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.

"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.

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.