Second Song
Sugarhouse Blues Series
Edie Danford
M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 10.07.19
Blurb
A wounded singer’s second act. A bodyguard’s redemption. Two grieving souls find healing in love’s sweetest song.
Sage
Four years ago, a brutal attack shot down my soaring music career. My bodyguard, a man I loved like a brother, was killed, and serious injuries left my voice permanently damaged.
Songs silenced, I retreated to my Vermont home, unsure I’d ever perform again.
Now I’m ready to go public with my new act. But, yeah, I’m a little nervous. So to handle security for a trial-run tour, I’m hiring a guy I trust absolutely—Antonio Callan, my former bodyguard’s brother.
But when Antonio shows up, all super-chill fierceness and warm, understanding eyes, I’m up against an unexpected risk—losing my heart.
Antonio
Touring backwoods bars with a reclusive singer is the wrong gig at the wrong time. But how can I refuse the wounded kid my brother thought of as family?
After a week in Vermont, I’m feeling more helpless than heroic.
Sage has grown up, and I’m crazy-attracted to him. His broken-but-beautiful voice knocks me out, and his quiet courage sings to my soul. The more time we spend in close quarters, the harder it becomes to resist our attraction.
Soon, Sage’s second act is rocketing to the top of the charts, and being his hero takes on a whole new meaning. It’s up to me to take his cue and find the courage to reach for a star.
Second Song is the first in the two-book Sugarhouse Blues series and can be read as a stand-alone. Contains angsty-hot pining (and Vermont pines), first-time lovin’, sappy songs (and Vermont maples), and the healing power of loooooove.
Cover Designer: Natasha Snow
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y982YV6
EXCERPT
“This Chicago weather might send you back to Cali real quick.” I gesture toward the windows and the sleet-rain coming down.
Sage smiles slowly as he glances from the window to me. That addictive guitar lick plays in my head again. “This amount of snow and ice does not impress. But you—all hot-bodyguard official in a suit…” He gives me a greedy-hungry look, like maybe I’m one of those maple creamees he loves to slurp. “I’m very impressed.”
“Likewise.” I smile back, my gaze traveling over his features. He’s the sunny beach come to visit. Skin tanned gold, eyes ocean blue, and damn, that smile heats me all the way through.
He looks down at his tea, then he takes a breath and meets my eyes. “So I came to Chicago to take you on a date. That is, if you say yes when I ask you.”
I gently ease against the chair’s back. And then I loosen my tie because breathing has become a genuine hardship. “Sage. Damn.”
“Just…let that sit for a while. I’m too chicken to actually ask you at the moment.”
I make a sound that’s half-laugh, half-curse, and I wonder what I’ll say when I can speak.
I am beyond flattered he’s come all this way to ask me out. I’d be the biggest dick in the world if I refused. I don’t want to refuse. Excluding life-and-death and world-peace scenarios, I want Sage more than I’ve ever wanted anything, ever. But what would happen if I said yes?
Lots of shit has happened in the last couple months, but I don’t think our personal circumstances or our feelings have changed. I’d still be incapable of a casual hookup with Sage Hazen, still incapable of following him where Second Song takes him.
And as for him…
Well, he is not looking casual. Two sunset-colored spots mark the center of his cheeks. His hands are shaking. He stands, walks to the fireplace, and picks up the guitar. His left hand fumbles the tuning pegs. His right hand makes sweaty-squeaky sounds on the shiny wood.
He goes to one of the windows, turning his back to me as he tries to tune and strum. He’s skinnier than he was two months ago; his stupidly sexy skinny jeans don’t cling as tightly as they’re supposed to. Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose and try to take steady breaths.
“Working on something new,” he says.
“Yeah?” I look up at him.
He turns to face me. “It’s sexy,” he says, waggling his eyebrows, making an effort and succeeding.
I laugh. “Everything you do is sexy.”
“Uh, no. It’s not.”
“It is. And you have about forty million fans who’d agree with me.”
“Forty million fans don’t know me, Antonio.” His expression turns serious.
“No,” I agree. “They don’t.”
I’m lucky enough to know him, though. And that’s really the point of this meeting, isn’t it?
Hi, everyone! I’m excited to share my new book Second Song with you.
The story includes a lot of tropes I love—bodyguard/musician, close proximity, best friend’s brother, first love, second chances.
And it’s that last theme—second chances—that inspired the title of the book. Both heroes had dreams that didn’t come through in the first acts of their lives, but, together, they discover Act Two dreams can be even more meaningful and satisfying.
Who doesn’t love a comeback story, right?
As a young star, the book’s hero, Sage, had been obsessed with firsts—first number-one hit, first world tour, first Grammy.
After he’s seriously injured, Sage is forced to come to terms with much different goals. How to talk again, how to walk again, and how to cope the with the death of a guy he loved like a brother—the bodyguard who died trying to protect him.
Four years later Sage warily embarks on a second act, and when he hires his former bodyguard’s brother as a security consultant, his life takes another unexpected turns—this time toward love.
With comebacks in mind, I’m sharing a playlist of some of my favorite comeback songs! https://spoti.fi/2OZVy5t
I had fun researching this. Some comeback songs came to mind immediately—like Kylie’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” Santana’s “Smooth” with Rob Thomas, AC/DC’s “Back in Black.”
Several of the lists I found mentioned Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” album as the greatest musical comeback of all time. Hard not to agree!
I grew up listening to the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. When he came out with a new hit album in 1994 it was perfect timing for my young adult ears and sealed my belief that it’s the greatest comeback ever. But nobody else in my family agrees! And that’s the fun of music.
What’s your favorite?
Thanks so much for reading and for having me on the blog!
Edie lives in Vermont with her husband, two sons, and random creatures that might or might not be pets. She loves libraries (where she’s found play, work, and love since she was a kid), long walks (unless ice is involved), lewd language (in the right context), luscious romance (of any variety), and alliteration.
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