Amazon Description: Melody Creston is left penniless following the death of her father. Desperate to escape the threat of an unwanted and dangerous marriage, she flees to the small village of Roderick Glen in the English countryside to begin life anew as a pianoforte teacher. She is hired to teach the daughter of the Earl of Rockingham and soon falls in love with the quaint village and its quirky residents. Despite her newfound freedom, she is haunted by the secrets of her past, as well as the constant fear that she will be discovered and forced to return to London.
Lord Henry Roderick is the younger son of the Earl of Rockingham and has no desire to obey his father’s wishes and help his brother attend to their family’s estate, Cheswick Park. Carefree and fun-loving, his reputation as a scoundrel often hides the true nature of his heart. Upon meeting Melody, he is instantly captivated by the beautiful piano teacher, and is determined to do whatever it takes to win her heart and become the man she needs.
Melody is intrigued by Henry and encourages him to follow his own path as he searches for his purpose in life. Shy and reserved, she is reluctant to admit her feelings for him, but as they grow closer, he begins to break through the barriers of fear and mistrust that surround her heart. As their love deepens, she becomes increasingly afraid of what will happen when he learns the truth of her turbulent past. Can love forgive a secret hidden in the shadows when it is exposed to the light of day?
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If you like clean Recency romance (think Julie Klassen) then you will likely enjoy this debut novel by Kristie Self. The Piano Teacher includes a full cast of characters, several budding romances, and a truly despicable villain you will love to hate. I also like that several of the main characters undergo noticeable personal growth as they face their fears and setbacks, making it easy to root for them even when they make mistakes.
Kristie’s love of music really shines through in The Piano Teacher. Only someone who is a musician themselves could describe Melody’s passion for the piano in the believable way she does. I believe this book is the first in a series, and I hope that the following books delve into the other characters’ hobbies/passions as well as this one did.
I also love the gorgeous cover! And the inside artwork that displays little pieces of music in the page breaks shows a lovely attention to detail. Great job, Kristie, and congratulations on your first novel!
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