Avery Dare lives a quiet life in Miami as an online fashion/makeup
video blogger. She has good friends, a close, large family and if her love life
is lacking, she likes it that way. But when she receives an invitation to one
of her ex's concerts along with an invitation to meet him back stage, she
decides to take the risk... and comes face to face with the reality of his rock
star lifestyle - the press, the crowds, and the half-naked groupies.
At eighteen, Grey Kingston left everything he knew and loved behind to
seek fame and fortune as a rock star, and he found it as the lead guitarist and
singer for the band, Tangled Royal. Fans adore him, women throw themselves at
him, and he can afford everything he couldn't growing up. Yet at the height of
his career, he's ready to walk away and return home to a simpler life... and
the woman he left behind, if he can convince her to give him another chance.
Except moving on isn't as easy as Grey would
like. When Avery is threatened by a stalker, it becomes evident Grey's fans not
only don't want him to retire, they don't want Avery in his life either. And
Avery isn't sure she wants the pressures that are part of Grey's life... but
she doesn't want to lose him again, either. Can their recently renewed love
survive the fallout?
Sweat poured off Grey Kingston’s body, and his heart beat a too-rapid
rhythm, the high and adrenaline rush from his performance still pulsing through
his veins as he walked into the lounge backstage. He pulled off his soaked
shirt and tossed it onto the floor, grateful for the stocked room and waiting
pile of towels. He grabbed one and dried his face and hair, deliberately trying
to slow his breathing.
The sound of Tangled Royal fans stomping their feet and demanding an
encore echoed through the walls, but the band had performed their final set.
Even as his pulse still soared.
He glanced toward the door. “Did she pick up the ticket?” Grey asked
Simon Colson, their manager, who was busy texting on his phone.
“What? Who?” Simon, ever the well-dressed Brit, shoved his phone into
his trouser pocket. No jeans for him. “Good show,” he said to Grey and the rest
of the band, ignoring Grey’s question.
Lola Corbin, their lead singer and Grey’s best friend, was still
bouncing in her heels, not yet coming down from their shared high either. “We
did rock it,” she said, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.
Milo Davis, their bassist, grunted something and fell into a chair in
the corner. Grey narrowed his gaze. Milo barely had the energy for a full
concert these days, and that worried him.
But right now Grey had bigger concerns and turned to Simon. “I asked
you if Avery Dare picked up the VIP tickets I told you to leave at the box
office.”
Simon shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you.”
Grey scowled at his manager’s I don’t give a shit tone. More and more
lately, Simon’s lack of consideration about what the band members wanted grated
on Grey’s nerves. Lola might be considering using him for her solo career, but
anything Grey did going forward wouldn’t be with the man.
At least he’d indicated he had left the tickets. He’d be out of a job
if he screwed with Grey on this. “Fucking find out.”
“What’s so special about this piece of ass?” Simon barely got the
words out because Grey grabbed him by his collared shirt and pinned him up
against the wall.
“Talk about her like that again and you’re done.”
“Whoa.” Lola put her petite body between them, pushing Grey away from
their manager. “Everyone breathe,” she muttered. “You. Go take a walk and calm
down before your company shows up,” she ordered Grey.
He stormed off, missing whatever lecture she gave to Simon next.
Though the man had done his job well, helping maneuver Tangled Royal
to the elusive top of the charts, he cared about the bottom line and not much
else. Especially not the fact that Tangled Royal was more than a band, people
with real feelings, issues, and lives. No wonder Simon didn’t believe how
serious both Grey and Lola were about changing their futures.
Danny Bills, their drummer, already had a wife and two daughters who
lived in L.A. He was ready for home time, and everyone knew it. Milo was
another story. If he didn’t stop the drugs, he wouldn’t have a future.
As for Grey, he hoped for more than the travel and fame that had been
so important to him way back when. He hoped for her.
His eyes flickered to the door. No sign of Avery. He tipped his head
back, wondering if she’d come backstage or ignore the invitation … and
him. His stomach gripped painfully at the thought of not seeing her again. She
was the one person who not only understood the loner musician he’d been as a
teen but who’d grounded him when he’d threatened to spiral. With her soft
voice, that thick mane of dark hair, and those lavender-like eyes, she’d
burrowed someplace deep inside him. Still, she hadn’t been enough to hold him,
not when fame, fortune, and the need to be something more lived within him.
But it was Avery whose face he saw in the
nameless women he’d fucked over the years. Avery whose belief in him kept him
going when times were hard. Funny how that worked. He wondered if she’d thought
of him over the years and if she was as hyped up about possibly seeing him
again now.
I am a fan of the Dare series and was looking forward to Avery and Grey's story. Overall it was a light and steamy read, but I wish it would've been longer. I don't mind a quick read where the couple has chemistry and falls for each other, but when a couple has a history and has been apart for so long, I like to know what happened in each of their lives during that time. That time is quickly mentioned but without any real detail. And while it isn't short on sex, it was a bit short on actual romance. I am dying to see what the story is between Avery's best friend Ella and her brother Tyler - I hope their story is coming soon!
I received an ARC via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
After
a successful fifteen year career with various New York publishing houses, and
over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today
Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own
expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men
and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives
in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs
who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of
sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and
is always around to interact with her readers.
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