A warm welcome to author Sandrine Casq – Dion joining us today on her Fret blog tour.
We have something special for you today here on Love Bytes . Sandrine is sharing her sneak peek for book two that is situated in the back of book 1, exclusively here on Love Bytes~!
Welcome Sandrine 🙂
Title: Fret
Series: The Rock Series #1
Author: Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Genre: M/M Romance
Published: August 31, 2015
Approx 170 Pages
WARNING: This book contains homosexual relations and crude language. A sneak peek at book 2 follows the ending!
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?
Thumping music was shaking the walls of the Dome as I headed for my designated spot. I guess I’m meeting Paul, the band’s manager.
I took mental notes as I passed through the crowd of screaming, jumping people. The band was rocking it out and I sought out Gareth Wolf. There were two guitarists, but I found him right away. Black hair touched his shoulders and his lean body moved with his guitar.
He was in his element.
The song was wrapping up and the floor was shaking from the bass drum. The floor-to-ceiling speakers pumped out the last notes of the song. The crowd immediately went wild as Ransom Fox leaned over the stage.
“Let’s hear it for the best lead guitarist on the planet!” he shouted.
Gareth shook his hair back and bowed with one hand out. Again, the crowd screamed, shouted and whistled. Ransom went on to give some love to the other members of the group.
I rolled my eyes and pushed my way through the crowd toward the side of the stage. A large man eyed me and then nodded as I walked by. Again, I could have been wearing a ‘Hello, I’m God’ tag and security wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. As it was, my tag faced backwards; he couldn’t even see my name or credentials.
Security for the Skull Blaster band was sorely lacking.
I sat through another hour of bone-jarring hardcore metal before the band finally left the stage. I scanned the area for their manager, but no luck.
I walked right behind the curtain and fell into step with the band members as they trudged toward their dressing rooms. They didn’t even notice me — and I’m really hard to miss.
They stepped into the dressing room; I followed and slammed the door shut behind me. Ransom turned and his eyes widened.
“Who the fuck are you?!”
“Nice of you to finally notice me,” I pointed out.
“Paul!” Ransom thundered. He immediately moved in front of Gareth, shielding him.
“Oh for fucks sake.” I rolled my eyes.
The door behind me opened and a startled man looked me over from head to toe. He flipped my name badge over and sighed audibly, clearly relieved.
“It’s cool, Ransom. This is the guy I was telling you about.”
“You could have mentioned he was a semi-truck.” Ransom’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you,” Paul apologized to me. “I ran into some media and couldn’t get away.”
“Not that this isn’t fun — because, oh so much fun — but I’m here to do a job. So I need to speak to whoever is in charge of ‘security.’ Now.” I leaned very slightly — but effectively — in to Paul’s face.
“Why?”
I turned to see Gareth peeking out from behind his brother’s broad shoulders. His eyes were a shade of green I’d never seen before, and with his pale complexion and dark hair? The guy was a looker and then some.
“Because band security royally sucks. I walked right on back here with them and not one person noticed or stopped me. That is not acceptable.”
“Who are you?” Gareth gaped.
I pinned him with a hard look. “I’m your bodyguard.”
Ransom chuckled.
“What the actual fuck?” Gareth stepped in front of his brother. “Is this a joke?”
“Nope.” Ransom shook his head.
“Jinx, Harley, Rebel. Give us a few, eh?” Paul opened the door and tilted his head toward the hallway.
“Sure thing, boss.” Rebel tipped his hat and winked at me.
I leaned against the wall as the members walked out. I overheard one of them, not sure which, talking to another.
“Did you see the size of that guy?”
“How could you miss him?” another one answered.
Paul shut the door and turned to Gareth with an apologetic smile.
“I knew what you’d say if we told you beforehand,” he admitted.
“Oh, did you now? You had to get me Conan the Destroyer? Jesus Christ!”
“Gareth,” Ransom warned.
“What? This is stupid! I don’t need a human shield!”
“You’re going to play nice and allow this man to watch your back, Gareth!” Ransom shouted. “You’re getting threats since you came out! I insist you be kept safe!”
“Gareth, why don’t you go clean up? Then you and Mr. Blaze can get acquainted.”
“Seriously? Blaze?” Gareth snorted.
I narrowed my eyes at the kid. Well, to me he was a kid, after everything I’d seen in my life. Gareth was almost twenty-three and I was pushing thirty. We locked eyes for a few seconds before he turned away.
Here’s a sneak peek at book two in the Rock Series!
JINXED
Prologue
I couldn’t believe it. I’d made it to the finals of “Singers”! I left my hometown in Alabama to hit it big and it looked like I was finally going to get my dream! I was the oddball among my friends, always into heavy metal whereas they liked country. Somehow, I never really felt as if I fit in; add in the fact that I’m gay and — well, I really didn’t fit in.
Now I was in Phoenix, Arizona, with the rest of the finalists and I was still trying to wrap my head around it all. I peeked in a store window as Evander, another guy who was in the finals, shopped with me in the mall. We hit the game store and I bought a few I’d fallen behind in. Evander was busy looking at his purchases as I scanned the stores ahead of us. My eyes fell on two guys passing us on their way into the store we’d just left. I narrowed my eyes to slits as I studied one of them. I gasped as I recognized him. It was fucking Jinx Jett of Skull Blasters! My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I swatted Evander’s shoulder.
“What, dude?” Evander asked.
“Oh. My. God. That’s Jinx Jett!”
“Well damn, Jayden, go say hi before you wet yourself,” Evander chuckled.
I walked back toward them and noticed it was Gareth Wolf standing with Jinx. He had been a role model for me recently. I’d come out because Gareth had the balls to do it. That didn’t win me any points with my family and that’s why I left for California, to make it big.
“Oh my God! You’re Jinx Jett!” I practically screamed.
“He is,” Gareth Wolf affirmed with a smile.
“Can I have your autograph?” I asked.
“Um, sure. What’s your name?” Jinx checked his pockets.
“I have a pen. It’s Jayden, J-a-y-d-e-n. Can you sign my shirt? Can you sign it, too, Gareth?” I asked.
“You bet.”
“This is so awesome! I love you guys!” I exclaimed. “I can’t believe you’re just walking around the mall!”
Jinx finished signing his name and handed the pen back. I swear to God I wanted to jump his bones right there in the mall. “Um, so, thanks a lot you guys. You’re so cool.” I began walking backwards.
“How about a picture?” Gareth called out.
Oh my God. I was going to pass out. “Really?!”
“Sure.” Gareth shrugged.
I all but squealed and handed my phone to Evander. I got in the middle of them and smiled. The flash went off and I took the phone from Evander, making sure it came out okay.
“Thank you so much,” I practically gushed.
“No problem,” Jinx mumbled.
Evander pulled me to go and I kept sneaking peeks over my shoulder at Jinx Jett. The guy was so damn fine it should be illegal. I had wanted him from the second I heard his drum solo on the first album; the guy was seriously talented. Then when I actually looked him up on Google? Holy shit, he was gorgeous!
Evander and I went back to the hotel and the ballroom began to get crowded as the judges took their seats. I fidgeted nervously as the English judge began reading off who was staying and who was going.
“Jayden Dempsey, Evander Torrin and the Spiros twins will be staying on, but here’s the twist, boys — you four will form a band.” The judge smiled.
“Excuse me?” I stammered.
“I see more potential putting you together than using any of you solo,” he explained. “I suggest you boys get some rest. We’ll be knocking out a track by next week.”
One month later, we won. I was now part of ‘London Boys,’ a boy band.
I guess I can’t complain. I wanted the dream and I still had it. I was out of Alabama and making a name for myself. I had groupies and I was the one signing autographs. It was all so surreal. I talked over my sexuality with our manager and he gave me the green light to come out. I did and never looked back.
I haven’t heard a peep from my parents, even after I had a moving truck go out to the house and grab my belongings.
This is my life now.
I’m going to embrace it.
Chapter 1
JINX
I fidgeted in the chair for the thousandth time. How do I get myself into these situations? Okay, I know how — but still, I use condoms and I’ve been really careful. I leaned over and peered at the sign-in desk of my doctor’s office. I’ve been sitting here for about ten minutes. Why do they give you an appointment time if they’re not going to see you on time? And why make you get there early? So you can sit around longer and ponder your malady?
Doctors are sadomasochists.
I discreetly scratched at my ball sack through my jeans. I had a feeling I had crabs. I didn’t want to look too closely, though, because that shit freaks me the fuck out. It’s like walking through a spider web; you never know if that spider is on you somewhere.
I shivered.
I’m bad. I admit it. I like sex.
I’m Jinx Jett for fucks sake. I’m a drummer with a healthy libido.
I find it funny that these days I can’t keep chicks off of me, when back in high school they wouldn’t give me the time of day. I had acne so bad as a kid I really did resemble a pizza, and don’t get me started on how shy I was. My parents didn’t have a lot of money, so I was reduced to putting toothpaste on my face at night in hopes it would clear up. Thank God for the guys. I would have never made it through school without Ransom, Harley, Rebel, Gareth and Paul.
Paul.
Thinking about him still makes me sad. Paul Vincent was one of our best friends growing up. Little did I know he’d had a huge crush on Ransom — and apparently still did. When Ransom’s little brother, Gareth, took over as lead guitarist after a nasty accident that hurt Paul’s hand, we thought Paul was okay being our manager. Turns out, he wasn’t, and he’d been secretly trying to come back as our lead guitarist. He had been skimming the band’s money to pay for experimental surgery in Switzerland and trying to scare Gareth into quitting the band.
I never would have suspected Paul of being the one who was threatening Gareth. Paul was now in a private hospital in California while the rest of us are working on our new album. Gareth fell in love with his bodyguard, Axel Blaze, and they were now married.
The doctor’s office music was on a station playing ‘at work’ songs and I cocked an eyebrow as the DJ began talking about some band that had gone to number one within weeks.
“And now, the number one hit from London Boys!”
Digitized music began streaming through the speaker above me and I recoiled in horror as boy band music filled my ears. I stood up.
“Can someone please rod my cock so I can get the hell out of here?”
Best selling author, Sandrine (Sandy) was born in Inglewood, California. Raised by “Old School” French parents, she later moved to Tucson, AZ. It was there that writing became a hobby. Always told she had a great imagination, Sandy wrote short stories for her friends in High School. In college, she took more writing classes while working on her Criminal Justice degree, but it wasn’t until a soap opera caught her eye that she got involved in male on male romances. On the advice of a friend, Sandy dipped her toes into the world of M/M Romance. Sandy takes the writing seriously and has had countless conversations with gay men as well as hours of research. She’s been involved with the military in one way or another for over twenty years, and has a great deal of respect for our men in uniform. She’s traveled the world, but has finally returned to Arizona.
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After reading the Men of Manhatten series, Sandrine Gasq-Dion is on my auto-buy list.
I really enjoyed Fret and look forward to this series.
When is Jinxed coming out?