LET'S GET TO KNOW A BIT ABOUT MS. SIMONE......
-What are your current projects?
I’m currently working on the next installment in the Love of a Rockstar series called Broken Lullabies. It’s about Matthew, the lead singer of Five Guys and Camilla.
-How did you come up with the idea for this story?
From my curiosity about what it’s like to be left behind when you’re spouse pursues their dreams.
-What is for you the perfect book hero?
My perfect book hero is complicated with tons of layers to peel back and reveal.
-Tell us something that people would be surprised you know how to do.
I know how to do a headstand without falling on my ass.
Marlene Parker got her fairy tale ending. Luke Anderson, her one and only love and their darling little girl are finally a family again. However, nobody said marrying a rockstar is easy. The media is out for blood, groupies are singing on Marlene’s front lawn and people are deeming her the new Yoko Ono. If that wasn’t enough, there is a wedding to plan and pies to bake. An expert in chaos, Marlene doesn’t get easily stressed. That is, until an unexpected pregnancy digs up old insecurities, potentially threatening the life she has worked so hard to gain.
Will Marlene and Luke vow to cherish and to hold forever?
Or was their story never meant to be?
Will Marlene and Luke vow to cherish and to hold forever?
Or was their story never meant to be?
EXCERPT:
The group of girls that had been holding a vigil since the news broke Luke was quitting Five Guys was singing loudly and off key. In the past week they’d been camped out, they’d gone through Five Guys’ extensive song list. I wanted to shove extra thick cotton into my ears. Luke had almost called the cops but his manager had discouraged it. He said feeding the hungry vultures known as the media was just asking for trouble.
“You’re dead,” I reminded Luke gently. “Luke Anderson, the rock star is no longer alive.”
“That was never me. I was always just Luke. They chose to see me that way,” he said, referring to his fans.
“I know, but you built a brand.”
“I’m not a goddamn Pepsi can.”
“No, you’re handsome, brilliant, an amazing dad, and the proud owner of Norma Jean’s. That will all come to light eventually. Be patient.”
Luke dropped the curtain and faced me. Endless love shined in his gaze. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“If I knew our future would be this….” My eyes darted out of the window to where Luke’s groupies continued to sing. “Or whatever the hell they wrote in some trashy magazine about our brilliant, adorable daughter, then I wouldn’t have been so apt to jump on the bandwagon.”
Luke flinched as if my statement physically wounded him. “Geez, don’t hold back or anything.”
I wrenched my hand away as I stood. It wasn’t his fault his career had an abnormally bright spotlight, but it also was. He chose the life of a musician. Nobody had forced it upon him. Fury blazed in my line of sight. I wanted to punch the reporters, the god-awful groupies who teased Luke with their cleavage, and whoever else messed with the second chance he’d been given with his family.
“I’m going to go for a run,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t run.”
Turning on my heels, my body hummed with pent up aggression, waiting and ready to be released. “I do now.”
That fiancé of mine melted my defenses like nobody else. While having Luke gone for a month sounded as appealing as a root canal, I would be a selfish idiot to force him to stay home. He’d made the ultimate sacrifice for Nil and me, showing us he wasn’t the same man. Therefore, I had to trust that the past wouldn’t repeat itself. Luke would come back to us.
“You’re dead,” I reminded Luke gently. “Luke Anderson, the rock star is no longer alive.”
“That was never me. I was always just Luke. They chose to see me that way,” he said, referring to his fans.
“I know, but you built a brand.”
“I’m not a goddamn Pepsi can.”
“No, you’re handsome, brilliant, an amazing dad, and the proud owner of Norma Jean’s. That will all come to light eventually. Be patient.”
Luke dropped the curtain and faced me. Endless love shined in his gaze. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“If I knew our future would be this….” My eyes darted out of the window to where Luke’s groupies continued to sing. “Or whatever the hell they wrote in some trashy magazine about our brilliant, adorable daughter, then I wouldn’t have been so apt to jump on the bandwagon.”
Luke flinched as if my statement physically wounded him. “Geez, don’t hold back or anything.”
I wrenched my hand away as I stood. It wasn’t his fault his career had an abnormally bright spotlight, but it also was. He chose the life of a musician. Nobody had forced it upon him. Fury blazed in my line of sight. I wanted to punch the reporters, the god-awful groupies who teased Luke with their cleavage, and whoever else messed with the second chance he’d been given with his family.
“I’m going to go for a run,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t run.”
Turning on my heels, my body hummed with pent up aggression, waiting and ready to be released. “I do now.”
That fiancé of mine melted my defenses like nobody else. While having Luke gone for a month sounded as appealing as a root canal, I would be a selfish idiot to force him to stay home. He’d made the ultimate sacrifice for Nil and me, showing us he wasn’t the same man. Therefore, I had to trust that the past wouldn’t repeat itself. Luke would come back to us.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Picking up shortly after the end of the previous series installment, Luke and Marlene are caught up in a whirlwind of wedding preparations, restaurant renovations, and fans camped out and upset over his leaving the band. Along with their precious daughter Nil they're trying to get used to living as a family but the past is always affecting their future. With Luke still feeling guilty over not being there after Nil's birth and Marlene's doubts about his commitment to being a family, there's lots of tension just waiting to explode. When Marlene discovers something that will irrevocably change their family, both her and Luke's reactions lead to more hurt that becomes a true test of their love. Will their reunited family survive or will Luke run again?
This is a short story that puts Luke and Marlene through the emotional wringer. They're older and wiser though, so while their feelings are initially hurt over a secret being kept they actually talk it out as adults. With some sage advice from Marlene's irascible grandmother they take the time to learn the art of compromise and it reflects the maturation that both have gone through to reach this point. Marlene's a less judgmental woman now, understanding of the other commitments Luke has instead of being threatened by them. Luke's become a true romantic too, cute and caring of Marlene when she needs him most. Add in the sweet, wise beyond her years little ball of energy Nil, and you have one big happy family.
Surrounding this newfound family is an emotionally supportive cast of secondary characters. Two of them look to be heading towards their own story and I'm looking forward to the evolution of their relationship as their interactions crackled here. Matthew's the lead singer of Five Guys and an intriguing dichotomy of shy and sensual and I find him immensely appealing. Camille is Marlene's best friend but their friendship's strained because of a lie Camille told that they're slowly overcoming. She's a bit hardened and jaded and could use a bit of Matthew's sweetness. Ultimately, though there's not much steaminess or rock 'n rollin' in this book, it was still a nice read and a good segue into the next installment.
My rating for this is a B-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
PREVIOUS BOOK IN THIS SERIES.......
LOVE OF A ROCKSTAR
Marlene Parker thought she met her soul mate at eighteen but when he left her pregnant and alone to pursue a life of rock n roll, she vowed to never love again. Now four years later, she is being offered the dream of a lifetime. Moving to France with her daughter to start anew. There is only one problem. Marlene’s formative ex is back in town, and his pull is strong as ever.
Luke Anderson has everything a man could want. Fame, fortune and enough beautiful women to last him a lifetime. That is until a young runaway shows him what is truly important. Family. A word which plagues Luke with regret. As a scared twenty two year old he ran away from the love of his life and their unborn child. Now ready to reverse his biggest regret with only three days to do it, Luke’s fate hangs in the balance. The question is, will he be able to convince Marlene their love story deserves a second chance?
Luke Anderson has everything a man could want. Fame, fortune and enough beautiful women to last him a lifetime. That is until a young runaway shows him what is truly important. Family. A word which plagues Luke with regret. As a scared twenty two year old he ran away from the love of his life and their unborn child. Now ready to reverse his biggest regret with only three days to do it, Luke’s fate hangs in the balance. The question is, will he be able to convince Marlene their love story deserves a second chance?
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY AT AMAZON here.
AUTHOR INFO:
Nicole Simone works in digital media by day and at night, pen’s character driven romance novels that will make your mama blush. She lives in Seattle, WA with her fat bulldog named Humphrey.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
**********GIVEAWAY**********
No comments:
Post a Comment