Review: Lovely, romantic story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2014
4.5 starsLouder Than Love was such an amazing surprise. I was expecting a dark, angst-filled story revolving around an ex-heavy metal rocker but I got so much more.Kat lost her husband Pete three years ago in a train accident. She’s living with her 4-year old daughter Abbey and attempting to free herself from the pain and bereavement. She emails Adrian one day and asks him to sing for a group of children at the local library where she volunteers. Her daughter is a fan of the Maxwell MacGillikitty cartoon cat, and Adrian sings the opening theme. She’s unaware that Adrian is actually Digger Graves, a heavy-metal rock legend from the 80’s. Since they first meet, Kat and Adrian realize there is a special connection between them.The book is entirely told from Kat’s POV. The book starts off a bit slow, as the author gives us a lot of details about her daily life. She reminisces about her past, conveys her grief at her husband’s passing, and shares her hopes and dreams.Kat is a mature heroine who is willing to open her heart again. She’s witty and fun, and doesn’t lose her sense of humour regardless of all the heartbreak she went through. Some scenes and dialogues are very funny. Adrian is a lonely soul who for the first time finds someone who truly loves him. He is portrayed as a simple man with fears and insecurities, not as a glorified rock star. I loved how they interacted, how their relationship developed, how they connected and understood each other. The secondary characters were amazing too, from little Abbey to Kat’s group of quirky and supportive friends. I loved the references to songs and music, and how Kat unveils the puzzles in Adrian’s life through his tattoos.It’s a beautiful story of second chances, understanding and love. There is no pointless drama or unnecessary angst. The writing flows and takes us in an emotional journey that is filled with heartache, survival and love.*This book is not NA, the heroine is in her early thirties and the hero is seven years older.