Voice to Raise by Gabbi Grey (Road to Rocktoberfest 2025)

It's that time of year again... back to school, pumpkin spice and the annual multi-author collab called Road to Rocktoberfest... and this year Gabbi Grey is bringing us Voice to Raise.

From the blurb:

Malik

Until I turned twenty-five, I took the safe route, the good boy route. Played with the orchestra, kept my head down, didn't make waves. Now I can't stay silent any longer. I walked away from my violin, relearned the guitar, and started a rock band. With Razor's Edge, I can create the music I've always dreamed of, and we're good enough to win an invite to Rocktoberfest. But I also love my band for helping me raise my voice to support social justice. Now I just need to convince Spencer I can chase musical success and still be deeply committed to making a difference.

Spencer

I’ve been fighting for justice practically from the cradle, and I believe organizers should welcome everyone who wants to be involved. That said, when an upstart rockstar looking for the limelight comes to join our fight, I’m skeptical. I want true believers, not people who are looking to leverage our cause into a viral hit. Malik might be gorgeous, and even a sweet guy under the tattoos and bad boy persona, but he’s chasing his dream of fame in Black Rock while I’m on the ground in Vancouver trying to make meaningful change. He doesn't have room in his life to be serious about music, serious about justice, and serious about me.

Voice to Raise: Rocktoberfest 2025 is an opposites-attract, age-gap, interracial, hurt/comfort gay romance novel about the power of activism, making a commitment, and how chasing one dream can open your heart to another

The boys are back in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2025 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see if some of your past favorites poke their heads in. Err…voices. Hot rockstars, stolen kisses, drywall repairs and the men who drive them over the edge. What more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your e-readers and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

Heather's Review:

There's a lot going on in Malik's life and he's trying to embrace it all... turning from classical music back to rock, organizing a new band, maintaining his passion for environmental and indigenous rights and stumbling into an opposites attract, age gap relationship...

I found the start of this book chaotic and a little difficult to settle into, but once Spencer and Malik started to figure things out, the story seemed to come together better.  I really enjoyed the contrast between Malik's passion and Spencer's more measured nature and watching their relationship evolve was fun.

I truly enjoy this time of year and seeing what new bands and new dynamics each author creates on the Road to Rocktoberfest.

Voice to Raise is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription