Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Key Change
SERIES: The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023
AUTHOR: Ari McKay
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 170 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 10, 2023
BLURB:
As front man for supergroup Queen Anne’s Revenge, Devon Bailey has a string of hit songs, has traveled the world, and has everything he could possibly want–or so the rest of the world thinks. Behind the scenes, however, Devon’s life is far emptier than anyone could imagine.
With his band scheduled as headliners at Rocktoberfest to kick off their latest world tour, Devon tries to maintain the illusion of perfection. But he’s deep in the closet, QAR’s drummer is battling addiction, and his bandmates seem to think Devon should have all the answers. When the unthinkable happens, Devon’s life is plunged into chaos, and all he wants is to escape the pressure.
Michael Ford has had a crush on Devon ever since he was hired as a bodyguard, but professional integrity demands he keep his feelings in check. However, Michael doesn’t hesitate to offer respite when Devon is overwhelmed by tragedy. Between the paparazzi on the prowl, grieving family hurling accusations, and Devon’s battle with his own demons, will the attraction between them have the chance to develop into something more?
Key Change is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
REVIEW:
This is unlike any other Rocktoberfest book (or for that matter any book I recall reading) I’ve read and I’ve read a lot of them. I’ve seen drug abuse and the rockstars going through treatment to get right with themselves. I’ve seen narcissistic side players, usually greedy management suits, that only have their own pocketbooks and egos at heart. But nothing like what Devon suffered through. He knew Chad had demons and that Dave and Rick had basically washed their hands of him (and now we know why!) and his antics. But Chad had been his lifelong childhood best friend and he just couldn’t give up on him. He was a nurturer at heart. He knew Chad was a constant drain on him but that’s what friends do. Sacrifice for the sake of those that are truly important to them. Devon really getting to the root of all that went down and the discoveries he made after Chad’s death about did him in. Without Michael by his side holding him up I have no doubt his spiral into darkness would have been when not if. Chad’s manipulation of him was unbelievable. How someone could treat another person, especially their supposedly best friend, in such a callous and ruthless way was beyond me. But witnessing Chad’s mom at the funeral showed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
If you are expecting or looking for a book filled with rockstars on tour or sex on every page this isn’t the book. This is a thoughtful, well written book of two men that are compassionate and true caregivers. Men who put those they treasure first over their own needs and expectations. Men who really care and when they fall in love it’s forever.
I know that my copy was an advanced ARC but I’m not sure I got the polished copy. There were a few typos and times when the wrong person was mentioned, such as Rick and Dave both being mentioned as bassists in the first chapter, that stopped me for a moment but didn’t affect the total story line. That’s why I took the rating down a .5 heart.
This really is an amazing story of resilience through tragedy of a man standing beside the man he was falling for silently while he suffered such a tragic and senseless loss.
RATING: 
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