"I Was a Famous Rock Star" by Alexandra Ainsworth

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

I Was a Famous Rock Star
(Men of Midnight Dreams Book 1)

by Alexandra Ainsworth

I Was a Famous Rock Star, the first book in Alexandra Ainsworth's Men of Midnight Dreams series, in ON SALE for only $0.99 to 10 May. Also available: My Stepbrother the Rock Star. Available for pre-order: Agent Rock Star.

This book blitz and giveaway is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.

Description

What if the whole world knows who you are, but you wake up to find you have forgotten everything since high school?

When Caleb wakes up in a glamorous LA clinic, he is a changed man. His once-scrawny body is toned, his now-white teeth gleam, and everyone looks at him in adoration. Caleb shouldn’t even be in the US - he’s English, and has never traveled farther than London.

Somehow Caleb transformed from an eighteen-year old, sexually questioning, reclusive high school student who spent his free time composing and practicing music in his parents’ shabby council flat to become a world famous rock star with adoring fans and his own mansion overlooking the Pacific.

Caleb bravely tries to fit into his new life as he recovers from his amnesia. But who is the handsome assistant publicity manager who visits him in the hospital? Why does everyone think Caleb is straight? What has Caleb forgotten? And will he ever remember?

Excerpt

Pop music fills the room. I wouldn't have expected the doctor to like this sort of music, certainly not enough to play it to a patient. The sound is typical boy band: harmonious, uplifting, contemporary—and completely distant from my tastes.

The band starts to dance. They swing their hips, and their legs move in perfect rhythm. The men have tousled hair and wear black jeans and casual t-shirts, as if to emphasize their masculinity despite the fact they are dancing.

The camera pans to a filled stadium, zooming in on pre-teen girls, university-aged women, and their mothers. The faces in the audience are expressive, passionate; whatever my opinion on the music is, this band is adored.

"Recognize anything?" The doctor's eyes gleam, and his fingers tap against the expansive desk in rhythm to the music. For the first time, he seems animated and content.

I scrunch my fists, tired of questions. Perhaps this band is famous, perhaps their music is played in every mall, but that doesn't mean I know who they are.

And I don't care.

"You think some mediocre music will trigger my memory of the last five years?" I bite my lip, and heat flames over my cheeks. I know better than to criticize someone's taste in music. "I'm sorry—I'm tired."

The doctor’s voice is serious. "This is your band, Caleb."

"Nonsense." I fold my arms against my chest. This music is nothing like the music I used to write and practice.

"You're famous. A household name." He grins. "You're the thoughtful, British one. Ezra Williams is the primary songwriter and vocalist, but you write some songs too. Maybe I should have put on one of your songs.

"I . . . But how?" I sputter and turn my head away.

I'm just from the Midlands. I've never been farther away than London, and that was only once. I've never even been to Wales, and regular trains go there. And now I'm living in California? Among Hollywood royalty?

I've never even performed in front of my school. How am I supposed to believe I'm performing in front of a whole stadium? That I do this regularly? To music I don't even like? And people don't mind? Pay to see it? Even—enjoy it?

"I don't dance." I've never danced. This can't be me.

"Look, here you are." The doctor points at one of the figures.

His skin is tanned, his body muscular, and his hair artfully tousled in a way I've never attempted. He's in the back, but yes, he’s definitely dancing.

It can’t be me.

Yet it's my voice. It certainly sounds like my voice, but that can't be me, sashaying up there with four other guys.

I can't be in a boy band.

I open my mouth to protest, but I've protested all day. The doctor freezes the frame, and I peer at the computer, leaning over the desk. The person looks somewhat like me. If I had blond highlights and was more handsome. Much more handsome. This man is well-groomed and doesn't need glasses. Though for that matter, no glasses are on my nose now. I lift my hand to where they should be.

"Laser surgery," Dr. Selatcher says as my hand brushes against the bridge of my nose.

Praise for the Book

"What a book! I thought I would humor a friend and read a M/M romance for a change - but wow! This book bursts the narrow boundaries I had it pigeonholed into entirely. It's more a second-chance story - not just a second chance at love, but at re-evaluating and redesigning your own life. (I often thought of the movie Groundhog Day, at least in terms of observing - and enjoying - a character who gets a second chance at living his life right). Great characters with real depth, a deliciously impossible situation, and knock-your-socks-off prose had me turning page after page. I could not put it down. When I reached the end (at roughly 2am!), I went back to the start for more. It's that good, and I can't wait for another book in this promising series by this talented author to come out. I never thought I'd say that about a M/M story, but hey - this book has taught me that great characters and a great story make a book, not stereotypes. Enjoy the read!" ~ nandi

"This book was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a light and enjoyable love story with some mild suspense. I finished it in couple of hours since I felt in love with Caleb in the first two chapters. The pace was fast and I tried to read faster to see what was going to happen next. The author did a great job making all the characters interesting on a simple manner. As a reader, you have the opportunity to read an interesting story without much angst and some smexy times. Some parts were a little repetitive, and the sulking felt a little blown out of proportion for my taste, but overall, it worked with the rest of the book. If you are looking for a simple relaxing summer read, this is your book. And yes, I already got the second book in the series." ~ Lila Leigh Hunter

"I personally don't get boy bands but the story was fun to read. It would definitely be strange to wake up and not know who you are. Then find out you're famous." ~ Star

About the Author

Alexandra Ainsworth loves cloche hats, Earl Grey tea, and romance novels, preferably reading them when listening to Take That on repeat. When Alexandra was younger she used to create musicals about Broadway entertainers and perform them in her parents’ backyard with her friends and tortured accommodating little sister. 

She’s switched from creating stories about the bright lights of Broadway to the even brighter lights of LA.

I Was a Famous Rock Star is the first book in the Men of Midnight Dreams series, about a group of wildly talented young rock stars at a music label who must come to terms with their identity under the glare of the Los Angeles paparazzi and international media. My Stepbrother the Rock Star and Agent Rock Star are also available.

Occasionally Alexandra ponders if the naked men in her books might be an inadvertent consequence of attending a women's college for four years.

Whether writing about rock stars or dukes, Alexandra believes in creating love stories for others. Because love is the most amazing thing in the world, and absolutely everyone deserves it.

Giveaway

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"Infected: Prey" by Andrea Speed

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Infected: Prey
(Infected Book 1)

by Andrea Speed

Infected: Prey, the first book in Andrea Speed's Infected series, is available for only $0.99. Also available: Bloodlines, Life After Death, Freefall, Shift, Lesser Evils, Undertow, Epitaph, and Paris.

Infected: Prey is currently on tour with Bewitching Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.

The murder of a former cop draws Roan into an odd case where an unidentifiable species of cat appears to be showing an unusual level of intelligence. He juggles that with trying to find a missing teenage boy, who, unbeknownst to his parents, was “cat” obsessed. And when someone is brutally murdering infecteds, Eli Winters, leader of the Church of the Divine Transformation, hires Roan to find the killer before he closes in on Eli.

Working the crimes will lead Roan through a maze of hate, personal grudges, and mortal danger. With help from his tiger-strain infected partner, Paris Lehane, he does his best to survive in a world that hates and fears their kind … and occasionally worships them.

Excerpt

He was on his third beer of the evening when he thought he heard a noise in the backyard.

Hank DeSilvo scowled and looked out the window over the kitchen sink full of dirty dishes. He could see nothing but darkness, and maybe a bit of reflected light from the television. This was probably a bad time to remember the back porch light had blown out two days ago, and he’d forgotten to replace it.

Not that it mattered. The only light currently in the house was coming from the television, and as long as he ignored it, he developed enough night vision to make out a shape moving in the back garden. Or was it the wind moving a shrub? Kind of hard to say.

He slammed his can down with an annoyed grunt. It was probably the Hindles’ stupid ass dog again, shitting all over the place and tearing through his garbage. He hated that fucking thing, some ugly Rottweiler mix they insisted was a “friendly” dog, and yet it always had a look in its flat, black eyes that was just this side of rabid. They never leashed the damn thing either, and apparently his yard destruction was “cute.” He was just about out of this fucking place and that damn thing had to make a final appearance. And it was final all right; he was going to make damn sure of that.

He went back to the living room, glancing at the game as he walked past—it was a fucking damn boring game anyway—and got his shotgun from the cabinet. It was illegal as all hell, a sawed-off thirty ought six with the barrels cut so short you could have stowed it under a jacket, but the barrels had been filed down expertly; it wasn’t just the rough work of a desperate amateur but the sign of a pro. Which was why, when they’d searched the drug mule’s truck and he’d found it wedged under the front seat, he hid it in his trunk and didn’t report finding it. It wouldn’t have added that much to the mule’s sentence; he already had enough rock in his glove compartment to put him away for the rest of his pointless life, especially if it was his “third strike” (and it was, no surprise there), and he doubted the guy was so stupid that he’d actually ask why he wasn’t charged with owning an illegally modified weapon. Yeah, he was dumb; you had to be dumb if you were speeding and had a few thousand in rock in the car, as well as being obviously stoned yourself. But asking after that was a special kind of stupid, the kind only politicians and people on reality television ever seemed to crest.

He cracked open the gun and made sure he had some shells loaded in it before snapping it shut again with a sharp flick of his wrist. Man that felt good. This was a real man’s weapon, made him feel a foot taller and made of pure muscle, and he knew why that meth fuckhead was carrying it around with him. A weapon like this was a real god-killer; it made you feel invincible.

It was pure overkill, of course. The Hindles’ dog was fairly big, and yet one shot from this gun would rip it in half clean down the middle, as well as make a boom loud enough to set off every car alarm on the block. But what the fuck did he care? He was an ex-cop; he’d say the dog charged him, and on his property he could shoot the fucking thing if he wanted. He’d swap out the sawed-off for his Remington before they arrived. Ballistics wouldn’t match, but by the time they proved that, he’d be long gone. Good-bye, shit-hole city; hello, tropical paradise. It was just a shame that it took him this long to collect.

He stood at the back door for a moment, cradling the shotgun gently, and let his eyes get adjusted to the dark before going out onto the concrete patio. He had a mini Maglite with him with a red lens over the bulb, so if there was something he needed to see he could twist it on without losing his night vision. Not that he needed to make a direct hit; even if he just winged the dog, he’d probably rip half its face off, maybe a leg.

First step off the patio his foot squelched in something; it felt too liquid to be shit, but the smell that hit him was meaty, redolent of shit and offal and God knew what else. Had that fucking dog already strewn his garbage about? Goddamn it.

Holding the shotgun in one arm, he turned on the flashlight and looked down at what he’d stepped in.

At first it looked like a puddle, which didn’t make sense since it hadn’t rained in a week, and the thought that it was dog piss was dismissed since it was dark, and dog piss wasn’t usually black. Or was that red-black? Swinging the light outwards, he saw greasy, ropey strands that couldn’t have come from his garbage can, and then a big hunk of raw, bloody meat like a lamb shank… only it was too long and thin to be a shank, too dark, and ended in a paw.

It was a Rottweiler leg.

Someone—something—had dismembered the Hindles’ psychotic dog and spread about a third of it all over his backyard. He saw the leg, which was the biggest piece, an assortment of internal organs, loops of intestines laid out like fallen party streamers, and lots of blood. But where was the other two thirds of the dog?

The hair stood up on the back of his neck, and he knew he had to get the fuck inside now. But as he turned, shotgun at the ready and braced against his hip, he saw the flash of white teeth in the dim moonlight, and his brain sent out the impulse to pull the trigger.

He didn’t have time to wonder why it never happened as the teeth ripped open his throat.

Praise for the Book

"I loved this book a lot. It's actually two books in one, with two different cases investigated by Roan. [...] The book combines a couple of elements I love: the investigation and urban fantasy. It's not a book where you have to figure out the killer, because the process is more important than the result. The paranormal element adds a bitter edge to the world where Roan and Paris live, since it's not magic, it's a disease, it's a virus with odds effect." ~ Emanuela PlasticDuck

"What an amazing book and what a great start to a series. All the great stuff is here: real characters I fell in love with, a plausible fantastic world, great relationships and detective cases to solve... I'm totally hooked and can't wait to read the rest." ~ Christy

"This series is one of the best I've ever read. Sometimes you just want to smack Roan for doing whatever he wants and not realizing how it affects those who care about him, but it's a fun ride." ~ M. S. Born

"Andrea Speed is amazing. I love how it's a mix of science and paranormal. The Infected series is a must read." ~ B

"I hope this series continues to grow and develop. It's rich in detail without being overbearing in it. The Humor is dark, yet (mostly) intelligent, you have to appreciate a good pun or two. Andrea Speed has quickly become one of my favorite authors." ~ Karen Holloway

About the Author

Andrea Speed was born looking for trouble in some hot month without an R in it. While succeeding in finding Trouble, she has also been found by its twin brother, Clean Up, and is now on the run, wanted for the murder of a mop and a really cute, innocent bucket that was only one day away from retirement. (I was framed, I tell you - framed!)

In her spare time, she arms lemurs in preparation for the upcoming war against the Mole Men. Viva la revolution!

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"Careful" by Randy Anderson

NEW RELEASE

Careful

by Randy Anderson

Careful is currently on tour with Worldwind Virtual Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

For two decades Tyler Gibbons has been keeping a secret from his family. At the tender age of sixteen, Tyler embarks on a student exchange program. Sent to the Andean city of Ambato, Ecuador, he finds daily adventure as he tries to fit in at school, connect with his host family, and navigate through a world of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. But tucked deep inside this year are events so profound, so unexpected, they forever shape the man he will become.

Now, 25 years later, his mother pulls these soaring tales from her son, exposing, for the first time, the source of a deep unhappiness. While these memories contain the wounds of an unresolved past, they also possess the power to heal his painful present.

Thoughtfully crafted and boldly told, Tyler’s journey takes the reader on a wild South American adventure, while illuminating a mother’s unyielding power to heal her child.

Excerpt

The terminal was absolute chaos. Luggage was brought in from the plane on carts, and people crowded around them, pushing and shoving to get a look. Suitcases were tossed aside in search of others and people were shouting. The decibel level became unbearable.

I managed to collect my bags without having to push anyone and headed to Immigration, where men in uniforms opened and rifled through all of my belongings. The officers would occasionally ask me a question, but I didn’t understand what they were saying, so I just smiled, nodded my head, and said sí. They could have been asking me if I had a dead body in my luggage, and I’d have said yes.

When the invasive suitcase search was complete, I walked to passport control. Reaching under my shirt, I pulled out my money belt, unzipped it, and found my passport. I was trembling. Both from the excitement of the moment and fear that I’d exposed my secret hiding spot.

I handed the man my passport and my visa paperwork. He quickly read over the documents and pulled out his big stamp. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, the first stamp in my passport. This stamp was going to be proof. Proof that I was here. Proof that I was brave. Proof that I was.

Bam! His stamp came down hard on a randomly selected page in the book. He closed my passport, slapped a flat hand on top, and slid it toward me.

I grabbed it from the table and quickly opened it up to admire my proof. The image was smeared and the ink had bled onto the facing page, but it was legible. Not that I could read it, because it was in Spanish. But it was legible. I held it open to dry as I followed the line of people exiting the terminal.

Review

By Scott H.

Careful is both a gripping coming of age story and a tender exploration of the relationship between mother and son. Chapters alternate between the past - set in Ecuador, where the protagonist, Tyler, was an exchange student - and the present, where tragic circumstances compel Tyler to disclose the painful secrets of his youth to his mother. Both settings are equally captivating. In Ecuador we travel with Tyler to exotic places and feel his joy and pain as unforeseen events force him to leave behind youthful frivolity and face head-on issues that he is not yet mature enough to cope with. In the present, the reader experiences the deep emotions that Tyler unleashes as he unburdens himself, providing answers to lingering questions that have long-troubled his mother and forging new bonds in the process. Anderson creates a wonderful pace throughout the novel, skilfully building tension and expectation but never leaving the reader hanging for too long. The characters are multi-dimensional and, as a result, there are many tender and poignant moments. This book will appeal to young people who dream of independence and adventure, to parents who long to understand and connect with their children, and to everyone in-between. Definitely a very satisfying read!

About the Author

A performer, playwright, and producer Randy founded The Beggars Group in 1999. During the following decade he produced over two dozen productions including; The Expatriates, Do It!, and Theadora, She Bitch of Byzantium.

Plays he’s written include; New Year’s Resolutions, Homlessness Homosexuals and Heretics, Testing Average, Kill The President, Armor of Wills, and The Dwelling.

In 2011, he published his memoir, On Making Off. His second book, Careful, was released May 2014. If you want to know more, reach out! Randy currently lives in New York City where he writes, reasons, and reacts.

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