Release; In Tune

Author: Elle Keaton

Publisher: DirtyDogPress LLC

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: November 8, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, small town gay romance, rockstar

Tropes: friends to lovers, bi-awakening, everyone is queer

Themes: finding family,

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 45 000 words

It is a standalone story, but does link back to Piedras Island world (West Coast Forensics)

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Dean

Life is good for Dean Blanchett, lead guitarist of the superstar rock band, the Lost Apostles. He's got his music, he's got his dog, he's got his best friend Luka and the girl he's gonna marry. Right up until a few days before the biggest show of the year, when his fiancé literally throws his ring in his face and leaves him for an accountant.

AN ACCOUNTANT.

Dean quickly spirals out of control, knowing Luka will be there to pick up the pieces. Again. It’s a good thing he has a friend like Luka.

Luka

How many more times will Luka have to put Dean together again? Staying with the band, taking care of Dean's dog - who's really Luka's dog - while Dean chases after the next girl who is 'the one' and then crashes and burns. Again. It's all taking its toll.

And why does his stupid heart keep insisting Dean is the only one it wants?

This time is IT. Luka is done with the Dean Drama, the soul-mates-of-the-month, even the band. He loves Dean, he has since they met, but Dean is straight as a ruler. And unless something changes, he’s going to self-destruct something Luka can’t bear to watch.

When Luka throws down an ultimatum, Dean begins to question everything—including his sexuality.

Can he live without his best friend? Does he even want to try?

There's only one way to find out; he has to live with him first.

In Tune is part of the multi-author The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

Review

This book was okay. It's not my favorite from this author but for what it was it was decent. The friends to lovers aspect was predictable but I did like the two of them together.

There's some codependency on the characters and that's a fine line to balance. I had a hard time with it but it wasn't the worst attempt I'd seen.

All in, not my favorite book.

Excerpt

“Dean’s calling. I should take it.”

“Okay, friend, but one of these days you need to not ask ‘how high’ when Dean says jump.”

“I’ll talk to you in a couple days,” Luka said before switching to the incoming call.

“Luka! Where are you?”

“Obviously not wherever you are.”

Wherever Dean was, it sounded loud.

“We’re at… Where are we?” Luka heard Dean ask someone nearby.

Jerome’s deep voice came over the line. “Bronco Bill’s Billiards.”

Nope. Luka was not interested in going out and braving crowds, he’d done his part for the band already that night.

“Yeah… no. Frank and I are hanging out watching CSI reruns.”

Luka quickly used the remote to turn on the TV hanging on the wall across from the couch so he wasn’t actually lying. Jorja Fox’s face filled the screen as she thought deeply about something.

Dean was quiet for a moment before replying. “Text me the address again and I’ll grab a ride there. I’m kind of tired of all this.”

“What about Cassidy?”

Luka didn’t think she’d be happy that Dean chose to hang out with Luka instead of her.

“She’s not here. I think she went back to her hotel.”

She didn’t even stay in the same hotel as the band, for godsakes. At least Luka had an excuse. Chris wanted the band to stay together but since Luka was just a tech, he stayed with Frank.

“And she’s not gonna be pissed if you hang out with me?”

She would be if she knew. The way she watched the both of them when they were all together made Luka twitchy. Like she was seeing things she shouldn’t, except there was nothing to see. Luka loved Dean but he’d tucked his feelings away a long time ago, settling for friendship instead.

“Nah, she’s good,” Dean assured him. “Plus, I want to see my good boy.”

He crooned the last three words, and Luka swore Frank heard them because his ears perked up. Luka ignored the fact that his heart skipped a few beats too.

Another CSI was just starting when Dean knocked. Frank burst off the couch and rushed to the door like he knew who was on the other side.

Once inside, Dean fell to his knees on the carpet and greeted Frank by ruffling his ears and humming Strangers in the Night. This wasn’t enough for Frank, who definitely missed his person. Luka watched from the couch as the human and the dog wrestled for a few minutes—Dean cheating by tickling Frank’s stomach—until Frank couldn’t stand it anymore and had to run circles around the living room with his tail tucked between his legs while Dean lay on the floor laughing his head off.

Luka watched the shenanigans with a smile on his face but not really feeling it. What he wanted and what he couldn’t have were the same thing: Dean Blanchett.

Ben was right. It was time to go home. It was time to stop wishing for Dean to suddenly wake up and see Luka waiting for him.

About the Author

Elle Keaton writes entrancing, compelling, contemporary gay romance and unputdownable MM romantic suspense. Elle’s books are known for their hot mm romance, complex characters, and unique sense of place.

Elle began publishing in 2017, and now has over twenty-five books available for you to read or listen to. She loves cats and dogs, Star Wars and Star Trek, pineapple on pizza, and has been known to start crossword puzzles with a ballpoint pen. She also travels as much as she can and has a collection of coffee mugs that fills two cupboards.