The Stage Release Day! ~ Crystal's Many Reviewers

Mia, the saint.
Kolton, the sinner.

Kolton Royce is a tatted, bad boy rock star at the top of his game.

Mia Phoenix is an overly responsible nineteen-year-old striving for stardom since losing her parents in a house fire.

When Mia ends up on Kolton’s team for the debut of the new nationwide singing competition, The Stage, she’s not sure if it’s her or her voice that he’s hellbent to control.

After he takes special interest in her welfare, they’ve been warned, any contact between them outside of filming is strictly forbidden.

He has other ideas.

She’s a phoenix rising from the ashes, the only one who understands the pain that lies beneath the persona. Though he’s not sure if he’s too bad for her, he can’t stay away.

All sinners have a past. All saints have a future. But, does being born in fire make the fissures weak in all the wrong places, or stronger than they’ve ever known?

Wow what a story. I am a huge fan of The Voice and this book goes right along with that show. I felt from knowing what I see on television and now with Shelby Rebecca’s book I was back stage living the life of a contestant. The scenes were developed so well I could feel the heat from the lights, hear the music play and feel the beat in my chest and yes I could feel the eyes of Kolton burning holes in my soul like he did with Mia.

Mia Phoenix was raising her little sister after a tragic loss of her parents. She wants a singing career not only to support her and Riley, but because it is the only comfort she feels for her broken soul. It is the lasting connection she has to her parents and she wants to keep that for as long as she lives. She is called in to try out for the hit show that could end up being her big break; she just has to share her story with the producers so they can use her heart break to make the viewer’s fall in love.

Kolton is a mega pop star and a judge on the show. He has seen Mia behind the studios before the contest even began and that was the beginning as to what he was willing to do to get her to the top. After realizing she was trying to do this competition with a little sister in the hotel he took matters in his own hands and tried to make things easier, but what he was really doing was trying to gain her trust. Kolton has a history of pain as well but we are left wondering as he answers her questions, is he in love with her or her voice.

During the book we watch as these two come to terms with their feelings and fears while maintaining the rules of the show. They can’t become involved or she will be kicked off. I was an instant fan of Mia, her honest morals and ethics made her someone I would cheer on if this were the real show. In the book she had me rooting for her dreams to come true. Riley was just adorable in her sweet innocent ways. There was a part of the story where she was watching a video that had me in tears. Kolton, while I am sure you will know who comes to mind when you are reading this, had me not liking him at first. He was just too sketchy, but the author did a wonderful job at unfolding his history and heart before our very eyes. I adore that man now.

For me Mia and Kolton are an example of moving on, opening your heart again and learning to trust. It is also a story of facing your enemies and those who try to stand in your way of happiness and love. Fear and loss, anger and bitterness were ever present in their past, but could they both let that go to welcome love and acceptance from not only each other but a world around them demanding not only their music but a piece of themselves. Both of them had a never quit attitude, they just had to learn to do this together if happiness was going to be in their future. I would so recommend this book and I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series. Shelby Rebecca never fails to amaze me in how she captures the reader soon and forces them to invest their hearts in her characters, leaving us with a message of hope and inspiration. This was a fun read full of ups and downs and suspense. Make sure you go get your copy NOW

I wait for Kolton on the front porch swing. Earlier, while he was in the shower, I opened the back doors of the helicopter and got my bag out. I’ve packed my clothes and am staring out at the hill with all the cacti and desert bushes. I hear his steps coming toward me, and he sits down next to me, much calmer now.

“You need to bring the phone I gave you everywhere. Promise me.”

“Why?” He glares at me, so I concede. “I promise.” I’m struck by the green in his eyes, the red fleck embedded into them like rust. He picks up my legs and drapes them over his thighs as he moves closer.

My eyes closed as he takes charge, wrapping his fingers around the back of my neck and tilting my chin up with his thumbs. “Look at me,” he says. I open my eyes just long enough to see his pained expression before he eases some of the ache with his lips on mine, soft and expressive, like a song.

His tongue coaxes me to respond, and I do. His hand moves from behind my knee up to my hips as he licks and sucks his way to just below my ear before taking my lips again. I pull his tongue into my mouth, sucking on it. The way he moves inside my mouth makes me crazy for him. I want him. I know I can’t resist.

He takes my upper arms and holds me in place as he kisses me one more time, softly. Then he pulls away. I move toward him and he shakes his head ‘no.’ I realize then, that was our goodbye kiss.

“What happens now?” I ask, my voice shaky.

“Now I try and live without you,” he says. I’m spinning around that statement as he takes my hand, walks me toward his rock star ride, opens the back door to the helicopter and puts my bag inside. We fly away, and all the way home, he never offers to let me take the controls again.

Shelby grew up between two mountains and a lake in Wasilla, Alaska. She used to run around in the tall grass, catch frogs, rescue dragonflies, ride horses, and ice-skate during recess. She still likes adventures and has even gone skydiving. Today she lives in Northern California with her husband, John, and their daughter, Elise, their two dogs, and a fish named Jade.