Crash and Burn - Michele Callahan (Love You Like A Love Song #1)

Rating: 4 Stars
Published: January 2016
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Chance can't say no to his mom, when she asks him to follow his dreams after her death he has to. If that means picking up a guitar again, he will. When he sees sweet, innocent Erin in the guitar store and sets up lessons with her he doesn't expect to see her again until Sunday, and especially not with a wig, killer boots, and a short skirt singing at the bar he's at. He may be a good-doing lawyer, but she makes him want to do bad bad things. Erin is torn between the two sides of herself, the sexy rock goddess or the nervous, big sister playing mom to her younger brother. Chance may be hot as hell, but she doesn't have time for that. That is, until he kisses her and he shows her he has a dark side to him as well. When the opportunity she's always wanted lands at her feet she must decide if following her dream is worth leaving behind her always in trouble brother and the man who makes her really feel.

I love a good rock star romance book, combining music with reading will always work for me. Plus, Michele Callahan has taken a fairly common story and given it really unique character. Erin is definitely not what I expected her to be, I really enjoyed that she had already overcome her past in this novel so it wasn't weighing down the story. She's also a really strong character, despite not knowing her true self at all times she holds down the fort for her band mates, handles her younger brother the best way she knows how, and when she finally realizes her feelings for Chance she figures out what to do. I'm not saying anything she does is really right, but hey, it's realistic and if you know me, you know I love a realistic novel. Then there's Chance, I was about ready to jump into the book and say don't worry girl, you don't want him but I do. Who can say no to a young, smart, hot lawyer who's learning to play guitar and will happily bang you on the hood of his fancy car? Their relationship, while really quick moving, isn't necessarily insta-love but the feelings are there. I really liked that he could see through her and showed her she can be Eva or Erin, whichever she wants. I also liked his interactions with his siblings and even Erin's sibling, he's definitely his own man.

 The pacing of the book is very fast, while I admit it isn't insta-love, there is plenty of other things going on that move quickly. Erin let's her alter-ego Eva run the show, but I still felt like her natural qualities would have out shown her sultry-sexy other self. Plus, her music career kind of took off like a rocket. I know signings don't work that way, at all, but in book world I get it. I could have used more of the music side, to understand who Erin's band really was, but I liked seeing her success in all aspects of her life. I definitely want another book based on her brother, but I think we are going to get the stories of Chance's brothers.

 Crash and Burn was my first novel from Michel Callahan, but I don't think it will be my last. I enjoyed this music filled love story and look forward to the next book in the series.