Ready for some first class Victorian-Era gothic romance?
Been a while since you visited a seemingly haunted asylumn of Nineteenth Century England?
If you’re a fan of the works of the Brontë sisters, and ready for a suprisingly inspirational gothic fare, you’ll love Joanna Davidson Politano’s The Lost Melody.
Keep reading for my full review and the chance for a giveaway below!
THE LOST MELODY
by Joanna Davidson Politano
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: October 4, 2022
Number of Pages: 384
Scroll down for the giveaway!
When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne had no idea the woman existed, and yet her portrait is shockingly familiar. When the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.
The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?
Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women’s independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era—and now.
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PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“Haunting. Riveting. Filled with hope. The Lost Melody is all these things and more. Author Joanna Davidson Politano delves into the dark world of Victorian mental health, and it’s the reader who comes out the winner after being enchanted by this tale of identity lost. After you read the last page, the characters will live on in your mind. Truly a fantastic read!” —Michelle Griep, author of Lost in Darkness
“Joanna Davidson Politano’s stories go on my bookshelf as a favorite! The stories she pens entice my Gothic-loving senses, thrill my literary soul, and inspire the dark romantic inside my spirit. I cannot emphasize enough how strongly I adore each story from this vivid and insightful author, and how badly I wish for all readers to experience her tales!” —Jaime Jo Wright, author of The Souls of Lost Lake, and Christy Award-winning The House on Foster Hill
5 of 5 Stars
“I was a Chopin nocturne–surprising, complex, and impossible to master.”
Classical music combines with inspirational gothic romance in Joanna Davidson Politano’s The Lost Melody. My father trained as a classical concert pianist. Most of my childhood, I was lulled to sleep by the echoes of music in the night, as inspiration drove him to play at all hours. And as a former student of music myself, I connected deeply with the heroine’s unique way of viewing the world through melody.
Vivienne was born with a gift. From childhood, she is forced to hone her talent and suffer her father’s abuse, until she becomes a premier concert pianist. Her life is not hers until her father’s untimely death, and she is finally mistress of her own life again. Not only can she continue to perform for the elite of society and use her wealth to aid others, but she can finally marry her childhood best friend.
There’s only the mysterious matter of her father’s ward, locked away for years in an insane asylum for paupers. Only the hospital denies ever having such a patient. Was her father duped into sending money all those years, or is something more sinister underfoot? Unable to perform during her mourning period, Vivienne decides to uncover the truth by changing her name and investigating the matter herself.
The Lost Melody has just about everything you could want in a historical gothic romance. A strong-willed heroine, a creepy asylum, and lovely men in cravats. While romance plays a hand, it is not the loudest note in the story, but remains a bright spot in an otherwise grim setting. I loved the way Vivienne’s perspective weaves the story in such a way that we begin to question whether she is going mad or not.
If you haven’t already clued into the gothic elements, this is a darker novel and Politano is unafraid to address difficult subject matter. While mental health issues in Victorian England are handled as poorly as you might expect by most characters, the author infuses light throughout Vivienne’s story through scripture and music. Perfect for fans of Jane Eyre and Beethoven alike, The Lost Melody guarantees to haunt the reader long after the final stanza.
**I was provided with a copy of The Lost Melody by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
MEET JOANNA DAVIDSON POLITANO
Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, and A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER
Receives a Sterling Silver Treble Clef pendant necklace
+ Copy of The Lost Melody
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, October 13, 2022.)
A RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
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10/4/22 |
Playlist |
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10/4/22 |
BONUS Promo |
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10/5/22 |
Author Interview |
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10/5/22 |
BONUS Promo |
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10/6/22 |
Review |
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10/7/22 |
Review |
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10/8/22 |
Excerpt |
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10/9/22 |
Excerpt |
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10/10/22 |
Review |
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10/11/22 |
Deleted Scene |
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10/12/22 |
Review |
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10/13/22 |
Review |
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Jennifer Silverwood 
What a beautiful, thoughtful review. This book sounds outstanding, and I hope I get a chance to read it sooner than later. Thanks for sharing.
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