Grave Refrain
By: Sarah Glover
4 of 5 stars
Here is what the back cover of the book says about Grave Refrain.
Andrew Hayes, a brilliant but troubled guitarist in an up-and-coming band, has been haunted since childhood by the presence of his muse. One night during a performance in San Francisco he spots her-- but she vanishes before he can catch her. Desperate to find her, he accepts a curious offer to stay in the city, moving into a dilapidated Victorian undergoing renovations that stir up far more than dust. Andrew's life soon becomes even more chaotic with the arrival of martini-swilling ghosts and a troupe of flesh-and-blood stoner spiritualists bringing bad tidings from the Great Beyond.
The dark side of his obsession creates visions both thrilling and menacing. As he struggles to solve the mysteries threatening the woman he loves, Andrew discovers his life is repeating a refrain more deadly than he ever imagined.Here's what Holly says.
There's Andrew and his friends, Simon and Christian. The trio make up a band called The Lost Boys. One night a legendary music producer, Neil St. John, offers them the chance to go state side (the boys have been playing pubs in London) to San Fran and live in an old Victorian house he is renovating. The boys could use a break so they agree.
Did I mention the house is haunted? Oh, yeah, it is. By these two...
Nicholas & Noreen Chamberlain, inspired by Dashiell Hammett's, The Thin Man. A fictitious detective team known for their witty banter and love for a good martini.See, Nick and Nora are both dead, but they can't be together. Even in the afterlife, something is holding them back from spending all of eternity together.
More on that later.
Regardless, Andrew and his friends take up residence in the house and before you know it, Nick and Nora aren't the only two they are sharing it with.
Enter, Emily, Zoey and Margot. They are in need of a place to live as well since the lease on their apartment is up. Zoey has to have good light for her art work, Margot just wants enough room to be comfortable, and Emily likes the charm of good house. Just so happens that the house the boys live in is more like a duplex and soon, the girls move in.
But see, it's so much more complicated than that. For Andrew's whole life he's been plagued by his "muse". Most everyone thought, or thinks, he has lost his mind. That he's imagined this woman and she doesn't exist. Whatever the case, The Lost Boys don't care because she has been the drive behind some of their best songs.
Imagine Andrew's surprise when he sees this muse, in the flesh and blood, at one of his shows. You'd think it's be all sunshine and roses. Wrong! He comes across a little too harsh and Emily flees the club convinced he hates her. Little does she know, he lives in the flat below her.
Awkward...
But the boys do their best to welcome the ladies by throwing a dinner party. Instant attraction, like lovers spanning across several lifetimes, for Andrew and Emily. Their connection is undeniable. They both feel this pull to one another like they've known each other forever. And Andrew, right from the get go is very protective of his muse. Especially when it comes to a certain college professor of Emily's, who is like scum.
Dr. Vandin.
Even the name sends chills down my spine.
Forgetting the bad doctor for a second, let's focus back on those martini drinking ghosts. See, they need some help and it seems only Andrew and Emily can help them. They need to be reunited. They truly can't be at peace until they are back together.
And this is where the story picks up. Emily is determined to reunite the lost lovers. Andrew...not so much. He just wants to spend time with Emily. And he gets his wish as they all load up and held up the coast to find Nick. Yeap! They have Nora's ashes, they just need to find Nick's.
I won't go any further with the details of the story, for fear that I'll spoil it all for you, but know that Vandin isn't the only thing these young lovers fear. There is so much more waiting for them on their journey.
With a group of people who have become a family of sorts, and with the help of some spiritualistic ghost hunting stoners and their van,
RIP- Big Doobie
You are missed.
Andrew and Emily face much more than they ever bargained for. But two questions remain. One, will true love- an all encompassing, fire breathing, passionate love- be enough to stand the test of time? That is, if they don't run out of it before it's too late.
And two, what was his answer?! Will poor Herschel get the help he needs?
Sarah is a dear friend of mine and I'm very happy for her book release! Today, February 14, you can order Grave Refrain from either Amazon or Omnific Publishing. If you love a love story that takes you on a roller coaster ride down the coast of California with an electric cast of supporting characters and throws a mystery in- not to mention a few surprise twists- then you'll love Grave Refrain.
And forgive me while I gloat...
Why yes, that is a handwritten note in the front of my book!
Thank you Sarah for sending me an advanced copy! I enjoyed it very much!!
What's this again! I'm mentioned in the acknowledgements?!
Actually, it says,
"The Muselets who supported this story from the very beginning."
The Lost Boys, forever it will be, has their own group of fangirls. The Muselets. I'm so very proud to be one of these women, and more importantly, I'm very lucky to consider them friends, and sisters.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Sarah for sending me an advanced copy of the book! I enjoyed every minute of it!
Holly
