Publication date: November 2nd, 2021
Synopsis:
From award-winning and international best-selling author Melanie A. Smith comes a standalone steamy contemporary romance about a rock star, a former fan, and the real meaning of redemption.
Kristoffer "West" Westberg is just out of rehab and ready to reclaim his rock-god status. But when his return to fame is threatened by a former fan turned rock magazine writer -- and huge critic of him and his band -- West is forced to reckon with the reality that he'll need to prove himself before earning his redemption.
Max Marshall is feisty, a little too honest for her own good, and so not here to babysit a fallen rock star. And nobody has fallen farther in her mind than Kristoffer Westberg. So when she's forced to catalog his so-called "apology tour," she has little hope that it'll be anything but a headache dealing with the entitled, washed-up rock star she used to worship before she knew better.
If West hopes to have a snowball's chance in hell of changing Max's -- and his fans' -- minds, he's got some serious groveling to do. Will he manage to fake it till he makes it, or will he be exposed as the lost cause everyone is convinced he is? And will he learn the real meaning of redemption in time to win Max's trust and her heart?
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Excerpt
The temptation to leave is strong. Anything not to have to look at West's stupid smirking face.
"Are you really going to make me do this?" I blurt out.
A wicked smile curls West's lips and he leans forward, getting dangerous close. "Seems like your boss is the one making you, based on the bit of hallway conversation we caught earlier."
"He's only making me because you asked. "So un-ask," I push.
"Now, why would I do that? We have so much fun together, don't we, Maxi? Don't you wanna be my friend and help me out?" I don't answer, which makes him chuckle. "I'm a little disappointed, honestly. I'd counted on you getting us both out of this. But don't worry, if I have my way, neither of us will have to do this."
He's disappointed in me? Well, that's rich.
"Yeah, and exactly how do you plan to do that?" I snap.
"There's always another option, Maxi. Always."
My hackles rise, but I refrain from telling him to stop calling me "Maxi" because I'm pretty sure the more I do, the more he calls me that just to get a reaction.
"Another option? There isn't another option, West."
"Sure there is. Matter of fact I suggested one, but Burke wasn't having it."
"Well, it was probably some asinine self-serving suggestion like 'Party with West,'" I joke.
"It was 'Win a Date With West' actually," he corrects me.
There's no stopping the tide of uproarious laughter that bursts out of me. What. An. Arrogant. Bastard.
"It's not that funny," he grumbles, the butt-hurt-kid look back.
I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. "Oh, but it is. Really, though, I hate to be the only one to tell you the truth -- again -- but their solution is perfect. You're not going to convince them out of it."
"Perfect? How's that?"
I take a deep breath to calm the last remnants of laughter out of my system. So out of touch, this one. "Because this is going to be massively uncomfortable for you. And it's going to be a spectacle. People are going to gobble it up. Love you or hate you, everyone is going to want to watch a huge former rock star debase himself and, in all likelihood, get yelled at by a bunch of people who say all the things everyone's thinking. And then they get to watch you react to it. It's viral gold."
"Former rock star?" he asks acerbically.
I snort. "That's what you got from what I just said? Figures." I shake my head. "Look. You may as well just accept that this is going to happen." As soon as I say it, I realize that applies to me too. Fuck.
Melanie A. Smith is an award-winning and international best-selling author of steamy contemporary romance fiction. A voracious reader and lifelong writer, Melanie's writing began at a young age with short stories and poetry. After college and a career as an aircraft engineer, she shifted to domestic engineering and property management and eventually found a balance where she was able to return to writing fiction. Melanie is also a Mensan and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and driving with the windows down and the stereo cranked up loud.
