VOICES CARRY
Part of The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection

BY

USA Today Bestselling Author Diane Rinella

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

COVER DESIGNER: Heidi 'Azurylipfes' Darras

An incredible romance involving a man, the music he craves, and the voice that haunts him.

Rock and roll turns Brandon Wayne into a juvenile delinquent in all the best ways—crazed, ambitious, and with a slip of danger nagging at his hips. His marketing job at Endeara Candies and hunting down classic vinyl nirvana at Warped Records make his world seem ordinary, but there is another side to his life.

As an anniversary of tragedy approaches, odd occurrences riddle Brandon’s mind with questions. Whose voice is suddenly materializing in his head? Is he fabricating a psychic who looks like one of his favorite rock stars? Why is he having retro dreams involving welded beer cans, disco, and a punk rock girl? The puzzle seems never ending.

Have the musty fumes at Warped Records and the terrible candy at work rotted Brandon’s brain? Has he crossed into the realm of insanity? Or is the reason for the madness beyond his comprehension?

The ambient noise from Dale’s end of the line disappears. I lean back, put my feet up, and close my eyes.

Hold music creeps in. Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”? That’s an odd choice. My foot starts pounding out the rhythm of the bass drum. The song becomes an anthem, beating itself into my head and making me rally behind it. This is totally gonna be stuck in my head all day.

“So far, today has been promising.”

No!

I bolt up in my chair, gripping its arms with white knuckles while my heart tries to gallop out of my chest. That voice came over the phone! It wasn’t any voice either! My words sprint out, cracking as they go. “Dale, you there? Who’s with you?”

Ambient noise returns, followed by Dale’s voice, “Hold on another sec.” I’m definitely not on hold now, yet I still hear Warrant. This is exactly what happened in the car two days ago with Mötley Crüe.

“Anyway,” Dale says, “I was thinking maybe …”

“Sometimes this job can be so boring.”

My lungs struggle for air. There she is again, and she sounds as clear and loud as Dale does. I’m tempted to throw down the phone and run, but all I can do is sit here, frozen and gripping the chair.

Haze begins to coat my inner vision. Pixels form and merge. At first the image is black with a smattering of light peering through, and then browns and creams work their way in, leading to full color, yet it is all buried under fog. My jaw clenches. What the hell is going on?

The haze clears, and although my heart won’t stop racing, something tells me I am safe, regardless of how I have a hard time believing it.

The image before me is of a female arm reaching toward a coffee table and a copy of Neon Angel, the autobiography of Cherie Currie of The Runaways. Next to it is a stereo with an iPod attached. Is that where Warrant is coming from?

“I find myself waiting around, wasting so much time. At least I’m becoming well read.” She chuckles. “If you can call this well read. At least I finally have a chance to look into some of the things that interest me.”

Dale’s voice slips in. “I think I’m headed to great places.”

Everything sounds jumbled to the point where I’m not sure who said what. I don’t want to risk disturbing the vision by asking Dale to stop talking. I also fear that if I speak, I’m so far over the edge my voice won’t work.

The view slips to a dark brown carpet, and although I am still gripping my chair, I seem to be walking; yet I can’t tell where. All I catch are glimpses of what I’m pretty sure are pictures hanging on the wall of a fairly small space. Is this a trailer?

We pass through a door and the music fades, but the sound of heels clicking on tile echo into the mix. The acoustics also change, and I catch sight of a bathroom sink.

“Anyway, I need to head off. We’re getting ready to …”

Was that Dale? I’m not sure anymore.

Sweat builds on my brow as my view turns to a mirror. My ability to breathe is strained when I see the woman wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a design I can’t make out. Her skin is fair and freckled. Her eyes seem hazel or maybe brown. I can’t tell the color of her clipped-up hair, but it seems dark red. Who is this woman whose voice keeps infiltrating my mind? And why am I suddenly seeing through her eyes? It’s almost as if I am her, yet I know I am not.

I’m not, right?

No. I’m Brandon Wayne. I’m sitting at work in Los Angeles, California. I’m thirty-one years old. I’m on the phone with Dale who is in Canada.

I force my view downward and see what I know is real—my hands gripping my chair.

“Yo! Brandon, you there?”

Voices Carry is a standalone novel that takes place in the Rock and Roll Fantasy universe, alongside It’s A Marshmallow World, Scary Modsters ... and Creepy Freaks, Queen Midas In Reverse, and the upcoming Moonlight Serenade.

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Angie broke off the kiss and pushed away from him. “What are you doing, Jack?”

He grabbed her by the wrist and brought her back into his arms. “Making up for lost time. Doing what I should have done years ago.”

“You can’t go back and change the past, Jack. You broke my heart once. I won’t let it happen again.”

She was right, but when he was close to her, thinking straight was near impossible. There were a million and one reasons why he should walk away from her, from this case. He headed for the door and yanked it open.


She didn’t budge.

“You’re right. You should leave.” It would kill him to see her walk out his door again, but it was the gentlemanly thing to do. He was giving her an out. One she would take if she were smart.

Angie lifted her chin defiantly. “Not until we talk.”

The tension was palpable. Jack let the door close and engaged the deadbolt. “Suit yourself.”

He strode across the room, pinning Angie to the wall. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he tugged her head back, leaving her silky neck exposed. God, how long had it been since he’d last been with a woman as tantalizing as her? He took a deep breath in. Her perfume beckoned him to take a taste, to throw caution to the wind and give in.

“I warned you. I’m not in the mood to be played with.” Tonight wasn’t about making excuses, or even about making love. It was about sheer lust. Trying to scratch an itch that had lain dormant for too many years. Far too many years.

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Throughout the day, Elizabeth Janette wears many hats: soccer mom, teacher, hula dancer, photographer, and romance writer. When she's not drafting fun lesson plans, she's dreaming up murder mysteries and love affairs to write about. Elizabeth's stories have earned her recognition as a finalist in the 2011 Dixie First Chapter contest and a finalist in the Indiana Golden Opportunity contest. Her debut novel, Redemption For Liars, was nominated as a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category as well as the Best First Book category for the 2014 National Excellence for Romantic Fiction Award.

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I'm an avid lover of books. I've been writing as far back as I can remember, completing my first "book" by fifth grade in one of those one subject spiral notebooks. I have a passion for music, photography, jewelry and all things creative. I live in Arizona with my husband and son, but dream of being somewhere much colder and stormier. For now, I'll have to live that life through my characters and stick it out with the summer heat.

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THE FOUNDERS
Book 1 of the Sage Seed Chronicles

AUTHOR: Holly Barbo

GENRE: YA Fantasy

COVER DESIGNER: JC Clarke @ The Graphics Shed

There are no monsters on Ose. People can be monstrous enough.

Disaster strikes the beautiful world of Ose. Marisily is one of the Sages who can help heal the planet when nuclear winter pushes the civilization back to the brink of destruction. Only she doesn’t know her own powers yet.

It is survival of the fittest as vicious outlaws destroy all that remains, kidnapping, enslaving and killing those weaker than themselves.

With a bounty on her head, alone and betrayed by her own father, can a young woman find the strength and wisdom necessary to rally the good people of Ose and rebuild their culture?

Sari worsened as the day wore on. She was too weak to fight off the effects of the abuse and the fever at the same time. Marisily was at her mother’s side when she died. She closed her mother’s eyes and wrapped her in a clean sheet. Then she sat at her mother’s side and rocked back and forth as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Eventually, her sobbing breaths quieted and she wiped her cheeks.

Dazed, Marisily resumed her duties. She had made a stew in the afternoon with the thought that the broth would be nourishing for her mother. Now she served it to her father for dinner. Jed came in from his workroom and started eating when Marisily quietly said, “Mother’s dead. I have prepared her for burial.”

Jed gave his daughter a long look before he answered. Marisily sensed he was considering saying something that she wouldn’t like and she steeled herself for it, but when he spoke all he said was, “I am sorry to hear that. She was a good wife. The only thing she didn’t do was give me a son. I’ll move her body to the workshop before I go out tonight.” He scooped another piece of meat from the stew and chewed thoughtfully. “Daughter, I don’t think I can continue to support you. I will give you a choice. Rory, the herder, needs a wife. He’s a friend of mine. I don’t believe he has ever cleaned his place and though he is eight years older than me, he is lusty enough to keep you busy. I think he could take you to wife tomorrow. Or you could leave. It makes no difference to me. As your father, I don’t need to give you a choice, but since I’m grieving the loss of your mother, I will be generous. If you are still here tomorrow morning, I’ll know your decision is to wed.” He finished his meal and pushed back from the table. “I am going into Morraton to meet with friends. I’ll bring my new wife home after I bury Sari tomorrow.” Jed put on his heavy coat and smiled to himself as the door closed behind him. He didn’t believe his daughter had enough warm clothing to survive. She would either set out tonight and freeze to death or would stay and leave with Rory tomorrow. It didn’t make any difference to him. She would be gone either way.

Marisily cleared the table, giving her father time to go down the trail to town, keeping an eye on the window until he disappeared from sight. There was no way she was going to remain. Angry at her father’s offhand comments, total insensitivity and arrogance, she was also fully aware of her danger. Marisily had been very lucky that her father had given her a choice. She had been thinking about where she would go. There was a place that she had seen several years before. At the time, Jed had been gone on a journey to obtain yarns spun in Osily. Sari and Marisily had ranged miles from the cabin picking berries. They had separated, to cover more area. Marisily thought hard about where that place was. They had meandered through the foothills during that gathering trip.

She brought out her coat, and put on all of her warmest clothes as well as a few things of her mother’s. Her father would never allow her to leave with anything he deemed his property and that included everything in the home. Marisily knelt by her bed and, rolling back the rug, she removed the floorboard. She pulled out a heavy, knitted hat, scarf and gloves that she had made for her mother’s upcoming birthday and donned them. Her mother would be happy that she was using the gift to survive. Quickly, Marisily emptied her secret cubbyhole of her journal and other small treasures. Gathering what she could carry that she felt her father wouldn’t miss, Marisily stepped outside and disappeared from her childhood home. She had no intention of ever coming back.

The entire mass of guys sitting around my station flocked to Val’s, giving me some time to clean up. I looked up to find only one left, and he was watching me intently. It was the same guy Ty had greeted so enthusiastically earlier.

''Can I get you anything?'' I asked, taking empty glasses off the counter.

''A smile. Give me one and I guarantee you’ll get the biggest tip tonight.'' The slow seductive tone rolling from his shapely lips told me he wasn’t just fooling around. His green eyes stared at me like I was dessert. This guy was hot and he knew it. He was looking me up and down, biting on his lips. He was clearly not afraid to show me how much he liked what he saw. Me. His confidence and determination were fierce. The way his tousled light brown hair went every which way, hanging down across his forehead, told me right away he didn’t care about his looks. He didn’t have to.

He wanted a smile? I shook my head. ''You don’t want a drink? Just water, maybe?''

''No, just a smile. You're the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and it's just a smile I want.'' He brushed his hand through his hair, making it even more tousled.

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Faith in Love by C.M. Albert

Full of grief and jaded by love, corporate philanthropist Egan MacGuire is given two options by his boss: take a leave of absence or kiss his job goodbye. A road trip with a friend is just the distraction Egan needs to figure out how to get his life back on track.

Celeste St. Angelo left the bright lights and big city for the mountains of North Carolina to open the next phase of her flourishing Angel Therapy business, a healing and wellness center. With the grand opening looming she has no time for distractions, especially love.

When divine timing sparks an unexpected romance, will Egan and Celeste be able to leave their troubled pasts behind and find the courage to have a little faith in love?

Crazy Love by Calinda B

Skilled “tiger whisperer” Kennedy Swift is on a mission to get her life on track and escape the people who want to do her harm. Running into Dante Vega isn’t on the plan. When her gaze lands on Dante, the same obsession and longing she experienced in her senior year comes roaring back to life. She simply can’t afford to let him in. End of story.

An unexpected, surprise encounter at a tiger sanctuary in the Bronx leaves mega-superstar musician Dante Vega reeling. Is the woman being charged by the tiger, about to lose her life, the same woman he crushed hard on at his exclusive private Manhattan high school before she vanished?

Each of their lives has been marred by tragedy. Each carries secrets, too dark to reveal. Will their secrets tear them apart? Or will they find the courage to come clean, risking all to find love?

Cameo appearances from Dex Remington, Ellie Parker, Mitch Anziano and Regina Smith, from Game of Love.

Give in to Love by Natasha Brown

She placed her hand on the bull’s forehead and gave it a scratch before leaning down. A sudden twitch of its head caught Kara off balance. With her eyes on the horns, she teetered, and fell into the red sludge. Her chest, arms and legs landed with a splat in the mud. Although surprised, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Snickers joined hers, as Miles’s hands grabbed her and with some effort, lifted her upright. Clay-covered and stiff, she allowed herself to get spun around. His lips pulled into a broad grin as he tugged her close.

“Watch out, I’ll get you dirty,” she murmured.

“Too late. Are you okay?” he asked, ignoring her muddy hands touching his forearms and pulled away to look her over.

Kara’s eyes trailed up to his face and caught there. Instead of answering, she nodded her head in small movements. Every second that passed, she began to notice what it was like having arms wrapped around her and the rise and fall of a strong chest. She’d never felt like she belonged anywhere like she did in his arms.

Natasha Brown’s active imagination has always been a distraction to her. When she was a child, the forest outside her home, and books read in the dark past bedtime taught her that exciting worlds are created with dreams and a voice. Once she started writing, she couldn’t break the habit. By day, Natasha’s an assistant teacher at an elementary school, and by night, she’s a book cover designer. Her weekends are spent writing and spending time with family, unless she’s not busy sleeping and dreaming up her next imaginary world.

Tracks to Love by Abbie St. Claire

Willow Alders is looking for a new start and leaps at the opportunity to work for an elite marketing agency in New York City. With the pain of Dallas in her rear view mirror she clings to her new motto, “The past is a statement, the future is a question.”

Tate Conway treats women like his racing opponents, one and done, but lately, his conquests have left him looking for more, and seeking solace in the bottom of a beer bottle.

Her first assignment at the agency forces Willow to face her past with the handsome racing devil, Tate. When she accidentally spills her coffee on him, Willow burns a track straight to his heart, can he shift her attention his way or will this be the greatest loss of his life?

Cooking Up Love by Stacey Wallace

Fabiana felt herself swoon a bit at the thought of this man all sweaty and dirty, sitting on the curb, his gear spread out around him, wolfing down a meal that undoubtedly contained cream of mushroom soup and tater tots. She enjoyed watching people eat with gusto after a hard day’s work.

She took a chance and slipped one of her ancient cards from the little-used pocket on the front of her purse. After quickly inspecting it to make sure she hadn’t used it as scratch paper or written a phone number on it, Fabiana thrust it at the guy. “I run the cooking program over at Tableau. My Beginner’s class starts this Saturday if you’re interested.”

The man grinned from ear to ear and blushed, taking the card from her hand. He looked it over. “Fabiana? What a cool name. I’m James.” He stowed the card in his pants pocket and then offered his hand to her. “Thanks for saving me from further humiliation. I’ll be sure to check out your class. Lord knows I need it.”

Stacey Wallace is a full-time author and mama, and a part-time lunch lady. She writes engaging romances that make her readers snort-laugh, ugly cry, and fall in love with her characters.

Stacey lives in Beaverton, OR, a suburb of Portland, which suits her just fine as she can always find parking.

Could This Be Love by Kathy Ivan

During the drive back from his parents' place, she'd slumped over, practically landing in his lap. He'd ended up pulling her against his side to keep her from sliding off the seat.

Yeah, right. You just wanted to feel her against you. Touch her.

"Emma, honey, wake up."

"Don't wanna. Sleepy now."

He sighed and stared down at the barely awake but enticingly beautiful blonde. There were two very good reasons he didn't want to grab her in his arms, race upstairs and toss her into his bed. A—because she'd be mortified when she woke up and found herself sprawled out in her ex-husband's bed. And B—he wasn't sure his knee would hold up under the added strain.

With a grimace, he propped her languorously limp body against the seat and slid out, going around to the passenger door.

"Emma, come on, baby. Let's get you to bed."

The sunglasses slid down until they perched on the end of her nose. She opened her eyes, sleepy and yet a brilliant green even in the muted light of the garage. So damned gorgeous.

"What? Bed? Umm hmm, bed sounds good."

USA TODAY Bestselling author Kathy Ivan spent most of her life with her nose between the pages of a book. From best-selling authors to just-getting-started writers, as long as it was a good story, she devoured it and happily searched for the next romance novel. It didn't matter if the book was a paranormal romance, romantic suspense, or action and adventure thrillers, sweet & spicy or sexy novella. As long as there was an alpha hero and a feisty heroine who got their happily ever after, she'd gladly spend her time with a psychic in New Orleans, or a mysterious stranger manipulating the fate of lovers. Kathy turned her obsession with reading into the next logical step, writing. Her books transport you from a paranormal lodge in the Colorado Mountains to the sultry splendor of the French Quarter in New Orleans in her award winning romantic suspense and mysteries. Kathy tells stories people can’t get enough of; reuniting old loves, betrayal of trust, finding kidnapped children, psychics and even a ghost or two. But one thing they all have in common - love (and some pretty steamy sex scenes too).