Title: Lost In the Crowd
Series: N/A
Author: E.M. Leya
Genre: Gay Contemporary/Country/Musician
Length: Novel (155 pages)
ISBN: B00J75GWFG
Publisher: E.L. Publishing (March 23rd, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ Hearts
Blurb: Jared Watson has everything a person could dream of having. He’s the hottest country music sensation to hit the charts in years. He travels the world doing what he loves, but something is missing. No matter where he goes, security follows. His manager is always calling or on his case, and no matter where he goes, fans are hounding him for autographs. He would give anything for just a couple days away. A chance to go back to being a nobody.
With two weeks off, Jared finds himself ditching his security team after his last show, desperate to figure out a way to go into hiding for a couple days and relax. Maybe find that missing part of the person he used to be.
When he meets Scott, the chef at the arena he just performed at, and is offered the perfect escape, he takes him up on it. Little does he know, the one night will change his life forever.
Scott treats him like a normal person, not the music idol he is, and their friendship grows.
After years of hiding, he is finally free to be himself and live the life he left behind for fame and fortune. Trouble is, he only has two weeks before he has to be back on the road. Leaving his freedom behind, let alone Scott, might be more than he can bear.
Product Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21539703-lost-in-the-crowd
Reviewer: Tootsie
Review: Lost In the Crowd is a very sweet, enjoyable novel. It can be read in one setting, but besides that, you don’t want to put it down. If you have never read anything by E.M. Leya, first of all, you are missing out, and secondly, this is a great read by an amazingly talented author.
I don’t like to rehash the blurb, but it really hits the mark with the context of this story. Jared is a musician, and is on the top of his career. He is financially secure, he has #1 hits on the charts, he has a loving and supporting family, and he is adored by his fans. Sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it? It should be everything he has ever wanted, and for the most part, it is. He’s been doing this gig for 11 years with very little time to himself. He is rundown, fed up, and at the end of his rope. He just wants a few days to himself, try to re-group, rest, and do it all over again. Doesn’t sound like a bad request, right? The only problem though, his manager, Ben, won’t leave him alone. So Jared takes the situation, into his own hands. He escapes his security team, after a concert, and ends up hiding in the kitchen, of the arena, he just performed. What’s he gonna do, now, since he has given them the shaft? Where will he go and not be recognized? He didn’t really think it thru, he just needed to go.
It seems this may be his lucky day. In the kitchen is Scott, the chef, who recognizes Jared, but he doesn’t make a big deal about it. He offers to help by giving him a hiding place, but more than that, he opens his home to him for two weeks. Scott finds Jared very attractive and sexy. Once he finds out that he is also gay, he lets the attraction take over. They have amazing chemistry. They have an undeniable connection, so they put it to good use. Jared may be burnt out in his career, but he is all fireworks in the bedroom, or the couch, possibly the kitchen table, anywhere that has a flat surface, they put it to use. Two weeks, that’s all they have. Neither wanted to form any attachments, they both know their time is limited. Will they be able to call it quits? Do they even want too? Over several weeks of phone calls, they answer these questions. I was pleasantly surprised with the decisions they made.
Even, though, this is a relatively short story, the author does an incredible job stretching the time frame to accommodate their schedules and previously committed responsibilities. I would probably still consider this an insta-love story, but it works for them. If you are looking for a feel-good, no angst story, you should definitely give this a go. This is the perfect book for a day at the beach, or sitting at home curled up in a blanket. E.M. Leya has many wonderful stories, including this one, which everyone should take the time to read. You will be glad you did. This is a very sexy, fun-filled, novel that I truly enjoyed.