Heartsong. Sara Walter Ellwood

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      Cover Copy

      Gabriel McKenna is living the dream. A rising country music star he’s no stranger to fame, money, or beautiful women. Despite his bad boy image, he’s also got a heart of gold, and when his ten-year-old brother is orphaned, he wants to take him under his wing. But the judge on the case is less than impressed by Gabe’s reputation and awards custody to the grandfather Gabe knows firsthand is abusive.

      Michaela Finn is no stranger to heartache. Years ago she was engaged to Gabe McKenna, but two days before their wedding he ran off to Nashville with a female talent scout. Now Gabe is back in her life with an insane plan. Marry him, so he can get custody of his younger brother. Michaela can’t bear to think of any child being hurt, but she’s just not sure her heart can carry a happy tune when Gabe is playing lead…

      Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Books by Sara Walter Ellwood

      Colton Gamblers Series

      Gambling On A Secret, Book One

      Gambling On A Heart, Book Two

      Gambling On A Dream, Book Three

      Singing to the Heart

      Heartstrings

      Heartsong

      Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      Heartsong

      A Singing to the Heart Novel

      Sara Walter Ellwood

      LYRICAL PRESS

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Copyright

      Lyrical Press books are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2015 by Sara Walter Ellwood

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      First Electronic Edition: January 2016

      eISBN-13: 978-1-60183-492-8

      eISBN-10: 1-60183-492-6

      First Print Edition: January 2016

      ISBN-13: 978-1-60183-493-5

      ISBN-10: 1-60183-493-4

      Printed in the United States of America

      Dedication

      To my readers…

      Chapter 1

      Before Gabe’s stage crew set off the final pyrotechnics, the crowd was cheering. The energy from sixty thousand fans hit Gabe McKenna, lifting him higher than any drug or drink ever could. Hell, this might’ve been better than sex.

      Almost.

      Gabe belted out the last words of his first number-one song and finished with a flourish on his electric guitar.

      He bowed low, winked, and grinned at the hyperventilating, screaming girls in the front row. A redhead tossed him her panties. They landed on the stage by his feet along with other intimate garments, teddy bears, flowers, and scraps of paper with everything from Will you marry me? to phone numbers on them. He bounced back from the edge of the stage, his arm held high as he waved his tan Stetson in a farewell to another sold-out sports arena.

      The tabloids called him “Country’s Rock Star,” and on nights like this, he believed it.

      With one more look at his adoring fans, Gabe headed backstage. He handed his guitar to a crew member, while another, walking beside him, removed his wireless microphone and sound transmitter. After taking out his earpieces, he also handed them to the guy. His road band came off the stage behind him, and several of the members slapped him on his back, encouraging him to hurry. The party couldn’t begin until he got there.

      His manager, Gary Russell, rushed over to him with a huge grin on his pointed, bony face. “By God, Gabe, if you keep up this momentum, you’ll own the CMAs in November.”

      Gabe took the bottle of water and towel the older man offered him. He wiped the sweat from his face and chugged half of the water. Performing in the Midwest was hot business in early September.

      “That’s the plan. I really want to be the next Entertainer of the Year.” He grinned at the lanky man in poor-fitting jeans and a black T-shirt. “Male Vocalist”--Gabe slanted his glance toward his manager--“and Song, Single, and Video of the Year wouldn’t upset me either.”

      Gary laughed and took the towel from Gabe. “Hell, you might just be the darling of them all: the CMTs, CMAs, and ACMs. Maybe even the Grammys.”

      “Wouldn’t mind having another one of those golden record players in my trophy cabinet.” But the competition for the Grammys was tough; beating his best friend, Seth Kendall, would be hard.

      “I have to admit, it’s been a good year for me too.” Gary laughed again.

      Gabe didn’t doubt the statement. Gary not only managed him but also Seth Kendall and his teenage daughter. Emily Kendall was burning up both the country and pop charts with her first few singles.

      They turned down another hall. The noise from the crowd disbanding wasn’t as deafening down here. “You get the Billboard ranking of my album yet?”

      Several fans and winners of local radio station contests gathered in the green room for a chance to meet him. He and Gary paused at the door. Two security guards waited to ensure no problems at the meet-and-greet.

      Gary’s smile broadened, splitting his narrow face and nearly taking in his ears. “One Night Rodeo landed squarely in the top spot on the country and number two on the pop charts with over three hundred thousand copies sold the first week out. If you would’ve sold a few hundred more you would’ve unseated Emily Kendall’s reign on the pop chart.”

      “Yes!” Gabe punched the air. He would have liked to hit number one on the pop chart, but he wasn’t a pop singer. His fans were as country as his Stetson and cowboy boots. It amazed him he crossed over at all, but as Gary kept telling him the genres were blending and blurring.

      Hitting number one on the country chart was what mattered to him. This was the first time he had hit the top spot during release week. He hoped the feat proved to the doubters his career was anything but dead.

      Gary’s