Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway: Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Hello readers! Today I'm excited to be part of the Blog Tour for Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne hosted by Entangled Publishing.  Be sure to scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Playing the Maestro and a necklace provided by Aubrie herself!



Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne
Published: February 11th 2013 by Entangled Publishing Bliss
Purchase:  Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Kobo | Books on Board | iBookstore

About the book: Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems to have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.

Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

My Thoughts:
Playing the Maestro was a sweet tug-at-your-heartstrings type of romance that will leave you with a smile on your face. 

Melody’s life revolves around her music.  She’s a flutist in an orchestra, but to make ends meet she also gives flute lessons and plays the odd wedding here and there.  Nowhere in her life is their room for a romance, or so she thinks.  Trouble is the men she has access to are musicians and for the most part, in her experience, they’re “self-centered, arrogant, egotistical.”  Sounds like real winners to me.*not*  Understandably Melody is concerned when a new fancy and incredibly sexy conductor, Wolf Braun is hired to shape up her orchestra.   She doesn’t want someone who isn’t familiar their dynamic to change and deconstruct the orchestra that she’s become attached to.  She also worries about her own job when their first encounter goes less than well, and Wolf seems just as arrogant as she thought he would be. 

Wolf has been hired to overhaul a struggling orchestra, and make cuts where he sees fit.  He’s happy to be in America, eager to get away from his past after a bad breakup.  Wolf has no desire to start anything romantic, especially with a performer in the orchestra he’s been hired to assess, but the feisty flutist Melody captures his attention immediately. 

These two get started off on the wrong foot but the sparks are flying between them.  Melody was a sweet and strong woman with a passion for her music and a love for her sister and niece as the center of her life.  She wasn’t looking to fall for someone but Wolf gets under her skin. 

Wolf, even though he comes off a bit arrogant at first, is anything but.  This story is told in third person but bounces back and forth between Melody’s and Wolf’s perspective so we get Wolf’s thoughts and he’s a sweetie.  His charity work really touched Melody’s heart and broke down some of her reservations when she saw another side to him.  As I said before these two cause sparks to fly:

Wolf’s gaze smoldered, taking in each inch of her face, then the curve of her lips.  He touched the bandage on her forehead, then ran his finger down her cheek and underneath her chin, trailing warmth. He leaned in and kissed her before she could take in another breath.

This romance is more on the sweet rather than spicy side, but I enjoyed it even so.  It’s one that warmed my heart.

This is the first time I’ve read a story about a musician in an orchestra and I found it very interesting to get a peek into their world.  I recently attended a ballet and I found myself watching the orchestra performing and thinking about this story wondering if there were any Melody and Wolfs down in the box, lol!
 

4 Suns

 

 

 

 

 

Author Interview

 

 

I'm excited that Aubrie Dionne stopped by to answer some of my questions about her lovely book and writing!

 

Q: What inspired you to write this romance?
 

This is my first contemporary romance! So, I wanted to write about something I knew a lot about. I’m a professional flutist, so the orchestra world was my best bet.

 

Q: I read from your bio that you are a flutist who plays in an orchestra like our heroine, Melody.  Are any of the events in the story inspired by real life events or personal experiences?
 

Yes, her memory of watching the great Jean Pierre Rampal in Symphony Hall is actually a real, cherished memory of mine. I can still see how his fingers never left the keys of his golden flute! At the end of the concert I got to meet him, and I said “Bravo!” Being French, he responded with, “Merci!”

Q: Is it frowned upon for the conductor to have a romantic relationship with a musician in his orchestra?

I’m not sure. I think it depends on the orchestra. I definitely played up that issue to heighten the drama in this story. It is fiction, after all.

Q: Is it a challenge to get by as a musician like it was for Melody?

Oh yes. A freelance musical career is very difficult, especially in today’s economy. You have to really love it and really want it to make it happen. A lot of musicians have multiple jobs and piece together their incomes from many sources. I’ve had 3-5 jobs at any one time my entire life.

Q: Your husband is also a musician.  How did you meet, and are you the real-life Melody and Wolf? (Lol!)

LOL! We met in an orchestra, actually. He was composing music at the time, and the orchestra was playing his composition. The first time I saw him, he was sitting at the piano in the back of the orchestra. Pretty funny, eh?

Q: How did you get into writing?

I always enjoyed making up stories to go with the music I played. My flute students started telling me I had to write them down and I finally took their advice!

Q: What are you working on now?

I’m almost finished with the sequel to Playing the Maestro! This features Melody’s friend, Carly, and the orchestra on an Italian tour!

Q: I also read in your bio that you play at weddings.  Any crazy story you’d like to share?

Just the crazy pieces they request! We’ve played Zelda, Lord of the Rings, and the theme from the Godfather. People can be really creative!

Thanks for a great interview!

 

Thank you Dionne for stopping by! I can't wait to read about Carly and the orchestra in Italy!  Sounds like a perfect place to set a romance and hopefully we'll get to catch up with Melody and Wolf, too!

 

 

 

 About the Author:

Author and flutist in New England. I teach flute at a university and a community music school. Represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Writes for Entangled Publishing, Inkspell Publishing, Spencer Hill, Lyrical Press, and GSP. My short stories have been featured in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Aurora Wolf, A Fly in Amer, Moon Drenched Fables and various anthologies.

 

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We have two giveaways to enter.  The first is for one e-copy of Playing the Maestro and the second one is for a necklace graciously provided by Aubrie Dionne.  Just fill out the rafflecopters below for a chance to win.  Good luck!

 

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