Review: A hardcore love story that will break your heart, mend it, then break it all over again!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2013
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. A widow and her very young daughter, Abbey, are trying to move on after the tragic death of her beloved husband. The flashbacks to the times that Katrina's husband was still alive just about killed me. So much life and love cut short so fast, a reminder that we should cherish and appreciate what we have because it may not be there tomorrow.Three years after being widowed, Katrina meets a half-drunk Adrian Graves whom she's hired to play the children's songs he wrote 10 years ago. As the two batter their way through a relationship, conquering their demons becomes more complicated than they both realized; especially when Katrina, or Kat as she's affectionately called by Adrian, refuses to face hers. Can love blossom when past hurts resurface?Have you ever read a book that was so good, you couldn't put in to words how wonderful it was? I completely fell in love with this book. My heartstrings have been tugged and abused and kept hanging on until the very end. An emotional journey of heart, love, hurt, and absolution. I could not put this book down.I loved the complexity of each character. The plot was intricately designed and beautifully done. I also loved the music references the author used including The Beatles' songs and how Katrina's daughter was named Abbey after Abbey Road.I grieved with Kat's struggles as she tried to pick up the pieces and learn to live again after the terrible accident that changed her and Abbey's lives forever. I loved how vulnerable Adrian was as he revealed his past to Kat. It crushed my heart to hear his shame and his self-hatred, but rejoiced as he found something to live for and saved himself from the destructive path he was on courtesy of his Rock `n Roll lifestyle.The story is written in first person from Kat's point of view and I really wished there were some scenes with Adrian's viewpoint. I would have loved to know what was going on in his head. The plus side though was that he was very passionate and forthright with his feelings that I can understand why the author didn't feel the need to write his view.I was a little disappointed at the ending. I felt something was missing and there wasn't enough closure for me. Loose ends were tied up but I just needed more. Maybe this was done purposely to lead into a second book perhaps?I absolutely LOVED this book! I was completely floored. This is a debut novel for Jessica Topper and I say that this is an excellent start for a very talented writer. The story was emotionally charged, heart-wrenchingly precise and brilliantly executed. Keep an eye out for this author! Louder Than Love is a must read for anyone who believes that not only love, but patience, strength, perseverance, courage and faith conquers all.