by Xio Axelrod
Publication Date: 5/4/2021
Her name’s Antonia “Toni” Bennette
(yeah, she’s heard all the jokes before) and she’s not a rock star. Neither are
the Lillys—not yet. But the difference between being famous and being almost
famous can be a single wrong note…or the start of something that’ll change your
life forever.
Growing up in dive bars up and down the East
Coast, Toni Bennette’s guitar was her only companion...until she met Sebastian
Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and before long he was Toni’s way
out, promising they’d escape their stifling small town together. Then Seb
turned eighteen and split without looking back.
Now, Toni’s all grown up and making a name for
herself in Philadelphia’s indie scene. When a friend suggests she try out for a
hot new up-and-coming band, Toni decides to take a chance. Strong, feminist,
and fierce as fire, Toni B. and the Lillys are the perfect match…except Seb’s
now moonlighting as their manager. Whatever. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or
it wouldn’t be if Seb didn’t still hold a piece of her heart…not to mention the
key to her future.
Purchase
Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ls7kDE
Apple: https://apple.co/2Qpyc8Q
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3jtxDZx
Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3aWoeVX
Books2Read: http://bit.ly/3oKLVG2
Excerpt:
The
smile on Toni’s face faltered as Seb approached, eyes wide with disbelief. She
banged the sharp edge of her guitar case into Jordan’s leg, and he made a
pained sound.
Toni
winced. “Oh God! I’m so sorry.”
Jordan
laughed it off. “It’s okay. Seb has that effect on people.”
Her
hair had fallen into her eyes, hiding her from him. It wouldn’t do. Seb itched
to reach over and brush it back. After so many years apart, he needed to see
her, to look into her eyes. He needed to apologize, though no apology would
ever be enough for what he’d done.
As
if steeling herself, Toni took a deep breath and raised her head to meet his
gaze.
Seb
watched as confusion morphed into suspicion before giving way to unmistakable
anger, which coalesced white-hot as her gaze narrowed.
After
a few moments of awkward silence, Jordan cleared his throat. “Toni Bennette,
this is Sebastian Quick,” he said. “Seb, Toni the phenom.”
Lilly
nodded to Seb in greeting and pulled Tiff over to the piano, where a pile of
headshots lay spread out on its ebony top.
Seb’s
heart hammered in his chest. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The
connection between his brain and his vocal cords had been severed, which was
just as well. He had no idea
what
to say.
“Nice
to meet you.” A flush spread across her cheeks, but the ice in her voice sent a
chill down Seb’s spine and made his jaw snap shut. Nice to meet you?
Despite
the greeting, Toni made no move to shake his hand, clutching her phone in one
and her guitar in the other. Her eyes were steely and there was a clear
statement in them: I don’t know
you. Or,
maybe, I don’t want to.
Seb
managed to nod. He wasn’t sure how to play this but thought maybe it was best
to follow her lead. He owed her that.
Jordan
arched an eyebrow as if to say What the fuck is wrong with you?
From
his left, Seb could feel Candi’s stare burning into the side of his face. He
needed to get his shit together.
“Nice
to meet you, too,” he finally said. And kudos to him for not screwing that up.
“Nice stuff.”
“Nice
stuff,” Candi repeated, mocking his stiff tone. She stuck her hand out to Toni.
“You know your shit, missy.”
Toni
held Seb’s gaze for a beat before she turned to her, giving her a warm smile as
she shook her hand.
“Thanks
so much. You’re Candi, right?”
“The
one and only,” Candi replied pointedly before dropping her hand and walking
over to Lilly.
Again,
Toni’s smile faltered.
“Okay,”
Jordan said loudly, his eyes still on Seb. He turned to Toni. “We’ll definitely
be in touch.”
“That’s
great, thanks,” Toni replied, her eyes kind for Seb’s best friend. “I’ll keep
my phone charged.”
Jordan
gave Seb one last look, sent Toni a little salute, and jogged over to the
others.
Seb
found Toni studying him again, her expression indecipherable.
Finally,
she rolled her eyes with a huff and moved toward the door.
Before
he could think better of it, Seb followed. Grabbing the door before it could
close behind her, he trailed Toni into the hall.
She
was moving fast, giving him a healthy dose of déjà vu.
“Wait
up!” He caught up to her in front of the bank of elevators. Seb watched her
shoulders rise and fall on heavy breaths.
Despite
her distress, Toni’s voice came out even. Measured. Glacial. “You’re the last
person I expected to see. Again.”
“Yeah,
well…” Seb rubbed the back of his neck.
Slowly,
Toni turned to face him, and they stared at each other for a long moment.
Seb
couldn’t read her at all. “You sounded good in there. Great, actually.” His
words were so fucking inadequate.
“Thanks.”
Now
that she was in front of him, Seb floundered. He needed to organize his
thoughts. Figure out a way to approach her that didn’t cause her to shoot
daggers out of her eyes.
“I,
uh… How—?”
The
elevator doors opened, interrupting whatever Seb thought he might say.
Lifting
her eyes to his, Toni walked slowly backward until she was inside.
“See
you around,” she said, dropping her gaze. “Maybe.”
***
Excerpted from The Girl with Stars in Her
Eyes by Xio Axelrod. © 2021 by Xio Axelrod. Used with
permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks
Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Xio Axelrod is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of contemporary
romance. In 2017, she founded the Philadelphia RWA chapter. Xio grew up in the
music industry and began recording at a young age. When she isn't writing
stories, she can be found in the studio, writing songs, or performing on
international stages (under a different, not-so-secret name). She lives in
Philadelphia with one full-time husband and several part-time cats.
