The Rockstar Returns

Beacon Harbor, Book 2

By: Kayley Loring, Connor Crais

Narrated by: Connor Crais, Emma Wilder

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Rockstar Starter Guide:

1.Get guitar. Get good.

2.Find that girl who drives you out of your damn mind.

3.Make sure that girl refuses to be with you so you’ll have endless material for songs.

4.Get tricked by your brother and her best friend into getting stuck with her in a remote cabin on a stormy night—with only one bed.

5.Decide if it’s better to keep playing your game or risk losing her forever.

Vera Kruger has dyed her hair every color of the rainbow and she’s turned two very important parts of me blue for as long as I’ve known her.

She’s so deep under my skin that she’s a part of me, just like the small town we grew up in. No matter where I go on tour, she’s the one I wish I could come home to. Even if it’s to argue with her about absolutely anything.

When I return to Beacon Harbor for the holidays, I’m not a screwup anymore. I could give her every single thing she won’t admit she needs. Vera thinks we’re too messed up to work together—we just need to get each other out of our systems.

The truth is she is my system.

Now the girl who’s always been hard on me is going to have a hard time getting rid of me.

And I will fight with her every infuriating step of the way until she figures out I’m never going to leave her.

©2024 Kayley Loring and Connor Crais (P)2024 Kayley Loring and Connor Crais

🎸Damien & Vera❤️Totally Rocked🎸

This is the 2nd book in the Beacon Harbor series by Kayley Loring and Connor Crais and I'd give it +5☆ if I could!! -- It gets a VIRTUAL STANDING O & LIGHTER IN THE AIR from me (yes, I'm old!) I liked Damien & Vera in the first book. I grew to love them here. Even before they are together, Vera is Damien's muse. Everytime they get close, she runs away. Until she can't. Until she doesn't. Until she realizes what she wants. Until they figure out how to be together. Spending the holidays with the Barbers, Sweeneys, quirky townsfolk (yes, you Crabby Crawford!), those lovable lobstahs/retired racers and their babies was great fun! From the masterful wordplay; ingenious chapter titles; greatest hits of cultural & music references; hilarious & beloved characters -- old, new, human, shellfish, and furry; AND 2 bonus epilogues (with the ebook) -- this story has something for everyone! Heart, humor, and heat are perfectly arranged. Loved it from the opening note to the last, and those fictional song lyrics are killer -- sooo good! Top tier writing all around!

The book was dual narrated by Connor Crais & Emma Wilder and they totally ROCKED IT! All of the voices & accents were exemplary (as was Connor's singing)!! Emma's male voice was really good -- quite enjoyable! The acting was top notch, of course (!), and they brought this terrific story & characters to life. It was MUSIC FOR MY EARS, HEART, & SOUL! I loved it so much I did an encore listen. This is one of my favs this year, and will re-listen the future. Right now, I am amped up to see who stars in the next BH book ...Bryce? Jake?

it was a fun story with excellent narration.

All the characters were likable and full of life. The plot was interesting and fun. The narrators were excellent. Tell us Jake's story next.

Loved Vera and Damien in audio!

Swoon! Getting to experience The Rockstar Returns by Kayley Loring and Connor Crais all over again in audio was such an aural crooning treat! Emma Wilder and Connor Crais perform this audiobook in dual narration, and these two embody all things Vera and Damien. Emma’s light, melodic voice captured Vera’s quick wit, sass, strength, and desires as Damien pulled at her heartstrings, and finally gave in to all that leather jacket-wearing goodness among other things that Damien had to offer. I also loved how Emma encompassed Vera’s playful yet vulnerable sides as well making you feel all the things. Connor’s deep mellow voice conveyed Damien’s confident, charismatic demeanor. At the same time, he added a layer of doubt in his tone to portray Damien’s conflicted complexities as he sorted out his true, underlying love for Vera that had been there all along. Plus, the accents, the impromptu singing, and all the steamy moments elevated this audiobook. All in all, I can always count on a Kayley Loring/ Connor Crais audiobook to make me swoon, blush, and smile, and The Rockstar Returns did just that!

Rockstar Romance Perfection!

WOW! I am officially in my rockstar romance era. This story is so much fun! I am new to the dynamic author duo of Kayley Loring and Connor Crais, and The Rockstar Returns did not disappoint. Damien and Vera's story has it all—swoon-worthy moments, humor, well-developed characters, wonderful families, lots of sizzling heat, a delicious slow burn, and ultimately, a heartwarming "it's always been you" love story. Certain scenes hit me right in the feels, and I may have even shed a few tears. I loved Damien and Vera but also wanted to yell at them. Vera stole Damien's heart from the start, and I could really feel their connection. Damien and Vera's chemistry was SIZZLING, the tension was THICK, and they had the best banter. I could not help but fall in love with these two. This story truly is phenomenal! I loved the play on song titles for each chapter and The Princess Bride references. The Rockstar Returns is a fun read and I can't wait for more of the Beacon Harbor crew.

Narration:
This audiobook is a masterpiece. Connor Crais and Emma Wilder are amazing. It just doesn't get better than a dual narration by two of the best in the industry. Connor and Emma are the perfect voices for Damien and Vera. Their performances elevated this story to the next level. Emma fully embodies all things Vera, from her sassiness to her vulnerability. Connor was the perfect voice for Damien and fully embodied his dedication to his craft and longing for Vera to be his. Both did well portraying the tension and undeniable chemistry in Damien and Vera's relationship. Bravo!

Amazing

I love anything written by these authors and this did not fail! I laughed and cried!

Heartwarming, Hilarious, Steamy Love Story!

The Rockstar Returns is an addictive slow burn, friends to lovers romance. Damien and Vera have been each other's person since high school. Damien had a habit of messing things up, and Vera has lost those she loves most. So when they give in and share a kiss, they step back, afraid to lose the only person they can't live without. Twelve years later, Damien and his band are making it big, and touring. Vera is also traveling, finding new musical talent. When they are in the same place at the same time, Damien needs his muse, but is afraid to push her knowing she will run again. When the hometown bar that started it all for him, wants him to play there and have Vera plan it, Damien knows he has one chance to convince her that they are soulmates. But can he convince her that they are meant to be together forever? I fell so hard for Damien and Vera. Their relationship was so beautiful that everyone saw they were soulmates but them. Their fear of losing each other and ignoring their feelings was a bit frustrating at times, but their growth and Damien's gesture made him totally swoon worthy. I also loved all the friends and family that were so supportive and essential in this story as well. They were all honest and quirky and added so much fun to this story.
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder were so perfect as Damien and Vera. Crais embodied Damien's musical soul along with his frustration and passion, and Wilder nails Vera's fears and vulnerabilities masked behind her spirited personality. They both have a great range of voices, accents, and emotion that easily captured my heart as they brought these characters and story to life. This is truly a beautiful, heartwarming love story wrapped up in a hilarious, witty, and sexy bow!

These chapter title names 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Honestly snort laughed so often during this listen. Connor and Emma, you both are a true gem together.

Plus nothing keeps you hooked into one of his books more than that breathy, exclamation, of emotion he can do. Lord. Have. Mercy🫠🤤💋

Runaway Girl.....

Beacon Harbor! I couldn't wait to get back to the lobsters and after book one, I was intrigued with Damien and Vera. There had to be more to these two, both together and separately. After that one night, destiny would have to intervene. But does she? Years later, Damien till pines after the one who stole his heart, and when he he returns to Beacon Harbor, he is determined to show her just how much he has changed. No longer the screw up, he makes his play, but it's not that easy. Vera is a tough nut to crack. Always changing her look, reinventing herself, she has proved to be a successful woman. Hurt as a teen, she has no intention of ever getting too close to someone, and Damien is the one who continually tries to break down the walls. Well, the best thing to do is run, right? Packed with humor and spice, this romance has it all. Connor Crais and Kayley Loring have a chemistry when it comes to their writing. Each scene is so good, grabbing my attention and either brings a smile to my face or a tear to my eye. I loved Damien and Vera's story, it flows fast and I could not stop listening. Adding in the amazing love song, this runaway girl is about to get caught!

Emma Wilder and Connor Crais bring all the joy alive in this one. Wilder is Vera, and her take on this character is spot on. Lots of attitude and spunk, she hides her fear of being left, and creates a woman who needs her man. Crais is Damien, and his appeal is impossible to ignore! His vulnerability is heart wrenching at times, the desperation for Vera, and the love he has pours out in Crais's voice. And Christmas is a treat! This collaboration is so good, it's a book you don't want to miss.

The Rockstar Returns

Connor Crais and Emma Wilder more than do Justice to this excellent second chance love story.

A "Guitar Solo" of EPIC Proportions!

WOW! The Rockstar has entered the building folks & it's not only Damien but Vera as well.🙌 Welcome to the Hall of Fame! I have never regretted an audio I've listened to from Kayley & Connor. They have such a great vibe in their books with hysterical & witty banter, heartwarming storylines, side characters that leave you in stiches, wonderful family relationships, characters that are crafted perfectly & well developed, nostalgic references that just put a big ol' smile on my face & the heart & HEAT you want in a great romance. This writing duo NEVER disappoints & this book is no exception. It brought me everything I wanted & more. This story is just so much fun!

Vera stole Damien's heart a long time ago & these two just haven't really been able to move on from each other. ! wanted to slap these two in the face, like in a cartoon, you know, and say...."wake up you knuckleheads & look right in front of you!" They act like they can't stand each but there is nothing further from the truth. The love/hate banter between them is seriously off the charts, crazy good! The pining, the back & forth had me so flippin frustrated. The tension, oh man, the tension was THICK. Thick & tensing. Vera is so afraid to let Damien love her that she uses her sharp, witty comebacks to hide her true feelings. Their connection is absolutely undeniable & electric. They always seem to find themselves right back in each other's lives, for a reason, duh! They're supposed to be together. 🤦‍♀️ (pretend I'm screaming this in frustration!) Damien even says he wants to become THE DREAM for her!!! I mean, what the fetch? Vera darling, HELLO!!!!! She's so worried about keeping her heart from being broken, she's breaking it herself!

It's so fun to revisit the characters from book one. The gangs all here & I was lovin every single minute of it! When Claire & Grady decide they've finally had enough of their shenanigans, I was like, "It's about freakin time someone shake some sense into these two!" Praise be! Damien has been ready to give Vera his whole heart but she's so skittish & scared. But there's nothing like a best friend to set you straight for your own good because they love you & want you to be happy! Yay, Clairebear!🙌

🎧Let's talk narration....because I'm ready to SCREAM about this one ya'll. This audio is absolutely perfect! Connor & Emma completely bewitch you! I'm just gonna say it, Emma's the real rockstar here guys! Hands down, my favorite performance from her. This role was made for her. She is so wickedly talented. I wanted to hug & scream at Vera all at the same time. Not only does she express every vulnerability, hesitancy & skittish thought Vera has but the inner monologue Vera has going on left me with tears streaming down my face from laughing. Brilliant! She's so great at banter, one liners & giving you the perfect voice inflection to deliver every single line. We won't even talk about her AMAZING male voice, Myra the neighbor & at one point she goes from a British accent, to Aussie to Eliza Doolittle & my jaw was on the floor. Hunched over in my chair, my eyes watery like Vera's but for different reasons.😂 Emma's the bees knees ya'll. I LOVE her! With Connor co-writing this, he knows Damien inside & out & he's a rockstar among gods! NGL! Totally embodying Damien, showing off the love & dedication to his craft & the angst & inner turmoil he has had over Vera for years. Talking himself in & out of the relationship. Connor just nails it & you're a goner!☠

This audio is like one EPIC GUITAR solo & you're wanting to crank up the volume while you're listening & just savor the best show you've ever seen! Bravo Kayley & Connor! I cannot recommend this one enough. These two not only KNOW how to write great stories but they KNOW how to make great audios. Flip! I absolutely loved it! Rock on Beacon Harbor🤘