A Matter of When by Eden Winters

719UdeHtbfL._SL1350_Title: A Matter of When
Series: N/A
Author: Eden Winters
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (234 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 15th 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Wealth. Fame. Gold record. Hookers and Cocaine front man Henri Lafontaine has it all… including a control freak manager, band members who smile as they sharpen blades for his back, and last but damn well not least, a fan out to steal his heart. Literally. Trying to write hit songs and plan a comeback in the midst of the hi-fi white noise of LA feels more like watching his world implode, until he’s offered a month in the Colorado Rockies for vocal coaching.

Sebastian Unger’s rich, classically trained tenor inspires wicked thoughts. More than a pretty choirboy, he cracks the whip without hesitation to drive tattooed bad-boy Henri to give his all to his music. Working, fighting, and finally establishing a fragile peace, they find inspiration and perhaps more in each other. But the clock is ticking. Time will pull Henri back to the grit and gold of LA’s mean streets and fame machine, while Sebastian must return to the opera circuit, where a mysterious man known as “the patron” holds far too much sway.

Only the trust they’ve built on a handful of notes bridges their two worlds… and shields them from malice.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-108-6

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5425&cPath=427

Reviewer: Leigh

Review: A rock star who should have it all. But instead has band mates who are homophobic and ready to stab him in the back and a manager control freak who ignores all of Henri’s wants. That is Henri’s life. Add in depression and anxiety and you get one hot mess. When someone almost kills him and his manager blames Henri, he has had enough. He finds a way to break his contract and starts getting himself together. Now he just has to plan a way to start over in the music business.

Sebastian, and opera tenor is one of the steps Henri uses to start over. Henri has never had a voice lesson, so his new manager sets he him up to learn from Sebastian. Sebastian is a perfectionist. He does all he can to make him the best he can be as a singer of opera. He teaches Henri how to really sing. Things to not go well at first. Henri is resistant. It takes a little time for them to warm up to each other.

This is a great starting over story. Henri goes from verge of breakdown to making his way to the top of the music world again. This time he takes control and does things his way. He starts to really listen to Sebastian and learn from him. Once they find a common ground Henri and Sebastian, become friends. Even when Henri offers, Sebastian does not want to become sexually involved not wanting a temporary fling.

After Henri’s month long stay, they both learn they want much more. During this time, Henri starts to surround himself with people who will support him and not use him. The secondary characters are well written and add their own bit of flair to the story. Their interactions with Henri add good time fun to the book as well.

I only had one real issue with the book. That being that everything is told completely from Henri’s point of view. Sebastian has several issues. However, the reader never really sees them. The conflicts and solutions are not really given in detail. We just know what happens from Henri’s involvement. I would have liked to get a deeper look at Sebastian and what was going on in his head. But maybe that was done on purpose to make this a less angsty read. Fair to say that from what details are given, what happened to Sebastian was definitely not light reading.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. This is a well-written story about getting your act together and finding love.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *