Concertmaster Emma Hill isn't exactly an obscure violinist, but, fame-wise, she's not on the level of pianist and current pop culture sensation, Elliott Hart. There are plenty of reasons why a relationship between the two of them would never work, but, still, off they go in Love at First Note by author Jenny Proctor.

Initially, I wasn't sure how far this story led by its tongue-tied and rather quirky heroine might pull me into the music, but, goodness, did it ever pull me. One rendition of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" had me lifting my hands in the air. And it wasn't just the music that got me. What I thought started off as a humorous and entertaining enough story became a symphony of emotion and (sometimes painful) discovery, to the point where I felt everything. The joy, the fear, the frustration, the passion, the doubt, the determination, the romance.

The story's pretty central question of "What do you want?" cuts deep, in a down-to-earth way, and it's interesting to see how the characters deal with the price of fame, the cost of careers, and what it all shows them about themselves. Now, I did find one theme to be fairly redundant; I don't imagine the reader would miss the significance of Emma's being a Mormon even if she and the other characters didn't keep repeating it so much.

But I think it's a novel that any fan of contemporary romance can enjoy, especially arts enthusiasts. Not to sound corny, but it really is a "you'll laugh, you'll cry" type of read, its own kind of quirky but ultimately harmonious masterpiece.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. ( )

Title: Love at First Note
Author: Jenny Proctor
Pages:
Year: 2016
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Emma Hill is a concert violinist who has left a fairly prominent job in Cleveland to return home to help take care of her mother who has MS. She now gives music lessons and plays part-time with the local symphony. She has no prospects on the dating scene, but that doesn’t stop everyone from trying to set her up with nephews, grandsons, brothers, etc. Then, a new neighbor moves in across the hall. He happens to be a famous pianist, young and single. Emma thinks he is gorgeous, but usually gets tongue tied when first meeting a man. She holds true to form and embarrasses herself. She vows to avoid this man at all costs to prevent further mortification on her part.
Elliott Hart has moved from L.A. to work on his upcoming album. He has writer’s/composer’s block and needs to get away from the fast pace of a big city to concentrate. He needs no distractions and his next door neighbor will not be one in his mind. However, he hears her playing her violin through the wall of his apartment. He spends more time with her and they share their love of music with each other. Elliott realizes she might be just what he needs. However, a relationship between them will not come without a cost. Elliott is famous and newsworthy so the press invades his privacy. Emma doesn’t like to be the center of attention. Will Emma be able to handle Elliott’s fame?
I am not a musician, but I could definitely relate to the emotions evoked by certain types of music or certain songs. That was one thing I really liked about this story. The romance was great and I loved the sense of humor of the characters. I laughed out loud a few times and said a few “that is so true!” phrases right along with a comment in the story. I liked the thread of Emma dealing with her mother’s illness and her teenage sister’s attitude. Just a side note to readers that this is published by a Mormon company and there is some Mormon terminology in the story, but nothing confusing or preachy in the least. I am not Mormon and this didn’t decrease my enjoyment of the story at all. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s fiction as this book was just fabulous!
My rating is 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )