Grace Morgan has been on the music scene long enough to know the life of sex, drugs & rock & roll is just a dream. But after a messy divorce, Grace wants to give her dream of being a music journalist one last shot.
She moves to LA with her 21-year-old foster son, Zeus. They live in a motel on cup noodles and hope, until Grace finally gets a break: a story about Inez Carter, hot-mess frontwoman of the popular band Karma Korn.
The story delivers more sex, drugs and rock & roll than Grace bargained for. Karma Korn’s drummer, Nelson, has Grace rethinking her post-divorce vow of celibacy. And after they’re invited to an elite Hollywood rave, where they mistakenly drink the electric Kool-Aid, Zeus is scouted to be the lead guitarist for another star band.
However, the story soon goes sideways, and things aren’t adding up. Someone is spreading rumors about Grace, trying to sabotage her career and reputation. Then someone tries to kill her. Grace is left frantically trying to connect the dots in the dwindling hope she’ll be able to salvage the story, her relationship with Nelson, and her life.
EXCERPT:
Zeus crafted an impossibly good song out of nothing as he swung back and forth on his knees, making the chandelier sway. His song’s hook was completely nonderivative, and perfect enough to make Grace’s scalp tingle. It wasn’t until Zeus caught her eye again and broke out in a wide grin that she realized she was smiling like a maniac. He pursed his lips at her in an exaggerated rock-n-roll face and played the final chords, letting them squeal. As they died away, the crowd broke out in cheers, stomping for more.
Zeus swung himself upright and dropped to the ground, the guitar held gently in one hand. He gave it to Nicholson, who looked at it like he’d never seen it before. People pressed forward to mob Zeus, patting him on the back, giving him hugs, but he ambled through them to stand before Grace with his hands in his pockets. He broke into a beatific grin. “I’m so high right now.”
Zeus swung himself upright and dropped to the ground, the guitar held gently in one hand. He gave it to Nicholson, who looked at it like he’d never seen it before. People pressed forward to mob Zeus, patting him on the back, giving him hugs, but he ambled through them to stand before Grace with his hands in his pockets. He broke into a beatific grin. “I’m so high right now.”
Grace laughed, tears rolling down her face. “That was awesome. But you’re so stupid.” She smacked him on the shoulder. “Why do you do things like that?”
He shrugged. “Even orangutans like to play guitar sometimes.”
Grace raised an eyebrow. There was a streak of movement. Zeus’s eyes went wide as Inez crashed into him, pressing her lips to his in a drunken kiss. Nicole, still standing in the DJ booth, looked on with a hurt expression. Duke appeared out of the crowd and pulled Inez away, leaving Zeus looking ruffled but pleased with himself.
BUY AT AMAZON here.
AUTHOR INFO:
Elizabeth Roderick is the author of Gracie & Zeus Live the Dream a romantic comedy meets cozy mystery released by Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC May 11, 2021 as well as many short stories in various anthologies.
She and her daughter help run a small, diversified farm in Eastern Washington. She is a musician and songwriter, and has played in many bands—mostly guitar, bass and keyboards. Elizabeth’s stories are about love, death, gang warfare, and madness, with characters of the type that society generally shuns: addicts, convicts, and the neurodivergent. She is a neurodivergent person and a disability rights activist.
Elizabeth believes if people get to know those who live on the fringes of society, both in stories and in real life, they’ll find them more likeable than they originally thought.
She and her daughter help run a small, diversified farm in Eastern Washington. She is a musician and songwriter, and has played in many bands—mostly guitar, bass and keyboards. Elizabeth’s stories are about love, death, gang warfare, and madness, with characters of the type that society generally shuns: addicts, convicts, and the neurodivergent. She is a neurodivergent person and a disability rights activist.
Elizabeth believes if people get to know those who live on the fringes of society, both in stories and in real life, they’ll find them more likeable than they originally thought.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Roderick. I loved her book the "The Hoodlum Army".
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI AM a fan of rockstar romances so I'm sure I'll like this read.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE rockstar romances too & am definitely drawn to this story! Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
I love a good rockstar book my brother was in a band for many years and loved to play music
ReplyDelete