Jane's Melody by Ryan Winfield

The Basics:
Jane's Melody by Ryan Winfield
Atria Books
Romance
Published April 8, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

Romance by a male author, I had to read it when the opportunity came up


Blurb:

WHAT BOUNDARIES WOULD YOU CROSS FOR TRUE LOVE?

That’s the question a grieving mother must answer when she takes in a young street musician she believes can shed light on her daughter’s death—only to find herself falling for him. A sexy but touching love story that will leave you both tantalized and in tears, Jane’s Melody follows a forty-year-old woman on a romantic journey of rediscovery after years of struggling alone.

Sometimes our greatest gifts come from our greatest pain. And now Jane must decide if it’s too late for her to start over, or if true love really knows no limits.

My thoughts:

Jane is searching for more information about her daughter, Melody, who she's really been grieving for since Melody became an addict. When Jane meets Caleb, she thinks she's finally found her connection to Melody, but instead she finds a way to connect to the world again.

I loved the fragile sweetness at the heart of this book. Jane and Caleb are both so vulnerable and so tough in different ways.  I liked them both as characters and I especially appreciated that Caleb has this old-soul understanding of Jane's foibles. He's so content to let her be however she needs to be, and that was refreshing.

Jane, for her part, is a bit of a mess, and in the wake of losing her daughter permanently, I couldn't really blame her. She's also got to cope with being 'the older woman' in her relationship with Caleb, and that all read as fairly honest as well.

Grace seemed like a wonderful best friend to have, and she provided a much needed sounding board for Jane and her issues. I loved the willingness to drop everything to support each other, as such a close friendship deserves.

Also, I love the cover image. Love it!

Bottom line:

This is a quiet, fragile, sweet romance that was like wrapping up in a warm blanket on a cold day. I haven't read too many older women/younger men romances so there was novelty in that and the conflicts therein for *me*.  I'd recommend this book, with acknowledgement that there's some sadness to it as well as joy.

4 stars
For fans of contemporary romance, understanding men and conflicted women.