My Soul to Keep by Kennedy Ryan

Category: Contemporary romance
Publication date: 11/13/2015
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: YES!!!

Normally I give books with cliffhangers a stern talking to and a harsh rating. But...I just can’t with this one. It’s too good. So, I guess I’m adding it to my exceptions list.

Plot overview: Aspiring singer/dancer Kai meets musical superstar/prodigy Rhyson. Slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance and sexy angst ensue. ​

I’m just gonna dive in with all the stuff I loved:

1. Kennedy Ryan has a totally unique and almost poetic writing style. Everything flows so beautifully. There’s really no other way to describe it other than “flow.” When you read her stuff, you’ll get it.  
2. I love that Kai isn’t a young white lady. I’ve been saying forever that we need more diversity in romance. I also loved it that race wasn’t an obstacle in the story for Kai and Rhyson to overcome. 
3. Rhyson isn’t a typical manwhore/drugged out muscian. Yes, I’m sure there were groupies. But there weren’t lengthy descriptions of what the hero did with said groupies. (I HATE it when that happens in romance) And once Rhyson met Kai, he was pretty much done for and other women weren’t even a consideration. 
4. I liked Kai’s determination to fail or succeed on her own. She could’ve taken the easy way out many, many times (in fact, I would’ve if I was her—like, way early on) but she didn’t. She was more than willing—happy, even—to pay her dues. 
5. I do love a good slow-burn romance, and this one was SUPER slow. But it was a good kind of super slow, because while there weren’t sexy times early on, there was still plenty of smokin’ hot chemistry between these two characters to enjoy. It was all kinds of sexy.
6. When the sexy times do eventually happen, they’re burn-your-house-down hot. 

A couple of things that are normally deal breakers for me that I was able to overlook because of how good the writing was in this book: 

1. Rhyson does some stupid things in the name of protecting Kai. She’s new to the biz, and he’s been around the block, so he can see around corners that she can’t. All the stupid stuff he does comes from a good place, but if you’re annoyed by protective heroes, Rhyson might not be your cuppa. 
2. The cliffie. Holy hell, is it a cliffie. But thankfully, the other 2 books in the triology are out now. Both are also in Kindle Unlimited.

So, despite the cliffie from hell, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves angsty, slow-burn, super-sensual rockstar romances. Or, you know, anyone who just enjoys the crap out of great writing.     

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?

Free and clear of stigma. No rehab needed.

Other fabulous reading suggestions

The ULTIMATE rock star romance reading list

The ULTIMATE friends-to-lovers romance reading list

Romance novels about dancers to put some pep in your step