Author: Shay Stone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Release date: Available now
What if getting everything you ever wanted cost you the only one you ever loved?
Blurb
Colin Riley's past wasn't a pretty one. He'd worked hard to bury his demons. So when he crossed paths with Alexandra Vaughn, the daughter of the man that almost destroyed his life, he should have run. But he didn't. Instead, like an idiot, he fell in love. Alex was smart, talented, beautiful, and one of the most infuriating women Colin had ever met. From the second he laid eyes on her, he knew he'd do anything to make her his. Why else would he let her trick him into starring in some play?
It was just supposed to be a way to get close to her. How could he have known saying yes to the role would change their lives forever? But that's what happens when Richard Steed - the most sought-after agent in Hollywood swoops in promising to make all their dreams come true. It doesn't take long before the slick agent's true intentions become known turning him into their worst nightmare.
With a ghost from the past haunting them and an agent hell-bent on tearing them apart, is there any way Colin and Alex can survive The Rise to Fame?
The Rise to Fame is Book One in a two-book series. The second book, The Cost of Fame is due out September 2018.
PURCHASE LINKS
EXCERPT
Copyright
Shay Stone 2018©
*With the
exception of brief quotations to be used in reviews or other noncommercial
uses, no part of this excerpt can be used or reproduced. *
The tension hung heavy in the air
between them. Luckily, their characters spent a good portion of the play
fighting, so the intensity worked. Sergio praised their performances telling
them how impressed he was with their rewrite. “Let’s run through the last scene
and then we can call it a night,” he said.
Like the true professional she was, Alex
steeled herself, taking her place on stage ignoring her sweaty palms and
pretending it didn’t feel like a pile of cinderblocks was crushing down on her
chest. The last scene involved a kiss. The thought of Colin’s lips on hers was
too much right now.
She knew he was blowing her off. Like a
naïve school girl, she swallowed every line he fed her as though she was
starving for it. Tears formed in her eyes as she resided herself to the fact
that once again, she had allowed herself to be played. She blinked them away
and sucked in a deep breath pushing it out quickly.
Colin stood on the opposite side of the
stage watching her. She was doing an excellent job trying to hide her emotions.
To the casual onlooker, they appeared to be nothing more than two actors
rehearsing. No one would guess they were lovers on the brink of implosion. But
he could see the confusion and disappointment taking its toll, stealing a bit
of the light from her eyes. He felt it when she stiffened every time he touched
her, as though the contact physically burned her.
Alex recited her lines doing her best to
get lost in the character, but it was difficult. The dialogue was emotional and
echoed what they were going through – a couple on the verge of break up because
of the secrets between them. She wondered if somehow, Colin had allowed his own
fears to come out through the writing.
When it came time for the kiss, Alex
tried to remain unaffected, but the moment their lips touched she knew all her
efforts had been in vain. The kiss was tentative at first, but quickly turned
deep and sensual, like two lovers coming together after years apart.
The inexplicable response that overtook
her body every time they touched was reacting inside her like sexual napalm
blowing away all reason. She attempted to break away, but Colin tightened his
hold around her waist until all the anger she was bottling up came flooding
out. She pressed her hands to his chest pushing him away, pounding her fist
against him, but he kept kissing her refusing to let her go. His hand gripped
her hair almost violently, steadying her head until she finally succumbed
allowing her fury to give way to passion and her carnal need for him to take
over. Her hands framed his face and slid into his soft locks.
“Cut!” Sergio shouted for the second
time before they heard him. “You guys are really going to have to tone it down
for the play. Although, I do like the whole beating his chest thing. We should
keep that.”
Alex pulled away breaking Colin’s hold.
“You really are one hell of an actor.”
“Shall we run it one more time?” Sergio
asked.
“No. I think I’ve had enough for one
day. We’re done here,” she replied giving Colin a glare so icy he felt his
balls shrink. She gathered her things, leaving him standing on stage alone.
Let her go, Riley. It’s for the best. He
watched her walk away from him until she disappeared out the door.
“Fuck!” He leaped from the stage,
chasing after her, running so hard and fast his feet almost came out from under
him. Letting her go may be the right thing, but he couldn’t do it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Her
passions include writing and traveling. She writes strong women with a bit of
attitude, and flawed men that you can’t help but fall in love with to create
that once in a lifetime love one page at a time. The Rise to Fame and The Cost
of Fame complete her first contemporary romance series.
To stay
up to date on Shay’s latest releases check out her website or follow her on social
media. Don’t forget to sign up for her
newsletter!
