Book Review – Lick by Kylie Scott

Lick
<—- This is the stuff my rock star dreams are made of. WOW, you guys. I just couldn’t get enough, from start to finish this book OWNED me. Now, y’all know I am a HUGE Kylie Scott fan (her zombie apocalypse/steamy romance novels totally do it for me). But this one? The BEST of the bunch so far. 5 stars. I’m sayin’ it now for those who don’t wanna know anymore, and want to get reading.

Here’s the original cover when it was “indie”

I’ll admit, while I was VERY excited to be getting a new rock star book from an author that I already know I love, I simultaneously wondered if she could make a new rock star story stand-out amidst the huge slew of ‘em already out there. I’ve loved some. I’ve left some. But there are lots to choose from. Rock star romance lovers, do yourself a favor. CHOOSE THIS. This is one of those.

And everyone seems to agree:

Maryse’s Book Blog: Good morning everyone! I’m certainly having a good one because I’m currently reading the book of my dreams! Kylie Scott’s latest rock star book is rocking my world, and I’m. In. Love!!! Yes yes, you’ve heard me say it before but I can’t help it. David cannot be denied. This one is intense! Crazy premise sure… (although how lucky is she?!), but these characters feel soooo real! Okay, back to my awesome book! *squeeeee*

Kate: Loved this one!

Linda: I just finished this book. Loved it! Great characters and he is so awesome!!

Lisa: Amarosa Great book!!

Yafit: Loved it!

Kirsten: Loved this one Maryse. David… yum!

Gabriela: Read it twice!! Lol.

Layna: I so want to read this, love me a rockstar

Rachel: I loved this one!

Candie: oooh, looks good!

Lynn: Just started it, guess my Sunday is shot but what a way to go!!

Lisa: This was such a great read!!!

Crystal:  just finished this last night…loved it!!!

Tiffany: Loved Lick!!! Love Kylie Scott!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ohhhhhh I am fuuuuuuuuuuuming!! ROARRRRR! (p.s. I’d say I love when that happens, but I’m still too mad right now…)

Candie: Uh, oh – did the ending bother you?

Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m not finished yet… Thank goodness there’s more.

Lori: I loved this book and can’t wait for the next to come out.

Amber: Loved it!!

Sadie: Can’t wait to read this one!

Michele: I loved it!!!!

Lisa: I loved, loved, loved this book!!!

Helen:  I whole heartedly trust your book recommendations & Maryse if your super excited about this I know I had to buy. So…… What book budget???? Hehehe

Tracie: No cliffy Ashlee!! This book was awesome. I loved it!!!

Leanne: Great one. Read it last week.

Jodi: I really like this one, I read it last week.

Jessica: I’m 70% in and I’m freaking loving it!’

Tasha: Loved this book!!

Kimberly: I LOVED this book- but then I love Kyliie Scott

Maryse’s Book Blog (Paranormal & Urban Fantasy) Ahhhhh wow! That was fantastic! Just what I needed!

Karen: Just “one clicked” it! Just finished a book this morning, that you recommended, and was wondering what to read next. So THANK YOU!!

Maria: loved this book. can’ wait for more….lost last weekend to it…..

Kirsten:  Oh, this sound good!!

Joanna: Wooohoooo!!!!!!!! I have to gloat, because I beta read this one for Kylie. LOVE HER!!!!!!!

Sara: Yup.. a keeper

Jennifer: Just purchased it. I can’t wait to read it!

Georgia: I loved it!!!

Diana: Buy now with one click…this is too easy!!!! Sounds like everyone has it bad for this one…I’m in!!!

So many of you told me how much you loved it when it came out a week or so ago, and I was sure I would too (after all, it’s a rock star book). But I just didn’t get it. Get your enthusiasm. And I LOVE when that happens. When I read your words, I understood them, but I didn’t quite feel the fervor of what you were telling me, ’cause I had to experience it for myself. Many of you were enthusiastic, and while I heard “so good!”, “awesome”, “loved it”, I now realize (considering how I personally took it in as I read it), that it’s even better than that. Words are just words, but reading this, living this, makes all of the difference. I now personally feel your enthusiasm. They’re not just “words” anymore.

Like I said, I knew, ’cause it was Kylie’s book, chances were, I’d be totally into it from her writing style alone (I love her flow, and the care in which she takes to develop her characters). I’ve always found her characters very real, and honest and have rarely found myself distracted or pulled out of the story by something… *weird* that they might say or do. Or some obnoxious event that just doesn’t fit, or that feels forced or contrived, just to get to that angst.

She’s got that character “touch”. Her characters are real people. We slip into their skin perfectly, and we get to live their lives instead of just read about them.

And that angst? It’s there. Oh YES it is. But it always fits, it makes sense, it comes naturally and the reactions and subsequent consequences are nothing short of perfect. Their stories are played out fully and by the time I’ve reached the end, I feel fulfilled. I feel like I got my thrill-ride, and felt every stomach-dip in the process. And I wanna turn right around and ride it again.

You know what I mean? Her stories (especially THIS one) is like one of those smooooooth riding metal roller-coasters with all of the crazy loops and steep drops, that take off at break-neck speed, freak the heck out of you, then make you laugh and shout with glee one second, and takes your stomach out, the next. There are no bumps, or whiplash inducing jolts. Just a free-flying (romance), free-falling (don’t forget that angst) sensation. Exactly what you got on for. And by the end, you come off all loopy and wobbly, but grinning like mad. Kylie Scott writes the smooth-flowing ones. Smooth, yet crazy, roller-coaster stories.

So what’s it about?

It’s outrageous I tell ya!!! Every girl that’s ever had a rock-star crush, this would be the ultimate fantasy.

One morning in Vegas, Evelyn wakes up, severely hungover, blacked-out from the previous night’s escapades, to some longish-haired, tattooed man in her room.

Under normal conditions, he was light years our of my league and (for the sake of my pride) worlds away from my type. I liked clean-cut. Clean-cut was nice. Bad boys were highly overrated.

Totally not her type but gorgeous nonetheless. And he’s attentive. Who is he, and what did she do? What did they do?

He physically recoiled form me. “Let me get this straight, you don’t remember anything?”

“No,” I said swallowing hard.

“What did we do last night?”

“We got f#@king married,” he growled.

And when she looks down at the huge gorgeous rock on her finger, and he finally realizes she doesn’t remember a thing (and is not too happy about her “marriage” to him)… GAH! Heartbreak #1 for me, right there, just by his dejected stance alone. You’ll see why.

“This was a mistake,” he said, echoing my thoughts.

“Oh.”

“What?” His gaze jumped to my face. “You disagree?”

“No,” I said quickly.

“Didn’t think so. Pity it made sense last night, yeah?” He shoved a hand through his hair and made for the door.

“Take care.”

He assures her that his lawyers will take care of it. Wow. He has lawyers?

Who is this guy? She quickly learns (paparazzi are just to happy to help )…

“Ohmygod.” I shoved the sunglasses back up, frowning hard enough to make my head throb.

“Guitarist. He’s the guitarist. That’s where I know him from.”

“Yes. He’s the guitarist for Stage Dive. Well spotted.”

The David Ferris. He’d been on Lauren’s bedroom wall for years.

… and something that should be so simple (annulment) becomes anything but. But that’s where the fun is. And the pain. I LOVED IT!!!

He made a growly noise and suddenly his arms wrapped around me, pulling me in against him. He caught me off guard and I stumbled, my nose bumping into his chest. It hurt. But he smelt good. Clean, male, and good. Familiar. Some part of me remembered being this close to him and it was comforting. Something in my mind said ‘safe’. But I couldn’t remember how or why.

A hand moved restlessly over my back.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “So f#@king sorry.”

Yep, this is one of those. My perfect book. Everything at just the right pace, the right time, the right intensity. The right words. The right kind of honesty (with each other, and especially with themselves). The right kind of jealousy and initial “game-playing” (nothing too silly, or eye-rolling – just how two real people in this kind of situation would react).

My deep emotional connection and my heartache were proof of that. There was NEVER a disconnection from the story. I loved them, every step of the way, even when I was fuming.

Sure, we’ve seen this “Vegas-romance” thing before (or even read it before), but this one stands on it’s own, and it’s now officially one of my favorites. Yep, like I said. One of those. My perfect read.

5 stars.

P.S. No cliffhanger but I can’t WAIT for book #2. Bring it on Kylie (and thank you SO MUCH for sending this review copy my way). You made my Sunday!

Tagged as: 5 stars, bad boys, contemporary romance, Kylie Scott, rock stars, rockstars