Genre: Contemporary, Rock ‘n’ Roll
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
The chance of a lifetime or their final performance?
Owen Stanton has been a member of the Kiwi band Flightless since high school. So far, he’s managed to walk the fine line between playing fiddle for the band and pursuing his classical violin career.
An opportunity arises to audition for a prestigious string quartet, and Owen takes his family’s advice to go for it. After all, it’s not like he’s going to make the cut, right? And if he does, the decision won’t have to be made until after the band’s highly anticipated performance at a popular New Zealand music festival.
Jared Murphy joins Flightless when their keyboard player faces a family crisis and needs to take a break. Soon he and Owen are writing music together and creating something beautiful between them. It’s a shame it won’t last. After all, Jared’s only standing in.
When the once in a lifetime invitation comes for the band to play at Rocktoberfest, decisions need to be made, even if taking the right path may end up in divided roads.
Divided Road is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what trouble our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
The Review
From New Zealand come Flightless, a band that plays with an 80s/90s vibe, with some heavy metal tossed in for good measure. They have been together for ten years, and had always been a filler group. They work all the gigs they can, and have hopes to make it big one day. Clay is the lead singer, Kaci plays drums, Phil plays guitar and Tyler’s on bass – they are a couple. Lincoln plays keyboard and Owen Stanton plays the fiddle/violin. He also writes songs, and sings just a little.
Owen has really been pushing himself. He has a full schedule – he also plays in an orchestra and manages part-time at the Arpeggio music shop. He has to find a way to juggle all his responsibilities and his cat, Bach. As much as he likes playing with Flightless, he equally enjoys playing classical music with the orchestra. His mother thinks he should leave the band and audition for Oriolidae, an orchestra with high prestige.
After Flightless performs at a local pub, their manager Rachel Irving introduces the group to Duncan Fray, the owner of Fray Vineyards and Fray Days. He offers them a spot in the next year’s festival and is ready to agree to a contract.
Things become more complicated when Lincoln comes to see Owen. Lincoln’s mom Beth has cancer. She will need surgery and chemo, and Lincoln needs to be there for her. He’s very upset, barely holding it together. He recommends Jared for his spot on keyboard.
Going for this interview with Flightless is nerve-wracking for Jared, and he can only hope that, after ten years, Owen has forgotten him. But Owen does remember the younger Jared, aka “Beer Guy.”
As things start to look up for Flightless, Jared and Owen find themselves becoming more involved. But there are so many hard decisions for both of them to make for the future. Will Flightless make it successfully to Rocktoberfest 2024? Will Jared and Owen be able to work out their issues?
Barwell is an accomplished Mm author, but this is her debut novel in the world of “Rocktoberfest 2024.” It’s a sweet romance, with a little drama, a sprinkling of humor, and friendships, and there’s more than one romance blooming throughout the story.
Owen will have to take a stand and do what will benefit him, and may have to disappoint those he loves. Jared has high hopes that maybe he would become more than just a replacement band member in Flightless.
Beside this being very well written, Barwell has the musical touch when it comes to writing beautiful lyrics. I highly recommend Divided Road – it’s a wonderful addition to “The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024.”
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
