Release Day Review ~ Scandalous Beat ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin) #2017NewRelease

Scandalous Beat by Michelle Mankin
Tempest #6
Release Date: November 16, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle but I also had the pleasure of being a beta reader as well. This in no way affected my rating and my review is voluntarily provided.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
A rock star. A stripper. Can a hookup lead to a happily ever after?

Juaquin Acenado.
A drummer. A rapper. A rock king.
My brother's best friend.
Arrogant. Forbidden.. Do-not-go-there-trouble.
The sexy Latino was too old for me when we first met and I was in high school. But he was my first love. I've never gotten over him.

Miriam Jackson
Stripper. Exotic dancer. Her stage name is Queen.
My bandmate's little sister.
Spicy and sweet. The spark that fires my inspiration. The rhythm to my beat.
She's the one I imagine when I settle for the others. My ultimate fantasy. Only I can never have her.
Until I arrive in Vegas to record my solo rap album, visit a strip club, and there she is. Miriam was supposed to be in college, but she's not. She is so not.
Sin City, a place where anything can happen, and I'm the only one in the band who knows her secret.
So why resist anymore?
Who could possibly stop me?

Ah the Tempting Men of Tempest...I'm so sad to see this series come to an end but I'm been eager to finally get King's story, to see who stole his heart. Scandalous Beat was the perfect way to round out one of my favorite Rock Star series.

Highlights

• Characters
  In Miriam, we have a young woman who had a difficult childhood suffering from dyslexia and verbal abuse. She found solace in acting. She's such a sweetheart. Selfless, loyal, and caring...she puts others' needs and feelings before her own.
  In Juaquin, we have a talented young man who also grew up in hardship. He lost his brother to gang violence and has dealt with anger management issues for most of his life. He's loyal and caring but finds it difficult to deal with his emotions.
  These two together were always magic. They met when Miriam was too young but they shared a special connection, were kindred souls. But even once Miriam was of age, Juaquin felt himself unworthy of her attention, plus being the little sister of his bandmate automatically put her on the "off-limits" list.
• Forbidden Romance
  This was a trope that really worked in this case. Not only was there the age difference and the bandmate connection, but Miriam served as Beauty to Juaquin's Beast. There were all the reasons in the world for them to be apart but fate seemed to bring them together.
• The Journey
  Yes, there were obstacles against them...age, etc., but the biggest obstacle was not knowing themselves. Juaquin, in his desire for Miriam to have better than him, unwittingly hurt her over and over again. Miriam, in her desire to have him, lost herself. When they are thrown into each other's paths once again, without the reminder of the original obstacles, they both journey towards finding themselves, realizing their true worth as well as their feelings for each other. As Miriam said, "[Love is] about becoming something better because you're together. Transforming each other's weaknesses into strengths. Making something beautiful together."
• Relevant Issues
  This is a specialty of Mankin's, bringing awareness to social issues. Scandalous Beat was no exception. There were a couple of topics touched on including abuse and dyslexia but the main point I felt Mankin was trying to make was having the courage to ask for help when you need it. The way in which she conveyed Miriam's courage in getting the help she needed was brilliant as well as how she parlayed it into a way to help others.
• Emotion
  Mankin is adept at evoking strong emotions. The push and pull between Miriam and Juaquin kept me on edge, alternately cheering, steaming, or crying. The depth of feeling between these two was something special.
• Secondary Cast
  The secondary cast was a strength - not only because I got to spend time with some of the other Tempest couples but I also got to know Miriam's best friend, Mike. Mike is well developed and added complexity and depth to Miriam as well as the story. Mankin also skillfully tied in people and plot lines from earlier stories.

Scandalous Beat delivered characters that are genuine, a compelling story, and the full range of emotions as well as some smoking smexy scenes. It was the perfect way to "crown" this series.

Release Day Review ~ Tempting Tempo ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin)

Tempting Tempo by Michelle Mankin
Tempest #5
Release Date: October 13, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle but I beta read as well
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
HE SEES HER IN A WAY SHE COULD NEVER SEE HERSELF.
SHE HAS NEVER FELT MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WHEN SHE WAS IN HIS ARMS.
Sager Reed, the strong and silent bassist of the rock band Tempest, is well acquainted with loss. The thoughtful artist's own tattoos only hint at his turbulent youth. He buries his guilt about it deeply within his troubled heart.
Melinda T. Belle, the daughter of a dysfunctional rock legend, as a rule avoids emotional entanglement. In fact, she has turned her back on nearly everyone and everything she has ever known. Now she is alone, trying desperately to find fulfillment in the one dream she has left, competitive skiing.
CAN SAGER OVERCOME HIS DARK PAST AND FINALLY BELIEVE THAT HE IS WORTHY OF HER LOVE?
WILL MELINDA REALIZE TOO LATE THAT HE IS THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS?

**PSA - The first FOUR books in The Tempest Series (Irresistible Refrain, Enticing Interlude, Captivating Bridge, and Relentless Rhythm) are currently only 99 cents each!! You're welcome!**

Also, because I love y'all and Tempting Tempo is an incredible story that works as a standalone (although I *highly* recommend you read the whole series) I'll gift a copy to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment to be entered. I'll use random.org to pick the winner.

Now, here's my review. ;)

It's been awhile since I spent time with the Tempting Men of Tempest and I must say I relished being back with them. Oh, a few of them made me want to smack 'em for their behavior but that seems standard when spending any time with these bad...er reformed bad boys of rock. Of course, for most of them their behavior significantly changed - for the better - as they've settled down with women who captured their hearts.

In Tempting Tempo, it's Sager's turn. Sager, serious Sager...who's so into Melinda aka Blue that he jumps at the second chance he's given with her. These two get first got cozy in Relentless Rhythm, the previous installment. But betrayal, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings put distance between them. With Tempest reconvening in Vancouver and Sager and Blue bumping into one another, the connection as well as the sparks rekindle.

As per usual in a Tempest novel, Mankin takes on a social issue. This time she targets anorexia. Blue, having grown up in a less than loving home, has a skewed body image. Being a ski cross competitor doesn't help as she feels a lower weight would likely aid her on the course. And then there's her impulsiveness when it comes to making decisions, which generally leads to poor ones. Essentially, Blue feels the only thing she can control is her food intake. Sager sees more though. He sees all her flaws and still seems to love her. A love she finds it difficult to trust.

Sager, naturally, has had his own share of hard times. Growing up in Southside with an abusive dad and drug dealing older brother led to no good. Luckily he found a family with King. That enabled him to get a handle on his anger. Music and art became his outlets but he never believed he'd find someone to love all parts of him. Til Blue.

Of course, the road to love and happiness is bumpy. And I appreciated how Mankin created the obstacles she threw in their way - particularly the life-altering event Blue experiences that allows her to change her perspective, especially regarding herself. I think these two have a few challenges ahead but can weather them together.

I enjoyed that the other members of Tempest and even Brutal Strength are present in varying degrees - some with integral parts. I liked getting glimpses of what life is like for them now and am extremely eager for King's story. And possibly Mary's as well. Oh, but I delighted in seeing past that woman's icy facade.

Full of emotion, a gripping story, smexy scenes that may fog up your reading glasses, and characters that are engaging and genuine, Tempting Tempo is another gem in the Tempest series.

One of the things I've always appreciated and admired about Mankin's Tempest series is her desire to bring awareness to social issues via the story. In Tempting Tempo, she wields her pen for eating disorders. Mankin's son helped her put together the book trailer and a video interview based on questions the National Eating Disorder Association recently posed to her. They worked together on the project for weeks and when they finished, he told her how proud he was of her for speaking publicly about her personal struggles. Here are the trailer video as well as the interview: