I fell in love with a boy whose laughter was the soundtrack of my heart. And I played it on repeat until life’s streetlights flickered on and stole him away. Riot Blu. Top 40 fuckboi. Paparazzi player. Trashy reality TV trainwreck. But once upon a time, he was the boy next door. Once upon a time, he was every note in every song on every mix tape he had ever made for me.Now he’s back. A lot more … made for me.
Now he’s back. A lot more arrogant. A little more tortured. And more gorgeous than any memory I held dear could do justice.
I know no good can come from being anywhere near him. But Seattle is only so big, and if I’m going to get the exclusive of my career, I have to swallow my pride, take that dreaded walk down memory lane and agree to his terms.
Move in with him.
Immerse myself in his life—the life he left me to build.
And try not to fall back in love with the man who ripped my world in two.
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THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!
So many emotions, but the biggest thing was the constant smile on my face. This story, Riot and Rox, took me on quite a ride. It had me laughing and laughing and swooning, and it even brought tears to my eyes.
Rox has a mouth on her, but her best friend Haze? I NEED a Haze in my life. These two girls continuous banter was Comedy Central worthy.
.
“Seriously, the girl is so starved for attention, I’m afraid she may gnaw off Riot’s arm. Which would probably be the only decent meal she’s had in years. Like, come on. Try a biscuit, bitch.”
.
Those two, I could read an entire book of just them having pointless conversations. Almost stealing the show.
But, then comes in Riot Blu. Everything turns to background noise once that man takes the scene.
The relationship between Roxy and Riot was such a delicious slow burn and a hidden secret that might destroy them forever.
A first love that was completely shattered with no hope for a future. Twelve years apart and a first look again has them both struggling to keep hidden feelings at bay. A million obstacles between them and an entire social media world against them.
I want to talk all about these two, but I’ll end up sounding like a gossiping grandma and give the entire plot away.
Just know, these two had such sexual chemistry that nearly burned my kindle away. Riot and his delicious swagger with a hidden good big hidden within that had me constantly drooling. And the love these two shared over 90’s RnB music had me take several trips down memory lane.
I loved everything about this book! Open it up and let your body feel the rhythm and groove to the love and music.
Riot Blu was the boy next door who became Rox Lee’s best friend, they both live and breath through the music that lives in their souls and their connection grows with every day with every song becoming an unforgettable “first kiss, first love, first everything”.
Those beautiful ” firsts” are fractured into pieces when Riot Blu leaves everything behind including Rox, to become a star. Rox is left with a shattered heart and a secret that she chooses to keep “so he can shine”.
Riot took the music industry and world by storm but it all got to crazy to fast leaving him lost yearning for home and inspiration, which will always be Rox Lee the one girl that “shines brighter than all the rest”.
That first love has lived within their hearts for more than 10 years, now they have a second chance to be each other’s forever….. Will they fight for the rhythm that connects their hearts or will they let the noise drown it out?
A great rock star/second chance romance mixed with the boy next door, friends to lovers, first love/lost love with awesome music that brings it all to life!
Enjoyed this book. Read the book because I enjoyed the authors other works.
S.L. Jennings is one of my favourite paranormal and fantasy authors. Her genius writing and creativity created one of the best paranormal reads I have ever read. I decided to read one of her contemporary romances. She already blew my mind and showed she is capable of writing amazing paranormal romances. When I read the blurb, I was absolutely pulled in. The blurb absolutely made me swoon. I was truly excited to read Rhythm & Blu.
but….
I failed to connect with the characters in Rhythm & Blu. I craving more development in the plot and characters. I truly felt it was rushed, to be honest. The writing was absolutely brilliant. S.L. Jennings just brings you into her world and makes you fall in love with her words. I fell in love with words. They echoed with sweetness and mixed with a second chance love. Heart Warming. Rhythm & Blu is a second chance romance filled with love, drama and music. Although the storyline left me underwhelmed, it truly held my attention from the beginning to the end.
So. Freaking. Good! S.L.Jennings pens yet another swoon worthy story with Riot & Rox. I can tell you all day long about its juicy goodness, the humor, the HEAT, the love, but you really need to feel it yourself. Kick it old school with Rhythm & Blu!
I fell in love with this book! From the 90’s music references to each of the characters and their unique personalities, I love it all. It was funny, hot as hell, emotional, and everything in between. It ticked all the boxes for me.
Oh Boy!!! Talk about a trip down memory lane!!! The playlist for this book took me way back to my preteen-teen years and I LOVED every second of it!!! I could identify with so many aspects of this book because of the time it was written around. It made the book even better than it already was!! S.L Jennings has yet to disappoint me. She can make you fall in love with even the most unlikable characters!! Riot was such a jerk in so many situations. It made me want to hate him. He held that rock star arrogance to the highest level, at the worst of times for Rox. Rox wants to write the story of her career, and it just happens to be about the boy who used to be 1 of her best friends, the boy she never wanted to see again…their chemistry is incredible. The back and forth, up and down, push and pull, ugh, the teenaged, young love that ends in heartbreak, as it usually does. The adult love/hate for the past/future…. all of it was so great!! It’s drama, angst, love, hate…all the feels!!! I wish I could read it over & over again like it was the very 1st time!!!!
I wish there were more stars to give this book!!! One of the best books I have ever read, and I read ALOT! I laughed, I cried & I got so mad I almost threw my iPad. I don’t think there was an emotion that didn’t get stirred during this read. Rox is funny, smart and just a totally awesome women. Riot is a Rockstar and lives the normal Rockstar life; drugs, women & wild parties. But don’t believe everything you read or hear because things are not always what it seems. I won’t say much more because I refuse to ruin this for anyone!! Read it, you won’t regret it!!!
Leave it to SL Jennings to make me question what I wanted for the heroine. I was so captivated by this unique Rock star, First love, Second chance romance that I inhaled it in one sitting. Rox is a smart young woman who is offered the chance of a lifetime; make her career by writing a story of music IT man, Riot Blu, while he works on his comeback. Riot being her first love, Riot being the man that walked away without a word or explanation, and Riot being the Rock star that Rox now has to live with to get her story. But will Rox be sacrificing her pride and heart and is it worth it?
I felt a bit of emotional whiplash as I hoped Riot’s intentions were good. It was hard to get a bead on Riot and his methodology certainly made me question him. Riot’s life includes a pretentious girlfriend and a few tight knit friends, but mostly his life is a show. The circus includes a lot of hanger on-ers and one man who is a very recent acquaintance to Rox and her bestie. But Rox is out of her element as she observes and rightly judges the people Riot has surrounded himself with:
“It’s just the audacity of these women … of all these people. They literally have the world at their feet and care very little about destroying such valuable items to front and floss for a few likes on social media. In their world, popularity equates value. If you’re not making a scene, then you’re simply not seen.”
How could she not see Riot as a sell out? And Riot knows it and I wondered what his game is. There are points I sincerely wanted Rox to walk away as I felt Riot’s redemption an uphill battle. But things start to shift, slightly, and then Rox gets a dose of what it’s like to be the center or Riot’s world, which about breaks her (and me). God my heart bled for this girl, for the past and all that she endured, how she is targeting by Riot’s obnoxious and very evil gf, Poppy.
I really enjoyed this story and SL Jennings writing and storytelling in exquisite. Jennings includes a playlist which goes along with the story and the “feels”. I would love to see more of this couple and perhaps some of the crew.
4 stars- One of the first tropes I read in mass was rockstar romances, and while this isn’t *technically* that, it’s pretty close and it’s also by an author I always enjoy. Rhythm & Blu is a second chance romance between high school sweethearts who reconnect after twelve years apart. There’s definitely a fair amount of angst in this book, as well as a “sort of” love triangle that plays out, so I’d wager there will be plenty of readers who aren’t crazy about it. However, I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I liked the characters, found the chemistry palpable, thought the story was fairly believable, and enjoyed the smoldering, sexy scenes. However, it was the music that stole the book for me. The author’s commitment to weaving the importance of music to Riot and Rox throughout the novel was perfect. I loved all the little tidbits about current music as well as the music these two grew up on. And the links to a 90s R&B playlist sprinkled within the narrative was sweet icing. If you’re a fan of music, especially if you listened to the music of the 90s, I can’t imagine you won’t like this one.
From a character and romance standpoint, Rhythm & Blu was well-developed. I didn’t love how much overlap there was with other love interests for both main characters, but it did lend a certain honesty to the story- especially considering their circumstances and ages- and some of the details that came out later made those moments a little more palatable in hindsight. Rox herself was an interesting character, strong in many ways, but anxious and easily reserved in others. Though I love the brash heroines, I also like seeing characters who are studies in contrast and I found Rox likable overall. Riot was a little harder to flush out. The book is told entirely from Rox’s point-of-view save for the epilogue, and while I got to know a lot about Riot through Rox’s eyes, I didn’t quite understand him or his motivations for the bulk of the story and wouldn’t have minded a little more from his character. That said, their connection was always palpable. It never felt entirely lust-fueled, but rather the emotional bond and history was always present below the surface creating a tension that kept me invested in the book cover to cover. Though I’m sure Rhythm & Blu won’t be the book for everyone, if you don’t mind some angst and enjoy rock/music romances, this title is definitely worth trying out.
Gahh!! Riot and Rox I loved their angsty turbulent slow burning love story. This is a must read for lovers of second chance romances.
They start as teenage best friends who share a love of music, each with big hopes and dreams.
Riot and Rox have all their firsts together. Everything is perfect until it’s not and Rox is left broken hearted.
Rox works as a journalist and finds out she’s landed an exclusive. The only downside is working alongside Riot. Is it a coincidence or a cruel twist of fate?
These two have history and undeniable chemistry a lethal combination.
I was on the edge of my seat, I could literally feel the connection sizzling between them. They definitely drew me in and I just couldn’t help but root for them both.
I loved the musical references they were a nice touch.
A fantastic second chance romance with all the feels.
I really loved Kaz in this story. I’m crossing my fingers for him to get his own book.