Play For Me

3.5 stars--PLAY FOR ME is the first instalment in Tam DeRudder Jackson’s contemporary, new adult BALEFIRE erotic, romance series focusing on the members of the rock band Balefire. This is Balefire drummer Jack Whitehorse, and nursing student Clio Barnes’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Clio and Jack) PLAY FOR ME follows the second chance romance between Balefire drummer Jack Whitehorse, and nursing student Clio Barnes. At the age of eighteen, Jack Whitehorse found himself at a crossroads when his signed away his life for a future as a drummer with the bank Rude Awakening but it was Jack who got the rude awakening when he discovered the fine print forced his hand, walking away from the girl that he loved. Fast forward two years wherein Jack, now the drummer for the band Balefire, would come face to face with his past, Clio Barnes, but the possibility of reconciliation and a future together evaporated with a phone call, and the woman he loved, walking away. Another year would pass before Jack would walk back into Clio’s life, a life now changed by the arrival of their daughter, a child he knew nothing about but his attempts at normalcy are destroyed when the band heads out on the road leaving behind the woman he loves. Months would pass without contact until Clio is threatened with the loss of everyone she loves.

The relationship between Clio and Jack is a rekindling romance, a romance destroyed by discrimination and threats, secrets and lies, and a total lack of communication. Months and years would pass before Jack had any contact with the woman he loved, then months would pass again, before he dropped back into her life. Clio, desperate for the affection and approval of the man that she loved would forgive and forget, then find herself alone, once again. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Clio’s friends Annabelle Bailey Saunders, and Stacy Newhouse; the members of the band Balefire: Blu Connolly, Adam Tron, and Dakota Perri, as well as Clio’s parents Harrison and Meredith Barnes. Blu Connolly’s story is next in SING FOR ME.

PLAY FOR ME is a story of family, betrayal, secrets and lies; a story of lack of communication, forgiveness, love and happily ever after. The character driven premise is fast paced, engaging and emotional; the romance is seductive but heart breaking; the characters are stubborn and energetic but I struggled with Jack’s numerous absences in our heroine’s life. Jack never once contacted Clio while out on tour, leaving her to raise their daughter on her own, knowing full well she had no familial or financial support. No phone calls, no emails, no text messages, no help…this is not the epitome of a man in love but a man so consumed by stardom and music, he ‘forgets’ about his child, his woman, and his responsibilities at home-definitely not a hero worthy of a second chance. I love the premise but I disliked the actions of Jack Whitehorse.

When Jack was 18 he fell in love with Clio and knew he would love her for the rest of his life. Clio's father offers Jack the chance of a lifetime ... being the drummer in a rock band, but he also threatens Jack with his father's livelihood. All he has to do is stay away from Clio for 2 years, but Jack didn't read the fine print and ends up apart from Clio for 5 long years until he orchestrates her being at his concert with back stage passes. Clio can't believe that she was tricked into attending Jack's concert after he dumped like a hot potato 5 years ago. But the chemistry between them is too strong for her to resist and they spend a heated night together. But Clio flees the next morning after she hears a women leave Jack a seductive message.

Although I didn't love Jack and Clio ... I did like them and found their story compelling. Jack is so sweet, but I found it a little hard to believe that a rockstar was celibate for over 3 years. Clio was a princess who gets a rude awakening, but I felt sorry for her because of her parents or as she would say her DNA donors. I did enjoy the book and can't wait for the next one in this series.

I received a copy courtesy of Warrior Romance Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.