Tropes: Rock star romance, brother's best friend, best friend's sister. While Archer is not a new author to me, I did not read the first book in the series. However, she provides enough back story, so that is not a problem following the story line here. I have read Archer's motor cycle club books. Bad boys and the women who are attracted to them are her specialty; getting into their gritty lives and painting a picture. I don't particularly care for their language, which in their minds makes them seem tough, in my mind immature. It is how she paints that picture and develops her characters that makes her stories entertaining reads. Four stars instead of five for me because of the language. Best line: "Kissing an ashtray isn't exactly sexy"

Ella has watched her brother, Chase, his best friend, Jesse and their friends Noah and Xander, form their rock band from when she was little girl- and has had a crush on Jessie, as he was kind to her. Growing up she had watched all three of them turn into man whores. But then her brother married her best friend, Shay. She has also been struggling with what she wanted to do with her life, had discovered that she had an eye and talent for photography, and was recently hired to do the social media for Tin Gods. But Chase still thinks of her as a screw up. Who doesn't? That would be Jessie, who after watching what Chase has with Shay, realizes that he might want the same thing, with Ella. Meanwhile, someone is trying to blackmail him.

I was gifted with an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased, honest and voluntary review.

"It felt like we were approaching the point of no return."

Hmm... Brother's best friend/best friend's sister is definitely not one of my favorite tropes, especially when they've known each other for years. Too often these stories are either awkward or unbelievable and the brother/best friend ends up way over the top when he finds out.

Since the brother/bff is Chase, there was no escaping his dramatics. So I can't really hold that against Gillian. She did manage to take the awkward mostly out and I admit I really believed it all. I don't know how Ella's was able to accept Jesse's promiscuous past but I guess when you truly love someone you have to love them completely, warts and all.

I thought this book would have more conflict and angst but it ended up being a great love story with all the rockstar packaging. I'm excited that Xander is up next and can't wait for Noah. This is a great series and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm such a Tin Gods fan!

4 Stars for these friends-to-lovers

I was rooting for Jesse and Ella right from the start, but I would have liked for a little more angst before they got together. The chemistry between Ella and Jesse is off the charts ... my iPad started to smoke. I also liked the mystery of the weird texts Jesse was getting. I loved the banter in this book, especially between the band mates. Noah was over the top and I can't wait for his book.

Ella has had a crush on her brother's best friend Jesse since she was a kid. Now the guys are members of the popular rock bank Tin Gods. When the band hires Ella to escalate their social media presence while they are on tour, she feels that all her dreams have come true. Ella doesn't know how she's going to keep her crush under control when she is assigned to the same bus as Jesse. Jesse doesn't know when Ella grew up, but she's all woman now and he can't keep his eyes off her. She's off limits as his best friend's little sister and the no dating anyone in the band family rule ... but some rules are made to be broken.

I received a copy courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours through NetGalley.

4.5 stars
This is a falling for my brother's best friend, and I must say that I loved it. The Tin Gods are on tour again and this time Ella is with them to do her job. The old feelings come alive for Ella and Jesee can't keep hands from her. The story starts weak, but what I love the most is the very strong end and I really loved the love and support from both Ella and Jesse.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

Ella is living everyone’s fantasy. Imagine getting the job of your lifetime, taking photos of your favorite band and most especially your biggest crush. Alas, that band also has your brother as its lead singer. You know, the one who still thinks of you as a little kid that would constantly make mistakes. Oh and let’s not forget the passive aggressive behind the scenes moments from certain crew members and the groupies. Jessie is used to Ella tagging along after practically living with his best friend’s family growing up but all of the sudden his “little bug” doesn’t seem so little anymore. But what will happen to his relationship with his best friend if he goes against the “bro code?” This is book two in the Tin Gods series with a lot more rock and roll vibes than the first one. There’s also the whole childhood crush, brothers best friend, and reformed bad boy angle that is going on with plenty of heat and a little mysterious angle as well. To be honest I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book because Jesse in book one was a jerk of the highest degree but I must admit he really redeemed himself and Ella really came into her own. I also liked the fact that they didn’t turn the rockeris into angels but showed the not so PC parts of stardom as well as the trials I’m sure famous people must dread. Those of you who’ve read book one will also get to see more of Shay and Chase’s story too. Overall this was a great hot and spicy book with lots of drama, so get your devils-horn ready for this rocking book. And as an asideI can’t wait for book three. 4.5 stars must read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I felt like there was not enough drama and spice? I expected way more out of this whole scenario, but it fell a bit flat for me. Maybe this is also an effect of not reading the first book, though.

Pros for the dual pov though, I love a good dual pov book!

Life-long crush, but his best friend's sister - and on tour, sharing a bus. Yep, let the fun begin with more substance than most in this trope, and characters that are easy to like and get into. A definite enjoyable read with a few plot twists and surprises, and yep, a definite HEA on a few levels. A winner for all romance fans.

i honestly thought there would be more spice? for a brothers best friend x bad boy rock band novel, i expected a bit more drama and spice than there was. i did enjoy it, but i could have used some more pizzazz, as the kids say.

Refrain is the second book in the Tin God's series by Gillian Archer. I enjoyed book one and I did enjoy this one as well, but just as with the first book, there were times where it was hard to buy into the storyline. I don't want to post any spoilers (as most of these are past the halfway mark) so I can't give an example, but they took me out of my book moments, so I can't give this book 5 stars. I did enjoy it more than the first book, so while I gave that one 3.5 stars, I give this one a solid 4 stars. I am looking forward to book 3 because if it gets as much better as this one was over the first, it will be a solid 4.5 stars and a great third in series. Thanks NetGalley and Gillian Archer for an advanced copy of this book.

Absolutely loved Jesse & Ella’s story! Jesse has known Ella since she was a child, as the little sister of his best friend Chase, it seemed she was always just a few steps away. Jesse knew Ella had a teenage crush on him - he just never knew that Ella never stopped loving him - now she is older and Jesse finally sees the sexy as hell woman that Ella has become.

Bro Code keeps Jesse from acting until one night when he finally can’t control it - Jesse kisses Ella - the chemistry between them is off the charts. Ella is everything Jesse could ever want. The question is - Can he have Ella and keep his best friend/band mate/brother from another mother? Will he be forced to choose between Ella and the band, Tin Gods? Will he even get the chance to tell Ella how he feels or will his spectacular partying, playboy, no strings attached past ruin their chances of HEA?

Gillian Archer does a fantastic job weaving together a rockstar romance with some twists that I didn’t expect. She has also created a bonus epilogue that I loved!

I can’t wait for Xander & Noah to each find the woman that tames them, it will make for some great books! 🎸🤘🏻👀🎵❤️‍🔥🎤

Overall 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 | Contender for top 10 of 2024 🏆🏆

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from the author/publisher via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄
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Another outstanding rockstar romance from Gillian Archer! Jesse & Ella’s love story is a quasi friends-to-lovers trope with Jesse being Ella’s older brother’s friend/bandmate. There’s a little bit of angst plus lots of closets & storage rooms. Their relationship is hard won and a fun read. This is 2nd in a series and it was great to visit with all the characters again. I’m looking forward to the next one - Ballad out in January 2025! Highly recommend

The Dual POV💕 The Spice🌶️ The rockstar romance😍

I DEVOURED this book in less than 24 hours and I loved every second of it. I immediately want to read the other books in this series!!

Sigh. The second book in the Tin Gods story more than lives up to the first. A longtime crush, a secret romance, the strains of life on the road all combined to give me a few hours of reading with a demented grin on my face. Better than therapy, this book was just what the doctor ordered.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Tin Gods are back on the road! Lead singer Chase is helping out his little sister Ella by hiring her as a social media photographer and organizer for the band. Ella has known the guys from the beginning, especially bassist Jesse who grew up down the hall and is just like family. Ella has crushed on Jesses since high school. Since Ella is close with all the guys, she's riding on the bus with them and being so close to Jesse is a dream come true but also a nightmare. The attraction quickly goes both ways, and Ella and Jesse are trying to keep their relationship under wraps. They are both afraid of Chase's reaction, the effect it will have on Ella's position, and keeping things away from the person trying to extort Jesse.
This book has all the passion of the first book, and we get to get to know the rest of the band more intimately.
#gillianarcher #tingods #refrain #netgalley

Oh holy wow. Jesse is so far from who I thought he was in the first book. Yeah, he’s got a past. He’s rich and famous, so of course he does. Yeah, Rowan is still 100% petty and mean girl and awful. And yeah, Chase still does dumb stuff. But the antics of the band, the love that Jesse and Ella have, and the support to be had when all the truths come out? Those all make this an excellent read that has me wanting more.

Ella and Jesse may think they’re slick, but they’re sort of not. And Chase gets himself in trouble with friends and family alike when he spews nonsense and cruel words before ever stopping to think. I especially love how he’s taken to task for the things he says. Every single time. Xander is awesome, Noah is like a kid with a sugar rush but even quicker wit, and Jesse proves that he’s all in with Ella both before and after the secret is out. Even when it all looks like it may fall apart, these two stick together and have the backing of the band and everyone who actually knows them. So of course it has to work out in the end.

Now I wait. For Noah. For Xander. For whichever one finds and keeps their woman next.

I have been waiting patiently for this book release and it did not disappoint! Highly recommend reading Rocked - Book 1 in the Tin Gods series! These could be stand alones but the story is so much better with the background in my opinion.

Ella and Jesse are just so drown to one another. The classic big brother Chase doesn’t think anyone will even be good enough for his baby sister - even his best friend and bandmate. It was so fun to travel with the band back stage, on the bus and on the road.

I devoured this one! The story itself, the tension, scandal, spice so so so good! Next up checking out the corresponding Spotify playlist!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Also a great extra chapter if you signup for the email list!

Book 3 Ballad (Xander and Harper) is due out in January 2025 which is way too long to wait!