Ashes

[akje]

A black teen tries to make a name for herself in the mostly white world of country music. Ashanté likes to fantasize about becoming a star like her all-time biggest idols, Mickey Guyton, Vicki Vann, Rissi Palmer and Star De Azlan. The problem is she's timid and shy, and gets nervous whenever she has to get up in front of the class to give a speech. ˓(ˊᘩˋ⋆)

One night her college roommates take her to a nightclub, where Ashanté gets sloshed for the first time. On a dare she gets up and sings karaoke, but unknown to her a country western music exec happens to be in the bar that night. Producer Bryce Walker is white, wealthy and womanizing, and he knows the sound of money when he hears it. Ashanté sounds like ka-ching.

But country music's a vicious world, especially for someone as innocent and shy as Ashanté. Bryce has always had a policy of not getting involved with his employees, but as he watches the cut-throat business turn his star act into a drug-addicted lush, he realizes his feelings go deeper than just professional concern. Can he turn things around and save Ashanté before the music industry destroys her?

This is a romance novel; of course he can. ٩(˘◡˘)۶

Read an excerpt:

"I loved your singing, Miss Ashanté."

Ashanté gaped. "Um... thank you."

He sure had blue eyes. Or were they green? Maybe brown. She couldn't tell in this drunken haze, and the purple neon lights under the seats weren't helping. How much did a car like this cost?

Keiko gave him directions to the dorm, and the chauffeur drove them home.

"Are you a billionaire?"

"Ha!" He shook his head. "I wish. This is a company car."

He pulled out a business card and handed it to Ashanté.

Keiko leaned over to read it. "Broken Pony Records?"

Ashanté was grateful Keiko read it aloud. It looked like Sanskrit, but she stuffed it into her purse.

"Yes, ma'am," he said in a cowpoke voice. "I'd really appreciate it if you'd audition for our A&R department. We'll cut a demo for the big wheels upstairs and try to get you a contract."

A and R? What's that?

Ashanté stared.

And stared.

And stared some more.

A country label music producer just happens to be in a bar when I sing karaoke, gives us a ride in a limo and offers me a record deal?

Bwahahaha!

Okay, that explained it.

This was all a dream.

☙ ❧