ARC Review: ☆A Lush Betrayal☆ by @SelenaLaurence

Joss Jamison has it all. He’s the lead singer for the world’s hottest rock band, Lush. He’s wealthy, sexy, talented…and miserable. Twelve months ago, Joss lost his finely honed control and made a mistake he can’t undo. A mistake that could end up costing him his best friend, his band, and maybe his heart.

Mel DiLorenzo has it all. She’s been hired to document the world tour of her sister’s fiance’s rock band. She’s gorgeous, talented, loved…and sick of being the little sister. When she agrees to the summer job, Mel has no idea she’s walking into a minefield of friendships lost and hearts destroyed. She also has no idea what it means to be the object of Joss Jamison’s affections.

One hot rock star plus one life-altering mistake, add a dash of sexy younger sister and a handful of broken hearts, and you’ve got a recipe for fire. Life on the road can be hot, but for the boys of Lush, it’s about to get a whole hell of a lot hotter.

4 Stars

Betrayal is the only truth that sticks.

Do you like your rock star romances angst filled and high on the drama with a dash of steam thrown into the mix? Than look no further than this book, because it will deliver all that and more…in spades! I had no idea what I was walking into never having read a book by Selena Laurence before. What I found is that I was utterly sucked in to the drama, sitting on pins and needles turning the pages, and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Damn but the woman can write!

Joss Jamison is the lead singer for the world’s hottest rock band. He’s got it all; looks, money, groupies…yet surrounded by all these people, all he ever feels is alone and unhappy.

Twelve months ago he made a mistake that can cost him everything; his band, his best friend, and the happiness that managed to remain. Drowning in an ocean of guilt, misery and regret, he doubts he’ll ever be truly happy…

But then everything changes when Mel DiLorenzo comes back into his life as the band’s new documentary photographer. Used to seeing Mel as the little sister of his best friend and bandmate’s fiance, he’s utterly shocked at the gorgeous woman that she’s grown into. For a man that’s been surrounded my people yet completely lonely most of his life, he’s surprised at the pull that he has toward the stunning redhead.

I know almost instantly- this is it- I’m done. This woman will either be my salvation or the death of me. There is no question. I’ve lost control now that I’ve touched her. There’s no going back, and she’s the most spectacular thing I’ve ever experienced.

The story is told in dual person POV, which essential is what truly sucked me into the drama of it all. Joss is not the typical asshole womanizer rock star that you’d find in other books. He’s very much broken, and the mistake that he made is unforgivable. Yet you can’t seem to help but fall for him. You should hate him for what he did, yet your heart breaks for the painful struggle he faces. This was a mild case of insta-lust, but it completely worked for me. While Mel struggles against the connection they seem to have, Joss is relentless in his pursuit…yet he also manages to be so sweet during everything.

Even your imperfections are perfect to me. You are perfect to me. With me. You’re meant to be mine.

Now don’t get me wrong, as much as he was sweet, he also still had that dirty rock star side to him too.

Right now, I’m going to fuck the hell out of you. I’m going to fuck you hard and fast. Then, when I’ve taken some of the edge off for us, I’m going to fuck you long. So long that you’re going to think you can’t come one more time and stay in one piece.

I spent the first half of this book utterly conflicted. Here’s the thing, I detest (Highlight to view spoiler)cheating(spoiler). That is typically the one thing that will ruin a book for me. Make him an asshole, make him a criminal, anything but that. The fact that I not only sympathized with Joss, but fell for him too, speaks volumes of the author’s talent.

If there was one person I truly hated for a large amount of the story it was Tammy. I hated her even more since Walsh loves her so much. I couldn’t see how I would ever forgive her, let alone read the 2nd book that has her as the MC. The author managed to pain her in such a light for the second half and then pull a complete 180 by the end. It’s tough to explain how impressive this was without giving anything away, but that speaks even more for the brilliance of the writing here.

If you’re looking for your next Rock star romance, this may just be that book for you. It may be angst filled and pack enough drama to make a soap opera jealous, but it’s also a great love story about second chances and forgiveness.