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Music in the Midst of Desolation (Got 20 Minutes?)

by Charlie Cochrane (Goodreads Author)

3.44 of 5 stars 3.44 · rating details · 16 ratings · 8 reviews

Old soldiers never die -- they get whisked straight back to earth to take part in angelic "manoeuvres". Patrick Evans has no idea why he and Billy Byrne, who fought their wars a century apart, have been chosen for this particular "op", nor why it seems to involve fixing up the man Billy left behind with someone Billy's always hated. When Patrick realizes his old lover also...more

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Published September 9th 2011 by ManLoveRomance Press

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Apr 12, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vals-picks

Music in the Midst of Desolation by Charlie Cochrane involves very little romance (only as a distant background toevents) and no sex, but it is an unusual and absorbing read. I’m a big fan of fantasy fiction and I especially like fiction that depicts the afterlife, either heaven or hell. This is the first fiction I’ve ever read to show heaven and the angels as something closely resembling the British War Office as it might have been during the First and Second World Wars. Now, that’s original!

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Jan 17, 2013 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 4 of 5 stars

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3.5 Kisses!

Ms. Cochran took and made a story about these men, and though you know going into it that it has to deal with guardian angels and the like, the only time I felt as if I was dealing with an Angel of sorts was when Neville made an appearance…and he’s the main big wig to both of the MC’s in this short. Men selected from the Man to deal with those they left behind, so those left behind can find a way to move forward, HOWEVER, only one of the MC’s was...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, romance

It says on the cover of this book that it’s a twenty minute read. I think you’d have to have super-reading powers to read this story in that time. I consider myself to be a fairly speedy reader and it took me an hour! Also, please don’t be fooled by the naked men on the cover. This is a very chaste book and the only physical contact between the romantic pair is a cuddle on the sofa and a chaste kiss on the forehead. Don’t let that put you off though because this is a nicely written fantasy story...more It says on the cover of this book that it’s a twenty minute read. I think you’d have to have super-reading powers to read this story in that time. I consider myself to be a fairly speedy reader and it took me an hour! Also, please don’t be fooled by the naked men on the cover. This is a very chaste book and the only physical contact between the romantic pair is a cuddle on the sofa and a chaste kiss on the forehead. Don’t let that put you off though because this is a nicely written fantasy story with a great balance of drama and engaging dialogue.

The story begins with an introduction to Patrick. Taken out by a sniper bullet in the First World War, he’s spent the last 90 years in ‘HQ’ before being brought to Earth for a special mission. He finds himself teamed up with Billy, a veteran of the Iraq war who rather ingloriously got run over by a truck after leaving the army. Patrick and Billy are given the mission of making sure two men become lovers. Unfortunately for Billy one of these men is his grief stricken ex, and the other a man he hated with a passion.

Part of the fun of the story was in the pairing of Billy and Patrick. In some ways they are ideally suited as a pair of ex-soldiers and a few scenes where their training influences their actions in an almost identical fashion shows that not much has changed in terms of what makes a good soldier. This often made me smile, especially when the pair get to discuss tactics or reminisce on their time in the war. However, there are major differences too and Billy retains a very modern way of speaking and acting whereas Patrick is very much a man of the early twentieth century.

The story itself is one of overcoming grief, both for Rafe, Billy’s ex-lover, and for Billy who is fairly new to the afterlife and has yet to mourn for his lost Earthly life. The mission is hard for him because it involves letting Rafe go, and I particularly found the scenes where Billy has to come to terms with this loss poignant and touching. Patrick has had many years to acclimatise to life in HQ, so for him the book focusses on being back on Earth, in an Earthly body and all the problems that causes. I thought the author had done a good job in giving a vague idea of the muted emotions at HQ when compared to the stronger feelings of fear, sadness and joy that Patrick feels during the story. There are also some amusing touches to the setting, such as the fact that Earthly HQ has the perfect tea, coffee and sandwiches.

There is a romance sub-plot in the story, but its confined mostly to the end of the book and is more a comfortable slipping into past feelings than the bright sharpness of newly acquired feelings. It left me feeling warm and contented rather than excited and thrilled, but that’s no bad thing.

If I have any complaints it’s that once Patrick and Billy have completed their mission, Billy disappears from the story completely. Also we’re told the outcome of the mission rather than being shown. I felt a little cheated out of seeing Rafe get his second chance at love, although I understand this might have been too much for Billy to bear.

These were only minor niggles though in what was a charming short story. Charlie Cochrane always has a sly thread of humour running through her writing and that’s evident in this book too, even if the humour at times tips towards black. The tone of the story is generally quiet, but never drops into bleakness and the hopeful ending left me with a smile on my face. I highly recommend Music in the Midst of Desolation to those looking for an unusual character based fantasy romance.(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Cryselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Proving that old soldiers still know the drill, and that young ones who die haven't finished with their duty, Charlie Cochrane puts a new twist on the notion of guardian angels. Music in the Midst of Desolation has another mission for fallen soldiers Patrick and Billy, one only they can do.

Allot more than twenty minutes for this story no matter what the cover suggests; there's plenty going on. Patrick and Billy get tapped for some afterlife recon by a heavenly intelligence agency whose duty is t...more Proving that old soldiers still know the drill, and that young ones who die haven't finished with their duty, Charlie Cochrane puts a new twist on the notion of guardian angels. Music in the Midst of Desolation has another mission for fallen soldiers Patrick and Billy, one only they can do.

Allot more than twenty minutes for this story no matter what the cover suggests; there's plenty going on. Patrick and Billy get tapped for some afterlife recon by a heavenly intelligence agency whose duty is to make sure important choices are made to play out long term goals and plans, and that certain people can perform their destiny-critical parts in life. If it takes some gentle manipulation and exposure of truths (these guys are literally on the side of the angels; they will do the work honorably) that's what they do, even if the living people are dear to them and the choices are hard.

Patrick's had nearly a century of afterlife to let his emotions cool into angelic dispassion, unlike Billy, for whom everything is very recent and raw. He needs Patrick's cooler head to keep him on mission, because he's so very close to the living people he's trying to guide. The two work very well together; Billy's modern directness and Patrick's older-school reserve mix together with their sense of duty and get the job done.

There's some subtle humor, such as Billy trying to curb his soldier's language for angelic surroundings, and when he finds out what people really think of him. Angelic agents trying to use corporate-speak and military-speak bring a smile; you'd think they be naturals at flow charts. No sex—none of the relationships are at that point.

Their mission becomes more clear as the story progresses; Billy is truly the only operative who can ensure success, and for him there is a separate success, in learning to see past what he believes. This is more a story of healing than a romance, although one couple who truly deserves their chance at happiness looks like they will have it after a long drought. The triumphs are low key and mostly set up to happen rather than playing out on page. The birdsong in the trenches that lifted the men's spirits is playing here: Music in the Midst of Desolation has hope for all these dead soldiers.(less)

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Apr 15, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, done, ebook, gay, paranormal-romance, short

3.5 stars. Good short paranormal m/m romance about a guy who dies in the trenches during WWI, then is sent to our modern time as a sort of guardian angel.

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Apr 15, 2013 Christina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, paranormal-supernatural, romance, short-stories

The story with the title didn't make much sense to me to tell the truth, but then again I did skimmed through it :/

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Jan 17, 2012 Sadonna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, pdf

Interesting twist on what happens "after" with some romantic turns.

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Apr 03, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt-fiction

Sweet novella featuring guardian angels.

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May 05, 2013 Bookbee marked it as wish-list

Shelves: hmmmm, p, short-stories

Apr 15, 2013 Sarahjpau marked it as to-read

Mar 07, 2013 Mara Ismine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical, paranormal, male-male, romance

Feb 27, 2013 Viv marked it as to-read

Shelves: must-have

Feb 26, 2013 Sally halliday marked it as to-read

Feb 18, 2013 Kazza marked it as to-read

Jan 18, 2013 Shannon marked it as maybe

Jan 16, 2013 Kim marked it as to-read

Dec 22, 2012 Kellie Dennis marked it as to-read

Shelves: my-books

Dec 17, 2012 Cmbwey marked it as to-read

Nov 29, 2012 Laurita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nov 24, 2012 Stephanie marked it as to-read

Shelves: mm, mm-paranormal, mm-short-story-novella

Nov 24, 2012 Peggy marked it as to-read

Shelves: paranormal, mm

Nov 23, 2012 Davina marked it as own-ebook

Nov 23, 2012 Kyra marked it as to-read

Shelves: shorts

Nov 23, 2012 Lasticmax marked it as to-read

Shelves: have-it

Oct 19, 2012 Sylvia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sep 27, 2012 Helle marked it as to-read

Sep 10, 2012 Yvonne marked it as to-read

Jul 13, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Feb 26, 2012 itmfiddler marked it as to-enter

Shelves: m-m, paranormal, ghost, ethans-gayday, erotica, ebook, publisher-mlr-press

Feb 26, 2012 Didi marked it as to-read

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About Charlie Cochrane

As Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice - like managing a rugby team - she writes. Her favourite genre is gay fiction, predominantly historical romances/mysteries, but she's making an increasing number of forays into the modern day. She's even been known to write about gay werewolves - albeit highly respectable ones.

Her Cambridge Fellows series of Edwardian romantic...more

More about Charlie Cochrane...

Books by Charlie Cochrane

Lessons in Desire (Cambridge Fellows, #2)

Lessons in Discovery (Cambridge Fellows, #3)

Lessons in Power (Cambridge Fellows, #4)

Lessons in Temptation (Cambridge Fellows, #5)

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