REVIEW - Pop Star by Eden Finley

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RELEASE BLITZ

POP STAR by Eden Finley

Release Date: April 8, 2020

Cover Design: Cate Ashwood

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Model: Jacob K.

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

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SYNOPSIS

Harley

What happens when the most successful boy band on the planet breaks up?
How about twenty thousand fans screaming my name.
But the price of fame comes with an increased risk to my safety.

I’ve been avoiding the dreaded B word for as long as I can, but after a close call with a rambunctious fan, I can’t do it anymore.

It’s time to give in.
I need to hire a full-time bodyguard.

And when he shows up, he not only screams badass, he’s another B word I try to stay away from: boyfriend material.


Brix

Protecting people is not what my company usually does, but the boss knows I need money, and the pop star is offering an insane amount to live with him and make sure no more crazy fans break into his house.
I’m doing it for the money and nothing else.

He may be the prettiest man I’ve ever seen, and I may feel sorry for the celebrity life he’s been forced into since he was a teenager, but that doesn’t mean anything.

Just because he fascinates me, that doesn’t mean I like him.

It doesn’t.

Professionalism. I’m gonna live it. Breathe it. Enforce it … Mostly.

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Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow, Eden Finley's Pop Star is a delightful bodyguard romance. After meeting Harley in Hat Trick, it's a nice surprise to get his story. That said, you do not need to have read Hat Trick to enjoy this book. 

Harley and Brix capture my attention immediately, quickly working their ways into my heart. Their story is full of humor and sweetness. A combo of rock star, a stalker, bodyguards, and love songs, it's nonstop fun. 

A closeted rocker who's controlled by his record label, Harley's been forced to have a beard, Evah. Their relationship though is wonderful, as they are great friends who love each other. They just don't have any romantic feelings for one another. I can't get enough of their friendship, as it's as strong as it is precious.

And then there's Brix, the ex military man turned bodyguard. He doesn't want this assignment but can't resist the payout involved. What follows are non stop thrills as the reader is treated to Brix becoming a live-in bodyguard who has a secret. 

Together, they make an interesting and strong couple; full of banter, quick wit, and a tension filled attraction. Their story is one of passion and intrigue. And damn, I love that Brix isn't the stereotypical "take charge" man in the bedroom. This is always a fun surprise, and the author executes it perfectly.

The banter between the two men is a riot. My favorite part has to be the rules Harley establishes for Brix, which left me snickering throughout. I could picture the antics as if I was there, and couldn't stop laughing.

Written in first person pov, the writing style and character depth are both stupendous. The author excels in differentiating between Harley's pop star persona and the man behind the facade. His sweet and insecure sides are well written, as he develops into a fabulous multi-layered character. As well, she impresses with the way she gets into the characters heads, giving the reader the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the men are thinking. 

The author does an excellent job delving into some serious topics, including the downsides of fame, the ugly sides of military life, and the unfairness of the American health care system. It's all well done, handled with care and understanding. 

There are a fair share of scary moments and creepy feels, but most of the story is sugary sweet, helping to keep the eeriness and angst factor in check. 

Overall, Pop Star is an intoxicating read. This Eden Finley book satisfies with a great mix of suspense and romance. This is definitely a swoon worthy read. Best of all, there are plenty of new characters introduced that I am hoping to see get their own stories. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eden Finley is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are full of snark and light-hearted fluff.

She doesn't take anything too seriously and lives to create an escape from real life for her readers. The ideas always begin with a wackadoodle premise, and she does her best to turn them into romances with heart.

With a short attention span that rivals her son's, she writes multiple different pairings: MM, MMF, and MF.

She's also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don't make sense to anyone else.

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Halfway to Someday by Layla Dorine

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.

Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.Rocker Jesse Winters just wants to be left alone. If he could melt into oblivion, he would and bid farewell to the wild child of rock n’ roll so many had dubbed him in recent months. Truth is there was never anything reckless, wild, or even deliberate about most of the things that had happened on Wild Child’s last tour, but had anyone cared to listen? No! Which was precisely why he was sitting in a cabin high up in the Colorado mountains, hoping the incoming blizzard would bury him forever.

Ryker Jorgensen left the VA hospital with a bunch of prescriptions and pamphlets on how to deal with reentering the civilian world, not that he’s in any hurry to do so. His nightmares still keep him up at night, and every new limitation he discovers gives him more reason to believe that he’s hopelessly useless now. Better to drive up to his cousin’s cabin and lick his wounds. Come spring, maybe, he’d look into being around people, if only for long enough to make the kind of money he’d need to buy his own secluded place.

The last thing Ryker ever expected to see was the man whose face had been plastered in his footlocker and his dreams for the better part of the past six years, but Jesse Winters is nothing like he imagined. When trying to leave Ryker out in the storm doesn’t work, Jesse resorts to ignoring him. But two wounded souls trapped in a snowed in cabin have little choice but to reach out for one another when emotions get frayed. His only hope is that Jesse will trust him enough to let him drag him back from the edge before he’s just another burned out star in the legacy that is rock n’ roll.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow, Layla Dorine's Halfway to Someday is a riveting and heavy book.

Jesse and Ryker are two men who are both broken; two men who find themselves escaping and hiding out in a cabin they have to share. They're well developed, blowing me away with their complexity. 

Jesse, with his history of self harm, is struggling with something secret.

His issues are emotional to the point of tears, as he's full of fear and pain, lacking in self esteem. This quote sums him up well. "I just wanted someone to love me!"

Ryker, meanwhile, is drowning in pain and suffering. He's blocked by his past, unable to move forward. His PTSD is written in a powerful manner, complete with the pain of nightmares and flashbacks. 

I seriously love these two and their amazing character growth, as these two men help to free one another from their pain and fear. They are full of longing and misery, both of which clearly jump off the pages.

The author entwines the aftermath of abuse with the aftermath of losing one's friends in a military tragedy. It's impressive and effective as she excels with important issues such as PTSD and self harm. 

This is a story that mixes forced proximity, a stalker, and danger. It's a combination of serious mental issues, danger, and attraction. It's multi-layered and complex, deep and accomplished. And if you enjoy stories about trust issues, this one has it in spades. 

Halfway to Someday is so much more than I could have ever anticipated. Layla Dorine impresses in this tale of moving on from one's demons and embracing a better future. It's raw, real, and emotional, leaving me unable to put down this emotionally driven story. 

Take note, if self harm, PTSD, or panic attacks are a trigger to you, avoid this one. 

Blaze (Homecoming Hearts Book 5) by HJ Welch

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Blurb

International pop sensation Reyse Hickson has it all. Or so it seems. Thanks to his homophobic label, he never expects to find love. But when he’s saved from a mugging by a gorgeous stranger, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Reyse can’t help but fall into his savior’s arms…and his bed.

Corey Sheppard is nobody’s hero. He got himself out of the foster system and stands on his own two feet. He could never be anyone’s closeted lover. But there’s so much more to Reyse Hickson than the world sees. Corey just can’t stay away.

When Reyse’s dad suffers a stroke, Reyse insists on going home. In desperate need of a friend, he asks Corey to join him. A short time together is better than none. With Reyse’s lifestyle, they know it’s the best they can manage.

But for the first time in his life, Corey finds a family with Reyse. And Reyse doesn’t think he can hide how feels for Corey, even though his label threatens to drop him if he ever comes out. Can Reyse and Corey walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to either of them? Or is this love worth going down in a blaze of glory?

Blaze is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Once again, HJ Welch manages to captivate me immediately with Blaze, the fifth book in the Homecoming Hearts series.

I'm always excited for a new to me rocker romance, and this one was definitely fun and exciting, with the perfect amount of angst.

Seeing Corey for the first time literally takes Reyse's breath away, and he's instantly fascinated by this beautiful man. What starts as one night leads to more, as these men are clearly perfect for each other.

It is beautiful and tender when they first hook up. As strangers, they realize they can't have a relationship, but they take measures to appreciate the moment to it's fullest and to take advantage of their time together. It is honestly a wonderfully emotional moment.

One of the fantastic things about this book is the way the loneliness of being famous, and the control that managers have over your decisions are both handled.
  
Blaze is an amazing rocker romance that is perfectly written. I will definitely be reading this fun one by HJ Welch again.