Review: An excellent debut by Brei Betzold
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 8, 2012
It's pretty much been established here that I love a good rock star book. I love the excitement, the steamy, and the angst I get when reading about a rock star, and I have now added another one to the Rock Star Romance list that contains the best of the best. My Misery Muse is the story of Seth and Devlin, two childhood sweethearts who are destined to fall and stay in love. Both characters never knew the kind of parental love that should be shown to a child, but Seth and Devlin come together in an attempt to right the wrongs rendered to them by their parents. This book is not like any other rock star book I've read. What sets this book apart from the rest are the characters and the events that are steeped so deeply in reality. I can really picture this story happening in real life and not just in a fictional fantasy I create for myself.Seth had me in love with him from the very start of this great book. He is the bassist for and the talent behind My Misery Muse. He has the voice of an angel, but he doesn't feel comfortable singing in front of people. That alone sets Seth apart from any other rock star at my fictional concerts. But what really sets Seth apart is his heart. He rises above his painful childhood of a drug addicted mother to find loving Devi and music as his means of escape. Tattooed and pierced in all the right places, he is the image of a bad boy but has the heart for doing the right thing, and the right thing involves Devi, his first love, and the family he always wanted but never knew he had. My heart went out to Seth after meeting Jaks, and Jaks so openly welcomed this familiar stranger into his heart by simply offering a toy. My heart really took a leap when Jaks recognized a familiar piece of music as being Seth's.Devi is such a strong heroine in this book. As a tattoo artist, with her own tattoos and piercings, and mother; she is different from any other heroine. She comes from wealth, but didn't fit the stereotypical princess her parents wanted, so she was disinherited and forced to make her own way in life...and that she did. She is an independent single mother with the support of a brother and friends who are so protective of her. This network of a makeshift family has been there to see her through all the hurts. She has only known one lover in her life....Seth. He was her everything, but she unselfishly pushed him away to pursue his music career and fame. Now that Seth has returned, her life is turned upside down, and she is confronted with a potential repeat of the past - Seth's leaving again - but this time the stakes are higher because of Jaks.My Misery Muse gives you a glimpse of the real struggles a rock star can face while trying to balance family, friends, and career. Brei Betzold did a spectacular job at introducing and helping the reader get to know each of the characters in this book, yet keeping the focus on Seth and Devi for this story. She has opened the door for the series, and I'm happy to know that My Misery Muse will be a series focusing on the other characters from this book. *hint* I would love to see Drake and Mags in the next book. *wink* *wink* I'm teetering back and forth between 4.5 stars and 5 stars because I would liked to have had more angst, and I felt that Devi's guard regarding Seth crumbled too quickly, but that is just my feeling. I easily and happily recommend this book to those who want the excitement of a rock star combined with the truth of real life situations. Brei Betzold's debut novel has hit a mark with me that other rock star books will have to meet; the bar has officially been raised.Disclaimer: This arc was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.