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Groupie #4
Vanni: A Prequel
Before the groupies. Before the stardom. He was, simply, Vanni.
Giovanni Carnevale knows what it means to struggle. Since his father abandoned the family when he was a child, Vanni’s been in and out of trouble, trying to carve his place in the world. That all changes when he moves to Brooklyn, to live with his beloved great Aunt Susan.
After introducing Vanni to music, Susan realizes his talent and pushes him to reach his full potential. But her sudden death leaves him adrift, unable to connect with anyone, friends and girlfriends alike. His personal life slowly deteriorating, Vanni focuses on his music and dream of being a rock star. After so many betrayals, he’s determined to keep everyone who might hurt him at arm’s length—at the time people want him the most.
You already know how his story ends. Now read how it begins with VANNI: A PREQUEL.
Ginger Voight takes us back to where it all began, with an intimate look at one of your favorite book boyfriends—from his perspective.
Intended for readers 18+ due to sexual content.
Giovanni Carnevale knows what it means to struggle. Since his father abandoned the family when he was a child, Vanni’s been in and out of trouble, trying to carve his place in the world. That all changes when he moves to Brooklyn, to live with his beloved great Aunt Susan.
After introducing Vanni to music, Susan realizes his talent and pushes him to reach his full potential. But her sudden death leaves him adrift, unable to connect with anyone, friends and girlfriends alike. His personal life slowly deteriorating, Vanni focuses on his music and dream of being a rock star. After so many betrayals, he’s determined to keep everyone who might hurt him at arm’s length—at the time people want him the most.
You already know how his story ends. Now read how it begins with VANNI: A PREQUEL.
Ginger Voight takes us back to where it all began, with an intimate look at one of your favorite book boyfriends—from his perspective.
Intended for readers 18+ due to sexual content.
240 pages, ebook
First published July 24, 2015
8 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Ginger Voight
60 books710 followersGinger Voight is a screenwriter and bestselling author with over twenty published titles in fiction and nonfiction. She covers everything from travel to politics in nonfiction, as well as romance, paranormal, and dark, “ripped from the headlines” topics like Dirty Little Secrets.
Ginger discovered her love for writing in sixth grade, courtesy of a Halloween assignment. From then on, writing became a place of solace, reflection, and security. This was never more true than when she found herself homeless in L.A. at the age of nineteen. There, she wrote her first novel, longhand on notebook paper, while living out of her car.
In 1995, after she lost her nine-day-old son, she worked through her grief by writing the story that would eventually become The Fullerton Family Saga.
In 2011, she embarked on a new journey—to publish romance novels starring heroines who look more like the average American woman. These "Rubenesque" romances have developed a following thanks to her bestselling Groupie series. Other titles, such as the highly-rated New Adult series, Fierce, tap into the "reality-TV" preoccupation in American entertainment, which gives her contemporary stories a current, pop culture edge.
Known for writing gut-twisting angst, Ginger isn’t afraid to push the envelope with characters who are perfectly imperfect. Whether rich, poor, sweet, selfish, gay, straight, plus-size or svelte, her characters are beautifully flawed and three-dimensional. They populate her lavish fictional landscapes and teach us more about the real world in which we live simply through their interactions with each other. Ginger’s goal with every book is to give the reader a little bit more than they were expecting, told through stories they'll never forget.
Ginger discovered her love for writing in sixth grade, courtesy of a Halloween assignment. From then on, writing became a place of solace, reflection, and security. This was never more true than when she found herself homeless in L.A. at the age of nineteen. There, she wrote her first novel, longhand on notebook paper, while living out of her car.
In 1995, after she lost her nine-day-old son, she worked through her grief by writing the story that would eventually become The Fullerton Family Saga.
In 2011, she embarked on a new journey—to publish romance novels starring heroines who look more like the average American woman. These "Rubenesque" romances have developed a following thanks to her bestselling Groupie series. Other titles, such as the highly-rated New Adult series, Fierce, tap into the "reality-TV" preoccupation in American entertainment, which gives her contemporary stories a current, pop culture edge.
Known for writing gut-twisting angst, Ginger isn’t afraid to push the envelope with characters who are perfectly imperfect. Whether rich, poor, sweet, selfish, gay, straight, plus-size or svelte, her characters are beautifully flawed and three-dimensional. They populate her lavish fictional landscapes and teach us more about the real world in which we live simply through their interactions with each other. Ginger’s goal with every book is to give the reader a little bit more than they were expecting, told through stories they'll never forget.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 20, 2020
WOW
This book is a roller coaster of emotion for me. In the first 3 books, we know Vanni as a manwhore. Sure he was passionate with Andy but he is also damn frustrating because he can never keep his dicks in his pants. He expect Andy to wait for him and pining for him and be there when he need it while he is out there fucking every groupie at his show. UGH
In his prequel, Vanni is so much more. A humble guy who encompasses everything good. His father walked out on his mother when he is just a kid. Later his mother died and leave him in the care of his Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan adores Vanni. What in the world can go wrong for Vanni u would think?
His aunt love him, he work at the local diner , he have a loving girlfriend who supports him
Not in a millions year I would have thought Vanni would go down the path of a rock star manwhore. If you compare the Vanni before aunt Susan died and the Vanni after. They are two completely different person
Aunt Susan's death only mark the beginning of a series of tragic events and sent Vanni towards a downward spiral. Maybe not downward because he went on to become one of the world's biggest rock star. But we see Vanni become very vindictive and cynical. I feel so sad that Vanni had to turn out like that.
Vanni face betrayal after betrayal and heartbreak after heartbreak. Feeling like he is on top of the world one day and being thrown to the curb in the next second.
This book is a roller coaster of emotion for me. In the first 3 books, we know Vanni as a manwhore. Sure he was passionate with Andy but he is also damn frustrating because he can never keep his dicks in his pants. He expect Andy to wait for him and pining for him and be there when he need it while he is out there fucking every groupie at his show. UGH
In his prequel, Vanni is so much more. A humble guy who encompasses everything good. His father walked out on his mother when he is just a kid. Later his mother died and leave him in the care of his Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan adores Vanni. What in the world can go wrong for Vanni u would think?
His aunt love him, he work at the local diner , he have a loving girlfriend who supports him
Not in a millions year I would have thought Vanni would go down the path of a rock star manwhore. If you compare the Vanni before aunt Susan died and the Vanni after. They are two completely different person
Aunt Susan's death only mark the beginning of a series of tragic events and sent Vanni towards a downward spiral. Maybe not downward because he went on to become one of the world's biggest rock star. But we see Vanni become very vindictive and cynical. I feel so sad that Vanni had to turn out like that.
Vanni face betrayal after betrayal and heartbreak after heartbreak. Feeling like he is on top of the world one day and being thrown to the curb in the next second.
December 13, 2015
3.5-4 STARS
I was just reminded of why I loved this series so much. Vanni's prequel,written solely from his point of view, takes us back to the beginning, to who Vanni was before music changed his life, and through all the obstacles and women and heartbreak that lead him to stardom... And Andy. He was impossible not to love, and still infuriating and womanizing and untameable, even before fame found him. But now I understand him a bit more, even if I still want to shake the crap out of him.
I was just reminded of why I loved this series so much. Vanni's prequel,written solely from his point of view, takes us back to the beginning, to who Vanni was before music changed his life, and through all the obstacles and women and heartbreak that lead him to stardom... And Andy. He was impossible not to love, and still infuriating and womanizing and untameable, even before fame found him. But now I understand him a bit more, even if I still want to shake the crap out of him.
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July 24, 2015
Vanni is the prequel I didn't even know I wanted. I adored the Groupie trilogy and was very satisfied once it was complete. However, once Ginger Voight announced that she was writing about the beginnings of Giovanni Carnevale, all those wonderful feels cam back and I realized this rock god had been away far too long. I was ready for more!
What we get with Vanni is the ultimate prequel. We get to witness first-hand the deep emotion, with both the heartache and joy in chasing one man's dream of success. With the guidance and faith of a beloved aunt, Vanni sets out to finally conquer the music world and make himself known. He's tired of living for others who don't understand this passion of his and staying in a dead-end existence. At 26, Vanni just wants to sing and he'll find out the hard way that even with the most amazing talent, sometimes staying true to yourself isn't always easy.
As he listens to various women who claim to have his best interests at heart, Vanni begins to transform into someone he doesn't want to be. Somewhere along the way he loses himself and he realizes he must find the right path for him. The path that combines the best of his former life with the potential of his new one. We watch as he forms his band, Dreaming In Blue; begins his love of voluptuous women, and handles the 'swagger' he has mastered to be the rock star he was destined to be. And through it all, my love for this man increased tenfold.
I have missed this man and his world. This book is a well-written, extremely sexy yet touching look into the trials and tribulations of making it in the rock and roll realm and the author presents it beautifully. Vanni is a passionate man who enjoys his craft almost as much as his women. Whenever his heart was broken, I felt it right along with him and hoped he could find the one woman who could complete him. As the book nears its end and he has his encounter with Andy Foster, it was with immense joy that I realized his journey was truly just beginning. Since this was the scene to start the Groupie trilogy from all those years ago.
I have to make mention that the secondary characters, mostly the women Vanni comes to both love and yes, even use to some extent, play a huge part in this book.They help shape his future in ways that he didn't even expect. They all add an important element and I enjoyed getting to know them. Part of what makes the author's books so inviting for me, is her willingness to explore these characters and give them a voice. Never just an added after-thought, every character adds a key dimension and creates scenarios that are vital to the story-line. Aunt Susan and Pam, in particular were standouts for me and I am happy Vanni got to have them in his life.
I am telling you, you will enjoy this wild ride towards that crazy little thing called fame and will want to dive right into the Groupie Trilogy once you are finished. And you will fall for Vanni just like I have again and won't want to let go.
A huge 5 stars.
What we get with Vanni is the ultimate prequel. We get to witness first-hand the deep emotion, with both the heartache and joy in chasing one man's dream of success. With the guidance and faith of a beloved aunt, Vanni sets out to finally conquer the music world and make himself known. He's tired of living for others who don't understand this passion of his and staying in a dead-end existence. At 26, Vanni just wants to sing and he'll find out the hard way that even with the most amazing talent, sometimes staying true to yourself isn't always easy.
As he listens to various women who claim to have his best interests at heart, Vanni begins to transform into someone he doesn't want to be. Somewhere along the way he loses himself and he realizes he must find the right path for him. The path that combines the best of his former life with the potential of his new one. We watch as he forms his band, Dreaming In Blue; begins his love of voluptuous women, and handles the 'swagger' he has mastered to be the rock star he was destined to be. And through it all, my love for this man increased tenfold.
I have missed this man and his world. This book is a well-written, extremely sexy yet touching look into the trials and tribulations of making it in the rock and roll realm and the author presents it beautifully. Vanni is a passionate man who enjoys his craft almost as much as his women. Whenever his heart was broken, I felt it right along with him and hoped he could find the one woman who could complete him. As the book nears its end and he has his encounter with Andy Foster, it was with immense joy that I realized his journey was truly just beginning. Since this was the scene to start the Groupie trilogy from all those years ago.
I have to make mention that the secondary characters, mostly the women Vanni comes to both love and yes, even use to some extent, play a huge part in this book.They help shape his future in ways that he didn't even expect. They all add an important element and I enjoyed getting to know them. Part of what makes the author's books so inviting for me, is her willingness to explore these characters and give them a voice. Never just an added after-thought, every character adds a key dimension and creates scenarios that are vital to the story-line. Aunt Susan and Pam, in particular were standouts for me and I am happy Vanni got to have them in his life.
I am telling you, you will enjoy this wild ride towards that crazy little thing called fame and will want to dive right into the Groupie Trilogy once you are finished. And you will fall for Vanni just like I have again and won't want to let go.
A huge 5 stars.
May 23, 2020
In every “romantic” interaction with a female pre-fame, she lets the H down, uses him, or just plain fucks him over. Every female who’s family or friend either dies or fucks him over. It’s interesting to see how easily an inveterate manwhore is made.
The execution is rather mediocre, and it needed an edit, but reading through the birth of a womanizer was a learning experience ;)
It took me just over 2 years to finish this...don’t know what it says about the book. I restarted yesterday with a deep breath. I’m hoping the trilogy is better than the prequel.
2.5 stars
The execution is rather mediocre, and it needed an edit, but reading through the birth of a womanizer was a learning experience ;)
It took me just over 2 years to finish this...don’t know what it says about the book. I restarted yesterday with a deep breath. I’m hoping the trilogy is better than the prequel.
2.5 stars
October 22, 2018
Oh so good
Cabin deep down is a good man, his mama raised him right. What changed him were the questionable women he encountered on the way. We finally find out what made him the way he was and he still had a doubt that he should have happily ever after. Does he deserve it?.yes he does. He worked hard, party hard and paid his first for the misguided people on his journey. Loved this series.
Cabin deep down is a good man, his mama raised him right. What changed him were the questionable women he encountered on the way. We finally find out what made him the way he was and he still had a doubt that he should have happily ever after. Does he deserve it?.yes he does. He worked hard, party hard and paid his first for the misguided people on his journey. Loved this series.
January 8, 2022
Beginning of a Rockstar
Great story. I cried when Vanni faced tragedy, I cheered when he finally succeeded in getting gigs for his band, and again cried when he never found love. But through his rough beginnings one question kept circling around in my brain. Is the Fame going to be worth the pain?? I guess I'll have to read on to find out the answer.
Great story. I cried when Vanni faced tragedy, I cheered when he finally succeeded in getting gigs for his band, and again cried when he never found love. But through his rough beginnings one question kept circling around in my brain. Is the Fame going to be worth the pain?? I guess I'll have to read on to find out the answer.
November 26, 2020
I actually scared to read this. Especially after coming off of a Groupie Trilogy re-read... Oh Vanni, Vanni, Vanni. You’d never be one of MY book boyfriends; I just have too much sense, and I hate men with hair longer than mine, but you really are a book boyfriend that will go down in the annals.
August 11, 2015
Vanni, A GROUPIE SAGA PREQUEL, GINGER VOIGHT
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance,
Ages back I read the Groupie trilogy. I remember being so angry at Vanni much of the time. Its one of those reads that’s so OTT in parts, so non stop drama filled that you just have to keep reading, kind of like watching a car crash when you know what's going to happen but can’t stop looking. I knew things were going to go badly for Andy, knew Vanni was going to be a lying rat and break her heart and yet...I just couldn’t stop reading, however improbable the actions of the characters. I never felt Vanni was really good enough for Andy til the very end, and even then he never really apologised to her IMO, not properly anyway for all the drama and stress he caused to her, all the heartbreak from his jerk behaviour. So this read, showing his early days and told in his words, I hoped might make me understand him more. I’ve re added the trilogy to my kindle from the cloud for re reading to see if what I know now changes how I feel about him...be interesting to see that.
So, we meet him age 26, just lost his much loved mum, and living with his aunt who he holds dear. She taught him about music, taught him to love it and encouraged him to go for his dream. When she dies he’s distraught, absolutely gutted. His girl friend Lori wants stability, says music should be a hobby and he should knuckle down to an ordinary job for “them”. I didn’t like Lori, she seemed to be shaping him into someone he wasn’t, and especially once his aunt died and left him the house and money I though she was an opportunist. He tries to change for her, but he finds it soul destroying and Vanni and the corporate world just don’t gel. At this point Vanni’s a nice guy, respects his family, adores his Lori and believes in Love. He can’t forget his dreams though and slowly things change and he gets closer. The things he has to do though change him, the things that happen shape the misogynistic guy we meet in the Groupie books, the one that sees ladies as sex toys mainly and just doesn’t trust them. ( I still think he’s a jerk to Andy in Groupie, she never gives him reason to mistrust her and yet he blames her the same as the ladies in his past)
I found it hard to believe that he’s got to 26 with this burning dream and yet really not done anything about it, not researched how to achieve it, not strived for success more than singing in local places. Usually someone with that kind of ambition has more drive, has done more by that age, and it was a bit hard to take his ambitions seriously. I did feel for him though when he was let down time and again by the ladies in his life, and I kind of understand why he became the man/jerk we saw later.
Its an interesting read, and showed so well how hard it is to reach the top, how much needs to be sacrificed, how sheer talent just isn’t enough, but so much is drudgery, hard work, marketing and playing up to the people who can help, taking advice but also knowing how much of the original self to keep. After all its their band, their lives and they needed to keep what they wanted to do at the forefront, otherwise they’d just be a generic band, shaped in someone else's ideals. Things like the name change, and the clothing advice were good, and even though ultimately things didn’t go as promised the band still learned much from the experiences.
I’m glad it was told by Vanni, it gave an insight into his thoughts, into his struggles with the changes and how he felt about the things that happened. There’s always two sides to a story, and now we’ve seen a bit of the inside of him I can see some of the things I remember from Groupie in a different light. Its a book well worth reading for Groupie fans, but not one I’d reread.
Stars: Four, an interesting read which shed light on who the “real” Vanni was, and how he got there.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
If you enjoyed my review I'd love it if you would please click “Like” and if you didn't I'd love to know why, in case I've inadvertently added a spoiler and need to edit.
August 13, 2015
Even though this is book #4 in the Groupie Trilogy I read it first since I had the opportunity to review it. Evidently it is a good thing that Ginger wrote this book so that you can understand what happened to shape Vanni into the rock star that he became. From my take on what others thought of Vanni once he made it to rock stardom he was not exactly loved as a great guy. Don’t get me wrong a douche bag is a douche bag no matter what but it is always interesting to see what happened that made him into that douche bag he became. (if that made sense at all?!) So with all douche bag talk aside I was just introduced to Vanni and his beginning and I have to say that I really did feel sorry for him at different points throughout the book. It was nice to see the love and respect he had for the two women in his life that raised him. Yes, he did lose sight of his upbringing at times, as most of us do, but eventually he realized it and would try to integrate that into the person that he needed to be in order to make it in the rock world.
You were also introduced to some women in Vanni’s life who both hindered and try to help him in making his dream come true. Lori, Pam, and Sasha weren’t the only women who influenced Vanni on his struggle to make it, there also was the cougar that almost brought Vanni to his knees and would have stolen his dream if he would have let her.
This was a really good and fast read and I’m looking forward to getting started on the Groupie Trilogy right now. I have to see how his dream turned out…if it was actually a dream or did it really end up to be a nightmare with no one true love in his life besides the music.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
You were also introduced to some women in Vanni’s life who both hindered and try to help him in making his dream come true. Lori, Pam, and Sasha weren’t the only women who influenced Vanni on his struggle to make it, there also was the cougar that almost brought Vanni to his knees and would have stolen his dream if he would have let her.
This was a really good and fast read and I’m looking forward to getting started on the Groupie Trilogy right now. I have to see how his dream turned out…if it was actually a dream or did it really end up to be a nightmare with no one true love in his life besides the music.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
July 30, 2015
Love me some Vanni!
I have read the Groupie Trilogy and the Fierce Trilogy. I had a hate/love view on Vanni! Did I think he deserved Andy...no! Not at first. He was a class A jerk most of the first book! I felt bad for Andy and how he treated her like she was less. Then Vanni started to grow and evolve into someone who is better. He did (finally) have an epiphany that he was "embarrassed" by Andy on some level, that is why he treated her the way he did. I still wish there was a scene that he truly apologized to Andy for his treatment of her. That would of sealed his growth for me. By the end of the third book I was team Vanni all the way! He won me over!
When I saw that there was a fourth book, which was a prequel, I almost didn't buy it. But, there's just something about Vanni! Why was he the way he was? What led him to do the things he did?
Most of my internal questions were answered in this book. It explained how the loss of his mother and aunt devastated him. The first women in his life cheated and/or used him? He became a caricature of himself in a lot of ways! He lost himself and did not believe that he deserved happiness!
I love this series and would recommend it to anyone! The characters are well rounded and written. If your looking for a hot rocker....then Vanni I'd definitely your man! Lol
I have read the Groupie Trilogy and the Fierce Trilogy. I had a hate/love view on Vanni! Did I think he deserved Andy...no! Not at first. He was a class A jerk most of the first book! I felt bad for Andy and how he treated her like she was less. Then Vanni started to grow and evolve into someone who is better. He did (finally) have an epiphany that he was "embarrassed" by Andy on some level, that is why he treated her the way he did. I still wish there was a scene that he truly apologized to Andy for his treatment of her. That would of sealed his growth for me. By the end of the third book I was team Vanni all the way! He won me over!
When I saw that there was a fourth book, which was a prequel, I almost didn't buy it. But, there's just something about Vanni! Why was he the way he was? What led him to do the things he did?
Most of my internal questions were answered in this book. It explained how the loss of his mother and aunt devastated him. The first women in his life cheated and/or used him? He became a caricature of himself in a lot of ways! He lost himself and did not believe that he deserved happiness!
I love this series and would recommend it to anyone! The characters are well rounded and written. If your looking for a hot rocker....then Vanni I'd definitely your man! Lol
September 19, 2015
"Vanni," by Ginger Voight, is a great book, wrapping up a sexy, compelling, heartbreaking series. It's the fourth book in the Groupie Series, even though it's a prequel. Vanni is a complicated character and it was interesting to read about the things that made him that way. I loved how the story unfolded as he changed significantly through events in his life. I've been feverishly reading the series the last couple of days and am going to miss it. It's a great journey and I highly recommend it.
September 24, 2015
Excellence
I read the trilogy and wasn't going to buy it but I couldn't stop thinking about the Vanni Character. Any of us who knows bad boys know we always want to know why they are. Loved it. Couldn't put it down
I read the trilogy and wasn't going to buy it but I couldn't stop thinking about the Vanni Character. Any of us who knows bad boys know we always want to know why they are. Loved it. Couldn't put it down
August 11, 2015
ARC for honest review through Net Galley.
I liked how the story grew layers. It was the birth of a rock star. So in the end Vanni had layers of growth too. A lovely read.
I liked how the story grew layers. It was the birth of a rock star. So in the end Vanni had layers of growth too. A lovely read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews