Backstage Pass

Sinners on Tour Series, Book 1

By: Olivia Cunning

Narrated by: Justine O. Keef

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

It's been months since Brian Sinclair, lead guitarist for the famous rock band Sinners, composed anything. Unable to write the music that once flowed so naturally, Brian is lost without his musical mojo. But when sexy psychology professor Myrna Evans comes on tour to study groupie mentality, Brian may have found the spark he needs to reignite his musical genius. When lust turns to love, will Brian be able to convince Myrna that what they have is more than just a fling, and that now that he's found his heart's muse, he doesn't want to live without her?

©2010 Olivia Cunning (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An erotic foray into the behind-the-scenes world of a heavy metal band." ( Fresh Fiction)

Pretty good start to the series :)

3.5-4 stars

This was a pretty good story. Brian and Myrna were both good characters that I wanted to see get together. This story has mild BDSM elements (mostly bondage, toy use and a bit of spanking/paddling). Also, there is one m/f/m menage scene. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'm already planning to read more of the series.

Myrna is a psychologist that specializes in human sexuality. She teaches as a professor at a University in the Kansas City area and likes her job. Myrna used to be married but he was an abusive jerk that left Myrna scarred both physically and emotionally. She divorced him and when he wouldn't leave her alone he ended up in jail (after almost killing her). Myrna moved to a new town, changing her name and making sure to leave no leads that could be used to find her again.

Brian is the lead guitarist for the popular rock band, Sinners. He and his friend, Trey (the rhythm guitarist for the band), started the band when they were kids and struggled for years until they got their first record deal and then more until they actually made it big. Now things are going great for them but Brian is a bit of a romantic and tends to fall in love easily and gets his heart broken quickly. When the story begins, Brian is drunk from drowning his sorrows over another girl screwing him over (by sleeping with the lead singer, Sed).

Myrna has just given a lecture at a conference about her teaching methods for her human sexuality class and just wants to go to her room and to bed when she spies some men in the lounge that aren't like the normal attendees of the conference. The men look like rockers and considering that men like that turn Myrna on she takes a closer look and realizes it's none other than her favorite band, Sinners. She loves the whole band but Brian is her favorite as she loves his playing. The band is bored and so they're happy to have Myrna sit with them and she has to fend off a couple of advances (from band members other than Brian) but has fun sitting and talking with the band. When she decides to retreat to her room, Myrna makes an offer to Brian that he misunderstands (which is kind of funny) but it gets them spending more time together. They end up spending the next day together and Brian is happily surprised that when they're having sex, he starts to compose music in his head. Considering that Brian has had writing block for months and hasn't been able to write any new songs he's thrilled and so is the band. Brian gets Myrna to stay with him through the weekend but eventually they have to split up so Myrna can go back to work and Brian can continue on tour. They're apart for about a month when Brian decides he can't take not seeing her and he calls Myrna, asking her to come see him. Myrna has missed Brian too so she happily agrees.

While on the way to visit Brian, Myrna gets the news that a grant proposal she put in for (about the sexual behaviors of groupies) had been accepted. She'll need to find a band to travel with for 3 months to do the field research and she's hoping that maybe Brian and the band with be ok with her coming along with them. Considering her ability to act as Brian's muse, the band is all for her coming with them and Brian is thrilled to have the time with her. The main issue becomes Myrna inability to accept love or be constrained by a relationship. Her Ex used "love" as a weapon, trying to control her and get extra chances he didn't deserve by using the word love. Also, he tried to keep her from divorcing him so she felt tied to him in a bad way so now she freaks at the idea of marriage to another. Brian falls quickly for Myrna and is convinced it's true because he couldn't get over Myrna quickly like most of the girls in the past. Brian wants to win Myrna and get her love in return but he quickly realizes there will be problems there. Brian can't use the L-word with Myrna and she refuses to see their relationship as anything long-term, even when she eventually allows him to call her his girlfriend. Myrna has feelings for Brian in return but she's too scared of repeating her past so she has issues even admitting the feeling to herself, let alone anyone else. Brian tries to be patient and does pretty well for the most part. Myrna and Brian have to work past her issues as well as a few other problems that arise but they get through things alright and end the story starting their HEA.

This was a pretty enjoyable story. I liked both Myrna and Brian and rooted for them to get together. I got a little frustrated with Myrna's issues, they were understable to a point but sometimes I felt she hid behind them a bit much so I was very glad she got her head on straight. Overall, I liked the story and was happy that Brian and Myrna found their way to each other in the end. I'm planning to read the next book in the series ASAP. I'd recommend this book. :)

Absolutely Awful

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Group sex? Lacking story content and the narrator wasn't very believeable.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not another Oliva Cunning book. I'm going to Maya Banks or Sylvia Day.

What didn’t you like about Justine O. Keef’s performance?

Not believable

Was Backstage Pass worth the listening time?

No

Passion, Love, Sex = HOT!

What made the experience of listening to Backstage Pass the most enjoyable?

I couldn't stop listening. I was constantly feeling the emotions the characters were feeling.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Backstage Pass?

When Brian would hear music when making love to Myrna. I thought that was so romantic :)

Have you listened to any of Justine O. Keef’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first book I had listened to of her narration, but I thought she did a terrific job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Just the underlying love & devotion of two people.

Any additional comments?

I have already listened to the first 3 books & I can't wait to listen to the other 2!!!

Wonderful Book!!! Love the Narrator!!

Would you listen to Backstage Pass again? Why?

Good story with passion, need and some serious sex scenes!!! I see there is a book #3 and 4 of this series and hopes Audible continues with the rest of the series. I could'nt believe this narrator has not performed some other books...she is sooo good!!! Highly recommend!!

Story Good..... Narrator.....

This is raunchy so don't bother listening if you don't like sex in your stories.

The narration was a little odd with pauses that I felt were a little too long for comfort. I felt it took away from the ease of listen that I expect from my story tellers now. The voices were fine and otherwise the narration was tolerable enough not to detract from the story too much.

Regardless I am looking forward to listening to the rest of the series.

Story was too long

Overall, I loved the story. However, if you removed some of the "detailed" sex, the book could have been half as long. When I start fast forwarding through the pages of sex, it is too much for me. Learned a few things though. However, I love the "rocker" type books and this one fits the bill. But still, I was a bit bored at times. It was worth the read. The narrator did a great job.

Hot, Hot, & extremely Hot!!!!

What did you love best about Backstage Pass?

I enjoyed all of the characters, and there underline stories

What did you like best about this story?

the band's passion about the music

Which character – as performed by Justine O. Keef – was your favorite?

the main female character

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Backstage Sex!!

FANTASMAGORICAL!!

Would you listen to Backstage Pass again? Why?

Yes I will listen to the WHOLE series again

What other book might you compare Backstage Pass to and why?

Its in a league of its own! But if I had to choose I would pick 'Up in the Air' by R.K. Lilley

What about Justine O. Keef’s performance did you like?

Great Narrator, great voice, and loved the humour that came through

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ummmm, all of it!!!

Any additional comments?

Would recommend the whole Sinners on Tour series.... the great thing is, you get to know two main characters in each book, then they reappear in consequent books.... And to my surprise, each book just got better!

Loved this book!

What made the experience of listening to Backstage Pass the most enjoyable?

Author wrote the book with knowledge of the backdrop. Maybe she was a real groupie for research. Great book, great series, great author!!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

My husband was losing his patients with me because I wouldn't take my earbuds out for anything. I had to finish the book all at once. It was that good.

All around great

Very sexual but a great story line. The narration is one of the best I've heard!!