• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

  • HOME
  • MY REVIEWS
    • ALL MY REVIEWS (ALPHABETICAL BY AUTHOR)
    • 5 Star Reviews
    • 4.5 Star Reviews
    • 4 Star Reviews
    • FAVORITES LISTS
    • Recommendations
    • MY TOP 10 FOR 2020
    • MY TOP 15 FOR 2019
    • MY TOP 15 FOR 2018
    • MY TOP 25 FOR 2017
    • MY TOP 25 FOR 2016
    • MY TOP 10 FOR 2015
    • MY TOP 25 FOR 2014
    • My Top 25 for 2013
    • My Top 25 for 2012
    • My Top 25 for 2011
  • FAVORITES LISTS
  • BOOK RELEASES
  • READING ORDERS
  • IN THE MOOD FOR
    • THE ENTIRE “PICK YOUR MOOD” LIST
    • AGE GAP ROMANCE
    • A SHORT STORY
    • A SLOW BURN
    • AUDIOBOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • BAD GUYS & ANTIHEROES
    • BIKER ROMANCE
    • BILLIONAIRES
    • A BROKEN HERO
    • BOSSY BULLIES
    • BROODING HEROES
    • BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND ROMANCE
    • COMEDY ROMANCE
    • CHRISTMAS ROMANCE
    • DARK READS
    • DYSTOPIAN
    • FALLING FOR A NERD
    • FANTASY ROMANCE
    • FIGHTERS – PRO & UNDERGROUND
    • FORBIDDEN LOVE
    • FRIENDS TO LOVERS
    • HISTORICAL ROMANCE
    • HORROR
    • IN LOVE W/ A CELEBRITY
    • IN LOVE W/ A DOCTOR
    • INFIDELITY
    • INTERRACIAL ROMANCE
    • JAW-DROPPING TWISTS
    • LOVE AFTER LOSS ROMANCE
    • MAFIA ROMANCE
    • MARITAL STRIFE
    • MEN IN UNIFORM
    • M/M ROMANCE
    • OFFICE ROMANCE
    • OLDER MAN/YOUNGER WOMAN
    • OLDER MAIN CHARACTERS
    • OLDER WOMAN/YOUNGER MAN
    • PARANORMAL ROMANCE
    • PERSONAL GROWTH & SURVIVAL
    • POST-APOCALYPTIC
    • PSYCH-THRILLERS
    • RECLUSIVE HEROES
    • REVERSE HAREM
    • SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
    • SINGLE DADS
    • SHELTERED HEROINES
    • STALKERS & OBSESSIVE LOVE
    • STRANDED & SURVIVAL
    • SUPER-ANGST
    • SUPER-HOT EROTICA
    • TEARJERKERS
    • UNCONVENTIONAL LOVE
    • UNREQUITED LOVE
  • EXTRAS
    • BOOK DEALS
    • HOW DO I FIND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR?
    • READER RECOMMENDATIONS
    • READER QUESTIONS
    • READER CONFESSIONS
    • WHERE DID THIS AUTHOR GO?
    • AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
    • BOOK & AUTHOR NEWS
    • MARYSE’S SURPRISE FROM HER FAVORITE BOOK BOYFRIEND’S
    • BOOK SIGNINGS
    • MY TBR LISTS
    • EDITORIALS
    • MOVIE REVIEWS
    • PRODUCT REVIEWS
      • MAKEUP & SKIN CARE REVIEWS
  • EMAIL
    • EMAIL ME :)
    • ABOUT ME
    • MARYSE’S FAQ
    • REVIEW REQUESTS
    • JOIN MY NEWSLETTER
      • MY NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
    • MY RSS FEED
      • JOIN MY RSS FEED
You are here: Home / My Book Reviews / Bad Boys & Rock Stars / Book Review – Gateway To Heaven by Beth Kery

Book Review – Gateway To Heaven by Beth Kery

January 6, 2012 By Maryse 3 Comments

Gateway to Heaven
A rock star book. Of course, all I needed to see was that. The premise was good enough for me (albeit, similar to many I’ve read). Hugely famous rock star comes back to home town for an event, and falls for sweet, innocent beauty. Good enough for me! I was in. And of course, what hooked me was that she didn’t have a clue who he was. I always love those reveals. Except, that this one didn’t unconditionally hold my attention. I don’t know why. It had everything it needed. A roguish rock star with a bad reputation, tempting the virginal angel of the town, ticking off her family in the process. Him, pouting over her refusal, her insecurities in regards to his intentions. His past that comes back to haunt her… her past that absolutely halts his wolfish behavior. Oh and there’s steamy stuff, too!

Sounds good right? And it was. It was. It was certainly good enough to finish. I got a few shivers, slightly swooned here and there, but there was just something about this one, leaving me reading about them, instead of becoming them. You’ve heard me say that many times before, but that is how I know how much I am loving the book. How invested I become in the story, how emotionally connected and how badly I let them affect me. Me saying things like “How DARE he!!” while I sniffle and preempt potential tears by obsessively wiping them. Me… feeling that gut-punch when he does and says something hurtful. Gaping with shock. Getting that lump in my throat. And me, swooning to the point I’ve got to re-read a part a few more times before moving on, because I just want to live in that moment a bit longer.

And then there are books where I say things like “Ah, here we go, the misunderstanding.” Or “See, he shouldn’t have said that, now she’s gonna think…” or “Wow, that was an overreaction…” And that’s when I know I’m separate from the book. From the characters. And that was the case, here.

So here’s the premise:

Christian and Megan are from a small town. He’s the bad-boy that left to become a famous rock star (grammy award winning and all that). She’s an artist and a school teacher that regularly attends and helps out with her local Catholic church. Christian comes back into town for a music festival that his band is headlining, and as he’s visiting with his childhood priest, he sees her, caring for a child. His world pretty much begins to center on her. She’s shy and beautiful and he can tell by the way she is looking at him that she’s interested.

His flirting begins (like I said, he has a sort of wolfish demeanor to him. Just what I like in a “bad-boy” rock star”), and while she fears him somewhat, her attraction denies her self-preservation, and she lets him in. To a point.

“You don’t have to look so guilty, Megan. It was only a kiss.”

Her eyes flew to his. Only a kiss? Is that what it had been to him? Her quick examination of him left her in little doubt of it. He seemed relaxed, content… maybe even a little cocky as he leaned there in the entry way of her kitchen. His assured attitude hardly seemed fair, considering the fact that she herself felt like she’d just woken up into a different world than the one she had occupied for her entire life until the moment she had experienced the power of his kiss… and his touch.

He gets huffy easily, when she resists going too far, until he finds out about her past. And while she struggles with her overprotective family, and tries to show them who she really is, she realizes that Christian has now become a part of that struggle.

“You obviously don’t know anything about Megan. She doesn’t drink excessively. She doesn’t like blues music, and she certainly doesn’t like the kind of music you play.”

Christian’s expression hardened. ” I would think Megan is fully capable of deciding what she does and doesn’t like.”

Oh, and then there’s the reveal when she finds out just what kind of an artist he is… *shrug* It was good, but I almost missed it. Somehow along the way (an event at a bar) I thought she had already figured it out. Something must have been lost in translation in the book, because the part that should have had me excited, and on the edge of my seat (his reveal) had me confused, instead. I was surprised with her reaction and that’s when I realized, “Oh? She doesn’t know it yet? How did I miss that?”. Darn!

So I’ll leave it there. It’s an easy read, and fine for the price and the length of it. And you know what? That just might have been the problem. Seeing that the book was only 171 pages, I now think the reason I didn’t connect was simply that a there was not enough to connect to. The author did well considering the length of the book, but I think it also shortchanged her characters. Considering their circumstances and their personalities, I wonder if I might have completely connected had it slowed down just a bit, and had I been allowed to completely indulge in them. His rock star ways, his persona, his fame. Their private moments, their misunderstandings, their time together, and apart. More of the emotion.

3 stars

Filed Under: Bad Boys & Rock Stars Tagged With: 3 stars, contemporary romance, rock stars

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
3 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lezanda Genis
Lezanda Genis
9 years ago

I am ashamed to admit that I did not finish this book. I got to about 60% then chucked it.

Reply
Maryse
Maryse
Maryse's Book Blog
9 years ago

There just… wasn’t enough. I was curious enough to keep going, but… there you go. *shrug*

hee hee!

Reply
Victoria
Victoria
9 years ago

So, you wouldn’t recommend this book? I’m going through Fifty withdrawals and I need to find an outlet. I need another bad boy to read about but I’m a cheap and broke college student unwilling to pay $2.99 for something that you weren’t quite taken with.

Reply

Primary Sidebar

My Facebook Page

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Maryse's Book Blog
4 hours ago
Maryse's Book Blog

Looking for something to read?

What about these (in the first comment):
... See MoreSee Less

View Comments
  • Likes: 1
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 4

Comment on Facebook

In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn...you will throw your book/kindle and cry at times, but it was so so good.

I cannot see the first comment

Maryse's Book Blog first comment isn’t showing!

Maryse's Book Blog
6 hours ago
Maryse's Book Blog

AGE GAP ALERT!! CHELSEA RECOMMENDS THIS ONE!

Chelsea: Just finished a book that I really liked and thought I would recommend it to you. Beautiful Monster by Sara Cate. It is an age gap, angsty romance. Super hot!!!

#AmazonAffiliate #CommissionsEarned #bookrelease #agegapromance

AMAZON US: amzn.to/2NYlMYc
AMAZON CA: amzn.to/38aFCWH
AMAZON UK: amzn.to/2PEsi6M
AMAZON DE: amzn.to/3qgsRjT
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Beautiful Monster: a standalone age-gap romance (Beautiful Series)

amzn.to

Beautiful Monster: a standalone age-gap romance (Beautiful Series)
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Maryse's Book Blog
6 hours ago
Maryse's Book Blog

READER QUESTION SOLVED!! This was the question: The book about the Hero who is married but is in love with her younger sister…

(P.S. I posted the actual reader question post, in the first comment:)

#AmazonAffiliate #CommissionsEarned #readerquestionsolved

...and THIS is the answer.

AMAZON US: amzn.to/3e9QWX7
AMAZON CA: amzn.to/3sSxYrZ
AMAZON UK: amzn.to/3ea2QQR
AMAZON DE: amzn.to/2PuQNTK
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

VLAD (The V Games Book 1)

amzn.to

VLAD (The V Games Book 1)
View Comments
  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 3

Comment on Facebook

Looks good!!! Grabbed them

Lynn H Kelsey Esposito

Maryse's Book Blog
6 hours ago
Maryse's Book Blog

READER QUESTION SOLVED!! This was the question: The series where he buys her a bed and throws away her old one and she’s livid!

(P.S. I posted the actual reader question post, in the first comment:)

...and THIS is the answer.

#amazonaffiliate #CommissionsEarned #readerquestionsolved

AMAZON US: amzn.to/3sU7iHr
AMAZON CA: amzn.to/2O79ZGL
AMAZON UK: amzn.to/3uVOJV3
AMAZON DE: amzn.to/3rpoYKH
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Now Or Never (Irresistible)

amzn.to

Now Or Never (Irresistible)
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

www.maryse.net/reader-questions/reader-question-the-series-where-he-buys-her-a-bed-and-throws-awa...

Maryse's Book Blog
10 hours ago
Maryse's Book Blog

Does anyone have a guess for this one?

Reader Question – The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her…

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Reader Question - The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her... - Maryse's Book Blog

www.maryse.net

Reader Question – The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her…March 5, 2021 By Maryse Leave a CommentKrista needs our book help! Ahhhhh I love the sound of this. A secret crush, and he goes out of his way to just catch a glimpse and OMG MY HEART!!!Sh...
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Load more

About Me

Reading is my favorite! I love blogging about books, reviewing them, making "favorites lists" & reading order guides, & hearing your own 5-star recommendations to add to my TBR list! I love our virtual book club! 😀  [more about me]

Recent Posts

  • Reader Question – The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her…
  • Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 03-05-2021
  • Reader Question – The book about the CEO & the single mom that meet in a cafe and she needs a job…
  • Reader Question… Solved! The reverse harem book about the online tutor that didn’t realize “he” was actually three different guys…
  • Reader Question… Solved! The series where he buys her a bed and throws away her old one and she’s livid!

QUICK LINKS:

➔ Book & Author News
➔ Latest Book Releases
➔ Maryse’s Book Blog FAQ
➔ Upcoming Book Releases
➔ My 5-Star Favorites
➔ My 4.5-Star Favorites
➔ My 4-Star Favorites
➔ All My Reviews
➔ Book Recommendations
➔ Reader Questions
➔ Reader Confessions
➔ Author Interviews & Tidbits

➔ Makeup & Skincare Chat
➔ Our Recipes & Kitchen Tools

BEST OF THE YEAR:

➔ My Best Books of 2020
➔ My Best Books of 2019
➔ My Best Books of 2018
➔ My Best Books of 2017
➔ My Best Books of 2016
➔ My Best Books of 2015
➔ My Best Books of 2014
➔ My Best Books of 2013
➔ My Best Books of 2012
➔ My Best Books of 2011

READER RECOMMENDATIONS:

➔ Books that stayed with you
➔ Unrequited Love Books
➔ Infidelity in Romance
➔ What to read after…
➔ Broken Book Boyfriends
➔ Slow Burn Romance
➔ Risqué & Forbidden Love
➔ Comedy Romance
➔ Favorite Audiobooks
➔ Authors’ Favorite Books
➔ Readers’ Top 2015 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2016 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2017 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2018 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2019 Favs
➔ Readers’ Top 2020 Favs

➔ All Our Favorites Lists

IN THE MOOD TO READ:

➔ Super-Angst?
➔ a Tearjerker?
➔ Unconventional Love?
➔ Love After Loss?
➔ Books w/ a Pregnancy?
➔ Friends to Lovers?
➔ Forbidden Love?
➔ Falling for a Celebrity?
➔ Men in Uniform?
➔ Gritty Biker Romance?
➔ Marital Strife?
➔ Unrequited Love?
➔ Mafia Romance?
➔ Barbarian Warlords?
➔ Arranged Marriage?
➔ Bossy Bullies?
➔ Older Main Characters?
➔ Comedy Romance?
➔ Office Romance?
➔ Second Chance Romance?
➔ Psych-thrillers?
➔ Historical Romance?
➔ Interracial Romance?
➔ Older Man/Younger Girl?
➔ Older Woman/Younger Man?
➔ Age Gap Romance?
➔ Audiobooks?
➔ Reverse Harem?
➔ A Broken Hero?
➔ A Short Story?
➔ Brother’s Best Friend?
➔ M/M Romance?
➔ Reclusive Heroes?
➔ A Nerdy Character?
➔ Fantasy Romance?
➔ Urban Fantasy?
➔ Paranormal Romance?
➔ Vampires?
➔ Shifters?
➔ Witches?
➔ Time Travel?
➔ Stalkers & Obsessive Love?
➔ What to read after…?
➔ Christmas Romance?

➔ The ENTIRE “What Are You In The Mood To Read?” Genre List

Recent Comments

  • Tasha J on Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 03-05-2021
  • Jan on Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 03-05-2021
  • LaLa on Reader Question – The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her…
  • Val on Reader Question – The book about the girl that works at a cafe, and he keeps getting coffee just to see her…
  • Tasha J on Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 03-05-2021

Archives

  • March 2021 (8)
  • February 2021 (48)
  • January 2021 (46)
  • December 2020 (58)
  • November 2020 (46)
  • October 2020 (60)
  • September 2020 (60)
  • August 2020 (49)
  • July 2020 (59)
  • June 2020 (62)
  • May 2020 (56)
  • April 2020 (61)
  • March 2020 (46)
  • February 2020 (50)
  • January 2020 (62)
  • December 2019 (48)
  • November 2019 (43)
  • October 2019 (53)
  • September 2019 (47)
  • August 2019 (48)
  • July 2019 (53)
  • June 2019 (50)
  • May 2019 (54)
  • April 2019 (47)
  • March 2019 (56)
  • February 2019 (40)
  • January 2019 (57)
  • December 2018 (41)
  • November 2018 (44)
  • October 2018 (47)
  • September 2018 (46)
  • August 2018 (44)
  • July 2018 (48)
  • June 2018 (45)
  • May 2018 (47)
  • April 2018 (45)
  • March 2018 (57)
  • February 2018 (44)
  • January 2018 (45)
  • December 2017 (45)
  • November 2017 (40)
  • October 2017 (42)
  • September 2017 (41)
  • August 2017 (43)
  • July 2017 (52)
  • June 2017 (42)
  • May 2017 (45)
  • April 2017 (41)
  • March 2017 (55)
  • February 2017 (48)
  • January 2017 (59)
  • December 2016 (44)
  • November 2016 (45)
  • October 2016 (60)
  • September 2016 (53)
  • August 2016 (50)
  • July 2016 (58)
  • June 2016 (57)
  • May 2016 (54)
  • April 2016 (56)
  • March 2016 (55)
  • February 2016 (51)
  • January 2016 (60)
  • December 2015 (51)
  • November 2015 (44)
  • October 2015 (64)
  • September 2015 (59)
  • August 2015 (59)
  • July 2015 (59)
  • June 2015 (56)
  • May 2015 (60)
  • April 2015 (56)
  • March 2015 (54)
  • February 2015 (50)
  • January 2015 (50)
  • December 2014 (45)
  • November 2014 (47)
  • October 2014 (50)
  • September 2014 (39)
  • August 2014 (51)
  • July 2014 (47)
  • June 2014 (61)
  • May 2014 (47)
  • April 2014 (40)
  • March 2014 (46)
  • February 2014 (41)
  • January 2014 (50)
  • December 2013 (66)
  • November 2013 (50)
  • October 2013 (61)
  • September 2013 (49)
  • August 2013 (61)
  • July 2013 (56)
  • June 2013 (50)
  • May 2013 (51)
  • April 2013 (49)
  • March 2013 (59)
  • February 2013 (61)
  • January 2013 (49)
  • December 2012 (66)
  • November 2012 (48)
  • October 2012 (49)
  • September 2012 (44)
  • August 2012 (51)
  • July 2012 (48)
  • June 2012 (41)
  • May 2012 (40)
  • April 2012 (42)
  • March 2012 (39)
  • February 2012 (29)
  • January 2012 (37)
  • December 2011 (41)
  • November 2011 (41)
  • October 2011 (45)
  • September 2011 (30)
  • August 2011 (37)
  • July 2011 (35)
  • June 2011 (29)
  • May 2011 (28)
  • April 2011 (40)
  • March 2011 (39)
  • February 2011 (40)
  • January 2011 (29)
  • December 2010 (29)
  • November 2010 (36)
  • October 2010 (31)
  • September 2010 (31)
  • August 2010 (22)
  • July 2010 (14)
  • June 2010 (14)
  • May 2010 (18)
  • April 2010 (21)
  • March 2010 (15)
  • February 2010 (14)
  • January 2010 (19)
  • December 2009 (14)
  • November 2009 (14)
  • October 2009 (25)
  • September 2009 (10)
  • August 2009 (22)
  • July 2009 (10)
  • June 2009 (35)
  • May 2009 (33)
  • April 2009 (49)
  • March 2009 (41)
  • February 2009 (5)

Tags

3.5 stars 4 stars 4.5 stars 5 stars age gap alpha males bad boys bikers billionaires bossy bullies celebrity romance cheating comedy romance contemporary romance dark read dark romance fighters forbidden love giveaway infidelity kidnapped love triangle mafia marital strife men in uniform motorcycle club new adult paranormal romance pregnancy psych-thriller psychological thriller reader favorites reader question reader recommendations rock stars second chance romance shifters solved sports stars super-angsty unrequited love unsolved urban fantasy vampires YA

Contact Me | About Maryse | Privacy Policy | © 2020 Maryse.net - Maryse's Book Blog |
I am part of the Amazon affiliate program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other than potential affiliate link commissions, I receive no compensation for reviews. All opinions I have expressed are my own.

X
Welcome, book friends! My posts include affiliate links meaning I may earn commissions from Amazon or other companies for qualifying purchases. All opinions I've expressed are my own. ❤️