Voices Carry: A Rock and Roll Fantasy (The Rock And Roll Fantasy Collection)

by Diane Rinella

  “Not really,” Bailey says with a slight laugh. How she sounds as nervous as he does causes my skin to tingle with excitement.

  “Are you a … Are you here by yourself?”

  “For the moment. I am supposed to meet a group of friends.”

  He lets out another small chuckle. “Boy, you’re not making this easy, are you?”

  Man, I wish I could see this. From her tone, I can tell he has her blindsided. “I am sorry,” she says, “but I’m enjoying how sweetly you are approaching this. Care to join me for a few minutes?”

  Yes!

  Brandon heads in, and I’m barely able to wait for Dale to sit so I can slip out of the booth and catch Brandon before he accidentally crashes their party. My finger flies over my mouth, asking him to keep quiet. “What?” he mouths.

  I dash up and nudge him to the bar. Once there, I stick my hand up so no one else can see I am pointing in Bailey’s direction. “Check that out!”

  Brandon’s eyes go huge. “Wow!” Those autumnal orbs land on me, and my heart gets swept up to heaven. However, it’s his tender touch to my chin, drawing our lips together, that nearly melts me into a puddle of honey.

  I’d love nothing more than to sit here and stare into those eyes all night, but after all I have heard from Brandon about Dale—the once womanizer who is supposedly looking for something real—I am both apprehensive and hopeful. Bailey is attracted to strong men, but part of the byproduct of that was how Carlos was a womanizer. However, Carlos has yet to learn his lesson. Could it be someone who has those same qualities yet is willing to cast them aside and settle down, could be her perfect match? “Do you think Dale and Bailey have a chance? She’s been through a lot, and I’d hate to see her hurt.”

  Brandon’s eyes narrow in concern. He leans back with an elbow on the bar and scratches his head at the base. Slowly, a smile builds, and he nods.

  “Hmm … Dale and Bailey …” Brandon grabs my hand, and nudges me to walk over and join them. “You know, if this meeting happened a few weeks ago, I would go over there, boot him out to get us drinks, warn Bailey to run for her life, and then send Darla after him with a Taser and tell her to aim for his balls. Now, after learning the score, Dale getting to know a nice girl may be a slice of heaven for all of us.”

  “Then why are we headed over to interrupt them?”

  “Although I am pretty confident Dale is not the scumbag I once thought he was, I’ve also become rather fond of Bailey. If Dale hasn’t truly mended his ways, my arrival will send him running. If he stays, especially after the bomb I am about to drop on him, he’s serious about keeping up the good behavior.”

  “The bomb?”

  Brandon winks. “Just wait for his expression.” We step up to the booth, and Brandon is quick to chime in. “Wow, Bailey,” he says while looking at Dale. “You sure know how to pick them.”

  Dale turns to Bailey. “Remember that friend I told you about? The one whom without I would be in Chicago and probably miserable? I forgot to mention he is annoying.”

  “You also failed to mention I know him,” she replies.

  How Brandon addressed Bailey by name dawns on Dale. “Dare I ask?”

  “Dale,” Brandon says, “meet Bailey, Darla’s sister and my new co-worker.”

  I can’t help but chime in, “Not to mention my best friend and the greatest beauty makeup artist ever.” My grip on Brandon’s hand tightens. Seeing love bloom reminds me of how lucky I am and how I have come to learn Brandon is the man I never want to let go of. Maybe Bailey and Dale will find our happiness contagious.

  “Wait,” Dale says. He turns to Bailey while looking like he has been popped into a state of shock. I swear the hair on the back of his neck is prickling. “You are Darla’s sister? Peacock-haired woman? Lord, help us all! How did you get to be so normal?”

  Brandon rolls his eyes at Dale, and then clears his throat and motions for him to sit next to Bailey. As Dale slides out, Brandon gives him a look that warms him to be on his best behavior. Dale responds by asking Bailey’s permission to sit next her, and then returns Brandon’s glare with an expression saying he’s the one who should know better. It’s comforting to see I have found a man who not only looks out for me but also for my friends. But Brandon is so much more than a great guy; he helps me find the parts of myself I have overlooked because I either didn’t want to face or didn’t understand them. That is why I have news that is going to rock the socks off of Bailey.

  After Brandon got me to see the light regarding my past decisions, I took a step back and really heard some of the things he had been saying all along. He reminded me that Saleena’s passions were also my own. Saleena loved the music she played, which is why I am so drawn to it now. For me, what began as a desire for fame grew into a love of the true craft of acting. Desires are fine, but passions are what feed a person’s soul.

  We slip into the booth, and I’m quick to reach across the table and grab Bailey’s arm. I’m so excited by my news that it bursts out. “I handed in my notice this morning.”

  Bailey’s expression freezes so quickly I fear her heart may have been stunned into stopping. “You …” she swallows hard, “You what?”

  “I told the producers this is my last season.”

  Bailey’s eyes enliven. “Did you land a big movie like Jason did?”

  My smile is so heartfelt my cheeks warm. “No, I’ve been so wrapped up in succeeding I forgot the real goal. Vampires Undercover isn’t what I want to be known for. If the last few months have shown me anything, it is that taking a risk isn’t as scary as I think. After all, every time we go to sleep there is a chance we won’t wake up, yet it is during the peace we achieve right before slumber that our prayers are heard.” I turn to Brandon and see the glimmer of water in his eyes as if he feels my passion and wants me to embrace it. “Brandon being in my life is proof you have to listen to your inner voice. Mine is telling me to grow.”

  Bailey’s eyes turn watery. “I’ve always known there would come a day when you would say to hell with strategizing and start living.”

  “You mean that passion would take over?”

  She nods, and tears fall. Mine fall right along with them. “That’s exactly what I mean.” She dabs at the tears and sniffles. Her hand flies to her mouth and she gasps. Her words race out. “Does this mean you are moving back to LA?”

  “Yep! That is, unless the right thing comes along elsewhere. I want to focus on movies though, which means I need a home base. I’ll be packing my bags in a few months.”

  Bailey tosses her head back and screams, “Yes!” Just like her, I couldn’t be happier.

  I’m with Bailey. I don’t think life could possibly be turning out any better. I feel so fulfilled, not only in whom I am but also by what I see in Katherine. The whole world is opening for her because she gave herself the gift of finding true passion. Day after day we face what life hands us. Some days there is little we can control; however, if we embrace the things that make our hearts sing, life will never let us down. I want that kind of happiness for everyone, be they the people I love or a cocky kid who is learning about life.

  Dale’s eyes are locked on Bailey as if he is gazing upon destiny. We all seem to be finding our way, yet I have to wonder; is Katherine’s decision an act of fate or is she creating a new path?

  There is no denying Amber and I were in love. Love is supposed to be all that matters, but we were opposite in so many ways. We always said fate brought us together. Fate is supposed to serve purpose. Was the purpose of our relationship to heal my heart after what happened with Johnny and Saleena, or was it something I’ll never see?

  Life is a chain of events leading to fate. One broken link and all of the pretty trinkets fall off. But we are the ones who add the trinkets—pretty or otherwise—and chains can be repaired. Did the chain that led me to Katherine get fixed, or was it never broken in the first place?

  A few weeks ago I walked into a record store—the same record store I ha
ve been in hundreds of times—and was given the key to my past. That night I sat in this very bar where I saw a face on a TV. Both of those simple events presented me the key to my future.

  I’ve always believed music holds magic. Maybe Warped Records and Mulligan’s do too.

  Find out what happened behind the scenes with Bailey and Carlos, along with why Dale went to see a psychic in Moonlight Serenade.

  Playlist

  Playlists for all of the Rock and Roll Fantasy stories can be found on my YouTube Channel.

  “Voices Carry” - 'Till Tuesday

  “I Can Remember” - The Raspberries

  “New York Groove” - The Sweet

  “Round And Round” - RATT

  “It’ll Be Alright” - Bullet Proof Lovers

  “Voices Green And Purple” - The Bees

  “Paranoia Is Freedom” - UXA

  “Searching For Something” - Joey Ramone

  “Dream Police” - Cheap Trick

  “Destination Unknown” - Missing Persons

  “One Way Or Another” - Blondie

  “… And I Will Be With You” - Mr. T. Experience

  “Where I Am Today” - Redd Kross

  “Crawling From The Wreckage” - Connection

  “I Wanna Talk To You” - The Absolude

  “Institutionalized” - Suicidal Tendencies

  “Instant Replay” - Dan Hartman

  “Surrender” - Cheap Trick

  “Rat Trap” - Boomtown Rats

  “Second Hand News” - Fleetwood Mac

  “Our Love Will Last Forever” - Mr. T. Experience

  “It's All Over Now, Baby Blue” - Chocolate Watchband

  “Strength To Endure” - Ramones

  “Crazy World” - Redd Kross

  “Heaven” - Warrant

  “Punk Rock Girl” - Dead Milkmen

  “State Of Emergency” - Stiff Little Fingers

  “I Will Always See Your Face” - Love

  “The Chain” - Fleetwood Mac

  “Trust Your Heart” - The Kinks

  “Starting Over” - The Raspberries

  “Silver, Blue & Gold” - Bad Company

  To My Readers

  Thank you for spending your time with my beloved characters and joining our family. Time is precious, and I certainly appreciate yours.

  I love hearing from readers. Please let me know who you are by connecting with me on social media.

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  Want to hear about upcoming releases? Join Diane’s mailing list. Newsletters are only sent to announce releases and special events.

  If you have an additional moment, please leave a review at one of the places you discover books. Information regarding other books in my collection can be found in the next few pages. Ebooks are available at most major retailers. Audio versions of my titles can be found on Amazon. To purchase signed paperbacks, please visit my Etsy Store.

  Again, thank you for joining us on this journey!

  Diane

  The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection

  Moonlight Serenade

  Can unseen forces nudge you onto a new path?

  If so, Dale and Bailey might get shoved!

  When Dale seeks the help of a wine-loving psychic, he has two things on his mind: “Where is my dream girl? And why is a ghost following me?” Five hundred dollars later, he has a cryptic clue and a song stuck in his head.

  Across the continent, Bailey is the answer to Dale’s prayers. However, her sleazy boyfriend has her over a barrel. Someway, somehow, she has to outfox that snake and escape his hold—even if it means diving into mischief.

  When a long-sought opportunity arrives, will it lure Dale off course? Or will otherworldly intervention get him and Bailey dancing cheek to cheek?

  Moonlight Serenade is a standalone novel and companion story to Voices Carry. Both are part of The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection, a mystical world where rock and roll will save your soul.

  Although the books can be read in any order, the collection begins with It's A Marshmallow World before moving on to Scary Modsters ... and Creepy Freaks, Queen Midas In Reverse, Voices Carry, and Moonlight Serenade.

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  The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection

  It's A Marshmallow World

  See how it all began in the standalone prequel to Scary Modsters.

  One Christmas, Darla was given a mystical gift, along with an ominous message. Years later, meeting Chris puts her head in a spin. Could it be that gift from long ago holds the key to their happiness?

  *The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection is a set of standalone novels and novellas. The novels revolve around characters whose deep-seated love of music is a driving force of the story, while the novellas focus on the supporting characters that you can't help but love.

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  Also in audio format!

  The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection

  "Diane paints her story in wild strokes of Day-Glo orange and red and makes sure to leave a bit of her characters etched on your heart - and in your soul..." - Agents of Romance

  Scary Modsters … and Creepy Freaks

  A fantastical romance involving a woman, the music that fuels her, and her Ouija board.

  Rosalyn seeks acceptance, but is always ridiculed for her eclectic wardrobe and unconventional music collection. One fateful night, Rosalyn bewitches Niles, a stylish man whose quirky character is the perfect complement to her own. Unfortunately, Niles has a secret flaw that always ensures relationship suicide—and he can’t hide it much longer.

  During a tango with a Ouija board, Rosalyn summons the ghost of Rock and Roll deity Peter Lane. Peter entices Niles with the key to saving his relationship with Rosalyn. When Niles hears the price is avenging Peter’s murder, how far will he go to secure Rosalyn’s heart?

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  Also in audio format!

  The Rock and Roll Fantasy Collection

  Queen Midas In Reverse

  For Jacqueline, a second date is as rare as a unicorn. She’s beautiful. She’s intelligent. So why is she experiencing a string of first dates that leaves her ducking behind bushes and running for buses? Contrary to her nature, trading in her heels and curling iron for an easy chair surrounded by cats sounds appealing. Is she cursed, or can she find the man who will steal her heart?

  Queen Midas In Reverse is a standalone novella that takes place in the Rock and Roll Fantasy universe, alongside Scary Modsters and its prequel, It’s A Marshmallow World.

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  Also in audio format!

  Something To Dream On

  "… a huge hit to the heart that I am grateful to have experienced." - Stuck In Books

  If a painting in the home of your perfect man reflects your dreams of doom, do you run, or do you dare to embrace love?

  While Lizetta lives a life of compassion, childhood bullying over a few extra pounds have caused this sparky woman to lose sight of the beauty of her soul. Jensen’s recent past is filled with substance abuse, shady morals, and loose women. A brutal wake up call forced him to find his way back to the gentle soul he once was; however, there are some whose futures depend on the return of the demon.

  Souls can heal, but how long can they fight the forces that seek to destroy them? If one of those forces is the person who shattered your self-image, and she is determined to take down the one you love, could you still believe that everyone deserves a second chance?

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  Praise for the Forbidden Flower series.

  “I found myself weeping tears of both pain and triumph all because Diane Rinella's prose painted a brilliantly tortured landscape that had me questioning what I once saw only as black and white…The subject matter may not be for everyone, but if you have an open mind and open your heart, this book will destroy you – beautifully.” - Martini Times Romance

  “It deals with a taboo subject and definitely
would not be everyone's cup of tea. But I have to tell y'all, I was riveted from the first sentence… the writing is so eloquent and lyrical, it made reading about Lily and Donovan easier. The love, anger, confusion is all rendered so poetically I tended to forget that I wasn't reading the average love story.” - Bookworm Brandee

  “I have cried with them, been angry for them, laughed with them and even though the series is over, I will carry them with me. Yes, I sound like they are living human beings, but that is the way this author writes them. They do become real and they make you fall in love with them and want to fight for their right to love each other.” - Life Becomes Me

  “Love's Forbidden Flower had a ginormous impact on my heart. It's a book that has stuck in my mind ever since I read it, and I'm pretty sure it's not going away any time soon. A beautiful, compelling story.” - Just A Booklover

  Love's Forbidden Flower

  *** Please note: This is a New Adult Romance novel involving two siblings who struggle with their emotions. This is not a work of erotica.***