A quirky, friends-to-lovers, rock star romance…
Ian Grady, drummer for Blue is the Color, is a quiet, self-contained enigma, even to his closest friends and band mates. He’s comfortable staying in the background, playing the drums and working on his puzzles.Valentina Petrov marches to the beat of her own drum and has never felt the need to fit in. Having been sheltered most of her life, she’s … the need to fit in. Having been sheltered most of her life, she’s ready to step outside of her comfort zone and experience the world in a way she never has.
When Ian rescues his new next door neighbor, Valentina, he becomes her hero, a title he doesn’t want. The girl, though? He can’t seem to stop wanting her, even though the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship.
The trouble is, Valentina is seeking adventure, and the tall, tattooed drummer next door looks like the exact type of adventure she’s been waiting for.
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Wow! What a great addition to the Blue Is The Color series! I loved it!
It is Ian and Valentina’s story. In previous Blue Is The Color stories Ian was a little hard to like but in Under The Bridge you get a look into Ian’s life and see why he is the way he is. I loved Ian and Valentina! They made a great couple who had many obstacles to overcome. Ian has to push himself out of his comfort zone and Valentina is strong enough to help him. I loved this book and the whole Blue Is The Color series! I can’t wait to see what Julia gives us next!
Under the Bridge is the fourth book in the Blue is the Color series. For fans of the series we have already met Ian but he has remained a mystery so getting to know him better in his book has been wonderful. This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the other books in the series first to really understand what is happening with the band and where they are in each others relationships and friendships.
Right from the start the author pulls you in and has you wanting to learn more and it continues to the last page. We meet Valentina yet we don’t in that first chapter. Ian has not always had things easy and he really feels hurt and betrayed and likes to do his puzzles. Valentina is just the person who has lived a sheltered life herself, to bring Ian away from his seclusion.
I enjoyed how the author used DM as a way of communicating between Ian and Valentina. It worked wonderfully with the characters. She also did a great job for us readers that are not familiar with Anime in explanations and visualization. I loved this connection between the two characters. Of course having the interaction with the characters from the other books in the series allows you to continue on in their stories.
Things are not always as they seem they are going to go and these twists just added to the enjoyment of the story. You can easily feel the loneliness, laughter, tears, frustrations, sadness, and love in this story. The book takes you on a range of emotions and the author has a couple different ways to communicate the story for us to really get to know Ian. I wish that we could have another book that was all of the Blue is the Color boys as I am sad to see the series end. I look forward to reading more from this author.
When Times Like These came out I loved the story and she quickly became a one-click author for me. I mean who doesn’t love a great rocker romance. I am addicted to this series and absolutely loved Ian’s story. I found him to be a grumpy jerk and was not a fan. After his story, I’m totally onboard and adore him. The writing is strong and the character’s emotions spill from the pages. I swear each story just gets better and better. This is one series you do not want to miss out on!! Cannot wait to read more.
The great storyline and wonderful characters kept me totally engaged as I turned each and every page until the very end!
I have loved Ian since book one and been waiting for this book. That being said – there was high expectations to be met. I was a little nervous that I had built this up so much that I would be let down. I am completely blow out of the water!!! This book was so much more then I could have hoped for.
This is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. It was funny and fun. I cried and got angry. My heart broke and was filled with love. There is a seen I am calling “mutual” that is so touching and beautiful ting I have ever read.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book and what an amazing story it is but I do not want to give spoilers
This is a MUST READ!!! And one of my all time favorites.
Ms. Wolf thank you for doing my Ian justice and making me love him more and finding the perfect woman for him and making her amazing
This book had to be my favorite of all Julia Wolf’s books. Ian and Valentina were just amazing. I found myself identifying with both Ian and Valentina in different ways. I can only hope that everyone finds someone who loves their weirdness because it’s true, what’s normal?
I loved the way Ian discovered so much about himself through the progression of the book, and that he found his safe place with her, she didn’t want or need him to change,; only let her in.
I didn’t even hate Ian at the beginning. There was a reason he was the way he was, and eventually knowing his past, it explained it all. I also adored how the boys were all there for each other. And how they got on each other case, when they f ed up.
This series had been fantastic, and i highly recommend all books in the series. They really are stand alone but you would appreciate and understand more if read from the start.
This was an ARC and my pleasure to leave this review.
Ho. Ly. CRAP. And to think, I once hated Ian and his arrogance earlier in this series. Now? Now he’s definitely my favorite man that this author has created to date. Ian is so tormented and afraid that he lets coldness and arrogance act as his titanium armor around the heart and soul of a lonely man who never really felt love from another person. Ian struggles so much to find his own comfort and normal while pushing himself out of his rut that I have to love him. But he doesn’t do this alone. Oh, no. A man like Ian needs a woman like Valentina to guide him and stay strong by his side.
Valentina knows that she’s socially awkward and likely isn’t anyone’s ideal, but that’s okay. She’s a strong, creative woman who is going to experience life, even if it terrifies her. Ian swoops in at the perfect time to save Val, much like an angrier, grumpier Captain Douchemerica. He can’t help caring for Val from the very start, but he’s afraid to be let down or to let another person down, so he attempts to push her away. The only problem is that he pushes with one hand, then yanks Val back to him with the other…and holds on tight. These two have a beautiful friends-to-lovers flow that kept me guessing at how it would work out. Guess what? It works out beautifully. Sure, they have their angst and Ian REALLY has to grovel to regain the trust and heart of the one woman strong enough to stand up to him while still adoring him, but that only made me love both of them all the more. Ian because he finds his way to happiness and Val because she finds herself on the same path with the same destination.
I’m so sad to see the last band member get his HEA, but trust me when I say that every other story to now was only building you up for the wonder that is Ian. Sure, he seemed like a royal jerk, but once you finally get to know him, you’ll likely love him and Val as much as I did.
Ian Grady…what can I say about Ian. From the previous 3 Blue is the Color books…I could not stand him. Seriously, he annoyed me…made me mad (especially in book 3)…but when Julia began telling his story…my entire perspective changed. My emotions were everywhere with this book. I can personally relate because now, knowing more about Ian, he is so much like my own husband of 19 years…minus the rockstar status. lol I truly loved Ian and Valentina’s story. I love everything Julia writes. Her passion and way of writing has made me a fan for life.
This is perhaps my favorite book by this author to date! One of the things that I love about this author is her ability to write an engaging rockstar romance that doesn’t involve your stereotypical playboy rocker. Rather she creates affable characters who are not without their flaws and whose circumstances and personalities are unique. Thus crafting an entertaining story with a hero and heroine that you cannot help but love.
While Ian was the character that I knew the least about from the previous books, he has always intrigued me the most. In fact, after this book, he is my favorite rockstar from this series! Ian is a complex character and is the quiet one in the band. The socially awkward one. Ian experienced something that rocked him to his core and left him feeling as though he was on the outside looking in. He isolated himself in his home – losing himself in puzzles and drumming. The poor guy sometimes didn’t know what to say or how to say it. The difficulty he had in expressing himself often gets him into trouble and there were many instances where I wanted to shake him and then turn right around and smother him with kisses.
There are heroines in books where I think “how cool would it be to have her as a friend IRL?”. In Valentina’s case I want to actually be her or at very least channel her inner awesomeness. After all, she does land that deliciously sexy drummer. As a heroine, she is that perfect combination of delightfully quirky mixed with sexiness. She is endearingly geeky with her love of anime and manga and I love how she embraces her individuality. While she is loving, forgiving, and understanding of Ian, she also demands respect and refuses to put up with his nonsense. To put it simply, Valentina and Ian are the perfect couple.
While Under the Bridge is book 4 in this author’s Blue is the Color series, I do believe that you could read this book as a standalone. However, I recommend starting at the beginning as there is a bit of character overlap, but also because this entire series is so good!
I don’t even know where to begin. Julia Wolf continuously blows me away with this series. Each book is distinctly unique despite the series being that of all one group. I’ve felt all kinds of emotions while falling in love with all the members of Blue is the Color. I thought I fell hardest for Jasper in the previous book. But then here comes Ian. Silent, brooding, mysterious Ian. Jear desus this man. He got to me. Like deep down, forever staying in my heart, will always be a part of me level of got to me.
Ian and Valentina somehow simultaneously have one of the most adorable and most gutting stories ever. Valentina brings endless sweetness and sunshine wrapped around a spine of steel and a heart of gold. Where her love is light and airy, Ian’s is the opposite. Deep and quiet nonetheless incredibly powerful his feelings may not come easily in words but his actions scream much louder.
This book is everything I hoped it would be and nothing I could have predicted. I probably make zero sense. But really you shouldn’t expect me to make sense when Julia Wolf has once again turned my world upside down by making me fall next level in love with another character.
I’m overwhelmed and feeling empty right now and I don’t know how to do anything but go back and read this book again. It made me feel so much and now I’m lost waiting for my next fix.
The ebb and flow of this relationship is just like the tide on my shores. It’s calming and addictive.
Ian was this enigma, totally clamped up and not giving voice to his feelings to anyone. Being arrogant and rude is yet another layer of armor. When he feels betrayed by his brothers in the band Blue Is The Color he retreats to his home. His only company his puzzles, drumming away his days and nights. He views the world from his bay window and slowly he gets curious about his new neighbor. He fantasizes about her occupation and her relationship status as she constantly dates new guys.
Valentina didn’t get a normal upbringing and wasn’t forced into conformity. She is true to herself and her geekiness. She is confident, sassy, original and artistic, kind and adventurous. Her recent move to Baltimore left her with only a pregnant cousin but also a opportunity for a new adventure.
When her date turns bad and she needs a Knight in shining armor she gets a silent intimidating blond Viking instead. The instant attraction is undeniable but Ian is not allowing himself to pursue Valentina. Despite everything he can’t help himself when he gets to see her Instagram feed so he slides into her DMs and a friendship slowly grows. It’s one step forward and then two steps back in a dance old as mankind before we get a HEA.
Valentina is exactly right for Ian, acceptance and love in abundance without sacrificing her own life and dignity. She calls him out when he hurts her feelings and she never takes any crap. But oh so gentle and loving, patient and without scaring him away. She gives him space and time. His lack of words don’t scare her off and he is messing things up over and over till he finally gets it right and he finds his way home.
I loved the way Valentina was welcomed by the band and their significant others. She fits right in as if she always was part of their life. And the author makes this world so believable that I’m talking about them as if they are real and not characters from a book. I genuinely care for them and they are so familiar to me. As always it’s an emotional roller coaster with highs and lows and I’m getting furious more than once. But the walls crumbled and the feelings surfaced and I got happy tears in the end.
I’m so happy about how Ian’s book turned out and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I received a review copy before release for an honest review.
I read the first book in this series and truly loved it. I then read the second book and I loved it as well. But when I heard the third book would feature Jasper and Malka I decided to not read that story at all. Jasper is supposed to be mr nice guy and Malka is Ian’s ex girl friend and in a very off and on relationship. I do not like when friends sleep with the same girl and so it kinda turned my stomache that Jasper would do that to his bandmate and friend.
That said this is Ian’s book and it happens after he feels betrayed by his whole band and Jasper and Malka. He knows they are in a relationship and his whole band kept the truth from him. Ian is sorta an odd bird in this story. A great guy but he likes quiet and solitude and is feeling distant from his friends because of what they did to him. And I don’t blame him in the least, in fact I think he forgives them all a little too easily.
He has a cute neighbor and she is sorta an odd bird too. He meets and saves Val from a bad date and they form a friendship. But Val has led a very sheltered life and Ian does not want her to lose her innocence so while he feels a big pull to her, he is not sure he is the right guy for her.
What they form is a wonderful friendship where two odd people form a wonderfully accepting relationship and she understands Ian like no one ever has. But Val is very open and Ian is very closed off and sometimes that effects their friendship.
I truly loved these two together. They get each other and the whole world doesn’t understand them but they do each other and it was a beautiful thing to watch happen to them. This was an amazing story and the best story I have read in a long time. Definitely the best story in this series. Its a very different kind of romance and I loved absolutely every minute about it.
If like me you missed book 3 in the series, it did not affect anything and this story easily can stand alone though I encourage you to read the first two books as both characters in those books are very much included in this story.
Ian and Valentina’s story is just amazing. Ian is such a hard nut to crack, I really wasn’t sure I was going to like him. At all. But then he meets Valentina, and we learn more about him, and honestly, he may be my favorite Blue member now. This book pulled at my heartstrings… it made me laugh, it made me cry. But through it all, the amazing writing and the depth of the characters kept me spellbound.
I thought Under the bridge was a good story it wouldn’t be the first book that I’ve read by Julia Wolf but it is the first one that I have read in the series . I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t read the first three books in the Blue Is the Color but I really didn’t like the characters that are from those ones . It just irked me how they were upset with how Ian hadn’t forgiven the situation so easily like I really didn’t like any scene with Malka who is the heroine in book three . But my opinion could change if I read the first books I just felt like Ian was deeply wronged by the people he considered family and they really didn’t apologize . I loved Ian his little quirks really drew me to him , Valentina was amazing loved her character too . The chemistry between Ian and Valentina were off the charts loved the banter they shared and their common interests they were perfect for one another .
Under The Bridge, Julia Wolf’s fourth book in her Blue Is The Color series, points the spotlight on the band’s awkward and enigmatic drummer Ian Grady.
Long seen as aloof, moody and eccentric Ian was always on the fringe of his social circle and most approachable when he delved into the escapism drugs and partying offered him. Inside this guy was a running dialog but outside he was lucky on a good day if he did not push everyone away with his minimal use of words. A gifted musician he was able to communicate with his music where words failed him continuously. One of the things you can expect from this author is never discount her portrayals. She envisions them in 3D and their actions and appearances have many layers. The character of Ian when fully fleshed out seemed quite different than the person readers had been given glimpses of in earlier works, yet in retrospect at no point was the true Ian not visible the entire time in each of the instances where he made an appearance. With a loving touch Julia Wolf guided her audience as well as her other depictions to see the entirety of Ian and value what a great person he was.
Valentina grew up moving on a regular basis and was isolated. While her parents loved her their real focus was their work and each other, to the extent of unintentionally overlooking the exceptional human being they brought into this world. Her quirky interest and refusal to conform to others views of how she should be put a further wedge between her and most people. When Valentina inherited a home from her great aunt for the first time she had at a place she could call home, yet she struggled to find people to fill her life and appreciate and share her unique interests and outlook on life until she found Ian. Precious and undervalued by most Valentina was able to see past the skewed perception that most people had of Ian with her abundant kindness and rare insight seeing the man who was beaten down with judgments and cruelty most of his life. On a side note you gotta love a heroine who is a Radiohead fan!
Ian and Valentina lived in a very fragile state of being misunderstood and lonely. When this couple came together it was as if fate intervened and said enough these two extraordinary people needed to be together. Yet this couple had a lot of personal acceptance of themselves to overcome. Wary and overwhelmed this pair put up a good fight as they battled the inevitability of their being together. So much misunderstanding came out of these two learning how to understand each other’s unique ways of communicating and their self sabotaging. It was not easy to see Ian being judged by others so harshly but it was just as difficult to see him push Valentina away because he felt unworthy of her love. Ultimately their finding each other was a gift both to themselves and to anyone astute enough to look under the bridge.
Under The Bridge was a beautiful introspective book that was a perfect evolution of this series. Ms. Wolf has a gift for taking that extra step exposing places that many might overlook as insignificant but in reality they add something so profound to the work at hand that it goes from enjoyable to memorable with her well-chosen and placed details. With writing full of sensitivity and strength this work stands as an equal to its companions in the Blue Is The Color series. It takes more than good writing to produce a story like this, it takes heart and Julia Wolf gave hers completely without reservation to Under The Bridge.
*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 *
So sad that this is the last book in this incredible series, but I think that Julia saved the best until last. Through reading the other books I always thought that Ian was cold, distant, arrogant and so unfeeling and I hated the way he treated Malka especially in the previous book. Who knew that a character could be so misunderstood? certainly not me. In this book Julia unravels the layers that are Ian and we find out why he is who he is.
After a painful childhood Ian feels like an outsider except when he plays his drums. He finds interaction with people difficult so prefers to be alone. Suddenly quirky next door neighbour crashes into his life. After leaving a sheltered life with her parents, Valentina is living alone and dating guys she meets on line. Ian rescues Valentina from her latest date who is trying to molest her on her doorstep and unexpected sparks fly between them.
Valentina is so different from the type of woman he usually meets and refreshingly she has no idea who he is. She is so open and funny around him and has a naivety that he finds irresistible. Being they he is he is afraid to get closer to doing something wrong and hurting her. They start to spend time together as friends and find that their awkwardness around people is something that they have in common as well as their love of anime.
Julia writes a beautiful friends to lovers romance about two deeply flawed people struggling to find their version of normal together even if it is not the same as everyone elses. Though Valentina appears soft on the outside she is very strong on the inside and will not allow Ian to walk all over her, but always explains why what he does is wrong.
Ian realizes that this girl is giving him so much including the ability to step back and see how his behaviour towards others is hurtful to them but more so to himself and he knows he has to change and Valentina is the one to help him.
I thought that the other books in this series were intense but they were nothing compared to this one, make time to read this as it it just too good to put down. Although this is that last book in the series I hope Julia gives us more Ian and Valentina, it would be amazing to see him propose and their wedding.
I am a huge Julia Wolf and Blue is the Color series fan. While it is not necessary for you to have read the other books to read Under the Bridge, I feel it will enhance the experience. Meeting and knowing the band is definitely your time.
I honestly did not think I would like any book or character more than Jasper’s until I read Ian’s story Under the Bridge. Jasper figured prominently in everyone’s stories before his so it was easy to feel you already knew him but that was not the case with Ian. Sure we knew about him and Malka and his love of puzzles but that was it. I absolutely loved learning about Ian.
The character development was great as always. The chemistry and connection between Ian and Valentina was awesome. I don’t think there could have been anyone more perfect for Ian than Valentina. Ian’s lack of social experience was the cause of most of the angst but thankfully “Valley girl” was able to look past it and we get the expected HEA .
I look forward to Tali’s story coming soon and any other works by Ms. Wolf. I am forever a fangirl.
This is the fourth book in the Blue is the Color series and I really think this is my favorite. Each book has been colored with the personality of the character. Nick and Dalia’s story was a bit wild and edgy with some snark and a lot of intensity. David and Sylvia were a bit remorseful and desperate for renewal. I’m not sure remorseful is the word but just the hankering for a do-over. Jasper and Malka holy smokes sweetness overload from Jasper and Malka needed that but there was so much guilt. And these were reflections of Nick, David, and Jasper. Ian from book one has been quirky. Skirting the edges always, quiet and reserved, with his puzzles and idiosyncrasies. With some unknown something just below the surface that keeps him distant. Well, Julia nailed that feel with Under the Bridge.
Let me preface by saying I am not a huge fan of Manga nor Anime, but my daughter is and I’ve watched some with her and it is easy to be absorbed in it. I am a fan of comics, the Marvel universe, Doctor Who, Serenity, Star Wars, and video games. I get geekdom. I get passion. I get the passion people pour into cosplay (see Blizzcon or ComicCon). I see the effort in real life that people put into their cosplay and it is time-consuming and expensive. We knew vaguely that Ian liked manga and anime because of a project he was working on. So when we meet Valentina and she is a fan of all things geek well that was perfect. Valentina had me literally laughing with the things she said. All of them made her endearing and cute. No wonder Ian fell for her. She is a unique individual who defies compartmentalization, and because she does defy being categorized she’s perfect because she doesn’t think he’s weird, she accepts his quirks. She sees them (Ian’s ways) reflected in her own quirks and she embraces it, revels in it, and finds joy and humor in it all.
To describe anymore would be spoiling and we don’t want to do that. Another thing I do want to suggest is for you to listen to the songs as they are mentioned as you read the book. You can find the playlist for this book at the end, or you can search the title of the book on Spotify. Julia does a thorough job of selecting the just-right music to be mentioned in the book and it adds so much to the story experience. Some of the songs on the list are some personal favorites that just enhance the whole atmosphere of the book. Coupled with the way the story unfolds it makes for a rich reading experience. Everything that happened in a believable progression and although it left me frustrated with Ian at one point (I got over it), the story kept moving. Yeah, this is my favorite of the series so far not only because of the geek factor but because I found Ian’s journey to be really falling into happiness in such a sweet way that I finished the book really really happy for both characters. I highly recommend this sweet, quirky, geeky, and highly enjoyable book.
So unbelievably great! I loved this (much deserved) HEA for often misunderstood Ian and his quirky little Valentina Moon! I loved every part of their journey, my favorite parts were Val being her adorkable self and Ian reconciling his feelings with himself and with his friends, which was just as important as the budding romance. It was sweet and gritty and raw and wonderful all at once and I loved every minute of it. It can be read as a stand alone but I really urge readers to get all the Blue is The Color books as each couple has their own nuances and perfect for them stories that are as heart warming to read as they are hot! Honestly this author knocks it out of the park on every level and I can’t wait for more!
Blue is my color!
Have you already been pulled into Julia Wolf’s rockstar romance series, Blue is the Color? I know I’ve been and I gobbled this one up in one sitting, heading for bed so late that it was actually early! If you haven’t read them yet, grab these amazing stories, especially if you love a sexy rocker with a story all their own. I’ll try to keep things vague-ish, but reading this review could contain some unintentional spoilers! If you have read the 1st 3 books, then Blue’s mysterious drummer, Ian Grady has been on your radar as much as mine and I wanted to know more.
You might have thought- ‘I already DO know this guy, he’s a little arrogant, standoffish and cold’, BUT when you get the chance to really KNOW him, you may have to change your mind. He’s going to sneak under your skin and make you feel him, love him! So, guard your heart!
If there is one thing I enjoy, it’s a leading lady that can stand up for herself, tell it exactly like it is, keep you laughing- very much out loud so many times, at her witty comebacks and still be sweet and loving. Hard to find someone who encompasses all those qualities, but Valentina nails it without even trying. She was different, creative, alittle (ok, alot) geeky and wore her uniqueness like a crown..didn’t care about what others may think or apologize about being exactly who she was. I adored that about her.
Ian, living in a self imposed state of seclusion, is now parked in his home, alone, just as he likes to be. Unless he is onstage with his brothers from other mothers, making the music he loves, he’d rather stay far away from people and problems.
Something happened that shook Ian to his core, a little while back, when these people he counted on for the last 20 years kept a huge, crushing secret, leaving him completely in the dark and then made him feel like he was the crazy one when he shut them out because of it. So, home alone it is.
Between spending his days solving complicated puzzles (there is a crazy line about this..so funny, so Ian), banging on his drums and spending too much time in his own head, he has become fascinated by his new and quirky next door neighbor. He sits by the window, watching her, trying to figure out her story…from afar, mind you..antisocial, remember!
One night, their worlds collide and a new fragile relationship begins. Friends, or more? You just don’t know with Ian. Read on, be wowed, be totally sucked in, I was.
This slow burning attraction with one very socially awkward, painfully self defeating rockstar hottie and the very patient, anime loving new ‘friend’ will drag you into their sweet, denial ridden story which will have your emotions in a twist, your heart in a vise and tissues at the ready. Beautiful Ian, striking Viking, bruised soul, you want to just give him the biggest hug and hope that someone, someday, will give him his well deserved happy ending.
While I loved all these boys and their personal journeys, David’s (book 2) was my favorite until right now when Ian stole the title. There is just something about this one that had me laughing one minute and sniffling the next, but in the end, left me smiling and happy.
Thanks to the author for allowing me to read and review an early copy of this wonderful book.