FROM EXCITING ROMANCE AUTHOR C.J. BURRIGHTBook one in the Music, Love and Other Miseries seriesIntroverted teacher versus unstoppable violinist. She wants to be alone. He wants her heart. Let the games begin… attachments. Social solitude works perfectly…until she’s forced to share her classroom with the new music mentor, a man who rattles her carefully constructed cage and sparks emotions she prefers to keep chained.
Always up for a challenge, violinist Garret is a master of patience and persistence, and the minute he meets Adara, he knows what he wants. Her sharp humor and haunted eyes inspire him in a way he’s never felt before. He makes it his mission to chip through her shields and breathe her back to life—no matter how hard she resists.
Even as Adara struggles to keep Garret at a distance with each clash of wills, each smile he coaxes, each kiss he steals, her resistance crumbles. But when the past catches up with them both, they will discover that some promises are meant to be broken…and others are worth risking everything for.
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I loved Garrett. Loved him, loved the way he worked with the kids, loved how he never gave up on his feelings. Adana was a broken by grief but no one in her life ever suggested she needed help — and she needed therapy in a huge way. I found that a failing overall, but that’s just me. I’ve lost a parent and was devastated but I knew my dad would kick my @ss from the grave if I didn’t move on with my life. For all the author describes Joey’s joy for life, she misses the fact that a brother wouldn’t want his sister to remove herself from the land of the living after his death, and in particular to take music out of her life.
This is the slowest of slow burn stories. There were parts I loved, parts I felt dragged. And parts I thought needed to be fleshed out more. Particularly, why Garrett chooses to swear in Hebrew?? There was a lot I liked, some I didn’t but overall a solid read.
Grief is powerful. Like takes prisoners and holds them in darkness powerful. For Adara, losing her brother, the embodiment of joy and sunshine, was practically debilitating. She was alive but not living. It would take someone with a eye to see beyond her walls and a boat load of both patience and persistence to knock them down for her. Because that’s what she needed. Grief had built some seemingly impenetrable barriers. Who knew a swashbuckling band geek with an amazing musical talent would not only crack those walls, he would have her waiving the surrender flag to the rockin’ beat of Metallica’s Enter Sandman. You’ll want to read the book to get that reference.
I can honestly say I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. I read the prequel, Every Kiss, because I knew it would be short and I wanted a sample of the writer’s voice since I had requested Book 3, Every Breath, to read and review. That’s when I first met Adara. Just six months out from losing her beloved brother to the most horrible disease of cancer. She was closed off, hard to talk to, hard to like for this reader but I was mostly reading to get a feel for Gia and Ian who are the stars of Book 3. I knew that Adara and someone named Garrett were the feature in the first full length book so I was curious to see who could possibly pull her back from the abyss.
Only someone like Garrett Ambrose could have managed the nearly impossible. He stayed. He annoyed and chipped away at her every excuse and every defense. Bless him, he’s adorable and I had to keep reading to see what he would do or say that kept her in the present rather than allowing her to mourn the past. He’s very clever and I was thankful he didn’t give up on her.
The story isn’t completely focused on Garrett winning Adara over. He’s come home from a music tour but trouble followed him. That was an interesting side story that had me on the edge of my seat when it took a very heart wrenching turn.
Ms. Burright’s writing voice is excellent and I’m so very glad I didn’t give up on Adara because I can see her being important in the next book. I look forward to reading it to find out.
While book one in the series didn’t do it for me, this one certainly was one I enjoyed.
If you read book one, you met Adara. A third grade teach that still has not recovered from the death of her twin brother a year ago. A young musician who loved a life that ended too soon. She wants nothing to do with men, people or music. On top if it all, her job might be cut.
When she meet prolific violinist Garret, her quiet life and distance are threatened.
Garret who is taking time to recoup and find a more normal life , is the uncle of one of her students, and the man who will shake her to the core.
This was a touching , at times heartbreaking but also heartwarming story about life , losses, hope, new beginnings and love.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
“Your like summer and happiness in a sippy cup” – Adara
Where do I even start?
With the vibrant large as life cast?
The gut-wrenching angst?
The ab crunching humor?
The emotional journey that was Garret and Adara?
“She was hanging onto a cliff by her fingernails while a dark wind ripped at her tenacious hold”
I commented on the first book (you don’t need to read it first to follow but it does add depth to the events) that Adara needed to let go, come to terms with her loss. She is harming herself irrevocably and I know that is not what Joey would have wanted. I’ll admit a few times during this journey I wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up! Enough is Enough!
But sadly I had to watch from the sidelines –
Pulling on my hair, tossing out the occasional expletive and drying those random salty drops of sadness – and Hope Garett found a way to light her path.
Garett… I’m absolutely in love
He is so alive.
His personality bleeds from the pages.
I felt his happiness, his joy, his zest for life
I could go on forever (I’m serious)
Every Minute has it all
Family – Life’s roadblocks – Angst – Laughter – Hope – Drama – Love
One of those rare romances that will grab you from the first note and stay with you long after the lights go off
This was a wonderful story about the healing power of love. Marvelous, realistic and engaging characters. I look forward to more from this author.
Looks like another fantastic read and the love story is another against all the odds romance. from C.J. It is as sweet as it is sexy., with wonderful characters that the author brings to life. We feel all of their emotions and watch the characters finally get their HEA. Such a beautiful romantic story which had sassy with a touch of humour, tons of heart and was also upbeat too. Look forward to reading more books from this author. Happy reading everyone!! 4 1/2 stars
EVERY MINUTE by C.J. Burright was a really enjoyable book to read and I can’t wait to read more!
Adara is a shell of herself since her brother died. Garret is the new violinist at school. will their love put her back together or will the past tear them apart?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.