Let me be clear… the first half of this duet was a 3-star read for me, and I hated about 50% of it. But some part of me needed to know how Cash’s story ended (because he is undeniably the focal point), and I found myself looking forward to the conclusion. I still have problems with the romance, partially because Cash is such an unappealing hero, partially because Journey is blissfully ignorant of his true nature… and also partially because of the ick-worthy roots of their relationship (it’s either pure insta-love or they fell for each other when she was 6). That being said, Robinson brought the emotion with this one, and delivered an angsty, intense read that I tore through at an alarming rate. It’s heavy, emotionally draining, and sometimes difficult to read, but ultimately a pretty powerful story. For that, I’ll happily rate this portion of the duet as 5 stars.
The story picks up right where From the First Verse left off, so you kind of need to read that first. Not so much for the romance – there’s actually very little of that in the first half – but to truly understand how broken Cash is. His journey to happily ever after is one filled with triggers, but I found it easier to connect with him in this half. Perhaps that’s because Robinson was going for a raw, deep look at Cash in the first half… and it didn’t paint a pretty picture. Honestly, neither does this half but there’s character growth and progress along the way. There were times when I didn’t like EITHER half of our couple, but I remained connected to the story. It’s an interesting book in that way. Though the relationship is at the center of the story, this is 100% Cash’s book – as was the first installment.
So do I recommend this as a great romance? Not particularly. Do I recommend this as an intense, emotional, rollercoaster of a read? Absolutely. If you’re in it for the angst and the personal growth, it’s well worth your time. It’s the kind of story that will linger in your brain after reading, and that’s really what earns it 5 stars from me. I received an ARC via Wildfire Marketing Solutions and am voluntarily leaving a review of this gritty rock star romance.
Haven’t read the first book yet? My review is here.
Jeeves Reads Romance 
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