#TravelingtoTerminus Audio Review ~ Deep ~ Kylie Scott

Deep by Kylie Scott
Stage Dive #4
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Audible
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins' ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben's the only man she's ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn't looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She's his best friend's little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he's not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he's always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay there. Now he and Lizzy are connected in the deepest way possible...but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

Is it really over? This can't be the last of Stage Dive, can it? I want more!

One thing I've greatly enjoyed throughout this series is the dynamics between the Stage Dive guys. Ms. Scott brilliantly conveyed the deep bond between David, Jimmy, Mal, and Ben and I loved it. I was sad that Mal wasn't around as much in Deep - he may not have been as present in Lead either but I felt it more acutely in this one. I certainly - well, I don't know if enjoyed is the right word but lacking a better one - I enjoyed getting better acquainted with Ben. He's an interesting guy - just living life as it comes, floating free. He likes his unfettered life and it suits him. However, his attraction to Lizzy was something he didn't expect nor did he know how to deal with it. But deal with it he must when he finds out she's pregnant.

Lizzy's been pretty determined in her pursuit of Ben. There's just something about him that trips all her triggers. I've always liked Lizzy. Knowing her back story and how she held it together, appreciated all Anne (her sister) sacrificed in order to give her a decent life and made the most of those sacrifices, made me admire her. She was set on making something of herself and I admired her motivations. I also admired how she dealt with the blow of an unexpected pregnancy. It showed her maturity.

Getting to be along for the ride as these two worked things out took me on an emotional roller coaster. Why did it take so long for Ben to realize what everyone else could see? How could Lizzy stand putting herself out there over and over again, knowing Ben might break her heart? Love is the answer. Love is always the answer. :)

Despite how pleased I was with Ben and Lizzy's story, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. I didn't want any more angst but I would've liked seeing more of them dealing with things as a couple. Overall though, I can't say enough good things about this series. The stories were riveting and Andi Arndt's narration was spot on. I'm thrilled I took the recommendation from several bloggers and dove into this series. I'm only sad there's not more. Luckily, Ms. Scott has other offerings.

#TravelingtoTerminus Audio Review ~ Lead ~ Kylie Scott

Lead by Kylie Scott
Stage Dive #3
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
Release Date: November 25, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Audible
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it's booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.

Lena's not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

Lead really packed an emotional punch. Dealing with addiction added this whole other layer of complexity to the story. I know have a new appreciation for the bad boy of Stage Dive.

Jimmy knows a thing or two about partying. He's always been the one to fully embrace the rock-n-roll lifestyle of booze, drugs, and girls. A trip to rehab has changed his ways but the record label insists on a sobriety partner to ensure the new habits stick.

Enter Lena. She has no experience wit counseling or even addiction but Jimmy doesn't mind her being around so it's an arrangement that works. Until feelings develop between them.

I can't imagine the difficulties that being a recovering addict would bring to a relationship. Add to that the emotional scars left from an absent father and an addict mother who repeatedly told you you were unlovable. Ms. Scott conveyed all that and more through Jimmy, making him the most complex and dynamic guy of Stage Dive, in my opinion. In Lena, she created this young woman who cared so much. One who'd been hurt buy love before - in a reprehensible way. A girl who'd been told she was hard and difficult to love but who had so much love to give. I feel for these two characters - hard. Their prickly banter, their inability to or desire to not deal with their feelings. Their unmistakable chemistry and the depth of emotion between them.

Lead had a little different feel to it than Lick or Play. That's not to say Ms. Scott didn't evoke emotions with David and Ev's or Mal and Anne's stories, because she definitely did. But Lead was different. Maybe it was that we were able to delve deeper into Jimmy through Lena. I'm not sure. I do know I loved their story.

Andi Arndt continues to wow me with her voices and her ability to convey the emotion of each scene.

I've already begun Deep and one thing is for sure...I'm going to miss these guys and girls once I'm done.

#TravelingtoTerminus Audio Review ~ Play ~ Kylie Scott

Play by Kylie Scott
Stage Dive #2
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Audible
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rack band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast - at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just find. Mal doesn't plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn't count on finding the one right girl. Anne Rollins never thought she'd ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls--especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild lifeoftheparty drummer couldn't end well. No matter who hot he is. Or could it?

Play. What a great title for a book starring one deliciously talented drummer - the Mal Ericson. Mal plays at everything in life - living it to the fullest. But one thing - one major thing throws a curve ball at Mal and his days at only playing are done - at least for the meantime.

I fell for Mal's playful and wickedly funny self in Lick. It's a good thing I'd already fallen for him - knew he was a good guy - or else I might have held a grudge. Here's why: When he first meets Anne - watches her, listens, pays attention to her circumstances - he basically lectures her on being a doormat. And then he proceeds to take advantage of the very flaw he lamented her having. See? But I knew Mal better - knew there must be something going on that would incite this behavior. I was so right. Then he went and melted me right along with Anne - who never really stood a chance against him anyway.

I adore Anne. I saw a lot of myself in her - a people pleaser, wanting to take care of everyone. She'd had a crap life but she's kept her chin up. She's had no stability in her life where it counted, so she does her damnedest to protect her heart. Finding herself in this weird situation with Mal, her resilience was evident as she just rolled with the flow. It was heartening to watch her blossom with Mal - figuring out how to finally take care of herself and that it could be done even while caring for others.

Mal has absolutely no filter. The things that fell out of his mouth. Omigosh! 

"Hello, Anne's clitoris. It's me, Malcolm, your lord and master."

"Pumpkin, stop rubbing your ass against me. We gotta go! I don't have time to do you now. Prioritize woman."

He's crazy fun but he's deeper than the image he projects. Seeing Mal at such a vulnerable time in his life - seeing how this thing going on in his life could take the sparkle from his eye and zap all his playfulness - was heart-wrenching. Anne could make him smile. She could help him see the rainbow in a rainy day. Being witness to him realizing love was attainable for him, even though he made some colossal mistakes with Anne, made me fall for him ever harder. 

Play is a contradictory title considering this installment was intensely emotional. I teared up a fair bit while watching the joker of Stage Dive meet his match. Mal and Anne did make me laugh though. They're good together - they make sense. They each need the other in their lives.  

Andi Arndt continues to keep me listening every spare moment I have. Her delivery is spot-on, keeping the story, with all its humor and emotion flowing seamlessly. And her conveyance of Mal's voice is the best. I've already moved on to Lead and I'll be sad when I'm actually caught up with the Stage Dive boys.

#OctobeRecFest Review #2 ~ Audio Review ~ Lick ~ Kylie Scott #ShelfLove #COYER

Lick by Kylie Scott
Stage Dive #1
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: Audio
Source: Audible credit
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads
Recommended by: Naomi @Nomi's Reading Palace

Synopsis
Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this. Evelyn Thomas' plans for celebrating her 21st birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened. One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

*This series was recommended by Naomi @Nomi's Reading Palace*

I'm hooked! I managed to complete this audiobook in 24 hours. Yep. It's that good. Lick will be appealing to anyone who has ever dreamed of a rock star falling in love with them - just an average girl. *sigh*

David and Ev get off to a rocky start - what with Ev waking up on the bathroom floor to realized she's puked on, oh and MARRIED a complete stranger. See Ev was celebrating her twenty-first birthday in style. While she has no memory of their night together, David remembers it all. And Ev not remembering is a blow to his ego. Not to mention the fact that she doesn't even know he's a founding member and lead guitarist for Stage Dive. However, rather than getting a quickie divorce, these two decide to get to know one another - to see if they can make sense together.

I adore Ev. She's a sweet girl who just hasn't found her path in life yet. Oh, she's got a plan and David would NOT fit in it. But as she gets to know David better, he helps her realize that just because it was a plan, doesn't mean you can't go off-course. It was heartwarming to see Ev mature enough to stand up for herself and go after what she really wanted.

David was a hart nut to crack. He had some obvious history that caused him some issues but he wasn't keen on sharing. This, of course, made Ev (and me) want to smack him. Except for that though, I really loved how he was with Ev. And I liked seeing him mature and realize what was important to him. (even if he made me want to smack him some more along the way)

The other band members, whom I know we'll get to know better, were interesting. Jimmy is basically a douche, really. We didn't see Benny much, but he made me palm itch to slap him in a certain scene. Mal...*sigh* I'm so looking forward to getting to Mr. Snark much better - and see if a woman can tame him.

It wasn't an easy journey for David and Ev. They had to deal with their own issues and insecurities along with meddling PAs, band members and attorneys, as well as the ruthless media and rabid fans. But in the end, they proved that sometimes the things that don't seem to make sense, actually make the most.

By the way, the narration by Andi Arndt was excellent! She did an incredible job with distinguishing voices, both female and male. And her delivery was spot on! I'll be looking for more from her.