Library of Clean Reads: violin

Friday, November 17, 2017

Strings: A Love Story by Megan Edwards (Book Review)

I was immediately intrigued by this book's storyline. Star-crossed lovers and a long-lost violin? Yes, I wanted to read it and I enjoyed it very much.

Book Details:

Book Title: Strings: A love Story by Megan Edwards
Category: Adult Fiction, 210 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
Publisher: Imbrifex Books
Release date: Sept 12, 2017
Content Rating: PG (some profanity, no f-words, non-explicit sex scenes)

Book Description:

The Merino Rose. Ted Spencer has a hard enough time believing the celebrated violin really exists. To find it sitting on his coffee table is nothing short of incredible. The stuff of legend, the exquisite Guarnerius has been missing for centuries.

But even though the renowned instrument is a violin lover's dream come true, it holds only heartache for Ted. The value of the Merino Rose may be beyond measure, but he has acquired it at too high a cost.

Ted found his soul mate when he met Olivia de la Vega his senior year in high school. In the school's production of Camelot, Ted was cast as Lancelot, Olivia as Guenevere. They should have spent their lives together, but strings got in the way: family ties, career objectives, and the tangled web of fate.

Will the Merino Rose bring the two star-crossed lovers together at last, or will their love always remain the melancholy sound of distant violins?

Buy the Book:

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My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I was immediately intrigued by this book's storyline. Star-crossed lovers and a long-lost violin? Yes, I wanted to read it and I enjoyed it very much. The story is told in the first person POV through the main character Ted Spencer, a violinist and an expert in appraising string instruments. He begins the story with The Merino Rose, that long-lost violin sitting on his coffee table, and goes on to the tell the tale of how it came to be in his possession. He tells his story through flashbacks, starting with how he first met Olivia in high school.

I liked this storytelling style because it built suspense. It made me wonder what was going to go wrong in their relationship and keep them apart. Ted and Olivia met when they were both cast as Lancelot and Guinevere in the play Camelot. But he came from a wealthy family and privileged social status whereas Olivia was the daughter of the cleaning lady of their private school. The story follows their high school romance, breakup and their careers after they graduate up until over thirty years later when the Merino Rose brings them together.

I liked Ted because he was honest, at times self-deprecating and very likable in his recounting of the story. I found the novel flowed well and I read it quickly, engrossed in its story. It is a love story with music at its very core. I admit I was expecting more about the long-lost violin itself based on the book description, but it plays a minor role. Ted and Olivia are soul-mates, smitten by that first love sentiment that never quite goes away. That's what the story is mainly about.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and I would gladly read more by author Megan Edwards.

About the Author:

Megan Edwards is the author of the travel memoir "Roads from the Ashes," the humor book "Caution: Funny Signs Ahead," and her debut novel, "Getting off on Frank Sinatra." She has lived and traveled extensively in Europe and spent nearly seven years "on the road" all over North America. Now at home in Las Vegas, Nevada, she is working on her next novel.

Connect with Megan: Website

Disclosure: Thanks to Smith Publicity for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Frederico, the Mouse Violinist by Mayra Calvani (Book Tour)

Frederico, the Mouse Violinist by Mayra Calvani (Rated: C)
Guardian Angel Publishing
ISBN: 978-1616331146
Published Nov 2010
Paperback, 24 pages
Ages 4-8

My seven-year old son plays the violin. So when I saw this book, I wanted to read it to him. And I'm so glad I did because it inspired and touched him!

Frederico is a little mouse who lives in the workshop of Antonio Stradivari, the famous Italian luthier or violin maker. He longs to play the violin and is delighted when Stradivari gives him a gift. Throughout the story, we learn about the violin and its parts as Frederico entertains himself at night after the violin maker leaves the workshop. The different names of the parts of the violin are written in bold in the text and my son was happy to learn them since he knew them only in French. (His violin teacher is French Canadian.)

The illustrations are delightful and my son commented on the bright background that he particularly liked. The use of the color yellow illuminating the scenes gave such warmth to the pictures. “It's a happy story, Mom,” he added, “with no sad parts.” Clearly, this book with its cute mouse and wise luthier made him happy. In addition, there are several activities relating to the story that are included at the end of the book.

My ten-year old daughter also listened to the story as I read it and found it sweet, simple and very interesting since we learned about the famous Italian luthier who lived from 1644 to 1737 and whose violins today are worth millions of dollars. This led us to do more research on the Internet and we became fascinated with the Stradivarius violins. The story of Frederico, the mouse who had a passion for violin playing, and learning some history about this beautiful instrument inspired my son to pick up his violin and practise his songs, the ones he played in his concert just yesterday on a stage full of other violinists.

This is a lovely book for any child who loves to play a musical instrument but especially the child who is a budding violin player.

About the author:
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her nonfiction work, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was a ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award winner. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published. Frederico, the Mouse Violinist is her fifth and latest children’s picture book.

Mayra reviews for SimplySharly.com and is co-editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. She also offers book reviewing workshops online. Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. For her children’s books, visit www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com. You can find Voice in the Dark at http://voice-in-the-dark.com. You can also connect with Mayra on Facebook and Twitter.

I will count this book for the following challenge: Italy in Books Challenge

Disclosure: I received a pdf version of this book through Pump Up Your Book Promotions. I was not told how to rate or review this product.