Welcome to my tour stop! This book was fabulous! I related the musical aspects, the characters, and loved the romance! Check out my full review and enter the giveaway below...
by Jenny Proctor
LDS Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages
Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages
March 1st 2016 by Covenant Communications
Summary
Emma Hill was practically born with a violin in her hands. She lives for the life of the piece, for each song's story, for the perfect stillness after the endnotes when the vibrations of sound are still humming through her body.
If only her love life were that harmonic. But she knew her chances at love would take a hit when she decided to leave her prestigious concertmaster position in the Cleveland Orchestra and move back home to Asheville, North Carolina. She justifies her actions with the fact that being concertmaster for the Asheville Symphony is better than no dates and no job.
But when Emma's world collides with piano-playing YouTube sensation Elliott Hart, she finds herself falling for the way he plucks at her heartstrings. Despite a, ahem, not-so-good first impression, the two soon develop the beginnings of a rhythmic relationship. But when Elliott insists they can't be together, it's up to Emma to strike up a little romance. Will she be able to bring their two worlds into harmony, or will she only manage to get herself in trouble?
If only her love life were that harmonic. But she knew her chances at love would take a hit when she decided to leave her prestigious concertmaster position in the Cleveland Orchestra and move back home to Asheville, North Carolina. She justifies her actions with the fact that being concertmaster for the Asheville Symphony is better than no dates and no job.
But when Emma's world collides with piano-playing YouTube sensation Elliott Hart, she finds herself falling for the way he plucks at her heartstrings. Despite a, ahem, not-so-good first impression, the two soon develop the beginnings of a rhythmic relationship. But when Elliott insists they can't be together, it's up to Emma to strike up a little romance. Will she be able to bring their two worlds into harmony, or will she only manage to get herself in trouble?
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My Review
LOVE AT FIRST NOTE was so much more than what I was expecting. I was expecting a cute romance. Check. Good story. Check. Attractive guy. Check. Fun characters. Check. And some music. Check. I wasn't expecting main characters that I absolutely loved, a roommate/best friend who I also loved and added a lot to the story, a story about LDS (aka Mormon) characters that would appeal to Christian and general romance readers (you know those small-town stories with a community that's kind of in everybody's business and the little old ladies at church who are trying to marry off the one single gal? This story has that same feel.), a turbulent sister relationship, a family with some burdens and a daughter who is trying to do the right thing even if that means she's sacrificing herself, music artfully woven through, and a romance that is complicated and heartbreaking in spots, but also beautiful and swoon-worthy. This story has it all. A perfect and lovely romance from beginning to end.
So let's talk about these characters. Emma is a brilliant violinist. She graduated from Julliard, toured as a soloist, and is the concertmaster in the orchestra. She loves music. It's part of who she is. She's also a daughter trying to help her mom, a sister trying to help with her sister making it in the music field, a best friend trying to be there for her roommate, down-to-earth, and has a big crush on the new neighbor who also happens to be a talented musician. Elliott. He is an amazing guy, but has some hangups from prior celebrity exposure. Emma and him totally hit it off wrong a couple of times before they build a friendship. There were some great and humorous/awkward moments in the beginning. Then Elliott's personality unfolds more as he opens up and as he and Emma get closer. Emma has her own things that she has to work through. The way they loved music and could understand each other on that level and on others made their relationship a great one. The kissing helped too. ;) In all seriousness, they were perfect for each other, but they had to work that out for themselves.
I do have to mention the other characters too, who I all loved. Emma's best friend was so fabulous! I loved how she pushed Emma and knew what she needed. I loved the chats and the teasing and the squabbling. These are some serious I've-got-your-back-no-matter-what friends. Then there was Emma's sister and her parents and others that added so much to this story. I never felt like any of the characters were flat even if their part of the story was shorter.
The pacing of the story was spot on too. It never lagged for me. There was always some tension, humor, romance, heartfelt talk or introspection that drove the story. I loved it all. Even the heartbreaking moments. Even the moments where a character made mistakes. Especially when a character developed. The romance was perfect as well. Started awkwardly, moved to friendship, and then there was the possibility of more if the characters were open to it.
Again, a perfect romance that I highly recommend!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.
So let's talk about these characters. Emma is a brilliant violinist. She graduated from Julliard, toured as a soloist, and is the concertmaster in the orchestra. She loves music. It's part of who she is. She's also a daughter trying to help her mom, a sister trying to help with her sister making it in the music field, a best friend trying to be there for her roommate, down-to-earth, and has a big crush on the new neighbor who also happens to be a talented musician. Elliott. He is an amazing guy, but has some hangups from prior celebrity exposure. Emma and him totally hit it off wrong a couple of times before they build a friendship. There were some great and humorous/awkward moments in the beginning. Then Elliott's personality unfolds more as he opens up and as he and Emma get closer. Emma has her own things that she has to work through. The way they loved music and could understand each other on that level and on others made their relationship a great one. The kissing helped too. ;) In all seriousness, they were perfect for each other, but they had to work that out for themselves.
I do have to mention the other characters too, who I all loved. Emma's best friend was so fabulous! I loved how she pushed Emma and knew what she needed. I loved the chats and the teasing and the squabbling. These are some serious I've-got-your-back-no-matter-what friends. Then there was Emma's sister and her parents and others that added so much to this story. I never felt like any of the characters were flat even if their part of the story was shorter.
The pacing of the story was spot on too. It never lagged for me. There was always some tension, humor, romance, heartfelt talk or introspection that drove the story. I loved it all. Even the heartbreaking moments. Even the moments where a character made mistakes. Especially when a character developed. The romance was perfect as well. Started awkwardly, moved to friendship, and then there was the possibility of more if the characters were open to it.
Again, a perfect romance that I highly recommend!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.
About the Author
Jenny Proctor was born in the mountains of Western North Carolina, a place she still resides and considers the loveliest on earth. She hikes to spend time with her family, runs because her love for food requires it, and writes because it keeps her calm in an otherwise crazy world. She believes that life in the south has a certain flair to it--and works to capture that flair in her novels.
Tour Schedule
*March 14th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://emileeschristmasjoy.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
*March 15th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
*March 16th: http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/
*March 17th: http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/
*March 18th: http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/
Tour-Wide Giveaway
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