Under the Spotlight by Angie Stanton | Book Review

Under the Spotlight by Angie Stanton
The Jamieson Collection #3
First Published: 2015
Kindle
Young Adult, Romance
Rating:

Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han, this third book in the Jamieson Brothers trilogy will have readers wanting to fall in love with a rock star.
After an embarrassing stint on a reality TV music competition years ago, Riley Parks vowed never to sing again. Now she's working at the prestigious Sound Sync recording studio, and life is looking up. But then Garrett Jamieson, the oldest brother in the famous Jamieson brothers band, crashes into her world.
Garrett has hit rock bottom, and after calling in a few favors, he ends up working at the Sound Sync studio to learn the ropes of record producing. And he can't believe his luck when he discovers that Riley is an amazing singer. But Garrett is forced to use every trick in his arsenal to persuade Riley to record.
Sparks fly as Garrett finally meets his match. But in the heat of the moment, one stolen kiss changes everything.

Under the Spotlight is probably my favorite of this trilogy. I've been waiting for this story for over a year, always curious to see how Stanton will tackle Garrett falling in love.

Who's Garrett? Don't tell me you don't know who Effin' Garrett Jamieson is. From the band? Those boys that rocked the hearts of girls everywhere until they broke said heart by breaking up? Yes, those Jamiesons. Garrett is the oldest of the bunch... and a massive jerk. He was a jerk in Rock and a Hard Place, he was a jerk in Snapshot and he's a jerk here.

And in all honesty? I absolutely loved that. I loved the Stanton wasn't afraid to keep Garrett the character she made him in books 1 & 2 instead of backtracking and trying to change him so he'll be more likable, like some authors do.

Instead, she let us see, by keeping him a consistent jerk, that he was completely unaware of what a douche he is. That, in turn, helped make him kind of lovable. Because you could tell this controlling, crossing-the-boundaries attitude was his personality and he wasn't trying to be a jerk. And once pointed in the right direction, he was willing (after a while), to make some changes. Granted, Riley has her work set out for her, but Garrett is not un-redeemable by a long shot.

Speaking of Riley, I liked her. I liked her attitude and her spunk, I liked that she wasn't willing to let life beat her down, I liked that once she made her mind about something it was set. I liked that she didn't take Garrett's bullshit and called him out on it. Most of all, I liked that she took care of her family... though I wish she threw her good-for-nothing-mom to the curve.

They made a good couple because of how they balanced each other. Garrett pushed Riley for better, believed in her where she didn't believe in herself, and Riley took Garrett down a notch, correcting his behavior and helping him see being a control freak is not cute at all.

My only complaint is that I felt the angst, such as it was, was unnecessary.

As for things I wished we got to see? At the top of my list is interactions between Garrett and Riley's siblings. I think that could've been fantastic, and maybe we could see a fatherly side to Garrett with the younger children. I think it would've been something good for Garrett and the Parks.

DNF Review: Blind Attraction by Eden Summers

Blind Attraction by Eden Summers

Reckless Beat #1
First Published: 2013
Free Kindle Version
Adult, Romance
Rating: DNF

He can seduce with a single glance.

Peering down at a sea of fans, rock star, Mitchell Davies can’t deny the innocent beauty of a woman in the front row. He’ll stop at nothing to get to know her. When a public altercation leaves her weak and defenseless, he takes the opportunity to be her savior.
She’s been sheltered from the world.

Alana Shelton wants to spread her wings and experience life away from her restrictive upbringing. But she isn’t prepared for a gorgeous stranger to sweep her off her feet while at her most vulnerable.

Attraction will bring them together, but their pasts will try to tear them apart.

He wants to teach her how to trust, but she’ll show him how to love. In a glamorous world of rock-and-roll, only time will tell if they’re up for the challenge.

DNF at 66%

Blind Attraction started interesting enough. I liked the idea of a truly sheltered girl, who lived in a house for abused women which her mother runs. That's some interesting back story there. But I was also immediately wary because of the instant connection the two share in one of his concerts. 

I carried on, and at first it was alright, but then... I just kind of got tired of the never-ending sex scenes, especially when they were repeatedly done with other people hearing/seeing them. Like, sure, this could be fun but it came across as kind of tacky and seriously, can no one get a semblance of privacy in this book?

I skimmed every sex scene after the first one.

Admittedly, this might have been as much my mood as anything else but I wanted plot. I wanted them falling in love. I wanted them talking. Less physical stuff and more meaningful stuff. 

But it really lost me when Mitch decided to back off to give Alana a... better shot at life? To make the hard decision so she won't have to? Dude, let her decide what she wants to do with her life and for god's sake, what's so bad about you aside for the being away part? And, frankly, I don't think a photographer would mind traveling all over the world with the band.

Of course, Mitch has no idea she's a photographer because they've known each other a total of two days, which consisted mostly of sex and him physically helping her due to her blindness.

So, yeah.

Ultimately, I've read so many better rock-star romances that I decided to just drop this one, even though I've read (or skimmed) more than half of it.

DNF Review: Rock My Bed by Michelle A. Valentine | Why I Couldn't Get Past The First Few Pages

Rock My Bed by Michelle A. Valentine

Black Falcon #1
First Published: 2013
Free Kindle Version
Adult, Romance
Rating: DNF

Everything always seems to fall into place for twenty-four year-old Aubrey Jenson, except for when it comes to her luck with men. Bad boys always draw her in and crush her heart, and Black Falcon’s lead guitarist, Riff, is no exception. After sharing a few wild nights together, she leaves him behind, knowing a guy like Riff isn’t the relationship type, merely just a play thing.
When she returns to New York, she tries to get the passion she felt in Riff’s arms out of her head by dating Isaac, a successful representative at Center Stage Marketing. Just when she thinks she’s forgotten Riff, she’s forced to see him again when her best friend, Lanie, ropes her into being a bridesmaid for her upcoming wedding to Black Falcon front man, Noel.

Sparks fly instantly between Aubrey and Riff when they’re forced to reunite, and suddenly she finds herself caught between the man that’s good for her and the one who completely rocks her in every way.

Why I Couldn't Get Past the First Few Pages

Warning: Vulgar language will be used in this post, which I don't normally do. Please stop reading if that may bother you.