Review: Music Saves Lives
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 27, 2014
“The truth is we have secrets in all of our lyrics.  Any song that has ever been written was someone’s story.”Ivie Butonelli hasn’t had the best life.  It’s been quite crappy, to be honest.  With a whore mom who left when she was young and a dad who spent most of her life in prison, she was forced to live with an aunt who never wanted her – and she made sure Ivie knew this on a regular basis.  Her solution?  Jump from bad relationship to bad relationship, constantly being put down and hurt, just to have a place to crash and not look like a failure.  Until the one day that changed her life - the day she hears a local band playing at a party and they invite her to play bass with them.We learned in Secrets Behind Those Eyes that Gable Johnson has some daddy issues.  When it is found out that his dad is actually married to two different women and has two different families, he is sent to prison and Gable is forced to be the man of the house.  When he meets Ivie at a party, he knew immediately that there was something special about her, but he never acted on it.  Instead, he takes any girl he can get to keep Ivie out of his head.  We all know how well that works out.Fast forward a few years and Beautifully Tainted gets the chance of a lifetime – a tour opening for Ransom’s End, this is their big shot.  This tour could literally save Ivie’s life…if she can escape her abusive boyfriend.  When Gable learns the truth of her relationship, he is hell-bent on saving her.  But why does he care so much?  Ivie thinks Gable’s feelings are nothing more than brotherly love.  Besides, he can have any girl he wants, why would he want a fat chick like her?  Gable wants so much more with Ivie, but he’s worried about what a relationship with her would mean for the band.  Music is everything to both of them, and neither want to risk losing that.  Can Gable help Ivie gain her confidence and see that she deserves so much more?  Is a relationship worth the risk of screwing everything up for the band?This story is a perfect example of how music can literally save your life, and I am a firm believer in that.  There is a song out there for every situation, every emotion, and more often than not, the best music comes out of the worst situations.  When words fail and you can’t figure out how to express what you are feeling, music is there to pick up the slack.  Secrets in the Lyrics is an emotional ride – sadness, heartbreak, fear, passion, healing, and most of all, love – and I hung on to every word.  I especially enjoyed seeing the friends we met in the first Secrets of Savannah book (I freakin’ love Nana Pearl!!!) and I’m looking forward to seeing where life leads them all.  I have a feeling Judd’s story is going to be amazing, with the power to destroy me, and I can’t wait!  Come on Ms. Donaldson, I’m waiting… ;-)