The Rock Star Hero

By: Claire Boston

If you flick through gossip magazines around the world you’ll inevitably come across a rock star. They’re so popular and they become part of our world through their songs, their concerts and our daydreams. I’ll admit to fancying one or two in my life.

So when the idea for What Goes on Tour came to me, I couldn’t resist writing it, but I did want my rock star to be a little different from the way rock stars are portrayed in other novels. My rock star, Kent, is just a persona, a way of connecting to the crowd and allowing Adrian to sing which is all he actually wants to do. He doesn’t want the trappings that come with being a rock star; the fame, the recognition, the fans, he just wants to sing.

So Adrian hides behind Kent and his personal life is just that – personal. He has other concerns the main one being he has guardianship of his ten-year-old niece whose parents have both recently died. It’s a hell of a thing for any single, thirty-something male to be left to deal with but Adrian doesn’t shy from the responsibility.

However because his persona is so ingrained, Libby doesn’t see Adrian for who he is until later. Below is an excerpt from their first meeting.

Excerpt

Nerves clenched in a death grip in Libby’s stomach. She ignored them, taking some more chocolate, then shifted her weight, lifting her knee so she was sitting sideways on the couch.

All the better to observe the rock star.

She needed the distraction.

He was attractive, if you went for the bad boy type, with his designer stubble and dark brooding eyes. Libby imagined some women would get a thrill to have those eyes focused on them, even for a moment.

The man was so still, so absorbed, he almost looked like a wax dummy. Then his fingers twitched, a minute movement, almost indiscernible, the tiniest drum of his fingertips against the back of the couch. A pause. Then the drum again.

Nerves?

From the television in the corner came the sound of applause as the comedian was introduced.

She was next.

Libby swallowed hard.

Making a note in her journal, she heard laughter from the set and stifled her urge to fidget. She was a writer, not a performer. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

At least the producers had got it right – start the show off with a laugh, end it with a rock star and allow the young adult writer to sag in the middle.

Her stomach danced a tango with her nerves.

No.

She knew how to fix a sagging middle. It was all about being friendly, chatty and enthusiastic about her new book. That was the easy part. She straightened her spine.

“Didn’t your mama ever teach you not to stare?” The deep Texan drawl took her by surprise. The rock star had come out of his trance and was now watching her with intense brown eyes. His whole body was rigid, as if waiting to pounce if she said the wrong word. She was the baby antelope coming face to face with the cheetah. Adrenaline zinged through her veins.

“I, ah, no.” She stopped babbling, took a deep breath and smiled. “Sorry, I was visiting my muse. I wasn’t really staring at you.” She held out a hand. “I’m Libby Myles.”

He looked at her hand as if she had something contagious.

“Libby, it’s your turn.”

Saved by the efficient assistant.

Blurb

What goes on tour, stays on tour … or does it?

Few people know that socially awkward Adrian Hart is actually rock God, Kent Downer, and that's the way Adrian likes it. His privacy is essential, especially now that he has guardianship of his orphaned, ten-year-old niece, Kate. But when the nanny quits in the middle of his Australian tour Adrian finds himself in a bind.

Until Libby Myles walks into his life.

Libby has only ever wanted to become a full-time author and prove to her parents that she can make it on her own. On the surface, the temporary job as the nanny for Kent Downer's niece looks perfect—the pay is fabulous, the hours are short and Kate is a big fan—it's the rock star that's the issue.

Arrogant and way too attractive for anyone's good, Kent Downer has enough swagger to power a small city. But when he's out of costume he's different—shy and uncertain. For Libby it's a far harder combination to resist. She needs to find a balance between work, writing and ignoring her attraction to the rock star, because if she falls for him, it could mean the end of her dream.

But when a horrible scandal is unleashed—putting young Kate in danger—there's more heat between Libby and Adrian than just sexual attraction. Libby must figure out if Adrian ever cared for her, or if it was all just part of the show …

Available at Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon AU  iTunes

Bio

Claire Boston was a voracious reader as a child, devouring anything by Enid Blyton as well as series such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The Baby-sitters Club and Sweet Valley High. Then one school holidays when she’d run out of books to read, her mum handed her ‘Hot Ice’ by Nora Roberts and she instantly fell in love with romance novels.

The love of reading soon turned to a love of writing and Claire struggled to keep within the 1500 word limit set by her teachers for any creative writing assignments. When she finally decided to become serious about her stories, she joined Romance Writers of Australia, found her wonderful critique group and hasn’t looked back.

When Claire’s not reading or writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow vegetables, or racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince anyone to play with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.

Claire live in Western Australia, just south of Perth, with her husband, who loves even her most annoying quirks, and her two grubby, but adorable Australian bulldogs.

Social Media Links

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