Nocturne

by Andrea Randall, Charles Sheehan-Miles

Savannah Marshall is a gifted flutist and daughter of musical royalty when she enrolls in the elite New England Conservatory of Music. Brilliant, eclectic and passionate, she lives music, but struggles with her plans for the future.

Gregory Fitzgerald is one of the most renowned cellists of his generation. A member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and professor at the Conservatory, he is laser focused on his career to the exclusion of friends, family and especially romance.

When Gregory and Savannah’s paths cross in the classroom, it threatens to challenge more than their wildly differing beliefs on music. Friendships, ethics, and careers are put on the line as Gregory and Savannah play a symphony of passion and heartbreak.

In the final movement, Gregory and Savannah are handed their greatest challenge, as the loss of absolutely everything they’ve held as truths hangs in the balance.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Music, Forbidden Love, College

366 pages, Hardcover

First published August 23, 2013

About the author

Currently working on a new New Adult series,titled, "Jesus Freaks".

Titles Now Available:

In the Stillness

Nocturne

The November Blue Series:
1. Ten Days of Perfect
2. Reckless Abandon
3. Sweet Forty-Two
4. Marrying Ember
5. Bo & Ember

Novellas (stand-alones):
1. Something's Come Up
2. Bar Crawl


I started writing poetry long before writing fiction. I firmly believe Poetry is a solid foundation for all other forms of writing. It taught me that a single word can make or break the world.

I write fiction because my characters have a story and they want me to tell it.

I hope you enjoy the pieces of my soul that I share with you.

Reviews

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★1/2! Nocturne (stand-alone). A professor & gifted student angsty journey & against-all-odds epic love story!

“For the first time in my life I wanted to experience a deep emotional connection with a woman, a connection that transcended everything.”

Nocturne (stand-alone) is musical prodigies’ student and flutist Savannah Marshall and her professor, renowned cellist and noted symphony member Gregory Fitzgerald’s story. They first met when she was seventeen and applied for the New England Conservatory of Music College.

Fast forward four years to Savannah’s last year at the Conservatory. Last minute Gregory is asked to fill in as teacher for the year and so a tumultuous professor student relationship begins.

Combative sparks fueled by charged sexual tensions has them fighting to stay away and failing miserably. This is their story of keeping secrets, acting on lust, resisting love and their inner battles to do the right thing… let go or hold one to a love of a lifetime.



Nine words to describe Gregory Fitzgerald: Misunderstood, reclusive, eccentric, OCD, caring, gifted, snobbish, persistent and possessive.



Eight words to describe Savannah Marshall: Confident, captivating, combative, charming, gifted, determined, stubborn and independent.

Nocturne, told from dual POVs is a beautifully poignant against-all-odds love story spanning almost a decade. A journey of ups and downs, self-reflection, growth and growing up. It has an appropriate and sweet ending with an epilogue a couple of years into the future.

Angsty and beautiful plot! Excellent character development! Effortless storytelling! A forbidden romance and an epic love!

***
Hero rating: 4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS! ★★★★☆



“You deserve all of someone, Savannah. Not what’s left over after they’ve dealt with the rest of their life.”

How do you rate a book that felt like perfection but yet left you so infuriated and conflicted? All I know is that I live for the angsty reads but this one...this one took me back and forth between heaven and hell.

This is a read that you'll need to be prepared to be challenged in many ways; emotionally, mentally and morally. This is a book that you will come to absolutely love or absolutely hate.



Nocturne tells the forbidden love story between Savannah and Gregory, two individuals who are at polar opposites but yet so similar in the one thing they thrived in. Music.

Their beliefs and opinions clashes at every turn; Gregory, renowned cellist cum professor who believes music is about the theory and rules, he exudes a persona that intimidates everyone. And yet there is Savannah, the carefree student that firmly holds her belief that music is about expressing emotions, the only student in the class that dares to challenge Gregory's notions.

“He wanted us to play by all the rules that held his brain in his head. Rules that would make our compositions indistinguishable from the composer at hand. As much fun as that sounded, I was determined to breathe new life into old music.”

In spite of everything, their passion in music is what binds them and sparks an attraction so intense and undeniable when their music comes alive together.



The writing in this book warrants more than 5 stars from me. There is no doubt in my mind that Nocturne was beautifully written and flawlessly done that there is no way at all that you can tell it's written by two authors. No way of telling where one begin and the other ended, it flowed effortlessly and seamlessly.

Classical music was an integral element in this book and being a fan of it, I felt that it was nailed perfectly. The scenes were exquisitely written, the writing so alluring and the vivid descriptions left me immersed in a world where music and emotions collided. Where words failed them, the music took over and spoke in ways that I was utterly swept away.

“Music is communication. It’s emotion. It’s passion and love and hate and expression.”

The story broke into 2 parts and so was my heart as the story progressed, the worst part being the authors treading the territories of infidelity. I was left with a moral dilemma of rooting for the couple whose all-consuming love I've completely invested in versus the moral ethics I've been taught to believe in. The authors painted a picture so real of how cruel and selfish love can be and the irreversible damage that came along.

“We’d broken all the rules … then set new ones, and then broke those."

It left me feeling so angry at the choices being made, so infuriated by Gregory that I wanted to punch him in the nuts one too many times. Time after time, this stupid, stupid man and his selfish needs and his constant indecisiveness threatened me to throw in the towel. But I simply couldn't because I needed them to be together. I needed them to soothe that burning ache in my heart and just like them, I was willing to take any piece of it that I can get.



I felt their desperation, I felt it so much that the burning need rages within me. Morals be damned, society views be damned; I threw everything out of the window and my desperation for this couple and their love overwhelmed me. The little devil on my shoulder won. Since I'm already in the pits of hell, I relished in all of its glory that is the forbidden fruit.

I hated that I wanted it for them so badly, even if it left me to defy what I believed in. And somehow I understood why Gregory did the choices he made, sometimes love really does make you do stupid, stupid things.



I've never been so enraged and conflicted by a read like this before. Everything hit all the winner buttons for me but then there was Gregory and my moral dilemma. Picking out an almost winner read should've been easy but this was absolutely the toughest one.

I love how it challenged me in ways I didn't expect, how the authors delivered a read that depicted the true harsh reality of forbidden love. It's never easy and selfish love will always end up with someone getting hurt. And while I'm still infuriated by it all, this book truly did a number on me.

Admittedly this book will certainly not appeal to everyone especially with the cheating involved and how things were panned out. But if you're one who can make an exception and allow yourself to be challenged by a read like this, I must simply urge you to try this one. I took a leap of blind faith and I'm glad that I found a hidden gem.

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nocturne was a beautifully written, very 'real' forbidden love story. These authors have true talent!

The story spans almost a decade and is told in a few parts. It begins with Savannah auditioning for the Conservatory fresh from high school in front of a panel of teachers headed by Gregory, the youngest cellist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It then skips forward three years to her second last year where, for the first time, she is in one of Gregory’s classes. And finally, the last part of the story is told five years after that and then again, another two years after as well.

Savannah and Gregory were polar opposites in so many ways. While they both shared a deeply passionate love for music, Savannah was very much of a free spirit and always looking to bend the rules and discover new forms of music, while Gregory’s world was defined solely by strict adherence to rigid discipline and the proper rules. She was a natural rule breaker and he lived by them and yet somehow, they were undeniably drawn to each other from the moment they met.

Their connection through the music was so… intense. It was palatable. Everyone around them could feel it too. These weren’t the kind of feelings that just couldn’t be hidden, especially when they played together…

“I caught my breath because it was as if she was speaking to me in a private language only we knew. The room had narrowed, only the two of us, and the music between us.”

“Music is communication. It’s emotion. It’s passion and love and hate and expression.”

While this is in part a student/teacher romance, there is absolutely nothing uncomfortable about it at all. At the start of their relations, she was already in her early twenties and for the most part, he was not her instructor at the same time so really there was nothing that ever put me on edge.

The story was a very slow burn, building in quiet intensity. And the writing was just absolutely beautiful! Truly exquisite. The smooth flow of the story and vivid descriptions made it a joy to read.

I believe it takes great skill as an author to describe music in such a way as to make the readers genuinely feel it even though they can’t hear it and this book managed to do that so vividly. Every detail was projected onto me in a way that fully immersed me in their world. However, as a person who is not very involved in the classical music world, there were times when I found the descriptions to be a little too ‘much’ and some of the dialogue and mannerisms were a little too formal for me to 'connect'. I have no doubt that it was an accurate reflection of their world, but on a personal level, I couldn’t fully relate to it and as such, I sometimes felt a little like I was on the outside looking in rather than living it. But this was not a fault of the story or the writing in any way, it was just personal.

As a reader, I was deeply frustrated by Gregory and his “broody, insufferable uptight exterior.” He just was not the kind of man that I am personally attracted to. He was too rigid and too obsessively devoted to his music. While I personally never fell for him over the course of the book, because of the skill of the writing, I still felt Savannah’s feelings for him and felt much more connected to her. She was strong willed and confident and everything about her spun his world right around. He just had so much personal growth to go through and every time he put something else in his life before her, I was simultaneously angry and heartbroken.

“I am in love with you, but there’s nothing I can do about it, and I’m sorry for that.”

I was so mad at him. I wanted him to fight for her. To go after her. To fix things. To choose her . I knew he loved her, but he didn’t love her enough . Not until the very end.

I felt like the traditional ‘romantic roles’ were reversed in this book because truly Savannah knew all along what she wanted from their relationship. She was the one who went for it, fought for it and never let go. I admired her for it and yet my heart still broke for her. In a way though, Gregory’s journey of discovering his priorities was a large part of the book. And most often, life doesn’t teach us lesson in easy ways. Mistakes were made. Years were lost. But sometimes that’s life. In many ways, this was a very ‘real’ love story. Maybe a little ‘too’ real?

I liked the story but I wasn’t as completely taken over by it as I might have wished. At the same time though, whenever Savannah and Gregory were together, I got swept back into their connection and my heart wanted them to make it through.

This is a standalone with a HEA.

****************************

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[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

***WARNING!***

REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS, YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE.

Buddy read with Funzee Souisa

DISAPPOINTING. ANNOYING.

The first chapter challenged me, I had a big hope for Charles and Andrea's writing...I don't care about the writing skills...I care about the story...and the story in this book, even more tempted me to read.



I need to say, I see his book in a different angle, in a different shoes, in a different POV.

My POV.

I have been taught by my Life Mentor in a boot camp 5 years ago, about what life is about.

To value your life, what you need to have are :

Integrity &

Commitment

…and so I began reading Nocturne….’

I was shocked.

This was not what I expected to read.

Life sucks.

Life isn’t fair. Yes. Indeed.

But for some people, they’re making excuses to make it unfair for others, in the name of LOVE.

And during the reading, I frowned. A lot. Many times. How could Gregory did such thing to Karin , in the name of love (for another woman, whatever reason he gave that that another woman is a love of his life). I thought he’s a man of commitment and integrity. But instead, he betrayed his own commitment with Karin, for another woman, Savannah.

In marriage, there are lots of cases going on about boredom, flat marriage and no chemistry anymore , blah blah blah…But actually there’s ONE simple thing about staying married. You know” how to love” your spouse. HOW. And fulfill it, instead of looking for someone better outside your marriage. Once commitment were made, it should be FOREVER!

For f*** sake, Gregory!

I have no problem if Karin was a bitch or something. But he said that she’s easy and she was there at the right time when Savannah wasn’t there for him? Why the fuck did he marry her then? And after Savannah came back, he’s easily slept with her and dumped his wife for the intruder? WTF?!!! Who’s the one was easy? For me, it’s Savannah.

When I read the book, I never considered the writing skills whatsoever ( I believe CSM and AR were really good in writing skills, no doubt about it), but I always craved for the story.
And the story alone that I rate.

And for me, Gregory and Savannah are a pair of selfish person. The only consideration for them, is their life, their own happiness, and they're closed their eyes to people around them. The closest, Karin. And for some reason, I can’t like them both. The H/h were both annoying person and cheaters.

" I cried while reading this one, not because this one is too good, but I cried for his wife and his selfish reason to abandoned his wife"

I tried to put objectiveness and an open mind while reading this. But still...Can't!

This book is definitely NOT for me. I have issues with infidelity. I can’t put my self “into” the story. This one is heartless and too selfish. I’m sorry.

And for selfish reason as well, I have to say, I don’t like it.

At all.

This book failed me.

[Patrycja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nocturne is without doubt intriguing, passionate and breathtaking story with great potential. I loved every sentence in the first 50% of it, but then something horrible happened that made me hate it. I was devastated when beautiful magic and charm of the first half of the book slowly started disappearing only to be replaced by the thing I despair the most – infidelity. When this started I just couldn’t look past it no matter how hard I tried.

This is a story told in alternating point of views. Savannah is student in Boston’s music conservatory where she plays flute. She’s a free spirit and exceptionally talented young woman. Gregory is the youngest cellist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Savannah’s professor. Gregory has “broody, insufferable uptight exterior” and is reclusive misanthrope. I have never thought I could be attracted to someone who is so rigid and closed, but with every chapter I’ve read I started to appriciate he’s unique personality even more. If I had to compare him to someone, I would chose Gregory House . Just like House, Gregory is recluse devoted to his music, without personal life. Frigid, harsh and with a hint of sarcasm on his lips.

Despite the fact Savannah and Gregory have different visions about music, which often leads to scenes and arguing in front of entire class, both of them share deep, magnificient love for it. Every breath they take, every thing they do in their lifes it’s for music that sings in their veins.

This is the part I loved. Everything was perfect by this point and I was glued to the pages. I breathed in classical music only by reading impressive, vivid descriptions that almost made me hear every musical piece and the feelings that slowly grew between Gregory and Savannah were beautiful and passionate. They love for music connected them and entwined their’s souls in mesmerazing way. My heart swell with love and I was almost on the cloud nine.



Equally with music they shared their relationship progressed.

“I caught my breath because it was as if she was speaking to me in a private language only we knew. The room had narrowed, only the two of us, and the music between us.”

Then something horrible happened and 5 years passed without them speaking to each other. And then we have the part that fucked up everything for me. I don’t want to spoil you the book, so I can only say that I have never been so frustrated and so disappointed. This great, beautiful story started falling apart, shreding to pieces everything I adored and I couldn’t do anything to stopped it only stare at the pages and read. I gritted my teeth and started pulling my hair out. I wanted to howl and sob in the most stabbing pain I’ve ever felt. I couldn’t believe this story progressed THAT WAY.

Toward the end I didn’t give a damn about Gregory and Savannah. I stopped caring for them, especially for Gregory who crushed my heart. I didn’t want them to even end up together.
Rating this book is painful. How can I give this book only one rating? When the first part deserved 5+ the second is worth mere 1 or 2 stars?

Overall, Nocturne will be on my list of DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR. Because I don't feel well with giving this book 3 stars, I'll have to leave it with 2.5.

More reviews on Smokin' Hot Book Blog and my Facebook Page

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done. I'm at a loss for words. I don't think I'll have a review available for a while. I really need a time-out to think about this story. Just know that I am so very tired.

***FULL REVIEW UPDATED***

Yup. This book really did a number on me. It ripped my freaking heart out, tore it into tiny pieces and stuffed them in four different corners of the world. Be prepared to be challenged, emotionally and morally; pack up your boundaries because there are none in the book; bring out the tissues, tequila, vodka, and anything else strong enough to pull you through this devastatingly beautiful love story because you’re going to need it.

It only took me a second to read the prelude and I.WAS.HOOKED. Captivated. Ensnared by the seductive writing style and incredibly detailed characters. Savannah and Gregory couldn’t be any more different from each other, yet so similar in their determination to uphold their own beliefs, own morals.

“He wanted us to play by all the rules that held his brain in his head. Rules that would make our compositions indistinguishable from the composer at hand. As much fun as that sounded, I was determined to breathe new life into old music. To keep it alive and fluid and moving. Snobby professor-be-damned.”

Savannah is carefree. Gregory is structured. Savannah is fiery. Gregory is indifferent. And yet…these two individuals can’t help but feel an attraction towards one another. And their connection is so….intense. Dynamic. And emotionally agonizing to read.

“In truth, I felt as connected to him as I’d ever felt with anyone. What we created between the two of us was so much bigger than what either of us did alone. I literally felt the walls of my ego and isolation fall away, leaving me open, raw…and vulnerable. I felt ecstatic. Beautiful. In love.”

There were MANY times in the book I just wanted to stop reading because of how brutal the characters’ circumstances were. The book is split into 2 parts, not purposely so, but as part of the progression of the story and the characters’ lives. Just when I thought there was going to be a breakthrough….BAM. I seriously felt as if the authors slapped me in the face. Purposely taunting me. Dangling a thin thread of hope that seemed to be out of reach.



As heartbroken as I felt, I continued on because, well, it’s kind of impossible NOT to, for so, so many reasons.

“But it wasn’t the physical impact…it was the emotional. Everything had changed. Again. We’d broken all the rules…then set new ones, and then broke those.”

This book really tested me. Tested my patience, my morals, my boundaries. Pushed and pounded against them until I finally relented. I rejoiced in the unacceptable, relished the forbidden. It got to a point where I just didn’t care what society expected of Savannah and Gregory, didn’t care about the reality of their lives. I wanted them to indulge and explore their relationship, their bond, their connection.

“He’d gone off the course of our program. His eyes didn’t move from mine as he played. He was begging me to say yes. To agree to a life with him that had no certainty, no clear future. Gregory stripped himself bare to me on that stage, going against his musical boundaries, pushing his personal limits, and he was asking me, again…”

“Say yes.”

Savannah and Gregory’s emotional ride overwhelmed me. I felt their pain, their longing, their love. I was knocked off my feet, constantly, and I’ve never felt so much fury and frustration towards a book before. I definitely can’t rate this book like I normally do, so I’m going to break it down:

Writing: 5+ Stars
Emotion: 5+ Stars
Story: 3 Stars
Savannah: 5 Stars
Gregory: 3.5 Stars

Overall: 4.5 STARS!!!

[Beeg Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my fav cheating books. One of my favorite cheating Hxhs
Full spoilers below***

A most unlikely couple who, technically speaking, shouldn’t be together:

He’s a weak, moody, selfish, judgmental, snobbish, predictable, immature, cold, arrogant bastard with a stick up his rigid OLD ass. Music is his life to the exclusion of everything and anyone else.

She’s light and deep and sweet and volatile and emotional and strong and all things beautiful. A born musical genius with so much love for her art and the hero.

She pushes his fossilized buttons.
Okay, he’s only 10 years older, but he’s just a fuddy old duddy with old fuddy duddy ways.
And smashes into his self-contained world. Her very presence turns his structured life into bedlam.
To him she’s chaos personified.

But he takes YEARS to finally choose her and while she’s no pushover, she chooses him. Every. Single. Time.

So I wanted this union for HER
I don’t care about him. Much.
Okay, maybe I do, cos he’s just so pathetic without her and when he eventually does put her first it’s in a spectacular way.
And she deserves and needs his devotion, so I rooted for them.
Afterall, he does leave his marriage, his career, his music, his country and makes a solid commitment to their future.


Their physical affair:
Clandestine
Emotionally intense
Physically explosive
Forbidden
Short, sweet, sad, and sexy



Their emotional affair:
Years long, throughout his marriage even as they don’t see each other

The ow – his wife:
He married her because she’s “safe”
She knew from before their wedding that he was infatuated with the h

Their story:
Savannah, a gifted musician, is 17 when she first meets Gregory, a cellist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He’s a judge at an audition she’s applying for. Instant angst in those brief few minutes.

A few years later he’s her lecturer at the conservatory she applied for in the audition. 11 years older than her; dismissive and judgmental. More angst and tension. She has a male friend, Nathan, who is mad about her, but she never returns his feelings. He’ll become the om only because the H can’t stand him and the obvious closeness between the h and om. LOL. Fun times
He's life revolves around music so he has no time for dating, but his friend sets him up with an ow, Karin, and he sort of just goes with it. He’s not terribly interested, though.

The Hxh’s connection is strong and spectacular but they can’t be together because of his career, etc. so he, as obsessed as he is, callously rejects her.

The ow drama:
When they meet again 5 years later, he’s been married to Karin for the past 3 years. No lasting love match. In his pov we see his disinterest and lack of romantic love. He married her because she doesn’t upset his well-ordered life. She knew of his strong connection to the h but married him thinking he would learn to love her. Silly woman. He does care about her and tries to say the right things to keep her from hurting. (Not to talk about silencing her bitching and moaning about wanting kids when he expressly told her he does not want to be a father) I have no sympathy for her because she’s sly. We learn later that she deliberately goes off contraception. Karma came around and the ow discovers she infertile.
She’s with him at an event where the Hxh see each other again for the first time in 5 years. She gets front row seats to the chemistry between the Hxh, and madam does NOT like it

He tries to apologize to the h for his cruelty before, but the darling, who previously hung on his every word, tells him to bugger off back to his wife. She’s still very vulnerable, though.

The Hxh are thrown together again because they’re touring for a few months. The music world love them performing together because their love for their craft and the chemistry between them is just so brilliant.
He’s still doing the whole push/pull thing. Frustrating, cruel, irritating, and hurtful. I hated him sometimes for hurting her so much, but then I’d get his pov and I’d forgive him just like the h does. Until he does it again. And again.

While on tour he asks her to have an affair with him for the duration of the tour. It’s not as simple as it sounds but they love each other so she agrees. It’s a whirlwind of music, sex, love, and secrecy. Its sad and beautiful to see even though its told more than shown. They need to hide their attraction because they’re the darlings of the music world, both famous in their own right.

More ow drama
While not much on page, the ow is a constant presence throughout the book. He inadvertently finds out that she’s just discovered she is infertile; he wasn’t even aware that he was seeing drs because as far as he’s concerned, they weren’t trying for kids. That’s when he realizes she must’ve stopped contraception. He’s furious. She often freaks out about how close he is to the H and how she knows they’re spending time together, etc.

The om drama:
Nathan. The hero HATES this man with a passion. He’s only an om in the H’s mind because the h has no romantic interest in him. LOL. Nathan has been a thorn in Gregory’s side since the day Gregory became her lecturer. He’s always around glowering at the H, being too close to the h etc. Now they’re all on tour together and it’s not pleasant. Well, not for them, but I certainly lapped it up. The possessive, jealous hero who is otherwise emotionally removed.


His wife meets up with him at one of the hotels during the tour, to discuss their issues. He’s concerned enough about her welfare but he can’t muster up any inclination to comfort her nor does his penis get the memo (apart from his body’s initial 5 second reaction to being touched) that his wife wants to get intimate. That’s scene is gross, but I couldn’t not read it. Pretty much like watching an accident and being unable to look away. Apart from this non-event he isn’t intimate with the ow again. He doesn’t sleep with both of them, either.

Tour goes on, the wife has gone back home after that one failure of a night. He still hasn’t made a commitment to leave his wife but wants to continue the secret affair after the tour was finished. The damn nerve of him. The h is angry and upset and is dealing with family and career issues of her own and now she’s just had enough of his shit.

There’s a big blow up.
A fabulous finale.
In front of the world damn world and his wife, his colleagues, during the tour finale of all times, the H goes apeshit and finally loses it with the om and punches him in the face. All hell breaks loose. The om outs their affair, rest of the orchestra are agape, the wife starts crying and the h runs off. This pisses him off even more; he tells the ow he wants a divorce but, in his anger, and fear of losing her, he refuses to speak to the h so she leaves for Moscow.

He sets about making the necessary, drastic changes in his life, finally puts her first and follows her to Moscow.




The ending is too rushed.
Totally disproportionate to the length of the book.
This, and his incessant to-and fro-ing is the reason it’s a 4 not 5 star read for me.

Still, its one of a few books I’ll re-read many times over

NTS – NEATEN REVIEW ESP. TENSES AND DUPLICATIONS

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Yosbe Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The absurdity of the absurd



THIS REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS

I really don't want to be rude. But I can't help it. I need to be honest, like always, and to be honest, sometimes you need to be rude: because to read a book, is like an investment. You invest your hours, your invaluable time, and expect in return a good story, and I was really hoping a good story from this authors, and I'm sorry, it wasn't, and sometimes I think, oh maybe is a good story but is not for me, but with this book I just think... Why it has such a high rating? It makes no sense to me.



The half of the book was good, though. A few cheesy things, but they were acceptable?. And THAT is what I hate most. When a book yells at you "this is going to be bad" from the very first pages, you know what is coming, so you don´t waste your time and just drop it. It saves your time.

But “five years later" happens, and from then on, everything goes to hell.

Dear authors,

First: You can't spend half of the book saying that your until-that-moment-well-constructed character doesn't like relationships or complicated things because all he cares is about music, which is his BIG PASSION , his OBSESSION and then, just two years later, marry him to someone who YOU NEVER showed one particular chemistry between them in the book, just because "it was easy". No, you can’t... It’s senseless. We can't buy it. Don't you think that is EASIER to just stay single? Maybe a girlfriend, to take the book in another direction, but FOR YOU WAS EASIER to use this cliché. But let me tell you, for this book, didn't work.

Just an example:

<<"I’d awakened that morning in absolute bliss, with the love of my life beside me, only to have my wife destroy that moment" >>

Can you see HOW wrong is that sentence? How absurd it is?



I was trying to accept this fact and give it a chance, when everything was from bad to worse.

Second: Gregory was such a jackass, proposing an affair when there was no reason to cheat to begging with. Your marriage is a complete fail, your wife is a liar… come on! And then, she accepts it! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a saint. I can justify "a cheat" when is well written, give me good reasons, a good plot and I would take it. Women have affairs with married man, of course they do, but almost all the time they expect more, and they don’t think they were rejected by these men in the past. But the guy didn’t fight for you in the past, he hurt you, he said he loved you but did nothing to show you! And then, when he ask her to wait for him, she thinks it´s not a good idea...





Third: The following pages were an unnecessary drama and was proven in the slap thing, the television show scene, the concert with her mother and his wife there, the “I don’t have time for this” call. I can go on and on.



CHEESY DRAMA. CHEESY DRAMA. CHEESY DRAMA. You really could do it better.

This book had everything to be a good book, and they messed it up. Sorry.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars**

I choose my new adult books extremely carefully because I’ve been burned by the same old repetitive formula one too many times. When I heard that Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles were collaborating on a student-teacher romance, it became an auto-read. I loved in the Stillness and A Song About Julia was one of the better NAs I’ve read.

The writing in this book didn’t disappoint.
It was so smooth and seamless. There was no indication that two authors had jointly written this book. I didn’t know where one voice started and the other ended.

Together they made you feel, and feel strongly.

Unfortunately, the biggest feeling I had throughout Nocturne was frustration . At every single character. They just kept making stupid choices literally one after the other. The funny thing was, nobody descended into the TSTL category. Everyone including the two protagonists seemed smart and mature. Which made their inability to make rational decisions even more frustrating. All of the conflict was could have easily been avoided. And all the pain and misery they felt was almost entirely self-inflicted.

And I could not connect with Gregory at all. I think it’s because he and I are so fundamentally different. His passion for music consumed his life. Human relationships were "cumbersome" to him. Music was like his religion and he had a superiority complex that applied to anyone who wasn’t as passionate or as skilled as he was.

“He was an arrogant, snobby musical stereotype of the worst kind”

The man was just so strung out all the time. He had a mini internal crisis about being 4 minutes late to an appointment. Seriously. I consider that on time for most things and early to others. I give props to Savannah for loving him though. Even though she fell in ‘love’, way too early. It wasn’t insta-love. But when they threw that word around, it was completely premature considering their only previous interactions were in the classroom surrounded by 50 other students.

I can see a lot of people loving this book. But I just don't like being constantly frustrated when I read.


**I think 2.5 stars is way too harsh considering the writing calibre. And there’s no denying that Nocturne was very well written. But I was annoyed for 95% of this novel, and most books I’ve rated three stars, I’ve enjoyed a hell of a lot more than this one.

[Brenna]

OH. MY. GOD!!!!! Andrea Randall AND Charles Sheehan!?!?!??!?!?

I MUST BE DREAMING!!!!!! <3 <3

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You think music is this heartless engineering construct made of nothing but notes and rhythms pasted together by architects. It is not. Music is communication. It’s emotion. It’s passion and love and hate and expression. Music was around long before there were theorists to talk about rules. Music is what makes us alive.

I love music and I love books. And there's nothing I love more than those two combined. I am also a huge fan of Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles. So reading a book they wrote together about music is like book heaven for me. They did such a great job on the writing, it seemed effortless. You wouldn't be able to tell that two people wrote it.

Nocturne is the story of Gregory and Savannah. Gregory is a professor at the conservatory that Savannah is attending. Gregory has blocked himself off from emotional influences and given his life completely to music.

when you play an instrument at this level, you gave it whatever it took. Your entire life. I’d devoted my life to music, letting it take priority over family, women. It took priority over everything.

He can't risk getting distracted by emotions and not giving his music all he has. He sees music as a technical thing. Savannah, however, is an emotional person and refuses to see music as nothing more than heartless engineering, notes and rhythms pasted together.

What kind of man produced such incredibly emotional music, then denied that emotion had anything to do with it?

Gregory is at the very top of his field and comes off as a prick in the beginning. He is not concerned about what anyone thinks of him. He's arrogant and selfish.

I wasn’t concerned with being liked. Only respected.

But the moment he hears Savannah audition, something in him changes. And a few years later, when he starts teaching a class that she's attending, everything changes for him.

Never in my career had a student antagonized me as much as she did.

Savannah was super defiant and always went into discussion with Gregory. She tried to be different, modern, and was not at all like Gregory. Their opinions on music were vastly different.

I was determined to breathe new life into old music.

She was passionate, he was kinda dry. But you know what they say.. Opposites attract.

Quick witted, incredibly intelligent, opinionated, talented, brilliant. Her talent, her intellect, surpassed that of the vast majority of students or adults I’d known, and it was breathtakingly attractive.

Because in her, I saw me as I could have been.

With Savannah, Gregory wants to feel. Only with her Gregory doesn't mind getting distracted from his music.

For the first time in my life I felt a gaping empty wound in myself, a wound I’d stuffed with nothing more than melody for all those years and suddenly that wasn’t enough

When Gregory and Savannah start playing music together, the sparks really start flying. Their feelings become undeniable.

What we created between the two of us was so much bigger than what either of us did alone.

So they fall in love, but they can't be together because he's a teacher and she's a student. Shit blows up and the angst sets in. And really, I felt like murdering Gregory many times through the read. I have never seen two people denying themselves what they want, what they need, as much as these two have done. Okay maybe I have, but Gregory and Savannah were bad.

Savannah had shown me what I didn’t know I was missing. What I never realized I’d been craving. Connection. Understanding. No matter what was going to happen between us, she’d shown me what true love was. What it felt like. And, what it felt like when it was gone.

And still he handled the situation all wrong and hurt so many people in the process. I realize that this was a pretty realistic scenario, but my problem here was more with Gregory. I didn't quite warm up to him and I didn't fall in love with their relationship. I don't know why I didn't. It just didn't happen. I guess I needed more from Gregory in the beginning. But I also get that their connection was in their music and not so much in his actions. This would've easily been a 5 star for me if there had been more emotion, but as it is I'm sticking with 4. I really enjoyed it and the writing was perfect.

Music always sounded better with him. With us.

[Funzee Shu · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** DNF at 50% ***



Holly Shit !! The cover !!!

Finally !!!
It's revealed !!

*Scream histerically !!*



Gregory and Savannah already filled my mind for past few months and am dying to read the book !!!

The most anticipated book EVER !!



=====EDITED=====

Well, after two years sitting on my currently reading shelf, I think its about time I moved this book to the right shelf.

See my pre review above?
See how excited I am before this book been released?
Yep, that's my honest reaction about this book, and I would not denying it. I WAS so excited.

But then I got HUGE disappointment when I read this book.

Trust me, I've tried so many times to finished this book, but each time I always stop at 50%. I can't tolerate anymore with what that happened in the story and what both MC did.

This is will be my first DNF book in my reading history.
And I won't regret it.

[Iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW POSTED. You can also find it on Way Too Hot Books blog!

This book.. It's.. ABSOLUTELY EPIC! A strange combination of The Bronze Horseman, with the longevity, the complexity, the forbidden love, the epicness and other things; and Thoughtless - with its deep hurt and angst. And music. Such profound, beautiful music that touched me even more then if I were listening to it live. The descriptions were incredible, the style so expressive.
I hate myself for giving this 4 stars - the measly, stupid 4 stars that don't even begin to express what I felt during and after reading this book. I want a "something different and special" rating!!!!!

...

"I held my breath, my throat tight with anticipation, and tears stinging my eyes at the absolute beauty of this seemingly elementary song he'd just taken to a level I didn't know existed... we just watched a musician with one of the sternest reputations live up to it in a classroom full of students who could only dream to play with a fraction of the greatness he possessed."

And that's how it all truly began...

The story of Savannah and Gregory spans over long 10 years, during which there were many hardships, many obstacles, hurt, betrayal. And so much passion and soul connection that never vanished in those years.

They met as teacher and student in the New England Conservatory of Music. Gregory, the talented, intimidating cellist, plus a strict teacher, unexpectedly appeared in Savannah's music theory class where the mutual fascination sparked. Those two have very opposite beliefs and opinion on music. Gregory thinks that music is all math and rules, no feelings. On the other hand, Savannah is firm on the idea of music as expressing emotion. But in spite of everything, Savannah sees the passion in Gregory. I mean the man's only priority in life is music, he doesn't care about anything else and 18 hours of playing a day is no strange thing to him.

"Your must be willing to sacrifice everything for the music. This wasn't a hobby. This wasn't a nice job in an insurance company. This was an artistic calling that required the utmost passion, commitment and sacrifice."

Add to that the insane attraction between them and you've got a recipe for a disaster. A glorious disaster.

What brought my attention to this book was music and the fact that the hero is a cellist. I am completely over the moon for cello music! Add a hot guy playing it and I'm wondering about being in heaven. There is just something beautiful but haunting in the sound, something not other string instruments have. I love to swim in the sound of it. And the way these two authors used words to describe the sensations and allowed us to picture how these two played... Gregory and Savannah first connected through music and their talent. It was beautiful - the style of writing is just so beautiful. You don't even notice that two people were writing it.

"Not one of them would believe that we were improvising, that right there on that stage she was telling a story of hurt and anger and betrayal That she was telling me just how much I'd hurt her."

What I loved most in this book is just that - the disaster of their life's circumstance. It's not just the student/teacher situation that puts their relationship as a question of ethics. The more bigger problem comes later, 5 years after. I'll only warn you that there is cheating in this book. Many readers will severely dislike and judge them and this book. I do too, in a way. What they did because of their feeling for each other, for the one-of-a-kind love? It was beautiful, but cruel to other people. It just proves that even a great love makes people hurt others for selfish reasons. Love makes you feel like nothing is important then the two involved.

Gregory and Savannah proved that love is a toxic thing. It was so wrong, but so, so right.

"Obsession makes people crazy.
Maybe crazy was okay if love was the reason."

"You're my heart, Savannah. Not in it. Not part of it. I'm consumed by you. Obsessed by you. I need you in my life any way I can have you. Don't tell me you don't feel the same way."


"Don't make things harder on yourself than they need to be. Love shouldn't be a fight, Savannah. It shouldn't be hard. It shouldn't tear people apart and leave everyone broken. If someone loves you, they give you all of themselves, not just parts."

This would've been a more epic book if it was non-HEA. A complete 5 stars. But true love heals too, I guess. It survives everything. Gregory and Savannah never broke. They ended up together in spite of it all. It would be a wonderful thing in finality... If it didn't leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea and Charles are amazing on their own. "In The Stillness" was one of my favorite reads from the second I finished it. Andrea rendered me speechless. Charles. Yep. He gets a one word sentence. After finishing "The Last Hour" I didn't want to speak to him for a couple of days. They write such powerful books on their own that I knew that the pair of them writing together would be absolutely magical. Together? They're the freaking dynamic duo. I'm sure of it.

Before I even begin to get into what I loved about the story, I just have to say that I never in a million years would guess that this book is a collaboration. Everything is just so seamless. I could never tell when one author was writing over another. The transitions were flawless and the character development was never too much nor too little. The differing points of view are never awkward and each moment, I read with bated breath. I've read this book three times and I honestly could read it again right now. Each time, it evokes so many emotions that well....let me get to the review.

Savannah Marshall is like no other. She's an amazing flutist, she knows this but doesn't flaunt it. She's a button pusher. She likes to push the boundaries that have been set. In my opinion, that's what makes a person interesting! When we first meet Savannah, she is auditioning for a spot in the New England Conservatory of Music. She is musical royalty, but would rather keep that to herself. She wants to be known for who she is on her own, not where she came from.

Gregory Fitzgerald is perhaps the most talented cellist of his age group (and beyond). He definitely knows it. He is focused beyond focus and there is nothing that is going to get in his way...until Savannah Marshall enters his life.

Savannah and Gregory have a passionate relationship from the get go. His standoffish attitude and the way he looks down his nose at Savannah is more than enough to push her to the breaking point. She simply can not believe that anyone would act the way he does when they have such a passion for music.

As time goes on, both Savannah and Gregory realize that they are both in very serious trouble.
"It's too dangerous. You're too dangerous."

The games that are played, the emotions that are thrown around are like none other that I have ever experienced before.

Savannah and Gregory have SO much at stake. SO many extraneous factors working against them.

"Maybe crazy was okay if love was the reason."

The journey that Andrea and Charles take us on is enough to make me break out the blood pressure medicine, prozac and xanax for sure! They drew me in from page 1 and this book absolutely consumed me. There was never a point where I was bored or uninterested. Savannah, Gregory, Madeline, James and even Nathan will forever hold a special place in my heart. This dynamic duo has made me a bumbling, book nerd who will gush about this book until the end of time. Nocturne will forever hold a special place on my favorites list.

[.chel. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nocturne is an emotional yet engaging story about forbidden love between Gregory & Savannah written by Andrea Randall & Charles Sheehan-Miles. Sometimes when authors collaborate their writing style don’t always gel together. This is not the case for Nocturne. For a story written by two authors, the writing was seamless and flowed effortlessly.

For writing style alone, I would give Nocturne “5 musical stars”

But plot wise, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Gregory’s constant indecisiveness & lack of strength to fight for what he wants made me question his age and maturity time and time again. For me, this book was 90-95% filled with angst ending with little resolution. Quite honestly, after all that, I felt a little cheated in the end.

[Dhini · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

A story about a selfish b*tch and a heartless man, who are willing to hurt anyone else for their own happiness, definitely is NOT my cup of tea.

I'm sorry..

[Beatrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh huh, so hard to rate this book. On one hand, I'm awed, I totally loved it, but on the other, I'm like why?! Why did you have to be so selfish.

Let me start; the book began great, I was swept away, both with the music, that is the best part of the book for me, forbidden romance, characters, the whole storyline.
I can see how Savannah fell in love with Gregory because of his music.
But then, came that part 5 years later! The cheating part, and let me tell you, no one likes cheaters, even if it's justified, even if it's in the name od love - it's still cheating. The whole second part of the book I liked less, I mean come on Savannah & Gregory, you're older now, should be more mature, right?

So slowly towards the end I was becoming more and more annoyed.
Love oftentimes leaves us completely torn, true love should not be hard, should not hurt anyone, and Savannah & Gregory hurt many people, worst of all, they hurt each other.
Towards the end it became a bit too melodramatic and predictable, but I'm giving it 4 stars because I loved the music.

I do not think I've ever read a book with such great descriptions of music, it was truly wonderful the way music connected them, made them feel and fall in love, that's why this book is worth reading!

Overall, yes, I have to say great book because I did enjoy reading it, those tiny details will not ruin my impression of the book, it's not a perfect book but a good one nevertheless!

[D.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG. Great book. Just finished. I will add more to the review after I have digested it.

Okay. Now I'm back and ready to give my thoughts on the book and Savannah and Gregory. Let me start by saying that I wasn't prepared to like this book. I'm not a big fan of adultery in novels. Not at all. It squicks me out. If I want real life shit, I'll crack open a newspaper or watch E!. And I won't go so far as to say that it was just fine and dandy in this book. What saved this sitch for me was that I felt like Gregory's wife was the other woman. Yes, yes I know he was married to her and not to Savannah. But still. There are love links that can't be bridged even when someone else gets to the vows first.

Gregory was socially retarded. Seriously. And Savannah, the youngest of the three of these mooks, was the most mature. I didn't totally agree with all her decisions, but then again I don't totally agree with anybody's decisions. And you just knew when she and Gregory got back together, their connection was too deep to be denied. And yes, Gregory's wife knew how he felt about Savannah and married him anyway. Get a clue. You can't marry Romeo and expect him to deny Juliet when she comes back in the picture. Just. Not. Gonna. Happen. EVER.

Overall this read was awesome. The world building in the classical musical world was spot on. The characters were more than three dimensional. And the plot rocked.

I highly recommend this book. HIGHLY.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Nocturne! Charles and Andrea have done it again. A passionate, intense and angsty forbidden romance. More than a love story. It was also a personal journey for Gregory. Loved their love/hate relationship! I also loved that I was able to feel their soul mate connection when they played music together.

"Music is communication. It's emotion. It's passion and love and hate and expression."

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You deserve all of someone, Savannah. Not what’s left over after they’ve dealt with the rest of their life.”

Have you ever read a book that makes your skin tingle from the very first page because you instantly connect with it and everything thereon is exactly what you seek in a love story? You latch onto every word, every scene, giddy with excitement because it awakens every hopelessly romantic bone in your body. This is not only a superbly written story, emotional, sensual, well-rounded, complete in every sense, but it kept me in a state of subtle exhilaration from beginning to end because I knew, I just KNEW this was my kind of love story. And it not only did not disappoint, it blew me away.

“I’d rather have a few stolen moments with you over a short time than to live a lifetime wondering what it would have been like had I said yes, but chose to walk away instead.”

Savannah has lived under her mother’s shadow all her life, always expecting people to see her as entitled rather than the uniquely talented flute player that she truly is. Never knowing whether her achievements were due to her own abilities or her mother’s interference, she has worked harder than most people of her age proving to the world that she can make it on her own as an elite musician.

Gregory is at the top of his game, being not only a world-renowned cello player, but also a highly revered instructor at the New England Conservatory. But his reputation as a grumpy and short-tempered man, who acts as someone much older than he is and who is devoted to one thing and one thing only – his music – precedes him in the industry, people worshipping him as much as loathing him. He has devoted his entire life to the pursuit of excellence and perfection, committing endless hours to his instrument and forfeiting all other aspects of his personal life. He has always seen romance as an unnecessary distraction unworthy of the time or dedication it would demand from him and take away from his music.

“I’m a musician first. My music will always come first.”

But everything changes for Gregory the moment he lays eyes on a young flute player during her Conservatory audition performance, her energy and unique talent stealing his breath away. Savannah’s passion while playing are his undoing, her skill only matched by her desire to break the rules and create new beauty from the musical pieces before her. While they do not run into each other again during her first few years at the Conservatory, Gregory never forgets her or the way her music made him feel. Nor does she forget the man she wanted to impress the most during her audition.

“Did I know even then? Did I know that I would become obsessed with her? That I would sometimes wake in the night and see her brown eyes, her waist, her lips on her flute as she formed magical, incredible music?”

When Savannah finally finds herself in a class taught by Gregory, they quickly lock horns at every turn, Gregory’s methodical and old-fashioned approach to music constantly colliding with Savannah’s more liberal and emotional way of perceiving her craft. But even with constant exasperating arguments in class, their chemistry draws them to each other, their attraction making them unable to think of little else but each other and the fantasy of them taking it a step further. Eventually, their pull becomes too strong and they succumb to the passion between them, two bright stars colliding and creating a supernova of emotions which they desperately try to hide from the world around them, but fail miserably.

“You’re in love with him, Savannah.”
“I know,” I whispered, covering my mouth to silence the clamor of my tears. I knew. I was in love with him. And it was a horrible mistake.

You might think at this point that this is just another version of an illicit affair between a student and her teacher, but I assure you, the relationship between the two main characters might have started under a curtain of forbiddenness and secrecy, but while those circumstances brought them together and initially kept them apart, Gregory and Savannah’s battle to be together has a lot more to do with them wanting different things and having different priorities at different stages in their lives, than with society pulling them apart. They complement one another but they are also total opposites, Savannah living through her music and Gregory living for his. Their love is unquestionable, painfully palpable in every scene they share, but they both need to travel separate journeys in order to find their way to each other.

“…in her, I saw me as I could have been. Living a life that sometimes went beyond the music. Caring about other people. Having friends, dating, and loving.”

The story culminates several times during the timeline it covers, each culmination point representing a pivotal moment in their relationship after which everything changes between them. Each one of these deeply emotional climaxes has the power of breaking us apart, their struggle not to be together even when being in each other’s arms is all they dream of, is heartbreaking, soul-shattering at times, making this a timeless tale of love, loss… and perhaps love found again.

“Watching him, I thought that whatever his protestations, inside there was tremendous passion and emotion. Locked away, hidden, only released through the contact of bow and string.”

Music is an integral entity in this story, connecting the characters, expressing their emotions, allowing them to communicate with each other when words fail them, the mood of each musical piece played by the characters reflecting the storyline as well. Each component perfectly fitting the plotline, this is so much more than just a beautifully written story – this is a book that will truly stay with me for a long time to come.

“You’re my heart, Savannah. Not in it. Not a part of it. I’m consumed by you. Obsessed by you. I need you in my life any way I can have you.”

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[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was my perfect accompaniment...

Savannah Marshall has started her new life at the New England Conservatory of Music with her long time, best friend Nathan by her side. She's talented, smart, sassy, and wants to make her own way. Then one class and one professor challenge everything. Savannah and Gregory Fitzgerald are two incredibly talented musicians with opposite ideas on music theory. She is a young flutist, he is a world renowned cellist. He believes in rules and formulas, she thrives on creativity and emotion. Their connection is powerful and affected by temptation, denial, desire and guilt.

If emotional ideology around music could be placed in a straight line--which I'm sure would please Fitzgerald to no end--we would be at opposite ends of that line. I saw music as sights, sounds, colors, scents, lives, births, deaths, all rolled into a breathing, living thing that could be passed down through generations. Music gave life beauty. Music spoke the language of the human spirit for all to hear and understand...Gregory on the other hand? Not only did he appear to view music as a thing, he seemed to have little regard for the effect his own music had on people....He was living music and didn't even know it. Tragic.

This story was like a complicated piece of music with a slow build up of low notes and high notes, clashing together and finding rhythm, then building up to a passionate crescendo that leaves you spent and breathless when it is over. And this happened multiple times during this book and kept you feeling the cyclic emotions of forbidden passion, lust, love, heartbreak, loss, and pain. And it sucks you in until you in completely and makes you feel every part of it. It made me tense, angry, sad, enamored, happy, frustrated, swoon, and heart broken all at various times. There were unexpected surprises, and moments I literally gasped or wanted to throw my kindle. I do not want to spoil anything, and I just want other readers to go along with it, feel it, and be moved by it.

Savannah wanted to come out of the shadows of her parents, challenge expectations, and forge her own path. She did not realize the effect she had on those around her, especially the men. She had her best friend Nathan safely by her side and was following her dreams. She was passionate, idealistic, and unique. She never meant to get so tangled up in a difficult situation, but Gregory was like a magnet drawing her in.

Savannah wasn't just a gifted musician. She wasn't just a beautiful girl. She wasn't just a brilliant mind. For me, she represented much more than those things. She represented a distraction. If I forced myself to be honest, I was...fascinated with her. Attracted beyond measure. I wanted her. Savannah Marshall was dangerous.

Gregory was so caught up in appearances, rules, his cello, and career that he had become devoid of any real attachments other than a couple of close friends. He was arrogant, opinionated, domineering, harsh, and rigid. Savannah challenged him and brought out intense feelings he did not know what do with. He was conflicted, guilt ridden, unsure and hesitant to move past his comfort zone. And that caused him to make choices that would haunt him.

"You're always so...structured. But broody. Dark. Sometimes I think there's something inside of you just ready to explode."

Their interactions were antagonistic, humorous, and intense. When they were together the tension and depth of need and feelings were palpable. It was inescapable, consuming and destined to cause heart ache. I spent most of this book tense, anticipating, worrying and afraid of being gut punched...and have to say I was a few times. But there were also times of passion, joy, and contentment as well. It was not a quickly resolved story and that just made it more realistic.

I am a big fan of both Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles and have inhaled their other book series that are near and dear to my heart. I can honestly say that it was impossible for me to tell which one of them wrote which parts of this book. It all flows so seamlessly together in both points of view with equal insight into their trepidation, confusion, denial, passion, and intense feelings. They have woven their unique styles together to create a beautiful, poignant, moving story with rich characters and deep emotions. I honestly felt like I had been on a long and emotional journey once I was done. As I thought back over this book, the changes and growth in the characters were significant and inspiring. And I think these characters and this story will stick with me for a long time. I will admit that I am not a classical music fan at all, but this book made me appreciate how musicians can express their feelings so adeptly with their choices and performances. The music became a character in itself. This was a wonderful collaboration of two talented authors and I hope that we see more combined efforts from them in the future.

Thanks to Charles Sheehan-Miles and Andrea Randall for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Will be posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

It has taken me a while to get my thoughts together enough to write my review about Nocturne. Although I haven’t so far read anything else by Andrea Randall, I loved Charles Sheehan-Miles’ Thompson Sisters books, so giving a low rating for this book is a bit of a surprise for me, as I never dreamt I would be posting a less than stellar review.
As such, I kinda hate myself for only giving it 2.5 stars. I do have reasons though, and valid for my personal reading experience.

I really enjoy a good teacher/student love story, and over the last year or so, many of them have been released into the market, some good/some not so good. While the writing in Nocturne is excellent, the characters well developed and the story well thought out I had several issues that just really put me off the story as a whole.

It started out really well, I enjoyed the verbal sparring between Gregory and Savannah in the classroom and in general, and while they were actually in the student/teacher domain, their relationship development, their change in feelings towards each other and how they dealt with it really grabbed my attention.

Gregory - “Nothing about her mouth was wrong. Nothing about the smell of lilies coming from somewhere between her neck and her hair was immoral. Nothing about my desire for her was deviant.”

Unfortunately this part of the story only accounts for approximately 1/3 of the book and we are then bought forward 5 years. From here on the story gradually lost its appeal to me.

I haven’t ever had a problem with adultery in a book before, I get that it is generally integral to the story I am reading and therefore just roll with it. I think the reason it really left me cold this time was the whole way it played out and how the involved parties were ultimately portrayed.

Gregory showed promise in at the beginning of the book; he reminded me a lot of Gabriel Emerson (Gabriel’s Inferno/Gabriel’s Rapture) in a lot of ways. Your typically emotionally repressed, passionate to the point of being obsessed with his craft, difficult to get along with male, as well as being perceived as aloof and churlish by those who don’t know him. However as the book progressed I actually found myself disliking him more and more. I understand he was in love with Savannah; however I just struggled to come to terms with a lot of his actions and how he used his love to justify his treatment of others because of it. This became a real issue in the latter stages of the book.

Savannah was also a really likeable character initially for me, she was strong, confident and not afraid to stand up for herself if she thought she had a point. Her general positivity and her sly digs to Gregory about his stuffiness made me smile several times. This all disappeared in the second part of the book, she seemed to morph into a completely different woman. There were moments when the strength popped up but they were few and far between, again her justification of being in love to commit adultery continually just didn’t work for me in view of her upbringing.

This isn’t a bad book; it just didn’t work for me. That-said it won’t stop me from reading more from Mr Sheehan-Miles, or seeking out more by Ms Randall.

ARC provided by the authors in exchange for the above honest review.

[Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah Marshal is a gifted flautist and daughter of a famous opera singer but that is a secret that Savannah cannot disclose if she wants to make it into the elite New England Conservatory of Music.

Gregory Fitzgerald, professor of the Conservatory and renowned cellist and a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He is dark, broody and reclusive and laser fixed on his career and no time for romance. They meet for the first time when she auditions for the Conservatory.

Eight minutes and forty nine seconds. That’s all it took to seal her life for the next four years and to secure the rest of her life. Standing in from of the most pivotal panel that she would ever face , she knew she had nailed it as soon as she met Gregory Fitzerald’s eyes. She was in.

Gregory is rigid and driven to excellence clashes constantly with Savannah. Their views on music are so different and he finds it difficult to deal with a free sprit who is determined to breathe new life into old music - keeping it alive, moving and fluid.

Eventually they are driven apart, Gregory marries and Savannah continues with her life and her music.

Nocturne deals with a lot of issues - friendship, unrequited love and infidelity. Yes infidelity sucks but I thought in Gregory’s case it was a bigger lemon. I questioned the reason why he would you marry someone he didn’t love especially when he was clear about the path he was taking? He had devoted his life to music, it took priority over women. In fact it priority over everything and it was clear from the beginning he didn’t love Karin so why did he do it? Because she wouldn’t complicate “things” and wouldn’t interfere with his life but because he wouldn’t admit to anyone that when he married Karin he imagined he was really with Savannah. Ultimately he cheated on himself and his true feelings for Savannah.

Karin also lied to him. Yes she thought she loved him but tried to keep him by getting pregnant when she knew he didn’t want children. So she also cheated. Isn’t marriage meant to be about love and respect and it was clear that neither Gregory or Karin felt this way during their marriage.

So despite the fact that they “shouldn’t do it” and they both knew they should not give into “it” they did. He gave into the woman who understood him on many different levels. The woman that he had hurt badly, walked away from and the woman that he had lost because he didn’t fight for her.

So how does this end? He had pledged his life to another woman, his eternity to someone else? Do they get their HEA or was their music not only their beginning but their end? Read it and find out -you wont be disappointed.

An exceptional well delivered book from Charles Sheehan Miles and Andrea Randall. I hope they continue their writing collaboration. relationship.
.

[Tahsin · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!

make sure you sit down with a box of chocolates, tissues, and a big bottle of wine before reading this. this was one of the most draining experiences of the entire year.

the story spans over a decade basically, from the prologue to the epilogue. with that being said though, the length of time over which their story is told is probably a year, or just over that. if i say anything else, i'll be giving away the story, and this is one of those stories that you need to go in blind. completely. blind. it will drive you crazy, frustrate you beyond all measures, but it's worth it. so. totally. worth. it.

[Liene · Rating 2 out of 5]

How promising beginning and then it all went downhill. I'm actually very disappointed with this book, I was in fact waiting for something more out of it.
Towards the end I didn't even care if the main characters ended together, I skimmed some parts. It got boring and basically nothing changed on their situation. The main characters were so unbelievably selfish, all they cared about was eachother and I just couldn't be okay with that.
Started good, ended being very disappointing.

[❃**✿【Yasmine】✿**❃ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Good student/teacher romance. Though somewhat stereotypical (she's a little wild, young and carefree... he's strict, set in his ways and moody). The writing was great, and the characters were good. But the book is based around classical music too much for me. I haven't got any interest in classical, nor do i understand much of their 'music speak'.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING***Comments on this review contain spoilers***

Writing a review for a novel like NOCTURNE is so hard for me, because I know that whatever I say, I will not be able to do it justice. There aren't words to describe just how much I loved it. I've waited what seemed like *forever* for this book, and since I was already a fan of both Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles, I knew this book was going to be good, but I didn't know just how brilliant it would actually be. The writing is so absolutely seamless that if I didn't *know* this was a collaboration, I wouldn't have thought so. There are no breaks in the story, it flows beautifully from one author and back to the other. The story rises and falls and there are moments of laughter, sadness, shock, and anger...more than once I was left breathless at the end of a scene. Now...on to the story itself...

The book starts out (and I love that it was a prelude, not a prologue) with Gregory's view of Savannah's audtion to one of the most elite music conservatories in the US.

"This one was an unlikely prospect. I had no intention of admitting students who were not serious about their music" - Gregory

Gregory has a strict outlook on music, and on life. He insists that natural talent and emotion are of little importance when it comes to music. It's all about hard work, technique, structure and rules. He's completely unaware of the power music can have on those around him, not even realizing how much *he* affects people when he plays.

"Inside ten seconds, he was a musician...He was perfect. It was perfect." - Savannah

Throughout the book, Gregory slowly becomes aware that there are more things in life than his rules and obsessive self control. He's challenged at every turn by Savannah, she infuriates him, but he finds himself compulsively drawn to her.

"Music is communication. It's emotion. It's passion and love and hate and expression." - Savannah

Savannah is a phenom. She has a pure natural talent as a flutist that most of her professors and colleagues have not seen before. She pushes back against the contraints that Gregory tries to lay on her. Music is expression to her, and she's determined to express everything she sees, feels, and loves.

Together...they are an explosion waiting to happen. Savannah gets under Gregory's skin like no one ever has before, and that scares him, desperately.

"It's too dangerous. You're too dangerous." - Gregory

But despite the danger...

"I am in love with you, but there's nothing I can do about it, and I'm sorry for that." - Gregory

And thus begins the twisted road that Savannah and Gregory must navigate if they are to be together. Nearly everything and everyone is against them. They play games. They hurt one another. They hurt others. They make bad choices and they circle round and round what *could* be. As they fight for each other, and run away, then run back. There are moments of laughter. Times when they broke my heart and times when I seriously wanted to hurt one or both of them. Charles and Andrea sucked me into this book so hard that when I laid my Kindle down to go to sleep midway through the book, the characters wouldn't let me go and I got back up out of bed to finish reading. They took me on an amazing, wild ride, and at the end of it all...

"Maybe crazy was ok if love was the reason." - Savannah

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I work night shift as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. 7pm to 7am, three
nights a week. Sounds like the most dreadful schedule possible to
those "normal" 9 to 5'ers of the world. But I actually love it. Some
nights are absolutely get-me-out-of-this-nightmare busy and others are
completely dead, like no patients for 5 or 6 hours straight. There
doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the random lull in census
that we sometimes encounter but whenever it happens, I FUCKING LOVE
IT! It means that I get to catch up on my latest book, which in
tonight's case was Nocturne. The fact of the matter is that I
should've read this book the second that it was released to the world.
I am an avid, mildly-obsessed fan of both Andrea Randall and Charles
Sheehan-Miles, and I make it a point to read anything and everything
that they write. I know I will enjoy it, no question. When this book
was released, my life was just a little more busy than its usual crazy
choas. So I pushed it to the back burner. It sounds awful. It is
awful! How could I neglect to make time for two of my favorite people,
who have never let me down before? Well, I am glad that I did. I
wouldn't have been able to give this book the time and attention that
it deserved.
I just read the entire book in one sitting. One extremely moving,
profound, sometimes gut-wrenching, but oh so beautiful sitting. This
book. God! It was just, I can't even describe it. I am not a classical
music afficionato. I don't even know how to read music. But I have
never wanted so badly to go to a symphony as I do right now. I googled
every song. Every. Single. One. And I have never felt so "in the
story" before this book. The way that you two wrote this... it's just
simply a masterpiece. You both deserve to move to first chair in the
symphony of indie authors. Psshhh. As if you aren't already there! I
loved it. I loved every word of it. This story really should be a
movie. I have always enjoyed the descriptive nature of both of your
writing styles but this story, these characters,... you have truly
outdone yourselves.
I was a little caught off guard by how attached I got to Savannah. I
felt for her. I cried for her. Not teary-eyed. Full on CRIED! In the
middle of the nurses station at work. As soon as I was finally able to
compose myself, the story brought me to tears again. It was so
uncomfortable, and yet needed at the same time. Love is sometimes
ugly. It is raw and compelling and powerful, leaving people in its
wake. I hurt for Karin but I ACHED for Savannah. And Gregory? What a
smug, arrogant, pretentious, entitled, asshole. Until, you really got
him. There was just this moment of clarity during their journey when I
all of a sudden understood him. And then I ached for him. I made a
total blubbering-mess fool of myself in front of my work peers. So
damn you, Andrea and Charles! But then I got to explain. I got to
describe the beauty of this tortured tale to all of them. Let's just
say that you'll see a few more one-clicks show up tomorrow. They are
sold! And I continue to be sold on the both of you. Well done, yet
again. And thank you!

[Sleepy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 beautiful stars

Although it did take me 2 full days to really get into this book I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
The writing was exceptional and beautiful. The way these 2 authoras work together is just remarkable.
How the music was described was phenomenal, it was beautiful and inspirational, honestly!

You think music is this heartless engineering construct made of nothing but notes and rhythms pasted together by architects. IT IS NOT. MUSIC IS COMMUNICATION. ITS EMOTION. ITS PASSION AND LOVE AND HATE AND EXPRESSION!

Savannah and Gregorys relationship was a complicated and forbidden one. He was a professor and she was a student.
You cant help who you fall in love with. And for savannah is was Gregory Fitzgerald. There love wasnt insta love but it wasnt too far from it. She fell the moment he played his cello in class, it was a basic piece for someone like Gregory, but while the rest of the students were leaving class she was frozen in the piece. She saw how he played and from that moment on she was in love.
Gregory, he fell the moment she was auditioning for the conservatory. She was different and unique and she played the flute like noone. She was beyond perfect if there is such a thing, at playing and he was hooked to her.


AS THE MELODY PASSED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN US, SOMETIMES ALTERNATING, SOMETIMES IN UNISOM, OUR EYES REPEATEDLY MET, AND EACH TIME I FELT RAW, AS IF HE WERE STROKING THE BOW ACROSS MY SOUL INSTEAD OF THE STRINGS OF HIS CELLO.-savannah


They could communicate through music and it was amazing how they connected and understood each other on another level.


NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD BELIEVE THAT WE WERE IMPROVISING, THAT RIGHT THERE ON THAT STAGE SHE WAS TELLING A STORY OF HURT AND ANGER AND BETRAYAL. THAT SHE WAS TELLING ME JUST HOW MUCH I'D HURT HER.

HEARING HER PAIN THROUGH THE NOTES BROKE MY HEART.

AND I COULD HEAR IT.I COULD SEE IT IN THE SHIFTS OF HER POSTURE, AND IN HER EYES AS THEY DRIFTED TOWARD ME. I RESPONDED THE ONLY WAY I KNEW HOW, BY ADJUSTING MY OWN MUSIC-ATTEMPTING TO PLAY MY APOLOGY, MY LONGING, MY LOVE. MY FAILURE.-gregory



They had to deal with a lot over the 8+years they have been in each others lives. infidelity, which i really strongly hate! He wasn't just dating and had a girlfriend he was married! challenges that tested there strength, there loyalty to each other and there LOVE for each other.


"YOU'RE MY HEART, SAVANNAH. NOT IN IT. NOT A PART OF IT. IM CONSUMED BY YOU. OBSESSED BY YOU. I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE ANY WAY I CAN HAVE YOU. DONT TELL ME YOU DONT FEEL THE SAME."-gregory

"I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU."-savannah

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Music is communication. It’s emotion. It’s passion and love and hate and expression.”

A novel by Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles?! Well you’re really in for a treat! I love their collaboration! The way they wrote together is pretty amazing. The story flows well and you would not think that this story is written by two different authors.

This story is about forbidden love and passion – passion for music and passion for another person. I really enjoyed Savannah’s character. She’s so free-spirited and full of life, full of passion and dedication! As for Gregory, he has passion too for his music and his dedication to his music knows no bounds. However, it’s not the same when it comes to love. I really like him in the beginning but towards the middle I’m annoyed FURIOUS at him!!!

“I am in love with you, but there’s nothing I can do about it, and I’m sorry for that.”

HMMM.. EXCUSE ME... SAY WHAT?!!!



I want to rip out his balls and shove it down his throat! His lack of having balls and fighting for what he wants, what he needs (through the book), is just plain infuriating to me! His hesitation about everything confused me and appalled me.

When Gregory and Savannah are together their chemistry is unquestionable. Though it might be wrong, there’s just this nagging feeling that I want them to be together, forever…

I love both of these authors and I knew right away that I will really like this one – no questions asked. I knew as well that there will come a point in this book that will make me teary eyed or something. These authors never fail in that department. And talk about music and steam… This one got it! Though I did not love this book in its entirety, I still really liked it and enjoyed it.