He disappears for a few days, disappointed by her reaction – and she’s hurt when he leaves without saying goodbye. When he reveals his identity after a fan spots him grocery shopping, she’s initially overwhelmed and starstruck. Instead, she finds herself opening up about her hopes and fears – and attracted to his good looks and sly sense of humor. Killian doesn’t stay away, even when she rebuffs his attempts to get to know her. When Killian drunkenly crashes on her lawn, she’s mad, lonely and confused about the direction of her life. Libby’s exile started two years ago, after she lost her parents in a drunk-driving accident. Watching her not-so private performance, he realizes he’s fallen hard for her. Killian already knows his feelings for Libby go beyond friendship. She doesn’t know he’s back, and he can’t resist walking over to her house to watch. One night, after he returns from a brief trip out of town, he can hear her singing and playing her guitar next door. After Killian moves in, he uses his charm and humor to break down Libby’s walls. He’s curious about his new neighbor and her evasions and deflections to his questions only further spark his interest. He isn’t easily put off by Libby’s attempts to rebuff him when he wakes up and meets her in the kitchen.

Killian James is no different – but he’s also a sexy, talented musician. Callihan writes witty, charming and interesting heroes. They trade insults, he vomits on her, she hoses him down and then drags him into her house to sleep it off. Libby tries not to look at his naked body as he approaches but can’t keep her eyes off of him. Instead of slinking off, he stalks towards her, flinging his hair and removing his wet, stinky clothes along the way. When she wakes Killian up by spraying him with a hose, he doesn’t react as she expects. Liberty (Libby) lives in self-imposed exile on remote Collar Island, a fictional spot on the Atlantic coast. But when he’s discovered by his new neighbor, Liberty Bell, drunk and passed out in her front yard after wrecking his motorcycle, he’s just a guy she needs to get rid of. Killian James is the lead singer of Kill John – one of the biggest rock bands in the world.

Idol is an excellent, sexy and romantic rock romance. Newsflash: there’s enough room for this one and whatever comes next. When I heard the stories are set in the music world, I was initially wary because I’ve recently been spoiled by excellent books about musicians by Mercy Brown and Erika Kelly, and I worried there wasn’t room in my heart to like another one. When I heard Kristen Callihan was writing a new series, I might have mentally (actually) high-fived myself.

Idol callihan