Scottish ex-pat Frankie Llewellyn lives and breathes music. Working late nights at WKMP, a radio station in suburban Philadelphia, he can play what he wants, sleep in every morning, and no one gives him any grief. No one but his most recent ex-boyfriend. Frankie is a serial monogamist, but after this latest break-up, he’s worried he’ll end up alone with nothing but his records to keep him warm at night.
When the station hires someone to do some much-needed renovations, Frankie is horrified to find out the work will be done during his overnight shift. But it makes the most sense, so he’s resolved to take one for the team. After he meets the mysterious contractor, a gorgeous, lumberjack of a man named John Burton, Frankie decides it may not be such a hardship after all.
John is reserved, and a bit mysterious. Quite the contrast to Frankie’s drama-filled life. But, as their friendship grows, John’s quiet presence has Frankie singing a new song.
As a nineteen-year-old, wunderkind doctoral candidate, Ian Waters had little interest in social interaction. Books were his companions, and that had suited him just fine. Then a hurricane named Jessen Sørensen blew into his life, throwing Ian off his axis. On the cusp of rock stardom, Jessen had burned brightly, and Ian had fallen heart-first under his spell. But Ian soon learned he was only a temptation, a pit stop on the road to the rocker’s dreams, and Jessen was gone as quickly as he’d come. Ian buried his heartache in academia, the only home he’d ever known.When Ian encounters Jessen at a party, the seven-year separation seems insurmountable. There’s too much pain, too much distrust. But Jessen declares he has a new dream, and that’s a life with Ian.
Subzero. That’s what folks around the league call Constantine Zimin, hockey’s best defenseman. He’s unflappable. Stoic, even. No cracks in all that ice, not until he meets Suji Meriwether. The pediatric nurse has no time for bad-boy jocks who want to use her patients as props. But as soon as they meet, temperatures rise and their defenses fall.
Editorial Reviews:
4.5 Stars
Finally, a book...about a love that that is new and exciting. No long, lost love in The Warm Up but a love at first site for two people who deserve it in their lives. The Warm Up was explosive. I got to enjoy a little bit of my home state where hockey is as big as football and baseball. And, Xio Axelrod made it very easy to enjoy the relationship between these two, beautiful people. - Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
This was fun love story between Zim and Suji. I laughed out loud during the first few minutes of their meeting but that was soon replaced with some hot chemistry and then some more laughing. Definitely some romantic comedy going on here. I loved it. - Bea's Book Nook
The Warm Up by Xio Axelrod is fresh and exciting in the city of love, Philadelphia.
I love it when the heroine is strong, determined and a force to be reckoned with. This spicy story is sexy, witty and hot. I look forward to reading more from this must read author. Everyone should have a sister like Suji and a man like Zim in their lives. - Books I Love a Latte
Sometimes there's a moment when you know you've screwed up. For Camden Skinner, it's the night a dead pop star walks into his pub.
As one-half of Skin, an agency which specializes in cleaning up behind the ultra-rich and infamous, Cam has gotten used to getting his hands dirty. A little too used to it. After the young singer at the center of a client's controversy is found dead, Cam decides he's out. He walks away from Skin in search of a simpler life. Maybe even a shot at redemption.
Redemption arrives in the form of Yara Bujold.
The singer's meteoric rise to the top surprised no one more than Yara herself. All she ever wanted was to make music. Caught up in the dark underbelly of the industry, Yara is forced to fake her own death. But she can't hide forever.
Yara tracks down one of the principals at Skin, the very people that helped to tear her down. She'll force Camden Skinner to make it right, whatever it takes. What she doesn't expect is remorse from the man that helped to ruin her. And she certainly doesn't expect to lose herself in him.
Cam finds himself sucked right back into a world he'd hoped never to step foot in again, but he can't walk away. He has to fix this. Not only for himself, but for her. For Yara. Because she might just be everything he didn't know he needed. She just might be everything.
Her name's Antonia Toni Bennette (yeah, she's heard all the jokes before) and she's not a rock star. Neither are the Lillys-not yet. But the difference between being famous and being almost famous can be a single wrong note... or the start of something that'll change your life forever.Growing up in dive bars up and down the East Coast, Toni Bennette's guitar was her only companion... until she met Sebastian Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and before long he was Toni's way out, promising they'd escape their stifling small town together. Then Seb turned eighteen and split without looking back.Now, Toni's all grown up and making a name for herself in Philadelphia's indie scene. When a friend suggests she try out for a hot new up-and-coming band, Toni decides to take a chance. Strong, feminist, and fierce as fire, Toni B. and the Lillys are the perfect match... except Seb's now moonlighting as their manager. Whatever. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or it wouldn't be if Seb didn't still hold a piece of her heart... not to mention the key to her future.
John Burton has Franklin Llewellyn humming a new tune.
***
After a messy break-up, Frankie thought he’d never find someone that really got him, especially his unique relationship with music. His ex called it an obsession, but it goes well beyond that. Music is Frankie’s lifeblood, and he’s always struggled to explain it.
Then John Burton crash-landed into Frankie’s world. Attentive, curious, and supportive, he's everything Frankie’s ever wanted.
Frankie doesn’t know what it is about Johnny, but that he can’t stay away. Being with him is like listening to his favorite album on repeat. Johnny becomes as much of an addiction as Frankie’s beloved vinyl collection, but their budding relationship proves to be just as fragile.
When things between the pair shift from friendship into something more, Frankie finds himself overwhelmed by emotions he’s never experienced. He worries he’s in over his head, but it doesn’t stop him from taking whatever Johnny is willing to give.
As wonderful as Johnny is, he's clearly hiding something. It’s an errant note in an otherwise perfect melody. The late-night texts and phone calls that Johnny won’t fully explain leave Frankie feeling adrift. Alone in an emotional freefall.
When Frankie discovers a secret from Johnny’s past, it's a record-scratch moment. Can Frankie look past it and continue their duet? Or is he destined to go solo?
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Author's Note: Let the Music Play picks up after the events in When Frankie Meets Johnny.
