Strong (Stage Dive 4.5 / 1001 Dark Nights) by Kylie Scott-Review & Excerpt Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 25, 2018
When the girl of your dreams is kind of a nightmare.
As head of security to Stage Dive, one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Sam Knowles has plenty of experience dealing with trouble. But spoilt brat Martha Nicholson just might be the worst thing he’s ever encountered. The beautiful troublemaker claims to have reformed, but Sam knows better than to think with what’s in his pants. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to make his heart fall into line.
Martha’s had her sights on the seriously built bodyguard for years. Quiet and conservative, he’s not even remotely her type. So why the hell can’t she get him out of her mind? There’s more to her than the Louboutin wearing party-girl of previous years, however. Maybe it’s time to let him in on that fact and deal with this thing between them.
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REVIEW: STRONG is a contemporary, adult, erotic, romance in Kylie Scott’s rock band series STAGE DIVE, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is security expert Sam Knowles, and PA Martha Nicholson’s story line. Martha is Ben Nicholson’s sister (Deep #4), and Dave Ferris (Lick #1) former love interest. You do not have to have read the previous instalments but I recommend reading book one LICK for backstory and history between Martha and the band.
Told from first person point of view (Martha) STRONG follows the building relationship between security expert Sam Knowles, and Martha Nicholson. Years earlier, following the fall-out of her personal and professional relationship with Stage Dive’s lead singer and guitarist David Ferris, Martha Nicholson headed to New York in an effort to find herself and forget about the man with whom she was once in love. With a reputation as a b*tch with a little crazy on the side, Martha tried to establish herself with little success. Fast forward to present day wherein Martha is tasked with ‘babysitting’ her brother Ben’s (Stage Dive’s bassist) rambunctious two–year old son Gibson, a task that brings her face to face with the man that has starred in her fantasies and dreams for close to ten years. Enter Stage Dive’s head of security Sam Knowles, and the man with whom Martha will fall in love. What ensues is the friends to lovers relationship between Martha and Sam, a relationship in the making for close to a decade, and the potential fall-out as Martha struggles to accept everything Sam has to offer, including his heart.
Martha Nicholson was David Ferris’ high school sweetheart, and lost everything when David married Evelyn Thomas. Desperate to recapture what was, Martha attempted to come between David and Evelyn but found herself on the outside looking in. Sam Knowles watched from afar as Martha’s life imploded when she interfered in the lives of the band. For ten years Sam waited for Martha to realize there was someone else hoping to capture her heart.
The romance between Martha and Sam has been developing for close to ten years but Martha struggled with demons from the past, including a reputation that had once sought out to destroy the members of the band. Desperate to prove he was worthy of Martha’s love, the wives of the band, set into motion a plan for Sam to seduce our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.
All of the previous story line couples and members of the band play secondary and supporting characters. Mal is his usual, hyper-manic self as he pushes our heroine’s buttons on more than one occasion- the back and forth banter is priceless; and Gibson Nicholson aka Gibby, as he runs amok repeating all of the ‘forbidden’ words in a two-year old’s vocabulary.
STRONG is a quick read; a revisit with our favorite rock band and their families, as well as the introduction of an up and coming star Adam, whom Martha is about to take under her wing. Here’s hoping for another spin-off focusing on Adam and his rise to the top. The character driven premise is spicy, engaging and spirited; the romance is moving and provocative; the characters are sexy, sassy and sweet. STRONG is a welcome addition and energetic instalment in Kylie Scott’s STAGE DIVE series.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Lick
Play
Lead
Deep
Strong
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
“Shut it.” I inched my chin up a bit, trying not to frown because frowning gave you lines. “Sam and I have known each other for years and nothing has ever happened. You’re completely wrong about this.”
“Am I?”
“Yes, there’s nothing between us.”
“So that’s why you were staring at him?”
I chose not to answer that. “And you know he prefers to be called executive protection officer instead of bodyguard.”
At this, Lizzy burst out giggling, a malicious glee in her eyes. No wonder I liked my sister-in-law these days.
Ben shot us both an irritated glance. We both ignored it.
Of course, I’d known Sam would probably be here. Rock stars going out in public could be a delicate thing. People had a tendency to get overexcited. And while one person wanting an autograph wasn’t a problem, twenty or thirty of them suddenly swarming definitely could be. Having once been part of the entourage, I’d seen it happen to Ben and his fellow Stage Dive band members enough times to be wary. And you couldn’t get by with ordinary security. Rock stars needed protection from their over-zealous fans, but on the other hand they didn’t want the fans roughed up or hurt in any way. It required a delicate balance: control, experience, and a whole gamut of scary physical skills. Hence Sam.
Still, Portland seemed generally less crazy than the good old days back in LA. All of the guys seemed calmer and more settled away from the constant craziness of the party scene. Not to mention the effect of all of the wives/partners and various offspring. The biggest rock band in the world had officially been domesticated.
It was kind of cute. Or sad. I don’t know.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stir you,” she lied. “What do you think of your brother’s new musical bromance?”
On the small stage set up in the corner of the room, a young man wailed his heart out while playing an acoustic guitar. Much angst about a girl who only called him after midnight. Trust a rockster to turn a simple booty call into a heartbreaking ballad. The song was damn good though. He had talent. If only I hadn’t had my fill of the type when I was younger. The kid looked to be in his early to mid-twenties. Lanky with lots of tattoos. Your typical rock ’n roll Prince Charming. Gag. These days my type ran more toward…actually, what I needed or wanted in a male was a total mystery.
And my gaze did not stray back to Sam. That did not happen.
Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet
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Great review, Sandy. Looks like a very good series.
Wonderful review, Sandy. I always look each month for another great author in these 1001 Dark Nights books.
Great review, thanks Sandy . I love the Stage Dive series and of course. …..MAL !
Excellent review. Thanks for the excerpt .
Very nice, thanks Sandy.
Great review, Sandy. Looks very good.
Another wonder review, thanks Sandy. Love the ‘rock band’ romances.
Thanks for the review and excerpt, looks great.