Detour by Kacey Shea

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“From here on out here’s how it’s going to go. I play. You play. Don’t hit on me. Don’t flirt with me. Understood?”

Handsome, charismatic, and blessed with a voice that brings thousands of fans to their knees, Trent Donovan is a walking cliché. But he has another thing coming if he thinks he can charm his way into my panties.

I don’t care if he’s rich and famous, because I’m not here to bag a rock star. I’m here to pave my own way. To prove I belong center stage. 

There’s just one problem.

The more time I spend on the road with the band, the more I realize Trent’s nothing like the arrogant playboy I expected. We share a love of music and if I’m honest so much more. 

I came on this tour to follow my dreams but if I’m not careful he’s bound to lead them off track—right along with my heart.

Detour

Three Ugly Guys, One Off-Limits Girl

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂🤨😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: Detour

Genre: Rockstar Romance | Narrators: Jason Clarke & Lessa Lamb
Series: Off Track Records, Book 1

🎸 Hero Spotlight: Trent Donovan

Trent Donovan is the kind of rockstar who got into music for all the wrong reasons—and it worked. Fame, guitars, and a revolving door of groupies were his high school dream, and by 28, he’s living it as the cocky, charismatic frontman of “Three Ugly Guys.” But beneath the swagger and smirks, there’s a growing weariness. The endless parade of women who sound the same, act the same, and mistake performative sexiness for actual connection is starting to grate on him. He’s not just bored—he’s disillusioned.

Trent’s cynicism doesn’t stop him from sleeping around, but it does reveal cracks in his rockstar armor. He’s fiercely loyal to his band, protective of his mom, and—surprisingly—deeply skeptical of the label’s push for a female drummer. He sees it as a PR stunt waiting to implode, so the band sticks with their older roadie instead. Trent may be a jerk, but he’s not stupid. And when Lexi Marks enters the picture, his protective instincts kick in hard.

🎤 Heroine Spotlight: Lexi Marks

Lexi Marks is the kind of heroine you root for from the first page. Scrappy, talented, and stubbornly independent, she’s grinding away at a coffee shop while chasing her dream of making it in music. Rejection has been her constant companion, but it hasn’t broken her—it’s sharpened her resolve. She refuses to use connections or favors to get ahead, even when they’re available. Lexi wants to earn her place, not borrow it.

When she finally lands a meeting with a real agent, hope flickers to life. Her music is everything—her identity, her lifeline—and this tour opportunity feels like the break she’s been waiting for. But Lexi has a secret, one her agent knows and promises to keep under wraps. She wants to be judged on her talent, not her past. And when the band finds out, NDAs are signed and lips are sealed. Still, comparisons to a certain pop princess sting, and Lexi’s determination to stand on her own only intensifies.

🔥 Plot Pulse

Lexi joins the tour as the opening act, and the tension is immediate. Trent sees the way his bandmates look at her and lays down the law: Lexi is off-limits. They all agree—no hookups, no drama. But Lexi isn’t just another pretty face. She’s talented, grounded, and unimpressed by their fame. She’s not here to flirt; she’s here to sing. And that makes her more intriguing than any groupie they’ve ever met.

As the tour unfolds, Trent’s initial protectiveness morphs into something deeper. He starts to see Lexi not as a complication, but as a revelation. She challenges his assumptions, calls out his arrogance, and refuses to be dazzled by his rockstar persona. And slowly, Trent begins to change—not because Lexi wants him to, but because he wants to be someone worthy of her.

💘 What Hit Home

• Trent’s freakishly long tongue is a quirky detail that somehow works—equal parts weird and memorable.
• His complicated relationship with women is frustrating but layered. He’s jaded, yes, but not heartless. His love for his mom and his growing respect for Lexi show that he’s capable of more.
• Watching Trent shift from dismissive to protective was satisfying. His treatment of Lexi—gentle, respectful, and real—felt earned.

😬 Room to Grow

• Lexi’s constant lip ring biting and twisting felt juvenile. It was a tic that pulled me out of the moment and made her seem younger than she is. Less high school angst, more grown-up grit, please.

🎧 Narration Vibes

The dual narration elevated this audiobook. Jason Clarke delivers his usual magic—gravelly, sexy, and emotionally textured. He nails Trent’s cockiness and vulnerability with equal finesse, and his ability to switch voices and accents keeps the cast distinct and dynamic.

Lessa Lamb was a delightful surprise. Her voice has a raspy edge that suits Lexi’s singer-songwriter vibe perfectly. She sounds youthful but not immature, and her emotional delivery made Lexi’s struggles and triumphs feel personal. I’ll be looking for more of her work.

📝 Final Thoughts

This audiobook hits the sweet spot between rockstar romance and emotional redemption. Trent’s journey from jaded player to protective partner is compelling, and Lexi’s grit and grace make her a heroine worth cheering for. The narration adds depth and texture, making this a tour worth taking—lip ring quirks and all.

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