Reckless / Fearless by Priscilla West-review

RECKLESS
(Forever #1)
by Priscilla West
Genre: new adult, contemporary, romance, rock muscian

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 4, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Everything about him warned me to stay away.

I’d seen bad boys before, but he had it all and more. The rippling muscles covered in tatts, the piercing eyes hiding dark secrets, the silky voice that could make a girl come with just a whisper . . .

He was exactly the type of guy that would get me in trouble, but when he jumped off the stage, inked skin glistening with sweat and breathed his seductive words into my ear, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

It was supposed to be the best one-night stand of my life, but fate didn’t let it play out that way. Things happened. I got upset. I got hasty. And worst of all, I got reckless.

After that disaster, I thought it was the last I’d see of him. But what I didn’t know was that I’d started something.

Something that could shatter the very thing I had worked so hard to protect.

I should have known back then that the most seductive things in life are also the most dangerous.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: RECKLESS is the first instalment in Priscilla West’s contemporary, new adult RECKLESS series focusing on Jax- the front man and lead singer- for the rock group ‘The Hitchcocks’ and accountant Riley Hewitt.

Hired as a tour accountant for an up and coming rock band whose finances are a mess, Riley finds herself travelling and working for the very man-Jax- (and group) who had previously pulled her into a maelstrom of groupies, wanna-bees and backstage parties at a local concert several days before.

Making it more difficult is the mutual attraction between Jax and Riley-one that grows with each encounter. Hoping to keep the relationship purely professional, Riley makes it known to Jax that she is hired to do a job and when it is over, she will be returning home. As Jax tries to keep his distance, Riley is pulled to the sexual aura and heat that is rock and roll. But something about Jax tugs at Riley’s heart as she suspects there is darkness and a history about the man whose façade hides a painful emotional well.

The relationship between Jax and Riley is quick to develop but begins accidently when the two meet at a local bar. Riley is a strong willed, feisty woman with a slight wild child persona who hides behind the starched collar of a certified accountant. She is a bit of an enigma-strong and aggressive one moment then fears and anxieties begin to pull her under. She has a habit of pushing too far and in this she provokes Jax at different times along the tour.

Jax is a man with a troubled past-the scars on the surface hide a multitude of anger and pain-and when Riley tries to get Jax to open up, the pain only intensifies. The sex scenes are hot and steamy but Jax is a bit of a loner and prefers to spend time writing and making music.

The other members of the band like to have a good time with alcohol, sex and drugs but usually leave Jax to his own devices-Jax’s demons are dark and tormented, and there are times when the band knows to leave well enough alone. We are introduced to Riley’s bff and friends back home, who only play a minor part in the storyline, as well as get an up close and personal look at both of their pasts. Riley suffers with issues of anxiety but it is nothing compared to what Jax had to suffer when he was young.

Priscilla West takes the reader onto the stage and behind the scenes of life on the road with a famous star. It isn’t always pretty; someone is always waiting in the wings to cut you down even someone who should have protected you but destroyed the very heart and soul of a young boy who only wanted to be loved. Some of the scenes are raw and gritty with graphic violence and heartbreaking pain.

Just a heads up, RECKLESS ends on a bit of a cliffhanger when Riley takes matters into her own hands but have patience, this is a duology and the second instalment is due out in the Fall of 2014.

Copy supplied by the author through Netgalley

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FEARLESS
(Forever Book 2)
by Priscilla West
Genre: new adult, contemporary, romance, rock musician

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 17, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Beaten, bruised, and broken, I made a desperate move that would change our lives forever.

Just when I thought the worst was behind us, cracks appeared, secrets surfaced, and lies unraveled.

With threats closing in from all sides and our very lives hanging in the balance, I was faced with the most difficult decision of my life.

••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: FEARLESS is the second installment in Priscilla West’s contemporary, new adult Reckless romance series focusing on Jax, singer and front man for the rock band The Hitchcocks, and accountant Riley Hewitt. This is not a stand alone storyline but one that must be read after Reckless book one. Told from Riley’s point of view (as well as a couple of chapters from Jax) the storyline continues immediately from the events of Reckless.

Jax is a mess. From nightmares to night terrors, flashbacks and more, our hero struggles with his past-a past that controls his present –and a past that has come back seeking revenge. Jax’s fellow band mates know very little about his past but Riley is determined to uncover the truth. When Riley pushes Jax for more information, Jax begins to withdraw, determined to protect Riley from himself-at all costs-even if it means losing the woman with whom he has fallen in love. As Jax’s life spins out of control, everyone will be affected by the fall out.

There are moments of heartbreak and pain for a young man whose earlier years have all but destroyed any semblance of a normal life. Priscilla West brings the reader up close and personal with Jax’s history through flashbacks, memories and dreams that will shatter your heart. Riley is a woman who is driven to save the man that she loves but sometimes it is impossible to save someone-who doesn’t want to be saved.

At this point, I would like to point out, that someone behind the scenes is helping Jax in his recovery and the information or recommendations imparted are questionable on a professional level. I am not sure if the reasoning is accurate but for me it was a bit of a contentious point.

The relationship between Jax and Riley is tested on many levels but none more so than Jax’s continued withdrawal from Riley. The sex scenes are limited; there are issues of trust, fear and letting go.

The world building continues as we follow The Hitchcocks on tour. From backstage to center stage the band members party like there is no tomorrow as they take in the sights and sounds of California. The secondary characters include all of the band members, their manager, and via phone, Riley’s BFF.

FEARLESS is a quick and easy read that ends on a happily ever after, for now. I am looking forward to reading about the other band members if Priscilla is so inclined to bring about their stories. Everyone has some sort of demon in their past but Jax’s demon still has control.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviews by Sandy