“I was blown away by this book! Alyson Santos delivers a fresh take on the rock star romance genre with Rising West. All I can say is: read it! Read it now!” — Jayne Frost, Author of the Sixth Street Band SeriesTurner Artist Management Urgent Action Item: ✔ Find a new frontman for Burn Card. When one of your top artists loses their lead singer to a solo career, you jump on the problem. When it … on the problem. When it also involves a devastating breakup with the band’s queen bee, you drop everything and run.
So I did—run. To the east, where I found a young single father so mesmerizing, his talent almost makes you forget he comes at a price. Enormous potential steeped in personal tragedy, what’s an agency to do?
See, I’m just the manager. The story that follows actually belongs to my client Liberty Blake and the enigmatic heartthrob whose world is about to be blown apart.
Because now that the industry wolves have the scent, everyone’s desperate to know:
Who is MASON WEST??
Rising West is a standalone Turner Artist Rocker Novel.
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A new Santos favorite out of her repertoire of wayward rock star stories. Rising West digs deep into the tortured heart of Mason West, our hero while conversely showcasing a strong heroine in Liberty Blake. Both characters are facing personal battles with separate sets of circumstances that give readers plenty of intrigue. I was engaged in this story, told from dual perspectives, from the very beginning. It’s a great book to highlight the delicacy, care, and passion Alyson Santos has for her characters and their precarious lives as musicians.
What I love about this slow burn romance is how human the story becomes as it’s not about “rock stars” but of two people who are fractured and battling and evolving into their best selves. There’s no outside, forced angst or superfluous drama but rather a consistent, humming thread of conflict that provides so much more depth and significance to the story. Rising West is also an ode to friendship and the importance of those meaningful connections. The relationships between the characters are healing and fortify who each of the main characters want to be as human beings.
Santos has a true gift for taking a subgenre (rockstar romance) and turning it upside down to create stories that are unique and compelling, character driven, human interest stories. You can’t help but fall in love with Rising West thanks to Alyson Santos brilliantly executed story telling and engaging writing. I very much look forward to discovering more of the Turner Artist Family world.
This is Alyson at her BEST. This book was emotional, gripping and raw. Mason and Liberty have chemistry that is off the charts but also have baggage that weighs them down. So low. They both have to learn to live again. Learn they are worth all of the good things in life. There were points of this book I was so engrossed in the story that I forgot I wasn’t actually in it. The biggest tag line of this story is “says who?” Who says they can’t have it all? Well, no one does after they both come together and realize they can do everything. They can be everything, they can do anything, together. Mason and his amazing daughter add a little bit of sadness but also some much needed comic relief. She is a bright ray of sunshine in his dark world. She was the bright ray in my world too! Love this book and these amazing characters. They will infiltrate your heart and leave you with all of the feels!
Take all my stars!
This book was amazing,beautiful , inspiring, emotional, stunning … deserves every good word possible .
I felt it I lived it I was drawn in I didn’t want it to end !
The words in this book were poetic , like their own song in the form of a story .
I. Loved. It.
It’s a story of loss and grief, determination and persistence , hope and love , mixed with a HOT musical rock god or who should have been a rock god and the finds his way to becoming one .
He’s also an incredibly devoted single dad who just makes you swoon over and over and over again .
There is also an original song that goes with this book that gives me goose bumps and evokes emotion every time I hear it ! It sums up this book beautifully check it out it’s stunning : https://youtu.be/mhcc-fK5OCE
This is the first book I’ve read of alysons and I’m really kean to read more !!!
5 Rocking Stars
My heart!! Mason West, a swoon single dad that conquered my heart!u2063u2063u2063 He is everything!
Mason and Liberty had their own “ghosts” hunting them in different ways. Both are a strong characters, very likable. The story is well written and is clear that in the author’s veins runs musical notes instead of blood. This story is emotional and inspirational. You can feel the emotions through the pages, with Mason as a single dad, pursuing his dreams and dealing with his past and loss.u2063u2063u2063
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I was hooked from the begging and in love with the whole story. Highly recommended.u2063u2063
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Get ready to meet Mason West! u2063
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Video: https://youtu.be/mhcc-fK5OCEu2063
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Grab your copy today! u2063
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08562957Zu2063
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Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08562957Zu2063
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Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08562957Zu2063
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Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08562957Zu2063
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Amazon Universal http://mybook.to/RisingWestu2063
This story was amazing, beautiful, heartbreaking, sad, inspirational and loving. Our hero is struggling musician Mason West is been having a hard time carrying a guilt that is heavy on his soul after loosing his girlfriend in a tragic accident . The only light in his life is his 4 year old daughter Brooklyn and he fights everyday to survive.
Everything changes one night and he is giving the chance to rise as the lead singer of a famous Rock Band. This is where he mets our heroine Liberty, she is an incredible talented musician who is going through some hard times trying to repair a broken heart.
The pull and attraction for each other is undeniable but their journey it’s not an easy one.
Author Alyson Santos delivers a truly amazing, soul touching story that is a must read.
Wow! Alyson Santos really knocked it out of the park with this one. She has such amazing writing skills. She writes with so much intensity that the characters spring to life from the page, gripping you to the edge of your seat. When you’re reading her books, no matter what sweet indulgent torture she’s putting you through, you just can’t seem to put the book down. It’s just that good!
Rising West is not your typical rock star romance. It’s about true musicians who have suffered much blood, sweat and tears to get where they are in life. It was an emotional, riveting, fantastically gut-wrenching ride that hooked me from the very start. Mason and Liberty’s harrowing journey really packed quite a punch. If you love genuine rock star romance that brings out all of the feels, then please be sure and snatch this book up. Five stars and more!
Alyson Santos… I love her books and Rising West is this beautiful incredible book of real people with real issues who are good people who just love!!!
Mason West is everything you in a rock star and man!! He’s had a challenging life journey but just there for those in his life. Liberty comes along, unexpectedly and changes his world.
I love how this story develops. I love the core of family, of beautiful songs, real people and real feelings!! Add single dad with cute kid to the miss and it’s sheer book perfection for me!! I love so much about this book, the little details of how it is told. Thank you Alyson Santos for another incredible read!!
Liberty and Mason each have troubled pasts. Mason is a talented singer but had to put his dreams aside to parent his four year old daughter Brooklyn. His wife left them. Liberty works for the band that will change Mason’s life and make his dreams come true. Liberty changes Mason and Brooklyn’s lives when she meets them. The chemistry between the couple is electric and the scenes in the book will make you cry, sweat, cheer them on and be happy. A rocker romance with all the feels.
This is my second book by Alyson Santos and once again I was captivated from beginning to end.
Who is Mason West?
Mason West is an amazing talented artist who fell in love on his rise to stardom only to have everything ripped away from him. Mason was part of a band who was getting recognised, he was the lead singer and song writer and on the night of their first big concert there was an accident and his pregnant fiance was killed.
Mason went from a young man with hopes and dreams to being devastated, grieving the loss of his first love while being a single father trying to make ends meat because more than anything he just wanted to put his little girl first with the loss of her mother while his band went on to stardom.
Throughout this story there is the diary of Katrina which I was a little confused about at first until it clicked who she was and they were her thoughts and her own hopes for Mason before she died, her thoughts that are weaved throughout the plot.
Mason’s life was one of working as many hours as he could, playing small gigs and supporting his daughter, he also had to rely on his dead girlfriends parents for childcare who were supportive and pushed him to keep performing just like their daughter used too. When Mason is approached by a band manager one night who is looking for a lead singer after losing their own lead singer who has gone solo Mason’s life makes a huge turn around overnight.
Mason goes onto meet his new potential band members and auditions for them, this is when he meets the talented Liberty who is the keyboard player and song writer for the famous band.
I loved the progression in this story, the flow and the feeling of satisfaction when you realise that Mason West, this humble and talented man is finally getting a break and what he deserves, a life in the spotlight where he belongs, a decent home for his little girl and her grandparents and as the story evolves he also finds love again.
Mason’s story was captivating, he is humble guy, Liberty has had her own share of heartache too and I can honestly say I reached the end with a contented sigh.
I am definitely looking forward to more books by this author.
Must read Rockstar romance!
Rising West has everything you could possibly want in a rockstar romance that you just won’t forget. Alyson Santos has once again given me a story and a man that has pulled hard at my heart. Mason West is a tired, young single dad, who’s sweet little girl is his reason for pushing on. His dreams are slowly going down the drain, reality is setting in and it may be time to forget all about them.
Watching Mason’s heartbreaking journey, just trying to get through each day in one piece while trying to gain enough confidence in himself to to find his true soul in music is only part of the story. I fell in love with funny, precious Brooklyn as much as I did her sweet, broken father. Then Liberty, who came on at first like stormy weather, yet somehow like a sunny day….between her intense, quirky personality and her welcoming band mates in Burn Card, I couldn’t read this book fast enough, but also didn’t want to see it end. Having people in his corner, caring about him was everything Mason needed. I looked forward to the beginning of each chapter for the thoughtful glimpses into the past and how they shaped and restored Mason’s resolve to be strong.
Written by one of my ‘go to’ authors who is also a musician herself, gives this book some amazing insite that drops you right into the studio with the band. The joy gifted artists must be feeling when they find that inspirational connection that shared creativity brings into their hearts and souls…so amazing. I felt it like I was sitting there with them, the mark of a talented writer for sure.
So Rising West is huge YES…try to read this book as soon as you can. It’s a slice of beautiful perfection…bring a few tissues, your heart will definitely be touched!
Breathless………..
5 Stars and 1000 West Rising Suns
This book is everything. Flawlessly told, beautiful and emotional.
My eyes leaked !!! for most of the story.
A HUMBLE rockstar and sweet adorable little girl and the kickass female bandmate that with some arm twisting took a chance. Sexy without being explicit, romantic, tragic, it has everything. I am telling you – Read this book NOW
Already pre ordered the next in this standalone series.
Thank you Alyson Santos <3 for telling this amazing story.
4.5 s
Art is the one word I choose to describe Rising West. In every sense, Alyson Santos has created a work of art with Rising West. From the first magnetic sentences she laid on the page to the last smile-producing line of the book this author paints a picture that demands to be seen and appreciated for all of its gorgeous nuances.
Mason West, the hero of this triumphant tale, is a masterpiece from his handsome facade to his soulful voice and poetic words. This talented musician has a painful past that haunts him and propels him to persevere in an industry that crushes most. His heart-stealing quirky four-year-old daughter, Brooklyn is Mason’s other driving force in life. The passion he has for music is only rivaled by the passion he has for being the best of all possible dads to his daughter. On the verge of giving up on his dreams to live firmly rooted in reality, Mason is forced to take a chance that could change his life forever.
Liberty Blake has had her heart broken and her band turned inside out by the selfish decisions of its lead singer. Her life is her music and the band she created. They are her family and her motivation. She is forced to take a chance that could bring more devastation if she makes the wrong decision.
When fate places Mason and Liberty along the same creative orbit the result is truly phenomenal. The question becomes can these two powerhouses over come thrir painful pasts to follow the destined course?
Rising West is a complete sensory experience that had my heart beating in time to its beautiful rhythms. Its melody is one that reverberated in mind and soul long after I have closed the pages of the book.
Wow! What a journey Mason West has been on. I look forward to reading more about this great group.
Mason has lived through the unimaginable trying to keep himself and his daughter afloat. When a chance at more comes along will he have enough in himself to believe he can do it?
I enjoyed this book and the road it took me in. I will definitely be reading more from this author. This was my first book by her.
5 Cranky Stars
Ok I’m not crying it’s just my allergies. Darn pollen outside and all that jazz. I knew an Alyson Santos book was going to tug at my emotions but this one darn near did me in. I felt empathy for Mason West because I too just dug myself out of a dark hole. I didn’t spiral like Mason, but I was feeling it on the edge there that anything at any moment might set me off. Like Mason I too have the best support system and got myself back to rights. You can tell Alyson writes from a place of knowing. It’s like she is going through what Mason is going through and bled that out onto the pages. She took us on a journey and not just a sad one but a musical one. We seen how Mason and Liberty both bled their art for the world to see. “Crisis. Breathe. Deal”
Mason West has seen loss and knows what it means to struggle. He’s a single father to an amazing little girl but he feels like he isn’t enough. He gave up on his dream to be a dad and he wouldn’t change that. He settles for playing little venues here and there to appease his artistic side. He struggles mentally and places a lot of blame on himself. When he is scouted at a bar one night, he thinks it’s all a joke. Mason has been here before and has suffered the impact of that star crashing. He wasn’t expecting the band of Burn Card to want to take him on much less it’s enigmatic and quirky keyboard player Liberty Blake. Liberty knows heartache. Their lead singer just up and left both the band and her without a glance back. Yes, she has trust issues and is unsure of using Mason to replace Chris. She denies her feelings at every turn. She knows Mason is beyond talented, but she knows more is lying beneath the surface. When things take a turn, she proves she can be Mason’s sun in his dark world. She fights for him and falls in love with Brooklyn in return.
Oh. Em. Gee. Ok at first, I was like I don’t understand all the musical beat references and I was unsure if I would understand this book then I realized how wrong I was. This book is so much more than a musical guide it’s a journey into mental illness. It’s about love and sacrifice. It’s about the lengths we will go to protect someone but it’s also about how our mind plays tricks on us. That even people with the world at their feet suffer behind a friendly smile. It’s not all sadness and dark though there were some funny moments tossed in when Liberty’s internal monologue about hugging and of course Chris and his birdhouse song that he swore was a Grammy winner. In the words of Liberty Blake “You’re still breathing today. You’re still feeling today. So breathe Mason. And feel.”
I feel so lucky to get an advanced copy of this book to review. I was so enthralled that I did an all-nighter, it was impossible to put down. I was invested from the first page, it was so heartbreakingly realistic and raw. Suddenly while reading I realised that I had tears rolling down my face. I was so heartbroken by this story of a young man who had been robbed of everything except for his baby daughter at the age of nineteen, and who on top of everything blamed himself for his losses.
The only way he can see to redeem himself is to put aside his dreams of stardom and work hard to provide for his daughter. Luckily he has the support of his girlfriend’s parents and a neighbour, and is able to sneak away once in a while to forget his troubles as he takes to the stage in small venues and dreams of what could have been. This is how he meets Sam, who invites him to LA to audition for the open lead singer position in one of the hottest bands on the planet.
The band recognizing Mason’s incredible talent want him to join, except for one of the founders Liberty. She is still stinging from the betrayal of her lover and former lead singer who suddenly left both her and the band to pursue a solo career. She believes that someone as brilliant as Mason West has to be more of the same and she does not want to go there twice either personally or professionally.
Mason does not have to prove anything to Liberty beyond his incredible musical ability which he does in spades. Although after the initial awkward showdown with Liberty he finds himself attracted to her but his first priority is and has always been his daughter.
Alyson gives us an insight into the workings of a rock band, the politics with the label and the building of working and personal relationships between band members and she does it so well. All the characters are incredibly well written especially those of Liberty and Mason. The subject of depression is touched upon as Mason deals with his feelings of inadequacy and sometimes despair. I loved that we got snippets from the journal of Mason’s dead girlfriend who had encouraged him to see “the sun rise in the west”. But if he will let her in, Liberty is now there to be his new guiding light.
An amazing story of survival and redemption. Can’t wait for the second book in this series. Rising West is all of five stars and much more!
5+ RISING STARS!
Alyson Santos’s stars will definitely be rising with this book. She delivers another brilliant story with all the feels in her previous novels times a hundred! Emotions seeped from every word and saturated my soul.
Mason West is an up and coming rock star, a deep and complicated character who suffered a tragic loss that was compounded by betrayal. He turns his back on his future to make a life for himself and his newborn daughter.
I was dazzled by the chemistry between Mason and Liberty, the feisty lady rocker who is in complete denial about their attraction for one another. But it was another relationship that stole my heart. Is it okay to admit that my favorite couple in this gem was Mason and his four-year old daughter, Brooklyn? Whose heart wouldn’t turn to mush while reading about a hot and tormented rock star whose priority is his little girl?
This is a phenomenal story with beautiful writing and I hope it brings Santos all the recognition and success she deserves!
Wow, what a fricking fantastic book! This is the first book by Alyson Santos I have read and she has now earned a spot on my must read all her books list. I loved everything about this book! The story line is so beautifully written that you feel like you are experiencing every emotion right along with the characters. I especially loved all the lyrics throughout the book.
All of the characters are awesome but Mason West stole my heart from the start. He’s not your typical cocky rock star, he’s vulnerable and has so much self doubt. But when it comes to his daughter, Brooklyn, he gives her his all. He is so sweet with her. Cue the exploding ovaries!
Liberty is a kick ass chick and I loved that she not only saw Mason but also opened herself up to him. They have so much chemistry and I love their connection. It seriously is such a great story! I highly recommend!
Oh the feels….
This is my first read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. Rising West is a fantastic emotional experience. Mason’s story lays everything out there. You get all of him. Inside and out. My heart broke for this beautiful man and his sweet little girl.
Liberty is perfect to help this man heal. And their chemistry is so much more than physical, they come together spiritually also. I absolutely loved this read and can not wait for more. Wonderful book.
*Review by Michelle
Rising West is the story of Mason West, a single dad with a huge heart and a voice straight from the heavens. A young man who has the weight of the world on his shoulders as self doubt and worth control his thoughts. As the story flickers between the past and the present, your heart will break at what he has suffered and the guilt that he places on himself. Liberty is hell bent on hating Mason from the very first moment she lays eyes on him, because as they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Their story is filled with drama, intrigue and conflict. As you are captivated by the words that tell their story, it might be just one little girl who will steal your heart. An amazing start to the Turner Artist Rocker series that will have you lining up for tickets to the next show.
When it comes to rockstar romances I can never get enough! Set in the rockstar world I was therefore riveted to this book, this unexpected gem of a story of self-worth and second chances that quickly sets itself apart from the typical rockstar romance. Instead of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, readers get a heartbreaking yet uplifting story featuring a single dad balancing his dreams alongside trying to do his best for his daughter. Adding to his journey is the female rockstar whose bandmate, who was also her boyfriend before dumping her and their band, has left her heartbroken and leery of putting her heart on the line again…especially when it comes to another musician hoping for a second chance in more ways then one.
Mason West was once on the cusp of fame when fate changed his path irrevocably, making him a widow and a single father struggling to make ends meet and to keep his daughter safe and happy. While his band went on without him, he took on long and hard work hours which put music on the backburner. Being a full time dad means his life is no longer his own, his music dreams stifled but not completely dead as there’s still a flicker of hopes and dreams that keeps him going. That hope becomes a reality though when the manager of popular band Burn Card asks him to audition to become their new lead singer. It’s a moment to cheer for but for Mason it brings all his insecurities to the forefront. For far too long he’s buried his wants and it’s a painful sight to see him struggle to embrace this second chance. Even after he makes a spot for himself with Burn Card it’s still a constant struggle for him to feel worthy of all the good things coming his way while he still tries to be all his daughter needs him to be…along with trying to embrace a new love even as guilt over a past love weighs on him. His journey is one that pulled at my heartstrings, putting a smile on my face while bringing an occasional tear to my eye. Through all his ups and downs I fell wholeheartedly in love with Mason. He’s a delicious and perfectly imperfect hero with a big heart that was fully on display, particularly when it came to his daughter Brooklyn. They were a burst of sunshine together, sweet and playful, and it was nice to see amidst the many moments that saw him struggle with where he is in his life. He clearly struggled with his dampened dreams and the author never shied away from depicting his battle with depression. When he ached, I ached, which is why I cheered Liberty coming into his life. Finally there was someone who shared his love of music, and who loved him unconditionally, and it made for a powerful pairing.
Liberty Blake’s band was on the road to fame when she was left blindsided as her boyfriend (and the band’s lead singer) decided to go solo. She was left at a loss, heartbroken and angry. The prospect of finding a replacement doesn’t thrill her but the moment she meets Mason her world explodes. She may have thought he was going to be your typical rockstar but she soon discovers he’s so much more. As they grow closer, bonding over their music and lyrics, readers discover more about them as individuals while watching their interactions turn more sensual. She gives Mason the encouragement and validation of his talent that’s been lacking in his life and you could see him grow more self-assured through her eyes. With each turn of the page Liberty shows herself to be an immensely appealing heroine and I liked her all the more for her interactions with Mason. Their pairing quickly captivated me in a romance that was empowering to both of them and fueled their immensely satisfying HEA.
After turning the final page readers will find themselves wanting to start all over again as Mason West is a multi-layered hero who I’m still thinking about. He was a man who was just going through the motions of living, weighed down by his past and setting HIS dreams aside to do what he thinks is best for Brooklyn. He’s a devoted dad, a sexy and talented musician, and someone you want to hug repeatedly. Liberty’s a strong-willed heroine who helps him realize him dreams and in turn it enriches her own talent. They make each other better, stronger both in their hearts and souls, and it makes them an unforgettable couple. I also enjoyed getting glimpses of the rest of Burn Card and look forward to where Ms. Santos will take us next. Fans of rockstar romances, realistic and intense emotions, and a drool-worthy hero will definitely want to grab this book as its characters and powerful storytelling are still in my thoughts.