Title: Beyond the Music
Series: The Rock Gods, #7
Author: Ann Lister
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 454 pages
Publisher: SleighFarm Publishing (February 23rd 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Lincoln Stallworth, bass player for Black Ice, has quietly watched each of his band mates fall in love and has accepted the fact he’ll probably never find the same for himself. He doesn’t really believe in true love, couldn’t fully understand the absurdity of it, or the notion there could be just one perfect person for everyone.
A debilitating health issue began to shadow Lincoln in the middle of their last tour. As his physical symptoms worsen, Lincoln has to fight the urge to hide from the world and himself inside his estate.
Aaron Baylor enters Lincoln’s life at his lowest point. Lincoln feels broken, damaged beyond repair, and he’s ready to give-up. Aaron’s patience and unwavering support slowly begin to pull Lincoln back to being present in his own life and gives him hope for a future and for love.
Will Aaron be the glue that holds the broken pieces of Lincoln’s life together?
Can Lincoln fight his way back to good health and take a chance at love?
Or will the task be too great for Lincoln to handle?
Beyond The Music is Book 7 in The Rock Gods series. This is the final story in the series, but also the launch of a new M/M spin-off series, Guarding the Gods, which will have many cameo appearances from The Rock Gods characters in each story. If you enjoyed The Rock Gods, I hope you’ll give Guarding the Gods a try!
ASIN: B01BT6383E
Product Link: http://amzn.to/1Sjh68g
Reviewer: Tams
Review: Black Ice’s talented bass player, Lincoln, has slowly been isolating himself over the past year. Partly because he is trying to hide a severe health issue that he isn’t even fully aware of just how severe it is, as of yet. And partly because he’s tired of watching his fellow band mates and friends pair off and find their love. Lincoln is trying to convince himself he couldn’t care less, but deep down there is some jealousy and envy roiling in his gut.
On a break before the tour with Ivory Tower, Linc wants to smoke some pot, sleep and fade into the wallpaper until it’s time to rehearse. Thankfully when Linc has a fall, the bands stage manager Spimoni, is there to take him to the ER. Spimoni uses the fact that Linc doesn’t want any of the guys in the band to know what’s going on with him, he gives Linc an ultimatum. Get a physical therapist or tell the guys in the band.
Aaron Baylor is good friends with Spimoni and not only does he understand the word confidentiality, he has worked with one of the Ivory Tower guys in the past. Aaron has the patience of a saint and the harder Linc pushes back, Aaron stands his ground and forces Linc to do what must be done if he’s going to learn how to live as normal a life as possible.
Spending every waking hour together gets off to a rocky start, as I said. Linc is furious over his diagnosis and feels worthless having to depend on Aaron so heavily. Somewhere along the way the lines between therapist and patient begin to blur. The attraction has been obvious from the beginning, but the progression to something beyond just friendship is slow and tedious.
Linc and Aaron are so busy with getting Linc well enough to go on tour and figuring out how to navigate some type of relationship, that they don’t see the threat lurking in the shadows.
In a way I’m sad that this is the last book. I’ve been on tour with Black Ice and Ivory tower, watched as these guys found their soul mates, fell in love and even attending a few wedding. I’ve sat on the sidelines as they have struggled, for various reasons, to be true to themselves and move past hatred and bigotry to find their place in this world. I seriously feel like a distant cousin, I’m so invested in these characters and their lives.
So, Lincoln has been the ornery bass player pretty much from the start. He’s standoffish and volatile at times. But he is also loyal and dependable. He knows that there is something wrong with him, but he refuses to do anything about it. Reasons vary from not wanting to let the band down, his love of playing and worrying he won’t be able to anymore, and knowing that if he does something about it he is admitting there is something wrong. Ignoring it allows Linc to convince himself he is okay.
Aaron is perfect for Linc. He has the patience of a saint and he doesn’t take any of Linc’s crap. Early on, Linc lashes out several times and even fires Aaron at one point. He quickly comes to his senses, apologizing and begging Aaron to stay. It’s hard for Linc to accept help, it is just not something he is familiar with and he associates it with showing weakness.
As the story unfolds, you can see the two men falling in love. Small gestures, their inner thoughts, longing looks… it all slowly unfolds and as hard as these two fight at the start, they put all that determination into having a successful relationship. Aaron keeps Lincoln grounded, supports him, loves him unconditionally to spite his diagnosis. It’s hard for Linc to believe for a while there, but once he realizes the depth of his feelings, he refuses to let Aaron go.
Everything comes to a head in London while the guys are on tour and the threat that has stayed in the shadows emerges. At the same time, Lister introduces the team that is going to provide security for the bands moving forward. And I already see a couple of stories I want to come from these large and in charge guys. I also enjoy how the Skullblasters make an appearance to spice things up a bit. And who is to say we won’t have a love story down the road between one of the Skullblasters guards and one of the guards for Black Ice. A girl can dream, right?
This is a fantastic series with well written story lines and three-dimensional characters. You really get pulled into each and every story with believable storylines and perfectly flawed characters. While each story could probably be read as a standalone novel, why would you want to? I think reading the books in order is necessary to enjoy the full effect of the world Lister has created.
The books are emotional, intriguing, completely captivating, passionate, funny and enduring. I highly recommend anyone that likes stories with guys of all shapes, sizes and personalities that are passionate about their jobs, their friends and their lovers.
Now I have to sit here and wait for the first book in the spin-off series for the Guards, Ann Lister is such a tease!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Thank you so much for sharing & reviewing ❤️