Hard Rock Arrangement

The Lonely Kings, #1

By: Ava Lore

Narrated by: Crystal Sershen

Contains mature content. 17+ only!

Please note! Portions of this audiobook have previously appeared in the serial novel Rock Arrangement.

Chronic loser Rebecca Alton is penniless, homeless, and sleeping on her sister’s couch. She needs a job, fast, but in this economy finding one is easier said than done. When she accidentally walks into the wrong office and finds herself auditioning for the role of fake girlfriend and very real babysitter to Carter Hudson, the out-of-control lead guitarist of an up and coming rock band, can she pull it off? And considering who her boss would be - Carter's brother and the band’s bassist, manager, and undisputed king of bad attitudes Kent Hudson - would she even want the job?

Rebecca isn’t sure. In fact, she’s not sure of much in her life, except three things: Kent wants her, she wants him back, and the underlying animal attraction between them may be too white-hot to keep under wraps.

©2013 Ava Lore (P)2014 Ava Lore

Horrible narrator but great story

I the narrator put me of my first attempt on this series but I like the storyline to much to give up. Great characters who are all flawed but we watch them grow without miraculous cures.

Hard Rock Romance with Humor

The heroine took me in from the very beginning with her energy. Her story and the way they meet endears her to you, along with the witty flirtatious banter between Rebecca and Carter. The two are immediately drawn to each other, and of course there's yummy sex scenes, but then the friendships between Rebecca and the entire band grow stronger still. This is well written. Unfortunately, it was not well narrated. Id recommend reading the ebook - you will enjoy it more.

Oh, and the song that Carter writes for Rebecca... sigh, so beautiful.

I review for the Guilty Indulgence Review Site.

Funny! Charming!!

Where does Hard Rock Arrangement rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I like this book. The love story was charming and their were funny characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Rebecca, she was funny and cute. Sonia was great! She was so straight up!

What does Crystal Sershen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Crystal was great, it was how she was able to act out each character to bring them to life!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

When Rebecca and Carter on bonded and when Rebecca told her story. The funny part was when in the beginning when she was looking for the job interview. Also, when Rebecca got high in the van. The other scene when they were filming their music video Rebecca and Kent romantic scene.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait for #2!!

Great story, terrible narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Hard Rock Arrangement to be better than the print version?

no. Quite the opposite.

What did you like best about this story?

it was fun, engaging and fast paced. My hour commute flew by!

How could the performance have been better?

a less "Siri" sounding narrator. How can a pretentious and robotic voice be used to depict a rock and roll bartender, rockstar girlfriend. I almost quit listening 2 chapters in because of the narrator

Hot Rockers that the Narrator Killed!

This book had so much potential. I really liked the storyline and the characters. I think it was well written and could have been up there with Olivia Cunning but the narrator Crystal Sershen killed it. She draws out all the endings in her words and her male voices sounded painful not sexy. If this book was narrated by another author, it would have been much better. I would listen to this author again as long as the narrator is changed. Rebecca was funny and quirky and I loved her cleaning OCD moments. Carter is funny and immature and Kent is stern and authoritative. I think the chemistry was great and the plot twists with ex-lovers was awesome. This was not just about a rocker on tour and that made for interesting reading. I don’t want to give any storyline away but the scene with Jason in the hotel was great and so deserved. LMAO. Please, Please, Please get another narrator. Happy I took the chance because the story was good.

Good story if you can get past the Narrator

Would you listen to Hard Rock Arrangement again? Why?

Maybe, for the story

What didn’t you like about Crystal Sershen’s performance?

Absolutely nothing, unless you were expecting over exaggerating radio show host.

Pure fun,humor and hot HOT sex!

Would you listen to Hard Rock Arrangement again? Why?

Yes the narrator was the best and the book had all my fav things. The one liners were very funny and the steamy scenes were unusually well done. Not raunchy they were....well hot l.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Rock Arrangement?

The plane bathroom scene.

Which character – as performed by Crystal Sershen – was your favorite?

Rebecca

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes both

Any additional comments?

Just loved it. Get more of this author.

Funny, Sexy With Lots LOL Moments

Rebecca is staying at her sister's house in L.A. after fleeing her controlling, abusive ex-boyfriend. Now broke, homeless and jobless, she accidentally walks into the wrong office looking for a job and meets Kent. Totally hot, he is actually the bass player/manager for an up-and-coming band, but he's hiring a "personal assistant" (read:babysitter) for Carter, Kent's little brother, who is also the band's guitarist and is well on his way to rock and roll self destruction.
Without many options and in need of the big salary, Rebecca takes the job but it's not as Carter's assistant. She has to pretend to be his girlfriend so she can watch him 24/7--something that becomes harder each day as her feelings for Kent grow stronger. Can Rebecca and Kent keep their hands off each other so no one guesses her relationship with Carter is a sham? When her ex resurfaces, all hell breaks loose and Rebecca sees a future with Kent, slipping away.

I really liked this book. GREAT characters--even Rebecca, who began as kind of a wuss/victim. She was pretty funny and even though she had a lot of issues, they didn't make her into a shut-in. She still managed to act on her conscience and show her true character. As Kent told her--she's a stronger person than she realizes. Kent was hot, though a self-professed "a**hole". But even from the beginning when he was a total jerk, he was still funny and charismatic without being a caveman toward Rebecca. The other characters were also fairly interesting--I wanted to learn more about what made them tick.

There were quite a few laugh out loud moments throughout the book. The dialogue managed to be funny without being snarky, rude, bitchy or mean--quite an accomplishment these days. The plot seemed believable and in keeping with the rock theme and the sex scenes were pretty hot without being too detailed or drawn out.

All in all, I really liked this book. I guess this is a short review because all I really wanted to say was, "great job!" to the author. I've read a lot of so-so books on this exact topic lately and it's nice to find an enjoyable one without a lot of missteps.

The ONLY NEGATIVE about the story I had was the ending--which didn't really have an epilogue. In lieu of an epilogue, another chapter would have been nice to see what happened after the concert. And Rebecca's sister Rose, an important character in the beginning, disappeared after Rebecca took the job. She definitely seemed like she would have had something to say about the events in San Diego. Also, even though Rebecca's family was supposed to be super close, we never saw their reaction to anything that happened.

I know there's a book 2 (which I am going to buy RIGHT NOW!!! LOL) so I am assuming we see more of these two in the sequel. Hopefully, more than just a background story with superficial involvement. This would have been five stars if the ending had been wrapped up better.

Still really liked it.

I have to agree with some other reviewers about the narration. Crystal Sershen was just bearly OK with the delivery of the story. I was hovering over a 2 rating because her male voices were so annoying. I am glad she is not narrating the other stories in the series.

Could have been better!

Would you try another book from Ava Lore and/or Crystal Sershen?

I would try another book from Ava Lore but not if it is narrated by Crystal Sershen.

What didn’t you like about Crystal Sershen’s performance?

Her voice was the same mono tone voice and when she read the man part she sounded like a witch. She is not very good with this type of book. Maybe an old world southern book.

Was Hard Rock Arrangement worth the listening time?

If it was read by a different narrated, I feel it would have been. Was not able to finish the book. Felt like I was listing to someone that I should feel sorry for.

Any additional comments?

Change narraters then put it back out there!

horrible reader

Any additional comments?

Story wasn't bad, but the reader was so annoying with her robotic voice that it really took away from the story. Would listen to another book by this author only if she finds a better narrator.