Not Another Rock Star (Hot Under Her Collar #3)
Released: June 27, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

I’ve really enjoyed this series – this is a four-star read for me, but probably book one and two I liked better (reviews). This one is super sweet and cute, but the two characters didn’t grab me like they did in previous books. But this is still a good read.

Suzannah DeWitt, better known as Suze, is an episcopal priest, former opera student, who is trying to make a good impression in her new church.

She pulled into her parking spot in the tiny lot. Rector, the hand-lettered sign read, then St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. Damn right, she was rector – the twenty-eight-year-old #girlboss.

She wants her parishioners to love her, and she wants to love them. She also wants to make some changes – like opening a food pantry to those in need in her San Francisco neighborhood. Some of the older, more traditional parishioners are wary of her gung-ho attitude, and Suze is learning she must tread carefully to make progress.

When her organist breaks her arm, Suze is shocked to see famous rock star, Rush Perez sitting in her church, taking over organ duties. Rush belongs to a very well-known band, but is on a break with them to deal with some personal issues. He was raised in San Francisco and took organ lessons from a local, which is partly why he is sitting is Suze’s church. Rush is not religious – at all – he actually hasn’t spoken to his very religious mother for ten years due to a falling out over God – so he is just as surprised as Suze to be inside a church. But he feels warmth for the person who taught him music lessons all those years ago, and truth be told  – the female priest isn’t too bad to look at.

The real reason Rush is in San Francisco is to see a doctor who can hopefully help him with a disease he has – which gives him severe vertigo and ringing in his ears. And most scary – potential hearing loss. Rush will do anything to save his hearing. While the public thinks his falls off stage are from drinking, it’s really his vertigo. But he hasn’t told anyone about the disease he has. Not even his band mates. He is too scared to admit it to anyone. His last resort before brain surgery is an experimental drug in San Francisco.

Suze doesn’t want a gorgeous rock star playing her organ (well…at least not the CHURCH organ) and when he critiques her sermon as being too flashy with her opera voice, she definitely doesn’t want him in her church. But as she gets to know him, she falls hard for the super sweet rock star.

All three books in this series feature heroines who are episcopal priests. While the other two push the envelope more, this one is more on the sweet side. Rush and Suze grow fond of one another pretty quick – even with their differences. Rush is a famous rock star, he doesn’t believe in god and has a reputation that isn’t squeaky clean. Suze is a former opera student turned priest who enjoys her scheduled days and wine with her girlfriends on Sunday evenings. They are an unlikely pair but this author makes their chemistry work well.

“Suzannah.” Her name was a question – are you listening? – and a demand – pay attention.

She nodded stiffly against his firm hold.

“You need to know, I’m one of the broken hallelujahs.”

“Aren’t we all? That’s what makes the song so good.” She took hold of his wrist and slid his hand down, dragging his palm over her breast, her side, to settle it on her hip.

His hand tightened there, his fingers digging hard into her flesh. He bent his head and placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck, just under her ear.

Did I mention this is a sexy book?

They don’t have a ton of conflict within their relationship except for the fact that Rush isn’t local to San Fransisco and will have to leave in a few weeks. There is more external conflict surrounding some of Suze’s parishioners and her pushing for the opening of the food pantry. But Rush is there, supporting her – all the while trying not to completely freak out over his vertigo disease.

As always, this author writes very well done supporting characters who add a lot to the story. I could picture Suze’s church and parishioners. It may have gotten a little slow in the second half, but over all this is a nice and sexy rock star/priest book.We don’t get many of those!

Grade: B

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