Blog Tour: Boy Banned by RJ Scott ~ (Review, Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway)
Title: Boy Banned
Author: RJ Scott
Cover Art Meredith Russell - http://meredithrussellart.blogspot.co.uk/
Publisher Love Lane Books Limited – www.lovelanebooks.co.uk
ISBN Number: 9781785640469
Blurb:
When the only way to win is to hide who you are, how far are you prepared to go?
Reuben “Angel” Jacobs is one step away from giving it all up. Losing a place in the live finals of Sing UK almost kills him. He has no choice but to go home and work for the family business, even though it means giving up his dreams and proving his old bullies right.
Corey Dixon is a rocker at heart. Being on the spectrum means that making sense of other people’s ‘normal’ is hard in itself, let alone in the chaos of a high-powered competition. Singing is his safe space, the only way he can think through the noise in his head. Messing up his audition for the live shows means his journey is over, and it’s the worst day of his life.
The judges throw them a lifeline and create a boy band from the near-miss hopefuls. Angel, Corey, and three others are put together in a room and offered the chance to sing as a group. Agreeing to become part of the new band means Corey has to hide who he is and what Angel has come to mean to him.
Is winning worth the price Corey and Angel have to pay?
Corey slouched back in his bunk and idly strummed a few chords on his guitar, humming along with the song in his head and relaxing. In half an hour, they were leaving for the first live show, for hair and makeup and—God forbid—new clothes. They were all ready to go. Scott and Toby were on their favorite mission of following Diva Babes around, DK was huddled in the bathroom on his phone, and Angel stood at the window, staring out at the gardens.
The five of them had slipped into an easy camaraderie, and they’d actually managed to make something out of the pig’s ear they’d been handed. Their song was good, the sweeping drama of the vocals solid in Corey’s voice, with Angel leading the harmonies, and they’d even choreographed a couple of moves.
“One more practice?” Corey asked. He removed his guitar and laid it gently on the bed before lithely jumping down to the floor.
“Really?” Angel turned to face him.
He was in his trademark white jeans, and another one of his flowing white shirts, his eyes lined in kohl and his hair perfect. Didn’t matter that they would be redoing it all at the arena; this was Angel’s way of facing the world. A dangerous way sometimes, Corey considered. A very drunk James Turner had called Angel a fairy, which Angel had taken with a pinch of salt but Corey had been offended by.
James Turner was an idiot. A creepy-talking, miserable idiot who seemed to want to pick on Wildcard. According to Scott, who overhead the Diva Babe girls talking, there was a reason behind that. James’s nose was out of joint because he knew that if Angel hadn’t fucked up that final audition, it would have been Angel and not James who had gone through automatically to the live shows.
That made sense. Corey reckoned James was marking his territory and was probably jealous of Angel’s beautiful voice. James’s voice wasn’t up to scratch when he was under pressure.
“I want to be perfect.” Corey moved to stand next to Angel. He liked standing really close to him; something about Angel grounded him and made him want to touch.
“You need to rest your voice. We’ll be okay, and it is what it is now.”
The words implied Angel was resigned, but the tone was positive.
“I want to get through to next week,” Corey said.
“We will.”
“You sound convinced.”
“I am.”
“We’re rough around the edges,” Corey pointed out. “I can be too loud, my dancing isn’t the best, and Scott and Toby fight for the limelight. DK says he woke up and couldn’t remember the words, and you—”
Angel bumped shoulders with Corey, stopping him in his tracks. “What about me?”
Corey shrugged. “Nothing really. You’re perfect. You make us all look bad.”
Buy Links:
Corey is determined not to let his Asperger’s define him and what he can do. He has dreams of singing on a stage and he’s closer than ever to achieving that dream as a contestant on the highly rated singing competition Sing UK. However after losing his spot he's given another try, this time as part of a group.
Angel needs this competition. If he gets sent home he’ll be forced to join his father and brothers in their building and design business. Always feeling like an outsider by his family for being gay, Angel would do anything to stay in the competition, even if that means he’ll have to become part of a boy band.
Together Angel and Corey with three others form Wildcard. It's not easy at first and all of them will have to learn how to work and trust each other but soon they find themselves forming a bond. Angel and Corey grow closer and closer and they all discover they're stronger as a group than they ever were alone.
It wasn't until the authors note at the end of the book that I was able to really piece together how I felt about this story. Don't get me wrong, the writing was great and the story well thought out and executed. For that alone, it was a strong 4 stars. However my issue was simply the fact that apart from a few things, namely and most importantly an MC that identified as on the autism spectrum, this plot or idea had been done numerous times. I didn't get that rush of excitement about something new and different that I hope for whenever I pick up a new book.
This all changed for me though once I was done reading. I realized that I truly loved these characters. Not only Corey and Angel but also the supporting characters as well. Scott, Toby and DK. They were very real and just as I could picture Sing UK in my head, I could picture Wildcard on stage, hanging out at home or joking around in an interview. The visuals were cute and funny and I couldn't help but smile.
As for the main characters, I adored Corey. His directness and honesty were charming and I loved how his Asperger's was just a part of him and not the entirety of his character. Angel was both sweet as well as strong. He was a perfect match for Corey.
So in the end, Boy Banned might not be the first book about the creation of a boy band and certainly not the last but the characters are definitely a fresh take on the story!
I really enjoyed Boy Banned and definitely recommend it.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Giveaway:
Prizes: $20 Giftcard for Amazon or All Romance eBooks, 3 x Texas books, 3 x Bodyguard books.
a Rafflecopter giveaway About The Author
My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
I've has been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and the mixing bowl. You can't tell a six year old not to lick the bowl!
I've has been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and the mixing bowl. You can't tell a six year old not to lick the bowl!
I was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men. (Yum)
With over 90 titles to my name and counting, I am the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway, which was All Romance Ebooks best selling title of 2010.
I'm also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.
I'm always so thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:
Find RJ
Yes, I did one time. Unfortunately there aren't all that many talent contests like those here in my country.
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