Two rival opera singers. One vampire, one human. Both running from the past.Oscar Acosta’s abusive ex-boyfriend is dead, and his old vampire coven is gone. Now all he cares about is winning a coveted spot with the prestigious local opera company. His stiffest competition is Trent, an adorable fellow grad student with a linebacker’s build who he is definitely not crushing on.
When Oscar’s ex turns out to be not-so-deceased, sending several vampires to kidnap him, Oscar is forced to reveal his own vampire identity to his classmate. Can he trust Trent or should he keep him at a safe distance?
Trent Erickson is on his own with no safety net. He doesn’t have time for partying, especially not with a privileged trust fund nepo baby like Oscar. Trent’s not going to let some rich flake steal his star spot onstage, even if the guy stirs up feelings in him that he doesn’t understand.
But when he witnesses three savage vamps attacking Oscar, Trent’s own hidden history rears its ugly head. After all, he knows more about fighting vampires than any human should.
The Baritone’s Rival is a 60,000-word rivals to lovers, bi-awakening, fated mates vampire romance with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains an ambitious opera singer and the closed-off vampire who falls for him in spite of himself. It also has steamy scenes and the violence you might expect from a vampire story. It is a standalone novel in an interconnected series. Not suitable for readers under 18.
What inspired you to write this book?
I love opera! My musical tastes are fairly broad, but I was introduced to opera in high school and quickly became obsessed. I love the sweep and the drama of it all. It’s one of the few art forms left where companies routinely through a TON of money at the sets and costumes. Add into that, the gloriousness of the sound, and opera stole this little gay kid’s heart.
I also thought the world of opera was an unexplored area that was ripe for MM romance. Careers in opera are hard (and getting harder), and the competition is fierce. Even when you “make it,” you still have to contend with huge egos, a grueling touring schedule, and keeping yourself in shape to sing the hardest music in existence. So much potential!
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m hoping to have three more books out this year. In June, the second book in my Lords of Fyr series will come out. I’m so excited to get back to that world. In September, the next book in The Vampire Impresario will come out – readers of The Baritone’s Rival will be excited to find out who the next vamp is to get their HEA. And then there’s a special project for the holidays that is TOP SECRET for the moment!
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Baritone’s Rival?
Trent Erickson is the human main character, and Trent’s had a rough go of it. He lost both of his parents as a teen, and suffered some related trauma that makes him never want to see a vampire ever again. As a result, his entire world has become his career. He doesn’t socialize, he doesn’t date, he spends all his time practicing his singing. He says that he likes it that way.
Also, he’s “straight.”
On the other hand, Oscar Acosta, our vampire main character, loves to flirt and loves to socialize. He’s gone through his own trauma with his old coven and his abusive ex, but it’s pushed him in the opposite direction. He also loves to needle Trent, who can’t seem to loosen up ever. Oscar feels things deeply, despite not wanting to, and he has a streak of self-sacrifice, although he would deny it if you asked him.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
My last book, The Tenor’s Shadow, took place all over the world, and the globetrotting was very fun to write. But I appreciated getting to spend some more time in this novel’s two primary settings: New York City and a cabin in the backwoods of Maine. NYC and Maine are two of my favorite places in the world, so I was happy I got to have my characters explore them.
I would also say that this book is probably a little bit angstier than my last. I would characterize it as a bit of a slow burn (although I think true aficionados of slow burns might say the book’s too short for that), and the emotional catharsis when the two main characters finally connect on a deeper level was incredibly satisfying to write.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Trent would be played by Kit Connor (although maybe not for a couple of years). Oscar would be played by Taylor Zakhar Perez.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
For the most part I have the reigns, but every so often…it depends on the book. The one that I’m working on right now, the characters basically were like “we don’t think this story goes where you think it goes.” I’ve learned over time to take a lighter touch with outlining, so that if someone decides to go rogue, I don’t have to scramble so hard to accommodate it.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
My first completed book, The Pier, is a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy romance. I still love the story, but I haven’t had a chance to go back and see exactly how much editing needs to happen. If I’m honest, I’m maybe a little bit scared to see what my first effort was like. Also, I don’t need to start another series, and that one starts a trilogy at the least
Oscar retrieved a plastic bottle of alcohol and gauze pads from the island. He crouched down next to Trent. His cheek was right by the man’s broad chest.
“I don’t think you need stitches, but this is going to hurt a little.”
Trent nodded, although Oscar thought he might be drifting off. He poured a few drops of alcohol on a pad and touched it to the topmost cut.
Trent breathed in sharply, his hands gripping at the sides of the chair and his eyes snapping open.
“Fuck.”
Well, he was awake now. Oscar worked as fast as he could, but he wouldn’t risk infection. His fingers made their way across the damaged skin tenderly. Tenderness was not something Oscar had known much of, or something he trafficked in, but seeing Trent there brought it out in him.
He just wanted his classmate to be okay, for his smooth, pale skin to be unmarred by scars and injury. He had to reverse the wound, to make it as if it had never been. He didn’t know why it was so important. Trent had said he’d been in vampire fights before. Still, something about touching him like this made Oscar’s chest open up. It felt raw, unprotected, to be caring for Trent in this way.
When he hit one particularly tender area, Trent yelped in pain, and Oscar’s heart leapt into his throat. Why was he having this reaction? He wasn’t squeamish. He’d killed vampire and human alike. Was it just that he was responsible because Trent had saved his life? Every sigh and moan caused another crack in Oscar’s cool facade.
When the cuts were clean, he covered the area with a large piece of cotton gauze, holding it in place with medical tape. Oscar stepped back to admire his handiwork. Trent looked almost rugged with the bandage. It was a contrast to his innocent, midwestern face and sun-kissed skin. And it was sexy as hell.
Oscar forced away the thought. This man despised him and clearly had a thing against vampires in general. He was straight! Yet Oscar couldn’t help drinking in the sight of Trent as he relaxed against the wooden chair with his eyes closed.
“How are you feeling, Trent?” Anthony asked, startling Oscar. He hoped he hadn’t been staring for too long.
Trent’s eyes fluttered open. “Okay. The sting is duller.”
Anthony stepped toward him, reaching out to help him up.
“Good. Let’s go sit you down in the common area. I can get some ibuprofen for the pain.”
Trent grabbed Anthony’s hand and heaved himself up. As they moved to the door, Trent looked over at Oscar with a strange look on his face. A question. Did he not want to leave Oscar?
“I’ll be right there,” Oscar said. A smile sprang up unbidden at Trent’s expression. “I just need to wash your blood off my hands.”
“That is a weird thing to hear,” Trent said, chuckling low. A spark of electricity ran up Oscar’s spine at the deep, rich sound.
What was wrong with him?
As Trent and Anthony left, Oscar went over to the porcelain farmhouse sink, tossing the scraps of gauze and medical tape in the trash as he passed it. He turned on the water and held out his hands.
There wasn’t too much to wash off. The wound had dried, other than a few drips when the t-shirt was removed. A quick rinse and he was clean.
Except for the single droplet of Trent’s blood that sat on the side of the knuckle of Oscar’s right pointer finger.
He didn’t know why he did it. It was an impulse, a sudden desire with no logic or reason. After staring at the burgundy bead for a long moment, he brought his hand to his face and licked it off.
His vision blew out in a bright rainbow of color. The taste of it exploded his senses, and a thrilling tingle ran from his tongue, down his throat, and spread to every inch of his body. He was overwhelmed with the sensation.
Never mind the sweet, perfect flavor of it. Honey and clove. It was all Oscar wanted to taste for the rest of his life. The intense, thrilling assault on his senses could only mean one thing.
No. He couldn’t be Trent’s mate. Would the universe do this to him? Would fate give him a mate who despised the very idea of it? A man who wanted nothing to do with vampires? Who wanted nothing to do with him? Who probably hated him?
One temperamental opera singer. One vampire bodyguard. Let the sparks and secrets fly.Anthony wouldn’t let anything stand in his way.
His career as an operatic tenor was finally taking off, and he would be damned if he let some stalker keep him from his globe-hopping musical dreams. But he had made the mistake of telling his uncle about the threatening letters the creep had been leaving in his hotel room.
Now he was saddled with a muscle-bound bodyguard who was seriously cramping his love life, even if the guy did have a swoony accent and the perfect number of freckles. No matter what Anthony did, he couldn’t get rid of the stubborn redheaded Brit. Freddie just didn’t fit in with his glamorous life of encores and galas and schmoozing. And how did the man never sleep?
Freddie was there to do a job.
The Tenor's Shadow is a 50,000-word MM vampire romance with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a strong-but-silent vampire bodyguard and the high strung opera singer that falls fast for him. It also contains steamy scenes and the violence you might expect from a vampire story. Not suitable for readers under 18.
J.B. is a writer of MM paranormal and fantasy romance. They live in New York City, and when they're not writing they spend their time eating delicious snacks and listening to opera. If you're looking for fast-moving open door romance, fun and magic, and just a touch of darkness, J.B.'s books are for you!
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