The greatest love songs break your heart. When I meet Julian Ashburn, the reclusive frontman of indie-rock legends Breaking Giants, I do what any sane woman would do. Embarrass myself, then insult him. Because you only live once, right?
Besides, keeping my distance from the enigmatic, songwriting genius is an act of self-preservation. Julian is dangerous – a pool of kerosene to my pyromaniac.I … of kerosene to my pyromaniac.
I have a weakness for broken men.
But sometimes the stories we tell and the songs we sing – about family, love, and ourselves – have to be rewritten in order for us to grow. Call it fate, or stars aligning, or cosmic accident, but I’m about to find out that of the two of us…
Julian isn’t the broken one.
Stanalone. HEA. 18+
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I have to say this first before or in addition to my review. This weekend I did something I don’t do often and that’s binge read one author’s work. Yup 3 books later I am bummed that it’s all I had left to complete all of this author’s books. Each one so different in purpose, content and resolution that not once did I question my decision. With that being said and having had a chance to breathe after this my final book in my awesome binge. Years. She had those memories. It was like a stain blocking her from accessing all she needed to clean it up and start truly living her life. The one she was afraid of truly participating. Then he walked in and her life changed. He signed up as John Doe but she had fangirled him all her life and knew exactly who he was. But. . . she didn’t date musicians. Ha this book is such a whirlwind of smack down in your face crappy shi$storm. They battled fiercely with their demons. Some were mental too many were physical. This was such an amazing read that I will spin from the after affects. The battle with drugs and alcohol isn’t anything to play with, all to often the affect and effect on those around you can be worse. It just makes this book all the better and yeah I might have had to take a couple of breaths during the read. The spinning of these characters definitely hard to take at times because as readers we want the ending now and the resolution too then we fuss that it’s too much. But in this case every step makes it better.
They’ll suck you into their explosive love
Rock stars are my kryptonite and Julian is no exception. The broody, sexy, talented, tortured artist. Rose doesn’t want the chaos that comes with that but they explode like a supernova. Her own struggles with her past, her talent. It was everything I wanted in a rock star novel. Passion, drama, tragedy, cosmic love.
I am a lover of Rockstar books and this book blew me out of the water! The story of Julian and Rose will pull at your heart and make you never want to let them go. Their story has so many facets to it. You know as you read, that they belong together. But so many obstacles, life, people all get in their way. How can they possibly overcome all that? The chemistry between them is palpable yet something alway gets in the way. I rooted for these two from the very beginning when they meet. But sometimes you have to do what’s right for yourself before you can give yourself to someone. Many times my heart broke while reading this, and I cried, and I laughed and I refused to give up the hope. If you want to know how they end up, I highly recommend that you read this story. This author is incredible and I look forward to reading more by her. Just amazing!
Totally loved this book! Great writing and such likeable characters – Rose was adorable, her drunk texting to Julian had me giggling. And an author who can drop PJ Harvey’s awesome Rid of Me album, Nirvana, and the Clash on the same page will have my heart forever. A wonderful read!!
Can’t wait to dive into this one!!
#RecommendedRead 5+++ Stars
It’s hard for me to express in words just how much I loved this story. From a tentative acceptance to review a book from an unknown author to complete and total love for the story is relatively unheard of but for me, Breaking Giants is one of the closest books to rival my love for SC Stephens’ Thoughtless series.
If I ever wanted to hug the life out of an author, and a book, then this would be it! The developing story between Julian Ashburn and Rose Cunningham may just have ruined me and my love of rock star romance stories for life. Their carefully constructed story is full of painful reminders of why love is hard and trust is even harder.
Despite their immediate attraction for one another, and how their future may just have been written in the stars, Rose finds it difficult to commit to Julian. Her past reminds her on a daily basis why she can’t let her heart rule her head when it comes to musicians, especially following the tragic loss of her mother. With Julian resurrecting painful reminders for Rose, she finds it near on impossible to see his love for her through her clouds of despair. I know angst, drama, frustration and fighting against inevitable love isn’t to everyone’s taste but when you finish this book and reflect on the reasons why it took so long for the key protagonists to accept their feelings for one another, you’ll understand their reticence to commit, well on Rose’s part anyway.
Breaking Giants, in case you haven’t realised, is the band that Julian Ashburn fronts. When Julian walks into Rose’s cafe for an open mic night, incommunicado, life as Rose knows it is about to change, forever. She of course immediately recognises Julian and her body quickly reacts to his presence. Rose is also a singer but only performs for her patrons and despite her amazing talents, she doesn’t want to walk in her mother’s doomed footsteps but with her family and friends all watching over her, and with some serious meddling into her life, Rose soon finds herself a pawn in a game that she has no control over.
With its unique and, at times, heart-wrenching highs and lows, this story is the epitome of a romance roller coaster but one which will delight, reward, challenge and possibly tear you apart before putting you back together, stronger, happier and altogether more complete for having witnessed such an epic romance.
For me, I am left with a huge, gaping hole in my heart and I fear this story may have ruined me for life (ok, slight exaggeration)! I am so happy that out of the many review requests that I receive, I chose this author and this book to read. It’s got to be right up there in my top 30 all-time favourite stories and easily falls into my top 10 rock star books.
Thank you, LM Halloran, from the bottom of my heart, for bringing Julian and Rose into my life and I can only hope and pray that another story from Breaking Giants can be penned in future.