Today I have Anna Zabo on my blog and they are talking about Rock Band as Family, which is one of the topics in their latest book, Syncopation, the first book in the Twisted Wishes series, the start of a rock star romance spiked with BDSM elements and an aromantic hero. :3
I hope you’re as excited as I am. Thank you, Anna, for being here today. :3
Scroll down for the guest post and an excerpt.
See also my yesterday’s release blitz post here. 🙂
Rock Band as Family
One of the fun bits about writing Syncopation was writing about the members of Twisted Wishes. The book is very much about lead singer/songwriter Ray Van Zeller and the band’s new drummer, Zavier Demos, but it’s also about the band itself. This little odd found family that’s been crammed onto a bus and put on tour.
Ray founded Twisted Wishes with his best high school bud Dominic Bradley, a talented but shy guitarist. Dom’s stage presence is the larger-than-life Domino Grinder, a way to overcome his anxiety about playing in front of—well—anyone.
Then there’s Mish. She’s the bass player. Tall (taller than the men of the band) and red-haired, she doesn’t take shit from anyone, but is utterly protective of the rest of the band. Ray spotted her at a bar and couldn’t stop staring—because she was that good of a bass player. She also has quite a voice, though Ray does the bulk of the singing in the band.
When the novel opens, they’ve lost one member of the band, Kevin. He was a talented drummer that Ray spotted on YouTube and brought into the band. Gave them their distinctive rhythm. But the pressures of a song breaking out and touring took their toll on Kevin and his playing and his friendship with Ray. All of which Ray blames himself for.
The band’s smarting from its loss and worried about being able to go forward.
When Zavier walks in, he’s a blessing and a curse. He’s someone talented enough to step right into Kevin’s shoes and even eclipse Kevin, but he’s also someone Ray knows and is jealous of, and is attracted to. Plus—he’s not family. Not in the way Dom and Mish are.
Except Zavier understands friendship. He wants connection. On top of that, he knows exquisite music when he hears it, and Ray’s music is everything Zavier’s wanted to be a part of for a while, even if he did turn down Ray’s offer to join the band back in high school.
Slowly, surely, Zavier becomes part of Ray’s band family. He’s accepted by Mish, then Dom, and by Ray—friends first. Then more, when Ray needs more.
For Zavier, the most unexpected thing is that he’s needed a family like this for a long time—and craves the connection he forms with Ray. The whole tour turns him inside out in ways he never anticipated.
It’s a romance, so you know Ray and Zavier will find their HEA. But by the end, Twisted Wishes is whole and healthy and happy, too!
Read below for further information about the book and the amazing excerpt. 🙂
RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Syncopation
Series: Twisted Wishes # 1
Author: Anna Zabo
Genre: M/M, Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: April 9, 2018
Publisher: Carina Press
Length: 104.000 words /295 pages
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PURCHASE LINKS
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Blurb
There’s no resisting the thrum of temptation in this male/male rock-star romance from genre-favorite author Anna Zabo!
Twisted Wishes front man Ray Van Zeller is in one hell of a tight spot. After a heated confrontation with his bandmate goes viral, Ray is hit with a PR nightmare the fledgling band so doesn’t need. But his problems only multiply when they snag a talented new drummer—insufferably sexy Zavier Demos, the high school crush Ray barely survived.
Zavier’s kept a casual eye on Twisted Wishes for years, and lately, he likes what he sees. What he doesn’t like is how out of control Ray seems—something Zavier’s aching to correct after their first pulse-pounding encounter. If Ray’s up for the challenge.
Despite the prospect of a glorious sexual encore, Ray is reluctant to trust Zavier with his band—or his heart. And Zavier has always had big dreams; this gig was supposed to be temporary. But touring together has opened their eyes to new passions and new possibilities, making them rethink their commitments, both to the band and to each other.
Excerpt
Ray rose, and Zavier followed him past the berths and into the lounge at the back. He pulled the curtain closed, then turned. Ray was breath and lust and jangling tension. Not exactly where Zavier wanted him to be, but they would work on that. There was time. Right now, though?
“Ray, may I kiss you?”
Shock washed across Ray’s features. He stammered out a reply. “Yes.”
Good. Zavier stepped close, enough to see the wild beating of Ray’s pulse.
“But…why ask?”
“Consent,” Zavier murmured. He cupped Ray’s face with one hand. “Everything tonight has to be something you want.” He slid his hand against the other side of Ray’s head. “You can say no. You can tell me to stop.” He tilted Ray’s head up and their lips touched.
Ray whimpered.
“Trust that I’ll heed your wishes.” He held Ray’s head firmly between his hands. Brushed a thumb against a flushed cheek.
“I—do trust you.” Ray’s words were warm breath against Zavier’s lip.
“Good. Will you listen to me tonight? Will you obey me?”
Ray was trembling against him. “Yes.”
Zavier kissed Ray, gently at first, letting him stiffen and moan, then relax. Lips moved gently, coaxing, opening, claiming, until Ray’s mouth was his and that hard, lithe body was molded to Zavier’s. That taste, the press of Ray against him put fire into Zavier’s blood. He’d needed this. Wanted it since he’d auditioned. They’d danced and danced for months. Countless days of living with each other. It was time already.
The second time he kissed Ray, it was to claim his mouth. A kiss that pulled whimpers and sighs from him, had him digging his fingers into Zavier’s arms. But it also had him tipping his head back and thrusting his hips against Zavier. Savoring Ray’s desire was a joy. Finally, his hands were where they belonged, playing a different kind of music.
Zavier held Ray’s head with one hand and slid the other down to his ass to pull them tightly together. He drank in Ray’s gasp and groan when Zavier ground their dicks against each other so there’d be no doubt about Zavier’s intent.
They weren’t in high school anymore, and Zavier would have every inch of Ray that was offered to him.
When he broke the kiss, it was only to bite and lick and suck at Ray’s neck until he was twisting and thrusting and shaking in Zavier’s arms. “Oh fuck. Oh god, yes.”
There. Each word cascaded down Zavier. Ray’s pleasure, his need.
The engine turned over, then the bus lurched, sending them both off balance and breaking them apart of a moment.
Zavier laughed. Not the most ideal conditions. But a little space would keep him from getting too far ahead with Ray.
Ray groaned in exasperation. “Cock-blocked by a bus.”
“If you think you’re frustrated now, just you wait.” Zavier grinned.
Author bio – Anna Zabo
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
Author links / get in contact
Website
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GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway to win one of two backlist titles by Anna Zabo
Your chance to win *click*
Please note: the giveaway is not sponsored, administered or endorsed by Mikku-chan / A World full of Words.
Blogtour and release blitz hosted by/through A Novel Take PR.
Mikku-chan 
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