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Melody's Key
“His eyes settled on her…piercing green embers of flame that revealed the ferocity of his pain and passion, yet still shrouded him under veils of ever deepening mystery that made every ounce of her ache to unravel him.”
Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.
*This is an alternate cover edition
**Original cover edition ISBN: 1533430217
Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.
*This is an alternate cover edition
**Original cover edition ISBN: 1533430217
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2016
About the author
Dallas Coryell
1 book58 followersDallas Coryell is a musician and author residing deep in the untamed wilds of Michigan, USA, where he desperately attempts to assign meaning to his world through bouts of maniacal creative catharsis and pitifully doomed hopeless romantic fantasies.
All of the songs written by the characters in MELODY'S KEY are real and can be viewed on the author’s fledgling YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasCo...
Selfies and other assorted randomness can be found on the author’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dallascoryell
All of the songs written by the characters in MELODY'S KEY are real and can be viewed on the author’s fledgling YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasCo...
Selfies and other assorted randomness can be found on the author’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dallascoryell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
June 12, 2017
*Thanks again to the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
“It’s the way your touch is my safe-haven when I feel lost, the way you challenge me and inspire me to be better and how I feel like I was never really living until I found you.”
Melody’s Key tells the story of Tegan Lockwood who is living on her family’s estate in Southern England. She is a very creative person but had to turn down a scholarship she received from Columbia University in New York City to continue helping her family run their inn since they’re only inches away from bankruptcy. The story begins at the beginning of summer while the Lockwoods are preparing for their first guests of the year and shortly before Mason Keane, a famous singer, arrives to spent his summer at Lockwood Manor to get some distance from the public.
Tegan and Mason are great and well developed main character and I loved their chemistry. Another big plus for me was the fact that their relationship evolved slowly throughout the book and that there was no insta-love. Since Coryell is not only an author but also a musician, he wrote several songs for this book which you can actually find on his YouTube channel. I’ve already read a lot of books that featured pop stars as one of the main characters but in my opinion, you can really see that Coryell has an actual idea about music and knows a lot about it which made Melody’s Key much more enjoyable and realistic.
Dallas Coryell wrote a lovely novel but I personally think that his writing style is hands down the best thing about this book. I already fell in love with it half-way through the first chapter. He is also the first person that managed to stop me from putting down a book and refusing to read it, even though the first scene of the book started with an alarm clock ringing. Usually that is something I absolutely hate and I feel like it’s usually the result of not knowing how to start a book and also not giving a damn about it. But this time, the ringing alarm clock actually made sense and there were a story and a proper explanation behind it. I always thought alarm clocks could never provide a proper start for a good novel but Coryell just proved me wrong.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading Melody’s Key and I especially loved how creative the main characters were. I’m going to deduct a star because the plot was a little predictable at some points and because there were still some typos in this book (which really don’t interrupt your reading though). But Melody’s Key still gets 4 out of 5 stars.
“It’s the way your touch is my safe-haven when I feel lost, the way you challenge me and inspire me to be better and how I feel like I was never really living until I found you.”
Melody’s Key tells the story of Tegan Lockwood who is living on her family’s estate in Southern England. She is a very creative person but had to turn down a scholarship she received from Columbia University in New York City to continue helping her family run their inn since they’re only inches away from bankruptcy. The story begins at the beginning of summer while the Lockwoods are preparing for their first guests of the year and shortly before Mason Keane, a famous singer, arrives to spent his summer at Lockwood Manor to get some distance from the public.
Tegan and Mason are great and well developed main character and I loved their chemistry. Another big plus for me was the fact that their relationship evolved slowly throughout the book and that there was no insta-love. Since Coryell is not only an author but also a musician, he wrote several songs for this book which you can actually find on his YouTube channel. I’ve already read a lot of books that featured pop stars as one of the main characters but in my opinion, you can really see that Coryell has an actual idea about music and knows a lot about it which made Melody’s Key much more enjoyable and realistic.
Dallas Coryell wrote a lovely novel but I personally think that his writing style is hands down the best thing about this book. I already fell in love with it half-way through the first chapter. He is also the first person that managed to stop me from putting down a book and refusing to read it, even though the first scene of the book started with an alarm clock ringing. Usually that is something I absolutely hate and I feel like it’s usually the result of not knowing how to start a book and also not giving a damn about it. But this time, the ringing alarm clock actually made sense and there were a story and a proper explanation behind it. I always thought alarm clocks could never provide a proper start for a good novel but Coryell just proved me wrong.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading Melody’s Key and I especially loved how creative the main characters were. I’m going to deduct a star because the plot was a little predictable at some points and because there were still some typos in this book (which really don’t interrupt your reading though). But Melody’s Key still gets 4 out of 5 stars.
November 2, 2016
3-3.5 Stars, detailed review to come!! Not a bad book whatsoever, just a few things that need to be tweaked to improve upon the story that the author is trying to get across. I have a bunch to say about this one, stay tuned! :)
*An ARC was received from the author with a review request. I pride myself on being 100% honest, no matter the circumstances or who the arc was received from. I'll write exactly what I thought. ;)
*An ARC was received from the author with a review request. I pride myself on being 100% honest, no matter the circumstances or who the arc was received from. I'll write exactly what I thought. ;)
August 29, 2016
Not another romance story!? Surely, you say, why do I make myself read romances when I often take a machete to them? Because I have hope that somewhere, someone has written or will write a romance story that is worth the read. For me… Melody’s Key was like living through my puppy-love all over again.
Melody's Key was old-school romance in the modern day. Young love. And none of it would have been enjoyable if the writing wouldn’t have been so good, so full of beautiful words and … well, downright romantic notions.
Yes, it may have been a bit cliche. OK, quite a lot. We have the eye-game. Yep, the eye-game of where he has the piercing green eyes that reveal every millisecond of emotions and her eyes…you know, doing the dance as well… Yes, there’s a scene where I was like- Holla, Patrick Swayze groupies, relive the scene but with different, and living, characters. Yes, Dallas may have smothered the whole romance in intense descriptions and towards the end, yes, I skipped some of the really heavy detailed writing but overall, this is a book for everyone that loves a bit of swoon and cuteness.
This book will make you experience everything as if with your own heart. Exquisite and innocent, yet fun and charming. Because life isn’t a bed of sweet-smelling roses, the story doesn’t come without it’s own bitter moments. Just… enjoy.
There are a couple of nags I’d like to mention- a) I would have like to have a more of a conclusion in Simon’s story. It was such a build up, only to leave me with more questions and curiosity, and b) it really got a bit too heavy for me in the end but don’t discount the book based on my personal preferences. It depends on personal intake levels… you’ll either feel like a beached whale after scoffing down a ton of sweets- a little bit sick, but satisfied. Or, totally proud of having gorged on ‘sticky toffee sweet’ writing.
A bit about the characters… To be honest, I was quite jealous of Tegan at one point. Talk about a talented girl. Painter, singer and creates own music. Like, how much more talent can one girl hold? Simon, Tegan’s BFF, brings an element of fun and same sex relationships to the story. Mason- the mystery guy- OOoooOOh! Quite a troubled young man, but way more than meets eye. We have Tegan’s family members with some lovely banter and a couple of a-holes as well, of course. Basically- all members of the personality spectrum are covered.
Melody's Key was old-school romance in the modern day. Young love. And none of it would have been enjoyable if the writing wouldn’t have been so good, so full of beautiful words and … well, downright romantic notions.
Yes, it may have been a bit cliche. OK, quite a lot. We have the eye-game. Yep, the eye-game of where he has the piercing green eyes that reveal every millisecond of emotions and her eyes…you know, doing the dance as well… Yes, there’s a scene where I was like- Holla, Patrick Swayze groupies, relive the scene but with different, and living, characters. Yes, Dallas may have smothered the whole romance in intense descriptions and towards the end, yes, I skipped some of the really heavy detailed writing but overall, this is a book for everyone that loves a bit of swoon and cuteness.
This book will make you experience everything as if with your own heart. Exquisite and innocent, yet fun and charming. Because life isn’t a bed of sweet-smelling roses, the story doesn’t come without it’s own bitter moments. Just… enjoy.
There are a couple of nags I’d like to mention- a) I would have like to have a more of a conclusion in Simon’s story. It was such a build up, only to leave me with more questions and curiosity, and b) it really got a bit too heavy for me in the end but don’t discount the book based on my personal preferences. It depends on personal intake levels… you’ll either feel like a beached whale after scoffing down a ton of sweets- a little bit sick, but satisfied. Or, totally proud of having gorged on ‘sticky toffee sweet’ writing.
A bit about the characters… To be honest, I was quite jealous of Tegan at one point. Talk about a talented girl. Painter, singer and creates own music. Like, how much more talent can one girl hold? Simon, Tegan’s BFF, brings an element of fun and same sex relationships to the story. Mason- the mystery guy- OOoooOOh! Quite a troubled young man, but way more than meets eye. We have Tegan’s family members with some lovely banter and a couple of a-holes as well, of course. Basically- all members of the personality spectrum are covered.
September 3, 2016
This book was sent to me by the author, however that did not affect my opinion in any kind of way.
In the start we meet Tegan Lockwood, beautiful and talented young girl who is helping her family with their business, Lockwood Holiday. She is a talented painter and loves to compose and write songs, because of which she got accepted in college in NY. But though to her family's financial struggles she must remain with them and help out as much as she can which is is basically shattering all her dreams. One summer her life is about to change when an American pop star Mason Keane comes to her family's estate for a refuge from his chaotic life.
I have to say that this is such a fun summer read, it has romance, likable characters, who are pretty well fleshed out, it doesn't follow the established trope good girl that changes the bad boy and that's the thing i liked most about it. Mason has his problems, but he really is a good guy and I was glad that that was established from the start. This book has very little teenage angst and drama, ok maybe just a little, another thing I really appreciate. It can come out a little bit too long and slow paced, especially in the middle, I feel that some of the descriptions were unnecessary and that pulled me out of the story. I have to say that this year I've read many YA contemporary which are more famous and hyped and this one is definitely better than some of them. Also I love that the author wrote all the songs in the book by himself, I alway appreciate that kind of effort and talent.
In the start we meet Tegan Lockwood, beautiful and talented young girl who is helping her family with their business, Lockwood Holiday. She is a talented painter and loves to compose and write songs, because of which she got accepted in college in NY. But though to her family's financial struggles she must remain with them and help out as much as she can which is is basically shattering all her dreams. One summer her life is about to change when an American pop star Mason Keane comes to her family's estate for a refuge from his chaotic life.
I have to say that this is such a fun summer read, it has romance, likable characters, who are pretty well fleshed out, it doesn't follow the established trope good girl that changes the bad boy and that's the thing i liked most about it. Mason has his problems, but he really is a good guy and I was glad that that was established from the start. This book has very little teenage angst and drama, ok maybe just a little, another thing I really appreciate. It can come out a little bit too long and slow paced, especially in the middle, I feel that some of the descriptions were unnecessary and that pulled me out of the story. I have to say that this year I've read many YA contemporary which are more famous and hyped and this one is definitely better than some of them. Also I love that the author wrote all the songs in the book by himself, I alway appreciate that kind of effort and talent.
April 22, 2017
Tegan Lockwood works for the family business, ‘Lockwood Holidays’. From early summer to autumn, the Lockwoods open their family manor house in Lymington, to tourists.
It wasn’t Tegan’s ideal situation, but seeing as her family couldn’t afford to send her to university, and them needing all the help that they could get with the business, she gave up her dream to help them out.
Mason Keane is an American, internationally-famous pop star. He has the charm, good looks and a wild reputation. Needing somewhere to lie low and relax out of the spotlight for a while, he heads to the manor house, with the understanding from the family that no-one will know that he is there, except themselves.
Tegan doesn’t exactly welcome the idea of Mason staying for the summer. With a reputation like his, Tegan already detests him. But over the course of the few months that they will have to spend in each others’ company, will Tegan see a different side to Mason and could this be a summer of love?
Melody’s Key is a contemporary romance, YA novel set in a beautiful, scenic, part of southern England. Being set in the UK and the author being American, I did have my reservations as to whether there were going to be lots of ‘Americanisms’. I was pleasantly surprised that there weren’t any, though some of the dialogue was a bit posh, especially from Tegan’s mum.
The plot of girl meets boy, girl and boy don’t get on, girl and boy manage to work things out and fall in love, is a bit of a clinché, and has been written about thousands of times over the years. This story though has far more to offer than just a love story, especially as the plot deepens and develops into a wonderful, engaging novel.
It is an easy read, and young adults can really sink their teeth into it, and get to know such warm, well-rounded characters that are more than just face value.
A decent book, that will perk your interest and keep you fully pinned to the pages from start to end. The cover could really do with some work though, as it certainly doesn’t compliment what is a fantastic novel (sorry). The author also has a Youtube channel with songs that he has written to compliment the story.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
It wasn’t Tegan’s ideal situation, but seeing as her family couldn’t afford to send her to university, and them needing all the help that they could get with the business, she gave up her dream to help them out.
Mason Keane is an American, internationally-famous pop star. He has the charm, good looks and a wild reputation. Needing somewhere to lie low and relax out of the spotlight for a while, he heads to the manor house, with the understanding from the family that no-one will know that he is there, except themselves.
Tegan doesn’t exactly welcome the idea of Mason staying for the summer. With a reputation like his, Tegan already detests him. But over the course of the few months that they will have to spend in each others’ company, will Tegan see a different side to Mason and could this be a summer of love?
Melody’s Key is a contemporary romance, YA novel set in a beautiful, scenic, part of southern England. Being set in the UK and the author being American, I did have my reservations as to whether there were going to be lots of ‘Americanisms’. I was pleasantly surprised that there weren’t any, though some of the dialogue was a bit posh, especially from Tegan’s mum.
The plot of girl meets boy, girl and boy don’t get on, girl and boy manage to work things out and fall in love, is a bit of a clinché, and has been written about thousands of times over the years. This story though has far more to offer than just a love story, especially as the plot deepens and develops into a wonderful, engaging novel.
It is an easy read, and young adults can really sink their teeth into it, and get to know such warm, well-rounded characters that are more than just face value.
A decent book, that will perk your interest and keep you fully pinned to the pages from start to end. The cover could really do with some work though, as it certainly doesn’t compliment what is a fantastic novel (sorry). The author also has a Youtube channel with songs that he has written to compliment the story.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
September 24, 2017
First thing first I want to thanks Dallas Coryell for contacting me & sending me a copy of his book in exchange for a review. ( thank you very much )
am going to keep this simple am not going to summarize the book because I don't like that I think it burn the book for other readers! But am giving my opinion about it.
Basically it is a sweet, charming, fun & young love story. For the first time in a long while it is finally a love story that is not totally cliché, well yeah it is love story it must have those little cute cliché moments but it was just the right amount!!
It is full of emotions from happiness, sadness, heartbreaks, beautiful moments, disappointment, honesty & love.
The plots in the book were easy to guess it is predictable BUT thats the cause with most love stories right? Anyway I wasn't mad about that it is still a beautifully written story, Coryell's writing style is really good, beautiful and easy to read. I love how the characters are & how what they go through is described. I also liked that the love in the story didn't happen fast or it was going to be cheesy & I hate that when characters fall in love soo fast it is just stupid lol.. I really liked how the characters & the story developed.
There was lots of beautiful & really lovely & catchy hmm what is called paragraph or quotes that I really loved & well definitely go back to read the book to highlight it because I totally forgot to do that because I was so into it.
The were some typos in the book but it is not distributing or anything, also I kinda just a little didn't like how the story ended, it was kinda rushed & a bit cliché for my liking but it was sweet too & I wanted it to happen but not in that way.. I believe that the ending or most likely what is going to happen next is what is called an open ending for the reader to imagine the rest.. some ppl don't like that but am fine with it..
P.s the story include some beautiful songs that you can find in Dallas youtube channel because he is a singer as well & he is a good one, I like the songs that in the book xo
I totally recommend the book y'll must read it & simply share it with your friends too. I believe that Dallas deserve to be more known & recognize among other writers xo
am going to keep this simple am not going to summarize the book because I don't like that I think it burn the book for other readers! But am giving my opinion about it.
Basically it is a sweet, charming, fun & young love story. For the first time in a long while it is finally a love story that is not totally cliché, well yeah it is love story it must have those little cute cliché moments but it was just the right amount!!
It is full of emotions from happiness, sadness, heartbreaks, beautiful moments, disappointment, honesty & love.
The plots in the book were easy to guess it is predictable BUT thats the cause with most love stories right? Anyway I wasn't mad about that it is still a beautifully written story, Coryell's writing style is really good, beautiful and easy to read. I love how the characters are & how what they go through is described. I also liked that the love in the story didn't happen fast or it was going to be cheesy & I hate that when characters fall in love soo fast it is just stupid lol.. I really liked how the characters & the story developed.
There was lots of beautiful & really lovely & catchy hmm what is called paragraph or quotes that I really loved & well definitely go back to read the book to highlight it because I totally forgot to do that because I was so into it.
The were some typos in the book but it is not distributing or anything, also I kinda just a little didn't like how the story ended, it was kinda rushed & a bit cliché for my liking but it was sweet too & I wanted it to happen but not in that way.. I believe that the ending or most likely what is going to happen next is what is called an open ending for the reader to imagine the rest.. some ppl don't like that but am fine with it..
P.s the story include some beautiful songs that you can find in Dallas youtube channel because he is a singer as well & he is a good one, I like the songs that in the book xo
I totally recommend the book y'll must read it & simply share it with your friends too. I believe that Dallas deserve to be more known & recognize among other writers xo
March 2, 2017
I can't put my finger on why...but for some reason I just really liked this book ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2016
We are first introduced to our main character, Tegan, as her family is preparing their family estate to host guests for the holiday season. I immediately connected to Tegan because of how creative she was. She seemed to view the world in a way I could appreciate, like she couldn't get enough of everything around her. I loved that.
Melody's Key delivers as a romantic story, and the thing that set it apart from others I have read were these letters Tegan found in her attic. They were love letters from her great-grandmother's true love and they were incredibly romantic.. I didn't blame Tegan for allowing her heart to hope that there was that type of love in the world because of those letters. Like the songs written throughout the story, they felt like the heart of this book for me.
Which brings me to Mason who is a popular American singer. He is staying at the estate for the summer in order to get a much needed rest from his busy career. Tegan is not happy about this, which brings a lot banter between the two characters.. And you guys know how much I love banter! So, I was instantly rooting for them until the very end.
Her relationship between Mason isn't the only important one to this story though. I enjoyed reading about Tegan's family and her relationships with each of them, especially her little sister. The family interactions made me feel at home with them, and there was one chapter where I desperately wanted some pancakes! There was also Tegan's best friend, Simon, who I just adored! I wish we saw a little more of him and his story though.. Through her relationships, it was easy to relate to the way Tegan loved and appreciated the people in her life.
Everything flowed together nicely and the world building was fantastic. I think Dallas Coryell did a great job at capturing the voices of his characters. His writing was great throughout the whole book. Although, I may be getting a little too old for all the extreme feelings that go into reading romance novels.. There are times where I just don't feel like that's what really happens between people, but it wasn't a complete downfall for me.
We eventually learn more about both Tegan and Mason's past, and how it has shaped them into who they now are. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I will tell you that their relationship did develop in a natural way that fit who they were as individuals, and I appreciated that.
The story wraps up in a beautiful way. I enjoyed seeing Tegan and Mason's development by the end. They were two lost souls who found their way back to hope, light, and love through one another.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I wish there was a little more with Simon's storyline, but that's just a personal preference. It's captivating, romantic, and sweet in every way! Coryell is a great writer, especially loved the romantic songs that were written! If you are looking for a great romance novel then I suggest reading this book.
| Originally Published on Simply Nicollette |
Melody's Key delivers as a romantic story, and the thing that set it apart from others I have read were these letters Tegan found in her attic. They were love letters from her great-grandmother's true love and they were incredibly romantic.. I didn't blame Tegan for allowing her heart to hope that there was that type of love in the world because of those letters. Like the songs written throughout the story, they felt like the heart of this book for me.
Which brings me to Mason who is a popular American singer. He is staying at the estate for the summer in order to get a much needed rest from his busy career. Tegan is not happy about this, which brings a lot banter between the two characters.. And you guys know how much I love banter! So, I was instantly rooting for them until the very end.
Her relationship between Mason isn't the only important one to this story though. I enjoyed reading about Tegan's family and her relationships with each of them, especially her little sister. The family interactions made me feel at home with them, and there was one chapter where I desperately wanted some pancakes! There was also Tegan's best friend, Simon, who I just adored! I wish we saw a little more of him and his story though.. Through her relationships, it was easy to relate to the way Tegan loved and appreciated the people in her life.
Everything flowed together nicely and the world building was fantastic. I think Dallas Coryell did a great job at capturing the voices of his characters. His writing was great throughout the whole book. Although, I may be getting a little too old for all the extreme feelings that go into reading romance novels.. There are times where I just don't feel like that's what really happens between people, but it wasn't a complete downfall for me.
We eventually learn more about both Tegan and Mason's past, and how it has shaped them into who they now are. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I will tell you that their relationship did develop in a natural way that fit who they were as individuals, and I appreciated that.
The story wraps up in a beautiful way. I enjoyed seeing Tegan and Mason's development by the end. They were two lost souls who found their way back to hope, light, and love through one another.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I wish there was a little more with Simon's storyline, but that's just a personal preference. It's captivating, romantic, and sweet in every way! Coryell is a great writer, especially loved the romantic songs that were written! If you are looking for a great romance novel then I suggest reading this book.
| Originally Published on Simply Nicollette |
September 8, 2016
I was genuinely surprised, the writing was beautiful, and the love letters...
This book is going to make you feel good, and your going to laugh.
Mason is a pop star who feels trapped. He has some hard decisions to make and came to Tegan's family's estate to consider his options. Now I loved Mason, but who doesn't love a misunderstood rock star?
Tagan sees him as a egoistical typical pop star, and she jumps to all sorts of conclusions about him.
I had a hard time liking Tagan to be honest, but she did grow on me.
All in all it was a good book, it was a beautiful love story. We get to feel Tagan and Mason fall in love, and watch them grow.
Why 3 stars?
The writing style was a little too descriptive. It was a long a book.
I had a hard time connecting to Tagan. She was judgmental, hot headed, and well a little too perfect.
Now in saying that, I rate on enjoyment, Long descriptive books are not my thing, and overly sweet books are not thing. But if you enjoy books such as this then read it.
I look forward to more from this author
Want to read
September 21, 2016"A copy of this book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review"
February 20, 2018
Melody's Key. The picture seems a little eerie actually because of the vintage effect. For me, it somehow hinted of a horror or suspense story, if I were to judge the cover. But then again, as always, don't judge a book by its cover. This is a love story actually which I find to be most enjoyable. Very fun and a feel good story that brightens up your mood, if ever you're in a foul one. If feel like you need a pick me up, this book is for you.
Tegan Lockwood. I think Tegan is such a cute name for a girl which also denotes strength. Though, Freckles is a very cute name too. For me, a girl named Tegan would surely be a girl with a strong personality and conviction. And the heroine of this story is exactly just that. Strong and selfless. She was supposed to go to Columbia for college but she decided to put it off to help her family run the family business to help pay off their debts. If you think about it, Tegan seems like a martyr but not really. I think she just loves her family so much and is just practical. She doesn't think they can afford yet to support her study in the US. Lockwood Manor is in England and it hosts vacationeers during summer. So, flying to New York to study is an expensive expense the Lockwoods could not afford right now. They are up to their necks in their debts.
Tegan's ordinary and boring existence was disturbed when the famous American pop star Mason Keane with a widely known reputation for charming the ladies, a party animal and a big spender stayed in the manor incognito. Their first meeting was hilarious. It was in a way a meet cute only to the observer. These two batted heads on. Tegan confirmed her beliefs that Mason Keane was no good and she should just avoid him altogether. But that was not how to be.
How Tegan and Mason's friendship developed was hilarious and cute. Mason proved to Tegan he wasn't what social media purports him to be, yet Tegan still continue to refuse the evidence that were obviously staring her in the face. Their exchanges are often hilarious and full of references to movies, etc. As their relationships progressed, their conversations were filled with innuendos which are still hilarious as they get to know each other more.
Mason probably represents a lot of celebrities that are not exactly what their reputation led to believe. How an artist or an actor is package or marketed to the public is not exactly his real personality. Like Mason, how he ended up a pop star when he hates his own songs. He only sang the songs but he never wrote them. If only he could sing his own compositions.
As this story is written by a musician, it gives the readers a glimpse into the inner workings of the music industry. So, no wonder why some very popular celebrities just couldn't handle the fame and all the things that came with it. Simply because, it's not all glamorous as we are all made to believe. How many celebrities have we heard have overdosed on drugs or have gone out of control? Yes, they may seem like they have expensive and designer things and go to the hottest parties but are they really happy with their lifestyles? Are they exactly doing what they really want to do? Not everyone. And like this story, Mason Keane is one.
Mason is definitely a manicorn. A rare breed of a passionate, a gentleman and thoughtful person. What he did to help the Lockwood's was more than generous. He did everything he can because only the Lockwood's made him feel like he is part of the family and helped him find the clarity that he has been looking for. They saw him as the real Mason Keane, the person, not the pop star. His short stay in the manor put things in perspective and made him feel alive again.
One other aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the bit about the history of the manor and the love story of one of Tegan's ancestors. It was a really nice touch to the story. It added depth and mystery to the story. It is probably one aspect which made the story different from all the other girl-meets-famous-boy-and-fall-in-love story. It somehow added that quality that will make you take the story seriously and not just stereotype it as another unmemorable romance story to join the rest of the pile. With the Lockwood Manor and estate as the backdrop somehow added a very good setting for the story where a lot of unexpected things can happen. So, another point for the author for that.
I give this 4/5 skeleton keys. I obviously enjoyed the story. Not just the love story but the it's entirety. The setting, the historical background and the witty and hilarious dialogs. Not to mention, the supporting characters were given enough exposure to at least give the readers enough details to be able to picture and know the personality of those character. Tegan's family and friends were an interesting mixture of personalities that contributed to the making this story different from the rest. I would always remember this story not with eerie cover but how it made me forget the worries of the world for a while. And Tegan is definitely one very memorable character with her very unusual name and a feisty personality to match. I would always remember this book as fun, though there were fights, misunderstandings, Tegan's battles and insecurities and all of the Lockwood's struggles. The positivity and the bond of this family eclipsed all the other sad things. What I would always remember were the hilarious episodes and all the teasing. Thank you Dallas Coryell for the opportunity to read this story. It's been a real pleasure.
Therefore I shall call you Lady Freckles McDermot of the Canterbury Gardens, Duchess of the Privy Seal and Holder of the Golden Chalice of Truth...or Freckles.
- Dallas Coryell, Melody's Key -
Tegan Lockwood. I think Tegan is such a cute name for a girl which also denotes strength. Though, Freckles is a very cute name too. For me, a girl named Tegan would surely be a girl with a strong personality and conviction. And the heroine of this story is exactly just that. Strong and selfless. She was supposed to go to Columbia for college but she decided to put it off to help her family run the family business to help pay off their debts. If you think about it, Tegan seems like a martyr but not really. I think she just loves her family so much and is just practical. She doesn't think they can afford yet to support her study in the US. Lockwood Manor is in England and it hosts vacationeers during summer. So, flying to New York to study is an expensive expense the Lockwoods could not afford right now. They are up to their necks in their debts.
Tegan's ordinary and boring existence was disturbed when the famous American pop star Mason Keane with a widely known reputation for charming the ladies, a party animal and a big spender stayed in the manor incognito. Their first meeting was hilarious. It was in a way a meet cute only to the observer. These two batted heads on. Tegan confirmed her beliefs that Mason Keane was no good and she should just avoid him altogether. But that was not how to be.
How Tegan and Mason's friendship developed was hilarious and cute. Mason proved to Tegan he wasn't what social media purports him to be, yet Tegan still continue to refuse the evidence that were obviously staring her in the face. Their exchanges are often hilarious and full of references to movies, etc. As their relationships progressed, their conversations were filled with innuendos which are still hilarious as they get to know each other more.
Mason probably represents a lot of celebrities that are not exactly what their reputation led to believe. How an artist or an actor is package or marketed to the public is not exactly his real personality. Like Mason, how he ended up a pop star when he hates his own songs. He only sang the songs but he never wrote them. If only he could sing his own compositions.
As this story is written by a musician, it gives the readers a glimpse into the inner workings of the music industry. So, no wonder why some very popular celebrities just couldn't handle the fame and all the things that came with it. Simply because, it's not all glamorous as we are all made to believe. How many celebrities have we heard have overdosed on drugs or have gone out of control? Yes, they may seem like they have expensive and designer things and go to the hottest parties but are they really happy with their lifestyles? Are they exactly doing what they really want to do? Not everyone. And like this story, Mason Keane is one.
Mason is definitely a manicorn. A rare breed of a passionate, a gentleman and thoughtful person. What he did to help the Lockwood's was more than generous. He did everything he can because only the Lockwood's made him feel like he is part of the family and helped him find the clarity that he has been looking for. They saw him as the real Mason Keane, the person, not the pop star. His short stay in the manor put things in perspective and made him feel alive again.
One other aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the bit about the history of the manor and the love story of one of Tegan's ancestors. It was a really nice touch to the story. It added depth and mystery to the story. It is probably one aspect which made the story different from all the other girl-meets-famous-boy-and-fall-in-love story. It somehow added that quality that will make you take the story seriously and not just stereotype it as another unmemorable romance story to join the rest of the pile. With the Lockwood Manor and estate as the backdrop somehow added a very good setting for the story where a lot of unexpected things can happen. So, another point for the author for that.
I give this 4/5 skeleton keys. I obviously enjoyed the story. Not just the love story but the it's entirety. The setting, the historical background and the witty and hilarious dialogs. Not to mention, the supporting characters were given enough exposure to at least give the readers enough details to be able to picture and know the personality of those character. Tegan's family and friends were an interesting mixture of personalities that contributed to the making this story different from the rest. I would always remember this story not with eerie cover but how it made me forget the worries of the world for a while. And Tegan is definitely one very memorable character with her very unusual name and a feisty personality to match. I would always remember this book as fun, though there were fights, misunderstandings, Tegan's battles and insecurities and all of the Lockwood's struggles. The positivity and the bond of this family eclipsed all the other sad things. What I would always remember were the hilarious episodes and all the teasing. Thank you Dallas Coryell for the opportunity to read this story. It's been a real pleasure.
Therefore I shall call you Lady Freckles McDermot of the Canterbury Gardens, Duchess of the Privy Seal and Holder of the Golden Chalice of Truth...or Freckles.
- Dallas Coryell, Melody's Key -
February 7, 2017
Thanks Mr.Coryell for sending me your book in exchange for an honest review!
I'll try as much as I can to do exactly that and summarize my feelings.
Lemme tell you something, from the moment I started reading this story I knew it would be hard for me to put it down! And man I was right!
At first we get to know Tegan Lockwood, the girl who lives in Lockwood Manor in Lymington (2h drive from London) and helps her family out with their business - they rent the Manor for tourists during the summer.
We find out that they're constantly fighting to pay off their debts and that's the reason why she dropped out of art school. She keeps telling her family (and herself) that that's OK, that she doesn't mind when in reality she does, very much. That teaches us what kind of person Tegan is - someone who is ready to give up of her dreams in order to help her loved ones.
We are introduced to her younger sister Ryleigh and their little prank war. That's the way they express their love apparently. Ryleigh is totally different from Tegan, she's this confident, loves-to-dress-slutty, funny, extroverted person while Tegan is rather clumsy (as she says) yet very talented (she both sings, playes piano and writes songs you guys!) introvert who's trying her best not to get noticed.
She spends a lot of her free time at the attic reading old letters written by her ancestors. She admitted that they're made her believe in love again. We only get to know their story from Jonathon's perspective because she doesn't have Violet's letters. I won't say much about that story (it would spoil it for you) but I do regret for not having more of those letters included in the book. I really liked them!
As for the main story line I could guess almost every major plot twist from the beginning but I didn't mind that because it was very well written.
At some point Mason Keane, a huge pop star, comes to "find some peace" in their Manor, and Tegan dislikes him at first thinking he's some arrogant douchebag.
But soon we find out that there's more of a story than eyes can see.
The character development and their depth is amazing! We have characters like Cale Westerfield and Madison who you can't not to hate, Mason who will blow your mind, Ryleigh (she's just too funny, I was sad she wasn't mentioned once at the end), Simon (Tegan's best homie, as he calls himself).
Speaking of Simon, his story is soooo unfinished! I had high hopes for his mysterious beau and was looking forward to find out who he is! So unfair.
Also, I thought that storyline was a little bit slow and that ending was very much rushed, too much of a cliche.
But overall it was a nice love story and if you like those then, by all means, you should read it!
I'll try as much as I can to do exactly that and summarize my feelings.
Lemme tell you something, from the moment I started reading this story I knew it would be hard for me to put it down! And man I was right!
At first we get to know Tegan Lockwood, the girl who lives in Lockwood Manor in Lymington (2h drive from London) and helps her family out with their business - they rent the Manor for tourists during the summer.
We find out that they're constantly fighting to pay off their debts and that's the reason why she dropped out of art school. She keeps telling her family (and herself) that that's OK, that she doesn't mind when in reality she does, very much. That teaches us what kind of person Tegan is - someone who is ready to give up of her dreams in order to help her loved ones.
We are introduced to her younger sister Ryleigh and their little prank war. That's the way they express their love apparently. Ryleigh is totally different from Tegan, she's this confident, loves-to-dress-slutty, funny, extroverted person while Tegan is rather clumsy (as she says) yet very talented (she both sings, playes piano and writes songs you guys!) introvert who's trying her best not to get noticed.
She spends a lot of her free time at the attic reading old letters written by her ancestors. She admitted that they're made her believe in love again. We only get to know their story from Jonathon's perspective because she doesn't have Violet's letters. I won't say much about that story (it would spoil it for you) but I do regret for not having more of those letters included in the book. I really liked them!
As for the main story line I could guess almost every major plot twist from the beginning but I didn't mind that because it was very well written.
At some point Mason Keane, a huge pop star, comes to "find some peace" in their Manor, and Tegan dislikes him at first thinking he's some arrogant douchebag.
But soon we find out that there's more of a story than eyes can see.
The character development and their depth is amazing! We have characters like Cale Westerfield and Madison who you can't not to hate, Mason who will blow your mind, Ryleigh (she's just too funny, I was sad she wasn't mentioned once at the end), Simon (Tegan's best homie, as he calls himself).
Speaking of Simon, his story is soooo unfinished! I had high hopes for his mysterious beau and was looking forward to find out who he is! So unfair.
Also, I thought that storyline was a little bit slow and that ending was very much rushed, too much of a cliche.
But overall it was a nice love story and if you like those then, by all means, you should read it!
October 31, 2016
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by rating this novel. I'll give it 4 stars.
First of all, I have to say, Dallas is good with words. I really liked his style, it's almost poetical. I'd say that's the thing that makes this book as good as it is.
I don't write summaries in my reviews because you get plenty of those all over Goodreads, so I'll just say that both of the protagonists were interesting and well developed. Sometimes they annoyed me, sometimes thay made me laugh- exactly as it should be for me to see them as realistic and credible.
The only problem I had with this book was the descriptions. I'm not a fan of to descriptive books so I really had to struggle with this one. And it's not just about the descriptions per se, it's about the fact that they give us detailes (e.g. about Tegans' family history or her family's pancake rituals) but non of those things are of greater importance for our plot or the relationship between Tegan and Mason. Yes, the background stories explain how her family started their business, but personaly, I could have gone with less data.
So Melody's Key gets 4 stars and I, hopefully, get to read more from Dallas :)
Let me start by rating this novel. I'll give it 4 stars.
First of all, I have to say, Dallas is good with words. I really liked his style, it's almost poetical. I'd say that's the thing that makes this book as good as it is.
I don't write summaries in my reviews because you get plenty of those all over Goodreads, so I'll just say that both of the protagonists were interesting and well developed. Sometimes they annoyed me, sometimes thay made me laugh- exactly as it should be for me to see them as realistic and credible.
The only problem I had with this book was the descriptions. I'm not a fan of to descriptive books so I really had to struggle with this one. And it's not just about the descriptions per se, it's about the fact that they give us detailes (e.g. about Tegans' family history or her family's pancake rituals) but non of those things are of greater importance for our plot or the relationship between Tegan and Mason. Yes, the background stories explain how her family started their business, but personaly, I could have gone with less data.
So Melody's Key gets 4 stars and I, hopefully, get to read more from Dallas :)
July 18, 2016
Courtesy to author, I've got this book for reading and an honest review.
I was so relieved that I loved the book. I hate writing bad reviews.
Tegan Lockwod is a songwriter, nightowl who loves breakfast meant tea in the morning. She sacrifices her dreams so she could help her family in their family business Lockwood Holiday.
Tegan's life seams a bit colorless, she shut herself to any possible romance and almost completely gave up on love.
Her life begins to change when American pop star Mason Keane come to their town for some peace and quiet.
I really enjoyed reading this book, even thou I'm not a big fan of love stories.
It's a great summer read, I couldn't put her down.
Characters are not hollow, Tegan is not some stupid girl dreaming of perfect love and happily ever after. She's a fighter, she teach us not to give up on our dreams even when all seams to be lost.
Every character in this book have their personality, we get to know them well.
Every backgrounds story is nicely fit in the main story, and help us to understand the whole picture.
The author is a songwriter as well as the main characters so we can actually hear every song from this book on his youtube channel.
I was so relieved that I loved the book. I hate writing bad reviews.
Tegan Lockwod is a songwriter, nightowl who loves breakfast meant tea in the morning. She sacrifices her dreams so she could help her family in their family business Lockwood Holiday.
Tegan's life seams a bit colorless, she shut herself to any possible romance and almost completely gave up on love.
Her life begins to change when American pop star Mason Keane come to their town for some peace and quiet.
I really enjoyed reading this book, even thou I'm not a big fan of love stories.
It's a great summer read, I couldn't put her down.
Characters are not hollow, Tegan is not some stupid girl dreaming of perfect love and happily ever after. She's a fighter, she teach us not to give up on our dreams even when all seams to be lost.
Every character in this book have their personality, we get to know them well.
Every backgrounds story is nicely fit in the main story, and help us to understand the whole picture.
The author is a songwriter as well as the main characters so we can actually hear every song from this book on his youtube channel.
January 8, 2017
My Synopsis:
Tegan Lockwood lives in England, settled in a village of snooty and rich neighbors who look down their noses at her and her family. Ever since her parents had bought Lockwood Manor, they have been deep in debt despite the shiny exterior of their home that screams riches. During the summer, Tegan spends long hours laboring keeping the family business alive, a vacation spot for tourists in her own home. Each summer, there is a constant stream of people in her home and she is used to it.
That is, until Mason Keane comes to live with them. He's an American pop star, loved by his many 12-year-old fans, and Tegan despises him for his cocky attitude, repetitive songs, and long history of romances. But, like any unlikely pair, they find themselves drawn to each other, despite their outward differences, because they might not be that different at all.
Review:
I loved this book from start to finish and couln't bear to finish it. Think of it like tea- I sipped it, rather than shooting it down like a shot, and each page left me satisfied. Dallas's writing is full of imagery and his characters are so well developed that I felt like I knew all the characters personally. I smiled at their successes and laughed at their humor. I even felt second-hand embarrassment, like when Mason caught Tegan staring at him working out (I would do it too, no one blames you girl).
The book synopsis sounds cliche- famous pop star falls in love with the one girl that isn't his fan. But this book's imagery, characters, and inside information on the music industry made it not at all the cliche book you would expect. Hidden away from his fans, Mason isn't a popular singer and is just the raw and hurt person hidden inside. As you progress through the book, you see his painful history and his lonliness and he becomes just another person with a broken soul instead of a face on the front of magazines. Once Mason became a regular person, the differences between him and Tegan disappeared because of her own personal painful history- why she is distrustful of men and her secret hopes and desires.
Tegan and Mason are a perfect pair. They are both singers and songwriters, but one ended up famous and singing lyrics that aren't even his own and the other hides away her songs. When Tegan finally started seeing Mason for who he was, a sweet guy with a sense of humor to rival her own, she started to cast away her barriers. The times when they sing together, I can almost feel the electric intensity between them and imagine the sound of their voices intermingling and the feel of Mason's fingers under Tegan's as she helps him play the piano. Sometimes in romance books, it feels like the romance was forced down our throats (*cough cough* Tamlin and Feyre from ACOTAR) by the author, but their love comes so smoothly and naturally as if they are soulmates. I particularly liked their "seduction battles" where they tried to seduce the other in public settings under the oblivious eyes of Tegan's family. If they were real people, I wouldn't even crush on Mason, no matter how hot he is, because I wouldn't be able to bear the idea of him being with anyone else than Tegan. However, even in their perfection and chemistry (think the chemistry of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling), they are nearly pulled apart because of Tegan's internal distrust of both Mason's history as portrayed by the media and men in general.
I found the details about the music industry to be the most interesting. As a singer himself, Dallas Coryell has a lot of details that he put to use while describing Mason's musical history. Mason is in debt, far more than Tegan's family, despite what the public believes. His songs he writes are given to other artists who sing that type of music, while his boss gives him repetive pop music that apparently the teenage girls will love. Even his personality and attitude is changed in the sake of making teenage girls fall in love with him and bringing more money to the music industry. He is unhappy, unloved (the girls are only in love with the idea of him- his portrayed personality- but not the person he is inside), and he can remain that way if he only signs to work for them for 5 years and as a result signs away part of his life. However, he will be free of debt and have enough money to live on for the rest of his life. Facing a difficult desicion, he is sent to Lockwood Manor to hide away and contemplate.
Tegan's family was a detail that made the book for me. I love books that give the main character's history with their family and connects the reader with the family. There is her rambunctuous sister who has a history of trading pranks with Tegan, part of their close relationship. Then there are her brothers, her "wanker" ("" because Mason called him this with a fake British accent and it cracked me up) brother Noah and her much less wankerish brother Joseph. Then, there are her parents, who are fulfilling their dream with their business, but live in fear of losing it.
There is one last detail that I would like to mention- letters that Tegan found in her home's attic between Violet and Jonathon. Violet, who had to marry another man instead of her true love Jonathon, and Jonathon, who went to war while still pining over his lover. These letters are the extent of Tegan's love life, and although they aren't incredibly important to the storyline, they, with other details, add a special touch to the book that doesn't leave any boring moments.
You may be tired of cliche books, but this is not your typical one. Even the ending is unexpected for a seemingly cliche book. It is a love story, one full of breaking past barriers and past pains. The fact that Mason is famous only adds to his personality instead of making it a major part of the story. I challenge you to get rid of your fear of cliche books and dive into this one.
Thank you to Dallas Coryell for sending me his book! This does not at all impact my obsession with this book or any opinions I have.
Fun Fact: all of the songs by Mason and Tegan in this book are sung by Dallas Coryell.
Original review posted on my blog: https://infinitbr.wordpress.com/2017/...
Tegan Lockwood lives in England, settled in a village of snooty and rich neighbors who look down their noses at her and her family. Ever since her parents had bought Lockwood Manor, they have been deep in debt despite the shiny exterior of their home that screams riches. During the summer, Tegan spends long hours laboring keeping the family business alive, a vacation spot for tourists in her own home. Each summer, there is a constant stream of people in her home and she is used to it.
That is, until Mason Keane comes to live with them. He's an American pop star, loved by his many 12-year-old fans, and Tegan despises him for his cocky attitude, repetitive songs, and long history of romances. But, like any unlikely pair, they find themselves drawn to each other, despite their outward differences, because they might not be that different at all.
Review:
I loved this book from start to finish and couln't bear to finish it. Think of it like tea- I sipped it, rather than shooting it down like a shot, and each page left me satisfied. Dallas's writing is full of imagery and his characters are so well developed that I felt like I knew all the characters personally. I smiled at their successes and laughed at their humor. I even felt second-hand embarrassment, like when Mason caught Tegan staring at him working out (I would do it too, no one blames you girl).
The book synopsis sounds cliche- famous pop star falls in love with the one girl that isn't his fan. But this book's imagery, characters, and inside information on the music industry made it not at all the cliche book you would expect. Hidden away from his fans, Mason isn't a popular singer and is just the raw and hurt person hidden inside. As you progress through the book, you see his painful history and his lonliness and he becomes just another person with a broken soul instead of a face on the front of magazines. Once Mason became a regular person, the differences between him and Tegan disappeared because of her own personal painful history- why she is distrustful of men and her secret hopes and desires.
Tegan and Mason are a perfect pair. They are both singers and songwriters, but one ended up famous and singing lyrics that aren't even his own and the other hides away her songs. When Tegan finally started seeing Mason for who he was, a sweet guy with a sense of humor to rival her own, she started to cast away her barriers. The times when they sing together, I can almost feel the electric intensity between them and imagine the sound of their voices intermingling and the feel of Mason's fingers under Tegan's as she helps him play the piano. Sometimes in romance books, it feels like the romance was forced down our throats (*cough cough* Tamlin and Feyre from ACOTAR) by the author, but their love comes so smoothly and naturally as if they are soulmates. I particularly liked their "seduction battles" where they tried to seduce the other in public settings under the oblivious eyes of Tegan's family. If they were real people, I wouldn't even crush on Mason, no matter how hot he is, because I wouldn't be able to bear the idea of him being with anyone else than Tegan. However, even in their perfection and chemistry (think the chemistry of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling), they are nearly pulled apart because of Tegan's internal distrust of both Mason's history as portrayed by the media and men in general.
I found the details about the music industry to be the most interesting. As a singer himself, Dallas Coryell has a lot of details that he put to use while describing Mason's musical history. Mason is in debt, far more than Tegan's family, despite what the public believes. His songs he writes are given to other artists who sing that type of music, while his boss gives him repetive pop music that apparently the teenage girls will love. Even his personality and attitude is changed in the sake of making teenage girls fall in love with him and bringing more money to the music industry. He is unhappy, unloved (the girls are only in love with the idea of him- his portrayed personality- but not the person he is inside), and he can remain that way if he only signs to work for them for 5 years and as a result signs away part of his life. However, he will be free of debt and have enough money to live on for the rest of his life. Facing a difficult desicion, he is sent to Lockwood Manor to hide away and contemplate.
Tegan's family was a detail that made the book for me. I love books that give the main character's history with their family and connects the reader with the family. There is her rambunctuous sister who has a history of trading pranks with Tegan, part of their close relationship. Then there are her brothers, her "wanker" ("" because Mason called him this with a fake British accent and it cracked me up) brother Noah and her much less wankerish brother Joseph. Then, there are her parents, who are fulfilling their dream with their business, but live in fear of losing it.
There is one last detail that I would like to mention- letters that Tegan found in her home's attic between Violet and Jonathon. Violet, who had to marry another man instead of her true love Jonathon, and Jonathon, who went to war while still pining over his lover. These letters are the extent of Tegan's love life, and although they aren't incredibly important to the storyline, they, with other details, add a special touch to the book that doesn't leave any boring moments.
You may be tired of cliche books, but this is not your typical one. Even the ending is unexpected for a seemingly cliche book. It is a love story, one full of breaking past barriers and past pains. The fact that Mason is famous only adds to his personality instead of making it a major part of the story. I challenge you to get rid of your fear of cliche books and dive into this one.
Thank you to Dallas Coryell for sending me his book! This does not at all impact my obsession with this book or any opinions I have.
Fun Fact: all of the songs by Mason and Tegan in this book are sung by Dallas Coryell.
Original review posted on my blog: https://infinitbr.wordpress.com/2017/...
December 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
I really dislike writing bad reviews. This book (fortunately) will not be getting one ;)
The Characters:
The story focuses on two people - Tegan Lockwood a.k.a. Freckles, and Mason Keane a.k.a. Big Muffin (I seriously died laughing when they came up with these nicknames)
I really liked Tegan. She was such a relatable character and so easy to connect with. I loved that she wasn't perfect.
Mason is introduced as "a hard partier, big spender and known womanizer" (Damon Salvatore, is that you?)
-- and then when he suddenly came out of nowhere to save the day (during Simon and Cale's brawl), I began rooting for him!
I also liked that he loved Tegan's thick eyebrows (ha ha! Finally someone who understands me!).
Tegan + Mason: I love them together!
The Songs:
There were around five songs (I think) scattered throughout the book and they were all really nice. How do I know this? Because I listened to every single one of them whenever they popped up in the book. My favorite was "Don't Say Goodbye", which the author sang with so much feeling that I was able to picture the whole scene in my head -- the bonfire, the band, and everyone dancing. It was just so magical! Why isn't there a movie out yet? I have to see this thing come to life!
What I Loved:
1. Everything was described so beautifully! I love the way the author writes. I was able to picture everything in my head and that's something that happens very rarely.
2. The songs -- It was so cool to be able to actually listen to the songs while reading about them. You guys need to go check his YouTube channel out!
https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasCo...
3. The letters ❤
4. The book kept things real by showing us that the music industry is flawed -- "They had taken a sensitive, caring and talented musician and reduced him down to a sad, clichéd misogynistic wasteland. The part that frustrated her the most was that this actually sold records and concert tickets. Was this the extent of what people wanted?" (It's sad that we ignore good music and glorify auto-tuned crap these days)
5. The references that took me back to my childhood -- Jumanji, Star Wars, The Sound of Music, and Pachelbel's Canon in D ❤
"Considering her bedraggled look, it was equally plausible that she had just emerged from 20 years trapped in a game of Jumanji."
6. Noah-- so funny! His jokes made me snort a couple of times. I also loved Tegan's dad and his super awesome pearls of wisdom!
7. Just when I thought it was going to be a fun read, things got emotional. I'm talking about Cale and Tegan's backstory. I did not see that coming! I could feel her grief through the pages!
8. Thank you Dallas Coryell for introducing me to CHVRCHES
The Issues:
1. I really wanted to know more about Simon. When Tegan asked him for the name of the person who broke his heart, he refused to tell her. I really had this feeling that he did so because he might be someone known to her.
2. The box! I thought the letters were going to end up revealing some sort of epic secret :/
Random thoughts:
Page 28: The author is officially Mason in my head. The description fits perfectly :D
Page 144: I strongly feel that Mason has the key she lost!
Page 152: Tegan Melody Lockwood --> Tegan has a key --> Melody's Key? --> Ahhh that makes sense! (Ignore my stupidity, lol)
Page 263: The conversation between Tegan's father and Mason: That little pearl of wisdom was on point! So beautifully written!
Page 281: Mason's fiancé...FIANCÉ??? WTH. Someone hold me back before I squeeze the life out of Madison.
The last couple of pages: YESSS! I KNEW HE HAD THE KEY! YESSS! THEY WERE MEANT TO BE!
Overall Impression:
I loved reading this! It made me smile like an idiot and turned me into a pile of mush (ha ha!).
October 3, 2017
Thank you for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review, Dallas!
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book, but it didn't take me long to get in to it! I think it's because I could easily relate to the main character.
I found that this book had some elements that reminded me of other books. Like Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith. As you all may know I'm a huuuuge CoHo fan, so I'm not saying that's a bad thing!
The only negative thing I can say is that it was a bit too cheesy at times and also a little predictable at times, but it's pretty hard to avoid in this genre.
All in all I give this book 4 stars because I really liked the writing style and as I mentioned the story was really easy to get in to!
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book, but it didn't take me long to get in to it! I think it's because I could easily relate to the main character.
I found that this book had some elements that reminded me of other books. Like Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith. As you all may know I'm a huuuuge CoHo fan, so I'm not saying that's a bad thing!
The only negative thing I can say is that it was a bit too cheesy at times and also a little predictable at times, but it's pretty hard to avoid in this genre.
All in all I give this book 4 stars because I really liked the writing style and as I mentioned the story was really easy to get in to!
August 11, 2017
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
This book was fantastic. A lot of the time with romances, especially new adult romances, things can go one of two ways, insta-love with so many steamy scenes its bordering on erotica or just enough romance to keep things interesting, but nothing too crazy. This book, thankfully, is in the latter category.
Basically, this is the story of Tegan, a twenty something who gave up her dreams of attending Columbia to stay and help out at her family's struggling bed-and-breakfast type business in the English countryside. Her parents announce that famed American pop star Mason Keane will be staying with them for the next few months to relax and get away from the spotlight, and Tegan is not too excited. Mason has a womanizing reputation and Tegan is too upset about giving up her dreams to want to get involved with someone.
I'm going to leave the synopsis there, because anything more would get spoiler-y.
I really enjoyed this book; the characters were interesting, and it was all set against a beautiful English backdrop.
For the most part, I really enjoyed Tegan. She was devoted to her family, stubborn and a little unsure of herself. Things did get a little cliche with the usual 'gorgeous girl doesn't know she's gorgeous' but I won't fault her too much for it. She had a lot going for her, she drew, well enough to get the Columbia scholarship, she played the piano, sang and wrote songs. Very artistically inclined.
On more than one occasion I was shocked by some of her family's comments and actions. They were very upfront, sharing many intimate details that maybe didn't need to be shared, and they were just about as crass as I expected a British family to be.
Tegan finds some love letters from when her great-grandmother and great-grandfather were alive, it turned out that her origins were not of Lord Lockwood, but a solider her great-grandmother had fallen in love with. I get that this a romance, and the letters were meant to show the love they had for each other, but after reading the first one and finding it so cheesy, I skimmed the others. They were reminiscent of old Harlequin Romances, overly dramatic and used elaborate illusions. I realize that they are to help show Tegan what love looks like, but I think I might be too cynical to truly appreciate them.
The build up to Tegan and Mason actually realizing there feelings was excruciating, but in a good way. They were both so unsure of themselves and what the other wanted, they were cautious. When they finally made things official, it was swoon-city.
A couple quick things I also want to mention. This book also briefly touches on some serious issues including rape, self-harm and depression. Nothing really gets too explicit, but just know there are references to it.
The writing throughout this book was very well done, frankly better than I was expecting. You never know what you will get with self-published indie authors, but I am happy to report the writing in this one was great. There was so much atmosphere; I really felt like I was in the book, something which is usually hard to do with 3rd person perspectives. I could see the estate, feel the base at the EDM concert and experience NYC with Tegan for the first time.
My biggest, and probably only real complaint with this book is the ending. I felt like there was still so much to the story, and I flipped to the last page and the book was over. I mean, for the most part things were wrapped up, but I just kind of felt like it was a bit abrupt.
Overall, I would definitely pick this book up if I saw it in the bookstore, I think, in my humble opinion, that it has great potential to be a best-seller.
This book was fantastic. A lot of the time with romances, especially new adult romances, things can go one of two ways, insta-love with so many steamy scenes its bordering on erotica or just enough romance to keep things interesting, but nothing too crazy. This book, thankfully, is in the latter category.
Basically, this is the story of Tegan, a twenty something who gave up her dreams of attending Columbia to stay and help out at her family's struggling bed-and-breakfast type business in the English countryside. Her parents announce that famed American pop star Mason Keane will be staying with them for the next few months to relax and get away from the spotlight, and Tegan is not too excited. Mason has a womanizing reputation and Tegan is too upset about giving up her dreams to want to get involved with someone.
I'm going to leave the synopsis there, because anything more would get spoiler-y.
I really enjoyed this book; the characters were interesting, and it was all set against a beautiful English backdrop.
For the most part, I really enjoyed Tegan. She was devoted to her family, stubborn and a little unsure of herself. Things did get a little cliche with the usual 'gorgeous girl doesn't know she's gorgeous' but I won't fault her too much for it. She had a lot going for her, she drew, well enough to get the Columbia scholarship, she played the piano, sang and wrote songs. Very artistically inclined.
On more than one occasion I was shocked by some of her family's comments and actions. They were very upfront, sharing many intimate details that maybe didn't need to be shared, and they were just about as crass as I expected a British family to be.
Tegan finds some love letters from when her great-grandmother and great-grandfather were alive, it turned out that her origins were not of Lord Lockwood, but a solider her great-grandmother had fallen in love with. I get that this a romance, and the letters were meant to show the love they had for each other, but after reading the first one and finding it so cheesy, I skimmed the others. They were reminiscent of old Harlequin Romances, overly dramatic and used elaborate illusions. I realize that they are to help show Tegan what love looks like, but I think I might be too cynical to truly appreciate them.
The build up to Tegan and Mason actually realizing there feelings was excruciating, but in a good way. They were both so unsure of themselves and what the other wanted, they were cautious. When they finally made things official, it was swoon-city.
A couple quick things I also want to mention. This book also briefly touches on some serious issues including rape, self-harm and depression. Nothing really gets too explicit, but just know there are references to it.
The writing throughout this book was very well done, frankly better than I was expecting. You never know what you will get with self-published indie authors, but I am happy to report the writing in this one was great. There was so much atmosphere; I really felt like I was in the book, something which is usually hard to do with 3rd person perspectives. I could see the estate, feel the base at the EDM concert and experience NYC with Tegan for the first time.
My biggest, and probably only real complaint with this book is the ending. I felt like there was still so much to the story, and I flipped to the last page and the book was over. I mean, for the most part things were wrapped up, but I just kind of felt like it was a bit abrupt.
Overall, I would definitely pick this book up if I saw it in the bookstore, I think, in my humble opinion, that it has great potential to be a best-seller.
December 22, 2016
Dallas Coyrell's debut novel, Melody's Key, may have changed my opinion of young love romance novels. I usually tend to avoid romance books because most of the ones I have read were overly cheesy, predictable and just not for me. This novel, however, is none of those things and I'm glad that I was given the chance to read it.
The part I love most about this story is that it didn't begin with the main characters already in love. In fact, their first impressions of each other weren't all that great, but life brought them together anyhow. It was nice to read a romance story that didn't have instalove. Where the characters aren't automatically unable to live with out each other. Tegan and Mason became friends first. They bonded, hung out and took their time getting to know each other before their feelings for each other developed.
I love the box of letters and key Tegan found and the impact they had on her. I wish the author included more of them, they were lovely to read! More than letters, though, I wish Dallas Coryell wouldn't have left Simon's story a mystery. I can guess who the mystery guy was, but I want to know for sure! Haha.
There are definitely some romance clichés in Melody's key, but they were executed so well that they didn't take away from the story. Dallas Coryell's writing is wonderful. He included so much detail and he did it in a way that didn't make the story drag. Great character development and world building, too. I also loved how Dallas Coryell showed that you can make bad choices or live through terrible things, and still be a good person. Both main characters suffered emotionally from certain things in their lives but they didn't let those things stop them from being good people and I think that's a great message to send.
This is a great story about young love between two people who come from different worlds. It'll make you laugh, tear up and smile for joy. This book had me completely hooked. I definitely recommend Melody's Key if you're looking to read an awesome young adult romance.
*** I received a copy of this book, by the author, in exchange for my honest review. ***
The part I love most about this story is that it didn't begin with the main characters already in love. In fact, their first impressions of each other weren't all that great, but life brought them together anyhow. It was nice to read a romance story that didn't have instalove. Where the characters aren't automatically unable to live with out each other. Tegan and Mason became friends first. They bonded, hung out and took their time getting to know each other before their feelings for each other developed.
I love the box of letters and key Tegan found and the impact they had on her. I wish the author included more of them, they were lovely to read! More than letters, though, I wish Dallas Coryell wouldn't have left Simon's story a mystery. I can guess who the mystery guy was, but I want to know for sure! Haha.
There are definitely some romance clichés in Melody's key, but they were executed so well that they didn't take away from the story. Dallas Coryell's writing is wonderful. He included so much detail and he did it in a way that didn't make the story drag. Great character development and world building, too. I also loved how Dallas Coryell showed that you can make bad choices or live through terrible things, and still be a good person. Both main characters suffered emotionally from certain things in their lives but they didn't let those things stop them from being good people and I think that's a great message to send.
This is a great story about young love between two people who come from different worlds. It'll make you laugh, tear up and smile for joy. This book had me completely hooked. I definitely recommend Melody's Key if you're looking to read an awesome young adult romance.
*** I received a copy of this book, by the author, in exchange for my honest review. ***
December 13, 2016
2.5 - 3 Stars
Read full review on: https://5171milesbookblog.wordpress.com/
Melody's Key is a New Adult debut novel by Michigan based singer Dallas Coryell. I received an ARC from the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
Tegan Lockwood and her family live on the family estate on the South Coast of England. She and her siblings help their parents out with the family's struggling business - which is some sort of summer getaway Inn on the family's estate. Tegan received an art scholarship from Columbia University in New York City but can't afford to go due to her responsibilities at home. As she is dreading another dull and uneventful summer, a mysterious guest checks in to spend the entire summer at the Lockwood's. Is this the adventure Tegan was hoping for for so long?
Tegan was a nice character to read about. She put all her dreams and future plans on hold to help out her parents with the struggling family business.
Mason was a real nice guy: he was helpful, funny, a little cocky but also shy at times. He was the total opposite of what the media made him look like.
Tegan and Mason's attraction to one another grew very quickly but both took too long to act on it. That fact alone made the story very drag.
The entire story was way too detailed. Everything was described down to the smallest detail and it made the story really drag and therefore rather boring. I skipped most of the descriptions because I just couldn't take it. I know that descriptions are important in a novel but that was way too much.
**********
Review to come!
Read full review on: https://5171milesbookblog.wordpress.com/
Melody's Key is a New Adult debut novel by Michigan based singer Dallas Coryell. I received an ARC from the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
Tegan Lockwood and her family live on the family estate on the South Coast of England. She and her siblings help their parents out with the family's struggling business - which is some sort of summer getaway Inn on the family's estate. Tegan received an art scholarship from Columbia University in New York City but can't afford to go due to her responsibilities at home. As she is dreading another dull and uneventful summer, a mysterious guest checks in to spend the entire summer at the Lockwood's. Is this the adventure Tegan was hoping for for so long?
Tegan was a nice character to read about. She put all her dreams and future plans on hold to help out her parents with the struggling family business.
Mason was a real nice guy: he was helpful, funny, a little cocky but also shy at times. He was the total opposite of what the media made him look like.
Tegan and Mason's attraction to one another grew very quickly but both took too long to act on it. That fact alone made the story very drag.
The entire story was way too detailed. Everything was described down to the smallest detail and it made the story really drag and therefore rather boring. I skipped most of the descriptions because I just couldn't take it. I know that descriptions are important in a novel but that was way too much.
**********
Review to come!
February 5, 2017
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
So first I have to say that I didn't really have expectations when I started reading this book and it took me some time to get into it, but once I did it was easy to connect to the characters and enjoy the story.
Even though this book was full of cliches and the writing was sometimes tiring, the story was adorable and it reminded me of romantic teenage movies.
What I really liked was the perfect image of the Lockwood family. I liked how they supported each other and I absolutely loved their family traditions.
I was kind of disappointed when I realized that we're not going to find out more about Simon and what happened after the bonfire.
There was also something else that I was expecting to have a greater meaning - the letters. I feel like a part of the story is missing and there was so much potential for more.
The ending was absolutely perfect. All problems were solved and they all lived happily ever after. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy and to be honest, that was all I wanted.
So first I have to say that I didn't really have expectations when I started reading this book and it took me some time to get into it, but once I did it was easy to connect to the characters and enjoy the story.
Even though this book was full of cliches and the writing was sometimes tiring, the story was adorable and it reminded me of romantic teenage movies.
What I really liked was the perfect image of the Lockwood family. I liked how they supported each other and I absolutely loved their family traditions.
I was kind of disappointed when I realized that we're not going to find out more about Simon and what happened after the bonfire.
There was also something else that I was expecting to have a greater meaning - the letters. I feel like a part of the story is missing and there was so much potential for more.
The ending was absolutely perfect. All problems were solved and they all lived happily ever after. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy and to be honest, that was all I wanted.
November 26, 2016
rating: 4.8stars!
i got a copy for an honest review.
check out my review here:
https://wzupmomma.wordpress.com/2016/...
i got a copy for an honest review.
check out my review here:
https://wzupmomma.wordpress.com/2016/...
March 6, 2017
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
I want to thank the author Dallas Coryell, for sending me the ebook version of his novel for an honest review. This review is not affected by anything, it contains my true feelings and opinions.
It's about a british country girl named Tegan. Her parents own a facility like a hotel. An american pop star, Mason Keane will stay with them as a guest. He's going through rough times and staying in that place will be kind of a rehab for him. His stay is a secret, neither Tegan nor her family can talk about the situation. That's the agreement, he wants to stay away from his famous life and gether everything in his life.
At first, he's such a self centered and arrogant asshole. According to Tegan, he has no musical talent at all. Things are so tense between Tegan and Mason until he takes a step forward and apologizes.
The anger triggers the real feelings inside their hearts. Everything starts to change spontaneously. When you start reading, the electricity between them can be easily noticed. They just needed time to learn how to ignite it.
No one would imagine Mason could be such a romantic, caring, and thoughtful person. He is totally misjudged. "Dont judge a book by it's cover" he said. This is the perfect quote for him. Mason knows how to put things on track. He makes everything he can for Tegan. Probably more than any other person would do.
Tegan wants to study Art and writes songs like Mason but she doesn't like singing in front of people. She keeps her jem hidden inside. Her personality reminds me of myself a little. Nerdy, crazy, and funny.
They always tease each other. This behaviour usually leads to a special situation because it's a different way to show the interest.
This is not a typical YA contemporary romance novel. I found myself in the author's words. They have the power to melt your heart away, shatter it into a thousand pieces, glue them back, and make it brand new. I always thought about the songs in the book and wished I could hear them as well. At the end of the book, I was so excited when I learned he has a youtube channel and these songs are real!!
He is a writer, singer, and pretty handsome. What can you wish more? He's a triple threat, like the male version of "Chickicorn".
All the referances from the books and movies made me enjoy more and more.It's a plus for me.
Some of my favorite quotes, lyrics and parts from the letters;
"She felt as though he was somehow seeing her. The real her..."
"I'm not in any rush. I dont want to be with someone just to avoid being alone. I dont mind being alone."
" .. tomorrow is promised to no one. It's another way of saying you should live each day to the fullest because there is no way of knowing how many more you have."
"I have done nothing but dream of you night and day. Every ounce of my body and heart cry out for you, but the pain is as sweet as honey, just as you described the sensation of my affection in the midst of our first intimacy. If I close my eyes, I can feel your breath upon me, your fingertips upon my face, and the warmth of your body beneath me. I can taste the softness of your lips, even now. The memory is a small thing in comparison to being intertwined with you, but I swear by everything in creation that it is enough to carry me through any hardship we may encounter here."
"How can I give my heart away when it is already possessed by another? There would be nothing to give. Removing my love for you would leave my heart barren and hallow, a husk no longer capable of affection. Even though we are separated by many miles I can close my eyes and be at your side in a moment. I will fight each day, each minute, each second to be back with you, even if I can only watch your smile from afar and catch glimpses of your heart in the stars."
"You were never making love, you were only wasting time
Cought in the storybook of who you should have been
Waiting for your life to start, wait for her to heal your heart
Waiting for love to call
You are lost and I am lost, can we find a way
Can we make it safely into each other's arms
You'll find me, and I'll find you and I'll find a way
To get lost in you
None of them could ever fix, any of your broken parts
Coz they didn't have the key to your heart
All they did was hold you down, none of them can hold you now
Coz you are safe in my hearts
You are lost, and I am lost, we can find a way
Can we make it safely into each other's arms
You'll find me, and I'll find you and I'll find a way
To get lost in you"
I want to thank the author Dallas Coryell, for sending me the ebook version of his novel for an honest review. This review is not affected by anything, it contains my true feelings and opinions.
It's about a british country girl named Tegan. Her parents own a facility like a hotel. An american pop star, Mason Keane will stay with them as a guest. He's going through rough times and staying in that place will be kind of a rehab for him. His stay is a secret, neither Tegan nor her family can talk about the situation. That's the agreement, he wants to stay away from his famous life and gether everything in his life.
At first, he's such a self centered and arrogant asshole. According to Tegan, he has no musical talent at all. Things are so tense between Tegan and Mason until he takes a step forward and apologizes.
The anger triggers the real feelings inside their hearts. Everything starts to change spontaneously. When you start reading, the electricity between them can be easily noticed. They just needed time to learn how to ignite it.
No one would imagine Mason could be such a romantic, caring, and thoughtful person. He is totally misjudged. "Dont judge a book by it's cover" he said. This is the perfect quote for him. Mason knows how to put things on track. He makes everything he can for Tegan. Probably more than any other person would do.
Tegan wants to study Art and writes songs like Mason but she doesn't like singing in front of people. She keeps her jem hidden inside. Her personality reminds me of myself a little. Nerdy, crazy, and funny.
They always tease each other. This behaviour usually leads to a special situation because it's a different way to show the interest.
This is not a typical YA contemporary romance novel. I found myself in the author's words. They have the power to melt your heart away, shatter it into a thousand pieces, glue them back, and make it brand new. I always thought about the songs in the book and wished I could hear them as well. At the end of the book, I was so excited when I learned he has a youtube channel and these songs are real!!
He is a writer, singer, and pretty handsome. What can you wish more? He's a triple threat, like the male version of "Chickicorn".
All the referances from the books and movies made me enjoy more and more.It's a plus for me.
Some of my favorite quotes, lyrics and parts from the letters;
"She felt as though he was somehow seeing her. The real her..."
"I'm not in any rush. I dont want to be with someone just to avoid being alone. I dont mind being alone."
" .. tomorrow is promised to no one. It's another way of saying you should live each day to the fullest because there is no way of knowing how many more you have."
"I have done nothing but dream of you night and day. Every ounce of my body and heart cry out for you, but the pain is as sweet as honey, just as you described the sensation of my affection in the midst of our first intimacy. If I close my eyes, I can feel your breath upon me, your fingertips upon my face, and the warmth of your body beneath me. I can taste the softness of your lips, even now. The memory is a small thing in comparison to being intertwined with you, but I swear by everything in creation that it is enough to carry me through any hardship we may encounter here."
"How can I give my heart away when it is already possessed by another? There would be nothing to give. Removing my love for you would leave my heart barren and hallow, a husk no longer capable of affection. Even though we are separated by many miles I can close my eyes and be at your side in a moment. I will fight each day, each minute, each second to be back with you, even if I can only watch your smile from afar and catch glimpses of your heart in the stars."
"You were never making love, you were only wasting time
Cought in the storybook of who you should have been
Waiting for your life to start, wait for her to heal your heart
Waiting for love to call
You are lost and I am lost, can we find a way
Can we make it safely into each other's arms
You'll find me, and I'll find you and I'll find a way
To get lost in you
None of them could ever fix, any of your broken parts
Coz they didn't have the key to your heart
All they did was hold you down, none of them can hold you now
Coz you are safe in my hearts
You are lost, and I am lost, we can find a way
Can we make it safely into each other's arms
You'll find me, and I'll find you and I'll find a way
To get lost in you"
November 25, 2017
3,5 stars.
First of all I want to thank the author Dallas Coryell for giving me a free copy of his beautiful book Melody’s Key in exchange of an honest review.
And I will be honest, this gift won’t influence my opinion. Nor did I read other reviews so that my opinion would be mine only and would not be formed by others.
I will rarely choose a romantic book myself. So I started to read sceptically. I needed a few pages to let go of my scepticism. It all started pretty cliché. The main character is presented, as is her family. This is all done very descriptively. I love it more when the characters are presented through an action.
But from the second half of chapter three the story began to unfold. Time after time I thought, "This is predictable ..." and then it didn’t happen or something else happened. That surprised me. When I was half through the book I began to notice it was getting more and more difficult to me to put the book away. Every free minute I grabbed the book, which is obviously a good sign. Dallas Coryell has a smooth writing style that keeps turning you page after page. Even though English isn’t my native language, I had no difficulty to read the story, so I can also recommend it to non-English speaking readers.
The author likes long descriptions. Me too. He realy takes his time to let a situation unfold itself. However, sometimes it took too long for something to happen. At other times he suddenly makes such a big jump in time that it felt strange. (If you want to know why, scroll down to the part that contains spoilers.)
However, this shouldn’t stop you from reading this book. I really enjoyed reading it and I recommend you to read it too!
Enjoy!
THIS PART CONTAINS SPOILERS:
I will explain further why this time leap felt strange: after the first kiss of Tegan and Mason we jump to a scene where Tegan and Mason are suddenly full of passion for each other. They secretly meet and discover each other’s body.
It felt strange to see Tegan, who doesn’t open up to someone easily, suddenly so loose. It would have been more acceptable to me if after the first kiss, also the second kiss was described. After the first kiss, people sometimes still have the uncertainty of whether the other person also finds it worth repeating this kiss or not.
Even though the love between these two people is obvious, Tegan seemed to me a sceptical and insecure person who doesn’t throw herself headlong into a romantic adventure. She didn’t do this at first, but why suddenly after that first kiss?
Furthermore, I didn’t see the added value of the letter story of Violet and Jonathon. The mainnstory would have been at least as good without this second story.
But as I said, don’t let this stop you from reading this book! For those who love romantic books that make you long for a prince, or at least a really cute boy like Mason, or for a girl that doesn’t know herself how beautiful she is, go ahead and enjoy this story!
Thanks you, Dallas Coryell, to share this beautiful story with me.
Good luck with your further career as a writer!
First of all I want to thank the author Dallas Coryell for giving me a free copy of his beautiful book Melody’s Key in exchange of an honest review.
And I will be honest, this gift won’t influence my opinion. Nor did I read other reviews so that my opinion would be mine only and would not be formed by others.
I will rarely choose a romantic book myself. So I started to read sceptically. I needed a few pages to let go of my scepticism. It all started pretty cliché. The main character is presented, as is her family. This is all done very descriptively. I love it more when the characters are presented through an action.
But from the second half of chapter three the story began to unfold. Time after time I thought, "This is predictable ..." and then it didn’t happen or something else happened. That surprised me. When I was half through the book I began to notice it was getting more and more difficult to me to put the book away. Every free minute I grabbed the book, which is obviously a good sign. Dallas Coryell has a smooth writing style that keeps turning you page after page. Even though English isn’t my native language, I had no difficulty to read the story, so I can also recommend it to non-English speaking readers.
The author likes long descriptions. Me too. He realy takes his time to let a situation unfold itself. However, sometimes it took too long for something to happen. At other times he suddenly makes such a big jump in time that it felt strange. (If you want to know why, scroll down to the part that contains spoilers.)
However, this shouldn’t stop you from reading this book. I really enjoyed reading it and I recommend you to read it too!
Enjoy!
THIS PART CONTAINS SPOILERS:
I will explain further why this time leap felt strange: after the first kiss of Tegan and Mason we jump to a scene where Tegan and Mason are suddenly full of passion for each other. They secretly meet and discover each other’s body.
It felt strange to see Tegan, who doesn’t open up to someone easily, suddenly so loose. It would have been more acceptable to me if after the first kiss, also the second kiss was described. After the first kiss, people sometimes still have the uncertainty of whether the other person also finds it worth repeating this kiss or not.
Even though the love between these two people is obvious, Tegan seemed to me a sceptical and insecure person who doesn’t throw herself headlong into a romantic adventure. She didn’t do this at first, but why suddenly after that first kiss?
Furthermore, I didn’t see the added value of the letter story of Violet and Jonathon. The mainnstory would have been at least as good without this second story.
But as I said, don’t let this stop you from reading this book! For those who love romantic books that make you long for a prince, or at least a really cute boy like Mason, or for a girl that doesn’t know herself how beautiful she is, go ahead and enjoy this story!
Thanks you, Dallas Coryell, to share this beautiful story with me.
Good luck with your further career as a writer!
October 25, 2017
Review to follow
October 22, 2016
Melody's Key is a romance book through and through. It is on the fluffy side of romance but there is also a darkness about the characters that will make you love them even more. The characters are deep and emotional, irrational and overall, very real. I liked both Tegan and Mason much even though sometimes things between them were awkward or unreasonable, or predictable. I loved the supportive system of family and friends around them and how well it fit into the story. The family bond is something very special.
The book is not only about romance but also about art, especially music and everybody who plays an instrument himself will find the songs those two write quite enjoyable. Everybody who can't really imagine the thing, go check out Coryell's YouTube channel. He's a musician as well so you can actually hear all the songs that are written and played in the book. Just listen to one or two songs of his (use Melody's Key to search) and you'll get the vibes of the book. Better than any book I can assure you.
And even though I thought the premise was kind of cliché, it turned out to be a very fun, enjoyable read.
What really got to me was the poetic, wonderful writing style that took every possible moment and turned it into a dream. It was easy to read and engaging. This book made me sad, laugh and at a few points I was shocked and a few times, it had me rolling my eyes at the cute cheesiness of it all. I loved the cute and sweet, honest moments between Mason and Tegan because they were just what probable all the dreamy heads of us would have wanted for themselves. The novel actually has a morale of sorts as well: don't judge a book by its cover ;) Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.
Why three stars, you might ask?
There is an answer to that as well. In the beginning, I loved the setting and the characters, their background stories and everything seemed to be perfect but at some point, I lost interest. To be honest, I felt like there wasn't much happening in the book. The romance was slow-burn all right, but for me, there can't only be romance. I need something more to keep me interested and so, it was really hard to push through the middle part of the book. A lot of scenes were dragged out unnecessarily. In the last 100 pages or so there was really something going on. But the ending was quite predictable, at least for me. That's why I couldn't really enjoy the last 100 pages as much as I would have liked to. And since the middle part was hard to read through as well, I have to say that in my opinion, it wouldn't have hurt to have a good 80 pages less.
It is a nice read, but it was just too dragged out of me. But if you want a romantic, realistic romance, you should give this one a try.
A copy of this book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
The book is not only about romance but also about art, especially music and everybody who plays an instrument himself will find the songs those two write quite enjoyable. Everybody who can't really imagine the thing, go check out Coryell's YouTube channel. He's a musician as well so you can actually hear all the songs that are written and played in the book. Just listen to one or two songs of his (use Melody's Key to search) and you'll get the vibes of the book. Better than any book I can assure you.
And even though I thought the premise was kind of cliché, it turned out to be a very fun, enjoyable read.
What really got to me was the poetic, wonderful writing style that took every possible moment and turned it into a dream. It was easy to read and engaging. This book made me sad, laugh and at a few points I was shocked and a few times, it had me rolling my eyes at the cute cheesiness of it all. I loved the cute and sweet, honest moments between Mason and Tegan because they were just what probable all the dreamy heads of us would have wanted for themselves. The novel actually has a morale of sorts as well: don't judge a book by its cover ;) Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.
Why three stars, you might ask?
There is an answer to that as well. In the beginning, I loved the setting and the characters, their background stories and everything seemed to be perfect but at some point, I lost interest. To be honest, I felt like there wasn't much happening in the book. The romance was slow-burn all right, but for me, there can't only be romance. I need something more to keep me interested and so, it was really hard to push through the middle part of the book. A lot of scenes were dragged out unnecessarily. In the last 100 pages or so there was really something going on. But the ending was quite predictable, at least for me. That's why I couldn't really enjoy the last 100 pages as much as I would have liked to. And since the middle part was hard to read through as well, I have to say that in my opinion, it wouldn't have hurt to have a good 80 pages less.
It is a nice read, but it was just too dragged out of me. But if you want a romantic, realistic romance, you should give this one a try.
A copy of this book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
December 6, 2017
Melody's Key is a slow paced romance fiction story set in a sleepish British county. Tegan, the protagonist lives there along with her family. She had a secret which she kept it to herself without revealing it to any and use to visit those memories once in a while as it got locked with the key to that staying with Tegan which she protected dearly.
While things were going in a normal way, their family had a surprise visitor from U.S. Though Tegan who earlier had a relationship with Cale started seeing Simon, this new visitor Mason Keane came as a breeze in her life. Tegan did not had a good image about Mason in the beginning but things started happening in such a way that she began to realise slowly that her notion about Mason was incorrect. Mason did not do anything out of the blue.
What did Mason do then?
Did Tegan fall in love with Mason?
If she did, what happened to Simon?
What was the secret all about?
Give a read of this bulky novel which would be a perfect companion for you when you are feeling lonely since it would bring back some of the memories you would have had in your life.
While things were going in a normal way, their family had a surprise visitor from U.S. Though Tegan who earlier had a relationship with Cale started seeing Simon, this new visitor Mason Keane came as a breeze in her life. Tegan did not had a good image about Mason in the beginning but things started happening in such a way that she began to realise slowly that her notion about Mason was incorrect. Mason did not do anything out of the blue.
What did Mason do then?
Did Tegan fall in love with Mason?
If she did, what happened to Simon?
What was the secret all about?
Give a read of this bulky novel which would be a perfect companion for you when you are feeling lonely since it would bring back some of the memories you would have had in your life.
January 23, 2018
I could have sworn posted this review but looking back, I guess it never went through...
Thanks to Dallas Coryell for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed Melody's Key. It was a cute romance and a fast read. I thought it was well-written and flowed nicely. There were elements about Melody's Key that were predictable an there were moments that took me by surprise. The characters were relatable and the story was interesting. I liked that the title connected to the plot and characters but wasn't outright obvious. My only issue is that Teagan cared so much about her key but then once she lost it, it seemed like she didn't care about it anymore.
Thanks to Dallas Coryell for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed Melody's Key. It was a cute romance and a fast read. I thought it was well-written and flowed nicely. There were elements about Melody's Key that were predictable an there were moments that took me by surprise. The characters were relatable and the story was interesting. I liked that the title connected to the plot and characters but wasn't outright obvious. My only issue is that Teagan cared so much about her key but then once she lost it, it seemed like she didn't care about it anymore.
October 6, 2016
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
“The sound was insufferable; a cacophony of blaring intrusion rudely tearing her out of the rather lovely dream she had been having.” – First line in Melody’s Key.
There were so many thoughts running through my head as I was reading this lovely novel. First of all, my favorite character was undoubtedly the main character, Tegan. I can relate to her on so many levels including her wit, some of her many talents, and her “real-ness” if that makes sense. The way I jump to conclusions or the first response is anger created an instant parallel between us as Tegan behaves similarly. This real attitude and personality made the book that much more real for me. Her constantly spent energy on her loving family and friends is very personable as well. The author definitely made it easy to love the characters in his book while creating some disdain with those opposed to the stars.
I was kept guessing through several of the conflicts in the story or what was going to happen next and that kind of writing is very refreshing to read. I wish more books were like this so that I can both appreciate and feel excitement with each chapter as I did with Melody’s Key.
My favorite part of Melody’s Key is just the beginning of the romance. I won’t spoil anything for those who haven’t read this but I love the teasing and joking between the two and how that makes the love stronger and more vibrant. Because of this, I was always laughing out loud, or, in several instances I couldn’t help but tear up at the tender bits regarding the family and love in general.
There were many precious moments tucked away in here and that made me want to read it quickly and finish it way before my deadline goal. I was so surprised with this book that I really enjoyed most every aspect. Though the book was more filled with tender, lighthearted, and fun moments, there is also some steamy places that the author has added. Though I don’t usually appreciate these intense, sensual scenes, there were few instances and when there were, the author was respectful and didn’t include too much information. I was really appreciative of this and it helped me enjoy the book even more and finish it within 2 days!
I just wanted to thank Dallas Coryell for reaching out to me for this honest review of his book, it was well worth losing sleep over such a well-written piece.
You can read more here:
https://thehuntforpaperbacks.wordpres...
“The sound was insufferable; a cacophony of blaring intrusion rudely tearing her out of the rather lovely dream she had been having.” – First line in Melody’s Key.
There were so many thoughts running through my head as I was reading this lovely novel. First of all, my favorite character was undoubtedly the main character, Tegan. I can relate to her on so many levels including her wit, some of her many talents, and her “real-ness” if that makes sense. The way I jump to conclusions or the first response is anger created an instant parallel between us as Tegan behaves similarly. This real attitude and personality made the book that much more real for me. Her constantly spent energy on her loving family and friends is very personable as well. The author definitely made it easy to love the characters in his book while creating some disdain with those opposed to the stars.
I was kept guessing through several of the conflicts in the story or what was going to happen next and that kind of writing is very refreshing to read. I wish more books were like this so that I can both appreciate and feel excitement with each chapter as I did with Melody’s Key.
My favorite part of Melody’s Key is just the beginning of the romance. I won’t spoil anything for those who haven’t read this but I love the teasing and joking between the two and how that makes the love stronger and more vibrant. Because of this, I was always laughing out loud, or, in several instances I couldn’t help but tear up at the tender bits regarding the family and love in general.
There were many precious moments tucked away in here and that made me want to read it quickly and finish it way before my deadline goal. I was so surprised with this book that I really enjoyed most every aspect. Though the book was more filled with tender, lighthearted, and fun moments, there is also some steamy places that the author has added. Though I don’t usually appreciate these intense, sensual scenes, there were few instances and when there were, the author was respectful and didn’t include too much information. I was really appreciative of this and it helped me enjoy the book even more and finish it within 2 days!
I just wanted to thank Dallas Coryell for reaching out to me for this honest review of his book, it was well worth losing sleep over such a well-written piece.
You can read more here:
https://thehuntforpaperbacks.wordpres...
October 15, 2016
When I first saw the cover of ‘Melody’s Key’ I wasn’t sure this book would be for me. Especially since I really didn’t need more books to add to my very long TBR list. But after I read the book description, I became very curious about Tegan’s story and I couldn’t wait to start reading.
‘Melody’s Key’ is the story of Tegan Lockwood. Tegan lives and works on her parents property. Tegan was supposed to go to college, but her parents were struggling with their business and soon it became clear to Tegan that she needed to stay home and help out. And that’s what she did.
Working hard isn’t a problem for Tegan. And after a bad experience years ago, Tegan doesn’t want to have anything to do with guys. Especially if they are arrogant. So when American Popstar Mason Keane suddenly appears at Tegan’s parents place for the summer, Tegan is sure he is the stereotype famous guy who doesn’t care about anything but himself. But soon Tegan finds out there is more to Mason than she thought.
I must say I was very surprised by this book. After a slow start, this book became a very nice and very romantic read I just didn’t want to put down.
Tegan Lockwood is a fun character to read about. I love reading about strong and independent woman, and Tegan was definitely a strong one. I really enjoyed seeing into her life and reading about her struggles as she slowly began to trust Mason more and more.
And Mason’s character? Well.. his character was just too good to be true. I loved how his character gave this ‘Notting Hill’ kind of feel to this book. Mason was very romantic, sexy and above all very kind. He was definitely one swoon worthy character.
For an author’s first novel, I found ‘Melody’s Key’ very impressive. The writing was very good and not once did I lose interest. The writing hooked me to the pages and I couldn’t get enough. The storyline was good, not to complicated but interesting. I could easily imagine the setting to be a real place.
What I also really enjoyed about this book was reading the old letters. They were just so beautiful and touching. In the end I did wonder what happened to the letters and their authors. That part of the story still felt a little unfinished to me. But not everything can be perfect I suppose! :)
Overall this was a great read I would definitely recommend!
‘Melody’s Key’ is the story of Tegan Lockwood. Tegan lives and works on her parents property. Tegan was supposed to go to college, but her parents were struggling with their business and soon it became clear to Tegan that she needed to stay home and help out. And that’s what she did.
Working hard isn’t a problem for Tegan. And after a bad experience years ago, Tegan doesn’t want to have anything to do with guys. Especially if they are arrogant. So when American Popstar Mason Keane suddenly appears at Tegan’s parents place for the summer, Tegan is sure he is the stereotype famous guy who doesn’t care about anything but himself. But soon Tegan finds out there is more to Mason than she thought.
I must say I was very surprised by this book. After a slow start, this book became a very nice and very romantic read I just didn’t want to put down.
Tegan Lockwood is a fun character to read about. I love reading about strong and independent woman, and Tegan was definitely a strong one. I really enjoyed seeing into her life and reading about her struggles as she slowly began to trust Mason more and more.
And Mason’s character? Well.. his character was just too good to be true. I loved how his character gave this ‘Notting Hill’ kind of feel to this book. Mason was very romantic, sexy and above all very kind. He was definitely one swoon worthy character.
For an author’s first novel, I found ‘Melody’s Key’ very impressive. The writing was very good and not once did I lose interest. The writing hooked me to the pages and I couldn’t get enough. The storyline was good, not to complicated but interesting. I could easily imagine the setting to be a real place.
What I also really enjoyed about this book was reading the old letters. They were just so beautiful and touching. In the end I did wonder what happened to the letters and their authors. That part of the story still felt a little unfinished to me. But not everything can be perfect I suppose! :)
Overall this was a great read I would definitely recommend!
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