Jacqueline's Reads: Sweet Ache (Driven, #6) by K. Bromberg [Review + Giveaway]

The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more....

Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screwup could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.

Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.

Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage....

4 Worth the Bet Stars

Sweet Ache is a standalone novel and is part of the Driven series. This is my second novel by K. Bromberg. I started with Slow Burn and if you liked Slow Burn you will not be disappointed with Sweet Ache.

Hawkin is bailing out his twin brother, Hunter. Hunter is photographed carrying drugs and if he is caught again, this would be his third offensive and Hunter will be thrown into jail. Hawkin is use to helping his brother, so of course this is no different. Since they are twins, Hawkin pretends to be Hunter and takes the blame.

Hawkin is now about to face a judge and he may serve time. But his lawyer thinks that if Hawkin teaches at a seminar in college, it may persuade the judge to go light on Hawkin.

Yes, professor… Please school me. Here. Now. Hard. Fast.

Hawkin has a lot of issues. He deals with an awful twin brother. Hawkin’s father killed himself when he was nine years old and Hawkin’s mom is now sick. Hawkin can’t go to jail because it would hurt his band, but he can’t hurt his brother either, because he loves him.

On top of all of that, when Hawkin meets Quinlan, his TA, Hawkin makes a bet with his band mate! He bets that he can sleep with Quinlan before the end of the summer, but on top of that, Hawkin is prepared to show proof of it.

I know, the drama right? Like I said, there’s a lot that goes on. There was never a dull moment that’s for sure. Hawkin’s brother frustrated me a lot. I understand Hawkin’s need to be there for his family, but Hunter doesn’t have any guilt or remorse. It’s really hard to feel for Hawkin when he clearly puts himself as a martyr. His mom is sick and while she is sick, she’s really mean to Hawkin. Again, more drama. It will make your head spin.

Quinlan doesn’t want to date a player and I completely get her. Hawkin is very upfront and it completely throws Quinlan off. I liked that she pushes Hawkins away. I always love reading when the Hero goes after the Heroine.

You can tell me no all you want Q. You can push me, pull my hair… bite me even… but you can’t deny that you want me as much as I want you.

The world beneath my feet seems to be shifting – beliefs, promises, truths, all of it in doubt – and I can’t have whatever is causing these changes – her, us – not be okay.

Throughout the book Quinlan tries to understand Hawkin. Hawkin is very hot and cold and you will pull your hair out, just a tat bit, but it adds more tension. Hawkin does try to protect Quinlan from Hunter and I felt like during those parts I was opening more towards Hawkin. I empathized for him and it made me like him more.

Bromberg writes very descriptively and her characters are very complicated. They have a lot of issues and angst. If you are Bromberg fan or liked Slow Burn, then you will be very happy with Sweet Ache.

An ARC was provided

I got to meet Kristy at RT and I could have talked to her all day! She's so easy to talk to and so warm. It was such a treat to meet her. More book signing photos - HERE

Quinlan

“Now you guys need to get going so you have time for Quin to give you the complete rundown,” Professor Stevens says

Of course she has no idea the double entendre she’s just given Hawkin about me giving him a complete rundown, but I know Hawke catches it. I manage to resist the urge to stomp my feet in frustration and storm out of her office like a toddler. Instead I give her a tight smile before turning and walking out of the office and then the department.

I stand there in the sunshine, waiting for him to get his ass in gear and quit wasting my time. When I finally hear the door open I just start walking and the sound of his boots is the only inclination that he’s following.

“I’ve got longer legs than you Trixie,” he chides from a few feet back. “But feel free to keep swinging your hips like that, and I’ll stay right here behind you and enjoy the show.”

I bristle at the comment. At the moment there’s no authority to be respectful of, no damage that can’t be undone.

“A show?” The pitch of my voice escalates as I whirl around to face him—sunglasses on, hair disheveled, and I wish I hadn’t turned around because damn, he’s just that devastatingly fine. I’m quiet for a beat as we both appraise each other from behind darkened lenses. His dark hair, tanned skin, and cocky smirk pulls at those parts of me I don’t want to be pulled. “You want to talk about a show.” I grit the words out, trying to push my physical attraction to him from my mind. “Let’s talk about your little performance for Dr. Stevens.”

“I know. I’m good, huh? Sorry but a man’s got to do what he’s got to do . . . Besides, I wasn’t done with you yet.”

My mouth falls lax and I’m momentarily flabbergasted. “Done with me yet?” I sputter the words when I’ve recovered my wits at his arrogance run amuck . . . But I can’t deny the little flutter in my belly at his comment. There’s just something about him aside from the whole I’m a rock-star thing, that makes me desire him in a way I can’t put into words.

“Yep.” He says casually as he unwraps a Starburst and pops it into his mouth. And I hate that I’m fascinated with watching his mouth suck on the sweet candy. Luckily he speaks so I can distract myself from the captivating sight. “I’m pretty sure you have a usefulness . . . I’m just trying to figure out what that is.” He licks his lips. “Well, besides the obvious, that is . . .” Smirk is handily in place and I hate that ache starting to simmer in my core.

“Why don’t you go suck a—”

“Relax,” he says, angling his head to the side and emitting a laugh as he steps closer to me. “I’m just teasing you. You’re so damn easy to rile up and so hard to resist. Plus you’re even hotter when you’re pissed. I like it.” He shrugs an apology, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans with a sheepish grin that softens all those hard edges and makes me sigh with the contrast of characteristics. He holds a red Starburst out to me as a peace offering. “C’mon, you know you want to be the star to my burst.”

We’ve stopped, my hands are on my hips, and the sun is falls around us as hewaits for me to react to his innocent little comment. Deep down I know I’m screwed. I feel an urge to smile but immediately realign my defenses. The contradiction he presents, the smooth with the rough, is the one thing that I always fall for when it comes to men.

And I’m not going to fall for Hawkin Play.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author K. Bromberg is that reserved woman sitting in the corner who has you all fooled about the wild child inside of her—the one she lets out every time her fingertips touch the computer keyboard.

K. lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. When she needs a break from the daily chaos of her life, you can most likely find her on the treadmill or with Kindle in hand, devouring the pages of a good, saucy book.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Her debut novels, Driven, Fueled, and Crashed of The Driven Trilogy were well received and went on to become multi-platform bestsellers as well as landing on the New York Times and USA Today lists. Her other works include a short story, UnRaveled, and a companion piece to The Driven Trilogy titled Raced. She is currently working on three stand alone Driven novels, Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, and Hard Beat. She also plans to release a novel addressing the 10 year gap at the ending of Crashed in late fall 2015

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