Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh (Rock Kiss #1)
Released: September 9, 2014
Contemporary Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

Nalini Singh, one of my favorite paranormal authors has written a contemporary rock star book  – and I liked it a whole bunch. Can we all just take a minute to do a group squee?

Fox is the lead guitarist for the world-famous rock star band, Schoolboy Choir. While on break in Australia, he notices his publicist’s sister, Molly and can’t keep his eyes off her. Molly is a librarian that lives local and has recently connected with her sister Thea, a sister that shares the same father as they have nervously forged a new relationship. Their father Patrick, scandalized and embarrassed the family years ago when news of an affair with an underage girl made headlines. Molly was not only devastated and embarrassed, but publicly shamed and humiliated. Her life turned into unwanted paparazzi spotlight and she grew into an adult who is very afraid to put herself out there. Instead, she only chooses the safe things in life to try. Lusting over a gorgeous rock star is not safe – but when Fox catches Molly in the elevator, and puts the moves on her, she suddenly finds herself naked in bed with him. Telling herself it’s safe because it’s only a one night stand and darn it, she wants to have fun for once, she goes for it. But Fox has other plans. He falls for Molly hard, and wants more of her. On break for a month, Fox stubbornly cajoles Molly into dating him for one month only. Spoiler alert – they fall in love! And do very naughty things in the process.

This book features two adults who both had quite difficult childhoods. Molly’s father disgraced the family as he broke the law and her mother turned to alcohol. Fox was placed with his grandparents to raise him but they didn’t live long. They both have insecurities going into this relationship but Molly’s seemed more intense. I’ll be honest and say at first I didn’t think I was going to like Molly. She seemed a little too goody goody and perfect acting. But let me stress that I was wrong about her. This is a book where I enjoyed the second half more than the first, which is a rare thing for me. Mollie is so insecure about dating a rock star – she truly doesn’t want to be involved in the media spotlight again – so she pushes Fox away a lot. But thanks to her girlfriends and a boost of self-confidence, she finally decides that it is time to make herself happy.  Fox is a solid support for her as well, always lightly pushing her for a more serious relationship.

And what I like is that once they decide to not hide anymore and make their relationship known, they fight for each other. As expected, the press go crazy and there is a ton of external pressure from that, as well as Molly having to learn how to live the life of a girlfriend of a rock star. The jealousy over the constant women especially. But what I ended up loving about Molly is how darn mature she is. She admits and accepts that sometimes she does get jealous, but she communicates and fights for her relationship – and Fox fights right along with her. They make a great pair – there is no forced conflict or drama. I really appreciated how it all plays out.

And let’s not forget this is a rock star hero book so there is rock star hero sex. And Fox has moves you guys. And a dirty mouth. And I loved it. Like their first meeting:

“You know exactly how gorgeous you are.”

She caught his shrug out of the corner of her eye.

“It’s a face. It’s mine. I don’t want to kiss my own face. I want to kiss yours – while we’re skin-to-skin and I have my cock balls-seep in you.”

There are also great supporting characters in this book. Singh sets up the band well – we get a general feel for all of them, and of their love and camaraderie but they don’t overwhelm Fox and Molly. She hints at some darkness in some, and how outrageous and funny others are. We get a really good sense of them being rock stars. It isn’t just that they are rock stars on the page – Singh gives them chemistry and details and I really felt like I was out on tour with them too.

We also get big hints about Charlotte, Molly’s best friend who has a new boss she calls, T-rex. During this story, you know big things are playing out with Charlotte and T-Rex, but Singh just gives us teasers. And I need their book right now. I can’t wait to see what is happening off-page.

If I had read this not knowing who the author was, I wouldn’t say it reminded me of Singh’s Psy/Changeling or Guild Hunter series. This book has a different voice.

Rating: B

 Goodreads l Author Site l Series

Kindle