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American Anthem #2
Cadence
Continuing their medical partnership while serving the needs of the poor in nineteenth-century New York City, Andrew Carmichael and Bethany Cole discover that they are in love and witness the historical beginnings of American gospel music. By the author of Prelude. Original.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2003
2 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
B.J. Hoff
51 books146 followersBJ Hoff’s writing is known for her historical settings, her unforgettable characters, and her lyrical prose. She is the bestselling author of numerous historical fiction series, including the Riverhaven Years, the Mountain Song Legacy, the Song of Erin saga, the American Anthem series, An Emerald Ballad series, and her newest book Harp on the Willow.
Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace, and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.
Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants; Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.
BJ admits to a passion for building worlds. Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
She’s intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be stories that build a bridge from the past to the present.
Her literary awards include the Christianity Today’s Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.
A former church music director and music teacher, BJ writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two daughters and three lively young grandsons.
Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace, and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.
Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants; Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.
BJ admits to a passion for building worlds. Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
She’s intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be stories that build a bridge from the past to the present.
Her literary awards include the Christianity Today’s Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.
A former church music director and music teacher, BJ writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two daughters and three lively young grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 2, 2016
A continuation of this great series; I've really enjoyed this author's books so far!
October 16, 2020
The story of Irish, Italian, and Scottish immigrants in late nineteenth-century New York continues in Cadence by author BJ Hoff.
I'm quite enjoying getting wrapped up in this familial, medical, romantic, musical ChristFic saga again, one of my all-time favorite series.
Oh, I still find the frequency of italics that force the emphasis to be too much, and sometimes a few of the characters are a little much for me in this sequel. It can be frustrating when folks in a story seem determined to make their relationships harder than they have to be.
But it's still the characters' rich, gradually intertwining stories that most endear me to this series. And although this novel is a bridge from Book One to Book Three (this middle part couldn't stand on its own), it's an important bridge. I forgot how piercing and gritty some of it is, and while I don't think the chorus at the end is "the greatest of all music" as the story asserts, I love the novel's compelling illustrations of music's power.
Yes, I already know how the Anthem unfolds and climaxes in the next (last) book in this series, but I'm so looking forward to experiencing it again.
I'm quite enjoying getting wrapped up in this familial, medical, romantic, musical ChristFic saga again, one of my all-time favorite series.
Oh, I still find the frequency of italics that force the emphasis to be too much, and sometimes a few of the characters are a little much for me in this sequel. It can be frustrating when folks in a story seem determined to make their relationships harder than they have to be.
But it's still the characters' rich, gradually intertwining stories that most endear me to this series. And although this novel is a bridge from Book One to Book Three (this middle part couldn't stand on its own), it's an important bridge. I forgot how piercing and gritty some of it is, and while I don't think the chorus at the end is "the greatest of all music" as the story asserts, I love the novel's compelling illustrations of music's power.
Yes, I already know how the Anthem unfolds and climaxes in the next (last) book in this series, but I'm so looking forward to experiencing it again.
July 30, 2018
My favorite part of this book is the music...
Michael Emmanuel is a famous composer/former singer. His sister-in-law Susanna plays the piano and organ, and she's very talented even though she refuses to admit it. One of the main focuses here is beautiful music.
That was the good part. The bad part is that there are way too many characters, along with three major storylines. Just as I'm getting interested in one storyline, the focus moves to another! I was also irritated by the fact that there were at least 7 different POV's. It's constantly shifting from one to another, which in my opinion is an unnecessary distraction.
However, Michael and Susanna's storyline was engaging and fun to read. Without it I would have quickly lost interest.
Michael Emmanuel is a famous composer/former singer. His sister-in-law Susanna plays the piano and organ, and she's very talented even though she refuses to admit it. One of the main focuses here is beautiful music.
That was the good part. The bad part is that there are way too many characters, along with three major storylines. Just as I'm getting interested in one storyline, the focus moves to another! I was also irritated by the fact that there were at least 7 different POV's. It's constantly shifting from one to another, which in my opinion is an unnecessary distraction.
However, Michael and Susanna's storyline was engaging and fun to read. Without it I would have quickly lost interest.
October 17, 2017
New author to me, recommended by a friend. Very good!
June 5, 2019
This was another book off of my own bookshelf. I only gave it 2 stars as it was a struggle to read through.
May 18, 2022
Excellent.
March 21, 2023
Loved this whole series! Wish there were more!
November 4, 2025
I enjoyed the first book but this one seemed too predictable. The ending was disappointing.
January 20, 2009
Cadence, book 2 in the American Anthem series, picks up where Prelude ends. I enjoyed it even more than the first one.
Dr. Andrew Carmichael wonders how he will tell Dr. Bethany Cole of his love for her, and when he does, what will her reaction be when she learns of his past.
The MacGovern family finds that America isn't quite as promising as they had anticipated. However, a chance encounter with a stallion, recently purchased by Michael Emmanuel, brings hope to the family.
Susannah and Michael realize their love for each other, but when Michael asks Susannah to perform with his orchestra, her fears keep her from saying yes. Michael's compassion for others brings the MacGovern family to Bantry Hill, providing Conn with a welcome job and the family with a home.
Through Dr. Carmichael and Dr. Cole, we also meet Maylee, a delightful young girl with a heartbreaking health condition. Andrew's best friend Sergeant Frank Donovan returns and we meet Mary Lambert, an opium-addicted woman, living in squalid circumstances, through no real fault of her own.
I loved these characters. B.J. Hoff has a remarkable way with words: her writing is quite lyrical and flows beautifully. She has taken all of these characters and intertwined their lives in such a way that is both compelling and enthralling. She has captured the essence of the time period: the hope and despair faced by early immigrants.
An easy read. I am anxious to finish the final book of the series.
Dr. Andrew Carmichael wonders how he will tell Dr. Bethany Cole of his love for her, and when he does, what will her reaction be when she learns of his past.
The MacGovern family finds that America isn't quite as promising as they had anticipated. However, a chance encounter with a stallion, recently purchased by Michael Emmanuel, brings hope to the family.
Susannah and Michael realize their love for each other, but when Michael asks Susannah to perform with his orchestra, her fears keep her from saying yes. Michael's compassion for others brings the MacGovern family to Bantry Hill, providing Conn with a welcome job and the family with a home.
Through Dr. Carmichael and Dr. Cole, we also meet Maylee, a delightful young girl with a heartbreaking health condition. Andrew's best friend Sergeant Frank Donovan returns and we meet Mary Lambert, an opium-addicted woman, living in squalid circumstances, through no real fault of her own.
I loved these characters. B.J. Hoff has a remarkable way with words: her writing is quite lyrical and flows beautifully. She has taken all of these characters and intertwined their lives in such a way that is both compelling and enthralling. She has captured the essence of the time period: the hope and despair faced by early immigrants.
An easy read. I am anxious to finish the final book of the series.
February 1, 2008
(My following review was written October 21, 2003. I might tone down my enthusiasm a bit now because of a few things.)
I was once again drawn into the lives of each intricate character. I didn't want to put it down, but had to at times. (You have to eat and sleep at least a little, right?)
Susanna, haunted with fears of failure, refuses to play for Michael's orchestra when he asks her to.
Dr. Andrew Carmichael tries to find a way to tell Dr. Bethany Cole his feelings for her-and his secret past.
The MacGovern family finds that America (so it seems) is not so glorious as they had thought it would be. Will Mr. MacGovern ever find a job to keep his family afloat?
There are also other intriguing and entertaining characters such as police officer Frank Donovan, young Renny MacGee, and Paul Santi, Michael's gentle cousin.
The ending was so glorious and beautiful that I was actually weeping with joy, hearing the music Mrs. Hoff spoke of.
It was ALL wonderful-I loved it so much and want to read it again (many times, perhaps) in the future! I would recommend reading the equally good Book 1 first, of course, but this book stands on its own, too. Masterfully written! Bravo!
I was once again drawn into the lives of each intricate character. I didn't want to put it down, but had to at times. (You have to eat and sleep at least a little, right?)
Susanna, haunted with fears of failure, refuses to play for Michael's orchestra when he asks her to.
Dr. Andrew Carmichael tries to find a way to tell Dr. Bethany Cole his feelings for her-and his secret past.
The MacGovern family finds that America (so it seems) is not so glorious as they had thought it would be. Will Mr. MacGovern ever find a job to keep his family afloat?
There are also other intriguing and entertaining characters such as police officer Frank Donovan, young Renny MacGee, and Paul Santi, Michael's gentle cousin.
The ending was so glorious and beautiful that I was actually weeping with joy, hearing the music Mrs. Hoff spoke of.
It was ALL wonderful-I loved it so much and want to read it again (many times, perhaps) in the future! I would recommend reading the equally good Book 1 first, of course, but this book stands on its own, too. Masterfully written! Bravo!
March 23, 2012
In her true story-telling fashion, B.J. Hoff brings us the next mesmerizing instalment in her American Anthem series. Revisit the characters first introduced in PRELUDE, and be swept away in the saga that unfolds, where love grows amidst heartbreak and misconception, and hope is restored despite grievous loss. The colourful setting of late 1800's New York is punctuated with the music of the era, presenting trials and triumphs that will resonate with the reader. Old and new fans of B.J.'s historical fiction will love this story.
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April 2, 2012B. J. Hoff continues the story of Susanna an Irish woman come to live in America. The inter stories Have Conn and Vangie living on the edge in a shack in Irish town. Conn goes to the rescue of Micheal's new stallion on the docks and ends up with a job and a house for his family at Micheal's estate. A good story where Susanna comes to see her gifts are hers.
August 28, 2023
Cadance: American anthem 2 Hoff, B J 3 Hist.F 2) maestro & former sister in law find love. another Irish woman falls for Dr. with arthritis. new Irish immigrants find work helping abused horse, away from poverty & drug abuse of slums. 9/26/2016 9/24/2016
October 24, 2008
Another excellent book by this author! I ordered the third book in the series as soon as I finished this one!
September 16, 2012
This came from Talking Books in cassette. Cassette is hard to handle. I had not heard the first book & this was a sequel. It was hard to follow, so I slept through most of it.
April 25, 2017
What a powerful lesson about overcoming fears and insecurities that one has struggled with for many years. Praise God!
Read
April 21, 2018If you are a fan of romance and beautiful music you will get both from the American Anthem series.
January 18, 2019
It was interesting. I think if I'd read the first book in the series I would have had more context.
I liked the musical aspects, and the characters were likeable. At first it was confusing because there are so many points of view - and I had to figure out who everyone was.
Any of the characters could have their own separate book dealing with their plot, and I would really enjoy them! Lumped together it was a bit overwhelming.
My biggest complaint is that everyone falls/is falling in love. I would have to read the sequel to find out how some of the relationships end, but pretty much all seem reciprocated and to end in "true love". It was a bit cheesy, and kinda unrealistic?
Overall, this book was okay. I didn't mind it, but didn't really get that into it either. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel.
I liked the musical aspects, and the characters were likeable. At first it was confusing because there are so many points of view - and I had to figure out who everyone was.
Any of the characters could have their own separate book dealing with their plot, and I would really enjoy them! Lumped together it was a bit overwhelming.
My biggest complaint is that everyone falls/is falling in love. I would have to read the sequel to find out how some of the relationships end, but pretty much all seem reciprocated and to end in "true love". It was a bit cheesy, and kinda unrealistic?
Overall, this book was okay. I didn't mind it, but didn't really get that into it either. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews