One person’s perfect escape is another’s perfect hell.
In this coming-of-age story, teen singing
sensation Leighann DaCosta tries to find out who she is without her music
career. A career that has been part of her life since before the age of ten.
When Leighann’s estranged father enters her life, she is caught up in a
tug-of-war between both parents. Does she trust the man who abandoned her as a
baby, or a mother who is losing her mind?
When heartthrob Zax Banovic is assigned to tutor
Leighann, he provides her with the perfect escape from the madness in her life.
Enter Kristin Newman, Zax’s super-hot, sickeningly perfect, tennis-pro
girlfriend, who dampens any chance Leighann has with him.
After the unthinkable happens, Leighann’s world
is shattered, causing her to shut everyone out. Unable to cope, Leighann
accepts help from her frenemy, but will the help she accept come with a hefty
price?
Seventeen-year-old
Zax Banovic was tall, gorgeous and smelled like citrus with a hint of musk. His
sandy blond hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, and kissable lips complemented his
athletic body perfectly. Leighann DaCosta, like many other girls at Westwood
Academy, got an eyeful when he ran out of the boys’ locker room in his
underwear chasing some girl down the halls of Westwood Academy. Leighann
blushed when she saw his ripped abs, tight ass and generous package filling out
his heather gray CK briefs. Since then, he frequented her dreams a million
times, but instead of chasing after another girl, he ran to her, pinned her up against the lockers and ravaged her.
In
reality, Zax represented the other half of Westwood Academy's super couple…
Kristin
(The Bod) Newman was the lust object of every boy at Westwood Academy. She was
the school's tennis champ and well on her way to going pro. Girls hated her,
not because of her killer legs or the way she rocked her tennis outfits, but
because she was dating Zax Banovic. They were the Brad Pit and Jennifer Aniston
(pre-Angelina) of Westwood Academy. Together they were known as ZaxTin.
Together, Zax and Kristin were sickeningly perfect. They walked the halls of
Westwood Academy cooing at each other, totally wrapped up in their own
universe.
Zax
was the first boy who had taken Leighann out on a date. She was so giddy with
excitement that she didn't realize that he'd only ask her out to make Kristin
jealous. Their second date (pre-Kristin) was cleverly orchestrated by Zax's
bratty sister, Adriana, who used Leighann's crush on him as a bargaining chip.
Leighann
opened her locker and glanced at the locker next to hers. The locker, which now
stood vacant, once belonged to Adriana Banovic. Despite her prickly
personality, Leighann missed her, and the school wasn't the same since she'd
gotten expelled, or ‘transferred’ as they were calling it. Adriana was
interesting to watch, she had a way of twisting things to make it work in her
favor no matter how wrong it was. Leighann admired her confidence and
fearlessness as much as she admired her style risks. Adriana wore what she
wanted, when she wanted, and however she wanted. Her style was copied by several
imitators that had popped up since her expulsion ‘transfer’. The students of
Westwood Academy seemed to have a weird love-hate obsession with her. Even
though they missed her, no one ever dared come out and admit it.
When
the bell to Math class rang, Leighann's stomach churned. She hated math and
failed every test that she’d been given. She desperately needed help, but was
too ashamed to ask. When Mr. Wells, the Math teacher, returned her test
results, once again he asked to see her after class. Leighann was used to their
talks, and while Mr. Wells did his best to help her with extra lessons, it took
too much of his time. This time he presented her with a possible solution; the
Give Back Program. He explained that the graduating seniors of Westwood Academy
who excelled in a particular subject would volunteer to tutor juniors who were
struggling in their area of expertise. The program had a 100 percent success
rate, and he believed that the success was because students learned better from
their peers.
"The
list of juniors waiting to get in the program is very long, and we have more
juniors waiting to get in than seniors willing to tutor."
"What
are my chances of getting in?" Leighann asked hopefully.
"You're
in," Mr. Wells replied happily. He had already enrolled her, knowing that
she wouldn’t object. He suspected that she wanted to do well.
Leighann
was thrilled. She thanked him profusely and received instructions to meet her
tutor at the east campus library after school.
Leighann
waited outside of the library, where the other juniors were gathered. One by
one they paired off with their respective tutors and disappeared. She prayed
that her tutor would be patient and wouldn't make fun of her because she was a
slow learner. Leighann often wondered if she had a learning disability. All her
life she’d had to fit her academic schedule around her music career, and this
was her first foray into institutionalized education.
At
the age of ten, Leighann won her first Grammy, and since then, she’d had a
career that most fifteen-year-old girls would kill for. But she wasn’t happy
and longed for a life outside of stardom. With the support of her
sister/confidante, she resigned from the music business at the height of her
career and faced scathing backlash from the press, the record label,
disappointed fans and especially her mother/manager.
Leighann’s
quest for a normal life began when she moved to California to live with her
sister, L’Wren. She enrolled in Westwood Academy of Higher Learning, the Rolls
Royce of high schools in California and possibly the country. Her father was an
alumni, and recently she’d found out that her mother was as well—even though
her mother never graduated. Leighann was determined to graduate and possibly go
on to college like L’Wren. The thought of that excited her, but she doubted
herself. What if she couldn’t cut it? What if all she could do was sing and
play instruments? Could she go back to the industry that she’d shut the door
on? The thought of that sent shivers down her spine.
Almost
twenty minutes had passed, and all the tutors and tutees were paired up.
Leighann began to wonder if she had been stood up by her tutor. What if her
tutor had found out that they were assigned to her and opted for someone else?
Leighann's heart sank. She wanted to prove to her mother that she was good at
something other than singing and performing. Her mother had beaten it into her
brain that she would never amount to anything other than a singer, and Leighann
began to wonder if she was right. Maybe she should drop out of school and beg
the record label for another chance. Her songs were still on the charts, and
maybe it wasn't too late. Leighann left the library disappointed.
"LD!"
she heard a familiar voice call out, and footsteps running behind her. She
froze; only one person on the planet called her LD.
Oh God, please don't let it be …
she prayed, then turned around.
"Sorry
I'm late. Basketball practice went a little long," Zax apologized.
His
eyes … those eyes … mesmerizing, seducing, enticing … pulled her in.
Changes
(Book 1)
Ready, Set,
Drama
Adriana
Banovic’s 15th birthday sucked! She got fired after eight years of playing
Shayanne Montgomery on the #1 soap in the country, found out that her family
was on the verge of bankruptcy and worst of all, forced to return to Westwood
Academy. Her only saving grace was a chance glance at dreamy mystery boy Haze
Lyndon. Armed with only his picture and a determination to find him—even if it
means turning Los Angeles over on its ass.
In
this new adult novel you'll meet Robin Banovic, Adriana's father; financially
challenged, dealing with the death of a family member and his brother's
disappearance. You'll meet Savannah DaCosta aka Savi, mother/manager; Savi
enjoys the life her rock star daughter Leighann has provided. When Leighann
makes a choice to end her career, Savi sees it as a personal attack.
You'll
meet college boy Haze Lyndon; New to Los Angeles, Haze soon realizes how
quickly money changes hands in the City of Angels. Will he return to
questionable ways to survive or go back to the safety of his family in
Wisconsin?
.jpg)
Banovic
Siblings (Book 2)
Blackmail is
a gift that keeps on giving.
College
boy Kevin Banovic’s casual affair with Savi DaCosta suited him perfectly.
Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s high school bestie. When
Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After Kevin rescues
Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t stop thinking
about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and keep his
sanity.
Bad
girl Adriana Banovic is pleased with herself for getting her nemesis expelled
from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her latest victim Haze
Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret and threatens to
expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat her at her own
game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?
Zax Banovic has it all. Tall and handsome, he’s an academic genius, with a
killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best friend gets into trouble, he
feels responsible and covers for him. But his best friend is not as honorable
and has other plans for Zax.
Bastard’s Brew (Book 3)
Everything we touch we destroy
When
L'Wren's ex-boyfriend Jeff suddenly disappears, she turns to Kevin to help her
find him. With one phone call, Kevin makes sure that Jeff stays hidden and that
L'Wren's heart is broken, leaving the door open for Kevin to pursue her. But
Kevin is not as free as L'Wren thinks; she is in the dark about his affair with
her stepmother, Savi. Savi constantly reminds Kevin of his devious ways and
uses their secret to keep him as her toyfriend.
“You don’t
deserve to be loved, and you don’t deserve to be happy. You and I are the same
… we’re broken inside. Everything we touch, we destroy. We don’t get happily
ever after … we don’t get to ride off into the sunset. You know who gets that?
L’Wren … she gets it, she gets the guy, and she deserves a decent guy.”- Savi
Kevin
desires to be the man that L'Wren deserves, but before he can assume the role
of white knight, he brews one last plan to get rid of Savi for good. Will
L'Wren, the innocent victim in their twisted game, become a casualty?
Kevin
may have sold his body to the devil in stilettos, but he'd be damned if he let
her have his heart.
What
people are saying about the series
“I see a
huge following for this new series! I know I'm going to watch for more!” Di Bylo –
Amazon Top Reviewer
“Gillian
Felix is truly wonderful in the way she writes and captivates her readers. She
has a true gift and I guess anyone who reads her books will be waiting for the
next book as eagerly as I am." Namrata Ganti - Red Pillows
“There are
love, lies, secrets, and desires that rival any soap opera out there.” Karen-Anne
Stewart, Author
“This series is like the Sopranos meets Nashville. It was
gritty and realistic whilst entertaining and dark.” Rachel P
Tour Specials only on AMAZON
Banovic
Siblings
Bastard’s Brew
Perfect Escape
Find the series at these other fine retailers
Friend Sentiment wallet (US only)
Gifted digital copy of Perfect Escape
(International)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Gillian Felix was born in Port of Spain,
Trinidad. She grew up watching night time soap operas by Aaron Spelling with
her mother. That’s where her obsession with rich, powerful and devious
characters were born. After repeatedly seeing Mr. Spelling’s name on the
screen night after night, Gillian knew she wanted to be an Aaron Spelling,
before she knew that Aaron Spelling was actually a person.
Gillian pursued drama in high school although it
was not taught as a “serious subject”. When asked what career she wanted
to pursue after graduation, she told her guidance counselor that she
wanted to be an actress, and was told that acting is not a “real
job”.
When Gillian moved to the US in 1998, she landed
an internship with Spotlight On Theater in New York City, where she learned
stage managing, casting and the technical aspect of running a
production. Later she branched out into film, and fell in love with the
behind the scenes action of film and theatre production. She
traded acting and her “real job” for a career in film and theater
production. Gillian continued writing novels and scripts but kept them to
herself.
When not writing, Gillian can be found
volunteering at the New Mexico Children’s Grief Center or hiking the many
mountains that surround New Mexico. Gillian can easily get lost in a parking
lot and considers herself directionally challenged. She is always grateful for
the people she hikes with, because without them she’d be left roaming the
mountains like a lost mountain goat.
Media page:
Author Website:
Newsletter:
Twitter:
