Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Blog Tour~ #GIVEAWAY ~Chapter Teaser~ And I Love Her by Nina Lindsey




Title: And I Love Her
Series: Bliss Cove #2
Author: Nina Lindsey
Genre: Spicy Sweet Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 30, 2019



Blurb

An expert on the hot, wild tales of mythology, Callie Prescott leads a tidy life. And that, thank you, is exactly how she wants it, despite her family’s pestering that she’s a control freak who needs to have fun. Callie prefers order and predictability. After her father’s death and her mother’s recent health scare, who can blame her?

Jake Ryan fights bad guys, jumps out of airplanes, and escapes disasters…on film. But when a scandal engulfs his career, he takes cover in his hometown of Bliss Cove while he puts out the fire. No one knows his true identity until a chance encounter with Callie ignites powerful flashbacks of their high-school years together.

Despite the threat of exposure, Jake wants some close-up action with the brilliant, beautiful professor. Callie’s structured life has no room for a sexy, muscular hero…until Jake shows her how thrilling it is to have fun and lose control (a little).

Jake and Callie surrender to a hot affair and the possibility of love. But with dangerous secrets, a public scandal, and a mother’s scheming plots, can Jake ever win the starring role in his leading lady’s heart?







Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited




So happy to revisit Nina Lindsey's enchanting sea-side town of Bliss Cove for the second contemporary romance in this series ~ And I Love Her. This trilogy, whose installments can be read as stand-alone novels, follows the lives and loves of the Prescott sisters Aria, Cassie, and Rory. Here it's the prim and proper college professor Calista's chance to find true love. Callie is a no-nonsense type of woman who has no time for frivolousness and distractions like romance. But her scheduled life is about to be turned upside down when reunited with her high school crush ~ the dashing and deliciously sexy action film movie star, Jake Ryan. Together, this opposites-attract couple embarked on a heartfelt journey, filled with all the feels and passion, that I truly enjoyed.

My first impression of Callie in Love Walks In was far from favorable. She was pushy, cold, unfriendly, and overbearing. Seeing her life and spending time inside her mind, my opinion quickly changed. Yes, she was overly regimented. However, there's a vulnerable and fragile side of Callie that I absolutely adore. She loves her mom and sisters unconditionally, obsessively concerned about their well-being. She's a daughter who mourns her father and struggles with his great loss each day. Also, she's career-focused as she strives to achieve tenure while trying to finish a book proposal on Greek mythology. Truly misunderstood, her severe personality overshadowed her tender heart. I loved seeing her character open up and flourish under Jake's gentle care. They complemented each other perfectly, and witnessing their love blossom was heartwarming. 

When needing to go off-grid after a run-in with the paparazzi, Jake found refuge in Bliss Cove. Time spent in his childhood town not only led Jake to reconnect with Callie but also set him on a course of self-discovery, reevaluating the priorities in his life.

Jake was a swoon-worthy storybook hero. More than just a pretty face on the big screen, he was a man with high standards who loves his family above all. Most importantly, Jake was kind, sincere, patient, and loving, especially dealing with uptight Callie. He brought out the best in her, teaching the professor there's more to life than academics and schedules. She learned to trust and open up her heart to possibilities she never imagined. In turn, falling in love with Callie changed Jake's world for the better, and I relished every moment of their journey.  



All in all, And I Love Her was a beautifully written, light-hearted read that was low on angst but chock full of sizzling hot moments - the perfect read for fans of contemporary and insta-love romances. As always, I cannot wait for more from Nina Lindsey's wondrous imagination. Her tales consume me as I connect with all of her characters and their experiences. She's an amazing storyteller and an all-time favorite. I'm looking forward to Rory's story, the final installment of this series. 
Excerpt

Chapter One

“I will not accept any late assignments.” Calista Prescott snapped her laser pointer shut and swept her gaze over the lecture hall of a hundred shuffling, slouching undergraduates. “If your paper is not either in my hand, on my desk, or in my mailbox by five p.m. Friday afternoon…that’s the day after tomorrow, to avoid any misunderstanding…then you will receive an incomplete. And no, emailing me a copy does not count. Printed copies only. No exceptions. Class dismissed.”
The air filled with chatter and sighs of relief. The students stuffed notebooks into their backpacks and started checking their phones. Her graduate teaching assistant, Jordan, approached from the projection booth with a stack of slide carousels.
“If you ever want me to put your lectures and slides on a twenty-first century computer, I would be delighted.” He set the carousels on the table with a grimace, as if he were carrying forty-pound cement blocks.
“The slide projector suits me just fine, thank you,” Callie replied crisply.
“You mean the ancient relic?”
“A perfect tool for teaching ancient history.”
With an unsubtle roll of his eyes, Jordan wound up the electrical cord and placed the carousels and remote control into boxes. “I’ll put this all in your office.”
As he and the rest of the class began heading toward the doors, a barrage of anxious-looking students approached the podium like a Spartan army on the march. Callie stiffened her spine.
“Professor Prescott, did you get my email about my grandma in the hospital…?”
“I can’t get my printer to work, Dr. Prescott…”
“The book I need hasn’t come in at the library yet…”
Callie encompassed the group in a tight smile and hardened her heart to their puppy-dog eyes and beseeching pleas. In her early days of teaching, she’d learned her lesson about showing any weakness. These kids might look all scruffy, ear-pod-wearing innocence, but they could smell blood.
“You’ve all known about this assignment since the first day of class.” She closed her leather satchel and snapped the latch. “No exceptions. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
The group sagged with dismay, and one girl—Laura—bit her trembling lip.
Walk away, Dr. Prescott.
Callie stepped back from the podium and slipped into the cashmere cardigan she’d left on the back of a chair. She started toward the door, her heels clicking purposefully. Behind her, the students radiated nervous despair.
Keep walking. Keep walk—
Was that a sniffle?
Her heart sank. Gripping her satchel strap tighter, she swiveled and leveled the group with an icy glare.
“I will have extra office hours today, tomorrow, and Friday afternoon until five. I will also plan to check my email more often than usual. Should you encounter further obstacles in your research and writing, you may either come to my office or email me. I will do my best to assist you. But there will be no exceptions. I wish your grandmother well, Mr. Hamilton.”
Without waiting to see if her remarks mollified them, she strode from the lecture hall. Hopefully her hard-ass attitude would still deflect any notion of weakness.
She glanced at her slim gold wristwatch. One hour until her meeting with the senior professors in the Classics department, which gave her just enough time to drive over to the Bliss Cove Library and pick up the books she’d ordered through interlibrary loan.
She preferred using the local library since the college library was always so slammed with requests from students and other professors. Not to mention, the Bliss Cove librarian Beatrice was highly efficient, a quality Callie both appreciated and often found lacking in other people.
Outside, the grassy expanse of the quad at Skyline College teemed with students trudging to their next class, backpacks slung over their shoulders as they balanced their cell phones with takeout coffee cups. The May sun peeked through a fluffy layer of clouds, and a breeze strengthened the scent of the Pacific ocean and the surrounding redwood forests.
Callie had always loved the picturesque beauty of the small private college with its brick buildings and tree-lined flagstone pathways. If it weren’t for her meeting, she’d have gotten herself a coffee and found a quiet place to sit and enjoy the lovely day.
But…junior professors who were up for tenure and trying to finish a book proposal on Greek mythology didn’t have time to enjoy the day. Or to enjoy anything, really.
Her phone buzzed with a text from her sister Rory: Drinks at the Mousehole tonight?
Callie paused to type a reply: Sorry, going to Mom’s then working.
Dropping her phone back into her bag, she got into her car and drove toward the library. Ocean waves splashed against the rocky coastline, and downtown Bliss Cove bustled with people out walking and shopping. Everything about the town—from the ivy-covered buildings to the town square presided over by a white gazebo to the Mousehole Tavern tucked away in a grove of redwoods—was part of Callie’s blood. Even when she was a child, she hadn’t been able to imagine living anywhere else.
Flexing her hands on the wheel, she let out a long breath. Now more than ever, she wanted—needed—to stay in Bliss Cove. Being awarded tenure would ensure her job security and also allow her to continue living where her roots were planted.
She followed the coastal road north out of town to an expanse of land where a massive, old Victorian mansion sat beneath a bower of trees. A round tower rose from the back, giving the place a fairy-tale quality.
Grabbing her satchel, she ascended the columned front porch and went inside. A hush filled the cool, dark air, and a few people sat at the long tables reading and studying.
Callie approached the weathered, wooden front desk where the librarian, Beatrice Delaney, was busy checking in books.
“Hi, Bee.”
The young woman startled, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Callie, sorry. I didn’t even hear you come in. How are you?”
“Fine, thanks.” Callie set her satchel on the desk. “I just wanted to pick up the books you ordered for me through interlibrary loan. You messaged me that they were in.”
“Yes, the last one just came in yesterday.” Bee turned toward the hold shelf and perused the alphabetically stacked titles. “I told Peter to put them under your name, but I don’t see them here. Hold on a second.”
She picked up the landline phone—cell service being spotty on this isolated stretch of coastline—and dialed. “Peter? It’s Bee.”
With a sigh, Callie glanced at her watch. Forty-five minutes to her meeting. She also needed to stop at her office on the way to pick up her notes.
An elderly gentleman approached the desk with a stack of mystery novels, giving Callie a nod of greeting.
“Callie, I’m sorry.” Bee turned, a frown creasing her smooth forehead. “He mistakenly put them back in the stacks instead of on the hold shelf. I’ll run up and get them for you.”
Callie stifled a rush of impatience. She shook her head, indicating that Bee should help the gentleman check out his books. “It’s okay, I’ll get them.”
Before Bee could protest, Callie picked up her satchel and hurried toward the worn staircase leading to the upper floors. She reached the third floor and crossed the expanse of looming shelves to the very back where the Greek mythology section was located. She checked the list of call numbers on her phone.          
Eight books—and she’d left her book bag on campus. No time to come back later either, as she had to get over to her mother’s house right after the meeting. Besides, she was here now and she wasn’t about to waste time.
She perused the shelves and hauled out the heavy books from between others that were coated with dust. The last volume was so large it was stacked sideways on a lower shelf. Callie knelt to yank it out and grimaced as cobwebs clung to her cashmere sleeve. Some of the shelves had apparently never seen the benefits of the library’s cleaning budget.
After piling the books on top of each other, she hefted the stack into her arms and hurried back to the stairs. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the narrow, gated elevator, which she usually avoided due to its advanced age. She started toward it. Her arms were already strained, and she’d need to shave seconds off this errand to avoid being late.
She punched the call button with her elbow, shifting the books into the crook of her other arm. Smears of dirt and dust covered her beige silk blouse and the front of her sweater.
She groaned. All she needed was to walk into the meeting and face six senior professors with smudges streaking her clothes. If Bee got her books checked out quickly, she might have time to stop at the ladies’ room and try to clean up.
Where was the elevator? The darned thing didn’t even have numbers indicating its location. She shifted again, hitching her satchel higher up on her shoulder. Her long, straight brown hair was starting to escape its usual neat chignon, which meant another repair before the meeting.
She blew a stray lock of hair away from her forehead and hefted the books to her other arm. Strength training at the gym had nothing compared to hauling around Greek mythology books.
“Come on.” She glowered at the elevator, as if irritation would make it move. If she’d taken the stairs, she’d be at the check-out desk by now.
“Can I help you?”
A deep male voice rolled over her skin. She turned, her gaze colliding with eyes so blue that looking into them was like diving into a pool of pristine, tropical water.
Her breath caught. A hot shiver ran down her spine. “Um…excuse me?”
“Those look heavy.” He stopped beside her and reached for the books.
Reflexively, Callie clutched the dusty stack tighter against her chest. Words dissolved in her throat. If a Greek hero statue came to life, this man would be the result.
He was big, well over six feet, with strong, classical features—high cheekbones sloped down to a square jaw and beautifully shaped mouth, and his thick-lashed eyes studied her with penetrating intensity from behind a pair of black-framed glasses. His longish hair, a strikingly uniform and heavy shade of dirty blond, brushed the collar of his jacket, and his wide shoulders looked as if they could bear any weight in the world. A black strap cut across his chest, holding a camera at his side.
Callie struggled to pull in a breath. Though her arm muscles ached from holding the books, she shook her head. “I…I’m fine. Thank you.”
Turning, she stabbed the elevator button again. Why was it taking so long?
He angled his body toward the elevator, tucking a thick paperback under his arm. Just standing beside him was an exercise in awareness, as Callie couldn’t help but notice the breadth of his muscular chest beneath a navy T-shirt, or the way his worn jeans hugged his long legs…
The elevator pinged. He stepped forward to pull open the gate, extending his hand to hold the door for her. Callie’s appreciation of the chivalrous gesture faded as she moved past him, the close quarters causing her arm to brush against his abdomen. The half-second contact elicited a ridiculously disproportionate surge of heat in her veins.
Stop it!
Stiffening her shoulders, she strode with purpose into the elevator. Halfway in, her heel stuck in the gap between the elevator and the floor. With a squeak of alarm, she pitched forward.
Her books crashed to the ground. Before she could put her hands out to break an inevitable fall, he darted in front of her, grabbed her arms, and hauled her upright.
“Careful.” Concern laced his voice. He tightened his grip on her. Heavens, he was strong.
Callie’s heart raced. She nodded, struggling to control her erratic breathing. He was right in front of her, so close that she caught his scent—something earthy and masculine, like autumn leaves and salt. She stared at the tanned column of his throat, the hollow where his pulse beat visibly beneath his taut skin.
God. Was he as affected by their contact as she was?
“You okay?” He flexed his hands and peeled his grip from her arms.
Not trusting herself to speak, Callie nodded. He bent to retrieve her books. She started forward to help him, then stopped. She couldn’t move. Her narrow heel was still stuck in the elevator door gap.
“Hold on.” He stacked her books in a neat pile on the floor and stepped to her side, putting up an arm to keep the doors from closing on her.
Before she could issue a protest—and really, at this point, she was in no position to reject his help—he closed one strong hand around her shoe and the other around her stocking-clad ankle.
Callie almost jumped out of her skin. Her pulse skyrocketed, and warmth flooded her. She couldn’t help imagining what his big hand would feel like sliding up her calf, around to her knee, then clear up to her thigh and…
“Pull,” he ordered, his tone brisk and business-like.
“Um…what?”
“Pull your foot. I’ve got your heel.”
A flush scorched Callie’s neck. She silently prayed that one of her students, or worse, a fellow professor, didn’t decide to wander by at that very second. Bracing one hand on the wall, she tugged her foot. He pulled at the same time, and her heel jolted free from the gap.
“Success!” Straightening, he flashed her a smile so white and engaging that pleasure constricted her chest—and then familiarity struck her.
Wait a second. Did she know him?
No. She shook her head to rid herself of the preposterous idea. She wouldn’t have not remembered a man like him.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” He picked up her books. “Wouldn’t want you falling head over heels.”
Callie laughed, her tension relaxing. He grinned and shot her a wink before turning to press the first-floor button. Why did he suddenly seem so familiar?
The elevator doors closed. He studied the book titles and covers. “Greek mythology, huh?”
“Yes, I teach in the Classics department at Skyline.”
He glanced over at her, a crease appearing between his eyebrows. Callie realized she was still staring at him. Maybe he was a new resident or another professor—though of what, she couldn’t imagine. Love 101?
Her cheeks warmed. “I’m sorry.” She smiled weakly. “It’s just…I’ve never seen you here before, but you look familiar. Do we know each other?”
His shoulders stiffened. A shield appeared to descend over his features, closing off all traces of warmth and humor.
“No.” He faced forward again. “We don’t.”
Before Callie could respond to his sudden change in tone, the elevator bumped and rattled to a stop. She extended her arms to take the books from him.
“Thanks for the…” Her voice trailed off.
Why weren’t the doors opening? Didn’t the bump indicate they’d reached the first floor?
Since she didn’t usually take this elevator, she wouldn’t know. Maybe it was just slow.
Blowing her breath out impatiently, she hit the Open Doors button. Nothing.
“Maybe we need to say ‘Hocus Pocus’?” Though his tone was light, he frowned slightly.
For some reason, a spark of anxiety lit in Callie’s belly. She shifted her weight and pushed the button again. “I knew I should have taken the stairs.”
Setting the books down, he punched the other buttons on the panel. Nothing happened. The overhead lights flickered.
“Could be the ghost of Captain Marcus.” He glanced up at the ceiling.
Callie shot him a narrow look. If he knew the library was rumored to be haunted by the ship captain who built the mansion, then he was either from around here or he’d read up on the history of Bliss Cove. It had to be the former. But why couldn’t she place him?
His frown deepened as he studied the panel and pressed the alarm button. A buzzing noise echoed in the small space. “So at least we know that works.”
Callie clucked her tongue with irritation and checked her watch. Half an hour before her meeting. “Bee knows I went to get those books, so even if she didn’t hear the alarm, she’ll wonder where I went.”
“What if she thinks you’re just browsing the stacks?”
“I don’t have time to browse the stacks.” She started to pace to the other side of the elevator before remembering they were in an enclosed space that was about fifteen square feet. And he took up a lot of room. His presence radiated beyond his considerable physical form, warming her from the inside out.
Her heartbeat increased. She stepped back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. “I…um, I just mean I’m busy. I have an important meeting in half an hour. I always know exactly what books I want. No need to browse.”
Oh my god, stop babbling, Callie.
“I figured that’s what you meant.” Amusement gleamed in his blue eyes. He pressed the alarm button again and leaned toward the intercom. “Hello? Bee?”
Silence. Callie pulled her phone out of her satchel and swiped the screen.
“No signal.” Her heart sank. “Big surprise.”
She dropped her phone back into the side pocket and walked one step forward and two steps back. “I can’t miss this meeting. Do you think we can climb out the top?”
She half expected him to laugh at her. Instead he shrugged and stretched his arm toward the ceiling. The movement caused his T-shirt to ride up, revealing a stunning, washboard abdomen with a light trail of hair leading straight down into his jeans. Though Callie had always prided herself on her self-control and discipline, she was helpless against the hypnotic pull of this man’s abdomen. Until now, she’d only seen an actual six-pack in underwear ads, and his very real muscles—which were right in front of her—had her fingers twitching with the urge to explore that expanse of smooth, taut skin.
“Close.” He brushed his hand across the panels, but they were too high for him to get a grip. He muttered a noise of frustration. “I once did a…I mean, I can lift you up and you can try to get those light panels off to see if there’s an escape hatch.”
“Well, let’s give it a shot.” Callie forced her attention from his abs back up to his face. She tried to ignore a surge of awareness at the thought of him touching her again. “I really can’t miss this meeting.”
“So you’ve said.” A grin tugged at his mouth.
Another bolt of familiarity shot through her. Shaking it off, she looked at ceiling. “So go ahead. Lift me.”





Also Available


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Coming Soon


Releasing December 2019

Rory Prescott is desperate for a place to stay before she leaves Bliss Cove for her lucrative new tech job. Tavern owner Grant Taylor is desperate for a date to his brother’s wedding before his mother tries to marry him off next.

Grant makes Rory a deal—he’ll let her stay in his cottage if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend. Though the two friends bicker over everything from her love of gummy worms to the horrible singing fish he has on the tavern wall, “pretending” to like each other isn’t a stretch. 

As they share close quarters, argue about cell phones, and exchange more than one hot kiss, their fake relationship soon becomes passionately real.

But Grant’s family battles and Rory’s impending career move shut down any possibility of a happy ending. Their hot, tender romance is about to crash and burn…unless they’re willing to risk everything for love.








Author Bio


Nina Lindsey writes romances filled with heart, heat, and happy endings. She is delighted to introduce readers to Bliss Cove, California, a coastal town with an abundance of warm cookies, ocean breezes, and the ever-present possibility of love.

Nina loves all things spicy and sweet, with chili chocolates being at the top of the list. She is also a fan of glossy magazines, pop culture, Gilmore Girls, energy bites, Orangetheory, and the sound of silence.

She lives in Wisconsin with her meteorologist husband (yes, she asks him daily, "What's the weather forecast?"), their two children, a hyperactive dog, and a snail named Pipsqueak.


Author Links

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Release Blitz : BISHOP'S QUEEN by Katie Reus

We are so excited to be bringing you the release of BISHOP'S QUEEN, the second book in Katie Reus's Endgame Trilogy. If you love all things romantic suspense, be sure to grab your copy today!

About BISHOP'S QUEEN

Return to the Endgame trilogy where blood is thick, but passion is thicker…
He doesn’t believe in fairy-tale endings…
They used to call Evan Bishop the golden boy. He had it all and was about to close the business deal of a lifetime, then marry the woman of his dreams. But everything goes to hell when a faceless enemy wants to destroy his family’s empire and see him dead. Except the bomb meant to kill him fails. He wakes up from a coma to find his face scarred and his brother missing and wanted for murder. Now that he’s damaged, he hides away from the world—including the woman he loves. He refuses to be a burden to her, so even though it destroys him, he sets her free.
She’s about to prove him wrong
Isla MacDonald isn’t walking away from Evan just because he’s decided to shut her out of his life. He blames himself for the bombing that got her father killed and nearly killed him—but he’s wrong. After all attempts to see him fail, with a broken heart she tries to resume her life and take over her father’s firm. Though it’s not her dream, she wants to honor his legacy. But when someone tries to kill her—twice—she needs a bodyguard. To her surprise Evan steps up and insists on protecting her, putting on a show as the caring fiancรฉ. But he won’t let her back into his life or into his heart. To have any chance at a future together, they’ll have to resurrect the past and stay alive long enough to expose the man determined to see them both dead.

Add BISHOP'S QUEEN to your TBR!

Get your copy of BISHOP'S QUEEN today! Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

   

About KATIE REUS

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her book Avenger’s Heat recently won the Georgia RWA Maggie Award for Excellence in the fantasy/paranormal category. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Release Day Blitz ~ Fast Lane by Kristen Ashley @KristenAshley68 #preachermccadeandtheroadmasters #lylamuse #preacherandlyla4ever #RockChickPress

“Once he met her, it was and always would be Lyla.”

They were the gentlemen bad boys of rock. Forming in a garage in a small town in Indiana. Taking their licks on the road. Going balls to the wall until they made their big break.

And then Preacher McCade and the Roadmasters redefined rock and roll.

Guided by their tortured lead singer and songwriter, the Roadmasters changed the face of music in the 80s and 90s. And on their journey to becoming one of the most enduring bands in history—dogged by rumors and myth and fueled by drugs and booze—the Roadmasters had one touchstone.

Lyla.

Preacher’s muse, the love of his life, and the band’s moral compass, from the beginning, Lyla is along for the ride.

But with fame and acclaim in their grasp, they’ve entered the fast lane.

And they didn’t know it, but they were headed for a crash.

 

Preach was an equal opportunity, benevolent almost-rock god.
I remember seeing him with his jeans bunched up to his knees, sitting on the side of the pool, his feet and calves in the water, her friends barely clothed in the water, wet and hanging off his legs and his every word, and he’d glance over at her.
When he was in the mood to spread his love, everyone was invited.
We all were nailing serious tail, but I don’t think anybody but Dave had had a threesome.
But that was not unusual for Preach.
Or more, you know?
That night, I had one girl, he had two, three were in with Tim and Dave, tripping, and Tommy was fucking another one in what we would find out later was one of the girls’ dad’s waterbed.
And looking back, I knew Preacher was more into her than the two he had.
I also got why.
Kind of.

Now, again, it was the eighties. We’re talkin’ Jane Fonda workout videos and Jamie Lee Curtis in that movie Perfect and one-pieces making a comeback because the legs were cut so far up the hips, a girl had to shave.
And Lyla was not…
[Pause]
That.
I mean, there was a reason anorexia became prevalent during that decade and didn’t let go. It wasn’t right, it wasn’t good, but it was the way it was.
But Lyla was not that way.
Tits and ass.
A lot.
Of both.
And, from what I could tell that night, bad attitude.
But fuck, the longer the night wore on, Preacher couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
She’d do a lap to clean up ashtrays or beer bottles or whatever the fuck, and honest to Christ, he didn’t miss a step.
Not that first step.
She had what they now politically correctly, but also, it’s gotta be said, just plain correctly call curves.
Freddie Mercury called them fat-bottomed girls.
But man, she was pretty.
Lotsa hair.
Perfect skin.
You know, and a way about her.
It was part that attitude.
Part the mystery.
You know, tell a man, “don’t touch, you’ll get burned,” he’ll become obsessed with the fire. It’s just how it is.
She screamed don’t touch.
And Preacher, man…
Preacher could be obsessive.
In a big way.

But it was the eyes.
I gotta believe, and this would prove true, in a way, if it wasn’t Preach, it would be somebody. Another rock star. A photographer. A painter. Someone would fall in the muse of Lyla’s eyes.
But as you know, it was Preacher.








With Fast Lane, Kristen Ashley stepped out of her norm to compose a compelling Rock n' Roll romance with such incredible passion, I was captivated from the heartfelt dedication to the very last word. This was not your typical KA novel, but a gripping love story nonetheless. It was a profound experience journeying through the years with Preacher McCade, his Roadmasters, and the muse who centered them all ~ Lyla.

This was a departure from the way Ashley writes and differs from anything I've read before, as the story unfolded through an interview-style format. It took me a hot minute to get used to it, but eventually, I became absorbed and totally fascinated with these characters. Jesse Simms, the band's founding member and one of the main interviewees, commanded my full attention. Through his recollections (and many digressions), the bandmates and romance came to life. I became engrossed with their beginnings and how they skyrocketed to the top of the charts; all their triumphs and turmoil; those who came, left and impacted the Roadmasters' lives; how meeting Lyla changed them forever; and the whirlwind of drama which surrounded them all. Center stage stood Preacher and Lyla, as their relationship was just as important to the group as the music they created.
  

From Jesse and Lyla's memories, we got to know the talented, enigmatic, and charismatic Preacher McCade. Man, that's such a cool name and very fitting for this edgy Cajun rocker. But awesome name aside, there's so much to discover when it comes to this hero, you'll need to experience his intensity first hand. I will say he absolutely haunted me throughout this read. A man shrouded in darkness, he sought light from his beloved Lyla. I was lost within the story exploring the depths of his character as his secrets slowly unraveled. There were times I was crushed, brought to tears, and needed a moment to catch my breath and calm the riotous pounding of my heart. I had a love/hate relationship with Preach as I liked the man he became despite his circumstances, yet felt unsettled by some of the decisions he made. He certainly played with my emotions, but in the end, I became a fan.
Lyla, the muse and love of Preacher's life, was the heart and soul of The Roadmasters and the inspiration for several of their songs. Low key and seemingly timid on the surface, she was a nurturer tending to the needs of not only her man but the entire group. The bonds that kept them together ran deep. She was not what I expected. This shy girl could be fierce. The Roadmasters were her crew, and she stood by them through the good, the bad and the very, very ugly.

 

Emotional, passionate, raw, and gritty, Fast Lane was a behind the scenes look into the world of rock - with plenty of sex and drugs included. A novel that was part romance and part music history lesson, Preacher McCade and the Roadmasters' journey through the wild 80s and '90s was remarkable. The flow of the story was a tad slow in the beginning as I needed time to find comfort with the interview style of writing and become familiar with all of the characters. However, it intensified considerably as the plot progressed and moved beyond the music, the band, and Lyla. Preacher was a tortured soul for a reason, as his past was excruciatingly painful. His circumstances described were some of the darkest moments penned by this author that I have ever read. Completely heart wrenching. But through the magic of KA and Lyla's love for Preacher, I managed to make my way past the sorrow and into the light.












Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning. Nothing’s changed. Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.  





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