ROCK GOD by Brooklyn Ann

ROCK GOD is book three in Brooklyn Ann's Hearts of Metal series. Shayna Jones, beleaguered housewife and romance writer, meets rock super star Dante Deity under the most unusual circumstances. After suffering the double blows of the death of her baby and discovering her husband's betrayal, Shayna sets out on foot with no set plan or direction. When Dante happens upon her at one of his concerts, he plays avenging knight and sets the tone of their eventual relationship. Shayna's unsettling and drastic response to her traumatic experiences might be more difficult to understand, if not for the fact that she seemed to be in a fugue state as she ran away from her callous husband.

Dante is different from a lot of rock star heroes I've read about. While some rock stars might be all about the fame, the groupies, or the money, Dante has a maturity that comes from experience, both in the music business and in relationships. He takes in a perfect stranger without any self-interest and acts as a source of support for Shayna. I loved Dante, and he is my favorite hero in this Hearts of Metal series. There is a tremendous amount of balance in the relationship between Dante and Shayna, even if she is not quick to see it. Dante is everything Shayna needs, and is the emotional rock that she never had with either her husband or her poison- tongued interfering mother. Shayna's self-esteem is bolstered after knowing Dante. Likewise, Shayna appreciates Dante for who he is, doesn't want to change him, and sees past the celebrity.

While Dante can be a bit of a micro manager, Shayna differentiates between Dante's managing and her husband's controlling ways. I like that Shayna is going through the divorce process at the point when she runs into Dante and she is open with him about that. There is no love triangle or sneaking around in ROCK GOD. Much of the drama in ROCK GOD comes from Dante's waiting for the perfect moment to reveal his deeper feelings for Shayna, and her overcoming her inner critic and years of conditioning from her mother and husband's attempts to diminish her.

ROCK GOD has a hero who is every bit the romantic and chivalrous modern-day minstrel the heroine believes him to be. Dante makes ROCK GOD such a fun read for me, and it was nice to see the characters from the previous books in the Hearts of Metal series. The ending intrigued me and I look forward to reading the next book in this sexy series.

Most rock stars would be revolted if a homeless woman fainted in their arms.
Dante Deity is not most rock stars.

THE ROMANCE WRITER

Shayna Gray is fleeing her past. Tragedy, infidelity, heartbreak: the midlist romance author has suffered it all. She was strong enough to run, like a spunky heroine from one of her novels, and soon she’ll be flying…just as soon as she can walk again. After walking from Portland to Sacramento, Shayna wakes up in the hospital with famous rock star, Dante Deity offering to take her to his mansion to recuperate.
Unlike her abusive ex-husband or her bullying mother, Dante is determined she succeed. As he helps her recover from her grief and get her writing back, a romance worthy of her novels blooms. But Shayna knows that they can’t have a healthy loving relationship until she learns to stand on her own.

AND THE ROCK GOD

Dante Deity is revered by everyone who knows anything about heavy metal music, and he’s respected by everyone else. Rich, handsome, and successful, he has a voice like velvet-wrapped lightning. He juggles numerous philanthropic ventures while cranking out hits. When he’s on tour, music is his life. When he’s taking a break, he’s thinking about his next tour—or working on a project that helps him forget he’s alone. When an unconscious woman falls into his arms, Dante embarks on the biggest project of his life. Saving a damsel in distress quickly becomes a secondary mission when he realizes that his heart is on the line.