Sympathetic Strings

by Pamela Harju

Her secret casts an ocean between them.

New Yorker Emily arrives in London lonely, desolate and with heavy emotional baggage. She only agrees to go out with Rowan – a heavily tattooed gentle giant and totally not her type – so he can introduce her to her new surroundings.

Rowan, who has his own bruises to heal, falls head over heels in love with the enigmatic American, but Emily has a secret that threatens to keep them apart...

SYMPATHETIC STRINGS is a sweet stand-alone romance with realistic characters and a gentle touch of suspense.

Firebird Book Award winner 2021 in the Romance category!

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2018

About the author

Pamela Harju, an award-winning author of musical fiction, spends her spare time with her dogs and travelling to see rock bands most people have never heard of. She loves tea, big old houses and tattooed men. A native Finn, Pamela lives in the Irish countryside in an old cottage that's always threatening to fall apart. She has a full-size dog agility arena in her back garden.

Reviews

[Martin Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

SYMPATHETIC STRINGS. by Pamela Harju

This story begins March 2017, as Sgt. Joanne Ferris, a British police woman shows Emily Miller to her new home. It takes some time throughout the book to learn the whole story of what happened to Emily, but right away we are given good indications that she has been brought (or sent) over from New York for her own safety. She is provided with a job that gives her a very modest income, and her first several weeks are spent trying to adapt to her new surroundings. She doesn`t know anyone, so boredom and loneliness leads her to take up learning how to play the violin, but she only succeeds in breaking one of the strings. Emily goes to a music store called `Sympathetic Strings` to buy new ones. There she meets Rowan, a staff member who runs out into the street after her when she leaves with her purchases, and asks her for a date.
Rowan is tall, ungainly, scruffy-haired, has numerous tattoos, and someone she would never have gone out with in New York; but to placate him, she agrees to go out on a date with him, and subsequently agrees to go out with him once a month for a year. As the story unfolds (month by month), we learn more about family murders and other crimes in the U.S. which require Emily`s protection and secrecy. But this story is not all dark, there is a mixture of good humour, as well as nostalgia and pathos for anyone who has ever had problems dating. This is a lovely story that should resonate well with young adults but also be quite enjoyable for all ages.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deze recensie is in het Engels omdat ik het boek las in het Engels.

For years this book has been on my kindle and now I finally read it and liked it a lot.

Emily has a new life, because her fiancee has been shot and the murderers are on the run. They even killed her parents, so she is not safe. She moved from the States to London. (Since I was on the train to London reading it, it totally fits reading it)

She is lonely and buying new violin strings when she meets Rowan. They go on a date every month so he can show her around London. Emily wasn't into men with tattoos, but Rowan is growing on her. Those dates are cute ones, so I totally understand her.

I really liked the book. If you are into romance reading this is certainly a story for you.

[Jean Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily gets transplanted from New York to London in a sort of witness protection scenario. She's all alone and lonely and wants to keep it that way, until she meets Rowan. They are mutually attracted, but Emily has secrets and can't risk getting close to anyone. They agree to see each other once a month for a year, just so Rowan can help familiarize her with London. They stick to the plan, with various bumps and twists along the way. Kept me reading and I like the ending!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has a broken heart and heading for a new life in London. She only agreed to go with him to help her find her way around. She has a secret which could ruin a budding love. What is that secret? Will he stay regardless? See if he will

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing sweet relationship romance story, it has secrets, ups, and downs. The characters are engaging and interesting. A well-written book. It was a pleasured to read and review it.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good sweet romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicola Noble]

I loved this book (have read it more than once now). Very different from a lot of books in the genre. Rowan is adorable.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. A woman with secrets and a man who looks on the bright side of things. You keep hoping that the secrets won't keep them apart.

I requested a free review copy of this book through StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mzlegz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sooo... I have mixed emotions about this book. It’s my first read by this author. Rowan is a sweetheart and I think tattoos are hot if tastefully done. Wasn’t feeling Emily and the way she kept leading Rowan to believe she wanted him in the beginning...despite the unfortunate tragedies she experienced. I did enjoy the ‘tour’ of London and the gentle spirit of Rowan’s grandfather.

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pamela Harju · Rating 5 out of 5]

No surprises here - I knew what was going to happen - but sometimes it's good to see that you can write an enjoyable, engaging story.