Review: Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn
ROCK ME
Cherrie Lynn
ISBN: 978-1-60504-955-7
Samhain Publishing
May 2010
Erotic/Contemporary
eBook
ROCK ME is the classic bad boy meet good girl story. When Candace Adams decides to get a tattoo, the only person she can trust to do the job properly is her cousin’s ex-boyfriend Brian, the man she’s always had a secret crush on. When they meet again the sparks ignite, but Brian doesn’t believe he’s good enough for Candace. Candace is so used to having her life controlled by her domineering family that she’s scared to break free and live her own life. Fortunately, the connection between them is too powerful to ignore, but when Candace and Brian decide to risk it all, her family sets out to destroy not only their relationship but the livelihood Brian has worked years to achieve.
I really enjoyed ROCK ME. ROCK ME was an easy read, the pages flew by, and the connection between Candace and Brian was not only sensual but emotional as well. However, having said this, Candace is a person who is so completely removed from my life and reality that I had a hard time connecting with her and I found her actions and reactions annoying. To elaborate, Candace is a twenty-three year old pampered princess who is still living under her parents thumb. She allows herself to be treated like a child, and is even afraid to get a tattoo because of what her family may think. She also sabotaged her relationship with Brian because she was too scared to open her mouth and defend herself and her right to be with Brian. Because of the way she was written, it was hard for me to believe at times that she had the emotional maturity to be in a relationship with Brian. Except for the sex and the sexual tension, because of Candace, I felt as if I were reading a very good young adult novel (I love Young Adult novels) instead of a contemporary, erotic romance.
To contrast Brian was a strong individual. I loved seeing his back-story (which was skillfully layered in) on how he overcame a troubled childhood, carved out his niche in the world, and how he still struggles to exorcise his demons. His interactions with his older brother was very realistic and heart-warming. Brian and his older brother have the classic ‘hey you get on my nerves, but if anyone from the outside tries to mess with you, I’ll destroy them’ type relationship. I would have loved to see his relationships with his other family members explored more as well. They were hinted at and I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see more. However, that could’ve been just me because Brian was such a well drawn out character that he intrigued me and left me wanting more.
ROCK ME’s plot flowed quickly and really kept my attention despite being disappointed with how Candace’s waffled back and forth between strength and insecurity. Although Brian intrigued me more and seemed to be the one with the most character development, I still enjoyed ROCK ME and Cherrie Lynn is an author whose book I would certainly pick up again.
