When the need is to settle a score, you may find something else

Synopsis

From Heartbreak to Harmony

After young music teacher Mirren Elphinstone’s entitled boyfriend dumps her and walks out on local band Tavrach, Mirren has a score to settle. Despite her usually sunny, helpful nature, she decides auditioning for the vacant lead singer role is the perfect way to get payback.

Tavrach’s enigmatic frontman, Adam Cormac, is desperate. With the Autumn Gold Festival fast approaching, the band needs a new lead singer – and fast. When only one hopeful turns up – a golden-haired beauty with the voice of an angel – Adam takes a chance.

He soon discovers Mirren is the ex of the sneaky band member who not only abandoned them but stole some of Adam’s compositions. Tempers flare, until the tension between Adam and Mirren turns electric. What began as revenge quickly explodes into an attraction as powerful as their duets – but Adam’s been burned too often to risk his heart lightly.

If they want a chance to turn heartbreak into harmony, Adam must believe he’s more than a stopgap, while Mirren must choose love on her own terms. Only then can they strike a lasting chord before the curtain falls.

My review

Mirren Elphinstone is a young music teacher in Glenbriar, who just got her heart broken. Not only was Benji rather entitles, but during their whole relationship, he made Mirren feel small and insignificant. He even never let her met his band mates of the famous local band Travach. So when the band is looking for a new lead singer, she sees this as an opportunity to settle a score. But the frontman of Travach, Adam Cormac, even if desperate to find a new singer, is wary. Yes, Mirren has the voice of an angel, but also looks like one. And the last thing Adam needs, is to be distracted by a woman, as he has been burnt by love not once but twice. However, Mirren finds herself being the latest recruit of Travach. And sparks fly around between Mirren and Adam, even if they do their best to keep things professional. And then there is the thing that nobody of Travach knows that Mirren is Benji’s ex…

There isn’t a place that makes me happier to return than Glenbriar does! Having read every book of this wonderful series, I just could not wait to read this next chapter!

Travach isn’t an unknown band in the series, and in my mind, for sure they sound just awesome! 😊 And haven’t we all read news in real life how one band member leaves, just means the end of the complete band.

So I was happy to read that Travach just doesn’t give up, but are trying to find a worthy singer to replace Benji.

Now, I have to admit, that while I love Mirren’s character, I wasn’t so sure that auditioning for Travach is the brightest idea she ever had. There is heartbreak, there is revenge in a way, but joining the band of your ex, sounds wrong.

That is of course I knew that Mirren has actually a great voice, and would be a real asset for the band. And that is before I knew how Benji treated Mirren… (I don’t want to waste a lot of words, as Benji doesn’t deserve that, but he shows his true, ugly colours more than in just one occasion, and I truly despise that guy!).

And seeing how Mirren became just a shadow of herself, because of that idiot, not only saddened me, but angered me! First of all, not only because nobody deserves to be treated that way, but because Mirren is a sweet, gentle, kind and generous person. And we see how falling in love with the wrong kind of person, can change you…

But despite her past, we see Mirren reemerging, growing strong again, believing in herself again. And that all the while she never loses faith in her pupils, and inspires them, makes them believe in themselves. The kind of person that Mirren at heart is, is the kind of people we need more of in the world.

And we can label Adam in the same category. He has been burnt and hurt by people in the past and even recent present. He has been betrayed in an awful way by Benji. Yet he always is the kind of person that will help you out when you are in need. Even if people has betrayed him, he is always ready to give people a chance in life. And even if love has hurt him before, he doesn’t regret it, as now he has two wonderful sons he is raising.

Two sons who, especially the youngest, Robbie, are just as welcoming, accepting and full of heart as their father. And my heart melted reading about Robbie, his innocence, his playfulness and his character in this book. And yes, reading the bits where he and Mirren are spending some time together truly made me ‘aaaaw’ 😊.

Both Mirren and Adam show a lot of courage in this story. Mirren by auditioning for Travach, by stepping literally in the spotlight and finding her voice. Adam shows courage by just remaining himself, even if it would be so easy to become a harder, more reserved person because of everything that has happened to him.

I loved reading how well Mirren matches not only with Adam, but with everyone in the band. For me, it shows that even if you are different in character, music is something that can unite people. Music doesn’t care who you are, what you look like, or what you do in life. If you feel music in your bones, in your veins, music can open doors and also hearts.

It was wonderful  reading how Mirren is finding her voice in this band, how to make the band members proud of her, and make them not regret choosing her.

And it was just sweet to read how Adam sees Mirren and *sees* her. Even if they don’t know each other that long, Adam can read Mirren, and senses in a way when there is something up with her. sounds very enigmatic, but you’ll understand me when you get to that bit in the book 😊.

Right from the start, sparks are flying around between Adam and Mirren. But I appreciated the slow – burn, as it made it not only more realistic, but also more touching. These are two people hurt by love in the past, and they have learned their lessons. But love also comes when you least expect it, in a way you least expect it.

Of course we know that somewhere in this book, truths will come out and even reappearances will be happening. And it was wit curiosity, or rather trepidation that I was waiting for those bits. How  bad would things turn out to be? And would Adam and Mirren find their ways (back) to each other?

But it is also a fact that perhaps you have to go through a rough bit, to have a clear view and understanding of what your heart is telling you.

In this wonderful next instalment of a wonderful series, we see how you can find solace in music. But also how music finds you, and it gives you that little nudge to be brave in life. Because who knows who will cross your paths, thanks to music…