Series: Jane's Melody #1Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 4/8/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars
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What boundaries would you cross for true love?
That's the question a grieving mother must answer when she takes in a young street musician she believes can shed light on her daughter's death—only to find herself falling for him. A sexy but touching love story that will leave you both tantalized and in tears, Jane's Melody follows a forty-year-old woman on a romantic journey of rediscovery after years of struggling alone.
Sometimes our greatest gifts come from our greatest pain. And now Jane must decide if it's too late for her to start over, or if true love really knows no limits.
As a mother, I can comprehend the absolute horror of losing a child. What I cannot comprehend is surviving it. In Jane's Melody, we have a mother, Jane, at her daughter's grave site the day after her funeral. As Jane sits in her car and mourns her daughter, she sees a man at Melody's grave, standing in the rain. The man leaves a coin there, then disappears. Her daughter Melody (hence the title) had a history of addiction and substance abuse, and the two had grown distant. Jane is desperate to understand her daughter's last day, and sensing this man may have answers, she seeks him out.
The man, Caleb Cummings, refuses to answer Jane's questions about Melody. Caleb's sad eyes and troubling situation-he's a homeless musician-has Jane wanting to help him. She offers him a job, in exchange for renovating her overgrown property, she will help him make it to Austin, where he hopes to get his music career going. She also hopes that Caleb will eventually open up about Melody.
Now, you might be thinking, a grieving mother goes after her daughter's guy only days after her death? I'll admit, that thought crossed my path as well. Jane's Melody is not that story; it's not designed to have a morally questionable feel, to have you tied in knots over whether Jane should become involved with Caleb. Assumptions regarding Melody and Caleb aren't as clear-cut as they seem. Jane's Melody is very much a love story, a thoughtful, beautiful story at that, and I never questioned whether these two belonged together, despite the difference in age and lifestyle, their tragic start.
To be honest, though, I was in tears within the first few pages. Given the story, I'm sure that's no surprise. Jane's pain was given such an acute description to the instances of unbearable pain that a mother carries after a child's death. Her thoughts ones that I would imagine in my mind in the same circumstances. But, Jane's Melody is also a joyful story. The joy in life's sweet moments, in fond memories of a daughter before the demons took over, the joy in finding a love in the most unlikely arms. As Caleb renovates the land, Jane's heart undergoes a similar transformation. It was a gorgeous story that had a heavy impact on me. The ending left me smiling and satisfied. I'm so anxious (and a little nervous!) for Jane's Harmony.
Favorite
Quote
"Everything I liked about her, I love in you." Jane felt a funny kind of confused, an excitement wrestling with disappointment and grief. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying ever since I saw you I've been attracted to you, Jane. I think about you all the time. Every night. I lay here in this bed at night and wonder if you're awake down the hall. I can't get you out of my head, and I don't even want to."
"Everything I liked about her, I love in you." Jane felt a funny kind of confused, an excitement wrestling with disappointment and grief. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying ever since I saw you I've been attracted to you, Jane. I think about you all the time. Every night. I lay here in this bed at night and wonder if you're awake down the hall. I can't get you out of my head, and I don't even want to."
Jane's Melody Series
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About
the author
Hi, I'm Ryan Winfield. I'm a 39-year-old writer living in Seattle. Author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Jane's Melody: A Novel, South of Bixby Bridge, and The Park Service Trilogy. I hope you enjoy my books and I'd love to hear from you here or on Facebook
Holy click stimulator, that author is freaking gorgeous! I think he was the seven foot beefcake I was chasing around Book Bash last year! This sounds beautifully traumatic and BITE YOU FUCKING TONGUE! Baby D will live FOREVER! W too!
ReplyDeleteOh, Andrea what a gorgeous review! I can't even imagine the grief of a mother losing her child... It must be beyond devastating. This book sounds like a read that really tears you apart, but I'm happy that it also has joy in it. I'm noting down this title for sure, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful review Andrea! This sounds like an emotional gut wrenching read! Definitely one I will have to keep on my list.
ReplyDeleteI remember the girls in my bookclub reading this one. It does sound like an amazing story but whew one you'd really need to be in the right frame of mind to read. Glad you enjoyed it! I've got it on my tbr pile for one day when I'm ready :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, Andrea. I grabbed this one several weeks back and am looking forward to reading it. I'm thrilled to see that you love it so much - despite the difficult subject matter. I can't imagine losing a child or surviving that loss either.
ReplyDeleteWow, beautiful review. Made me want to cry and I haven't read the book! I admit that the age difference in books always makes me hesitate. But if it's written in a way that it won't bother me, I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGads your review made me tear up. I would so need truffles to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI kind of love that this was written by a male author...it's kind of rare for these type of books. It sounds awesome though, so thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteRead this and thought it was a pretty good read :-)
ReplyDeleteoh wow, this looks like an intense read. I am not sure what my thoughts would be about the mom and the guy either. This one looks like something I would need to be in the right mood to read.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it!
Great review :)
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I enjoyed this one too. I think the rest of the series might rip my heart out, but I plan to read them anyway. Glad you liked it too.
ReplyDeleteI think this would make me cry as well, I wanted to read this one but the last few months have been emotional for me as is so it's been hard. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the gorgeous review, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteWow. Looks very emotional.
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