Title: Fret
Series: The Rock, #1
Author: Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novella (139 Pages)
Publisher: (September 1, 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Blurb: Former Navy SEAL Axel Blaze lives a solitary life. He doesn’t do emotions, and he doesn’t do babysitting. Used to being on his own, his job consists of Wetwork (a charming term coined by the KGB) for his former Master Chief, Mac. When an out-of-the-ordinary job lands on his doorstep, Axel heads down a path that includes a famous heavy metal rock band and one quiet, vulnerable, guitar-shredding virtuoso named Gareth Wolf.
Gareth Wolf’s life changed in an instant when a car he was a passenger in crashed, hurting his brother’s best friend and the band’s lead guitarist. They created the band, Skull Blasters, as kids. Gareth had always been happy in the background, playing roadie. With the lead guitarist’s injury, Gareth is suddenly thrust into the limelight and into a frenzied life he never imagined for himself.
Finally fed up with living a lie, Gareth comes out as gay in a newspaper interview and finds himself in the bulls-eye of a crazed stalker. Somebody wants Gareth hurt – or worse – and Mac has been hired to be sure that doesn’t happen. Babysitting duty is NOT Axel’s strong suit, but Mac won’t be budged.
Enter Axel Blaze. Against his better judgment, the big man takes the job to protect the shy musician. The more time he spends with Gareth Wolf, the more he admires the man. Where’s a simple assassination when you need one? The situation becomes more volatile for each man as the attempts on Gareth escalate just as Axel finds himself falling for the quiet lead guitarist.
Strong, funny, smart-ass — and kinda sweet Axel is everything Gareth has ever wanted in a man. Too bad he’s off limits. As the stalker grows bolder, Gareth and Axel move closer emotionally – but is it too late? All Axel knows is that they don’t stand a chance if he can’t find the maniac trying to kill the man he’s come to care about. A lot.
Everyone knows that relationships that begin in pressured or volatile situations eventually fizzle out. Or do they?
ASIN: B014RHMFMC
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/FRET-Rock-Book-Sandrine-Gasq-Dion-ebook/dp/B014RHMFMC/
Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Now when I get a book written by Sandrine, I know right off the bat that not only will I be entertained but turned the hell on. There is no way that woman can ever write a book that is not gold. This is the first book in the Rock series and it was absolutely amazing. I loved the name of the band, The Skull Blasters. It was a hit for me.
Gareth was seven years younger than his brother, but he knew from the beginning that he was truly loved. He had listened to them practice and learned how to play the guitar. So when Paul, the lead guitarist, was injured in a car accident it was no surprise when his brother, Ransom brought him in. After some time, he had hated hiding out who he truly was. So when he came out, so did the sicko’s.
Axel was hired by Paul to protect Gareth. Once he not only met Gareth, but spent some time with him he wanted to do more than protect. When these two are together, you can tell that they will set Arizona on fire. In reading this you will meet the band. Ransom, Paul, Jinx, Harley, Rebel and Gareth are all hot and damn tempting. They love each other and protect each other with all that they have. So with someone out there trying to kill Gareth, the guys will do everything to protect their munchkin.
Once again Sandrine has given me a book that has made the top of the favorites list. It caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end. It gave me everything I could want in a book and so much more. I can definitely see that this book is going to be one of those that are read many times over. I loved it and cannot wait to see what book two will give me.
I am sitting here on the edge of my seat, just waiting for the next book.
Tams’ Review: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts
Gareth Wolf is the openly gay guitar player for the hottest group climbing the charts, The Skull Blasters. Living your life in the limelight can be hard on anyone, and not only is Gareth dealing with the backlash being gay in the industry causes, he still has nightmares stemming from a car accident that left their former guitar player permanently injured, forcing Gareth to take the position. The threats to Gareth are increasing as of late, so their manager and his brother decide to hire a bodyguard to keep their youngest member safe.
Axel Blaze (yes, that is his name) is a former Navy Seal with all the accoutrements one would expect in that line of work. He’s hired muscle with a no-nonsense, bad attitude and he has the bulk, brains, talent and enormous guns to back it up. He is none too happy when his best friend slash boss assigns him babysitting duty for some spoiled rock star rich kid. Axel takes his job extremely seriously though. So as much as he would rather be anywhere else he puts all his talent and skill into the job and quickly realizes that not only is the threat against Gareth real, its deadly.
Two men forced to spend every waking moment together that loath each other on site is a recipe for disaster… or foreplay. Either way, Gareth and Axel have to learn to coexist and work together in order to neutralize the threat and literally save Gareth’s life. The attraction is mutual and mutually ignored for a while. When Gareth finally confesses his desires, Axel shoots him down, and then quickly changes his mind when Gareth is put in harm’s way. Axel worries he can’t be emotionally involved and do his job appropriately. And as the threat grows closer, bolder, he may be right.
Something new from the Author that brought us the bestselling Assassin/Shifter series. Gasq-Dion cements herself a place in the Rock & Roll genre with this hot new story, the first in a series that promises a lot of danger, pyrotechnics and sexy men dancing horizontally. What drew me into this story was the alternating POV, each chapter told from a different view-point between Gareth and Axel. It was nice to see certain things play out through each guy’s eyes. Their romance was not what I expected either. It was passionate and endearing when I was initially expecting something more volatile, but I assure you, it totally worked for them.
My only little teensy issue was toward the end several things happened in quick succession and I would have liked to see more elaboration for a few things. But overall I absolutely loved this book and will save it to my kindle to be revisited on many an occasion.
If you like stories with an edge, slow building romance with a hint of danger and intrigue, then you’ll love this one. Fans of Ann Lister’s Rock Gods series especially, and the boys from that series stop by and pay a visit to The Skull Blaster’s as well. Very excited to read more books in this series, I believe Jinx is up next and I have a feeling his story will be a bit more comical but interesting.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews