A forbidden friends-to-lovers rock star romance…
Malka Fischer has a bad reputation.Jasper Antonio is the nice guy of rock.They’ve known each other for years, but neither has looked beyond the surface. To Jasper, Malka is his best friend’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. To Malka, Jasper is the squeaky clean bassist in her ex’s band.One night fueled by grief and alcohol changes it all. They … bassist in her ex’s band.
One night fueled by grief and alcohol changes it all. They finally see each other for who they really are and a connection is uncovered between them that can’t be denied.
Even though it should be, since not denying it could destroy everything.
(Although this is a standalone story, some of the timeline of this book overlaps with Times Like These. You’ll enjoy it a lot more if you read that one first! Also, there is NO cheating and NO love triangle in this book!)
more
I loved everything about Emilia and Ricardo…
*cough*
I totally meant Jasper and Malka. I swear I did!
This story is sweet, and angsty, and absolutely undeniable! A slightly taboo, best friend’s girl, friends to lovers, story that will tug at those heartstrings. You will love, and wish, and rally, and swoon. You will hang from the edge of your seat, desperate for more, unable to do anything else, but turn to the next page, just to read what happens next. This book is an absolute must read!
Swoonity swoon swoon!! Jasper and Malka are complex, magnetic characters who’ll draw you in from page one and have you willing the world to bend their way. Wonderful, heartwrenching read — loved this book!
Jasper stole a piece of my heart when I read Times Like These. It was clear he was going through a lot after losing his mother and I really needed him to get his happily ever after. Such Great Heights was a very special book. Watch Me Unravel started off right before the band started their hiatus, but this one started off at the same time as Times Like These.
For Jasper it was always him and his mother growing up. His father was abusive and his mother took him out of that situation. He loved her so much, so when she became sick things got hard. Losing her wasn’t easy and in the aftermath he kind of lost himself. Jasper has a heart of gold and his band is everything to him. He’s not the selfish type, so when he did finally start falling, it just wasn’t the right time.
Malka is also a character we met during Times Like These. She was on again/off again with Ian, which was hurting them both. Malka has kind of lost her way and has her ups and downs. Being okay just isn’t always enough. I think Malka carried a lot of guilt for things in the past and the author focused on important parts of the #metoo movement and working with abusive producers. Malka is another character who deserves all the love in the world and a character I really grew to love.
Such Great Heights is a slowburn romance. We slowly get to see Jasper and Malka grow close and start to need each other. For some reason they connect and just understand the other person. Except neither of them are in a place for a relationship or know how to give themselves to the other that way. Their connection is so special though, you could feel it in the way they were together.
I loved that the author took different parts of time and put together their story. We got to see the band members and what both of them were up to at different periods of times. Their paths kept crossing and maybe it really was just meant to be. Once they get together though, it’s fireworks. Once they’re together I had many moments with a smile on my face and believe me, things get steamy!!
And don’t get me started on the lyrics and poems we get to read during this book! Julia Wolf really outdid herself with this aspect of the story. I could feel every emotion she was trying to bring with these words. I’ve said it every book so far, but I really think Jasper’s and Malka’s story is my favorite so far! Even though all of them have a special place in my heart!
In Such Great Heights, book three in the Blue is the Color series, Julia Wolf continues to bring compelling characters to her work that not only have her unique stamp on them but are absolutely riveting!
Jasper is the kind of hero that by all means should be screwed up but instead sees life as something to partake in not forsake despite having experienced some of its harder lessons. This author does a nice twist on circumstances that would normally evolve a hero into someone with a hardened and angry outlook but instead credibly develops him into a man with an expansive and caring heart. This hero was such an understated portrayal, happy to be behind the scenes yet his presence permeated every aspect of his band and friendships making him indispensable and the heart of his band and inner circle. Ms. Wolf causes pause and makes one wonder if the ever-popular bad boys in romance are overrated when you come across a hero like Jasper.
Malka was a beautifully devised heroine, strong and confident on the outside yet a tragic past left her crumbling on the inside. Her tremendous talent and larger than life persona blinded people to who she really was, creating superficial interactions that when she tried to reach past them by letting her guard down resulted in rejection and insecurity except for a very small number of people. Like this author’s other heroine’s Malka was an exceptionally dimensional character with lots of layers.
What stood out in this relationship was Jasper and Malka’s inescapable draw and intuitive kindness paired with their freedom to be vulnerable with each other taking precedence over their underlying physical attraction. Seeing this couple bring out their best selves with mutual nurturing was touching and their sacrificing their personal happiness for others was heartbreaking. Malka’s emotions were intense and sincere hampering her desire to love by causing it to be constantly questioned and pushed away until she found someone capable of accepting it in Jasper. Raw moments counter by sweet ones were a nice touch in defining this couple. Their romance built on friendship and respect was well done even as flaws came into play making them approachable and human.
Julia Wolf delves deep into her portrayals giving thorough depictions that more than scratch the surface. Such Great Heights had a wonderful story line providing a strong foundation for this author to develop her characters on. This author writes with great skill foreshadowing the future events of her series books supporting cast seamlessly without detracting from the work at hand. Her dialog is robust and meaningful with each character maintaining their unique traits without any faltering. A great balance between her heroes and heroines’ dynamics contribute to her moving her stories forward steadily. Julia Wolf creates a story that readers will love in Such Great Heights!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While this book can be read as a standalone readers overall reading experience would be enhanced by reading the other books in the Blue is the Color series *
This book held my heart hostage from page one. These characters are so beautifully broken and complex. The emotions flow hard. The sex is HOT. I HIGHLY recommend it.
I loved Jasper and Malka’s story. They began as acquaintances, then moved to best friends, and finally to true love. It was definitely a slow burn, but Jasper is getting over his mom’s death, and Malka is getting over, well, everything. I loved reading about what makes these two who they are. There’s some serious character development here! They are more than just people in a book. Highly recommend this book, and series, and can’t wait for the next one!
I found Julia at the beginning of her Blue series and immediately fell in love with her writing. I loved Nick in Times Like These and fell in love with David in Watch Me Unravel. I’ll admit that when Jasper’s book was released I was a bit skeptical. He was never one of my favorite characters of the blue crew. Add in the storyline that he was given with Malka, who was his bandmate/brother/friend’s on again off again girl, and that kind of made me hesitant to read it.
Well, let me tell you that I am so glad I decided to go against that hesitation. I first read Jasper & Malka’s story when it was first released, but I don’t feel like I truly appreciated it until I did a recent re-read. Jasper & Malka’s love story is heartbreakingly beautiful. While yes, some of it may be considered taboo, you can truly see the struggle that Jasper goes through to do the right thing.
These two don’t get the love that they deserve and if you haven’t read their story you really should step outside of your comfort zone and give them a read.
Oh Jasper! . Jasper, a bit lost after his mother passed away, has a strong brotherly love with his band mates. He is the bassist in Blue Is The Color, a popular rock band. Jasper is the easy going, dreadlock wearing, fun loving guy. He befriends Ian’s estranged girlfriend (Ian is the drummer in Blue Is The Color) and against his plans he develops feelings.
Malka and Ian were no longer in a relationship, yet he struggled to avoid her when she was around. Jasper and Malka fight their connection, and even lose touch for some time. Neither of them want to do wrong towards Ian.
But finally they can’t overcome their feelings and in result Ian feels beyond betrayed. Yet, it was hard not to root for Jasper and Malka as their love is undeniable.
I love a good love story and this one had all the feels. Drama, heartache, angst and swoony moments had my heart beating out of my chest. Love that Jasper and Malka came together in a slow build. The characters had lots of depth and I could imagine all of this playing out in my head. A fantastic novel. Love this series and can’t wait to read Ian’s story!!
I really liked how this starts all the way back to just after Jasper’s Mum passed away so we could see when the connection between him and Malka builds and evolves through out time. They have both gone through a lot in their lives which slowly unfolds as the book progresses and their connection grows, in saying that this you need to know it is a very slow burn book which I actually really enjoyed as a lot of relationships take time and can have many hurdles not just from within each of them but also from the outside ie those around them and Ian who use to like in the previous books but now I don’t know how I feel about him. You will love the letter at the end of this book and I can not wait to see what happens in the next book!!
Malka and Jasper are the epitome of shouldn’t happen but no one told their hearts that. Malka has been linked to not only an ex sound guy of the band but also to Jaspers bandmate Ian. So when these two start to feel an emotional connection they both try to fight it for all it’s worth because they know it’s going to be complicated and messy. However sometimes fate has other plans and you really can not control who you fall in love with. Malka is definitely a special character and sometimes it was hard to really connect with her because she was very closed off but Jasper truly tried to get beyond her defenses to let him in. Unfortunately Jasper was dealing with his own demons and it made it hard for him to dedicate and real time to Malka beyond a shared use of one another to forget their pain. This is a slow burn story that takes quite a while for them to finally give in to their emotions and give their relationship a fair shot but trust me it is not all sunshine and rainbows and at times it is hard to read. This was a good book it was just hard for me to feel one hundred percent invested in these two. I needed more of them together as a couple but that really only happened in the last part of the book. It was fabulously written just a harder story to read. I can’t wait for Ian’s story.
This is the third book in the Blue is the Color series. While each book is a stand alone, in order to get the best experience with background of the band members it is suggested that you read the first two books but not required.
If you have already read the first two books then you are familiar with Malka and Jasper. What we have already read is rather parallel with the first half of this book, only we are getting the events from Malka and Jasper’s points of view. This reader did struggle a little with so much overlap and felt that there were some characters not really discussed knowing what was going on during this time. I can’t really say more without giving spoilers to any of the books but this is one of the main reasons I was not able to give it a 5 star rating that it truly can be.
I did really enjoy the range of emotions this book did have. You will experience romance, sweetness, humor, frustration, and sadness but they are all worth it. I also liked how the author did take the time for us to get to know Malka and Jasper more and learn about them as individuals and not just who they are now but also growing up. There were definite twists that I didn’t expect to learn about which is one thing that I really love finding in a book.
I can not wait to read Ian’s story as he is a mystery and I want to learn more about him.
Jeremy Taylor said, “Love is friendship set on fire,” and this is the quote that best expresses this book for me. Jasper and Malka are both a little broken and because of this they can relate to each other and a friendship is formed. After spending quite a bit of time together the chemistry can’t be denied any longer and the rest is a beautiful, well written love story.
Such Great Heights is the 3rd book in the Blue is the Color Series. I am a big Julia Wolf fan but I think the Blue series has been my absolute favorite. I have loved all 3 books so far but looked forward to this one most of all as Jasper has been my favorite character throughout. I could not wait for him to find himself a girl and his HEA.
I looked forward to Jasper’s story for so long and I never expected his girl to be Malka but they work so well together. I love that they became good friends first. They had met years before and were acquaintances but over several years became friends. The idea of love was forbidden because
she had been with Jas’ band mate Ian for several years even though Ian and Malka’s relationship was toxic.
Malka and Jasper really got close after his mother’s funeral. She helped him though is grief like no-one else did or could. She could understand his pain as she had lost her own mother a few years prior. They kept things platonic until after Malka and Ian broke up for good. Their adventures were fun and exciting.
This is an awesome read and in my opinion Ms. Wolf’s best book yet. I look forward to reading her future books to see if she can top it.
Jasper is the bassist of the band Blue is the Color. He is the quiet, gorgeous poet who likes to put all his thoughts into a notebook. Malka is the charismatic, wild and extremely talented singer and former German pop star who is a friend of the band. She has had a on-off cycle of a relationship with band drummer Ian that is damaging to them both, and that she is trying to end.
The book starts at the funeral of Reinece, who is Jasper’s Mom and the biggest supporter of the band. Jasper is lost and heartbroken after the death of his mom and deciding to go to the bar he accidently meets up with Malka. Although they have moved in the same circles for some time, they have never got to know each other. Meeting again changes everything and although they are both very different personalities, they find a kindred spirit in each other and begin a close and supportive friendship.
As I was reading their story, I was hoping that friendship would turn into much more for them but sadly even though their feelings for each other were growing, the time was not right for them to fall in love. There were too many obstacles to overcome, not least of which would be Ian’s reaction to Jasper and Malka being together, would it break up the band.
This was such a beautiful story with two totally spellbinding main characters who were so right for each other. Julia is an amazing writer and this series is one of the best rock romances that I have read. I am hoping for and looking forward to Ian’s story next.
Thank you to Julia for providing an ARC, I loved this book, and this is my honest review.
This book was well worth the read with the great character and storyline development that kept me totally intrigued as I turned each and every page of Jasper and Malka’s story as it effortlessly unfolded!
This book takes place in the same time period as the first in this series and it is kind of fun to read from this perspective. Now you suddenly get all the small hints from the previous books. It can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend to read them in the right order.
Sometimes love is a real struggle and sometimes it’s the easiest thing in the world. Timing is everything. The characters experience loss, grief and messed up relationships. They are broken in many ways and even if they find comfort, companionship and eventually love it’s not a walk in the park getting there. I’m so in love with Malka, she is the badass queen I wish I had in my life. She is also the kindest woman imaginable. And Jasper, oh my god, why can’t we all have a Jasper in our lives? The world needs more guys like him. The love story slowly progress and there is a perfectly good reason for it. These two were not the obvious choice for each other. They seem so different, at least on the surface. But one can’t choose whom to love and connect with. The heart wants what the heart wants and if time and distance doesn’t kill the feelings the relationship will happen. The way we carry our emotional scars, and the way we react because of those scars is perfectly revealed. The unintentional hurt and sometimes even the intentional hurt is killing me. But it’s also a journey towards healing and growth. It’s possible to get rid of old habits and stop the endless repetition of destructive patterns. It gives me all the feels and to to take them to greater heights – listen to the playlist as you read. You can find the link in the back of the book. I devoured this book, and must possibly go back and read it again before the next drops. You are in for an emotional roller coaster, but it’s all worth it. I must admit I had to cry a little. In my opinion that’s the best kind of book.
I’ve waited a few days before writing this review in hope that the right words would come to to fully explain how good this book is but they haven’t. So all I can say is it was phenomenal. I devoured every word. I was totally sucked in. The storyline was fantastic and the characters were amazing. Broke my heart at times but I loved how it developed and finished. An absolutely amazing read.
In a twist, she’s the bad girl, he’s the good boy.
An unexpected pairing of opposites, Jasper is the good boy in his band of very bad boy rockers. Malka is the bad girl. And in a liquid fuel incentive, one night changes everything.
Can these two make it work?
Can it last?
I loved Jasper.
Recommend.
I’ve been wanting to learn more about both Jasper and Malka and was looking forward to reading their story. It was slightly forbidden as she was involved with his bandmate/friend. But the relationship was created organically. They were friends helping each other through tough times, and it was a nice slow burn. The lines might have been slightly blurred, but I really didn’t think they were. I think they were perfect for each other.