Dirty Like Seth: A Friends to Lovers Rockstar Romance (Dirty, Book 3)

Really enjoying the whole series so far. The writing is good, and the stories are fun and sexy. Now on to the next one

I received this as an ARC and was grateful to have been entrusted with it for review. I apologize for the length in advance if you dare to read it.My reason for wanting to read this particular story was the moral dilemma that showcased itself in previous books and I was intrigued by Seth. I wanted him to have connections and forgiveness and redemption and while reading this book cover to cover somewhere along the line what I wanted changed. This book shredded me and when I glued myself back I was all over the place. I wanted to fight for Seth. I was incensed at what I considered to be injustices against him. I wanted to slap Seth and ask him to stop rolling over man the eff up and be vociferous.Seth Brothers is broken and drowning in musical genius. He messed up when he was younger and paid the ultimate price both fighting for his life and sanity simultaneous to his connection with Dirty being severed. He fought for his survival relapsing several times before he managed to get his sobriety to adhere. He was given a golden opportunity to reunite with Dirty years later after a chance meeting at a beach. Sadly the opportunity was ripped away from him unjustly. (I’ve never liked Brody) Months Later, after drifting he decides to go bravely to the blind open audition for his old position.I really have never liked Brody and this book further cemented that feeling. I truly dislike his character and Jessa is a spineless hypocrite. How can you live comfortably knowing you blamed someone for your recreational use of drugs as a teen? This entire situation could have been fleshed out differently. She felt badly he left after she pointedly asked him to. Much favoritism was displayed in the group and the disparity in the way Seth was treated as an drug addict and how Zane is treated as a consummate alcoholic was vexating.It was repeatedly said that Seth hurt the band but I felt it more apt to say they hurt each other. Dirty knew about Seth’s addiction and turned blind eyes to the situation until he became a public liability/embarrassment. They fully turned their backs on him and that gutted me and it was never properly addressed by any, aside from Elle now. “I felt alone, for a long time… abandoned.” How is Dirty a family if they could have done that to one of their own? For this reason I strongly felt Seth needed to cauterize Dirty. They repeatedly broke his heart and by his own admission he was done. IMO He had the talent to start his own one man show.Let us begin by giving Elle a round of applause for “woman-ing” up and not giving in to group think. It was absolutely refreshing to have read her character taking the bull by the horns early and shoving it south. I appreciated Elle’s zero effs approach.Not much is known about Elle aside from the fact that she was Jesse’s ex-lover and band mate. She is presented as a solitary figure in previous books. She is a beautiful, slightly bitter and heartbroken woman of little words who’s coping by pursuing a dalliance with Ashley Player and distancing herself emotionally from Dirty.She distances herself further after the audition goes south and she minutely understands that some injustices are being played out. “…at this point, we were all starting to feel like we were cursed or something. Every time we thought we’d found our guy, it fell apart.”“It all started to border on eff!ng juvenile” Truer words have never been spoken. This was a hallelujah moment and monumental as a reader. Jaine is able to get the reader to feel on behalf of the protagonist which is a powerful tool because as angry as the situations in the book may have the reader, once you become invested in that character, it is unlikely you will put this book down for anything other than to release a pent up breath. I never realized how tiring being inside my own head might be but I do now after reading their inner monologues. The first part of this novel focused on the inner workings of both their minds and their variegated thoughts. Jaine captured this process well. It dragged a bit and some areas felt a bit redundant but it’s actually a process we ourselves go through and she was able to suck you into this person’s thoughts and current emotional state.During this time it was difficult for me to even imagine them being anything other than the best of friends at the end. So much so I started craving for a story about friendship and the kind of love needed to sustain theirs. When that moment came and the vibe initially shifted I wasn’t truly prepared for it, not from Seth anyway. It felt too sudden when he started liking her and the past was used as tool to give credit to his current feelings. That seemed a bit unnecessary when the present was strong enough to foster fresh new feelings that could develop devoid of baggage from the past.“eff reservations.” “eff the band.” “This was happening.”I was now ready.Seth made his peace and was a truly good guy. Elle recognized this and she fought hard against herself but in the end wanting a deeper meaningful connection with someone won out. Experiencing that connection with Seth became vital for her and it became a beautiful thing. They connected on a mental level first before they progressed to any physical and that was important. She came to know Seth and knowing Seth and his music and everything he willingly offered her became this foreplay of sorts. She loved him before she was truly willing to acknowledge it and when she did she became his tigress. Nice role reversal done by the author. Seth came across a bit effeminate and Elle was just a strong no nonsense female. Quite interesting and it actually worked minus a few things.“Seth was mine. That was all there was to it’.Seth was an unusually open male protagonist, a nice change from the brooding dark type. However, he had no spine and that was frustrating. He accepted everything and that didn’t seem right at all. He had no fight in him.I truly wanted Seth to forget the band and grow and become his own act. He didn’t need their forgiveness and as a reader I felt it would have been more natural if he did become a solo act. Seth Brothers… Sober. Has a lovely ring to it.Zane aside the rest of the band from is the only person who surprisingly always had a true heart. Seth didn’t need or want the band as much as he wanted Elle and they would have made a remarkable team. There comes a time when some bands do need to disperse and I feel this way about Dirty.As a reader Brody and Jesse’s behavior always being rationalized, was very annoying. I felt on this, Elle was to back and forth. You know who the wrong and the wronged parties are and the peace keeping had me antsy. Too many people did him wrong and not enough heartfelt apologies were issued.I enjoyed reading this book and the romance was Jaine Diamond through and through. I feel Jaine did a great job keeping me enthralled with the two main characters and evoking the strong responses I had when reading this book, from anger to butterflies and smiles. My grouse with Seth’s treatment, his lack of backbone and what I consider a dissatisfactory address of past events and the general donkeyish behaviour of secondary characters did sour it a little but overall it is a book worth reading and it causes you to ask yourself questions on friendship especially what it means to be a friend to someone.

Okay, so I did NOT want to fall for Seth and Elle, they both had me feeling sorry for them in Dirty like Brody, but I admit, I was intrigued to hear more about Seth's story since I knew there was something more that happened between he and Jessa. After reading this book though, Seth and Elle are definitely my favorite couple so far (and I adored Jesse and Katie). This book has a very strong female lead in Elle, and Seth is just so sweet and humble but has a quiet strength, I can't take it. Lots of heat between the 2 of them and while it is 🔥, it is lovely as well. Also a great story, with some important back story for both of them, especially for Seth. I have to say though, it did want me wanting a little more a the end but I'm hoping Dirty like Dylan will show a little about them in Dylan' s story.

I liked how the hidden stories came out to bring the band back together. It was time to live for New Beginnings.

I was really ready to read Maggie and Zane's story next especially after seeing some mixed reviews about this one. I do agree with other reviewers that said this should have been titled Dirty like Elle instead of Seth. It was a very interesting redemption story for Seth and a healing over heartbreak for Elle. There are definitely triggers in this book for drug addiction and sexual pressure (regarding Jessa and Seth's relationship when she was 16 and he was 19 - legal consent in BC is 16). I did think the author did a good job of telling how addictions affect more than the person using. Many different sides of the same story were told. The other criticism I read was that the first half of the book was slow, which I found to be a little true but I found the inner dialogue interesting especially with Elle since we haven't really heard her perspective before. I enjoyed this book. Hot sexy scenes in this book but I don't think as many as in the first few books. Ms. Diamond is especially skilled at writing multi-dimensional characters and very spicy scenes that fit with their unique characters. Jesse and Katie are still my favorite couple so far although I think Maggie and Zane will beat them when I get to their story!

It was a great read And followed up to the first a"DIrty" book very well. Keeps the series going and preps reader for more.

Seth and Elle - who would have thought?This book in the series is so poignant, so lovely. Seth and Elle are two lost souls. She has everything but she feels little. I would have liked to see her relate her FWB relationship with Ash to her old relationship with Jesse though - it was all there, so clear.Seth has been through hell and back more than once. Elle is so strong and capable but is so insecure in her heart. They make beautiful music together and it gives them the common ground and comfort they need to fall in love.

Book 1 was good, book 2 was horrible, book 3 was ok. I found Elle and Seth to be pretty cute together. I was bothered by the fact that the words "rapist" was used towards Seth though. To me, that's just not a word you throw around to create drama. I was super disappointed in some of the side characters in this book also. I guess this series just doesn't vibe well with me. I am a sucker for a good love story but as I keep going through these books, it has nothing to do with love and more to do with sex. I don't think I'm even going to be able to read the next book. I may or may not give it a shot depending on how bored I am.

Seth's life up until when Elle picks him up in her Limo had been tragic through his childhood into adulthood. Tossed out of the Dirty band twice for drug abuse, he makes one more try to audition, now clean, to get back in the band. Elle tries to help him and they end up falling in love. Seth is such a gentle soul, which only Elle can see and she finally manages to get Seth back into the band. A good read.

There’s some really great character introspection, which I found super interesting—especially the idea of not stopping at what we see or think we know.The chemistry between Elle and Seth was off the charts, and I can’t wait to see more of their story in the upcoming books!

I love Seth… book husband material. Loved the story

Jaine is a wonderful story teller. She really gets to the heart of each of her characters in such a real and reaching way.Each of her characters and their love stories are so beautifully portrayed, all the heart ache, hot sex and falling in love.Can’t recommend them enough.

Absolutely love this series, and this is one of my two favourite books in it! Ms. Diamond is a rockstar author, and I imagine her in Vancouver, typing away, creating these amazing stories for all to read around the world. Keep 'em coming! (I'm reading them in Europe).