As a reader obsessed with rock stars romances I've become a fan of the drool-worthy rockers created by this writing duo. Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Manaconda by Taryn Elliott and Cari Quinn, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf. Learn even more about this first installment in the Hammered series by visiting the other sites hosting this tour and by getting an overview of this new series below. In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC and an e-copy of another of this duo's rock star romances, The Opening Act, too!
Starting a new series of books is one of my favorite things to do, and also the hardest to do. A lot of times characters change as I write them. Like when we originally started putting Hammered together we’d had a retired wrestler in mind for our drummer, Hudson Wyatt. We knew the look we were going for, then while spelunking on Pinterest we found a race car driver, Jenson Button. He fit all the things we were looking for, and man…hello, hotness on the racecar driver thing. So…changing up that backstory was a no-brainer.
And seriously, go take a look around Pinterest. That guy is deeeeelicious!
Football star, Eric Decker, fell in love with Jessie James and their exploits were all over the tabloids. They even ended up doing a reality show on Bravo or one of those crazy channels. Huge football dude with a tiny dog and so in love with his wife that he was a smushball? Yes…yes, please!
And so Hunter Jordan was born.
These are the wild and wacky things that come up while we're creating characters. And I can guarantee that even just starting book two in this series will make a tidal wave of changes to what we'd already decided when plotting out the series. It's just how we work, and we wouldn't change it for the world. Below you'll find a few details to what's in store for this series.
Hammered - The Band
These are the wild and wacky things that come up while we're creating characters. And I can guarantee that even just starting book two in this series will make a tidal wave of changes to what we'd already decided when plotting out the series. It's just how we work, and we wouldn't change it for the world. Below you'll find a few details to what's in store for this series.
Hammered - The Band
Hunter Jordan - Singer
Reed "Bats" Mason - Guitar
Owen Blackwell - Bassist
Hudson Wyatt - Drums
Faith "Keys" Keystone - Piano/keyboards
Zachary Kane - Guitar
Hammered’s Supporting Cast
Indiana West – manager
John Saint – tour chef
Patrick O’Connor – security/driver/bodyguard/
Gabe – head of security
Dex Munroe – Ripper Record Exec
Jessica Travers – fan club
Lila Shawcross – Ripper Records
Donovan Lewis – Ripper Records owner
FIND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND MANACONDA ON PINTEREST here.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HAMMERED SERIES ON PINTEREST here.
My name is Hunter Jordan, lead singer of Hammered and no, I didn't name my cock Manaconda.
Rolling Stone did.
On the front cover of their damn magazine.
I still haven't lived it down. And now our record label wants to maximize the frenzy.
So, I have a brand new PR person–Kennedy McManus.
And she's making me insane.
I don't know whether to ignore her, yell at her, or push her up against the wall and kiss her smart mouth shut.
***Story ends on a cliffhanger***
Rolling Stone did.
On the front cover of their damn magazine.
I still haven't lived it down. And now our record label wants to maximize the frenzy.
So, I have a brand new PR person–Kennedy McManus.
And she's making me insane.
I don't know whether to ignore her, yell at her, or push her up against the wall and kiss her smart mouth shut.
***Story ends on a cliffhanger***
EXCERPT:
"Maybe we should go back."
I shook my head. "Maybe we can sneak around. Seems like there wouldn't be any fans back here."
"Famous last words," she muttered.
I strode out, gravel crunching under my boots.
"You know, I'm not a huge fan of this dragging me around like a child."
I turned back to her, dragging her into my body. "Nothing child-like about you, Kenny." I bent down to her, our noses touching. "I just want a little alone time with you."
A loud engine started up.
"There's an elevator back there." She pointed with her thumb. "I bet we could do a lot of things in your room, my room--whatever. "She rose on her toes until our lips were a breath apart. "You can give that whole seven thing a go." She dragged her nail over my bottom lip. "I don't believe you'll make it to seven, but I'm willing to let you try."
"I--"
"Oh, my God, that's Hunter!"
The hiss of hydraulics and stomp of many feet did not bode well.
I closed my eyes. "Shit."
"What?"
"Please don't be what I think it is."
"What?"
A trio of people in black shirts with our new album on the front were standing in front of a huge bus. "Can you run in those things?"
She looked affronted. "I can do anything in heels."
"I hope so."
A woman in her twenties pointed our way. "Is that him?" she shrieked.
"Fan club."
"What?"
"This is where the fan club bus is parked."
"They should be at dinner. Why aren't they at dinner?" Kenny asked with rising panic.
"Guess it's over." I sprinted to the door we'd just come out of. "Son of a bitch." I twisted the handle but nothing. "It must have locked after us."
She slapped the keypad. "Ya think?"
"Not helping." I darted a look past the bus, along with the line of at least seventy people lined up to board. Definitely couldn't go that way.
"They'll eat you alive."
"No kidding."
Three women broke off from the crowd and headed our way. As soon as they did, twenty more followed. I dragged Kenny with me to the front of the bus and around the side. The bus driver looked down at us and shook his head.
No help there.
The people that had boarded the bus were pointing at us as we ran to the other end. I shot by another line of cars and zig-zagged around another bus and saw a familiar logo. "Thank God."
"Where did he go?" Came shouts that were way too close.
"Where are we going?" she hissed.
"My bus."
"Your bus?"
I dragged her behind me as I ducked behind a black truck we used for our equipment. It has been a stripped down stage, but we still had a lot of instruments between Keys's pianos, the entire percussion set up that Wyatt used, all the guitars, amps, and digital network we used--we needed a truck no matter what.
"New plan." I unlatched the back of the rig and lifted the rolling door. "Get in."
"Are you freaking kidding me?"
I stared down at her. "Does it look like I'm kidding?"
She groaned. "I can't get up there."
I lifted her until her knee was on the base of the truck ledge. She scrambled in as the scraping of heels and running feet got closer.
"Move it, Kenny."
Her skirt rode up as she dragged herself inside. I threw her a soft whistle. She turned back to me with murder in her eyes. I squashed down a laugh, rolling in after her, tugging the door down behind me with a bang.
"I hate you."
I just smiled into the dark.
"Maybe we should go back."
I shook my head. "Maybe we can sneak around. Seems like there wouldn't be any fans back here."
"Famous last words," she muttered.
I strode out, gravel crunching under my boots.
"You know, I'm not a huge fan of this dragging me around like a child."
I turned back to her, dragging her into my body. "Nothing child-like about you, Kenny." I bent down to her, our noses touching. "I just want a little alone time with you."
A loud engine started up.
"There's an elevator back there." She pointed with her thumb. "I bet we could do a lot of things in your room, my room--whatever. "She rose on her toes until our lips were a breath apart. "You can give that whole seven thing a go." She dragged her nail over my bottom lip. "I don't believe you'll make it to seven, but I'm willing to let you try."
"I--"
"Oh, my God, that's Hunter!"
The hiss of hydraulics and stomp of many feet did not bode well.
I closed my eyes. "Shit."
"What?"
"Please don't be what I think it is."
"What?"
A trio of people in black shirts with our new album on the front were standing in front of a huge bus. "Can you run in those things?"
She looked affronted. "I can do anything in heels."
"I hope so."
A woman in her twenties pointed our way. "Is that him?" she shrieked.
"Fan club."
"What?"
"This is where the fan club bus is parked."
"They should be at dinner. Why aren't they at dinner?" Kenny asked with rising panic.
"Guess it's over." I sprinted to the door we'd just come out of. "Son of a bitch." I twisted the handle but nothing. "It must have locked after us."
She slapped the keypad. "Ya think?"
"Not helping." I darted a look past the bus, along with the line of at least seventy people lined up to board. Definitely couldn't go that way.
"They'll eat you alive."
"No kidding."
Three women broke off from the crowd and headed our way. As soon as they did, twenty more followed. I dragged Kenny with me to the front of the bus and around the side. The bus driver looked down at us and shook his head.
No help there.
The people that had boarded the bus were pointing at us as we ran to the other end. I shot by another line of cars and zig-zagged around another bus and saw a familiar logo. "Thank God."
"Where did he go?" Came shouts that were way too close.
"Where are we going?" she hissed.
"My bus."
"Your bus?"
I dragged her behind me as I ducked behind a black truck we used for our equipment. It has been a stripped down stage, but we still had a lot of instruments between Keys's pianos, the entire percussion set up that Wyatt used, all the guitars, amps, and digital network we used--we needed a truck no matter what.
"New plan." I unlatched the back of the rig and lifted the rolling door. "Get in."
"Are you freaking kidding me?"
I stared down at her. "Does it look like I'm kidding?"
She groaned. "I can't get up there."
I lifted her until her knee was on the base of the truck ledge. She scrambled in as the scraping of heels and running feet got closer.
"Move it, Kenny."
Her skirt rode up as she dragged herself inside. I threw her a soft whistle. She turned back to me with murder in her eyes. I squashed down a laugh, rolling in after her, tugging the door down behind me with a bang.
"I hate you."
I just smiled into the dark.
FIND THIS BOOK AT GOODREADS here.
FIND THE HAMMERED SERIES AT GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
The dynamic duo of rock star romances is back with another compelling group of musicians and their chaotic lives in the music world. The race for fame is balanced with their love of making music in this steamy and fast-paced read that kept me on their engaging roller coaster ride from the first page to the last.
Hunter would rather be known for his music, but after a magazine cover points out his physical attributes he's getting more attention than ever before. His newfound fame soon puts him in close quarters with the sexy and serious-minded Kennedy who's supposed to handle his PR but soon starts handling him on a more personal level. Hunter used to love his rock star lifestyle but an ex fiance more concerned with how he could enhance her career than his heart has left him jaded and doubting the meaning of love. He sees something special in Kennedy though and when her being labeled his girlfriend extends their one-night stand their feelings for each other become even more complicated. Hunter's sexy, sweet, and charming and never wanted to be singled out based on his looks. He just wants a band that isn't weighed down by issues of jealousy, but when a self-destructive bandmate starts spending time with his ex it leads to a slow implosion of the band just as it's gaining fame. I enjoyed Hunter and his sexy talk and snarky nature. His interactions with his bandmates are familial as they bicker from time to time but always forgive, until his ex becomes involved. His scenes with Kennedy smolder and quickly morph into steamy which is believable as their first meeting crackled with sexual tension. Behind his charming persona lies a man quickly becoming jaded with the fame game who has trouble separating Kennedy from her job but desires her nonetheless as seen in numerous hot and heavy scenes.
Kennedy is known for her PR prowess and her icy nature, but from the moment she meets Hunter she's left feeling out of control and drawn to him despite herself. She too is jaded though when it comes to love due to her upbringing in Sin City and attempts to compartmentalize her feelings for him like she does the rest of her life. Juggling her job with her feelings leads to chaos and heartbreak once his ex comes back into their lives and has her feeling jealous for the first time. Just when their roller coaster romance seems heading in the right direction fate intervenes once again to leave her and us uncertain as to their HEA. Kennedy is a bit of a snob early on who looks down on musicians and has a list of rules when dealing with them that she quickly tosses aside in the midst of Hunter's charm and sensuality. While Hunter seemed to involve his heart in their relationship from the start she was just looking for fun which had me seeing her as cold and calculating early on. As the story progressed, and she grew closer to Hunter, a softer side emerged that had me rooting for her.
In this first installment in the Hammered series the rock star world is vividly depicted with all its highs and lows and chaotic obligations. It's a glitzy life that this band inhabits, one that brings out their frustrations and jealousies. Each member of the band is unique with personalities that set them apart and leads to friction. I enjoyed their interactions and look forward to digging deeper into their lives, particularly the self-destructive Reed and the outwardly calm but internally combustible Wyatt. Along with the craziness of fame comes a scorching romance that will put readers through the emotional wringer while taking readers on a steamy ride towards HEA. It's an exhilarating first installment that quickly immerses you in this glamorous world and with a fiery conclusion that will have you coming back for more.
Hunter would rather be known for his music, but after a magazine cover points out his physical attributes he's getting more attention than ever before. His newfound fame soon puts him in close quarters with the sexy and serious-minded Kennedy who's supposed to handle his PR but soon starts handling him on a more personal level. Hunter used to love his rock star lifestyle but an ex fiance more concerned with how he could enhance her career than his heart has left him jaded and doubting the meaning of love. He sees something special in Kennedy though and when her being labeled his girlfriend extends their one-night stand their feelings for each other become even more complicated. Hunter's sexy, sweet, and charming and never wanted to be singled out based on his looks. He just wants a band that isn't weighed down by issues of jealousy, but when a self-destructive bandmate starts spending time with his ex it leads to a slow implosion of the band just as it's gaining fame. I enjoyed Hunter and his sexy talk and snarky nature. His interactions with his bandmates are familial as they bicker from time to time but always forgive, until his ex becomes involved. His scenes with Kennedy smolder and quickly morph into steamy which is believable as their first meeting crackled with sexual tension. Behind his charming persona lies a man quickly becoming jaded with the fame game who has trouble separating Kennedy from her job but desires her nonetheless as seen in numerous hot and heavy scenes.
Kennedy is known for her PR prowess and her icy nature, but from the moment she meets Hunter she's left feeling out of control and drawn to him despite herself. She too is jaded though when it comes to love due to her upbringing in Sin City and attempts to compartmentalize her feelings for him like she does the rest of her life. Juggling her job with her feelings leads to chaos and heartbreak once his ex comes back into their lives and has her feeling jealous for the first time. Just when their roller coaster romance seems heading in the right direction fate intervenes once again to leave her and us uncertain as to their HEA. Kennedy is a bit of a snob early on who looks down on musicians and has a list of rules when dealing with them that she quickly tosses aside in the midst of Hunter's charm and sensuality. While Hunter seemed to involve his heart in their relationship from the start she was just looking for fun which had me seeing her as cold and calculating early on. As the story progressed, and she grew closer to Hunter, a softer side emerged that had me rooting for her.
In this first installment in the Hammered series the rock star world is vividly depicted with all its highs and lows and chaotic obligations. It's a glitzy life that this band inhabits, one that brings out their frustrations and jealousies. Each member of the band is unique with personalities that set them apart and leads to friction. I enjoyed their interactions and look forward to digging deeper into their lives, particularly the self-destructive Reed and the outwardly calm but internally combustible Wyatt. Along with the craziness of fame comes a scorching romance that will put readers through the emotional wringer while taking readers on a steamy ride towards HEA. It's an exhilarating first installment that quickly immerses you in this glamorous world and with a fiery conclusion that will have you coming back for more.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the authors for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
USA Today Bestselling duo, Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott, have been having a ton of fun with rock stars, but they also love a good MMA fighter story, oh and a suited guy. Can’t forget the suited guys. Getting these two authors together always includes some sweet & snarky moments, a lot of angst, and unlimited heat.
Oh, and let's not forget the jaw dropping moments. They really love those.
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