Travel by the Book ~ Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances/Ocean Beach

Welcome to Travel by the Book. I know for most of us, reading is an escape. One of the things I love about reading it getting to travel. And I'm sure I'm not the only reader who has wished to take a trip inspired by a place I read about in a book. I've been fortunate in that my Hubs is kind enough to indulge me and take me to said places. This is where I share those vacations that were inspired by a book.

***UPDATE***

So, I know you haven't seen a Travel by the Book post in quite a long while. This is mostly because I wasn't thinking ahead when I started doing these posts and after ONE year, I'd run out of places I'd traveled to because of a book! LOL But I got to thinking about how to resurrect this feature and I decided to continue sharing these posts - quarterly? - and switch it up a tiny bit when necessary. 

I hope you'll enjoy these posts!

***The Book***

You may have recently read my review of Michelle Mankin's Oceanside. I've been reading Ms. Mankin since 2012 and there's a lot to love about her stories. Her characters are always well drawn, the romance is always compelling and swoon-worthy, her stories always deal with a relevant social issue, and she does an incredible job at conveying the look and feel of her setting. From the gritty streets of Seattle (yes, they do exist) to the honky-tonk feel of Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth to the eccentric town of Ocean Beach, she's continually made me feel as though I've been there. So when I got the opportunity to travel to Ocean Beach to tour the locations and establishments that inspired Ms. Mankin's Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances series there was no way I was going to pass it up! 

This series revolves around a group of guys who grew up in Ocean Beach, love surfing, and also happened to be the band known as The Dirt Dogs. I loved the Ms. Mankin gave each of the couples a unique backstory, compelling stories with tragedies and triumphs, and romances I believed in. This group of characters is so well developed and feel so genuine - and part of the genuineness is due to Ms. Mankin making their environment so realistic.

***The Travel***

My friend, Denise, who frequently travels to book event locales with me, was my traveling companion for this trip. We stayed at the Ocean Beach Motel and y'all, the beach was right across the street! We got to see the beach, surfers and surf shops, restaurants, buildings, and houses that served as inspiration as well as the murals that are all over the town on the sides of buildings and in alley-ways. Here are a few photos:

This is the bar that inspired The Deck Bar featured in all the books.

This is the house that served as inspiration for Ramon's house in Riptide.

There were tons of surfers out on this day. The Ocean Beach pier is in the background.

I took lots of pictures of the various murals around town but decided to feature this one because of the surfers. =)

This is the sub-pump structure where Fanny and her sister Hollie were living in Oceanside.

The building you see here is the building where Ash makes his home as well as the Dirt Dogs' recording company, Outside.

A gorgeous sunset from the pier. Just WOW!

Because I adore this series and because I love y'all, I'm giving one lucky reader an ebook set of the trilogy on Kindle. (the trilogy is currently only available on Kindle. Sorry!) To enter, leave a comment letting me know if you've ever traveled to somewhere because you read about it and if so, where.

Oooh! And as a PSA, Oceanside, Ms. Mankin's latest release is currently only 99 pennies on Kindle! You're welcome!! *smooches*

Release Day Review ~ Oceanside ~ Michelle Mankin @MichelleMankin #2018NewRelease

Oceanide by Michelle Mankin
Rock Stars, Surf, and Second Chances #3
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Oscar night.
Rock star legend, Ashland Keys should be on top of the world, but the blond blue-eyed SoCal surfer is disillusioned with fame, done with drugs, bored with the groupies and sick of all the fake f*ckery.
A rising star, Fanny Bay is nominated for best original song in the same category as the Dirt Dogs band, but the novel redhead with the corkscrew curls and the slight Canadian accent would prefer to chart a course with a different destination.
Hollywood is not for her.
He's full of regrets, darkness and secrets.
She's full of hope and light and has mysteries of her own.
He's her reserved hero.
She's his gypsy rose.
He's water. She's fire. Together, they don't make sense.
But he's what she's always wanted, and she just might be everything he needs.

Omigosh did I love Oceanside! This whole series has been fabulous - the backstories, the romance, the friendships. But Oceanside...it's unique. Ash, the drummer for the now-retired Dirt Dogs, isn't your everyday hero. And Fanny is not your conventional heroine. They're from different worlds and they're opposites for sure...him dark, her light. But their story was captivating.

Highlights:

• Gripping
  I was immediately pulled into the story despite it having been a year since I read the last installment.

• Character Development
  Character development is a strength of Mankin's and she showed her prowess here. Ash is such a complex guy with all his rules and boundaries. I could feel his inflexibility and I understood the why's of his rules and his actions in regards to Fanny. Fanny was so mature for her age. She'd lived through quite a lot and even if I didn't agree with all her decisions, they all came from her heart and her desire to do right by those she loved.

• Chemistry
  The chemistry between Fanny and Ash was palpable but there was also just that something there that pulled them toward one another.

• Secondary Characters
  I, of course, loved spending time with Linc & Simone, and Karen & Ramone, who I met in the previous installments but I also adored a new character, Hollie. Mankin created a strong cast of characters to inhabit this series and the addition of Hollie only added to the depth of this story.

• Suspense
  A big part of the plot was suspenseful and kept me turning the pages wondering if and when things would go south for Fanny.

• Reason Behind Ash's Behavior
  I'm being vague here on purpose but know that Mankin did a tremendous in conveying how Ash felt about this and how he dealt with it.

• Shakespeare
  Being a fan of Shakespeare myself, I loved how Mankin wove in meaningful and relevant quotes.

You can read Oceanside without having read Outside or Riptide but why deprive yourself of meeting all these characters and getting their stories in order? I'm not sure if Oceanside is the end of the road for this series but I do feel confident in saying we haven't seen the last of these characters. And I, for one, am thrilled with the prospect. But this was a great way to wrap up the series with the original Dirt Dogs members. I hope you'll give them all a try.

Release Day Review ~ Scandalous Beat ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin) #2017NewRelease

Scandalous Beat by Michelle Mankin
Tempest #6
Release Date: November 16, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle but I also had the pleasure of being a beta reader as well. This in no way affected my rating and my review is voluntarily provided.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
A rock star. A stripper. Can a hookup lead to a happily ever after?

Juaquin Acenado.
A drummer. A rapper. A rock king.
My brother's best friend.
Arrogant. Forbidden.. Do-not-go-there-trouble.
The sexy Latino was too old for me when we first met and I was in high school. But he was my first love. I've never gotten over him.

Miriam Jackson
Stripper. Exotic dancer. Her stage name is Queen.
My bandmate's little sister.
Spicy and sweet. The spark that fires my inspiration. The rhythm to my beat.
She's the one I imagine when I settle for the others. My ultimate fantasy. Only I can never have her.
Until I arrive in Vegas to record my solo rap album, visit a strip club, and there she is. Miriam was supposed to be in college, but she's not. She is so not.
Sin City, a place where anything can happen, and I'm the only one in the band who knows her secret.
So why resist anymore?
Who could possibly stop me?

Ah the Tempting Men of Tempest...I'm so sad to see this series come to an end but I'm been eager to finally get King's story, to see who stole his heart. Scandalous Beat was the perfect way to round out one of my favorite Rock Star series.

Highlights

• Characters
  In Miriam, we have a young woman who had a difficult childhood suffering from dyslexia and verbal abuse. She found solace in acting. She's such a sweetheart. Selfless, loyal, and caring...she puts others' needs and feelings before her own.
  In Juaquin, we have a talented young man who also grew up in hardship. He lost his brother to gang violence and has dealt with anger management issues for most of his life. He's loyal and caring but finds it difficult to deal with his emotions.
  These two together were always magic. They met when Miriam was too young but they shared a special connection, were kindred souls. But even once Miriam was of age, Juaquin felt himself unworthy of her attention, plus being the little sister of his bandmate automatically put her on the "off-limits" list.
• Forbidden Romance
  This was a trope that really worked in this case. Not only was there the age difference and the bandmate connection, but Miriam served as Beauty to Juaquin's Beast. There were all the reasons in the world for them to be apart but fate seemed to bring them together.
• The Journey
  Yes, there were obstacles against them...age, etc., but the biggest obstacle was not knowing themselves. Juaquin, in his desire for Miriam to have better than him, unwittingly hurt her over and over again. Miriam, in her desire to have him, lost herself. When they are thrown into each other's paths once again, without the reminder of the original obstacles, they both journey towards finding themselves, realizing their true worth as well as their feelings for each other. As Miriam said, "[Love is] about becoming something better because you're together. Transforming each other's weaknesses into strengths. Making something beautiful together."
• Relevant Issues
  This is a specialty of Mankin's, bringing awareness to social issues. Scandalous Beat was no exception. There were a couple of topics touched on including abuse and dyslexia but the main point I felt Mankin was trying to make was having the courage to ask for help when you need it. The way in which she conveyed Miriam's courage in getting the help she needed was brilliant as well as how she parlayed it into a way to help others.
• Emotion
  Mankin is adept at evoking strong emotions. The push and pull between Miriam and Juaquin kept me on edge, alternately cheering, steaming, or crying. The depth of feeling between these two was something special.
• Secondary Cast
  The secondary cast was a strength - not only because I got to spend time with some of the other Tempest couples but I also got to know Miriam's best friend, Mike. Mike is well developed and added complexity and depth to Miriam as well as the story. Mankin also skillfully tied in people and plot lines from earlier stories.

Scandalous Beat delivered characters that are genuine, a compelling story, and the full range of emotions as well as some smoking smexy scenes. It was the perfect way to "crown" this series.

Rock F*ck Club ~ My Interview with Author Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin)

Hey Michelle, I appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions I had immediately upon finishing Rock F*ck Club. 

BB: This is quite a premise. Did anything in particular inspire it?

MM: A number of events inspired it. The sexual empowerment for a woman theme in Rock F*ck Club came after I read a very thought provoking article by Lexxie Lin from Unconventional Book Views about romance being more than just Mommy Porn. (An aside: that term sets me off.) The Navajo details were inspired after a trip to Phoenix in November. The two best friends road trip aspect came after talking to two girls outside a club in Dallas. They were there early like me in order to be closest to the stage to see their favorite band.

BB: Was the mention of past drug use on Raven't part to establish something about her character? 

MM: She is flawed by strong and resilient? Yes, for sure. She acted out in order to get attention from her dad. As the story unfolds she learns with a certain someone's help to handle that particular issue more maturely.

BB: Raven's close friendship with Marsha and Lucky's closeness with Sky and his bandmates added depth to the characters and story. Do you feel as they do in that family and friends are integral to a happy life? 

MM: Friendships enrich life. There might be a quote about that in the story. It's something I truly believe. 

BB: There was a certain irony to the circumstances Raven found herself in once RFC took off. Are you making a statement there? Or do you feel Raven proved/made her point even if she didn't have all the control? 

MM: 0-0  Yes about our perspective being colored by the filter we view the world through. It's too spoilery to give the quote I want to, but if you do a word search for perception you'll find it.

BB: I was delighted with the inclusion of all the bands I've previously met in your books. Did you have fun with that element?

MM: Yes. I. Did. Once I owned up to the story I wanted to tell. At one time I considered a pseudonym for this story. But in the end I decided I had to be bold and brave like my heroine in the story.

BB: I enjoyed the Navajo/Native American element you wove into the story. Was it a starting point or did it come about while you were writing? 

MM: It was a starting point. After talking to Aunt Eve who lives in Phoenix I knew I had to have a spiritual symbolic place in that region.

BB: The travel aspect - visiting all the locales with Raven and Marsha was fun. Have you been to all the stops along Raven's RFC tour? 

MM: Hmm. Great question. Dallas check. NYC  check. Boston check. Chicago check. Detroit(No) Nola check. Atlanta check. Phoenix check. Kansas City check. LA check

BB: Will we see more from this set of characters? Please????

MM: Definitely. RFC will continue. More seasons. More power for women. More rock stars. I have ideas for novellas with some of Raven's ten guys and I even left myself some wiggle room to tell more with her and a certain someone.


Thanks so much for allowing me to interview you, Michelle!

If y'all haven't snagged Rock F*ck Club yet, you can read my review here and then go one-click it here! :D

Release Day Review ~ Rock F*ck Club ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin) #2017NewRelease

Rock F*ck Club by Michelle Mankin
Release Date: April 24, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion or rating. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
10 cities in two weeks 10 famous rockstars.
On my knees. Against the wall. On my tits I don't care. As long as I get the evidence to prove it. Why? Because I caught my former prick of a boyfriend from Heavy Metal Enthusiasts doing a groupie doggie style backstage on the night we were supposed to be celebrating our 1 year anniversary.

He told me I was too uptight. Too vanilla. Too boring. So I got drunk with my bestie, Marsha West, the aspring videographer. I ranted. I raved. I came up with a crazy idea. What I didn't know was that my best friend recorded me. Marsha put the video up on YouTube. It went viral with 10 million hits. Now I've got fans and sponsors offering me big bucks.

Rockstars are volunteering to be my f*ck buddy.
Hollywood is calling.
I get to choose which rockstars I want.
The stakes are hight.
This sh*t just got real.
What could go wrong?

Rock F*ck Club. Wow! What a novel premise! It's...it's refreshing! I love it! Women should be able to be comfortable and confident in their sexuality without fear of judgement. I liked Raven's taking a stand against the injustice of society's double-standards when it comes to sex. I felt the irony that in wanting control over her sexuality she was put on a path where she had none - but a path that allowed her the ability to find herself as well as love. Because while on the surface Rock F*ck Club might look like a simple story of a girl getting her jollies and lifting a finger to her ex as well as society, it's so much more. It's a journey whereby Raven finds herself.

A drunken rant is the set up for RFC - after Raven finds her rockstar boyfriend in a compromising position with a groupie. She feels heartbroken and upset by men's ability to screw any time, any place. The Rock F*ck Club was born.

I adored Raven even if her decisions at times made me scratch my head. She's flawed but also loyal and loving - determined to right all the wrongs of her past. She thinks she knows who she is - marked by the tragedy of losing people close to her - but barely into her journey of self-empowerment, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery when she meets Lucky Spencer.

Lucky seems the typical front man for an up-and-coming band. Talented, sexy, cocky. But he's more than he appears - just as he believes Raven is. He's compassionate, protective, and loyal to her family and friends. And he sees - nay he feels something when he first sets eyes on Raven.

I think this was a journey of self-discovery for both Raven and Lucky - but mostly Raven. The events, as they unfolded, were riveting - sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming. I relished getting mentions of and cameos from all the bans I've bet in Mankin's books - specifically King, Ash, and Ryland. It added a nice touch for long-time fans but new readers won't be lost at all. Getting to know a whole new cast of characters who are just as compelling as ones I already know has me eager for more. I'm hoping for quite a few more books starring several of my favorites from RFC.

I'm so excited about this new side of Mankin. She's really stretching her creative muscles and the results are incredible! Not only did she create a story around characters I was immediately invested in, but she also brought to life the positives and negatives of life as a rockstar, and incorporated some Native American lore, as Raven is of Native American descent. All in all, RFC was gripping - a story I didn't want to put down. And one where, in the end, I was proud of Raven. She set out to empower herself - and she did accomplish that. But she accomplished so much more!