Deep by Kylie Scott
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars
“Positive.”
THE STORY: Lizzy Rollins and Ben Nicholson had a one night stand two months ago and now Lizzy has found out she is pregnant. Lizzy is a twenty-one year old college student. Her sister has just married one of the band members of Stage Dive. Ben is the bass player for the band. Although there was chemistry between the two since they met months ago, Lizzy is the sister of one of Ben’s band mates and therefore off limits. Lizzy’s pregnancy forces Ben and Lizzy to confront their feelings for one another.
OPINION: With flawed characters who make mistakes and have to deal with the consequences of their actions, DEEP is sometimes frustrating and often sexy, sweet and funny.
For those readers who have trouble with repetitive mistakes, warning that Ben has problems that don’t go away. For those who have read prior books in the series, that pattern will be familiar. The characters in DEEP struggle with their demons and don’t get over their problems easily.
DEEP is not as dark as prior books in the series. In many ways, this book is sweet, but Ben doesn’t know how to have a relationship and he badly messes up with Lizzy. While he does make multiple mistakes with her, the reader can also see his growth as a character.
Lizzy is the strong one here despite her youth. She is a survivor who makes the most of her situation. She acknowledges her mistakes. At the same time, she is at times an unrealistic romantic who builds up fantasies in her head but doesn’t always ask for what she wants. When her fantasy doesn’t happen, she gives up rather than fight.
As with all the Stage Dive books, DEEP is very sexy and hot. This book is also very sweet. Ben and Lizzy build a relationship in parts. I especially liked their texts to one another which just felt sweet and honest. I laughed at the way pregnancy was portrayed in this book.
It felt more realistic than other portrayals and is not just a plot device.
DEEP is not my favorite of the series, that goes to LEAD, but I especially enjoyed the interaction of all the couples in the series. All the characters play important roles in this book so fans of the series will be pleased.
Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop even reading late into the night. Readers who have followed the series, will know that something has been going on between Ben and Lizzy. This book answers the questions of what happened and then goes forward giving all the Stage Dive characters a happy ending.
WORTH MENTIONING: DEEP introduces the character of Vaughan who is going to be the hero of the spin off Dive Bar series. He almost stole the show for me.
FINAL DECISION: I recommend this book especially for fans of the Stage Dive series.
CONNECTED BOOKS: DEEP is the fourth book in the Stage Dive series. It is not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy DEEP although starting at the first book is the best way to appreciate this one since all the couples have prominent roles in DEEP.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in order to provide an honest review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.