore in the group, the charmer and the all-around Mr. Sex-on-legs. Sparks started flying the moment Jack and Leila met, and inevitably, fell in love.
My Thoughts
As I've said, this story definitely has potential. If I were to rate a book on potential alone, I'd say this is a 4.5 to a 5 star read for me. And there were moments where it took me there; witty dialogue, great chemistry between the characters, et cetera. I wish it stayed like that throughout the book. Sad to say, it didn't, hence the 3 stars.
I did like the story, overall. It has been done before but I'm always a sucker for rock star romances, so I didn't mind. There were some great moments there especially with Jack Lair's band mates.I thought their interaction were golden throughout the book. Even Jennifer, the beautiful and ruthless agent was a great character to have in the book.
I did also like Leila. Although, I must say, she acts more like a 16 year old rather than a 25 year old woman. She was naive and cute. I know this because this was repeated throughout the whole book. Her innocence, naivete and cuteness were always brought to your attention, and after a few chapters of that, I was just over it.
Jack Lair fit the rock star mold perfectly. But I never really felt like he was a bad boy. He was a charmer, definitely, and actually a nice guy. Too nice, in fact. My only problem with Jack was that he sometimes sounded awfully like a girl especially when he starts describing what somebody, preferably Leila, was wearing. He's definitely observant but I just find it weird when a guy starts describing women's clothing in detail unless he was in the process of taking it off. Other than that, Jack was wonderfully sweet.
Loved, loved the moments with the whole band. There weren't too many of those moments but I thought the band was hilarious.I also loved the side story of Evan and Leila's father. I thought that added a little bit of layer to Leila's character.
Overall, I think this book could have been better with the right editor. Some misused words, grammatical and spelling errors were just too distracting for me, which was a shame because I really think that there is a story there. Could have been a lot better with editing but otherwise this was an okay book considering this was a debut. And by the way, Jack and Leila's story will definitely continue in the second book. This didn't end in a cliffhanger per se, considering they are still together but they are about to face their toughest test yet. And I really want to know what happens next, so yes, I'll definitely read the book in this series.
The reworked version is definitely better. You can definitely see the difference in terms of editing. It's more polish and there is no awkward word usage, phrases or whatever. The story remained intact. I find Leila and Jack's voice to be stronger and clear cut here.
Jack is still lovable and I still contend that Jack Lair is not a bad boy. A charmer and a manwhore, yes, but definitely sweet when he puts his mind to it. And that's definitely okay. I still loved Evan and Leila's friendship. I felt that their back story and that huge revelation with Leila's dad was done very well. I did not see that one coming.
Kudos to the author for having the courage to re-edit and re-work some aspects of this book. Looking forward to Front and Center soon. I'm already anticipating lots and lots of drama with that book.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
One of the most difficult book to rate. I feel that the potential is definitely there, the whole idea is there but the execution seems to be lacking, at least for me.
Back-Up tells a story of a 25-year old aspiring rock and roll singer, Leila Marino, who suddenly found herself singing back-up for an up-coming band Devil's Lair. Jack Lair (love that name) is the Devil's Lair frontman. He's the unapologetic manwhore in the group, the charmer and the all-around Mr. Sex-on-legs. Sparks started flying the moment Jack and Leila met, and inevitably, fell in love.
My Thoughts
As I've said, this story definitely has potential. If I were to rate a book on potential alone, I'd say this is a 4.5 to a 5 star read for me. And there were moments where it took me there; witty dialogue, great chemistry between the characters, et cetera. I wish it stayed like that throughout the book. Sad to say, it didn't, hence the 3 stars.
I did like the story, overall. It has been done before but I'm always a sucker for rock star romances, so I didn't mind. There were some great moments there especially with Jack Lair's band mates.I thought their interaction were golden throughout the book. Even Jennifer, the beautiful and ruthless agent was a great character to have in the book.
I did also like Leila. Although, I must say, she acts more like a 16 year old rather than a 25 year old woman. She was naive and cute. I know this because this was repeated throughout the whole book. Her innocence, naivete and cuteness were always brought to your attention, and after a few chapters of that, I was just over it.
Jack Lair fit the rock star mold perfectly. But I never really felt like he was a bad boy. He was a charmer, definitely, and actually a nice guy. Too nice, in fact. My only problem with Jack was that he sometimes sounded awfully like a girl especially when he starts describing what somebody, preferably Leila, was wearing. He's definitely observant but I just find it weird when a guy starts describing women's clothing in detail unless he was in the process of taking it off. Other than that, Jack was wonderfully sweet.
Loved, loved the moments with the whole band. There weren't too many of those moments but I thought the band was hilarious.I also loved the side story of Evan and Leila's father. I thought that added a little bit of layer to Leila's character.
Overall, I think this book could have been better with the right editor. Some misused words, grammatical and spelling errors were just too distracting for me, which was a shame because I really think that there is a story there. Could have been a lot better with editing but otherwise this was an okay book considering this was a debut. And by the way, Jack and Leila's story will definitely continue in the second book. This didn't end in a cliffhanger per se, considering they are still together but they are about to face their toughest test yet. And I really want to know what happens next, so yes, I'll definitely read the book in this series.
February 13, 2018
Writing: A.M. Madden, please, please find an editor. The plot was lost in all of the extraneous detail. An editor can assist with minimizing superfluous information. Then the rambling and the never ending rabbit hole internal thoughts, and topic jumping. The first 100 pages were agonizing. I really didn’t think I would make it
Characters: I had a hard time liking Leila and Jack. Their personalities were lackluster due to the overwhelming detail. I don’t need to know what everybody is wearing in every single scene. Madden would have her MCs describe the minutiae of the simplest tasks. I also don’t need to know the name, occupation, clothing, siblings, etc. of every character. Especially minor characters. Cut some of that out.
Storyline: Madden created a great plotline. But what was it? I can’t find it under all of the DETAIL?
I’m not trying to be mean, but I think there are some great authors out there with fantastic story ideas, but poor execution. And this is one of them. An editor would have helped Madden organize this story.
Readers do not need to know a character’s every waking thought. I don’t even want to know my own every waking thoughts.
Intimacy Scenes: Now This...Hmm...Besides the editing problems, this section was almost the culprit of a dnf and a rant session. I LOATHED, like really HATED this section of the novel. I don’t need to read the details of Jack giving it to every girl he meets. Why am I reading about him licking other women, but then I’m supposed to be invested in him having a relationship with Lelia???
This section disgusted me. And then for Leila to find out about one of them and act like it ain’t a big deal if him and that girl remain friends
Overall: I can’t. This was torture. I kept screaming “PLEASE GET ON WITH THE STORY!” This is the end of the road for me. I would seriously hurt myself if I continued with this series. And since I kind of love me, I’m going to end my journey here. I will be on the lookout for other books by A.M. Madden, but as of right now
Characters: I had a hard time liking Leila and Jack. Their personalities were lackluster due to the overwhelming detail. I don’t need to know what everybody is wearing in every single scene. Madden would have her MCs describe the minutiae of the simplest tasks. I also don’t need to know the name, occupation, clothing, siblings, etc. of every character. Especially minor characters. Cut some of that out.
Storyline: Madden created a great plotline. But what was it? I can’t find it under all of the DETAIL?
I’m not trying to be mean, but I think there are some great authors out there with fantastic story ideas, but poor execution. And this is one of them. An editor would have helped Madden organize this story.
Readers do not need to know a character’s every waking thought. I don’t even want to know my own every waking thoughts.
Intimacy Scenes: Now This...Hmm...Besides the editing problems, this section was almost the culprit of a dnf and a rant session. I LOATHED, like really HATED this section of the novel. I don’t need to read the details of Jack giving it to every girl he meets. Why am I reading about him licking other women, but then I’m supposed to be invested in him having a relationship with Lelia???
This section disgusted me. And then for Leila to find out about one of them and act like it ain’t a big deal if him and that girl remain friends
Overall: I can’t. This was torture. I kept screaming “PLEASE GET ON WITH THE STORY!” This is the end of the road for me. I would seriously hurt myself if I continued with this series. And since I kind of love me, I’m going to end my journey here. I will be on the lookout for other books by A.M. Madden, but as of right now
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October 25, 2014
10/23/2014 --
I thought this was pretty awful. Definitely not what I'd thought I'd get. I bought a 3-book bundle and am returning them.
You may have better luck here. Hope you do.
Happy Reading!
I thought this was pretty awful. Definitely not what I'd thought I'd get. I bought a 3-book bundle and am returning them.
You may have better luck here. Hope you do.
Happy Reading!
September 6, 2014
Sweet Rock'n Roll Ride
I really enjoyed this one.. it's not a completely typical rocker romance where the girl is absolutely nobody and although the guy is a man ho, he's not a dickhead at all..
Jack.. I may have actually preferred him to be a little more douchy to be honest. He get's around, ALOT, but he's got a good heart and doesn't lead anyone on. His band, Devils Lair, is right on the edge of hitting it big...they are getting more bookings and cutting and album. All of Jacks dreams are finally coming true...
Jack.....
But Devils Lair is missing one thing...they need a little something extra to make them different.. to really set things on fire. They need a back up singer... Leila sings for the band The Cliffhangers..doing a local gig. She loves what she does but she's got dreams too. Making it big and going places. One night, she's discovered by one of the girlfriends of one of Devils Lair's band memebers.. she set's up a meet and greet. All Leila has to do is knock them on their asses... this is her big shot...
Her first shot at impressing the band and she get's to sing back up with Jack to Darkest Days ( here's a link to the song.. thought I'd add it since I LOVE IT)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWKVbq... and of course she totally nails it. The chemistry between Leila and Jack is tangible from first sight, they'd be amazing on stage together... so after a little back and forth with contracts and such.. Leila joins the band !
Well... of course Leila and Jack try to keep things professional but the attraction is just too much for them to resist so they finally stop resisting it...
Jack's ready to put it all on the line, he wants Leila and he doesn't care who knows it.. Leila though.. she's not so comfortable with everyone knowing yet.. after all, she just got in the band and if the world knows she's sleeping with Jack then they will just think she slept her way in. So that, along with a shit storm from Jack's past have the potential to cause all kinds of trouble for Jack and Leila... and although they are in love and ready for this new journey together..it might not be enough.. because trouble is definitely coming.
Now on to the ending.....although it is a little cliffy..its not bad. Leila and Jack are together but they've definitely got a hard road ahead..especially with the 411 that was dropped at the end...
So, I enjoyed this one.. if I had one peev it was the use of the words "penis" and "oral sex". I think there is no rocker on the planet that would refer to his "goods" as penis. He'd say "cock", "dick", "junk", etc. And who says "oral sex" when referring to a blow job ? Nope.. its a good ole blow job. End of story. BLOW JOB. So , aside from those small peeves, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. It was an easy read that really had very little angst but I've got a feeling the next one will have more considering what's about to go down.
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this one.. it's not a completely typical rocker romance where the girl is absolutely nobody and although the guy is a man ho, he's not a dickhead at all..
Jack.. I may have actually preferred him to be a little more douchy to be honest. He get's around, ALOT, but he's got a good heart and doesn't lead anyone on. His band, Devils Lair, is right on the edge of hitting it big...they are getting more bookings and cutting and album. All of Jacks dreams are finally coming true...
Jack.....
But Devils Lair is missing one thing...they need a little something extra to make them different.. to really set things on fire. They need a back up singer... Leila sings for the band The Cliffhangers..doing a local gig. She loves what she does but she's got dreams too. Making it big and going places. One night, she's discovered by one of the girlfriends of one of Devils Lair's band memebers.. she set's up a meet and greet. All Leila has to do is knock them on their asses... this is her big shot...
Her first shot at impressing the band and she get's to sing back up with Jack to Darkest Days ( here's a link to the song.. thought I'd add it since I LOVE IT)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWKVbq... and of course she totally nails it. The chemistry between Leila and Jack is tangible from first sight, they'd be amazing on stage together... so after a little back and forth with contracts and such.. Leila joins the band !
Well... of course Leila and Jack try to keep things professional but the attraction is just too much for them to resist so they finally stop resisting it...
Jack's ready to put it all on the line, he wants Leila and he doesn't care who knows it.. Leila though.. she's not so comfortable with everyone knowing yet.. after all, she just got in the band and if the world knows she's sleeping with Jack then they will just think she slept her way in. So that, along with a shit storm from Jack's past have the potential to cause all kinds of trouble for Jack and Leila... and although they are in love and ready for this new journey together..it might not be enough.. because trouble is definitely coming.
Now on to the ending.....although it is a little cliffy..its not bad. Leila and Jack are together but they've definitely got a hard road ahead..especially with the 411 that was dropped at the end...
So, I enjoyed this one.. if I had one peev it was the use of the words "penis" and "oral sex". I think there is no rocker on the planet that would refer to his "goods" as penis. He'd say "cock", "dick", "junk", etc. And who says "oral sex" when referring to a blow job ? Nope.. its a good ole blow job. End of story. BLOW JOB. So , aside from those small peeves, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. It was an easy read that really had very little angst but I've got a feeling the next one will have more considering what's about to go down.
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
June 28, 2014
DNF.
I TRIED...REALLY. BUT I JUST CAN'T.
The start was pretty much good...so there, two stars.
This just did not work for me.
The characters' reactions are so over the top...that it was downright funny. And what's with her crotch clenching all the time?
Well, atleast I had a great laugh.
And the characters keep on introducing and keep talking about people who aren't even that significant (to me). Bored me to tears.
I TRIED...REALLY. BUT I JUST CAN'T.
The start was pretty much good...so there, two stars.
This just did not work for me.
The characters' reactions are so over the top...that it was downright funny. And what's with her crotch clenching all the time?
Well, atleast I had a great laugh.
And the characters keep on introducing and keep talking about people who aren't even that significant (to me). Bored me to tears.
June 24, 2015
3.5 Insta-Love Stars
December 4, 2013
I just adored this book! I'm going with 4.5 JACK stars!
Reading about rock stars is my 2nd favorite type of book, right behind fighters. So when I had the opportunity to read this book I jumped on it! The cover alone was enough to sell me the book, but the book itself is awesome too!
Jack is amazing, like I want a Jack in real life! We are introduced to Jack Lair(I just love his name) when Leila goes to audition to be a back-up singer to his band Devil's Lair. Leila has been a fan, and is infatuated with Jack. When she comes face to face with him he causes some of her lady parts to clench. I was laughing out loud to those parts! Leila is currently with another band called The Cliffhangers and wants to do more with her singing career than singing at a bar, she refuses to do private parties. So this is the opportunity she has been waiting for.
Of course they all absolutely love her, so she gets the job. She has awhile before things will change for her so she has time to prepare her current band mates for her departure. Which bring me to the characters, there are a ton of them. You have Leila's band which has 5 members, and then Devi's Lair, and there are 4 guys in that band. Then you have the bartenders who play a major part in the story as well. But A.M. Madden does a good job of telling each characters story so you can connect with each one.
I loved the pull that Leila and Jack had towards each other. Yet they both fought the feelings, Leila's reasoning being it would make it look like she got the job because of Jack, and Jack's reasoning being he didn't do relationships. But then things get interesting, Jack keeps seeing Leila, he can't get her out of his head. And this leads to Jack wanting to spend every waking moment with her, and Leila is all for that. Who wouldn't right?
Just as things get really hot and steamy, something happens that threatens to pull the rug out from under them. Will their relationship be able to stay intact? I can't wait to see how the relationship progresses in the next book. I definitely need more Jack! And no there is no cliffhanger, so don't freak out about that. I feel the author left it off where I was satisfied until the next book.
Reading about rock stars is my 2nd favorite type of book, right behind fighters. So when I had the opportunity to read this book I jumped on it! The cover alone was enough to sell me the book, but the book itself is awesome too!
Jack is amazing, like I want a Jack in real life! We are introduced to Jack Lair(I just love his name) when Leila goes to audition to be a back-up singer to his band Devil's Lair. Leila has been a fan, and is infatuated with Jack. When she comes face to face with him he causes some of her lady parts to clench. I was laughing out loud to those parts! Leila is currently with another band called The Cliffhangers and wants to do more with her singing career than singing at a bar, she refuses to do private parties. So this is the opportunity she has been waiting for.
Of course they all absolutely love her, so she gets the job. She has awhile before things will change for her so she has time to prepare her current band mates for her departure. Which bring me to the characters, there are a ton of them. You have Leila's band which has 5 members, and then Devi's Lair, and there are 4 guys in that band. Then you have the bartenders who play a major part in the story as well. But A.M. Madden does a good job of telling each characters story so you can connect with each one.
I loved the pull that Leila and Jack had towards each other. Yet they both fought the feelings, Leila's reasoning being it would make it look like she got the job because of Jack, and Jack's reasoning being he didn't do relationships. But then things get interesting, Jack keeps seeing Leila, he can't get her out of his head. And this leads to Jack wanting to spend every waking moment with her, and Leila is all for that. Who wouldn't right?
Just as things get really hot and steamy, something happens that threatens to pull the rug out from under them. Will their relationship be able to stay intact? I can't wait to see how the relationship progresses in the next book. I definitely need more Jack! And no there is no cliffhanger, so don't freak out about that. I feel the author left it off where I was satisfied until the next book.
top-tbr
March 6, 2015I freaking love the new cover! EKKKKK, it's always better with lickable abs
Leila Marino’s biggest dream is to become a rock star. A lucky opportunity has her auditioning with an up & coming rock band named Devil’s Lair. The band hires Leila as their back-up singer, signing her up for months in the studio and touring on the road with the sexy bunch.
Jack is the quintessential rock star…gorgeous…sexy…a walking orgasm. Jack Lair is the lead singer of Devil’s Lair and his dreams are becoming reality as his band climbs the ladder of success. He’s living the perfect life, and enjoying every minute of it. With a steady stream of sexual conquests that satisfies his raging libido, he thinks he has all he needs in life…until Leila enters it.
Jack is not prepared for the sudden pull he feels towards Leila, and struggles daily to deny his attraction is anything more. Leila finds falling for her new boss is constant torment. Both convince themselves friendship is their only option.
An intimate moment causes their willpower to collapse, and their erotic love affair to begin. Finding love was a bonus that neither Jack nor Leila anticipated. As they begin their tour together professionally and personally, life couldn’t be any better for the couple. Until a mistake from Jack’s past threatens their new relationship, and their perfect future together
AMAZON
Leila Marino’s biggest dream is to become a rock star. A lucky opportunity has her auditioning with an up & coming rock band named Devil’s Lair. The band hires Leila as their back-up singer, signing her up for months in the studio and touring on the road with the sexy bunch.
Jack is the quintessential rock star…gorgeous…sexy…a walking orgasm. Jack Lair is the lead singer of Devil’s Lair and his dreams are becoming reality as his band climbs the ladder of success. He’s living the perfect life, and enjoying every minute of it. With a steady stream of sexual conquests that satisfies his raging libido, he thinks he has all he needs in life…until Leila enters it.
Jack is not prepared for the sudden pull he feels towards Leila, and struggles daily to deny his attraction is anything more. Leila finds falling for her new boss is constant torment. Both convince themselves friendship is their only option.
An intimate moment causes their willpower to collapse, and their erotic love affair to begin. Finding love was a bonus that neither Jack nor Leila anticipated. As they begin their tour together professionally and personally, life couldn’t be any better for the couple. Until a mistake from Jack’s past threatens their new relationship, and their perfect future together
AMAZON
June 20, 2017
♥ ♥ kindle freebie 6.20.17 ♥ ♥
***This is my second read through of this book and I liked it just as much, if not more than my first read through. I am currently re-reading Front & Center because this book ends with a Cliffhanger of sorts (our couple is still together at the end but life has thrown them a curve ball) and I recall how much I enjoyed Front & Center that I had to read it again, right away after finishing this one.***
Well, I am somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. I liked the overall story and the love between Jack and Leila. What I didn't like was Jack's manwhore behavior through the first like 30% of the book. It just bothered me. However, once he realized his feelings for Leila he stepped back from that life and was all about her.
Leila was a very likable character. I could just imagine her beautiful singing voice. If I had one wish...:) She is very strong and the way she stood by Jack in the end in the face of Jessa's announcement was touching.
I did feel at times that both characters were younger than the ages they are in the book. Especially Jack. Another bothersome issue were the numerous editing errors in the book. Wrong words were used in sentences or words left out of sentences. I wish it had been a bit more edited. However, still an enjoyable story.
The next book in the series is due to release in January so we shouldn't have too long of a wait. I am looking forward to seeing how these two young lovers handle the obstacles they are going to face.
***This is my second read through of this book and I liked it just as much, if not more than my first read through. I am currently re-reading Front & Center because this book ends with a Cliffhanger of sorts (our couple is still together at the end but life has thrown them a curve ball) and I recall how much I enjoyed Front & Center that I had to read it again, right away after finishing this one.***
Well, I am somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. I liked the overall story and the love between Jack and Leila. What I didn't like was Jack's manwhore behavior through the first like 30% of the book. It just bothered me. However, once he realized his feelings for Leila he stepped back from that life and was all about her.
Leila was a very likable character. I could just imagine her beautiful singing voice. If I had one wish...:) She is very strong and the way she stood by Jack in the end in the face of Jessa's announcement was touching.
I did feel at times that both characters were younger than the ages they are in the book. Especially Jack. Another bothersome issue were the numerous editing errors in the book. Wrong words were used in sentences or words left out of sentences. I wish it had been a bit more edited. However, still an enjoyable story.
The next book in the series is due to release in January so we shouldn't have too long of a wait. I am looking forward to seeing how these two young lovers handle the obstacles they are going to face.
October 9, 2013
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
**4 Stars!**
I completely enjoyed this story!
Leila Marino is an aspiring rock star. She is currently the lead singer in her band, The Cliffhangers. Amidst all of her performances, a girlfriend of one of the members in an up and coming rock band, Devil’s Lair, sees her potential and sets her up with an audition as a back-up singer for the band. The band witnesses her talent at the audition and proposes that she sign on the dotted line. And being the aspiring rock star she is, of course she signs.
Jack (Jackson) Lair is the all-around typical rock God. So damn sexy. So damn cocky. So damn promiscuous. He’s the lead singer of the band that Leila has just signed to. Before the band, he was on track to follow his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. His heart just wasn’t in it, so he dropped out of school to pursue his real dream.
He sees that his band is on a steady incline towards stardom and success. So he’s living it up. Parties, booze, and girls. Lots and lots of girls. He had it made. Or so he thought.
When Leila is hired to be a part of Devil’s Lair, she instantly has a crotch clenching side effect to Jack Lair. She knows she attracted to him. But she’s resigned to the fact that that’s all it can be. An attraction. She’s been working her ass off her whole life to get where she’s at, and she’s not about to throw it all down the drain for a hook-up. And with Jack Lair, that’s all it would be.
As Jack continues with his conquests of the female gender, he comes to find that his mind keeps drifting to the new girl. Eventually his thoughts of her consume his life and he can’t get her out of his head. He knows they shouldn’t cloud the waters; he knows they have to remain just friends. But the pull turns out to be too strong when they both relinquish their will and give in. (HOTT!)
When the towel is thrown in, Leila second-guesses her decision. Not so much as regretting it, but more that she didn’t quite fully think it through. She doesn’t want the world to know about their relationship because she doesn’t want people to have the perception that she screwed the lead singer to get into the band. Her dream has always been to be in a band, touring the world. She doesn’t want her aspirations to be demeaned and belittled into her being a attention, fame and money hungry whore.
As their relationship of stolen moments continues, old news resurfaces back into Jack’s life, testing their future.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I completely adored the buildup in this. There was so much sexual tension. They both knew they wanted it. BAD. But their heads kept telling them no. The flirting and banter was adorable. When they did finally get to the sexiness, it didn’t disappoint. C’mon, he’s a rocker with a reputation!! ;)
The ending is a little itty bitty cliffhanger, but their story does continue in book 2, Front & Center, scheduled for release in early 2014. Book 3, Encore is also scheduled for release in early 2014. I am looking forward to finding out what is to come of Jack’s old news/now current and front page news.
Great job A.M. Madden!
**4 Stars!**
I completely enjoyed this story!
Leila Marino is an aspiring rock star. She is currently the lead singer in her band, The Cliffhangers. Amidst all of her performances, a girlfriend of one of the members in an up and coming rock band, Devil’s Lair, sees her potential and sets her up with an audition as a back-up singer for the band. The band witnesses her talent at the audition and proposes that she sign on the dotted line. And being the aspiring rock star she is, of course she signs.
Jack (Jackson) Lair is the all-around typical rock God. So damn sexy. So damn cocky. So damn promiscuous. He’s the lead singer of the band that Leila has just signed to. Before the band, he was on track to follow his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. His heart just wasn’t in it, so he dropped out of school to pursue his real dream.
He sees that his band is on a steady incline towards stardom and success. So he’s living it up. Parties, booze, and girls. Lots and lots of girls. He had it made. Or so he thought.
When Leila is hired to be a part of Devil’s Lair, she instantly has a crotch clenching side effect to Jack Lair. She knows she attracted to him. But she’s resigned to the fact that that’s all it can be. An attraction. She’s been working her ass off her whole life to get where she’s at, and she’s not about to throw it all down the drain for a hook-up. And with Jack Lair, that’s all it would be.
As Jack continues with his conquests of the female gender, he comes to find that his mind keeps drifting to the new girl. Eventually his thoughts of her consume his life and he can’t get her out of his head. He knows they shouldn’t cloud the waters; he knows they have to remain just friends. But the pull turns out to be too strong when they both relinquish their will and give in. (HOTT!)
When the towel is thrown in, Leila second-guesses her decision. Not so much as regretting it, but more that she didn’t quite fully think it through. She doesn’t want the world to know about their relationship because she doesn’t want people to have the perception that she screwed the lead singer to get into the band. Her dream has always been to be in a band, touring the world. She doesn’t want her aspirations to be demeaned and belittled into her being a attention, fame and money hungry whore.
As their relationship of stolen moments continues, old news resurfaces back into Jack’s life, testing their future.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I completely adored the buildup in this. There was so much sexual tension. They both knew they wanted it. BAD. But their heads kept telling them no. The flirting and banter was adorable. When they did finally get to the sexiness, it didn’t disappoint. C’mon, he’s a rocker with a reputation!! ;)
The ending is a little itty bitty cliffhanger, but their story does continue in book 2, Front & Center, scheduled for release in early 2014. Book 3, Encore is also scheduled for release in early 2014. I am looking forward to finding out what is to come of Jack’s old news/now current and front page news.
Great job A.M. Madden!
December 3, 2013
I do LOVE a rock star romance, but I love even more of reading when the band is starting out on their way to fame. And, just like the band in this book the author is well on her way....
Leila Marino is a back up singer already in a band with the boys she grew up with, and even one who broke her heart, but when she's approached for the opportunity of a life time to try out for an up and coming band, she jumps at the chance to stardom. I loved Leila she was a real girl with insecurity issues dating back to two bad break-ups with her ex. But, she also knows her worth and what she hopes to achieve with her career. What she's not prepared for was to fall for Jack lair the lead singer in the rock group she' s trying out for.
Jack Lair, one word to some him up is "womanizer", BUT he has reason for the way he is. He was the one hurt in a past relationship that he thought would be a lifetime of happiness. When reading about the shit he pulls you want to slap him. being afraid of the unknown isn't easy for him and then giving his heart to a girl is even harder. I loved his character because he didn't lie about who he was, but he didn't quite share his inner person either. So what's left? A whole lotta male awesomeness. Yeah, its a bit contradictory to say that, but once you read about him and his inner thoughts you just want to lick his bones.
This story goes from I don't know, to making you smile, to making you fall in love, and then ending in heart break. They have a world of hurt to get through before they get that HEA, but I can't wait to find out what happens next. With a tour and secrets, and then an angry ex-band member plus an ex. WHOA! What a roller coaster that's coming!!!
5 STARS!!!
Leila Marino is a back up singer already in a band with the boys she grew up with, and even one who broke her heart, but when she's approached for the opportunity of a life time to try out for an up and coming band, she jumps at the chance to stardom. I loved Leila she was a real girl with insecurity issues dating back to two bad break-ups with her ex. But, she also knows her worth and what she hopes to achieve with her career. What she's not prepared for was to fall for Jack lair the lead singer in the rock group she' s trying out for.
Jack Lair, one word to some him up is "womanizer", BUT he has reason for the way he is. He was the one hurt in a past relationship that he thought would be a lifetime of happiness. When reading about the shit he pulls you want to slap him. being afraid of the unknown isn't easy for him and then giving his heart to a girl is even harder. I loved his character because he didn't lie about who he was, but he didn't quite share his inner person either. So what's left? A whole lotta male awesomeness. Yeah, its a bit contradictory to say that, but once you read about him and his inner thoughts you just want to lick his bones.
This story goes from I don't know, to making you smile, to making you fall in love, and then ending in heart break. They have a world of hurt to get through before they get that HEA, but I can't wait to find out what happens next. With a tour and secrets, and then an angry ex-band member plus an ex. WHOA! What a roller coaster that's coming!!!
5 STARS!!!
October 31, 2013
Jack, Leila and Hunter stopped by Sweet Books book blog to do their very first interview. Check it out, and while there like their Facebook page.
http://sweetsbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
http://sweetsbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
October 31, 2014
2 ½ to 3 Stars–Contemporary/Rock Star Romance
July 23, 2016
~~4.75 stars~~
Leila Marino's biggest dream since she was a little girl is to become a rock star. Being at the right place at the right time gives her that chance. While doing her regular gig singing with her band The Cliffhanger at a bar called The Zone she meets Patti. Patti is the girlfriend of Scott Malone, the guitar player of a band called Devil's Lair. Leila is a true fan of Devil's Lair. She knows every song and thinks the lead singer Jack Lair is gorgeous. The band hires Leila as their back-up singer.
Jack
Jack is gorgeous, sexy, and Mr. Sex on Legs and is also known for being a bit...ok, who am I kidding, VERY promiscuous. With women throwing themselves at his feet this satisfies his raging libido and a band that is getting popular with every minute, he thinks he has all he needs in life, that is, until he meets Leila.
Leila
Jack is not looking for a relationship. He actually has a checklist of red flags to avoid while picking his sexual conquest. Jack starts feeling things for Leila, things that he's not use to feeling. Leila feels like she's falling for Jake and because of their current situation with him being her boss and all, they decide that friendship is the best option. It could get really complicated if they took it any further than friendship.
After months of built-up sexual tension, an intimate moment causes them to throw caution to the wind and they finally react on their feelings. As their love affair begin, Leila wants to keep it a secret because she's afraid of what people will think. She's afraid of what her friends and family will think since Jack is known to be a womanizer. She's afraid they might think she's making a bad decision being with Jack and that it would jeopardize her dreams.
Well now Leila has a new set of problems to worry about. Jack's past has come to haunt him and may jeopardize their relationship. I can't wait to get my hands on Front & Center
Great job on your debut A.M Madden. I can't wait to read more of your books.
The author generously provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2013
What a surprise this book was! It's a little treasure and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is a chunky size book and was great to sink my teeth into. I hadn't read a rockstar read for a while and it was just the ticket.
Leila Marino is the lead singer in a small town band called The Cliffhangers.
She loves her bandmates but wants more. For as long as she can dream of, she has wanted to hit the big time.
Her dreams looks set to come true when she is spotted at a gig and recieves an invite to audition as a singer in Demons Lair.
Jack Lair is sexy, charming and a total man whore.Oh yes, he has DIMPLES!! He is the lead singer in Demons lair and falls in love with Leila's voice the minute she starts to sing.
He isn't prepared for the feelings that follow as they are alien to him. Jack is not your typical bad boy rock star.
Other than his man whoring ways, he is pretty damn near perfect. This made him more endearing to me.
He is sweet and thoughtful and I loved that he was able to show this side of himself.
“Turning towards me, a smile slowly spreads across his face revealing his…DIMPLES? Of course he has dimples! Are you freaking kidding me? My crotch clenches! How can a smile make my crotch clench?”
The slow build to their relationship was delicious, you could feel the sexual tension coming from them and when they did give in it was HOT!
I was desperate for them to get together sooner but understood why it took them so long to give in.
I completely understood Leila's concerns and was glad that it made her feel like a strong independent young woman.
Of course I wanted to continue this...Of course I also feel like this is a huge mistake
The supporting characters through this story were great. A perfect mix of friends, each with unique characteristics and very well fleshed out.
I felt like I knew them all well and they added to the story, making it feel full and well rounded.
I loved Evan and his part in the story, it was a little turn I wasn't expecting, but thought it was brilliant and very fitting.
Hunter, the drummer....why do i always have a soft spot for a drummer?! He's so sweet,loyal and virtuous!
The writing was engaging, funny and in some places really very hot and sexy. It is a fairly good size read which I enjoyed from start to finish.
It doesn't leave you hanging on a very big cliff, but this is a continuing story so there are a few 'OMG, what will happen now' situations.
I am very much looking for ward to the next in the series-Front and Centre.
4 Sweet Rocker stars!
It is a chunky size book and was great to sink my teeth into. I hadn't read a rockstar read for a while and it was just the ticket.
Leila Marino is the lead singer in a small town band called The Cliffhangers.
She loves her bandmates but wants more. For as long as she can dream of, she has wanted to hit the big time.
Her dreams looks set to come true when she is spotted at a gig and recieves an invite to audition as a singer in Demons Lair.
Jack Lair is sexy, charming and a total man whore.Oh yes, he has DIMPLES!! He is the lead singer in Demons lair and falls in love with Leila's voice the minute she starts to sing.
He isn't prepared for the feelings that follow as they are alien to him. Jack is not your typical bad boy rock star.
Other than his man whoring ways, he is pretty damn near perfect. This made him more endearing to me.
He is sweet and thoughtful and I loved that he was able to show this side of himself.
“Turning towards me, a smile slowly spreads across his face revealing his…DIMPLES? Of course he has dimples! Are you freaking kidding me? My crotch clenches! How can a smile make my crotch clench?”
The slow build to their relationship was delicious, you could feel the sexual tension coming from them and when they did give in it was HOT!
I was desperate for them to get together sooner but understood why it took them so long to give in.
I completely understood Leila's concerns and was glad that it made her feel like a strong independent young woman.
Of course I wanted to continue this...Of course I also feel like this is a huge mistake
The supporting characters through this story were great. A perfect mix of friends, each with unique characteristics and very well fleshed out.
I felt like I knew them all well and they added to the story, making it feel full and well rounded.
I loved Evan and his part in the story, it was a little turn I wasn't expecting, but thought it was brilliant and very fitting.
Hunter, the drummer....why do i always have a soft spot for a drummer?! He's so sweet,loyal and virtuous!
The writing was engaging, funny and in some places really very hot and sexy. It is a fairly good size read which I enjoyed from start to finish.
It doesn't leave you hanging on a very big cliff, but this is a continuing story so there are a few 'OMG, what will happen now' situations.
I am very much looking for ward to the next in the series-Front and Centre.
4 Sweet Rocker stars!
September 11, 2015
5+ back up stars!
Loved loved loved this book! It had everything you want from a perfect read!
A strong beautiful down to earth heroine... Check
A sexy sweet dirty talking hero... Check
Great chemistry between the two... Check
Steamy scenes with a amazing story line... Check
I really really enjoyed this book and am desperately looking forward to the next! I absolutely loved Leila and Jack together. They built a beautiful friendship and are so in love you can feel it.
The book ends in a slight cliff hanger so definitely looking forward to the next.
Loved loved loved this book! It had everything you want from a perfect read!
A strong beautiful down to earth heroine... Check
A sexy sweet dirty talking hero... Check
Great chemistry between the two... Check
Steamy scenes with a amazing story line... Check
I really really enjoyed this book and am desperately looking forward to the next! I absolutely loved Leila and Jack together. They built a beautiful friendship and are so in love you can feel it.
The book ends in a slight cliff hanger so definitely looking forward to the next.
December 13, 2018
2,5 Sterne
Ich bin ja normalerweise immer für eine Rockstar- Romanze zu haben. Die Mischung aus Musik, dem Stress der Bekanntheit, meistens Tattoos und so weiter... Leider kam für mich hier der Aspekt mit der Karriere zu kurz (obwohl doch einiges an Story damit zu tun hatte, aber gefühlsmäßig rückte die Musik hier sehr in den Hintergrund). Dazu bin ich abundzu über den Schreibstil gestolpert (ich habe aber den Verdacht, dass das durchaus an der Überseztung liegen kann an einigen Stellen). Ich werde wohl weiterlesen, aber umgehauen haben mich Devil's Lair (und auch Jack und Leyla) leider bisher nicht. Insgesamt durchaus nicht schlecht, aber mit der Mayhem/ Rock my Body Reihe oder mit Kylie Scotts StageDive kann sich dieses Buch leider nicht messen.
Ich bin ja normalerweise immer für eine Rockstar- Romanze zu haben. Die Mischung aus Musik, dem Stress der Bekanntheit, meistens Tattoos und so weiter... Leider kam für mich hier der Aspekt mit der Karriere zu kurz (obwohl doch einiges an Story damit zu tun hatte, aber gefühlsmäßig rückte die Musik hier sehr in den Hintergrund). Dazu bin ich abundzu über den Schreibstil gestolpert (ich habe aber den Verdacht, dass das durchaus an der Überseztung liegen kann an einigen Stellen). Ich werde wohl weiterlesen, aber umgehauen haben mich Devil's Lair (und auch Jack und Leyla) leider bisher nicht. Insgesamt durchaus nicht schlecht, aber mit der Mayhem/ Rock my Body Reihe oder mit Kylie Scotts StageDive kann sich dieses Buch leider nicht messen.
April 22, 2019
Book 1 of a series. Told from dual POV. Ends with a cliffhanger.
Characters
Jack (28, lead singer of Devil's Lair): he seems to be well grounded and comes from a loving home. The band is somewhat known, but are on the cusp of major stardom. Jack is a pretty big manwhore in the beginning of the book and honestly that didn't make him a very likable character for me when I started the story. He has a good relationship with the other band members.
Leila (25, back-up singer for Devil's Lair): she starts out the story as part of The Cliffhanger’s band, but auditions to be part of Deivl’s Lair and gets the gig. She desperately wants to make a living singing as music has always been a huge part of her life. Her excitement about the opportunity to be part of Devil’s Lair is contagious. She has a good relationship with her dad (mom died when she was younger). She does not necessarily like to draw attention to herself, so this opportunity with a more well known band will put her out of her comfort zone a bit. She is a nice girl.
The Story
I struggled to stay fully engaged with this book. Although it seems like there is an insta-love factor, there is a really slow burn to the actual relationship. The problem is, the main characters spend a lot of time apart. They each have separate lives so their interactions seem few and far between early on. Although there seems to be an instant attraction, it wasn't followed up by a constant build so I lost their connection. Also, when they share a few kisses (no dates and not a lot of time spent outside of the studio) and then both realize they have fallen in love, it was difficult to buy into it. How did that even happen when they hadn't really spent much time getting to know one another? 🤔
When they do finally hit the sheets (at the 75% mark), then they can't keep their hands off each other and are going at it like rabbits. It seemed like every other page they were having sex and that got old.
Seeing as I started out with a bit of a bad opinion about Jack due to his manwhore ways, he had to win me over and I’m not exactly sure he accomplished that by the end of the book.
Then there was Leila. Oh boy...sigh. I started out liking her, but then she just started irritating me with the constant “crotch clenching” comments. Argh. Kindle counted over 20 times the word “clenching” was used, and her acronym CCDS was just stupid. She's 25, not 16. And what does CCDS stand for, you might ask????? Well, it means Crotch Clench, Dimple Showing smile, which is how she referred to Jack. Omg. 👎
Overall
This book has way too much description. Within the first few chapters I knew everything about the band members in both groups (Cliffhangers & Devils Lair) and I felt like my head was spinning from information overload. I kept wondering if it would be critical to the story that I remember every little detail about each band member for later on or was this just a case of an author who includes unnecessary, detailed descriptions. In the end, I realized this is an author who is going to inundate me with overwhelming, non value-add details and descriptions. I wound up skipping a ton of pages just to try to get to the heart of the story and not have to read the filler.
I really wanted to read about a rock group on tour and this book didn't deliver that. This book is everything that happens before the tour and I found myself rather bored with the day to day humdrum events that were explained in detail.
The kickoff for the tour starts in the last chapter, so I'm going to invest my time in Book 2 and hope that delivers the rock star story I was really hoping for. Due to the writing style, immature characters and the lack of anything really exciting happening, this book was disappointing to me.
Characters
Jack (28, lead singer of Devil's Lair): he seems to be well grounded and comes from a loving home. The band is somewhat known, but are on the cusp of major stardom. Jack is a pretty big manwhore in the beginning of the book and honestly that didn't make him a very likable character for me when I started the story. He has a good relationship with the other band members.
Leila (25, back-up singer for Devil's Lair): she starts out the story as part of The Cliffhanger’s band, but auditions to be part of Deivl’s Lair and gets the gig. She desperately wants to make a living singing as music has always been a huge part of her life. Her excitement about the opportunity to be part of Devil’s Lair is contagious. She has a good relationship with her dad (mom died when she was younger). She does not necessarily like to draw attention to herself, so this opportunity with a more well known band will put her out of her comfort zone a bit. She is a nice girl.
The Story
I struggled to stay fully engaged with this book. Although it seems like there is an insta-love factor, there is a really slow burn to the actual relationship. The problem is, the main characters spend a lot of time apart. They each have separate lives so their interactions seem few and far between early on. Although there seems to be an instant attraction, it wasn't followed up by a constant build so I lost their connection. Also, when they share a few kisses (no dates and not a lot of time spent outside of the studio) and then both realize they have fallen in love, it was difficult to buy into it. How did that even happen when they hadn't really spent much time getting to know one another? 🤔
When they do finally hit the sheets (at the 75% mark), then they can't keep their hands off each other and are going at it like rabbits. It seemed like every other page they were having sex and that got old.
Seeing as I started out with a bit of a bad opinion about Jack due to his manwhore ways, he had to win me over and I’m not exactly sure he accomplished that by the end of the book.
Then there was Leila. Oh boy...sigh. I started out liking her, but then she just started irritating me with the constant “crotch clenching” comments. Argh. Kindle counted over 20 times the word “clenching” was used, and her acronym CCDS was just stupid. She's 25, not 16. And what does CCDS stand for, you might ask????? Well, it means Crotch Clench, Dimple Showing smile, which is how she referred to Jack. Omg. 👎
Overall
This book has way too much description. Within the first few chapters I knew everything about the band members in both groups (Cliffhangers & Devils Lair) and I felt like my head was spinning from information overload. I kept wondering if it would be critical to the story that I remember every little detail about each band member for later on or was this just a case of an author who includes unnecessary, detailed descriptions. In the end, I realized this is an author who is going to inundate me with overwhelming, non value-add details and descriptions. I wound up skipping a ton of pages just to try to get to the heart of the story and not have to read the filler.
I really wanted to read about a rock group on tour and this book didn't deliver that. This book is everything that happens before the tour and I found myself rather bored with the day to day humdrum events that were explained in detail.
The kickoff for the tour starts in the last chapter, so I'm going to invest my time in Book 2 and hope that delivers the rock star story I was really hoping for. Due to the writing style, immature characters and the lack of anything really exciting happening, this book was disappointing to me.
November 3, 2013
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Things might get complicated when you're about to confess your wrongdoings.
Jack Lair gets a first hand lesson on this topic.
What matters is how you're going to spread the news, handle the consequences.
When her lifelong dream comes true, Leila Marino is overwhelmed.
She gots the hots for the Devil's Lair singer and being designated for a future with the rock band as a back-up singer doesn't help the matter ;)
Luckily, she's not the only one pining for her bandmate.
How the story unwinds is quite simple... go after your desires and see what happens.
In addition there's a lot of "family stuff" included which adds to the whole feeling of young, wild and reckless ;)
Well written plot with quite a few angsty moments.
Something fans of Reckless or Pulse should enjoy.
Things might get complicated when you're about to confess your wrongdoings.
Jack Lair gets a first hand lesson on this topic.
What matters is how you're going to spread the news, handle the consequences.
When her lifelong dream comes true, Leila Marino is overwhelmed.
She gots the hots for the Devil's Lair singer and being designated for a future with the rock band as a back-up singer doesn't help the matter ;)
Luckily, she's not the only one pining for her bandmate.
How the story unwinds is quite simple... go after your desires and see what happens.
In addition there's a lot of "family stuff" included which adds to the whole feeling of young, wild and reckless ;)
Well written plot with quite a few angsty moments.
Something fans of Reckless or Pulse should enjoy.
October 26, 2015
This was a pleasant surprise! It started off a little rocky, but then the writing kept getting better and better. A rockstar and his back-up singer try to keep their romantic relationship on the down-low as they finally commit to each other. Full of sexual tension and heated looks, these two main characters are so attracted to each other. It's not just the sex, but also deep down emotionally that they connect. With a supporting cast that's stellar and some bomb-shell secrets revealed, the story ends with a cliffhanger. Just how they both will get out of this mess remains to be seen. So looking forward to the next book of the series!!!
August 5, 2013
There is no irritating female and the book is well written, the story is good and there is of course that hot alpha male... then it's thumbs up for me!
Though it is not a cliffy.... their story continues on book 2.....
Though it is not a cliffy.... their story continues on book 2.....
August 31, 2017
I absolutely loved this book!!! So looking forward to the next one...need it with quickness! ♥
October 15, 2013
3.5 stars
Visit Reading, Eating, & Dreaming for more reviews by Morgan, Dana, Jamie, and Rhonda!!
I was really excited that A.M. Madden asked me to review this one. I absolutely love rock star romances! LOVE THEM! They are my all-time favorite stories to immerse myself in and disappear for hours.
Back up is told from the POVs of Leila and Jack. This book was easy to read, easy to follow, and didn’t jump all over the place and cause confusion like other books with different POVs often do. Leila is an aspiring rock singer who’s already in a band called the Cliffhangers. I was expecting her to be more of a badass since she was a rocker chick and all. Instead, I thought Leila came across as shy and somewhat naïve. A lucky tip lands Leila an audition with one of her favorite bands, Devil’s Lair. Jack just so happens to be the hotter than hot lead singer for Devil’s Lair. Let me just take this opportunity to say I absolutely LOVED Jack!! Yes, he’s your typical man whoring, cocky rock god, but he was also really sweet and extremely thoughtful. It also didn’t hurt that he was the fictional embodiment of my dream guy: 6’4” with brown hair, grey eyes, facial stubble, tattoos, a beautiful smile, and dimples. DIMPLES!!! I am such a sucker for some dimples and apparently so was Leila since they made her crotch clench and all. No, I’m not kidding! She even nicked named Jack’s smile the “CCDS smile.” If you can’t decipher that one on your own then you’re just going to have to read the book to find out.
The moment Leila and Jack meet there is an instant attraction that neither can seem to shake. I’ve never read a rock star romance in which the girl was a singer or active member of the band. They’re always some sort of journalist, photographer, publicist, etc. I thought the author took a unique and refreshing approach to getting the two characters together by having Leila be a backup singer instead of the usual way of going about it. I really liked the beginning of this book. I was actually getting into it, smiling and laughing and swooning in all the right places, but somewhere along the way the pace of the story slowed down tremendously. At one point I was thinking there were details and backstories that didn’t necessarily NEED to be in the book. For me, it slowed the story way down and made me lose interest a tad bit. Later on in the book I realized that those backstories and details were actually an important part in understanding some of the twists Ms. Madden had thrown in. Despite the lag in my interest during part of this book, I was still rooting for Jack and Leila to get together and when they finally did I was not disappointed. It was definitely hot and certainly worth the wait. The pace, along with my interest, picked back up around 80%. After that I was eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next. Ms. Madden surprised me and threw a few bombshells in at the very last minute. I’m very anxious to see how those will play out in the next book.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think Back up by A.M. Madden is a really sweet, tame rock star love story compared to some of the others I’ve read. I personally like a lot more angst, tension, and grittiness in the novels I read, but this was still a good book nonetheless. It’s a cute, easy read that will provide an escape from reality and keep you entertained for a few hours at least. I’m giving it 3.5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rock star romances, especially of the tamer variety. Also, I would like to thank Ms. Madden for leading me to the song Tie Me Down by Every Avenue. That song is fucking AWESOME and I’ve been jamming out to it all day. If you haven’t heard it before you should definitely go check that out too.
-XOXO
READING, EATING & DREAMING
Visit Reading, Eating, & Dreaming for more reviews by Morgan, Dana, Jamie, and Rhonda!!
I was really excited that A.M. Madden asked me to review this one. I absolutely love rock star romances! LOVE THEM! They are my all-time favorite stories to immerse myself in and disappear for hours.
Back up is told from the POVs of Leila and Jack. This book was easy to read, easy to follow, and didn’t jump all over the place and cause confusion like other books with different POVs often do. Leila is an aspiring rock singer who’s already in a band called the Cliffhangers. I was expecting her to be more of a badass since she was a rocker chick and all. Instead, I thought Leila came across as shy and somewhat naïve. A lucky tip lands Leila an audition with one of her favorite bands, Devil’s Lair. Jack just so happens to be the hotter than hot lead singer for Devil’s Lair. Let me just take this opportunity to say I absolutely LOVED Jack!! Yes, he’s your typical man whoring, cocky rock god, but he was also really sweet and extremely thoughtful. It also didn’t hurt that he was the fictional embodiment of my dream guy: 6’4” with brown hair, grey eyes, facial stubble, tattoos, a beautiful smile, and dimples. DIMPLES!!! I am such a sucker for some dimples and apparently so was Leila since they made her crotch clench and all. No, I’m not kidding! She even nicked named Jack’s smile the “CCDS smile.” If you can’t decipher that one on your own then you’re just going to have to read the book to find out.
“Turning towards me, a smile slowly spreads across his face revealing his…DIMPLES? Of course he has dimples! Are you freaking kidding me? My crotch clenches! How can a smile make my crotch clench?”
The moment Leila and Jack meet there is an instant attraction that neither can seem to shake. I’ve never read a rock star romance in which the girl was a singer or active member of the band. They’re always some sort of journalist, photographer, publicist, etc. I thought the author took a unique and refreshing approach to getting the two characters together by having Leila be a backup singer instead of the usual way of going about it. I really liked the beginning of this book. I was actually getting into it, smiling and laughing and swooning in all the right places, but somewhere along the way the pace of the story slowed down tremendously. At one point I was thinking there were details and backstories that didn’t necessarily NEED to be in the book. For me, it slowed the story way down and made me lose interest a tad bit. Later on in the book I realized that those backstories and details were actually an important part in understanding some of the twists Ms. Madden had thrown in. Despite the lag in my interest during part of this book, I was still rooting for Jack and Leila to get together and when they finally did I was not disappointed. It was definitely hot and certainly worth the wait. The pace, along with my interest, picked back up around 80%. After that I was eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next. Ms. Madden surprised me and threw a few bombshells in at the very last minute. I’m very anxious to see how those will play out in the next book.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think Back up by A.M. Madden is a really sweet, tame rock star love story compared to some of the others I’ve read. I personally like a lot more angst, tension, and grittiness in the novels I read, but this was still a good book nonetheless. It’s a cute, easy read that will provide an escape from reality and keep you entertained for a few hours at least. I’m giving it 3.5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rock star romances, especially of the tamer variety. Also, I would like to thank Ms. Madden for leading me to the song Tie Me Down by Every Avenue. That song is fucking AWESOME and I’ve been jamming out to it all day. If you haven’t heard it before you should definitely go check that out too.
-XOXO
READING, EATING & DREAMING
January 1, 2014
This was a great debut novel from new author A. M. Madden. I started and finished this book on New Year's Eve making it my last book of the year. What a great way to finish 3013. Back up had just the right mix of intriguing plot and pure sexiness!The novel is told from alternating point-of-views by Jack and Leila.
The two main characters Jack Lair (main singer for Devil's Lair) and Leila Marino (new back up singer for Devil's Lair) are both driven wanna be rock stars. From the beginning you can feel the chemistry and sexual tension between them. These character are well-developed and pulled you into the story. Every little bit of background info given on them just made me want more.
The secondary characters in this story really made the novel for me. Both bands, Devil's Lair and The Cliffhangers, were full of diverse characters and helped to keep the story light and fun too. I really loved Leila's best friend Evan and can't wait for more about him.
The thing that surprised me the most about this book a=was how funny it was at times. A.M. Madden really has a way of making me laugh so hard the neighbors could here it. I cannot say how much loved this book and Front and Center (book 2) cannot come out fast enough.
The two main characters Jack Lair (main singer for Devil's Lair) and Leila Marino (new back up singer for Devil's Lair) are both driven wanna be rock stars. From the beginning you can feel the chemistry and sexual tension between them. These character are well-developed and pulled you into the story. Every little bit of background info given on them just made me want more.
The secondary characters in this story really made the novel for me. Both bands, Devil's Lair and The Cliffhangers, were full of diverse characters and helped to keep the story light and fun too. I really loved Leila's best friend Evan and can't wait for more about him.
The thing that surprised me the most about this book a=was how funny it was at times. A.M. Madden really has a way of making me laugh so hard the neighbors could here it. I cannot say how much loved this book and Front and Center (book 2) cannot come out fast enough.
January 16, 2014
I loved this book, then again I do have a soft spot for a good Rock Star romance!
Leila and Jack's romance is one of those will/they won't they romances for most of the book, the tension makes for some great reading.
I love this thought from Leila when she meets him for the first time:
"I continue to devour him with my eyes and commence a mini sex dream that plays in Technicolor glory in my mind".
One of the great things about this book is that this is a band just on the cusp of hitting the big time. We're getting introduced before the egos get involved, when they're just regular guys who are having a good time.
I really liked Leila's character, she's sassy, attractive and loyal but does seem to underestimate both her talent and looks on occasion.
There are plenty of distractions and interested parties who get in the way of Leila and Jack getting together, but there are some interesting characters you'll grow to love as you read.
This is a good length book, longer than most standard romance novels, with a story line that keeps you turning the page and with an ending that leaves you wanting more, although it does finish at an appropriate point.
Can't wait for book two to see where we go from here.
Leila and Jack's romance is one of those will/they won't they romances for most of the book, the tension makes for some great reading.
I love this thought from Leila when she meets him for the first time:
"I continue to devour him with my eyes and commence a mini sex dream that plays in Technicolor glory in my mind".
One of the great things about this book is that this is a band just on the cusp of hitting the big time. We're getting introduced before the egos get involved, when they're just regular guys who are having a good time.
I really liked Leila's character, she's sassy, attractive and loyal but does seem to underestimate both her talent and looks on occasion.
There are plenty of distractions and interested parties who get in the way of Leila and Jack getting together, but there are some interesting characters you'll grow to love as you read.
This is a good length book, longer than most standard romance novels, with a story line that keeps you turning the page and with an ending that leaves you wanting more, although it does finish at an appropriate point.
Can't wait for book two to see where we go from here.
December 26, 2013
I was given this book in an exchange for an honest review. As many of you know, I'm brutally honest with my reviews, when in fact I do reviews which is not that often. This author came to me and I showed interest. Rock Stars and sex? Right up my alley! So the book actually started out driving me a little crazy. It was almost a repeat after repeat with it being a POV story. It took me a little longer to get through this story due to the fact it has been crazy for the holidays in my world. I finally got some down time and got to read! This book is full of angst, which I'm really not a fan of but am, if that makes sense? But HARDCORE angst. This story was amazing! It was one where I was brought into the book and felt the characters, and that's a major plus for me! This book and this author are going to succeed. I cannot wait for book 2! I want to thank the author for asking me to read this book. I get a lot of requests that unfortunately I do turn down and I'am really happy I decided to give this one a go! It's full of angst, happiness, love, heartbreak and AMAZING sex! Definitely a five star book that I highly recommend.
November 20, 2013
Man. Whore. Down! Oh so fun watching him fall. Can't wait for the next book. Wee bit of a cliffy for those of you that like to wait, but if you love bands, hot rock god man whores and fun girls that are endearing...don't wait.
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