Emotion, Intelligence, and Social Relevance Make Beautiful Music Together In "Hendrix"

Title:  Hendrix
(Caldwell Brothers #1)
Author(s) M. J. Fields, Chelsea Camaron
Format:  Kindle
Length:  195 pages
Publisher:  Loveswept
Rating:  5 Stars

“One bourbon, one shot, one night—that’s my world. Life is finally getting on track for me and my brothers. Things are far from perfect, but after removing the thorn from our sides, they damn sure are looking up.” –Hendrix Caldwell.

Hendrix Caldwell, the oldest of the Caldwell brothers, is the ever steady voice of reason out of the three Detroit—Rock City’s—wild boys. Focused, determined, and living with a chip on his shoulder, Hendrix is married to his bar, allowing no time for anything more than a casual hook up. Work hard, play harder—that is the Caldwell brothers’ way.

For Olivia Hemmingway, life is nothing except the school of hard knocks. Born as the consequence of a one night stand, Olivia didn’t have the childhood found in movies and books. However, she’s all grown up now and completely on her own. Drowning in debt, she is looking for a small break in life, but the hits just keep on coming.

One night, one charity event, two masks hiding them from the world and each other… Two people let go and share the best of each other in a luxury hotel’s storage closet for one night they both can’t forget. One night they both revisit in their dreams.

What happens when two worlds collide not once, but twice? When they find out who was behind the mask, will sparks fly, or will their past demons keep them apart?  -Goodreads

My Thoughts
Hendrix is a story written to captivate from word one.
Told via the alternating viewpoints of both leading lady, Olivia Hemingway, and hunky head honcho, Hendrix Caldwell.

This story is not one to be easily lost in the shuffle of 'hard knock love' stories which seem to populate the New Adult/ Adult Urban Romance genre.  For while it is very true that both Olivia and Hendrix make no bones about their less than stellar pasts.
It is also crystal clear that the two are doing all they can, at first individually, and later together, to make both themselves and the world around them better.

Because Hendrix's pain is very upfront and obvious, due to both the recent loss of his mother and his having to take over the running of the family bar from his abusive, alcoholic father.  It is very easy to not see the devastation that early childhood abuse has wrought in the life of the shy, sensitive Olivia.
There are however, many things that take place as the read progresses, which serve as segues into not only the darkness of her past, but the healing that is beginning in her present.

The biggest draw for readers by far, has got to be the dedication of Hendrix and his brothers to "do good in the world". (As per their mother's wish for her sons.) This drive to be the Phoenix rising from the ashes of circumstance, while trying to take as many as possible with them...makes the Caldwell men utterly addictive.  When you add their charm, intelligence, and rock star looks into the equation, loving Hendrix and his brothers is an absolute given.

The dynamic authoring duo that is M.J. Fields and Chelsea Camaron  have managed with Hendrix to combine a great story with very timely social commentary addressing a great many hot button issues.

Topics addressed include:

Domestic violence
HPV
Molestation
Self esteem
Grief and loss of a loved one
Alcoholism

On the brighter side of things.  The the darkness is tempered  with a great deal of laughter, love, forgiveness...and in the case of Olivia, a seeming unending supply of inspirational panties!

This is both a great book and the start of a wonderful series.
Hendrix is the first book in the Caldwell companion series.  As such, it may be enjoyed singularly, or as part of its intended volume set.

About Chelsea and M. J.
 USA Today Bestselling Author Chelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming.

Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.

Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works.

When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.

She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.

Connections
Email chelseacamaron@gmail.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authorchelsea...

USA Today bestselling author M.J. Field's love of writing was in full swing by age eight.Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter and sold it for ten cents to family members.

She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 2013. Today she has completed six self-published series, The Love Series, The Wrapped Series, The Burning Souls Series, The Men of Steel Series, Ties of Steel Series, and The Norfolk series.

MJ is a hybrid author who publishes an Indie book almost every month, and is signed with a traditional publisher, Loveswept, Penguin Random House, for her co-written series The Caldwell Brothers. Hendrix is available now, Morrison will be released on December 22nd, 2015.

There is always something in the works, and she has three, yes, three, new series coming out this summer, and fall.

MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.

MJ is represented by Marissa Corvisiero at http://www.corvisieroagency.com/. (less)