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Wild to Love #2

Love to Hate Her

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A rare moment of weakness.
A burning desire impossible to deny.
Forbidden words I should never have spoken...

Seven years ago, I confessed my darkest secret to my brother’s girlfriend. When she broke up with him and walked out of our lives, she took my secret with her.
But, with my band set to go on tour around the world, I have a problem. I need a nanny for my autistic daughter. And unfortunately, Viola Starr, my brother’s ex, is the perfect fit.
Now, there is no escaping her. Or our past.
Especially when my brother seems determined to win her back.
Five months and she’ll be out of my life again.
Five months of ignoring lingering, heated glances.
The fire she draws out of me. The way she loves my daughter.
Five months… And my world is about to come crashing down around me.

Part one of this sexy single dad, rock star, nanny duet.

Duet Reading Order
Love to Hate Her (#1)
Hate to Love Him (#2)

Other books in this series: Reckless Love

426 pages, ebook

First published January 27, 2020

994 people are currently reading
2342 people want to read

About the author

J. Saman

56 books4,096 followers
J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side - especially for their women.

Want to learn more about J. Saman? You can check out her website http://jsamanbooks.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
193 reviews47 followers
March 19, 2020
I can’t go on. Guy (hero’s brother) cheats big time and she hugs him because they’ve been best their whole lives. Ex’s and hero’s band mates knew about ex cheating all the time and were covering for him. Hugged them when she found out because she is a nice girl needing love.... Hero even knew about it.

When she comes back seven years later, no one mentions the cheating. Everyone acts like they broke up mutually. Ex wants heroine back and is painted as this awesome guy. It was just annoying how that betrayal (he cheated multiple times with groupies) was just swept under the rug. Hero didn’t get mad at brother about cheating. I’m not saying ex is the worst person in the world, but no one made him accountable for his actions even the hero of the story.

When she broke up with ex, band mates and hero were disappointed in the heroine. Said she broke his heart and that she was the love of his life. His man was literally banging another girl before heroine showed up to the party and has been sleeping with other girls for years and you have the audacity to say she should not break up with him????

I wish heroine would have grown a dang backbone.
Oh, hero was an asshole.
Adorable little girl though
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
February 13, 2020
Maybe she was too young to understand his message, but seven years before, Viola fell in love with Jasper’s brother, and he held his tongue, even when Viola broke up with Gus for good reason. Now she is back, a nanny for his autistic daughter and his heart is once again on overload, because he never stopped loving her. Can her risk his secret now or has time and circumstances spoiled any chance they had for a happily ever after?

Yes, this is a rockstar romance, but it is also so much more, a second chance to find happiness, a family and everything that even money couldn’t buy Jasper. Even if it doesn’t’ work out, at least he had his chance and his young daughter found a caring advocate.

LOVE TO HATE HER by J. Saman may be this author’s best work to date! Often painful to witness, sharing Jasper’s innermost thoughts, then sharing Viola’s, it’s hard not to want to see these three as a family unit. Still, there is unfinished business with the past, old jealousies and treachery in the shadows, and we must wait for the second half of this romantic duet.

Highly, highly recommended for the characters, the plot and the magnetic style of writing from J. Saman as she stitches this romance into something to warm the coldest heart.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from J. Saman! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Wild Minds Duet - Book 1
Publication Date: February 27, 2020
Publisher: J. Saman
Genre: New Adult romance | Coming of Age
Print Length: 214 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Profile Image for J. Saman.
Author 56 books4,096 followers
January 15, 2021
Sexy. Forbidden. Single Daddy. Rock Star. Nanny. Sooooo unexpected.
Profile Image for raviolee.
192 reviews36 followers
September 2, 2022
this sounded so promising but unfortunately fell super flat. it had so much potential but didn't deliver. i'm a sucker for a rockstar romance and when i found it's second chance AND single dad?? it's my holy fucking trio. but alas, we have another 'has all the tropes but isn't a good book" situation.🤡 i didn't even care enough to read the epilogue.

“It’s yours,” Jasper calls out, and I’m so confused by his hasty words that I freeze, turning back to him. His expression is completely exposed. Utterly vulnerable. And he’s staring straight at me. Directly into my eyes in a way he hasn’t dared since we were fourteen. My heart picks up a few extra beats, my breath held firmly in my chest. God, this man is so intense, I feel him in my fingernails. “What is?” I finally ask when he doesn’t follow that up. “The album,” he answers slowly, reluctantly, like it pains him to confess this, his darkest secret. “Every song on it is yours. All of them, I wrote about you.”

doesn't this sound fucking amazing? in fact, the reason i picked this up was because it reminded me A LOOOT of skylar and memphis from 'the words' by ashley jade. it was so promising. i thought we'd get a lot of history and backstory to build up the tension and angst of the heroine dating the hero's brother, but these words were exchanged in the first chapter? huh? what am i supposed to look forward to exactly if there's already been a discussion? and don't even get me started on the dramatic writing. if it was genuinely angsty it would've worked but it ended up sounding far too over the top.

this would've just been better off as a reverse harem because i felt zero chemistry between aurora and jasper. i actually thought she had better chemistry with gus, the other brother, and the rest of the band members😭 and what's up with villainising every single woman in this book except for the heroine? why do (some) female authors hate women so much???

the only good parts of this book were between the hero and his daughter.
Profile Image for Shatarupa  Dhar.
620 reviews84 followers
March 3, 2020
Series: Wild Minds #1

Synopsis:
Viola Starr was sure that Jasper Diamond never loved her, though he was her first crush. Or did he, love her? It's been seven years since she broke up with his brother Gus when he cheated on her. Now she's about to get back into Jasper's life, and she's not even aware of it! And then there's the little issue of Gus trying to win her back, after all these years.

Jasper was reluctant to hire Viola as his daughter, Adalyn’s, nanny. But hearing about her financial condition changes his mind, for old times' sake. His three-year-old autistic daughter needs all the protection she can get, what with having a professional musician for a father, and a dead mother, and a diagnosis that's yet to come out in the media. But having Viola near him again would be difficult, especially after the way they parted.

Review:
The story starts with a prologue where Viola is about to confront Gus, her boyfriend of four years. She knows he's cheating on her, while she's away in college and he's touring with his bandmates. Wild Minds is on its way to success, a band which is creating a splash in the music scene! Jasper is also there, Gus' fraternal twin and Vi's first crush/kiss. Though later she settled for Gus, seeing that Jasper wasn't that interested in her. After all, nineteen is too young an age for happily ever afters.

Now twenty-six, Jasper needs a trained nanny for his daughter who has autistic spectrum disorder and Viola is the right fit. The requirement is immediate as he can no longer postpone the five-month-long tour he needs to go on with the Wild Minds team. Ady will be there with him and so will Viola, all along the way. From Los Angeles, go on to Las Vegas, Dallas, followed by Houston.
Is it possible to fall in love with a man’s secret? With his private poetry? Even when he spent years ignoring, avoiding, and generally acting as if he hated you?

Narrated in the first person from his and her perspective, this made for a sweet read. Their first reaction on seeing each other after seven years was so amusing. And when Ady and Vi interact for the first time, oh my, I almost cried. It was so sweet! It was an insightful read as well, learning about how to get Ady the best help there is.

I usually don't like stories where the female protagonist is tossed between two brothers like that but it was evident from the beginning here how much Gus was a man-child. The nerve of him, still sleeping around and wishing to win Viola back.
We’re toeing the line. Dancing along the edges.

The title is so apt, this is a hate to love romance. But Gus butting in was a bit too much at times, though the story ending in a cliffhanger explains everything. I loved how Viola is a total Harry Potter nerd. Also, it was quite funny to read about Viola and Jasper's wet dreams about each other, well, skirting around the things that matter will do that to you! Haha. This story brought together my two favourite things, reading and music! I couldn't have asked for more even if it's the ending that changed my mind. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the next book, and this being my first read by J. Saman, all I can say is that I look forward to reading more books by her.

Thank you to InkSlinger PR for an e-ARC of the book.

Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,875 reviews212 followers
March 4, 2020


Viola and Jasper. Viola and Gus. Viola. Jasper. Gus. What a combination these three make! Years ago, Viola broke up with Gus after he cheated on her. But when she broke up with him, she didn't just break up with Gus, she broke up with all the guys in their band. But now in the present, Jasper needs a nanny for his on the spectrum daughter, and who else does Jasper's assistant hire but the girl who took his heart with him when she walked away all those years ago?



But don't think it will be a happy reunion, because it won't be. Because Jasper is a jackass, a grumpy, broody bastard who treats Viola like crap for most of the first part of their duet. And I was not happy about it at all! But I have a feeling the conclusion will be a happier, smoother time for Viola and Jasper. At least I hope so because in Love to Hate Her there's a lot of whiplash to be had as Jasper vacillates between drawing her close when he can't contain his lust, and pushing her away when he makes assumptions without asking Viola the truth. Sigh...

But I am hooked on this couple's crazy chemistry, and now I'm very eagerly awaiting Hate to Love Him!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/34DOaB7
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/37ivLLz
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2ScsRTZ
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/31FJ7jv
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Pre-order book 2, Hate to Love Him ➣ https://amzn.to/2rcIIHx



ARC via InkSlinger PR for an honest review.

Review: Live Through Books Blog.

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Profile Image for Nada Hosny.
338 reviews84 followers
March 13, 2020
Rock-Star romance, need i say more?

right from page 1, i was drown to this world, rockstar, best friends, falling in love, being independant.
All the right elements for me.
Viola was just my favorite person right from the start, her sass and independancy really reached my heart and made me root for her.
I had a hate-love thingy with Jasper, but him being a single dad!
Wait let me say this right.
Him being the best single dad, so compassionate and protective, and may i say extremly hot?
The love over-ruled the whole thing
description

The ending??
Blew me awayyyy! I kept tapping on my kindle, not believing that this is the end.
God! the rockstars world is everything and I'm ready for my rockstar to come along and scoots me away, yep anytime now.
description
Profile Image for BG.
509 reviews145 followers
March 8, 2020
"We’re a game of chess.
Every move we make is calculated
against the other. We’re watching,
desperate to outmaneuver and
always be three steps ahead."
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
12.2k reviews92 followers
February 29, 2020
Viola has been friends with Gus and Jasper since they were children. Over time Viola and Gus became a couple and they were happy until Gus enjoyed the perks of the Rockstar lifestyle more than his relationship with her. The only problem was that when she ended their relations she not only lost Gus but she lost Jasper as well.

Jasper has loved Viola since he was a teenager, but he didn’t interfere when Viola and Gus became a couple even though watching them together was a pain unlike anything he felt before. Years later the band is going on tour and Jasper needs a nanny for his daughter. He knows that Viola would be the perfect choice but are Jasper, Gus and Viola prepared for emotional waterfall of them being back in each other’s lives?

The storyline is riveting, the characters draw you in and although you know which brother she should be with we will have to wait for the next book in the duet to see who she chooses.
Profile Image for Amy [Book Addict Reviews].
2,650 reviews178 followers
February 24, 2020
J. Saman is a new to me author and I am HOOKED. Love to Hate Her completely sucked me in. The overall plot of this book was what piqued my interest. Single father, Rockstar, someone from his past. I needed to know more.

What I didn’t expect was the emotional rollercoaster that I was about to start when I jumped into this book. Jasper and Viola have a history going back to their childhood. They were each other’s first kiss. Viola was the light to Jasper’s dark. His muse. The girl he could never have, because she was dating his twin brother.

Flash forward seven years and Jasper and his band are about to embark on a world tour after 4 years. Jasper has become a father and is need of a nanny who can help his baby girl. It just so happens that Viola is the best one for the job. I loved the tension between Jas and Vi, yet they are completely drawn to each other. Viola’s relationship and ever-growing bond with Adalyn is beautiful. I love Adalyn, she is so sweet and adorable. There is a hot and cold situation going between Jasper and Viola. They both know they shouldn’t be together, but they can’t avoid the connection.

Love to Hate Her is full of great banter, chemistry, and angst! It does end on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what is next for these two and their relationship.

Love to Hate Her is a MUST READ and one of my TOP READS of 2020.

Profile Image for CLEO.
640 reviews37 followers
March 10, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Jasper & Viola

After an unexpected breakup. Viola tries to restart her life after her breakup from her best friend and the one person she thought she would have forever with.

She’s left thinking was it really meant to be? How can someone love you and be dishonest and break your heart?

Check my blog for full review: DevotedPages
Profile Image for Vickie.
1,651 reviews63 followers
April 8, 2020
J. Saman where have you been all my life? I knew once I’d read the synopsis that this book was one I was going to like but I never expected to love it as much as I did.
I was hooked from the first word and I didn’t put this down once while reading. I fell head over heels for Viola, Jasper and Adalyn.

Viola, Jasper and Gus grew up together. Viola and Jasper grow apart when her and Gus get together and even though they’re always around each other, things between them are never quite the same. Fast forward a few years later and Viola and Gus have split up and Jasper drops a bombshell on Viola when she’s already reeling from the break up. I really liked Viola. There’s something about her that I loved. She’s had a bad childhood and her life hasn’t improved since her break up with Gus but you’d never be able to tell from her attitude. She’s got this calming vibe, she’s chilled out, thoughtful, mature, not one to argue over the small stuff. Her attitude and instant connection with Adalyn made me love her that little bit more than I already did.

Jaspers life couldn’t be any more different to Violas. A single dad with a successful band, it seems like he’s got his life in order. The only thing that could derail his plans is if he can’t find a nanny for his daughter. Going on tour with his band is going to be hard enough but with a little girl to look after, he knows he’ll need a nanny to help. Of course the one woman he’s never been able to forget would be the one woman who would be the perfect nanny for his daughter. He knows hiring her is a bad idea but he doesn’t really have a choice. As a parent of a child with autism I instantly connected with Jaspers character. I found him really easy to relate to. I understood his concerns and apprehension when it comes to his daughter. His little girl Adalyn is an absolute sweetheart. The similarities between Adalyn and my child was something I wasn’t expecting (every child is different) so I found it extremely easy to fall in love with her. She’s such an adorable little girl. This author has to have some experience with the spectrum (and if she doesn’t then I’m even more impressed) because she’s got everything to do with it absolutely spot on perfect.

I loved Viola and Jasper. I loved their history, I adored them as people and I couldn’t get enough of the push and pull between them. The chemistry between them is hot, the banter was perfect and the angst was exactly how I like it. I loved everything about them together. This is a brilliant book and one that I can’t recommend enough. I can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next.
Profile Image for Books I Flove.
802 reviews42 followers
March 5, 2020
This is book 1 in the Wild Minds Duet. And let me tell you, this book is taking you on a wild mind ride!

Viola, is almost broke and looking for a new job, when opportunity arises, and she gets the offer to be a nanny for a little girl with special needs. Little does she know that the father of that little girl is no other than Jasper, well known rock star, her ex boyfriend’s brother.

Jasper doesn’t want to hire Viola, because of what happened that night she broke up with his brother, but she’s simply perfect for the job. And his little girl is taking an instant liking to her. So, 5 months being on tour with a nanny can’t be that hard right?

This book is written in DPV which I love immensely. So you can get better in the head of the main characters. And boy do you get into Jaspers head. He’s pouring out so much love, but also hurt. It’s intense! I seriously am in love with him 😅 he comes as the broody gruffy rockstar, but there’s so much more to him!
Viola is like a sister to the other band members, except for the 2 brothers. Gus claims that he wants her back, because he’s still in love with her, but does he really? Viola herself will always love Gus, he owns a piece of her heart. But will she go back to him?
Unfortunately, for the conclusion which brother she chooses, we have to wait for book 2!
I’m ready for the second book already, lol, and can’t wait! This is one great rockstar romance! I totally recommend this Duet!

I kindly received an arc from the author and voluntarily left a review
596 reviews6 followers
January 31, 2020
I really enjoyed reading Love To Hate Her by J. Saman. Viola, Gus and Jasper are friends and Gus and Jasper are brothers. Jasper gave Viola her first kiss. Jasper was in love with her and is in love with her, but Gus started dating her. Gus cheated on Viola and she confronted him about it and broke it off. It had been 7 years and her life is not at all like she planned it. I feel really bad for Jasper because he has waited on the sidelines for Viola all while she was dating his brother. Viola feels Jasper hates her even to to this day with all the dirty looks and bad tempers. But Jasper needs her to care for his child who is special needs. The band that the brothers are in are very popular right now and they are going on tour and Jasper needs a nanny to care for Ady his daughter. Things are intense and gets heated up. There is a cliffhanger, so I am wondering what is going to happen now. Will Jasper step up to the plate and tell Viola how he really feels? I sure hope so, this is a very steamy book with undeniable feelings that I hope get resolved.
It is a great 1st book with some steamy scenes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Gabrielle G..
Author 24 books765 followers
February 27, 2020
What a rollercoaster! I've felt everything reading the first book of the Wild Minds Duet. The angst had me turning the pages and wanting more. Jasper and Viola have stayed with me since I've read them, AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. J. Saman's writing is exceptional and I loved being immersed in the Wild Minds. I can't wait for the second book and for the brother's story.

A MUST READ FOR ROCK STAR ROMANCE LOVERS.
1,275 reviews4 followers
February 8, 2020
I can't do anything other than root for a beautiful HEA for those two. They are perfect for eachother, they just can't see it, yet.

Can hardly wait for the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews129 followers
Want to read
April 19, 2023
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/29/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Jody.
2,089 reviews60 followers
March 5, 2020
Young love takes a rocky turn as two brothers vie for the same girl, with one brother keeping his love hidden while using thoughts of her to set them on the road to rock star fame. Years apart sees the brothers and their bandmates enjoying the riches of fame while she’s lost her job and had her money stolen by a drug-addicted mother who has more nefarious plans on the horizon. When a new rock tour and a little girl’s autism requires special accommodations though, the girl who got away returns and sees both brothers struggling with their feelings for her in a rocky romance that will leave readers hanging in anticipation for the next installment.

Jasper Diamond, his brother Gus, and their friends were once inseparable from the kindhearted and sunny Viola Starr. They were all closer than close, but for Jasper and Gus their feelings were even more intense...and complicated. For Jasper she was a bit of brightness in an existence that was cold. She brought him joy with just a smile and she quickly became the inspiration for every word he wrote and every lyric to come. An unforgettable kiss is all he got from her though as he stepped aside to let his brother claim her...a decision he’s regretted every moment since. To keep his feelings at bay though he turned cold towards her and it fueled years of anger and harsh words between them until she’d had enough of Gus cheating on her and walked away with the truth about Jasper’s feelings whispering in her ear. With their band ready to hit the road after a four year absence, Jasper’s going to need all the help he can get with caring for his autistic daughter while continuing to bring the house down, which brings Viola back into their world. His feelings for her never went away and seeing her with his daughter has him wanting her all the more. Seeing her around Gus though has him still holding back, as it’s clear that Gus wants to reclaim her, which brings out harsh words once again in interactions full of sexual tension. The more time they spend together though the more they start sharing and the closer they become before their interactions turn combustible in erotically-charged scenes that had me blushing. With Gus pleading his case, and with Viola’s friend making him question Viola’s responses to him, readers will be left on edge by the turn of the final page and waiting with bated breath to see where life takes these two. Jasper’s a delicious hero, a young man with a creative side but without the self-assertiveness of his brother. He’s not as bold or brash as Gus, but is more solid with a big heart. His daughter’s autism brings out an even more caring side, a side that sees him doing all he can to make her happy, safe, and secure. The scenes involving this father/daughter, along with Viola, were heartwarming to see and had a familial vibe where she fit in beautifully. Jasper truly cares for his brother but it became harder and harder to keep Viola at arm’s length and with his sexy words and deeds there were plenty of tempting interactions that led them down an unexpected path that I was cheering for every step of the way.

Viola Starr had a rocky childhood with the best moments revolving around Gus and Jasper Diamond. They and their bandmates made her feel like a part of something, gave her a sense of family lacking in her real life. Though she was drawn to Jasper early on it was Gus who swept her off her feet with his charm and sexually-charged attention. Theirs was a rocky romance though as he was a chronic cheater which ultimately had her walking away...even more confused courtesy of Jasper’s final words to her. Seven years later, while their lives are going great, hers has almost hit bottom with the loss of her job and her money which leaves her no choice but to accept Jasper’s job offer. While she’s ready for his coldness she’s caught off guard by the obvious love he has for his daughter which endears him to her even as he tries to push her away. Her feelings for him are complex and conflicting, but she clearly wants him and as the story progresses they grow closer to each other. Her feelings for Gus though are clear as his love of the ladies is as strong as ever, but that doesn’t stop him from flirting with her at every turn, causing friction between her and Jasper and it ends this story on a note of uncertainty. Viola’s a likable heroine, a tough woman with a kind heart who rolls with everything life throws at her. She may be full of confusion when it comes to matters of the heart, but in her scenes with Jasper’s daughter she exuded confidence courtesy of the vivid depiction of autism and the techniques used in dealing with it. Seeing the two of them together projected a sense of family, a promise of what could be if she and Jasper would just embrace their more than obvious attraction, and it warmed my heart to see them together.

Jasper and Viola sizzled with a connection teeming with sexual tension along with emotions being laid bare, particularly from Jasper during his introspective moments. The push/pull between these two sometimes frustrated me, but it held me captive too in a romance that I rooted for with every turn of the page. Sweet, sexy, and sizzling made up the bulk of this decadently delightful tale that’s just beginning. Surrounding this likable main couple was an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters, some who I liked and some who had nefarious plans just hinted at. When it came to the band itself readers got to see a sexy group of guys, brotherly in their interactions and showing a softer side around Jasper’s daughter. Of them all it’s Gus who shines brightest with his larger than life demeanor and brash attitude, and though I sometimes wanted to punch him I still find myself intrigued by him and look forward to meeting the one woman who can finally claim him completely. On a whole this was a satisfying read with a delicious hero with a hidden heart of gold and a strong-willed heroine who’s his perfect match. The romantic foundation laid here is a sizzling one just picking up steam and I look forward to where fate takes this couple next which has me counting down the days until the next installment in this rockstar duet!
Profile Image for B. C. Booklover.
783 reviews55 followers
October 24, 2020
💕 J. Saman has blown me away 🎶

Where has J. Saman been all my life? Had I known what I was missing, I would have jumped on her bandwagon a long time ago! I'm hanging onto my heart right now, while dying to find out what happens next in the world of the band, Wild Minds. Yes, there is another book to finish in this particular story arc and another after that which continues the bands story. Both are out there now, ready to binge and free in KU at the time of this review, thank goodness since I adore a nice long binge! I NEED to keep reading, so curious for what I hope will be the ending I am craving like crazy for two of these characters...you'll have to guess which of them I'm loving!

The gorgeous brothers Diamond- Gus, gregarious, playful and very hard to miss for his in your face personality and the intense, brooding and deep thinking songwriting poet, front man of the band- Jasper, and they couldn't be more different. Jasper has a huge secret, not even his twin knows it, that haunts him and will continue to forever- there is someone they both love and only one of them can have her...and it isn't him. Viola Starr is that woman who captured both their hearts long ago, but Jasper has buried all his feelings, keeping them to himself- disguising them with hate and coldness...which for him is necessary emotional self preservation.

Love to Hate Her is high on the angst meter, just the way I love it. Broody, tortured Jasper has all my attention, one of my favorite types of book boyfriends. Years down the road, some things have changed so much while others haven't at all. The addition of a special new character almost broke me from the sweet, endearing little person she was and who her dad becomes when he's around her.
Unanswered longing is begging to be let loose but the past still feels raw and painful, like it never left, in so many ways.

There are incredible feelings running rampant here, but I won't give anything away because for this story to wow you the way it did me, reading it yourself is they only way to go. Intense, sexy and hot, yes! All those crazy feels, wow, YES. Music and lyrics helping to paint the picture, which is another beautiful element that is essential for me in a great rockstar romance. Trouble is stirring the pot now and then, expecting more of that in the future, but alittle bit of suspenseful waiting is okay with me.

Well, another new to me author to love with unforgettable characters and stories waiting for me to discover, so off to get them I must go! If a good rockstar romance with tons of heart is your special kind of jam, then this one may be just what you're looking for!

Profile Image for  Linathebookaddict  .
1,565 reviews407 followers
July 19, 2020
What a beautiful, heartwarming yet at the same time heartbreaking story. These characters broke me!!! The premise was reallu good and the author did an amazing job drawing the reader in. You feel and live with these characters. There is angst, emotion and lots of twists and turns.
I am new to this author but I am so glad I started with this book. I fell in love with it.
If you hate cliffies, you are gonna throw your Kindle away with this ending but oh my God. Read this book!!
Jasper is my new book boyfriend.
Profile Image for Elisa Glendenning (on hiatus).
538 reviews46 followers
July 6, 2020
I was initially attracted to this as the H’s daughter has autism. It started off okay but it just became more frustrating as I went along. I have whiplash from all the push & pull and unfortunately, the sequel promises more of the same. Add some clunky dialogue, two irritating MCs and unwelcome side character sabotage, I’m not sure I’ll read the sequel.
Profile Image for Misty (Reds Romance Reviews).
3,402 reviews6 followers
February 27, 2020
From their first kiss at age fourteen a bond was forged between them, one that had Jasper thinking things could only get better from there.... but they didn't. Vi wound up falling head over heels for his brother Gus, and he lost his chance, and it completely crushed him. He thought that kiss would lead them somewhere, not push them apart. So he poured his heart into his music, and pushed his love for her far away.

Seven years have now passed since they last saw one another, and a lot has changed since then. Their band is better than ever, he's a single dad now, but there's one thing that is still the same... his love for Vi. He has tried to push all feelings about her away, tried to busy himself with other things, but she is always there stealing his thoughts.

And now she is about to start stealing his attention again too. When his brother mentioned she'd be the perfect nanny for his daughter he had serious reservations about giving her the chance, but once his daughter meets her it's evident Gus is right. But the real question is can he survive five months on a tour bus with her, and keep his feelings hidden?

Love to Hate Her is one of those stories that will seep into your soul and control your every thought and feeling. At times it's if you can literally feel the turmoil boiling within these characters, they claim to hate one another, but it's evident that's not the truth at all. Watching Jasper fight his feelings, and push her away with his words was torturous, my heart broke over and over for him. I loved the interactions between him and his daughter, the tenderness he showed her was sweet and endearing. I really hope things work out in his favor in the next installment because this hero desperately needs a little happy in his life. I absolutely loved every single second I spent reading this one, the words were touching and passionate, and the characters were so easy to love!! Highly recommend this one, it's pages hold a story certain to squeeze your heart in all the right places!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion
Profile Image for Rosemary.
1,607 reviews6 followers
March 1, 2020
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get "into" this book because Rock Star romances are probably one of my least favorite genres. Maybe it is the writing of J. Saman regardless of the genre but I immediately fell in love with this story from the first few words. Never before have I found myself getting so quickly into a female character but I just seemed to emphasize with her wants and feelings from the beginning. Unrequited love is something so real for many women since we were taught from birth to let the man take the lead and hide your feelings until asked. Throw into the mix Jasper Diamond, Sexy Rock God extraordinaire and you have two people who want each other but can't seemed to find a way to express their feelings. Jasper poured all his love and feelings he could not say to Viola into the words of his music. For Viola, she choose to wall herself off from anything related to the Wild Minds and tried to find a life without "her boys". When Jasper needs a nanny to tour with his band and care for his adorable autistic daughter, he leaves the search to his "people. Unbeknownst to him (and Viola), his brother Gus who once had a relationship with Viola sets her up for the job. Did Gus get her the job in hopes of rekindling their relationship? Will Jasper continue to keep his true feelings for Viola secret? How will Viola handle being back between the two brothers, one she loved once and one she has always loved. Can Viola and Jasper ever get to the point where they can become a family and embrace the little girl they both love with all their heart? There is cliffhanger that leaves you gasping to start Book 2, Hate to Love Him where hopefully we can find if they get their HEA.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest and totally voluntary review.
Profile Image for Angie Barnes.
1,500 reviews10 followers
February 23, 2020
J. Saman has written a 5-star book that has the characters dealing with old feelings for each other. Viola was best friends with Jasper and his brother Gus when they were younger. The brothers along with 2 friends started a band and became rock stars. Gus at the time was Viola's boyfriend and while out on tour he cheated on her. She went to where they were one night and she caught him with another girl and broke up with him. After the breakup, she didn't have anything to do with the band. Now 7 years later, she is a teacher who has been laid off. Jasper has a 3-year-old little girl Adalyn who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and needs someone to care for her while the band is on a 5-month tour. Gus has given Jasper's manager Violas name as someone who would be perfect as a nanny for Adalyn. Viola is called but not told if she accepts the job, whom she would be working for at first. When Jasper hears that it is Viola that was hired he is not happy. He doesn't know how he will put up with her for 5 months with the feelings he still has for her. His brother Gus said that he may try to get her back. Viola still loves Gus but not the way she did. The more time Viola and Jasper spend together the more her feelings for him change. Jasper invites some friends to one of the shows and Jules who is a friend of Viole tells Jasper that Viola is still in love with Gus and that they are going to get back together, Keith a band member tells Jules to be quite and that Viola has not spent any time with Gus. Viola and Gus have a talk and she goes back to her room. Jasper is there be himself, Adalyn is sleeping and when Viola walks in, she asks him if he wanted to go out with the band? He asks her the same question and she tells him no. They start talking and Jasper tells her that he would give her anything that she wanted if only he know what it was. She tells him that what she wants, she doesn't think he is ready to give it to her yet.
Will Viola finally get to be with Jasper or will she go back to being alone?
Will Jasper figure out that Viola has feelings for him and let her know he feels the same way or will he lose her for good?
This book will have you from the first page to the last.
I would recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ashley.
575 reviews39 followers
February 24, 2020
First of all - I read this entire book in one day.
Second of all - I totally forgot I was NOT reading a stand alone and when I hit the ending cliff hanger I nearly screamed at my tablet.

Now that my personal idiocy frustration is relieved, I can talk about this book.
I loved it. Plain and simple. The characters were individuals; they were relate-able even if they weren't relate-able; I could believe they were real people with real issues and character flaws that holds them all back. This is an important trait to me when I read books. Even though novelized characters are clearly un-real, they MUST have real qualities and every single one in this book does. To my biggest relief.

There is a very special secondary character, even though in my heart and mind, she was very much primary. Adalyn. Hot rock star god Jasper has a little girl named Adalyn, she's 3 years old and she has autism. The care and attention placed on being true to this disorder and to the frustrations and outpouring of love that parents go through with this, melted my heart.

Then you layer in that our two main characters are love interests and Viola, which is Jasper's childhood love, is now a special education teacher with a specialization with autistic children and reading about these three together just made me weepy each and every time. As a mother, I appreciate all those little observations of what kids are doing, acknowledging their successes and being excited when they do something, no matter how trivial it may seem.

ALL that aside though, the story is compelling; it had me hanging on every paragraph, biting my nails with anticipation as to what was going to happen. Are they going to have sex? Is it finally going to happen? The slow-burn on this one had me on fire because all I wanted was for them to thrown everything away and finally get down to the dirty. BUT you'll have to read to find out if they do or not. I'm not giving that away.

The tension between all the character's history and their current situations lays an amazing foundation for a heart pounding ride that I literally speed read through in ONE DAY. I just couldn't get enough of Viola and Jasper, the band mates, the family dynamic with Jasper's daughter Adalyn and everything else in between.

Fans of romance novels are going to die over this one. Get it now. You won't regret it.
Profile Image for Raquel.Reads.
214 reviews55 followers
January 25, 2024
The angst in this book is chef's kiss! Oh the angst... had me swooning. You know you are loving a book, when it turns out to be a bit of a slow burn and you are loving every second of the build up.

Viola is Jasper's twin brother's ex-girlfriend (yep, you read correctly) this almost made me not want to read the book because of the potential anxiety it might have caused me reading it. But I'm so glad I trusted J Saman and gave it a chance. She develops the story with a masterful hand that had me glued to the pages. I loved every second of reading this book, ad really what's not to love... Rockstar single dad/Nanny, found family, grumpy sunshine, ETL and a rock tour. This is the recipe for a 5 star read!
Profile Image for BookAddict.
2,073 reviews207 followers
February 12, 2020
Whenever we see ‘duet' as part of a series title, that’s a clear sign the first book might reach an ending but the story continues in the next. I don’t like cliffies any better than the next romance lover, but there are a handful of authors I’ve come to trust with my heart, knowing their words are like breath to my soul, and this is one of them. So while I’m not happy having to wait a month for the rest of the story, I knew I had to read this book. And I’m so glad I did, because this is easily Saman's best work yet.

Recently I read a quote that said, “A good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no choice.” And that, reader friends, is the magic of a J Saman book. It sweeps you up and carries you away, giving your heart and soul no choice in the matter, and ekes out every drop of emotion from you along the way. Vi, Jasper, and Gus's story (sorry MFM lovers, it's not that kind of book) is already unforgettable, and this is only the first half. It's sweet, touching and poignant, but so complicated, complex and heart wrenching.

Twin brothers, Gus and Jasper Diamond, met Viola Starr when they were eight years old, and both boys fell in love with an angel. Gus worked hard to make Vi his and then ruined it by living the stereotypical rock star life when their band, Wild Minds, became famous in the blink of an eye. Vi was like a fifth band member, close to all the guys, and it was like losing her family after she broke up with Gus.

Jasper was always cold and distant while Vi and Gus dated, but his stoicism hid some deep still waters. Now he needs Vi to be his special needs daughter's nanny and travel with the band for their first tour in four years. The guys are delighted to reunite with Vi, Gus is determined to win Vi back, Jasper's three-year-old adores Vi, and Jasper is a big, hot mess. Vi thinks he hates her, and his actions and words are harsh at times, but she's forgetting that there’s another side to the love/hate coin.

Oh, my heart. These characters. This story. They're so deep inside me now it's like my heart knows them and my soul answers their call. I’m smack dab in the middle of their triple-decker angst sandwich and dying for more. Then add in adorable little Ady to the mix, and the small, remaining piece of my heart is now held fast in her sweet little hand. They all own me, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. The ball is in Jasper's court, and it's time to man up.

Read this book now, or wait for the second part and read them together, but either way, read this book! Yes, you’ll feel like your heart was used as the ball in a volleyball tournament, the way it's tossed all around, but you'll love every last angsty minute. These characters will effortlessly capture your heart with their exceptional, memorable story, and this is one you don’t want to miss!
Profile Image for Jeeves Reads Romance.
1,683 reviews795 followers
February 23, 2020
Well... that was pretty awesome. The absolute perfect way to handle a duet, this has so much sexual tension, chemistry, angst without being agonizing, HEAT without taking things too far, and an ending that just leaves you wanting to start the conclusion as soon as humanly possible. I loved Jasper and Viola together - there is ZERO question in my mind that he is the guy for her, he just needs to let himself admit that. For those of you who are questioning whether this is a love triangle or not... there’s no comparison between the brothers, and I did not waiver even once in feeling that connection. J. Saman expertly navigates the complexities of a woman who spent too many years with the wrong brother, creating a compelling story that will hook you in from the very beginning.


The story follows Jasper, a rock star in need of a nanny for his special needs daughter while he goes on tour with his band. When his assistant interviews his twin brother’s ex without his knowledge, it stirs up all sorts of feelings - for all three of them. They were all friends growing up and Viola dated Jasper’s brother for four years until his cheating tore them apart. In the aftermath of the breakup, Jasper all but admitted his feelings for Viola... but said it changed nothing. Now that seven years have passed, feelings linger for all three of them - and it’s the first time that Viola and Jasper have seen each other since his bombshell of an admission.

This is the kind of book that you sit and devour in one sitting - it’s engrossing from the start and so, so compelling. l was rooting for Jasper and Viola the instant they laid eyes on each other. He’s cold and aloof most of the time, but such an amazing dad and obviously so in love with Viola. There were times when I was frustrated with both of them - Jasper for refusing to make his move, and Viola for not realizing how much she’s getting both brothers’ hopes up — but I always wanted to see them wind up together. It’s a slow burn with some downright steamy scenes (texting has never been so sexy), and I cannot wait to read the conclusion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews360 followers
February 29, 2020
Viola and Jasper's story is such as complicated one! Viola had fallen in love with Jasper’s brother, Gus. Jasper, who never told her how he felt, ended up confessing a secret to her. When Viola and Gus broke up because of his cheating, she left and took the secret she kept with her.

When Jasper he needs a nanny for his autistic daughter, it is at a time when Viola is looking for a job and accepts the nanny role. Will Jasper speak up and tell her how he feels now? Is there a chance for them to build a family of their own? Or will Gus’ attempts to get her back ruin everything? Can they deal with the conflicts still awaiting them, or will it tear apart any chance they have?

This was a good story with lots of feeling. The reader immediately wants Viola and Jasper to get their long-awaited chance, especially since Viola and his daughter are so good together. But he lost Viola the first time by not speaking up – will he make the same mistake twice?
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