m loves reading: Review: The Stage (Phoenix Rising, #1) by Shelby Rebecca

4 stars! ****

Author: Shelby Rebecca

Title: The Stage (Phoenix Rising, #1)

Mia, the saint. Kolton, the sinner.

Kolton Royce is a tatted, bad boy rock star at the top of his game.

Mia Phoenix is an overly responsible nineteen-year-old striving for stardom since losing her parents in a house fire.

When Mia ends up on Kolton’s team for the debut of the new nationwide singing competition, The Stage, she’s not sure if it’s her or her voice that he’s hellbent to control.

After he takes special interest in her welfare, they’ve been warned, any contact between them outside of filming is strictly forbidden.

He has other ideas.

She’s a phoenix rising from the ashes, the only one who understands the pain that lies beneath the persona. Though he’s not sure if he’s too bad for her, he can’t stay away.

All sinners have a past. All saints have a future. But, does being born in fire make the fissures weak in all the wrong places, or stronger than they’ve ever known?

I always say that the singing contests are lame but I still end up watching them. This is a book about a singing contest so obviously I thought it will be lame, but still read it. And boy, was I mistaken. I don't even mind that I was wrong and I hate being wrong.

I had very low expectations when I started. Usually when I have high expectations I end up being disappointed. So this time I was pleasantly surprised.

Mia Phoenix is an orphan. Her parents died at fire and now she's legal guardian of her little sister Riley. Mia is nineteen, she's struggling with money and she has the voice of an angel. She's one of the participants of a contest called The Stage. The winner gets million dollars and a contract. Winning this would mean that everything would change. Mia wouldn't have to worry about providing Riley anymore and she could give her everything she wants and needs.

All four judges chose her. That's how amazing her voice is. All she has to do now is to choose which one of them she wants.

Kolton Royce is a rockstar. He's a playboy, he's got the attitude. Kole get whatever he wants. And he wants Mia. In his team and in his bed. And slowly he wants her in his heart too.

He takes care of Mia's needs. He hires a nanny for Riley, he moves her to a bigger apartement more suitable for a nine year old. There's no question whether his feeling are genuine, they are and Mia is also drawn to him but the contract forbids a relationship between them. Not that Kole cares about it.

Kole was obviously more sure about his feelings and he waited for her, until she realized that they feel the same thing, that she can't fight it any longer.

The ending was both predictable and unpredictable. There were only two options - she was either gonna win or be runner up. And I was correct. But I'm not gonna tell you which one ;). I both expected it and thought it not possible, but it kind of made sense.

The prolog to the second book/epilog to this one just about killed me. If you don't want to read the next book don't read it. Ever.

I didn't believe it at first but this book sucked me in and didn't let me go until the very end. What I missed was Kole's point of view. There were many parts which I think I'd enjoy more from his side. There were part where I asked whether Mia is crazy, because she was so oblivious and scared and hurtful without even wanting it.

I loved Kolton from the very beginning. His tattoes and rockstar persona were hiding a terribly sweet and caring person. He brought the best out of Mia and he made her reborn from her ashes. With him she finally started to live again, feel again.