When Music and Love go Together
919477
There are many movies that have been made that portrayed the delicate yet simple blend of love and music. Some movies exaggerate it, and some are just bland. Once is movie that portrays that blend to excellence, if not perfection!!! The story, the dialogue, and most of all the music, all go together in harmony, thus making Once a truly remarkable film!!! A film like this comes along very rarely...Then again, one could say this kind of film comes along, only ONCE...
1669214
A Song Unheard is a novel for anyone who loves history or music. Set during the early days of WWI, it portrays a unique era, a slice of history, and the trials ordinary people endured. I liked that it showed multiple intertwining viewpoints-- that of a spunky thief-turned-government aid practically working as a spy (Willa), a refugee estranged from his family and struggling to maintain his normal lifestyle (Lukas), and that of an intelligent young lady hiding her true identity in German-occupied Belgium (Margot).

In their own ways, they each learn important lessons of faith. What stands out to me the most is Willa's realization that the loving FAMILY she has is wonderful, but that the love of a Heavenly Father can be all-encompassing and accepting far beyond any human connection she might seek.

These twisting perspectives all tell a seamless story with action, intrigue, and true acts of heroism. Interspersed with it all is a romance that grows naturally even while the characters themselves are often (comically) unaware of their deep connection.

And OH, the music!!! The music lover in me swooned a time or two while reading Lukas and Willa's musical scenes. I have never read a story that incorporates the emotions and visceral feelings music can evoke in mere words and paragraphs. It was so vivid, I could almost hear Willa's song in her heart. The journey of the characters could be likened to a song that has mournful minor strains and moments of pure joy. All of it works together to present a piece of art: in this case, a musical story that incorporates both historical suspense, romance, and faith.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to review a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review.
839325
Here is a paean to the power of music to inspire a love by great artists for their art, a love between a gifted teacher and an equally gifted student, and a love that miraculously helps to heal a broken spirit. Because of the latter, the title is A MINOR, not A MAJOR, since a minor key allows all that is dark, sorrowful, and tragic in the psyche of humans. As well as other emotions that counter what is bright, joyous and beautiful in major keys.
  The author writes that Schumann described Chopin's music as "guns buried in flowers."
  "'What do you think of that, Clive?' Clive tried not to imagine the possibility of violence lurking beneath the beauty of Chopin's compositions ... but the presence of each was undeniable." He concedes that "power and beauty are intertwined in this movement [ from the F minor Piano Concerto] from beginning to end."
  Clive relinquishes his seat on the piano bench to Clare. She plays the movement. Clive knew learning this concerto was like taking a step forward into manhood. The novel is about the adolescent's growth as a musician, as well as his platonic and deeply romanticized love of the woman who is helping him achieve his lofty ambition as an artist. He aspires to not only qualify but win the prestigious Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow.
  Clare has already scaled the rarefied heights of fame and acclaim. She confesses at the very start of the book: "Over five hundred concerts, three hundred and fifity-sever encores, fifty-two premieres, and I'm still trying to figure them out. You'd think I'd be over it by now."
  While taking a long-deserved break from the strain of performing and a trial separation from a troubled marriage, she is passionately smitten with the young high schooler who solicits her help in preparing for the Tchaikovsky competition.
  A minor theme intrudes -- the snake in Eden -- as she slowly begins to suffer a forgetfulness that grows into dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The narrative then becomes not only about the prodigious talent of her beloved pupil -- he is more like a son she never had -- but about the menace of her dreaded disease, marriage deterioration, other complications, and the deeply entrenched blessing of music to bring a kind of redemptive healing.
  While an idealized finale hardly applies to all victims of dementia or Alzheimer's, the thematic thrust of the novel offers gravitas for the growing movement of music as therapy.
  The author in her "Epilogue" even has Clive and his father, a world-renowned conductor, Claude Serkin, establish a Serkin Institute for Music and Memory. "It is a not-for-profit research institute and care center that provides concerts, consultation, music therapy and instruction for those suffering from memory loss due to all manner of misfortunes, from traumatic brain injury to dementia and Alzheimers' disease."
  Ms. Philbrick then lists in the appendix organizations and websites offering information to those suffering problems with memory loss.
  At the start of the book,  she, with the help of her publisher, offers a bonus to the reader: a listing of great pieces for the piano that can be accessed online and listened to as the novel is enjoyed as a reading experience. I noticed that Amazon advertised Kindle with the addition of an audio/video feature.
  Also in the appendix of the book is a discussion guide of challenging questions ideal for teachers of literature.
  With degrees in literature and teaching, Ms. Philbrick, a poet as well as an author, is a teacher of writing and literature.
  I found in the comments on Amazon, a glowing tribute to the author by her daughter, a ballet dancer.
  A MINOR is an extraordinary work of beauty, musical knowledge, psychological insight, and significance for memory patients. A real page-turner, rich is imagery, dialogue, and character complexity.
  Four years in the making, it cries out for cinematic treatment. Such an exposure could dramatically spread the message of music therapy in our country and throughout the world.
  Saul Rosenthal
3650443
talented and passionate love songs,  from the heart and experience.  A must have for sensual romantic music.
4222891
Simple Gifts is the story of two friends who begin to realize that they actually love each other as much as they love their other passion, music. Leila, the professional violinist, and Carene, the pianist and teacher, are living together while Leila attempts to recover from a stress injury to her arm. When Leila is unable to summon the self-discipline to stop making music Carene turns to other methods of enforcing discipline. Carene spanks Leila to make her understand that what she is doing is wrong and causing further damage to her musical career. When Leila discovers she likes the spanking the two women have to either admit that there is more to their relationship than friendship and musicianship or back away from each other permanently.

Carene and Leila speak to each other through music as well as erotic spankings. There are so many ways to communicate other than words. At the end of the story we have an HFN because Leila is facing surgery and the possible end to her career but we don't know how that will turn out. They haven't fully committed to a relationship that is only just beginning. This is a sweet story and I recommend it to anyone who is starting to explore f/f romance stories.
4849436
This was a shared song played for me by a long lost love.  The lovers gone, the song remains.
2179578
Babyface is one of those crooners that makes you want to either fall in love again or be in it for the first time. His lyrics are almost always about love (although some talk about loneliness) and this song is no different.

He talks about how good his love is to a girl that is in need and he REALLY sells it by the end. He gives you a full-voiced howl and holds the note for quite a few seconds and it's beautiful.

This is one you can put on your playlist for a romantic night for two. Babyface wrote this track by himself.

80's music at its best.

4.5 stars.
2566523
This album will be give as a gift to a young person. The love story will become a favorite memory. The music will bring those memories back. Nice.
3347492
This book made me realize how much I associate music with various points in my life. When I hear a familiar song, I am often reminded of who I was with at the time, what I was doing, and my state of mind. Sheffield's book succeeds in verbalizing a lot of this feeling.

This book is about love. Sheffield uses music as a way to evoke the feelings he had for Renee, his ex-wife, at different periods of their relationship. This book takes the reader from the beginning of Sheffield's relationship with Renee, through their marriage, her death, Sheffield's mourning, and his eventual new romance. If one is familiar with the music Sheffield and Renee listen to, the book might be more powerful. But to someone like me with no real background of listening to that music, it still evoked the powerful feelings love and loss can awaken. I felt Sheffield's pain when Renee suddenly died. To lose someone you love so much is a blow that few people can recover from. I was wounded when I read about the lonely and aimless way Sheffield makes his way through life after Renee's death, everything and anything bringing up her memory. To anyone who has dared to love, the feelings in this book will bring up a case in deja vu. To those who haven't loved, it might give some insight as to why people act so crazy when they love someone.

I can't recommend this book enough.
1705484
But you gave me the melody I never knew I had...The melody straight from my heart.

We have admired Brayden and Lily's strong relationship through the whole Runaway Train series. They are the established couple, the parents, the stable ones, the couple you aspire to be. But now we get to listen to them reminisce about their younger days: meeting, courtship, proposal, and hard times. It was not always easy and perfect for these two, but we know they came out stronger in the end,

I've always loved Brayden. And now we not only see him as the devoted husband and father, but we also get to know the endearing romantic, young man at sixteen and a bit older. And we also get a glimpse at what sudden fame and fortune can do to an  even a normally level headed guy.

And we see various sides of Lily...sweet, sassy, innocent, sexy, and strong. She was devoted to Brayden and his dreams, but also had her own.  She felt the stress of their differing life paths. And when he changed too much to be the man she had fallen in love with, she had to find her inner strength and make choices to protect herself.

Told in past and present in both points of view, we follow them through good and bad times over the years. I loved their sweet, romantic moments and milestones, and my heart also broke with their challenges, struggles, and pain. But it eventually comes down to fighting for what is most important and what is needed to be truly happy. The strength, love, and devotion of this couple shines through. This was truly a journey for them.

Ill always fight for you, Lily. Ill always fight for us.

It was not only a journey for them as a couple, but really for the whole band as well. I loved seeing the younger band and their interactions as well as seeing them mature. They are so funny when they taunt each other, but there are also some underlying dynamics we never really knew. And the foreshadowing to the other guys' stories is funny because in the past they all think they are immune to love and want no part of it. Little did they know...

Seeing the beginning for both this couple and the band gives us new perspective and knowing all of the challenges they went through makes where they end up even more special. And speaking of where they end up, we get to see  a bit more into the future after Strings of the Heart left off with Rhys and Allison.

There were some memorable times that made me sigh and smile. And there were parts that made me sad or angry. But overall, it was sweet, heartfelt, funny, passionate and emotional. I truly love these characters and their relationships. They really are a family that has weathered storms together. I hate to see the series end and let these characters go. I am pushing for a continuation of the series about their offspring. Hear that Katie?! Never say never.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
222244
One of the better love stories of our time.  Great music and a glimpse of life in the 50s.
1917658
The reader is allowed to set the stage for reading the story, as they can use the playlist of music that the author is providing. This is a one of a kind story, and reading experiences. The story was a mix of words and music, and it also had it sense of romance and connection. The music was at the right place, at the right time. I recommend this story for anyone who has a deep connection with music and loves to read. Many of us read while listening to music, and it sets the mood. The author does this for us, and it gives the reader a new insight into the journey of Judah.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ~Amy's Bookshelf Reviews
4058671
Una musica che va diretta al cuore !
Certainly this is a music which touches directly your heart ;
sweet , warm popular songs executed with a " magic  " classic touch.
The PianoDuo is fantastic and brings you directly into the heart of the song ; with a confidential tone makes you fill completely " thrilled " by this Vincent Rose's universal music.
A must hear CD for your resting and romantic moments.
3203213
This book is meant to be read by those who believe in love. It is a story of two people who were meant to be together in spite of their paths to each other. It is a story of hardships, anger, pushing emotions aside and building thick emotional walls. It is a story about Sara and Sam who experience a synergy that helps them heal and blossom into a couple who together positively change the people and places they interact with. A lovely read. Can't wait for more.
4817849
Put this record on when you're with a girl or boy that you like.  Lie lanquidly, staring into each other's eyes; notice all the details of his or her face. Listening to the comfortable homeyness of the lyrics-- like an IV straight to the heart-- for better or worse, you will fall in love.

Consider this your warning.
2539846
A sweet love story where two young people unexpectedly fall in love and the young lady calls off a prearranged marriage offering great wealth and a life of ease in favor of a life offering only true love. How does it end? Buy the movie. You won't be disappointed.
 By the way, The song The Precious Gift of Love will stick in your mind and you will find yourself singing and humming; but you won't mind. The words are lovely and the tune is simply beautiful.
2086095
It's an absolute amazing mix of emotion and music. It's beautiful.