~The Books You Read~: ~Book Review: In The Band by Jean Haus~

New Adult

In the Band

Jean Haus

Date Published: 10/19/2012

When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in

another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local

rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially

when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them

relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted

to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness

and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her

booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the

world and her family’s troubles evaporate.

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley just has to ignore the growing sparks between her

and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring

him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.

*New Adult/Mature YA for language and sexual situations.

MY REVIEW:

Riley Middleton has recently graduated high school and is looking forward to going to college in another state on a percussion scholarship. That is until she finds out her parents are divorcing. Her dreams are shattered and she decides to attend the local college. In order to help out her mother, she is instead taking care of her little sister and running the household. Her mother is falling into deep depression and Riley is the only one holding them together. She can't talk to her father because he has happily moved on with his much younger girlfriend. Riley misses drumming and tries out to play with a local college band and makes it. The guys seem okay except for Romeo (don't you love it) who is a major jerk to her. He does everything to make her feel unwelcome. As time passes the band comes to respect Riley as a fantastic drummer and Romeo's tough guy facade starts to fade. As Riley's world starts to fall apart the only good thing in her life is Romeo but how can they make a relationship work?

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has such a good storyline and I loved the fact that Riley plays the drums. I love books with a strong female lead. Romeo is so hot in everything that he does. The scenes between the two of them are smoking. I was disappointed in some of the decisions Riley made. I think she should have went to the college of her choice, even though she was helping out her mother, she was also enabling her to slip further into her depression. She should have spoke up and voiced her opinions. How hard it must be to give up your dreams for the ones you love. Jean Haus has written a fabulous book. It is a new adult fiction and has some sexual situations but I do recommend it. Fantastic!

Excerpt

“We’re going to get started.”

I look up to find the guitar player standing in front of Marcus. He’s wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans. Nothing that screams hot. But he somehow does with that angle of hair across his face, the muscles noticeable under his shirt, and those full lips. My heart rate matches the jerking rhythm of my nerves. The guitarist nods toward me but his dark eyes stay on Marcus. “Sorry but your girlfriend can’t stay.”

Ah, bingo. He does think I’m a groupie.

Marcus grins and pulls me closer until the side of my face is smashed against the Pinterest across his chest. “She’s trying out, not me.”

An eyebrow arches. Otherwise, the angles of his face remain stoic. “Then I guess you need to leave.”
“Come on,” Marcus says. “I know Justin.”

His placid expression doesn’t change. “I don’t give a shit if you’re his long lost brother.”

Marcus’s lips form a tight line as the guitar player stares him down. Luckily, the singer comes over and gives Marcus a fist pump. “Dude, you trying out?”
“I wish. But no.” He turns to me, smiling wide. “Justin, this is Riley.”

Justin looks me up and down. His gaze pauses two seconds too long on my cleavage. “You play?”

Marcus laughs. “She was supposed to play at—”
I nudge him in the ribs and nod.

“Cool.” Justin grins and dimples groove his cheeks. “We’ve never had anyone so hot audition before.”

The guitar player’s eyes roll. “We’ve never had a girl audition so who exactly are you referring to?”

Justin’s dimples disappear as he scowls at his band mate before looking back to me. “We’re waiting for at least one more guy, but we’re going to start without him.”

The guitar player nails me with a narrowed look and crosses his arms over his plain t-shirt. “Why don’t you go first, Riley?” His tone is smooth but I catch the undertone of sarcasm in his voice. He doesn’t think I can play. Because I’m a girl?

Author Bio:
Jean Haus lives in Michigan with her wonderful husband and son who, other than cooking, have taken over homemaking duties since she started writing more. When Jean isn’t writing, she’s usually reading. Anything from young adult to historical fiction as long as there is a bit a romance, she’ll load it on her Kindle. She loves to cook, and someday she will create the world’s best potsticker.

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