Thursday, June 25, 2015

Blog Tour: Wicked White (Wicked White #1) by Michelle A. Valentine



Wicked White
Wicked White #1

By:

Michelle A. Valentine

Published:
June 22, 2015

Publisher:
Montlake Romance

Add to Goodreads

Source: 
eARC from publisher for a honest review

GR's Summary

After his mother dies, rock star Ace White—lead singer of the red-hot band Wicked White—is done with the celebrity game. The phony people, the meaningless one-night stands: he doesn’t want any of it anymore. Quitting in the middle of a sold-out tour, Ace sets out to find some place—any place—where he can be alone. 

Aspiring singer Iris Easton’s life has never been easy. First, her mother walked out on her when she was a kid. Now she’s buried in debt, weeks after losing her beloved grandmother. When a mysterious and sexy new guy moves in next door, Iris can’t help but be drawn to his soulful gaze. She can tell there’s something from his past haunting him—something he’s not telling her. 

Just as Ace starts falling for Iris, the media go on a worldwide hunt to find the missing rocker. Will true love conquer all, or will the truth be the very thing that tears the couple apart? 


My Thoughts:


Lately, I've been in the mood to read stories about rockstars.  I don't know what it is, but I just can't get enough of them!  So when I saw Wicked White, I wanted it immediately.  This is my first book by Michelle A. Valentine, and I was excited to try a new to me author.

Ace is a famous rockstar, at the top of the charts, and booking sold out tours.  However, he is miserable.  Music has always been Ace's passion.  Unfortunately, in order to make it big, he had to give up his creativity.  His songs are written for the pop charts, and he doesn't even like them.  His band, Wicked White, was hand-selected, and there is nothing but jealousy, tension, and hard feelings between Ace and the other members.  

Ace's road manager, Jane Ann, is money hungry, and controlling.  She doesn't care that Ace's is unhappy, instead everything is about dollars and cents.  As far as Ace is concerned, he is tired of the groupies, paparazzi, and everything else to do with the limelight.  He wants to find a good girl to fall in love with, but the women he meets just want him for his money and fame.  Ace receives a disturbing phone call that his foster mother Sarah, (the only person that has ever cared about him,) is in the hospital.  He tells his manager and band that he has to leave to see his mother.  Needless to say, they show zero sympathy, and Ace ends up leaving in the middle of a tour. 

Ace's mother ends up dying, and he decides to hide away and escape his superstar life in a remote area under his real name.  He ends up renting a run down trailer, and meeting the sweet and beautiful owner, Iris Easton.  She thinks Ace is gorgeous, and doesn't recognize him for the famous star that he is.  Ace decides to be rude and stay clear of Iris, because he doesn't need any complications.  However, as these two are neighbors, and Iris is determined to "kill him with kindness," he isn't able to stay unattached.  As he get's to know Iris he realizes that she is his dream girl, but what will happen to them when the press finds him, and Iris discovers his true identity?  

At the beginning of the story, I did not care for Ace.  For one I felt like he let his manager walk all over him.  Then, when he met Iris, I thought he was horribly rude.  I understand that he wanted to keep his distance from her, but I think he could have done that and still acted civil.  

Eventually, I ended up really liking Ace, after his walls came down.  He quoted Shakespeare, was sweet and attentive to Iris, and helped out the tenets in the trailer park out of the goodness of his heart.  Iris was such a sweetheart, and they both had a lot in common.  She had grown up with only a grandmother to care for her, and had recently lost her, similar to Ace's situation with his foster mother.  Also, Iris had a passion for music.  Specifically, she loved singing show tunes.  Right away, I saw that Ace and Iris would make the perfect match.

I loved these two characters, and the fact that Ace was such a unique rockstar.  However, I had trouble connecting with the two as a couple at times.  Some of the romance felt cliche, and fell flat for me.  I got frustrated with the communication problems and bad decision making that prolonged the resolution needed between Ace and Iris.  Yet, I swooned over the intense chemistry, and enjoyed how protective Ace was of Iris, and well as how she brought out the amorous side in him.    

My Rating:


I give, Wicked White, by Michelle A. Valentine, 3 Unique Rockstar, Poetic Romantic, Embracing Your Dreams, and Following Your Heart Filled Stars! 








Book Teaser:


Book Excerpt:
“Iris…that was amazing. You’ve got so much talent,” I praise. 

Her green eyes light up with excitement like a child’s do on Christmas morning. “You really think so? You’re not just saying that?” 

“No. I never bullshit about music. You’ve definitely got the chops for Broadway, it’s just…” I hesitate, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but I know that in order for her to get better, she has to be told what she’s doing wrong. 

She lays her hand on my forearm. “Please, tell me. I can take it. Promise.” 

I stand beside her, so close that my chest nearly touches her shoulder. I’m itching to touch her, but I won’t do it without permission. “May I touch you?” 

She draws in a ragged breath and then nods. “Yes.” 

I curl the fingers of my right hand around her right shoulder and pull back a little so that her posture is perpendicular to the floor. At this angle, I can’t help but notice her heaving chest and how her perky tits move in sync with each breath she takes. 

I slide my left hand against her toned stomach and my pinkie grazes the warm patch of skin that’s exposed between her T-shirt and the waistband of her jeans. 

Our contact is fucking electric, and my own breathing picks up speed as I attempt to fight back the arousal I feel for her boiling beneath my surface. 

“Everything about you is magnetic,” I whisper in her ear, and she shivers at the words. “Don’t be afraid to open your eyes and watch your audience enjoy you. Be confident and project. Let go.” 

I let go of her shoulder, and move to face her before pressing the repeat button on the machine. As the intro of the song plays, I say, “Do it again, but this time I want you to look at me.” 

This time when she opens her mouth to sing, when she begins to tip her head down, I slide my index finger under her chin and angle her head so that she’s forced to peer into my eyes. 

Her words are just barely above a whisper, so I slip my hand back on her abdomen and say, “Project--from here. Sing it like you mean it.” 

It’s like lightening strikes this beautiful woman in my arms as she sings to me without fear. The words of the song come out effortlessly, and her voice could rival any of the greatest female vocalists of all time. 

She’s that damn stunning. 

I nod approvingly and smile. “Yes!” 

With that little bit of encouragement, she shocks me even more when she pushes herself to hit notes that are above and beyond what she reached the first time. 

Only on the last lyric does she close her eyes while she holds the note there until the music stops. She releases a contented sigh as soon as the music ends, and when her beautiful eyes meet mine again, they swirl with emotion. 

Completely blown away, I fumble with the words to tell her just how impressed I am. “Iris, that was--” 

Without warning, she throws her arms around my neck and crushes her lips against mine. I know kissing her back is wrong, but I’ll be damned if I don’t want her so badly at this point that I can’t stop myself from giving in. I’ve been so good with restraining myself when it comes to Iris, because protecting her from the chaos that I’ll bring her is what’s always been on the forefront of my mind. 

Her fingers thrust into my hair, and I reach down and curl my hands around her thighs before hoisting her into the air. Instinctively she wraps her legs around my waist, and I thread one of my hands into her tousled curls while the other is busy cupping that perfect ass of hers. 

“I’ve wanted you since you walked into my trailer,” she breathes against my lips. 

A thrill shoots through me at her admission of how long she’s wanted me. “You’ve been driving me out of my mind from the moment I first saw you.” 

“Then take me.”


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About Michelle A. Valentine:

Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series.




*Be a little naughty – join Valentine’s Vixens on Facebook for sneak peeks at Michelle’s upcoming works, as well as fun and chatting with her and other readers!




Blog Tour Organized By:
http://www.inkslingerpr.com






22 comments:

  1. Hate that you had a hard time connecting with them as a couple. That typically ruins a book for me. I know a lot of bloggers who are either into the MC or rock star phase right now. I keep trying but still haven't gotten it.

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    1. Have you read Mayhem and Riot by Jamie Shaw? That's what got me in to mu rockstar phase :)

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  2. Ace's need to be alone is something I'm all too familiar with. I did the same when my mother died. However, I'm glad that he wasn't alone for long and that he opened up. I would only haave one question about them as a couple, specifically, Iris. How could she not recognize him if he's a world known musician? Especially if she herself loves music and wants to be a singer. Still, I'd read it to get a feel for these characters and their story. Great review!

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    1. Thanks Lekeisha! The reason Iris doesn't recognize Ace is because he sings pop music, and she hates pop. She listens to country and show tunes :)

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  3. I have noticed that you can start not liking a character only to figure them out over the course of the book. I'm glad you ended up liking him. And I love rocker stories.

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    1. Yes, I ended up loving Ace! Rocker stories are my go-to romance these days! Thanks for stopping by Val :)

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  4. Sounds like Ace was a bit of a jerk in the beginning, being rude and not standing up for what he wants. Good to see you liked Iris though. Sounds like a good relationship after Ace opened up...

    Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace

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    1. He was, but then he became really likeable :)

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  5. I know what you mean about getting a craving. Lately mine has been bikers, but rockers do it for me, too. I get so impatient with the couples when they sabotage their own happiness through piddly stuff. Glad they got it sorted. Enjoyed your review, Lindy!

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  6. I haven't really read too many rocker books, I am glad that once Ace's walls came down you ended up liking him more.

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  7. I think the only two series I've read about rockstars are Deep and Breathe. Rockers sorta annoy me now, I find bikers fascinating though! They're like the ultimate bad boy in books, but in reality they scare me lol :D I loved reading your review though Lindy :) <3 Benish | Feminist Reflections

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    1. Thanks Benish! I love Bikers too, but agree, in real life they scare me too!

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  8. I had some issues connecting to the couple as well but did end up enjoying this one, too! Great review.

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  9. kellan kyle will always be my favorite. he was the first rocker i ever read and he just holds a special place in my heart :)

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