Title:
Bitter Melody

Author:
Loretta Jackson
and
Vickie Britton

Published By:
Whiskey Creek
Press

ISBN #:
1-59374-122-7

Release Date:
Available Now

Format:
Electronic

Elaine Sands needs a job. She is flat broke. So she lets her cousin and friend talk her into auditioning as a singer for the Wind River Band. She isn't a singer by trade. She is a songwriter. But this just may be the push her career needs. Just when she is actually getting excited about the opportunity, it becomes clear that someone is out to ruin her success. Accidents start to happen. One accident could be explained away, but then there are the phone calls and threatening messages. Then members of the band become the victims of accidents. Elaine can't help but notice the resentment directed at Rex Tobin, handsome singer and part owner of Craft Music Productions. His partner is the beautiful Lisa Craft and she received several threatening calls as well. But why would someone want Elaine out of the way? She soon discovers that someone wants copyrights to her dead father's music. She has always refused to sell. Some one is out to sabotage the band and they have to find out who and why before someone gets seriously hurt or even killed!

Bitter Melody starts out with a bang, but just doesn't carry it's momentum through. This reviewer found herself intrigued for about half way through the book. There are many accidents throughout and that helps keep the reader turning the pages to see what will happen next and who it will happen to. The characters are well developed and multidimensional. The reader can't help but like the characters even if they do not have likable characteristics because the authors have penned them so well. Elaine has been attracted to Rex from the start and can't bear to leave the tour even for her own safety. Especially when she is in fear that it is Rex that is the intended victim. This reviewer changed her mind a time or two in the first half of the book as to who the villains and victims were, but found the conclusion to be predictable before the end of the story. Rex is not your typical leading man. He is handsome and talented, but doesn't seem to be the heroic type. The secondary characters add a great deal to this story. Many of them are very interesting and the reader hopes many of them prove not to be the villain.

All in all, Bitter Melody is a worthwhile read and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. However, it will not be a keeper in this reviewer’s bookshelf.

Reviewed by: Penny