A Favorite Author, Aaron Lazar, Sets Book In Music World! What's More Fun?!

“Can’t you be late this morning?” She turned on the charm now, eyes wide and lashes fluttering. Leaning forward, she pressed her breasts against him. “Let’s have a quickie.” 
He flicked his wrist to check his watch before lifting her in one swift motion to the counter beside the sink. “Baby. You’re killing me.” 
She quickly unbuckled and unzipped his pants, and in seconds... She imagined a dark man this time, covered in tattoos. He’d just approached her from the alley behind the bar, and had pushed her up against the wall. She wanted danger. She wanted someone new. Anderson knew her body well, and within a few minutes they’d both exploded in pleasure. Him, panting and still hungrily kissing her. Her, wrapped up in another fantasy, as always. As much as she loved her big teddy bear husband, she couldn’t peak without imagining someone new. Someone a little scary. A real bad boy. It had always been that way. She collapsed against him and sighed. “Thank you.” 
He cocked an eyebrow. “Thank me? Thank you.” 
She giggled and patted his rear. “Have a great day at work, honey.” 
He collected himself slowly, fastened his pants, and leaned down for one more kiss. “God, I love you.” 
She smiled up at him. “Love you, too.”

~~~

Devil's Creek

By Aaron Paul Lazar

Devil's Creek is one of the most complex, extraordinary books I've read by favorite author Lazar! While it moves back and forth in time, many of the same characters are found in both time periods. The main character, Anderson Rockwell, a professor, has fallen for one of his music students... She's over 21 but still against college regulations...

But that's not the only reason he hesitates about getting involved, besides the age difference, he has not been with anybody since he lost his one and only soul mate many years ago. The worst part was Caroline had just disappeared and, in his mind, he was still waiting, thinking she might be out there, somewhere, and might come back some day...

It was Grace's voice that had pulled Anderson out of the past, when she tried out for Sandy in Grease...

In the beginning, he’d acted as a friend and mentor, helping her in her starring role in their college production of Grease. He’d quickly fallen for her, tried to hide it, but had failed. When the play was over and they celebrated at the cast party, she’d come for him. 
In spite of his conscience telling him it was wrong, he’d been unable to resist. They’d soon become lovers, and had even become engaged just before she went home for Thanksgiving break that year. It was during that holiday break that things had gone wrong—terribly wrong. She’d been thrust into a horrific situation after a morning of multiple traumas, and fled with her old druggie pal, Skeeter, to Toronto. 
Days later, Anderson and her parents had tracked her down in the most squalid situation imaginable.
~~~

Anderson took extra time to help Grace learn the dance steps, such as the hand jive...and more...

“Grace. How’re you doing tonight?”
 “Better than last night, I guess.”
 “Well, that’s good.” His warm smile sent strange tingles through her. What was that all about? Geez. The guy was ten years older than her, at least. 
“Ready for some hand jiving?” he said, setting his briefcase on the floor. 
“I am. I’m gonna master the darned thing.” 
He led the way up the steps to the stage. “I know you will. Now, let’s get the music going.”
 “I watched the movie again last night,” she said. “Those kids are amazing.” 
He laughed. “But remember, that’s Hollywood. They could do a million takes for each scene to get it perfect. We can’t do that. So we’ve gotta adjust for a live show.”
 “Understood,” she said, doing a few warm up exercises.
He shed his sweater and tossed it onto the podium at the front of the stage. Beneath, he wore a tee shirt. She hadn’t noticed before, but the guy definitely kept in shape. His trim waist and well-defined abs made her look twice. She’d heard something about him being in the service long ago. Was it the Marines? He had that look about him. Except for his sandy hair, which he wore long. They stood side by side and worked through the routine. With his help, she picked up some shortcuts that helped her move faster, and by the time the clock showed six, she felt comfortable with the hand movements.
 “Tomorrow night we can practice adding this bit into the dance, if you want,” he said. He drew two bottles of water from his briefcase and handed her one. She accepted it, downing half of it in the first few swigs. 
“Sure, that would be great. Thanks.” 
A few students came through the doors at the back of the hall. He turned to her with another of those damned brilliant smiles. “Same time tomorrow night okay with you?” 
Dazzled, she uttered a weak “Sure,” and headed back down to the seats to collect herself until practice got going. 
~~~

Grace had been in an out of trouble--drugs and all that entailed to ensure they were available...So it was at 22 that she had decided to go back to college and met Anderson. Grace's major problem, in her mind, was her older sister who seemed to do everything right and was naturally the favorite of the family. So when she heard her parents talking about her past during Thanksgiving break, she joined their conversation, screaming and ran from their home... It was when Anderson came to help and search for her that Grace's mother realized and talked to him about his feelings for her daughter. She assured him that everything would work out. And they were married soon after.

. 

Grace had moved from drugs to sex, becoming addicted to highs and thrills, so that she often fantasized while with her husband and would finally get "the itch" to hookup with a stranger...

Only she didn't come back this time...

She wasn’t really cold, of course, but

now her blood froze for real. She stood

 still. “What did you say?” “Grace. 

Grace Rockwell. Married to the great

 Professor Anderson Rockwell.” 

“How did you—”

He smiled and stepped into his swim trunks

 “I know who you are, lady. 

I know where you live. And I know your

 husband  the bastard who… ”

He paused and grabbed her arm, 

yanking her closer. 

“The bastard who what?” she shrieked.

 “Never mind. Get dressed. We’re going inside.”

~~~

Grace sat in the passenger side of Chandler’s Lincoln, legs crossed, purse on lap, and humming the tune to “Frere Jacques.” 

She glanced down at a pack of cigarettes in the console between the seats. “May I?” 

He raised an eyebrow. “Your profile said you don’t smoke.” 
She drew one out of the pack and smiled. “I don’t, actually. I used to in college. But tonight… tonight, I feel like going back in time.” 

“Okay.” He reached into his pocket for a lighter, flicked it on, and held it steady for her. “There you go.” “Thanks.” She spewed a rope of smoke toward the cracked window, watching it spiral in the wind. “So, where are you taking me? Do you live in Canada or something? We’ve been on the road for twenty minutes already.”

“It’s a house in the country. You’ll love it. Not far now.” A pinprick of worry tickled her spine. A lonely house in the country wasn’t her usual routine. 

“I thought maybe we’d go to a hotel.” 

“Nah. There’s so much more to do at my place. We’ve got a creek. And you can swim in it.” 
“Nice.” 

“And there’s an outside Jacuzzi. You can soak under the stars.”

~~~

Was Anderson always going to be unlucky in love? Now Grace had been taken, even if it was partly her fault. And all he could think about was how he lost Caroline nearly twenty years ago...

Part II - 19 years ago...

Anderson was a war vet and had decided to go to college...in freshman class at 22 to the others who were 18... He still was having flashbacks and had been counseled not to go back too soon, but Anderson had been driven to move ahead to a new life... He had met Caroline when he had paused to get a breath and she'd asked if he was okay... Yes, it was love at first sight... only to grow deeper when they later sang together...

Except that Hank, Caroline's high school boyfriend with whom she'd already broken with, had followed her and was now stalking her, especially when he saw that she was with Anderson. Then it got really tense when they are signed up for the Phantom of the Opera!

Anderson and Hank were both trying out for the Phantom--their first duel, but not their last! Caroline was trying for Christine, of course! But then the Professor asked Anderson to sing with Caroline during her rehearsal for Christine--as Raoul! Actually, Caroline had hoped that Anderson would play Raoul, because, of course, they fell in love...

Caroline was singing “Angel of Music” with Antonio Ballero, already casting a spell over the group of actors sitting in the hall. Her voice—so pure and bell-like—almost brought him to tears. She stood like an angel, her eyes shining with un-shed tears. Her facial expressions were mobile and real, and she seemed to truly feel Christine’s anguish. 

Antonio was a strong counterpart to her sweet innocence, and for the millionth time that week, Anderson realized just why Gambino had cast the man as the Phantom. They were perfect together. 

~~~

Hank was named as understudy for the Phantom since they'd found a man who had earlier played the part. Hank was furious and started harassing Anderson in any way he could. Strangely, the man who was to star was killed in an accident and Hank took over the part shortly after they had started...

Finally all performances were over and the cast party was to be held at the Professor's home... But Caroline never arrived...

Anderson refused to consider that he was now going to lose Grace the same way he had lost Caroline! He had to find her and bring her home!

If you haven't read Lazar yet, I've just got to ask--why not! He's bound to have just the type of book you'd like to read and I commend the author, as he moves into romantic suspense, that he very carefully marks his books for adults, as appropriate! This new series is quite intriguing and provocative. The series books certainly give you all the romantic suspense you could ever crave! Highly recommended!


GABixlerReviews

Aaron Paul Lazar wasn't always a mystery writer. It wasn't until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. "When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn't find elsewhere." 

Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar's father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a "Renaissance man caught in the 21st century." This book has since be rereleased in 2012 as an "author's preferred edition," via Twilight Times Books.

In between all the novels, Lazar found time to issue three writing guides based on his many years of writing advice blogs, entitled WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1-3. These are available in eBook and audio book.

In his twenty-first book, Lazar has jumped genre. THE SEACREST - OCT 2013 -, a love story, is poised to capture hearts across the globe.

The author lives on a ridge overlooking the Genesee Valley in upstate New York with his wife, mother-in-law, two dogs, and cat. He finds grandfathering one of the most precious and important times of life, and spends as much time as possible with Julian, Gordon, and Isabella. 

Lazar maintains several websites and blogs, was the Gather Saturday Writing Essential host for three years, writes his monthly "Seedlings" columns for the Voice in the Dark literary journal and the Future Mystery Anthology Magazine. He has been published in Absolute Write as well as The Great Mystery and Suspense Magazine. See excerpts and reviews here:

www.lazarbooks.com
www.murderby4.blogspot.com
www.aplazar.gather.com
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

Contact him at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com.