Deep by Kylie Scott
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Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty, Limited on July 1st 2015
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Goodreads


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In the city of sin, you have to go big or go home... Ben Nicholson is the only man that has ever made ordinary girl Lizzy Rollins feel both completely safe and crazy with desire. The problem is, Ben is the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive, and, no matter how much Lizzy may wish otherwise, he's only looking for a good time. Besides, Lizzy doesn't stand a chance - not unless she can get him to see beyond the fact that she's his bandmate's little sister. When Lizzy finds herself in trouble in Las Vegas, Ben is there to bail her out. But after one big mistake, the two quickly learn that what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay there. Now Lizzy and Ben are connected in the deepest way possible...but will it lead to something more?

There are many reasons why the usually sane and responsible Lizzy Rollins and Ben Nicholson (bass player from Stage Dive) would never work as a couple. He’s older, wiser and – with groupies throwing themselves at him every night – surely more experienced. He embraces the nomadic lifestyle of being a rockstar whereas she is determined to stay in the one place until she finishes college. Add that to the fact that the band doesn’t see her as anything other than a little sister and any chance of a relationship between them seems doomed. But one night in Vegas changes everything and leaves their lives intrinsically linked forever.

I was so excited to read Deep, the fourth and final book in Kylie Scott’s award winning Stage Dive series. We’ve met Lizzy and Ben before in the previous books of the series and their relationship was hinted out in such a way which just made readers crave their story. The chatty college student and the enigmatic bass player? If anyone could make it work, it’s Kylie Scott. And boy does she deliver.

What I love most about this Deep (and this series as a whole) is the characters. They’re a great combination of down to earth with the rockstar experience thrown in. Lizzy is a strong, smart young woman who tries to do the right thing whilst at the same time strives to get her heart what it wants – or more specifically who. Her relationship with Ben is complicated and messy yet their attraction plain to see. The banter between the two of them is cheeky and playful with their chemistry palpable and their more intimate scenes being sensual and erotic.

I’m not someone who usually enjoys stories with a pregnant leading lady (this isn’t a spoiler – we find this out on the very first page) yet I loved how Lizzy, Ben and the rest of the Stage Dive entourage handled the unplanned baby surprise. The morning sickness, swollen ankles and hormones don’t get in the way of a good story but rather it add an extra element of urgency and drama to Lizzy and Ben’s story. Whilst this is a romance, Lizzy’s pragmatism and commitment to doing the right thing for everyone even when it risks her relationship with Ben was admirable.

Mal, Jimmy, David and their significant others all make an appearance in Deep and it was a pleasure to see how their relationships are doing now since their individual novels. I also liked how Ben and Lizzy’s situation impacted on their own lives and relationships. There are also a few new characters who bring a little drama and some old ones reappearing at that most inconvenient times.

If you enjoyed the previous books in the Stage Dive series – you will adore Ben and Lizzy’s story. Deep is fun and romantic with times of drama and emotional turmoil too. There is a sense of these characters being real people despite the rock star fantasy they are all living. It’s sexy, romantic and one of those books you won’t want to put down – I recommend Deep to anyone who enjoys well-written and entertaining romances with down to earth high flying rockstars.

The Stage Dive series is published by Pan Macmillan and the final book in the series, Deep: Stage Dive 4 is now available

 

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for the review copy