4.5 Cupid Plot Factor, 4.5 Cupid Pleasure Factor: "This is a very good book. The characters are written so real and are so enjoyable to learn about. Derek is what every fan of a heartthrob musician dreams about. He is sweet, exciting, modest, and sexy as all hell. Alicia is also a great character. She does not hold back in getting her dream man and living out her fantasy. The two of them together is a wonderful match. Their sensuality is very hot and Derek as a lover is so giving and tender. I was not sure how the author would handle Derek's discovery about Alicia, to me this was a make or break plot factor and Ms. Ramagos handled it very well and added a nice take on how things were resolved between the two. I really enjoyed the premise for this book because as I grew up I had mad crushes on different musicians and to read a very well written erotic novel basically spelling out many of my fantasies was so great. Derek despite being a well respect and very sexy rock star was quite sincere and showed many levels of emotion which I really liked reading about. I look forward to reading about the remaining members of this rock group and what happens to Derek and Alicia in upcoming books from this author. This is quite the modern day fairy tale for many who fantasize about their rock idols with an ending that just makes you grin a dopey smile and think many 'what-ifs'."--Marina, Cupid's Library Reviews

4.5 Cupid Plot Factor, 4.5 Cupid Pleasure Factor: "Voices and Lies is a very enjoyable read, with believable and likeable characters, and a good plotline that flows well. Alicia, a woman that in order to please her mother has lost herself. I think a lot of us will see ourselves in Alicia, we all at one time or another have lost a sense of who we truly are by trying to please other people. It was great to see Alicia's journey as she rediscovers herself and learns that she's not responsible for her mother's or anyone else's happiness . Though the readers will understand Alicia's motives behind the web of lies she weaves, you know that when it start to unravel it will break her heart. Then we have Derek a man who's sensuality on and off stage is electrifying, he loves to sing, loves the attention and the life that goes with it. The description of his thoughts when he's up there on stage performing is melting hot! I liked Ms. Ramagos writing style, the dialogue and interactions between Alicia and Derek where wonderful. This book also has some great secondary characters that are not only an essential part in furthering the storyline, but also add humor and realism to this already wonderful story. Ms. Ramagos does a wonderful job in making these characters come alive; her description of Addison House and the concerts makes you feel like you are right there. If you are looking for a well written story, with a different plotline and realistic characters, then pick up Voices and Lies!"--Luisa, Cupid's Library Reviews

4 Stars: "Although Ramagos delivers plenty of hot sex, she lets this couple get to know one another before they hit the sheets. Great chemistry and sizzling sexual tension make this story both sweetly romantic and deliciously erotic."--Susan Mitchell, Romantic Times Magazine

4 Cups: "Prepare to gasp for air! This one positively steals your breath with the steamy, hot love scenes. Ms. Ramagos did such a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life that I had the urge to check the directory for the Addison House Bed and Breakfast and look for music by Facade. The story was very well done and quite touching. I found myself wanting to shake Alicia's various family members to see if I could shake lose a clue for them. I truly enjoyed every minute I spent with this book and am definitely putting it within easy reach for a read later when I need a pick-me-up after a difficult day!"--Keely, Coffeetime Romance

4 Stars: "Voices and Lies rocks! Tonya Ramagos pens a story about a heavy metal musician, one adoring fan, secrets, sizzling sex and a little bit of love. I really enjoyed Voices and Lies. It was a great story with good flow and believable characters. Alicia, in her quest to please everyone, has lost most of herself. This story is also her journey to rediscover herself, her likes and dislikes, and the fact that she can't make everyone happy all of the time. Derek is hot! The descriptions of his feelings during the concert were a big turn on! Their interactions with each other were wonderful; Alicia's inside knowledge of Derek from being a fan, trying not to show any interest in heavy metal music, and Derek's sweetness when she has a rough day, are just a few. Although this is a heavy metal story, Tonya Ramagos has written a story that any reader would love."--Trang, eCata Romance Reviews

4 Stars: "I enjoyed Voices and Lies for the real personalities of the characters as well as the great, fantasy storyline. What woman doesn't want to meet and fall in love with her favorite singer? Even with this fantastical plot, I think Ms. Ramagos does a great job of telling a very realistic tale complete with the complications and excitement of being a closet fan of a star. Derek is both sexy and heartwarming and Alicia is very likeable with her engaging personality. Overall, this is a good read."--J.B. DuBose, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4 Hearts: "Voices and Lies naturally used a fairly common fantasy amongst women: to meet that incredibly sexy musician and have him make love to you, romance you, fall in love with you. Surprisingly, it was handled better than I expected, with more realism than the average romance with that plot. I liked the approach to the romance in this story. Yes, attraction and sex played a large part for both characters initially, but Derek and Alicia both found themselves feeling emotions other than lust the more time they spent together, time that didn't involve sex. But since I've mentioned sex, I must say it was an enjoyable part of the book. Not the average sex I read in erotic romances, it had a carnality all its own. Overall, Voices and Lies made a very enjoyable erotic romance, with characters I liked reading about."--Tara Black, The Romance Studio

4 Angels: "In Voices and Lies, Tonya Ramagos takes a popular romantic premise and creates her own distinct, enjoyable story. Her depiction of Alicia is flavored with humor and a personality that makes her lifelike to readers. Her desire to be a good daughter is understandable, but her remorse at losing herself and her friends in the process is something everyone can relate to. As she tries to make things right, readers will applaud her honesty with herself, while at the same time lament the web of lies she is building around herself with Derek. Ms. Ramagos' characterization of Derek displays a raw masculinity tempered by the man behind the fame. This reader enjoyed seeing these two characters come together, while at the same time, this story had me anxiously waiting for the fallout when their house of lies crumbled around them. The author doesn't disappoint as she concludes this tale with an ending that is sure to delight fans."--Amanda, Fallen Angel Reviews

"Tonya Ramagos has a talent for giving us realistic characters, and then putting them in very hot, steamy, and difficult situations. Voices and Lies is a delightful romp in miscommunications, misunderstandings, and some very hot and steamy make up sessions that will leave you wanting more. Strong characterizations, true to life action and settings are a mark of great writing, and Tonya has them all. Her visualization of the band, its members, its music, and the surroundings all add up to a wonderful and exciting tale of love, rejection, and the realization that something's are just meant to be."--Rose, Romance at Heart

"Voices and Lies is a book that truly surprised me. I'm not much into rock star storylines, but I have to say that that Tonya Ramagos grabbed me from the beginning. Alicia is a character that is struggling to get out from under her mother's expectations and an engagement that she's been pushed into. Derek, for his part, is a man who has had no problems getting women in the past, so he knows that what he feels for Alicia is special. In order for them to be together, Derek has to forgive Alicia's omissions, such her knowledge of his identity. I highly recommend Voices and Lies for an entertaining, sexy, and romantic read. You can't go wrong with this story."--Melissa, Joyfully Reviewed

Prologue

Alicia Addison felt like a giddy teenager with a crush. At twenty-nine years old, it was an exhilarating ride. She intended to stay on board as long as she could. Her stomach fluttered with excited butterflies as she stood among the crowd of other Façade fans waiting for her favorite band to arrive, waiting for her favorite man.

"There they are." Diana Thompson nudged Alicia with her elbow, pointed and then threw her head back and laughed. "On a golf cart, who would have thought?"

Alicia peered through the chain-link fence and the butterflies in her stomach kicked into a boogie dance. Flanked by four beefy men wearing jeans and yellow pullovers with the word 'security' printed in big bold black letters on the back, the golf cart traveled through the gate entrance, stopping a few feet away from where she stood.

"Trey and Reese brought the girls with them." Diana's voice dripped with jealously. "Wow! She really is pregnant," she said of the woman with the rounded stomach sitting on Trey Langston's lap. "Lucky broads. I didn't know Reese had a girlfriend, too."

"Neither did I." Alicia glanced at the women slowly climbing from the laps of the band's bass player and drummer. Both were twenty-something looking brunettes dressed in white tank tops; one in jeans, the other in khaki Capri pants; and white sandals. They looked like sisters though Alicia couldn't be sure.

Garrett Henry, the band's guitarist, was the next to step off the golf cart followed by the vocalist, Derek Kadin.

It might have been nearly ninety degrees beneath the sun's penetrable rays, but that didn't stop Alicia's skin from erupting with goose pimples. Her head cocked slightly to one side, her gaze slowly slid down Derek Kadin and back up again. The familiar sexual jolt that always shot through her when she looked at this man made her weak in the knees. She placed a steadying hand on Diana's shoulders and swallowed hard. Though it felt parched only seconds before, her mouth started to water, her gaze taking in every delectable inch of him as though he were a forbidden fruit.

Oh yeah, he definitely looked sexy enough to devour in many slow, savory bites. He stood five-foot-seven, she knew, though his black leather platform boots added an inch to his height. Despite the immense heat of the day, he wore black leather pants that hugged his drool-worthy ass like a second skin with a black cotton muscle shirt that stopped at the waistband of his pants, stretching deliciously over his solid upper body.

Alicia heard the age-old saying bald is beautiful but until she laid eyes on this man she never actually believed. Though he'd been nice looking with hair--she'd seen older photos of him on the Internet--shaving his head promoted him to drop-dead gorgeous and more than doable on the hot list.

Move over Vin Diesel, Derek Kadin is the man.

"You're not going to faint are you?" Diana teased.

"I might." Alicia gave a breathless chuckle, unable to draw her eyes from the heavy metal star. It was okay to gawk, she told herself. It wasn't like she was the only woman in the crowd practically undressing the man with her eyes. The mere thought of what he would look like under those clothes was enough to make a woman faint.

The security guards escorted the band members to a table set under a large blue tent bordered with enormous plastic signs advertising Hot Topic, Jagermeister, and other sponsors of this year's Metalfest.

"Just don't turn into a babbling idiot when you meet him."

"I would never!" Alicia gasped, clinching the band's music CD she held so hard the plastic case nearly cracked. But even as she continued to stare at Derek, she could feel her IQ dropping into the single digits.

Oh, please don't let me babble. She said a silent prayer. She never met anyone famous and for Derek Kadin to be her first was enough to make her lightheaded with fear. He's just a man. He's just a man. She repeated it like a broken record. Maybe if she kept up the silent chant she wouldn't do or say anything stupid. But oh what a man he is.

It wasn't his celebrity status that made Derek so appealing to her. Nor was it his position as the lead vocalist of Façade that made the band her favorite. As a whole, they were four extremely talented musicians. The songs they wrote, the music they played, each guitar riff, each hit of the bass, each beat of the drum, seeped into Alicia's consciousness and became a part of her. She related to the music, the lyrics more than that of any other band she ever heard. Derek alone was simply an added bonus. He had a voice that blew her away and an innate sexuality that made her crave him more than oxygen.

The line of fans eagerly waiting for their moment to meet the band inched forward. Alicia and Diana were the twenty-third and twenty-forth in a line of probably close to one hundred. She knew. She had counted those in front of them while waiting for the band to arrive. It seemed like such a long distance at the time but, as the autograph table neared, she almost wished they were at the back of the line.

"Bad news, sister." Diana craned her neck to see around an Amazon-built woman blocking her view. "The security guards aren't allowing pictures with the band."

"Pictures would slow down the line." Alicia pushed a hard breath of disappointment from her lungs. She'd hoped to get a picture with Derek--a chance to have her meeting with him forever frozen in time.

"People are snapping pics from the sidelines. I'll hurry through, get my autographs then take a few as you go through the line. Stall if you can." Diana instructed. "Give me time to get in a good spot before you reach Derek. I'll get his attention and we'll still get your picture with him."

"Always the woman with the plan."

Diana sent her a conspiratorial wink.

True to her word, when their turn came to have their CD's signed by the band, Diana quickly got her autographs and pushed to the front of the crowd gathered at the barricade.

Alicia was greeted with wide smiles and handshakes from Reese, Garrett and Trey as they scribbled their names next to their pictures on the CD cover insert. She said a quick thank you to each, congratulated Trey on the upcoming birth of his baby, then she was standing in front of him, staring eye to eye with Derek Kadin.

Time stood still. She felt her insides melt under his too-penetrating gaze like a cup of ice cream left out in the sun. Somebody give the man a straw so he can drink me like a milkshake.

He smiled. A slow, leisurely smile that was oh-so-sexy and made her wonder if he just read her thoughts.

God, I hope not. Still, she felt the heat rising to redden her cheeks.

"Hello." His voice was light, sweet, titillating. It flowed from his succulent lips, swirled around her, enveloped her in a wave of warmth, igniting desires deep within her that were best ignored ... especially when they were face to face.

"Hi." She smiled in return, astonished when the word came out in a normal, level tone. Inside, she felt riveted by every emotion known to a woman--excitement, nervousness, longing, lust--but on the outside she had to appear calm, cool and collected. She refused to fall apart in front of him like countless other women did. She couldn't let him see how bad she wanted to pull him out of that chair, push him back on the table and ride him to oblivion right there in front of the thousands of people at Metalfest.

She felt her pussy throb at the mental picture that sprang to mind--his hard naked body under hers, his dick buried deep inside her aching channel--and she nearly blushed again.

When he bent his head to scribble his autograph beside his picture on her CD insert, she closed her eyes and took a deep soothing breath. Her eyes flew open a half a heartbeat later when she heard Diana's outrageously loud voice call out Derek's name. "Will you take a picture with her, please?"

Derek looked at Diana then up at Alicia. "Of course." He placed the cap on the black Sharpie he used for autographs, then stood, and leaned over the table closer to Alicia.

She met him halfway, her heart hammering in her chest so loud it was impossible for him not to hear it. Her breath caught in her throat as his arm slid around her, the palm of his hand stopping on the small of her back. She leaned into him, put one arm around his expansive shoulders and touched his chest lightly with the palm of her other hand. Heat radiated from his body.

The sensation was too exquisite, too intense. The smell of his spicy citrus cologne mixed with his natural scent drifted to seduce her senses. She concentrated on his smell, on the feeling of his body against hers. His crisp masculine angles felt as erotic pressed to her slim curves as she had known they would. She could have stayed there forever, feeling him, smelling him, reveling in the ecstasy of being in his arms. But sadly, too soon Diana snapped the picture and the moment was over.

Reluctantly, Alicia slowly straightened. Derek's fingers danced across her waist as he pulled his arm from around her sending shivers of longing throughout her body. "Thank you." The words were barely a whisper.

"My pleasure." He smiled again and sat back down in his chair.

With hands that begged to shake, she picked up her now autographed CD. As she walked away, she carefully tucked each feeling, each second of memory into a silver chest in her mind and slowly closed the lid, locked it. Though it felt longer, their encounter lasted only minutes. It was most likely the one and only time she would ever be in the arms of Derek Kadin but she would cherish those short minutes for the rest of her life. And thanks to her best friend she had a portion of those minutes visibly captured on film.

Derek stood in a circle with his band mates and took a long fortifying gulp from the Crown Royal bottle they were passing between them. Though he'd had a few drinks throughout the afternoon, he wasn't drunk. Nowhere near. Performing in an alcohol-induced state was something he rarely allowed himself to do. All around him, metal stars spent much of their time downing alcohol and doing drugs. They lived the life that formed the old cliché sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. He didn't fault them for their choices and most of them were very dear friends, but theirs was a lifestyle he could not subscribe to. His responsibility to his band mates, to the music, to the fans, to himself was too great.

In less than five he and his band mates would hit the stage for their forty-five minute set at Metalfest. It had been a long day full of autographs, interviews and appearances leaving little time for them to enjoy the music of the other bands that performed before them. They should have been exhausted after going nonstop for over twelve hours. Instead, Derek felt the adrenaline of anticipation pulsating through his veins.

The energy inside him increased as the four of them moved toward the stage entrance. A chant began, softly at first, then growing to mind-blowing intensity as more and more of the crowd joined in yelling their name. They called for Façade to take the stage as the lights went down, plunging the crowd into darkness. Once again in a circle, Derek, Reese, Trey and Garrett extended their fists to the center, touching knuckles in their pre-show gesture of friendship and good luck.

Derek pictured in his mind's eye what the crowd of fans saw as Reese, Trey, and Garrett took the stage. They performed the same set many times since their world tour began and would perform it a dozen more before the tour ended. He knew without looking the stage was bathed with darkness broken only by a hint of blue lights outlining the short staircases on either side of Reese's drum set. The crowd couldn't see Garrett and Trey--they stood in the darkness atop the larger arched staircases further down on either side of the long platform stretching behind Reese--but they could hear the slow, powerful riffs coming from Garrett's guitar in conjunction with the drumbeat.

After several measures, a dim red light joined the blue illuminating Reese and his Pearl drums as the beat of the introductory song picked up. Then all lights disappeared gradually as the music faded. There was a brief pause before blue spotlights suddenly kicked on behind Trey and Garrett, a brighter red light silhouetting Reese, as the three broke into a heavier melody of bass, guitar and drums.

Backstage, Derek took his cordless microphone from the sound engineer and continued to listen as the roar of the crowd grew wondrous. By now, Garrett and Trey would be making their way down the adjacent staircases to their positions before the crowd on the stage.

Though he didn't hold stock in any one organized religion, Derek believed there was a God and said a quick prayer to the deity for a flawless performance. He climbed the few steps of the stairwell unseen by the fans and moved onto the second platform extending from staircase to staircase between Reese and the large backdrop depicting the logo off the band's latest CD.

The introductory melody drew to an end with three sets of hard hitting beats from the drums, guitar, and bass followed by a harder, single one before fading into the beginning measures of the band's latest chart-topping release. A white spotlight washed over Derek, momentarily blinding him. But he didn't need his eyes to know the crowd was going wild. As his vision adjusted he saw thousands of fists pumping the air to the powerful beat of the music, some with the index and pinky fingers extended forming the adopted sign of heavy metal known as devil horns. On the floor before the stage, two mosh pits began to stir, the participants hurling themselves into each other in a unified heavy metal dance. The cheers were ear splitting and as he thrust his own fist in the air the crowd grew louder still.

He smiled and felt his dick stiffen behind the zipper of his leather pants. This level of energy coming from a crowd this large gave him a hard-on every time. It was better than sex!

There was no doubt that he was doing what he'd been born to do. He traveled other roads, tried other careers. He went to college and received degrees in philosophy, political science and business administration each of which he utilized at one time or another. He even toyed with the idea of going into law. But, looking back on those times, he now saw it as a bumpy road of growth and character building. Inevitably, that road eventually led him to pursuing a dream he possessed since the age of twelve--to be on stage before thousands of screaming fans, entertaining them with his voice and lyrics he wrote from the heart.

He worked hard to reach his life goal. Together with his band mates, they painstakingly worked to make a name for themselves and the band in the metal music industry. Though they were finally beginning to see the riches that accompanied the fame they achieved after two platinum selling albums and years of meticulous work and non-stop touring, their greatest payment was their fans. Without them, they would be no one. True, it was their talents that got them signed with the record label but without the fans support they would have been dropped like hotcakes.

Derek raised the microphone to his lips and began to sing. The crowd knew all the words and sang along with him. Gratification washed over him as he descended the stairs beside the drum set and took his place in the center front of the stage. A pang of desolation threatened to push through his electric mood. Too soon, the tour would end and it would be a year or more before the band would begin another. It was a decision they came to unanimously. Trey's baby would be born soon, Garrett needed time to complete the construction of his new house and he and Reese simply needed a break from being in the lime light. They also needed time to write the music for their third CD.

It would be difficult, Derek knew, to be away from the stage for so long. Still, the time out of the spotlight, out of the public eye would be good for him. Their devoted fans wouldn't be too happy with their absence but when they returned to the stage in a year or so they would make it worth the wait of those fans and more.