Ryder's Guardian by T.L. Travis & Ann Lister

For Maiden Voyage guitarist, Ryder Hampton, life is great. He and his bandmates are embarking upon an epic European double headlining tour with their friends from Social Sinners with the band Embrace the Fear opening for them.

Since joining Maiden Voyage in his twenties, Ryder’s life has been a whirlwind of the cliched, “Sex, drugs and monumental doses of Rock ‘n Roll. And he’s loved every minute of it from the sold out shows to the revolving door of bed partners.

Max Hightower has always been a team player. Whether it was working with his team in the Marines or now with the private security company, Ventura Security. These days, his job was to have the backs of a band of musicians. One band member in particular he'd allowed to get too close and now emotions were involved.

Ryder Hampton had left his mark on Max's closed-off heart and now Max's job was in jeopardy. Falling for your principal wasn't safe – nor smart. Neither was missing the mark on protecting him and now Max was guilty of both. The security detail he'd begged his boss for had turned out to be the one that could ruin him and shatter his heart too. Max couldn't allow either option to happen.

Maiden Voyage series must be read in order as each book starts where the last one ended but is from another band members point of view.

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This book felt like coming home to me. I just love the rocker-bodyguard/security romance. I couldn't put this book down. Ryder and Max are so hot and steamy together. Throw in a stalker and you got a little danger as well. This is the first book in the series and I can't wait for the next one. This book also combines characters from several other series by the authors, which makes it that much more like coming home to me.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is another sexy rock star-bodyguard romp. Ryder is the bratty guitarist for Maiden Voyage and Max is the security guard protecting him on a European tour. When his boss forbids Max from any non-professional contact with Ryder, the forced separation just makes the attraction between the two men burn hotter.

After so many Rock Gods books – and spinoff Rock Gods books – there isn’t anything particularly new or fresh in Ryder and Max’s story, but it works. The sexual tension between Max and Ryder is almost unbearable for the first half of the book and their connection is pretty special in the second half. I didn’t feel the same emotional connection to the characters in this book as I felt with the characters in the first few Rock Gods books, but I enjoyed the story and liked the characters. This is a steamy read with several BDSM-lite power exchange scenes that are pretty hot.

I liked the European tour setting for the book but I had to laugh when the guards are confronted with fully armed baddies. I’m not sure the American authors understand how rare guns are in most of Europe and how difficult it is to get hold of the kind of weapons described outside of the USA. The strength of this book lies in the relationships. I found the action scenes too easy to predict and a little bit exaggerated – but no more exaggerated than in some of the previous books.

This book is described as the first in a new series. The book might work on its own, but it follows on from nearly 20 previous Rock Gods books and subsequent spinoff series. Readers will probably need to have read at least a few of the Rock Gods books to understand the constant references to characters, bands, and incidents in the previous series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in the new series, but it gives fans of both authors a reunion with some familiar friends from previous books. I really enjoy rock star tour chaos stories and this one certainly did not disappoint. Add in a very sexy, devoted to his duties, ex-military bodyguard who had fallen for his charge, and we are inevitably in for a treat.

Once Max gives in to the chemistry which fizzes between him and Ryder, the intensity certainly matches the danger. As they actually spend time with each other, they both admit to themselves that this is more than just a fling. Now they have to broach that fact with each other...

I had a lot of fun following their tour adventures; how could one not enjoy the dynamics between the guys, the bands, and the bodyguards? I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the Maiden Voyage journey!

PS – I did really feel skeptical about the amount of summer skiing/snowboarding that they managed, and the danger. It was, however, a useful plot device.

T.L. Travis

T.L. Travis is the published author of a plethora of LGBTQ+ Erotica and Erotic Romance musings that have earned her a “Best Selling Author” status in the US as well as Internationally.

In her spare time, when she’s not weaving erotic webs, she enjoys fishing, wine tasting and people watching. Everyone has a story to tell, what would yours be?

She’s rescued 4-legged souls in need for as long as she can remember, and would like to remind you to “Adopt, not shop.” Saving that lost soul may very well save yours too.

Connect with T.L.

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Ann Lister

Ann Lister is a native New Englander currently living on the island of Martha's Vineyard with her husband. She has pulled details from her years living in the New England area and uses many local settings and landmarks in her novels. After graduating art school, marrying, and raising two daughters, she established her own video production company. Her nearly two decades working in video production included work within the music industry and won her a coveted Telly Award.

Her 'behind-the-scenes' exposure to the music world and her love of rock music is the inspiration for her erotic rock star romances. Her rock star romance, “Fall For Me”, Book One in The Rock Gods series, was a Finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Award and Book Three, Make You Mine, established her as an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Each book in The Rock Gods series brings her two favorite elements together: musicians and the love between two men.

Her stories focus on what it truly means to love; love unconditionally, love without restrictions or labels, love without fear or judgment – to just simply love.

Connect with Ann

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ryder's Guardian (Maiden Voyage #1) by T.L. Travis & Ann Lister to read and review.

Moved by You by Ann Lister Release Blitz

Vance feels trapped. He never cared about his family’s wealth and prestige, but he finds himself pinned in place by the weight of his father’s expectations. Vance would much rather sweat in his studio creating metal sculptures with his blow torch than take any kind of position at the family firm. When pressure from his father mounts, Vance is torn between going with the flow or making waves. But everything changes when Vance hits a bike messenger with his car.

Kyle has drifted through his life with a massive chip on his shoulder against the privilege that’s always been just out of reach. His job as a bike messenger doesn’t help. He’s stuck delivering packages to the very elites he loathes. When Vance crashes into Kyle, they’re suddenly thrust onto different paths than they ever expected. But can they take this new path together, or will egos and societal privilege create too many obstacles to overcome?

Moved by You is a 67,000 word MM novel with an enemies to lovers theme, and a HEA.

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~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is the story of the fairly explosive relationship between an architect and a bike messenger. Or it’s the story of two talented artists who have to work through their pasts before they can form a beautiful partnership. It’s a steamy read that is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and feels wonderfully human.

The blurb explains Vance is angry – but seriously, he’s a raging asshole at the start of the book. Add Kyle’s defensive anger and these two pretty much explode all over the first few chapters. Vance keeps explaining that they piss each other off but they both seem to rage at each other without any obvious catalyst. I found it a little bit odd. Thankfully, their relationship calms some once they’re willing to listen and they start to understand each other. Even then, they both get a couple of good toddler-style strops in before growing up a bit.

It was easier to understand the misplaced rage once we start to learn about Vance and Kyle’s pasts. The street thug and the Park Avenue prince shouldn’t have much in common but neither man experienced much childhood love or nurture. I also love their shared artistic passion. Under all the crazy, these two share interests, passions, and values. They are also pretty explosive in bed.

I do have some reservations about this story. I think the anger at the start is overplayed. I don’t love grown men throwing tantrums. I think Kyle’s grief is underplayed and I would have preferred this as a dual narrative because Kyle gets a little bit lost under Vance’s personal dramas. I felt like Vance’s father is more of a caricature baddie than a fully developed character and the interactions between Vance and his father at the end of the book really didn’t ring true for me. But I’m being a little bit harsh. This was a really great read. I read it in a single sitting and I really didn’t want to put it down.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book, although sometimes I got pretty annoyed with Vance! He was a confusing mixture of entitlement and anger at being under his father's influence. Thankfully, Kyle gives him a backbone to deal with the issue – even if Kyle didn't realise it at the time.

I enjoyed the interplay between the two men as Kyle fought the attraction thanks to his preconceptions. Vance did give him plenty of cause to be concerned, but then the two of them come from complicated family lives which have definitely skewed their ideas of normal. Add in their artistic tendencies, and you can guarantee a high octane relationship will result.

If you like a story which is well rounded by the end, but has enough drama to keep you wondering as you read, then this will be just what you want to add to your reading list.


Angie – ☆☆☆
I have read several books by this author in the past and loved them all. This book felt like it was written by someone else, it just didn't fit the author that I know and love. I didn't really connect with Vance or Kyle until the book was almost over. There were so many pages without dialogue that I found myself skimming and becoming bored at times. When there was actual dialogue and Vance and Kyle were together, I enjoyed the book. I wish we would have gotten more of Kyle regarding Kiki before and after the event that happened. The epilogue was good when it came to Vance and Kyle but adding in Vance's dad just seemed wrong and fake. I hope this was just a one off for the author and for me as a reader. The book wasn't horrible, it just wasn't for me.

Ann Lister is a native New Englander currently living on the island of Martha's Vineyard with her husband. She has pulled details from her years living in the New England area and uses many local settings and landmarks in her novels. After graduating art school, marrying, and raising two daughters, she established her own video production company. Her nearly two decades working in video production included work within the music industry and won her a coveted Telly Award.

Her 'behind-the-scenes' exposure to the music world and her love of rock music is the inspiration for her erotic rock star romances. Her rock star romance, “Fall For Me”, Book One in The Rock Gods series, was a Finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Award and Book Three, Make You Mine, established her as an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Each book in The Rock Gods series brings her two favorite elements together: musicians and the love between two men.

Her stories focus on what it truly means to love; love unconditionally, love without restrictions or labels, love without fear or judgment – to just simply love.

Connect with Ann

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Moved by You by Ann Lister to read and review for this tour.

Forever at Sunrise by Ann Lister

Having survived the hell that ended their last tour, Wheland realizes just how short life can be and how close he came to losing his own in the flames of the Berlin fire. Officially off the road until everyone has had a chance to fully heal from their physical and emotional wounds, Wheland and his band brothers limp back home to make sense of what happened and where they will go from here.

This unplanned but much needed downtime offers Wheland a moment of clarity; suddenly, solidifying a future with Rooster never felt so necessary—or urgent. A proposal leads to an intimate ceremony that you simply don't want to miss, but the greatest surprise of all is the wedding gift they receive once they get home.

The Rock Gods family continues to grow with each new milestone they reach together, and Wheland and Rooster's future is about to become a whole lot brighter—and busier.

Forever at Sunrise is a Rock Gods novella with approximately 45,000 words and a HEA.

Book 8
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
If you love the Rock Gods series, you MUST read this. There is so much goodness in this book that I can’t even explain it!!! I was laughing, crying, and falling in love all over again with all this ‘gods.’ Wheland and Rooster were always one of my favorite couples and I just couldn’t be happier for these guys. I don’t want to spoil anything just read it for yourself!!!

Characters: Well written and connected with them.
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Gulp! The Rock Gods grew up. All of them are happily coupled up. And there are weddings and babies and serious responsibilities… I’m not sure I was ready for this book.

This is the continuation of Wheland and Rooster’s story. The chemistry is still there, the sex is still hot, but I have to admit that I felt slightly let down by one of my favourite gay rock star couples starting a very traditional heteronormative breeder life together.

And they weren’t the only ones. White picket fence domesticity seems to be the future for all the Rock Gods. This is a sweet story. Everyone is settled. Relationship rifts have healed and after the Berlin fire, the bands are more like family than ever before.

This story will offer closure to fans of the series. But I finished this story with mixed emotions. Part of me wanted to believe that the hedonism, glamour, and angst that made this series a favourite would never end. I’m still not sure I wanted my favourite bad boys to become responsible adults. So, for me, this story did provide closure and it left me ready to fully invest in the spinoff series, Guarding the Gods. I will always love The Rock Gods, but when I re-read the series again, I might skip this one and let these men enjoy a slightly less domestic future in my imagination.

Ann Lister is a native New Englander currently living on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with her husband. She has pulled details from her years living in the New England area and uses many local settings and landmarks in her novels.

After graduating art school, marrying, and raising two daughters, she established her own video production company. Her nearly two decades working in video production included work within the music industry and won her a coveted Telly Award. Her ‘behind-the-scenes’ exposure to the music world and her love of rock music is the inspiration for her erotic rock star romances.

The Rock Gods series gave her Bestselling Author status on Amazon. Fall for Me, Book One in the series was a Finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Award. Each book in this series brings her two favorite elements together: musicians and the love between two men. These stories focus on what it truly means to love; love unconditionally, love without restrictions or labels, love without fear or judgment – to just simply love.

Connect with Ann

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


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Angie & Sarah reviewed their personal copies of Forever at Sunrise (The Rock Gods #8) by Ann Lister for this post.