Two men, shaped by the demons of their past, find their lives inexplicably intertwined.
Nicolas Michaud, the prodigy composer and pianist, grew up apart from the world. A mother who neglected him, and a father who never met him. But when he’s suddenly orphaned, Nicolas is taken from his comfortable home and thrown into a life where no one understands him. Consumed by his desire to find the … find the perfect musician for his Magnum Opus, he turns away from human relationships, and it turns him cold. Taking a job at the University in the United States, Nicolas is met with disappointment and regret.
Until he meets Cedric Blum, a young chemical engineering student with a secret talent for music like Nicolas has never seen. But Cedric has his own past to overcome. With the help of an old friend, and new relationships, the pair begin their journey toward love, life, and the Magnum Opus.
In the end, will Cedric’s happy nature thaw Nicolas’ icy exterior, or will Nicolas find himself consumed by his fear of love?
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This story is so full of passion, angst, insecurities and miscommunication. Also an absolute page turner. Cedric is blind and adopted by Noel and Isaak. Let’s just say Isaaks parenting leaves much to be desired. Nicholas is a world known composer and pianist. Also with a very sordid upbringing. What these two go through before meeting is amazing. Where Nicolas appears cold and uncaring, Cedric is timid and loving. This story broke my heart, made me cry and made everything right again. Superb read.
EM really never disappoints. I loved this book. I loved the music and the relationship/character development. It reminded me of one of my favorite books in that it evokes such strong emotions. I adored Cedric and wanted him to have the world and to never be hurt every again. Of course he was hurt throughout this entire book mostly just from his own father…like come on. He was born in an alley and his mother ended up giving him up, so his Papa who helped with the delivery, adopted him. He kind of did so without the permission from his partner, and thus this is where the abuse began. Cedric had gotten a bad infection due to how he was born and thus he lost his eye sight. When he was eight he was introduced to a piano, and he was able to play the notes by memory alone. It was so wonderful to read about this. Cedric found a passion he truly loved. Then he got uprooted to the states and slowly he was being made to change by his Vati and his Papa was not helping him at all. Throughout Cedric’s story you get to read Nicholas’ story as well, and he had it very rough. He was a prodigy in all regards and could play any instrument. His only example of a relationship was his mother being a mistress to his father who he never met. Then his father died and his mother passed shortly after. He was then raised by his half-brother who was much older than him and they had a very detached relationship. Once he was able, he went onto write his own compositions and eventually he ended up in Washington teaching music and this is where he meets Cedric.
They are each others counterparts in every way and it was wonderful to see how their relationship would evolve. Cedric did get his sight back for a few years, and then he started to lose it again. That is super emotional. I wanted more of them happy and in love, but we do not get a lot. It is more about the journey. It was perfect. I loved their story very much.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Really interesting setting for this one in a university. I also loved it because one of the best musicians and composers I knew was a statistician I taught with at my university, so I was fully prepared to love a musical chemical engineering student. Watching Cedric and Nicolas work their way toward each other with their radically different temperaments was both wonderful and heartbreaking at times. The author has such a wonderful prose style in both books in this series. The world just comes alive and envelops you.
Verismo: A Magnum Opus Novel has probably been the best book I’ve read so far this year. It’s memorable beyond compare.
New to me author. This is a mm contemporary story set mainly in USA. Making characters are gifted musicians Cedric and Nicolas. This is a slow burn story with an amazingly tragic start for both characters. I’ll read more from this author.