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booklover_0816's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katyanaish's review
4.0
***3.5*** but rounding it up to 4 because the glimpses of the other couples from the series were really great.
This is a hard one for me to rate, honestly, because frankly, what Abe did during their first marriage is unforgivable. Yes, yes, drugs, blah-blah-blah. But here's the thing: it was still abuse, and he doesn't get a free pass just because he was a selfish addict.
And the reveal of more details about their marriage didn't help. He realizes, now, that he knows nothing about her life and family? Really? Abe never cared to ask, before? Sarah talks about his "good moments" when he was sober and kind, but even in those good moments he never got over himself enough to get to know his wife at all? And he left her at home in the big empty house all the time. It was just ... all of it was fucking awful and heartbreaking, and I couldn't forgive him. Nor could I understand how Sarah could forgive him. I really couldn't.
I like Abe, and I respect that he cleaned himself up. But he doesn't deserve to win back the woman he abused horribly and then abandoned. He can go find happiness elsewhere. There will always be a part of Sarah - it's ludicrous to think otherwise - that will wonder when he'll become that monster again, and she deserves better. She deserves a home and a life and all the love she's been missing her whole life. Someone who'd never hurt her.
So while I was kind of happy to see both of them happy, I honestly ... I didn't want them together. They both needed and deserved a clean start.
But we got a lot of moments with the other couples, and it was like a delicious extended epilogue. So that was awesome.
This is a hard one for me to rate, honestly, because frankly, what Abe did during their first marriage is unforgivable. Yes, yes, drugs, blah-blah-blah. But here's the thing: it was still abuse, and he doesn't get a free pass just because he was a selfish addict.
And the reveal of more details about their marriage didn't help. He realizes, now, that he knows nothing about her life and family? Really? Abe never cared to ask, before? Sarah talks about his "good moments" when he was sober and kind, but even in those good moments he never got over himself enough to get to know his wife at all? And he left her at home in the big empty house all the time. It was just ... all of it was fucking awful and heartbreaking, and I couldn't forgive him. Nor could I understand how Sarah could forgive him. I really couldn't.
I like Abe, and I respect that he cleaned himself up. But he doesn't deserve to win back the woman he abused horribly and then abandoned. He can go find happiness elsewhere. There will always be a part of Sarah - it's ludicrous to think otherwise - that will wonder when he'll become that monster again, and she deserves better. She deserves a home and a life and all the love she's been missing her whole life. Someone who'd never hurt her.
So while I was kind of happy to see both of them happy, I honestly ... I didn't want them together. They both needed and deserved a clean start.
But we got a lot of moments with the other couples, and it was like a delicious extended epilogue. So that was awesome.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
I think Rock Wedding(s) would have been a more appropriate title for this book, and no, I don't think that's too spoilery seeing as how a few of the couples from previous books are engaged. But no, I won't say whose nuptials we are witness to, you'll just have to read to find out :)
Honestly though, Rock Wedding felt like everything was coming full circle with this series. At the end in the Author's note Nalini Singh mentions that this is the last book in the series (although don't worry there will be some rugby playing brothers who get the spotlight in an upcoming spin-off), and Rock Wedding definitely has that finality feeling to it.
Regardless, Rock Wedding's main focus is on pianist Abe Bellamy. Even though we get a lot of full picture kind of stuff dealing with the entire series, it never overshadows Abe and Sarah's story. And that story is all kinds of second-chance romance goodness.
I was intrigued when Sarah popped up in [b:Rock Redemption|26134300|Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss, #3)|Nalini Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441737851s/26134300.jpg|45797441]. I don't believe up to that point that we had heard mention of this woman that Abe used to be married to (if that is wrong please let me know) so of course I wanted to know the story. I was happy that we got to learn about Sarah's character in this book, but my goodness Nalini Singh did you really have to turn on the waterworks through like the first 2 parts of the story? By the time I calmed down, I was completely invested and one way or another (with Abe or without) I wanted Sarah to have the happily ever after she deserves.
I like the way the book was plotted out. It starts about two years into Sarah and Abe's marriage. Of course we know things are not going well as Abe is deep into his addictions, but still Sarah loves him with her entire heart and then some.
I like that half the story wasn't told in flashbacks, but rather basically started from a point where they're already good and into their relationship and moved forward from there. Any further glimpse we got into their relationship was a quick remembrance usually triggered by something going on in the present. I think that was important because a big message of this book is about claiming your past mistakes, but moving forward and moving on, not looking back and not getting stuck in the past. Weddings for many people are about two people starting a life together, thereby starting a new life, letting go of the past, moving to the future. I think it's safe to say that Abe and Sarah have a lot to work through in order to determine whether or not they can have a future together.
The pacing it pretty sedate. There's not a lot of action, there's not a lot of intrigue and drama. It's like they already had enough drama in their relationship, and now it's about seeing if they can make it work. Some people might be put off by this, but I kind of liked the more mundane simplicity of two people going about their day-to-day. Of course there are things that happen, but I'm not going to tell you, I don't want to spoil anything. But overall, I felt like this one was toned down which maybe goes with the flow of winding down the series.
Overall, I started out the Rock Kiss series a little on the iffy side. I love Nalini Singh, but I wasn't blown away by the first book, but looking back it grew on me. I liked the way Nalini Singh grew the characters and the band and that she went a bit grittier with some of the issues the guys have had to deal with. I am excited to revisit Gabriel's family (from [b:Rock Hard|23514316|Rock Hard (Rock Kiss, #2)|Nalini Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423588812s/23514316.jpg|43117391]) in the spin-off as I felt while reading Charlie's book that they definitely needed stories of their own.
I think if you've read and liked the other books in this series, you'll feel the same about Rock Wedding. Although admittedly being the last in the series, I wouldn't recommend picking up this book first if you haven't read the others, simply because I think the nuances of where all the characters were at the beginning of the series to where they are now is more pronounced if started from book 1.
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly though, Rock Wedding felt like everything was coming full circle with this series. At the end in the Author's note Nalini Singh mentions that this is the last book in the series (although don't worry there will be some rugby playing brothers who get the spotlight in an upcoming spin-off), and Rock Wedding definitely has that finality feeling to it.
Regardless, Rock Wedding's main focus is on pianist Abe Bellamy. Even though we get a lot of full picture kind of stuff dealing with the entire series, it never overshadows Abe and Sarah's story. And that story is all kinds of second-chance romance goodness.
I was intrigued when Sarah popped up in [b:Rock Redemption|26134300|Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss, #3)|Nalini Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441737851s/26134300.jpg|45797441]. I don't believe up to that point that we had heard mention of this woman that Abe used to be married to (if that is wrong please let me know) so of course I wanted to know the story. I was happy that we got to learn about Sarah's character in this book, but my goodness Nalini Singh did you really have to turn on the waterworks through like the first 2 parts of the story? By the time I calmed down, I was completely invested and one way or another (with Abe or without) I wanted Sarah to have the happily ever after she deserves.
I like the way the book was plotted out. It starts about two years into Sarah and Abe's marriage. Of course we know things are not going well as Abe is deep into his addictions, but still Sarah loves him with her entire heart and then some.
I like that half the story wasn't told in flashbacks, but rather basically started from a point where they're already good and into their relationship and moved forward from there. Any further glimpse we got into their relationship was a quick remembrance usually triggered by something going on in the present. I think that was important because a big message of this book is about claiming your past mistakes, but moving forward and moving on, not looking back and not getting stuck in the past. Weddings for many people are about two people starting a life together, thereby starting a new life, letting go of the past, moving to the future. I think it's safe to say that Abe and Sarah have a lot to work through in order to determine whether or not they can have a future together.
The pacing it pretty sedate. There's not a lot of action, there's not a lot of intrigue and drama. It's like they already had enough drama in their relationship, and now it's about seeing if they can make it work. Some people might be put off by this, but I kind of liked the more mundane simplicity of two people going about their day-to-day. Of course there are things that happen, but I'm not going to tell you, I don't want to spoil anything. But overall, I felt like this one was toned down which maybe goes with the flow of winding down the series.
Overall, I started out the Rock Kiss series a little on the iffy side. I love Nalini Singh, but I wasn't blown away by the first book, but looking back it grew on me. I liked the way Nalini Singh grew the characters and the band and that she went a bit grittier with some of the issues the guys have had to deal with. I am excited to revisit Gabriel's family (from [b:Rock Hard|23514316|Rock Hard (Rock Kiss, #2)|Nalini Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423588812s/23514316.jpg|43117391]) in the spin-off as I felt while reading Charlie's book that they definitely needed stories of their own.
I think if you've read and liked the other books in this series, you'll feel the same about Rock Wedding. Although admittedly being the last in the series, I wouldn't recommend picking up this book first if you haven't read the others, simply because I think the nuances of where all the characters were at the beginning of the series to where they are now is more pronounced if started from book 1.
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
indecisivesailorscout's review against another edition
4.0
THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME AND GOOD *sobs*
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but thankfully it never did. It was just as advertised - two people who married too young falling back together and growing into their new and better selves each and every day. It was so sweet and heartwarming and just as passionate as it was gentle, and I loved it from start to finish. Especially with everybody getting married!!!!! Ugh my romantic heart cant take all this love and happiness. But like please I will take even more.
4.5 stars!
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but thankfully it never did. It was just as advertised - two people who married too young falling back together and growing into their new and better selves each and every day. It was so sweet and heartwarming and just as passionate as it was gentle, and I loved it from start to finish. Especially with everybody getting married!!!!! Ugh my romantic heart cant take all this love and happiness. But like please I will take even more.
4.5 stars!
romancejunkie1025's review against another edition
5.0
wow what a kickass story of redemption, forgiveness, and love. Singh never lets me down! full review coming soon to the blog.
fishgirl182's review against another edition
2.0
This is 2 1/2 stars for me. I normally love Nalini Singh's writing and I was really excited for Abe and Sarah's story. Unfortunately I didn't like this one as much as I had hoped. I didn't find it believable that Abe's friends and their significant others would just just welcome Sarah back into the fold so quickly. Everyone became one big happy family almost immediately and it just seemed a little too easy. I also wish there had been more ups and downs in Sarah and Abe's relationship. It's like they went through so much before the book started that they'd run out reasons to fight after the got back together. While I'm sure this is much better for the emotional health of the characters, the lack of relationship drama left me a little bored at times. I think I needed to feel that their relationship had a chance of not working so I could root for them to make it. However, success never seemed in doubt and I felt less invested in the relationship.
Even though this wasn't my favorite Nalini Singh book, it was still entertaining and I finished it in only a couple of days. It was fun seeing all of the other band members and their significant others again (though I was getting a little sick of all the weddings jammed into this book). I'm glad that Sarah and Abe finally got their happy ending.
Even though this wasn't my favorite Nalini Singh book, it was still entertaining and I finished it in only a couple of days. It was fun seeing all of the other band members and their significant others again (though I was getting a little sick of all the weddings jammed into this book). I'm glad that Sarah and Abe finally got their happy ending.
booksplantsandtea's review
4.0
The thing I like most about this series is that each book has its own characters with their own unique stories. You get to follow the lives of a tight-knit group of friends (who happen to be very, very hot rockers) and their journey to find or conquer the love of their life.
I've loved and reviewed every book in this series, waiting impatiently to get my hands on the next one. I fell in love with Fox and Molly, swooned when I read David and Thea's book, then giggled throughout the entire Charlie and T-Rex story, and died and went to heaven whilst reading Noah's story.
I guess you see me coming by now: I didn't like Rock Wedding as much as I did all the others... Why?
I never really cared about Abe, but still wanted to know what his story was. So I started reading with a lot of interest. But then... I think that's where everything went wrong for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's happy now and everyone is doing fine, but I couldn't care less to be brutally honest.
Anyway, Rock Wedding wasn't bad, though! It had amazing writing.
And what I loved most of all: we got to see the others on a regular basis. It gave Abe and Sarah's story a more real touch, because you actually saw what was happening in their life other than them falling in love with each other.
So yeah, I didn't like this book as much as the rest, but I'm not sorry I read it. Hopefully we'll see more of the Schoolboy Choir bunch, because I'm going to miss them!
***I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review by the publisher through Netgalley***
I've loved and reviewed every book in this series, waiting impatiently to get my hands on the next one. I fell in love with Fox and Molly, swooned when I read David and Thea's book, then giggled throughout the entire Charlie and T-Rex story, and died and went to heaven whilst reading Noah's story.
I guess you see me coming by now: I didn't like Rock Wedding as much as I did all the others... Why?
I never really cared about Abe, but still wanted to know what his story was. So I started reading with a lot of interest. But then...
Spoiler
That one night when Abe was a complete A-hole to Sarah made me dislike him so much, even though I kind of suspected he was high on drugs.Anyway, Rock Wedding wasn't bad, though! It had amazing writing.
And what I loved most of all: we got to see the others on a regular basis. It gave Abe and Sarah's story a more real touch, because you actually saw what was happening in their life other than them falling in love with each other.
So yeah, I didn't like this book as much as the rest, but I'm not sorry I read it. Hopefully we'll see more of the Schoolboy Choir bunch, because I'm going to miss them!
***I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review by the publisher through Netgalley***
jeannethinks's review against another edition
4.0
Bring out the tissues, you're going to need them to get through this book. Really think Nalini like to make us cry. But she makes it so worth it. It was really hard to like Abe, he put all the bandmates through so much turmoil. And what he did to Sarah was just, I wanted to punch him in the junk! Take your time, redemption can come and new beginnings are possible.
So much fun getting to see the weddings all happening and the story lines finding more closure. Bring on the HAWT rugby players!
So much fun getting to see the weddings all happening and the story lines finding more closure. Bring on the HAWT rugby players!