Beat Of Their Own Drum (Replay series #3)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Next up is K.M. Neuhold's Replay series. The third book is titled "Beat Of Their Own Drum," and it's Jude's book (the drummer and does drugs/is self-destructive--Archer is the band's manager).

["Jude
Bennett’s firm hand is everything I need…except maybe Archer’s gentle touch. I’m in a downward spiral…see what I did there? When the band manager, Archer, hires Bennett to keep me from screwing up while the band is on hiatus, I may have finally met someone who won’t take my attitude lying down. With the three of us cooped up together for weeks on end, I have a feeling things might get interesting.

Archer
Downward Spiral is my baby. But it’s obvious I haven’t done a great job because they’re falling apart. There’s only one man I can think of who might be able to get Jude back on the right track, Bennett. Unfortunately, he’s also the man I let get away sixteen years ago and haven’t gotten over since.

Bennett
Control is kind of my thing. Which is probably why I’m the best in the business when it comes to getting out of control celebrities back on track. When my ex calls and tells me he’s desperate for my help, I can’t turn him down. Between the infuriatingly sexy drummer with no idea what kind of trouble he’s asking for, and my ex looking better than ever, there’s no way this isn’t about to get messy."]

This book was almost angsty. But it was also soooo good! Their balance was perfect. It was exactly what they all needed. They all harmonized with each other (music pun not intended), found things out about themselves, and jumped over new hurdles. It was so fluffy and steamy and absolutely amazing. 

Trigger Warnings: drug use, overdosing, ect

#rockbottom #facethemusic #playitbyear #beatoftheirowndrum #strikeachord #replay #replayseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Play It By Ear (Replay series #2)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Next up is K.M. Neuhold's Replay series. The second book is titled "Play It By Ear," and it's Lando's book (the song writer/bassist and hopelessly pining after a weekend-night-stand).

["The Heart Always Knows

Lando
My muse is gone, and I haven’t written a word of music in over a year. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is Dawson. Nine years ago, just before Downward Spiral’s first major tour, I met my soulmate and then I walked away. Now that I’ve finally tracked him down again, things have changed. I’ll have to make him fall for me all over again. But is it possible I put our single weekend together on a pedestal or could Dawson really be The One?

Dawson
A traumatic brain injury nine years ago left me deaf and with spotty memory of the first twenty years of my life. When one of the biggest rock stars in the world shows up and seems to know me, I’m not sure what to believe. Is it possible he’s telling the truth when he says he’s been in love with me for nine years, even if I can’t remember ever meeting him?"]

It took me a while to just start this one, because I was feeling very anti-angst this week. However, this book was soooooo worth the quick binge-read when I finally got around to starting it.

There was angst, but not nearly as much as I built up in my head. There was sooooo much fluff and sweet moments. It was about finding yourself (again). It was about second chances. It was about love and making this work. 

#rockbottom #facethemusic #playitbyear #beatoftheirowndrum #strikeachord #replay #replayseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Face The Music (Replay series #1)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Next up is K.M. Neuhold's Replay series. The first book is titled "Face The Music," and it's Lincoln's book (the singer and self-harms/is suicidal).

["Lincoln
I thought there was only one thing I needed to make me happy. I was so sure becoming a rock star would heal the dark corners inside me. But every time I walk onto the stage, with a roaring crowd screaming my name, all I can think about is the boy I left behind. All I want to do is rewind and make a different choice.

Jace
I thought I hated Lincoln when he ghosted me ten years ago and destroyed my heart. I thought I hated him when he wrote a chart-topping hit about our idyllic young love. But I’ve never hated him as much as I do right now, standing in front of me like he has every right to be in my world again. He’s not the rock god I thought he was...he’s still that same lost boy I used to love. Can I ever trust him with my heart again?"]

Holy. Shit.

Okay, so yes, I'll preface this review by saying this book is dark. as. hell. Please check the triggers below. The self-harm and suicide attempts (or self-harm incidents that lead to accidental attempted suicide) are on page and description. The descriptions of Linc's depression and dark thoughts and twisty feelings are H A R D to read. They were scary accurate, let's just say.

The romance though? Just as description and accurate. It was hard but fluffy and sweet at the same time. It took them a while to get back to where they had been (spoiler alert: there's also some scenes of them falling in love as kids and total heart-eyes there), but they talked and worked together. Sooooo beautiful and soooooooooo worth the dark and twisty stuff (even if I went into a full-blown depressive episode myself).

Trigger Warnings: self-harm, suicidal thoughts, depression, bipolar disorder, ect

#rockbottom #facethemusic #playitbyear #beatoftheirowndrum #strikeachord #replay #replayseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Rock Bottom (Replay series #0.5)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Next up is K.M. Neuhold's Replay series. It starts with (the prequel): "Rock Bottom."

["Downward Spiral— a band with a handful of platinum records, and almost no hope of making it. Meet Lincoln, Benji, Lando, and Jude— the hottest rock stars of the decade, who’ve just about hit rock bottom."]

Downward Spiral was first introduced in the Heathens Ink series (the fifth book "Inked In Vegas") when all of the Heathens went to their concert and got asked to go backstage. They became friends, and the guys from Heathens ended up tattooing the guys from Downward Spiral.

And this is so I don't get confused myself: Lincoln is the singer and he self-harms/is suicidal after some yet-to-be-named incident/person; Benji plays keyboard, is basically sunshine, and is crushing on best friend's twin; Lando writes songs and plays bass, and he's pining after weekend-night-stand; and Jude plays the drums and he does drugs/is self-destructive after a shitty childhood traumatized him.

After reading this short story, I'm now even more excited about reading this series! I can't wait for everyone to get their happily ever afters. Because right now, it seems as if those HEAs are very (very, very) far away (this is going to be a dark and twisty and emotional one, folks; buckle up).

Trigger Warnings: self-harm, drug use, suicidal tendencies, ect

#rockbottom #facethemusic #playitbyear #beatoftheirowndrum #strikeachord #replay #replayseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Heathens Ink Shorts and Bonus Scenes

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Let's finish the Heathens Ink and Inked series with: "Heathens Ink Short and Bonus Scenes" (by K.M. Neuhold).

["Love, Pain, and Ink. The men of Heathens Ink Tattoo Studio have a lot to work through, but they always do it together.
❤ Madden and Thane's first date night after their babies are born
❤ When Owen became a Heathen
❤ Nox enters a tattoo competition
❤ Gage and Beck's little man is born!
❤ Wyatt gets his first tattoo
❤ Out of Focus- the short story of Liam's graduation from high school. You won't want to miss this special moment!
❤ Dear Cupid- Royal and his men are ready for Valentine's day, and it's going to be a steamy one!"]

This was the perfect ending to the Heathens Ink and Inked series. It was all (mostly) happy additions and fluffy moments. Of course, there was also a bit of angst and a lot of steam.

#hotink #rescueme #goingcommando #fromashes #shatteredpieces #unraveled #inkedinvegas #uncomplicated #flashme #unexpected #heathensinkshortsandbonusscenes #heathensink #inked #heathensinkseries #inkedseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Unexpected (Inked #3)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Let's start with Heathens Ink (and it's spin-off series Inked). All by K.M. Neuhold. The third book to read in the Inked series "Unexpected."

["Kyle needed a place to stay, he never thought it would turn into so much more.

So, your gorgeous boss, Maverick, and his yummy husband, Ari, are letting you stay with them while you get back on your feet? Here are a few simple tips:
Don’t call his husband Daddy. I know it’ll be difficult, but seriously, don’t.
Don’t leave a pair of red, lacy panties in their bed.
If you hear interesting noises from their bedroom in the middle of the night, don’t peek in. Don’t.
And most importantly, don’t fall in love.
Follow these tips and everything should go as expected."]

Kyle was one of the teenagers that Madden (from book one of Heathens Ink--"Rescue Me") helped at the Rainbow House, in case you were wondering why his name seemed familiar (he was also Liam's best friend in the sixth Heathens book "Flash Me"). ;)

I've been wanting to read this book for soooooo long (okay, so I week--but after binging this entire series in that week, it seemed much, much longer), and it was soooooo worth it! The levels of mutual pining!? Plus the angst!?!? D: 

There was so much fluff and sweet as cotton candy stuff that equally meshed with the hot as fuck steam!? God, this book was so damn good!!

#hotink #rescueme #goingcommando #fromashes #shatteredpieces #unraveled #inkedinvegas #uncomplicated #flashme #unexpected #heathensinkshortsandbonusscenes #heathensink #inked #heathensinkseries #inkedseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Flash Me (Heathens Ink #6)

Lots and lots and lots of binge-reading in my near future. Let's start with Heathens Ink (and it's spin-off series Inked). All by K.M. Neuhold. The sixth book to read in the Heathens series "Flash Me."

["Love is multiplied, never divided.

Liam
I was kicked out at sixteen for being transgender, but it turned out to be one of the best things to ever happen to me. At twenty-one, I have a fantastic new family made up of my brother and a handful of wonderful friends, I own my own photography business, and I’m happier than I imagined possible. There’s just one thing missing… Okay, maybe two…

Wyatt
When I took the position volunteering as a therapist at Rainbow House, I knew I’d found my place in the world: helping teens who had been rejected by their families. What I didn’t expect was the friendship I formed with Liam or how it would grow over the years into a crush I just couldn’t shake. I’m happy to see him finally opening himself up to dating with someone he trusts like Owen. But when he comes to me and asks if I can help his boyfriend, I feel like there’s more to the request than just a few therapy sessions. The more I get to know Owen, the more I like him, too.

Owen
I’m not sure why I believe so much in fate when she’s dealt me nothing but crappy hands—a stint in prison and enough childhood horrors to fuel all my adult nightmares. But I still hold on to the idea that everything happens for a reason. What I can’t figure out is why fate would plop me naked into Liam’s bed under the pretext of helping him with a photo series for a gallery showing. Or why my stomach goes funny every time he smiles at me. Liam is too sweet to be exposed to my demons, but I don’t know how to protect him…Maybe that’s why fate gave us Wyatt."]

This book...had a lot of drama in it. Not relationship drama (yes, there was a little angst, but a good amount). There was just...each person had their own demons they were battling, and it took me a while to read this without having a complete depressive episode (see triggers below).

Liam and Owen just fell into it easy (it being love and a relationship). Liam and Wyatt had been hovering close to one for a while. Wyatt's feelings for Owen (and Owen's feelings for Wyatt) happened so easily and happily, thanks to Liam. It wasn't entirely easy (see previously mentioned demons), but they stuck together and made it work.

Trigger Warnings: transphobia, misgendering, body dysphoria, drug addition, domestic violence, murder, ect

#hotink #rescueme #goingcommando #fromashes #shatteredpieces #unraveled #inkedinvegas #uncomplicated #flashme #unexpected #heathensinkshortsandbonusscenes #heathensink #inked #heathensinkseries #inkedseries #kmneuhold #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks