I can’t remember how I found Listen to Me, but I was interested in the story of a group of women who own and run a restaurant. Of course, I was also interested in the rock star romance. This story is the first of five in the Fusion series and focuses on Addison, front of house manager at Seduction. It’s a fun story that doesn’t pretend to be anything but fun.

The story dives in straightaway, allowing the readers to meet the five women (also best friends) that own and run Seduction, the hottest new restaurant in Portland. There’s not much time to work out who is who before Addison and Kat are off to an open mic night to find a weekend singer for Seduction. It’s there where they first see Jake Knox, former bad boy rock and roll star. Jake has been hiding out, enjoying the quiet life of writing and producing since his band broke up. But performing live is something he has really missed, so he’s interested in the Seduction job – and Addie. But Addie is sick of bad boys letting her down so she’s not interested. But Jake is determined to turn that around. Once he does, multiple issues arise relating to their pasts making for some great tension – and making up.

Normally I get a bit bored when the book is solely about the romance. I need a few subplots to keep me engaged as to what might happen next. While Listen to Me’s subplots aren’t crazily involved or complex, they are both realistic and relatable. There was no drama out of left field and the characters’ reactions are quite normal. There are also no wild reactions based on minor miscommunications. It’s just real (or as real as it gets with a rock star), but fun.

It does take some time to work out who is who when it comes to the women who own Seduction. On one hand, it’s nice not to have a load of backstory dumped all at once and ‘organically’ find out each woman’s job and personality. On the other, it’s a little difficult to work out where everyone fits in. If you are happy to take Proby’s word for it, they are all introduced gradually (particularly Cami, whose story is next in the series). The reader does get to know both Jake and Addie very well, which is one of the strengths of the story. The other is the pacing of the story – it’s never dull and despite being told in alternate chapters from Addie and Jake’s point of view, you are never left hanging. It makes for a fun romance right the way through.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com ( )

Pretty good and I will consider reading the next one when released. ( )

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read in one day ( )

The writing isn't great, and the girl posse conversations sometimes read a bit juvenile, but I really liked the main characters and the central friendships. I loved that Jake's BFF was an attractive straight woman. Too often romance makes it seem impossible for straight people of different genders to be friends and that is silly. I have had attractive male friends who are not hideous and where our relationship is completely platonic, and even have a close friend I did canoodle with back in the day but who is now completely in the friend zone (the feeling is entirely mutual.) This is normal. Sex and romance are not the only possible end.

Anyway, bad writing be damned, this was the audiobook I listened to to whisk me off to sleep for the past week, and it charmed the heck out of me. ( )