“I don’t want you to be my fan. I want you to be mine.” ― Emme Rollins
Title: Double Takes (Shooting Stars: Book Two
Author: Kimber Vale
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Pages/Word Count: 174 Pages
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Blurb: Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks it’s 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, it’s 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 he’s 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?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Review: I got only a glimpse of Gio while reading Forever is Now, the first book in the Shooting Stars series and was excited to learn he would be one of the MCs of this next story. Gio has beaten back the alcohol and the drugs of his youth and is now doing his best to rebuild his music career, get through a divorce, and be the best dad he can be. Unfortunately for Gio, when he was younger he thought the money from his music would always be there. Now in his forties, he finds himself needing cash to fight his soon-to-be ex for joint custody of his young son.
His need for money is what keeps Gio starring in a reality show about his band, and has his long ago statement about his bisexuality being exploited. When Gio decides to sell all the items his ex left behind in their condo, he meets Lance Garrett and finds out that his ambiguous statement about his bisexuality may have been very, very accurate.
Lance wants nothing to do with Gio’s celebrity, but he definitely wants everything to do with Gio, the man. When the TV show decides to hire a local student actor, Kyrie, to play Gio’s love interest, he goes along with the plan for one reason only: his contract. Lance is very understanding, even if he hates the idea of Kyrie being close to Gio.
In the meantime, Gio and Lance find themselves falling in love. They don’t get any face time after Gio angers the producers by ditching the camera crews, and this leads to Lance making a HUGE move to get Gio all to himself. This sets off a chain of events that brings the past down on the two men with a vengeance. For the first time in his life Gio knows true loss, and he does everything in his power to get back what he lost.
The last fifteen percent of this book is totally shocking and fast moving. Very rarely does an author completely blindside me with a plot twist, but Kimber Vale totally got me this time. This book had me laughing out loud in parts, gasping in shock and crying my eyes out.
I loved Forever is Now, but I believe that Gio’s story eclipsed that book completely. I cannot wait to see what is next for these rockers. I would highly recommend y’all joining me on the ride.
You can buy Double Takes (Shooting Stars: Book Two) here:
Reblogged this on Room With Naughty Books.
Thanks for the share Patricia :)
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review for me, Jackie! You rock! :)
I will happily read anything you want to write Kimber! I love these boys and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next :)