Jane's Harmony by Ryan Winfield ~ ARC and Audiobook #Review

Title: Jane's Harmony

Author: Ryan Winfield

Series: Jane's Melody #2

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: August 5, 2014

Source: ARC received from publisher, audiobook purchased on my own

Synopsis:

Starting over is hard to do.

That’s what forty-year-old Jane McKinney learns when she quits her job, sells her home, and leaves Seattle behind to start a new life and pursue the man she loves in Austin. After the death of her daughter, Melody, Jane never thought she would find happiness again – until she met Caleb Cummings. Sensitive, loving, and mature beyond his years, Caleb is a handsome young musician struggling to make ends meet. But when his fortunes take an unexpected and drastic turn for the better, Jane is left wondering where exactly she fits in.

Can you ever leave the past behind? Jane must now decide if she really is willing to commit to a new beginning with Caleb – or if some wounds are just too deep to ever truly mend.

Audiobook

Publisher: Ryan Winfield
Narrated by Emily Beresford

Five Stars

“It was as if their hearts beat a rhythm that rhymed, their souls strolling together forever in some place beyond space and time, step for step, humming a sweet tune of hope, her voice and his, a harmony neither could deny.”

Jane’s Harmony is a beautiful sequel to Jane’s Melody! It begins shortly after where the first book ended with Jane and Caleb in Austin. While Caleb is doing his best to get his music out there, Jane comes up with an idea to help get him into the spotlight. Suddenly, Caleb’s journey as a musician spins into a whole new and unexpected trajectory.

While I felt Jane’s Melody was more Jane’s story. Jane’s Harmony tells equally both Caleb’s and Jane’s journey both as individuals and as a couple. Gosh, I really do love Jane and Caleb as a couple! Ryan Winfield writes them so connected and having such a strong bond. Even when they struggle emotionally, their love for one another doesn’t waiver. They have an insatiable appetite for each other, too! Mr. Winfield doesn’t hold back the heat at all. When Caleb is in the mood, it doesn’t matter when, where or how…just sayin’!

This story very much reflects the next phase in Jane and Caleb’s lives. It surrounds making new friends, missing old friends, and loving your best friend. It surrounds beautiful music and pursuing lifelong dreams. Melody is never far from Jane’s mind, and she must finally make peace with what happened in the past now more than ever. Just when I thought I was going to get away without shedding a tear, Mr. Winfield had to include a scene that twisted my heart so. The more I think about this story after reading, the more I love it. “For lovers everywhere” is what the dedication says, and that is truly who this book is written for.

~ Audiobook ~

I both read this book and listened to the audiobook. This was my first time listening to this narrator, and it took me a while to get used to her voice, especially the voice she used for Caleb. In my mind I guess he sounds different, but that’s just me. In the end, I liked her narration. Overall, I think the audiobook is a pretty decent option.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

http://www.ryanwinfield.com/

Jane's Melody by Ryan Winfield

--New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street JournalBestseller-- 

What boundaries would you cross for love?

That's the question a grieving mother must answer when she takes in a young street musician to learn about her daughter's death and finds herself falling for him. A touching love story that will have you equally 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 age.

Jane's Melody may not be suitable for younger readers due to sexual content.

4.5 Stars

“Don’t you let fear have a place in your life, J. Not even a tiny place. Get rid of it from every hidden corner. Case it away with the truth, and do what you want to do while you can.” 

I’ve gotten a couple recommendations from reader friends to try this out. I was instantly intrigued by the older woman/younger man storyline, so I figured I’d give it a go. I must say I’m in utter awe. 

First off, don’t hate me, but I just have to say: I cannot believe a male author wrote this -- Is it horrible of me to say that? I’ve been constantly surprised when male authors attempt to write romance, but so far I haven’t been disappointed. This story was amazingly sweet, emotionally tender and so worth the time to read it. 

I didn’t cause it, I couldn’t control it. I didn’t cause it, I couldn’t control it. I didn’t cause it, I couldn’t control it. 

Jane has just lost her daughter Melody. No matter how hard she tried to help her, Melody was on downward spiral with no hope of controlling it. Jane is devastated. She wishes she could’ve done more, to have more of a connection to her, but alas, it’s all too late. 

As she sits in her car, staring at her daughter’s grave, she sees a man standing in front of it. Was he Melody’s boyfriend? She runs into him again in the city and is determined to find out how he’s connected to her daughter. What she finds is a man who calls to her soul. Caleb is sweet, honorable and is in need of some TLC. She takes him home, offers shelter, but he refuses to take her charity. Instead she offers Caleb work, as a gardener of sorts, as a form of payment until he can get on his feet. However the connection she feels towards him knocks her off axis. They’re attracted to each other, but she is reluctant to give in until she finds out how he’s connected to Melody.

“We’re you attracted to her?”

“I’m attracted to you.”

“What?”

“Everything I liked about her, I love in you.” 

This was such an emotionally charged book. The beginning kinda reminded me of a glum and gloomy rainy day in Seattle (which is perfect considering that’s where this is set…well, at least around that area). Anyway, as the story unfolds, you start to see a break in the clouds; rays of hope and sunshine start to emerge. Jane seems to be stuck in a rut after her Melody’s death, but with Caleb, she starts to slowly heal. 

As for Caleb…**Sigh**. He’s one of the sweetest Heroes I’ve come across in a long time. There’s no hidden agenda, just completely honorable. He’s so unbelievably sweet and I fell completely and hopelessly in love with him. 

The only reason I couldn’t give this book a full five stars was that I wished there was more dialogue and more interaction between Caleb and Jane. There was a lot of narrative, some of which I felt was a little repetitive. I cherished all the times Caleb and Jane interacted with each other. Their connection and the way they help each other heal and move forward is what made the story so wonderful. Oh! Wait. There is another reason why I couldn’t give it a full five stars: I wanted an epilogue!!! It just ended too abruptly for me, I wanted just a little more. Here’s hoping Mr. Winfield will write a little something extra for us readers. (Hint, hint, wink, wink).