So this book had a lot that I am not fond of. I don’t like cheating. I don’t like seeing the characters in other relationships or situation ships. And I’m usually not the biggest fan of second chance romances. And even though I didn’t love the first book in the series, I was kind of at the “in too deep” position and I’m invested with these characters now. So I moved on to book 2. We learn in book 1 that Declan really messes up and cheats on Tatum. And that’s why they’re no longer together. Hate each other, actually.

The start of book 2 really surprised me. You get such a cute and endearing story of how a young love grows. It goes back to the beginning of how Tatum and Declan first met at the age of seven. How they became best friends before finally deciding they wanted something more. And how she was there at the start of the band, but things went downhill at that point. We see the cheating incident and then fast forward to the present, which is 10 years later. And due to the events in book one, the band needs a new manager. And since she was there at beginning, they decide to offer Tatum the job.

I don’t wanna really spoil what happens. However, we learn that things in the past may not be exactly what they appeared to be. Declan really and truly had been in love with Tatum his whole life. She really was the only woman he could ever love. But why did he cheat on her, you may wonder. That’s a complicated scenario, and probably out of his control. However, the time apart may have done them both some good. It hurt them both and there was a lot of hatred and pain, but they really both had a lot of growing up to do.

Overall, I really did like this book. Their journey was much better, in my opinion, than in book one. I accepted the ship and book one, but I didn’t love how they got there. This one was painful, but very rewarding in the end. ( )

I love Jessica Prince books.
Her books are well written, have huge gut wrenching scenes, hilarious scenes and fantastic banter in a close group of friends.

This book is all the reasons I don't read Rock star romances.

They split up after she sees him in bed with two other women and snorting coke.
There are things going on that lead to that moment and possibly some may feel will excuse his behaviour but the thing that I hate and makes it hard for me to feel he will commit to the heroine and her alone is when they reconnect and she is back in his life, through the band, he is still having random hook ups. It's at almost 50% of the book and he is getting rid of 'some blonde' the morning after.
I can accept a Hero/ heroine makes mistakes, even in the right circumstances or enough proof of redemption, cheating but when the heroine meets the Hero or in this case is back in his life I don't like him with other women esp in front of her.

At the point that scene happens they are not back together and he's angry with her but still he has a scene a bit earlier with a different other woman and the heroine is so hurt.

Are we honestly supposed to believe that our 'Hero' will now commit to our heroine and never stray again?
I know there is more to the initial cheating than it appears but still not much time has past since 50% and 70% when he has magically changed oh and he has always loved her.
It is well written as you really feel for the heroine in the scenes mentioned earlier but sometimes you just want her to end up with someone who really deserves her.
I'm sorry but I felt a bit sick reading some of this. I don't think I'd have jumped in so quickly.


Spoiler o/w scenes below.

Here is an example.

24% after he sees the heroine again...
“Hey, sexy. What’s got you smiling?”
I turned from Tatum to the blonde who’d just sidled up to me and pressed her plastic tits into my arm.
“Just in a good mood, sweetheart,” I answered, giving her the smirk I knew would make her panties wet.
“Mmm,” she hummed seductively. “Is that so? Well, how do you feel about seeing if we can make that mood even better?”
I was definitely down for that. “Tell me something, gorgeous. You ever had nine inches of pure rock god shoved down your throat?”
The chick giggled like a kid on Christmas morning. “Can’t say I have.”
Standing from the barstool, I downed the last of my drink and set the empty tumbler down. Then I hooked my arm around her waist and started leading her away from the party.

Heroine's reaction...
Just then, a brunette with scarlet lips came sauntering past with a look pointed Camden’s way that spoke to all the things she was willing to do if he gave her a few minutes of his time.
I knew he caught the look same as I had when he mumbled, “Oh, I think I can find a way to fill my time,” and quickly followed after her.
With a good-natured laugh and a shake of my head, I turned from watching him disappear into the crowd and headed toward my past

“Maybe I just need a vacation,” I muttered to myself as I leaned against the brick exterior of the swanky hotel.
I’d just closed my eyes and rested my head on the wall when a rough, gravelly sound from several feet away startled them open.
Looking to my right, I noticed the shadowed figures from the other side of a dumpster. I was just about to head back inside, worried I’d stumbled upon a mugger or something, when a familiar voice spoke, sending a chill down my spine.
“That’s right, baby. Suck it hard. Take all of it. I know you can do it.”
Oh my fresh hell. I’d have known that voice anywhere. Bile crept up my throat as I stood frozen in place.
“Uuuuuhnn,” he groaned. “Yeah, just like that. Fuck me, I’m about to come. Want you to swallow every fuckin’ drop I’m gonna give you.”
I was going to be sick. There was no doubt about it. It was the very same voice I’d heard when I walked into that hotel room years back and had my life destroyed by the one man who was supposed to love and cherish me as much as I did him.


At 42% he had tried to talk to her and gets shut down... so....

Lifting my head off the pillow, I glanced at my latest mistake, a chick whose name I couldn’t even remember. I’d picked her up at a bar the night before after having way too much to drink and throwing myself a pity party over Tatum, and brought her to the hotel I typically used for my hookups. I refused to go to a woman’s house to get laid, and no way in hell was I bringing a groupie back to mine, so the hotel was my only option when I wanted to get my dick wet.
She placed her knee on the mattress and started crawling, naked as the day she was born, in my direction.
“None of your concern.” Blowing out a frustrated breath, I laid back down and said, “Playtime’s over, sweet cheeks. Time for you to go.”




Merged review:

I love Jessica Prince books.
Her books are well written, have huge gut wrenching scenes, hilarious scenes and fantastic banter in a close group of friends.

This book is all the reasons I don't read Rock star romances.

They split up after she sees him in bed with two other women and snorting coke.
There are things going on that lead to that moment and possibly some may feel will excuse his behaviour but the thing that I hate and makes it hard for me to feel he will commit to the heroine and her alone is when they reconnect and she is back in his life, through the band, he is still having random hook ups. It's at almost 50% of the book and he is getting rid of 'some blonde' the morning after.
I can accept a Hero/ heroine makes mistakes, even in the right circumstances or enough proof of redemption, cheating but when the heroine meets the Hero or in this case is back in his life I don't like him with other women esp in front of her.

At the point that scene happens they are not back together and he's angry with her but still he has a scene a bit earlier with a different other woman and the heroine is so hurt.

Are we honestly supposed to believe that our 'Hero' will now commit to our heroine and never stray again?
I know there is more to the initial cheating than it appears but still not much time has past since 50% and 70% when he has magically changed oh and he has always loved her.
It is well written as you really feel for the heroine in the scenes mentioned earlier but sometimes you just want her to end up with someone who really deserves her.
I'm sorry but I felt a bit sick reading some of this. I don't think I'd have jumped in so quickly.

4.2 stars

This is the second book in the Civil Corruption series. This book focuses on Declan and Tatum. The journey of this story starts at age seven and progresses from friends to lovers and back to enemies and lovers. This was a switch from the first book. I liked seeing them as younger children because it gave insight into who they eventually grew up to be. Tatum is strong-willed and fiery. Not one who likes the limelight of fame while Declan loved fame and his music. The life of a rockstar is rarely perfect as it is filled with many temptations such as drugs, alcohol, and women. Declan knew this firsthand and ultimately loses sight to what is important. I was worried if he was going to be redeemable and dig himself out of the hole he dug for himself.

This was not my favorite of this author as I felt it was missing something. It wasn't until things got chaotic and stuff was leaked at about 75% did the book finally feel like other works that this author is known for. I will say that the glimpse of the third book of this series has me VERY excited. I can tell just in that small glimpse that it is what I am used to from this author. I would still recommend this book or any that this author writes. ( )