Rock Hard (Sinners on Tour, #2)

by Olivia Cunning

Two years ago, Sed gave Jessica an ultimatum and she broke his heart by leaving without a backwards glance. Since then, he's tried to forget her by screwing any woman who will have him. It's no use. Sed still loves Jessica. Seeing her working in a strip club, with all those men gawking at her, sends Sed into a jealous rage. Jessica belongs to him. Always has, always will.

Heartbroken, Jessica made her choice and ended their engagement. Since then, she's tried to forget him by avoiding men entirely. It's no use. Jessica still hates Sed and knows one mere woman will never satisfy his over-inflated ego or insatiable sexual appetite. When she has no choice but to take a summer job that has her trapped on Sinners' tour bus with the impossibly sexy jerk for two entire months, she's furious- but the passion between them is hotter than ever.

Trapped together on the Sinners tour bus for the summer, Sed and Jessica will rediscover the millions of steamy reasons they never should have called it quits in the first place...

• ISBN10: 1402245793
• ISBN13: 9781402245794
• Publish Date: 1 April 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

3.5 stars
I've gotten really bad at marking books when I start them!!!

Anyway, I read the first book in this series years ago and I have no idea why I took so long to read the second. I enjoyed it, a lot, though I think I liked the first one more.

What worked:
- the characters. I love Jess and Zed as a couple and on their own. Theyre both very strong and independent. And, even though Zed can piss you off because he is so pushy, he has good intentions and he does learn (even if it's slowly).
- the band dynamic. I don't read many band books - since music isn't really my thing (gasp! I know... Lol) but I do love the band dynamic. They're like a family - they annoy each other and they love each other. It's great.
- Jessica's struggle to get people to take her seriously because she's sexy. It's not something I can relate too (hahaha) but I can imagine it's rough. She's smart and it's hard for her to just be slut shamed all the time. I love where things are going for her by the end of the book.

Could've been better:
- the sex was too much. I know, I read erotica and then complain about the sex? The thing is, I like it to be sexy - which it was - but not take over. Sometimes it just took over in this book. And it was too much of the same - I'm sure it's hard to keep it interesting as a writer, but then, just skip some of it, we don't need so much. Personally. There were some great story lines that could have taken more time, instead of the sex.

But yeah, I liked it and will read more. The narration is great and I'm glad I have this series on audio.

[nitzan_schwarz]

3.5 stars
This was fun, though not as much as the first for me. I was really upset with Sed at the beginning, learning what he had told Jessica and I totally understand why she left him. But I also felt like the fact she basically hopped back into bed with him immediately kind of counter productive. I dunno, I felt like he had to earn it before she gave herself again, even though she found the perfect excuse to do so (i.e: revenge. I don't think even she believed her "reasons"...)

It was a bit too much, reading this straight after the first. I had to skim some of the sexy scenes because there was simply so much of them, and on the heels of the first novel it was overwhelming. I think I shall attempt to read one novel per month, that way I could enjoy it.

But these two were definitely scorching.

[Vicki]

3.5 stars

[Stephanie]

Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning is a fiery hot read that you don’t want to miss! Olivia Cunning continues the story of the Sinners with lead singer Sedric Lionheart’s tale. From Backstage Pass we know that Sed is a manwhore suffering from a bad break up. The thing that we didn’t know is how that break up came about. Turns out that Sed can be a giant ass.

Sed has a big heart and he wants the best for the people he cares about. Sounds good right? Well it would be except that Sed doesn’t stop to talk to the people he cares about to see what they want. Because of this endearing, yet frustrating personality trait, the love of his life walked away from him two years ago.

Sed and Jessica haven’t had any form of contact in those two years so when Sed spies Jessica stripping at the club Sinners goes to for Brian’s bachelor party, he loses it. Sed pulls her off stage to cover her up. This leads to a brawl and Jessica’s termination. Without the money from stripping Jessica isn’t sure how she’s going to come up with the money for her third year of law school. Myrna steps in with an offer she can’t refuse.

Rock Hard started off with rocky footing for me. As the reader we know what Sed’s thoughts are. Jessica as another character can only see his actions. Even though I know this, Jessica still annoyed me through the first half of the book. Rather than coming across as a strong woman who commanded respect, I found myself thinking “Man, what a whinny b.” Everybody wants to be respected and considered an equal. It’s hardwired in our DNA. I just didn’t think she had done anything to earn that respect. Jessica has a quick temper and in the first half of the book she seemed rather childish. This isn’t to say that Sed is an angel with no faults. His were just less annoying to me.

The second half of Rock Hard really picked up for me. Jessica became a character I could tolerate and even like. There was a lot going on in the second half that picked up the pace considerably. Bad stuff happens with Trey, bad things happen with Sed and Jessica, bad things happen to Jessica…in general bad things happen. It built up my interest considerably and I found myself racing to the end. It’s what got this book a 4.5 rating. I can’ wait until the third story is released!

[leelu92]

This went back and forth for me as far as 3 to 3.5. I really liked Sed maybe more than Brian. I even liked Jessica more than Myrna but some parts of this book border on silly. But I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to Trey's story.

[Cocktails and Books]

Really enjoyed this one. Makes me wish Trey's story was next instead of Jace's.

[Ing Cruz]

My Synopsis:
Two years ago Jessica Chase broke off her engagement to Sedric Lionheart and broke his heart. Jessica was excited about being accepted to law school and had hoped her fiancee Sed would be happy too. Sed and his band, Sinners were just an up and coming band barely able to the pay bills. With the news of his fiancee being accepted to law school Sed acts like a jerk and tells her she can't go because he can't afford to pay the tuition for law school. Jessica walks away from Sed that day and they haven't seen one another since then.

Fast forward to two years later and Jessica has one more year of law school left. She's been having some issues with one of her professors who just gave her a failing grade on her finals. Jessica is worried about money since she's been trying to make it on scholarships and grants without taking a student loan. One of her scholarships is up and she needs a fast way to get money. Her roommate suggests Jessica strip for the summer to make money.

The boys of Sinners are heading out to celebrate the last night of freedom for their band mate, Brian before his marriage. The boys are going to take Brian out to a strip club in Vegas. The night was going great until Sed comes face to face with his ex-fiancee Jessica dancing at the strip club they are at. Sed goes possessive and pulls Jessica off the stage and he and the band mates get into a scuffle with the bouncers. Some of the guys get injured including Sed.

Jessica ends up getting fired that night from the strip club. She's now jobless and pissed at Sed for ruining her plans again. Jessica goes to find Sed to tell him off and return cash that he left for her and runs into Myrna. Myrna is Brian's fiancee and she's a sex professor doing research on the groupies of Sinners. Myrna offers Jessica a job to help her input data from her research and Jessica accepts. Will Jessica succumb to Sed's seduction again in such close quarters with him or will these two get a second chance?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed Backstage Pass which was the first book in the Sinners on Tour series. We first met Sed in Backstage Pass. The readers learn that he's a big time man whore and treats women pretty badly in Backstage Pass. All this behavior is explained away because we find out that Sed had his heart broken by a girl named Jessica. In Rock Hard we meet the infamous Jessica "breaker of Sed's heart".

As I'm reading Rock Hard the first thing that came to mind about Jessica and Sed were "How the heck did these two ever think marriage was a good idea?" When Jessica and Sed met previously they had been together for four months at the most. The the relationship was pretty intense and these two love to do it in public. They communicated well between the sheets but outside of it they didn't know one another very well in my opinion. When Sed went jerky on Jessica after she told him about law school I didn't blame her from walking away. Once these two meet up again two years later all the issues were still there. They jump into bed again and still didn't know much about one another. Jessica was all over the place with her emotions for Sed. Her character annoyed me the first half of the book. It was hard for me to relate to Jessica. I understood her anger and her plan to just use Sed for a fling. A part of me though felt horrible for Sed when Jessica constantly tells him how much she hates him and only wants him for sex.

Sed is complex. Olivia I thought did a good job making me understand what drives Sed to do the things he does that come off jerky at times. The guy is a fixer. He wants to fix and take care of those he loves. He goes about fixing things in his way that comes off at times like he could care less about what those around him wants. I actually liked Sed's character in Rock Hard.

As a couple these two are hot between the sheets. Olivia delivers again with the smoking sex. I just wish they sat down and talked a bit more between the knock your socks off sex at times. Too much misunderstandings and bickering made it hard for me to like Sed and Jessica as a couple the first half and part of the middle half of the book. By the end I had hopes that these two kids could make it. Then Sed went and acts like his overbearing self again and I wanted to smack him in the head. In the end though they were finally talking and coming to understand one another and it gave me hope and made me believe these two had a chance.

For me my favorite part about this book was seeing the boys of Sinners on Tours interaction with one another. The friendship and the ins and outs of this band is entertaining. Myrna who wasn't a favorite of mine won my heart over a bit in this book. Her moments with Brian were sweet. Getting a glimpse into Jace and his dominate side was a nice perk. I can't wait for his book. Trey's storyline was great. My heart breaks for him and his relationship with Brian. So cute and sad. Olivia hits the mark when it comes to the moments with the boys of Sinners. Love seeing the antics.

Overall I stilled liked the book and was entertained. Olivia still gives us smoking sex that will leave you panting and wanting. The storyline and continue growth and glimpse into Sinners will leave fans wanting more on the boys of Sinners. I think to fully enjoy this book you should read Backstage Pass first.