Title: Mayhem Series: Mayhem #1
Author: Jamie Shaw
Format: ebook
Publication: January 20th 2015 by Avon Impulse
ISBN: 0062379615
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Source: Edelweiss
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating: 4.5/5
When college freshman Rowan Michaels meets gorgeous, up-and-coming rock star Adam Everest, she knows a player like him is the last thing she needs after her ex-boyfriend shattered her heart. But she can't stop thinking about the kiss they shared on his tour bus.
On the first day of school, Rowan is stunned when Adam saunters into her French class. He's soon failing miserably, and, on a whim, she offers to tutor him. But Adam doesn't recognize her as a makeup-free, glasses-clad college student—a far cry from the beautiful, mysterious "Peach" he met at his concert.
During a wild weekend on tour with the band, Rowan can't help falling for the sweet guy buried beneath Adam's rocker persona. Yet she knows she could never compete with the girls constantly throwing themselves at his feet. She'd just end up hurt … again.
Peach is all Adam thinks about, though, and when Rowan realizes this, she has a decision to make: stay just friends to protect her fragile heart … or reveal the truth about the night they met and admit she's fallen completely, hopelessly in love with him.
Crystal's Thoughts:
If you read only one rock star romance this year, make it Mayhem!
College freshman, Rowan Michaels, is at a local concert with her best friend when she see's her live-in boyfriend of three years with another woman. Distraught and heart-broken, Rowan seeks some quiet and fresh air just to let it all go when she is interrupted by the lead singer of the band she is there to see, Adam freaking Everest. He comforts Rowan in a way that she'll never forget. But when she arrives on her first day of french class she is shocked to see Adam in class as well, only she obviously wasn't as unforgettable as he was because he doesn't even notice her. Not until she saves his butt by covering for him with their professor and agreeing to tutor him. When one weekend of french tutoring turns into a weekend of concerts, after parties, strawberry pancakes and too many groupies though Rowan knows that she must keep up her just-friends facade if she has any hope of not having her heart broken a second time.
Mayhem took me by surprise in the best possible way. I really had no idea what I was getting into starting this book since I only took a cursory glance over the synopsis and there weren't many reviews available at the time. What I received when opening this book was a captivating story with intriguing characters and an enchanting dialogue that kept me up until four in the morning reading non-stop. And I wasn't even upset over the three measly hours of sleep I managed to get because of it.
Rowan was a refreshingly real eighteen year old woman whose life was turned upside down when she found her boyfriend in the arms of another woman. Confused, angry, and afraid to have her heart trampled on again she insists on a friends only policy with sexy rocker Adam even though she desires him with every fiber of her being. Adam in turn was a perfectly imperfect hero to the story who grew with every page from a self involved womanizer to a caring friend and loving partner who would do anything to make Rowan happy. It's a slow, but burning, build to the sex between Rowan and Adam and there was no denying the chemistry that sizzled between these two from the start. However, the gradual shift from friends to lovers worked well for these characters and didn't drag down the plot one bit. In fact, the plot itself was fast-paced and intense. I honestly could not put this book down. The book set up the series well also with little glimpses into the secondary characters, each who I loved. Especially band mates Mike and Shawn. I do so hope it isn't a long wait before their stories. The book is told completely from Rowan's perpective until the very end were we get a peek into Adam's head in the epilogue which I thoroughly enjoyed!
The only reason that I am dropping my rating down to 4.5 instead of 5 is because the story has been done before and while reading I couldn't help but think I've read this same story-line somewhere else. Despite that though, Shaw somehow delivers a captivating story I couldn't get enough of. Putting her stamp on the well-loved bad boy rock star and nerdy girl romance trope.
A stellar new voice in the new adult romance genre, Jamie Shaw is an author to keep your eyes on! Mayhem is definitely going on my favorite books of 2015 list. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, Riot, and I look forward to more delicious tales centering around these heartthrob rock stars.
Great review. I love that we get to go behind the scenes with the band but Adam was the spitting image of Travis from Beautiful Disaster. With the way he acts with other females, how he doesn't let anyone into his room/bed except for Rowan... I don't know I was really let down by this one. I was hoping for unique characters but it just felt like a retelling of other books. :\
ReplyDeleteNow Mike on the other hand would make a fantastic leading man. He's nothing like you'd expect from a band member. I will be keeping my eye out for his story.
Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous