by R.J. Scott
M/M Contemporary/Musicians
Cover: Meredith Russell
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Buy Links - Links to follow here: http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/boy-banned.html
When the only way to win is to hide who you are, how far are you prepared to go?
Reuben “Angel” Jacobs is one step away from giving it all up. Losing a place in the live finals of Sing UK almost kills him. He has no choice but to go home and work for the family business, even though it means giving up his dreams and proving his old bullies right.
Corey Dixon is a rocker at heart. Being on the spectrum means that making sense of other people’s ‘normal’ is hard in itself, let alone in the chaos of a high-powered competition. Singing is his safe space, the only way he can think through the noise in his head. Messing up his audition for the live shows means his journey is over, and it’s the worst day of his life.
The judges throw them a lifeline and create a boy band from the near-miss hopefuls. Angel, Corey, and three others are put together in a room and offered the chance to sing as a group. Agreeing to become part of the new band means Corey has to hide who he is and what Angel has come to mean to him.
Is winning worth the price Corey and Angel have to pay?
Review 4 Stars:
Now, let me preface this review with the fact that I have never seen an episode of The X-Factor, The Voice or any other talent show for that matter. I've seen clips of the shows, but I have never watched an entire episode from week to week as it were. But for this book, it didn't matter that I hadn't seen any of that. Take a character with any sort of dream and it will speak to the reader, even if it isn't a dream the character and reader share.
We all have hopes and dreams, doubts and fears, it's just that Corey's and Angel's dreams are a little bigger.
Narrowly missing out on being finalists in Sing UK, they are offered the chance with three other young men to form a boy band. They aren't really sure at first. Each of them has their own singing style and were all soloists. How do you take each of them and form a whole unit? They decide to give it a go, it's the only way they'll stay on the show.
I loved this book. There was angst, there was drama (but not too over the top), real emotions from real people and the romance between Cory an Angel was so sweet and romantic.
Corey has Asperger's and it was handled very well. I'm not on the spectrum, but I do have social anxiety and like Corey I can't handle crowds. It was beautiful the way he could hug Angel and all the noise went away.
There were lots of things going on behind the scenes, the rivalry between various contestants, the judges, how to handle the media etc. Everything had a place and although it was a romance, there was a good balance of plot too besides the romantic parts.
All the characters were well drawn and the writing flowed well. I can't say too much more without giving stuff away, so just go out and read it.
A must-read for any romance fan.
***
Excerpt:
“Filming in five, four….”
Brianna was clearly the leader in this particular choice. “Hi, guys,” she said strongly, her tone belied by the fluttering of her hands around her face. She had assumed the “we have terrible news” expression. Both the male judges had relaxed back in their seats.
All five of the contestants said hello back; the other four were as worried and subdued as Corey sounded to his own ears.
“Okay,” she began, “boys, boys, boys… you all know that the auditions at boot camp weren’t so good. Mistakes, wrong song choices, emotions getting the better of you….” She trailed off and looked into the distance with a soft pout. She was acting out the whole disappointment thing and was a freaking expert at it.
Corey shifted from one foot to the other. His head was banded with the start of a headache, which he was convinced would deteriorate into a migraine if he didn’t get some meds soon. That would just be the perfect shitty end to the perfect shitty day.
“We’ve considered you a lot. You’re the hardest group of singers, and it took us a long time to come to a decision.”
Another dramatic pause, in which Corey imagined music would be inserted for added drama. He stopped breathing, waiting for her to finish what she was going to say. Maybe, somehow, they’d been given the chance to prove themselves again, and she would say they were through.
She shook her head slowly. “Sorry, boys. We’re not taking you through as solo singers to the live finals.”
And there it was. Corey’s dream gone. Finished.
***
About the Author:
My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
I've has been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and the mixing bowl. You can't tell a six year old not to lick the bowl!
I was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men. (Yum)
With over 90 titles to my name and counting, I am the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway, which was All Romance Ebooks best selling title of 2010.
I'm also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.
I'm always so thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:
Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott
http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/
RJ on Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/author.rjscott
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/author.rjscott
https://uk.pinterest.com/rjscottauthor/
***
Giveaway:
Prizes: $20 Giftcard for Amazon or All Romance eBooks, 3 x Texas books, 3 x Bodyguard books.
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