The making of a senator or 120 days in a campaign to challenge the status quo and cause a little chaos in Washington. If you like sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, this story has it all for you. The author did a nice job of making real the many intrigues and challenges they can come at candidate from every angle in the politics of today.

Solid writing, good characterization and a plot without many holes. Things seemed real and the results/ripple effects of different actions were all plausible. The result of the campaign was never clear up until the very end of the story; a testament to the many twists and turns in the story.

Finally, I always appreciate when I come across a great new quote to add to my collection. Thanks so much to the author for bringing this one to my attention. “Anaïs Nin,” she replied. “‘And the day came when the risk to remain closed in a bud became more painful than the risk it would take to blossom.’”

Wayne Avrashow’s Debut Novel, “Roll The Dice”

Toby Sloan is a rock star, not a politician. At least at the beginning of Roll the Dice.

When you think rock star, most reactions aren’t especially responsible or that of a straight shooter. True or not, they are perceived as being fairly wild, living in a world where drugs, alcohol, and sex surround them.

How does that present in a political campaign?

A Different Stage

When Toby Sloan announces his last performance to a crowd of his fans, he knows what he wants to do. Next stop, Senator from the state of Nevada. Can he do it? Should he?He can’t know what will happen as a result.

Oddly, huge numbers of people would probably vote for the star because of his star power, his name recognition. But is it possible to get past, or bury, all his highly publicized actions during that successful career?

Sloan is likable. You can’t help appreciate what he has chosen to do. He isn’t after fame and fortune. He’s got that. Toby wants to get things done, over or across any party lines.

The Campaign

Nearly all of the other characters, staff, politicians, publicists, are willing to do anything to win. They don’t paint a positive view.

Corruption, blackmail and bribery, influence peddling, lobbying, one-upmanship, are—sadly—realistically portrayed as part of a campaign today. Just how much there is would perhaps shock us all.

The relationship between his father, former Governor of California, and son, rock star running for the senate, brings added conflict to the novel. When did that tension arise, that distance? Can it be fixed? Can the two men have more than a political relationship, if even that?

All in The Details

The book demonstrates the intricacies of a campaign. Each word spoken must be carefully selected. Values get flipped when competition gets fierce. Most elected candidates do what they are told by their party. When someone talks of being independent of both parties, that person might be the best choice. The voters want someone tolget things done.

A candidate is schooled on every word and every move. How to use his/her hands, what not to say, how to get around a question…The detail is rather startling. For one to act natural after the barrage of do’s and don’ts takes a special skill of its own.

Then there is the certainty that everything is about the campaign. It is the only things of importance. Even within the family. Any mistakes, even misspoken words are viewed as how will it affect the campaign. It becomes all consuming.

The book offers plenty of excitement, as well as surprises that leave you to wonder what will happen. It will make you think. How does one look through all the pretense to choose the right candidate? It’s no wonder the non politician may be who a voter would want.

Redemption

After finishing Roll the Dice, the word “redemption” keeps coming to mind. Could be that is the theme of this intriguing novel, the word that fuels Toby Sloan. Redeeming himself to his daughter, his friends, his father, and even the nation, may be what drives him along this path.

The ending? You will have to read this suspenseful novel to see. It did feel like the actual conclusion was too fast. Still, maybe that’s exactly right. After all, it is all about the campaign.

ROLL THE DICE by Wayne Avrashow is a political novel that is entertaining and intriguing. A fictional story of an aging rock star who throws himself into the knockdown, drag-out political race for a U.S. Senate seat from Nevada.
Tyler Sloan is a rock and roll celebrity who has decided to run for office. He has led a rock and roll life full of sex, drugs, rehab and privilege, but he has also matured and runs a multi-million dollar fund. He is no stranger to politics. His father was the governor of California and just barely lost in his bid for President of the United States.
Tyler funds his campaign himself and will only accept the help of small, personal contributions. He refuses the campaign contributions of special interest groups and lobbyists. He runs as an independent and campaigns outside of the two major political machines. As past indiscretions come back to haunt him and his campaign, new intrigues can also threaten his run for office.
This was a great look behind the scenes of a major political campaign. Even written as a fictional account of a campaign, you get the feeling that all of these situations could happen today in real life. Tyler was a believable main character, strengths and flaws included, with secondary characters that were perfectly placed. This is a great fictional read for a political junkie like me, but it is advertised as a thriller. Not so much. A fast paced read, campaign and some political intrigue behind the scenes, but not what I would personally call a thriller.
Thanks very much to Fiery Seas and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As I've explained above, I was unable to send a review for this book due to a lengthy illness.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I decided not to review it on my blog.

Tyler Sloan is a career rocker. Started out in a garage band, moved up to become the front man for an established touring rock band, then as a legendary singer. Legendary enough to become the focal point of a resident Vegas show. Went through rehab early, but stayed clean since. Married, now divorced from his pill popping ex, a preteen daughter living with mom in LA. Multiple platinum records with memories of not hundreds, but thousands of women, including a sex tape of a threesome.

Avrashow takes us on a bit of a roller coaster ride as Sloan tries to feel his way around the various landmines that populate politics. Avrashow is especially hard on the media as it tries to chip away at Sloan’s background and family history to find anything spicy about Sloan and maybe maneuver for a Pulitizer.

I didn't finish, stopping about chapter 12.. I never could connect with the main character causing me to lose interest in the story line. I found this surprising as I usually like political thrillers. Every book isn't for every reader and this one wasn't for me.

"Lobbyists and special interests say voting for me is a roll of the dice, but I’m not the gamble. The real gamble is continuing on the same path with the same people and same stale ideas."

I'm not usually a big fan of political thrillers or any offshoots of the political spectrum. But the blurb on this book caught my eye and I'm glad I read it. It's very different from most political books and that's a huge plus in my eyes.

Tyler Sloan has been a mega rock star for years and he also heads up a financial dynasty making him a rich, rich man. But he grew up around politics - his father was once Governor of California and made an unsuccessful run to be President.

There's suddenly an opening for U.S. Senator of Nevada and Tyler Sloan decides to run on the Independent ticket.

This story is a behind-the-scenes look at a major campaign that Tyler runs fairly cleanly. It was interesting and scary too because the storyline is all too plausible.

I read and enjoyed the story but I do have to say that my favorite parts of it were about Tyler's rocker past, not the politics.

I received this book from Fiery Seas Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read the book and leave an unbiased review for it.

I got really hooked on this satirical behind the scenes look at politics, fame, and rock n roll. How does a retired rocker go from the music scene to the Senate in a few short months? This was pure insight into the machinations that go into making a non-politician a Senator. It was poignant, humorous, very human and a pleasure to read. Honestly, it's not something I would have thought I would like, but it's well-written and compelling. And a nice change from what I usually read and review. I love Sloan, and would probably vote for him.

I'm somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, closer to 4, so I'll round up.

It's hard to live in the Washington, DC area for as long as I have without becoming at least a little bit of a political junkie. And while our current political climate has me interchangeably ranting, raving, and lamenting, I'm still fascinated by (most) political figures, how parties pick their candidates, and the march toward the election. (Especially the good old days, when we didn't have to think about Russian collusion, cough, cough.)

That's why I jumped at the chance to read Wayne Avrashow's first novel, Roll the Dice. Avrashow, an attorney, is a former campaign manager in Los Angeles politics and was a government commissioner, so he knows of what he speaks. (Although I don't really want to know how much of the inspiration for this book came from real-life events, lol!)

Tyler Sloan is one of the country's biggest rock stars. He's won Grammys, filled stadiums, even been nominated for an Oscar. He has fans all over the world, and he's had more than his share of beautiful women over the years. Politics is in his blood—his father, a former governor, narrowly lost the Democratic nomination for president. But it's still a surprise to nearly everyone when he decides to run as an independent candidate for an open U.S. Senate seat in his home state of Nevada.

Can a celebrity with no political experience be taken seriously as a political candidate? Should they? (No comment.) Sloan's Democratic and Republican challengers quickly dismiss him as a neophyte, a lightweight. They hint about scandals in Sloan's past—sex, drugs, even blasphemy—each of which calls his character into question. But Sloan didn't just wake up suddenly and decide to get into politics. He's given a great deal of thought to his positions (and in fact wants to share his views on every issue far more than his campaign staff wants him to), and he has answers to every accusation that his opponents can throw at him.

Sloan quickly realizes, however, that his celebrity has its limits. Every single event from his past, everything he said and did, even the lyrics of his songs are analyzed ad infinitum by political commentators, reporters looking for a fresh story, and his opponents. He wants to campaign on the issues, but he quickly learns the way the political system works. He doesn't want to stoop to pettiness, but it seems as if every time he turns around he has to justify something from his past, or try to prove to a skeptic that he's more than just a celebrity seeking an ego boost.

His campaign is an uphill battle, and he doesn't have much time. He'll need to deal with scandals among his staff and questions about difficult times in his past, and he'll need to weather his often-strained relationship with his father, whose support he'll need. Will he be able to prove his worth as a potential senator, or will he become a gimmick, a cocktail party trick? Will he be able to handle what comes his way, or will he ultimately fold under the pressure? And is there a secret in his past that will keep him from a possible victory?

Although it may be a little predictable at times, Roll the Dice is a tremendously compelling read. While its examination of the politics of celebrity may perhaps hit a little too close to home given our current environment, Sloan definitely seems to be a candidate who has more to offer than charm, fame, and sex appeal. I definitely couldn't stop reading this, because I wanted to see what obstacles Avrashow would throw in Sloan's way, and just how he would tie everything up.

I feel like this book would make an interesting movie or television mini-series—it just has the right amount of intrigue and drama, as well as emotion and personal interaction, plus the fascinating madness of politics. Avrashow definitely knows his way around a campaign and it shows, and truth be told, this would have been a pretty intriguing election to watch!!

NetGalley and Fiery Seas provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

A well done political thriller that follows a rock star Tyler Sloan as he makes a run for the U. S. Senate from his home state Nevada. Tyler's political experience consists of being the son of a former California Governor who also made a failed run for the White House.

So, Tyler is used to being a celebrity on two fronts: one as songwriting singer of incredibly popular music but also as the son of an extremely popular political figure.
The author creates an engaging story as we follow Tyler on his journey from celebrity to politician.

Roll the Dice is an enjoyable read. The political intrigue and tension are well developed. The novel's pace is steady. Characters and relationships are realistic. The issues that create the novel's necessary tension and their respective resolutions are plausible. And the author skillfully wraps it up by the last page.

I tried, I really tried with this book, but I eventually gave up reading this. I enjoy a political thriller but this was convoluted and kind of dull, as well as having a serious lack of female characters.

Pin-sharp, pacy and compelling, with wry humour and real authenticity. Loved it.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...unless you're running for office and then nothing stays a secret.Tyler Sloan, rock star, decides to leave his music career behind and run for senator in the state of Nevada. A celebrity running for office...where have I heard that before?! Honestly this book couldn't have come out a more perfect time and having Las Vegas as the backdrop was the ideal setting.
Tyler's campaign is fraught with scandals (yes more than one) and the author definitely shines a light on the corruption and what really goes on in politics.
I found the book slow to start off with but then it really picked up and I found myself rooting for Tyler and hoping he would win the race and wondering what new hurdle he would have to jump. He is a likeable character who definitely has his flaws but I think that's what made him easy to like. He was relatable. I hope the author writes a second instalment as I would really like to see where Tyler's story goes as I found myself wondering 'what now?' when I finished the book.

Tyler Sloan was at the top of his game as a Rocker but wanted to give back in the political field. His dad had been the governor of California so he knew about the political arena. He is running for senator from Nevada as an independent. He has two people to beat. Tyler has a well known name and he is very popular but he knows it takes more. He is not taking contributions but using his own money. Are there glitches along the way, you bet but he has hired the best political help he knows to help him over the line. There are problems from his past which are out there for him to wonder if they will surface but he just keeps pressing forward. An interesting take on the run for office and what can make or break the candidate.

This book marries politics and celebrity stardom in an interesting story that shows the background of our political leaders, using every bit of sex,coarse words or humiliation they can find to pull themselves to the top of the polls!
What happens when a beloved singer from our much younger years, decides to finally follow his father into the political picture? Do we just want to touch him and hear him sing, with phone photos for the girl from the past, or do we have the ability to join his campaign while realizing he does want what is best for Nevada, for our families and future?
The author introduces us to some great characters, with lots of background and a few new people to the scene. Sometimes this book read a little slow,I wasn't compelled to stay awake at night to read it, but parts were very good, overall I was intrigued and kept reading! A moderately enjoyable story, with characters I did like, I would like to read a follow-up to this that flows together better. I thank the author,Wayne Avrashow,Netgalley,and the publisher Fiery Seas for the ARC of this story from which I give my review.