I'd Dive For You

Published:  July 1st, 2013
Lick (Stage Dive # 1)
By: Kylie Scott
Momentum
ISBN-13:  9781743342374

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll’s favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.

Review

      I read the synopsis of this book and my initial thoughts were this:  Hot rock star.  Vegas marriage.  Sign ME THE HELL UP FOR THAT! :)  At the same time I was kind of wary.  Right now with the classification being so new and inviting a lot of play from unknown/self-pubbed authors, New Adult invites a lot of mediocre crap along with the good.  I've been lucky enough to mostly read good stuff, but I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  This wasn't that time, actually quite the opposite.  Evelyn 'Evie' Thomas is pretty kick-ass, as far as main characters go.  She's just an average girl who prefers country music over rock 'n roll, is wound way too tight from parental expectations and wants to get laid.  So she goes wit her best friend Lauren to Vegas and wakes up the next morning next to a strange man, with tattoos and piercings.  Turns out they got married the night before and she doesn't remember a thing.  Evie also got herself a tramp stamp of his name - 'David.'  Oh and he just happens to be a famous rock star.  Agreeing to get an annulment as soon as possible, David and Evie go their separate ways but when she is descended on by the paparazzi she joins him in California until they can be done for good.  In close quarters and getting to know each other, their feelings begin to change in ways they never imagined.  Can they give marriage to each other a real shot, or will it be just a mistake that they erase from their histories?  

     The romance between David and Evie was NOT insta-love, but it wasn't that slow of a build either.  I think the best thing about it was how normal they make each other.  She never treated him like some God incarnate because of his rock star status and he makes her question what she really wants to do with her life - follow her parents' dreams or find her own.  Also, Evie and David are physical opposites with her being a bit of a big girl who is strictly vanilla and him being a rock 'n roll wild child.  We do get to see the background stories of both (more of Evie's than his though) and how life has made them what they are now.  The supporting characters weren't super fleshed out, but they weren't cardboard cutouts either.  Later in the series I'm definitely hoping for more of Mal, who cracked me up but obviously has a huge heart.  Of course there is off the charts chemistry and when they finally do have sex it is hotter than a jalapeno pepper people!!!  There was a misunderstanding/obstacle as per usual in a romance novel, with the main characters torturing themselves and acting lovesick.  The angst is short-lived though and things were resolved to my satisfaction.  But I am excited to see what happens in the second book in the series, whether or not Kylie focuses on Evie and David again, or gives facetime to one of his bandmates (maybe his brother which would for sure be interesting).  On a small note, Lauren was super hilarious and the romance between her and Evie's brother made me laugh.  Drew away from the main tension in a good way.  Overall, a good book for anyone who enjoys rock star romances, has a good sense of humor and would like to dive into the New Adult genre with a good read.  But beware, there is a good amount of mature content, not recommended for those under 17 unless they can handle it.  The characters in this book are in their 20s for a reason! :)

VERDICT:  4.25/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published on July 1st, 2013.*