Faded Dreams by BL Maxwell (Road to Rocktoberfest 2023)

 

The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 multi-author series continues with BL Maxwell's Faded Dreams.

From the blurb:

Rory Smith has been playing bass for Blinding Light since the beginning. Sure, he left a few times temporarily, but he's always gone back to the only life he's really known. It was all fun and games in his twenties, but lately he wonders if there's something more out there besides traveling show to show.

Kai Marshall has always been a huge fan of Blinding Light, but the real reason he goes to every show he can sneak into is to get a glimpse of their hot bass player. Everyone else worshiped the lead singer Easy Rian. When they found out, he was out and proud, and in a relationship with the new guitar player, many hearts were broken. But not his. His heart only beats for Rory, the white-blonde haired rock god that he can't get out of his head.

Rory's played the rockstar game for many years. Not one time in all those years has he met anyone who made him feel the way the cute guy off to the side with the haunting blue eyes does. He's always kept his heart of lockdown, but maybe it's time for a jailbreak. His dreams have faded, but they're not completely gone.

Heather's Review:

BL Maxwell gives us a second glimpse into Blind Lighting in this year's Road to Roctoberfest 2023 offering!  Rory gets his chance at a HEA when he sees something in Kai, the man who delivers food to the band and kick starts his songwriting after a long dry spell...

This is a truly low angst love story, with their "I love you"s exchanged early and often and the main sources of angst from outside sources - a former band member of Blind Lightning and Kai's financial situation...  Maxwell writes the characters beautifully and sets the scene well, building the anticipation of Roctoberfest, but I would have liked a longer build to the relationship, especially the exchange of love words.  This book hit marks for sweet, getting steamy and good character development and it makes an excellent addition to this year's multi-author series.

As always, the books in this multi-author series can be read standalone and in any order.  You do not need to have read previous year's stories to enjoy this one, but if you want background to the band and some of the side characters, you should read Blinding Light first.

Rating: 4 Stars

Faded Dreams is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription.