Sunday 11 May 2014

Forever is Now and Double Takes (Shooting Stars #1 by K Vale

 

 
FOREVER IS NOW

When Alex confronts ex-lover Chance, the sparks fly. But nine years has done nothing to lessen the intensity of the chemistry between them. Forever Is Now is the hot, new romance from author K. Vale you wont be able to stop reading. Passion ignites the pages as Alex and Chance find that sometimes a second chance is all love needs!

If you love someone, set him free. If he steals something of yours, hunt him down and make him sorry.

Alex Bremen is over Chance Ralan. Ever since his high school boyfriend ditched him nine years ago, Alex has barely thought of Chance at all. Sure, Alex attended a concert or two when his exs band, Armageddon Showdown, was in the area, but that was more curiosity than anything else. Who wouldnt want to see firsthand how his once clean-cut boyfriend transformed into a pierced and tattooed heavy metal god?

But when Chance has the nerve to record a love song Alex wrote for him years ago, Alex crosses the country to confront him. Revenge becomes a dish best served sizzling hot. The two men lock horns, but find the chemistry between them has only intensified with time, and occasionally love needs to do some growing up before it can be done right.


DOUBLE TAKES
Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks its nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Not for Giovanni Savale.

For the lead singer of Three Deaf Mice, a band that reached its pinnacle in the late nineties, its nothing but an ugly divorce with a custody battle, money trouble, and now the nightmare exposure of starring in a reality television show. When his producer decides to cash in on an infamous interview Gio did years ago, and give the self-confessed bisexual rocker an onscreen boyfriend, things really hit the fan. Gio is certain his sexual experimentation back in his drug-abusing days meant nothing after all hes been married for nine years, clean and sober for nearly as long, and he has a son. And Gio is not remotely attracted to Kyrie, the funny, flamboyant actor they choose for his love interest. Of course, Lance Garrett, the mysterious and sexy owner of the local antique shop, Double Takes, is a whole different story. The guy has Gio planning out a future he never imagined. With the threat of losing all custody of his ten-year-old son, ghosts from the past returning for revenge, and the cameras rolling, can Gio keep his head above water and his heart from getting broken?



ARCs RECEIVED FOR HONEST REVIEW

Rock star - check. M/M relationship - check!

When the author asked if I would be interested in reviewing her Shooting Stars series for her, it was a no brainer.  My two favourite genres all rolled into one - sign me up!

And I was not disappointed

FOREVER IS NOW
9 years after he left him, Alex has his past thrown in his face when he hears a song he wrote for his ex boyfriend playing on the radio.

Chance left Alex in less than perfect circumstances and pursued his career.  Now an uber-famous rock star, he pretty much betrays Alex by recording said song.

Alex's career allows him to find a way to confront Chance - and boy to sparks fly!!

Alex and Chance together are super hot!  There are so many feelings simmering beneath the exterior calm, for both men.  The chemistry between them is palpable, you just know that things are going to be explosive between them - but will it be a in a good way or a bad way?

There are so many emotions in Forever is Now... love and hate, lust, fear, betrayal.  There is more at stake for Chance and Alex then just their hearts.  It may have been nearly a decade since they saw each other, but things have just intensified in all that time.

The whole time I wanted the pair to get their act together.  At one time or another I wanted to scream at them to wake up to themselves, I wanted to hug them, I wanted them to communicate! Gah!

I loved the rest of Chase's band, they are the best of both worlds, fiercest critics but staunchest defenders.  I also like most of Alex's co-workers though there are some that I just did not like from the beginning and and the story went on my dislike was justified.

Can Alex and Chase overcome what has happened in their past and have a future together?

For that you will have to read for yourself


 
  
    



DOUBLE TAKES

We quickly met Gio near the end of Forever is Now, and I was instantly intrigued, and when I saw that Double Takes was his story, I was very excited to read more.  And you will not have to have read Forever Is Now to enjoy Double Takes, but I would just because it's a great story.

Gio is a pretty much washed up has been of the rock world.  Super huge band in the 90's, now his band Three Deaf Mice is pretty much in the twilight of their career, and without the constant touring money isn't flowing like it used to.

Enter his manager who signs him up for a reality tv show - ugh, it is just me or does anyone else hate reality tv as much as me??  - anyway, back on to Gio.

To boost ratings they create a fake gay relationship with a waiter called Kyrie.  Aaaaaaand cue the over-the-top gay factor.  Don't get me wrong, Kyrie was sweet and I did like him, but he just got a bit too much at times!

Then there is the gay man that Gio acutally is attracted to, Lance Garrett, antiques dealer.  At first when I heard antiques dealer i pictured knitted cardigans and cups of tea (I know, very stereotypical but that's where the mind went!) but Lance is anything but.  Sweet and sexy, he is the perfect man for Gio.

Lance and Garrett start a friendship that both of them know is eventually going to be something more.  I loved that Lance goes a little bit fan boy over Gio, it was sweet and funny. And I love that they start their relationship away from the cameras - both Lance and Gio want it that way.

I love Gio's band mates.  Love how they take the piss out of Gio, but are also there to support him, knowing that everything he is doing is for his son Marco.  Marco is a switched on kid, and  at times has some of the most adult and mature conversations in the book!

It seems everyone has a secret to keep, and as we know, secrets never stay secret forever.  Lance has a doozie that throws a real spanner in the works of his fledgling relationship with Gio.  It was definitely not something I saw coming!!!  It threw the story onto a very different course for a while there.  Will it be too much for the hot couple, or can they overcome everything and finally be together for the world to see?

I also loved that Gio and fake boyfriend Kyrie do develop a real friendship away from the cameras.  I thought that was a real slap in the face to Gio's manager who would not have expected that when things go the way they go.

We got a little bit of the characters from Forever is Now thrown in too which was a bonus.

Double Takes is a bit of everything. A bit of funny.  A bit of sad.  A bit of suspense.  A lot sexy.  A lot of love.

If you are a fan of the m/m genre, definitely check out the Shooting Stars series
     
   

  





Bio:

Kimber Vale writes romance of all stripes, from hot hetero stories to mouthwatering men falling in love (under the name K. Vale). Keep up with Kimbers news on her blog: http://www.kimbervale.me and friend/follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KimberVale. Come for the sex. Stay for the story. http://www.authorkimbervale.com