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Blurb
At present, this story is part of a rockstar romance anthology called ROCK MY WORLD, including 16 NYT bestselling and award-winning authors. The anthology will be released on 19th April 2023. You can preorder it here:
Janis has tried everything to find a job. She even tries for a position in the IT department of a record label. But Furmy, the manager of The Hopping Hippos, a world-famous rock band, has different ideas. He makes her the band’s personal assistant and Janis delivers, whipping the young men into shape. What Furmy doesn’t know is that Janis has two problems. The first is, she is in love with the sexy rockstars. The second is, they hate her. But Janis needs the job, so she keeps going until one day, drummer Wiggs sees colours…
The Book's Creation
A while back, I was talking to a close friend of mine about music and recordings. She told me that her husband had been a member of a rock band for many years. It wasn't long after listening to her tales of band life on the road, that I felt inspired to write a reverse harem rockstar romance. The Hopping Hippos made great progress until I came to a point where I wasn't sure where to take it from there and I let the matter rest for a while. Some time passed, I took part in a friends-to-lovers anthology for which I wrote the short version of Fromance in a day. It just flowed out of me.
Shortly before this anthology was unpublished again, the publishers posted about an upcoming rockstar romance anthology called Rock My World. When I saw the post, I immediately thought of my Hopping Hippos and decided to use it for entry. The word count and progress of what I had written so far were perfectly suited to keep within the maximum word count of 30,000 words. The rest is history! The anthology will be published on the 19th of April 2023 and run for around four months.
The Hopping Hippos will be published solo after that. The preliminary publishing date for the solo book is the 12th of October 2023.
Teaser
Janis stands, and everyone follows, filing out of the room. It’s a bit of an anti-climax. The band has just switched off after watching my performance via video call. They haven’t said a word. No one said congratulations, welcome, or anything like that. If I were a girl, I’d probably pout now. At least, that’s what my younger sisters always do if they feel ignored.
“I think congratulations are in order,” Janis says and walks over to me, extending her hand.
I open my arms for a hug, but she’s not going for it.
“Look, first things first, save yourself the flirting. You’ve got the job. You don’t have to kiss ass anymore.”
Woah, that left hook took me totally by surprise.
“I…Wow!”
“I’m the band’s assistant,” she informs me, her eyes steely as she looks into mine, asserting her authority. “That means your glorified babysitter. I expect a professional attitude from you. You’re new, and you’ll have a difficult start. Everyone will hate you. You’re replacing Rickie. Fans will hate you, the band hates you, and I’m the only one who doesn’t yet. So, behave yourself and keep it that way.”
I feel anger rising inside me now, so I square my shoulders, towering over her short, curvy frame.
“Why is it my fault that the guy OD’ed? I didn’t put the fucking needle in his arm,” I growl.
“No, you didn’t. But he was a well-liked member of the band, and he was their friend since high school. I’m the only one who comes in here with a clean slate, just like you. So don’t cut your own flesh by antagonising me.”
“Fine. No flirting. But just for the record, I love older women, and I happen to think you’re hot as hell. I don’t kiss anyone’s ass. I’m too good for that – and way too sexy. I don’t need to. So when I looked at you like I wanted to eat you up, that was exactly what I meant to do.”
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Reviews for The Hopping Hippos
This review is for "The Hopping Hippos" by Tirza Schaefer.
I absolutely loved this story. It's a reverse harem romance with a mature FMC and a rockband. There is also some MM action in it and the steamy scenes are really hot!
The FMC, Janis (named after Janis Joplin) is taking on the job as PA for the band and is tasked to look after them while the prepare for a world tour and also travels with them. The most part of the story is set in Atlanta, GA, before the tour.
I fell in love with Riot, the new band member at once. Dayum, that's one hot man! And the others are really a bunch of dipshits in the beginning but then things slowly turn around and they all get together. There is drummer Wiggs who has ADHD and sees colours. Tyler, the playboy, is the lead guitarist, Reece, on bass guitar, is a musical genius and thoroughly fed up with partying. And then there is Shane, the singer, who always needs all the attention or he sulks.
But then Janis comes along and shows them that life can be different and that "adulting" can be satisfying, too. She helps them heal their wounds and supports them but she is also really strict and tells them off when she has to. And after they get over themselves, they appreciate her for it.
This story is charming, hot and deep, unusual for a contemporary romance, as it explores a bit of spirituality, just a bite-size, so it's not overwhelming but it lends another very interesting aspect to the story. I'm really in love with Janis and her band and if you ask me, do I have any complaints? Yes!!! I wanted it to go on for longer! The story and its characters had me completely enthralled and I wasn't ready to let them go. But luckily, this amazing author has more books to her list.
Bellamy Montgomery, Reader
The Hopping Hippos by Tirza Schaefer.
I loved this story! One mum whose kids are at college takes on a job as PA to a band of rockstars who take the lifestyle too seriously and she has to clean them up and get them ready for a world tour. No easy job but she is tough as nails and whips them into shape. And things evolve from there. It's a reverse harem story, but it's not just everyone pouncing on her all at once. There's a development to it which is so well done, considering this is only a novella. The characters grow and develop nicely and the pacing is perfectly balanced.
I love the author's sense of humour, too. She made me laugh in places but there are also very steamy scenes that had me mop my brow. The way the characters interact and ultimately care for each other after a time of war and bullying the new guy is also really touching and you come away with a feeling of happiness that leaves a smile on your face.
Such a great, multilayered and also deep story!
Tuari Eagleswing, Reader
The Hopping Hippos
I must admit, the title alone made me smile. And the story definitely left me with that, too. A big smile. It's a wonderfully written reverse harem between a mature woman and an entire rock band. But it's not only sizzling and steamy but it also goes deep. It shows the worst and the best in human nature, and has time for an excursion into Kirlian photography, which I personally hadn't heard of before, so I researched and found out it's real.
The characters are well-crafted and have great detail and development for a story this short and the plot is well-paced and engaging. All in all, a little jewel in the ocean of romance books. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author.
Morrison Wilderman, Reader
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Delightfully fresh and honest and holds humour, spice and depth!
I read the story "The Hopping Hippos" by Tirza Schaefer. I was not familiar with the reverse harem trope previously and saw it as quite the experiment. The story definitely has some very hot scenes and there is some man-on-man sex in there but the focus is overall on the female main character, Janis.
I'm not sure what I expected going in but I came out pleasantly surprised at the diversity of characters, all with unique strengths and weaknesses and the very tender way the author brings them to life. You cannot help but be charmed and I had moments of laughing out loud, as well as being deeply touched. I will definitely look into reading more books by this author. Her style of writing is delightfully fresh and honest and holds humour, spice and depth.
Rudolph Granmoddle, Reader
Review for The Hopping Hippos by Tirza Schaefer
I loved this story! One mum whose kids are at college takes on a job as PA to a band of rockstars who take the lifestyle too seriously and she has to clean them up and get them ready for a world tour. No easy job but she is tough as nails and whips them into shape. And things evolve from there. It's a reverse harem story, but it's not just everyone pouncing on her all at once. There's a development to it which is so well done, considering this is only a novella. The characters grow and develop nicely and the pacing is perfectly balanced.
I love the author's sense of humour, too. She made me laugh in places but there are also very steamy scenes that had me mop my brow. The way the characters interact and ultimately care for each other after a time of war and bullying the new guy is also really touching and you come away with a feeling of happiness that leaves a smile on your face.
Such a great, multilayered and also deep story!
Sally Sawyer, Reader
This story has it all!
I loved The Hopping Hippos by Tirza Schaefer! This story has it all! A reverse harem with an older leading lady, a band of hot AF rockstars, a great story and interesting characters! The steam is off-the-charts, the main characters are wonderful and and their dynamic, how it starts and how everything slowly changes between them all is really deep and interesting. I had no idea about that aura stuff, either. I am going to have a look if I can find someone near me to take a picture of mine. I'm really curious now. I loved the whole story!!!
Terry Lake, Reader
* * *
Delightfully fresh and honest and holds humour, spice and depth!
I've read The Hopping Hippos and absolutely loved it! It's got everything, a great story, spice galore and amazing characters that practically leap off the page. Can't wait to read the other stories, too!
Rae Landon, Reader
Review for the entire Rock My World Anthology
I really enjoyed this Rockstar collection [Rock My World Anthology]! So many to choose from! The m/m and RH [The Hopping Hippos] were hot! All of the stories were awesome and held my attention to the end. I would read any of them as stand alone! Definitely worth reading all of it!!
Linda, Reader
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