Sing it, Sam

I am completely lost for words. Sing it, Sam has left me an emotional mess. I can’t tell you the last time a novel left me so broken and raw. I know it sounds grim and quite bleak, but please know that when I say I’m drained and feeling a huge void, I am saying it with extreme sincerity, because it was totally worth it.

Jennifer Ryder brings us an unprecedented story of hope, pain, loss and love set in country Australia.

Jane and Sam are two very unique individuals who are brought together under the toughest of circumstances.
Jane and Sam find themselves entwined together in a story that I can only best describe as
raw, confronting and highly emotional. A story about the life of two young lives irrevocably changed by events out of their control.

What I also loved about Sing it, Sam was how easy it was for me to fall for not only Jane and Sam, but ALL of the characters as well. Ben, Mr Thompson, Frederick and even Gloria, each with a unique personality, each with their own small story that I often found myself either laughing out loud or wiping the tears from my eyes. Each of their characters were treated with so much respect and handled so delicately I couldn’t help but fall in love with them all.

I know guys, it’s almost as though I’m being vague, and I guess I am, but for me I honestly believe you need to read Sing it, Sam without a spoiler because the impact will be so much more. I know it was for me.

I am so blissfully happy that I finally got the chance to sit down and soak up everything that Sing it, Sam had to offer. I know my heart will take a while to recover, and I am okay with that, because reading such purity is an absolute must.

5 stars

I am lucky to have come into this endearing, sweet romance from Jennifer Ryder with a unique perspective; as a paramedic I have a thorough understanding of the condition which has struck down the hero of this heart breaking story, and am very aware of the plight of young people who find themselves in aged care facilities in Australia.

I also have family under nursing care whom I visit on a regular basis and am often called to aid the elderly in these facilities through the course of my work.
So to say that the author has captured the issues and setting of this book with intricate perfection is no gushing embellishment.

Sing It Sam is a poignant, heart breaking tale of innocent love in a setting you least expect, but nonetheless only adds to the beauty and tragedy of Jane and Sam’s story.

There’s a innate purity to both of these characters that makes them so endearing.
Jane is a simple country girl not tempted by the big smoke; her gentle giving nature has lead her to pursue work in the nursing centre that was her beloved grandmothers last home.
Sam, a talented singer songwriter, has lived the fast life of the city music scene, his life now derailed through illness and his resultant rehabilitation; he finds fresh hope for life with Jane as his muse.

The gentle build of their relationship is woven into the everday of life in a care facility and the comings and goings of its colourful residents and visitors, all of whom add to the development of their journey, though at times was a little distracting and I found myself looking forward to more interactions between Jane and Sam.

Whether it was unfortunate or not that I could forsee the ending to this story or that I found the final pages lacked a little impact, it did not detract from the wealth of emotion I felt reading it.
This is a tear jerker in every sense of the word, but it is so stunning in it’s portrayal, and the message of love so powerful it is well worth the piece of my heart I left with it. 4.5 stars.

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~~ 4 HEART-WRENCHINGLY BEAUTIFUL STARS~~

“Life is fleeting. But love is everlasting….”

You know when you read a book that claims a piece of your soul…even while smashing your heart to smithereens? A story that by novel’s end changes you IRREVOCABLY? Well, SING IT, SAM by Jennifer Ryder is THAT book.

THE PREMISE:
Aspiring romance writer Jane Rhynehart yearns to follow in her late grandmother’s footsteps but is struggling to put words to paper. She finds her muse in the most unlikely of places when she moves back to her small Australian hometown and accepts a position as the Administration and Events Coordinator at the Willow Creek Nursing Home. On the first day on the job, she is told to go inform the occupant in Room 10 that a visitor is waiting out front for him. But if Jane was expecting a cranky old geezer to be living in that room…she’s in for QUITE A SURPRISE!!

Especially when he steals a kiss!!

Sam Marshall, a handsome, up and coming singer/songwriter finds himself stuck living in a nursing home at the age of 26 after being afflicted with a rare, debilitating illness. He is all alone in the world, save his older brother Ben, and to say the broody young musician is a bit bitter and disillusioned is an understatement! Dubbed “Mr. Trouble” by the other residents, Sam rarely strays from his room and prefers to wallow in silent misery. But his life is forever changed when he becomes hopelessly smitten with the sweet, bubbly girl “with the cherry lips” who brings him back into the light.

Jane challenges and confounds him, bewitches and disarms him. And, miraculously brings out the playful, impish side of this broody recluse. They lose their hearts to each other, and against all odds Jane and Sam fall into perfect harmony. Their sweet courtship is riddled with challenges and hardships but also is the fulfillment of all their hopes and dreams! Can these two lovers defy the odds and make beautiful music together that will last a lifetime?

MY MUSINGS:
SING IT, SAM, a beautifully life-affirming story that celebrates the healing power of love, struck an indelible chord in me! Gah…the hope! The heartache! The tears! The love. SO MUCH LOVE! Where do I even begin to describe the maelstrom of feelings that churned through me while living and breathing this remarkable story?

Jennifer Ryder is a new to me author and I was blown away by her talent. Her writing is engaging and eloquent, the tone soulful yet whimsical, and there’s a realness and warmth and wit to her writing that’s truly infectious. Her novel, which is set in the quaint rural town of Willows Creek, is rich in Aussie flavor and overflowing with a wealth of emotion. The sigh-worthy romance that blooms between Sam and Jane is POWERFULLY PROFOUND, ACHINGLY SWEET AND IRRESISTIBLY CHARMING, AND SO HEARTBREAKINGLY ROMANTIC it will give you goosebumps!

And while this is not a cookie cutter romance that follows a predicable path, this story about two soulmates who are miraculously brought together by fate, is a journey you will nevertheless REJOICE in. I found this book to be perfectly balanced from start finish, and even though there are pivotal plot developments that gutted me and had me weeping uncontrollably, there’s also felt an abundance of joy and sweet bliss throughout as well.

When we first meet our moody broody musician hero, he may be broken in body and spirit, but Sam is a true champion in every way that matters!!! I worshiped and hurt for him in equal measure. On one hand, I lamented over his excruciating pain and suffering, the utter unfairness of having been robbed of the life he once had after being afflicted with Guillain Barré Syndrome, as well as the loss of dignity he endures on a daily basis from being confined to an old folks home. But on the other hand, this hero, who can be quite the shameless flirt, has such a magnetic, gruffly charming presence and a sweet, sensitive soul you can’t help but swoon!

Before he met the heroine, Sam was merely going through the motions, isolating himself from everyone around him. If anyone deserved a sweet slice of happiness its him. And Sam finds just that it in the pretty nursing home events coordinator who turns his world asunder. She gives his life renewed purpose, gets his creative juices flowing again, revives his libido—and his heart—and restores his faith in humankind again!!

As for Janie aka “Wonder Woman,” she was a BREATH OF FRESH AIR! So kind and caring, sweet and nurturing, she finds such joy in helping others. And as the granddaughter of “the queen of historical Aussie romance,” writing has always been in Jane’s genes. but how can she pen the perfect romance without having experienced love firsthand? As it turns out, Sam’s the muse she’s been searching for her whole life. And through the course of this novel, we discover she has as much to learn from this brave, beautiful man as he imparts from her.

Their tender-hearted journey together is filled with highs and lows, gut-wrenching setbacks and gloriously sweet triumphs. And while these two kindred spirits experience the kind of heartache in their young lives that truly make them wise beyond their years, at the same time, there’s a purity and innocence to their soul-deep connection that left me enchanted.

Without getting heavy handed, Ms. Ryder explores some compelling issues throughout that made me look inward and reminded me that EVERY life has meaning, and that no matter what the circumstance, we all deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. I particularly thought she did an exceptional job shedding light into the management of the nursing home system, and the emotional and psychological impact of the quality of care that it’s residents receive. Speaking of which…I adored how the vibrant members of the Willow Haven nursing home were woven into the story, infusing the novel with warmth, buoyancy and charm!

My ULTIMATE takeaway? First, that life is fragile and fleeting, so every day we have on this beautiful green earth should be treasured. Secondly, that love is a RARE AND PRECIOUS GIFT and that even in the darkest of times there’s always a silver lining. And finally, that small acts of human kindness are truly what make the world go round!

BOTTOM LINE:
SING IT, SAM is a resplendent romantic tear-jerker that resounded deeply! It packed an emotional wallop that left me reeling yet also lifted me up and MADE MY HEART SING!

Highly recommend (but have tissues handy!)

5 Cranky Stars

Wow!!! I hope that my review will give this book the credit it deserves. Very well written and extremely emotional. Set in Australia, Jane was a small town girl. She started to work for a Nursing Home as an Events Co-ordinator. She was very good at her job and took a lot of pride in it. In her spare moments she also had to work on the reception. This is where she met the very handsome Ben, who had come to visit his younger brother Sam. Jane made sure that she visited all the residents and knew what activities they liked. When she got to Sam’s room 10 (which had been her nan’s room when she had been in here), she found him laying on his bed looking up at the ceiling. She made it her mission to get him to talk to her, like his brother he was very good looking. She had joined a writing club wanting to carry on her nan’s legacy. She wasn’t doing very good as the characters were just not talking to her! She spent more and more of her time trying to get to know Sam, little did she know that she was falling in love with him. She found out that he was a singer/song writer before this disease called GBS, which he caught after having gastro, it was a paralyzing disease that also hits the immune system. They spent so much time together that she was helping him to get better and they were both falling in love. His health improved that much that he could leave the Nursing Home and be looked after by community carers, the only thing was Ben had to live in the city for work and the care package they could offer. This would not stop them though, her writing picked up when she started to write their story. Sam had even started to write songs again. This book makes you giggle and cry!!! It is a very recommended read. (And yes I did do ugly crying!!!)

WOW!!!!! What a heartbreaking, heartwarming and emotion filled story! This book had me from the very start and kept me hooked until the very last page. The chemistry between Jane and Sam is so strong and getting to watch their relationship change from one of friends to lovers was incredible.

This story was so unlike any other I have ever read. My heart broke for what Sam was dealing with, but getting to see the spark in him come back as he and Jane got to know one another was beautiful. The two of them fit together so perfectly and I loved reading about their time together. I also became attached to all of the other characters we get to meet that live in the old folks home Jane works at as well as her book club friends.

This book is one that definitely had me feeling ALL of the feels! I was laughing at moments and crying at others. I was left wanting to know more about Ben’s story so I would love to find that this is not the last time we get to read about these characters. This is a must read book for sure! – By Alisa

This was a beautiful story. When Jane starts her job as activities coordinator at a nursing home, she is shocked to find that the resident of room 10 is close to her age. Sam is known for being surly and uncooperative, and keeping to himself in his room. Jane makes it her mission to get him out of his room and socializing with other people. They develop a friendship, and slowly fall in love.

I truly loved this book. Jane is an incredible person – she loved her job of bringing life and happiness to all the residents of the nursing home. Sam really responds to her and opens up about his recovery and his plans before his illness and what he can do going forward. They have a special relationship, a real once in a lifetime kind of love. Jane also helps mend the relationship between Sam and his brother Ben.

This is a book you definitely need to read. Not only is it an incredible love story, it is an eye opening book on life in a resident nursing home that many of us don’t see.

This book brought the FEELS. It has the flavor of Me After You in all the best and most painful ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and it’s always nice to get a different perspective on things; Aussie in this case.
Sam is a resident at the nursing home Janie has just been hired on to work at. He lives in the room her nan had when she was a resident. He’s angry to her friendly, and watching her coax him out of his shell is a very sweet, entertaining thing to watch. Janie is odd, and lovable, and just super relatable. Sam is quite handsome, and swoony in his own ways. His big brother Ben, Kathleen and the residents of the home are all wonderful window dressing that add to this love story. And it is, despite the leaking that may happen from your eyes.
If you need a good love story that doesn’t necessarily go the way you want or hope – this one’s for you!

Sing it, Sam by Jennifer Ryder is the first book I have read from this author and I look forward to reading more of her work. This is a very different love story that will grip your heart and leave you in tears. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

*4.5-5 Stars*

I devoured this book. Jane and Sam’s story was captivating and I really adored all of the characters. Jane and the world at the home were brought to life really well, and I loved all the quirks of the residents and the things they all ended up doing.

Whilst Jane and Sam might not have the most common type of romance, they still worked so well together and I was rooting for them until the end.

There was a huge surprise that I didn’t see coming at the end of the book, and it’ll leave you emotional, so be warned. These two go on quite the journey, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I’d love to come back to this world in the future, maybe see Ben get a book, although I’m not sure that is on the authors cards. One can only hope right?

Definitely recommend this one!

Sing it, Sam will make you laugh, cry and just sigh. This a different twist on your traditional love story, Sam is in the prime of his life when tragedy strikes and changes the course of his life. Jane is a struggling writer, when a chance meeting in the most unlikely place sparks a love story like no other. Get your tissues handy as you will need them. One click you won’t be disappointed 5 star read.