Title: Rock Hard Seduction 2: Picking Art
Author: Tonya Ramagos
Published in February 2009 by Siren Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance
ISBN: 1-60601-316-5
Related Books: Rock Hard Seductions 1: Voices and Lies
Rock Hard Seductions 3: Sports Beats Coming Soon
Suzanne Cassidy is nervous. She really hates being away, traveling anywhere. If she wishes to experience her dreams, however, this is just one sacrifice she has to make. Not only is she in Philadelphia and away from her familiar and beloved St. Petersburg home, but she has been waiting for the woman she was to meet to discuss her gallery show. Left to her own devices in a crowded and smoky bar, Suzanne starts to people watch while trying to remain unnoticed. Inevitably her eyes are drawn to a pair of men at a nearby table. One seems to be of medium height, and has very long hair, almost waist length, the other, hair just past his shoulders. He should be very tall if his long legs are to be believed, and at the moment, he is presenting her with an interesting profile. They are an intriguing pair, and with her ever-present sketch pad drawn from its hiding place in her voluminous purse, Suzanne starts to sketch the profile of the taller of the two men. In the dim lighting of the smoky bar something about the man draws her, and with his eyes appearing so dark, he is somewhat mysterious. The color can't be determined from where she sits, but she guesses his eyes must either brown or possibly dark green. The glimmer of gold peeking from below his lower lip suggests a piercing and a stud, but again, she is not close enough to determine that either. The sketch forms under her talented fingers, and her constant glances have drawn his attention
She finds him fascinating, and looks up only to find him looking right back at her. He is darkness personified until he smiles her way, and his face is utterly transformed into an almost angelic countenance. That he even cares enough to look her way, let alone smile at her brings the color of blushing pink to her face. When he gets up and comes over to her table, she is totally embarrassed, but gets through the awkwardness by the man's gentle manner and apparent ease. Garrett Henry is quite the gentleman, and Suzanne finds herself greatly attracted to him. At the end of the evening, disappointment her meeting did not go as planned is muted with her new acquaintance telling her he will call her, and a kiss hot enough to melt her bones. Although he seems like a nice enough man, Suzanne still has doubts among her hopes. An evening with such an attractive man, such an assured person as Garrett seems to leave her thinking in some mighty strange terms. The hopes lead her on until the gallery manager, Georgiana finally catches up to her for lunch the next day, and informs her just who it is she met. Not being a fan of Heavy Metal Bands, and not being a Philadelphia native, she has no idea who or what Façade is or of the fame they hold in this part of the world, and in the world of music. She knows the classics, Jazz, and snatches of popular music, but has never been a follower. Her love and passion has been her art, and her home, and even with the thoughts of possibly seeing Garrett Henry again, the homesickness is always there, waiting to drive her back to the safety of her St. Petersburg home and family.
The slight blonde woman in the dark booth across from where he and Trey are sitting has Garrett Henry's whole attention. She appears to be looking at him, and it is not because he is unused to having people stare in recognition, or in awe that he and the band members do normal things. No, what draws his attention is just the opposite. For one thing, she is just too classy for a hangout like this, it is in her clothes, her demeanor, and her posture. She screams class and upper crust breeding, and in a way that alone makes her stand out to him. For another, she shows no awareness of their fame, and does not show any signs of getting up and trying to make his, or his fellow band mate Trey's acquaintance like many a fan would usually do. She actually shows no recognition at all, which piques his curiosity, and she also appears to be totally involved with the tablet laying in front of her. If it is work, it is an odd place to get something, anything done. Whatever it is has her full concentration, and if she is sketching, he is curious as to what she had found so interesting in his vicinity that her whole being appears to be wrapped up within it to the exclusion of everything else around her. He has seen her surprise when he apparently caught her staring at him, but it is still a puzzle he is going to figure out one way or another.
Trey has noticed Garrett's distraction, and as he is anxious to get home, leaves Garrett to his mystery woman. With a last goodbye, Trey is gone, and Garrett decides to make a move. He is very curious now, and can't help but be drawn to the girl in the dark booth, the honey blonde who has managed to grab his attention, and keep it better than anyone else. There is just something about her, something which stirs him in a way he has never felt before, so he goes over and introduces himself. He is aware of the immediate and strong attraction, and a feeling he can only describe as lust when he looks her way. He is not surprised to find out she is an artist, but is surprised to find out she has a showing at the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art. The portrait she has sketched of him is a marvel, and he is impressed with her talent. The rest of the evening spent in her company leaves him longing for more, and with a promise to call, he puts her in a cab, and says goodbye. Alicia has a surprise for Garrett when she finds out he has met Suzanne. They are acquainted, and she tells Garrett she would enjoy visiting with Suzanne if she will come to visit. He doesn't think anything can possibly come of a relationship with such a classy lady as Suzanne Cassidy, but he finds himself at the gallery on her opening, armed with Alicia's invitation for a visit, which is a really good excuse to see her yet again...
Tonya Ramagos has given us a pair of very realistic characters, and charged the atmosphere with in ineffable attraction between two people of disparate backgrounds. The only misunderstanding comes when Suzanne fails to have the trust and confidence in herself and in Garrett, and in the feelings she holds for him and runs for home. She has not read him well at all, and the problems she experiences are multiplied in her mind when she thinks too much and yet doesn't understand what Garrett's intentions are toward her are, and how he views their relationship. With her heart in shreds for reasons only known to her, Suzanne makes the decision to leave without telling Garrett why. She leaves in a hurry, and without giving him any chance to explain his plans, or ask her any questions about hers. Garrett is totally in the dark, thinking he is mistaken and she doesn't love him. He can't understand why Suzanne ran and left him unless this is the truth, and it hurts. He thought she knew he loved her and wanted her to stay, but although he tried to make her understand, he has not succeeded. Where things go from here, is anyone's guess.
Rock Hard Seductions 2: Picking Art is a delightful romp in total miscommunications that come in the bucketfuls when Suzanne allows her shy nature to overcome common sense and provide some simple communications. She is too new to love and this situation, and fails to tell Garrett how she feels, and fails to ask Garrett about his feelings for her. Garrett too, has to bear some responsibility for the problems as he is unused to dealing with the shyness of Suzanne's nature, and fails to see she is holding back. Rock Hard Seductions 2: Picking Art is the second book in the Rock Hard Seductions Series, and I can't wait to read the next. Tonya continues to bring her readers humor, tension, fun, and the hot steamy love scenes that blend the whole together in a most delightfully hot and sexy way. Tonya's Rock Hard Seductions Series is now at Siren Publishing, so if you want a good story told with realism, romantic tension, and a lot of fun, it is available now, so get a copy of Rock Hard Seductions 2: Picking Art.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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