Book picks similar to
Bad Beats by C.L. Riley


romance
stepbrother
rockers
taboo

Love's Rhythm


Lexxie Couper - 2012
    Lured by the promise of fame, Nick Blackthorne turned his back on the possibility of a regular life and love to focus on his career. But years down the line, still unable to erase Lauren from his heart, Nick realizes he needs to find her, even if all she’ll accept from him is an apology for walking out all those years ago.No one would ever guess kindergarten teacher Lauren Robbins was once involved with the lead singer of a rock band. Their romance was the stuff of love songs, and it took her fifteen years to get over him.When Nick turns up at her door, the heartbreak and years fall away, but not everything can be erased with apologies and soul-shattering passion.Each book in the The Heart of Fame series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.Series Order:Book #1 Love’s RhythmBook #2 Muscle for HireBook #3 Guarded DesiresBook #4 Steady BeatBook #5 Lead Me OnBook #6 Blame it on the BassBook #7 BlackthorneBook #8 Getting Played

Rock & Regrets


Cassandra Lawson - 2018
    I was a fool! Austin was no Prince Charming. Rather than sweeping me off my feet, he broke my heart.That was fourteen years ago, and I am completely over Austin. He is in my past, and that’s where he’s going to stay. At least, that’s what I thought until he moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Now, he’s determined to win me over. It won’t work. I will not think about how good Austin looks playing the drums shirtless, or what an incredible kisser he is. All right, I might think about those things a little, but I’m definitely not going to fall for him again.AustinI’ve never been the guy who rides off into the sunset with the girl and makes all her dreams come true. I’ve always been the rebound guy, the one who helps rebuild a woman’s confidence after a breakup. It hasn’t been a bad gig. I got all the benefits with none of the drama. It was all I wanted until Piper walked back into my life.She’s not ready to forgive me, and I don’t deserve a second chance. I should just leave her alone, but after seeing her smile, I can’t do that. I’m done being the rebound guy. Piper doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make her love me again. This time, I’m not letting her go.

What Goes on Tour


Claire Boston - 2014
    His privacy is essential, especially now that he has guardianship of his orphaned, ten-year-old niece, Kate. But when the nanny quits in the middle of his tour Adrian finds himself in a bind.Until Libby Myles walks into his life.Libby has only ever wanted to become a full-time author and prove to her parents that she can make it on her own. On the surface, the temporary job as the nanny for Kent Downer's niece looks perfect—the pay is fabulous, the hours are short and Kate is a big fan—it's the rock star that's the issue.Arrogant and way too attractive for anyone's good, Kent Downer has enough swagger to power a small city. But when he's out of costume he's different—shy and uncertain. For Libby it's a far harder combination to resist. She needs to find a balance between work, writing and ignoring her attraction to the rock star, because if she falls for him, it could mean the end of her dream. But when a horrible scandal is unleashed—putting young Kate in danger—there's more heat between Libby and Adrian than just sexual attraction. Libby must figure out if Adrian ever cared for her, or if it was all just part of the show …

The Idea of You


Robinne Lee - 2017
    But since her divorce, she’s more eager than ever to be close to Isabelle. The last thing Solène expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things. What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate and genuine relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami. For Solène, it is a reclaiming of self, as well as a rediscovery of happiness and love. When Solène and Hayes’ romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares about most.

Girl with Guitar


Caisey Quinn - 2013
    MA 17+ Content.After Kylie’s dad dies in a freak accident, he leaves her with nothing other than her crazy step-mother, Darla, and the ability to play guitar. When Darla kicks Kylie out and she loses her job all in the same day, she hops a bus to Nashville determined to make her late father’s dreams come true. Waitressing and saving her pennies to record a demo, her big break comes when she’s asked to join a tour going down the tubes with once platinum album-selling country music superstar Trace Corbin. But touring with Trace is hardly a dream come true since he’s pretty much drinking his career down the drain. If Kylie can’t pull Trace out of his rut, he’ll pull her and her dreams down with him.

Sizzle


Lexi Buchanan - 2013
    Her new boyfriend, Liam, invites her to spend the summer with him and his family, so as she’s been unable to find a local job to keep her at college, Thalia jumps at the chance. Liam tells her that she can be his guest at his brother, Jack’s, wedding at the end of the summer.Jack is twenty-five and feels as though he’s drowning. He’s engaged to Mia, against his will, because it’s always been drilled into him, family comes first. Jack’s studying for a law degree, and wants to go out on his own once he graduates, specializing in criminal law. His father wants him to accept a junior partnership in the law firm owned jointly by him and Lewis, his fiancées father, to practice family law.Then he meets his brother’s girlfriend, Thalia, and he can’t get her out of his head. He needs her to keep her distance, because every time she smiles in his direction, he wants to carry her to his room and do really naughty things to her.Then Saturday night arrives and Liam takes Thalia to a new bar that has opened on the outskirts of town, where she discovers Jack’s big secret. By day he’s the good looking, slightly older brother with a chip on his shoulder, who gives her hot looks, and by night he’s Phoenix, singer/guitar player for bad boy group ‘Deception’, who makes her sizzle to the core!He has muscle.He has tattoos.He has piercings.He has a mouth that makes her panties wet every time he opens it. He is supposed to be getting married.He is also her boyfriend’s brother....Read Thalia’s story in Sizzle, book one of Summer Bad Boy Rockers Series. Coming July 2013.

Play Nice


L.P. Maxa - 2015
    Bang a chick. Repeat. As lead singer of The Devil’s Share, Dash Conner could get anything or anyone he wanted—until he met Lexi Grant. MONEY. FAME. WHISKEY. SEX. For Dash Conner, lead singer of The Devil’s Share, everything he wanted was his for the asking. Whiskey. Drugs. Money. Sex. But not Lexi Grant. For the first time since he picked up a guitar, a girl was actually demanding he woo her. For a chance with her, Dash would do that and more. Lexi Grant was no groupie. Just because the biggest rock star in the world smiled at her didn’t mean she had to fall into bed with him—but it was going to be awfully hard to resist that impish smile and those tatted abs. Surely one night of fun wouldn’t hurt anyone. Unless that night ends with a broken condom. For Lexi and Dash, that’s just the beginning. Add an overly affectionate pit bull, a missing guitarist, a house full of sorority girls, a junkie ex-bandmate and an extreme aversion to Jäger, and it’s either a recipe for disaster or true love.

Clash


Belle Aurora - 2020
    He taught me how to live.I didn't mean for things to go the way they did. But Connor was beautiful, and I was lonely.Falling in love wasn't part of the plan. He betrayed me, and I was scarred.Before I got the job, I didn't know who he was. Now I saw him every night in my dreams.We were two people, worlds apart, holding each other at arms length.This was not going to end well.Connor Clash was an asshole. And I loved him with all of my heart.

Chasing Dreams


Nicole Edwards - 2013
    And he has knowingly just dropped off the grid. The first decision he has made on his own in quite some time. Cooper only thought he was looking for a challenge when he walked off of that concert stage in Chicago. After finding himself in Devil’s Bend, Texas, he soon realizes that the dream he’s been chasing might not be the one he was after all along. Now he’s found himself not only starting over in a new town, but he’s pretty sure he’s met the toughest challenge of his life... she just happens to be an angel in blue jeans. Tessa Donovan hasn’t been the best of friends with Fate for quite some time now. Owning and operating The Rusty Nail, a small bar in her hometown of Devil’s Bend, has been enough to keep her going through the motions of her life. But it’s the only thing she’s got. After losing her husband fifteen short months after they were married, Tessa has spent the last four years chasing dreams in order to maintain her sanity. Only those dreams are soon ripped right out of her grasp by a sexy country music star who claims he descended on her small town by accident. Coincidence? Or has Fate stepped in once again? Whatever the case, Tessa knows the handsome cowboy might get to overtake her dreams, but she’s bound and determined that he won’t take her heart.

Scarred by Love


C.A. Harms - 2014
    She thought she found the perfect guy until his aggressive behavior became too much for her to handle. Hurt and alone, she withdrew from the world, and hid from the chance of ever loving again. Zander, a sexy voiced lead singer and guitar player, had his sights set on Riley... Even though she continued to push him away. Riley was guarded and hesitant when it came to bad boys. After all, it was a bad boy who shattered her once before. But Riley soon realizes that Zander isn't who she thought he was, and he may be just what she needs. Will the love that grows between them be enough to hold them together? Or will the heartache they suffer drive a wedge between them forever? This book contains adult content and is meant for mature audiences.

Melody & Styx


Anne Mercier - 2020
    Throw in the Russo Famiglia and you get darkness where light should be.Sometimes the darkness turns to betrayal.Sometimes people aren’t who you thought they were.Sometimes people do things you never thought them capable of.Sometimes it’s better to walk away.But sometimes it’s not that easy.Sometimes people don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.Sometimes it’s make or break.For Meggie and Trace, it’s time to decide: is it all... or nothing?

Prince Albert


Sabrina Paige - 2015
    He’s also the most conceited, insufferable, arrogant man I’ve ever met.Did I mention he’s a freaking prince? An actual, real life Prince Not-So-Charming.He’s tattooed and pierced, too. Prince Albert has a Prince Albert piercing. That's right – he's pierced you-know-where. Allegedly. I’ve never seen it.My mother is marrying a king. Being a princess is every girl’s fantasy, right?Except that means Albie is my new stepbrother.Oh, and one more thing -- I accidentally married him.We’re keeping the biggest secret on the planet.Ever heard the fairy tale about the Princess and her stepbrother?Yeah, I didn’t think so.I’m royally screwed.

You Shook Me All Night Long


Simone Harlow - 2017
    Tell a lie 2. Steal something 3. Climb a mountain 4. Sleep with a Rockstar Charlotte Lambert is still reeling from the tragic death of her twin sister. The last gift her sister gave her was a list to get her back into the business of living. Scorned rhythm guitarist Travis Rexford is lost. After the unexpected death of his best friend and bandmate, he can’t find his music anymore. The band is on the verge of breaking up. Then one night a beautiful, mysterious, seductive woman steps into his life.

From the First Verse


M. Robinson - 2020
    She lived in a kingdom far, far away in a tower made of stone, but her mind was made of glass that she kept sharp as knives. Where her memories hid behind her darkest doubts.Her deepest thoughts. Her diary became the only thing she could rely on. No one saw through her looking glass. No one cared.No one tried. Until the villain presented himself as the hero in her life. He took and took and took some more. With no regret. With no shame.With no apology.The page never turned. Their story didn’t end. Tomorrow never came. His life of debauchery was their journey to nowhere. She’d give anything to go back in time. To walk where she had walked. To see what she had seen. One step. One breath. One day at a time. Though in the end, “I love you” were just words. That destroyed us inside.

Incognito


Siobhan Davis - 2018
     Dakota’s dreams of attending Juilliard were shattered the night tragedy struck her family. Now she’s now enrolled at a local university trying to piece her life back together. Shawn is one of the world’s most famous faces, having lived under a spotlight since his star exploded when he was a young teen. Jaded by an industry forcing him to perform music he no longer enjoys, he craves normalcy and the opportunity to rediscover his muse. When a crazy stalker gets too close, and death threats start mounting, Shawn’s management team comes up with a plan—one which will allow him to work on his latest album while staying incognito on a college campus. Romance is the last thing on Dakota’s mind, but after she crosses paths with a hot, prickly cutie with rock-hard abs and smoldering good looks, she can’t shake him from her thoughts. Shawn can’t afford to bring any girl into his fucked-up life, but the gorgeous blonde with the sad blue eyes captivates him in a way no girl ever has, and he finds himself falling hard and fast. But outside forces are conspiring against them. When danger draws closer, and secrets are revealed, will their love survive?