Title: True Stars Collide
Author: Claire Marti
Genre: Contemporary Romance (novella)
Book Blurb:
A bad boy lead guitarist. A former pop princess. A fake marriage to relaunch the band?
Zoe Hastings will do anything to shed her pop princess image and prove she’s really a rockstar. Only problem: to become the lead singer of Black Velvet Machine, the PR team insists she commit to a temporary fake marriage to “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em Liam,” bad boy lead guitarist.
Liam Jones doesn’t want to play games, but he’s desperate to stage a comeback, so it’s off to the Vegas wedding chapel. Liam and Zoe can’t deny their scorching chemistry on-stage and off. Will these two opposites be able to resist their very real connection?
Note: Liam Jones, the rockstar hero, was featured in Palm Springs King. He was the one who tried to convince Austin Michaels to return to the band. He leapt off the page and deserved his own story. Hope you love it!
Excerpt:
Liam shoved away from the table and stalked to the windows. “A marriage to save the band? That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.”
“C’mon, Liam. You know there are probably more fake relationships than real ones in Hollywood. It works,” Ian said.
“Why me? My reputation works. Why not Ben? He’s the other original member.” He struggled to regulate the red hazing his vision.
“You’re the leader of the band, not Ben, and you know it. You messed things up. You need to fix it. Period.”
Liam turned and fixed his gaze on Zoe, who sat frozen in place. “There’s got to be some other way. What the hell would you do if we’d chosen a guy? Would I have had to marry him?”
Krissy snorted. “That point is moot. If you care so much about resurrecting Black Velvet Machine to its former glory, do it. Ian confirmed you and Zoe are both single.”
Irritated that Zoe hadn’t made a peep, he pointed at her. “Did you know about this?”
Zoe smoothed her wild tangle of ebony hair away from her face and gazed up at him, her whiskey-colored eyes unreadable. “No, I did not know about this.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? You’re okay with this?” He gritted his teeth.
“I don’t want to marry you any more than you want to marry me. But this kind of thing works. I want the band to be a success and I’m willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means acting like we…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping to her clasped hands.
“Well, you’re used to pretending, right? You’re just exchanging one bullshit image for another.”
Her nostrils flared and her lips tightened. “Grow up, we’re in show business. Everyone has a public persona. Although having an image for the public and faking a marriage aren’t exactly the same. But at the end of the day, I’ll be singing rock and roll and that’s what I want. If you can’t handle it, I’m fine with Ben. He, at least, has some manners.”
“Ben’s a shy, reclusive guy. It’s not enough. It has to be Liam,” Ian said.
Zoe’s cheeks flushed pink. “But isn’t it about making me look wild and impulsive? The husband shouldn’t matter.”
Krissy held up a hand. “Liam being his usual ‘Love ’em and Leave ’em Liam’ isn’t newsworthy. But the infamous Liam Jones in love? With the band’s new lead singer? The public will go nuts. It’s a much more powerful story.”
Bitterness filled his mouth. “How long?”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/truestarscollide
Author Biography:
Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series and the Finding Forever in Laguna series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog, and two clever cats. Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.
Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.clairemarti.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairemartiwrites