#ShelfLove Review ~ All Night Long ~ Madelynne Ellis

All Night Long
Black Halo #1
Release Date: April 24, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Source: Purchased on Amazon
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
One night of rampant passion with a rock star, that's all it's supposed to be. Ginny Walters isn't looking for love, only some sexy fun with an amazingly hot guy, that is, until she hooks up with Black Halo's lead guitarist, Ash Gore, on the night the band implodes. When vocalist Xane walks off stage bringing the gig to a premature end, Ash and the guys find themselves unable to reach their hotel due to the presence of an irate mob. Luckily, Ginny offers them the use of her room for the night.

Ginny does her best to be a good hostess. However, it's not long before she discovers a side to womanizing, bad boy, Ash that she never imagined. Beneath his hard rock image, is a man so hung up on the possibility of being hurt by love that he's unwilling to rish becoming emotionally involved. How can she convince him that the bond between them is worth exploring, given that she's not sure dating a rock star is a terribly bright idea?

Ash can't seem to get Ginny out of his head. She's totally unlike the groupies he normally beds; women who love to fan his ego, but ultimately leave him dismally unsatisfied. Ginny sees through all his bullshit and the media hype to the scarred man beneath. Given that instinctive understanding, does he really want to say goodbuy forever coming daybreak?

Maybe it's time they both gave love another chance.

I've been on a Black Halo marathon. Having met Ash and Ginny in Come Undone, I was excited to see where Ms. Ellis would take them. They too met the fateful night of Black Halo's possible demise. It seems as though the night might have brought a little luck to the band--at least a few of its members.

Ginny Walters is Dani's flatmate and joins Dani at the Black Halo concert with the sole intent of meeting a member of the band and enjoying a night of debauchery. Lucky for her, the band member she happens upon first is Ash Gore, lead guitarist and player extraordinaire.

Ash is distraught over what transpired at the concert. With his and the band's future uncertain, he simply wants to lose himself in a woman. But as I said, this was a fateful night and fate might have more in store for these two than just one night.

What I'd wanted in Come Undone, as far as relationship development, I got in All Night Long. And that's saying something considering this story takes place in a single night whereas Come Undone happened over the course of several days. There is definitely a connection between Ginny and Ash but they're both commitment-phobic for their own reasons. Ash is very appealing in his vulnerability. He feels as though he's always playing second fiddle to his bandmates, especially Xane. He tried not to show this side of himself to Ginny but couldn't seem to help himself. Ginny is much more self-assured and realistic about what this thing between her and Ash is. But they both want more.

In All Night Long we get a better idea about the personal dynamics of the band. I liked this quite a bit. We spend time with both Rock Giant (Paul) and Spook and see how they band all fits together--who the lynchpin is and who the glue is. This added dimension to the story. Of course, the steam factor is present. This is erotica after all. *fans self* Ms. Ellis delivers in the smexy scenes but again, she shows vulnerability in the characters and it makes for even steamier steam.

All Night Long made me fall for this band of guys, and its two leading ladies, even harder. I'm anxious to continue this series.