Heartstrings by S.J. Frost
Conquest series
MLR Press
Contemporary M/M
ISBN: 978-1-60820-662-9
Reviewed by Lisa




The current concert tour is finally at an end.  Nicholas ‘Las’ Lamont, one time child prodigy, violin virtuoso and media darling can stop pretending that he feels anything when he plays.  Once upon a time he lived and breathed the perfect joy of playing his violin, his Angelo, but nowadays it’s only his superb skill that keeps everyone from realizing his heart and soul no longer beats for his music.

Finishing up in Chicago Las takes advantage of the location to visit with an old college chum, Julian Forrester who happens to be in the hottest band around, Conquest.  Meeting up with Julian and his partner at Phoenix Records which is Conquest’s headquarters, they take Las on a tour of the building. The trio runs into the band members of Lion’s Rampart, who’ll open for Conquest in theU.K. Introductions begin and Las is instantly mesmerized by their drummer and manager, Quinn Patrick.

Las and Quinn spend a memorable evening together enjoying pizza, beer, and each other.  The chemistry is so good that footloose Las panics and slips out while Quinn sleeps leaving only a terse note behind.  Trying to forget Quinn however proves impossible.  Begging forgiveness for his crass behavior is something quite new for Las, but he knows in his heart that Quinn is worth it.

Equal parts passion or high drama burst forth in Heartstrings.  Virtually directionless when his gift leaves him Las is a man who screwed up big time and has to mature in order to win Quinn’s heart.  Author S.J. Frost consistently brings her characters to life in each story with their wit, foibles, and sensuality, each time they come alive.  Their sexual interactions are sizzling hot or gently tender depending on the situation and Heartstrings is definitely sexy.  Emotional, whether wrenching or joyous, Heartstrings hits all the right notes.