There are three things I have to protect: My heart, my scars and my life. Even from my best friend. Some secrets have the power to change lives. Or ruin them. What I didn’t expect was for my best friend to walk away when I needed him most. I made the only decision I could. And I have no regrets–even if Lars Trouble can’t handle that. Now I just have to convince my broken heart it’s better off … my broken heart it’s better off without him.
***
I don’t do secrets, I hate deceivers and I’m not in love with my best friend.
Or so I thought.
As the man in the shadows, the drummer of the Darling Devils, the person I rely on most is my best friend.
That is until I discover Naomi is a liar.
If walking away from her was hard, learning she isn’t mine to love feels impossible.
And just when I think it’s all finally coming back together, fate steps in and proves me wrong.
But when you love someone, you do the only thing you can. You fight for your love story to begin.
A friends-to-lovers romance to the beat of the Darling Devils – the legends of music.
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After reading Darling, I was wondering how the heck was Gabrielle going to handle Lars Trouble. I loved Darling, Dan and Anna were adults dealing with adult issues and, after a couple of stumbles, doing it like a boss. I wasn’t sure how Trouble would come across or could possibly be better.
I got my socks knocked off. We have adult issues again, but these are the type that are scars carried from childhood that are coloring the present and blocking potential. Lars needs to be needed. He cannot abide with things hidden from him nor lies. It keeps him distant and relationships shallow. Naomi, Japanese by birth, and the product of severe abuse keeps herself distant and relationships superficial.
When Lars and Naomi meet, the bond is immediate, but both make choices that keep their relationship platonic. Through a series of bad decisions on both of their parts, lack of communication, and just plain jerkiness, they nearly destroy their friendship. They achieve detente, and then it’s like their world implodes… honestly, if it can go wrong, it does go wrong. When reading Darling, Lars and Naomi went out of their way to stay out of Dan and Anna’s issues. I so loved the fact that Dan and Anna chose not to take that path with Lars and Naomi. It was luscious to read.
Trouble handled some tough topics and was hard to read at places. There were times I could see the trainwreck coming and just had to put the book down for a bit. I knew it would eventually work out, but getting there was hard for this couple. But they managed to get beyond all the stuff because they freaking decided to love each other was more important than their pasts, their hurts, and their baggage. They rose above. Darn, that was healthy and wonderful to see. So far, Gabrielle has managed to NAIL IT with Darling and Trouble–I can only imagine what she will do with Sweet. I cannot wait.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
This is absolutely an emotional roller coaster ride with Loopings in between! So not a ‘simple’ roller coaster ride. Nope. The author threw in some loops as well!
Lars Trouble, aka the drummer of the band, is best friends with Naomi. But not only are they best friends, they love each other. But it takes them a while to recognize this. In the meantime, there are secrets. And Lars doesn’t do well with secrets. As in he despises them. So he walks away from Naomi.
Phew, Naomi. Gosh did I feel for this girl. She’s one extraordinary woman. Brave. Strong. I absolutely admire her strength!
Lars. I can totally get where he’s coming from. Why he hates lies. I would too being in his shoes. He’s the caretaker of the band, and he not being able to fix a problem for someone he cares about, is throwing him off. And finding out that someone helped his best friend he doesn’t like is not helping the situation at all.
Again, the author is giving us a story which stays with you. Emotional. Heartbreaking. Full of love. Hot AF (seriously my kindle melted in between ). And giving little (and by little I mean LITTLE) hints about Art and his story. I can’t wait to read his story!
I wasn’t sure until quite a ways into this story that I was going to actually like any of these imaginary people. lol That’s always a unique and fun experience in a book! My desire to shake the characters persisted until the very end, but all in all this was a very fun, steamy, tense ride through an unconventional friends-to-lovers romance!
Lars and Naomi are quite the pair, and you can’t help but root for them. Secrets, lies and a healthy dose of hypocrisy round out this well-told rockstar romance.
Recommend!
Trouble is a remarkable, heartbreakingly beautiful friends-to-lovers rockstar romance that put me through all of the feels. As soon as I cracked open my kindle, I found myself completely immersed in the story, invested in the characters, and unable to put the book down! To say that I devoured it is an understatement!
This author has the impressive ability to draw the reader in and make you feel like you are experiencing what the characters themselves are experiencing. She takes great care in incorporating interesting subject matter into her books with respect, sensitivity, and awareness. As such, I not only find her characters well developed and real, but I also learn from them. This friends-to-lovers rockstar romance has that perfect amount of drama, angst, steam, and swoon worthy moments that made the book such a joy to read.
Lars Trouble is the infamous drummer for the Darling Devils. He is the man in the shadows and is usually the responsible and reasonable one taking care of his friends / band. I completely adored him. Naomi is a likable heroine with a backstory that pulls at your heartstrings. She is perfectly flawed, but is also brave and strong. Lars and Naomi are best friends, but they are oblivious to what everyone else around them sees – that they are in love with each other. Secrets and misunderstandings threaten the foundation of their relationship and their journey is one that you won’t want to miss.
Their story was such an emotional and entertaining read. I loved Lars and Naomi and I also liked the secondary cast of characters – especially band members Dan and Art. The writing in this novel is impeccable and the story flows well at a great pace. I was sad when it was all over as I love these characters so much. The author has paved the way for bass player Art to have his own book and I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on his story – Sweet. Trouble is book two in this author’s Darling Devils rockstar series. It can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading Darling to get the full experience.
There are certain books that just knock the wind out of you while holding onto your soul. Trouble is one of those books. I don’t even know how to begin with Naomi and Lars. They’re both damaged, scared, strong, and amazing characters. You cannot help root for their story, for their love throughout this book. There are so many ups and downs. So many twists and turns. But in the end, you’re left with a smile and that inexplicable warm, fussy feeling that only a truly incredible book can deliver. I’ve loved both books in this series and cannot wait for the the third! A total must read!
Lars Trouble is hands down my favourite Darling Devil. He has stolen my heart and Naomi is a bad(beep) that you can’t help but love! This friends to lovers’ journey is rocky but but their hea is worth the emotional rollercoaster that the author puts you through. You will be captivated from the opening pages to the very end! This is not your typical rockstar romance. It is so much more. This is a must read!
Trouble continues the story of the Darling Devils and this book focuses on the Lars and Naomi. I loved watching these two best friends realize that their feelings for each other were more than friendly. Their journey is not an easy one and has many twists and turns that I did not see coming.
I love a good, angsty story and Trouble certainly delivers. The heartbreak jumps off the page and you can literally feel the characters’ pain. Then it takes your breath away when the stars align and the characters are finally able to connect. Both Lars and Naomi take quite a journey of growth through this novel to become stronger versions of themselves. Their love for each other is a lifeline for both of them and I loved watching them triumph over all of the pain. Then the epilogue was the icing on the cake! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Art!
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I didn’t know what to expect. This book has all the emotion and heartbreak you could take and once you have started to read this book you have no other option but to finish it straight away because you really need to see what happens. I really enjoyed reading this book and it truly pulled on my heart strings.
This is book #2 in this series of Darling Devils #2.
BOOK #1 Darling
BOOK #2 Trouble
This book and the story line is as the title suggest this is trouble with a capital T and will hold your attention and keeps you guessing right until the end.
Lars and Naomi and they are best friends that are actually in love but they dance around it and life gets in the way. These two people go through so many ups and downs together that you really feel for them and are really rooting for them to work things out, what they go through is really relatable and you can understand.
Naomi is a beautiful, strong woman and she did what she thought was best at the time was right but everything has consequences and hers is now trying to live without her best friend.
Lars is the drummer of the band and it has took something huge for him to realize that he is actually in love with the woman that has always had his heart. Lars hates hates hates lies and secrets and will not tolerate them what so ever.
These characters go through so much together and the issues that they face are raw. The hurt and the love are close together and its hard for them both.
This book is has twists and turns that you wont see coming and this book will have your emotions all over on a roller coaster ride. You really feel and connect to the characters and everything that they go through, the love, hurt, heartbreak and pain and the secrets and lies that they feel and actually you start rooting for them and their love. You wont be able to put this book down and you will need to keep reading right until the end to see what happens between these two. This book will hold your attention and you will be glad you started reading this book. I’m so glad to have found another fantastic author to read.
Thank you to the author and the publishers for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This book is expected to be released on 12th May 2020.
Yet again, Gabrielle G. wraps you in a wonderfully written story that is at times funny but also drastically sad and raw. Despite being rock stars, the characters deal with such unfortunate and real situations; it brings out their humanity. “Trouble” is so wonderfully crafted, you’ll feel like you’re in the midst of an epic poem. Though this is the second book in the Darling Devils series, reading book #1 (Darling) will definitely add depth to this second story, but it’s unnecessary if you haven’t. “Trouble” is as much its own story as it is a continuation of book #1, and it gracefully and profoundly stands on its own two feet.
Rocker books are my kryptonite, and Trouble delivers.
Gabrielle took a fresh spin on a rocker relationship and created a story that kept me turning the pages for more. As always, dialogue shines, and the characters are easy to picture as living, breathing people–not just letters on a page.
I especially loved the character development and layering of the backstory here. The strife was deep and cut to the bone, but it added to the story beautifully.
5/5 — Highly recommend.
Gabrielle G sent us on a rollercoaster ride with Darling and after reading Trouble it’s obvious the park has added a new attraction!! The story of Lars and Naomi is not simple, but that’s what makes it so beautiful
Lars and Naomi’s are best friends who are oblivious to their feelings for each other. But this book is so much more than that. There are secrets, nightmares and moments of heartbreak. The ups, downs and corkscrews on this rollercoaster will keep your heart racing.
Lars and Naomi’s love story is complicated. It’s not simple and it’s not going to be easy. But rest assured they will have a happy ending. The love between them shines like a beacon and they will always find their way back to each other