Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Heart Strings

AUTHOR: Annabella Michaels

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 110 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2022

BLURB:

Sometimes the best dreams are the ones you didn’t know were possible.

Colton James lives and breathes country music. Playing the guitar and singing the songs he writes is all he’s ever dreamed of doing, but his parents wish he’d choose a career that’s a little more…traditional. Which is why he’s headed to Nashville, the country music capitol of the world, to finally prove to them he’s got what it takes to make it.

That is until his cross-country trip comes to a screeching halt when his truck breaks down in the tiny town of Cedarville, Wyoming. Barely more than a dot on the map, Colton finds himself stuck with no transportation and almost empty pockets.

Jesse Adams has lived in Cedarville all his life, taking over his father’s bar when he passed. He makes a decent living and has a lot of friends, yet he’s lonely. After all, Cedarville is hardly a hot bed of activity for gay men. In fact, he’s the only gay man he knows of in town. At least until a certain aspiring musician wanders into his bar.

Seeing Colton’s in a tough spot, Jesse offers him a place to stay in exchange for singing at the bar a few nights a week until his truck gets fixed. As the two of them get to know each other, sparks begin to fly. But can Jesse keep his heart from getting broken when Colton moves on?

REVIEW:

A new Annabella Michaels novella…yes please!!!

Colton knows his wealthy and successful parents want him to get over his dreams of being a country music musician and to settle down in Seattle and follow their footsteps of being a doctor or lawyer. But it’s not just a dream for him it’s who he is deep in his heart. Being a star and making buckets of money isn’t what drives him, it’s being true to himself. So, against his parents better judgment he climbs in his old Ford pickup and begins the journey to Nashville. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately 😉depending how you look at it) fate had other ideas in mind. When he breaks down out in the middle of who knows where Wyoming he is at the mercy of an old farmer to tow him into the the nearest town, Cedarville 20 miles away. Cedarville has one mechanic but he seems reputable by all accounts. While sitting and having a Coke at the local bar he learns his transmission is shot and will take weeks to get all the parts. The bar owner, Jesse, hears his story and offers the gorgeous stranger a place to stay and work to help pay his truck bill. When both men connect and learn their gaydar isn’t off chemistry combusts but what will happen when the truck is done and Jesse has to head on?

I really, really liked both Colton and Jesse. They were both basically on their own, although Colton always knew he could turn to his parents if he got desperate and they would bail him out. And these two men were meant for each other. Jesse had a life that he loved he just sucked in the love department. Not a lot of options for a out and open bar owners in small-town Wyoming in the middle of nowhere. Colton wasn’t really a big town guy. He knew Nashville was where he had to go to prove to his parents music wasn’t a passing whim. But he never dreamed of being a huge star even though he definitely had the talent to do so. So fate dropping them in each other’s lap so to speak was a blessing in disguise.

Although this is billed as a novella this books reads like a longer, more complete novel. I never felt rushed. I might have liked a epilogue but it was totally necessary. I just knew that everything would work it’s way out for Colton and Jesse. They were destined to find each other and be together forever. A heart knows what it wants and will make it happen even if that wasn’t the original plan. And their hearts knew. I know Jesse never wanted to hold Colton back but being rich and famous was never Colton’s desire. It was just to prove to his parents that this wasn’t just some passing fancy but music was a major part of him being him. I was thankful when they also reached that conclusion.

I highly recommend this feel-good book that gives you all the heartfelt love you need in a nice, neat, compact package.

RATING:

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