By Brittainy C. Cherry
This is a standalone story, but look for interconnected characters in the future.
When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops. I was the awkward musician, and she was the high school queen. The only things we had in common were our music and our loneliness. Something in her eyes told me her smile wasn’t always the truth.Something in her voice gave me a hope I always wished to find.
And in a flash, she was gone.
Years later, she was standing in front of me on a street in New Orleans. She was different, but so was I. Life made us colder. Harder. Isolated. Caged.
Even though we were different, the broken pieces of me recognized the sadness in her. Now she was back, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of letting her go again. When I first met Jasmine Greene, she came in as raindrops. When we met again, I became her darkest storm.
Synopsis:
Jazmine Greene was born to be a star. She is a talent triple threat she can sing, dance, and act, her mother made sure of it. Performing is her career and her first priority. Her mother even home schooled her most of her life to make sure she was able to focus. When the family finally finds some stability in New Orleans Jazmine and Ray (her step-father) convince her mom to let her enroll in school.
Elliott Adams was not popular in high school. The rich kids would mercilessly bully him for being small and nerdy. His only friend moved to Nebraska and the only other ally he has is his older sister. His escape was always his music. He would listen to jazz and all would be right.
Jazmine is captivated by the music of a jazz musician street performer. She quickly realizes the street performer is Elliott, a classmate of hers. Slowly the two become friends, and eventually young love, bonding over music. When Jazmine’s mother finds a career opportunity for her in London the two are separated. Can they find their way back to each other despite the distance and life altering tragedies that come their way, in this second chance romance?
April’s Review:
Behind the Bars is such a beautiful story. I love the time and care Cherry dedicated to Jazz and Eli’s story.
This story is about family. Not the family that you are born into, but the family that you choose. Ray is Jazz’s stepfather and does everything he can to protect her from the ugly side of the music industry. TJ is Eli’s “uncle” and he helps to feed his soul through music.
This story is also about healing after loss. Everyone feels loss differently. Everyone deals with loss differently. The only way through is with time, and the love and patience of those you love.
“Just give it a minute. Feel what you need to feel. You can’t rush feelings. You just gotta let yourself ride the wave of them.”
Kristen’s Review:
This new to me author’s name had been everywhere! Brittainy C. Cherry delivers on the soul loving and heart melting second chance read.
Ok… so I’m going to get informal and real here. I’m new to this reviewing business. Is it a thing, a fear, to not do a Book justice with a review? I feel like every single person NEEDS to read this book.
Elliot and Jasmine love to totally encompasses the beauty of their own music. The author hit her mark by tearing us apart and putting us completely back together, and making us better for it.
Why We Chose This Book:
Cherry was a new to me author for all of us. After seeing her name around the community and at book signings we decided it was time to read one of her books.
Who Should Read this Book:
You should read this book if you’re a believer. If you believe that love can have a second chance, if you believe in the power of music, if you believe that you can heal after loss…you should read this book. If you want to believe…you should read this book.
An ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
Guest review contributed by Reading After Dark. Reading After Dark is a book blog featuring stories about the messy interactions of the human condition, books that are best read after dark.
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