Two string players fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance from USA Today bestselling author Julie Soto. When professional—and self-taught—violinist Gwen Jackson plays, she disappears into the peaks and valleys of each song, a quiet passion that never quite explodes into pure emotion. Xander Thorne is the exact opposite. A cellist and a rock star, he’s all about big emotion, but not even his six-foot-four frame can contain his skill, his genius . . . and an attitude that borders on jerkitude. Not only did it take Xander a year to notice that he and Gwen both play in the Manhattan Pops, but he also always seems to have the perfect cutting criticism about her technique. When Gwen is offered the role of first chair of the orchestra, something Xander has secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. Yet, despite her best efforts, Gwen can’t ignore the sizzling chemistry between them. Forced to work more closely with each other, they can’t help exploring their attraction. As they begin to compose and play songs together, it’s clear that their powerful connection could make for a performance that would blow everyone’s minds. Suddenly, they’re box office dynamite, and the fragile romance growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt.
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Just interesting enough to push through the times I'd consider a DNF, but I was a band nerd til the end of high school. The characters aren't fleshed out beyond being really good musicians. Which sort of worked since that's what mattered to them both, until the plot shoved them together entirely because “you're so talented and you insult me constantly, it's hot.” And then shoved them apart for the obligatory breakup and woe, and then back together.
Gwen getting first violinist simply for being young and pretty with a “story we can sell” seemed unlikely with the board involved - sure, it'd help, but that would be more believable if it was only the call of the jerk conductor. And the storyline of the conductor being a jerk (and about nobody reading their contracts at all or even having a friend do it) got lightly tedious quickly. I mean, those storylines seem plausible, it's just a really easy “look, he's a villain” approach. But this wasn't bad, I may read more from this author sometime.
