Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner | Universal Link
Length: 84,500 words
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Blurb
Max Diaz is firmly in the closet, and as unbearable as that’s becoming, he can’t risk his only remaining family—his brother, Tony—or his band Purple Method’s chance to make it big.
Rick Bernstein dreams of rising in the ranks of the MMA circuit and securing a training career at a top gym, but with rejections coming thick and fast and his financial future in dire jeopardy, starting a relationship is the last thing on his mind—especially with someone who isn’t out.
But when Purple Method returns to Elfinbrook after a six-month tour, one kiss changes everything. Now Max and Rick face decisions that will change both of their lives forever.
Review
Victoria Milne is a new to me
author and Purple Method is a fantastic first read. I absolutely love
rock star romances and MMA romances and we get both here! There are some very
serious undertones in this story while dealing with one of the main character’s
coming out. Just a warning that it’s very emotional, but beautifully written.
Max Diaz is the lead singer
of Purple Method and his older brother, Tony, is the band’s drummer. Max and
Tony are alone in the world besides each other and the family they’ve created
within the band. Max is an incredibly talented and intelligent young man, he’s
also a man with a very deep secret. Max is gay and he’s so far in the closet,
it’s actually heartbreaking watching him struggle with his sexuality. The world
he lives in doesn’t give him much hope of ever truly finding love and
happiness.
Rick Bernstein is part of the
MMA world and working towards being a trainer at a high-level gym. He’s a
little older than Max and is trained as a chiropractor. Rick is also a very out
and very proud man. Rick has a crush on Max before he even meets him, he loves
his voice, his looks…he’s a fan. When the two meet at a concert and then later at
a party, sparks fly. Rick is interested in pursuing this spark, but Max is
terrified. He believes if anyone finds out his secrets, he’ll be left
completely alone in the world…no brother, no home, no friends, and no fans.
What makes this even worse is that Max honestly believes this, this isn’t him
being paranoid, a bone deep belief. The problem with secrets though is that
they almost always come out. The question is, will Max and Rick survive all
that’s coming their way?
Excerpt
Max Diaz’s legs were trembling so hard, he was amazed they were still holding him up. As he waited at the edge of the stage, hidden out of sight, his throat grew tight, and he dreaded the moment he’d be expected to perform. He didn’t think he could speak right now, let alone sing the complicated vocals.
After years of Max pleading with his brother to let him join the band, Tony had finally relented. He suspected Tony had done it to ease the blow of their dad leaving them. It was just the two of them against the rest of the world.
But that didn’t change the fact that Max was now the lead singer of an actual band. He still couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe they’d trusted him with the responsibility of fronting them when they were all so talented.
The venue was small, but right now, the stage looked huge. There had to be at least twenty people watching them. Twenty people who would witness his epic failure if he didn’t pull his shit together.
Tony, Lee, and Kyle—his bandmates—were preparing the equipment, like Max had seen them do countless times before when he’d been to their gigs. Next time he’d help out, but right now he wasn’t complaining that they were leaving him alone. Kyle was testing the microphones, Tony was moving one of the drums, and Lee was tuning his bass guitar. It wouldn’t be long now.
Max’s legs were numb as the trembling crept through his body all the way to his fingertips, and his head swam as queasiness threatened.
“Max, breathe,” Tony said.
Opening his eyes, Max gasped a breath and tried to focus on his brother.
“You’ve got this.”
“But what if I don’t—”
“You do. Just pretend we’re back home in the garage. You’re ready. Do you think I’d let you onstage with us if you weren’t?”
Max scrubbed his hands over his eyes. That was true. “But what if I let you down? What if I screw up?”
Pulling him into a hug, Tony said, “Focus on the music and you’ll be fine. If you’re thinking about screwing up, then you will. Don’t think about that.”
“Ready?” Lee asked.
Tony patted Max on the back and released him.
“Yeah. Let’s do this,” Max said, and prayed Tony was right.
While the others took their places onstage, Max turned his thoughts to their chaotic band practices. Was it helping? He wasn’t sure. If anything, he was more nervous.
Oh God. The queasiness worsened, and Max knew he couldn’t hold it in this time. He made a dash for the restrooms out back, barely making it in time. When he returned to the stage, Tony and Lee were playing the intro on loop, and all three of them were glaring at him.
Max grabbed the microphone and gripped it as hard as he could, terrified it would slip through his fingers as he stepped onto the stage. He closed his eyes and focused on Tony’s deafening drumbeat, and then on Lee’s bass guitar, the deep notes thundering through his body, dissipating the tingling in his limbs. By the time Kyle’s guitar joined the mix, Max’s nerves were giving way—transforming into the familiar charged excitement music always brought him.
Bringing the microphone to his lips and taking a deep breath, Max opened his eyes. Their audience looked interested, but they weren’t leaping about yet. As Max sang the first lines of “Scream My Name,” a couple of people whistled and nodded their approval.
He could do this. He totally could. And if he had the chance to perform like this for the rest of his life, he’d die happy.
Grinning, Max raised his arms in the air, and he swore that by the end of their set he’d have them all screaming for Purple Method.
A firm believer that consensual love should come without labels and without prejudice, these themes often appear in her stories, as do Victoria’s passions for martial arts, cooking, yoga, and loud music. It was no surprise when these subjects began to resonate in her writing, frequently taking center stage, and rather than fighting it she’s learned to accept and enjoy that these will always be indispensable elements in her work.
Although Victoria appreciates that stories don’t always have to have happy endings, hers always do—because everybody deserves to find their true love(s).
In 2016, Love Unlocked—the anthology in which her story “Writer’s Lock” was published—was a Rainbow Award finalist. The experience fueled her desire to learn as much about the mechanics of writing as she could. In 2017 Victoria completed her training with the Society for Editors and Proofreaders and became a full-time freelance editor. Victoria has always loved reading, and still can’t quite believe she’s been lucky enough to not only create books of her own but also help other writers perfect theirs too!
Website: www.purplemethod.net
Facebook: fb.me/victoriamilneauthor
Twitter: @victoria_milne_
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