Title: Always
Author: Amanda Weaver
Genre: Contemporary romance-age 20-30.
Publish Date: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Independently Published
Cover by: AngstyG/ www.angstyg.com
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.
~ Book Synopsis ~
From the moment they meet, their connection is perfect in every way but one.
It’s New Year’s Eve, 2006, and Justine James is fronting her dead-end band for a less-than-adoring crowd. But there’s one person there who sees what she could be—one person who changes everything for her.
Dillon Pierce clawed his way up from the LA streets with no one to count on but his best friend, Ash. Their years of struggle finally pay off when their band, Outlaw Rovers, gets signed and their single takes off. With Ash as the magnetic lead singer and Dillon as the band’s musical soul, they’re destined for greatness, provided Dillon can keep Ash from self-destructing first.
Dillon might not be fronting Outlaw Rovers, but he’s always been the only one Justine sees. She’s followed his career from afar and when he shows up at her crummy New Year’s Eve gig, nothing will stop her from meeting him. They forge an intense connection, rapidly moving from friends to musical soul mates. Justine wants much more, but she’s not willing to climb over groupies and industry bottom-feeders to make it happen. Dillon becomes a fixture in her life, but she has to figure out how to keep him out of her heart.
Outlaw Rovers begins to implode as Justine’s star is on the rise. The years that follow bring equal parts fame and ruin. For Justine, a new love supplants her old heartbreak, and Dillon has to reboot his life after losing nearly everything that matters. Despite the odds, Dillon and Justine remain devoted friends and musical collaborators. After all the missed chances, wrong turns and painful detours, can they finally find the happiness together that seemed destined from the start?
MY REVIEW:
(Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.)
ALWAYS is a beautifully-written, completely engaging story of two best friends who are devoted to each other, loyal and support each other through the ups and downs of fame and stardom. It is also a heart-wrenching story of true love and the perils of fame and excess.
Although this is a standalone novel, all the characters are fascinating and I would love to read more about them! Justine and Dillon meet when she is the young lead singer in a local band on the fringes of making it. Dillon is a rock star, loaded with talent, sensitive, gorgeous and not immune to the temptations of life on the road. They bond instantly, he sees a huge takent in Justine and offers to mentor her and write songs for her. Her band is selected to go on tour with Dillon’s band and much friction, drinking, drugs and groupies ensue. Justine keeps her distance, thinking she is relegated to the friend zone.
Always is a fantastic song about the brutal realities of the music business and the very unglamourous side of life on the road. Not everyone can survive the touring and rock-and-roll lifestyle unscathed and Ms. Weaver shows us that the business is not for the faint of heart. I was rooting for Dillon and Justine to admit their deep love for each other but their path is not an easy one. Dillon, once the more famous one, watches with pride as Justine’s star rises and his falls gradually almost into obscurity.
This is a true romance story; yes, there’s plenty of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll, but the sex scenes are not graphic. The drugs use is not glossed over, however, and is heartbreaking at times. I absolutely loved this book and all of the characters. This is a story about true love, true friendship, and honesty. Ms. Weaver is an extremely talented writer and I am looking forward reading more of her books.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Smashword
About the Author
Like many writers, Amanda Weaver spent her childhood constantly telling stories. College steered her in a different direction and into a successful career as a designer. Several years ago, she picked up writing again strictly as a hobby, to blow off some creative steam. One thing led to another, National Novel Writing Month happened, and here we are.
Amanda Weaver grew up in Florida and now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, daughter and two crazy cats.
Social Media
Website: http://www.amandaweavernovels.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWeaverWrites
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Weaver/642963329073960
Pinterest (inspiration boards for current and future projects): http://www.pinterest.com/AWeaverWriter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7855753.Amanda_Weaver?from_search=true