Genre: Contemporary, Rocn ‘n’ Roll
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Life hasn’t always been easy for Luka, but music has gotten him through the hard times. Now his heavy metal cello-rock band, the F-Holes, have scored the gig of a lifetime, launching their first major tour and taking the stage at Rocktoberfest with some of the biggest names in music. But after one of his bandmates has an accident that leaves the future of their tour in doubt, Luka is asked to accept the unacceptable.
Bassist Kit Davies is riding high. His band, Sultana, has just finished a record-setting European tour, and now he has six months off before they are due back in the studio again. Rich and successful, he doesn’t have many regrets in his life, but those he does have center around Luka Petrov and the disastrous circumstances under which Luka left Sultana, the band he’d co-founded. Every apology Kit has made to Luka has been met with rejection, but Kit’s determined to earn Luka’s forgiveness someday.
When Kit learns the F-Holes’ bassist has suffered an injury at the first show of their tour, he pulls strings to be given the position as the fill-in. Unfortunately, Luka seems to view this as a power play rather than a means of atonement. With the F-Holes now poised to make it as big as Sultana, can Kit convince Luka to let go of the past, or will Luka once again walk away from fame rather than forgive Kit for breaking his heart?
High Strung 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 antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your eReader and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
The Review
The F-Holes have finally made their first headliner gig. Luka Petrov is a genius writing lyrics, and especially at playing the electric cello. Kris is the unique lead singer, Dmitri also plays electric cello, Jett plays bass, and Andre the drums. Jo is Kris’s girlfriend, and she travels with the band. She the official photographer for the group, and captures candid shots backstage. She plans to write a book in the next year about F-Holes, and it would increase the popularity of the group if it became a best seller.
Luka and his family are estranged. They thought he wasn’t serious enough about music, and he was cursed by his mother. On top of that, his parents didn’t accept that he was gay. Luka went on to make his own way in, life and he accomplished more than many young men his age. He’s also kept a big secret from the F-Holes. He hopes they will make it big.
After a performance, Jett, being silly, trips over some cables back stage. A badly sprained wrist and a nasty bump on the head puts him out of commission. The band leaves Jett behind in Virginia to recuperate. Just when Luka thought F-Holes had made it, he’s disappointed by this latest setback.
Their manager, Greg Allen, calls the group into a meeting. He’s kept them moving and on the road to the next gig in Philadelphia. Greg sets up a meeting with Carter Morton, the head Artist and Repertoire representative from Headcrash, their record label. He had gotten F-Holes their contract.
Even though they are all concerned about Jett, Carter has good news. The very popular group Sultana had just finished their European tour and are taking a six month break before they are back in the studio. Kit Davies has stepped up and offered to fill in for Jett. Kit doesn’t want anything out of it – he’s really sincere and wants to help. All the other band members are more than excited to have Davies.
Luka is by no means happy. Greg and Carter were the only two, besides Kit himself, who knew of his connection with Sultana. Every lyric on Sultana’s first album was written by Luka, and yes, he receives royalties. He doesn’t want the F-Holes to know he used those royalties to get them where they are now.
But there’s more to it than that. Luka thought he had buried all the painful and heart-breaking memories that came with his time with Sultana, and Kit Davies.
What will Luka do? And what about Kit? Why is he really willing to give his time to the F-Holes? Will this tear the dream of the F-Holes apart, and destroy their chance at making it to Rocktoberfest?
Ari McKay brings high anxiety on the “Road to Rocktoberfest 2024” with High Strung. It’s a very emotional story, as both men struggle to move past misunderstandings that never got resolved and try to get back lost time. It’s also about letting go of painful memories, and looking ahead to a bright future.
I loved Kit and Luka. Luka needs someone like Kit to help him release all the bad memories that he keeps bottled-up inside. Kit really works to make amends.
I loved High Strung – it’s well written, and also has some very good song lyrics. Maybe McKay has found a second calling! I was thoroughly entertained.
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.
