Please welcome Genene Valleau writing as Genie Gabriel. The Rock Star is part of three book series by Genie.
First let's learn a little bit about the author.
For years Genene has been fascinated by the puzzle of why some people collapse under life's traumas and others emerge triumphantly stronger. In a job surrounded by social workers and in her personal life, she saw the effects of child abuse, incest, and violence. Yet amid the stark realities of addictions, anger, abandonment, denial and betrayal shone the bright light of strength, hope and forgiveness. These triumphs of the human spirit over the ugliest of adversities became the basis for her stories. Her passion for writing romance stories became an outlet for the powerful messages that people can overcome great difficulties, and that true love can turn life’s heartaches into happily ever after. She loves writing dramatic stories. However, there's another side to her writing: humor. Her dramatic stories have always contained touches of humor. In one of the darkest times of her life, she got tired of wallowing and drafted a romantic comedy story that became a novella. It was fun--and great therapy! So plan to see more romantic comedy novellas from her along with dramatic stories.
Excerpt
The Rock Star
Genie Gabriel
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 3
Buy at:
www.roguephoenixpress.com
Spotlights flashed in
rainbows across the stage. Red. Green. Blue. Crisscrossing until they merged
into one white-hot light on Geoff Chastain’s face, evoking memories of other
times. The screams of thousands of teenaged girls washed through his memory as
he pulled the microphone from its stand.
The first notes of his
daughter's favorite song filled the auditorium and his breath caught, jagged,
in his chest. Pain pulsed through Geoff's heart with each beat of the drum. He
nearly dropped to his knees, longing to crawl back into the self-imposed exile
where he had existed since his daughter died.
The faces of the kids in
wheelchairs looked up at him with bright expectation. The whispers of the
singers waiting in the stage wings curled around him in concern.
Daddy, promise you won’t let the music die. His daughter’s last request haunted Geoff. He never
suspected life would become so desolate he would forget to eat and sleep, let
alone lose touch with the music that had always flowed so easily from his soul.
A singer moved from the
wings to stand beside him. Her presence drifted around him in silent
encouragement. Her sweet contralto coaxed him to sing with her.
Focus, he
ordered his brain, staring at the woman. Waves of auburn hair framed her face,
then tumbled halfway down a lush body barely covered in spandex and sequins. A
woman designed to stir a man to action.
Geoff's voice rasped with
disuse on the first verse; the woman's harmony covered it. As he started the
second verse, an image of his daughter swam before his eyes and Geoff's throat
closed. The woman picked up the melody without missing a beat, as if they had
planned this duet.
He grasped at her hand and
drew a deep breath. Her soft scent filled his nostrils, drawing his attention
away from the pain. Giving him the strength to dig deep inside where the music
had lain in silent mourning.
Geoff's voice mingled with
hers on the chorus, then soared as he soloed the third verse. Their voices
chased each other through the final refrain, then their eyes met and held on
the last triumphant note. Awed silence hung for a moment before applause
erupted and the crowd was in motion.
A sea of well-wishers
swarmed onto the stage. Not the frenzied near-riots of years ago, but the
exuberant cheer of celebration. Smiles and congratulations wrapped warmly
around Geoff as men pumped his hand and women kissed his cheek.
But the mysterious
auburn-haired woman who saved his musical butt had disappeared.
