Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Beyond The Music
SERIES: The Rock Gods (book 7)
AUTHOR: Ann Lister
PUBLISHER: SleighFarm Publishing Group
LENGTH: 454 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2016
BLURB:
Lincoln Stallworth, bass player for Black Ice, has quietly watched each of his band mates fall in love and has accepted the fact he’ll probably never find the same for himself. He doesn’t really believe in true love, couldn’t fully understand the absurdity of it, or the notion there could be just one perfect person for everyone. A debilitating health issue began to shadow Lincoln in the middle of their last tour. As his physical symptoms worsen, Lincoln has to fight the urge to hide from the world and himself inside his estate.
Aaron Baylor enters Lincoln’s life at his lowest point. Lincoln feels broken, damaged beyond repair, and he’s ready to give-up. Aaron’s patience and unwavering support slowly begin to pull Lincoln back to being present in his own life and gives him hope for a future and for love. Will Aaron be the glue that holds the broken pieces of Lincoln’s life together? Can Lincoln fight his way back to good health and take a chance at love? Or will the task be too great for Lincoln to handle?
Beyond The Music is Book 7 in The Rock Gods series. This is the final story in the series, but also the launch of a new M/M spin-off series, Guarding the Gods, which will have many cameo appearances from The Rock Gods characters in each story. If you enjoyed The Rock Gods, I hope you’ll give Guarding the Gods a try!
REVIEW:
Drunk, I am book drunk!
Seven fabulous books in two weeks! Reading this series straight through has advantages and disadvantages. I have that anytime that I do that to myself. On one hand, I get to read it without the long waits that I despise. I really, really am not a very patient person when I want something! On the other hand, I am so emotionally exhausted, especially if the series is as powerful and gripping as The Rock Gods series. The other thing is sorrow! My series has come to an end and I have become emotionally attached to the characters. How can you not? They have become endeared to me and I don’t want to lose them. I have spent weeks getting to know them and then…poof…they’re gone! They are written so well and they become “real”. I know that this sounds ridiculous but it is a common phenomenon for readers, character attachment. The good news here is that Ann Lister has promised that we will get to see them again, in the new spin-off series, Guarding the Gods! Finally, an author who understands her reader’s attachment/abandonment issues. Maybe she will even give us a few novellas??? I know I spoke of this before but I think it bears repeating. I think of series novellas as the old-fashioned, hand written Christmas letter that my mom got from her family when I was young. Long distance calls were for emergencies only because they were very expensive. We didn’t have computers and Internet so we had to write our thoughts and “snail” mail them. It caught us up on the goings on that we weren’t able to see first hand. A series novella can do that too. It can let us be a part of a life event with our favorite characters, a wedding, a birth of a child, moving into a new home together, a passing of a character and the new love interest that blooms (not my favorite, by the way!).
On to my review, sorry I was so long-winded but this book really got to me. Well, really, they all did! In Beyond The Music we finally get the final member of Black Ice, Lincoln. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Lincoln until the end of Fighting His Fire at Cooper and Jayson’s wedding. He has been so quiet throughout the entire series but I have learned that is just who he is, quiet and private. I knew that something horrible was up and there was something seriously effecting his health. I have seen it way too much in my working with Special Education young adults. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed very quickly. Lincoln is really, seriously sick. And I have seen first hand how his sickness has ravished a former student of mine. It is not pretty and it broke my heart. For someone so young to be ravished by a debilitating disease is heart wrenching. I won’t give this away but it is a key factor for the book, Lincoln’s struggles to come to grip with what has been thrown at him and how he does it. And, that how he does it, is my favorite part of the book. Aaron! I think that Aaron has become my most favorite character in the books. I fell head-over-heels for Aaron! He has to be, by far, one of my most favorite “book boyfriends” ever! He is kind, sweet, loving, strong, trustworthy and firm when he needs to be. And the fact that he is there for Lincoln and what ever needs or situations arise, makes him my hero! Lincoln is a very private guy, I get that. And he has a really hard time trusting people, I get that too. The fact that Aaron gently broke down those walls of mistrust was amazing. Lincoln so deserves his HEA and I can’t think of a better choice than Aaron.
One of the big differences between this book and some of the previous books in the series was the erotic sex scenes. They are here, don’t get me wrong, and they are scorching hot but they aren’t the primary focus this time around. They mesh well with the story but don’t overpower it. It just wouldn’t have worked here. You will understand that more when you read the book and hopefully will agree with me.
The other surprise character for me was Spumoni! We had a glimpse of him in Cooper’s book but didn’t know much about him other than he could score some seriously premium pot and was on the band crew. I really grew quite fond of him and am hoping that he gets his moment in the new series. He really is a caring, special friend when you need it most.
The final surprise, no I am definitely not spoiling this, was the person behind Ashton’s attack and all the security problems that both bands have endured. I totally did not see that coming!!!
Am I sad to see this series come to an end? YES!!! Am I thrilled that we will still get glimpses of our favorite Rock Gods in the new series? Yes, but I sincerely hope that they are more than glimpses…I need my Rock Gods fix as much as Cooper needs his morning coffee and Spumoni needs to spark up!
I can not recommend this book and the entire Rock Gods series enough! 5 stars seems so inadequate! There are times when I just need more stars and this time definitely qualifies as one of the! Thank you Ann Lister for your fabulous writing and bring these men and their loves-of-their lives to life for us. I can’t wait for more!
RATING: 
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