#ablinism

More Hemmer-time. I tried to be more fearless with color.

Hemmer might come from an albinistic species but that just means his palor reflects even more of the color around him.

REVIEW

The Music of Love

by Minerva Spencer writing as S.M. LaViolette

The Academy of Love #1

 Twisted tale with two unusual characters finding that together they might have a better life than apart. This book had a LOT going on in it with an albino male lead that has managed to thrive, make quite a bit of money, and live well in a rather solitary existence. He “knows” that his affliction will keep him apart. He has made a life for himself without expecting more. Portia Stefano is on her way to be Eustace “Stacy” Harrington’s music instructor hoping he will hire her instead of the man he thinks will be arriving. She has secrets of her own but is a brilliant musician and pianist.

 This is a steamy story with two passionate characters coming together early on and then often. There are unscrupulous characters, twists and turns, misunderstandings, fights followed by silences, making up after the fights, some very unscrupulous characters including blackmailers and murderers. This is not the most believable historical romance I have ever read but it was a fun way to spend the day. I was happy that the baddies were unveiled and dealt with and that there was a happily ever after for Stacy and Portia.

 Did I enjoy this book? It was okay

Would I read more in this series? I think so

 Thank you to Booksprout and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 3-4 Stars

  BLURB

 Finding out that her husband was a bigamist didn’t devastate Portia Stefani; she held her head high when she forced him out of her life. But losing her beloved music school as a result of the traitorous bastard's gambling debts almost destroyed her. The only way she’ll be able to make ends meet is to accept a lucrative tutoring position in remote Cornwall. What Portia hasn't anticipated is the life-altering impact that her mesmerizing new employer has on her. Stacy Harrington learned the hard way to keep people at a distance. Playing the piano is the only thing that makes his solitary life enjoyable these days, and he’ll be damned if he allows his albinism to keep him from everything he loves. Bringing a private music tutor into his home is disruptive, but it’s the only solution. Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming attraction he feels toward his fiery new employee. It’s not long before a shared passion for music develops into something infinitely deeper. But when ghosts from the past—along with some very dark secrets—emerge to threaten everything they’ve built, can Stacy and Portia continue to make beautiful music together? Or will their happily ever after end on a painful, discordant note?

   AUTHOR BIO

 Who is S.M. LaViolette? S.M. (that’s short for Shantal Marie) writes super spicy historical romance and historical erotic romance. S.M. likes to write about heroes and heroines who don't fit the mold--that means heroes who aren't always dukes and heroines who aren't always virgins. People have described S.M.'s style as dark, angsty, and dryly witty. S.M. also writes historical romance under the pen name Minerva Spencer, and historical mystery under S.M. Goodwin. S.M. has been a criminal prosecutor, college history teacher, B&B operator, dock worker, ice cream manufacturer, reader for the blind, motel maid, and bounty hunter. Okay, so the part about being a bounty hunter is a lie. S.M. does, however, know how to hypnotize a Dungeness crab, sew her own Regency Era clothing, knit a frog hat, juggle, rebuild a 1959 American Rambler, and gain control of Asia (and hold on to it) in the game of RISK.