Blogging by Liza: DARE TO ROCK (DARE TO LOVE #7)

Monday, August 10, 2015

DARE TO ROCK (DARE TO LOVE #7)

Avery Dare lives a quiet life in Miami as an online fashion/makeup video blogger. She has good friends, a close, large family and if her love life is lacking, she likes it that way. But when she receives an invitation to one of her ex's concerts along with an invitation to meet him back stage, she decides to take the risk… and comes face to face with the reality of his rock star lifestyle - the press, the crowds, and the half naked groupies.

At eighteen, Grey Kingston left everything he knew and loved behind to seek fame and fortune as a rock star, and he found it as the lead guitarist and singer for the band, Tangled Royal. Fans adore him, women throw themselves at him, and he can afford everything he couldn’t growing up. Yet at the height of his career, he’s ready to walk away and return home to a simpler life… and the woman he left behind, if he can convince her to give him another chance.

Except moving on isn’t as easy as Grey would like. When Avery is threatened by a stalker, it becomes evident Grey’s fans not only don’t want him to retire, they don’t want Avery in his life either. And Avery isn’t sure she wants the pressures that are part of Grey’s life… but she doesn’t want to lose him again, either. Can their recently renewed love survive the fallout?

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Dare to Love #7

CP Publishing
Review copies provided by publisher/blog tour company

Both my blog mate and I wanted to review Dare to Rock for the tour, so today I'm featuring both my review and Nikki's on the blog. I can say with absolute certainty that we both loved this book so much and can say for myself, Dare to Rock is my favorite book ever from Carly Phillips.

Liza’s Review:

I'm a huge fan of Carly Phillips and drop everything to read each of her books as they are released. Dare to Rock was no different and is now my favorite book ever from Carly Phillips.

I love a reunion story and Avery and Grey's reunion story is absolutely perfect. Yes there is a bit of a bump in the road when they first see one another again. However, I loved the Grey didn't give up and was all about proving to Avery that he was back in Miami to stay. Grey and Avery seriously can't keep their hands off one another for long and I loved how strong their chemistry was even after being apart for so many years. Grey and Avery have both smoking hot sex and tender love making, both of which worked at the time.

I also loved how much time we got to spend with Avery and her siblings. Whether her brothers going all alpha-protective when the stalker showed up, or Avery getting to spend time with her sisters and sister-in-laws, I loved watching Avery get to spend time with her family. I loved how close Avery is to both Olivia and Sienna, and the different bond she shared with them both. I also loved Avery's best friend Ella and how Avery shared secrets with her she didn't even share with her sisters. Sometimes you need an outside person to confide in over a family member.

The more time Avery and Grey spent together, the more I loved them at a couple. I also loved they had couple friends with Grey's best friend Lola and her boyfriend Rep. Lola is such a fun and colorful character and I loved how protective she was of Grey when she first meets Avery. I really felt like Avery and Lola became friends so quickly because of how protective Lola was of Grey.

The one member of Avery's family who hasn't been a part of her life since she donated bone marrow to save Sienna is her father Robert Dare. I really hate this man with a passion for what he did to not only his legitimate children but his illegitimate children as well. While Ian got to give his father a little bit of what-for in his book, I've always believed Avery and Sienna are the ones with the most right to lay into their father. Let me just say one of my favorite parts of the whole book is when Avery talks to her father.

I honestly loved every single thing about Dare to Rock. Avery and Grey had the prefect reunion story proving second chances can work out. While there was drama with the stalker and life in general, I felt like it only made Grey and Avery's connection stronger faster. While Dare to Rock can totally be read as a stand alone story if you haven't read the other Dare to Love books, I really feel like you understand the family dynamics better if you read the books in order. I am now anxiously awaiting the release of the next book in the Dare to Love series, Dare to Seduce, which is Lucy and Max's story.

Nikki’s Review:

Where should I start? I’m searching for the right words…GAH!!! This book was so over the top fabulous! Just when I think that Carly Phillips couldn’t possibly make the next book in this series any better than the last…she bloody well blows me out of the water! I have gobbled up this series from book 1! The Dare family have become important to me. I know, I know, they’re fictional! But I want to hear about all their struggles and triumphs.

Grey Kingston. Just the name alone incites all sorts of yummy daydreams! Seriously, the guy is that freakin’ hot! Grey has grown tired of the fast life as rock star. He loves his music and he’s not leaving the industry all together, but he needs to slow down. He wants to put down roots and start the next stage of his life. He wants to connect with his mother and stepfather. He misses family and home but he isn’t sure where to start or even how. Grey’s never forgotten the girl he left behind to pursue his dreams of stardom, Avery Dare. He has loved her from afar and now he wants her back! And can I just say, when this smokin’ male gets his mind set on winning his lady loves heart, he puts on a full force assault! Panty melting assault! Ummm…I think I might have fallen hard for this fictional character. Hey! I never claimed to be completely sane!

Avery Dare feels like the forgotten daughter. At least in her fathers eyes. She sacrificed so much of herself as a child to help a sibling she didn’t even know existed. And she wouldn’t change it for anything. She is however, hungry for her father’s love and approval. Grey broke Avery’s heart when he left her years before to start a music career, but she has never forgotten how much she loved him. Protecting her heart is at the forefront of her mind when Grey comes barreling back into her life. His life comes with the chaos of the media and after the scandal that surrounded her father years before, she’s skittish and reluctant about exposing herself to that again. I really admired the way Grey tried to protect Avery. He couldn’t possibly shield her from everything but the way he puts her feelings and needs first…sigh. Have I mentioned that I was kinda crushing on him? The love between these two is palpable. The years apart haven’t changed that.

The sexual tension is off the charts! They’d get so close to the good stuff and I’d get all excited and fluttery and then, they’d take a step back. I wanted to weep! It had to happen like that, Avery needed time to figure out what she wanted and how to navigate all the conflicting feelings swirling in her head. Thank freakin’ goodness it didn’t last long. I may have fist pumped…and whooped out loud, when the hot and sweaty yummy stuff finally happened! It was worth the wait. Holy combustible sexy times! Grey has moves ladies. Like, make your toes curl kinda moves. Ya, I uh think that perhaps I am SLIGHTLY nuts. My name is Nikki, and I love a fictional character. And I don’t even care!

Though these two are both fighting their own battles and insecurities, they want and need the same outcome…peace and a sense of contentment. I felt privileged to watch the process of all the pieces coming together. It was like standing back and seeing my friends find their place in the world they wanted.

Of course you get to visit with most of the Dare family in this book! You get glimpses into the characters lives from past books lives. I love seeing all the new babies coming into the world, the next generation of Dares! There is plenty of well-placed humour, particularly when all the girls get together. The entire book was like coming home. I said before, these “people” are important to me. This series is important to me. Thank you Ms. Phillips for writing, yet again, another book that filled my heart with such joy and happiness! I can’t wait for book 8! Ummm…you don’t need to eat and sleep do you, Carly?