Untamed
UNTAMED by S.C. Stephens (November 3, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Thoughtful #5)
The spotlight doesn’t only shine. Sometimes, it burns.
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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UNTAMED by S.C. Stephens (November 3, 2015; Forever Trade Paperback; Thoughtful #5)
The spotlight doesn’t only shine. Sometimes, it burns.
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…
Buy the book!
Amazon
B&N
iBooks
GooglePlay
Kobo
BAM
About the author:
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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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.
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.
I was given a arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
We've all been eagerly awaiting Griffins story and he did not disappoint. It was magic. SC had outdone herself yet again.
Griffin struggles with not feeling like he is important or that not one cares for him. He tries and he tries to get his opinion across or to change things up and the band blocks his ideas every turn. Griffin finally gets fed up and leaves the band. He wants something brighter and better for his future. All the while he is taking his family down a road of despair. Down his road to make himself known as a HUGE STAR, he crashes and burns, not only taking himself down, but his family and his former band. When it's basically too late he realizes what he has done and he vows to make it right. In the end he has one chance to win back his band and his family. Will he succeed? you will have to read to find out :-)
Griffin's story was touching and enlightening. To see him grow up before our eyes was like watching one of our children grow. Haha. We all have that deep love and connection with Griffin. He was amusing and still is. This story was the best of Griffin and the worst. And it was perfection. Beautifully written.It made me laugh and cry. And I hope everyone will love it and enjoy it as much as I did :-) it was and always will be an honor reading this. And also, of course we also got to read the bands lives, their interactions, connections, even them all growing, and who doesn't love more Kellan Kyle and the D-Bags? :-)
Well done, Shannon :-) well done!
"Nobody puts the Hulk in the corner. Nobody."
"You're a star too, babe. The brightest in my sky."
"You're my kind of perfect, and really, mine is the only opinion that matters."
"I love these girls with all my heart, but you're the best thing in my life. I'd be lost without you. "
"Another baby? But you just had one. " ( Hahahaha I LOVE Gibson and Onnie hahaha)
"I love you, and I'll go wherever you want me to go. I'll live wherever you want me to live, I'll do whatever you want me to do... just take me back. I can't be without you anymore. It's killing me."
"The Hulk will see you now..." ( I died. Hahahahaha)
We've all been eagerly awaiting Griffins story and he did not disappoint. It was magic. SC had outdone herself yet again.
Griffin struggles with not feeling like he is important or that not one cares for him. He tries and he tries to get his opinion across or to change things up and the band blocks his ideas every turn. Griffin finally gets fed up and leaves the band. He wants something brighter and better for his future. All the while he is taking his family down a road of despair. Down his road to make himself known as a HUGE STAR, he crashes and burns, not only taking himself down, but his family and his former band. When it's basically too late he realizes what he has done and he vows to make it right. In the end he has one chance to win back his band and his family. Will he succeed? you will have to read to find out :-)
Griffin's story was touching and enlightening. To see him grow up before our eyes was like watching one of our children grow. Haha. We all have that deep love and connection with Griffin. He was amusing and still is. This story was the best of Griffin and the worst. And it was perfection. Beautifully written.It made me laugh and cry. And I hope everyone will love it and enjoy it as much as I did :-) it was and always will be an honor reading this. And also, of course we also got to read the bands lives, their interactions, connections, even them all growing, and who doesn't love more Kellan Kyle and the D-Bags? :-)
Well done, Shannon :-) well done!
"Nobody puts the Hulk in the corner. Nobody."
"You're a star too, babe. The brightest in my sky."
"You're my kind of perfect, and really, mine is the only opinion that matters."
"I love these girls with all my heart, but you're the best thing in my life. I'd be lost without you. "
"Another baby? But you just had one. " ( Hahahaha I LOVE Gibson and Onnie hahaha)
"I love you, and I'll go wherever you want me to go. I'll live wherever you want me to live, I'll do whatever you want me to do... just take me back. I can't be without you anymore. It's killing me."
"The Hulk will see you now..." ( I died. Hahahahaha)
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