Review: An emotional and poignant collaboration of two incredibly talented authors
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 26, 2013
(Quote)She was my perfect accompaniment...Savannah Marshall has started her new life at the New England Conservatory of Music with her long time, best friend Nathan by her side. She's talented, smart, sassy, and wants to make her own way. Then one class and one professor challenge everything. Savannah and Gregory Fitzgerald are two incredibly talented musicians with opposite ideas on music theory. She is a young flutist, he is a world renowned cellist. He believes in rules and formulas, she thrives on creativity and emotion. Their connection is powerful and affected by temptation, denial, desire and guilt.(Quote)If emotional ideology around music could be placed in a straight line--which I'm sure would please Fitzgerald to no end--we would be at opposite ends of that line. I saw music as sights, sounds, colors, scents, lives, births, deaths, all rolled into a breathing, living thing that could be passed down through generations. Music gave life beauty. Music spoke the language of the human spirit for all to hear and understand...Gregory on the other hand? Not only did he appear to view music as a thing, he seemed to have little regard for the effect his own music had on people....He was living music and didn't even know it. Tragic.This story was like a complicated piece of music with a slow build up of low notes and high notes, clashing together and finding rhythm, then building up to a passionate crescendo that leaves you spent and breathless when it is over. And this happened multiple times during this book and kept you feeling the cyclic emotions of forbidden passion, lust, love, heartbreak, loss, and pain. And it sucks you in until you in completely and makes you feel every part of it. It made me tense, angry, sad, enamored, happy, frustrated, swoon, and heart broken all at various times. There were unexpected surprises, and moments I literally gasped or wanted to throw my kindle. I do not want to spoil anything, and I just want other readers to go along with it, feel it, and be moved by it.Savannah wanted to come out of the shadows of her parents, challenge expectations, and forge her own path. She did not realize the effect she had on those around her, especially the men. She had her best friend Nathan safely by her side and was following her dreams. She was passionate, idealistic, and unique. She never meant to get so tangled up in a difficult situation, but Gregory was like a magnet drawing her in.(Quote)Savannah wasn't just a gifted musician. She wasn't just a beautiful girl. She wasn't just a brilliant mind. For me, she represented much more than those things. She represented a distraction. If I forced myself to be honest, I was...fascinated with her. Attracted beyond measure. I wanted her. Savannah Marshall was dangerous.Gregory was so caught up in appearances, rules, his cello, and career that he had become devoid of any real attachments other than a couple of close friends. He was arrogant, opinionated, domineering, harsh, and rigid. Savannah challenged him and brought out intense feelings he did not know what do with. He was conflicted, guilt ridden, unsure and hesitant to move past his comfort zone. And that caused him to make choices that would haunt him."You're always so...structured. But broody. Dark. Sometimes I think there's something inside of you just ready to explode."Their interactions were antagonistic, humorous, and intense. When they were together the tension and depth of need and feelings were palpable. It was inescapable, consuming and destined to cause heart ache. I spent most of this book tense, anticipating, worrying and afraid of being gut punched...and have to say I was a few times. But there were also times of passion, joy, and contentment as well. It was not a quickly resolved story and that just made it more realistic.I am a big fan of both Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles and have inhaled their other book series that are near and dear to my heart. I can honestly say that it was impossible for me to tell which one of them wrote which parts of this book. It all flows so seamlessly together in both points of view with equal insight into their trepidation, confusion, denial, passion, and intense feelings. They have woven their unique styles together to create a beautiful, poignant, moving story with rich characters and deep emotions. I honestly felt like I had been on a long and emotional journey once I was done. As I thought back over this book, the changes and growth in the characters were significant and inspiring. And I think these characters and this story will stick with me for a long time. I will admit that I am not a classical music fan at all, but this book made me appreciate how musicians can express their feelings so adeptly with their choices and performances. The music became a character in itself. This was a wonderful collaboration of two talented authors and I hope that we see more combined efforts from them in the future.Thanks to Charles Sheehan-Miles and Andrea Randall for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.