Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2025

The Maestro’s Missing Melody by Amy Walsh

 


                                                          

What a lovely story. I'd love to hear it as an audio book to gear the fiddle and violin playing. Christian Contemporary where a Wyoming girl goes overseas to intern under her favorite maestro and meets his family. It's pretty involved with interesting problems and talents for very believable characters. Kept me wondering what would happen next. Nice love story. 

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheMaestrosMissingMelody #AmyWalsh #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ContemporaryChristianRomance 


About the Book

Book: The Maestro’s Missing Melody

Author: Amy Walsh

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release date: September 13, 2024

She was thrilled to apprentice with her fiddler hero—until she got to know him. He regretted his decision to play teacher to college kids—until he got to know her.

For aspiring musician and college student McKay Moonlight, winning a summer internship with Scottish master fiddler Huntley Milne was a dream come true. When a last-minute change moved the internship program from the Scottish Highlands of her ancestors to a village she’d never heard of along the River Deben, McKay was determined to make the best of it. However, she didn’t expect to make such a terrible first impression on her summer mentor.

Hosting a bunch of college students was the last thing Maestro Huntley Milne needed. He was already up to his ears in problems, with Aunt BeeBee being placed in a care home, resulting in him having emergency custody of his tween nephew and niece. Then he met McKay Moonlight, and the chaos really began.

The Maestro’s Missing Melody is a charming story featuring endearingly eccentric characters, a treasure hunt caper through the nooks and crannies of a mansion, and genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Sunshine and thunderclouds attract in this delightful age-gap Christian romantic comedy from Amy Walsh.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Amy Walsh is a 5th-grade teacher who loves teaching children about what she loves to do herself: reading and writing. She enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and camping. Amy also appreciates opportunities to share her faith through singing, teaching, and writing for her church family. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children: Bree, Spencer, Liz, and a son-in-law, Kyle. Amy and her family love to spend time together celebrating special occasions, listening to great music, swimming and kayaking, and having occasional ping pong tournaments.

 

 

More from Amy


The Maestro’s Missing Melody Cast of Characters

Maestro Huntley Milne regrets committing to host a group of college students, especially when Aunt BeeBee ends up in a care home, forcing him to move into the Milne Monstrosity on Sycamore Street which is about two hours northeast of London. Aunt BeeBee is nagging him to locate the missing Milne stave book, Dory and David are fretting about being put back into foster care, and even his aunt’s cats are high maintenance. Then he meets McKay Moonlight…

McKay Moonlight was thrilled when she won the musical apprenticeship at Maestro Huntley Milne’s Highlands Music Center.  After all, she had a little crush on him for years after seeing him play at the Rocky Mountain Fiddler Championships. When the apprenticeship is relocated to a tiny town near the Deben River, rather than the Highlands of her ancestors, she takes it in stride. Who would think her traveling mishaps would cause her to be late and forget something very important – ruining her chance to make a good first impression on her summer mentor.

The Milne Monstrosity was built by a wealthy plantation owner, who brought his family to England just prior to the American Civil War.  This mansion is a hodgepodge of turrets, towers, secret passages, and gables – – and does not fit in with the other homes on Sycamore Street AT ALL. Beatrice Milne has filled the mansion with many colorful and eccentric collections. Other unique features of the Milne property are a tiny guest house which is the exact replica of the Monstrosity, and a stone amphitheater decorated with musical gargoyles within view of the River Deben.

Dory and David are tween twins who went from foster home to foster home until they were finally adopted by Mama Bee. Dory enjoys riding her bike around her village, learning to play the flute, reading great books – – and finally having a family, even if her adopted mother is much older and let’s say “different” from other parents. David plays the guitar very well, but his real passion is for building gadgets. The twins were content living in the Milne Monstrosity in Eden Cove with Mama Bee encouraging them to explore their interests and grow their talents. But now, Mama Bee is in a care home and they are stuck with grumpy Uncle Huntley until Mama Bee comes home. That’s IF she ever comes home.

Beatrice Milne, aka Aunt Bee Bee or Mama Bee, always had her fingers in so many pies, and those pies were always so splendid, that she seems larger than life to the people of Eden Cove.  Now she is a patient of Balmy Bay Residences, the care home she helped refurbish as one of her projects.  What’s with her change in personality – and her obsession with Huntley needing to search for the missing Milne stave book?

Arabella and Gerard are Aunt Bee Bee’s ginormous cats who have a love/hate relationship with the Maestro.  Who knows, maybe they can help with the treasure hunt for the missing stave book…



Blog Stops

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54141


My reviews:
Barnes and Noble

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

 


"Life has taught me a lot, some I wanted some I didn't."

Wow. We just had the chance to watch an advance copy of I Will Survive - a new movie about Gloria Gaynor. Very inspiring and touching, especially for anyone who has experienced abandonment or abuse. The story, and of course the music is fabulous. Gloria has lived an amazing life with an amazing gift from God, and she's finally able to sing what she wants which is gospel music. Her album "Testimony" is fabulous.

She partnered with GRAMMY-winning producer Chris Stevens (TobyMac, Mandisa) to create a roots gospel collection that relies on Gaynor's songwriting, a couple of hymns and a stunning interpretation of Dylan's "Man of Peace." Special guests include Yolanda Adams, Jason Crabb, Mike Farris and Bart Millard, as well as a "who's who" of studio musicians. A gospel album has always been part of Gaynor's vision, and Testimony proves to be worth the wait.

Release Date: 2/13

Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCvHkWCRWLo

#iwillsurvivemin #booksyoucanfeelgoodabout #ChristianMovies

GLORIA GAYNOR I WILL SURVIVE

Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive is the story of a Disco legend who, for five decades, has inspired millions with her words I WILL SURVIVE, but only understood the lyrics when she hit rock bottom at age 65 - the film is about reinvention, ​the power of faith and a woman's magnificent second act. Gloria Gaynor has wielded her inner drive and undeniable musical talent to change the course of her life. Having surmounted abuse, paralysis, her sister’s murder, a 35-year troubled marriage and a cleaned-out bank account, she never lost her faith, vision, and momentum. At 71, Gloria embarks on her lifelong dream to write and record a solo Gospel album. As Gloria gets deeper into the process, she realizes that switching music genres is no easy feat and unexpectedly has to self-fund her very personal album TESTIMONY. When US Gospel stars Yolanda Adams, Jason Crabb and Bart Millard join her on the recording, the tides turn. After a five-year struggle to get the album finished and released, Gloria wins the 2020 GRAMMY for Best Gospel Album - 40 years after Gloria won Best Disco Track for “I Will Survive”.

Gloria: I Will Survive blends Gloria’s present-day journey with the artist’s personal collection of archival photos and footage to help track the pivotal moments of Gaynor’s life, including never-before-seen super 8 mm movies of Gloria on the road from 1972-1976 during the early days of disco. Through 8 years of filming we capture a story of reinvention, inner drive and a magnificent second act made possible by Gloria’s private philosophies and life lessons.

“I am finally at a place of joy and self-fulfillment, and I am ready to share my secret to not only “surviving but thriving” with the world” – Gloria Gaynor

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

I Will Survive - a story about Gloria Gaynor

 

Looks like we'll have another good movie in time for Galentine's Day. She is close to my age now and has come a long way since disco. 

Synopsis: 

GLORIA GAYNOR: I WILL SURVIVE is the story of a Disco legend who, for five decades, has inspired millions with her words I WILL SURVIVE, but only understood the lyrics when she hit rock bottom herself.

Release Date: 2/13

Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCvHkWCRWLo

#iwillsurvivemin #booksyoucanfeelgoodabout #ChristianMovies

Sunday, April 2, 2023

The Journey A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli

 



For the beauty of it. Some places simply take your breath away. Andrea and other singers who join him are fabulous of course. Gorgeous views of Italy. Inspiring testimonies.

Synopsis:
A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli combines world-class musical performances with intimate 
conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside

“We journeyed by horse for over 300 kilometers along a path that was not always 
easy to travel, but absolutely beautiful, made of meadows and forests; sacred 
places filled with lasting testimonies of faith, full of art of incredible beauty, and 
views in front of which one can’t but ponder about creation and the miraculous 
work of our Heavenly Father.” Andrea Bocelli talking about his movie, THE JOURNEY, 
in theaters beginning Palm Sunday, April 2.
 
Buy tickets today to see THE JOURNEY in theaters starting today 4/2!

Links
Movie Website: LINK 
Buy Tickets Link: LINK 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card
(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Please submit your full name and email address by 4/8 in comments below. One winner will be chosen randomly.)

Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 
100% my own.

#TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout


Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli

 


Just knowing who is in this makes it special, but it looks like the photography and telling of the story are spectacular.

#TheJourneyTBNMIN #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Momentum

Short Synopsis: 
Combining world-class musical performances with intimate conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside, THE JOURNEY: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli is an exploration of moments that define us, songs that inspire us, and relationships that connect us to what matters most in life. 

Join in a sacred pilgrimage of hope, beauty, and song with this special theatrical event opening on Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Week: April 2, 3, 4 & 6. In addition to Bocelli, you’ll hear Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, and many others in amazing musical performances across majestic locations. Get your tickets at TheJourney.movie.

Link to the trailer here: (128) The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli | Official Trailer - YouTube

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Ever Constant by Tracie Peterson; Kimberley Woodhouse

 




Nome Alaska 1905.  This is Whitney's story. Three beautiful, talented sisters grew up on their Granddad's ranch, each with their own unique personality. They all share a love for their family, music, animals and community. They're a very tight group.  Whitney is the oldest and has always felt she had to hold things together and take care of everyone else, especially after their mother died. They had all been through a lot of tragedy and shock, but Whitney had also been attacked by a man, leaving her more vulnerable.  When their Granddad died and she found him, she fell apart. She had had headaches from the attack, but now they got worse. The tension in her life built, and she became addicted to alcohol to help her through it, even though her father had fought his own addiction, which she despised him for. Loving story with great lessons of faith, learning to put God first and let Him control things. Peter, a young doctor in town, also learns some similar lessons, he and Whitney helping each other, gaining trust in each other instead of trying to do it all alone. As always, a great read to get lost in. You can't go wrong with this series.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 
#EverConstant #NetGalley

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