This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Travis Haugen will be awarding $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
See below to read an excerpt and a great Interview. And ...to sign up for the GIVEAWAY
Scott Yonge exploded onto the national consciousness at the 2001 Garrett Awards and quickly rose to legendary status on the wings of his music and his whirlwind romance with independent film actress Michelle Zoe. What should have been a perfect life was interrupted by an ultra-right wing militant group called the American Freedom Force and its leader, Colonel Randall, who forces Scott to choose between his life and that of his son. After his heroic sacrifice, his family is left to pick up the pieces and forge ahead to a future in the vacuum he left behind.
Now, in 2021, his son Hedley inherits music for himself, becoming a star in his own right as technology gives new life to the medium. Scott's daughter, affectionately known as Soup, throws herself into unravelling the mysteries of her family's history. Michelle commits herself to keeping them all together and trying to make sense of life without the one she loves. Through it all, the AFF looms in the shadows, threatening to resurrect the pain they have just begun to overcome.
Now, in 2021, his son Hedley inherits music for himself, becoming a star in his own right as technology gives new life to the medium. Scott's daughter, affectionately known as Soup, throws herself into unravelling the mysteries of her family's history. Michelle commits herself to keeping them all together and trying to make sense of life without the one she loves. Through it all, the AFF looms in the shadows, threatening to resurrect the pain they have just begun to overcome.
My Review...
This is a very difficult book to attach a genre to. I don’t
think I’d call it a romance, but it does have a loving, caring sentiment merely
because of a loving family. It's a thriller and futuristic in some ways and while the story
itself makes it fiction, it’s almost non-fiction just because of the author’s
knowledge of technology. It’s also not necessarily unrealistic concerning the
music world. While this seems like a mish-mash of genres, it doesn’t turn out
that way at all. It’s a good storyline. One with interesting characters.
I did have some trouble with the flow of the book, and this
is no different than any other book I have read that is filled with song lyrics
here and there. I am a musician myself. Nonetheless, the interruption of song
lyrics tends to break my rhythm in reading and makes the story feel disjunct. I
know the musical bits make this very interactive and I know this is great for some
people. I listened to the after I read the book. It’s just me, I don’t like the
storyline to stop flowing.
It’s a well-written and unique story. Well worth my reading
time.
The dream wakes him, the same one. Hedley’s whispered words “Bye birdies, bye” still ring in his ears as he achieves consciousness. Sound of a different source soon intrudes: that of music playing through the PA system. It’s late, he realizes, and jumps to his feet. He can feel more than hear the rustle of people filing into the arena, bringing with them a sense of tension that will build until show time, then burst like a stick dam before a raging river with the first note. It’s 7:10 PM; an hour and twenty to go. A shrill knock comes to the door, followed by Del’s voice.
“You in there, dude?”
“Si,” Scott replies. All the years of the road, sharing the stage, and the music are audible in Del’s simple words. They don’t have to speak to talk; they’re on the same wavelength.
The show, the focus is the show. Whatever lies with tomorrow lives with tomorrow; they live for tonight. “I need a shower, I stink. I’ll be along soon.”
“Cool, dude, don’t forget your pants.”
He hears cowboy booted footsteps receding on the concrete floor.
A new, unidentifiable tension floats to the surface as Scott showers, rising from the dark side. It has an ominous feel about it, winding like a creeping vine around Scott’s confidence, bringing with it a sense of fear, and worse, a sense of defeat. The wariness settles on him again, draining his energy and his will. He shivers uncontrollably as coldness sets in, and he wonders if he can go on. Then it occurs to him as he cranks the hot water that this is all part of it. The plan all along was to isolate him, weaken him bit by bit, reducing him to a shell of what he is. By show time, they would see Scott as the colonel wants them to see him, a weak and ineffective fool incapable of sustaining a mission of any substance. “You will not break me,” Scott whispers. He leans his head against the cool tiles of the shower stall. “I will not give you that.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Travis was born and raised in the prairies of Saskatchewan, lived in Calgary for over 25 years and presently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Travis Haugen has spent forty years of his life touring on the road as a musician and has spent hundreds of hours in recording studios. Travis spends much of his time writing songs, writing stories, playing music and spending valuable time with his family and close group of friends.
Links:
Where Soup Is Sold:
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the review. It is always good to hear people's view of the book, especially positive!
Thank you for the review and for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat cover and awesome giveaway! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria. The fountain-fill blue, the phrase, 'An Interactive Musical Thriller', and the layout came from my niece, Candy. She is at least fifty percent of the One Song project, maybe more. We wouldn't be here without her, that I know. The goose itself was a hand illustration done by Haley Craw, a young woman from Calgary, now studying her art in England. Haley also drew the illustrations inside.
DeleteThanks, Victoria, for joining the tour.
Sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita,
DeleteThanks for your comment. We believe it is, but the ultimate determination will come from the readers. I only hope they enjoy SOUP half as much as we did making it. We've had a good time of it, for sure!
Thank you for your review! Sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteHi Caryl,
DeleteI'm with you there. I'd like to thank Kathy for the review also, as would Candy. Thanks again from the SOUP team!
Thanks to you both. Good books are easy to write reviews on.
DeleteAnd so, to bed. Thanks everybody, for stopping by. Goodnight, all. goodnight, NC.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a fun tour!
ReplyDelete--Trix
Thanks, Trix,
ReplyDeleteYes it has been a riot! I'd like to thank you, and everyone who dropped by over the past three weeks. Candy is away this weekend on courses, but she sands her best wishes to everyone, as do I!
Thank you, Kathy for hosting us, and a special thanks for the review. Our art means nothing if it never gets out of the basement. Your review goes a long way in helping us with that. Thanks again for investing the time.
ReplyDeleteCandy and I wish you a very magical summer in 2019!