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Symphony #1
Symphony in Blue
It was just supposed to be a working weekend in Maui and not anything remotely life-altering, but all that changes the moment Gwen Harrison holds a hotel elevator for Dana Ryan. Beautiful and charming, Dana is a breath of fresh air that Gwen is helpless to resist—something she dearly regrets when their whirlwind weekend is over and reality sets back in. The course of true love is notorious for being anything but smooth, but the truths and consequences of an inauspicious beginning such as theirs are enough to put that old adage to the ultimate test.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2017
140 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Duncan
17 books413 followersMJ Duncan is a Southern California girl who traded in her surfboard for hockey skates when she moved to Minnesota. When not writing, MJ enjoys reading, climbing, swimming, and spending time with her family. You can also follow her on twitter (@mj_duncan) and tumblr (mjduncan).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 3, 2017
M.J. Duncan's previous book 'Atramentum' wasn't my favorite but, in general, I am a fan of this author. When I saw this book released the other day I snatched it up without even reading the blurb and I wasn't sure what to expect plot or quality wise. I'm happy to say I found this to be much better than her last book and Duncan is more or less back in the saddle of what made me like her books in the first place.
Gwen and Dana are two very likable leads with crackling chemistry in a straight up romance. The supporting cast is great, dialogue is natural, the music and athletic backgrounds of our leads are rich, and the intimacy is steamy and palpable. Duncan could teach a class on how one should write intimacy and romance at this point, that's how good she is. However, full disclaimer, this book has a twist that some people may hate; infidelity. It does not occur between Dana and Gwen but let's just say the offending party feels like the biggest jerk for already having a girlfriend and, though Dana and Gwen are meant for each other, this already existing girlfriend is the driving plot point behind why Dana and Gwen can't properly come together for most of the book no matter how much we scream at them to just go for it already. It does help that Duncan makes the offending party a stand up person that feels guilty as hell while also making the existing girlfriend about as big of a douche as she could possibly be...
To the point that our lead knows she's in a relationship with the girlfriend but the girlfriend is so absent, cold, self-absorbed, and completely non-caring I truly started to wonder if the girlfriend realized she was actually in a relationship with the lead? It makes it easier for us as the reader to root for Dana and Gwen, that's for sure.
Despite the infidelity aspect, the pure love story is still front and center and brings out the romantic in all of us...well, most of us. And Duncan delivers a strong story with the happy ending we all want.
I'll add that the book isn't 100 percent polished with a few editorial hiccups but I find those easy to overlook since the overall quality is high...and though every encounter is pleasant it started to feel a tad long but, then again, the payoff was worth it.
I enjoyed the read and give this around 4.2 stars.
Gwen and Dana are two very likable leads with crackling chemistry in a straight up romance. The supporting cast is great, dialogue is natural, the music and athletic backgrounds of our leads are rich, and the intimacy is steamy and palpable. Duncan could teach a class on how one should write intimacy and romance at this point, that's how good she is. However, full disclaimer, this book has a twist that some people may hate; infidelity. It does not occur between Dana and Gwen but let's just say the offending party feels like the biggest jerk for already having a girlfriend and, though Dana and Gwen are meant for each other, this already existing girlfriend is the driving plot point behind why Dana and Gwen can't properly come together for most of the book no matter how much we scream at them to just go for it already. It does help that Duncan makes the offending party a stand up person that feels guilty as hell while also making the existing girlfriend about as big of a douche as she could possibly be...
To the point that our lead knows she's in a relationship with the girlfriend but the girlfriend is so absent, cold, self-absorbed, and completely non-caring I truly started to wonder if the girlfriend realized she was actually in a relationship with the lead? It makes it easier for us as the reader to root for Dana and Gwen, that's for sure.
Despite the infidelity aspect, the pure love story is still front and center and brings out the romantic in all of us...well, most of us. And Duncan delivers a strong story with the happy ending we all want.
I'll add that the book isn't 100 percent polished with a few editorial hiccups but I find those easy to overlook since the overall quality is high...and though every encounter is pleasant it started to feel a tad long but, then again, the payoff was worth it.
I enjoyed the read and give this around 4.2 stars.
January 26, 2019
Who said lunch is the most understated meal of the day? Not to these characters! Boy do they love to lunch. There is mention of going to lunch at least every three pages. I definitely learned about many LA lunch spots in this book. Lunch lunch lunch.
This book was pretty good, even though the yucky subject of infidelity comes up. Y'all know how much I loved the first 15% of this book, because hellllooooo steamy sexy-times! And the cello is one of my favourite instruments, so really liked the symphony aspect, and the author did well in describing the different roles of the symphony. Super interesting. Plus Frank Gehry is my favourite architect so having the amazing construction of the WDC mentioned had me drooling. I really truly did like Gwen and Dana as a couple too and their chemistry was smokin'.
However the story had some issues and was just....missing something key. For one, the length: way too long, especially considering the bulk of the middle of the book was full of well, nothing substantial. Nothing much happens, I'm afraid. I can sum it up as: Dana and Gwen hang out as friends, where of course, they go to lunch, and make doe eyes at each other, Gwen's best friend Luke asks her "are you ok?" every 5 minutes, there are rehearsals, Gwen hauls her cello, swim practices, more lunch, Regan's funny outbursts, and for some reason a lot of merlot drinking (why merlot? ew.). Occasionally we get a glimpse of Mallory, who I am convinced was a robot. Even beefing up her role in this could have added more edge or angst.
The last few chapters, again, WHEW on the sex! Nice work. But to have these bookends around content that is just mediocre at best was a bit of a letdown. There really is no drama, no twists, even the funny friends stopped being funny because it was just too long. The same phrases are literally repeated after a few paragraphs, and there's so much description of mundane things that I did skim over portions because I knew it wasn't adding to the story at all.
This book was pretty good, even though the yucky subject of infidelity comes up. Y'all know how much I loved the first 15% of this book, because hellllooooo steamy sexy-times! And the cello is one of my favourite instruments, so really liked the symphony aspect, and the author did well in describing the different roles of the symphony. Super interesting. Plus Frank Gehry is my favourite architect so having the amazing construction of the WDC mentioned had me drooling. I really truly did like Gwen and Dana as a couple too and their chemistry was smokin'.
However the story had some issues and was just....missing something key. For one, the length: way too long, especially considering the bulk of the middle of the book was full of well, nothing substantial. Nothing much happens, I'm afraid. I can sum it up as: Dana and Gwen hang out as friends, where of course, they go to lunch, and make doe eyes at each other, Gwen's best friend Luke asks her "are you ok?" every 5 minutes, there are rehearsals, Gwen hauls her cello, swim practices, more lunch, Regan's funny outbursts, and for some reason a lot of merlot drinking (why merlot? ew.). Occasionally we get a glimpse of Mallory, who I am convinced was a robot. Even beefing up her role in this could have added more edge or angst.
The last few chapters, again, WHEW on the sex! Nice work. But to have these bookends around content that is just mediocre at best was a bit of a letdown. There really is no drama, no twists, even the funny friends stopped being funny because it was just too long. The same phrases are literally repeated after a few paragraphs, and there's so much description of mundane things that I did skim over portions because I knew it wasn't adding to the story at all.
April 4, 2017
I really like MJ Duncan's other stories. This story isn't bad, but it's all centered around a relationship that doesn't exist anymore and instead of breaking the whole farce up, Gwen sticks to it for whatever reason. We meet Mallory a few times, come on, from the first page of the book I was expecting Mallory to have an affair with someone (it would have made the whole suffering story a little shorter), she is a self-centered bi***. I really liked Dana's and Gwen's interaction (Dana is a darling and don't get me going on Waterman ;) it is always so sweet when they meet. I would have confronted Mallory at the beginning of the book and then the story would have been different.
February 11, 2019
I really enjoyed the beginning of this but then found the two months of progressing time interminable. I hate it when I feel like I'm treading water. Gwen Harrison has been hired to play her cello for a wedding in Hawaii and on her arrival at the hotel she finds herself in a lift with a very drunk bride and her best woman. She immediately finds the best woman, Dana Ryan, attractive. Tequila is the catalyst for a very sexy tryst until the brightness of morning intrudes.
I liked the characters, I enjoyed the writing but the premise and the waiting left me feeling a little irritable. My rating would fall somewhere between three and four stars but not rounded up.
I liked the characters, I enjoyed the writing but the premise and the waiting left me feeling a little irritable. My rating would fall somewhere between three and four stars but not rounded up.
October 31, 2017
Wow! I really, really liked this book. The characters were irresistible. The opening scene was one of the best and most hilarious ever. M.J. Duncan has gone directly from my authors-I-have-not-read to favorite-authors shelf. While I understand some people do not like to see troubled relationships depicted in Lesfic, I find it refreshing if it isn't the focus. That's one of the things that made this book stand out for me. I found the characters so likable that I wasn't annoyed with the unending angst. I expect this will become a comfort read for me.
did-not-finish
September 12, 2017No rating. I did only read 18% of this book.
Nice story, was having fun - the chemistry between Dana and Gwen was off the chart. But then . . .
I was barely hanging in there when things turned to 'oh right, I already have a girlfriend . . . who I don't like'; but . . . now not going to say anything and not going to break up because . . . she doesn't want to disturb her when she's going to be practicing for an audition. Just wouldn't be right.
Then I look at reviews. And the things I see don't fill me with a desire to continue.
This book lodges itself perfectly into my discomfort zone. And life is short.
So, yeah, I'm done.
Rating: ---
Snippet written: April 14 2017
Nice story, was having fun - the chemistry between Dana and Gwen was off the chart. But then . . .
I was barely hanging in there when things turned to 'oh right, I already have a girlfriend . . . who I don't like'; but . . . now not going to say anything and not going to break up because . . . she doesn't want to disturb her when she's going to be practicing for an audition. Just wouldn't be right.
Then I look at reviews. And the things I see don't fill me with a desire to continue.
This book lodges itself perfectly into my discomfort zone. And life is short.
So, yeah, I'm done.
Rating: ---
Snippet written: April 14 2017
April 5, 2017
Absolutely Amazing
I have read several of MJ Duncan's book and this is by far my favorite. Not only were the main characters amazing but the secondary characters were just as good and did more than just add to the story of Dana and Gwen, they pretty much made it. And the ending!!! It had me all smiles. Read this book. Its a fast, slow burm that is just great!!!
I have read several of MJ Duncan's book and this is by far my favorite. Not only were the main characters amazing but the secondary characters were just as good and did more than just add to the story of Dana and Gwen, they pretty much made it. And the ending!!! It had me all smiles. Read this book. Its a fast, slow burm that is just great!!!
July 13, 2019
I didn't expect to like this book so much but what a pleasant surprise. The story flows so smoothly and I loved being a part of the characters life as their relationship grew. I highly recommend this book
May 15, 2019
A good book.
It took me a while to finish it because there's so much details, and I think that most of them were unnecessary and irrelevant to the main story.
I loved Dana, she's cute and adorable and so understanding.
I don't think that anything justify a cheating, but it's understandable, Mallory and Gwen relationship was already dead, still not okay tho.
It takes a little too long for them to be really together, and I got sometimes jumping the book just to see what would happen.
The end is supper cute, like I almost cried.
And the sex is really good, nothing too erotic, and only happens on the beginning and on the end, so that can be a little frustrating, but very well written.
It took me a while to finish it because there's so much details, and I think that most of them were unnecessary and irrelevant to the main story.
I loved Dana, she's cute and adorable and so understanding.
I don't think that anything justify a cheating, but it's understandable, Mallory and Gwen relationship was already dead, still not okay tho.
It takes a little too long for them to be really together, and I got sometimes jumping the book just to see what would happen.
The end is supper cute, like I almost cried.
And the sex is really good, nothing too erotic, and only happens on the beginning and on the end, so that can be a little frustrating, but very well written.
April 13, 2017
Another sweet romance from MJ Duncan. I certainly had some reservations about this one as I read in reviews that there was infidelity in the story. However, the author does a great job of making us root for the main couple in spite of that initial blunder. I also feel that she illustrated the consequences of unfaithfulness rather clearly as it almost ruined the love of a lifetime. Bravo to the author.
April 24, 2018
Damn it! It started off so well. I was seriously enjoying it and my hopes kept climbing, and I've only reached 17%! Why does it have to be about infidelity? Why does the protagonist have to cop out of doing the right thing?
I'm putting this on hold, or I'll end up skipping through it. Infidelity is bad enough, adding to it a coward is... too much.
UPDATE:
You know what's frustrating? I HAD to read it.
They have so much chemistry i had to finish it so that they could be together and the only way to do that was by grabbing the bandaid and pulling it off.
I don't agree with what Gwen did, and in the end I more or less accepted why she didn't want to tell Mallory.
On that note, the rest of this was great. I skipped some of the architectural descriptions I didn't care about, though.
I loved Gwen and Dana together. The chemistry was so good. The respect and love, and genuinely liking someone... On point.
So many novels are sweet and yet don't show any indication as to why these people like each other beyond physical/chemical attraction. These were two honestly lovely women.
The supporting characters were entertaining and wonderful.
I really enjoyed this.
It was hard to get past the infidelity thing at first, but life happens. Be honest with yourself before turning your nose up, like I did. I rooted for them so much from the beginning I didn't want this to be how it started. People mess up. Get past it and enjoy a chemistry that you may rarely ever read again.
I'm putting this on hold, or I'll end up skipping through it. Infidelity is bad enough, adding to it a coward is... too much.
UPDATE:
You know what's frustrating? I HAD to read it.
They have so much chemistry i had to finish it so that they could be together and the only way to do that was by grabbing the bandaid and pulling it off.
I don't agree with what Gwen did, and in the end I more or less accepted why she didn't want to tell Mallory.
On that note, the rest of this was great. I skipped some of the architectural descriptions I didn't care about, though.
I loved Gwen and Dana together. The chemistry was so good. The respect and love, and genuinely liking someone... On point.
So many novels are sweet and yet don't show any indication as to why these people like each other beyond physical/chemical attraction. These were two honestly lovely women.
The supporting characters were entertaining and wonderful.
I really enjoyed this.
It was hard to get past the infidelity thing at first, but life happens. Be honest with yourself before turning your nose up, like I did. I rooted for them so much from the beginning I didn't want this to be how it started. People mess up. Get past it and enjoy a chemistry that you may rarely ever read again.
April 13, 2017
Detailed score: 3.5
The good:
- Gee this author knows how to write a moving pwoar scene.
- the moments of unrestrained togetherness were fantastic. Pity so much of this was crammed in at the end
The bad:
So. SO. Many excess descriptors. Everything is described in detailed, so much so that I started to skip whole pages because it they just contained descriptions of the restaurant the characters were at, which had no bearing on any plot point whatsoever, it really board me out of the story
The meh:
I really don't love infidelity story lines. The infidelity here was so implausible it was bearable for my infidelity hating self to not hate the cheater but also was so implausible that I found it really frustrating as our 'barrier to love' plot device for 80% of the novel
Overall; I can't help feeling that a good editor could have made this a much better book than what it is. Still worth your time if you're willing to do a little work as a reader to see the potential within the rough,
The good:
- Gee this author knows how to write a moving pwoar scene.
- the moments of unrestrained togetherness were fantastic. Pity so much of this was crammed in at the end
The bad:
So. SO. Many excess descriptors. Everything is described in detailed, so much so that I started to skip whole pages because it they just contained descriptions of the restaurant the characters were at, which had no bearing on any plot point whatsoever, it really board me out of the story
The meh:
I really don't love infidelity story lines. The infidelity here was so implausible it was bearable for my infidelity hating self to not hate the cheater but also was so implausible that I found it really frustrating as our 'barrier to love' plot device for 80% of the novel
Overall; I can't help feeling that a good editor could have made this a much better book than what it is. Still worth your time if you're willing to do a little work as a reader to see the potential within the rough,
January 24, 2023
Symphony in Blue was next in my chronological read of MJ Duncan novels, and I was really hoping to love this because it's about a professional cellist, and I have what my wife calls a "pretentious" love of classical music. I mean, I do love classical music, but is that inherently pretentious? I don't know, but I do know I was excited to read this novel for that reason alone. And the other MC is a swimmer! So now Duncan is just really trying to fit two things I love in this one novel, as if it was written for me. But I was really disappointed in this and I'm not happy about it.
The first MJ Duncan book I read was Unadulterated Something, and none of the other 4-5 novels have compared to that book for me. Maybe it's because it was my first book of hers? Maybe because Unadulterated Something is a more recently published novel and, since I'm reading Duncan's other books chronologically, she's become a better writer? I don't know. I just know I keep chasing that feeling I had when I read (and continue to reread) that novel, and it just hasn't happened yet. And what I noticed in Symphony in Blue is that Duncan uses a lot of similar character types novel to novel. I could have plucked the side characters in this and dropped them in Unadulterated Something and I wouldn't know they weren't the same characters. (And since Blue was published first, I guess these are copied to Unadulterated). That isn't a huge deal breaker for me. I understand that authors have their own stock characters/prototypes and it may be hard to differentiate, but I did notice it, which means it definitely distracted me while I was reading.
I'm rambling (of course), but none of this is why the novel was so disappointing to me. Symphony in Blue starts strong--a hilarious moment in an elevator brings our protagonists together. Their chemistry is undeniable. And then...
It took me five days to get through this novel, which is a good indication that I was struggling. And considering I read this right after finishing a biographical tome on Beethoven, it should have been even easier to read, and I just couldn't do it. It did pick up for me in the back half of the novel, but I had a hard time rooting for this romance.
2.5 stars I'm rounding down for reasons of spoilers.
The first MJ Duncan book I read was Unadulterated Something, and none of the other 4-5 novels have compared to that book for me. Maybe it's because it was my first book of hers? Maybe because Unadulterated Something is a more recently published novel and, since I'm reading Duncan's other books chronologically, she's become a better writer? I don't know. I just know I keep chasing that feeling I had when I read (and continue to reread) that novel, and it just hasn't happened yet. And what I noticed in Symphony in Blue is that Duncan uses a lot of similar character types novel to novel. I could have plucked the side characters in this and dropped them in Unadulterated Something and I wouldn't know they weren't the same characters. (And since Blue was published first, I guess these are copied to Unadulterated). That isn't a huge deal breaker for me. I understand that authors have their own stock characters/prototypes and it may be hard to differentiate, but I did notice it, which means it definitely distracted me while I was reading.
I'm rambling (of course), but none of this is why the novel was so disappointing to me. Symphony in Blue starts strong--a hilarious moment in an elevator brings our protagonists together. Their chemistry is undeniable. And then...
It took me five days to get through this novel, which is a good indication that I was struggling. And considering I read this right after finishing a biographical tome on Beethoven, it should have been even easier to read, and I just couldn't do it. It did pick up for me in the back half of the novel, but I had a hard time rooting for this romance.
2.5 stars I'm rounding down for reasons of spoilers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2020
The perils and pleasures of falling in love.
This story belongs to Gwen. She is a cellist who lives to work in the LA Philharmonic. While away at a wedding gig in Maui, she meets Dana and Dana's BFF Regan. They are also in Maui for a wedding, but this one is between Regan and her beloved, Brooke. The three women meet, the night before these two weddings, at the hotel where they are staying.
The drunken livewire Regan pushes Dana to ask Gwen out to the wedding reception, which takes place on the next night. Gwen finds Dana nearly irresistible and decides to accept the invitation. A night of drinking, flirting and dancing leads to a romantic liaison for Gwen and Dana. What happens the morning after drives the plot of Symphony in Blue.
I've been reading books by M. J. Duncan for quite some time. I enjoyed all of them. I would rate this novel between 4 and 4.5 stars. Lesbian romance is generally about the push toward and pull away from love. Most involve some mysterious force which brings the lovers together, be it chance or fate or the Cosmos itself. Does any writer truly understand the mysteries of the lesbian heart? Usually an equal and opposite force moves the protagonists apart. The issues vary in cope and complexity including coming out, family melodrama, in-laws, shyness, insecurity, homophobia, religious turmoil, addiction, workaholic tendencies and so on. In this case, Gwen makes a terrible mistake when she hooked up with Dana. She knows it and she's sorry. The storyline is tricky, but it's handled skillfully. I was very impressed with how the author handled a sensitive topic.
This novel is populated with numerous characters. I liked most of them, but not all. Some characters acted too over the top for adults in their thirties. Others weren't developed enough to carry the story forward. More in depth characterization would have strengthened this novel. It's just a small observation and it doesn't change my view of this terrific romance.
This story belongs to Gwen. She is a cellist who lives to work in the LA Philharmonic. While away at a wedding gig in Maui, she meets Dana and Dana's BFF Regan. They are also in Maui for a wedding, but this one is between Regan and her beloved, Brooke. The three women meet, the night before these two weddings, at the hotel where they are staying.
The drunken livewire Regan pushes Dana to ask Gwen out to the wedding reception, which takes place on the next night. Gwen finds Dana nearly irresistible and decides to accept the invitation. A night of drinking, flirting and dancing leads to a romantic liaison for Gwen and Dana. What happens the morning after drives the plot of Symphony in Blue.
I've been reading books by M. J. Duncan for quite some time. I enjoyed all of them. I would rate this novel between 4 and 4.5 stars. Lesbian romance is generally about the push toward and pull away from love. Most involve some mysterious force which brings the lovers together, be it chance or fate or the Cosmos itself. Does any writer truly understand the mysteries of the lesbian heart? Usually an equal and opposite force moves the protagonists apart. The issues vary in cope and complexity including coming out, family melodrama, in-laws, shyness, insecurity, homophobia, religious turmoil, addiction, workaholic tendencies and so on. In this case, Gwen makes a terrible mistake when she hooked up with Dana. She knows it and she's sorry. The storyline is tricky, but it's handled skillfully. I was very impressed with how the author handled a sensitive topic.
This novel is populated with numerous characters. I liked most of them, but not all. Some characters acted too over the top for adults in their thirties. Others weren't developed enough to carry the story forward. More in depth characterization would have strengthened this novel. It's just a small observation and it doesn't change my view of this terrific romance.
September 13, 2023
Symphony in Blue is a compelling romance that hits all the right notes. Gwen and Dana are magnetic leads, each with textured backgrounds in music and athletics that enrich the story. Duncan proves once again that she has a knack for writing authentic dialogue and sizzling intimate scenes.
However, be warned: the story incorporates a divisive element—infidelity. Not between Dana and Gwen, but involving a third party that serves as a major roadblock in their path to romance. Despite this, Duncan crafts the characters with enough nuance that you can't help but root for Dana and Gwen, particularly as the existing girlfriend is portrayed as decidedly unsympathetic.
The narrative is told solely from Gwen's perspective, a creative choice that lends focus and depth to her character. While the book could benefit from a bit more polishing and may seem slightly protracted, the emotional payoff is well worth the wait. Even if you are usually turned off by infidelity plots, Duncan's storytelling prowess might just win you over. The book is tinged with humor, laced with passionate scenes, and ultimately, delivers the happily ever after we're all craving.
Overall, Symphony in Blue is a beautiful love story that stands strong despite its moral complexities. While I initially went in unaware of the infidelity angle, finding out actually heightened my investment in Dana and Gwen's story. A must-read for those who appreciate complex characters and are willing to navigate the murky waters of love's ethical dilemmas.
However, be warned: the story incorporates a divisive element—infidelity. Not between Dana and Gwen, but involving a third party that serves as a major roadblock in their path to romance. Despite this, Duncan crafts the characters with enough nuance that you can't help but root for Dana and Gwen, particularly as the existing girlfriend is portrayed as decidedly unsympathetic.
The narrative is told solely from Gwen's perspective, a creative choice that lends focus and depth to her character. While the book could benefit from a bit more polishing and may seem slightly protracted, the emotional payoff is well worth the wait. Even if you are usually turned off by infidelity plots, Duncan's storytelling prowess might just win you over. The book is tinged with humor, laced with passionate scenes, and ultimately, delivers the happily ever after we're all craving.
Overall, Symphony in Blue is a beautiful love story that stands strong despite its moral complexities. While I initially went in unaware of the infidelity angle, finding out actually heightened my investment in Dana and Gwen's story. A must-read for those who appreciate complex characters and are willing to navigate the murky waters of love's ethical dilemmas.
May 23, 2023
This book has close to 400 pages and I didn’t care for much of them. The start was fun, flirty and sexy. Until that all came crashing to an end.
I find Gwen to be a very self centred and annoying character. I don’t like her at all. When all of the story is told from her third person POV you know you will not enjoy a single bit of it.
I kinda liked Dana, but have no clue what she wants with the likes of whiny Gwen. So many things wrong with this story…
Aside from me not liking the character I found the story to be very repetitive, maybe monotonous is a better word. I didn’t want to DNF two books in a row and I really want to read the second book in this series. I’ve been told you can do it as a standalone but my brain does not allow that. So here we are, I finished a book I did not like and will not recommend to anyone.
Please read other reviews.
I find Gwen to be a very self centred and annoying character. I don’t like her at all. When all of the story is told from her third person POV you know you will not enjoy a single bit of it.
I kinda liked Dana, but have no clue what she wants with the likes of whiny Gwen. So many things wrong with this story…
Aside from me not liking the character I found the story to be very repetitive, maybe monotonous is a better word. I didn’t want to DNF two books in a row and I really want to read the second book in this series. I’ve been told you can do it as a standalone but my brain does not allow that. So here we are, I finished a book I did not like and will not recommend to anyone.
Please read other reviews.
January 23, 2019
I was hesitant when I started to read this book. It was recommended to me so I gave it a shot. I loved it. I was rooting for Dana and Gwen the whole time. It’s rare you find someone that you just can’t stay away from. The author did a great job with turning a sad situation into a great love story.
May 6, 2019
4.24 Stars
This book starts with a real bang (ahem) as Gwen and Dana meet in Hawaii. And I wondered where we would go from here, because there seemed to be nowhere for the story to go. And then I found out, and I was a bit put off. As Gwen and Dana navigate the friendship they are trying to pursue, we get a sort of fusion of instalove with a slowburn, and such details of every day life that we know exactly what they were eating, listening to and what they scored in scrabble. And here my inner pedant got badly triggered twice. Firstly, EQUINOX as an opening word in Scrabble would score you 116 not 66 points. I mean, if you go to the kind of detail of running us through game play, then please get it right. And, second, it's Schumann not Schumman. I'll put the inner pedant away now. Most of the dialogue is pretty good fun, and the characters are all very likeable.
I read this in preparation for getting stuck into Pas de Deux that had rave reviews from trusted GR reviewers. It tells the story of the 'other woman' in this book. She is not very likeable in this one, but bloody interesting. So, I'll be right on the next instalment. Hoping to find out as well how she saw this break-up.
It's free on KU, and it is a real gem.
This book starts with a real bang (ahem) as Gwen and Dana meet in Hawaii. And I wondered where we would go from here, because there seemed to be nowhere for the story to go. And then I found out, and I was a bit put off. As Gwen and Dana navigate the friendship they are trying to pursue, we get a sort of fusion of instalove with a slowburn, and such details of every day life that we know exactly what they were eating, listening to and what they scored in scrabble. And here my inner pedant got badly triggered twice. Firstly, EQUINOX as an opening word in Scrabble would score you 116 not 66 points. I mean, if you go to the kind of detail of running us through game play, then please get it right. And, second, it's Schumann not Schumman. I'll put the inner pedant away now. Most of the dialogue is pretty good fun, and the characters are all very likeable.
I read this in preparation for getting stuck into Pas de Deux that had rave reviews from trusted GR reviewers. It tells the story of the 'other woman' in this book. She is not very likeable in this one, but bloody interesting. So, I'll be right on the next instalment. Hoping to find out as well how she saw this break-up.
It's free on KU, and it is a real gem.
April 15, 2017
3.5 stars.
This was pretty good. It ended up moving a little slowly because it established its end point very early on and then plodded faithfully towards that conclusion with no deviation or drama. But it was sweet.
This was pretty good. It ended up moving a little slowly because it established its end point very early on and then plodded faithfully towards that conclusion with no deviation or drama. But it was sweet.
February 26, 2018
I read this book about a month ago. Since I don't remember much of it, it's obviously not that memorable. Not bad, but definitely not one that will stay with me over time.
November 18, 2019
This is the third Duncan´s novel I´ve read. The first one was Atramentum, where I was in love with the book, the characters, the writing in the first half (I almost compared her to my favorite Author ever, Melissa Brayden, but THANK GOD I didn´t) and the second one was Spectrum, which one I loved. But then... I realized that maybe all Duncan´s books is always with the same structure: a couple that fall in love and the rest of the book is telling us their story... and just it. "Only" a love story, "only" a romance. What is great, but don´t think is for me, because I need something to happen.
And then I found Symphony in Blue and was ansious to read because I was thinking that this could be an excellent angst book (because I l-o-v-e angst books).... but unfortunetly I was wrong.
To sum up: this book is boring. There is this characther, Gwen, that have a perfect night with this perfect woman of her dreams in Hawaii, but she got "scared" and left her alone in the room with a note of goodbye.
Just with that I think that Dana should have forget her and move on. But the book needed to be continued... Well, some time after that, both of them meet up again and then *insert suspense music* we discovered that
I just can´t get it. I can´t get Gwen´s relationship with Mallory. I can´t get Gwen´s potential relationship with Dana. I just can´t get Gwen, a selfish person, that prefers to live and to make people that she care about to live a lie, because she don´t wanna confront Mallory.
To quote Lexxi Kitty in her review: yeah, I'm done.
And then I found Symphony in Blue and was ansious to read because I was thinking that this could be an excellent angst book (because I l-o-v-e angst books).... but unfortunetly I was wrong.
To sum up: this book is boring. There is this characther, Gwen, that have a perfect night with this perfect woman of her dreams in Hawaii, but she got "scared" and left her alone in the room with a note of goodbye.
Just with that I think that Dana should have forget her and move on. But the book needed to be continued... Well, some time after that, both of them meet up again and then *insert suspense music* we discovered that
I just can´t get it. I can´t get Gwen´s relationship with Mallory. I can´t get Gwen´s potential relationship with Dana. I just can´t get Gwen, a selfish person, that prefers to live and to make people that she care about to live a lie, because she don´t wanna confront Mallory.
To quote Lexxi Kitty in her review: yeah, I'm done.
June 18, 2017
Brilliant and beautiful
After an unexpected start this story totally had me hooked, especially if you are a total sap like me. A truly beautiful story that held me tight from beginning to end.
After an unexpected start this story totally had me hooked, especially if you are a total sap like me. A truly beautiful story that held me tight from beginning to end.
September 1, 2017
Symphony in Blue by M. J. Duncan is a happily ever after lesbian romance that’s perfect for a day at the beach or by the pool.
October 3, 2021
I have to agree with some of the other reviews on this. It was a good story with little drama, I just wish it were shorter. There were about 200 unnecessary pages of running fingers through hair, biting lips, and eating lunch that could have been cut out.
August 1, 2021
Symphony in Blue revolves around similar theme to Desert Sky, but that is about where the similarities end. Gwen is a cellist with the LA- symphony orchestra, the second seat among them, really and a well know musician and teacher, but her private life, thanks to her "girlfriend", the concert master and first violin Mallory, is more and more empty.
When a chance meeting confronts her with Dana and her best friend Regan, who is, according to Dana drunk as a skunk and going to be married the next day, she is invited to that same wedding and that following night she is going to realise, just how empty her life has become.
What follows is a perfect example, how much overthinking and self imposed guilt trips can ruin someone's life. Dana is a strong survivor of an accident in her youth, in which she lost half a leg, wich didnt hinder her to still go on and become a paralympic gold medalist several times over. The one thing that keeps her from happoness is the usual reaction of other women, especially lesbians like herself, to her naked body. Gwen is different and reacts perfectly, helped by some tequilla on Regan's instigation on one hand and the instant attraction and not at least the well trained and beautiful body and those incredibe blue eyes Dana has.
Th next morning, thanks to her self imposed code of honour, that couldn't be further from the mark of what she well and truly should do, makes Gwen run away, hurting not only herself, but much more importantly Dana.
Both characters are really well worked and believable, even though towards the end you cannot help cringeing at how Gwen manages to deny herself and the sweet and oh so respectful and sweet attempts of Dana to salvage what they had. When Gwen finally has found the courage to tell Mallory that she is not going to folow her to her dream job as Concert Master of the London Syphony Orchestra the woman disappears to London without even saying good bye.
The side charaters of Luke and Regan are hilariously funny, but aso very good friends for Dana and Gwen, as are their partners Jay and regans wife Brooke. They make Gwen's self deprecation bearable time and time again.
[Spoiler]
Mallory does, though, turn up like a bad penny again, just as Dana and Gwen are about to finally make love for the second time, sending Dana running away panicked. Fortunately both their friends, Luke, Jay, Regan and Brooke manage to save the day for a happily ever after.
[end Spoiler]
The final, surprising resolution is a wonderful, very satifying twist.
I enjoyed the read, even though I was sometimes rolling my eyes, wanting to tell Gwen to fucking think of herself for once instead of planing to serve Mallory again, who really had no right any more to demand anything from Gwen, the way she selfishly ignored her "girlfriend".
When a chance meeting confronts her with Dana and her best friend Regan, who is, according to Dana drunk as a skunk and going to be married the next day, she is invited to that same wedding and that following night she is going to realise, just how empty her life has become.
What follows is a perfect example, how much overthinking and self imposed guilt trips can ruin someone's life. Dana is a strong survivor of an accident in her youth, in which she lost half a leg, wich didnt hinder her to still go on and become a paralympic gold medalist several times over. The one thing that keeps her from happoness is the usual reaction of other women, especially lesbians like herself, to her naked body. Gwen is different and reacts perfectly, helped by some tequilla on Regan's instigation on one hand and the instant attraction and not at least the well trained and beautiful body and those incredibe blue eyes Dana has.
Th next morning, thanks to her self imposed code of honour, that couldn't be further from the mark of what she well and truly should do, makes Gwen run away, hurting not only herself, but much more importantly Dana.
Both characters are really well worked and believable, even though towards the end you cannot help cringeing at how Gwen manages to deny herself and the sweet and oh so respectful and sweet attempts of Dana to salvage what they had. When Gwen finally has found the courage to tell Mallory that she is not going to folow her to her dream job as Concert Master of the London Syphony Orchestra the woman disappears to London without even saying good bye.
The side charaters of Luke and Regan are hilariously funny, but aso very good friends for Dana and Gwen, as are their partners Jay and regans wife Brooke. They make Gwen's self deprecation bearable time and time again.
[Spoiler]
Mallory does, though, turn up like a bad penny again, just as Dana and Gwen are about to finally make love for the second time, sending Dana running away panicked. Fortunately both their friends, Luke, Jay, Regan and Brooke manage to save the day for a happily ever after.
[end Spoiler]
The final, surprising resolution is a wonderful, very satifying twist.
I enjoyed the read, even though I was sometimes rolling my eyes, wanting to tell Gwen to fucking think of herself for once instead of planing to serve Mallory again, who really had no right any more to demand anything from Gwen, the way she selfishly ignored her "girlfriend".
August 3, 2023
Symphony in Blue
MJ Duncan is an amazing author. I adore all her books and consistently come back to them time and time again. I have read this book a few times already and every time I come back to it, it feels like the first. Beautifully written, brings out my emotions every time. I love the chemistry between the characters, and the secondary characters are a riot. I love this series and am waiting with bated breathe for more.
MJ Duncan is an amazing author. I adore all her books and consistently come back to them time and time again. I have read this book a few times already and every time I come back to it, it feels like the first. Beautifully written, brings out my emotions every time. I love the chemistry between the characters, and the secondary characters are a riot. I love this series and am waiting with bated breathe for more.
December 8, 2023
Beautiful music
This is a lovely story of an all too human woman who makes a mistake that ends up being the best mistake of her life. The mains are fun together. The secondary characters are delightful. I agree with the review that mentioned the beginning and end as the strongest. But without the middle the mains don’t get to know each other as well. As with all MJ Duncan stories that I have read thus far, this is an excellent story that I will likely reread.
ADDENDUM: After a recent reread, I remembered how much I like these characters. And this time, I looked up more of the music. THANK YOU MJ Duncan, for giving me my new favorite music: Danzon No. 2, (and new favorite conductor: Alondra de la Parra). Now I must reread the rest of the trilogy, because all three of these books are excellent.
This is a lovely story of an all too human woman who makes a mistake that ends up being the best mistake of her life. The mains are fun together. The secondary characters are delightful. I agree with the review that mentioned the beginning and end as the strongest. But without the middle the mains don’t get to know each other as well. As with all MJ Duncan stories that I have read thus far, this is an excellent story that I will likely reread.
ADDENDUM: After a recent reread, I remembered how much I like these characters. And this time, I looked up more of the music. THANK YOU MJ Duncan, for giving me my new favorite music: Danzon No. 2, (and new favorite conductor: Alondra de la Parra). Now I must reread the rest of the trilogy, because all three of these books are excellent.
May 6, 2022
Well-written but simple romance. I thought it was enjoyable, if trite.
April 22, 2017
Excellent book!
Wow! I loved Symphony in Blue. What a romantic story. Great characters. Beautifully written. . I read it cover to cover in one sitting. Thanks to MJ Duncan for a beautiful book.
Wow! I loved Symphony in Blue. What a romantic story. Great characters. Beautifully written. . I read it cover to cover in one sitting. Thanks to MJ Duncan for a beautiful book.
December 22, 2021
This is my second book by M. J. Duncan and I think I like this author. Unfortunately, Symphony didn't quite wow me like Veritas did- despite having a higher rating.
This book is mostly well written (a few editing oversights but still okay), the dialog feels real, the MCs are likeable, the secondary characters have their own lives going on and make for a few chuckles, and the story is decent- a drunken one-night stand born from an unhappy relationship is not the most common lesfic beginning, but perhaps one of the more realistic occurrances. I also enjoyed the description of life as a professional philharmonic musician (especially since the cello is my favorite instrument!), and I really really loved how Dana's prosthetic leg is part of her but not a big issue. So yeah, there's a lot to be said for this book.
But unfortunately, the book simply is too long. After a rather quick-paced first quarter, the plot then proceeds to meander from lunch to party with friends to lunch to concert to lunch to game night to lunch to BBQ with colleagues to lunch... and nothing happens.
It was annoying and unnecessary: we get that the MCs are attracted to each other and enjoy spending time together, and that they have loving, supportive, fun friends. We really, really get it. Now, instead of reading the phrase "a soft smile tugged at her lips as she gazed at her with affection" for the 20th time, or BFF Luke proclaiming his love for BFF Gwen for the 15th, can we please focus on the problem of being in love with one person but in a relationship with another? The latter almost gets swept under the rug, as the person in question is all but nonexistant (for which there is a reason, but still) and the MC just keeps telling herself what a bad person she is.
The pace picks up a bit during the last 50, 60 pages or so- the inevitable conflict finally comes along but it, too, is a bit of a let-down. Too nice, too tame, could've packed a lot more oomph. The author then tries to wring as much angst as possible out of a 3-hour period of uncertainty but, honestly, at that point I was mostly "meh". The happy end comes around, and the last three chapters read like epilogues- glimpses into the couple's future life.
And while the "supportive cast" starts out as funny and entertaining at first, that, too, gets repetitive over time, to the point of yet another high-five or comment or loving friendhug actually feeling annoying.
I get how many people might find this to be a satisfying read- you definitely get to know these characters and their lives very well, you spend a lot of time with them, and I really get how this can be a nice escape. Like being part of their lives.
However, I don't need that much detail. Once the chemistry and attraction between the MCs have been established let's please work through the issues instead of reading through lunch descriptions with repetitive longing glances again and again. I'd rather read 200 pages with a tighter plot than the same amount of story rolled out over 380 pages.
Veritas never bored me for even a single page, and I didn't expect this problem with Symphony. Especially since Veritas was written 5 years earlier than Symphony, and usually authors tend to get better at shortening to the relevant stuff, no?
That said- yes, I did skip a few lunches and fast-read through some other parts, but I'm still giving this 3 stars because I enjoyed it okay overall. It would have been 4 stars for sure (maybe 5?) if it were 100 pagges shorter.
This book is mostly well written (a few editing oversights but still okay), the dialog feels real, the MCs are likeable, the secondary characters have their own lives going on and make for a few chuckles, and the story is decent- a drunken one-night stand born from an unhappy relationship is not the most common lesfic beginning, but perhaps one of the more realistic occurrances. I also enjoyed the description of life as a professional philharmonic musician (especially since the cello is my favorite instrument!), and I really really loved how Dana's prosthetic leg is part of her but not a big issue. So yeah, there's a lot to be said for this book.
But unfortunately, the book simply is too long. After a rather quick-paced first quarter, the plot then proceeds to meander from lunch to party with friends to lunch to concert to lunch to game night to lunch to BBQ with colleagues to lunch... and nothing happens.
It was annoying and unnecessary: we get that the MCs are attracted to each other and enjoy spending time together, and that they have loving, supportive, fun friends. We really, really get it. Now, instead of reading the phrase "a soft smile tugged at her lips as she gazed at her with affection" for the 20th time, or BFF Luke proclaiming his love for BFF Gwen for the 15th, can we please focus on the problem of being in love with one person but in a relationship with another? The latter almost gets swept under the rug, as the person in question is all but nonexistant (for which there is a reason, but still) and the MC just keeps telling herself what a bad person she is.
The pace picks up a bit during the last 50, 60 pages or so- the inevitable conflict finally comes along but it, too, is a bit of a let-down. Too nice, too tame, could've packed a lot more oomph. The author then tries to wring as much angst as possible out of a 3-hour period of uncertainty but, honestly, at that point I was mostly "meh". The happy end comes around, and the last three chapters read like epilogues- glimpses into the couple's future life.
And while the "supportive cast" starts out as funny and entertaining at first, that, too, gets repetitive over time, to the point of yet another high-five or comment or loving friendhug actually feeling annoying.
I get how many people might find this to be a satisfying read- you definitely get to know these characters and their lives very well, you spend a lot of time with them, and I really get how this can be a nice escape. Like being part of their lives.
However, I don't need that much detail. Once the chemistry and attraction between the MCs have been established let's please work through the issues instead of reading through lunch descriptions with repetitive longing glances again and again. I'd rather read 200 pages with a tighter plot than the same amount of story rolled out over 380 pages.
Veritas never bored me for even a single page, and I didn't expect this problem with Symphony. Especially since Veritas was written 5 years earlier than Symphony, and usually authors tend to get better at shortening to the relevant stuff, no?
That said- yes, I did skip a few lunches and fast-read through some other parts, but I'm still giving this 3 stars because I enjoyed it okay overall. It would have been 4 stars for sure (maybe 5?) if it were 100 pagges shorter.
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