Untamed by S.C. Stephens * Blog Tour * Review * Author Q&A * Excerpt * Giveaway

Posted November 3, 2015 by Yesi in Blog Tour, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Untamed by S.C. Stephens * Blog Tour * Review * Author Q&A * Excerpt * Giveaway

Untamed by S.C. Stephens * Blog Tour * Review * Author Q&A * Excerpt * GiveawayUntamed by S. C. Stephens
Also by this author: Furious Rush
Series: Thoughtless #5
Also in this series: Reckless, , Thoughtful, Untamed
Published by Grand Central Publishing on November 3rd 2015
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Women, Family Life, Sagas
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781455588862
Goodreads
four-stars

"Addicting and heart-pounding-you won't be able to put it down until you've devoured every word." ---Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author
#1 New York Times bestselling author S. C. Stephens brings us the next book in her Thoughtless series!
The spotlight doesn't only shine. Sometimes, it burns.
UNTAMED
Being the bad-boy bassist for the world's hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife Anna. The one thing it hasn't brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.
Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he's caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos--one that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he's seen an ache in her eyes, and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers . . .

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Yesi’s Thoughts

Have you ever read a book where you wish you could split it right down the middle and rate one half one way and the other half another? Yes? No? Maybe? Well for the first time, I think ever, I came really close to not finishing a book but powered through and ended up loving it in the end. How is that even possible? Going from a possible DNF to absolutely singing high praises for the author for making me a true believer in redemption and second chances.

From the very beginning, way back in Thoughtless, Griffin Hancock was a scene stealer. He was a vibrant, brazen, no-filter, sort of awesome in his own way, kind of guy. He caught the attention of many and I think that giving him is own book was absolutely brilliant. However, no way did I ever imagine that I could go from liking this man, to being totally put off by him, to sort of loathing him, then to turn around and falling head over heels in love with him ALL IN ONE BOOK! I think that is a true testament to the author and I could not be happier that I stuck with the book and finished his journey.

Okay, so part one… Griffin is what I expected him to be. He is cocky, vulgar, and a member of the D-Bags of course. He is the bassist and feels like he needs the spotlight to shine on HIM, not Kellan and certainly not the rest of the band including his cousin. The way he goes about bringing it up and his inner thoughts throughout the whole process had me disliking him so much that at one point I was ready to give up. He was immature, he was unreasonable, irrational even, and he completely isolated himself with the poor me, look at me, I better than everyone here act. I truly, truly disliked him. He had it all, the band, a beautiful wife and family, and he was willing to toss it all for the spotlight. I’ll have to say that his lies, his deceit, and his fall were some the toughest parts to read. I think the only saving grace here was Anna, which honestly, was a huge surprise. She turned out to be his rock, his biggest supporter, and one of the best characters in the book. The moments that had me keep going were those between him and Anna, and the moments where I could feel just how much he really loved her and their daughter. I knew deep down that he was a good man but that maybe he needed the fall before he could truly see just how good things were for him. He needed to mature and he needed to become the man his wife and daughter and even his band mates, needed him to be.

Which brings me to part two… Griffin’s fall is a hard one and I think the last 35% or so of the book had me finally rooting for him. His struggle to make things right felt honest, true, and heartfelt. He became humble, he saw just how badly he screwed up, and when he began that journey towards redemption, I was back on board.

S.C. Stephens did a magnificent job in giving this beloved character a complete story. This is a book like no other and all I can say is, stick with it and have faith because it will all be worth it in the end.

 

Q & A with S.C. Stephens

At what age did you discover writing?

It wasn’t until my late twenties that I really had an interest in writing, and then, I could never seem to finish more than a scene or two. It wasn’t until 2009, when I started Thoughtless, that I finally finished a full-length novel.

What made you want to pursue it as a career?

Writing was just a hobby for me until Thoughtless and its sequel, Effortless, really began to take off. Even still, I never truly considered writing as a career until I was approached with a book deal. That was when it all started falling into place.

What can you tell us about Griffin and Anna, that we won’t find in the book?

The book doesn’t cover the challenges they overcame early in their relationship—those are touched on in the original Thoughtless trilogy. They both had to let go of their wild pasts to truly embrace a committed relationship.

 Did you listen to music while writing UNTAMED? If so, what are some of the bands and/or songs on your playlist.

I frequently listen to music when I write, especially when I’m writing about a band. The D-Bag’s sound is a lot like Linkin Park to me, so their music is all over my playlists. For Untamed, Until It’s Gone, A Light That Never Comes and Final Masquerade were on constant repeat.

If you were in a rock band, what instrument would you want to play?

I have no musical talent whatsoever, so I would have to do something simple…like a cowbell. And I’d probably mess that up!

Excerpt

“What was all that about? And what did you mean at the end there? You are a part of this band, Griffin. You always have been, and you always will be.”

Pushing him back a step, I snapped, “It’s a little late for the pep talk, bro. If you think I’m so valuable, you could have stood up for me in there.” I lifted my arms for emphasis. “It gave me the warm and fuzzies how you let him walk all over me.”

Kellan sighed. “It’s complicated, Griff. Matt’s a genius on guitar…he’s…it’s his instrument, the one he’s born to play. But us saying that isn’t an insult to you. You’re amazing on bass, gifted even. It’s just…we each have our part, you know? And we have to do them the best we can.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “For the sake of the band, I’m asking you to let this go and just…forget about lead. Please?”

I could only stare at him. I felt numb inside. Was this what giving up your dream felt like? For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted all eyes on me—I’d wanted to be the center of attention. Matt had never wanted that. But he was given the instrument that shone while I was given the one that everyone forgot about. My part was designed to blend, designed to go unnoticed. It was everything I wasn’t, and I was sick of being stuck with it. I wanted more, but they wouldn’t give me more.

Without answering him, I turned and walked away, toward the house. What could I say to that anyway? Matt had just permanently rejected my chances at ever being lead guitar. Forgetting was the only thing left that I could do. Forget, or stew, and right now, I wanted to stew.

When I got back to the living room, Jenny and Rachel were there working. “Need something, Griffin?” Jenny asked, her pale eyes practically sparkling with happiness.

Ignoring both her good mood and her question, I called out for Anna. “She’s upstairs with Kiera,” Rachel quietly replied.

Harrumphing some sort of thank-you, I began plodding my way to the stairs. Fucking stairs. I stomped up them, cursing my bandmates with each step. I imagined that the carpet treads under my feet were their squishy faces. I felt a little better by the time I reached the top. “Yo, Anna! Where are you?”

Both Anna and Kiera instantly appeared in a bedroom door frame. Simultaneously, they both put fingers to their lips. “Shhhhhhh,” they both scolded.

I was tired of being reprimanded today, so I didn’t lower my voice any. “Wake up Gibson. We’re leaving.”

Anna instantly edged around Kiera to step into the hallway. “What’s wrong?” she asked me, while Kiera stepped out of the room behind her. The two sisters were pretty similar, but Anna definitely had a lot more curves than her slimmer and straighter sister. Generally I appreciated those curves, but at the moment, I just wanted to shove them into the car and get out of here.

“There’s no point being here right now, so we’re leaving. Actually, there’s no point in ever coming back here, so we’re leaving.” I opened the door closest to me, hoping I’d find my sleeping daughter behind it. Nope. Empty.

I moved to try another door, but Anna stepped in front of me. “Let’s go outside, get some fresh air.”

Dramatically tossing my hands in the air, I gave up. “Fine.” What did it matter, since nothing was working for me today anyway?

I headed back to those goddamn stairs while Anna told Kiera she’d be right back. Not waiting for my very pregnant wife, I sped down the steps and out the door. The fresh air on my face helped calm me down a little, but I was still riled up. I paced the front porch while I waited for Anna. Those sanctimonious assholes.

“Griff?” A soft touch on my shoulder spooked me, and I jumped. Turning, I saw Anna behind me, her green eyes worried. “What’s going on?” She indicated the front step, and I grudgingly sat down.

Once I was seated, my mood dropped. I’d started the day so positively, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that this tour was going to be the one. But not anymore. It was going to be the same old crap. Dropping my head, I slumped over. Anna sat beside me, and her fingers lightly caressed my back in a soothing pattern. It helped my residual anger, but not my rising disappointment.

“One song. I asked for one fucking song…and they wouldn’t even give that to me…” I studied my fingers in my lap while my dreams dissolved in my hands. “Matt just told me that he’s not ever going to give me a chance to play lead, and the rest of the guys agreed with him. I’m done…forever stuck on bass…forever in the shadows. I just wanted one song, one moment in the spotlight.” With a sigh, I looked up at her. “Four minutes? Is that so much?”

Anna’s eyes were heavy with sympathy. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through my hair. “No…that’s not much at all.”

I nodded and dropped my vision to my lap again. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either. But they can’t even give that to me.” The anger resurfaced, wrapping disappointment around it like a blanket. “Between me and you, babe, sometimes…I really don’t like those guys.”

Anna kissed the back of my neck and wrapped an arm around my shoulder in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Griffin.”

Closing my eyes, I let her comfort wash over me. At least there was one person on earth who gave a shit about me.

 

Giveaway

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About S.C. Stephens

S. C. Stephens is a #1 bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.

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