An emotional, angsty, rockstar romance from the bestselling author of The Trouble With You and Wicked Beginnings.The sweetheart of Country is about to show the bad boys of Rock, it only takes a single beat for everything to change.Evangeline Walker knows how quickly everything can change. But nothing can prepare her for the moment she meets Rafe Hunter.Intense gray eyes.Wicked smile.Tattoos inked … nothing can prepare her for the moment she meets Rafe Hunter.
Intense gray eyes.
Wicked smile.
Tattoos inked on his skin just begging to be touched.
Those aren’t the reasons Eva should stay away from him though.
The fact he’s the bassist for America’s hottest rock band is the reason she should run and never look back.
Everyone knows the greatest love stories all start somewhere.
… this is their beginning.
Rush is a 50,000 word Black Hearts Still Beats prelude novel. Rise (BHSB: pt. one) and Rule (BHSB: pt. two) are coming soon!
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This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m glad I took a chance on this prelude because oh boy was it a rush ! Just like it’s name this book was definitely a rush of excitement and so emotionally charged I read this book in a few hours I JUST COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I’m so in love with these characters and I think Rafe and Evangeline are absolutely perfect for each other and can’t wait to see where LA Cotton takes us with these two ! This was a emotional angsty rock star romance with an engaging story line and great characters even the side characters I love and want to know there story . I can’t wait for book two of this series ! 5 angsty swoon worthy stars for this one !
*** I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book ***
4.5 stars
LA Cotton has done it again with delivering a fantastic start to another new series that I am going to absolutely love. I knew as soon as I started this it was going to be emotional and I was going to feel like I was on this ‘journey’ with the characters, their highs and their lows and I cant wait.
This is the start of Evangeline and Rafe’s story, how they began. Eva is an aspiring Country star that is talked into entering a talent contest by her friend where she meets rockstar Rafe. And now the swooning can begin…..
With a bit of angst, swoonworthy chemisty and fun and witty banter this is a great start to this series and you will become completely hooked like me.
LA Cotton can’t write a book without being evil in some way and to me with the way she has left his book she is completely evil in making me want more…..NOW! lol
“It’s better to have loved and lost a rock star than to never have loved one at all, right?”
Dammit!!
Now I want to fall in love with a rockstar. Specifically Rafe Hunter. Because damn if he wasn’t as swoony as hell!!
I wasn’t sure to expect with Rush, but LA Cotton just made me fall in love with a Rockstar and left me panting for more.
“Rafe Hunter was breathing life back into me, and I was quickly becoming addicted.”
Eva, the aspiring country star, needs a reason to breathe after everything she’s been through. Life is a chore until she enters a talent contest and meets Rafe, a member of Black Hearts Still Beat.
“I want you, More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
Their instant connection and chemistry was amazing and they completely swept me up in their love story.
”Because every second I spent with Rafe, the more I felt myself fall.
And I was terrified he wouldn’t be there to catch me.”
LA Cotton just introduced us to a new world, made us fall head over heels in love and then left us hanging!! And damn it do I need more… RIGHT NOW.
“This isn’t the end, Eva, It can’t be the end.”
This may be the end for now, but I can guarantee you as soon a Rise releases, I will be inhaling that book too! I need more Eva and Rafe.
My poor heart….
This book started off with all the feels from page one. As Evangeline is finding herself after a tragedy in her past she meets Rafe. He is sexy, brooding, and quiet. You just know he has secrets that have burned him in the past.
A magical, romantic, secretive read. You learn so much about both characters yet still have oh so many questions. I can’t wait to see what happens in the futur
“Maybe there’s a reason you’re both here, at this exact same time. Maybe he’s supposed to help you heal.”
Rush is the first book in this contemporary rockstar romance/ small town romance from this talented author. I’ve loved her Rixon Raiders series and I must admit that from reading this book, it’s starting to be one of my fave reads.
Eva was just starting to reintegrate herself back into senior year after suffering from illness. When her bestfriend Molly entered her into a singing competition, she thought it will be a way to help her parents and maybe a way to cope with her survivor’s guilt too. She didn’t expect that by competing, it will change her life as she knows it when she met Rafe Hunter, bassist to the famous rockstar band, Black Hearts Still Beat.
“Rafe Hunter was breathing life back into me, and I was quickly becoming addicted. But our time was finite, and I couldn’t help but wonder what happened after the show ended.”
This book gave us a glimpse to this new world of the famous; the glitz, glamour, papparazis, the hectic life of being on tour, the groupies, booze and drugs. Rafe and Willow’s got a connection that I’m feeling was based on shared darkness in their soul. The ending left me feeling hurt and I have an inkling I will be in for more angst on the next book. Can’t wait to read more about the band and Willow’s journey to stardom.
From page one I felt in love with this story. I love Eva and what she represents. After becoming a survivor of that terrible illness that is cancer, she needs to reincorporate herself to society, going back to school and living an everyday life. But she doesn’t feel whole and she has a blame that she carries with her. She has an amazing family and a awesome best friend Molly, who encourage her to sign up for a music competition because her talent is amazing. Thats were she mets Rafe from the Black Hearts. The chemistry between them its instant and they start developing feeling for each other. The music competition its nerve-racking I was in the edge of my sit because I didn’t know what to expect. Two lost souls that completed each other so well, but would it be enough for them to find the light? or would their current circumstances separate them? I really don’t know and now I can’t wait FOR WHATS NEXT!!! This rockstar romance its absolutely amazing and L.A. Cotton took me through a rollercoaster of emotions that left me wanting more.
Solid ! Rush: The Beginning (Black Hearts Still Beat, #1)
I really liked this one, it was short but by no means average.
I think this was the perfect way for L. A. Cotton to begin this new series. The story itself was very well written and it left me wanting for more, much more…
Eva is a young woman that in her short 18 years, has been through a lot and although she has issues to overcome her fears and self-doubts, at the end of the book she understands she’s strong and resilient. What an ending female lead, I loved her and her bestie, Molly, she’s is something else entirely!
I am so excited to see where and how the next book will go, what will happen with Eva, Molly and of course, the rock band filled with heartbreaking, damaged and tortured young men!
Rush is the 1st book in the Black Hearts Still Beat series and I loved it. The author created a world that grabbed my attention and did not let go. I loved these characters. Eva and Rafe had intense chemistry from the moment they met, and the fact that this book is just the beginning has me so excited to see what this author has in store for us.
Eva is a rising country star while Rafe is a member of one of the top rock bands and I can’t wait to see what music they make together. I love the glimpse we get of the secondary character who I’ve sure will all be part of the series. The chemistry, the emotions, and that ending all serve to ensure that this story consumed me and will make me return for more.
Rush was a fantastic prelude to this new series and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of Rockstar romances.
Dear Heartbreak, welcome back… Have I missed You ????? YES, obviously… WHY ???? Because this author knows how to rip off my poor heart, and I will let Her for this every INCOMING next time.
This book is EVERYTHING!!!! I know, it’s only begining, but when it starts like this, further it only could be more perfect, than it already was. From the first paiges I was so deeply in love with this story and characters. With every next word, every next sentence and paige, Mrs Cotton sucked me more and more in the world of Rush. I had feeling that this time it’s not me, who devouring THE BOOK… this time the book consumed me and my bookish soul, in the best ever possible way.
This author is amazing storyteller, she use angsty like a real Master… I didn’t want this story to end. My heart hurts, my eyes were wattering…. gah IT was intense, but in amazing style. I’m counting days till next book in this series will arrive!!!!
Absolutely MUST READ !
After all that Eva has endured, she is forever changed and no longer the carefree person she used to be. Her best friend is determined to help her regain the spirit that she has lost along the way and that means helping her rediscover her love of music.
Rafe is a successful rock musician who has a way with words whether he sings them or not. He is intriguing not only because of what we know but also because of what we don’t know. There is no denying the chemistry and connection between them and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them.
4.5 Stars
Rush kicks off the brand new Black Hearts Still Beat series and I am so excited for what’s to come!
I only discovered L.A. Cotton a few months ago, and I’m so happy I did. Her stories are addicting, and this is no exception. I was hooked from the very first page and devoured this book in one sitting. If this is just the beginning I can only imagine how amazing the rest of the books will be.
Eva has had a rough few years and while things are looking up, she’s having a hard time putting on a smile and facing the world. So when her best friend enters her in a country music contest to help break her out of her shell, she’s more than a little anxious to take the leap. Until she meets a stranger at the competition, and their immediate connection puts her at ease and gives her the courage to go for it.
I loved these characters. Eva’s fears and doubts were so realistic and relatable, and I loved her friendship with Molly. And Rafe was your typical rockstar – bad boy vibe, tattooed & broody – but with a soft side that had me swooning. Their chemistry was magnetic, and their budding relationship gave me all the feels.
The beginning of their story definitely had me on the edge of my seat, and I’m so excited for the rest of this series. There will no doubt be way more angst, drama & secrets revealed, and I can’t wait!
Evangeline is a country singer trying to make it through some terrible past issues. She meets Rafe when she enters a contest. Rafe is a rock star singer for Black Hearts Still Beat. The couple have an instant and intense connection. Eva is scared to let her walls down and Rafe has his own set of problems. This story kept me on the edge and now I have to read the next book.
And after time of waiting we finally have “Rush” live. Get yourself suck to the world of music, rockstars and music.
Let’s set one thing first. “Rush” is much much more than novella. It’s a beginning of what I think will be amazing, addicting story.
Prepare yourself for story full of angst, sweetness, undisputable instant connection and a lot of music that will break even the toughest of hearts. But I very well know that we didn’t see nothing yet from Rafe and Evangeline.
So when we first meet the Evangeline is struggling with her survival that in her opinion she didn’t deserve and she will give you heartbreaking angst. Rafe in the other side is a sweet man with a lot of secrets. Will we get to know them? I really hope so. I am really curious how they both behave after seeing each other again and what the future holds for them both. One thing is certain it won’t be an easy road for them.
“Rush” even despite it may be quite short for few of you but it has got everything that I love: music, backstory that will break your heart, bits of rockstar life, instant connection, attraction that changes into sexy moments of hotness and angst and that mix will make you want more.
After that quick read I would love to binge read whole series but we’ll have to wait a little for the second book and after seeing the bits of each member of Black Hearts Still Beat I would really hope that we’ll see each of their story.
Overall it’s an amazing beginning of what I think will be one of the best stories with rock music background.
The title of this book is so on point. I totally got a rush reading it. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Wow! It’s no secret that I love rock star romance, and when I found out one of my favorite authors was coming out with this new series, I couldn’t help but to dive right in. Rush is the prelude novel to the Black Hearts Still Beat series. It was a fantastic introduction into this whole new world full of romance, heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics and a connection between two scarred souls.
Evangeline Walker has been going through the motions day after day, but not truly living. Not like she did before. Making music was her passion and dream, but that was before her life was turned upside down. So her best friend Molly decides that she needs a little push and enters her into a country music competition. Maybe getting back to what she loved before will make her feel alive again. And there at the competition, she meets Rafe Hunter, the bassist for the Black Hearts Still Beat. The two of them hit it off from the start, and he helps her to remember what it feels like to truly live again.
Rush was an emotional, angsty rock star romance that I devoured in a day. Endearing characters, an engaging story-line packed with all the feels, that made me both cry and swoon… This was a completely engrossing page-turner that I simply couldn’t bring myself to put down. I am already in love with this world and after that ending, I cannot wait for book two. I NEED MORE EVA AND RAFE… LIKE NOW!
Another Outstanding Series Starter!
Rush: The Beginning (Black Hearts Still Beat #1)
Evangeline, Eva, has survived Cancer when so many didn’t. She’s suffering with a severe case of survivors guilt & struggling to reconnect with life & her religion as she doesn’t understand why she lived when so many other worthy friends didn’t!! Her bestfriend Molly has been by her side through it all, along with her parents.
Molly, with Eva’s parents, have entered her into a Country Music Talent Show. The finals, if she gets that far, are televised! She hasn’t touched her guitar or sang for over a year, since ‘before’. She wants to do it for them though, they’re obviously excited about it. Molly losses her mind when it’s announced that the Drummer from Rock Band ‘Black Hearts Still Beat’ will be a guest judge. They’ve recently blown up big on the music scene & are idolized by many – Eva, having been out of the loop, hasn’t a clue who they are! Molly thinks it’s hilarious.
Hudson is judging the Country competition, Rafe the Bassist is with him but staying out of sight. He sees a beautiful young woman having a bit of a melt down in a hidden area.They exchange a few poignant words. It’s not the last time they’ll meet & their connection will deepen to something neither of them can ignore!! They’re determined it’s the start of something, can it be real??
This is a fabulous opening book to this series. I really liked Eva, Rafe & Molly, in fact all of the secondary characters were intriguing! The angst in this story isn’t of the usual type, for this genre, it’s darker, more layered & profound. I think it’s likely that will hold true for the BHSB boys too! It was a really interesting storyline with so much heart & lots depth. I’m excited to read ‘Rise’ in February, I hope it releases earlier though!
Debbie, 1970, UK
“Music was a part of my soul, something I would never give up, but I needed to believe I was here for something more.”
What an amazing start to a new series!!! I really tried hard to savor this, but I devoured it!! I’m in love with all things Eva and Rafe!!! The emotions in this…I’m not even sure where to start.
“Maybe there’s a reason you’re both here, at this exact same time. Maybe he’s supposed to help you heal.”
Eva has already been through so much. Her best friend, Molly, is her biggest cheerleader and partner in crime. We ALL need a friend like her. Someone who loves us unconditionally and can kick us in butt when we need it.
“Rafe Hunter had swept into my life and obliterated all my walls.”
Rafe is the bassist for the rock band, Black Hearts, and OMG I think I’m in love . Since this just the prelude of what’s to come, we don’t have alllll the things Rafe yet. But I’m dying to know more about him and the band. They have secrets, but who doesn’t?
“This isn’t the end, Eva,” “It can’t be the end.”
My heart wants these two together. It won’t take NO for an answer. They are a match made in heaven. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us with this series!
Amazing new start for a new series. Evangeline and Rafe story will take you on a beautiful, angst trip rockstar romance story. She gets into a music competition, there she meets Rafe, lead bassist for Black Hearts Still Beat and sparks not only fly, she remembers how to live again. I can’t wait to see what Rise will bring us. This prequel totally blew my mind. A definitely must read for any rockstar romance fan.
„All it takes is a second for everything to change.”
And all it took was a couple of pages to feel a whole range of emotions and to fall in love with this story. Rush: The Beginning is a novella introducing us to the Black Hearts Still Beat series, but it’s so emotionally charged that I’m a puddle of feels. From the very first page L.A. Cotton stole my attention and charmed me with this new world she created.
My heart broke for Evangeline, but at the same time I was cheering her on like a best friend would. And Rafe… you’ll fall madly in love with this young rockstar. I did. Although from the very beginning we learn about the heartbreaking Eva’s past, Lianne Cotton soothes our pain putting on Eva’s way an opportunity to make her dreams come true, but also a guy with whom she shares instant and sizzling chemistry. She captured young love so perfectly, that I could feel butterflies in my stomach. Add to it beautiful music and heart-gripping lirycs and I assure you- you’ll feel ALL THE FEELS.
This novella is perfect. Angsty, captivating and emotional. Although L.A. pulled the rug out from under my feet and left me in the state of wanting more, I’m in love with this story so far. I’m waiting with bated breath for the continuation in Rise.
There’s one thing about getting the prequel first it keeps you hanging on for the next full novel and L.A. cotton has certainly given us something to wait for.
I wasn’t sure what to expect at the end but i was so excited to know how the next book would go and it has me itching for the next book.
I loved all the characters in this book from Eva to Rafe the main characters to Molly, Hudson, Damon and evening Levi. I love the way this story was written with all the secrets to find out and to see how Eva handles Rafe and to see what Rafe will do with Eva going to be interesting. They have both been through so much as far as i can tell and i can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
I don’t want to give too much away to much cause this is just the beginning and this needs to be read by everyone.
If you love a good rockstar story this is a story you want to read