Review: Off Key (Wreckless Abandon #1) by C.J. Martin
TITLE: Off Key
SERIES: Wreckless Abandon #1
AUTHOR: C.J. Martin
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2016
One Agreement. Two friends. Three Rules. No one gets hurt… Brandon Kresge has it all. A hot music career. An even hotter body. And tons of adoring fans willing to…yeah. By all appearances his life is perfect. But appearances aren’t always what they seem. Years of experience have made him skilled at hiding the truth. From the media. From his friends. From his band mates. But all that changes when he meets her. She breaks down every one of his barriers and leaves him stripped bare. Brynn Richer doesn’t have her life figured out, but then again, how many twenty-three-year-olds do? All she wants is to dance, a decision her mother is adamantly against. But despite the cards being stacked against her, she moves to New York City to pursue her passion. One crazy decision causes her path to intersect with the sexy, troubled lead singer of Wreckless Abandon. She knows this man will break her, knows she should steer clear of him, but she’s powerless to resist him. What happens when lines between friendship and love are blurred? What happens when rules are broken and they are forced to choose? Can they work through their struggles to find their happily ever after or are some things too hurtful, too damaged to be fixed? This is a standalone novel with an HEA. It contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations, and is intended for mature readers.
At first view, Off Key had everything to draw me in: a story about a sexy lead singer in a popular band, a friends-to-lovers relationship and a sexy and gorgeous cover. That’s the reasons I started this read and C.J. Martin had me completely hooked with this awesome novel.
Brynn is a young woman aspiring to make dancing her career, but she’s struggling to see it happens. After being dragged to a concert of Wreckless Abandon by her friend Li, she meets Brandon the sexy singer of the band. Sparks immediately fly between them, but she tries to deny it. Brandon sees right through her, but kind of accept her detachment because he has his own problems to deal with. He has the burden of his painful past on his shoulder and can’t let himself be in a relationship. He’s only a few weeks clean, after an overdose and struggling with his addiction. I can’t express enough how much I love this couple. They start as friends and the slow built of their feelings was beautifully written. Their chemistry was incredible and was felt across every page. The heat level when they finally give in to their need for each other and become friends with benefits is completely worth the wait. I felt that it was an unavoidable step. I love my books when there’s a little drama between the protagonists and this book didn’t disappoint on this level. Brandon fighting his feelings by keeping Brynn at arm’s length brings a few moments of tension, but their natural attraction can’t keep them away very long. The supporting characters were also present and interesting, making this story even more pleasant.
This book is a real page-turner! All the ingredients are there for an amazing read: the characters, the hotness, the writing style. It’s an addictive read you can’t pass on!
