Black Halo / Rock Hard by Madelynne Ellis-A Series Review

Author Madelynne Ellis has penned a series of books focusing on the goth rock band Black Halo. The two companion series run parallel to one another and include Black Halo and Rock Hard. These are their stories.

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COME UNDONE
(Rock Hard #1)
by Madelynne Ellis

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: August 29, 2013

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

On stage he’s dynamite. Off stage he rocks her world.

When red-hot, Goth-metal band, Black Halo, split live on stage, fate throws Daniella Fosbrook into the path of sexy vocalist Xane Geist. Initially, Xane’s only looking for a ride home, but Dani tempts him in a way a thousand other women haven’t. Determined to explore their heady chemistry and avoid hashing things out with the band, Xane whisks Dani off to Monaco for a steamy weekend.

There, Dani tries her best to hang onto her heart and some clothing, while Xane soon loses both. However, Xane isn’t being entirely honest about the reason for the band’s demise. When the truth comes out, can Dani accept the facts, or will everything come undone.

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REVIEW: COME UNDONE is the first installment in Madelynne Ellis’s adult, contemporary ROCK HARD erotic romance series focusing on Xane Geist, front man and lead singer of the goth rock band Black Halo and Daniella Fosbrook- a reluctant groupie whose life is about to change when she meets Xane Geist- a larger than life persona whom Dani had come to depend upon in her darkest hours. ROCK HARD is the companion series to BLACK HALO featuring Black Halo’s lead guitarist Ash Gore. COME UNDONE is a story of insta-love, heartbreak and loss.

Told from two distinct third party points of view, the focus of the storyline is the break up of the band Black Halo. As the founder and front man for the band Xane feels he has been betrayed by the two people he loves most in the world. Enter Daniella Fosbrook, a fan and the woman who would show Xane that there is more to life than heartbreak and betrayal. Xane’s life has centered on the rise and success of Black Halo and his friendship with the band will be irrevocably strained when secrets and hidden feelings are revealed.

The relationship between Xane and Daniella begins as one of convenience. Xane needs to run; to get away from everything that has to do with Black Halo, and Dani is in the right place at the right time. While Xane strives for normalcy, Dani struggles with dark demons from the past and the unwelcome memories of abandonment and abuse.

Xane is a man who likes to tempt fate; nothing is off limits and he is willing to throw caution to the wind, any and every time sex is involved. He uses sex as a means to escape –an addiction- and Xane likes to escape at every opportunity, no matter where or how. Dani is the quiet, less experienced female whose earlier years have resulted in too many emotional and physical scars. Their time together will reveal a world that is all too familiar and one that Dani has a difficult time accepting. Abandoned by her father, and raised in a religious commune by her mother, Dani’s introduction into Xane’s world is both an escape and a fall into the abyss.

The backstory of what led to the disintegration of the band is slow to reveal as the majority of the storyline concentrates on Dani and Xane’s building relationship. There is a slight twist to the premise; one that reveals the bonds between friendship and love, and a twist that will affect Dani’s perception of Xane and the band.

The supporting and secondary characters include the members of the band-Ash Gore, Jan ‘Spook’ Mortensen, Elspeth Shriik, drummer Steve Matlock, and Paul ‘Rock Giant’ Reed. The world building concentrates on Xane’s troubled family, his relationship with the band, and the fall out of betrayal, stalker paparazzi and rabid fans.

Madelynne Ellis pulls the reader into the world of goth rock, addiction, sex and betrayal. There are moments of passion laced with need, want and seduction. The storyline does not end on a happily ever after but a bit of a cliffhanger that will expose an even uglier side of fame and fortune.

READING ORDER:

Come Undone (Rock Hard #1)
All Night Long (Black Halo #1)
Remastered (Black Halo #1.5 )
Come Together (Rock Hard #2)
All Fired Up (Black Halo #2)

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ALL NIGHT LONG
(Black Halo #1)
by Madelynne Ellis

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 24, 2014

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

One night of rampant passion with a rock star, that’s all it’s supposed to be. Ginny Walters isn’t looking for love, only some sexy fun with an amazingly hot guy, that is, until she hooks up with Black Halo’s lead guitarist, Ash Gore, on the night the band implodes. When vocalist Xane walks off stage bringing the gig to a premature end, Ash and the guys find themselves unable to reach their hotel due to the presence of an irate mob. Luckily, Ginny offers them the use of her room for the night.

Ginny does her best to be a good hostess. However, it’s not long before she discovers a side to womanizing, bad boy, Ash that she never imagined. Beneath his hard rock image, is a man so hung up on the possibility of being hurt by love that he’s unwilling to risk becoming emotionally involved. How can she convince him that the bond between them is worth exploring, given that she’s not sure dating a rock star is terribly bright idea?

Ash can’t seem to get Ginny out of his head. She’s totally unlike the groupies he normally beds; women who love to fan his ego, but ultimately leave him dismally unsatisfied. Ginny sees through all his bullshit and the media hype to the scarred man beneath. Given that instinctive understanding, does he really want to say goodbye forever coming daybreak?

Maybe it’s time they both gave love another chance

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REVIEW: ALL NIGHT LONG is the first installment in Madelynne Ellis’s new adult, contemporary BLACK HALO erotic romance series focusing on the goth rock group Black Halo. This is lead guitarist Ash Gore and rock groupie Ginny Walters storyline-a one night stand that turns into something more. The Black Halo series is the companion to Madelynne’s ROCK HARD series focusing on front man Xane Geist and Dani Fosbrook: ALL NIGHT LONG runs parallel to COME UNDONE (Rock Hard #1). Are you confused?—so was I but the author let me know the correct reading order.

Told from third person point of view, the storyline focuses on less than twenty four hours in the life of Black Halo members Ash Gore, Jan ‘Spook’ Mortensen and ‘Rock Giant’ Reed. When front man Xane Geist walks off stage during a concert, purporting the end to the band, the remaining members are caught off guard with no place to run-enter Ginny Walters- a rock groupie who is determined to have a one night stand with Ash Gore but finds herself in the enviable position of roommates with the band. With paparazzi and fans stalking the band wherever they go, Ginny offers her less than five star hotel room as refuge. What ensues is a night of passion and wild sex between Ginny and Ash (with a little addition of Rock Giant and Spook), but one that reveals more about the band than Ginny had known.

The colorful and quirky supporting and secondary characters include fellow bandmates: rhythm guitarist Spook Mortensen; bassist (Paul) Rock Giant Reed and keyboardist Elspeth Shriik. Xane Geist, the band’s leading vocalist and front man, is MIA and his story is told in the companion series Rock Hard along with Ginny’s BFF Daniella Fosbrook.

The world building takes the reader behind the scenes and into the bedrooms and private lives of a rock band on the verge of imploding. Ash’s sexual exploits are explored revealing a painful past rife with betrayal and heartbreak; Ash doesn’t do relationships but something about Ginny could very well change his mind. Ginny is a woman who knows what she wants,; she is unapologetic with her sexual needs; and she wants something more than a one –night stand.

Madelynne Ellis invites the reader into the erotic world of rock bands, groupies and fishnet stockings. At present there are two interconnected series-Rock Hard and Black Halo-both focusing on different members of the band. ALL NIGHT LONG is a story of insta-lust, immediate attraction, sexual exploration and personal possessiveness between two people who should have been nothing more than passing ships in the night.

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COME TOGETHER
(Rock Hard #2)
by Madelynne Ellis

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 30, 2014

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Daniella Fosbrook can’t believe she’s bagged a smoking hot rock star, now all she has to do is hold onto him.

Internationally famous, goth rockers, Black Halo have reunited and are about to hit the road on a six month requiem tour, following the shocking death of their drummer. Dani Fosbrook has never experienced life on the move, now she’s squashed onto a tour bus with five horny rock stars and her lover’s ex, and there’s no room for mistakes.

If death threats from jealous fans and warding off unwanted press attention isn’t difficult enough to handle, Dani has to battle her own personal insecurities. Xane says he’s committed, but with so much on offer to tempt him, can she trust he won’t stray?

When misunderstandings and sabotage put both the tour and everything Dani and Xane have built together under threat, can they and the band come together to make it work, or will everything fall apart?

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REVIEW: COME TOGETHER is the second installment in Madelynne Ellis’s contemporary, new adult ROCK HARD erotic romance series focusing on the goth rock group Black Halo. COME TOGETHER is the continuing story of front man and lead singer for Black Halo- Xane Geist and Dani Fosbrook. The Rock Hard series is the companion to Madelynne Ellie’s Black Halo series; COME TOGETHER runs parallel to ALL FIRED UP (Black Halo #2).

Because there are two companion series that play off one another, I would highly suggest reading in order as information revealed in the previous storylines are important for cohesion and enjoyment.

NOTE: There are scenes of M/F, M/M and M/M/F. COME TOGETHER is intended for mature readers over 18 years of age.

If you have not read the previous storylines in both series, there may be some spoilers -so be forewarned.

COME TOGETHER is the continuing story of Xane and Dani-six weeks after the events of Come Undone where Xane receives some heartbreaking news that all but destroys what remains of the band. A previous betrayal sent Xane on the run but with it comes the knowledge that life is fleeting and no one is safe when rabid fans attack. Black Halo is in need of a new drummer, and lead guitarist Ash Gore offers up Iain Willows-a man who has been bad mouthing Xane throughout his career. As the band comes to terms with the loss of their previous drummer, tensions are high when Iain proves to be less than competent with the drums.

The relationship between Xane and Dani continues to be sexually adventurous and uninhibited. Xane is a sex addict whose need for Dani begins to interfere with his work and the band. The storyline begins with a prologue that reveals a dark moment in time that Xane has kept secret but the past will soon catch up and will force Xane to make choices he doesn’t want to make. Dani’s fragile self esteem will take a major blow when she catches Xane in the arms of someone else. The sex scenes are graphic, sensually erotic and continuous. There is no doubt that Dani and Xane love one another but Xane will begin to question if Dani is enough.

The engaging and colorful supporting characters include all of the Black Halo band members whose lives begin to spiral out of control with the loss of a friend and lover. As the band sets out on their latest tour, Dani will be targeted and the band will fall victim to malicious gossip, rumors and innuendo. We will be introduced to the road crew and new roadie Luthor-whose past will come full circle and send Dani on the run.

The world building continues to follow Black Halo on tour; behind the scenes, in the bedroom, tour bus and on the road. The anxiety and stress of loss and betrayal begin to eat away at the band’s tentative rebuilding but in the end, they will come together when the band falls victim to deception, deceit and attack.

If you are a fan of sexy, angst ridden rock stars then Madelynne Ellis’s BLACK HALO and ROCK HARD series are for you. What we see on the surface and on stage is not necessarily what we would see behind the scenes and on the road. There are moments of heartbreak, betrayal, romance and love. Dani and Xane’s relationship will step up to the next level ensuring that Xane’s needs and desires are kept under control.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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ALL FIRED UP
(Black Halo #2)
by Madelynne Ellis

ABOUT THE BOOK: December 18, 2014

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

All Fired Up is the follow-up to New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Madelynne Ellis’ scorching rock star romance novel, All Night Long.

Ginny Walters always knew her weakness for bad boys would get her into trouble. Her one night stand with Black Halo’s lead guitarist, Ash Gore, was only supposed to be a fun, not the prelude to the sort of relationship that’d scorch holes in her heart as well as her bed sheets. She’d be the happiest woman in the world if Ash wasn’t so determined to keep their connection off radar.

Ash Gore knows girlfriends are bad news for bands, which is why he’s resolved to keep his attachment to Ginny a secret. He and the guys have enough on their stages as they try to piece themselves back together after the band’s split. But when new drummer, Iain Willows, starts taking an active interest in Ginny, tensions quickly mount. Soon, Ash is not only at risk of losing Ginny, but everything he holds dearest–including life itself.

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NOTE: If you have not read the series, please be aware there may be some spoilers.

REVIEW: ALL FIRED UP is the second installment in Madelynne Ellis’s contemporary, new adult BLACK HALO erotic romance series focusing on Black Halo’s lead guitar Ash Gore and Ginny Walters. The BLACK HALO series is the companion to Madelynne’s ROCK HARD series. ALL FIRED UP runs parallel to COME TOGETHER (Rock Hard #2) –confused?-So was I but technically ALL FIRED UP is the fourth full line novel focusing on the members of the goth rock band BLACK HALO

ALL FIRED UP is the continuing story of Black Halo’s lead guitar player Ash Gore and the woman with whom he has fallen in love-Ginny Walters. Ginny is a rock groupie who targeted Ash for a night of wanton sex only to discover that the man she admired from afar was much more different than the public persona everyone saw on stage.

The storyline follows Ash and Ginny’s building relationship as well as Black Halo’s search for a new drummer-enter Iain Willows-a former band mate of Ash’s and a man whose need for revenge has seethed and grown for a number of years.

The sex scenes are erotic; oft times spontaneous; and always hot and steamy. Ash is the epitome of a rock star with women at every stop but something about Ginny will call to his heart.

The world building continues to focus on the band, their tour and behind the scenes where threats against their lives and their loves become all too personal. All of the band members play a secondary and supporting role.

ALL FIRED UP does not end on a happily ever after, but a happily ever after for now. Ash and Ginny’s continuing story will focus on recovery, forgiveness and moving forward. An attack against the band will have everyone reconsidering their choice of mates and friends.

Madelynne Ellis invites the reader into an engaging, thought provoking and revealing storyline about life on the road for a successful goth rock band. No one is safe when revenge and betrayal are foremost on the mind of a former friend and one time band mate.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviews by Sandy