TEST
Resurrection is the fourth installment in Karina Bliss’ Rock Solid series. This charming tale works well as a stand-alone novel, but the experience is definitely enriched by having read the previous books in the saga.
She used to be known as Stormy Hagen, model and professional girlfriend to rock stars. Now she’s Lily Stuart, nanny and early childhood education student. She’s left her double Ds (surgically removed) and smexy boy toys behind her, although unfortunately, they aren’t quite through with her. Her final fling with a b-list rocker was recorded and since the loser had left it on his phone – which has since been stolen – the video is now all over the internet. Knowing she has only hours before the paparazzi make the family she works for regret ever knowing her, Lily quits her job and calls gal pal Dimity. Dimity offers refuge in the oversized home she rented for the band she manages, T-Minus 6. Lily has no desire to re-enter the world of rock and roll – but she also has no choice. She literally has nowhere else to go.
Moving into the T-Minus 6 house essentially means moving in with guitarist Moss McFadden. The other two members of the band are with their wives/significant others, but the lease hasn’t been changed to reflect the new living situation. Moss is happy to have Lily stay – the place has plenty of room – but she feels guilty taking charity from a casual acquaintance. He has a solution for that. He lost his driver’s license. Not the way that most rock stars do – to an excess of drugs or booze – but simply by forgetting to renew it and then being in a fender bender after it had expired. He’s unable to use his kick ass sports car and has been dependent on rides from friends ever since. He feels like a toddler and the situation has been seriously cramping his style. He figures hiring Lily to work as his driver is the perfect way for her to keep her dignity and really help him out at the same time. It turns out to be a dangerous decision, though, because he’d had a crush on Lily back when she was Stormy, and this new, improved version tempts him far more than that overly polished version ever did. Stormy would have settled for sex and being seen in all the right places with him, but Lily? She’s honest, open, sees through his bullshit and understands the past that made him the guarded individual he is today. She’s not going to be satisfied with a superficial relationship and he’s convinced he’s too damaged to offer more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this acquaintance-to-friends-to-lovers’ romance. It perfectly captures that experience of kind of knowing someone, then getting to really know them and then having the relationship deepen. Living and working together enables Lily and Moss to learn each other’s secrets, dreams and hopes. Initially, the story is fairly low on drama and concentrates strictly on their budding friendship, which is exactly what it is. There may be some hidden longing in each of them, but the lustful thoughts are kept to a minimum. Seventy-percent into the book there has been exactly one heated kiss, given partly in consolation when the fallout from the sex tape follows Lily into what she considers a safe space. Moss backs away because a) he thinks he’s too flawed to truly love someone and b) he knows Lily has sexual hang-ups.
Which she does. It’s not just the tape currently burning up the internet, but the fact that she was raised to believe that her only value lay in her ability to attract men. Her desire to be something more is a core part of her new life and she’s not ready to fall into bed with yet another rock star. Especially one who stubbornly refuses to believe he is capable of giving or receiving love. Besides, that wouldn’t do much good for Moss’s career since his new band’s freshman album is about to released and he doesn’t need the negative publicity of being seen with someone infamous.
Moss had a messed-up childhood, part of which was spent fending for himself on the streets. He knows Lily’s past was only slightly better and appreciates how she gets his dark places. But while she came out of her own difficulties determinedly kind and loving, he did not. And he refuses to pull her into the shadows with him.
This relationship conundrum wasn’t looking like it would have a solution when, at about the fifty percent mark, the life-changing situation mentioned in the back blurb happens. It plays to all of Lily’s strengths, enabling her to show Moss that he can’t live without her and that he is, after all, capable of being a loving human being. It’s a bit silly but it is also awfully sweet, so works fine in a romance.
I also really appreciated that the relationship takes plenty of time to blossom beyond friendship. Both these characters needed that rock-solid-friend base for any relationship to succeed outside the bedroom, so the time spent on creating that was time well spent.
Rock star romances tend to be complete fantasies and Resurrection is no exception, but that didn’t keep me from finding it a quick, delightful, entertaining read. I think fans of the series will love this novel.
Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo
Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 22/06/18
Publication Date: 06/2018
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I've been an avid reader since 2nd grade and discovered romance when my cousin lent me Lord of La Pampa by Kay Thorpe in 7th grade. I currently read approximately 150 books a year, comprised of a mix of Young Adult, romance, mystery, women's fiction, and science fiction/fantasy.
Related Reviews
There is a short epilogue with Moss and Lily’s wedding that I got in a newsletter e-mail. What the Librarian Did is the correct name for her book. I had it wrong in an earlier post.
I can only echo Maggie. I’m not into rock or celebrity romances, either. I tried a few other books by the author before trying Rise, and really liked the books I tried. As with any author, as I read more, my mileage varied, but the author has become an auto-buy for me. I think she’s one of the better romance writers out there. I’ve got this one, but I’m super busy right now and am waiting for a week when life settles and I can immerse myself without a lot of interruptions. I’m very much looking forward to it.
I agree, I think Bliss is one of the better writers out there. Even the books I don’t love, I like.
I’m not especially into rock romances either, but this sounds super charming and the author’s really good at playing with the tropes from the previous book I read in the series!
She does a great job of playing with the tropes and I’ve found all but one of the stories to be really charming. I’m not into rock romance either – most of the ones I’ve started I’ve put down after a page or two – but the Bliss books have been the exception.
I really liked this book. I have enjoyed this series since the first book, What the Librarian Knew, even though I am not a big fan of Rock Romances. Karina Bliss sucks me in with her stories and the characters come alive. I appreciate your review because like you say, something big life-changing happens halfway through the book that surprised me, but you don’t reveal details. Its hard for me to believe in HEAs in the rock world but this couple’s story is a good one. I think my favorite book in the series is still What the Librarian Knew.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite in the series but it would definitely either be Rise or What the Librarian Knew. I hope she continues to write more in this sub-genre, since I’ve loved these.