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Center Stage

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If politics is a game, who better to play it than 
a master showman like a mega-rock star?

America has adored rock star Tyler Sloan for decades, and when he decides to leave the Las Vegas stage to run for a seat on the United States Senate, it’s assumed that he’ll run an unconventional campaign. He exceeds expectations—and more.

No stranger to politics, Sloan’s estranged father was a California governor who narrowly lost his presidential campaign. It’s this experience—and his performance skills—that render a show-stopping performance as an independent candidate for Senate. He expresses disdain for the two-party system and dismisses special interests and lobbyists. Slaon immediately finds himself caught in a political ca paign fraught with scandal, corruption, and conflicting loyalties personally, politically, and romantically.

Will Sloan be able to handle political turbulence and reckon with his own past while navigating the polls? As the countdown to election day begins, Tyler Sloan is focused on winning and taking center stage.

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

19 people are currently reading
970 people want to read

About the author

Wayne Avrashow

2 books24 followers

Wayne Avrashow is an attorney, former campaign manager in Los Angles politics, government commissioner, and author of numerous op-ed articles on political and legal issues. “Center Stage” is first fiction from Real Clear Publishing/Politics. The novel has received positive blurbs from a New York Times-bestselling author, a prominent movie producer and elected political figures, including the former mayor of Los Angeles.

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5 stars
25 (40%)
4 stars
16 (26%)
3 stars
14 (22%)
2 stars
2 (3%)
1 star
4 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 6 books2,133 followers
January 21, 2021
Election junkies rejoice, Center Stage is a thrill ride of election drama from start to finish. Ever wonder what it is like deep inside a race for the US Senate? Center Stage will fill that void for you. A lot of this riveting book comes fresh out of the headlines. If you weren't certain this was about a fictional race for a Senate seat in Nevada, you might think this was about Georgia in 2020/2021.

Tyler Sloan is a powerful lead character and the portrayal does make one stop and wonder if personality and fame enough to overcome steadfast standing on issues? It appears real life has made this fiction very realistic. Anyone who questions whether being a US Senator isn't simply a question of cash should read this book.

Brilliantly using poll numbers to introduce almost every chapter of this book, keeps the reader hooked. Fast-paced, full of intricate conflict, Center Stage is a political thriller. Worthy of a read for anyone who was captivated by any part of the last election cycle. Center Stage will both take you in and keep you out of real life. A solid read that could be well received by any reader.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mr. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Profile Image for Paul.
342 reviews74 followers
January 24, 2021
A special thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy to review.

I rate this title a solid 3.5 stars

A political novel that follows an ex rock stars campaign for the Nevada Senate. Although this book was not action heavy it was well plotted with interesting characters. Its greatest strength might be the fact it was written by an insider that knows the mechanics of politics.
I try to avoid comparisons on reviews but I am overwhelmed by thoughts of Allen Drury, well detailed and wonkish while being interesting enough not to lose the everyday reader. Recommended.
661 reviews17 followers
January 14, 2021
I enjoyed this story. Well-written and it felt very realistic. Lots of action and plenty of twists.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Seraphia Bunny.
2,115 reviews34 followers
January 13, 2021
Center Stage is a political thriller laden with drama that soon surrounds all of the characters in this book. Center Stage is the first book that I have read by Wayne Avrashow and I was quickly pulled into the storyline from the beginning. Now, the story does slow down in places, but the characters help in keeping me engaged as I'm eager to see where things are going to turn next for some of them as they find themselves deeper and deeper into sticky situations that could drown not just them by anyone attached to them.
Center Stage definitely brings the politics with this book as the author gives readers a rock star who decides that now he wants to run for the senatorial seat. People question him all along the way...can he really win? He thinks that he can. He thinks that because he rocked the stage that he'll have no problem rocking the vote and getting the numbers he needs, but with each turn of the page readers see that there are moments of where he's a bit in over his head and has to reach out for help.
The different relationships throughout this book really keep things interesting. You see pitfalls opening wide for Sloan if he's not careful, but I wonder if he chooses to ignore some of them because he thinks he can slip past them. Sloan is interesting and has some arrogant moments, but I'm thankful that they don't overpower the scenes and drag things down.
Now, this book is more drama than thriller. I kept waiting for the thriller aspect, but it's more subtle than the drama, of course. I wanted more thriller though. I wanted something that was going to pull me to the edge of my seat and have me frantically page turning to learn what was going to happen next. This book doesn't really deliver on that aspect.
So, I'm rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a good book, but doesn't fully live up to the thriller aspect that I am so familiar with. If you like a good political drama then this is a good pick to check out.
Profile Image for LJ.
631 reviews24 followers
May 23, 2021
According to my Kindle, I have 5 hours left in this book which is 5 too many. I don’t know enough about the main character besides the fact that he is a divorced, father of one, rock star running for the U.S. Senate. I still don’t know why he wants to do this and the book has done nothing thus far to make me care. Giving up to read something better.
1,753 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2020
I received this book through "NetGalley" program.

This story is about a rock star who retires and wants to become Nevada's next U.S. Senator. He has politics in his blood since his father was a former Governor and Senator and also had run for the Presidency. This depicts Tyler's campaign to secure the win.

It lays out that he is running as an Independent and not one of the other political parties. He is able to get members of his father's team to work on his campaign. The plan that he lays out has him using his own money and working to support the people of Nevada and not the same platitudes that the Republican and Democrat candidates were using.

His style rubs some of his original staff writers the wrong way and he winds up bringing in a new media consultant who is not afraid to try new things. In the end he gets his father and daughter to campaign along side him.

The story highlights his time as a rock star and how his fame is able to draw the crowd to him. It also talks about the tricks that political foes will use against each other to get the upper hand.

This is a great story and you must read it. It is well worth it.

Profile Image for mellidiezahnfee.
1,031 reviews6 followers
January 13, 2021
This book is a great read, with a sympatic Protagonist. Tyler Sloan is a retired rock-star, and he decides to run for a free senates seat in Nevada. He does well and wants to change the mentality of politics. It`s more mud throwing than caring for the people. Who hides more and has the most to lose. The only worth is to win and so are alliances, betrayal and profit all around the corner. The style of writing is very thrilling and all the people in this book have well-adjusted characters. Can you feel through the pages who is on Tyler's side?
It's a little strange to read about the American political system because it's a bit different from the German system. But politics unfortunately is never clear, brave or straight. Intrigues are plastered all the way to the senate and your life is torn to everyone's eyes.
I liked this book a lot, it was interesting with much insight facts and a lot of excitement.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,380 reviews28 followers
December 22, 2020
What do you do when you have been a rock-star for most of your adult life. When your father has been in politics and you have been exposed to it then being a senator is the next thing to do. Tyler Sloan has decided to run for Senator in Nevada where he lives full time now. He is going to run as an Independent. That is not easy,
He finds himself in the middle of a Champaign where there are too many chances to use his past against him. He has a 14 year old daughter to think about and an ex-wife to worry about besides the other problems that come up. The story is well written and keep you wondering if he can make it to the winner's circle.
77 reviews
January 8, 2021
This book has it all. The characters, especially Tyler Sloan, the rock star turned senatorial candidate, were well fleshed out, a lot of dirty dealing behind the scenes, FBI investigation of the candidate’s campaign manager, a sex tape with the candidate and a bribe. The story was well written and it seems believable even the dirty dealing by the candidates father, the former governor of California’ The story flows well and everything fits together well however I just could not get into the book. I do not know why. Maybe it is just not my type of book. That is why I am giving a three star rating instead of the four or perhaps five it probably deserves.
Profile Image for Colleen.
1,130 reviews26 followers
January 19, 2021
Tyler Sloan is a retired rock star and has politics in his sights. Other than his father being a former governor of Nevada we have no idea why he decides to jump into politics to become a Senator. Tyler surrounds himself with many of his father's people which are questionable. There is no question that politics is a dirty and corrupt business certainly not for the weak at heart. The story move along somewhat quickly and is interesting, but, I kept waiting for something more and the ending left me disappointed.
1,331 reviews44 followers
December 12, 2020
Excellent story which also gives a good look at what goes into a political race. As an independent, rock star Tyler Sloan decides to run for a vacant US Senate seat. Alliances and betrayals abound, lives are laid open for everyone to examine, and values are tested as the race goes down to the site. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Crystal Tadlock.
374 reviews8 followers
January 14, 2021
This book follows a newly retired musician, Tyler Sloan, as he vies for a seat in the Senate. This was an enjoyable book. I did not experience anything while reading that would lead me to feel it is a thriller. I enjoyed following Tyler through his race for the seat, and I also enjoyed the way he handled himself with all of the media issues. I liked the book and would read books from this author again.
Profile Image for Michelle Blake.
524 reviews7 followers
February 1, 2021
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Tyler Sloan is an aging rockstar looking for something different. His father is a successful career politican who just loss the Presidential race. Tyler decides to run, as an independent, for the U S Senate. What could possibly go wrong?

Center Stage follows the Senate race and the twists and turns that happen in a politcal race. The backstabbing, the payoffs, the whole shebang. The things you hope are not going on, usually are.
Profile Image for Claudete Takahashi.
2,647 reviews38 followers
April 18, 2021
If you enjoy reading fast-paced stories, with a lot of action and twists and turn in the plot this book is for you. It doesn´t matter in which country you live, the similarities regarding the way politics deals with polls, problems, donations, team work, decision making and how it affects the life of others is so realistic described in this book, I just loved it. Really entertaining and worth reading!
I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
1,060 reviews4 followers
December 20, 2020
Wow! What a great read. Tyler Sloan is a retired rock star who decides to run for an open Senate seat. A thriller from the start. Great behind the scenes action of how campaigns are run, and elections are won. Could not put this book down until the end. #CenterStage #NetGalley
Profile Image for Lorie.
243 reviews6 followers
February 24, 2021
This was a really good book and an interesting read of a rock star who ran for a seat on the United States Senate. It was interesting to read all the behind the scenes happenings of Tyler's campaigning issues.
Profile Image for Jodi VanMeter.
220 reviews8 followers
March 24, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I couldn’t get into this book. I thought it was all over the place and I couldn’t keep the characters straight in the first few chapters and that just turned me off right at the beginning. I kept going but just couldn’t finish.
1 review
May 2, 2023
Depressing

Sleepy world of politics - long details that didn’t add to the pot and more convoluted than intriguing. What was the point of using last names? Kept reading, hoping it would have gotten better - but stayed cynical and overall hopeless.
Profile Image for Lin Perrett.
297 reviews100 followers
January 10, 2021
The story of rock star Tyler Sloan as he runs for senate. His opponents and the press are out to ruin him. His team are out to prove he is the best candidate for the role.
318 reviews21 followers
January 15, 2021
My first read by this author which I received as a review copy.

I loved it. It was timely, well-written and a page-turner. I won’t reveal details so I don’t spoil the plot, but I read this pretty quickly as I found myself continually drawn back to the book. A good political thriller for our times.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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