He's a rock star. She's a waitress. He's about to rock her world. Certified behavioral counselor (and former band groupie) Becca Forrester needs a break. Taking a leave of absence from her job, she moves into the apartment over her parents’ garage, and clinches a gig waitressing at a dive bar known for bringing in big name musicians. Cedric “Linx” Lincoln is a certified rock star. Bassist for the hugely popular rock band, Dimefront, he’s in Denver while the band is on hiatus a-freaking-gain. He's looking for something—anything—to keep him occupied until they can all get back to making music. When he saunters into his friend’s bar, he finds the perfect diversion. Becca’s presence is a breath of fresh air. The sizzle she ignites in him is precisely what he needs. Bonus: no-stress, no-strings hookups are his specialty. But when things between them tip toward serious, his band implodes, and Becca's leave of absence ends, they’re forced to decide what their “real” lives should look like. Maybe there’s room for an encore…

Filled with memorable photographs, Rock Star will appeal to anyone interested in modern American popular culture or music history.

My name is Clover Calloway and I've lived two separate lives. The first, I like to call "my past." I never talk about it. I try not to think about it. My rockstar days of playing in one of the hottest bands on the planet are over. Along with the most volatile, beautiful, tragic love story of all time.Over the past five years, I've settled into my second life. My "normal life." The one where I work a normal job, hang out with normal people and fall in love with a normal, but wonderful guy. The life where I'm admittedly a little bored, but also safe. My past wasn't boring. But my past broke my heart into a million, unfixable pieces. So, I'm determined to keep it where it belongs-behind me. And the man responsible for the shattering of me? Malachi Porter, lead singer and mastermind of Bright Tragedy, should stay there too. Far away from me and this idyllic life I've carved out for myself. But what happens when my two lives collide? When Malachi comes crashing into my perfectly normal world, he threatens to destroy it, promises to annihilate everything I've replaced him with. He upends everything I thought I wanted and forces me to question the reasons I left Bright Tragedy all those years ago.But I didn't walk away five years ago, I ran. As fast as I could go. And while my heart is whispering that it's different this time-that he's different-my brain is screaming for me to run again.Malachi Porter isn't a normal guy. And he doesn't belong in my "normal life." But, nevertheless, he's bound and determined to make a place for himself here.I just hope my heart can survive him, that we don't burn into another bright tragedy.

At a friend's party, Kara Knight falls into bed with the one person who was on her never-touch list-playboy rock star Hunter Collins. Becoming pregnant wasn't part of the plan. Music is Hunter's life, so is travel. With Kara's health at risk, is she destined to be a single mom? Or will a tragic twist of fate bring this unlikely pair together?

Nothing about this arrangement is convenient... Jeremy Dillion—a.k.a. Knox—has no intention of succumbing to wedded bliss. Gag, no. His parents divorced when he was young and the only stability in his life comes from his bandmates. But now they’re finding their own forever sweethearts, and Knox is feeling the heat of being a lone wolf in a group effort. Still, an actual relationship? No. Ick. Irina Carmichael is ready for her big break. The problem is no one takes a second look at her, since she doesn’t fit into the general mold created for Hollywood starlets. Her hips are too big, her nose is too sharp, and her lips are too wide. But she’s so ready to step out of the background and into the spotlight. When Knox gets trashed in the tabloids, his publicist pitches the idea of an image-saving marriage to Irina. Irina figures the publicity can't hurt and accepts—until the offers for major roles start pouring in, and she doesn’t need the arrangement. Unfortunately, Knox has broken the first rule of marrying an actress for publicity: don’t fall in love. But can he handle a real relationship? And is she ready to stop pretending?

From USA Today bestselling author Christina Hovland comes a rockstar, opposites-attract, fish-out-of-water romantic comedy. Mach Powers lives the dream. What more could he want? He’s Dimefront’s guitarist. He lives by his own rules and gets pretty much everything he wants. But there is one issue. When he swipes right for a pretend publicity date with a fan he falls straight into dinner with Darla Davis. His world is suddenly out of whack and everything he thought he wanted goes out the window. Coming off a failed engagement with one of the doctors at her hospital, the only thing Darla wants is privacy and a chance to find her footing again. Finally ready to get back out there, she swipes right for an online date. Only the “date” is a publicity stunt with a rockstar. Her not-so-fake date now has her on the cover of tabloids as America’s “new” sweetheart. There goes her privacy and her sanity. Mach and his team swear they’ll fix it and get her back to her quiet life. However, when things start to heat up for real this time, is Mach willing to give up his preferred single lifestyle? More importantly will Darla give up her peace and quiet for the love of a rockstar?

The word "control" has many implications for video games. On a basic level, without player control, there is no experience. Much of the video game industry focuses on questions of control and ways to improve play to make the gamer feel more connected to the virtual world. The sixteen essays in this collection offer critical examinations of the issue of control in video games, including different ways to theorize and define control within video gaming and how control impacts game design and game play. Close readings of specific games--including Grand Theft Auto IV, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Dragon Age: Origins--consider how each locates elements of control in their structures. As video games increasingly become a major force in the media landscape, this important contribution to the field of game studies provides a valuable framework for understanding their growing impact.

Anna Dvornakov isn’t having a very happy holiday. The last thing she wants is to attend a gala where her ex-boyfriend is set to go to the highest bidder in a bachelor auction. She’d convinced herself he was “the one.” Turned out, he wasn’t. Professional quarterback Drake Wellington’s career is on the fritz. Worse than that, the woman he’s fallen for called it quits on their relationship. Sure, he messed things up, but he’s certain that with a little holiday magic he can convince her to give him one more chance. Unfortunately, things never go as planned during the Jingle Balls Ball…

Games allow players to experiment and play with subject positions, values and moral choice. In game worlds players can take on the role of antagonists; they allow us to play with behaviour that would be offensive, illegal or immoral if it happened outside of the game sphere. While contemporary games have always handled certain problematic topics, such as war, disasters, human decay, post-apocalyptic futures, cruelty and betrayal, lately even the most playful of genres are introducing situations in which players are presented with difficult ethical and moral dilemmas. This volume is an investigation of "dark play" in video games, or game play with controversial themes as well as controversial play behaviour. It covers such questions as: Why do some games stir up political controversies? How do games invite, or even push players towards dark play through their design? Where are the boundaries for what can be presented in a games? Are these boundaries different from other media such as film and books, and if so why? What is the allure of dark play and why do players engage in these practices?