Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Ember Sparks is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release Savage Passion, book one in the Savage Bloods MC series, a romantic suspense. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopterer giveaway.

****

Savage Bloods MC: The Music Behind the Men by Ember Sparks

I’m one of those authors that needs music to write. A good beat and catchy lyrics really help set the mood of whatever scene I’m writing. And when I can’t be in front of my computer writing, just listening to certain songs help get my creative juices flowing so when I do get back to my computer, I’m full of new ideas!

Writing The Savage Bloods MC series was no different, and I have a lot of great songs on my playlist—and now I’m going to share them with you and give you a peek at what and who the songs represent in the book. Not all songs have great significance and are more feel-good to get my blood pumping.

1. “Animal I Have Become” by Three Days Grace – This is just a feel-good song that gets me in the mood to write. It’s also a bit indicative of Steven “Slade” Graham when he’s in prison.
2. “Click Click Boom” by Saliva
3. “Cheap Thrills” by Sia, featuring Sean Paul
4. “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails
5. “Coming Undone” by Korn
6. “Crazy Bitch” by Buckcherry – This song pertains to both Cassie and Mandi, but probably Mandi more so. She’s very much a clingy, stalker, will do anything to get the man type of gal.
7. “Down with the Sickness” by Disturbed
8. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica
9. “Everywhere I Go” by Hollywood Undead – This is just a fun song that makes me smile, and I can’t help but sing along.
10. “Freak on a Leash” by Korn
11. “In My Room” by Insane Clown Posse – The beat in this song is crazy good and catchy, even though the lyrics are highly disturbing.
12. “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine – I had this on repeat while writing the fighting and suspense scenes.
13. “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva
14. “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder – This song really sets the mood and tone for a sexy scene between Cassie and Slade near the end of the book.
15. “Loser” by Beck
16. “Porn Star Dancing” by My Darkest Days – If this isn’t a great club song, then nothing is!
17. “Remedy” by Seether
18. “She Hates Me” by Puddle of Mud – This is Cassie’s anthem toward Slade and the Savage Bloods MC.
19. “Symphony of Destruction” by Megadeath
20. “VooDoo” by Godsmack
21. “Burn It to the Ground” by Nickelback
22. “Whore” by In This Moment
23. “Animals” by Nickelback
24. “For You” by Staind
25. “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi
26. “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage The Elephant
27. “Friend of the Devil” by Adam Jensen
28. “My Blood” by Twenty One Pilots – This encompasses the core of the love and commitment among the club and its members.
29. “Nothing’s Gonna Slow Me Down” by CRMNL
30. “Paralyzer” by Finger Eleven
31. “WTF Do I Know” by Miley Cyrus – When writing Slade, I always had this song in the back of my mind, because most of the time, he really does wonder what the fuck he knows. Haha.
32. “Faithless” by Black Veil Brides
33. “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner
34. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
35. “Cherry Pie” by Warrant
36. “Don’t Blame Me” by Taylor Swift – This is officially Slade and Cassie’s song. Their love for each other makes them both crazy.
37. “Take Me to Church” by Hozier – When the club has meetings, it’s often called “church” and so naturally, this song had to be on my playlist.
38. “Like U” by Rosenfeld
39. “Nightmare” by Avenged Sevenfold

So, there you have it – the music that inspired The Savage Bloods MC and the complicated relationships within the club.

What other songs should I add to this list?

****

Title: Savage Passion
Series: Savage Bloods MC, book one
Author: Ember Sparks
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Length: 388 pages
Publication Date: March 15, 2024

He’s been given a second chance…
Steven “Slade” Graham, Vice President of The Savage Bloods MC, just got a full pardon after spending seven years in prison. Only, he has no idea who got him out. Or why. And then he comes face to face with the one man he hasn’t seen in years: Harland Carter—president of The Savage Bloods and Steven’s former best friend. Turns out, Harland needs Steven’s help, and it’s a matter of life or death.

She vowed to never get involved…
Since the death of her twin brother and the creation of The Savage Bloods MC, Cassandra “Cassie” Carter swore she’d never have anything to do with that club—or her brother. And definitely not the man who took her virginity and then left her for said club. But then Steven crashes back into her life, and everything comes crumbling down around her.

She’s the target…
A madman intent on seeking revenge against The Savage Bloods MC club has his sights set on Cassie. Now, she has no choice but to get involved with the club and entrust her safety to them. To make matters worse, Steven isn’t just protecting her life, he’s stealing her heart. Again. And if she can’t trust him, she’ll end up dead.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase at:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

“Harland… what’s going on?” Cassie asks. “You’re scaring me. Where’s Caleb?”

“Yeah,” his father says. “You did just get home from a rescue mission, right?”

Slowly, almost as if he’s being tortured, Harland lifts his head. “Yes, and we failed.” His voice catches, but he doesn’t stop. “I’m so sorry. Caleb’s dead.”

His mother gasps, and his father wraps his arm around her shoulders, turning her against him. She sobs.

“You’re lying.” Cassie stands, her hands balled into fists by her sides. “He’s not dead. He’s not.” She shakes her head.

Harland pushes to his feet and takes a step toward Cassie. She shakes her head even harder and holds up her hand to stop him. He freezes.

“I’m sorry, Cassie. I swear to you, I did everything in my power to save him.” The sheen of tears glistens in Harland’s eyes.

“No. He can’t be dead.” Cassie’s bottom lip trembles, and tears spill down her cheeks.

I have to force in a lungful of air, and I flex my hands. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and comfort her the way her father is comforting her mother, but I suddenly feel like an outsider, peeping on a private moment that I have no business witnessing.

“Cassie, I—”

“No!” she screams and then darts around Harland. She’s out the front door before I can register what she’s doing.

Harland moves to go after her, and I stop him with a firm hand to his chest. “I got her. You stay here.” I nod at his parents.

He turns back to his parents without another word, and I walk outside. Truthfully, I need the fresh air. Even from the front porch, I can hear Mrs. Carter’s sobs, and the sound rips my heart to shreds.

But the sight of Cassie on the ground, rocking forward, face buried in her hands, wailing is my undoing. I stride toward her, kneel down, and wrap her in my arms. She buries her face against my chest and cries even harder, which I’m not sure how that’s possible. But she does. And I let her.

I don’t know how long we’re out here, but when she finally eases back, her face is red and splotchy, her cheeks are streaked with mascara, and my shirt is wet from her tears.

“He can’t be gone.” She hiccups.

I frown, wishing I could say something to make this better for her. I can’t bring the dead back to life, though, and no amount of stupid platitudes is going to make any of this okay.

“Did he suffer?” she whispers, staring up at me.

“No,” I lie.

She nods and hugs herself. She tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, and I can tell she’s trying not to cry anymore, but she’s quickly losing the battle. She’s much too strong for her own good.

I reach for her again and drag her back into my arms. She doesn’t resist. “Let it out, Cassie.”

She clings to me, her body shaking with grief. I can’t stop the tears from pooling in my eyes. Caleb was just as much a brother to me as he was to Cassie and Harland. Maybe not by blood, but I loved him like he was.

Several moments later, Harland steps outside. His hands are once again shoved into his pockets. His hair sticks up in all directions, and he looks exhausted. His gaze meets mine, and I give a quick nod. His shoulders slump, and he slowly makes his way toward us.

“Cassie?” He gently touches her back.

She stiffens in my arms. “I need to know what happened.” She sniffles and sits back so she can see me and Harland. “I need you to tell me everything, Harland.”

The sheer terror that washes over Harland’s face has my gut clenching. Technically, we weren’t supposed to even tell her or their parents that we were going on a rescue mission—for this exact reason. But Harland had wanted to ease his parents’ worry, and so he’d broken protocol to tell them.

“I can’t,” Harland says. “I’m sorry, Cassie.”

She scrambles to her feet, sadness morphing into anger. “This is your fault!” She pokes him in the chest. “You were supposed to watch out for him. Protect him.” She chokes out a sob. “You promised me.”

I get to my feet, ready to jump in to play mediator when she turns on me. Her anger is palpable, and I brace myself.

“This is on you, too, Steven,” she snaps, her tone vehement. “Caleb did whatever you two wanted him to do, and now he’s dead. Because of you!”

Before either of us can respond, she spins on her heel and runs back inside, slamming the door hard enough to make me flinch. I clasp my hand on Harland’s shoulder to still his movements. One look at his face, and I know Cassie’s words hit their mark. Harland already blamed himself for not saving Caleb, and now his own sister is blaming him, too.

“Give her some time,” I say, though I’m not sure all the time in the world will be enough for her to grieve the loss of her twin brother.

“I can’t do this.” Harland shakes his head, climbs onto his bike, and takes off, dirt and gravel flying up around his tires.

I stand there, heartbroken. Angry. Confused. I have no idea if I should take my own advice and leave Cassie alone or if I should go check on her. Eventually, I decide to leave her alone. She and her parents need time to process and grieve, and they don’t need me in the way.

I mount my bike and leave. I have no idea where I’m going, and I don’t need to have a destination. Right now, I just need the wind in my face and the open road ahead of me. I can figure out the rest later.

****

Ember Sparks is a passionate steamy romance author who draws inspiration from personal experiences and the world around her. Her stories are full of heat, love, and the unlikely connections that form between people. As a writer, Ember uses her vivid imagination to transport readers to new worlds and leave them wanting more.

With a fiery passion for storytelling, Ember’s writing style is designed to inspire readers and show them that joy, love, and passion can be found even in the most challenging times. Through her work, she encourages others to find their own escape, whether it’s through writing, reading, or embracing life to the fullest.

Follow Ember: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tik-Tok | Goodreads

****

Enter for a chance to win:
– Prize pack #1 (USA only)
– Prize pack #2 (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway