Synopsis:
As lead singer and guitarist of the internationally renowned Souls of the Knight, Sawyer Knight is living a life most men can only dream of. He’s surrounded by music, fame, wealth, women throwing themselves at his feet. He has everything…
Yet he has nothing.
Life as one of the world’s most sought after rock stars is tiring, oppressive and lonely. He spends every day being who the world wants him to be, who his manager tells him to be, who his mother expects him to be… all the while fighting against who he really is. Truth is, he’s used to it. He’s actually gotten pretty good at pretending… at living the lie.
Until Jake Reed, his ex-best friend and the only person who’s ever made him ‘feel’, waltzes back into his life as the band’s new head of security. Jake wants Sawyer – always has, always will. Now, he just needs to get Sawyer to admit that he feels the same…
“You will be mine, Sawyer Knight. The faster you try to run the quicker you’ll fall to your knees. Then, Sawyer… then you’ll be too weak to resist.”
Why I read this book: In exchange for an honest review we were offered this book for Being Sawyer Knight’s book tour.
My thoughts:
I really enjoy friends-to-lovers stories. I also really enjoy stories where the two mcs have been apart for years and reunite. So this was one I did enjoy. I loved how Sawyer kept trying to convince himself he did NOT have feelings for his best friend from high school. I adored how persistent Jake is and how confident he is knowing that he will indeed have Sawyer as his lover. Plus it’s hot rockers and yummy body guards, what’s not to like. I appreciated how hard Sawyer tried to be what Jake needed and that Jake knew how difficult it was for Sawyer.
And while yes I enjoyed this book, I did feel like it was somewhat predictable. Times where I found myself saying yep saw that one coming. There were times when Sawyer royally pissed me off for they way he treated Jake, and times I wanted to shake Jake for just standing there taking it. But I believe that any book that can piss me off is a job well done. So, while the book follows a fairly common plot line that has been done in several books that I have read, it is one that I am glad I had the chance to read. If you are looking for a hot, sweet, minimal angst read pick this one up. Plus HOT rockers and YUMMY bodyguards. Win. Win.
Excerpt:
Conversation was a little awkward at first. We stuck to ‘safe’ topics, talking about our
childhood and everything leading up to – but not including the last time we saw each
other. Soon enough, the rich whiskey started taking effect, visibly relaxing him. Three shots
in and I saw a genuine smile… not a forced one he’d only put on for my benefit. The curve
of his lips illuminated his entire face, making his caramel eyes sparkle under the wisp of
dark brown hair that couldn’t seem to keep itself from falling over his face.
“So, how are your parents?” I asked casually in an effort to keep the conversation flowing.
I didn’t want this night to end.
“Jerry fucked off a few years back. He was our first manager before we got signed, got us
a few gigs here and there… but then I found out he’d been knocking my mum around, so
after beating the living shit out of him, I told him he either disappeared or I’d call the cops.”
“Jesus,” I barely whispered, shaking my head at the image he’d put in my mind. “How’s
your mum now?”
“Good, last time I heard.”
“You don’t see her?”
“Not often. She doesn’t exactly approve of my lifestyle. Got to do what’s right by her church
buddies, ya know.”
“Wow. Sorry, mate.” Sawyer shrugged casually, feigning indifference. His eyes told a
different story though. Evident discomfort forced his eyebrows together slightly and when
he blinked, it took his eyes a couple of seconds longer than necessary to open again. “So
who do you go to when you need to escape all this shit?” I asked, motioning my hands
around the opulence surrounding us.
“Elle,” he said simply. Just the sound of her name tugged on the corners of his lips,
making him smile.
“Maths girl?” I already knew the answer. The whole world knows about Elle Wilson – best
friend and possible secret girlfriend of the hottest singer this decade has ever seen.
“Yeah,” he agreed, still smiling as he nodded. “After you… left,” he started to explain, the
word ‘left’ cracking on his lips. “I spent more and more time with her. She helped me with
my maths, gave me her old papers to study, that kind of shit. I still fucking failed,” he added
with yet another smile. I liked Elle already. So far, she’s the only person who seems to
make Sawyer happy. “But seriously, she’s the only person who’s ever been there for me. If
it weren’t for her… I don’t think I’d have survived this life very long.”
Wow.
“Sounds lonely,” I said, picking my glass up from the table and taking another sip of
whiskey. The burn ceased after the second glass, and so now, four glasses in, the rich
liquid trickled smoothly down my throat like silk. “Are you lonely, Sawyer?”
His eyes widened just slightly and he stuttered on his response. I stared intently into his
eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of his soul hiding behind them. I could almost see the
debate taking place in his mind – whether to be honest with me, or lie.
“No. Course not.” He went for the option of lying. “I’m surrounded by people every day.”
“But they don’t know you,” I stated cautiously, the end of my sentence coming out slightly
higher as if it were a question. “Not the real you.”
“How the fuck would you know? You don’t know me,” he spat. The anger in his voice
halted the rhythm of my heart for a brief second while I considered what I was doing. I
should back off. I should be professional and keep a safe personal distance. I should
apologise for riling him.
But I knew immediately I wasn’t going to do any of those things. Despite what he might
think right now, I do know Sawyer Knight – the real one. I grew up with him, I loved him… I
still love him. We might have spent the last ten years apart but I’ve never stopped following
him. I’ve watched his career go from strength to strength. I’ve studied him in interviews, TV
appearances and even went to watch him play when the band’s last tour landed in
Australia. Each time I watched him I was drawn to his eyes, and not once had I ever seen
the sparkle in them that I used to fantasise over as a teenager. He never smiles – not
genuinely. He never talks about his private life. Never discusses himself unless prompted,
and even then the discomfort is evident by the slight squirm of his body.
Sawyer is hiding from the world.
He’s hiding from himself.
And I’m going to find him.
Where to buy:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Meet the Author:
Author of the New Adult/Contemporary novels Missing Pieces, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series, and m/m erotic romance Being Sawyer Knight. I live in Rochdale, England with my wonderful family and when I’m not playing with my imaginary friends I can usually be found looking after my four adorable (sometimes!) children (six if you include the dogs, seven if you include the hubby!) or studying towards my English Literature degree. All in all I’m just an ordinary mum with an addiction to reading about hot book guys, writing about hot book guys and Pepsi Max! Oh, and if my kids ever ask… I moonlight as the Pink Power Ranger ;)
http://www.nicolahaken.net/
https://facebook.com/nicolahaken
https://twitter.com/NicolaHaken
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7094294.Nicola_Haken
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20622081beingsawyerknight
Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card
I would like to thank Nicola Haken and Book Enthusiast Promotions for letting us participate in this tour.