Review: Reverb by J. Cafesin

Reverb by J.Cafesin, AF, 2013, 328p, Rating=4.5
Source: ebook copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Strong adult content
Read excerpt HERE

James Micheal Whren is brilliant, beautiful, rich, and taken—with his genius for creating music. He's desired by many, yet commits to no one but his muse. Just twenty-eight, and at the pinnacle of his career, on the eve of his brother's funeral his father shatters his life, and James is left abandoned in hell with no one real to save him. His odyssey to freedom takes him beyond the looking glass, to the reflection of friends and lovers. Humbled and alone, James escapes to the Greek island of Corfu. But instead of finding solace there, loneliness almost consumes him. Until Elisabeth, and her son, Cameron. Reverb is a love story, a psychological thriller paced with romantic suspense. In the spirit of The Magus (John Fowles, 1966), and way beyond Fifty Shades of Gray (E.L. James, 2011), the story chronicles intricately woven characters fraught with frailties that possess us all, and that linger long after the read. It is a tale of redemption—the evolution of a modern man from solipsist to integrated awareness, and the journey that inadvertently awakens his capacity to love. Reverb satisfies one of women's deepest desires—for men to be more emotionally available, and more connected outside of themselves.

Wow, I'm at awe!  This was thinking outside the box (my prude box).  A definite unforgettable tale and splendid storytelling.  I was captivated from the very start and when I got to that (don't what to spoil it for you), particular adult content, I yelp, "Oh no!".  My mind immediately thought that this was going in the direction that I didn't want it to go ..just not my genre.  But I kept reading and glad I did.  It so happens that the incident was not to tantalize but clearly the opposite.  It was crucial to showcase it in order to get into the source of James' mentality.

James' story was remarkable because his odyssey to finding meaning in life was cause to reflect.  Life definitely throws us wretched circumstances and those times can put us in a solipsism kind of thinking.   In James' case, fear "reverberated" (like his music) in his heart and motivated his steps.  Although my fear is different from James', I can certainly relate to the intensity and self-centered thought process.  I want to throw the towel, I want to hide somewhere, I want to punch something, ..I want an eraser!  Then we are rescued by love ones, a spiritual being, or what have you and then and only then comes the understanding that as horrible as that was, we're stronger for the lesson it taught.  That in turn puts you in the path to a happier and fulfilling you.  That was part of the message I got from this read. Another was the saving graces that family plays in our psyche.  A love story in the end.  Edgy and dark getting there so it did leave me with a bit of a negative energy.

This novel delivered main characters that poured out their souls, supporting characters that really added richness to the story, backdrops that followed the suspense well, meaningful lines, and a life affirming message.  Well crafted, Ms Cafesin! 

I only recommend this book to mature readers because of its strong adult content.

My quoteables:
"You'd figure out that love wasn't going to consume you, but complete you." (1710)
"Yeah.  Atheism is efficient that way.  But I envy your faith.  You're never alone, or without purpose." (2474)
"The thing is, living is all about feeling.  Feeling pleasure, ...pain ...Angry, sad, hurt, scared, compassion, passion, love-- letting yourself feel these things because in them lies the spectacular richness of being alive ..." (pauses are my own, 2640)
"My body reverberates with the pounding of my heart, fear suddenly gripping my throat and suffocating." (2667)
"Who you love may be chance, but how you love clearly isn't" (4384)
"This is all we will ever really possess, James.  Use it wisely." (5354)

**Number after quote is location according to my e-reader, 5673 being the very end.