Deep by Kylie Scott (Stage Dive #4)
Released: March 31, 2015
Contemporary Romance
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by Mandi  and Tori

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

Mandi: Fans of this series have followed the quiet bass drummer Ben through the first few books of this series. Up to this book, this has been a fun, sexy, funny rock star romance series. However, Deep felt different and  didn’t do it for me. I never really felt like we got to know Ben all that well and Liz overall annoyed me. With too many other supporting characters muddling up the main couple, I’m disappointed.

Tori, let’s first start with Liz. I found her to be a little on the whiny side. We get a flashback to her and Ben first hooking up, and she seemed a little desperate to get it on with Ben. I’m all for getting it on with a rock star *wink* but I guess her flirtation seemed too forced and not genuine enough. What did you think of their initial attraction (which leads to the baby)?

Tori: I agree 100%. The first three books were the perfect blend of humor, romance, and just enough angst to keep it real.  I laughed, I teared up, and I couldn’t wait to get the next band member’s story. This installment is the weakest one in the series.  Minimal character development and an onslaught of contrived  plot devices used to create conflict(s) left me feeling rather meh about the entire story.

I never developed a connection with Ben or Lizzy and by the halfway mark, their eventual happily ever after didn’t even matter.   Lizzy, in the previous books, really seemed like she had herself together and like her sister, had her feet firmly planted on the ground. In here, she regresses and we see a different and not so attractive side to her. She likes Ben, wants more from him, and pushes aggressively hard for a relationship with him despite him telling her repeatedly he doesn’t want more than friendship. She pushes him, he pulls away, she gets her feelings hurt… rinse, lather, repeat.  Ben isn’t any better in that he gives some heavily mixed signals and tends to disappear when he doesn’t feel like dealing with things.

The baby plot device was the first of many and it was irksome. The way it’s used to force Ben to mature and ‘man up’ irritated me because I really didn’t think there was anything wrong with him in the first place. Just because a one night stand results in baby doesn’t and shouldn’t automatically mean instant romance. If the chemistry between them had been there in the beginning I may have bought it but since it wasn’t, it felt forced. What do you think, Mandi?

Mandi: Ben has always intrigued me. That quiet intensity that I couldn’t wait to unravel. Maybe it was the surprise baby plot. I like how it was just blurted out at dinner, but then the rest of the book felt forced. It didn’t feel romantic. It felt like everything had to do with the baby, some sex thrown in and every other couple in Stage Dive thrown in. I don’t think enough focus was put on the actual romance between Ben and Lizzy. Totally agree with your thoughts regarding Lizzy. She was too wishy-washy for me. I felt like it was forced conflict.

While I think there was too much focus on the other couples, darn it, Mal still makes me laugh with his manic self. And now we’ve met Vaughan from their warm-up band – I’m assuming we might start venturing into that band now?

Tori: I have heard this is the last Stage Dive book and I have heard that Scott’s next series will be a spin-off, revolving around a family owned bar-The Dive Bar series. Vaughan will be the hero in the book, title and release day to be announced.

Mal is and remains an utter delight no matter the role he is designated to play. He always makes me laugh with his outrageous exposition and overly dramatic attitude. The secondary characters did play a far larger role in this book; at times overshadowing the protagonists. This isn’t helped by the fact Lizzy and Ben spend a remarkable amount of the book separated. When matters forced Lizzy into Ben’s world, Ben suddenly does an about face and he’s ready for them to have a relationship. Jealousy plays a large role in that-another plot device. This is a common theme but again, it fails to ring true in here because it’s clear that if Lizzy hadn’t become pregnant, none of this would be happening.

Mandi: Ooooh a bar series – that might be fun. I love Kylie Scott’s voice so I’m glad she is going to write a new series.

Now that I know this is the last book, it makes more sense. I agree that Ben and Lizzy spent a lot of time apart – and so much time spent with the other couples. It was like everything was wrapping up, to the expense of Ben and Lizzy.

Tori: Yes! Exactly. Lizzy and Ben’s story  is forced to share the stage with every other couple as Scott wraps the series up and it takes away from them. It just all moved so fast. Regardless of my issues, I did enjoy parts of the story. Lizzy is smart and practical and once she becomes pregnant, the desperate quality in her fades and I saw the old Lizzy. Her natural humor shines through and provided some funny laugh out loud moments. Her rhapsodies to Ben’s beard are funny as is her increased sexual drive due to her hormones. The defining conflict moment made me fist bump but again, Ben does the right thing, but we never know why. I think it being told from Lizzy’s POV is what caused a majority of my issues. Not getting Ben’s thoughts leaves a lot unknown. Even though I heard this is the last book in the series, the epilogue gives clues it may not. Perhaps Martha (Ben’s sister) will cross over into the spin-off series. I thought the epilogue was super cute. “I feel so bad for me.” LOL I remember feeling that way in labor.  What did you think of the epilogue, Mandi?

Mandi: The epilogue is cute and it wraps up the story well. I definitely think Martha has a story to be told in the future.

Overall, not a fan of the pregnancy storyline and I needed to get to know Ben a lot better. And I wanted more romance darn it. Love this series, but this one is not my favorite.

Grade: C

Tori: Though happy we got Ben and Lizzy’s story, it wasn’t as fresh or robust as the other three. I definitely feel the characterization wasn’t as defining nor unique in terms of storyline and development. Neither Ben nor Lizzy had anything “special” about them that set them apart and that hurt the story. Like you Mandi, I will enjoyed  the series and look forward to reading more from Ms. Scott but this story was not a favorite either.

Grade: C

Goodreads l Author Website l Series

Kindle l Nook