Review: Redemption for War, at last
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2014
Captivating Bridge is the third book in the Tempest series and is a spin-off of the Black Cat series. Each novel can be read as a standalone. I have previously read the first book in the series, Irresistible Refrain. While it is not necessary to read the books in order, I will admit that they will probably make more sense and be more meaningful if they are read in order.Since I have not read the second book in the series, Enticing Interlude, yet, I can say that Captivating Bridge takes place after the events of Irresistible Refrain. Warren “War” Jinkins, the lead singer, has left Tempest after his fallout with lead guitarist and best friend Bryan “Bullet” Jackson, due to his relationship with Lace. It is in the first book that all of the relationships are established, so in order to understand just how important War’s actions are in the new book, it is best to have read the at least Enticing Interlude first.War is on a mission to self-destruct. The embattled former front man of Tempest is attempting to get over the betrayal of his best friend and girlfriend, as well as the loss of his band. He’s unfulfilled as the lead for a new band, Zenith and the book opens with War ready to end it all by jumping off a bridge. If everything wasn’t bad enough, he loses his mother, his last known family.Shaina is a teen sensation, who at twenty-one, is ready to shed her bubblegum image and prove to the world she’s not just the cute kid from the children’s cable channel. She’s on location filming in Seattle, when she comes across a hot guy ready to jump from a bridge. In order to get his attention, she is ready to jump right along with him. What happens thereafter can best be described as a connection of soul mates, as they work along a journey to find out why exactly it is they seem to “complete” (sorry, cheesy I know) each other. They’re each chasing demons from their pasts, but in order to move on to any kind of future, they need to shed them. Is it possible though that doing it together is the only way they’ll accomplish it? Or are they both so broken that there’s no fixing it?My only issue, just like with the first book, was primarily with the setting itself, Seattle. To those not in the know it is probably not a big deal, however being a native, it just feels as though more research could have gone into the city itself, for instance, “Pike’s Place Market”. That’s a sure sign you’re not from around here. It’s Pike Place. Yes, it may be a little thing, but to locals, it’s huge. There were some things that to a layperson, they’d never know the difference, but to those in the know, it stands out (like I-405 bypassing Seattle completely).I would give Captivating Bridge a solid four and a half stars. I definitely liked War a whole lot more in this book and his relationship with Shaina really seemed to come alive on the pages. I read a lot of rocker romance books and this one kind of had the best of all worlds. The broken bad boy, the bubblegum good girl, the circumstances and fall out of a relationship together…it was all believable, especially given the reality of people like Miley Cyrus in the world. Ms. Mankin certainly gave insight as to why Shaina herself was broken, and why War seemed to be just the glue to put her back together. Captivating Bridge is well written and kept me intrigued from beginning to end and I will definitely be going back to read the second book. I know I’m certainly ready for the next chapter in this story, too!