Book Review: DERAILED by Kacey Shea
Title: Derailed
Series: Off Track Records
Author: Kacey Shea
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 16, 2018
Sean Willis knows the difference between right and wrong. Sure, the bass player of Three Ugly Guys has made his share of mistakes, but when push comes to shove, Sean always chooses the high road. Now, even when things are unraveling with the band, he's the voice of reason.
Until Jess.
She's the only thing he's ever wanted and couldn't have. Not only is she his new roommate, but her boyfriend is the newest addition to 3UG. She's more than off limits, she's a temptress with her unaltered beauty and gentle spirit.
Jessica Moore has never been the center of anyone's world. In fact, she's familiar with being forgotten. Not too tall, not too pretty, not too smart; she's just Jess. No stranger to scraping by for survival, she finds shelter in Coy Wright, a musician with dreams bigger than life. But when Coy skyrockets to stardom, Jess is thrust into a world in which she doesn't belong.
That is, until she discovers an unexpected friendship. Sean treats Jess as someone special, important, and worthy of love. The feelings and desires he stirs within are dangerous, because despite Sean's kindness and affection, she's forever loyal to Coy.
What happens when doing the wrong thing feels right?
Jess and Sean's friendship is put to the test, along with alliances in the band. Is love enough to derail their best laid plans, or will selfishness throw everyone's success off track?
DERAILED can be read as a standalone or begin with Trent's story in DETOUR.
"Sean, don't." She drops her gaze as if it pains her to hear. As if it doesn't hurt me to say it.
"Don't what? Remind you how good it was? How you fell apart at my fingers. With my mouth."
Her chin lifts and gaze narrows. "It can't happen again."
"Jess, it can. That's why I'm here. We could be together. We can. I'll take care of you. If you would only-"
She steps back, one step and then another until the gap between us feels miles wide. "Don't ask me-"
"Leave him." If there's a way to beg, plead, and demand everything with those two words, I give it my all.
Her scowl falls to one of pity. "Sean . . ."
"No, don't say my name like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you feel sorry for me. I know you feel more. I know we're good together. I want you, Jess, but not as some dirty little secret."
Her lower lip trembles from where her teeth bite against it and her gaze drops. "I can't."
It's not the response I want and I bristle at her words. "Why?" I need to know.
"I just can't okay?"
"Help me. Tell me." I close the space between us and take her hands. "Explain to me why that son of bitch gets to be with the most precious woman on Earth and treat her like garbage. Why I have to stand by and watch?"
"I'm not . . ." She tries to tug her hands back but I don't let her. "You don't understand. You never could."
"Try me. Please, Jess. Explain it to me and I'll leave you alone. I'll let you live your life however you want, but just tell me why you're with Coy."
I don't know if she will. I can almost see the war inside her. "You think I'm good but I'm not."
"Don't what? Remind you how good it was? How you fell apart at my fingers. With my mouth."
Her chin lifts and gaze narrows. "It can't happen again."
"Jess, it can. That's why I'm here. We could be together. We can. I'll take care of you. If you would only-"
She steps back, one step and then another until the gap between us feels miles wide. "Don't ask me-"
"Leave him." If there's a way to beg, plead, and demand everything with those two words, I give it my all.
Her scowl falls to one of pity. "Sean . . ."
"No, don't say my name like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you feel sorry for me. I know you feel more. I know we're good together. I want you, Jess, but not as some dirty little secret."
Her lower lip trembles from where her teeth bite against it and her gaze drops. "I can't."
It's not the response I want and I bristle at her words. "Why?" I need to know.
"I just can't okay?"
"Help me. Tell me." I close the space between us and take her hands. "Explain to me why that son of bitch gets to be with the most precious woman on Earth and treat her like garbage. Why I have to stand by and watch?"
"I'm not . . ." She tries to tug her hands back but I don't let her. "You don't understand. You never could."
"Try me. Please, Jess. Explain it to me and I'll leave you alone. I'll let you live your life however you want, but just tell me why you're with Coy."
I don't know if she will. I can almost see the war inside her. "You think I'm good but I'm not."
"These bandmates are my chosen brothers and we'll get through this next challenge. Together. I have no doubt."
I absolutely loved the first book in this series Detour. I'm a sucker for a good rockstar series and Kacey Shea just keeps delivering the goods. When I saw the next book in Off Track Record series was coming out, I jumped at the chance to review. But let me tell you Shea is at her best with Derailed. I've read several of her works but something about this book struck gold with me. Everything about this book. The characters. The story. Their relationship. It's so RAW and REAl.
"At my boyfriends biggest audition, and having a weird staring contest with the bassist for his new band. It felt like a connection, but that's stupid. All in my head. That thing, whatever it was, with Sean Willis, wasn't more than a curious look."
Derailed follows the story of Sean and Jess. These two will hold your heart until the very end and then demand to keep ahold of it. Which I was perfectly fine, letting them have it because they did. Jess doesn't think she deserves much. Coming from the life she had before her boyfriend Coy, she knows she will never live up to much. She lives her life side by side with her boyfriend and when he gets an audition for 3UG, she's stocked. Jess knows this is exactly what he wants and what he's been trying for for years. This could be his make or break moment.
When he gets the job as their new drummer, they are quickly ushered into this hollywood life and Coy eats it all up. But Jess feels like she's just being dragged along. And though she's happy for him, she wants more and she finds that in the attention of the bassist Sean. He shows her things that she never thought she could have and treats her like a queen. Even though she knows she doesn't deserve his attention. If he only knew her past.
"I crave her attention. Her smile. Her conversation. I take every opportunity possible to bask in her presence."
Sean knows she's off limits, she's their drummers girlfriend but he can't stop himself. He's never felt this way about anyway. He can't control his feelings or himself around her. He knows that Coy doesn't treat her right but they can't lose him as their drummer. With tour right around the corner, they need him but will his feelings for Jess outweigh their need for a drummer?
"I think about you, too." Sweet and sin. That's what she is."
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book ever since I finished it. If you're in the need of a sexy rockstar, a broken female lead, and an amazing story for the books...then this is the book for you.
Kacey Shea is a mom of three, wife, and indie author who resides in sunny Arizona. She enjoys reading and writing romance novels as much as her son loves unicorns, which is a lot.
When she's not writing you will find her playing taxi cab to her children while belting out her favorite tunes, meeting friends or family for food and to share some laughs, or sweating it out in the gym. Kacey finds that picking up heavy weights repeatedly is good for her mental health as much as it is for the physical.
She has an unhealthy obsession with firefighters. It could be the pants. It could be the fire. It's just hot. On occasion she has been known to include them, without their knowledge, in her selfies outside the grocery store.
Kacey one day aspires to be a woman hand model in a sexy photo shoot. You know, the woman's hand raking across the muscular back or six pack stomach of the male fitness model. Yep, that hand.
Until that day comes she will continue writing sexy, flirty romance novels in hopes to bring others joy!
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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