Counterpoint: Dylan's Story by Ruth Sims

ruth-sims-counterpoint-dylans-story-coverTitle: Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story

Author: Ruth Sims

Genre: Historical (1888 onwards) European

Length: Novel (324pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12th July 2010)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: At eighteen Dylan Rutledge has one obsession: music. He believes his destiny is to be the greatest composer of the rapidly approaching twentieth century. Only Laurence Northcliff, a young history master at The Venerable Bede School for Young Gentlemen, believes in Dylan’s talent and encourages his dream, not realizing Dylan is in love with him.

But Dylan’s passion and belief in his future come at a high price. They will alienate him from his family and lead him on a rocky path fraught with disappointment, rejection, and devastating loss that kills his dream. A forbidden love could bring the dream back to life and rescue Dylan from despair and bitterness, but does he have the courage to reach out and take it? Will he deny the music that rules his soul?

Pruchase Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/counterpoint-dylans-story-by-ruth-sims-4602-b

Review: This book had me twisted in knots and devastated. By the time I was half way through I had to walk away compose myself and then jump back in (while praying) that the devastation was over and that everything would be easier for Dylan from that point on.

This book is about Dylan who when we first meet him is 18yrs old. He is a student at The Venerable Bede School for Young Gentlemen and he is completely arrogant and sure in the fact that he will be the premiere composer of the coming twentieth century and will change composing forever. Laurence Northcliff is one of Dylan’s Masters at the school and he encourages Dylan to become a great composer and to ignore what others say. When he realizes that his feelings and Dylan’s have crossed a forbidden line, he flees to France to realize his dream to become a great novelist.

This story grabs you by the throat and drags you in when you least expect it. You end up loving these men and hoping that they get what they want and when tragedy strikes you will find it hard to hold in the sobs. You sit there dumbstruck as you wonder what will happen next. How can this story continue? But, Ruth Sims draws us back into the story and we are given a glimmer of hope. This is a story that will take your emotions on a rollercoaster ride and just like on a rollercoaster you want to get off early sometimes but this story just won’t let you, it drags you up and down and around and around.

The descriptions are breath-taking, you can imagine being there listening to the anger and frustration, to the love and hope and the despair and grief. The description of the music was incredible, I actually at one point thought I could really hear it (and believe me I am really musically challenged) the description and passion was that intense.

The love between the men is just as passionate and loving and really does go beyond words. My recommendation is this…Why haven’t you already read this book? It’s incredible…go read it, stop wasting time.

3 thoughts on “Counterpoint: Dylan's Story by Ruth Sims

  1. Dear Pixie, What a beautiful review. Thank you! I’m so close to this book emotionally, that whenever a reviewer loves it too, it’s very special.
    Ruth

    1. Dear Ruth Sims, This really was a surprise read for me and I was shocked that I loved it so much and I have to say thank you for producing such a work of art.

      Pixie

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