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Synopsis:
A total life do-over, that’s what Jake needs; a chance to unmake his past mistakes. Because in his zeal to fulfill his beloved dream of wealth and fame, Jake lost Chloe, the one he loved above all else.
First he betrayed her. Then came the drugs. And in the real world, opportunities to undo things like that just don’t happen.
Or do they? Could a paparazzi-induced traffic accident actually provide an opportunity for Jake to restore his ruined life?
Set against the glitzy backdrop of the recording business, HOT tells the story of a young man’s dream to restore the dream he lived before his dreams came true.
Stephanie's Review:
Wow, wow, wow!! This book was AMAZING! This book just totally sucked me in and I had a hard time putting this down. Substance. That is what was in my mind while I was reading. Stearman's writing was full of substance. There was nothing in this book that was flighty or lightweight, if that makes sense.
This story is told through Jake's eyes, a young man who writes music and wants to make it big in the music world. But at what cost? In this process, Jakes loses Chloe, the one thing that means the most to him.
"All you care about these days is fame. You're eaten up with it, and that doesn't bode well for our future together."
Jake's overwhelming fame takes a toll, including drugs and alcohol. The story is a whirlwind of ups and downs and I felt Jake's frustration and desperation throughout this story. And there are some amazing twists and turns that I never saw coming!
This book proves that not everyone is as they appear and sometimes the people you least expect will be the ones who will be by your side when the floor falls out from under you.
"Anyway, if I remember right, there was this gold prospector riding through the Outback on his mule. Passing along a trail, he spotted some eggs on the ground, so he nabbed them and put them into his pack to cook for lunch. But when he finally took them out to fry, he found they weren't eggs after all, they were egg-shaped rocks. So out of curiosity, he cracked one open and found an opal inside. So he cracked the other open, and there were opals in them too. Evidently, Australian opals sometimes come this way, in a sandstone covering. But the moral of the story is this: it's what's on the inside, not the outside, of those rocks that gives them their value. And it's same with us."
This book flowed so well. I loved the conversations and sometimes cringed at the honestly spoken things that came out of Jake's mouth. And it was a breath of fresh air with the absence of sex and profanity. And while I don't mind those in a book, this book lacked NOTHING without them.
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars, I would! I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed!
I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
An Interview with David Stearman:
1. Give us the gist of the new book without giving it away.
Hot is the story of a young Jake, whose competitiveness with
his peers drives him to become a rock star. He gives his all to reach this
goal, sacrificing friends and even Chloe, the girl he loves, to reach the top.
But once there he discovers how lonely life can be at the top. Now all he wants
is to restore the dream he lived before his dreams came true. But most of all,
Jake wants reconnect with Chloe, whom he once betrayed. Can he do it? Can Jake
find his way back home and into Chloe’s arms? You’ve gotta read the book to
find out ;-)
2. How did the idea for this book start?
I used to be a recording artist, so elements of this story
are autobiographical. My dream was legitimate, and God made it happen. But I’m
thankful I never made it “enormously big” like Jake did. Past a certain point,
a life of fame can be rife with pitfalls.
3. What appealed to you about the setting, history, culture
etc of the project?
My love of the music business. Which is not unlike the “book
business,” which I love every bit as much.
4. What aspect of the main character makes him/her most
interesting?
We can all relate to Jake’s insecurity and vulnerability. And
his childlike simplicity and fascination for life makes him loveable. What
makes him interesting are his choices; how he chooses poorly in the beginning,
but learns to make better ones later on.
5. What drives you when you write?
The desire to help someone else live a happier more
fulfilled life. I know this might sound fake and even cheesy, but it’s the
truth.
6. Curiosity question (pick one or more)--what is the best
travel experience you've ever had (or worst!), what is your favorite hobby,
favorite place/cuisine to eat?
Best travel inexperience: I do a lot of missionary work, so
seeing an entire Philippine village who had never previously heard the Gospel
stand up their feet and give their lives to Jesus tops them all.
Favorite hobby: Archery. My arms itch to shoot arrows every
day. I can’t explain it, and I know it might sound boring to some, but shooting
an awesome score is just too much fun. It might be easier to relate if you
think of it as a game of golf, where instead of rolling balls into holes, you
get to poke things with pointy sticks.
Favorite place/cuisine: I have two, which contrast each
other dramatically. I know a restaurant in the South of France that makes the
most amazing canard en croute. But my favorite travel of all consists of the huevos rancheros my friend Roman whips
up in his humble little rooftop cafe in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
7. What else is in the works for you?
I recently wrote a novella about cowboys, Apaches, and some supernatural
goings-on. It’s a blast, but heartwarming and meaningful, too. My agent said it
made her cry. Can’t wait ‘til this one’s out in print :-)
AUTHOR BIO:
I'm a songwriter/recording artist/novelist, who specializes in adventure stories set in exotic locales. I have a special love for the tropics--jungles and beaches--which is reflected in both my novels and personal life. (In the form of hobbies like breeding parrots, growing orchids, and keeping saltwater reef aquariums.)
I travel widely, striving to write about the places I visit in a way that will make readers feel they've been there too. I've always seen this world as a place of wonder, surpassed only by the people who inhabit it and it's divine Creator.
