This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Beth Pellino-Dudzic will be awarding one set of the three books in the series – Playing Hard, Playing High and Playing Rough (international giveaway). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Love. Lies. And the Road to Redemption.
After five months in rehab, Trevor McNaughton is finally sober—and ready to rebuild his life with Gina, the woman who never stopped believing in him. A road trip is meant to be their fresh start, but their plans are quickly derailed when their former publicist, Paul Ryan, emerges with explosive claims: an affair with Gina, dark secrets about their band Perfection, and vicious speculation about their marriage.
As the couple races to contain the fallout, the pressure mounts. Trevor must protect his fragile sobriety while defending the truth. Gina, fierce and unshakable, refuses to let their love be hijacked by lies. All the while, Gina’s cousin and bandmate Rio begs them to return home and help shape the next album—while wannabe rock star Brian Mayfield looms as another potential threat to the narrow threshold they already straddle.
With careers and reputations on the line, Trevor and Gina must confront the ghosts of their past and the chaos of their present. Can love outlast betrayal, and can anything silence a man set on destruction?
Enjoy an Excerpt
Trevor and Gina McNaughton weathered the storm in their marriage. Their life was back on track. Gina understood Trevor’s desire to get away, recognizing that he was still frail after months of intensive rehab. She would follow his lead. His stay at Turquoise Skye brought up deep emotions that Trevor buried after his mother died. Whatever lay ahead, Gina was determined to help Trevor with his demons.
Rio let himself into the McNaughtons’ Montecito house. Gina and Trevor were on their outside deck taking in the view of the Pacific Ocean. Rio knew he was intruding on a quiet moment. Rio said, “Hey, how are you, family? I have been trying to give you two space, I know you need your alone time. We miss you at the studio. We have been listening to the music we have in the vault. Trev, your guitar work is killer. I was wondering if you two would be interested in coming down and just listening to the music? No recording, no rewriting, getting reacquainted with music we already wrote. What do you think, Trevor, Gina? Any attention you could give to Perfection?”
Gina looked at Trevor, she wanted him to voice his opinion first. Trevor stared into space, then looked at Rio, “Rio, I got the message you want to get Perfection moving. I actually agree, music needs to be worked on. Gina and I could give you a few hours a day. I won’t promise anything more. I still have some rough edges, bro. Adjusting being back home with my wife. Gina, what are you thinking, babe?”
About the Author: Beth Pellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx and grew up in Westchester County, New York. She earned a BA in Business Administration and worked at IBM. She has three adult daughters and a new Granddaughter. She currently lives in Alabama with her husband and their miniature dachshund, Truffle. Although The Perfection Saga is fictional, many of the stories hark back to Beth’s time in the Rock ‘n’ Roll world. Beth’s favorite pastime is football, everything football. She also is an excellent cook and baker.
Buy the book at Amazon.
The journey begins in Stolen Obsession, when Annalisse’s best friend is murdered and a cursed piece of jewelry may hold the answers. Her search leads her to Alec Zavos, the enigmatic son of a powerful family, and together they race from Manhattan galleries to the Aegean Sea to unravel a deadly conspiracy. In Spent Identity, Annalisse’s return to her hometown in Upstate New York uncovers a body in her family’s barn and the mysterious disappearance of her beloved aunt, plunging her into secrets that strike closer to home than she ever imagined.
Marlene M. Bell is more than an author—she’s a multifaceted creative whose passions for storytelling, art, photography, and sheep ranching all find their way into her work. Her Annalisse series has been recognized internationally, with honors including Best Mystery awards, the IPPY for Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, the Global Award for Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters. Marlene also writes for children, most notably in Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!, a tender picture book inspired by true events on her East Texas sheep ranch that celebrates belonging and unconditional love. Whether she’s behind the camera, at the easel, or at her desk, Marlene is committed to creating work that entertains, inspires, and connects with readers of all ages.
Cybil Lewis, a private inspector in futuristic D.C., now The District, begrudgingly works with the Territory Alliance agents to track down an escaped violator, Nico Mars. Almost immediately, Cybil is tossed into the District’s gritty underbelly of political ambition, drugs, and betrayal. This case will take her and Jane deep into the reaches of The District’s notorious Sector 12, where life is cheap and currency is king. When her investigation leads back to those responsible for protecting citizens, Cybil discovers she’s in danger. She’s reminded once again that everything can be fabricated.
Laurel Osterkamp writes sharp, emotionally resonant novels about women navigating impossible situations. Her books, including Favorite Daughters, The Side Project, and Beautiful Little Furies, have reached #1 on Amazon and earned industry awards. A former high school teacher with an MFA in writing, Laurel now works full-time as a novelist, with stories that balance psychological tension and heart. Her fiction often explores how ambition, trauma, and love intersect in complex and unexpected ways. When she’s not writing or teaching ESL, she’s rewatching 90s TV shows or listening to audiobooks while running around Minneapolis.
The story unfolds in 268 AD, when Rome is ruled by cruelty and fear. At its center is Valentine, a once-feared warrior who narrowly survives death and is forever changed by Agatha, a woman whose blindness hides extraordinary courage. Through their love, Valentine finds a new calling: to defy imperial law by secretly performing marriages for Christian couples. Each ceremony risks his capture and execution, yet with every vow spoken he plants the seeds of resistance against tyranny. As his defiance intensifies, Valentine’s actions ripple far beyond his lifetime, giving rise to the enduring tradition of Valentine’s Day. More than a love story, this novel is a chronicle of rebellion and faith, where devotion shines brightest in the darkest times.
Sheldon Collins built his career in Hollywood, where he wrote and directed films that were praised for their narrative depth and showcased at international festivals before airing on premium television. With The Legend of Valentine, he translates that cinematic storytelling to the page in his first novel, complemented by a multi-cast audiobook edition he co-directed. He lives in California with his wife and daughter, where he enjoys the outdoors—surfing, skiing, hiking, and biking—as well as music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Collins holds a BA in Rhetoric from UC Berkeley and an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute, blending academic insight with directorial expertise in his fiction.
A vegetarian veterinarian needs cash for a no-kill shelter, which is her life’s passion. But her efforts to fundraiser have been stymied, because she doesn’t know anyone rich.
Thirty-five-year-old novelist, Shyla Wishon, fears that her life is spinning out of control since her recent marriage to Carl Cores. First, her overbearing new mother-in-law moves to Florida in order to be close to her son, followed by a steady stream of visiting relatives who become a constant intrusion on what was once her time to write. To make matters worse, Carl’s two grown daughters refuse to have anything to do with her, and even though Carl has a good job, bills are starting to pile up.
Originally from Kane, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
