Review by corinaelena -- Music to My Ears

Corina Elena · Post by **Corina Elena** » 15 Aug 2019, 19:48

[Following is a volunteer review of "Music to My Ears" by Heidi M. Simone.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Music to My Ears by Heidi M. Simone introduces us to the very interesting life of Sophia. She seems to be the typical 21 years old girl, yet there are many things about her that are slightly inexplicable. Sophia was gifted with great musical talent and her voice can mesmerize any listener. But that is not the only unusual thing about her…

Our protagonist moves to New York to pursue her singing career, where she meets Dante, a handsome man with whom she immediately has a strong connection. As the romance progresses, he opens up her eyes about who she really is and helps her grow into her own identity. He encourages her to explore her uniqueness and also process the trauma of a particular accident that happened a long time ago. Things start to turn around when Sophia meets Dante’s family and the suspense begins.

I loved seeing so much diversity and representation in the book. You can tell Heidi M. Simone put great effort into making everyone feel included. Each character is different in its own way and it is admirable to see the author’s progressive attitude towards literature. She even brings up racial issues in a conversation Sophia has with Dante’s cousin, and she shows her firm, inclusive stance on the topic.

I was relieved to see the way the novel portrays a normal relationship. I think, as readers, we are used to a certain dynamic in books that incorporate both fiction and romance: the female protagonist falls in love with a strong, intimidating man, that takes his overprotectiveness and possessiveness to the point of abuse, all in the name of love. Music to My Ears reinterprets the usual plot and surprises its readers with a young, inexperienced girl that discovers a lot of power, and enters a healthy relationship with a man that shows patience, understanding, and support each step of the way. He does not feel intimidated and he constantly reinsures her of his love and acceptance.

There are not many things I did not enjoy about the book. I had one small issue with the demonstration of power at the end of the book, that felt more like the birth of a villain, than an act of justice. Another aspect that prevented me from fully enjoying this novel was the fact that I am older than its target audience. While the plot was entertaining, the suspense was built appropriately, and the fiction part of the book was extremely ingenious, I could not help but feel silly reading some of the paragraphs.

The first novel of The Sirens Series ends with the formation of an interesting, diverse group of allies, with a shocking revelation about Sophia’s true identity, exposed in a conversation between beings that we thought to be mythological. The open ending paves the way for a very exciting sequel, that is expected to be full of adventure and discoveries. Heidi M. Simone created a new, unique fiction world that can transport us from our dull realities into a magic realm of possibilities, where a strong, female character learns to believe in herself and is proven to be a true leader.

I rate this well-edited book 4 out of 4 stars, and I recommend it to any girl looking for a little adventure and suspense. I am genuinely sorry Heidi M. Simone did not publish Music to My Ears a few years ago when I could have become an avid fan of her work.

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Music to My Ears
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Erin Painter Baker · Post by **Erin Painter Baker** » 21 Aug 2019, 09:59

Reading books alongside my daughter helped me get over feeling silly for reading young adult books. This sounds like it is a winner. I love that the romantic relationship is a healthy, supportive one. And maybe that act of power at the end of the book is the birth of a villain. After all, this is a series.

Anon_Reviewer · Post by **Anon_Reviewer** » 22 Aug 2019, 12:27

This sounds like the kind of book I would enjoy. I like that the 'power dynamic' trope was left out and a healthy relationship developed between the two characters.

As I usually cannot turn down a good book with diverse characters, I will definitely check this one. Thanks for the review!

Corina Elena · Post by **Corina Elena** » 23 Aug 2019, 03:24

Ever_Reading wrote: ↑22 Aug 2019, 12:27 This sounds like the kind of book I would enjoy. I like that the 'power dynamic' trope was left out and a healthy relationship developed between the two characters. As I usually cannot turn down a good book with diverse characters, I will definitely check this one. Thanks for the review!

You should check it out! It's relatively easy to read. If you have a free day, and you want to relax, go for it!

Corina Elena · Post by **Corina Elena** » 23 Aug 2019, 03:26

esp1975 wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 09:59 Reading books alongside my daughter helped me get over feeling silly for reading young adult books. This sounds like it is a winner. I love that the romantic relationship is a healthy, supportive one. And maybe that act of power at the end of the book is the birth of a villain. After all, this is a series.

Yes, I understand that

) It's lovely that you take the time to read books with your daughter. Just flip through this one a little bit before reading it together. I don't know how old your daughter is, but there are here and there, in this book, some references to the protagonist's love interest being "hot"

. Nothing more though, it is really clean in the rest.

Mbrooks2518 · Post by **Mbrooks2518** » 03 Oct 2019, 11:59

I wasn't sure about this one at first, but I became more interested as I read your review, so I might give this book a try. Thanks for the great review!