Falling For A Song
by Edie Danford
Hi, everyone! I’m excited to share my new book Second Song with you!
Healing, music, and love are big themes in the book, and, while I was writing it I found myself thinking a lot about how falling for a song is similar to falling in love, whether it’s a friendship, a romance, a long-term partnership, or a fling.
Sometimes you know immediately, from those first few notes or those first few moments after meeting someone, that it’s gonna hit a groove in your soul. I knew within five minutes of meeting my best friend in college that we were going to become forever-sisters!
And sometimes you notice the song or the person because it’s so dang jarring. There’s a beat or an attitude that catches your attention because it’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before. You can’t get it out of your head. You’re intrigued and, over time, with more listens, more conversations, you’re hooked. This is how it was for me and my husband!
And then there are those times when a song or someone you meet is just ugh. Awful. Not your taste. But then something unexpected occurs—maybe your ears are in a different mood, or you see the person in a new light—and what once grated like nails on a chalkboard affects your senses with shocking smoothness. If this song were a romance novel, it would be enemies-to-lovers!
Well, when the heroes of Second Song meet and spend time together they go through a whole gamut of melodies.
At first it’s melancholy. They share a tragedy in their past and they’re unsure they can get beyond it. The tunes they inspire in each other might be too intense to bear.
But then, as they get to know each other, the tune changes and both men want to learn its layers, keep listening. Soon, it’s on both of their playlists, but neither of them knows it’s been put on Repeat!
When they’re forced to leave each other, the music stops and the silence is awful. In the end, they realize the unique harmony they make together is one they simply can’t live without.
What’s better than a love song? A love song with a happy ending!
Thanks so much for reading and for having me on the blog!
About Second Song
A wounded singer’s second act. A bodyguard’s redemption. Two grieving souls find healing in love’s sweetest song.
Sage
Four years ago, a brutal attack shot down my soaring music career. My bodyguard, a man I loved like a brother, was killed, and serious injuries left my voice permanently damaged.
Songs silenced, I retreated to my Vermont home, unsure I’d ever perform again.
Now I’m ready to go public with my new act. But, yeah, I’m a little nervous. So to handle security for a trial-run tour, I’m hiring a guy I trust absolutely—Antonio Callan, my former bodyguard’s brother.
But when Antonio shows up, all super-chill fierceness and warm, understanding eyes, I’m up against an unexpected risk—losing my heart.
Antonio
Touring backwoods bars with a reclusive singer is the wrong gig at the wrong time. But how can I refuse the wounded kid my brother thought of as family?
After a week in Vermont, I’m feeling more helpless than heroic.
Sage has grown up, and I’m crazy-attracted to him. His broken-but-beautiful voice knocks me out, and his quiet courage sings to my soul. The more time we spend in close quarters, the harder it becomes to resist our attraction.
Soon, Sage’s second act is rocketing to the top of the charts, and being his hero takes on a whole new meaning. It’s up to me to take his cue and find the courage to reach for a star.
Second Song is the first in the two-book Sugarhouse Blues series and can be read as a stand-alone. Contains angsty-hot pining (and Vermont pines), first-time lovin’, sappy songs (and Vermont maples), and the healing power of loooooove.
Available at: Amazon
An Excerpt from Second Song
“This Chicago weather might send you back to Cali real quick.” I gesture toward the windows and the sleet-rain coming down.
Sage smiles slowly as he glances from the window to me. That addictive guitar lick plays in my head again. “This amount of snow and ice does not impress. But you—all hot-bodyguard official in a suit…” He gives me a greedy-hungry look, like maybe I’m one of those maple creamees he loves to slurp. “I’m very impressed.”
“Likewise.” I smile back, my gaze traveling over his features. He’s the sunny beach come to visit. Skin tanned gold, eyes ocean blue, and damn, that smile heats me all the way through.
He looks down at his tea, then he takes a breath and meets my eyes. “So I came to Chicago to take you on a date. That is, if you say yes when I ask you.”
I gently ease against the chair’s back. And then I loosen my tie because breathing has become a genuine hardship. “Sage. Damn.”
“Just…let that sit for a while. I’m too chicken to actually ask you at the moment.”
I make a sound that’s half-laugh, half-curse, and I wonder what I’ll say when I can speak.
I am beyond flattered he’s come all this way to ask me out. I’d be the biggest dick in the world if I refused. I don’t want to refuse. Excluding life-and-death and world-peace scenarios, I want Sage more than I’ve ever wanted anything, ever. But what would happen if I said yes?
Lots of shit has happened in the last couple months, but I don’t think our personal circumstances or our feelings have changed. I’d still be incapable of a casual hookup with Sage Hazen, still incapable of following him where Second Song takes him.
And as for him…
Well, he is not looking casual. Two sunset-colored spots mark the center of his cheeks. His hands are shaking. He stands, walks to the fireplace, and picks up the guitar. His left hand fumbles the tuning pegs. His right hand makes sweaty-squeaky sounds on the shiny wood.
He goes to one of the windows, turning his back to me as he tries to tune and strum. He’s skinnier than he was two months ago; his stupidly sexy skinny jeans don’t cling as tightly as they’re supposed to. Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose and try to take steady breaths.
“Working on something new,” he says.
“Yeah?” I look up at him.
He turns to face me. “It’s sexy,” he says, waggling his eyebrows, making an effort and succeeding.
I laugh. “Everything you do is sexy.”
“Uh, no. It’s not.”
“It is. And you have about forty million fans who’d agree with me.”
“Forty million fans don’t know me, Antonio.” His expression turns serious.
“No,” I agree. “They don’t.”
I’m lucky enough to know him, though. And that’s really the point of this meeting, isn’t it?
About Edie Danford
Edie lives in Vermont with her husband, two sons, and random creatures that might or might not be pets. She loves libraries (where she’s found play, work, and love since she was a kid), long walks (unless ice is involved), lewd language (in the right context), luscious romance (of any variety), and alliteration.
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