S.E.X. Review~ Fret by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

Former Navy SEAL Axel Blaze lives a solitary life. He doesn't do emotions, and he doesn't do babysitting. Used to being on his own, his job consists of Wetwork (a charming term coined by the KGB) for his former Master Chief, Mac. When an out-of-the-ordinary job lands on his doorstep, Axel heads down a path that includes a famous heavy metal rock band and one quiet, vulnerable, guitar-shredding virtuoso named Gareth Wolf.

Gareth Wolf's life changed in an instant when a car he was a passenger in crashed, hurting his brother's best friend and the band's lead guitarist. They created the band, Skull Blasters, as kids. Gareth had always been happy in the background, playing roadie. With the lead guitarist's injury, Gareth is suddenly thrust into the limelight and into a frenzied life he never imagined for himself. Finally fed up with living a lie, Gareth comes out as gay in a newspaper interview and finds himself in the bulls-eye of a crazed stalker. Somebody wants Gareth hurt - or worse - and Mac has been hired to be sure that doesn't happen. Babysitting duty is NOT Axel's strong suit, but Mac won't be budged.

Enter Axel Blaze. Against his better judgment, the big man takes the job to protect the shy musician. The more time he spends with Gareth Wolf, the more he admires the man. Where's a simple assassination when you need one? The situation becomes more volatile for each man as the attempts on Gareth escalate just as Axel finds himself falling for the quiet lead guitarist.
Strong, funny, smart-ass -- and kinda sweet Axel is everything Gareth has ever wanted in a man. Too bad he's off limits. As the stalker grows bolder, Gareth and Axel move closer emotionally - but is it too late? All Axel knows is that they don't stand a chance if he can't find the maniac trying to kill the man he's come to care about. A lot.

Everyone knows that relationships that begin in pressured or volatile situations eventually fizzle out. Or do they?

Being introduced to a new series by one of your favorite writers is always a treat and Fret by Sandrine Gasq-Dion did not disappoint. Heavy metal band, hunky men and a delicious body guard were just a few of the tidbits surrounding this book. Add in a heavy dose of intrigue and it’s a match made in this reviewer’s heaven.

Gareth, his brother Ransom and their friends were part of the newest heavy metal band to hit the United States. Jamming out in their concerts, meeting fans, and touring the world~ unfortunately Gareth’s life was in danger, recently coming out as homosexual, and someone decided to end his life.

Axel Blaze was hired to protect Gareth from bodily harm but the tides soon turned as Axel found himself desiring the young man for permanency.

Ms. Dion told a tale of duty, turned friendship turned love, and did so in a delicate fashion as to not unbalance the relationship between protector/protected and the band members.

As I read Fret, I envisioned the author carefully planning her characterizations in order for the book to ebb and flow and simply not crash and burn inundating the reader with ill-placed sex and sappy dialogue. I found myself invested in each of the band members, Ms. Dion revealing snippets of each man and their personalities, setting us up for subsequent books.

My only drawback~ the quick changing POV and tenses. At times it left me confused and needing to reread the scene. For that I give Fret a four, but I look forward to reading the next book.

Sexy and Sizzling

A four handcuff review

2015 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.