BLOG TOUR STOP: REVIEW, EXCERPT, AND TEASER: The Redemption by S.L. Scott

Release Date: Nov 3

Synopsis

He was everything she never wanted. Yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Soulful, amber eyes

A sex, drugs, and rock n’roll reputation

A body that beckoned for sin

Three years ago Rochelle Floros was living her dream come true… then lost it all. On the worst day of her life, the last person she expected to be there for her was a rock star and tabloid favorite. Now, she’s trying to rebuild her life after the tragedy that destroyed her fairytale. Slowly, she found herself captivated by a sexy, bad boy drummer she had known for years.

Rochelle was caught between the grief that shrouded her heart and the charismatic man that made it race. What she didn’t know is if he was being sincere or toying with her heart. The Redemption is about finding the pulse of your soul in the most unlikely places and giving love a chance to grow.

Can what she wants really be what she needs? With his rhythm and her passion, can they make music together? Or will their harmony be lost forever?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23234850-the-redemption

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-redemption/id919736150?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D410lL3g

Review

A man with demons who’s part showman part manwhore.

A woman whose future ended with her soulmate’s death.

Two people hiding how they truly feel – one with alcohol, drugs, and women and the other with a smile on her face and a strong drive to act like everything is fine.

Two people, according to all those around them, who shouldn’t be together because there’s too much history, too much of a divide between them.

One doesn’t feel good enough for the other, being held accountable is not something he’s used to, and despite their pull towards one another, they’re constantly running from each other because the pressure is too much…the memories are too much.

Can the bad boy drummer be redeemed or will Dex and Rochelle’s personal obstacles be too much for them to overcome?

Dex has always been the quintessential bad boy rocker but beneath the exterior is a man who’s been in love with a woman since their first meeting; a woman who’s been off limits and to suppress those feelings as well as the baggage he carries due to his family, he’s worked and partied hard, damaging his body as well as his reputation. But there’s more to Dex that his rocker ways, and S.L. Scott illustrates Dex’s layers through his interactions with Rochelle and her boys as well as the messages he writes Rochelle. We see the real Dex through Rochelle’s eyes – the man behind the drugs, booze, girls, and drums – the man who would willingly give Rochelle and her children the world if he could…if Rochelle would allow it. All Dex needs is a chance to show Rochelle that he’s good enough to be with her…that he can chase his demons and win, but first, he has to believe it himself, but therein lies the problem and explains a lot of the push and pull that happens throughout the story. He doesn’t feel good enough; he’s definitely a work in progress, and in order for him and everyone else to feel like he and Rochelle are a good idea, he needs to work on himself and get his shit together before he’ll ever feel free to be with the woman he loves.

Rochelle has things to fight as well, but her struggle is to stop living in the past and thinking about what could have been. Cory’s death rocks her to the core and even though logically she understands there’s no future with him, how can she move on and have a relationship with another man, especially one of Cory’s best friends? That idea alone torments her on a consistent basis and has her sending Dex mixed messages on a continual basis. I can’t blame Rochelle for being hesitant about getting into her feelings for Dex. She has a lot on her plate, and she also has two small children to worry about as well as her memories of her life with Cory. Do her two steps forward, one step back actions frustrate me? Absolutely, but it makes sense after everything she’s endured and what she and Dex are up against in trying to be a couple in the eyes of their friends/family and the public.

There’s nothing easy about Dex and Rochelle’s relationship. At times, it seems like they’ll never be on the same page. I was emotionally spent a number of times reading their story because I wanted all the pieces to fall into place, and they just wouldn’t budge, which left both Dex and Rochelle tied up in knots and pulling back to regroup. Dex and Rochelle are up against complicated issues both personally and as a couple, and their struggles to get through them and come out on the other end unscathed are amazingly illustrated through S.L. Scott’s writing. She captures both the complexity of Dex and Rochelle’s feelings and the upheaval they are emotionally going through and shows readers that nothing can ever work out perfectly; there will always be obstacles and traumatizing situations, but S.L. also proves that even though redemption is never easy, it’s always worth it.

If readers have never read any of S.L. Scott’s works, they are definitely missing out – she has the ability to create multifaceted characters who draw readers into their story and don’t let them go until they’ve experienced the characters’ feelings and understand why they are the way that they are and why the choices made may not always make sense, but at that time, it was the only decision to make. S.L. is definitely one of my go to authors!

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

5 poison apples

Excerpt

“Here’s the truth of the matter. If we do this… again, there’s no going back to square one tomorrow. Not for me. I won’t be able to act like I don’t care about you, like I haven’t thought about you every day since we were together last. So it’s easier to stop now than later.”

With a discouraged sigh, I say, “You’re stronger than me, Dex.”

“No, I just know my greatest weakness is the woman beneath me right now.” He rolls over sighing in a way that shows frustration has set in. Turning his head to me, he says, “I want to fuck you so bad, but I also want to do all that making love stuff too. And if we do that, I can’t pretend it didn’t happen.” He sits up and walks to the other side of the room, leaning his back against the wall.

I prop myself up on my elbows, caught by the heaviness of the emotions I’m suddenly feeling for him.

“Go to sleep tonight. Fly home tomorrow.” He walks into the shadow of the entryway. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

I hear the door open as I fall back on the bed, my own sexual frustration setting in. But just when I hear the door close, the weight of his body lands on top of me and he kisses me hard. Surprised, my eyes fly open, but then I go for it just like him and kiss him back with just as much passion. He pushes off of me again and stands between my legs. “I make very few promises in life, but this one I can make to you. Rochelle Floros, I’m coming for you. It’s our time, so get ready for me.” He turns abruptly and leaves me sitting there stunned… and tingly.

About S.L. Scott

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures.

Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies.

Scott lives in the beautiful Texas hill country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys.

Her novels include Naturally, Charlie, Good Vibrations, and A Prior Engagement.

Links:

She welcomes your notes at sl@slscottauthor.com.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6467114.S_L_Scott?from_search=true

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slscottpage

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/S.L.-Scott/e/B009L9SPDK/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1406569584&sr=8-2-ent