Seth Arnold learned at an early age that two things in life could make his soul soar—his violin and Kelly Cruz. In Seth’s uncertain childhood, the kindness of the Cruz family, especially Kelly and his brother, Matty, gave Seth the stability to make his violin sing with the purest sound and opened a world of possibility beyond his home in Sacramento.Kelly Cruz has loved Seth forever, but he knows … but he knows Seth’s talents shouldn’t be hidden, not when the world is waiting. Encouraging Seth to follow his music might break Kelly’s heart, but he is determined to see the violin set Seth’s soul free. When their world is devastated by a violent sexual assault and Matty’s prejudices turn him from a brother to an enemy, Seth and Kelly’s future becomes uncertain.
Seth can’t come home and Kelly can’t leave, but they are held together by a love that they clutch with both hands.
Seth and Kelly are young and the world is wide—the only thing they know for certain is they’ll follow their heartstrings to each other’s arms whenever time and fate allow. And pray that one day they can follow that string to forever… before it slices their hearts in two.
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4.5 Stars
“I wanted to make your life beautiful,” he said simply.”
I haven’t read many books by Amy Lane but this is, without any doubt, my favorite. I loved pretty much everything about this book. I mean a story spanning over years is totally my thing and add in the angst, feelings-so many damn feelings, happy and sad, the ever-present family connections that were so powerful in this story. I cried so many times reading this and it might sound weird but I LOVE it when a book moves me to tears.
Kelly and Matty are brothers and have been friends with Seth from a young age. Named the String Boys after being chosen to learn the violin. But it’s Seth that excels, although he doesn’t really see his own talent-he just loves to play. Kelly has loved Seth forever but it’s Seth watching Kelly sleeping one day that has him recognizing his love for Kelly.
And it’s a powerful love. It has to be. They go through so much but I never doubted their love or that they’d make it. Even when things seemed to crumble in front of them their love never wavered. This is one of the most believable love stories I’ve read in a long time.
Amy Lane tells their story and their struggles and their lives so beautifully. A massively important part of this story in the family. Seth’s family of two( him and his father ) and Kelly’s family-the Cruz family. I could picture all their lives from the faded, worn furniture in their apartments to the laughter and tears as they grew up.
”His boy. His beautiful, faraway boy.”
One of my favorite books this year(so far)…I highly recommend this book!
DBO-Review by Judith
I always love and hate amy lane because she able to hurt me and amaze me with how long the characters can endure with and without each other…
Kelly and Seth were childhood friends who fell in love as teens, then just fell deeper as the painfully turbulent years went by. There was never a moment that either young man doubted his feelings, and there was never a moment that I didn’t ache for them to get the HEA they so deeply deserved.
This book broke my heart again and again and again. Seth and Kelly had to deal with the deaths of loved ones, intolerance and hate, violence, and the heartache of separation. They saved each other in different ways, but each definitely became a hero to the other.
The support system for the couple was family and eventually friends who loved them fiercely and kept them moving forward. Family also played a role in keeping them apart, but that gets too close to spoiler territory, where I won’t go.
Along with the angst and pain I knew I was going to get with this story, there was also enough love and sweetness to cause cavities, and I ate that stuff up! Kelly was the light of Seth’s life, and the younger man adored Seth right back. There were funny moments between them, as well as with their shared family. One of the highlights of the book for me was seeing Kelly’s sisters grow up, but the best parts were absolutely the private moments between Seth and Kelly. From the very beginning, their conversations and interactions made me love them as much as they loved each other. This book is painful and passionate, full of the various forms of love – for a partner, a family member, and a friend. I laughed and cried more than once. I loved Seth and Kelly, as well as the people they loved. I will read this again, and I know my emotions will still be deeply affected. I thank the author for a beautiful romance that was meant to last, despite so many obstacles constantly thrown at the couple. This is definitely a new favorite for me, and I highly recommend it to others.
This book was a compelling, coming-of-age tour de force. My God, the innocence and love and sheer strength of will that Seth and Kelley have for one another from such a young age was astounding to witness. Their love for one another and their patchwork family is at times the only tenuous grasp they have on reality as they stumble their way through a lifetime of separation and tragedy for the sake of Seth’s education and career as a world renowned violinist. A hauntingly beautiful story I will forever carry with me. Amy Lane has created a love for the ages with these two boys.
Staying up late with a box of tissues
I cried. A lot. But with Amy Lane books, that is what you do… sometimes. This is one of her rip your heart out tear jerkers that is beautifully written so you can’t hate her… too much. lol The only thing I wish this had was an epilogue. Like… 10 years later. Or even 20 years, just to see more of the happy pay off.
This book is STILL with me. I stayed up until about 2:30am finishing. My eyes are gritty the morning after, but the boys and the family are still in my heart. They go through.. a LOT.
I didn’t read the blurb first, so I really had no expectations, I find it is easier to go in that way.
Seth. Just… what a beautiful soul. He is full of love and some things happened when he was younger that could have made things different, but thanks to the Cruz family, he kept his pure heart and it comes out in his music.
The book starts off in the present, but then goes right into the past and you can see the relationships build as you watch Seth and Kelly grow. It builds up to the part in the beginning of the story to close out this masterpiece. Amy can weave a story like nobodies business.
This is a wonderful story, just be prepared to cry. Like… a ton. But, as always, it IS worth it.
I ‘m not going to give a summary on this as the blurb pretty much says it all. The story begins with a call from Kelley telling Seth that Matty wants to see him and it’s important and that he only has about a week, He promptly tells Kelley he will come back for him as e has always promised. Heart-wrenching first paragraph leaving me wondering WTH happened up to this point. I sat on the edge of my seat through the entire story as we go back to the past and grow up with this family. (stop at the store for lots of tissues and if going to be reading out somewhere some travel size as well),
Amy makes us nice and comfortable as she introduces us to Seth, Matty and Kelley and both boys’ families at school preparing for a concert as the string boys. Such a sweet scene, then the rollercoaster speeds up and starts taking us over hills and sharp curves of happiness sadness and smacks us into a wall of angst. Holy heck I know my heart bled during this book. I know I cried enough. I fell in love with all three boys, but man oh man the romance with Seth and Kelley was so sweet it rivals cotton candy. There were enough love and sweetness in the romance to help tamp down the darkness and angst. A balance that Amy Lane has a knack for. If you loved her Promise Rock books… Here ya go. Another book to help fill that void.
I added this to my all-time favorites pile and YA/NA books are not my favorite genre. And there is a little surprise at the end that made me clap in glee when we find out who the officer was that was wanting to help Seth.
If you like YA to NA books, friends to lovers, angst, can tolerate some violence and off page assault and sweet mm-sex and LOVE dark romance with a happy ending you, must read this one!
Amy Lane is the author of one of my “all time” favorite books “Beneath the Stain” and one of my “all time” favorite series “Johnnies” So there was never any question if I was gonna read this book. I would read the phonebook of Amy Lane had written it.
So I am also not surprised that this book was pretty awesome. Amy likes her emotions and angst and so there was no shortage of frustration and tears on my part. It is what I expected from this author, I tried going in prepared….but it never helps 😛
I went through all the motions right along with Kelly and Seth and at the end of the ride, I was exhausted !! But what a ride it was !! My heart got broken into pieces, but I can always trust Amy Lane to mend it back together towards the end.
Kelly and Seth were perfect for one another….a true match made in heaven en for me this story really shows that love does conquer all.
Blood, sweat, tears (so many tears) and a whole bunch of swearwords …but it was definitely worth it !!
I highly recommend this book and any other written by this author!!
Just make sure you have some wine and tissues when you start this one 😉
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review