Symphony of Salvation
Timber Creek Academy
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Symphony of Salvation
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Narrated by:
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Nick J. Russo
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By:
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Nicky James
About this listen
Music teacher Niles Edwidge gets the shock of his life when Maestro Augustus Castellanos, a world-renowned musician and composer, shows up at Timber Creek Academy. Not only has the maestro been asked to guest teach alongside Niles, but he’s brought his prodigy daughter and enrolled her as a student.
Niles has been waiting for the day the academy decided to replace him. His educational background falls short of the school’s usual demands, but a revered maestro? It doesn’t make sense. Why would such a prominent figure want to teach high school music?
Fearing for his job and envious of the other man’s career, Niles doesn’t give the maestro a warm welcome, but their feud doesn’t last when Niles learns the respectable musician is struggling with a mountain of problems and would prefer to be anywhere but Timber Creek.
As the truth about August’s troubled life surfaces, so too does a secret he has carried for decades. As a self-proclaimed repressed bisexual, August rarely allows himself the freedom to explore his sexuality, but an undeniable attraction to Timber Creek’s music teacher threatens to test his resolve. He can’t afford to fall for Niles. He has a life and responsibilities outside Timber Creek.
The minute his obligations are fulfilled, he’s out the door.
Unless he finds a reason to stay…
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What listeners say about Symphony of Salvation
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amelia
- 26-01-25
Musicians in love
I'm blown away by how expertly Nicky James crafted this story to capture the essence of a musician and how expressive Nick J Russo's narration was. From the very first sentences, I felt transported by the eloquent way Niles and August spoke about their passion for all things music. Niles had a bit of a chip on his shoulder for talented musicians who'd had their parents' support to pursue the life on stage that Niles had always wanted but never achieved, and that absolutely influenced his initial perception of August. Yes, August may have had the fame, pedigree, and raw talent that Niles envied, but he was a deeply imperfect person struggling to parent his teenage daughter, and his life wasn't nearly as rosy as it seemed. I really enjoyed listening as Niles and August dismantled their beliefs about the life the other lived and realized that the grass is always greener on the other side. It took some time -- August was so deeply entrenched in his music that he struggled to connect with others in a way that didn't come across as critical or arrogant, and Niles was particularly sensitive about his "mediocre" musical talent after working at a school that constantly reminded him he was the only instructor without a doctorate degree. Niles was definitely doing that thing where he protested and complained about August so much that I knew he wanted to bang the man, but he was so prickly and closed-off any time August came around that I didn't know if he would allow himself to go for it.
I don't know if the two of them would have ever found common ground had it not been for August's daughter, Constance, but her soft spot for Niles was a bridge the two of them needed to let down their guards and try to make peace. Their tentative truce was enough to fan the flames of their mutual attraction to the point that neither of them could ignore it anymore, but an easy relationship wasn't in the cards for August and Niles. August's, in his own words, "repressed bisexuality" was another pulled-back layer that deconstructed the perfectly poised image he presented to the rest of the world and revealed the inner messiness of a man who was lonely but terrified that love wasn't meant for him. I loved seeing August shed all those layers one by one and be vulnerable around Niles, and the more he opened up the more Niles started to share in turn. The two of them fell into a wonderfully intimate relationship, one that lived and breathed music but was also full of delightfully steamy explorations and heart-to-hearts that made me feel incredibly close to both men.
Constance was a huge part of August and Niles's story as well, and through her involvement I saw August grow as a father figure and Niles begin to realize that the life of a teacher was a far better fit for him than any glitzy stage life. The big open question for August and Niles (and Constance) was whether August would stay in a tiny town when his symphony life in Chicago was calling him back, and boy did Nicky James make me stew in angsty half-promises before she delivered the resolution I'd been hoping and waiting for. I have to hand it to her -- Nicky James knows exactly how to build up the tension and make the stakes feel sky-high even when nothing particularly scary is going on, but she can also write the sweetest, swooniest love confessions to make it all worth it in the end. I especially love that music was the main constant throughout this entire story -- it's what brought Niles and August together, what almost ripped them apart, what allowed them to connect with Constance, and it was the vehicle they each used to express the depth of their feelings for each other when words alone wouldn't suffice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vicki Williams
- 18-01-25
Loved this so much 🥰
The Narration : Nick J Russo gives another flawless performance that flowed along perfectly. He makes it so easy to distinguish between the characters and holds their tone and cadence throughout the entire audiobook which makes it such a delightful listening experience.
The Story : In this case I firmly believe that Nicky James is the Maestro. Her ability to weave words together creates a vivid vibrant picture and for this beautiful romance, the picture comes even more alive with the use of music. Whether it be written musical notes, performed musical notes or random musical notes hummed quietly under one’s breath.
Niles and August are superb, imperfect, flawed and strongly developed characters with plenty of baggage who find themselves bouncing around each other in the music rooms of a private high school. Their story is not an easy one with plenty of uncertainties and doubts both from internal and external factors and the angst that this author is well known for. Niles and August had to overcome a fair few hurdles before they got their well deserved and hard earned HEA. It was a bit of a rollercoaster that gave me plenty of feel’s throughout leaving me relieved, happy and super smiley at the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wendy
- 17-01-25
Simply stunning
As ever I am in awe of Nicky James who goes from strength to strength with every book she writes. Symphony of Salvation is a stunning love story and the second in her Timber Creek duo. Niles, who was a wonderful secondary character in Promises are Forever finds his own love at long last in Maestro Augustus Castellanos. Their love story and hea are hard won but so worth the wait.
Nicky James’s research leaves me quite breathless and I’m sure that to write such a beautiful story with a complicated musical backdrop she must have had at least some classical musical training herself. Having said that, if you search her backlist you will find a varied and extensive catalogue with some pretty impressive back stories, all superbly researched. Whatever, there’s never a dull moment; her stories are addictive and beautiful and I simply could not put Symphony of Salvation down until it was finished.
I went straight into the audio version with the hugely talented Nick Russo’s fabulous performance. He had quite a job on his hands as the story is set in a prestigious private school with a large supporting cast of children and teachers. Niles is feeling rather inferior to have the Maestro thrust upon him as a ‘guest teacher’ by the snobby Head teacher of Timber Creek Academy especially as his own position as head of the music department has always been somewhat precarious. Mr Russo expertly portrays this lack of confidence and the (to begin with), autocratic - apparently confident - Augustus.
All becomes clear though as the two work through their insecurities and deal with Augustus’s teenage daughter. Beautifully portrayed Nick Russo, Your accent for Augustus was swoony and I totally lost myself in these two gorgeous men who fought so hard to be together. If I have one criticism, and it is only one, and doesn’t downgrade the performance, I think, and perhaps it’s an American/Canadian thing (I’m British), that flautist (which was said many times), should be pronounced flawtist not fluteist.
A stunningly beautiful story Nicky James - oh my, that ending! And a fabulous performance by Nick Russo.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lesetiger
- 22-01-25
So stunning!
Koa from the previous volume is one of my favorite characters of the author and I was really looking forward to this second volume.
As always, the author's writing style is wonderful and she puts her heart and soul into what she writes.
This time it's about the music teacher Niles, who I really liked in the first volume. Niles fears for his job at Timber Creek Academy because his training is not at the level the private school usually hires their teachers at. This fear becomes very real when maestro Augustus Castellanos comes to teach alongside Niles as a guest teacher. Niles' welcome is correspondingly cool. Augustus wants to give his daughter Constance a normal life and she should therefore attend this school.
I absolutely loved how easy it was for Niles to deal with Constance. He has a very good understanding of the teenagers he teaches. Constance hasn't lived with her father Augustus for very long and he is having some difficulty adjusting to his role as a father. He only wants the best for his daughter, but the right path is very rocky. The more time Niles spends with Augustus, the more sympathetic he becomes to Augustus, as Niles sees that the maestro has very real problems.
Initial enmity turns into friendship. The two have great chemistry together and you can feel that as a listener. I also loved how natural Niles' interaction with Constance was and how easily he recognized her needs. In contrast to Augustus.
It took me a little longer to warm to Augustus, but his action near the end of the book was unnecessary in my eyes, or rather the lack of communication shouldn't have been. Niles and Constance deserved better.
But overall, I enjoyed the story again and Nicky James took me into the world of music with words, which was very intriguing.
Nick J. Russo is a fantastic narrator who did a great job of capturing the wide range of emotions and bringing them across to the listener. He chose appropriate voices for the different characters and I always knew who was speaking. It was an absolute pleasure to listen to Nick.
This book was very entertaining and engaging, very well written with lots of emotional moments and once I started listening I almost couldn't press the pause button. Highly recommended!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mandy Tunstill
- 26-01-25
Niles and August Brilliant
WOW........ Symphony of Salvation by is Absolutely Brilliant Nick J Russo's narration is superb as always the voice for August is so yummy the way he gives life and love to these guys is amazing Niles & August are two gorgeous and special men dealing with insecurities and doubts both vulnerable their chemistry is amazing and special their journey is truly worth waiting for
Nicky James gives us another engaging, emotional and beautiful story I recommend so much.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nette
- 27-01-25
Beautiful story
This was such a beautiful story between two men who go through a lot of personal development and finding love. Music teacher Niles loves teaching at a privileged private school, although his family thinks very little of his career. When he is told maestro Augustus is going to be guest teaching whilst settling in his daughter, Niles is sure he will lose his job. Niles instantly resents Augustus, however he's attracted to him too. Augustus has won full custody of his daughter who will only use sign language after a cancer ordeal although she can talk. He's very clueless about how to parent and gets very frustrated. But as Niles and Augustus become close , Augustus slowly changes but it's an uphill battle and he needs to make a big decision if he is ready to take a chance of love. The narrator did a great job. I really enjoyed listening to it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katie townsend
- 20-01-25
So stunning
Listening to Nick j russo bringing this story and the amazing characters was just incredible
I loved every moment the feels emotions and chemistry I felt every word of this story
Beautiful writing and beautiful performance
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs N
- 24-01-25
Love, loved the feelings inspired by this book.
Having read this story and fallen in love with it I was looking forward to listening to Nick J Russo bring it all to life again.
The emotional descriptions of beautiful classical scores and 2 mature, talented, stubborn and vulnerable men finding happiness left my heart singing. Nick added layers of feelings to this wonderful story.
Maestro Castellanos is a famous musician and conductor but his world has turned upside down and he has to stop working and look after his daughter, so he is angry and frustrated and so judgmental. Constance is an angry teenager that hates her father and lets him know all the time, she has tons of issues and lots of resentment.
Lovely Niles is the music teacher in the pretentious private school who ends up clashing with the maestro and taking pity on his daughter. He manages to calm everyone and bring out their strengths and passions to the surface. He gets hurt along the way but my goodness that ending is well worth all the pain.
An excellent story and a wonderful narration.
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