Review: FALL (Rock Solid #2) by Karina Bliss

 

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Connect with Karina Bliss:

Twitter / Website

BOOK SUMMARY:

Keep Rage together at all costs...

Powerhouse PA Dimity Graham is off her game. Her career is everything to her and she never lets anything personal mess that up. So how can she explain getting busy between the sheets with Rage's nice-guy drummer Seth Curran? She's supposed to be keeping this band out of trouble, not getting into it.
But before she can put everything back where it belongs, Seth needs her help.

Faking a relationship seemed like a good idea that night, right before they fell into bed together. But standing on New Zealand soil, facing the people he disappointed to pursue his dream, Seth doubts he and Dimity will convince anyone they're hot and crazy for each other. To his surprise, Dimity is working her magic on everyone and they're all convinced this is the real deal. The problem is, he's almost convinced, too.

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MY RATING:

 

***MY REVIEW*** 

 

 Fall is the second book in the Rock Solid series, however it has different main characters than the first book. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Rise as well, simply because it really is such a great novel! Rise was about the rock god Zander, and Fall is about his PA Dimity and band’s drummer, Seth.

On the surface, Dimity and Seth couldn’t be more different. She’s the ice-queen, he’s the nice guy.
This is Dimity:

She shook her head, unable to answer him, unable to imagine anyone loving her enough to make the offer. She wasn’t the kind of woman who inspired forever. It was hard enough living with herself sometimes.

And this is Seth:

Everyone loved Seth. He could transition from playing pool with roadies to discussing economics with financiers – he even loved kids. Dimity had even seen him kiss a dog once.

But their differences are precisely the reason why the fit together so well. Dimity was an amazing protagonist, she’s complex, seemingly cold, focus-driven, ambitious, and sharp-tongued – overall a strong woman and we need more characters like Dimity in contemporary romance novels. Dimity hides her vulnerabilities behind her tough exterior and Seth is the only one who sees the fragile woman underneath. On the other hand – Seth. Oh Seth. Where do I sign up for to get a Seth of my own? He’s the nice guy, with a wild, pagan side which only occasionally gets released, he’s not intimidated by Dimity in the slightest. He teases her mercilessly, he simply gets her. 

The book has friends-to-lovers theme, plus they’re faking a relationship in order to help Seth get his ex back. Yet, the book is not all about relationships drama, which I appreciated, other topics are explored (e.g. Seth’s complicated relationship with his father) and other characters get to share the spotlight as well. For example, Zander has an important role in the novel. He’s Dimity’s boss, but he’s also so much more, he’s her mentor, her constant in life. He too was once, like Dimity is now, married to his career, and now that’s he is moving on in his life, pursuing other interests, Dimity feels lost, doesn’t know to whom to look up to anymore. She’s thrown off her game. Therefore, Dimity’s relationship with herself if also given attention, she realizes which things matter most in life. 

The reason why I love Karina Bliss’s books so much is because of her writing. It’s what distinguishes her from other authors of this genre. She structures her novels well, pays attention to the words she chooses, sentences flow perfectly together. After reading just one chapter, you can tell – this woman can write! And it’s a pure pleasure reading when someone writes this good. Her characters are relatable – even though they’re rock stars! You get the heartache, yet they don’t take themselves too seriously. You get sweet, and you get sexy. I immensely enjoyed Seth and Dimity’s story and I can’t wait to see what Karina Bliss prepares us next!

 *ARC copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Check out book #1 on Goodreads: Rise 

Read my review of Book # 1: Link

xoxo,

Beatrix 

REVIEW: Woo Me by Karina Bliss

The Outback Bachelor Ball novella series

35,000 word novella (approx 100 pages)

Release date: Oct.20th 2015

Connect with Karina Bliss:

Official website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Summary

Can true love overcome a bad hide day and a series of unfortunate events?

Disillusioned in love, Jen Tremaine is done with men. So when her best friends dare her to wear a cow costume to their reunion at an Outback Bachelor & Spinster Ball, she's all over it. Who would have thought dressing as a heifer would make her irresistible to a bunch of lasso-twirling, drunken cowboys?

Maybe you should have thought this through, says the sexy security guard who keeps finding her at the center of trouble. Even though Jen's always dismissed soul mates as a load of bull, the sizzle between them is making her wonder: What if you met The One while wandering lonely as a cow? Would you find the courage to become a believer?

When ex-Special Forces soldier Logan Turner is roped into helping out with security at the B&S ball, he isn't expecting to find love - but after months in all-male company he sure is hoping for lust. Hecertainly isn't expecting to fall for a feisty, funny, trouble-making Cowderella. Only problem is, she's leaving Australia tomorrow.

Convincing Jen they can still have a future together may wind up being the toughest mission of his life.

***MY REVIEW***

Logan and Jen sure did woo me! The novella begins with a Bachelor and Spinster Ball, Jen and her friends Beth and Ellie are all dealing with some love issues so they all decide to go to this country ball. Each novella deals with a separate heroine and her respective adventures; Woo Me focuses on Jen.

Now, due to a dare she can’t refuse, Jen goes to this ball dressed in a costume – as a cow. Logan is an ex-soldier who helps out his little sister by working security at the ball. Now, you may think this couldn’t possibly work, but it does! Jen is an urban girl, independent, strong – I liked her a lot. Logan, despite his tough exterior hides a caring and protective personality. They’re so well matched, IMO and their chemistry was incredible. There was no instalove, which is always appreciated; the characters do get to know each other a bit before getting together.

Moreover, I loved the tension, and I’m pleased to say I liked both characters separately before I liked them as a couple. That’s always good, in my book. Furthermore, the sexy times – once the moment arrived, it was sizzling HOT! Jen and Logan have some mean chemistry together. It didn’t feel like a one night stand at all (not that there’s anything wrong with those, mind you!), it’s just that I really felt the connection between Jen & Logan; like I knew them for a long time. And I sure wouldn’t have minded knowing them a little longer either. This novella is only some 100 pages long, but it made me swoon, laugh and ache. There were a lot of secondary characters, for example Wayne, who provided comic relief – I really would’ve loved more scenes with him, LOL. Then Lily, Logan’s little sister… Had this been longer I’m sure all those characters would’ve been further explored!

Overall, it left me wanting more. And I believe this just speaks about Karina Bliss’ amazing writing abilities. It takes talent to create good romance in just 100 pages. Novellas are always more difficult to write than full-length novels, at least that’s what I think.

This is my second time reading Karina Bliss, and her stories are always real, but never dull, sexy and emotional at the same time. I can say she quickly became one of my favorite romance authors.

*A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

*Read my review of Karina Bliss' novel RISE --> here.* 

xoxo,

Beatrix