Reverb

Road Kings #4

by Julie Kriss

Here’s what I know about Stone Zeeland:
He’s a legendary god of guitar.
He’s infamously bad-tempered and hates everyone.
He especially hates journalists—which means he hates me.
I refuse to let this be a problem. I have a job to do—write about the Road Kings’ reunion tour—and I’m going to do it. I don’t care that I’m stuck crossing the country with a band that won’t talk to me, or that everyone wants me to quit. This is my big break, and I’m going to take it.
But before long, Stone and I have a secret. When you’re on tour with a rock god, it’s hard to stay objective. And the more I learn about Stone, the more I see he’s nothing like I thought he’d be.
Here’s what I know about Stone Zeeland:
Deep down, he has a heart.
And he’s about to break mine.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Music, Contemporary

256 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Kristiej · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time around I listened to this book on audio. My aim is to get all her books on audio. I love listening to Reverb just as much as I love reading it. The narrators are great and now having experienced one I didn’t care for I appreciate how important it is to have good ones.

#*#*##*#*#*

Of course this is another five star review. It’s Julie Kriss and it’s a rock band series.

We finally come to Stone and Sienna. All through the series Stone has been the grump, the angry and uncommunicative one in the Road King and his main target seems to be Sienna, the music journalist assigned to travel with the band. She’s had a real tough go of it until shock of all shocks it’s Stone who comes to her rescue and shares his room with her when it seems her own reservations mysteriously vanish.

And while sharing a room, they slowly begin an odd friendship. Turns out Stone isn’t really anything Sienna and we, the readers thought he was and he really makes for a great hero. I love both Stone and Sienna and they make for a great couple.

This was a great concluding book to this series I’ve adored. Julie continues to blow me away with how much I enjoy her writing and her characters and the stories she tells.

[B. C. Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became a huge fan of author Julie Kriss while reading AND listening (yum!) to her amazing rockstar romance series, Road Kings. Duet, Riff and Rythym follow her fictional band's return to the spotlight after 5 year of silence. I couldn't get enough of these sexy, flawed rockers, in their mid-30's with a world of life experiences between them. They've taken me for quite a ride, with humor, plenty of steam and their unforgettable stories. I've had a front row seat as they've fallen for their exceptional ladies, all but the last man standing- guitarist extrodinaire, Stone Zeeland. His book Reverb, has been waiting at the top of my 'to read' list for months and I was thrilled to read an early copy of his book.

One of the things I love most about Julie Kriss's writing, besides the stories themselves, is her talent for creating these well developed characters who are so likeable and down to earth, I feel like I knew them personally- if only!! Stone came across as a closed off, grouchy a-hole with attitude a mile long, but I had seen his softer side when it came to the people he cared for most. His outside persona didn't always match up with what was on the inside and I wanted to know more about that guy, here in his own story.

Sienna Maplethorpe was the nerdy music journalist hired to write the behind the scenes, comeback story of the legendary Road Kings. After getting to know her from all different perspectives throughout the series, I began to admire her fierce determination, intelligence and quick witted charm. She was sarcastically funny, with the best one liners and so passionate about what she loved most- her family, writing and anything involving music. I just loved everything about her- what a cool friend she would have been.

As tough as Sienna was, she's about to lose her mind after weeks on this tour, being ignored and rock-blocked every step of the way by this band. When the final straw threatens to break her, the last person she expected to come to her rescue was the scowling, broody guitar God, Stone Zeeland. He was big, bossy and prickly most of the time, but seemed so protective of this woman who had already been put through hell.

This unlikely pair were total opposites, with verbal sparing that reached epic levels as they continued to push each other's buttons. Hiding in plain sight and spending time together allowed Sienna to see glimpses the multi- faceted man Stone kept under wraps- there was much more to him than she could've imagined. Their feelings had been slowly building, good or bad, since the tour began, going from a smoldering slow burn to a full on inferno. The heat was turned up to kindle melting levels when Stone showed Sienna exactly what she'd been missing in her life until she met him. There's no turning back now- he's gotten under her skin and that's where she wants him to stay. Talk about grumpy/ sunshine-Seeing these two peeling back each others layers was an enlightening experience.

The entire Road Kings series has been incredible, with unforgettable moments and characters who made it their mission to engrave themselves on my heart from day one. How I wish I could stay in their world forever, it's sooo good, I never want to let them go. Here's hoping that Julie Kriss takes her magic pen and keeps her Road Kings alive and well in future books. I can't be the only ones who feel this way. Seven Dogs Down and a ton of glitter, anyone??? Fingers crossed! Meanwhile, I'll keep myself entertained with the audiobook.

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

❛He kept his hand to my cheek. “Sienna,” he said softly, his voice reverent. The word shivered through me and my heart squeezed. He was telling me he loved me, I realized. Every time he said my name.❜

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The minute I finished Reverb, I wanted to start reading it again. I’ve been looking forward to Stone and Sierra’s story, it having been skillfully foreshadowed throughout the series, and it was everything I wanted it to be. Stone is charmingly unsure of himself with Sierra, and since he’s used to knowing exactly who he is and what he wants, is pretty fun to watch. We finally get to find out just who William Hale is and what he’s doing with the Road Kings, which was a nice bit of closure. CW for discussion of childhood abandonment & abuse, adoption & trauma related to same.

[Kimberly Holmgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when we got past the gruff, a-hole exterior of Stone that we would find a sexy, protective, amazingly awesome rock star boyfriend! I love the banter and the chemistry between Stone and Sienna. I love it when he calls her Maplethorpe in that growly, sexy voice of his. I love that he opened up and showed her his vulnerable side. Sienna is the perfect amount of sassy sugar and spice to put Stone back together, and bring him to his knees. I’m only sad that there are no more Road Kings…..unless we get to call Will a Road King as well! That was a twist I didn’t see coming!!!

[Jess M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to read about a grump that actually had some reasoning behind his grumpiness. Julie Kriss did a great job rounding out the series with Stone, the quiet grump with a great backstory. Stone and Sienna's story happens without a ton of flashbacks, which I was worried about considering the timeline of the rest of the series. Although I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to see as much of their relationship on tour, I was ready to follow the Road Kings back to Portland, and see them develop their album.

I'll admit, I am a little rusty in my Julie Kriss universe, so it took me a while to connect some of the characters to her other series, but I eventually put it together.

[Eleanore June · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.
Probably my least favorite of the series. Just didn't have the emotional impact of the others...which is crazy considering there was so much of Stone's life that COULD and SHOULD make that impact. It just always felt like we were held at a distance from both characters.

[Justadele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book of the series

[Ruth McDonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Stone and Sienna’s book! This was a slow burn. Stone is such a grump and Sienna pushes all his buttons. She is the journalist that William Hale, the Road King’s mysterious backer, hires to travel with them. She uncovers his motives which will blow you away with that plot twist, but not before falling for Stone. Such a great read! 5 stars

[Hannahbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5

[Luisa Rivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wondering how the author would deal with grumpy Stone Zeeland and she didn’t disappoint at all! Of all four Road Kings, Stone is the silent one, always with a scowl, always complaining, never seemed to be happy. In this book, we get to know him better, learn the reasons for his mostly silent demeanor, and get to see the kind and honorable man behind the scowl.

I loved his story with Sienna Maplethorpe because it was like the union of two geniuses. Stone is a music god and Sienna is a master at writing about music. Music is their language and it brought them together and made them understand each other like no other. But what made them a fun couple is their texting. Their love language is insulting banter, it was very witty, lots of fun and felt like foreplay. It’s in their texting that we start to see Stone’s other layers, where he can be funny, sometimes testy, others sexy.

“She was enjoying this as much as I was, and she was trying to hide it, but she was turned all the way on. Apparently insults were our foreplay.”

Their story started when Stone found Sienna in the parking lot of the tour hotel in New Orleans. She had been taken out of the hotel rooster, out of the tour bus, and out of backstage. In spite of all these obstacles, she kept following the tour in a rented car, kept writing her pieces. Stone convinced her to stay in his room. They acted like they didn’t like each other, but the reader can tell they were attracted to each other. In time, Stone realized that this woman is a really good writer and respects boundaries. He doesn’t say it but I saw that he was also protective of her, and impressed by her professionalism. Likewise, Sienna swooned when he shared his music library app with her, it was as if he’d given her an engagement ring!

Another thing I loved that the author did is she gave us another peek at the other Road Kings when Sienna did their photoshoots. We get to have a little moment with each of them, partners included, and revisit their love stories, appreciate them one more time. I so enjoyed this!

This was one hugely satisfactory love story. Stone, the rock god but a little clueless in love relations; Sienna, the music nerd, very inexperienced with sex. Together they were hot and insatiable for each other and a truly great couple. Loved this story so much!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Julie Kriss' works. I have read this entire series so was really looking forward to this book about Stone as he is the final band member to get his book. He is the real bad boy of the band so I was excited to read about who is the woman to tame him. Overall a great book and would recommend if you love a hot bad boy guitarist and a nerdy music journalist that can hold her own against his attitude.

This basic premise of this book follows Sienna, a music journalist that followed the band on their 10 week tour, and Stone, the guitarist for the band. Stone is moody, broody, doesn't like to talk and is overall a big pain in the butt. From the beginning, the entire band and primarily Stone, give Sienna a hard time...refusing interviews, blocking her access, etc. When Sienna's backer stops funding her hotel rooms, flights, etc. Stone takes pity and lets her room with him for the rest of the tour. Nothing happens during that time; everything remains strictly professional. Sienna, however, is really good at her job and finds out information Stone isn't keen to share so they have a falling out. Fast forward to the end of the tour when the band is figuring out what to do next. Sienna is granted her interviews and full access to the band, including Stone. Now they have to come to terms with everything that happened on the tour and the feelings/emotions left unresolved.

I loved reading about Stone and Sienna's journey. I love the entire series and seeing the characters from the previous books. The book has some great humor and I loved the exchanges between the two main characters. Overall I would recommend the whole series. Fun, fast read.

[Michele McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reverb is finally Stone's book, and I was so excited to get my hands on him. Stone Zeeland is the man behind the amazing riffs that come out of the guitar of the Road Kings. He is grumpy, does not like people invading his space and is not keen on journalists. Sienna Maplethorpe is a wizard with words and stories. She has got her break, and she will not let anyone including a crabby, stay out of my business rock god. She is to follow the men in the legendary band the Road Kings as they embark on their reunion tour and tell their story. To say the push back from Stone is over the top would be putting it mildly but she is sassy, and talented and will not back down from him or the story! These two off on the wrong foot right from the start but you know that even with the bitterness and arguing there is a deep burning attraction to one another. They have chemistry, wonderful sexually charge banter and they really know how to push one another's buttons. You know what they say, there is a fine line between love and hate and these two are now balancing that line without a safety net. Sienna soon realizes that the man she thought had no feelings or heart may be the most caring man she has ever met but he could literally shatter hers is she isn't careful.
Loved this series!!
~~Michele McMullen~~

[Daki Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reverb delivers a grumpy/sunshine romance that hits all the right notes. Stone Zeeland, the notoriously surly guitarist of the Road Kings, might come off as a prickly, closed-off a-hole, but underneath that tough exterior is a fiercely loyal man with a big heart—and Sienna Maplethorpe is the perfect woman to uncover it.

Sienna, the determined and quick-witted journalist assigned to cover the band's reunion tour, is everything I love in a heroine: smart, sarcastic, passionate, and full of heart. Watching her hold her own against a band that seemed determined to freeze her out made me admire her even more. Her banter with Stone was pure gold—sharp, funny, and loaded with sizzling tension.

The slow-burn chemistry between Stone and Sienna was intense, building until it exploded in the best way possible. Their relationship felt so real—two damaged, stubborn people slowly letting their walls down and realizing that maybe, just maybe, they could find peace with each other.

I loved seeing Stone’s softer side through Sienna’s eyes, and how fiercely protective he became of her. Their story wasn’t just about passion; it was about healing, trust, and finding someone who sees all of you and stays anyway.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome end to an awesome series

Wow. Just wow.
I admit I had high hopes for this book, how could I not? And I was a bit afraid it wouldn't be able to live up to it. Well, there was nothing to worry about.

I loved the way the book was written - Julie Kriss developed the plot with "Then" chapters interspersed with "Now" chapters. This put the focus of the story where it belonged - on the relationship between Sienna and Stone - and less on the tour itself that we've already heard about from 6 points of view.

As always with Julie Kriss, the characters are complex, layered and real. The banter between them was snarky and funny. I'm only sorry that the series is done, because I enjoyed every minute of it.

Standalone. 1st person dual POV. No graphic violence. Steamy.

[Tammy]

A Must Read!!!!

Julie Kriss has done it again. Produced a sweet, no angst, rockstar romance. The story has more to do with two people getting to know each other than it does about rockstar's. I think what I like best about her books is that she takes you through some of the normal things people go through at the beginning of a relationship. With this story in particular, Stone speaks volumes without saying a word. It was nice to learn a bit about why that is and really get to see him be his true self.
If you have not read the rest of the series, you will get a lot of spoilers. If you are okay with that, then this is a great book to start with. If you are not, then read the other books first starting with Denver's story. They are all worth a read.

[J Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This series is phenomenal and Stone’s book is rock star perfection. Julie Kriss has done such an incredible job bringing not only the characters to life but also the music.

‘He was telling me he loved me, I realized. Every time he said my name.’

The chemistry between Stone and Sienna is delicious and filled with tension. It’s intense and sensual and everything in between.

Truly this series has captured my heart. I love music and the vibe portrayed in each book is spot on. The whole series is a must read!

[R M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I wanted for the series end, and Stone’s book. We’ve seen his grumpy self and his indifference to Sienna throughout the series.
Not indifference though.
Turns out, he’s the only one who is kind to her. Even when he’s not.
Will Hale is finally defined. And wow, just wow.
I loved the scene where Stone and Will meet on the park bench, and Stone defines what their relationship will be.
Stone’s mom is a piece of work. His life has been tragic. Sienna fills a hole in his heart. Turns out, he actually has one.

[ElizabethLynnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reverb is #4 in the Road Kings series. A 5 star series. Kriss delivers the rockstar romance experience. Reverb is an enemies to lovers, strong, silent hero story set in the captivating world of music. The chemistry between the main characters, offers strong chemistry, emotion, and draws in you from the start. If you're a fan of rockstar romances, this series should be on your list.

Enemies to lovers
Rockstar v. Music Journalist
Planes, hotels, and tour buses
Book 4 of a 5 Star Series

[Terri McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly excellent!

Not sure what I expected, and J Kriss sets the bar really high. Even so, this story was wonderful. I can't really say more than that without spoilers....
Just get it, read, and enjoy the experience!
I finally figured out the VC Towers reference, but not until Sienna said her mom starred in Avery's Place, and her cousins are Olivia and Gwen. If you haven't read those series, get on it! They are also excellent.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone is a wonderful bbf

This series keeps getting better and better. Stone and Sienna's story is wonderful. I loved how protective the grump is about Sienna. He really cares about her. Stone's back story is sad. There is a good amount of humor, a lot of chemistry and sexual tension and you can feel the love. It warmed my heart to see how the band grew thru their understanding of each other. It shows what a good woman can do for a guy.
Fantastic series.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the characters seem to have lives outside of the book page in Reverb. The characters were layered and there was momentum. I liked how the relationship developed between Stone and Sienna. I liked how Stone and the rest of the Road Kings were considerate of Sienna’s career. I liked the portrayal of both of their parents and I liked the everyday-ness of the story even though Stone is in a rock band.

[MeCalle Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

Great characters. I'm in love with stone. I liked that this band got back together and made a success with their music. It had great twists in it and loved the sense of humor. Wasn't happy with how she was treated by the band but it got better. I would love another book to see how things go for each of them.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the rest of the Road Kings books. I started it and put it down for a while. When I picked it up again, I seemed to enjoy it more than I did at the beginning. Julie Kriss books always seem to satisfy me. Love the characters and the story lines. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

[Barbara Holler]

Road Kings Love Story

Stone and Siena are an opposites attract love story. Their conversations are delightful and I wish a sequel would be coming. Maybe a connection for Will and Angi? Love all 4 of the Kings, hope the author continues these storylines.

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic series. The band's story is excellent, it's not another standard rock star story. The story arc for the Road Kings runs alongside the four books and I loved it.

Stone and Siena have been a long time coming but its just wonderful

[VoraciousReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a typical rock star romance. A sweet story with no real angst or conflict. The book is a standalone but some plot points continue into the series. I like the way Will’s story was tied up in this book; I didn’t see that coming.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Stone was so relatable and snarly in the best way.

[HatGirl8]

5/9/2023

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing I love more than a curveball!! I haven't been let down by a Kriss book yet!