Book Review: Loud is How I Love You (Hub City #1) by Mercy Brown

Loud is How I Love You
(Hub City #1)

By:
Mercy Brown

Published:
Jan. 19, 2016

Publisher:
InterMix

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Goodreads

Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

One girl’s heart gets rocked to the core in the first novel in this sexy New Adult series. 

Twenty-one-year-old front girl Emmylou knows that getting her band noticed in the ‘90s indie rock scene will be no easy task. She definitely knows better than to break the number one rule of the band: Don't sleep with your bandmates! But after she ends up having the best sex of her life with her guitarist, Travis, she finds following that rule is a lot harder than it sounds. 

When the band gets the gig of their dreams, making it big seems just within reach. But Emmy’s inability to keep her hands off Travis threatens everything they’ve worked for. Can Emmy find a way to break the rules and not blow the chance of a lifetime? 

Hub City Series:

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My Thoughts:

I love reading rock star romances.  So, whenever I get the opportunity to try a new one, I jump at the chance.  I was really looking forward to reading, Loud is How I Love You.  For one, I love that the female lead was the head of the band in this story.  This is rare in the rock star stories that I have read.  Also, I was intrigued that this story took place in the 90's which is during a time when I was a teenager myself.  I wanted to go back in time and reminisce.  Lastly, I loved the idea of the lead singer falling for the guitarist in her group.  Overall, Loud is How I Love You was a disappointing read for me.

The story is told from the point of view of main character Emmylou "Emmy."  Her dream is to one day make it big with her indie rock band, Stars on the Floor.  She is close to her bandmates, drummer Joey, and bassist Cole, but is best friends with guitarist Travis.  Then, one night Emmy has the hottest sex of her life with Travis.  She immediately panics afterwards, fearful that getting involved with Travis could cause problems in the band.  

She attempts to go back to a platonic friendship with Travis, but can't seem to stick to her decision.  It is obvious to the reader that Travis has feelings for Emmy, and she for him, although she doesn't want to admit it at first.  Will Emmy's flakiness break up the band and destroy her chance to be with an amazing guy?

I loved Travis as a character.  He was sweet, loyal, easygoing, patient, and a really good person.  However, Emmy drove me crazy with her back and forth, wishy washiness.  Travis deserved better than how he was treated by Emmy.  I could see that Emmy's fear was deeper than destroying her band.  However, I felt for Travis, and the pain she continually caused him.

Most of the story was slow moving, and I felt myself losing interest in the story.  This was the reason I found myself skimming through large portions of text.  I think a big reason the story was slow moving was due to the fact that there was too much narration or "telling" what was happening, as opposed to the characters "showing" what was happening through conversation and interaction.  I got bored with overly detailed passages, and needed the story to move faster. 

What I enjoyed about the story the most were the parts where Emmy and Travis did interact with one another.  When they were together, you could feel their chemistry, passion, deep connection, and how much they felt for one another.  These were the moments that I truly treasured in the story, and didn't want to end.   However, I felt like there weren't enough of these kind of moments.   

My Rating:

I give, Loud is How I Love You, by Mercy Brown, 2 Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Tough Decision, Music Filled Stars. The next book in the Hub Series is Stay Until We Break, and is Sonia (Emmy's best friend,) and bassist Cole's story. I hope to see less narration and more dialogue and face to face interaction in the sequel.

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About Mercy Brown:

Mercy Brown is a writer and musician from New Brunswick, NJ. In 2002, Mercy married her guitarist and effectively retired from sleeping on other people's floors. Now she writes books.

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