A rockstar's decades-long attraction to his best friend (and bandmate's sister) leads to unrelenting sexual tension, guilt, and a desire to finally give in to obvious truths in this emotionally intense contemporary romance set in the rockstar world. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of One Day Like This by Scarlett Cole, along with getting my impressions of this first installment in the Excess All Areas series, then add it to your bookshelf!
Loving Izabel Bryson should be the easiest thing in the world. Heck, she’s been the inspiration for at least half a dozen of the songs he’s written for his rock band, Sad Fridays.
He’s loved her for a decade.
But she’s his best friend and fellow bandmate’s little sister, and he promised a decade ago that he’d never put his hands on her.
She can never be his, no matter how much he craves her.
Izabel
Loving Matt Palmer is the most hopeless thing in the world.
The hours she spends running her friend’s yoga studio and volunteering at the Manchester homeless shelter only go so far in distracting her from the painful truth.
He doesn’t want her.
Because she screwed up that awful night two years before when she slept with Matt’s brother.
He will never be hers, no matter how much she yearns for him.
When a good deed leads to one bed, and one night of ruthless honesty, everything is laid bare. They belong together, but acting on it will cost them everything.
He’s loved her for a decade.
But she’s his best friend and fellow bandmate’s little sister, and he promised a decade ago that he’d never put his hands on her.
She can never be his, no matter how much he craves her.
Izabel
Loving Matt Palmer is the most hopeless thing in the world.
The hours she spends running her friend’s yoga studio and volunteering at the Manchester homeless shelter only go so far in distracting her from the painful truth.
He doesn’t want her.
Because she screwed up that awful night two years before when she slept with Matt’s brother.
He will never be hers, no matter how much she yearns for him.
When a good deed leads to one bed, and one night of ruthless honesty, everything is laid bare. They belong together, but acting on it will cost them everything.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a fan of rockstar romances I can never get enough of each new series and boy, is this new series by Scarlett Cole getting off to an intensely emotional and decadently delightful start! From the very first page readers will find themselves captivated by this tale of forbidden love, matters of the heart, and the trials and tribulations of a band on the cusp of fame. From there readers are taken on a romantic journey to HEA as a couple, clearly meant to be together, deal with heartfelt truths and hidden desires, all while keeping their relationship secret from others.
Matt Palmer has always loved music and has been laser-focused on making it a part of his future. Along with his best friend, brother, and cousins he's determined to do whatever it takes to get their band (Sad Fridays) to the top. To see that happen he'll have to be the reliable one in a group of guys who are hot headed and already living it up like they're rockstars through booze, alcohol, and women. He'll also have to continue fighting his feelings for the little sister of his bandmate/best friend as his feelings for Izabel have created lots of inner conflict as well as tension within the band and between him and his brother Jace. Years ago Luke warned the guys to stay away from his little sister, but fate had other ideas as Izabel's unrequited love for Matt led her to a regretful night with his brother that has left the brothers butting heads in anger ever since. When Izabel and Matt are once again put in close quarters neither of them can continue without each other. A weekend of pretending to be a couple soon leads to real coupling...heartfelt talks and feelings being laid bare. It was a weekend of pure perfection, for them and for the reader, with steamy encounters and pulled heartstrings on display. Returning to the real world brings a whole new set of problems though as Matt knows that being with Izabel could destroy the band. Despite wanting to shout his love for her to the whole world they're forced into continuing to keep their love a secret in a journey that made me want to cry. These two are clearly meant to be together but can't share their happiness with anyone else, can't boldly claim one another out of fears over the band's future. I felt frustrated, just like they did, but still found joy in their loving and clandestine moments together. It was a heartbreaking situation but they rejoiced in their love for one another which held me captive and kept me cheering them on.
Alongside this compelling main couple was a cast of complicated secondary characters, the friends and relatives that make up the band Sad Fridays. From the outside the boys are already embracing the rockstar lifestyle which makes for a rocky foundation full of tension. Add in their gritty and complex connections, and it promises to be an exhilarating series yet to come. With each glimpse of these boys I'm left greatly anticipating what will happen once Matt and Izabel's secret gets out, the ramifications for each band member promises to be incendiary...particularly for Luke and Jace. Throughout this story I have been drawn to Jace, intrigued by his complexities. Angry at his brother, and at the world, I ate up every scene he was in and desired to learn more about him. He's clearly been battered and bruised by life and I look forward to him finally taking center stage in the next installment. Nan too was another delight! The grandmother of Matt and Jace, she was a bold and outspoken woman. There was absolutely no filter to her words which led to many laugh out loud moments. Add in her big heart and she easily becomes a member of the Sad Fridays family and someone I can't wait to see more of in the future. On a whole this was a sweet and sexy read, a gritty read too courtesy of all the secrets and lies surrounding this rock band on the cusp of fame. There's a lot of story left to tell, a lot of ramifications just waiting to be revealed, and with a turn of the final page I'm now left impatiently waiting for the next installment!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.
I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I'm getting the chance to follow that dream.
I am represented by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, NY.
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