Start the Fire: A 1980's enemies to lovers, rockstar romance

by Cherie Summers, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

She's the distraction he never wanted. Can Adrian hold onto his dreams while losing his heart to Melody?

The year is 1981, and the music scene is alive and thriving. Adrian, with his bad boy swagger and band that kicks ass, is on the cusp of becoming a rockstar. Yet, the leather clad lead singer's world is turned upside down when he spots Melody, the new girl at school, whose disdain for him is instant. Despite his best efforts, he can't shake the curvaceous blonde from his mind.

Reared in the lap of luxury and whisked away to boarding school at an early age, Melody is now navigating the unchartered waters of public school life. As a senior, the honor student's aim is blend in. She never anticipated the allure of a brooding musician eager to educate her in ways her all girls' academy could not. She's determined to ignore Adrian's lustful advances even if it means denying her own desires.

With every clash, their connection intensifies, a tumultuous mix of aversion and attraction. Adrian, traumatized by his mother's abandonment, has no use for women other than a quick thrill. Will Melody be just another conquest, or will she be the one to thaw his frostbitten heart?

The Love on Fire series kicks off with Start the Fire. This angsty, rockstar romance features an emotionally damaged bad boy and the good girl who sees past his protective armor and into his heart.

This book is intended for mature audiences and contains subject matter that some readers may find upsetting.

Audible Audio

Published August 3, 2025

About the author

As a child, Cherié Summers, dreamed of being a writer. And it's in her dreams that Ms. Summers finds inspiration. At age eighteen, a dream she had about her favorite rock star, Billy Idol, turned into her first novel, Start the Fire. But, Ms. Summers didn't get serious about publishing that novel until she turned fifty. Nearly six years later, she has seven published books to her name.

Star the Fire begins her Love on Fire series which she describes as "drama filled, erotic romance about love, sex, friendship, and rock and roll". There are five books in the series that chronicle the trials, tribulations, and romances of the fictional band, Lightning.

For the book Eternally Wild, Ms. Summers veered away from her series to take a stab at paranormal romance. However, the book is still grounded in music. The inspiration for Eternally Wild also came from a dream. One in which Ms. Summers met the ghost of Michael Hutchence. She was compelled to begin writing the book on the 20th anniversary of his death and is thrilled with the outcome, calling it her "steamiest" creation to date.

Writing is only one of Ms. Summers' creative passions. She is also an avid photographer, specializing in portrait photography of animals, nature, and people. Another creative outlet she revels in is belly dancing. She teaches the art of Middle Eastern dance through her local community education program. She also enjoys traveling to music concerts and pop culture conventions with her daughter, Kayla. Atlanta is a favorite destination, and Ms. Summers' dream is to move there when she retires from her day job.