The Rough Terrain Play List
Hi! Thank you so very for having me! I love this blog! I’m so excited for the release of ROUGH TERRAIN, which features a sexy SEAL, a flirty
smoothie barista, and a fake boyfriend trope on the way to some very real feelings. Writing these two was pure joy, and their playlist is
similarly upbeat and full of good feels.
You can see their full playlist on spotify here:
But I wanted to talk about my favorite songs on there and what they meant to the story.
- “Sway” by Quavo and Lil Yachty. This was the first song I added to the playlist because it had the right beat and swagger for Renzo, and I could see him having it on a workout playlist.
- “Dangerously” by Charlie Puth. Another song I added early on. To me, it speaks to Canaan’s crush on Renzo and how it evolves over the course of the book, to the point that it takes him by surprised with the intensity of the real emotions that start to develop.
- “What I Like About You” by the Romantics. Similarly, this fun anthem really talks about crushes and how intoxicating they can be.
- “Raise You Up” from Kinky Boots. I originally added this one as I was trying to decide what music Renzo’s mother was likely to make him listen to, but after a while, this song came to speak to me about the power of family both found and biological, how ideally family supports and heals, but also how family expectations can influence choices.
- “Under You” by Nick Jonas. This was a sexy book to write and the playlist similarly contains a bunch of sexy songs. To me, this one really made me think about their first kiss and how it transforms both, pulling both in deeper.
- “Bedroom Floor” by Liam Payne. Another sexy one, this one about what happens when what starts as a hookup gets real, when people start caring, when they can’t quit each other.
- “Something Just Like This” by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers. I love this song for how it speaks to how Canaan sees beneath Renzo’s swagger and superman exterior to the real guy and how much more he wants him real and unfiltered.
- “fOoL fOr YoU” by ZAYN. More about seeing the real person and falling deeper and deeper in love, even when it hurts, even when you know parting is going to suck, being unable to resist the pull of the other person.
- “Stubborn Love” from the Lumineers. This might be the theme song for the book—falling in love even when it’s ill-advised, embracing all the wonderful awfulness that brings, loving the other person even though pain looms.
- “You’re the One that I Want” by Alex and Sierra. I love this stripped down cover so much because it takes all those stubborn love and foolish vibes and resolves to do whatever it takes to make it through to happily ever after. And Renzo and Canaan do just that.
How about you? Do you listen to music as you read or write? Thank you so much for having me today, and I hope you check out Renzo and Canaan’s journey in ROUGH TERRAIN.
ROUGH TERRAIN by Annabeth Albert
Series: Out of Uniform, #7 *Final book in the series*
Publisher: Carina Press (Harlequin)
Release Date (Print & Ebook):
eBook: Monday January 14, 2019
Print (mmp): Tuesday January 29, 2019
Length (Print & Ebook): 384 Pages
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance, Male/Male Romance, Military Romance
Synopsis:
The camping trip from hell may be the first stop on the road to happily-ever-after in Rough Terrain, the final book in Annabeth Albert’s critically acclaimed, fan-favorite Out of Uniform series.
Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi has a soft spot for Canaan Finley, and not only because the man makes a mean smoothie. He’s the first guy to get Renzo’s motor revving in a long time. But when he agrees to Canaan’s insane charade—one all-access fake boyfriend, coming right up—he never expects more than a fling.
Creating a hot Italian SEAL boyfriend to save face seemed like a good idea…until his friends called Canaan’s bluff. Now he’s setting off into the woods with the very man who inspired his deception, and Canaan is not the outdoorsy type. The sparks are already flying when a flash flood separates them from their group, leaving Renzo and Canaan very much trapped…very much alone in the wilderness.
Working together to come up with a plan for survival is sexier than either of them expects. But back in the real world, being a couple is bringing its own set of hazards…
Links:
And as he watched him sleep, it hit Canaan that while he was on this weird adrenaline high, Renzo did this every day. Every day for days on end he confronted danger, high risks, threat of death, and he had a whole team of people counting on him the entire time too. While Canaan had been busy freaking out, he’d worried a lot about himself, about Grandpa, about what he’d miss out on. And he’d worried some about what he and Renzo could have had, especially when Renzo had been threatening to go out on his own.
But Renzo had neither freaked out nor focused on himself—the whole time, he’d been worried about Canaan. Keeping him warm. Making the alarms to drink and eat. Making sure Canaan had first choice of food. Coming up with plans to keep them safe and ensure the rescuers spotted them. Damn. It was humbling to think of all Renzo had done for him. And now Renzo was exhausted. Spent. Energy reserves clearly gone.
And yet, he would do something like this again, soon probably. With better equipment and better teammates, but he’d face danger again, head on. Because that was what he did. Who he was. His moral fabric was made of camo—tough as ripstop, unwavering and unyielding. Maybe Renzo had joined up because of his brother originally, but he hadn’t been lying about finding himself on the teams. And who he’d found there was possibly the best man Canaan had ever met. His throat ached just looking at Renzo, hands tightly clenching to stop from touching him.
“I’m going to take better care of you,” he whispered softly. “You took care of me, so maybe it’s time someone took care of you like you deserve. How about me?”
Renzo, of course, slumbered on, but something inside Canaan shifted. Changed. Accepted this new reality in front of him where this sleeping giant was suddenly the most important person in Canaan’s life.
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Connect with Annabeth Albert:
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