8 August 2013

Tour + Review: Everybody Falls by J. A. Hornbuckle


 
 
Everybody Falls
Contemporary
Date Published: 6/14/2013

At 25, Jax Wynter lost his life.
As the youngest member of America's number one rock band, Wynter's Vicious, Jax lived a life with no rules or responsibilities. At least until his older brother, founding member and vocalist, died in a fiery car crash. Jobless, clueless and deemed unfit to handle his own affairs, Jax must sober up, man up and adjust to living as a 'normal person' in the 'real world'.
 
At 24, Lacey Emerson found hers.
Shuffled between her bi-polar mom and her former hippie grandmother, Lacey had no choice but to become responsible at a young age. Her chaotic childhood, though, gave her the skills and determination to succeed when she inherited her grandmother's bakery. Her life was finally normal, real but very, very boring.
 
All it took was a five-point face plant to turn both their lives upside down.
From the author of Pole Dance, Human Hieroglyphix I & II and Tap Dance, comes the new novel, "Everybody Falls", Book One of Wynter's Vicious Series. Set in the beautiful town of Auburn, California and filled with a cast of quirky characters, it’s a story about learning to live, learning to love and learning to hold on when your brand of 'normal' comes undone.
Sometimes you have to fall from grace before you can fall in love.



Author spotlight:

Even as a young girl, J.A. couldn't wait to read.   In fact, her first real temper tantrum was at the end of first grade when she realized that unless the book or magazine included the words, "Dick", "Jane" or "Spot", she was still at a loss.  The thirst for the written word has never left her. But after reading three crap books in a row on her Kindle (or Ken-doll, as she calls it) in July 2012, she decided she could do better.  Armed with a few notes, she blithely wrote out the first draft of her first novel and found her first book was worse crap than the stories that had started the whole cycle.  Taking the advice of another author, she studied and learned, re-wrote and re-edited.   As of June 2013, she's published five books with another in progress.

J.A. has been fortunate to travel throughout the U.S. and overseas, though she's now calling the Phoenix, Arizona area home.  Those travels, places and the people she's met help provide fuel for her books which is always why she includes the verbiage, 'Although, if you recognize yourself in any character represented …maybe we need to talk.'  She calls it her rider to the disclaimer assuring readers that her characters are not based on any one particular person. 

When asked to sum up what she wanted others to know about her, she simply says, "For those that have been with me on this life's journey…Thanks for the memories!  And those that are still on their way…Where've you been?  My heart's been waiting for you."

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Excerpt:
 

He'd become such a fixture of the morning scenery, the sounds of his feet on the asphalt keeping time to whatever was in his head. I had taken to putting on music that had a beat to match his cadence. Today, my MP3 in the store was playing Soundgarden's 'Black Days'. The low volume of such a rock anthem was probably illegal in more than a few states. In fact, the hard-driving rock anthems seemed to be my music of choice when I waited for him. There was something about the set of his shoulders, the tattoos that fully covered his arms spoke to me of deep pain when I watched him run, but I couldn't have told you why.

 

Normally, he'd run right by me with only a quick wave, which was more than alright by me. Today, he'd stopped. But, not by his own volition. He tripped, wind-milling his way past me on the porch steps. Taking giant, wobbly steps trying to find his balance before failing, before falling. Before doing a skidding face plant on the asphalt not ten feet away from me. Just there on the other side of the road, yet still on the asphalt. That cold, hard surface, sprinkled with the various pinecones from the beautiful tall, tall trees on the other side.

 

"Arrg," he shouted as his face had hit the ground. I placed my new bright blue mug on the worn piece wooden step and made my way slowly to his still figure sprawled on the blacktop. I could see his back rising and falling with his breaths, so I figured he was, at least, alive after his dive. That would've been a horrible epitaph, 'Death by Pavement'.

Either that or a great name for a band.
 
What I say (Review): I do love a good rock star story and for the most part Everybody Falls was right up my street! Jackson 'Jax/Jack/Jacks' Wynter is the messed up bad boy and former guitarist from rock band Wynter's Vicious. Following the death of his older brother and bandmate Denny, Jax is out of rehab and living with his Grams. Lacey inherited a bakery from her grandmother and is trying to build a quiet life for herself away from her destructive and abusive mother.
 
Everybody Falls is a good example of how removed certain celebrities are from everyday life. Jax was a teenager when the band became successful and is completely clueless when it comes to simple things like washing up, grocery shopping and paying bills. Lacey on the otherhand is organised and capable, she has had to look after her selfish mother for most of her life - I liked them as a couple because they balance and help each other.
 
In many ways they are the antithesis of one another; Jax is every bit your bad boy musician. He's used to groupies and not caring about girls, whilst Lacey lacks experience with guys and is almost afraid of men.
 
Jax's Grandmother or 'Grams' was a great edition to the book. She provided some great one-liners and was often the source of both the funniest and most poignant moments.
 
I was really moved when I found out where the title came from (you'll understand when you read it) and I felt it provided an interesting message and commentary on life.
 
There is a fair amount of sexy times/smut, so this one's definitely more of a NA or even Adult book. Some of the sex scenes were a little awkward and the dirty talk scene had me in hysterics (I'm not sure if that was the point) but I enjoyed the story and will definitely read the next book in the series.
 
4 Stars in my Sky!
 



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