Book Review – Rock Bottom by R.K. Lilley

Rock Bottom (Tristan & Danika #2)
SPOILER ALERT!!! Well not really spoilers, ’cause even I don’t know how this is going to end yet, but I do explore some of the drama in this book, and if you haven’t read #1 yet (my book review of Bad Things by R.K. Lilley (Tristan & Danika #1)), you have enough drama there to contend with,  first. LOL!!

Just know I am LOVING this angsty rock-star series, and if you love the “old school” New Adult indie-feel reads from a year or two year ago, this’ll be right up your alley!

ANGST ALERT!!! Crazy, train-wrecky “OMG-what’s-gonna-happen next?!” ANGST ALERT!!! Yes, y’all called it, were spot on with this one. Book #1 was a whole lot gentler on me then this one, and I found it to be quite tumultuous indeed. It was an interesting mix (FEEL-wise) of Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless. Intense connection, ONLY friends (despite feeling so much more), and an inevitable romantic relationship laden with jealousy and trust issues, and over-the-top reactions. They were absolutely GORGEOUS together. And at times, totally insane.

Losing themselves to each other, and delighting in their complete abandonment (even though deep down, the fear of a looming “end” haunted them). I absolutely loved how much the author indulged us in their budding romance, and indulged us in some of those crazy “can’t live without you” thoughts that propelled them to act on primal instinct, consequences be damned. I “got” them (I FELT them), even though they were making themselves pretty much… sick over each other.

“I love you,” I spoke softly into his ear.

He gripped me harder. “I can’t ever lose you, Danika. I’m not sure I’d survive it.”

“You’ve got me. And I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.”

I meant the words when I said them, but life had other plans for us.

I was, by nature, a fighter, and no one could say I didn’t fight for us.

I’d have given my life for that fight.

In fact, I nearly did.

Oh yes… now that I’ve finished the book, I know this is true.

But this one? This is them… sick. Still so completely wrapped up in each other, wholeheartedly in love, and getting sicker by the minute as their dreams, their happiness, their soul-mate connection (the only thing seemingly worth living for) plummets into a downward spiral.

Thank goodness I at least had a support system! Look at how awesome this reading crew is:

Maryse: Rock Bottom update… At ***% and my stomach is churning. I’m not feeling good about this at all. Not. At. All.

Lara: Gutted me ! Just be happy you don’t have to wait for lovely trigger. The series just fab

Sarah: For a good reason.

Rori: It’s rough but worth it!

Catherine: Maryse, We’re with you chick. I wish there was a dislike button for this. OH – and I HATE you know who at that part!!!

Lindsey: One of my most favorite series ever…along with Driven and a handful of others!

Mackenz: My heart aches and my eyes burn just thinking about that book. You always read in books “emptying your stomach”…I wanted to that while reading it. Loved it but I still ache from it.

Wendy: Yep, yep *nodding head*…definitely remember feeling that way too. Hang in there Maryse!! Sending hugs!!

Tee: Just trudge through!!! This series is so worth all the stomach turning feelings n def 1 of my top FAVE series everrrrrrr.

Lisa: And it gets better. Just you wait!!

Anjee: best series this year!

Cody: Hang in there!!! What a ride that book is!

Linda: I want to go back and read the series all over again but my heart can’t do it so soon. Brilliant series.

Margo: I finished Bad Things last night.It was great! Kinda scared to start this one now.

Becky: About to start bad things!!! All these comments made me abandon the series I was reading to start this 1!!!

Melissa: I finished it last night and WOW!!!

Paula: 49% in and now I am scared to continue!

Erin: Oh no. Maryse im nervous.

Maryse’s Book Blog: It’s SO fun to be nervous while reading! But I’m going to say… there were no tears for me. Ohhhhhh I FELT it. Yes. I. Did. But my fury rode the wave to the very end with me… I was cold, and livid. And I loved it!

Yep… a disaster. And then some.

‘Cause… try being “normal-in-love” when you’re both so jealous. Possessive. Codependent. An enabler… and enabled. Try being all that, while dealing with the whole “dating a rock star” thing.

I was about to lose him. The thought was swift and hard to shake. But something was happening here, some big move for the band that was bound to take him away from me, be it in time or distance.

Not GOOD. Groupies, Resentful band members…

Maryse: Funny… Well not funny at all, (grrrrrrrrrrrr!!) but I made a note about “****” in Rock Bottom and I wrote: “He’s evil.” But my autocorrect changed it to: “He’s devil.” Good enough. 

Kandace: This is my next series. Can’t wait. I haven’t seen you this excited for a series in years.

Maryse: This one’s good, Kandace! Right where I need it to be… I will absolutely be finishing this series his weekend.

Amy: You sold me! I just started Rock Bottom after finishing Bad Things in 24 hours.

Linda: Oh Maryse there’s sooo much more regarding evil/devil ****.

Val: ****. I haven’t had anyone make me so angry in a book. You will hate him so much more.

Argie: Most hated character of all books

Emmy: Thats about right

Wendy: 100% AGREED!!! ****=evil!

Aimee: That too!!!!

Melanie: Didn’t your gut churn every time **** had a scene. Ugh

… the recording “industry”, the late nights, the parties… the drugs and the alcohol. And the constant distance. The promises of time together… and the broken dates. The missed phone calls. The missed texts. You get the picture.

‘Cause now Tristan and his band are in LA recording, and Danika is trying to hold her own (and hold them together) while Tristan follows his dreams. It’s only for a few weeks, right? *shakes head*

Cue the drama, ’cause OH BOY does it come fast and furious. And despite all of it’s “over-the-top-ness” (after all, it is super-angsty romance-fiction), I could see it happening. Mind you, some characters were just pure… EVIL (so I couldn’t necessarily relate to actual human beings acting that way), but overall? As things progressed, I was right there with it. With THEM.

Maryse: Annnnnd done. Whoa. I have no idea how you guys managed the wait for the conclusion. I’ll be taking an short break and moving right on to it next. YAY ME. <—although I’m too devastated right now to say that with my usual enthusiasm.

Jessica: his series is PERFECTION because that momentum continues from the first word of the first book to the last word of the last. There’s no weak installment, it never falls flat. It’s EVERYTHING!

Polly: Told you! lol

Maryse: Yah you did, Polly!!!! 😀

Melissa: So…..is it a good devastation or bad?

Maryse: Eeeeeeep!!! Pretty bad, but I love that. 😉 So the answer would be… good? LOL!

Vicki: Devastated is definitely what I am feeling too! My heart is hurting so bad after finishing book 2. Very sad….

Jolene: Such an awesome series!! Rock bottom devastated me too.

Wendy: Yep, Rock Bottom=total devastation!

Erin: I am starting it tonight. I am hooked to them!!

Catherine: Still reeling four months later!

Anjee: Congrats now for Lovely Trigger 🙂 !

Tarin: That booked ripped my heart out!!!! I need it mended ASAP, speeding through Lovely Trigger and CAN’T put it down!

Kari: Loved these books. Cant wait to start #3. Effing ****!!

Melanie: Did you love it Maryse?? The 3rd book is done so perfectly, you’ll love how she brings it at together.

Sadie: I’m only 10% into rock bottom but I’m already enjoying! It has been a while since I’ve read a steamy angst fest that I can already tell this will be Bring it on.

Maryse: Sadie… I like your style. 😛

My only real issue as I was reading this? Sometimes chunks of time would go by, (weeks… even months that she would summarize for us), and I would find myself wishing I was living those moments with her then, too. The realization that they could potentially lose each other… AS it was happening. Of course, we DO get plenty of it. Oh yes. It all come out in the wash. Or sets in. :/ So I got over myself soon enough wen I realized I was experiencing enough angst and “detail”… that those times we were “rushed through” were not really lost, in the grand scheme of the reader-experience.

Now the question remains… is love enough? And I shall soon find out, ’cause yes. This series has me, and I MUST read book #3 (Lovely Trigger) ASAP!!!! YAY ME ’cause it was JUST released, and BOY do I need the relief.

4.5 stars!!!

P.S. Wanna see my notes? Tee hee!!!

MARYSE NOTE: Oh WOW! THIS!!!

MARYSE NOTE: Oh noooo. Oh no no no noooooo… I know.

MARYSE NOTE: What the f$%k!!!! <— side note: er… sometimes I think bad words!! LOL! I actually spelled it out and all!! Didn’t even try to censor myself. *smirk*

MARYSE NOTE: Love this! <— Sidenote to my fellow readers – ’cause I dunno… this part needs to be detailed: Tristan beat up a bad guy, and was arrested. Now, Tristan is HUGE and I mean H-U-G-E in size (get your mind out of the gutter!! 😉 I meant height and body size) *swooooon* and the cops taser him BIG time, and while in the cop car (arrested): 

I smiled at him. I could tell that he thought I was a crazy f%&ker. I was shirtless, covered in blood, coming off a stun-gun ass kicking, and grinning like a fool.

I’d think I was crazy, too.

“That stun-gun did a hell of a lot less damage than you did to that other guy.”

“Not my fault he only knows hot to beat up women. Probably the first time he’s fought someone  his own size.

“You are no-f#$king-body’s size, man.”

He had a point. <— tee hee!!!! I love Tristan. LOVE!!!!!! Although wait. ROAR!!!!!

MARYSE NOTE: I love him.

MARYSE NOTE: Love him. Just soooooo much.

MARYSE NOTE: LOL!! Love these characters. <— side note: HILARIOUS scene between two girls in the backseat of Danika’s car… Danika’s reactions were PRICELESS!!!!! Love her!!!

MARYSE NOTE: Ruh Roh. Her sister is *spoiler*

MARYSE NOTE: Oh no. Noooooooo I bet he’ll be *spoiler*

MARYSE NOTE: Why would she trust ******** ???!!!!!! WHAT!???

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more R.K. Lilley features and reviews on my blog. 😀

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀