Read Only The Beginning (Rockin' Country) Online
Authors: Laramie Briscoe
Tags: #Romance, #rock music, #country music, #love, #singing
Only The Beginning (Rockin' Country)
Book One of the Rockin’ Country Series
By Laramie Briscoe
Copyright © 2014 Laramie Briscoe
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
Edited by:
Lindsay Gray Hopper
Cover Art by: Kari Ayasha,
Cover to Cover Designs
Proofread by: Dawn Bourgeois
Formatting: Paul Salvette,
BB eBooks
Cover Models: Jack and Ashley Edmund
Cover Photo: Mandy Hollis of
MH Photography
To the songs and musicians that make writing so much fun! If I could one day be a rockstar, I totally would!
Princess of Country Music
America’s sweetheart
Survivor of the scrutiny that comes with it all
Hannah “Harmony” Stewart has lived most of her adult life in the spotlight. It hasn’t always been easy. One heartbreak almost ruined her. Some days it’s hard to keep a smile on her face and stay positive, but there are a lot of people counting on her to keep it together. Just when it seems like she’s at the pinnacle of her career, her life takes a turn. She meets a man who challenges everything she knows about herself and makes her question if the life she’s living is for her or for the Nashville machine.
Heavy Metal’s bad boy
Hair trigger temper
Struggling to deal with pressure of the industry
Garrett “Reaper” Thompson is tired. Touring and keeping up appearances with his band “Black Friday” is beginning to wear him out. He’s ready for a change, ready for something different. When he meets Hannah at an awards show, he knows that she’s the one; he knows that he can’t live without her.
The problem?
Their own insecurities, their fans, her ex-boyfriend, and the media themselves. Can they look past it all and come through on the other side? For their story—this is only the beginning.
Sneak Peek of Rockin’ Country 1.5
* * *
T
he crowd screamed loudly, causing her palms to sweat and her heart to race. Harmony Stewart inhaled deeply and then exhaled, letting the breath flow through her. The relaxation technique worked. Shoulders that had been so tight she couldn’t even roll them were now loose. It was always like this, she realized. Right before she went on stage, the nervous energy started, causing her to tense up—not fully being able to appreciate the life she was living. Closing her eyes, she breathed again, feeling her muscles loosen up even more.
“Harmony, you’re up next.”
She nodded, glancing at the production tech. “Thanks.” Her voice was thin even to her own ears. This was just something that she went through, no matter how many millions of albums she sold or awards she garnered.
Looking out onto the stage, she saw the rock group, Black Friday, finishing up. A fan of the band, she tried to still the heart that threatened to beat out of her chest as they finished their song and walked towards her. The lead singer was the personification of hotness in her opinion. She had always wanted a meeting, but had never been able to approach him when they had been in the same space. This time he would have to walk right by her—not that she had deluded herself to think he would know who she even was. Pulling her shaking hands to her body, she gripped them hard as the group approached.
“Good job, guys,” she smiled as they passed her. One by one, they nodded and accepted her smile until she came face to face with Reaper, the lead singer. She only knew his stage name. What she wouldn’t give to know his real one.
“Thanks. Good luck out there, sweetheart,” he smiled widely. His teeth were white and straight, the dimples that she had caught glimpses of in pictures deepened widely in his cheeks. He was tall, much taller than she had originally thought. He towered over her 5’6 frame (with heels, thank you very much), and the tattoos that traveled down his arms were a feast to her eyes. They were intricate, and she wished she had the time to study them all.
Harmony opened her mouth to tell him something else, but he was already gone. Disappointment hit her stomach hard and fast. But at least it had been a start. With any luck, she would see him at some other award show. She heard her cue as she looked back to where the rock band stood, debriefing with some of their management. For just a split second, her eyes met Reaper’s and goose bumps appeared on her arms. If only they’d had more time.
* * *
Reaper sat with his head back, eyes closed. The night had been long. He never really liked doing these awards shows, but their fans were amazing. Even though they didn’t have what others called “crossover” success, they had some of the most rabid fans in the music industry. That, however, didn’t change the fact that he was lonely and tired of not having someone besides the members of his band to share his life with.
“Who was the cutie that smiled at us as we walked by?”
“That was Harmony Stewart,” he answered, moving only his lips.
“Country singer?”
“Yes, dude,” he sighed. “The country singer.”
“She’s cuter than I imagined. I’ve only seen her on TV a few times.”
Reaper sighed again. “Seriously Train, you’re getting on my fuckin’ nerves. Do you have to talk all the time?”
“What’s your problem? Do you need to get laid?” Train asked, having a seat next to his friend.
“Do you ever get sick of all this?” He lifted his long arms and big hands up; gesturing to the backstage green room they sat in.
“Sick of what? The free pussy, the free booze, the amazing trips overseas and around this great nation? Playing the music we love every night? I’m ready to do this the rest of my life. Why aren’t you?”
Reaper lifted his head up and opened his eyes, staring into the eyes of his friend. “I’m burnt out. Not with the music, but with the lifestyle. I need a change, something different to shake things up.”
“Burnt out? How can you be burnt out?”
“It’s just…” he ran his fingers through his hair. “We’ve been on the road for a year. I need something new and exciting in my life. I’m sick of the same girls, the same bus, and the same hotel rooms.”
“You’re bein’ a moody fucking pansy is what you’re being. Do you know how many guys would give their left nut to be where we are?” Train slapped his friend on the shoulder, the disbelief showing on his face.
Reaper realized he would get nowhere with his friend. Train dealt with his demons in unhealthy ways and perhaps tonight wasn’t the best time to approach him about this. He couldn’t rightfully explain his feelings if he didn’t fully understand them himself. Better to just pretend that everything was peachy. “You’re right. I’m crazy. I just need some good alcohol and a good cigarette. Let’s get to the after party.”
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” the lead guitarist said, grabbing his friend by the arm and ushering him out of the room.
Reaper realized that nobody seemed to care what he thought, how he felt, or just how lonely he was. He might as well make the best of what to him was an unbearable situation.
* * *
“Harmony? Are you changing into the dress that new designer sent you for the after party?”
“I think so,” Harmony answered her best friend and assistant, Shell.
“You need to change now, then.”