Review: In Rhythm by JN Welsh
In Rhythm by JN Welsh Published by Carina Press on December 9, 2019
Genres: Multicultural & Interracial, Romance
Pages: 287
Format: ARC
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Superstar or Supernova?
Asha “Velvet” Kendall is this close to achieving her dream of headlining the legendary Temptation Festival as half of the DJ duo Bedazzled Beats. The EDM scene could use a powerful female presence, and Velvet and her bestie Candy are ready for their moment in the spotlight. A chance encounter with sexy-as-sin industry icon Isaak “Zazzle” Van Sandt is the cherry on top.
With a shared passion for music and an intense mutual attraction, the pair should be totally in sync. Instead, Zazzle’s reputation for hard partying has Velvet hitting Pause.
Zazzle knows both the high of superstardom and the darker side of the life. But six months after rock bottom, he’s got his feet firmly planted on a new, less destructive path. Next stop: wooing the curvaceous and tenacious “one that got away.”
But Velvet’s been there, done that, and she’s wary of risking her heart—not to mention her career—on someone in recovery. Earning her trust won’t be easy. If Zazzle can manage it, off-the-charts chemistry might just turn into once-in-a-lifetime love…
This book is approximately 83,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
We dive into the world of EDM music scene once again with JN Welsh’s In Rhythm. This time, we meet DJ Asha Kendall aka Velvet. She’s one half of DJing duo Bedazzled Beats. She, along with her best friend Candy, is on the cusp of real superstardom. Velvet is super focused on her career and wants to make her goal of headlining the Temptation festival a reality.
Isaak aka Zazzle is a music legend and he, along with his two best friends, are at the top of the music scene. Velvet and Zazzle meet and share a passionate night together. A great night where they both are more open then they expected. Their time together plants a seed that perhaps they could be more than just a one-night thing.
That comes crashing to a halt when shortly after Velvet witnesses Zazzle in his performing element and realizes he has a drug problem. When you’re super-rich and super popular, sometimes you lean on certain vices and if you lean too heavily on them, they can destroy you. Isaak has to leave the band and enter rehab when he hits rock bottom in front of the whole world.
Fast forward about six months later and these two are back in each other’s orbit when Bedazzled Beats becomes the opening act for Zazzle and crew. Velvet is a bit standoffish to him because she’s had past experience helping a loved one through recovery and is not interested in doing it again.
Zazzle is now focused on making amends and living to the best of his abilities. Velvet is not the only one skeptical of him and he’ll see that the road to recovery is not a straight line. While we didn’t read much about Zazzle in the thick of his addiction, I liked that we saw him trying to stay sober and free from drugs. We bore witness to the therapy sessions, techniques, and routines that helped center him. Just because he successfully completed rehab didn’t mean that all was well and he was sure to remind himself and others that recovery was a lifelong journey.
While on tour, the chemistry between these two can’t be denied and soon they find each other under a spell yet again. Velvet has to learn to love Zazzle without smothering or second-guessing every move he makes. Zazzle must come to terms with changes in his career and the part he’s played in the demise of his relationships. Together, they learn that loving each other with fame and numerous vices at their fingertips is challenging, but giving up isn’t an option. The music is a great secondary character and really brought this novel to life. Isaak and Velvet’s shared love of music helped forge their bond. I liked the moments with all of their friends and fellow musicians and hope we get stories featuring a few of them.
Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.
You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.
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