WITH VENGEANCE is Book 2 in Brooklyn Ann's "Hearts of
Metal" series. For readers who might be new to this
series, WITH VENGEANCE works as a standalone book. Kat
James is best friends with the heroine in the previous
book but otherwise this story has mostly new characters.
This is a story less about rock star excess as it is a
sweet and sexy love story with a little danger thrown in.
Kat James is a guitarist who can kill it when it comes to
playing metal, and she sets out to prove in WITH
VENGEANCE that she can hang with the best. As with the
previous book in this "Hearts of Metal" series, Brooklyn
Ann creates a strong female character who will have fans
cheering. This hero and heroine are flawed and realistic
characters you get to care about. Kat has PTSD due to
some events in her past, and it's something that she
takes medication for. Bass player Klement Burke has ADHD
and is licensed to grow the pot that he takes for it. The
friendship that forms between Kat and Klement, as Kat
auditions to be his group's lead guitarist, makes the
eventual romance seem very organic. Their alternating
awkwardness as they feel each other out and come to grips
with their true feelings is adorable. I love geek heroes,
so Klement's geeky rock star mix makes for an interesting
hero.
There are two sources of conflict in WITH VENGEANCE that
shake things up a little for the characters. The first
thing that serves as a barrier to romance is the fact
that, unbeknownst to Kat, she has been chatting online
and via the phone with Klement for a long time in his
role as "IT Guy" when he helps her with her metal-themed
website. Klement is a little conflicted about how and
when to make the big reveal. Another, and more sinister
source of conflict, is Kat's creepy stalker who makes
quite a dastardly villain. I like that Brooklyn Ann
reveals to readers right from the start who is behind the
sabotage and cruel pranks, while the band and Kat don't
find out until later in the story.
WITH VENGEANCE is a delightful story about a woman who
takes charge of her life and finds love with a sweet rock
star geek hottie. The other band members in Bleeding
Vengeance grew on me as the story progressed and I
wouldn't mind reading about them in future books. I look
forward to the next "Hearts of Metal" romance by Brooklyn
Ann as well as her next paranormal historical romance.
A struggle between business and pleasure is further challenged by secret identities and a malicious enemy.
SHE HAS A MISSION
Katana James’s dreams come true when she gets to audition for the new lead guitarist for her favorite band, Bleeding Vengeance. Kat knows the odds are against her with her gender, her anxiety disorder, and her crush on the lead singer. But as soon as she overcomes two of those challenges, two more come up: First, her infatuation with the singer fades away only for the brilliant, kind, and mysterious Klement Burke, the bassist, to set her heart aflame. Then she becomes the target of a malicious stalker.
HE HAS A SECRET
Klement Burke, the brains behind Bleeding Vengeance, has a huge secret. He didn’t offer Katana James an audition to repay a favor owed. The real reason he recruited Kat is that he already knew of her talent, since he’s been providing tech support for Kat’s website for years. He’s confident that he can suppress his attraction to her—until he meets her in person. When Kat’s car is sabotaged, causing him to invite her to stay in his mansion with the rest of the band, so is Klement’s willpower to keep things professional between them. Now he has to figure out how to keep her in his band and in his life, protect her from a crazed stalker, and reveal his true identity.
Subgenres: rockstar romance, workplace romance, new adult rock star romance, new adult romance
Tropes: cinnamon roll hero, nerd hero, friends to lovers, colleagues to lovers, secret identity, secret romance, rockstar hero, rock star heroine