Today's a day for celebration with the release of this decadently delightful romance set in the rock star world and featuring two immensely appealing characters who seem like opposites but make beautiful music together. Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Wanderlust by Roni Loren, along with my impressions of it, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this steamy read make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC too!
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Loving on the Edge series and Off the Clock, a story of sex, love, rock & roll, and a reporter who’s about to learn a new meaning for staying on top of her assignment...
Restaurant critic Aubrey Bordelon is never at a loss for words to describe her meals in the fancy restaurants of New Orleans. But after her magazine’s high-profile music reporter falls ill, she finds herself out of her element and in a sea of screaming fans awaiting Wanderlust’s lead singer, Lex Logan. The sound of his voice gives her goosebumps, and the stage presence of the hard-bodied rock star takes her breath away. So when he pulls her onstage for a sexy stunt, she knows she’s in real trouble.
Lex doesn’t want to pretend that the sparks on stage between him and Aubrey never happened, but it certainly makes the fact that she’s writing a story on his band all the more dangerous. The last thing he needs is some nosy reporter revealing their problems to the world. But the sexy Southern belle doesn’t give up easily, and soon, he’s wondering if the best way to chase her off the story is to coax her into his bed…
EXCERPT:
(Aubrey is at a strip club with the band. She’s a reporter and is following them around, but Lex is being difficult. So he made her a bet that he assumed he’d win. If Aubrey won, she’d get interview time with him. But the other band members tagged on another part of the bet—loser has to do a striptease for the other.)
Lex narrowed his eyes at Aubrey, still stunned that she had won. He could accept that maybe she knew Van Halen—who didn’t? But, there was no way this chick listened to old-school Nine Inch Nails or eighties hair metal. He’d bet all his money on that.
She lifted her hair off her neck and piled it on top of her head to fan herself before letting it fall back around her in a dark flood. Lex flexed his fingers, wondering what it’d be like to run his fingers through it—or wrap it around his hand when he . . . He shook the image from his head before his blood flowed too far south.
“No, you can’t let him out of the bet,” Jared complained.
“Really, I don’t need that,” Aubrey said quickly.
Her posture shifted, her edge of nerves almost a taste in the air, and Lex’s lips curled into a grin. “Oh, no need to let me off the hook. I don’t punk out on a bet. You’ll get your show."
A fleeting expression of panic skittered across her face, but she quickly covered it and grabbed for her drink. She was probably wishing she had alcohol in it now. Lex knew that Jared had intended for the bet to humiliate him, but this was going to embarrass Aubrey much more. He was used to being the center of attention. Performing on stage in front of people was his lifeblood. Aubrey, on the other hand, lived in a safe, neat world. She was probably used to men who observed the personal space rule, men who waited until the third date for a chaste kiss. Men who would never dare push her boundaries. Lex rose and swilled his beer.
Aubrey lifted her palms. “Seriously, Lex, I don’t want you to do this. We need to keep things professional."
Her tongue darted out and swiped at her lip. Her knuckles were white against her drink. His gaze traveled to the flush creeping up her neck, and a slow smile spread across his mouth. Well, would you look at that. Little Miss Reporter was lying through her pretty white teeth.
She wasn’t protesting because of professionalism. He may not know her well yet, but he was an expert at recognizing the signs she was inadvertently throwing his way. Ms. Bordelonwas terrified for the best possible reason—she feared her physical reaction to him. He remembered distinctly how she had quivered beneath him when he had touched her onstage, the look in her eyes when he’d brushed his lips against hers.
Oh, this was going to be fun. “Don’t worry, I’ll still respect you in the morning. Your professional status will be intact. Just remember, you can’t touch the stripper. It’s against the rules."
She pulled her expression into one of utter boredom. “I’ll try to restrain myself."
He laughed and then gripped the sides of her chair to pivot her away from the table to face him. He let his gaze slide over her from her head to her feet, taking his time, wishing he’d won the bet so he could watch her dance for him. She crossed her legs and folded her arms over her chest, pinning him with her glare.
Damn, she was cute when she was pissed.
A new song pounded through the club, and he began to sing the lyrics to her as he circled her chair and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her muscles stiffened under his touch. He bent his head next to her ear, the honey citrus scent of her hair cutting through the smoke and alcohol of the bar. “You’re going to have to relax a little or you’re not going to be able to enjoy this."
He grabbed the collar of her black blazer and slipped it off her shoulders, forcing her to unfurl her arms. She allowed him to take off the jacket, revealing her fitted green tank top underneath. He let his eyes linger a moment on her neckline.
“That’s better,” he said. “I don’t want you getting too hot."
“I thought you were the one who was supposed to take clothes off, not me."
He stepped in front of her and unfastened the top button on his shirt. “As you wish."
Her gaze fell to his chest, and she bit her lip as the flush on her throat crept up to her cheeks. He raised an eyebrow. Well, well, Ms. Bordelon. A wave of satisfaction moved through him. Maybe Jared’s plan wasn’t so ridiculous after all. Lex hadn’t believed that Aubrey would jump into bed with any of them. She had scruples, thank you very much. But the look on her face now was unmistakable. He’d been around enough women to recognize it. Desire, pure and simple. She may think he’s a jerk, she may hate him personally, but on some level, she wanted him.
The corners of his mouth tipped into a wicked smile. Maybe he could solve two problems at once. If he could get her in bed, not only could he force her to drop the story, but he could exorcise the ridiculous obsession to touch her that had been plaguing him since the body shot. Plus, God knew if any girl was in need of a wild, no strings romp in the sack, it was this one. He pulled open another button.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a reader obsessed with rock star romances I can never seem to pass them up as more and more land on bookshelves. Knowing that one of my go-to authors has jumped on this bandwagon only adds to my joy as Ms. Loren has crafted a romance that's steamy with just a bit of angst while bringing together two apparent opposites who make beautiful music together. It's a great start to what I hope will be a recurring series featuring the rock band Wanderlust and its band members who are sexy with interactions that are playful yet tempered with conflict and mystery.
At first glance Aubrey's the proverbial good girl who lives a life of order with no drinking or coloring outside the lines. She tries to live a life that will make her parents proud as, ever since an accident in her late teens took her twin sister's life, she's been riddled with guilt while trying to make amends. She was once the Wild Child but in response to that tragedy she became more like her sister who was the favorite of their parents. She long ago modified her dreams to become the kind of daughter her parents could be proud of but it's taken a toll on her soul. She's unhappy and stifled, longing to break free, but can't admit it out loud. Meeting rock star Lex Logan though proves to be a decadent temptation that's too hard to resist. While writing an in-depth article about Wanderlust will gain her a coveted promotion it brings her ever-closer to Lex and gives her a glimpse beyond his playboy facade to a man of deep emotions, a man she's slowly starting to care about. Theirs is a combustible connection from the moment they meet as his trust is hard to earn. Aubrey too has something to prove and it's a battle she'll never win when it comes to her judgmental father. Aubrey's a kindhearted woman who's closed herself off from living life to the fullest until Lex takes her under his sinfully sexy wing. With him by her side she goes after what she really wants in a sensual and cheer-inducing journey to HEA.
Lex grew up the son of a bitter former rock star who never let his son forget that his birth took his career away from him. It was an abusive upbringing that had Lex clinging to his best friend Sean's family and to music. Since becoming famous he feels that people only want to be with him for what they can get out of him. It makes for a rocky start to his and Aubrey's relationship as his doubts and her fears lead to issues of trust. A sexy bet soon leads to heartfelt talks where both get to see behind the other's emotional walls in a burgeoning relationship that gets hotter with each encounter. Lex was a sexy man teeming with Alpha tendencies but who could be sweet and supportive too. He got to see Aubrey at her lowest point and stood beside her wholeheartedly. He was quick to judge her in one instance though but quick to forgive amidst a traumatic event befalling guitarist Sean that led to big changes for everyone and set them all on a path to HEA.
This was a quick read that captivated me from the first page to the last in a storyline that perfectly balanced scorching romance with the glitzy world of rock music and all its expectations. Aubrey was a compelling character desperate to make amends over an event she can barely remember which had me aching for her. The return of her ex-boyfriend added to her guilt of that night as well as adding an unforeseen layer (although I sensed it) to the events of that tragic, long-ago night. Lex is immensely appealing and drool-worthy with his devil-may-care personality but is feeling lost as his creative juices are no longer flowing. He lost his inspiration and is feeling pressure from the record company which leads to conflict within the band and heartbreak over their once unflappable familial bond. I was drawn to each member of Wanderlust and enjoyed each unique personality, particularly that of Sean and his addiction issues. I sincerely hope to see more of him, his bond with Lex, and his struggles in the future as well as the playful Jared and quiet Gunner. They're a sexy group of men who set their scenes on fire and left me with very happy dreams. All in all this was another winner from Ms. Loren and again proves that she can do no wrong. I highly recommend this, and all her works, to readers who like sexy reads with heroes who have hidden hearts of gold!
At first glance Aubrey's the proverbial good girl who lives a life of order with no drinking or coloring outside the lines. She tries to live a life that will make her parents proud as, ever since an accident in her late teens took her twin sister's life, she's been riddled with guilt while trying to make amends. She was once the Wild Child but in response to that tragedy she became more like her sister who was the favorite of their parents. She long ago modified her dreams to become the kind of daughter her parents could be proud of but it's taken a toll on her soul. She's unhappy and stifled, longing to break free, but can't admit it out loud. Meeting rock star Lex Logan though proves to be a decadent temptation that's too hard to resist. While writing an in-depth article about Wanderlust will gain her a coveted promotion it brings her ever-closer to Lex and gives her a glimpse beyond his playboy facade to a man of deep emotions, a man she's slowly starting to care about. Theirs is a combustible connection from the moment they meet as his trust is hard to earn. Aubrey too has something to prove and it's a battle she'll never win when it comes to her judgmental father. Aubrey's a kindhearted woman who's closed herself off from living life to the fullest until Lex takes her under his sinfully sexy wing. With him by her side she goes after what she really wants in a sensual and cheer-inducing journey to HEA.
Lex grew up the son of a bitter former rock star who never let his son forget that his birth took his career away from him. It was an abusive upbringing that had Lex clinging to his best friend Sean's family and to music. Since becoming famous he feels that people only want to be with him for what they can get out of him. It makes for a rocky start to his and Aubrey's relationship as his doubts and her fears lead to issues of trust. A sexy bet soon leads to heartfelt talks where both get to see behind the other's emotional walls in a burgeoning relationship that gets hotter with each encounter. Lex was a sexy man teeming with Alpha tendencies but who could be sweet and supportive too. He got to see Aubrey at her lowest point and stood beside her wholeheartedly. He was quick to judge her in one instance though but quick to forgive amidst a traumatic event befalling guitarist Sean that led to big changes for everyone and set them all on a path to HEA.
This was a quick read that captivated me from the first page to the last in a storyline that perfectly balanced scorching romance with the glitzy world of rock music and all its expectations. Aubrey was a compelling character desperate to make amends over an event she can barely remember which had me aching for her. The return of her ex-boyfriend added to her guilt of that night as well as adding an unforeseen layer (although I sensed it) to the events of that tragic, long-ago night. Lex is immensely appealing and drool-worthy with his devil-may-care personality but is feeling lost as his creative juices are no longer flowing. He lost his inspiration and is feeling pressure from the record company which leads to conflict within the band and heartbreak over their once unflappable familial bond. I was drawn to each member of Wanderlust and enjoyed each unique personality, particularly that of Sean and his addiction issues. I sincerely hope to see more of him, his bond with Lex, and his struggles in the future as well as the playful Jared and quiet Gunner. They're a sexy group of men who set their scenes on fire and left me with very happy dreams. All in all this was another winner from Ms. Loren and again proves that she can do no wrong. I highly recommend this, and all her works, to readers who like sexy reads with heroes who have hidden hearts of gold!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.
If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.
WEBSITE: http://www.roniloren.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/roniloren
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/
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