Rock the Heart

Black Falcon Series, Book 1

By: Michelle A. Valentine

Narrated by: Aletha George

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

For the last four years, good girl Lane has regretted breaking up with Noel Falcon. She thought she was sensible when she told him his dreams of being a rock star would get him nowhere, but now that he's a rock god and her career is stagnant, she realizes just how wrong she was. When Noel hires the marketing company where Lane is an intern, she's forced to see him again. If she wants to land her dream job as executive within the company, she has to win him over and secure his account. Too bad Noel is still pissed at her for breaking his heart.

When Lane's company flies her to a Black Falcon concert to gain Noel's attention, emotions run high the moment she sees him and realizes she's far from over him. But Noel's countless trysts with groupies and his cocky attitude make Lane believe he isn't the same guy she once loved - now he seems to only want her body. Then after Lane discloses she needs him to procure a job, Noel proves he's a changed man by forcing her to go on the road with him in order to get it.

After Lane reluctantly takes Noel up on his offer, she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to keep him satisfied, even if it means succumbing to his seductive ways. Lane soon finds deception is a dangerous game and she's not the only one playing.

©2012 Michelle A. Valentine (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This was a powerful little story, and I am happy with the direction it is pushing the overall story. I will be biting my nails every day until I have more. There is so much promise in this story, and I look forward to every minute we will get." (The Book Whisperer)

Great series

The narrator mispronounced the male lead’s name the whole time. It drove me crazy. Noel for a man is not pronounced the same as for a woman. I can’t believe the author let this go.

Love those Rockers

Would you listen to Rock the Heart again? Why?

Yes, I enjoy the good stories about the rocker guys. It's not as good as Olivia Cunning but it's a good listen.

Any additional comments?

As I stated I love the books about those guys that rock. This was worth my credit and I will get others from this author. This is a lighter listen and somewhat predictable but it was good.

Entertaining but lacking

What did you love best about Rock the Heart?

I did like the devotion of Noel ..... however he sometimes came off as a door mat. Lane fell flat as the love of his life.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was ok. Nothing stellar.

What about Aletha George’s performance did you like?

Yes she did a very good job!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No. There were so many possibilities for this story line. If Noel had been a stronger character... if Lane had more empathy.... or more of a back bone when her boss pulled the rug out from under her.

Any additional comments?

This book is over priced. I think it should be a bargain book. I think it had so many possibilities given the story line.... but it fell flat. It was an okay read. I did like it somewhat. Just don't have high expectations.

meh

As a die hard metalhead, let me preference this by saying suspend your reality with this book. No rock band is this big anymore for one and there haven't been many fangirls like this since 1995. I'm also in advertising and for the main to be in PR yet not say one thing about her job, which is so important and what motivates her, is really frustrating. There's sex scenes and yet she can't say c*ck in front of her best friend...? Ok....the good part? It's kinda entertaining, if you have nothing to do and no other books tickle your fancy.

3.5 stars Cute story

ROCK THE HEART is the first storyline in Michelle Valentine's contemporary, new adult Black Falcon series featuring the lives and love of the rock band Black Falcon. Rock The Heart features Noel Falcon and Lanie Vance. Our hero and heroine have been friends all of their lives and in this the relationship build up was non existent. High school would find their relationship become one of friends to lovers but Lanie's desire to attend college and her hopes that Noel would follow were shattered when Noel chose his music. Breaking up with Noel was difficult but Lanie never realized how hard their break up would be on the only man she has ever loved.

Rock The Heart fast-forwards four years after Lanie broke it off with Noel. There has been no communication between the two and when they are finally pushed together by circumstances and work, Lanie will discover that Noel has a few secrets. As the storyline progresses, Lanie and Noel will rekindle their passion and newfound addiction to each other, but when Noel's secrets are finally revealed, Lanie realizes that she doesn't know the man who has stolen her heart. Their love for one another is both powerful and heartbreaking but Lanie's image of Noel is shattered when one of the band members reveals the truth behind the current animosity between himself and the others.

Noel is the epitome of bad boy rocker but for all intents and purposes, it is a ruse. His need and love for Lanie overshadows the bad-boy persona and he is instantly transformed into a man who would do anything for the love of his life. He wears his heart on his sleeve and in doing so, is more likely to get his heart broken when the woman that he loves walks away a second time.

Lanie, on the other hand, struck me as a woman with issues of control. She is the one who dumped Noel four years earlier and yet her feelings for the man continued to overwhelm her emotions and fears. And in doing so, she came across as cold and a b*tch. Trying to keep their current relationship professional, Lanie continued to play the wounded victim when she is the one who pushed Noel away. She plays a dangerous game with Noel's feelings, continuously skirting the edge between love and hate. For this, I had a difficult time relating to or liking Lanie and as always, she was quick to assume the worst.

ROCK THE HEART is a fast paced storyline that introduces the members of Black Falcon and in doing so sets the stage for future stories. The reader is pulled into the back stage world and personal lives of the bad boys of rock, but in doing so we will learn that everything is not all happiness and roses. Michelle Valentine writes an interesting story of one man's need for the girl who has stolen his heart many years before and of a love that only grew stronger with the absence of the one who made your heart beat; your blood flow and your soul sing with the angels.

It was ok

This book was just so so for me. I have definitely heard worse, there just wasn't any depth to it. The female lead in this book drove me batty, not sure what the rock star saw in her. The conflicts were a bit weak and short lived, very mediocre plot line.

loving Black Falcon again

read the books now enjoying hearing them. glad they're on sale so I can afford them again. love the crazy characters with heart and love .

Pretty good start to the series :)

3.5-4 stars

This was a pretty good story. I liked Lane and Noel and their story was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat wondering how things would work out. This is the first story I've read by this author and based off this I'm planning to read more of her work.

Lane is a 22 year old college graduate with a degree in Marketing. She got a job as an intern at a prestigious firm in New York and is desperate to prove that she can do a good job since (if she can get hired in) this is her dream job. Lane and Noel were high school sweethearts but due to some pressure from others and her own fears about instability, Lane asked Noel to give up the music and go to college with her. When he wouldn't she broke up with him but has regretted it missed him ever since.

Noel is the lead singer in a popular band known as Black Falcon. He loved music from a young age and knew he wanted to make a go of a music career. Noel was very unhappy that Lane broke up with him and things got worse for him when his father threw him out of the house rather than support his music career. Things were really tough for Noel but he made it through and now the band is doing great. Noel has never been able to find anyone to replace Lane though and went through a lot of groupies trying to.

Lane is at a meeting for her company when the subject of a literacy campaign comes up that's being run by Black Falcon. The boss lady is looking for someone to go work with Noel on what he wants out of the campaign but none of the reps want to deal with a rocker. Lane gets singled out just because she happens to be making eye contact with the boss. Lane doesn't want to have to go talk to Noel but her fledgling career needs her to take this step and she can't exactly back out by telling her boss that Noel is her Ex. Thankfully, Lane's BFF Aubrey works at the same firm and goes with her (for moral support) to the concert they intend to speak with Noel after. The initial meeting between Noel and Lane doesn't go well and Lane can't handle seeing the man the love of her life has become (she walked in on him with 2 groupies and being a major ass...although considering their past he does have a right to some anger). Although Lane ties to get past her feelings, this ends up being harder than she expected. She leaves without accomplishing what was needed and thinks her job is sunk. Fortunately, Noel calls Lane's boss and demands that Lane be put on his account and in charge of their campaign. Lane has mixed feelings about Noel's actions but is thankful for his help and tells him as much. She tries to start work on the project but Noel decides that he needs her on the road with him, telling her boss that it's so he can work closely with her on the project and make sure everything is set up and handled as he wants.

After all Noel's machination, Lane has the job she wants but it all centers on her keeping Noel happy. It doesn't help that her boss is aware of Noel's interest and makes it clear that Lane's only focus is to keep Noel "happy". Lane isn't too thrilled about the situation but tries to make the best of it. She doesn't get too far though because Noel avoids talking to her about the campaign and instead tries to get on her good side to get in her pants. Lane tries to hold him off for the sake of professionalism even though she does still have lingering feelings for him she's never gotten over. At first, Lane thinks that Noel has her there for revenge but it soon become clear that Noel wants to win her back. The problem becomes Noel's extreme lack of patience. It doesn't take Noel long to get Lane to admit she still has feelings for him but she wants to be cautious and take things slowly. Noel on the other hand agrees with her need to wait but then is pouting a few hours later when he tries pushing things too far between them again and Lane has to ask him to slow down again, which makes her feel bad because it upsets Noel (but he's just setting himself up for it). Lane and Noel make strides towards working things out but there is some added drama to deal with that almost splits them up completely. Thankfully, things get cleared up and worked out and Lane makes the effort in the end that brings her and Noel back together and starting their well deserved HEA.

This was a pretty enjoyable story. I liked Lane and Noel. I thought Lane's actions were understandable and believable considering all that happened and between her and Noel in the past. Noel I liked but he was so impatient at times that it became a bit annoying. Also I didn't like how he was trying to make Lane feel guilty for not moving faster with him when he was holding back a big, bad secret from her. Still, I'm glad things worked out for them and I liked the story very much. I'm planning to start the next book in the series ASAP. I'd recommend this book. :)

Not Too Deep

I enjoyed this rocker romance on the surface level. It's a short book but the couple makes it special. Noel's tenderness toward Lane is incredibly sweet and unexpected for a rockstar. Thier struggle to find thier HEA caused enough angst to keep me wondering. Despite not being too deep and being a bit underdeveloped, getting the surface of the characters was enough to be entertaining. Glad I listened in audio.

DNF - Narration ruins it

This is going to be a great story, but I can't bring myself to listen anymore. The narrator speaks fast and choppy. The best story can be ruined by bad narration.