SYNOPSIS:
After twelve years on top of the charts, country music superstar Lily Rae has decided to hang up the microphone and move home. Becoming Lillian Raftzen again is harder than she anticipated and soon, it seems running home is not enough to escape from her manipulative ex-agent, who not only threatens to end her happiness, but her life.
When the girl of his dreams walks back into his life twelve years later, Justin DeLuca realizes as much as he loves her, she is no longer the girl he remembers. With everything they must overcome, can the two of them make their dreams come true? Lily’s dream to sing and Justin’s dream for a family are so very far from the same path. But by veering off course they find a new dream on a new path ending up right where it all began…..home.
EXCERPT:
“I can’t do this anymore,” I said as I closed my eyes. I grabbed my phone, pushed a couple buttons and put it to my ear.
“Who are you calling?” Sarah asked.
I just shook my head and looked to the floor. I heard the call be picked up on the other side.
“Lillian, it’s late, is everything okay?”
“Mr. Vangoal. Sorry to bother you at this hour. I need to meet with you immediately. Can you be in Des Moines, Iowa by tomorrow afternoon?” I asked.
Sarah’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion, likely wondering why I was calling my lawyer at 11:30pm after having a nervous breakdown.
“I think that should be ok, Lillian. I’ll have my secretary check in the morning and let you know the details. Are you in some kind of trouble?” he asked.
“No trouble. I just need your help.”
“Okay,” he said, but I could hear the concern in his voice.
“Thank you. And please, this meeting needs to be confidential,” I stressed.
“As always, Miss Raftzen. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Good night Mr. Vangoal.”
I pushed the button to end the call and tossed my phone onto the bed.
“Can you please share with me what the hell is going on?” Sarah asked.
I stood on shaky legs and walked to make sure the door was securely locked. As I turned around, I could see the worry on Sarah’s face. I was always so strong and composed. Very rarely did I fall apart. And when I did it was always when I was completely alone. But now, the wetness that had hit my eyes was beginning to take form and fall down my cheeks in a steady stream.
“I’m going to meet with my lawyer tomorrow afternoon in Des Moines,” I said quietly. “And together we’re going to begin the process of me quitting the Country Music business.”
“Oh my God,” Sarah breathed.
“I’m done.” I said. Then the sob broke from my throat and tore completely through my body. In between hiccupping breaths I looked at my best friend and said the words I never thought I’d hear myself say, “I want to home.”
LilyRae left her small town ways behind her the day of high school graduation and headed out for Nashville. Ever since age eleven she’s only wanted to be a country star. She left behind her family and her best friend Justin; she’s never looked back. Sure, she sees her parents once or twice a year and her brothers and their families but she hasn’t set foot that Iowa small town in twelve years.
The shine of stardom has long worn off and her increasing anxiety is making it damn near impossible to continue performing. She methodically sets out to retire while she is on top of her game. She’s made many friends along the way and a few enemies too. For her sanity and health she needs to get away and be a normal person. She wants to have a husband and a family and live everyday life. She doesn’t know if Colton Jefferson, her agent, will respect her wishes or if he will cause trouble.
One of the first people she sees when she gets into town is Justin. Their meeting didn’t go as planned; she thought he’d be happy to see her. And he is, but he is PISSED that she hasn’t kept in touch with him. He’s carried a torched for her all these years and consoled himself with the occasional lady friend but nothing serious.
LilyRae gets accosted at the grocery store one day in town and Justin comes to her rescue. He realizes then the reason she left it all behind. She’s forced into seclusion at her family’s farm until the press frenzy dies down. LilyRae and Justin start spending more time together until they are officially “dating.”
Justin and LilyRae have normal couple issues to work through. He’s a little too alpha for her taste and she’s not shy about letting him know. What Justin doesn’t know is that LilyRae had a very bad experience in Nashville. LilyRae hasn’t told Justin or her family the truth about her bad experience – the only person who knows is her friend and manager, Sarah – but Sarah doesn’t know who the man is question was.
LilyRae gets talked into doing a performance for their small town fair and when Colton catches wind of it he threatens to arrange an accident for LilyRae’s family is she doesn’t meet him after her performance. I don’t want to spoil the book for you – so you’ll have to read it to get all the juicy details that I don’t mention.
I will tell you this is a must read for those country fans out there. It was a thoroughly enjoy read and a great look at small town life. The author did a great job with the characters, their chemistry and the family dynamics.
Review by Carmie
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Rachel Smith was born and raised in small-town Iowa. After spending a few years in the “big city” she now lives with her husband and two children in Clear Lake. She works part time from home and spends the rest of her time exercising, reading and taking care of her family. Having always had a vivid imagination, Rachel decided to bring her characters to life in Home, her debut novel.
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