Thursday, July 5, 2012

Heart of Rock by Karyn Gerrard Excerpt & Giveaway

BLURB:  Irishman Brogan Byrne is at the pinnacle of rock music success in 1974. Handsome, charismatic, with a three-octave voice, you’d think he had it all. But Byrne sinks to new depths of depravity with women, liquor, and drugs. Carly Montgomery is an ambitious record executive offered an opportunity to be manager for the last leg of Byrne's tour. Though she's detached and tough as nails, Carly's cool facade comes under attack. Somehow Byrne manages to slip by her frosty defenses. Brogan, for his part, is broken inside. A memory weighs on his soul and affects his actions. Is Carly the one woman to help him forget his guilt and heal his heart of rock?









EXCERPT:  "Where the feck am I again?"
Looking at him, Carly shook her head. "Are you going to become one of those pathetic, burnt out, brain-fried bastards who need index cards wherever you go so you know what city you're in?"

He interrupted her and in an uninterested tone explained, "Love, I always needed index cards to tell me what city I was in."

She sighed in exasperation but continued, "We're still in Philly in a private VIP lounge at the airport waiting on a flight to JFK. In New York. You have a concert in two nights, remember?"

"Far out," Brogan mumbled in annoyance.

"Guess I'll have to introduce myself again. Carly Montgomery. I'm your new manager. Byron quit last night. I suppose you don't remember that, either."

"No. I really don't remember. The show went well, I suppose."

"Yes, the concert went fine. What happened after the show caused the concern. You all but trashed the dressing room at the Spectrum. Your mess is going to cost a pretty penny, Nigel is not impressed."

"Carly? How original. Copy Carly Simon, did you?"

He watched as her jaw set in annoyance. "I don't copy anybody. My name is Cara, but my family has called me Carly since I could crawl — and why am I explaining this to you?"

Brogan blinked and had a good look at this infuriating-as-shite woman. She was no more than 5'3”, her hair was long and wavy, dyed some two-tone shade of black with bright red streaks throughout. She wore a skintight black leather skirt and sexy four-inch black pumps. A tight gold tiger-patterned sweater hugged her feminine curves. Under the six layers of makeup he supposed she was attractive enough, no raving beauty but adequate. Her voice, however, sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

"I don't have to stay here. You can't keep me. I'll find my own feckin' way to New York —"

Carly whistled shrilly through her teeth. The door to the private lounge swung open. A man as big as a Volkswagen with a human head on it stood before Brogan with his legs apart and tree trunk-sized arms crossed defiantly.
Carly's laugh sounded smug and amused, which pissed him off further. "This is Giovanni. Gio gave you the cold shower, remember?"

He interjected again, this time more sarcastically, "Love, it's not the first cold shower I ever had."

"Regardless, he'll be your shadow going forward. Gio will keep you in line. Make sure you're a good boy and behave at the venues in future."

"I need a drink." Brogan snarled.

Carly inclined her head toward the counter. "There is fresh coffee in the pot, and some donuts in the box. That's all you're getting for now."

Jaysus Christ. He clasped his hands together to keep them from shaking. He did need a drink — badly. Times like this, he wished he smoked. He could use a fag right now. He was sober for the first time in days. Well, he would try to stay somewhat lucid for the show itself. But after the concert was over he would put aside the few restraints. Stalking the stage and whipping the crowd into a wild froth wasn't enough for him. He always needed more. His irritated gaze roamed over the huge man in front of him. Great. His own gorilla.
"Listen to me, Byrne. I've been around enough rockers these last three years to see the signs. Your own band can't stand you. They went to Nigel. They will be around you only for prerequisite rehearsals and the show itself. The rest of the time? They don't want to know you. They demanded separate travel and different hotels, though I can't see that happening. You're arrogant even to your own family and to your girlfriend," Carly hesitated. "You don't remember a thing, do you?"

Brogan Byrne didn't know why he acted this way and didn't know how to stop. This monster lived inside him, and it had resided there for a long time. The demon was a voracious beast. Even now it clamored and groaned. The beast wanted to be fed. The only thing quieting the fiend was drugs and sex. He needed some type of hit. He glanced over at Gio. If Tiny wasn't here he could put the moves on this Carly. Jaysus, where did that come from?




To win a PDF copy of HEART OF ROCK, answer the following question: What music from The Seventies do you like? Name me a group or song from that era for a chance to win!  
For bonus chances to win, just LIKE my author page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KarynGerrardAuthor  or 'Fan' me and/or friend me on Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4848577.Karyn_Gerrard  and let me know you did in your comment! I will announce the winner Sunday July 8.




44 comments:

  1. I was lucky enough to win a copy of this from the author. I can't wait to read it.

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  2. I am a Chicago fan and I even saw them in concert.
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

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    1. How cool you saw Chicago in concert! I mention '(I've been) Searching So Long by Chicago in the ebook! Thanks for commenting!

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  3. Anything by the Jackson 5,Diana Ross and Chicago.
    divavixenqueen(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE.

    Born to Run. And everything on it. BTR, Thunder Road, etc., etc., etc. !!

    Oh, and I think the Stone's Sticky Fingers came out in 1971. So, yeah. That. Brown Sugar. Etc., etc., etc.

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    1. Taryn, fantastic choice!! And yes, Sticky Fingers~ had a great album cover with workable zipper if I am not mistaken ;0) thanks for entering!

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  5. Thanks for a great post!!! Love the premise of this book :)

    Ummm... I was an 80's child so I don't really remember a whole lot of the 70's music.... I just know what was popular and still gets played... ummmm... YMCA?

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks so much Erin, I had fun writing this! Actually YMCA was a huge hit in the late 70's, good choice, thanks for entering!

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  6. I love Three Dog Knight--"Jerimiah Was A Bullfrog"

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    1. Three Dog Night is one of my favs. Joy to the World is a great song! thanks for entering!

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  7. I can't think of any 70's music. I like Heart. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

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    1. Heart had some great hits in the 70's, Barracuda and Magic Man comes to mind! Thanks for entering!

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  9. I added you as a friend in Goodreads.
    Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were (1975)

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    1. Extra entry for you! Thanks for the friend request in Goodreads, done!

      The Way we Were-huge hit! Thanks for entering!

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  10. I was a big Neil Diamond and ABBA fan. What a fun walk down memory lane!

    Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!


    +1 FB like as Sally Michele Shaw
    +1 GR friend as Sophia Rose

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    1. Great choices Sophia!

      I checked my author page and you weren\t listed as a like, bummer. Could you try again?

      https://www.facebook.com/KarynGerrardAuthor

      extra entires for you and thanks for entering!

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  11. I guess I would have to say the Beegees.

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  12. I don't have a favorite and if I do I definitely don't know who band was sorry.

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  13. Lets see, the seventies gave us such a variety I like the Eagles and Led Zeppelin as well as Abba
    I FB liked as Carin Walker as well as fanned you on good reads
    Carin mawmom@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks! Extra entries for you! I agree, the 70's had quite a mix and your choices reflect that. Thanks for entering!

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  14. Great excerpt, Karyn! I love the Eagles and CCR.

    You and I have been GR and FB friends for a while now. I wish you the very best with the new release! :)

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    1. Hi Nissie!

      Extra entries for you! Oh, I love The Eagles too, and CCR! Cheers for entering!

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  15. Wow um, there are alot of groups from the 70s that I still listen to. Led Zeppelin, CCR, Heart, Fleetwood Mac........Yea I could go on for a while, lol!

    sionedkla@gmail.com

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    1. Kassandra, I could go on too, such a great decade for music, love your choices!

      Thanks for entering!

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  16. The 70s - fun years for eclectic music. Definitely have to include Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Blondie, ZZ Top, and don't forget Queen!
    Goodreads and Facebook Denise Zaky
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Denise, great, great choices, Queen especially, Loved them! Extra entries for you and thanks for commenting!

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  17. I like Abba. Nice excerpt.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks! Abba is not one of my favs, but I did like 'Waterloo', thanks for entering!

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  18. GREAT excerpt! I like Journey, The Eagles, Chicago, Queen...

    barbbattaglia @ yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks about the excerpt! Oh yes, agree with all the choices, thanks for entering!

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  19. OOOHHH! The 70s!! I love Queen, ABBA, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, The Ramones....I could go on forever!!!

    FB: Mel Bourn
    goodreads: Mel Bourn

    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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    1. Mel, I love the 70's too, music wise anyway, lol! Good choices, Abba was not a fav, but I loved Styx! Saw them in concert, The Grand Illusion tour, fantastic!!

      Thanks for entering, and extra entries for you!!

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  20. Hi Cynthia!!

    Extra entries for you! I agree it was one of the best decades! Wow, great list and I agree with all of them! thanks for entering!

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  22. Don't leave me this way by Thelma Houston

    Loooove that song!

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    1. Oh great choice! Love that song! Thanks for entering Vanessa!

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  23. Want to thank Vanessa here at The Jeep Diva for hosting my giveaway! having a rock and rollin' good time! ;)

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  24. I like I will survive.

    riverinaromantic AT aol DOT com

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  25. This giveaway is closed.

    My favorite 70's song is either Sister Golden Hair by America or Kodachrome by Paul Simon.

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