As a reader obsessed with rock star romances I'm excited to introduce you to another fine addition to the genre. Keep reading to get a taste of Midnight Heat by Sarah Grimm, the second installment in her Black Phoenix series, as well as learning my impressions of this book. You can learn even more about it by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour and by reading a letter from this story's main character. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $40 Amazon GC too!
Dear Reader......
My name is Dominic Price, bassist for the rock band Black Phoenix. Perhaps you’ve heard of us. About ten years ago we topped the Billboard charts—a multi-platinum band whose last album was the most successful of its century. Until the day our drummer overdosed, and my best mate and lead singer, Noah Clark, fell apart, taking down the band with him. Music is the driving force of my life so when it was snatched away from me so quickly, I drifted a bit—years actually. Then one night I discovered a fledgling group named Blind Man’s Alibi in a pub in London. Recognizing their talent, I introduced them to my record label and the rest, as they say, is rock and roll history.
It wasn’t the same though, so three years ago, after winding down a tour with BMA, I found myself in California, USA. Noah was just beginning to talk about bringing Black Phoenix back together and we were searching for a drummer. That’s where I met her. Becca—Dr. Rebecca Dahlman. With flame red hair and eyes the color of emeralds, pale porcelain skin dotted with freckles and lush feminine curves: she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes upon. I was happy with her. Happier than I’d ever been before. Until I walked away. Panicked at the realization a woman could affect me both physically and emotionally, I ran. All the way back to London. But I never forgot her. Not for a moment.
Now I’m back. Back in California. Back in her capable hands. Only this time I’m a patient in her emergency room—a man injured in an automobile accident. And though her touch still has the ability to make me ache, it is with regret. For the brush of her fingers through my hair is no longer a lover’s caress, but a doctor’s assessment of my injuries. I ruined everything leaving her the way I did. Hurt her too badly to ever hope for the chance to make up for past mistakes. But I have to try.
If charm and charisma won’t do the trick, I’ll find another way. I have to. Because seeing Rebecca again…it was like someone let the air back into the room. And imagining a future without her—is more difficult than imagining one without music.
-Dominic Price
EXCERPT:
Rebecca scooped something off the tray, pushed his hair back with her left hand, and bent over him again. So close her hot breath brushed across his skin when she spoke. “I’m going to use tissue adhesive on this laceration. I’ve been told it stings like hell. You might also feel a small amount of heat as it dries.”
She was right.
“Almost done here.” She bent over him and a piece of her hair slid free from the intricate knot at the back of her neck, laying like fire across her cheek. He wanted to skim his fingertips over it. One touch. One touch he wanted so damn badly his hands began to shake.
Dominic dragged in air to loosen the knots in his stomach and only succeeded in filling his lungs with her scent. A scent he’d never quite managed to forget. “Jesus, you smell good.”
“Obviously, your olfactory system was damaged in that accident as I smell like I’ve been at this for sixteen hours already.”
Then she looked down and the air between them thickened. A deep breath became impossible.
Three years. Three agonizingly long goddamn years. Because of him. Because she’d cared and that scared the hell out of him.
“I love you, Dominic.”
Okay, she’d more than cared. God, he’d fucked up. If he hadn’t been absolutely sure of that before, he was now. Laying here, her touching him as if he were nothing but another patient instead of the man she’d once confessed to love. Looking at him as if seeing him again was no big deal, as if it wasn’t the giant kick in the ribs that seeing her again was for him.
She was coolly professional. Calm and unflustered. While he was…“I’m sorry, Becca.”
She straightened away from him as if his words burned. Pushed to her feet so quickly the stool she’d been sitting on skidded backward and bounced off the wall.
The metallic clang echoed in Dominic’s skull. Pain exploded behind his eyes. Nausea washed over him.
Rebecca opened her mouth to respond, then closed it and took a step in retreat. She removed her gloves, disposed of them and shut off the overhead lamp. Then she refocused on him and sighed. “Dominic, we…” She was quiet a moment, just looking at him and he held his breath. “I can’t give you anything for the pain until after the scan.”
It was his turn to sigh. “It doesn’t matter.” There was nothing she could give him that would help.
Except for forgiveness. Never gonna happen, mate.
“Someone will come by soon and take you down for your CT scan.”
Bloody wonderful. Dominic let out a breath. He forced himself to watch her leave. Walk away from him, the way he had done to her. He didn’t need an expensive college degree to know he wasn’t going to see her again. Not tonight. Not any time in the near future.
“Lights on or off?” she asked softly.
“Off.”
She curled her hand around the door pull before plunging the room into darkness. Which was perfect, really, because he found he wasn’t strong enough to watch her walk away after all.
She was right.
“Almost done here.” She bent over him and a piece of her hair slid free from the intricate knot at the back of her neck, laying like fire across her cheek. He wanted to skim his fingertips over it. One touch. One touch he wanted so damn badly his hands began to shake.
Dominic dragged in air to loosen the knots in his stomach and only succeeded in filling his lungs with her scent. A scent he’d never quite managed to forget. “Jesus, you smell good.”
“Obviously, your olfactory system was damaged in that accident as I smell like I’ve been at this for sixteen hours already.”
Then she looked down and the air between them thickened. A deep breath became impossible.
Three years. Three agonizingly long goddamn years. Because of him. Because she’d cared and that scared the hell out of him.
“I love you, Dominic.”
Okay, she’d more than cared. God, he’d fucked up. If he hadn’t been absolutely sure of that before, he was now. Laying here, her touching him as if he were nothing but another patient instead of the man she’d once confessed to love. Looking at him as if seeing him again was no big deal, as if it wasn’t the giant kick in the ribs that seeing her again was for him.
She was coolly professional. Calm and unflustered. While he was…“I’m sorry, Becca.”
She straightened away from him as if his words burned. Pushed to her feet so quickly the stool she’d been sitting on skidded backward and bounced off the wall.
The metallic clang echoed in Dominic’s skull. Pain exploded behind his eyes. Nausea washed over him.
Rebecca opened her mouth to respond, then closed it and took a step in retreat. She removed her gloves, disposed of them and shut off the overhead lamp. Then she refocused on him and sighed. “Dominic, we…” She was quiet a moment, just looking at him and he held his breath. “I can’t give you anything for the pain until after the scan.”
It was his turn to sigh. “It doesn’t matter.” There was nothing she could give him that would help.
Except for forgiveness. Never gonna happen, mate.
“Someone will come by soon and take you down for your CT scan.”
Bloody wonderful. Dominic let out a breath. He forced himself to watch her leave. Walk away from him, the way he had done to her. He didn’t need an expensive college degree to know he wasn’t going to see her again. Not tonight. Not any time in the near future.
“Lights on or off?” she asked softly.
“Off.”
She curled her hand around the door pull before plunging the room into darkness. Which was perfect, really, because he found he wasn’t strong enough to watch her walk away after all.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Not having read the previous book in the Black Phoenix series I thought I'd feel a loss when reading this installment but it can definitely stand quite well on its own. While characters from the previous book show up here to further work out their own issues, they're also there to support sexy Brit Dominic as he tries to reclaim the one woman to capture his heart. It's a rocky road to redemption for him though in an intensely emotional roller coaster ride for readers that's ultimately immensely satisfying.
Dominic's childhood was one of tears and loss as his drug addicted mother died when he was a baby leaving him alone with her body before he found a home. Growing up he was a sickly youngster, never able to fit in. He always felt alone. Even as his band gained fame and the adulation rolled in he knew it wasn't real. He was used to hearing the words, I Love You, in connection with what a person wanted from him so he never put any value in it. The night a fiery redhead uttered those words though everything changed for him and his fear of what it truly meant had him running and her heartbroken. He's reached a turning point and is tired of being alone and watching everyone else find happiness which leads him back to Rebecca, but she won't make it easy for him. It will take raw honesty and heartfelt words, along with lots of hot sex, to win her over. Dom is super sexy, charming, and exudes sensuality which left me drooling over him. His pain is very apparent though and had me rooting for him to finally make a family of his own as he's been flitting from one group to another trying to find a place to belong.
Rebecca is at a crossroads too. She's a strong-willed woman who's very smart and capable but her family, particularly her father, have never been truly proud of her. They've always found some part of her life lacking and continually try to force her to live out their choices. These feelings of inadequacy have her feeling lost, alone, and unhappy. The only time she was truly happy was in Dominic's arms. Though she's never forgotten him, and still longs for him, she's still reeling from his leaving. When he comes into her ER battered and broken she finally gets the chance to make him pay for his leaving without a word. The intense feelings between them though make that a difficult plan and instead have her fighting for a new life and her last chance at happiness in an ending that's heartwarming, heartbreaking, and sexy....along with a slightly unexpected twist.
This was a quick read with likable and realistic characters. Each character is unique and larger than life with emotions that jump off the page. The relationship between Dom and Rebecca puts readers through the emotional wringer and brings realistic and relatable feelings to the forefront as their journey to HEA goes through many ups and downs. The music world is just touched on here but gives a realistic view of the downtime between touring and record making. I found myself easily immersed in this story and desperate for more as the band's new drummer sounds deliciously enticing and is single. With its storyline teeming with sexual tension, strong main and secondary characters, and abundance of emotions this was an immensely satisfying story that I highly recommend to those who love drool-worthy yet flawed heroes and the strong-willed women who love them!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sarah Grimm is a wife and mother of two—five if you count her much-loved dogs. She resides in beautiful West Michigan, near the white sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.
The youngest of four, Sarah can’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, her siblings believe she began writing in utero to pass the time. As a child, Sarah wrote constantly, littering the house with bulging spiral notebooks and ignoring the ribbing of her mother and sister who routinely said romances? in a somewhat scornful tone. Little did they know, Sarah would go on to win a 2011 Readers Favorite Award for her romantic suspense, Not Without Risk, and her interracial contemporary romance, After Midnight would both final in the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, as well as win the 2012 Romance Through the Ages Award.
Vivacious and imaginative, Sarah spends much of her day managing the family marine repair business while listening in on the lives of her characters. In the evening, she writes it all down, weaving the story as she goes. She says this method works well for her, except on the days when her hero and heroine insist on a steamy love scene while she’s answering the telephone or doing the taxes!
When asked what he thinks of her choice of genres, Sarah’s husband grins wickedly and answers, “It makes for interesting evenings.” Hmmm.
The youngest of four, Sarah can’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, her siblings believe she began writing in utero to pass the time. As a child, Sarah wrote constantly, littering the house with bulging spiral notebooks and ignoring the ribbing of her mother and sister who routinely said romances? in a somewhat scornful tone. Little did they know, Sarah would go on to win a 2011 Readers Favorite Award for her romantic suspense, Not Without Risk, and her interracial contemporary romance, After Midnight would both final in the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, as well as win the 2012 Romance Through the Ages Award.
Vivacious and imaginative, Sarah spends much of her day managing the family marine repair business while listening in on the lives of her characters. In the evening, she writes it all down, weaving the story as she goes. She says this method works well for her, except on the days when her hero and heroine insist on a steamy love scene while she’s answering the telephone or doing the taxes!
When asked what he thinks of her choice of genres, Sarah’s husband grins wickedly and answers, “It makes for interesting evenings.” Hmmm.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
Thank you for taking the time to read and review Midnight Heat. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for being here! Do you plan on expanding this universe as there's still a story left to tell?
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
Sarah, that's one "hot" looking cover! It certainly compliments the title, "Midnight Heat." Best wishes with your release!!
ReplyDelete