Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy…exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need.

Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.

Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

 

 

Listen to Me is the first book of the new Kristen Proby’s series, Fusion. The series is centered on a group of five friends who co-own a new sexy restaurant, Seduction. 

They are beautiful, sassy and completely devoted to their new investment, and apparently have bad luck in their love life.

Addison, the front of the house manager, is tired of being a doormat for all the bad-boy, musician boyfriends, she seem to always gravitate to. Adding the fact that due to her parents lack interest and detachment, she built quite a fortress around her heart. Let’s just say she is quite skeptic in the regard of soulmates and true love.

Is he the one? Probably not, but I’m pretty much convinced that the one was invented by romance novelists and Disney.(Addie’s inner thoughts about her boyfriend in the very beginning of the book, Jeremy.)

“They’re all the same, Mia, and it was insulting to both of us for him to deny it. I’m sick of being lied to. I’m sick of being hit on by men who only want to get up my skirt, but don’t give a flying fuck about my feelings.”

Boy oh boy, did Jake have his work cut out for him…

Five years ago, Jake was living the true musician’s high life, until a tragic car accident involving his best friend, changed not only her life forever, but also his, making him reevaluate all his life choices and leave behind all this world.

Now, after all this time, even though still working in the music business as a producer/song writer, he misses singing to the public, and transmitting his feelings directly to others. And it’s little bug that takes him to ‘Seduction’, upon his friend’s insistence that it’s the perfect place for him to act, where he’s going to find so much more than he was looking for…

The first look/contact between Jake and Addison was enough feel their chemistry and to leave them unbalanced by the feelings their provoked in one another.

After so many heartbreaks and disloyalty by the same type of man, which at first sight Jake seems to fit to a T, Addie fights tooth and nail their attraction. But this pushing away doesn’t discourage Jake. He feels that Addie is special to him, and he’s relentless in his pursuit. I loved how he managed to always turn her jabs and snippy attitude in his favor.

“Do you like it here?” 

“I’m liking it more and more,” I reply truthfully, holding her blue gaze in mine. “It helps that you’re crazy about me.”

 “You’re just crazy,” she replies primly.

 “Seriously, you’re embarrassing me. Stop fawning all over me.”

Their sexy banter was absolutely delicious and for me, one of the highlights of this book. 

Of course this magnetism and sizzling exchange translated in some very sexy times. Let’s just say that Jake used all the assets at his disposal to soften her up, because I sure was fawning myself during their sex scenes.

“Hold it.” My voice is sharp, and I don’t do anything to soften it. “Either I’m coming inside with you or I’ll get you off right here for all of your neighbors to see. It’s up to you. I don’t get off and then leave you. That’s not how this works.” 

“Oh.” Her eyes are wide, and then a slow, sexy smile spreads over her lips, swollen from my cock. 

Her other lips will be swollen from my cock before the night is out too.

This man sure had a dirty mouth, but his filthy sexy side was evenly balanced with his sweet and loving one.

Addie put up a good fight in the beginning, but she truly had no chance against Jake’s care and devotion to her. 

“You showed me what I need in a woman, Addison. I need someone who calls me out on my bullshit. I need someone who sees the fire in my eyes and wants to play with it, not try to extinguish it. I need someone who challenges me; in the bedroom, in my career, in my crazy head. And you know what? I found all of that in you.”

Of course he was fighting his own demons and fears, and at some point they spoke louder, but that fast, and with the help of their friends (which were amazing secondary characters), more than made up for his short time lapse. And let me just say that this man sure pulls up a good grovel, one of the best I’ve ever read. 

“Addie, I can’t promise you that there won’t be times I fuck up or that things won’t ever feel broken.” His voice is a shaky whisper, his mouth planted against my temple. “But I can promise you that I will never walk away from us.” 

Us. 

Not me. Us.

I hug him tighter as tears form at the corners of my eyes. “That’s the best promise you can make.”

Naturally his way with words, and music sure helped, and left me sighing…

All this, made this an absolutely amazing romance story, with not only a strong yet vulnerable heroine, and sexy yet sweet hero, but some extraordinary secondary characters. Especially her friends, whose sisterly love, with all the contrasting personalities, completely hooked me to this series (even more than I already was to all Kristen Proby’s book), and left me wanting their own stories TODAY! August can’t really come soon enough (for Cami and Landon’s story)!!! 

 

ARC kindly provided via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

       

 

 

CLOSE TO YOU (Fusion #2)