“Sinners at the Altar”
(Sinners on Tour)
By Olivia Cunning
Review by Wendy Dawn
“In Summation”:
Sinners need love too...
Sinners at the Altar includes four complete wedding stories, each about a different member of the rock band Sinners. These novellas are intended to be read after the Sinners on Tour series as each story is an epilogue to a different book in the series and thus riddled with major spoilers for not only individual books, but in some cases, the entire series.
When Sinners tie the knot, things don't always go as planned.
Appetite for Seduction - Epilogue to Backstage Pass
Lead guitarist Brian Sinclair may have finally won Professor Myrna Evans heart and her consent to wed, but being part of a high-maintenance band might just ruin his long-anticipated wedding day and steamy wedding night. Will the couple ever find a moment's peace or are some things more important than a night of uninhibited love-making?
Sweet Love of Mine - Epilogue to Wicked Beat
Drummer Eric Sticks is determined to marry sweet and sassy soundboard operator, Rebekah Blake, on the spur of the moment. But can he really offer the love of his life the wedding of her dreams in a small, unplanned ceremony? And can Rebekah offer Eric the one thing missing from his life that never realized he wanted?
Patience - Epilogue to Rock Hard
Lead singer Sed Lionheart never really wanted a big fancy wedding. He just wanted the girl. But his hot-tempered fiancee, Jessica Chase, has her heart set on a memorable ceremony and she is determined to persist through the aggravation to have the wedding of her dreams. The ceremony turns out to be memorable, all right, but not necessarily in the way they'd planned. Can the stressed-out couple recognize what's really important on their wedding day, or is the honeymoon over before it even begins?
November Rain - Epilogue to Hot Ticket
Professional dominatrix Aggie "Mistress V" Martin is madly in love with bassist Jace Seymour, but she's not in any real hurry to marry him. She's not really the wife "type". That all changes the moment she lays eyes on the perfect place to say "I do". With more than one obstacle in their path to wedded bliss, will these two ever make it down the aisle or will everything fall apart at the whim of others?
“The Reviews are in”:
This is a must read for any fan of Olivia Cunning’s brilliant series ‘Sinners on Tour’. Each story in this novel is a follow up to the individual band members novel, with the exception on Trey…he’s the cuddly one who has two significant others, his trip to the altar comes in Ms. Cunning’s new series about the band Exodus End.
As always the characters are well developed, heck you already know and love them! The storylines and plots are fresh and emotionally charged as weddings should be. Enjoy catching up with your favorite Sinner.
Brian’s trip to wedded bliss is first up in ‘Appetite for Seduction’. Myrna and Brian do it up Vegas style at a drive thru widow chapel.
Having asked Myrna to marry him several times and being turned down, Brian persisted and got her to say yes.
“Yeah, but you didn’t love me then. I asked you if you were opening up possibilities between us and you said only sexual ones. And then you gave me your panties to makes sure I understood exactly what you meant.” He still had those panties somewhere. ~Brian to Myrna on constantly asking her to marry him
Brian is the romantic of the band; he is sentimental and wants everything to be perfect for his bride. She is perfect for him and he knows it. However, marrying a Sinner means you get the whole band.
“Guys, today is all about me,” she said, “so shut the hell up.”
Brian chuckled and lifter her hand to his lips. He kissed her knuckles. “That’s one reason I know I had to marry you.”
“Because I’m b*tchy?”
“Because you don’t treat my band makes like rock stars.”
“She does bitch at us,” Trey said.
“Constantly,” Sed added.
“And I, for one, like it very much,” Eric said.
This couples vows will make you weep openly, they are so sweet and romantic. Emotions are high, have your tissues ready.
Complete with an Elvis impersonator serenading the newlyweds with ‘Love me Tender’, all the Sinners singing along making it fun and original. The happy couple begins their journey together as man and wife only to have their honeymoon interrupted by a near tragedy.
Love and brotherhood hold this band together; marriage to your soul mate just strengthens the bond.
*************
Next Sinner crashing down the aisle is Eric in ‘Sweet Love of Mine’. He and Rebekah are the most unconventional of all the Sinners couples. They begin their wedding day with a successful cancer screening for Rebekah and a memorable stop at a costume shop.
Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Romeo and Juliet. Bonnie and Clyde. Those Couples had died horribly for each other. Rebekah scrunched her eyebrows together. “Ever notice how the most memorable couples all died way before their time?”
“I guess suicide is more romantic than paying the mortgage and folding laundry.” (Eric)
~Rebekah and Eric discussing costume choices for their wedding
From one extreme to the other, this couple keeps you on your toes. They are fun and funny together. Most importantly, they bring out the best in each other. Eric being an abandoned child has always suffered with issues; with Rebekah, he finds his home.
“Forever was just a word until I met you. Now it’s a promise. A dream. My cherished reality. I love you forever, Rebekah. My love. My wife.” ~Eric being romantic
One of the funniest characters in this series, Eric Sticks, is actually quiet romantic where his bride is concerned. If you are one to cry at weddings get more tissues, when the sweet romantic side of Eric comes out you will weep. His insecurities will break your heart.
This unconventional couple ties the knot in a very traditional way. This groom’s band and new family (in-laws) come thru for them in a big way.
Some very memorable moments are made just watch out for the M.V.P. and M.P.A. conversation…I laughed so hard at Sed blushing! Yep, Sed blushes!
*************
Lead singer Sed is up next at the altar, on a beach in ‘Patience’. Jessica wants the perfect wedding and so does her mother. Her mother has driven everyone crazy for months to the point the couple had to set their foot down a few times…but that doesn’t stop her for long.
Of course, the Sinners aren’t going to let big tough rock god Sed get by without a proper hazing before his nuptials.
Eric handed him a pink box that looked like something a three year-old would store her beloved plastic princess tiara in.
“What’s this?” Sed asked.
“This is where you’ll keep your balls once you’re married,” Eric said. “Jess probably doesn’t want to continue keeping them for you.”
~Fun prior to the wedding with Sinners
With the wind whipping around a hilarious abbreviated version of vows are said to each other. Their perfect wedding on the beach is crashed by rain just as they say ‘I do.’ Jessica finally relaxes and lets the water roll down her back (literally) and enjoys her day.
He touched her face, his eyes searching hers. “Are you really mine now?”
“I’ve been yours since the day we met,” she said. “The only difference is now you have it in writing.”
He chuckled. “A little insurance never hurt.”
~ Sed and Jessica letting reality set of their new status
An interesting reception with Exodus End covering traditional wedding songs is just the beginning of the adventure of the newlyweds. New Mother in law issues begin to threaten the new union, however, cooler heads and an adventure awaits the couple.
The reception is followed with a wonderfully romantic dinner for just the two. Of course, semi-public sexcapades are on the menu. You know Sed can’t resist and neither can Jessica when it comes to their fetish.
Their wedding may not make you weep, Sed will show a romantic and vulnerable side that will have you crying. The big guy is a lovesick man and he wears it well.
*************
Finally, the shy bass player Jace gets his turn with a touch of supernatural in ‘November Rain’.
Aggie and Jace have a very special relationship, he trusts her with his body, heart and mind. As his dominatrix, she loves the power he gives over to her and only her.
Her mom laughed. “You tow are so cute together. Both hard on the outside and soft on the inside. You’ve cracked each other’s shells and are all gooey and mixed up together now.” ~Aggie’s mom saying how she sees the couple
Aggie has been waiting for the perfect location to ‘speak’ to her before she pledges herself completely to Jace. While on tour in England they find just the place, as a bonus it may have ties to his ancestors.
“I feel strange when we’re here. Not bad strange, but strange.”
She saw a familiar corridor and headed for the office.
“What do you mean?” She asked, half her attention on him, half on finding their way.
“The way I feel when I get home after being on tour for a couple of months.”
“Tired and horny. Gotcha,” She said with a laugh.
~Jace trying to describe how the English castle and grounds makes him feel
Two biggest enigmas in this series get a fun adventure with a touch of supernatural for their big day. It is a wonderful twist to some really serious emotions that are flowing for the couple.
Secrets are revealed, from both sides of the fence and both sides of the veil.
Jace actually lets his guard down and tells Aggie how he feels in front of all their family, friends and his band mates. His words are so heartfelt and pull you into what has made him the way he is and the man he has become. Tears will fall for the little boy Jace was and for the man that needs Aggie to complete him.
This is the most emotional of all the vows exchanged in the novel. In the past readers saw a glimpse of who Jace was now we get a bigger picture, which makes him so much more loveable.
Personal note:
WOW! When I finished this novel, I had gone thru a box of tissues and lots of chocolate. Normally I do not cry at weddings, but these Sinners and the Lady Sinners feel like family. I love that they all get their HEA in each of their individual novels. Seeing their trips to the altar was a dream come true.
I hope Ms. Cunning plans to give us more from these characters. I want to see them grow as family men. Wouldn’t it be cool if their kids put together a band in the future and they could tour together…Sinners and Saints tour anyone?
The Ratings*:
Heros: 5
Heroines: 5
Story/Plot/HEA: 5
*The rating system is based on 1-5, 5 being the best and 1 the worst.
Hero - The main male character of the story. Heroine - The main female character of the story. Story/Plot/HEA (Happy Ever After) - The over all story line and culmination of the main plot or theme.
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