Title: Prelude (Blue Notes Novel)
Author: Shira Anthony & Venona Keyes
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 250 pages
Publication date: May 5, 2013
Blurb: World-renowned conductor David Somers never wanted the investment firm he inherited from his domineering grandfather. He only wanted to be a composer. But no matter how he struggles, David can’t translate the music in his head into notes on paper.
When a guest violinist at the Chicago Symphony falls ill, David meets Alex Bishop, a last-minute substitute. Alex’s fame and outrageous tattoos fail to move David. Then Alex puts bow to string, and David hears the brilliance of Alex’s soul.
David has sworn off relationships, believing he will eventually drive away those he loves, or that he'll lose them as he lost his wife and parents. But Alex is outgoing, relaxed, and congenial—everything David is not—and soon makes dents in the armor around David's heart. David begins to dream of Alex, wonderful dreams full of music. Becoming a composer suddenly feels attainable.
David’s fragile ego, worn away by years of his grandfather’s disdain, makes losing control difficult. When David’s structured world comes crashing down, his fledgling relationship with Alex is the first casualty. Still, David hears Alex’s music, haunting and beautiful. David wants to love Alex, but first he must find the strength to acknowledge himself.
Review:
Well first let me say that this was well written. It's unfortunate that this needs to be pointed out but I'm afraid that a lot of books in this genre sorely lack an editor. This is not one of those. The story is well thought out and the characters are believable.
That said, a lot of it just fell flat for me. Sure, parts of it are exceptionally sweet, but although I had no issues relating to David, I did have some issues with Alex. In the beginning I grew attached to him but as the story went along the difference between the Alex in the present and the Alex from the flashbacks just seemed to represent two different people.
Other than that, nothing much happened in this book. There was some Small Misunderstandings and some wounded feelings but it never really picked up the pace. Also, certain parts of it struck me as unnecessary. I'm not a big fan of filler. I find it very frustrating, to the point where I'm muttering 'just get to the point' as I'm reading.
However, this doesn't mean other people might not enjoy this. There's a bit of anguish, nothing too overwhelming but still poignant.
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Blue-Notes-ebook/dp/B00CO1JPIG/ref=la_B004LSJL02_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368333528&sr=1-6
If you've enjoyed Prelude, read other novels from the Blue Notes Collection:
Title: The Melody Thief (Blue Notes)
Author: Shira Anthony
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 249 pages
Publication date: August 23, 2012
Overall reviewer rating: Four and a Half Stars
Blurb: A Blue Notes Novel
Cary Redding is a walking contradiction. On the surface he’s a renowned cellist, sought after by conductors the world over. Underneath, he’s a troubled man flirting with addictions to alcohol and anonymous sex. The reason for the discord? Cary knows he’s a liar, a cheat. He's the melody thief.
Cary manages his double life just fine until he gets mugged on a deserted Milan street. Things look grim until handsome lawyer Antonio Bianchi steps in and saves his life. When Antonio offers something foreign to Cary—romance—Cary doesn’t know what to do. But then things get even more complicated. For one thing, Antonio has a six-year-old son. For another, Cary has to confess about his alter ego and hope Antonio forgives him.
Just when Cary thinks he's figured it all out, past and present collide and he is forced to choose between the family he wanted as a boy and the one he has come to love as a man.
Review by jeayci:
I'm not a fan of insta-love and I love stories that show what happens after the couple ride off into the sunset together, so I really appreciated this one. Cary and Antonio get to know each other a bit before falling in love, and once they do there's still quite a bit of story left to see what their life together looks like. That really worked for me.
The world of classical music and professional musicians was beautifully drawn, making me feel I was right there, living it with Cary. I appreciated the opportunity to be immersed in another world for a while, and to experience Cary's journey along with him. I loved (and ached for) the significance of the title.
I ached for Cary and his belief that his only worth was his musical ability. It was understandable With his family background, but there were also a few moments at the beginning that seemed to contradict that, moments when he'd say or do something suggesting he knew he was worth more than that. That made getting a clear sense of his character a bit tricky at first, but once the story and I got into the groove, all was well.
Cary started out so damaged, and the "meet cute" was when Antonio rescued him from a mugging, so right from the beginning Antonio was clearly the knight in shining armor. I liked him, but I thought he was maybe a little too perfect, with his patience, understanding, awesome family, and so much more. Even though Antonio was arguably less than perfect with his lack of musical or artistic ability, I thought that was part of what made him a good complement to Cary and it helped me better appreciate why he was so drawn to Cary.
There was one thing about Antonio that confused me, a seemingly trivial detail but one that - once mentioned - required an explanation that never came: why was he circumcised? Because it's so unusual for Italians to be cut, and because we were so explicitly told that he was, I expected that we would get an explanation which would offer some new insight into Antonio and/or his family; it never came, so it just endlessly niggled at me.
I also felt like there was some lack of resolution with Cary's brother, who I had hoped and expected to see him visit. Family was such an issue for Cary, and I loved that he got a second chance at understanding both of his parents. It was a big deal for him to finally realize they both loved him, each in their own ways. Some of the storyline with his father felt a little unnecessarily over-dramatic, like a plot device to create tension in his relationship with Antonio. But aside from that, I loved the opportunity it provided for him to heal a bit, and thus make his HEA with Antonio all the more believable.
This was an engrossing story that I was able to enjoy greatly without having read the first in the Blue Notes series. Whether I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read the other first is, of course, impossible to say. But the claim that it stands alone is one I can happily vouch. Recommended.
Note: This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The world of classical music and professional musicians was beautifully drawn, making me feel I was right there, living it with Cary. I appreciated the opportunity to be immersed in another world for a while, and to experience Cary's journey along with him. I loved (and ached for) the significance of the title.
I ached for Cary and his belief that his only worth was his musical ability. It was understandable With his family background, but there were also a few moments at the beginning that seemed to contradict that, moments when he'd say or do something suggesting he knew he was worth more than that. That made getting a clear sense of his character a bit tricky at first, but once the story and I got into the groove, all was well.
Cary started out so damaged, and the "meet cute" was when Antonio rescued him from a mugging, so right from the beginning Antonio was clearly the knight in shining armor. I liked him, but I thought he was maybe a little too perfect, with his patience, understanding, awesome family, and so much more. Even though Antonio was arguably less than perfect with his lack of musical or artistic ability, I thought that was part of what made him a good complement to Cary and it helped me better appreciate why he was so drawn to Cary.
There was one thing about Antonio that confused me, a seemingly trivial detail but one that - once mentioned - required an explanation that never came: why was he circumcised? Because it's so unusual for Italians to be cut, and because we were so explicitly told that he was, I expected that we would get an explanation which would offer some new insight into Antonio and/or his family; it never came, so it just endlessly niggled at me.
I also felt like there was some lack of resolution with Cary's brother, who I had hoped and expected to see him visit. Family was such an issue for Cary, and I loved that he got a second chance at understanding both of his parents. It was a big deal for him to finally realize they both loved him, each in their own ways. Some of the storyline with his father felt a little unnecessarily over-dramatic, like a plot device to create tension in his relationship with Antonio. But aside from that, I loved the opportunity it provided for him to heal a bit, and thus make his HEA with Antonio all the more believable.
This was an engrossing story that I was able to enjoy greatly without having read the first in the Blue Notes series. Whether I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read the other first is, of course, impossible to say. But the claim that it stands alone is one I can happily vouch. Recommended.
Note: This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Melody-Thief-Blue-Notes-ebook/dp/B0091USFHA/ref=la_B004LSJL02_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368334315&sr=1-1
Title: Aria
Author: Shira Anthony
Genre: m/m romance
Print length: 231 pages
Publication date: December 24, 2012
Overall reviewer rating: Five Stars
Blurb: A Blue Notes Novel
Five years after a prestigious scholarship jumpstarted his opera career, Aiden Lind has it all: fame, choice roles, and Lord Cameron Sherrington to share his life with. Maintaining his façade takes effort, but under his poised, sophisticated mask, Aiden is still the insecure kid from rural Mississippi. Then he walks in on Cam with another man, and the illusion of perfection shatters.
Philadelphia attorney Sam Ryan never moved on after his partner died, though he tried. Instead of dating, he keeps himself busy with work—but when he unexpectedly runs into ex-lover Aiden while on a rare vacation in Paris, he’s inspired to give their love a second chance. First, though, he’ll have to get Aiden to forgive him. Because when Sam was still grieving five years ago, he broke Aiden’s heart.
When rekindled lust blossoms into a true romance, it seems like the start of something wonderful. But Aiden’s career has him on the road much of the time, and the physical distance between him and Sam starts translating into an emotional disconnect. If Aiden and Sam can’t learn to communicate, their separation may prove more than their love can bear.
Review by A Lee:
Aiden Lind is an international opera singer living the glamorous life in London and other European capitals with his partner, Lord Cameron Sherrington. Yet, under it all, he's still that boy from a poor southern town whose father still thinks a career as a singer is ridiculous. So, when he walks into a scene where his handsome, wealthy lover is cheating on him AGAIN, he is shattered, but knows he has to be strong enough to walk away.
His singing is his love, anyway, and so far, it has never let him down. When he happens to meet an old lover, there is a possibility of something that could be rekindled, but attorney Sam Ryan is has his own firm in Phildelphia. Can a long-distance relationship work with two important and busy careers?
Aiden and Sam are both distinct and very real characters, and despite the glamorous, high-profile life Aiden leads, he still has to deal with real life problems the same as Sam--particularly, the logistics of two people with lives trying to make things work. It is fascinating to see if and how they can manage it. And along the way are lovely, intense meetings of this bi-continental pair, along with visits to their friends, some of whom were featured in previous books (but reading those are not absolutely necessary to enjoying each different novel--although they are highly recommended!).
It was wonderful to be back in the world of music and art and law and love, with another of Shira Anthony's books!
His singing is his love, anyway, and so far, it has never let him down. When he happens to meet an old lover, there is a possibility of something that could be rekindled, but attorney Sam Ryan is has his own firm in Phildelphia. Can a long-distance relationship work with two important and busy careers?
Aiden and Sam are both distinct and very real characters, and despite the glamorous, high-profile life Aiden leads, he still has to deal with real life problems the same as Sam--particularly, the logistics of two people with lives trying to make things work. It is fascinating to see if and how they can manage it. And along the way are lovely, intense meetings of this bi-continental pair, along with visits to their friends, some of whom were featured in previous books (but reading those are not absolutely necessary to enjoying each different novel--although they are highly recommended!).
It was wonderful to be back in the world of music and art and law and love, with another of Shira Anthony's books!
Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Aria-Blue-Notes-ebook/dp/B00ASP8DE2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
No comments:
Post a Comment