***Book Promo*** A French Girl in New York (Maude Laurent Series#1) by Anna Adams

On the Back of the Book

Maude Laurent is a spirited 16 year-old orphan who grew up in a small, provincial town in the North of France with a passion for piano and a beautiful voice. One day in Paris, she is discovered by an American music producer who takes her to New York to live with him and his close-knit family while producing her first album, with help from teen pop star, Matt. Maude will dive into a new fascinating world discovering New York City, music, family, love and the truth about her past.

From Inside the Book

Prologue

 

June 2012

 

“Okay, I’m done. Now hurry!” the makeup artist cried out. “You’re up in two minutes. Don’t you dare mess up your makeup again!”

Maude ran out, keeping her hands away from her recently rouged cheeks, and Matt hurried behind her.

She stood right behind the curtain and listened to the host’s cheerful voice, announcing her.

“Now ladies and gentlemen, we have a new artist with us tonight. She’s spent her last six months in New York working on her first album. Her first single has been released and is a huge hit . . .”

“Maude,” Matt whispered, tugging her sleeve.

“Yes?” She looked back at him, smiling.

“I just wanted to tell you . . . to let you know that you can always count on me.”

“I know, Matt,” Maude smiled gratefully.

“Her voice will take your breath away, her music is amazing . . . ”

“No, I’m serious. Our friendship has had its ups and downs, but I don’t want it to be that way anymore.”

Maude nodded.

“I don’t care if you’re with Thomas Bradfield. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Maude paused, puzzled. “What? Thomas Bradfield—”

“Give a round of applause for Maude Laurent!” the host cried.

“That’s your cue! Go!” Matt urged.

Maude reluctantly turned away from Matt and hurried on stage.

The blaring lights blinded her as she entered the stage and faced the cheering crowd. She had to restrain her impulse to shield her eyes and continued steadily towards the dark Steinway.

She had played on it earlier but then, she hadn’t felt nervous. Her hands hadn’t been trembling, and her voice hadn’t been shaky.

Maude sat on the piano stool and looked towards the crowd.

They were all there.

James and Victoria were holding hands and beaming like proud parents. Cynthia, dignified as always, was trying to keep Ben from falling off his seat while he was waving madly at Maude. Jazmine, hands clasped, was sending all the positive energy she could muster from her seat.

Maude turned to the piano and sang her first song. She had played it many times before but this time was different. She had grown. Maude wasn’t the same person she’d been six months ago, and her performance wasn’t that of a mere teenager—it was that of a young woman who had looked at life in the eye and refused to bend her spine.

She finished her first song and prepared herself for the second.

She had planned to sing ‘Sunrise’ from her debut album, but now she knew she couldn’t play that song, not after all she’d just been through. Maude dedicated her second song, John Legend’s ‘Coming Home,’ to her parents.

She took a deep breath and started singing:

A father waits upon a son

A mother prays for his return

I just called to see

If you still have a place for me

We know that life took us apart

But you're still within my heart

I go to sleep and feel your spirit next to me.

As she played, she released the pain she had been holding back for years. Her parents were dead. They were gone forever, but she was still alive. Though her pain was severe, it also gave her strength. Strength to sing in a clear voice, strength to overcome her fears, strength to master her initially shaky fingers, and strength to let her notes reverberate through the audience.

It may be long to get me there

It feels like I've been everywhere

But someday I'll be coming home

Round and round the world will spin

Oh, the circle never ends

So you know that I'll be coming home.

Her voice rang out as clear as water from a fountain and wavered with deep emotion as the song washed away her doubt, drowned her insecurities, and melted her pain into a beautiful, calm river of hope.

Maude ended her song and carefully folded her hands on her knees.

“I did it,” she muttered softly to herself.

The crowd broke into thunderous applause. She could hear whistling and thumping. As she walked towards the host, she squinted her eyes to avoid the blaring lights and saw the crowd on its feet, cheering and calling her name.

She smiled and greeted the host, a tall man with a prominent nose and a large, kind smile.

“Wow, wow, wow,” he exclaimed. This host was known for his exuberance. But then, TV hosts are rarely known for being discreet. “That was incredible, Maude!”

Maude laughed, relieved to be breathing at a normal pace again.

“Just tell me, Maude,” he started in a conversational tone. “How does a sixteen-year-old teenager, raised in the north of France, end up spending six months in New York recording her debut album with the world’s hottest pop star?”

“That, my friend, is a very interesting question,” she answered, her dark brown eyes twinkling mischievously.

About the Author

Anna Adams is a French author presently living in Paris after having spent her childhood in the United States. She enjoys writing and reading young adult novels. She loves music, art, shopping, hanging out with friends and roaming in the streets of Paris, or writing in small French cafés.

She is currently writing the second novel in the "Maude Laurent series." The sequel to "A French Girl in New York" will be released in May 2013.

Anna Adams also loves to travel and to write about her trips on her blog at this address

http://annaadamsya.wordpress.com/

Anna Adams also loves to hear from her readers at this address:

annaadams333@gmail.com.

You can also add her on Facebook and Twitter.

You can find Anna on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ADAMSANNA1

My Thoughts

So I have to say from the synopsis and the excerpt I really want to read this. It’s the kind of book I love. I used to want to be a popstar (well rockstar. I wanted to front a band like Paramore.) so I really relate to the main characters and enjoy the journeys that they go on. I really like the cover, the Eiffel Tower in the background, and the apple with the New York backdrop in it is a stroke of genius. I can imagine the apple being shiny if it was a physical copy.

You can buy the book from Amazon: A French Girl in New York by Anna Adams