Play Your Heart Out (Sinful Serenade #4)
Crystal Kaswell
Publication date: May 24th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance
He parties like a rockstar.
She’s there to make sure no one finds out…
Jess James has her eye on the prize. She is finding the money to pay for law school. Period. She is starting a new life on her own. Period. And she’s absolutely staying in Los Angeles, three thousand miles away from the people who expect her to lie for them. It doesn’t matter how lonely she gets on her own, how exhausted she is from working overtime as a cocktail waitress, or how deep the knife wound in her back cuts. She is going to be a lawyer, whatever it takes.
Only she doesn’t have what it takes. She can barely afford to pay her rent.
Sinful Serenade bassist Pete Steele has enough to pay Jess’s rent and buy her a small island in the Caribbean. The famous, talented rock star has everything… except the one thing his manager wants. Pete rose to fame as a devoted boyfriend. Doesn’t matter that his ex slept with his best friend, he needs to stop screwing his way through Los Angeles to keep his reputation clean. Pete works hard, and parties harder… and the sweet, blond waitress is exactly the girl he needs on his arm if he wants to keep the record company happy.
Their arrangement is simple: he pays her tuition, she plays his girlfriend. They’ll lie to the world, but not to each other. Especially not when they’re alone, in his bed, him figuring out exactly which buttons to push to get her moaning his name.
Jess is good at keeping up appearances. She can play the enigmatic rock star’s girlfriend. But Pete shouldn’t play games with a girl who’s been broken before…
Review:
Gosh what a book, I loved it top to bottom! My only regret is not having read the previous 3 instalments and missing out a little on the backgrounds of some of the characters in the book. However, that did not stop me from loving it and enjoyed it so so much!
So Jess and Pete, now that is something else all together! I have to say that the way these two met is just plain awesome! What an introduction, I do not think that I am going to be forgetting that one anytime soon. Both of them have issues they are dealing with, both of them have dark pasts, some darker than others and in that way it makes them relate to each other and make them easier for us to relate to.
Can I say that Jess’ obsession with the Hunger Games totally adorable? That made her even more real to me, I mean I love the Hunger Games as much as the next gal and not to Jess’ level but it made her more real to me. Not that they did not feel real, it just made her and him a little more… you know!
I loved the writing and the pace of the book, I really loved both characters equally, usually I tend to favour one over the other but this time it was equal love spread between the two. So kudos for that very feat of strength.
I really do not want to say too much about the story cause you all already have it right above with the blurb, but I loved the underlying emotional journeys happening in the book. Come to think of it, I have made mention of emotion quite often this week in my posts. This must be then the Emotional week, but that still makes it true. Part of that and that is the bit that pretty much slayed and me fall head over heels in love with the book is the Hunger Game (again, IK!) quote that Jess mentions to Pete. It is pretty much my favorite too! I will not say what it is, but if you have read the books or seen the movies, you should already know what I am talking about.
I do not want to go overly long and repeat myself, but Play your heart out was bloody brilliant! I am going to find me the previous books, read them and then go back and read it again to enjoy the full picture. Really guys and girls this is a fantastic read and you are going to love it as much as I did!
Let me know what you think…
Previous books:
Purchase book 1: http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Your-Heart-Out-Serenade-ebook/dp/B01685Y1X2
Purchase book 2: http://www.amazon.com/Strum-Your-Heart-Sinful-Serenade/dp/1942135122
Purchase book 3: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRD1XFS
Author Bio:
Crystal Kaswell writes steamy new adult and erotic romance books. She loves when flawed characters fall head over heels for each other. Especially if they fall into bed first. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.
Great review, Nadine! This sounds like a great read I love how realistic the characters are made to be. And the book looks like it has some good emotional substance, too!
It does Giselle and thank you! I am really glad I had the chance to read and review the book. I think I would have have been heartbroken have I missed it! Thank you for everything!