It’s not easy being the bad guy. Yeah, that’s a lie. It’s pretty damn simple. You act and you own it. You sell your soul to protect those you love and screw the rest.It’s the restraint that’s hard. The demons that poke at your trigger, burn in your gut—just waiting for a second of freedom to unleash the fire in your soul.Call me a villain. Call me whatever helps you sleep at night and feel good … sleep at night and feel good about the black and white of love. But watch your back because I don’t care. Until I do.
And then I implode.
Note: VIPER directly follows the action in Tracing Holland (NSB #2), but can also be read as a standalone.
This novel is a work of fiction and intended for mature readers. Events and persons depicted are of a fictional nature and use language, make choices, and face situations inappropriate for younger readers.
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Wes Alton’s story is different from the first two books in the NSB series. I wasn’t even sure I cared about his story. He’s not a very likable guy in the first two books. I’m kinda hooked. He may even be my favorite in the series. I loved his perspective and growth. I’m so glad I read it.
But I will warn you, it is much more enjoyable if you read the first two books in the series. They build on each other. I don’t really think they can be read as standalones.
I disliked Wes in Tracing Holland (Book 2). A lot.
By the end of Viper, I loved him. I understood him. My heart broke for him.
There’s so much more to Wes Alton, and Ms. Santos did a fantastic job of showing me that.
I love the way the story centers around music. The passion and love of music shows in the words and I thoroughly enjoy the way the author could make me feel it. I swear I could hear it.
Excellent writing pulled me in and made me want to keep turning the pages. I loved seeing more of Luke & Holland, and I absolutely adored Hannah.
Can’t wait to start the next book in the series – Limelight.
I struggled at first because I thought Wes was a jerk, but you quickly get to love him and understand him. Characters from NSB2 are further developed. This is a deep, dark book regarding inner struggles of a Rockstar dealing with fame, loss of identity and dealing with celebrity gossip fall out. Definitely not you traditional contemporary romance which makes it an awesome read! I read all 3 books in 3 days and I can’t wait for NSB4!
Viper (NSB Book 3) by Alyson Santos is a contemporary, friends to lovers, rockstar romance. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting at the beginning and reading Night Shifts Black and Tracing Holland before Viper as each story picks up where the previous one ends and they’re all just as good. You won’t be disappointed!
So far, I’ve fallen in love with the characters in each book, but Wes Alton and Hannah Drake of Viper are my favorites. In Tracing Holland, I couldn’t stand Wes at all. He came across as an obnoxious, irredeemable asshat. In Viper we see events unfold from Wes’ perspective. I absolutely loved being in his head!
If you thought Luke was complex, just wait until you meet Wes. He’s a hot mess and somewhat of an antihero. Hannah is beautiful, intelligent, witty, loyal and hauntingly vulnerable. She struggles with her own demons too. Together, they are perfection. I loved their chemistry, banter, and honest connection.
I won’t go into plot detail, but I must say that Alyson Santos has an amazing gift for creating beautifully flawed characters with a gritty realism that is nothing short of magical. Her writing is beautifully crafted, deeply poetic and incredibly moving. Simply superb!
If you have read the previous books in the series you will be aware of the train wreck that is Wes, overprotective of Holland, and self destructive in the extreme you would never imagine that you could feel anything but animosity for this character, but you will!
Wes falls into the abyss of drink and women after destroying his relationship with his bandmates, he has hit rock bottom and seems unwilling to drag himself back up. in this book we see his beautiful soul, his loyalty and sensitivity.
Hannah, Holland’s feisty younger sister is struggling with her own issues however, she has different coping methods. It is hard to watch her spiral down, and how she stifles her personality to try and combat the spiral.
Watching as they both navigate their own battles with depression, whilst also attempting to support one another, and their vastly differing family support systems is both enlightening and heartbreaking. Alyson deals with this subject in a very real, open and honest way, no glossing over the darkness and debilitating power that depression has.
The bond between these two is uplifting, they understand each other, the banter between them is snappy and entertaining. Their love is grown from friendship and they genuinely want the best for each other.
I cant recommend this book enough, Alyson has all the words!
Really enjoying this realistically emotional series!! These stories are well written and have strong characters who struggle with life and their place in it!!