Blurb:
In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.
It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.
Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.
Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart
Paloma's 4 Star Review:
Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper is a powerful story of a
young mother grieving the loss of her husband and then discovering love again.
It’s more than a romance novel –perhaps somewhere between women’s literature
and the romance genre- with the loss intrinsically woven into the story as
tightly as the love.
The story opens in a sad haze of grief and gets off to a
slow start. The author provides readers with the background information in a
way that gently propels the story forward as Katrina and her young daughter
Abbey begin to move forward. Since losing her husband three years prior,
they’ve moved back to the suburban town where Katrina was raised.
Katrina is surrounded by the friends of her youth in Lauder
Lake. She’s healing with their help, despite how imperfectly dysfunctional each
of them are. The author has created a solid cast of characters that add to the
story, giving dimension to the main characters and illuminating the process of
healing. They’re a bit nosy, give unsolicited advice and care for Katrina
immensely. Readers will love them.
As a volunteer at the local library, Katrina sets up a
children’s music time and wants to bring in a performer. She seeks out the
musician who wrote the jingle for a children’s tv show Abbey adores. When she
finds Adrian, she is completely unaware of his previous rock star status –a
rockstar her own brother adores. In fact, for much of the book, she has no idea
of his previous life. What she does know is that there’s an instant chemistry. With
a past that has left him without family, Adrian falls for Abbey too. Abbey is
precocious and lovable, a fun addition to the book in a way that lightens some
of the more difficult moments in the story. Believe me, there are moments when
readers will cry.
Drawn to one another despite appearing opposites, Kat (as
Adrian calls her) and Adrian spend time together in a cautiously sweet way. The
author has taken on a difficult task in sharing the love story between Katrina
and her first husband, allowing readers to feel the pain of her loss while
still being able to accept Adrian as her new lover. I was impressed by how
beautifully the story was written, the easing into a new relationship that lent
itself to possible pitfalls. Readers will find themselves embracing the
relationship and cheering this unlikely couple on.
The author doesn’t rush the courtship, pacing the story
appropriately, though the characters don’t share their histories soon enough.
They fall apart and have to find a way to come together again. The conflict is
strong enough that readers will wonder if Kat and Adrian will get to their
happily ever after. And then, you get to the ending and it’s not only Kat’s
brother who will be surprised.
This book was a powerful story of a woman’s strength, her
love for her child and her need to be loved again. It’s for readers who enjoy the
emotional punch in their romance books.
-Paloma Beck
About Jessica Topper:
Book Blurb:
A book about Aubrey and
William. They are navigating through a relationship that may have too
many hurdles... or perhaps not, as long as she can hold his hand.
Aubrey has been hurt in the past, discouraged and degraded. Still, William sees something in her that won't allow him to walk away. Instantly drawn to her but intuitive enough to take it slowly, he courts her. Then he bargains, persuades and seduces until Aubrey becomes ensnared by his commanding nature. Despite the fight she puts up in accepting William's lifestyle, the bonds he places on Aubrey give her a freedom she desperately needs. And together, they heal old wounds and find their perfect love
Aubrey has been hurt in the past, discouraged and degraded. Still, William sees something in her that won't allow him to walk away. Instantly drawn to her but intuitive enough to take it slowly, he courts her. Then he bargains, persuades and seduces until Aubrey becomes ensnared by his commanding nature. Despite the fight she puts up in accepting William's lifestyle, the bonds he places on Aubrey give her a freedom she desperately needs. And together, they heal old wounds and find their perfect love
Angie J's 4 Star Review:
I was given this book by the author for an honest review.
Can I say THANK YOU!!!! I enjoyed this book alot. I am a big BDSM reader thanks to a certain *cough cough* man who likes Grey. Anway, I have read alot of these kinds of books after my initial reaction to ssaid man. However, I have also found much Much MUCH better writing and truth to the lifestyle since reading him. I have to say it scares me how people are "flocking" to try these things out without a true understanding of what is expected or correct. In many of the BDSM books I have read of late, the people meet this DOM and boom they are thrust into a relationship without building any kind of trust. People this type of relationship is built on trust so to just blindly jump in like some books do is very scary to me. Anyway I wanted to say THANK YOU for the author for showing how to correctly begin a D/s relationship.
William is a dominate and he has become smitten with his coffee shop barista Aubrey. He comes to her coffee shop for months before actually talking to her but always watching her. Well, one day she crashes into him and *boom* spills his coffee. William doesn't ask but informs Aubrey they will be having dinner. Stunned Aubrey says Yes sir which of course pleases William to no end :) William knows Aubrey is a novice in everyway (still has the V card peps). He waits weeks before anything sexual happens because he wants her total and complete trust and faith in him and them. He is always telling her what he is doing and why he is doing things to again...build her trust. I think I loved that even though he was a very dominate male he knew Aubrey was a scared little elf . He wanted to make sure she felt safe, cherished and loved in every encounter they had even if it was just a massage or snuggle.
When the relationship gets pretty in-depth, William begins to help Aubrey with her own insecurities after years of abuse from her father. AM I suggesting that BDSM will cure a person and that they should read this....no. However, knowing the one you love feels that you are perfect and having them make you repeat it until you actually start to believe it is a great way to build yourself up.
I really enjoyed this story and the dramatic ending had me holding my breath for Aubrey and William. I cannot wait for book 2 . The 2nd book should be out very very soon!!!!
About the Author:
https://www.facebook.com/PalomaBeckAuthor?fref=ts
Buy Links:
You guys rock! I loved participating in this feature. Writers are some of the most avid readers, me included! :)
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