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A review by litagentsaritza
The Replacement Guitarist by Lori Toland
4.0
First-time-author, [a:Lori Toland|3320807|Lori Toland|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]'s breakout novel, [b:Replacement Guitarist|7576197|Replacement Guitarist|Lori Toland|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1263577390s/7576197.jpg|9934476], scheduled for release on February 1 from Dreamspinner Press. I didn't think it would be easy to review a book I'd seen grow from the very first manuscript through it's approval process. But it was so wonderful fall into the Jason-and-Blaze world that I kept forgetting to make notes to myself for this review. I just basked in their afterglow and well... see for yourself.
What I liked about this book: It's a rock-n-roller's life and yet... it's not out of reach! I like that even though much of the celebrity aspects of being on tour with a famous singer are in the periphery of the story, the main focus is on Blaze and Jason.
The instant Blaze sets foot in Jason's office, it's instant attraction and a whirlwind courtship begins. While this is not uncommon in romance, what I love about these characters are the quirky things that make them real to the reader. I love Blaze! I really do! He's young and headstrong with a good head on his shoulders and a penchant for life that's invigorating while still being rather naive about a few things. It doesn't hurt that he's a hot, Hawaiian-born Japanese rockstar! The manga lover in me had hearts in her eyes the minute he set foot in my head. :D
Summary: Blaze Shinozuka, a hot talent who auditions as a replacement guitarist for world famous pop star Cassie, is thrilled when he draws the attention of celebrity manager Jason Stockton—and not only because it could make his career. His instant attraction to Jason sends his world careening off its axis and drives him to make a move. But Jason reacts by trying to put distance between them, and Blaze finds himself thrust into the gritty world of rock 'n' roll while falling for a man he shouldn’t touch, let alone love.
Straight-laced Jason Stockton is always professional and never dips his pen in the company ink. But there's something about Blaze that leaves him wanting what he shouldn't, and the guitarist’s exotic beauty and compelling innocence turn out to be the temptation Jason can’t resist. But just one lie in the national media sets off a chain of events that pushes Jason and Blaze apart. Can they find a way to be together in the cutthroat, jealous world of rock 'n' roll even after the music stops?
What I liked about this book: It's a rock-n-roller's life and yet... it's not out of reach! I like that even though much of the celebrity aspects of being on tour with a famous singer are in the periphery of the story, the main focus is on Blaze and Jason.
The instant Blaze sets foot in Jason's office, it's instant attraction and a whirlwind courtship begins. While this is not uncommon in romance, what I love about these characters are the quirky things that make them real to the reader. I love Blaze! I really do! He's young and headstrong with a good head on his shoulders and a penchant for life that's invigorating while still being rather naive about a few things. It doesn't hurt that he's a hot, Hawaiian-born Japanese rockstar! The manga lover in me had hearts in her eyes the minute he set foot in my head. :D
Excerpt:JASON tried not to smile. Blaze looked adorable as he hemmed and hawed over his words, developing a posture to hide his desire for someone, something Jason hadn't used since he was a teenager. Jason licked his lips, his mouth going dry.
He was sure Blaze would say something as he stood there looking at the floor, but instead, he looked up, his pupils dilated, the need so clearly written on his face as words seemed to escape him. Jason felt himself moving. Blaze was as well, and they collided in the middle.
Their lips met, and the guitarist tasted sweet like apples, his lips moist as Jason sucked on Blaze's full bottom lip. Jason dragged his teeth across it enticingly, and Blaze moaned, opening his mouth. Jason pounced on the opportunity to slide his tongue inside the other man's mouth.
It was his turn to moan as their tongues met, sliding against each other. Jason couldn't believe how good this felt, how passionately the other man was kissing him. His arms left Blaze's shoulders and went to his hips, pulling their bodies flush against each other.
Jason groaned loudly as their cocks touched through their pants and slid against each other. Passion flooded him, and it took a while for the waves of desire crashing within him to ebb. It slowly dawned on him that Blaze's body had stiffened. He pulled away briefly and realized as he looked into those gorgeous eyes that Blaze was shocked and looking uncomfortable.
BLAZE looked up at the manager to see need plainly written on his face. He'd thought about seeing it as he was in his hotel bed last night, his cock hard as a rock as it begged for relief. He had jerked off once when he got to the room and again this morning in the shower, both times while he thought of the other man sucking him off and Blaze returning the favor.
He was so hard now that it was painful. The ache in his groin was slowly eating away at his good sense. Blaze knew he had to walk away from this. They worked together, and he tried to tell himself again that if it went sour, things could get really bad, really fast. And it wouldn't be Jason leaving, it would be the new guitarist, and that reputation would no doubt follow him everywhere.
Blaze wanted Jason so much he could nearly taste the desire. Even though Jason's lips weren't on him, he could still feel the pressure of the manager's mouth against his. He must have hesitated too long, because he felt Jason step away, and he made a split-second decision. He closed his eyes and tilted his face up. He was offering himself, hoping beyond hope he would be accepted, pushing aside his fear of rejection.
The other man lips were tentative on his own, slightly gentler than before. Blaze felt a surge of excitement mixed with surprise. He was sure Jason would take him hard and fast, bending him over the desk and fucking him senseless. He seemed like a person who took what he wanted without regard, but instead, his touch was gentle. His fingers were warm and soft as they touched his cheek. They were so different from his own, which were thick and callused from the strings of his guitar.
Those fingers were trailing along his jaw, stroking gently as they moved to the back of his neck. Blaze sighed against his lips, opening his mouth when he felt Jason's tongue probing again. He heard a groan, and he realized it wasn't his own, but Jason's.
A hand on Blaze's hip, making its way to his zipper, shocked him into facing what Jason was doing. The older man was trailing his knuckles along his bulge, and Blaze felt his cheeks begin to burn. He was scared of Jason seeing his desire for him. There would be no turning back from this moment.
When Blaze didn't protest, Jason pulled down his zipper and deftly unsnapped his jeans. Blaze thrust his hips against the older man's hand, a moan flowing from him into Jason's mouth. The kiss was broken, and the older man looked down, fumbling with the waistband on Blaze's briefs. Then Jason's hand engulfed him, and Blaze let out a strangled cry.