Welcome Genie Gabriel

CHARACTERS REVISITED (Part 3): THE LEADER OF THE BAND

aka STRIPPING AWAY THE PUBLIC FACADE

I'm looking forward to the re-issue of THE LEADER OF THE BAND, the third book in my Rock'n'Romance trilogy,  in a couple days--on December 1!

Until you can meet Zach and Lauren in the pages of the book, here's some inside info on the hero and heroine, who are different than main characters I usually write. 

Zach, the hero, definitely has some flaws. In fact, he started out as the antagonist in the first book of the trilogy. However, his redeeming quality of being a pushover when it comes to kids showed up in that book. How can you not like a guy who will sit in a child-sized chair with his knees scrunched up under his chin and listen to instructions on proper behavior from a little girl? Zach even grudgingly admitted he was wrong about Geoff and Shannon being perfect for each other. 

Lauren, the heroine, is a former beauty queen who is also the focus of her wealthy daddy's attention. She's used to doors being opened for her by her beauty and her family connections. After her husband is murdered, she realized being beautiful did not make her happy, and sets out to prove her worth based on something besides high cheek bones. 

Both of these characters have played a public persona for so long--Zach as a wealthy, playboy leader of a rock band and Lauren as an always smiling beauty queen--that they have lost touch with their real desires. 

To make things more interesting, Zach and Lauren have been in love since they were teenagers. However, they have danced around each other for so many years--connecting and then one of them leaving--that they don't know how to make their lives mesh in a committed relationship. 

This story strips away the layers of their public facades to get to what's truly important to them at a deep, emotional level. Zach mortgages all he owns to finance a comeback for his band. However, health problems threaten that comeback. When Lauren is shot by the man who killed her husband and threatens her son, the bullet grazes her face, scarring the beauty that has swept her through life. 

Faced with losing all they have depended on to make a place for themselves in this world, Zach and Lauren have to decide whether they will try to cling to old patterns or if they have the courage to follow what is in their hearts. 

Though different than other characters I've written, I enjoyed discovering the real people under the public faces of Zach and Lauren. Hopefully, you will also enjoy this journey!

And remember, my contest for a $25.00 gift card from Amazon.com continues until December 10. Just make a comment at my Rock'n'Romance blog to be entered in this drawing. Hope to meet you there!