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A Contented Mind

by Samantha Hoffman (Goodreads Author)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 30 ratings · 22 reviews

Sometimes it takes seeing the dream before we find the courage to face the nightmare. Without realizing it, bestselling author Meg Scott, stepped into the life of her dreams. A new beachfront home on the West Coast; a far cry from her secluded home shared only with her faithful Irish setter on Martha s Vineyard. A gig playing violin with a world renowned rock band about to...more

Paperback, 366 pages

Published November 21st 2011 by Two Dog Press

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May 26, 2012 Sheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book had quite a bit of promise but it ended up being a read that I felt myself critiquing more than enjoying. While I thought Meg and Jadon had good chemistry, they were extremely uncommunicative until almost the end of the novel when all of a sudden when it seemed like they couldn’t get enough words in. I also thought they were on the angsty side using phrases like ‘I’d die without you,” “can’t live without you,” etc. Those are just examples and not direct quotes. For two adults...more I thought this book had quite a bit of promise but it ended up being a read that I felt myself critiquing more than enjoying. While I thought Meg and Jadon had good chemistry, they were extremely uncommunicative until almost the end of the novel when all of a sudden when it seemed like they couldn’t get enough words in. I also thought they were on the angsty side using phrases like ‘I’d die without you,” “can’t live without you,” etc. Those are just examples and not direct quotes. For two adults, this type of dialogue was a little off-putting and didn’t ring true.

There was also constant head-hopping in this book. By that, I mean it was hard to keep up with whose head you were in because one minute you’d be hearing Meg’s thoughts, then another it would be Devon’s and then Chick’s, with no benefit of a page break or a new chapter. It made for a very jarring and sometimes confusing read.

The build-up of the antagonist was, in my opinion, a little strange as well. For quite a long time, there is no indication that anything is wrong with him, only that he loves Meg (which there’s nothing wrong with that). All of a sudden when he’s introduced to the band, no one likes him but no one can put their finger on it. So, now we know that there’s a good possibility he’s not a good guy, but it was kind of dumped in our lap.

Several other issues existed in this book that could have been caught with a good editor. When Meg is on tour and she wakes up in her hotel room with Devon, she opens the door to find Erin there. However, she never heard anything nor was there any indication of the doorbell ringing or anyone knocking on the door. All of a sudden she wakes up, says “Who could that be?” and rushes to the door. Things like this take me out of the book and ruin a good reading experience for me.

Also, the climax of this book had absolutely nothing to do with the antagonist and seemed to be very random. The vast majority of novels have a formula and that is the antagonist is there throughout the novel trying to take something away from the protagonist. This culminates in a showdown between them but this doesn’t happen in the climax. A small showdown occurs between the antagonist and Meg. He exits stage left, comes back after the random climax with threats but then leaves again. Then it’s over. I just thought this was very strange considering he had absolutely nothing to do with the trip they went on and it was a completely random accident.

There were just too many problems with this book for me to have an enjoyable reading experience. While I think some people will enjoy this story, it was not something that grabbed me or sucked me in. I thought there was a lot of promise in this book, especially with the musical descriptions but, overall, there was too much angst between Meg and Jadon and in their internal dialogues and too many mistakes in the manuscript for me to fully recommend this one.(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Annie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-review, 2012

A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman

I received this book from the author, as she dropped off a couple of her books to present to my bookstore in the hopes of carrying it for sale. I asked her if I could read it first, and she gladly accepted. I didn’t get a chance to read it immediately, but was able to settle down with it recently. That night I did not sleep, instead, I took a short nap between reading times. I was engrossed, and could not put it down. My eyes were drooping, and my head hurt, b...more A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman

I received this book from the author, as she dropped off a couple of her books to present to my bookstore in the hopes of carrying it for sale. I asked her if I could read it first, and she gladly accepted. I didn’t get a chance to read it immediately, but was able to settle down with it recently. That night I did not sleep, instead, I took a short nap between reading times. I was engrossed, and could not put it down. My eyes were drooping, and my head hurt, but I couldn’t let it go.

Meg is a successful author who writes under a pen name. She does this so she won’t face criticism in her own name, basically so people won’t dislike HER because of what she wrote. After a fan broke in and assaulted her in her own home, she decides to make a fresh start in Southern California, with her trusty sidekick and best friend, Bob, her dog. She has a publisher representative who is smart, wickedly good looking, and also slightly sleazy, as the reader finds out as the book progresses. He is of course in love with Meg, but she does not return his feelings, making for some awkward times between them.

When she is settled into her new house, she whips out her violin, her most treasured item, and begins a beautiful melody on her patio. She is surprised yet intrigued when her neighbor, on the other side of the privacy, joins into her melody with his piano. This is the beginning.

Without going into too many spoilers, and too much detail, Meg ends up playing her violin with a band for an acoustic tour. The music that is produced is haunting and powerful, and leads her down a trail of emotions so raw that she finds it difficult to deal with them. She finds a new family in the band members, and an intense attraction to one member in particular, who seems to hate her one-second, then adore her the next.

This book, as I said before, was impossible to put down. There were so many emotions involved, so much power, so much intensity; I didn’t dare to let go for too long. During my nap between readings, I dreamed about the characters, and what might happen. When I returned to it, the ending was so much more than I imagined. This is a love story, but it’s not a Prince Charming love story. There is no white horse. There is frustration, pain and lots of tears. And no, the ending is not a completely happy ending, which I love by the way. It parallels Meg’s own writing as well.

This was a REALISTIC love story. This could happen to any of us, and her feelings were raw, but real. I hate love stories that go off about things that could never really happen, the instant happy ending and everything is grand for everyone. I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen that happen. Life happens though, and it certainly happens in here. I ended the book in tears – not necessarily in sadness, but some, of course, but also because I was so happy to be given the opportunity to read and share this book. I recommend this to anyone, unless of course they are looking for a fairy tale.
As I have said before, I do not give 5 stars to much, but this is a definite 4.9999999. I really enjoyed it, and WILL buy it for my own library. I actually hope to give it as gifts soon. Hopefully my bookstore agrees so we can get it in stock right away!
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May 30, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Meg Scott is a best selling author who uses a pen name to maintain her anonymity while living in seclusion in Martha's Vineyard with her best friend and constant companion, Bob, her Irish Setter. Her quiet private life comes to a frightening halt when an obsessed fan finds out her true identity and breaks into her house and assaults her. Feeling no longer safe in her home; unable to eat, sleep, think or work on her latest novel, Meg escapes Martha's Vineyard with Bob for a new seaside home in th...more Meg Scott is a best selling author who uses a pen name to maintain her anonymity while living in seclusion in Martha's Vineyard with her best friend and constant companion, Bob, her Irish Setter. Her quiet private life comes to a frightening halt when an obsessed fan finds out her true identity and breaks into her house and assaults her. Feeling no longer safe in her home; unable to eat, sleep, think or work on her latest novel, Meg escapes Martha's Vineyard with Bob for a new seaside home in the Southern California town of Mandalay Bay. Hoping to start a new chapter in her life, Meg seeks to regain her writer's creative fire that has been blocked since the incident in Massachusetts. She takes to her balcony and plays hauntingly beautiful music from her violin, a prized possession that has special meaning, as it was given to her by her parents on their last Christmas together when she was ten years old. The violin holds a special meaning for her, after her parents death, she used the violin to help help heal her soul.

Jadon Hastings is a drummer in the world renowned rock band Equinox. Like Meg, he too enjoys living a private life, but when he hears a hauntingly beautiful violin playing next door, he has to know who is playing the music. He catches a glimpse of Meg while crouching in the bushes and is taken with her beauty, but he mistakenly believes her to be married to a guy named Bob. Even still, he can't help but accompany the violinist on his piano, which unwittingly draws them together in a passionate nightly ritual.

Meg's publisher, Devon, hoping to get her out of her funk, sets up an audition for Meg to play with Equinox on an acoustical tour. Needless to say, Jadon is shocked when he finds out that his neighbor is the violinist. Their mutual attraction is palpable, but he gives off mixed signals that creates a love-hate relationship. And so begins the emotional odyssey of Meg and Jadon's love story.

A Contented Mind is a hauntingly beautiful novel that runs the gamut of emotions and will leave the reader wanting more. The storyline is well written and has so much palpable emotional intensity that it leaps off the pages. The story is narrated in alternating point of views by Meg, Jadon, Devon and Chick. I felt that the alternating narration flowed smoothly from one chapter to another, it made the story that much more engaging and interesting. There are a lot of characters in the story, they were all realistic and fun to get to know. I was intrigued by the complexity of Meg and Jadon's characters. I found it fascinating to see how their interactions with each other intertwined to form a powerful and compelling story. I couldn't help but be drawn into their lives, as both struggled with their own inner demons while also trying to deal with their mutual attraction for each other.

A Contented Mind is a powerfully emotional and realistic love story that deals with issues found in life: confronting inner demons, friendship, passion, love and betrayal. This is a story that will keep you engaged and guessing how it will end. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in reading a realistic romance story that will stay with you long after the last page is read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, author Samantha Hoffman participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...(less)

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May 28, 2012 Samantha Robey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Samantha Hoffman is currently on tour with A Contented Mind and CLP Blog Tours. First, let me say I love the cover of this book. It immediately drew me in and I stared at for a few seconds just relishing the beauty. Mmm, good covers. Okay, moving on! Meg Scott, a bestselling author who keeps her writing identity under wraps, is forced to move after someone found out her identity and broke into her secluded home. She packs up everything and moves to a beachfront house on the West Coast with her f...more

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May 21, 2012 Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour

Music and love come together in A Contented Mind: Love, Hope and the Complicated Mess of Redefining One's Life. Life is not always a easy step from A to B. Sometimes we are forced to change paths. Sometimes we take detours. Sometimes we chose to hide our real self from the world. But whatever way we travel through life we are still moving forward whether we like it or not.

Meg, an author by trade and musician on the side, had a mix of life's obstacles thrown at her. She has struggled to face the...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, senior-year

I thought that this was a beautifully written book. It made me feel happy, sad, and frustrated all at once. It was not quite what I was expecting based on the cover. It seemed like it was going to be a simple and stunning story, but it was that and so much more. Meg, the main character, is an author who also has a knack for playing the violin. She and her dog, Bob, are up for an adventure of a lifetime that will forever change their lives. It is impossible not to love them. I do not want to give...more

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May 27, 2012 Lisa (Lost in Literature) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

A Contented Mind was much deeper than I thought it would be at first glance. As Samantha says in her bio, "Life can get rough at times, loving oneself shouldn't be." and I think this message was loud and clear in this story.

Meg is consumed with issues from her past which are holding her back in her life, and she finds that she must deal with those issues before she will move on to a full and happy life she so deserves. Jadon is suffering from similar problems and finding it equally difficult to...more

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Aug 28, 2012 GONZA rated it 3 of 5 stars

At first I thought that what I picked from Netgalley was something similar to a self help book, instead is a novel, a romance to be precise. Anyway I quite enjoyed it, the story was good and I loved the dog, which is something I really appreciate. Forget the Harmony romance anyway, this not a "simple love story", as if something like that exists, but a believable one, which is ok, if you are not looking for a prince charming story, riding his big white horse ;)

All'inizio pensavo di aver preso un...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Crystal Mills rated it 5 of 5 stars

If this book were a man I'd marry it - I loved it! Its very descriptive, which gives it a throw back to the classic feel, except that its in a fast moving contemporary setting. Unlike many current novels it isn't in a rush to get the finish line. Its a story and plays out as life plays out, with twists and turns. The characters felt just as real as my own family and I feel in love with each and every one. I couldn't put it down and read it almost in one sitting.

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Mar 01, 2012 Rachael Malik rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was an incredible piece of writing, well thought out and put into words to set a mental movie in the mind of the reader. The characters were so well in detail, throughout the entire book I couldn't stop thinking what was going to happen next or what I was going to feel. Emotions ran high while reading it, some characters I really didn't like at all and with others I just loved. This is a 100% must read for sure!!

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Apr 11, 2012 Debra rated it 5 of 5 stars

The descriptive words in “A Contented Mind” were so eloquent that at times I was not sure whether I was reading a novel or standing and gazing at a beautiful painting. It was the best escape that I have had in a long time and the underlying message of personal reinvention was very powerful. A great read that I highly recommend!

Debra Pizzo
College Bookstore Buyer

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Mar 01, 2012 Matthew Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

First book I have read from this author. I enjoyed the parallel story lines that were different and yet they were intertwined. From the seemingly inside knowledge of the author, I wonder is she was in a band at some point. At any rate, an excellent choice for a quiet evening read.

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Mar 08, 2012 TuRtLeFaEiRe marked it as to-read

Shelves: giveaway-miss

I am glad I found this before the giveaway closed. I love the start new try different things I hear in the description of this book. Not being married myself and wanting to be an author, it makes me think that things are never to late=)

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Mar 22, 2012 Julie Rodriguez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, won

I won this book on goodreads. Excellent book and very well written. I could not put this book down. This was a powerful and realistic story that I will highly recommend to everyone to read.

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Apr 23, 2012 Katie Esarove rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

While the book had an okay plotline, I felt that the writing in this book is one that resembles that of a Harlequin romance novel. There's no other way I can describe it. It was just, not good.

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Apr 17, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book kept me wanting more. A perfect love story with twists and turns that made this book a page turner. As a goodreads book, I'm glad that I won this one. Most love stories have real graphic love scenes and while this one did not, it was the way characters meshed together that made this book flow. The ending was a sad and happy at the time. Even as the last words were read, I was still left with a smile on my face. Amazing!!!!

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Mar 01, 2012 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

An amazing read! Hoping for more from this author, and soon.

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Mar 20, 2012 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in a day and a half! Could not put it down! Loved Meg and Jadon! Great romance without the big sex scenes!!!

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Jul 26, 2012 Debbie Means rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I first recieved this book, I didn't think I was going to like it very much, but it turned out to be fantastic! I did not expect it to be that much of a love story, and I thought there would be more tragedy in it. Nonetheless, it made a great love story that was not all mushy gooshy, although towards the end it was a little cheesy. The characters seemed like real people with emotions I could relate to. And the writing was done beautifully. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

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Jul 19, 2012 Samantha Hoffman added it · (Review from the author)

"A Contented Mind by Samantha Hoffman heralds the appearance of an important and deeply entertaining voice in American fiction. The story is lyric, richly observed, and a tour de force."

Nicholas Ellison
Former editor-in-chief of Doubleday/ Delacorte
Owner of The Nicholas Ellison Agency

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Nov 11, 2012 Sunmi added it

not really my type of book but it was good

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Mar 31, 2012 Emily Dentler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love this! Romance + music = win :)

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Apr 05, 2013 Bianca marked it as to-read

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Jan 13, 2013 Samantha (Book Lover's Cozy Cafe) marked it as to-read

Dec 07, 2012 Lauryn Hally marked it as to-read

Aug 28, 2012 Moemoe added it

Jun 20, 2012 Amy Soler marked it as to-read

Jun 06, 2012 Tracey Cramer-Kelly marked it as to-read

Jun 03, 2012 Elaine marked it as to-read

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About Samantha Hoffman

Samantha’s current books, works and projects include:
The popular blog: Insanity, A Writer’s Commentary On All Things. Her post, Loved By Me, was awarded and featured on the Freshly Pressed Wordpress feature page.

The contemporary romance novel, A Contented Mind, it’s sequel, Chasing Nirvana, as well as the children’s chapter books, Dainty Delaney and the Carnival Shoes and Dainty Delaney and Ol’ Bl...more

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