I requested this book because I was intrigued by the reclusive hero (a performer and composer, no less) mentioned in the blurb, but his reclusiveness is a past thing in the plot.
I always like books with musicians and I enjoyed this dimension in “Keyed Up”, but the story didn’t grab my interest, perhaps because the events are presented in a chronological order that gets a bit flat.
Furthermore, I didn’t connect with the characters – the talented, young and innocent pianist, the famous composer and conductor – and wasn’t moved neither by the hero’s weak justification for the breakup in the past nor by the predictability of the current romantic relationship.
There’s nothing wrong with the writing, it’s just not my type of book.

this was a great story. It flowed so nicely I didn't want it to end. It had just enough everything with all the characters. I also liked the music theme.

Keyed Up, Laura M. Baird

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: women's fiction, Romance

I was looking forward to this, I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, but though it was a really well written book the story itself just wasn't great for me. a decent read, but not one that I'd want to reread. 

I felt as though I was reading part two of a duo, where book one would have covered Penelope and Sebastian's earlier romance, it just felt like I had missing gaps in the story. That was all covered eventually, but at first it felt somewhat odd to me. 

Penelope is a very confident lady, the way she takes charge of the others, although they've been there years, is something only someone very self assured could do, and yet at other times she feels very shy and lacking in self esteem...
Sebastian, I really didn't ever get to grips with why he stopped their romance on the first place. There are reasons given later but for me they weren't strong enough to give up on a love if its serious.
That's part of the issue for me though, I didn't really feel the *love* between them, didn't see that magic connection I needed. There are moments when they get very hot and heavy but TBH that just feels like classic lust, not because there's anything more serious between them. That ten year gap - if they really felt that strongly why did they let it go so long, why leave it to chance before they come into contact together?

Still, as ever that's just me, just my thoughts and you may feel very differently.
It is a very well written story, great characters, no missing parts, or plots left in mid air but it was just the story itself that wasn't quite right for me. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't reread. 

Stars: Three, well written but lacking in emotion and drama for me. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers