Seth HawkinsLead Guitarist, Secretive, UnforgivingThere was something about him that called to me.A darkness that drew me in.But he never noticed me.Until the night he did.One stolen night changed everything. One secret destroyed it all.Riley TemplePhotographer, Temptress, Off-LimitsShe distracted me from my nightmares.Made me feel normal, but it was all an act.An illusion destroyed by one single lie.Shattered by her truth, I walked away.I intended to have nothing more to do with her, but then she ran … She calls me Lucifer, and everybody knows The Devil always gets his due.A steamy age-gap slight enemies-to-lovers rockstar romance.Please take notice of the content warning at the front of this book.**COMPLETE SERIES**These books are not standalones and must be read in order.Tattooed MemoriesStrawberry Delight (short story - not required to understand the series)Strawberry Lipstick (short story- not required to understand the series)Shattered ExpectationsGuarded AddictionExquisite ScarsBroken HaloNeglected Consequences
If you are looking for gentle romps through the flowers, with lovers holding hands and never making mistakes, then my books are not for you.
I don't write heroes or heroines, I write people with baggage, history and problems. My characters are flawed, they're messy, they make disastrous mistakes that are hard to come back from. My stories are not sweet or kind, they are dark and, at times, cruel. They deal with uncomfortable subjects and I do not apologise for it.
If you like plot twists, characters you don't think you'll ever grow to love but eventually do, sarcasm, dark paths and messy relationships, then come on in. The water may be deep and shark-infested, but I know the way out ...I promise.
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Shattered Expectations is addictive. It has the quality banter L Ann does so well.
Seth Hawkin is the lead guitarist of Forgotten Legacy. This is the second book in the series and it’s starts with a haunting soul.
Riley is the girl he didn’t see. She takes the pictures but she’s about to become the news. When one night changes everything there lives blow up even more than a rock stars usual scandal.
Seth is a strong alpha male and Riley doesn’t take no crap. When the pair work closely together things are about the heat up.
This book was even better than the first one. I loved the sass, scandal and chemistry.
4.5 stars - I really liked this steamy age-gap rock star book! It's the second book in the series and it quickly becomes obvious that the story overlaps the first book. I was concerned initially but reading this as a standalone worked out. There are repeated references to the first book, many of which are either explained or easy to deduce.
Seth drove me nuts on occasion with his obsession over a "lie (of omission)" to something he assumed instead of asked. He also took on his sister's baggage long after he should have let her stand on her own two feet. It may seem noble but no-one benefited from it. Despite him lashing out inappropriately and often drinking to excess, I did like the brooding rocker.
Riley was definitely older than her years (which may have been part of her problem with Seth). I liked how occasionally, her actions and reactions were in line with her true age, while other times having a sense and maturity that exceeded Seth's age.
I absolutely loved the epilogue which provided updates on all of the band members, including at least one jaw-dropper of a revelation! It made me eager to put the next (and first) book on my upcoming read list.
I listened to the audio for this book. I must admit that I wasn't thrilled with the narrator, Thomas Locklear. When the book opened, he was really breathy / raspy in a Batman kind of way that didn't appeal to me. I only had this book downloaded and I was driving so I was held hostage by it.
By the time I was in a position to change books, I was too hooked into the story to stop. The breathiness improved over time, or maybe I just became numb to it, but every now and then, it would take center stage again. 😞 I'm fairly certain I've listened to this narrator before without this reaction. I do think a second narrator would've helped overall.
Move over Gabe, Seth is stealing the show! ****** Overall Rating: 5 stars Kindle Unlimited: Yes Standalone: Yes Steam: 3 flames Triggers: Yes ****** Well folks, if you thought Gabe's book was amazing hang on because Seth's book just leveled up to a whole new level of awesomeness! Whereas Gabe's book, in my opinion, was a romantic suspense, this book was more about healing, forgiveness, and learning to let the past go...OMG I think I just teared up a little thinking about it. Seth... lead guitarist for Forgotten Legacy. Broken, shattered, damaged, fucked up. Oh Seth, what happened to him broke my heart. I just wanted to wrap him in a warm blanket of love and make the bad memories go away.
"Seth. Known by their fans as The Devil to Gabe's Fallen Angel, he was the dark one, the elusive lead guitarist who stayed in the Shadows. Lucifer." - Shattered Expectations
Riley... photographer. Determined, sexy, strong, young. Yep, did I mention she just turned 18? Riley was my rock in this book. No matter what Seth threw at her she had a spine of steel and figured it out. She didn't give up on Lucifer.
"Your fans call you the Devil, but to me that means you don't care. Lucifer was the most beautiful. He fell because he was passionate about his beliefs-right or wrong. Maybe he felt too much. I think you hide behind detachment so you don't have to deal with the emotions you can't control. To me you aren't a devil, but you are surrounded by a darkness. You're also a temptation that many find hard to resist ... so Lucifer." Riley to Seth - Shattered Expectations
Lexi... Seth's sister. Damaged, untrusting, and utterly dependent on Seth. Lexi has some issues, and she is so dependent on Seth it's a little scary. He and his sister have been through a hell no one should experience. Will Seth's need to help and protect his sister push Riley away? The demons from Seth's past have kept him from feeling, loving, living. Along comes the hot little shutterbug that slowly starts to break down his walls, oh those walls. But how can Seth's walls come down when he can't let go of past pain, his sister's needs, and his inability to trust people and their intentions? Seth makes mistakes.... he’s an asshole, I wanted to throat punch him a few times...but I also wanted to wrap him up like a burrito and give him all the love. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. This book made me cry, hurt, rage, smile, and once again PM the author. Seriously why does she have to be so mean? This story has many ups and downs. As we peel back Seth's layers, we discover there has been so much pain in his life and there is so much more to his story than I ever imagined. All I can say is that I loved this book. There are great characters, and a story is filled with layers and all the emotions. Not to mention....Seth and Riley had chemistry off the charts! A definite recommendation from me! What are you waiting for? Come get on the Forgotten Legacy Tour Bus! It will be ride you won't want to miss!
I love Gabe but Seth is a whole other playing field. I don't know which one I love more and because of that, I can't wait to see what's next for Luca and Dex. Seth is Gabe's best friend, second only to Harper, but he's got his own special blend of broken and this book does a deep dive into his past. You're gonna fall head over feet for Seth...5 stars and 2 thumbs way up.
Shattered Expectations is a journey of hope and forgiveness. Even in the darkest places light always slides in and gives us hope. Hope to dream and live how we thought we never could. My emotions reading this one? ALL OVER THE PLACE!! Such an amazing way to deal with so many awful things that happen way too often. L Ann has a special way of writing these things that make you squirm in the best possible way. She makes you think, makes you feel... Please be aware of the issues in this book they may trigger some. Seth and Riley have this wonderful connection, a real friendship that is fun and exciting to begin with. Then he makes discoveries that has him feeling uncomfortable and angry and we also find out the reasons why. I love Riley’s character she is such a strong girl her attitude is refreshing and it really does shine within the story. On the same note Seth is blown away by how Riley deals with everything and can’t deny his growing interest in exploring his feelings for her. We get a glimpse of the bromance that is Gabe and Seth their past and their present. Such a fantastic series the books are just getting better each time.
If I thought book one in this series was a rollercoaster, man... ! I loved every minute of it. This one did rip my heart out. It's raw emotion touched each part of my soul. Seth is the guitarist that invented the word GUARDED. But he has every right not to trust the world...life. His upbringing was rough and his current life was still rough, even though he was a famous rock star. He meets Riley and she isn't who he thinks she is a first. While she didn't reveal that his assumption was wrong, she technically never lied. Their story is a battle that left it's marks. This story consumed me. But don't worry. It'll break your heart but it will put the pieces back together in the most beautiful way. I can't wait for the next book to be out on audio!! As always Thomas Locklear did the most epic justice for this book. His narration talent blows me away every time. A must read/listen for rock star romance fans.
I really enjoyed this storyline and all the characters. The chemistry is undeniable. These characters are all very broken yet strong. I love how all the band members are in each book and the timelines overlap subtly keeping it in real time. This book made me cry a little but I’m not going to tell you if it was happy tears or sad tears, maybe both. The narration was absolutely wonderful. Thomas Locklear does a great job with his deep sexy voice but he’s also got a fantastic female voice. I love his narration but his secondary characters are starting to sound the same to me. This is book 2 with an HEA. I highly recommend this book/series.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Seth’s book and getting to know more of his background. It will be a hard book to read if you have triggers. Parts were even hard for me to read and I don’t really have any. I can’t wait until the next book! I want to know all about all the band members!
Shattered Expectations is a journey. Not so much in time, but of emotions, smiles, hurting, love, forgiveness....loved this book. Lee Ann creates a world you get immersed in, ...live it with Riley and Seth. This book does touch on some of the horrors of this world ...but shows the strength and courage of friendships and the strength of love. Couldn't put it down.
Wow ! What can I say this book took me to different levels of emotions , I was happy , I was sad , I hurt , then I was sad again but then I was happy , it was awesome I honestly can't wait for more , Thank you L.Ann for this wild ride and falling in love with your characters 🥰
This review is written voluntarily after listening to the audio version of this book.
This second book about Forgotten Legacy is Seth and Riley's story, you do not need to have read or listened to Forgotten Memories to enjoy this book but I would most definitely recommend that you do, this story will mean so much more if you have as the shared history Seth has with Gabe and Harper helps you better understand this story.
I could not stop listening to this book Seth is just so broken, so damaged and yet so strong. My heart broke for him, for the pain he had suffered, for the torment he'd lived through and for the belief he held that he wasn't worth loving because of his past. Seth and his younger sister Lexi were adopted as children but not before the damage had been done and even now he puts Lexi's happiness before his own. He and Gabe formed a firm friendship whilst at school, like finding like as Gabe told him at their first meeting. Their friendship led to the formation of Forgotten Legacy the hot rock band which is now one of the hottest properties around.
Seth's nickname by the fans is The Devil, he keeps everyone but Gabe at arm's length, he appears to be so self-contained, but in fact, he isn't. He never shows emotion that is until he meets Riley, she's ten years younger than him, something he wasn't aware of when he allowed her to get under his skin. She appeared much older, she calmed his soul and made him feel normal for the first time in years. She wasn't an adoring fan willing to do anything for his attention but unfortunately when he found out just how young she was his newfound trust was shattered.
Riley knows she should have told Seth her age, something I'm sure she would have done soon, but when he learned it before she could explain he cut her off. She'd been around the band for years taking pictures and writing a blog, she's mature beyond her years and isn't just a starstruck fan. She's admired Seth the man from afar. Some weeks after the break up she gets the chance of a job as the band's official photographer. She takes the job, the band and its entire entourage go on tour with her determined to avoid Seth apart from work and Seth determined to punish her for what he believes was a lie.
But proximity, chemistry and attraction bring them together, she's perfect for him, she gets him, her patience with his dark side leads him to let her in on the secrets he's been hiding from the world. Then just as things are going well tragedy strikes and all seems lost.
This is certainly a book that evokes the strongest emotions, the storyline is so dark at times, Seth has suffered so much, he's lost so much but he deserves so much you just keep hoping he'll realise this and let in the people who love him in. Riley's way of dealing with his dark side is perfect she just has to make him see that he's all she wants. The characters are all so believable and well-drawn. L. Ann has created a band and a world I want to visit with again, I can't wait for the next book in this series to be available on audio.
The narration of this book by the wonderfully talented Thomas Locklear could not be improved upon, it's a world he already knows having narrated Gabe and Harper's sorry too. The emotion and feeling he brings to the story and the characters could not be improved upon, I'm so glad L Ann decided to use him for the whole series. She also provides a perfect playlist of songs for this series. I listened to each one on YouTube at the start of each chapter.
This book and series will stay with me it's just so well produced but be warned there are triggers about child abuse and sex trafficking in this book, it's not a book for everybody but if it helps it does end with the start of Seth's healing something I'm sure will continue with Riley by his side.
Review: Forgotten Legacy series books 1-3: Tattooed Memories, book 1, Shattered Expectations, book 2 and Guarded Addiction, book 3
L. Ann takes readers on a wild and memorable ride with her seductive rockers in books 1-3 of her Forgotten Legacy series!
Friends with a long history, these Rocker's were no strangers to hardship despite their success as a band. Entangled in their past their fame did not make their lives easier but often compounded it with their dysfunction for some raw and poignant portrayals. Stories filled with self-sabotage and floundering confidence conflicted with phenomenal talent and achievements. Overarching suspense and twisty plotting were done skillfully by this author as she created impressive intricately interwoven storylines. It was clear from the start of this series that L. Ann knows her way around drama and angst with the powerful emotions she expressed throughout her works. Her handling of dark subject matter was done with sensitivity and kindness. These were not superficial reads but layered with massive amounts of information and insight. This author's couple interactions were all-consuming and meaningful and her wonderful messy, steamy, authentic relationship's made these works stand out for some well earned HEA's.
L. Ann's Forgotten legacy series was so easy to get caught up in with it's intrigue and intense dynamics. Suspense, unfinished history, torching attractions with a bit of the forbidden, this is a series you do not want to pass by and is the perfect set up for a binge read. With riveting writing, complex plotting and robust portrayals the Forgotten legacy series has it all and would be a great addition to any TBR pile!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*For an overall enhanced reading experience reading the previous books in the series is recommended.*
Strumming my heart strings and making them ache with this emotionally charged story. Seth is a trouble man child this is nicked named the Devil and tends to be broody and keep to himself. Sparring with the band blogger Riley and trying to keep her at a distance seems to be a losing a battle. Things heat up and then face plant when he realizes just who she is and how young she is. Being a vindictive prick, he take a joke and turns it into a job opportunity for the shutterbug with plans to wreck her life and her career in the music industry. This book is full of heart break, anxiety causing situations and bonds that can’t be broken no matter what life throws at them. Seth’s story is soul crushing and you can’t help but fall in love with the bad boy rocker. When His band mates are a huge part of this book and their journeys continue through out even though this is a stand alone that continues the story line where it dropped off after Tattooed Memories. L. Ann masterfully creates a story that will story you can lose yourself in! Adding in Thomas as a narrator and this book is a masterpiece in writing. His detailed perfection on all his characters with both inflection and each having a unique voice astounds me every time I listen to him. He is truly great at his craft and no matter how many characters he has managed to make them each as unique as can be.
Rock stars are known for living their lives at full speed. Ups and downs are just par for the course. Seth's story plays your heart strings beautifully with his oh so talented fingers. He is Gabes' brother in almost every sense of the word. Seth's fierce protector and bad boy persona are not an act, they were crafted as a means of survival. He has ensured they will never be forgotten and they will leave a legacy. This story is full of passion, heartache, betrayal, and undeniable strength. There are definitely triggers, nothing goes into immense detail, but not for the feint of heart.
This is another exceptional story from L Ann, living up to everything you would expect.
Be prepared for your heart to be ripped from your chest, wrung out, stomped on and then put back so it can be done all over again in another few chapters.
The story of Seth and Riley has so many ups and downs, it is certainly addictive reading and can lead to reading into the wee small hours, overstepping, and missed trains, but its oh so worth it
I thought Gabe and Harper’s story hit my emotional rollercoaster, But Seth’s story … Ugh, this book, Shattered Expectations, Woah 🥺 It was Shattering!
Seth’s story tugged at my heartstrings 😞His childhood was filled with abuse and he would do anything to protect his sister, Lexi.
He is a lost soul and bares no emotions, until Riley comes along and makes him feel things he hasn’t felt in 20 years!
Unfortunately, it was short lived once he found out how old she was and he goes back to the hard shell with no soul. The 10 year gap brought his mind back to his childhood and the negative thoughts overpowered him.
This book will tug at your heart, stab it, mend it …. And BAM, destroy it again.
Seth hits rock bottom 💔 his sister Lexi commits suicide and Seth is spiraling downwards real fast and no amount of liquor can take away his pain.
This book is... hard to describe lol So Seth is sexy as hell, and super messed up. He's a tortured soul to be sure. Riley is tough and knows what she wants... which is him, wholly. Poor Seth, I just want to grab him and snuggle him and make it all better. This story will cut you up, be warned. It goes to a very dark place, and then gets worse, only to finally end up in a hopeful place. Be warned! If you have triggers surrounding children and sex trafficking, you should steer clear. This is definitely not a book for every body. However, if you aren't triggered by those things and can handle it, you'll find it ends with the start of healing, if not healing in total.
Also, that cover is so delicious it has me drooling. I really want a cover with Seth and Gabe together on stage, with Gabe licking Seth's neck. I want it bad. Those two. So much yum.
I really found myself enjoying this band of characters. I'm invested in making sure they all bury their demons Nd find happily ever after. I felt bad for Seth and his sister. That was pretty heartbreaking. Add in the aftermath of that and its rough. I know that personally. The author handled it with care and grace, especially, with the letters. Their is generally a lot of guilt and anger associated with it and the author portrayed that well too.
Seth is the guitarist for the band. He also had a tortured past that he tries to deal with everyday. Riley is the photographer for the band. At first Seth doesn't really notice her, until one hot night leads to sex for them. Things go off the rails when Seth finds out a secret about Riley. The couple have much to work through, can they stay together? An age gap, trigger laden rocking romance.
After listening to the first book in this series I couldn't help but jump right into this one. I'm a fan, a huge fan of L. Ann and these characters. This year has found me reading more than I've read in the past few years. My best friend is a huge lover of this author and continually suggested I listen/read them. I gave in.
This first book shredded my soul but I needed more. I needed more of Gabe, Dex, Luca, and Seth (mainly Gabe and Thomas Locklear's narration. His voice is...everything). Back to this book. Shattered Expectations is Seth and Riley's story. I'm not going to lie, the age gap between the two characters was...unsettling for me. Sure, 18 is an adult and she's graduating high school but that doesn't matter. All I could picture when it came to that singular aspect of this story was my soon-to-be 18-year-old niece. I didn't like it but I continued on with the story (because Gabe, duh).
Seriously though, Seth is a jerk at times, not going to lie, he's also an incredibly tortured soul with an equally tortured sister. Their backstory was not something I expected and it broke me. His relationship with Gabe is...well, everyone should have a best friend like Gabe. They have been there for each other through some incredibly awful things. The trials and tribulations they went through together would have caused weaker friends to go their separate ways. Not Seth and Gabe, years later their friendship is incredible. They aren't just friends, they're family.
Riley...Riley is a spitfire. She's a young woman who knows what she wants and does whatever she needs to get it. She's a talented photographer and has her sights set on Seth, the lead guitarist of Forgotten Legacy. When she finally gets what she wants it isn't all wine and roses...Oh no. Things turn very bad for her and Seth...Seth wants nothing to do with her, or does he? Will his sister, his past, or his stubbornness prevent them from being together, read/listen to this book, and find out for yourself. You won't regret it.
100/10 ⭐️ 3/5🌶 (Let’s be honest, the MC being moody and broody made everything so much better)
Oh man… is there a proper word or term for when a story and characters have you grinning like an idiot and you can’t think straight?? because that’s what this book has done to me. But really, I’m not crying, my eyes are just leaking. Ha
Seth and Riley have me by the metaphorical balls LOL I may have to put off reading the other books in this series for a few days so I can stay in this happy little bubble their story put me in. This was written so beautifully and so real, it didn’t feel fabricated or like I was reading a book, it felt like real life, where ugly and terrible things can happen but also showed how beautiful life can be. (Sorry this has made me SO sappy it’s almost embarrassing)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not sleep on this series, this book or this author. This has instantly become a top 5 comfort read.
Slight spoiler below: I’m not one to leave descriptive reviews, I find that reviews that explain how the book made you feel vs explaining in short what happened are much better (personal preference), plus I enjoy going in blind, I usually wont even read TW or the brief descriptions at the beginnings of books, with that said, please be advised that there is a big suicide TW. Now this is something that I have struggled with in the past, personally and while reading and I sometimes have a hard time reading books where it’s featured, but the way this was written, it made me feel peaceful, accepting? Idk what the right word is to use, it definitely made me sad and made me cry but as we got some more info and the book progressed I found I wasn’t as triggered by it but more felt like I was being told someone’s story in a tragically beautiful sort of way. I understand we couldn’t get more of Lexi’s story but that letter destroyed me.
I was very VERY excited to listen to this book! Sadly it started out kinda slow. I struggled listening to Rileys voice. So I put it down. Then later decided I wanted Seth’s story no matter what....I started listening again. I am SO GLAD I did. This story is Phenomenal, Heartbreaking and overall just lovely. Seth has been through a lot in his life. I like but don't like his flashbacks. Its helpful to see some of his background that way but makes me feel sad for him. I enjoyed watching how the relationship evolved of Seth and Riley.
I loved catching up with Forgotten Legacy. Those boys can be fun and funny. But I love how they always cover each others backs. Seeing err listening (to) Gabe and his Frosty again is a delight. He always surprises me! We get to see a bit more of Dex and Luca in here as well.
I really LOVE this series and I am hoping there are a couple more stories coming. I did listen to this on audio. Thomas Locklear is the narrator. It took me a but to get used to his “womans” voice. Other than that he does an amazing job as these boy of rock!
This novel was another great read in this series by L. Ann. These two novels have really captured my attention, to the point that I have fallen asleep reading them. Not to say that these novels put me to sleep but that I stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning and my body cooked out. The characterizations are so realistic with the story lines moving forward novel to novel, detailing one band member at a time that I find myself becoming enraptured with the tale. Good Stuff!!
If you read Tattooed Memories and felt like you just stepped off an unforgettable ride, then you need to brace yourself for Seth. Seth is broody, deemed the Devil or as Riley likes to call him, Lucifer. He hides behind his past, his overwhelming need to protect those he loves and his desire to protect his own heart. The angst is not average in this new installment, you're going to have your heart ripped from your chest and not know what to do with the still beating thing in your lap. It may leave you raw, but sometimes one needs to let it all out and have a good ugly cry to make their day right as rain. There are triggers in Seth's story, ones you may not have seen coming before this. It sets not only the breaking point for Seth and Riley, but it is a new opening in the lives of the other band mates for their own stories to evolve. Pain is something Seth is familiar with, but sometimes the pain is beyond what one can handle. Reading this, means you will be sharing that pain and hopefully you're ready to embrace it. Shattered Expectations can be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't suggest it. Key points are written into Gabe's story and even the Midnight crew from L. Ann's PNR series come lightly into play in this series. Reading as a standalone may have you questioning minor moments. There is a HEA and it is worth the work you put in to get there!
I love this series, it was all about Gabe, now Seth has took a little bit of room in my heart... I have a feeling I'll have to make more room as I move through the rest of the series.
If you love troubled and dirty talking rock stars, this series is a must.
Nothing I can say will do this book justice. I love all this series but I really think Seth is my favorite. There is just something about him. When he meets Riley he has no idea who she is, or why he feels drawn to her but ohhhh when it happens.
This may be Riley and Seth’s story but I love how L. Ann includes the other characters in the story. I loved both MC characters (and the fact Riley’s b day is the same as my son’s made me smile). The backstory to each band member makes you understand the character so much more & love them harder than you began to. I usually have a favorite but damn it seems when I’m done with this series I will want every single one of these men 😏 not to mention they are wickedly good 🛌. The 🌶 scenes are 🤤. Off to read book 3 now and fall in love again with another rock star 🎸