Kristen Proby

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s brand new series, five best friends open a hot new restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained for when a sexy former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart. Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy...exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need. Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him. Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

A Fusion Novel

Listen To Me

Lover of Romance 

Listen To Me is the first book in the Fusion series and I have been wanting to read these books so badly. I have recently been hooked on Kristen Proby, and I have really enjoyed her writing style. They don’t work for everyone, but let me tell you ….her books TOTALLY work for me so I was curious about this new series and since I am almost done with the “With Me In Seattle” series, I knew I had to try these books out and they are closely related to the Seattle series which is cool. Its a series about five women who start a restaurant together. This restaurant is a sexy one, which is called “Seduction” that brings in a romantic element to fine wine and dining. Their goal is to make it a sensual atmosphere that brings in couples.

The first book here “Listen To You” and this features Addison Wade and Jake Weller. Addison Wade has had a bad history of falling in love with the bad boys who just happen to be rock stars or musicians and end up cheating on her and breaking her heart. Her current boyfriend she has recently found cheating on her and she is DONE with rock stars and the bad boys. Now she wants some boring CPA or lawyer. But when the five women decide to go in search for a musician to bring in the perfect mood music for Seduction, they find someone they never expected to find wanting a job —the infamous Jake Keller who was the leader of a very famous band who broke up years previous.

There is some strong sexual chemistry between Addison and Jake. Addison is very bitter at the moment especially against the male species which is understandable. But Jake, is nothing like the men she has dated in the past. He has his own sorrows and torments, and is just trying to live with what he blames himself for which he believe he is at fault for causing his best friend to lose her leg and having troubles getting pregnant. She was also the friend that woke him up to his decline from drugs and women and gave him the wake up call he needed to get his life together. But now Jake has started a business with a good friend and one of the members of the band they played together with. Where they have a music studio and help other musicians get their music recorded. But Addison begins to see that Jake is different and starts to open herself up to Jake slowly. But will Jake’s fears keep him from the best woman he could ever fall for?

I simply adored Listen To Me and I can’t believe that I took so long in reading this book, its simply a fabulous book and I just fell in love with it so much. This was a bit different from most rock star romances that you see. We see the focus being a lone musician who has a deep reverence for all music and a heroine who is independent and strong and searching for a love of her own. They both have painful pasts but are trying to overcome them to be the best they can be. I love what we see them both bring to the relationship here and that they both make some mistakes. Jake more than Addison to be honest, but we see that true value of second chances and forgiveness.

 “YOU KNOW, YOU have a membership to this gym,” I remind Cami as we begin walking side by side on the treadmills. She’s glaring at hers, as though it’s an evil entity. “I know. And I came here, once.” “Once?” I chuckle and increase my speed. “I had these horrible side effects. I got sweaty. I was out of breath. My legs were shaky. I’m pretty sure that all means that this is not good for me. I mean, I couldn’t breathe, Addie.”

As a plus we also see such a vital friendship between these five women and my goodness I wish they were my REAL Friends hehe because they truly value each other and have each other’s backs and support one another the way that true friends really should in real life. I just love how they protect and laugh together and what a lovely business they have started together.

 “Addie, I can’t promise you that there won’t be times I fuck up or that things won’t ever feel broken.” His voice is a shaky whisper, his mouth planted against my temple. “But I can promise you that I will never walk away from us.”
 Us.
 Not me. Us.
 I hug him tighter as tears form at the corners of my eyes. “That’s the best promise you can make.”

Overall I found Listen To Me to be a vibrant and full of life romance that brings together food and music together in such a harmonious way….A TRUE TUNE OF LOVE AND SENSUALITY

Becky

Sometimes we all need a really good romance for a pick my up and this was mine. I was in the mood for a happily ever after with a few bumps in the road to get there. I got that in this book. I mean a book about a bunch of women who run a successful restaurant together who get lucky with a formerly famous rockstar filling their weekend evenings with beautiful music? Sounds like a win to me.

I will not claim the story or romance is groundbreaking in this book. But that is not what we look for. It is well written and fun and it really got going once the romance began. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a few hours of escape by the pool.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


Can anyone PLEASE tell me why I've not read more of Kristen Proby's books?! Believe it or not, this is only my second and I'm totally kicking myself for not having read ALL of her books. Listen to Me was absolutely glorious. It was sweet, funny, sexy and full of feels. 

After a string of bad relationships with "bad boy" musicians, Addie is done with them. Until, that is, Jake Keller walks through the door of the restaurant she owns with four of her closest friends. She's had a crush on him for years, back when he was a big music star, and having him play live in her restaurant might be good for business, but it'll probably be bad for her heart. What she doesn't know is that Jake isn't the same guy he was before, when he was into all the "perks" of the rock star life. When they first meet, she's determined to push him away, but he's just as determined to break down her walls and earn her trust. You just can't fake the kind of connection they have. 

I LOVED Jake and Addie, together and separately. He was all kinds of charming and sexy and she was strong and spunky. I loved spending time inside each of their heads. I loved their banter. Jake and Addie just FIT together. They have wicked chemistry and when it all explodes, it's HOT AF. Jake has a delightfully dirty mouth and their sexy times are amazing. And, as scorchingly hot as the lovin' is, it still wasn't my favorite part of the book. The characters were. I adored them. The romance made me smile. Don't get me wrong, they had their issues and there was drama, but I never once doubted they were the real thing. Watching each of them deal with their issues and grow as people, as well as become a stronger couple, was one of the things I loved most about this book. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the secondary characters in this book. I'm a little bit in love with Addie's friends and business partners already. I love the friendship they share. It's the real deal. And, most of all, I love that this series shows a variety of strong and successful women. We learned just enough about each of the ladies to make me REALLY excited to continue this series and get their full stories. I can't wait to see where Kristen takes them... and us. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES:


  "I love music too. But the quiet is where the truth lives."

"Your pussy is so pink," he whispers as he lowers his face and gently swipes the flat of his tongue from my opening, over my lips, to my clit.
"Oh God."
"And you smell like you can't wait for me to fuck you."
"It's accurate then." 

"You have no idea how fast my heart races when I look at you," I whisper, my lips mere inches from hers. "You turn me inside out, Addison."

"Well, aren't we just two scoops of bitchy in a bowl full of grouchy this afternoon?" Cici says. "What crawled up your ass?"

"I fell so hard for him! Most of the time I don't give any fucks. Not one. But this time I gave a lot of fucks," I say to Cami, who nods with wide eyes. "I gave lots of fucks, Cam. I'm a prostitute of feelings."

Lacey

3.5 stars – Review to come!!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Prerana agrawal

Rania

Kristina Sanders

Noelia Abreu

Ana Matti

Jeni Szilagyi

Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim one fifth of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school. He’s all bad boy . . . exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need. Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him. Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

Listen To Me A Fusion Novel

Reviews