ROCK WEDDING is book four in the Rock
Kiss series by
the fantabulous Nalini Singh. I fell in love first
with
Singh's amazing paranormal romance Psy-
Changeling books, and then her fabulous urban fantasy
Guild Hunter books. The Rock Kiss series has
a very different feel: It's contemporary romance with an
angsty New Adult vibe. ROCK WEDDING features Abe, a self-
destructive rocker boy, the last of the four men in the
Schoolboy Choir band to get his own book in this series,
and Sarah, his ex-wife whom Abe drove away early in their
relationship.
I've watched Abe self-destruct in book after book in the
Rock Kiss series, so it is the mark of an excellent
writer that Singh can make me care about Abe and ultimately
root for him to reach his Happily Ever After. Abe lost his
little sister to cancer when she was eight years old and
Abe was twenty one. Abe absolutely fell apart with his
sister's death, and every year on the anniversary of his
little sister's death has another epic meltdown. It seems
over-the-top and self-indulgent, exactly how I would expect
a maladjusted rock star to act. I think that the
pressures of modern day fame and our societal expectations
for an artist to be ridiculously emo would encourage bad
behavior in anyone, and Abe grabs that character trope and
runs with it.
Sarah has a secret past that she's hidden from Abe, and
tries desperately for their two years of marriage to be
just what he needs. Abe shuts her out from his true
feelings, and she is so lonely in her position of trophy
wife that it makes me cry. Abe has a drug-fueled freakout
on the anniversary of his sister's death and kicks Sarah
out. Oh my gosh, I feel for Sarah! She's had to become
stronger to overcome what life has thrown at her, and I
love that Singh shows us how she has matured and taken
charge of her own feelings and self-validation.
We also get to see how Abe has matured as he's overcome his
addictions. Abe tracks down Sarah to check on her after
she's been injured, and to apologize for what an ass he was
when they were married. Abe quickly figures out that he
wants Sarah back in his life again, and the single-
mindedness that he pursues her with is both sweet and
amazing.
I cried many times in this book, as Abe and Sarah deal with
their anguish, love, and pain. Once I opened the book I
couldn't put it down until I knew how it would end (spoiler
alert: happy tears at the end!) I'm enthused to read Ms.
Singh's note that there will be some short stories about
the Rock Kiss world coming in upcoming newsletters,
as well as some related characters in an upcoming 2017
contemporary romance of Singh's. ROCK WEDDING is a perfect
roller coaster of angst, growth, and love- Singh has done
it again!
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues
her Rock Kiss series with a hot, sweet, emotional
contemporary romance about love and forgiveness…
After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah
Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star
Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way
she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with
tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone,
emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem
shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the
wake of their divorce.
Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage.
Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the
best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores
– breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him
a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah
that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants
that second chance at love...even if he knows he doesn’t
deserve it.
But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent
without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?