A man with an unspoken attraction to his brother’s girlfriend long ago resulted in heartbreak and anger, but their reunion seven years later now complicates things further as time on the road forces their hidden feelings to the surface. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Love to Hate Her by J. Saman, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Wild Minds duet to your bookshelf too! In honor of this duet make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC, a winner’s choice e-copy of a backlist title, a signed copy of this duet, along with swag.
LOVE TO HATE HER (Book #1)
A rare moment of weakness.
A burning desire impossible to deny.
Forbidden words I should never have spoken.
Seven years ago, I confessed my darkest secret to my brother’s girlfriend. When she broke up with him and walked out of our lives, she took my secret with her.
But, with my band set to go on tour around the world, I have a problem. I need a nanny for my autistic daughter. And unfortunately, Viola Starr, my brother’s ex, is the perfect fit.
Now, there is no escaping her. Or our past.
Especially when my brother seems determined to win her back.
Five months and she’ll be out of my life again.
Five months of ignoring lingering, heated glances.
The fire she draws out of me. The way she loves my daughter.
Five months… And my world is about to come crashing down around me.
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AUTHOR INFO:
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Young love takes a rocky turn as two brothers vie for the same girl, with one brother keeping his love hidden while using thoughts of her to set them on the road to rock star fame. Years apart sees the brothers and their bandmates enjoying the riches of fame while she’s lost her job and had her money stolen by a drug-addicted mother who has more nefarious plans on the horizon. When a new rock tour and a little girl’s autism requires special accommodations though, the girl who got away returns and sees both brothers struggling with their feelings for her in a rocky romance that will leave readers hanging in anticipation for the next installment.
Jasper Diamond, his brother Gus, and their friends were once inseparable from the kindhearted and sunny Viola Starr. They were all closer than close, but for Jasper and Gus their feelings were even more intense...and complicated. For Jasper she was a bit of brightness in an existence that was cold. She brought him joy with just a smile and she quickly became the inspiration for every word he wrote and every lyric to come. An unforgettable kiss is all he got from her though as he stepped aside to let his brother claim her...a decision he’s regretted every moment since. To keep his feelings at bay though he turned cold towards her and it fueled years of anger and harsh words between them until she’d had enough of Gus cheating on her and walked away with the truth about Jasper’s feelings whispering in her ear. With their band ready to hit the road after a four year absence, Jasper’s going to need all the help he can get with caring for his autistic daughter while continuing to bring the house down, which brings Viola back into their world. His feelings for her never went away and seeing her with his daughter has him wanting her all the more. Seeing her around Gus though has him still holding back, as it’s clear that Gus wants to reclaim her, which brings out harsh words once again in interactions full of sexual tension. The more time they spend together though the more they start sharing and the closer they become before their interactions turn combustible in erotically-charged scenes that had me blushing. With Gus pleading his case, and with Viola’s friend making him question Viola’s responses to him, readers will be left on edge by the turn of the final page and waiting with bated breath to see where life takes these two. Jasper’s a delicious hero, a young man with a creative side but without the self-assertiveness of his brother. He’s not as bold or brash as Gus, but is more solid with a big heart. His daughter’s autism brings out an even more caring side, a side that sees him doing all he can to make her happy, safe, and secure. The scenes involving this father/daughter, along with Viola, were heartwarming to see and had a familial vibe where she fit in beautifully. Jasper truly cares for his brother but it became harder and harder to keep Viola at arm’s length and with his sexy words and deeds there were plenty of tempting interactions that led them down an unexpected path that I was cheering for every step of the way.
Viola Starr had a rocky childhood with the best moments revolving around Gus and Jasper Diamond. They and their bandmates made her feel like a part of something, gave her a sense of family lacking in her real life. Though she was drawn to Jasper early on it was Gus who swept her off her feet with his charm and sexually-charged attention. Theirs was a rocky romance though as he was a chronic cheater which ultimately had her walking away...even more confused courtesy of Jasper’s final words to her. Seven years later, while their lives are going great, hers has almost hit bottom with the loss of her job and her money which leaves her no choice but to accept Jasper’s job offer. While she’s ready for his coldness she’s caught off guard by the obvious love he has for his daughter which endears him to her even as he tries to push her away. Her feelings for him are complex and conflicting, but she clearly wants him and as the story progresses they grow closer to each other. Her feelings for Gus though are clear as his love of the ladies is as strong as ever, but that doesn’t stop him from flirting with her at every turn, causing friction between her and Jasper and it ends this story on a note of uncertainty. Viola’s a likable heroine, a tough woman with a kind heart who rolls with everything life throws at her. She may be full of confusion when it comes to matters of the heart, but in her scenes with Jasper’s daughter she exuded confidence courtesy of the vivid depiction of autism and the techniques used in dealing with it. Seeing the two of them together projected a sense of family, a promise of what could be if she and Jasper would just embrace their more than obvious attraction, and it warmed my heart to see them together.
Jasper and Viola sizzled with a connection teeming with sexual tension along with emotions being laid bare, particularly from Jasper during his introspective moments. The push/pull between these two sometimes frustrated me, but it held me captive too in a romance that I rooted for with every turn of the page. Sweet, sexy, and sizzling made up the bulk of this decadently delightful tale that’s just beginning. Surrounding this likable main couple was an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters, some who I liked and some who had nefarious plans just hinted at. When it came to the band itself readers got to see a sexy group of guys, brotherly in their interactions and showing a softer side around Jasper’s daughter. Of them all it’s Gus who shines brightest with his larger than life demeanor and brash attitude, and though I sometimes wanted to punch him I still find myself intrigued by him and look forward to meeting the one woman who can finally claim him completely. On a whole this was a satisfying read with a delicious hero with a hidden heart of gold and a strong-willed heroine who’s his perfect match. The romantic foundation laid here is a sizzling one just picking up steam and I look forward to where fate takes this couple next which has me counting down the days until the next installment in this rockstar duet!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THE WILD MINDS DUETS:
HATE TO LOVE HIM (Book #2)
-Releasing on March 19th
-Releasing on March 19th
A gorgeous, brooding rock god.
An unstoppable chemistry we fight to ignore.
Desperate passion I want indelibly inked on my soul.
Jobless and financially destitute, I have no choice but to see this tour through. Even with my boss hating my guts. A fact he goes out of his way to prove every chance he gets.
Lucky for me, the best part of Jasper Diamond is his daughter. But being the nanny on the road with one of the world’s biggest rock bands poses more challenges than I was expecting – including falling for the elusive front man.
But with the world chasing after us, how long can we hide what others are determined to exploit?
They say there is a thin line between love and hate.
That all good things must come to an end.
Set on a collision course, nothing could have prepared us for this.
Or for what fate has in store for us.
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J. Saman loves all types of novels, but finds herself always going back to writing/reading romances. She's addicted to Diet Coke and sour candy, and swears way too much. She's an admitted lover of picking at old wounds, second chance romances, love triangles and the perfect amount of angst . She writes smart, strong women and sexy alpha (slightly nerdy) men who have a softer side.
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