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Yikes, I really wanted to like this more. I really enjoyed Lick. I love a sexy rock star romance romp! This though, I nearly bailed after the first several chapters. Mal in Lick was charming but this Mal was difficult for me to like initially. It wasn't all bad. He eventually grew on me as I began to understand where the mania was coming from. There were funny moments and steamy moments. I still didn't quite connect to him though.

I hoped to see more of Anne's tomboy playfulness return by being with Mal but it feels like she became more of a babysitter for him. At one point, Anne thinks Mal feels like more of a man than ”boy toy” Reece and I hate that I disagree. Mal and Reece both were immature and Anne continued to be used despite her ”boundaries”. In the end, I thought Mal was fine and Anne seemed happy and secure enough to deal with her family issues.

I haven't given up on the series. I'd still like to see what happens with Jimmy and Ben. I kinda want to see Lizzy and Ben together.

3.5I went in to this because I liked Bk.1 [b:Lick 18873617 Lick (Stage Dive, #1) Kylie Scott https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429351487l/18873617.SX50.jpg 25216800], and I'm trying to finish series I've started. I didn't hate it, but it could've been trimmed by about a third. This is Mal's story. He's drummer in the band, and he had a lightening effect in the first book. Don't know that his story required a full length book. A nice novella would've sufficed. Also the blurb is a bit off. Mal doesn't NEED a fake girlfriend. He makes up the ploy to spend time with Ann. Ann is one of Ev's former neighbors, and though not quite a friend, she gets invited to a party at David & Evelyn's apartment. Like Ev, Ann is a nice girl, who had to be a parent to her younger sister when their mother emotionally checked out. She now works at a book store, and holds a low-lit torch for her boss & friend. Mal is, in his own way, a fixer a situations and people. He meets Ann and takes a shine to her, which he disguises as a “rock-star-needs-a-fake-girlfriend” scenario. He is, going through a difficult time in his life, which I felt ultimately got short shrifted, or almost used as a prop, but other than that he's a regular guy. A drummer with lots of manic energy. He and Ann click well together and there isn't any major conflict, which is fine, I like that. They share a sense of humor, and neither of them is too precious or sensitive. The sex was good and positive. Win. [a:Andi Arndt 6746963 Andi Arndt https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1381410479p2/6746963.jpg] got me through this but by hour 6 I think even she was tired. Again, I liked the general story, I just felt like it would've been way better if it were shorter. Sometimes less is more. It truly is.