Backstage with Her Ex by Louisa George: Another amazing HQ KISS book. Lemme tell you about it!
Sasha has an obligation to her students. She’s the chorus teacher to a group of special needs kids and they want nothing more to be able to go to a competition in Manchester.But like everything that happens in their impoverished district – it’s a challenge that Sasha hasn’t been able to rise to yet. She’s got an opportunity to ask a man from her past to help, but after the way they parted she’s not sure he’ll even want to talk to her.
Nate’s life is pretty good, even if it’s not the wild ride the papers make it out to be. It’s a lifetime away from where he grew up. Never good enough for anyone. His then-girlfriend, his brother, his mother… nobody. Now he’s the name everyone has on their lips. Nate Munro – rockstar God, Playboy, and living the high-life. He’s used to women hiding out, trying to get a minute alone with the bad-boy Nate. So when he finds out there’s a woman in the men’s room – waiting for him, he’s not shocked. However, once she’s out of the stall and being frisked by his bodyguard, he couldn’t be more gobsmacked.
Sasha Sweet. The girl that got away. No, that’s not entirely correct – she’s the girl that ran from Nate the minute there was trouble. Convicted him without a trial. Until he takes his last breath he’ll never forget the look on her face – like he was the devil incarnate. The thing is, he doesn’t think he’d do anything differently. He had his reasons then, and they’re no less valid ten years later.
Nate Munro. Sasha really had no choice but to try and talk to him. He has every right to hate her – she’d be shocked if he didn’t. After talking about their future together she’d run away that fateful night. But what did he expect? Bloodied knuckles, police knocking at the door, conversations at full volume talking about how he’d put another kid in the ICU. She couldn’t deal with more violence and pain, especially not from someone close to her. So she left. And he’d made a successful life without her.
After their ‘reunion’ in the men’s room and the back of his limo, she’s quite sure he’ll never contact her about helping her choir. It was a horrible idea really. The only card Sasha had to play was his brother Marshall. She thought Nate might soften towards the idea if he could help special needs kids just like his brother had been. A rotten play, but it didn’t work anyway. Imagine her surprise when he shows up at the school that expelled him ten years ago to hear more about her plan. Oddly enough, Nate was surprised too.
I just love the ‘reunited high school sweethearts’ thing, and this one was different enough to keep me enthralled the whole way through. Both Sasha and Nate had complicated backstories – and they brushed against each other like really coarse sandpaper. After they parted the first time, their lives couldn’t have been any more different. Nate turned into a rich, successful player – and Sasha kind of retreated inside herself.
I adored that they felt the sparks fly, but Sasha was strong enough to resist them for a while. When the guy wants to give in and the girl is determined not to – that’s empowering. It gets even more so when she decides she’s okay with what he offers her, which isn’t much. But she’s ready to find out what she missed all those years ago, even if it means letting someone get close enough to see her failings.
Great story, amazing writing, wonderful characters – the whole package. I’ve already read it twice, and it’ll be there on the shelf when I feel like picking it up again. Highly recommended!
Book Info:
HJ Recommends
Published September 17th 2013 by Harlequin Harlequin KISS (Book 35)
Her ex…the VIP!
Hiding out in the gents’ toilet backstage is not the way Sasha imagined bumping into her significant ex. Especially when that ex is notoriously damaged, famously wild rock god Nate Munro! She has a massive favor to ask him, but one glimpse of his sinfully dark eyes and all she can think about is that he’s seen her naked!
Nate’s used to women doing anything to get his attention, but he never pictured bubbly schoolteacher Sasha as the groupie type—she’s far too sweet! And when the paparazzi get a hint of their reunion, it’s scandal all the way. Now the question on everyone’s lips is this: In this showdown between the girl-next-door and rock & roll royalty, who’s going to come out on top?