Raw Need - Gegen den Verstand

Larson Brothers #2

by Cherrie Lynn

Ein Rockstar, der immer bekommt, was er will - eine Liebe, die er nicht haben kann Zane Larson führt ein Leben auf der Überholspur: als Frontman der größten Rockband der USA hat er die Welt bereist, zerbrochenen Herzen mit seiner Musik geheilt und so viele Frauen in seinem Bett gehabt, dass er sie nicht mehr zählen kann. Dieses Leben - und die Musik, die ihn dieser Welt auch ab und an entfliehen lässt - ist alles, was er sich erträumt. Doch als er die hübsche Rowan kennenlernt, ist er sich da nicht mehr so sicher. Das erste Mal in seinem Leben, will er etwas anderes. Er will Rowan. Auch wenn sie die einzige Frau ist, die er niemals haben kann: Denn Zanes Bruder ist schuld am Tod von Rowans Ehemann ... "Wunderschön! Zane hat mir das Herz gestohlen. Ich bin verrückt nach den Larson-Brüdern!" Wrapped Up in ReadinG Band 2 der Larson-Brothers-Reihe von New-York-Times- und USA-Today-Bestseller-Autorin Cherrie Lynn

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Music, Contemporary, Musicians, Audiobook, Ebooks

Unknown Binding

First published June 27, 2017

About the author

Cherrie Lynn has been a CPS caseworker and a juvenile probation officer, but now that she has come to her senses, she writes contemporary and paranormal romance on the steamy side. It's *much* more fun. She's also an unabashed rock music enthusiast, and loves letting her passion for romance and metal collide on the page.

When she's not writing, you can find her reading, listening to music or playing with her favorite gadget of the moment. She's also fond of hitting the road with her husband to catch their favorite bands live.

Cherrie lives in East Texas with said husband and their two kids, all of whom are the source of much merriment, mischief and mayhem. You can reach her at cherrie@cherrielynn.com, at the various social networking sites, or right here. She loves hearing from readers!

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I liked this book...but I didn't love it like I loved the first one in in the series.

Why not, you say?



Let's face it.

The heroine being McKnocked Up by her DEAD husband?



#Hurdle

The periphery characters sticking their noses in where it doesn't belong, saying awful shit to the heroine under the guise of "caring..." and the heroine TAKING it?



#IrritatingAsFuck

This^^^ sitch causing me to halfway dislike the main characters from book one?



#Disappointing

Now, don't get me wrong, characters do and say shit we don't always agree with all the time.

I don't expect or want characters to act just like me.

But when I spend almost the entirety of a book wanting to fuck up half the characters and tell them shut their mouths and mind their damn own?



#Annoyed

But whatevs.

Aside from the proverbial pink elephant in the womb and me wishing I could build the heroine a backbone that does more than bend, I DID enjoy this book.

Zane was a cutie and I LOVED the glimpse we got of Damien, the mysterious and hot AF youngest brother.

Golly gee, I sure hope his book is next.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there’s anything you need to prepare yourself for with a Cherrie Lynn book, it’s turning into a—giddy, giggly, starry-eyed—schmoopy chick. Or, in the case of Zane Larson, a complete and utter fangirl. I’m telling you, there’s no resisting the frontman's charisma; especially, if you’re a music junkie who’s been known to harbor a crush on the vocalist of your favorite band (Ahem . . . I'm not ashamed to admit that's totally me!). Is there anything more incredible than watching the songs that have touched your very soul come to life during a live show? I don’t think so. Or, what about the thought of the frontman singing you to sleep? *swoon* I'm telling you, Rowan is one lucky girl.

I’ll admit, the beginning of Zane and Rowan’s story was somewhat of a bumpy ride for me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around a woman, one who’s pregnant and newly widowed (we’re talking only 4 months ago!), going out on a date with someone new. Not to mention, he’s the brother of the man that accidentally killed her husband in the ring during an MMA fight. Whew . . . that’s a lot to take in, right? I had to wonder, would anyone in their right mind be ready to move on that quickly?

Rowan agrees to go out with Zane, the sexy man that happens to be the frontman of her favorite band, but she doesn’t expect much. His raw, soul-crushing lyrics have helped her through some of the toughest times in her life, so this feels like nothing more than a fantasy; a dream really. A one and done pity date, on his part, because their relationship can’t go anywhere.

Zane plays it cool, but he has bigger plans for him and Rowan. There’s something about this angel of a woman that captivates him. He flies to New Orleans to take her out and it’s pretty clear, he’s smitten. Why? Other than the timing, this was my one contention; I wish there had been a little bit more development in this area. Don’t get me wrong, Zane and Rowan have an insane amount of chemistry and blush-inducing hotness between the two of them, but I wanted to watch their relationship build—maybe starting with a simple friendship first.

From the start, Zane is pretty darn close to perfection. I’m not talking cardboard cutout, fantasy man, perfection. I’m talking a man that’s been through hell and lived to talk about it. A patient man that wants nothing more than to spend his time with Rowan; to be there for her while she finds the strength to pull herself out of the grief, fight back against everyone and everything trying to pull them apart, and realize she deserves to be happy—with him.

“You have a universe behind your eyes.”

At the end of the day, who am I to judge how quickly someone moves on? Life is fleeting and when you find that special person, sometimes the timing just isn't relevant. Being the self-proclaimed picky reader that I am, I think it’s a testament to just how magnetizing these two characters were that I was able to move past my hangups and simply wallow in the experience. This book is angsty, incredibly hot and pretty darn addicting. Zane and Rowan reminded me why I love this genre.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Swerve and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Raw Need was a sweet and sexy story.I haven't read the first book but I didn't have problem with this one.When I start it I find the story promising and I couldn't put it down.But there were some things that didn't reach my expectations.

First of all everything happened so quickly with Zane and Rowan.I loved Zane, he is sweet,protective and he is so intense with Rowan.Unfortunately,Rowan isn't one of my favorite heroines,there are moments she frustrated me a lot.I didn't fall in love with them as a couple 100% they didn't have the sparkle I want in my book couples, but there are some great moments between them that I like.

Overall this one was an ok story nothing too special.Zane is the main reason why I gave this story 3.5 stars!!


 

  

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - "Never be afraid to hope..." Stars!

Its LIVE!
Amazon US – http://a.co/geiUdDi
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The second book in Cherrie Lynn’s Larson Brothers series, pretty much picks up from where its predecessor left off, although now Mike and Savannah have worked through their problems the focus now switches to Zane Larson, and Savannah’s sister-in-law Rowan Dugas.



You don’t really need to have read the first book in the series to be able to get along with Raw Need but I think it gives you more of an insight into Zane and Rowan before they step beyond just friendship.

"I get the feeling you need someone else to talk to, and I would love to be that person…"

Four months on from her husband’s death, Rowan is still grieving and unexpectedly pregnant. Lead singer of rock band August on Fire Zane, has been a part of Rowans life through his music for years, getting to meet the man in person gives her a break from the reality of her situation, from a life that at times has become almost unliveable, what with a mother-in-law intent on smothering her, and no real outlet for her emotions, Rowan grabs hold of the time and contact she has with Zane like a lifeline.

"I’m not here to hurt you… I’m not here to break your heart. I only want to put it back together for you… let me try."

There are a whole heap of obstacles in this couples path, which when you take into account that initially it’s only been a few months since Tommy’s death, emotions are still understandably raw. On the whole I think the author again managed to deal with a pretty heavy story-line without making it overly angsty. That-said I struggled to get on-board with some of Rowans decisions in the second half of the book, and at points I really wanted to slap Savannah and her mother for the pressure they put on a vulnerable pregnant woman.

"You’re like a little puppet dancing on the end of their strings."

But the author once again gave me a man to fall in love with, in Zane; hardened rock-star with a heart of gold, pretty much like his brother Mike, what you see is definitely not all you get with him, the guy had the patience of a saint, dealing with some of the stuff thrown his way in the second half, but through all of it, Rowan was his one and only priority and I loved him to bits for it.

"The last thing I want to do is hurt you… Thing is, if you’re around me, I’m going to push you. I want you that much, and I can’t stop."

I am really enjoying this series, Cherrie Lynn excels at giving her readers men to fall in love with, although the heroines are proving a little harder for me to find as agreeable, but it does just make the Larson brothers all the more sweeter for it. Damien is up next in Raw Heat the youngest Larson, has more than a few dark secrets of his own, and I cannot wait to read his story when it releases in the Fall.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and I was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.

**This review will also appear on Straight Shootin' Book Reviews -
https://straightshootinbookreviews.com

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 2 out of 5]

✮✮✮ 2 STARS ✮✮✮

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books







Rowan's life was turned upside down when her husband died in an MMA fight. Pregnant and alone she is still devastated by her loss. When Zane, lead singer of her favorite band, asks her out to get reprieve from sitting at home drowning in grief she happily accepts. They met at her husband's funeral - Matt is the brother of the man who is responsible for Tommy's death. She feels a bit like a charity case, the pity date but at the same time she enjoys leaving the loneliness and pain behind for a night.

Zane has been enchanted with the beautiful widow from the first moment but with her being a fan AND pregnant AND still grieving he can't let this go anywhere past friendship. Yet, he can't get her out of his mind. He invites her to join him on the band's tour and Rowan is torn. She has to consider the consequences - not just for her but also for her unborn baby.

She agrees, not able to resist the temptation to spend time with her favorite band and faster than both Rowan and Zane anticipated their feelings become more. Deeper, more intense, more erotic. Despite it all, Rowan keeps her emotional distance but for how long will she be able to resist the rockstar's charming offensive.



My book twin loved the first one in this series and has been prodding me to read Raw Deal ever since. Since these books can be read as a standalone I jumped at the chance to read Raw Need. Unfortunately it completely missed the mark for me. Let me explain why.

The beginning of the story was off to a slow start. I was waiting for something to happen that grabbed my attention and when it did it wasn't exactly a pleasant thing. The heroine from book 1, which my book bestie was raving about, had turned into a judgmental and condescending know-it-all. I let it slide, hoping for the book to improve. Alas, most of the characters really started to grind on my nerves.

We have Rowan's fangirl attitude towards rock star Zane which she held on to fast until the very end. At no point I had the feeling that Rowan genuinely loved the man. Most of the time it was about his career or fame and that was a bit of a turn-off. While I liked her alright for two thirds of the book, despite her worshipful attitude, I had no love left for her when I was done.

Her problem all along had been separating Zane Larson the man from Zane Larson, international rock star, front man of August on Fire.

She did some really crappy thing in the end Some spiteful woman insinuated that Zane was cheating and while the author didn't elaborate much on what happened after that. I was livid - after all Zane has done for her, the way he treated her with nothing but devotion and love she didn't trust him. And when I thought that was outrageous Rowan topped it off with a fangirl scream because she was picked up by a stretch limo. My annoyance knew no bounds and I just was over it.



Zane was the highlight of this book. He was a wonderful, protective and eventually frustrated guy who had his own sad past and demons to fight but he always was there for Rowan. He always tried to be the shield for the woman he fell in love with and she always threw it back into his face.

She was breaking him too, and he didn’t think she realized how much.

Throughout the book I felt that Rowan never deserved a man like Zane. She always gave into her family's pressure and their wishes and Zane always came second.

“You’re like a little puppet dancing on the end of their strings, Rowan.”.

The whole side cast irritated me at some point in the story. I covered Savannah, the MIL was a raging manipulative bitch. Even Mike, the hero from book 1, angered me when he didn't have Zane's back towards the end. Damien, the third brother, was the only one who actually had some sense.



Despite it all Cherrie Lynn's writing is terrific. I will read Raw Deal because I trust my book bestie - she has never let me down and I am immensely intrigued by Damien's story. I can't wait to get my hands on that one.

As always my reminder - please do take my review with a grain of salt. At the end of the day we all have different tastes and experience books differently.


Raw Need is the second book in the Larson Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Raw Need
Series: Larson Brothers #2
Author: Cherrie Lynn
Release date: June 27, 2017
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes

It really pains me to have to rate this two stars. I loved Raw Deal so incredibly much, and couldn't wait to read Mike's brother Zane's book. Let's face it, it would have been so easy to get the first book wrong. Savannah's brother died during a fight with Mike, so falling in love with him is hard to wrap your mind around. They met at his funeral. And a friendship formed, evolving into a relationship over three months time. Sounds pretty unlikely, doesn't it? But honest to God, Cherrie Lynn made it work for me. It was handled delicately and the writing was filled with beauty. Unfortunately, I didn't end up feeling the same about this couple.

Zane is Mike's rockstar brother, and was introduced to Rowan in the previous book. Zane just happens to be her favorite music artist, and his songs have always been a source of comfort and inspiration.

He was her favorite singer. Ever. The music he made with his band, August on Fire, had gotten her through some of the worst times of her life, and by an insane stroke of fate, they’d become friends. But that stroke of fate had begun with her husband’s death.

After their first meeting at one of his concerts, they've kept in touch, and there was an unmistakable attraction on his part. But knowing that she is a very recent widow who is also pregnant on top of that, he knew that pursuing her wasn't in the cards at that time.

My first problem with the plot was the speed in which he asked her out. Their first dinner date occured four months after the love of her life passed away, and she went because Zane is her idol. Not because she was past her grieving, or was simply attracted to him as a man. No, because she was starstruck over his persona and spending time with him was like a fangirl's dream come true. To me, it didn't feel like she even saw him as an individual. And honestly, it made me feel uncomfortable to see a pregnant woman who is still very much recovering from the loss of her husband, lusting after her favorite celebrity.

I think it would have been so much better for multiple reasons if the author had pushed the story forward in time to give the heroine a chance to heal and get her head straight. As it was written, Rowan swings dizzily from indecision, to guilt, to longing. And back again. One minute she was giving Zane a small bit of encouragement, the next pushing him away in guilt. Her mixed feelings lasted far into the book, until I started to get whiplash with her decision making process. And when you think about it, that makes sense, because she started things with him way too early. How could she know what she wanted or what she should want? Maybe that's my problem for not wanting to read that kind of conflict. I wanted something that felt authentic between them, and it only ever felt stiff and forced.

I’m in my cocoon, and you can’t tear me out no matter how badly you want to.

Zane was actually a fantastic guy for the most part. He tried to be the support system for Rowan that she didn't have from anyone else. Her late husband's family tried to be there for her, but all they managed to do was stifle her in concern, and crowd her into doing things she wasn't comfortable with. With him, she had someone who just listened and comforted. Someone who understood the type of pain she was trying to work through. Zane had his own dark past with his mother that still affected him to this day. His music was his one escape and very cathartic for him, and that's probably why she connected so easily with his songs. She recognized the emotion of the songs in herself.

It was him. It was the juxtaposition of security and danger. The way he looked at her, the way he knew her when he shouldn’t. He made her feel like everything was fine when nothing was fine. Calm in the middle of crazy. Right in the middle of so much wrong.

Her meddling family was an added conflict causing tension between them. On one hand, I could understand them being protective of her and the only link left to Tommy after he passed. On the other, Savannah and Mike particularly was being a bit hypocritical in trying to tell them that they should stay away from each other. Considering they were in a very similar situation when they fell in love, how did they have any room to judge?

There were some sweet parts mixed in, but as a whole, I just didn't feel this couple as I should have. And two particular actions by the heroine after a string of indecision on her part was kind of the last straw for me. It was incredibly frustrating.

After Zane waiting patiently, being supportive, giving her everything she could possibly need while she was on tour with him, she finally feels ready to give herself to him physically. Only, the very next morning, she gets scared enough to leave him without one word, one explanation, one conversation. She just ran. She completely devastated him by taking the cowards way out.

And then, (even though he stood behind her and showed her over and over how he felt), she gets a message from a bitchy fan on social media insinuating that she was "with" Zane that night. And she immediately believed the woman. I just wanted to throw my hands up in the air over that.

Fine. If that’s how things stood with Zane . . . that was fine. She had her own life to live, her own things to do . Savannah must have been mistaken, or else she had misconstrued the situation.

She was so mad that she blocked Zane on social media. Yet, immediately after, Savannah comes to get her to take her to Zane and suddenly that is all forgotten and never mentioned again. She sees the limo, and starts squealing in excitement. Fangirl mode was activated again and all was forgiven apparently.

This second book in the Larson Brothers series missed the mark for me for the most part, but I'm still very intrigued to read Damien's book Raw Heat in September. He's always been the most enigmatic and intense brother of the bunch, and I'd be interested to see who he ends up with.

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[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "All I Want Is You" Stars!



Rowan Dugas is a pregnant widow from New Orleans whose whole world recently fell apart when she lost her husband in an MMA fight. Since his death she's just been trying to function one day at a time, but continues to feel completely broken and alone. She lost her parents years ago & the only family she has left now is her in-laws & her sister-in-law Savannah.



Savannah wants to cheer Rowan up & take her mind off reality, so she arranges for Rowan to attend a show and a meet & greet in Houston to see her favorite band August on Fire. Rowan has been obsessed with their music for years, & it's helped get her through some of the hardest times in her life. It was like her own personal therapy. Growing up she also had a huge crush on the lead singer Zane Larson. He was her favorite singer ever, & starred in many of her fantasies. She never thought she'd actually meet him, & was shocked by how approachable & kind he is.



Zane Larson is a super hot rock star from Houston who spends his time making music, touring, and hanging out with his two brothers Mike & Damien. He's the middle brother & the lead singer for a popular rock band. His older brother brings his girlfriends sister-in-law Rowan to one of his concerts & from the moment he first see's her she is all he can think about. He wants to get to know her, show her some fun & make her smile. They become friends & begin talking on the phone. Soon Zane suggests they get together & offers to fly to New Orleans.

"The" Zane Larson wants to take her out, & Rowan accepts. She can't figure out his interest in her, but she could definitely use a distraction, so if this gorgeous celebrity wants to take her on a date she's game. She figures he must be taking her out cause he feels sorry for her, but she's still excited to get out of the house and have a good time.



The more time Rowan spends with Zane, the lighter her spirit feels. He's practically a stranger, but oddly his presence always felt comforting. She could talk to him about things she couldn't with the other people in her life. When he's around she can escape reality & she's happy. She begins to feel a little guilty as her feelings grow for Zane. Her heart doesn't hurt as bad when she's with this beautiful man. She laughs, smiles and can just live in the moment. He makes her feel cherished & cared for. She doesn't need any complications in her life right now as a mother to be, but she doesn't know how she can ever give him up.

Zane is completely enchanted with Rowan. He absolutely adores her & wants to be with her. Their timing is awful, but you can't pick when you fall in love.



I loved this book so much! Sexy rock star Zane Larson finds the love of his life in Rowan Dugas. The situation isn't ideal, but he goes for it anyway. He wants her to be his & fights for his place in her heart. This story was beautiful & this man totally stole my heart. He was so tender & swoon worthy with a heart of gold. Then you throw in the whole rock star aspect and I was a goner. I'm completely obsessed with these Larson brothers! Bring on Damien next!!! ;))

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I really struggled my way through this book. I had a sense of detachment from the characters almost from the very beginning, but I hoped that my opinion might improve given time. It didn’t.

Every person in this story is selfish, and their behavior is either illogical or contradictory. Rowan’s in-laws, her best friend, and Zane’s brother irritated me throughout. It’s impossible to be swept up in a story when you dislike all the key players. Rowan comes across as an immature fangirl, who just so happens to be a grown pregnant widow. The only character I remotely liked is Zane, but as endearing as the famous rocker is, he wants to wrap Rowan up in a little fantasy world. It is self-serving and unrealistic. Although there are a couple steamy scenes, I never felt any real sparks between Zane and Rowan. I did enjoy the glimpses of the rock star lifestyle from their perspectives, though.

The plot is full of drama, drama, and more drama. It is a minefield of mood swings where everything seems fine one moment, and then the next there are harsh words, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings. There’s a lack of finesse to the writing style that makes the plot repetitious.

As much as I appreciate a good rock star romance, I’m sorry to say that Raw Need is a disappointment.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Raw Deal, so I was delighted to receive an advance copy of Raw Need and while I did like this story I didn’t love it. I actually had to take some time after reading it to mull it over in my head before I could write my review because I had very mixed feelings about this story, this couple, and the events that took place in this book. First and foremost I want to say that author Cherrie Lynn did not disappoint in any way, she crafted an intricate story that she most likely knew would not resonate with a lot of people, she didn’t shy away from that, she went in full throttle and gave two people a happily ever after there is no doubt they deserved. When I finished this book, I wasn’t really sure of my feelings in regards to this couple and while I was happy for them, I had to really step back and examine their relationship and the tragedy that brought them together. I had to dig deep and put myself in their shoes and come to terms with the unusual way they met, the background between them, and the way their lives were connected. It wasn’t easy because at first I had a hard time with their relationship, but as I began to dissect their interactions, I began to truly understand where their relationship came from and why it was right for them even when it came at an unusual time in their lives. Emotional doesn’t even begin to describe this book, however the title Raw Need does in that two people find one another at a time when one is raw from an event that has changed her life forever and the other has a need so deep to help her find her way that they form an emotional bond neither one is expecting and soon find they can’t live without.

Rowan Dugas is broken; her husband died following a MMA match, she’s pregnant with his child, her mother in law is overbearing, her sister in law, who is her best friend, is dating the man that landed the blow that caused her husband’s death, and she just can’t seem to make sense of anything. The only thing that soothes her is music, more specifically the music of Zane Larson, the lead singer and songwriter of August on Fire and brother to the man whose punch left her husband dead. Her life sounds like a bad country song or an episode of Jerry Springer and all she wants is some time to figure out how she feels and what she needs, but no one will let her. When she meets Zane, she is a bit star struck but mostly she likes that she can confide in him, that he listens without offering an opinion, and he lets her express everything she is thinking and feeling without judgment. He planned to be her friend, he loved that his music has spoken to her for years, he wanted to help her through a tough time in her life, and he just never expected to develop feelings for her.

This is one of those impossible romances because you will have people saying that she should still be mourning her dead husband and having feelings for someone else is wrong, you will have people saying that the fact she is pregnant with her dead husband’s baby makes it not okay for her to explore anything with someone else, and you will have people who condemn them both because it is too soon. I had to wrap my head around the timing, but what I also came to realize is even though they had never met before they had a relationship. His music got her through some very tough times in her life, his words spoke to her and made her feel not so alone or afraid and that is something I can totally relate to. I can also understand that he realized from the first time they spoke that she saw the man behind the music, not just the rock star behind the microphone. They bonded over his words, their individual losses, and the need to be able to talk freely with someone who wouldn’t judge them.

I very much respect the friendship that formed between them and the way their relationship grew from there and while this isn’t my favorite book by Ms. Lynn, it is still a very good, solid story. I will admit I was disappointed in the way some of the secondary characters acted in this story, the threats that were made, the way they claimed to love and want what was best for them, but their actions told a different story, but I am happy with the way this book ended and the bumpy path that led them to their happily ever after. Despite my reservations and the fact I had to really dissect this book after reading it, Raw Need is an extraordinary romance that might seem taboo to some, but in reality it was two people who found each other at just the right time for them.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come!!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ZANE Stars!

"He was simply too good to be true."

He fucking was! I knew he was going to be something else. He melted my heart right down to my feet with his patience, passion, and love. I'm sorry Rowan but you didn't deserve him. So after letting you know how good Zane Larson was, let's talk about the story.

Raw Need is the second book in the Larson Brothers series and despite Rowan's behavior, my favorite so far.

"Amazing, really, how their paths had merged from the respective wildernesses of their separate lives."

Music is like therapy to Rowan. Zane Larson's music has been her salvation through the difficult times in her life. With the death of her husband and the news of her pregnancy, Rowan is depressed. To cheer her up, her sister in law took her to one of Zane's concerts. They meet and sparks fly. But Zane is a rockstar and his lifestyle is not one Rowan's family wants for her. Torn between her family and Zane, Rowan will have to decide what's best for her... and her baby.

Argh!!! Just like in Raw Deal the 'love/attraction' between them was too dang fast!! I love some insta-love but c'mon, 4 months! Four months after the death of her husband and she was already fantasizing about Zane. I get that she was a big fan and his music has helped her but still... TOO FAST people!

I was very excited to get into this story, but unfortunately, there were some things that didn't reach my expectations. But despite that and how Rowan handled things, I enjoyed the story. It was very well-written and I'm loving Cherrie Lynn's steamy scenes. Even though I wasn't feeling Rowan & Zane as a couple, the author managed to make me ship them every time they played to hide the cucumber.

Overall, Raw Need was a sexy-sweet ride. If you love a sexy rock-star as your hero, you should definitely give this book a try. Zane Larson is EVERYTHING.

I'm so reading the next book. The Devil intrigues me.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5* Don’t be like me. There is no reason to read this book, even if you like rock stars. (And he is the best character in this story) However, if you really feel the need, here’s what you have to look forward to:

The h lost her husband in book one, and she discovered she’s pregnant with his child. The rock star is friends with the h, and throughout their many FaceTime and daily phone calls, he starts to feel more than friendship for her. The MIL turns into a manipulative monster and uses every trick in her arsenal to control the h, including to threaten to take away the baby if the h doesn’t do what she says.

The h starts to falls for said rock star (brother of H in book one). He’s a really good guy and wants whatever is best for the h. She goes on a short tour with him when she’s about 5-6 months along in her pregnancy.

There are so many different character personality changes in this story that it felt like the author forgot who she was writing about.

I don’t know that I’ve despised a character more than the MIL. All the other characters allow her to continue her despicable behavior and NO ONE stands up for the h.

The entire book is one rollercoaster after another, drama, drama, drama.

-Low steam. Probably because she’s pregnant with another man’s child the majority of the book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars
We met Rowan Dugas and Zane Larson in Raw Deal. Rowan is a young, pregnant widow and Zane is lead singer of her favorite band who also happens to be the younger brother of the man that accidentally killed her husband during a MMA fight. They were introduced at a concert in an attempt to do something nice for Rowan as she struggled to cope, but Rowan and Zane made their own connection. Zane is charismatic, sexy, talented, and was her fantasy crush. And something about Rowan calls to him.

They start as long distance friends, but it soon grows to like and more attraction. But it is really bad timing and Rowan is not exactly in a good place for any relationship, much less one with a rock star. But they have a hard time getting the other off their minds. They are both guarded due to the tragic circumstances they have lived through. But they keep cracking the others' veneer and building their connection.

Zane keeps getting deeper and deeper, but says he is willing to wait. He is patient, protective, generous, and actually listens to her. Rowan has fears, insecurities, and guilt. She is not really living for herself and needs to find her own purpose and anchor. He's an active rock star traveling around and his base is in Houston. She is pregnant and still reeling from loss and lives in New Orleans near her deceased husband's family. They live complicated lives from two different worlds. There is also external resistance from various sources putting pressure on them and causing issues.

Rowan needs to reclaim herself before she can give enough to someone else. But she has been stuck in limbo, hurt, angry, and frustrated. Zane makes her happy and gives her hope, but also scares her and makes her worry. Everyone wants to make decisions for her and her life is out of control. Zane knows he cannot save her until she is ready to make a stand and save herself. But he has such a big heart and is affected by her choices. There is quite a bit of push and pull, fear, guilt, and angst. I totally loved Zane. I got a bit frustrated with Rowan, but given the situation, it was understandable. It all happened pretty fast considering she was a new widow and dealing with pregnancy alone.

This had a unique premise and it was sweet, sexy, and emotional. A rock star with a heart of gold who has had his own share of struggles and a woman whose life was ripped away from her and left her facing an uncertain future with a big responsibility. It is about compromise, priorities, hope, healing, new beginnings, and shifting futures. It is told in dual points of view. It brings back his brothers Mike and Damien, her sister-in-law Savannah and her family, and Zane's bodyguard Jase. Savannah and her family made me want to pull my hair out at times during this one. But the characters are well developed and they have complex histories and motivations. I am looking forward to Damien's book, Raw Heat.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

When Zane and Rowan's friendship began in book one, I was a bit concerned to read the next book would be their story and agree with another reviewer that maybe it should have been the last book in the series and be further into the future and at least after Rowan had time to grieve her husband and give birth to their child. However, the author chose to have their story follow on straight from Mike and Savannah's story, so Rowan is four months pregnant and it's only been that long since she lost her husband.

I'm a fan of this authors writing but the heroes in this series are a little too 'nice' for me! Don't get me wrong, I love Zane in this book but he's just too perfect. He's far too accommodating, he only really gets upset once. Considering he's falling in love with a widow who is pregnant with her dead husband's child, he doesn't seem to wrestle with any guilt or with any angst about her still being in love with the dead husband. Therein lies the problem for me with the storyline in that it happens too quick for me after Rowan becomes a widow. She doesn't really spend much time pining for her dead husband who she loved and she doesn't really wrestle with any guilt over falling for another man so soon. Her only problems come from how her dead husband's parents and sister feel.

I did like Zane and Rowan's relationship but they spend a lot of the book apart but they text and face time a lot. I did feel their connection. They do have sex while Rowan is pregnant. Again, I just wished the author had chosen to start this story after Rowan had given birth. I know some people move on quickly after they lose a partner (I have a friend who did so) but always at the back of my mind while reading I kept thinking 'I wish this wasn't so'.

I liked the concert scenes and life on the road. I didn't like how Rowan's mother in law interfered so much but I suppose it was acceptable when it seemed so soon for her to be moving on. I was surprised at Savannah's reactions considering what her and Mike went through in the first book. I liked the epilogue but again, it seemed too soon...I wish it had been a year or so down the line.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to reading the third book about the youngest Larson brother, Damian.

ARC provided by Netgalley

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - 3 Flames

Disclaimer - DO NOT READ THIS AS A STANDALONE! Although you technically could, you'd be WAY more interested and invested in the story if you start from the beginning.

Ok, so not exactly what I was expecting with this one, but it totally still worked for me. After all, where do you go with a story that includes a rock star, a pregnant woman (who's baby belongs to a dead husband) and self esteem issues? You go exactly where this author went. And she did a good job.

Rowan is a widow and pregnant. What a combination, right? Sucks. In more ways than one. But she can always rely on her favorite band to help her through the rough times in life. After meeting the lead singer of August on Fire in the first book, it looks like the two of them may have more in common than people might think. The problem? Well...do you really need to ask?

Zane is the lead singer of August on Fire. He's also super hot, super kind and struggling with his own personal demons. But for some reason, Rowan has warmed a place in his heart that hasn't been touched in a very long while. She's beautiful, kind, sweet and....oh yeah, still dealing with the loss of her husband by the hands of his brother. Oh yeah, and she's pregnant. She's TOTALLY off limits, but has that ever stopped him?

Being pregnant isn't the only thing that's an issue in this story. Add in Rowan's nagging Mother in law and the fact that Savvy seems to NOT support her and the flood gates have opened. I'm not typically a fan of pregnancy stories, but this one was done really well. This story is more about the struggles of healing and coping, more than the romance. Although you'll get that too.

But let me digress for a second....I. Need. D's story...STAT!!!!!! Ok, carry on.

*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Anas Attic Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raw Need by Cherrie Lynn
Standalone Contemporary Romance. Part of an interrelated Series.
I enjoyed Raw Deal by Cherrie Lynn (my review), but it didn’t completely wow me like her Ross Siblings Series did. But I had high hopes for Raw Need . I mean, a pregnant widow and the rock star whose brother killed her husband? That’s a helluva story right there! While I enjoyed it though, it didn’t quite live up to what I hoped it could be.

Zane was awesome. Perhaps too perfectly awesome. What man, especially a famous rock star, falls for a woman who is pregnant with another man’s baby? A woman who is grieving for the man that only died 4 months ago? Rowan is a mess. She is depressed and suffocating from Tommy’s (her late husband) mother and sister-in-law (the heroine from the first book). She has no family of her own, and she has developed a friendship with her idol, the rock star who literally saved her sanity with his music.

"He was her favorite singer. Ever. The music he made with his band, August on Fire, had gotten her through some of the worst times of her life, and by an insane stroke of fate, they’d become friends. But that stroke of fate had begun with her husband’s death."

Personally, I think you need to read the first book, Raw Deal, to really see how they met and get the full back story, but this book does stand alone.

Rowan is sinking deeper and deeper into a depression, even as her baby grows inside her. Who can blame her? Her mother-in-law was a total bitch, and her best friend was taking her mother in law's side. Thank goodness for Zane.

“Talking to him was refreshing; he made her feel good somehow, even among so much bad, so much pain.”

When Zane invites her on tour with the band, even 6 months pregnant, she knows she needs to do it. A-when would she ever get this chance again? B- she was suffocating in her grief and by her mother in law and sister in law. C- Her IDOL invited her on tour! The thing is, Zane is just too good to be true.

“Keep looking for something bad. You can’t be too perfect, Zane. You just can’t.” (internal thoughts by Rowan)

Honestly, he was pretty damn awesome. He WAS too perfect.

She could no longer blame this attraction on his voice, or on being starstruck. It was him. It was the juxtaposition of security and danger. The way he looked at her, the way he knew her when he shouldn’t. He made her feel like everything was fine when nothing was fine. Calm in the middle of crazy. Right in the middle of so much wrong.

But Rowan kind of pissed me off. She was a doormat and let everyone tell her how to live, and she couldn’t trust the guy that gave her no reason to doubt him. I think she moved on too fast, but lets face it, if your idol fell for you, would you not jump at that chance, even if you are still grieving? Life gives you only a few chances at happiness, grab it while you can. So while I did think it was fast, that wasn’t what bothered me. I just never really felt the connection between them form. I don’t know what he saw in her. I didn't really see her move past the love of her idol and the love of the man. Why did this lifelong playboy rock star want a pregnant girl still mourning her ex? He wanted her right from the beginning, but WHY? She was emotional, miserable, hormonal, indecisive and a fan, something he usually avoided. So although I liked reading the story, I never fell in love with it. And one thing that really upset me was that this story made me dislike the couple from the first book, especially Savannah.
Likes:

•I love a rock star romance.
•Zane was all kinds of awesome.
•The storyline is unique and compelling.

Dislikes:

•I didn’t see the connection build up.
•I couldn’t stand the characters from the first book in this one, sadly.
•I didn’t really love Rowan, she let people walk all over her and jumped to conclusions.

The Down & Dirty:

Raw Need was an okay read for me. I read it on vacation and was never really motivated to pick it up that often. I had trouble understanding what Zane saw in Rowan, and felt like Tommy’s family walked all over her. Sadly, I now really dislike the couple from the first book as well. I like the premise of the storyline, but Raw Need never really went above an “okay” rating for me.

Rating: 3 stars, 3 heat

Purchase Raw Need by Cherrie Lynn
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ugWXdg
Audible: http://amzn.to/2ugrh5Y

[J Kiwibooknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced Readers Copy Courtesy of Netgalley...:)

I was super excited for the second book in this series as I loved the first one. Mike and Savannah's book was soooo good and with the glimpses of Zane and Rowan, I knew it could be a awesome read.....only problem was this so did not live up to my expectation and I did not end up enjoying it half as much as the first one. Infact the way this one went, almost made me want to change my rating for the first book too......

Rowan is a widow whose husband died not to long ago. She is also pregnant and still reeling from her husbands death.

Zane is a member of a rock band and is Mike's (from the first book) younger brother. He first meets Rowan when her sister in law brings her to one of his concerts to cheer her up.

Now the problems I had with this book, is I know there is not a time limit on grief, but man this one went entirely too quick. She is like a few months pregnant and already with Zane.....I kept thinking maybe their book should have come after the next brothers book, so she could have had more time to get over her husband. Her mother in law was awful..... and the way she kept caving in to her, made me think less of her as a character too. I even despised Mike and Savannah for the way they treated Rowan and Zane . I mean really take your brother/sisters back why dont you.

Anyway as I said it was simply a ok read, just not for me as I really could not connect with either character. Hopefully the next book pans out better for me!!!!

[Sultan * Baby Mama Smut-a-teer* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, can I just I really enjoyed this book. I think I liked it better than book one and that's saying something, cause Mike Larson was everything!! But then I spent more time with his sexy, rock star brother, Zane and wowza!! That man has some smooth moves!! I honestly don't know how Rowan resisted his sexy ways for so long.

Rowan was such a sweet character to read about. She was so lost, and so broken I honestly didn't know if she was going to make it to the other side. But with a man like Zane in the corner you are bond to find the light.

This book had a lot of up and downs and all the in between feelings that just made you sigh in happiness and then growl with frustration from one page to the next. It was a slow build and I get why we needed to be patient and wait these two out, but boy did I wanna ring Rowan's neck a time or two towards the end. Talk about a push and pull, round and round and round again relationship. But in the end it ended the book with such a grin on my face I was worried it would stay that way for days, which it did.

I can't wait to see what book 3 holds for us, but knowing this fabulous writer it's going to be amazing!! I recommend this book to anyone who's ever dream of getting with their rock star crush, and it being everything they wanted and more!!

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

[Nalla Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching rockstar romance!!

Originally posted on Nalla Reads



So there aren't many stories where the hero has to fight for a woman who's recently lost her husband and is currently pregnant....drama am I right? But Raw Need does it in THE most believable way!

Zane is the rocker that Rowan has always dreamed of, typical for any teenager. But through a series of very strange (and unfortunate) events in Rowan's life she gets the chance of a lifetime to spend an evening in his company. How can she betray the memory of her husband? And how can a man like Zane fall for her, especially in her condition.

Zane knows that he'll have to tread thin ground with Rowan if he ever plans to win her heart. She's just lost her husband and is still reeling from the loss. But there is a small joy in her life when she finds out that she's pregnant with her late-husband's child: a last piece of him to remember. Zane makes the tough choice to be a friend to Rowan when he family begins to pressure her through their own grief. Even though he struggles with the deep feelings he has for her.

If Raw Deal was an emotionally charged story of how to cope with confusing emotions, then Raw Need is a gut-wrenching story of how two virtual strangers that overcome adversity and the norm to finally find out if they can find love. I cried, i begged, I wanted these two to find their happy so hard!!! Can't wait for the final tale of the Larson brothers!

[☾ Nikki. ✿ SUGARVOGUE. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one because I found it a bit annoying that everyone keep interfering with the main characters.
I did love Zane though. And I really enjoyed these two together and there was some really cute moments in this book, which was great!

[Jessica Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

He made her feel like everything was fine when nothing was fine. Calm in the middle of crazy. Right in the middle of so much wrong.

Raw Need is the highly anticipated second installment in Cherrie Lynn's Larson Brothers series. In Raw Deal, we were briefly introduced to Rowan Dugas, the heartbroken widow of MMA fighter, Tommy Dugas, and Zane Larson, the rock star brother of the fighter who blamed himself for the crushing blow that killed his opponent. After Zane is commissioned with cheering up Rowan in the wake of her husband's death, the two forge an unlikely friendship born from a horrific tragedy and a messy but perfectly heart wrenching romance evolves.

Rowan's grief and her inner turmoil is a palpable entity in this story. I felt her conflict, her loss, her need to hold on to what was warring with her guilt over moving on to what could be. I felt her frustration, her longing, her sadness, her obligation, her guilt. I just GOT her. Connecting with a character in that way thoroughly invested me in this story. I was frustrated for her, angry for her, heartbroken for her, for how trapped she felt in this impossible situation, stuck between the memory of her dead husband and the new feelings she's discovering for a rock star that could set her free.

I was worried I might not love this book as much as I loved Savannah and Mike's story in Raw Deal. But I did. I so so so did. I may even go so far as to say that I loved it even more. With that said, I did feel that the second half of this book didn't feel as seamless as the first. I couldn't quite keep up with what was going wrong between these characters toward the end and I felt the story lost a bit of its momentum. But I loved this book as a whole. Raw Need is full of emotion and intense, complicated drama. This widowed expectant mother trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life with the help of a superstar musician is full of angst and turmoil all by itself. The rock star element, the sensual, thrilling layer of fame and celebrity adds intoxicating depth to an already addictive storyline. There's so much happening in this book... Familial drama, heartache, steamy sex, the angsty kind of conflict that comes along with any good rock star romance, and a pregnancy that makes a tenuous situation feel painfully impossible. As far as Cherrie Lynn novels go, this will certainly go down as one of the most emotional and one of the most unforgettable. Despite the minor flaws toward the end, I loved this book hard and I'm so looking forward to whatever Cherrie Lynn has in store for the next Larson brother

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading book one in the Larson Brothers series, I really wanted to know Rowan and Zane’s story. It was gonna have to be a strange one, right? Rowan is pregnant with her recently deceased husband’s baby . . . and Zane is the lead singer of the rock band, August on Fire. There is a HUGE hurdle for them to surpass from the get-go. Color me intrigued.
However, I had to calm my high expectations because —HELLO— recently widowed heroine. AND she is pregnant with a baby. I was very nervous on how Cherri Lynn would continue their story.
Rowan Dugas has been drowning in her personal pain and grief. And no one seems to understand her need to escape, even just temporarily, from the hell that has become her life. Especially those in her family. Her sister-in-law, Savannah should be able to relate. She is dating Zane’s brother, Mike Larson. (SPOILER—Mike is “responsible” for the death of Rowan’s husband). But the people she counts on the most think she has lost her ever lovin’ mind when she decides to go on tour with the band, August on Fire.
And I kind of have to agree. To A Point. What pregnant woman (she is roughly six months at this point of the story) takes off on a tour bus with a bunch of rockers?
Although the romance sparking between Zane and Rowan start off slow, things start to heat up pretty quickly while she is on tour with them and I just had some very personal issues with this. I wanted Rowan to have more time to grieve for her husband. Maybe if their relationship started out as friends first and grew over time (like a LOT of time, Oh, say---AFTER she had her baby and had figured out her life), I would have been more sympathetic.
I do sympathize with Rowan though, when it comes to having time and the desire for space to make her own decisions. Her mother-in-law was too overbearing, always showing up at her house and walking right on in like she freaking lives there. And Rowan, who feels guilty because this family practically raised her, lets her. Rowan needed time to grow up, put her foot down, and take a stand. And I don’t think she was ever given the chance. She jumps from one frying pan into another when she takes off with Zane and his band. I would have liked to see her grow a bit more on her own.
With that said, both Zane and Rowan have tons of chemistry and match perfectly in all other ways. And Zane finally does give her the space she needs to come to her own conclusions—she loves Zane. And although Rowan’s mother-in-law finally comes around, it was a bit anti-climactic.
Overall, the romance was a little too instantaneous – I needed a slow burn for this one.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Guest Reviewer Trish❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

Rowan Dugas imagined she would be married to Tommy forever, but now he is gone and she has to figure out how to continue on for the baby she is carrying. Her sister-in-law introduced her to Zane Larson, her favorite front man, as a way to cheer her up. Unexpectedly, Rowan and Zane strike up a long distance friendship as Zane tours with his band and Rowan continues to deal with Tommy’s death.

Zane Larson has everything he thought he wanted: his career is booming, he is traveling constantly, and has fame and fortune. But as he builds a friendship with Rowan, he begins to wonder if there is something he didn’t know was missing.

These two strike up an unlikely friendship that builds into something deeper though neither intends it.

Zane is such a gentleman. He has his own baggage, but has done most of the unpacking already. Addiction and his past have taught him many lessons already. He is drawn to Rowan, but willing to move at her pace as she deals with her own troubles. He knows he cannot solve her problems for her, but is willing to wait until she finds her own way through them.

Rowan has a lot to deal with on her own and a lot of learning about herself to do after Tommy’s death. She has help and suggestions from everyone around her and at times has a hard time making herself heard over the opinions and demands of everyone else in her life. I loved that Zane quickly became a judgement free zone for Rowan to vent and just be herself.

His fame is a lot to deal with though, and even seeing a tour first hand doesn’t take away the fear of the unknown. And is tour life really the place to raise her future child?

I wasn’t a fan of Rowan or her mother-in-law in Raw Deal. I have a hard time with the family dynamics in this series. It felt like Rowan and Savannah switched places between these two books and everything Rowan said or did regarding Savannah and Mike, was said by Savannah here. I know they are all dealing with a lot of high emotions, but some of the family interactions frustrated me to no end.

This was a sweet, emotional read as Rowan deals with her grief, her pregnancy, and her unexpected feelings for Zane. I loved getting both points of view, and felt like the balance kept the story moving along nicely.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Katrin Schäfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw Need - Gegen den Verstand
(Larson Brothers 2)
von Cherrie Lynn
LYX
Danke an Lyx digital und Netgalley für die Bereitstellung dieses tollen EBooks. Dadurch wurde meine eigene Meinung in keinster Weise beeinflusst.
Cover:
Das Cover ähnelt dem ersten Teil der Serie nur ist es dieses Mal dunkel gehalten.
Rezension:
Leider habe ich den ersten Band noch nicht gelesen und ging daher ohne Vorkenntnisse ans Lesen. Rowan fühlt sich von der Familie ihres verstorbenen Ehemanns eingeengt und die Gespräche mit Zane bieten ihr da eine gute Abwechslung. Nur leider ist das Timing eigentlich sehr schlecht, denn sie ist schwanger und daher das Knistern zwischen ihr und Zane nicht wirklich, dass was beide wollen, oder etwa doch?
Ein sensibeles Thema, denn wann ist es vor der Gesellschaft und einem selbst akzeptiert wieder in die Zukunft zu sehen und sich zu verlieben? Dieses Thema wird hier mit viel Fingerspitzengefühl und Sensibilität angegangen und ist mit Sicherheit kein leichtes. Man kann als Leser jedoch auf Grund der guten und einfühlsamen Schreibweise der Autorin alles nachvollziehen und verstehen. Toll ist auch die sanfte und intensive Freundschaft zwischen Zane und Rowan charakterisiert und man fühlt sofort eine Bindung zu den Charakteren. Dieses Buch hat mich auf jeden Fall neugierig gemacht und ich wünsche mir nun auch den ersten Band zu lesen. Alles in allem ein wirklich lesenswertes Buch mit viel Grfühl und ein paar Tränchen bei mir am Ende. Ich gebe guten Gewissens meine Leseempfehlung und 4/5 Sterne.

[Lissy Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imma gonna have to read Damien’s story!!!

[Kaetrin]

pre-order from Amazon.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I was intrigued by the glimpse of the potential great relationship between Zane and Rowan in the first book of the series so I was excited to read their story. If you haven't read book 1 Raw Deal about Zane's brother Mike and Rowan's best friend/ sister-in-law Savannah yet, you can read this story as a standalone.

Rowan is still reeling from the turns her life has taken in the last several months. Her husband Tommy died, she discovered she is pregnant with his child, her best friend is living with the man responsible for Tommy's death, her mother in law is smothering her, and she is so overwhelmed she just wants to scream. Her unexpected ally and shoulder to cry on is Zane, Mike's brother and a bonafide rock star who just so happens to be the lead singer of her favorite band.

Zane's heart aches for the petite beauty he met a few months ago and he wants to help cheer her up in any way possible. She may be a fan, but their conversations have proven she sees the man rather than the star persona and it is obvious she doesn't have anyone else to confide in. Their nightly calls and messages prove her frustration is rising with every day that passes, and when Tommy's mother pushes her too far, she decides to take Zane up on his offer to get away from it all. She joins him traveling around the country on the tour bus, and they spend their time getting to know each other more. There's a mostly hands-off policy so the UST grows by the minute but it is far from one-sided. Zane is more than aware that attraction between them is poorly timed at best and he is cognizant of the turmoil she is experiencing so he tries to be a gentleman but Rowan doesn't make it easy.

I absolutely adored Zane! He had a way of seeing right through Rowan's protests and denials to understand exactly what she needed whether that was a friendly voice lending an ear and just listening, distracting her from the madness her life suddenly seemed to contain all too often, or something a little bit hotter. His sensitive side did nothing to detract from his strength and the undeniable fact he was all sinfully sexy male all the time! The rest of the characters on the other hand weren't quite so likable for me though. There is no question Rowan was having a rough time of things but she was a doormat who left everyone walk all over her and dictate her life far too often much to Zane's (and my) frustration. Her mother-in-law was a vile bitch in my opinion; she may have been grieving but it gave her absolutely no right to say the things she did to Rowan. Savannah stood by and watched while taking her mother's side and that made me hate her more than a little bit which was a very disappointing turn considering how much I liked her character in the first book. Ugh!

When Rowan finally did dig deep to find herself again, she took a chance and then was ready to throw in the towel over something very trivial which just frustrated me even more. Fortunately Zane is both patient and persistent, and with the the help of his other brother Damien, he pulls off a seriously sweet and romantic moment to sweep Rowan off her feet once and for all. Unfortunately Zane couldn't carry the whole book on his own and I just didn't love this one as much as the first book in the series. Damien is still a man of mystery after the a few glimpses of him in both Mike and Zane's stories so I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received for an honest review

I knew after reading Raw Deal that Raw Need was going to be a story with quite a bit of akwardness - pregnant to the dead husband is always going to make things a little bit difficult, right?

Right from the get go I adored Rowan and Zane - their connection, their friendship, their everything. Not going to lie, they did cause me to shed a tear or two ... or more. I grieved along with Rowan as she came to terms with hubby's death, her pregnancy, her loneliness.

And Zane - well, he was all kinds of white knight. He swept in and was the friend that she needed. And plus, who doesn't want to be friends with a hottie rock star??

What surprised me with this book was how much I really disliked characters from the first book. I mean really, really disliked them **side eye at Mike and Savannah**. I spent most of the book seething at them, wanting to tell them to STFU. I am not sure if I was supposed to feel this way, but boy did I!

I loved being taken on this beautiful journey with Rowan and Zane. As painful as it was to read at times, it was full of love and hope.

Now I need to know all about little bro Damien.

Please don't make us wait too long Ms Lynn.

[Abbie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be completely honest, I have no idea how to rate this book. I loved it and I hated it.
What I loved:
Zane was a KING the whole book, a perfect friend to Rowan when she needed it and a perfect partner when she was ready. He was so supportive the whole time to the point where I got more mad than he did!
Rowan was such a sweet and amazing person who deserved so much better than what her life had been, and I’m so glad her and Zane got together.
What I hated:
Rowan was the biggest pushover heroine I have read in a while, it infuriated me! Regina was awful to her and just treated her like an incubator for her grandchild, not even like an independent woman that Rowan is. Regina was so disrespectful the whole time and Rowan just let it happen, and then APOLOGIZED when she finally stood up for herself! Like what the hell is that?
I didn’t even recognize Savannah in this book, it’s like her and Rowan switched places. First she was telling Rowan to hang out with Zane, then she said to leave him, and then she changed her mind and said fight for him? Like Savannah, PICK A SIDE! The countless amount of times she defended her mother when she should have been setting her in her place was uncanny. She would constantly tell Rowan to give her mom a break, and that she didn’t mean it when she threatened to TAKE AWAY HER CHILD! What kind of alternate univers am I reading about because that is certainly not the Savannah I know and love from the first book. Zane just let everything happen and let Rowan change her mind back and forth and back and forth. I hated Rowan in the second half as much as I loved her in the first half. So I would give this four stars but Regina, Rowan, and Savannah infuriated me WAY too much. I never leave reviews this long unless I’m super passionate about my opinion and boy am I.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw Need
Larson Brothers series book #2
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Review copy provided by the publisher

Jesus. This book hit me with all the feels. I was a bit nervous about how the relationship between Rowan and Zane would unravel. Rowan is still very much grieving over the loss of her husband. He's only been gone a handful of months. And she's pregnant. With her deceased husbands' baby. Talk about sensitive issues, right?!

I was so pleased to see that the author had this relationship unfold slowly. There was definite chemistry and lust between Zane and Rowan, but it was under control...somewhat at least. I loved the push and pull. Rowan has been a fan of Zane, the rock star, for years. Her inner teenager is confused on why Rowan is holding back. As much as she as wants him, her heart isn't allowing her to take the next step. I can't imagine the guilt she was feeling. She was devastated, and still struggling with her husbands death. And yet, she was falling fast and hard for Zane.

Oy! Zane has the patience of a saint! He's so incredibly considerate and accommodating to Rowan. He's willing to wait for her. No matter how long it takes.

These two characters have all sorts obstacles between them. They each have their respective demons crawling up their spine. All that aside, they were building an incredible friendship. I think that's why Rowan was eventually able to open herself more fully to Zane. The friendship came first and was solid.

I absolutely loved this book. These two characters had some really murky waters to tread. But they were able to find a little bit of peace, and whole lot of love when they emerged. I felt so many emotions reading this book. I was sad for Rowan. My heart hurt for her. But I was also hurting for Zane. He's a tough rock star on the outside, but incredibly vulnerable on the inside.

You really should start with book #1, Raw Deal, to get the whole story. Besides, you don't want to miss Savannah and Mike's book, anyways!