Title: The Melody Thief (Blue Notes #2)
Author: Shira Anthony and Peter B. Brooke (Narrator)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 11th 2015
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary
Length: 7 hours and 47 minutes
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.83 stars out of 5
Blurb:
A Blue Notes Series Novel
Cary Redding is a walking contradiction. On the surface he’s a renowned cellist, sought after by conductors the world over. Underneath, he’s a troubled man flirting with addictions to alcohol and anonymous sex. The reason for the discord? Cary knows he’s a liar, a cheat. He’s the melody thief.
Cary manages his double life just fine until he gets mugged on a deserted Milan street. Things look grim until handsome lawyer Antonio Bianchi steps in and saves his life. When Antonio offers something foreign to Cary—romance—Cary doesn’t know what to do. But then things get even more complicated. For one thing, Antonio has a six-year-old son. For another, Cary has to confess about his alter ego and hope Antonio forgives him.
Just when Cary thinks he’s figured it all out, past and present collide and he is forced to choose between the family he wanted as a boy and the one he has come to love as a man.
Note: The Blue Notes series can be read in any order. Each is a stand-alone story from the same classical music universe.
When Cary is mugged and hurt on the streets of Milan after a night of anonymous rough and dirty sex in a gay bar, his savior, lawyer Antonio Bianchi, takes him to the hospital where he’s treated for a broken wrist (set and cast) and concussion. Cary tells Antonio his name is Connor Taylor, and when the doctor recommends Cary be looked after for a few days, Antonio takes “Connor” home with him to recuperate from his concussion.
So begins a series a lies and half-truths Cary tells Antonio so that Antonio will not find out “Connor” is actually Cary Taylor Redding, renowned cellist. Of course, Antonio is a patron of the arts so it turns out he already is well aware of who Cary is from the beginning.
But that’s only the beginning…Cary is filled with self-loathing and is pretty self-destructive in his actions. Peter B. Brooke’s narration rips your heart out. It broke my heart!
Once again, Brooke’s narration is crisp, well enunciated and shows off his wonderful range of accents. I think it’s hard when any narrator also has to do children’s voices, so I don’t really fault not caring for the voice Brooke does for Massi, Antonio’s son.
Personally, even the good narration did not save me from nearly rolling my eyes out of their sockets on this one folks. Don’t get me wrong, it’s written well. This is a really good story with realistic, flawed characters. I just don’t care for that much realism in my romance.
Major spoiler and trigger warning here:
- Spoiler
- At the beginning of the story Cary has rough, dirty bathroom sex with multiple different partners. Even after meeting, and starting to fall for, Antonio.
Thankfully there is a nice HEA to take away the sting of drama throughout the rest of the story.
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