Title: Rustic Melody
Series: Rustic #1
Author: Nic Starr
Pages/Word Count: 174 pages/55k words
Cover Artist: Kellie Dennis at Book Cover By Design
Release Date: 26th January 2016
Tagline: Follow the music in your heart
Blurb
Adam Chambers has never seen eye-to-eye with his father and is reluctant to take over the family’s property-development company. To clear his head and work out what he wants to do with the rest of his life, Adam leaves his responsibilities in the city and heads out to see the country.
He isn’t much closer to deciding what to do with his life when he arrives at one of Australia’s largest events, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and meets Joey Callaway.
Since Joey’s father’s tragic death left Joey the family’s debt-ridden pub, Joey has struggled, desperate to turn the business around and give his mum the life she deserves. A break away from the pressures of running the pub is just what he needs, and a hook-up with Adam is the perfect way to forget about his troubles.
The one-night stand might just be an opening act. If Adam and Joey can follow the music in their hearts, perhaps they can heal each other and create a melody that will last a lifetime.
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Thank you so much for having me visit Love Bytes today. It’s been a busy week in the lead up to the release of Rustic Melody, but it’s always such a pleasure to talk about my stories.
Tell us a little about the story.
Rustic Melody is the story about two young men finding their direction in life. Both have family pressures, and need to work out how to reconcile their own personal desires with family responsibilities. They also come from very different backgrounds. Adam is from the city and his family have money, and Joey is from a country town and struggles financially. They are both a little unsure of how they will forge a future together.
The men meet at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. What exactly is that?
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is Australia’s largest music festival. It takes place in January every year when thousands upon thousands of people descend on Tamworth, a country town about five hours drive from Sydney. I checked the website and this year they expect 213,000 people. Thinking about those numbers, it’s lucky Joey and Adam managed to meet up. It must be fate. **smile**
You’re known for writing sweet stories. Does Rustic Melody fit into that category?
Adam and Joey hook up initially for a one-night stand, so they’re not all innocent **wink** but judging from some early reviews, I’d have to say yes. One reviewer said the story turned her into a big puddle of goo and was “Feel good, heart melting romance with a capital R”.
The next story in the series is a little different though.
That sounds intriguing. How so?
Rustic Memory is the story of Tyler and Mac. While it’s still romantic and there’s some hot loving, Tyler is dealing with some issues. He has moved home to Armidale from Melbourne, where he’s been living for the last few years. Ty’s been badly hurt in the past and is doing everything he can to avoid being heartbroken again. Unfortunately, that means he acts like a bit of an arse, and certainly tests Mac’s patience. Ty is certainly not all sweetness and loving.
What’s next for you in 2016?
I’m going to be busy this year, which is a good thing. **smile**
Rustic Memory releases on 26th February, followed by the third book in the Rustic series, Rustic Moment, in March. I’m then turning my focus onto a number of projects. I will be wrapping up the third book in my Heroes series, Patrick’s Savior, and working on a new paranormal series, hoping for release in the second half of the year. I’m also working on a story about a tsunami that threatens the coastline of Australia. So hopefully you’ll see a lot more of me through 2016 and 2017.
Thanks so much for answering our questions, Nic.
My pleasure. Thank you so much for hosting me.
Adam pulled up suddenly. “I’m down there.” He pointed down a dark street lined with cars.
Disappointment filled Joey as they stood awkwardly on the corner.
“Well…” Fuck! He had no idea what to say. He thought maybe—he wasn’t sure—just maybe Adam might be interested in him as more than a casual new acquaintance. “It was nice meeting you.” He held out his hand. Adam looked at the offered hand for a moment, and then he raised his gaze and met Joey’s. Slowly he reached out and grasped Joey’s hand. Warmth surrounded Joey’s fingers and he was lost in the firm grip.
“I liked meeting you too, Joey,” Adam said in that deep voice of his. “Very much.” He didn’t let go of Joey’s hand, instead keeping their hands clasped as he locked his gaze to Joey’s.
Joey swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Ah….”
Adam smiled and finally let go of Joey’s hand. Joey immediately missed the touch.
“Would you like a lift? I can give you a ride to wherever you’re staying,” Adam offered.
At least one of them could carry on a normal conversation. Joey gave himself a mental kick. “That’s okay. I’m only another block down the road. Whereabouts are you staying?”
“Actually, I’m staying in the car.”
Joey’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?” He knew lots of blokes who’d sleep in their car or throw down a swag, but Adam didn’t seem the type.
“I’ve got a sleeping bag, and it’s so hot, so I’ll be okay to sleep outside.”
Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to judge. “So long as you avoid the mosquitoes. It’s stinking hot outside—too hot to zip up inside a sleeping bag—and the mozzies will eat you alive.”
Adam laughed. He obviously wasn’t too worried. “Yeah, probably. If I’d planned things better, I would have booked some accommodation, got a room or a cabin at the caravan park, but this was a last-minute trip and the town has been booked out for months, from what I’ve heard.”
Joey nodded. “I only got the room because Mum’s friends with the pub owner and she’d been planning this getaway for me for a while.”
“I’ve done worse. The only thing I’ll really miss is the air conditioning. Oh, and maybe a comfy mattress. And electricity to charge my mobile.”
“What about a bathroom?”
“Oh shit!” Adam laughed. “That too. Okay, maybe I didn’t fully think this through.”
The urge to offer to share his room with Adam was strong. Joey didn’t like the idea of the man outside in the elements with no comforts while Joey had a perfectly good room and bed. Bed. That was the problem. Could he share his bed? Hell, he wanted to. More than wanted to, but that voice of doubt kept nagging.
Fuck it. What do I have to lose? He would make the offer. Adam could take it for what it was—an offer of a place to stay for the night. If Adam didn’t like the idea of sharing, or sharing with a guy, he’d say no. If he accepted, Joey would just keep to himself. He’d let Adam make any first move, because there was no way Joey was putting himself out there and risking making a fool of himself. Or worse still, having his head beat in.
He glanced up at Adam, even as he had the thought. He couldn’t imagine Adam laying a hand on anyone in anger. Jeez, he wished he had more experience or at least was braver.
Adam tilted his head and studied Joey. “I can hear you thinking from here.”
Joey swallowed and took a deep breath. The words came out in a rush. “I was just thinking that I have a perfectly good room with access to a bathroom, and it has electricity. If you’re willing to share a double, or throw your swag on the floor, you’re welcome to bunk in with me.”
“Why, Joey, that’s very nice of you.” Adam grinned. “I’d be very pleased to take you up on your kind and generous offer.” He tipped his hat and bowed.
Joey blinked at how simple it was. He offered; Adam accepted. He couldn’t get the stupid grin off his face and had to look away so Adam wouldn’t think what a dork he was.
Series Notes
Rustic Melody – Book #1 – Release date 26th January 2016
Rustic Memory – Book #2 – Release date 26th February 2016
Rustic Moment – Book #3 – Expected release date 25th March 2016
About Nic Starr
Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.
Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!
When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family-an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters, and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.
You can find Nic on Facebook, Twitter and her blog. She’d love it if you stopped by to say hi.
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