NEW ADULT MONDAYS: You Really Got Me (Rock Star Romance #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

You Really Got Me (Rock Star Romance #1), by Erika Kelly
Publish Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: paperback, gifted
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Emmie Valencia has what it takes to be the music industry’s hottest band manager. She just needs to prove it. Determined to discover a killer new band, Emmie is ready to make her move. First stop: Austin, Texas.

As a sizzling-hot lead singer, Slater Vaughn has no trouble raising heart rates—but his band’s been flat-lining for years. When Emmie, his bandmate’s sister, crashes with them in exchange for some free management, her industry know-how lands them a spot in the biggest music festival in Texas. But it isn’t just her business acumen that catches Slater’s attention. Emmie is sexy and warm, and—for the first time in his life—he wants more.

But as irresistible as Slater is, Emmie is done with musicians. In her experience, a man can’t be a rock star and someone to trust with your heart—but Slater is determined to show her he’s both.

By now you all know how much I love the rock star romances. So, based on the name of this series, it was pretty much a no-brainer. Of course I had to read it. As it turns out, it had a bit of a different spin on the typical rocker story, and one that I loved a lot. 

Emmie is trying to break into the music promotion business, but her boss won't give her a job more important than picking up his dry cleaning. In defiance, Emmie takes a leave of absence and goes to hang out with her brother Derek and his band. Her goal is to discover a new band as a way to prove herself to her boss. But, the lead singer proves to be quite a distraction - just the kind she needs to avoid. Emmie has learned the hard way that musicians are bad news and nothing but heartbreak. And now Slater is determined to prove her wrong. 

I really liked this one! I LOVED seeing the other side of the music business, at the same time getting to see the hot rockers who make the magic. As a marketing person, I found this fascinating. It's not a side I've ever seen before in a book, and it was a fantastic new way of looking at the music business. So often, it's only seen from the fame side. These rocker stories are usually a member of the band hooking up with a nobody, and that's not the case here. Emmie isn't a nobody. She knows the music business, perhaps better than the band members, and we see them come to defer to Emmie in most things as she proves herself to them.

Slater was awesome, as were most of the other members of the band - especially Derek. I liked how the band members interacted. Slater is the newest member of the band, and is still somewhat on the outside of the inner circle. He's all about the music. Derek, Emmie's brother, is the band's business manager and is the most serious about their success.

This band - Snatch - is still trying to hit it big while playing in bars. As Emmie works her contacts, trying to get the band into bigger venues and in front of the right people, she and Slater become unlikely friends. There's a definite attraction there, but both of them refuse to take it anywhere, but for very different reasons. Emmie was hurt by a man in the business, and she refuses to open herself up to that again. Slater doesn't want to create tension in the band by messing around with Derek's sister. And, so, for awhile, they do this infuriating, chemistry-charged dance.

There comes a time, though, where Slater realizes that resistance is futile, and he goes balls to the wall to earn Emmie's affection. Sure enough, he does, but she refuses to allow their chemistry to become anything real. Their time together is finite, and she chooses to not take their relationship past that expiration date. And that made me CRAZY. She constantly brings up, in her own mind, all the reasons why she can't be with Slater. And they're just so stupid! I'm sure to her, they are completely valid. That other douchebag made her look like a naive idiot, and that had to sting something fierce. But, she was so blinded by her own pain, that she couldn't see the difference between the two men. 

You Really Got Me was an awesome rock star book with an interesting look into a new side of the music business. Put together with a great band, my favorite dual POV, and some super sexy times, I'd have to say this was a great start to a new series. I can't wait to read more!