A Song in Her Heart

by T.B. Markinson

In the heart of Nashville, where dreams and secrets collide, two women find themselves entangled in a love story that could shatter their worlds or make them whole.

Hannah Taylor, a rising country music sensation, stands on the brink of superstardom. But beneath the glitz and glamour, she harbors a secret, one that could shatter her carefully crafted image and jeopardize her career. In a city where conformity is key, being a queer woman is a battle she fights every day.

Shelby Montgomery is a small-town nobody, striving to provide a better life for her young son. With dreams deferred and a husband who vanished when the going got tough, Shelby's life is a constant struggle. Working tirelessly at a local diner, she dreams of a brighter future but knows she needs a stroke of luck to change her life.

Fate takes an unexpected turn when Hannah stumbles into Shelby's diner, drawn in by the irresistible aroma of Shelby's famous peach cobbler. What starts as a chance encounter soon evolves into a life-altering Hannah asks Shelby to become her personal chef on a nationwide tour. It's an offer that could upend both of their lives, challenging them to confront their fears and desires.

As they crisscross the country, a powerful connection begins to bloom between them. But in a world where secrets can destroy, Hannah and Shelby must confront their deepest fears. Will they risk it all for a love that defies the odds and find the acceptance they both crave?

In this passionate tale of love, music, and self-discovery, Hannah and Shelby must choose between the safety of the shadows and the brilliance of the spotlight. Can their love story become the chart-topping hit they both deserve, or will a secret tear them apart forever?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

358 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2023

About the author

T. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn't writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Arc provided by The Author in exchange for my honest review'

**'Some writers can be very ambitious and even ambiguous about their writings while at the same time some readers thinks some of their books should not be or have been released..'

3.5stars!
I honestly don't know how to lay out my own perspective about this storyline. What i can say is that the premise was good but i don't think they had anything in common or this undeniable, desirable chemistry that the author made them to be plus their relationship/chemistry felt a bit forced -- and i think i gave it too high of a rating --- then again it is what it is just an average story at best BUT will be readable to her fan base. So I want others to at least check it out and give their own insight.
Recommended book!

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only made it a chapter in. Here's what we know in that chapter. Hannah has a huge home she has nothing but disdain for. Her controlling mother kicked her out when she came out to her. And even though Hannah is actually "out", her controlling manager wants her to pander to a male audience in her upcoming tour. And her manager insults her while signing her up for an upscale fat camp. The manager is a horrible person and I'm like, why are you putting up with this horrible person telling you what to do?!?

Now, obviously, the growth arc for Hannah is going to be about taking control of her life. Only her awful manager isn't entirely wrong about what a tour is all about. But Hannah just wants to be known "for my music". Her idea for a tour is apparently a stage with a barstool and a mic. And she's all "hoodie and sweats is just me". And I'm all, well someone needs to teach you what it means to be an entertainer. And if an author gives her character the last name Taylor and spends the first chapter vomiting on everything a Taylor Swift tour is about (sequins, and choreographed dancing, and inviting the audience into a party), well, let's just say it's enough dissonance that I have no idea why I'd want to continue.

I don't care about this character. And since a wish-fulfillment romance is what I signed up for, I'm going to call it one star.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want a well-written romance where the characters have sizzling chemistry and you can't put the book down because even though you know they're going to end up together, there's just enough angst to leave that little morsel of doubt in your head, then don't read this book.

I have so much respect for TB Markinson for what she and Miranda MacLoed have gifted to sapphic readers with iheartsapphfic.com, while also authoring their own romances. Admittedly, I'm not an avid reader of either. I've read some and I've liked some, though nothing ever wowed me. So honestly? My expectations weren't high here, but I figured it would be a good book to get me out of a reading slump.

The positive is that I finished the book, I guess? I just didn't like it very much, which was very disappointing because I liked the premise. I knew I was in trouble early on. Hannah and Shelby have just met for the first time. They have a cute conversation, some easy banter. Shelby is freaking out because her favourite musical artist has just eaten her peach cobbler. And then then narration gives us this:

Maybe it was [Shelby's] overactive imagination, but she could've sworn she'd felt the hint of a spark between them, maybe once or twice. The electric connection lingered even now, charging Shelby from the top of her head to the tips of her toes like she'd been hooked up to a set of jumpers.

A set of what now? Not only is that a horrendous simile, but don't spend time telling me that your characters have a spark, a connection. You need to show me! Markinson does an okay job with the showing this in their initial scene, but then ruins it with this writing. If Shelby wants to reminisce about that encounter, Markinson needs to give us examples of that spark.

The pacing was really weird. The timeline skips inexplicably and I was never sure how much time had passed between. Sometimes it made no sense, like the scene between Hannah and Shelby leaving Savannah and Shelby making cookies with Madison. It was as if Markison created an outline and wrote only about the moments in the outline but didn't give any thought how to connect them.

And the cliches! It was painful. The amount of times hearts skipped a beat in this novel... Both of these characters should go see a doctor. I'm not sure Hannah is fit enough to headline a tour.

Finally, there's the storyline that just appears out of nowhere right at the end that didn't need to be there and threw the story off the rails.

This is probably my last Markinson novel for a long time, if I ever read another one. It felt like she was bored writing it, honestly.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining enough with a trope that sits well with me - Romance between a Celebrity (who has her own baggage) who met a struggling single mum… And I had fond memories, not of the book but the song This Kiss by Faith Hill - which is now on my Spotify Playlist 😆

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food for thought

Hannah is a rising country music star with a secret. Shelby is trying to do what’s best for her and her son. Their paths cross and nothing will be the same again. They each have family issues that causes them to be afraid to get involved. This story is sweet with some angst that had me worrying if they would have a HEA. Wonderful characters and a great story.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is a country music star, and she's rising. Shelby is a cook/server at a diner in a tiny town in Tennessee. Hannah has a secret she's been hiding. Not that she's a lesbian as she's out and proud. Shelby has a young son Liam and was abandoned by her husband, then kicked out of her parents home when they found out she's pansexual.
By a chance the two meet at the diner. When Hannah asks Shelby to be her personal chef on tour.
This is a slow burn romance! The two MCs Hannah and Shelby plus Liam are so loveable! A great read!! 5 stars!!

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why, but I didn’t love this at the start. I think perhaps the manager was too ‘bad’. “My way or the highway, and my way is totally against everything that has made you successful so far”. The other mains life also so opposite. Struggling to make ends meet, deadbeat ex. There is humour in the writing but I’m not all in, in the early chapters.
I got more in as the book went on but I would have liked more show on the page of the relationship that was developing. We are told Hannah couldn’t imagine not spending time with Shelby and her son because they had fun but we don’t see that on the page. It also seems unlikely, other than for a convenient plot device that the son would be staying away from his mother for a week after the tour. Yes kids stay with grandparents but it didn’t quite fit (to me). I’m also not sure how authentic the tour and bed time stories bit was. However there was a plot development that I didn’t see coming, although with hindsight there had been hints. For me this was a 3, veering to a 4 at points and to be completely honest in the other direction also at points. I have a whole new appreciation of dandelions now! Overall I enjoyed the book.

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelby works in a diner as a cook, a very good cook. Hannah is an up-and-coming country music star, and visits the diner a couple of times, liking Shelby’s cooking.
This is about how the women meet, and how Hannah employs Shelby as her personal cook, and their attraction grows. There are some homophobic scenes with Hannah’s family, but overall a very good story.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm a sucker for a rock star or music story. Hannah is a gay country star who is about to embark on a new tour.
Shelby is a young mom working to make ends meet in a local diner.

These two meet under a chance meeting.

This is a happy ending story. While some parts of the story are really good, others are not as believable. A music star would have more of a backbone & not put in some of the situations.

The chemistry between the two leads is warm & slow building.
I was a fan of the side characters they really helped to bring the story together.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute!

Hannah meets Shelby when she sneaks to a diner whilst at a retreat before her tour starts. Smitten with Shelby’s peach cobbler, Hannah makes her an offer that as a struggling single mother, Shelby just can’t refuse. But as they head out on tour, Hannah’s past comes calling in a way that could have devastating effects on her career.

Absolutely loved this story and a bit like Hannah with Shelby’s peach cobbler, I could resist wanting more and more. Shelby’s story I thought was heartbreaking enough, but when she finally got closer to Hannah and then the secret Hannah wanted to keep of her past could be that no more, my heart also broke for her. It was also a happy time thought because it was the moment in the story that was most empowering and really elevated Hannah, giving her a chance to right wrongs but also to be a role model and use her platform to help others.

For the most part it was all the sense of adventure in the story. With a kid along for the tour, it meant that as Hannah and Shelby became closer, there was also a ton of super cute moments because Shelby’s son was excelling at stealing the show. Hannah also had her moments, especially with all the tour restrictions around her and fried food. She had plenty of her own moments until Shelby turned up and provided the solution of healthy food that Hannah loved. As with all great romances, it wasn’t without drama and a rocky patch that just had me hoping they’d find a way back to what they’d started building.

Really loved this story and hope there will be future stories with Hannah and Shelby’s next adventures!

[Gina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story That Is Music To My Ears!

I loved this book! What makes it special is that this is from a writer who has been penning novels alone and with some pretty special people for over ten years. Remember “Marionette”. This book lets T.B. stand alone again and reminds us just how special she is. So Thanks T.B. - You still got it! This book started with a lot of angst but it was needed to understand what pressure a performer has to go through. Hannah Taylor is a country music sensation. But her manager, Carla is trying to get her mega attention with a upcoming tour. Thinking Hannah needs to lose some weight and gain some traction to perform in a tour that’s meant to boost her fan base to superstardom, she sends her away to a health spa. Hannah does a lot to represent her queerness and is sensitive to the community of her fans but she is harboring a secret than threatens to destroy all she has achieved. Shelby Montgomery is a small town woman who works in Val’ diner and has a young son. With her dreams on hold and a husband who disappeared on them, her life is a constant struggle. Val gave her a chance when she was down and homeless, giving her a place to stay. Her passion of cooking and the kitchen at the diner has helped her develop some skills with her recipes. When Hannah needs to escape the health spa after a few days there, she finds a local diner. Shelby notices the newcomer but soon realizes this was Hannah Taylor, the person who songs she sings everyday. Deciding not to be a bother, she takes Hannah’s order. Cheeseburger and fries. They have a nice conversation and Hannah needed to get back. But a few days later she is back and decides she needs to stay on a diet so Shelby decides to make her something off the menu. After enjoying a great meal, she starts to have an idea. Hiring Shelby as her personal chef. This idea sits with her until she is forced to take a stand against Carla. This takes Hannah and Shelby on a journey neither saw coming and with a secret still in hiding things are going to get more interesting. Fans of T.B. Are going to love this!

[Eva Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, it's a road trip story - well, mostly. The love story itself has more pin-turns and roadblocks than the road it travels. Just when you think they've hit the last bump in the road, there's a canyon-sized pothole putting the brakes on their journey toward lasting love.
What a great book! Highly recommended.

[jaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

silly little romance between a celebrity and a single mom!
at some points it felt a bit rushed but I fell in love with both main characters and their dynamic
in the epilogue I didn't even mind all the criticism I once had while reading

[M the avid reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potentially hunger inducing romance
I am a fan of TB Markinson's work both on her own and in her writing collaborations with other authors, but this specific book is not a favorite, I'm sorry to say.
Main characters Shelby and Hannah are likeable, although the star and scene stealer of the book hands down is Shelby's adorable kid. The story is light hearted romance, fluffy and humorous for the most part and does make for page turning reading at times. It may even make you hungry while reading but the story felt jarring and off balance at one point which was unexpected from this author. The storyline takes a sharp turn that I understood was necessary for conflict and dramatic reasons, but still wasn't keen on its handling. It seemed as if that detour was dropped like a hot potato once it served its purpose and was convenient to the plot rather than feeling wholly realistic given its elements and the characters involved. It left me with unanswered questions that lingered after I finished the book and affected my opinion of the book as a whole. I wonder if the editing process prior to publication might have taken out details, scenes or dialogue that followed thru more thoroughly and would have answered those questions. Or maybe I missed something while reading.
There are some great moments, chuckles and other good bits that I did enjoy in the story but if asked to recommend titles by TB Markinson from my personal favorites, many other titles from her body of work would precede A Song in Her Heart. That said, I always look forward to reading whatever she publishes next, on her own or with another author.

[Nadine Stamminger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story a lot celebrity meets normal girl is one of my favorite tropes, add in a cute kid from one of the main ladies and im sold. This story had both, we meet country super star Holly Taylor who had a bad past with her parents and struggeled as a young woman to live her dream. We enter the story when Holly already made it, she is a superstar already and has a nice house which sometimes doesnt feel like a home to her. Her next huge tour is in the near future and her bossy manager Carla sends her off to a wellness bootcamp. This is how she meets single mom Shelby who works at a near buy dinner, they hit it of and Holly hires Shelby as a private chef.
The book is very well written, the storyline is fun and feel good with a few struggels along the line.
As someone who actually has been on tour including tour bus for 2 weeks with a friend who is a singer i couldnt look past some things that didnt add up like a "superstar" that can already afford a house like Holly wouldnt put up with a bitchy manager like Carla, if she already is this famous to have this livestyle (house, able to hire a private chef who is a single mom+a babysitter for said kid) you dont care what your manager says if it comes to outfit and body shape choices because your fans apparently already love you.

But overall i just enyoed it as what it is, a very cute lovestory between two woman who couldnt be more different from the first look but have much more in common than they think. I love that we get to know them better by reading about their backstorys and i loved how it ended.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This romance is about two very different young women, one a successful country singer and the other a cook and waitress at a smalltown diner as well the mother of a small boy. The two women meet when Hannah ventures into town in order to find real food. Although there was a connection on that first visit between the characters, it didn’t go anywhere. When Hannah returned, after some chatting, Hannah (the singer) offered Shelby a job. Shelby and son eventually go on the road with Hannah for a concert tour, which sets up most of the story. It was interesting reading about concert tour life and how it might be. Everything goes well between the women (and the boy) until close to the end when Shelby learns about Hannah’s past. I thought Shelby jumped to conclusions and didn’t let Hannah explain. Then much later, Shelby sort of accidentally finds out more and all is forgiven. It was a little too pat for me, but I appreciated the ending. This isn’t my favorite book by Markinson. It felt a little flat in places and the secret, while alluded to early on in the book, was overblown in my opinion, considering Hannah’s situation at the time.

[Christal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author is always a hit or miss for me and this one was a miss. I didn't really get invested in either character or their love story. Just not enough meat on the bones. I needed a bigger spark. I think the biggest issue I had was the premise of Hannah having to go to a "spa" to lose weight, and then the main character realizing that was messed up but then doing it anyway. That just made me feel sad.

I also didn't quite buy into "superstar meets waitress and asks her to be her personal chef" storyline. There wasn't enough there to make that actually believable. It also felt a bit suspect since Hannah clearly had the hots for Shelby and that was part of the decision making. I know that the employer/employee dynamic is common in WLW romances, but it has very rarely worked for me. Most of the time, it gives me the ick. Then, they jump into a thing right after Shelby "technically" (and seemingly temporarily) becomes not an employee. Fine lines, y'all.

Lastly, Shelby's reaction to Hannah having a daughter. Whoa! JUDGY. I was off Team Shelby at that point, and it didn't matter that she apologized later. After all she'd been through, what a crappy way to handle that situation especially towards someone who showed you nothing but kindness. That felt very out of character.

So, will I keep reading T.B. Markinson's books? Yeah. Will I ever re-read this one? Nah.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut wrenching to heartwarming!

Oh my gosh, this book has all the emotional "feels" wrapped up in a beautifully told story of survival!

Country music star Hannah ran away from home, and a vicious dictator of a mother, at the age of sixteen and never looked back until someone from her past came knocking on her door. She found Shelby at a roadside diner and loved her home cooking, especially her famous peach cobbler, and offered her a job as her personal chef while on tour. Since Shelby was barely making ends meet trying to support herself and her four year old son Liam, she agrees to try. Maybe she can earn enough money to make better lives for the two of them. Her hubby had left her while pregnant even before Liam was born.

I was totally captivated by this story. Both women have lived with abandonment and fear issues stemming from their youth, but together they were resilient! Their interactions with Liam, and each other, were so special that I could really feel the love. A Song in Her Heart is a wonderful book that I highly recommend!!!

[Karen Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

NoComment of Nunawading (AU)

So, T.B. Markinson has done it again… five HUGE stars!
A Song In Her Heart, made me laugh, made me cry, and made me everything else in between… it’s my new favourite!
Engaging characters, a deeply emotional and intriguing plot, beautifully crafted to make this another absolutely “un-put-downable” T.B. gem; I almost felt as though I was along for the ride with Hannah and Shelby.
Having published over 30 novels, I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all or close to it, including her collaborations with Adrian J. Smith, Harper Bliss and of course, the equally prolific Miranda McLeod but I’m yet read anything published under her Nicole St. Claire pen name (I think)… regardless of this omission, I have a new Number One!
Thanks T.B., well deserving of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I know it’s sounds cliché, but I’d give this novel more stars, if only I could… yes, IMO, it’s that good!

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah sings country songs but she has a secret!

Sneaking out of a health resort for slightly overweight people, Hannah finds a diner with the most delicious peach cobbler made by Shelby. Shelby has a son whose father left when he heard the news. The only reason Shelby married him was to get parents off her back when she only wanted to be in the arms of another woman. OMG! Shelby has to be straight and narrow. Right! Hannah is about to go tour and needs to eat healthy so she can fit into tight rhinestone costumes her managers insist she wears. A spur of the moment thought and Hannah, Shelby and her son Liam are in a tour bus traveling to different cities. One city and Hannah's world explodes. Her daughter who she had to give up when she was 15 years old is standing in front of her. Oops! Read and Enjoy this HEA!

[Toni LibraLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

What constitutes a family?

This heartwarming novel explores many of the things that constitute, by example, the myriad elements that form the basis of what family is all about.
At the heart of family, is the need for friendship among all the participants.
This is a story of, above all, friendship. Between lovers, family members, co-workers and more.
At the hear of each is that special glue called trust.

Each oh the main characters, justifiably has trust issues, and sadly, those issues almost erase the love that binds them together.
Thankfully, the supporting characters work very hard to prove that we sometimes have to take stock of all the benefits love brings into our lives and what a pity it is to throw it all away.

[Carolyn G. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story of Family

Families are not all made in heaven. Hannah Taylor is an out and proud gay country music star. Shelby is a waitress and cook at the diner in Warrensburg, Tennessee. She and her son, Liam, are surviving but love each other deeply. After meeting and cooking for her, Hannah offers her a job as her personal chef. The following road trip and adventure are life changing for them all. A story of pain that has played out over sixteen years and the courage to confront the evil one woman can inflict on her family. A dandelion grows among the roses.

[MS J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a TB book and A Song in Her Heart was a delightful read. Shelby a single Mum has her head screwed on and would do anything for her son. Hannah is a country singer who's life seems to not be her own, with an overpowering manager, a health spa to get in shape and lose some weight for her first solo tour and no family to support her the two couldn't seem further apart.
They meet over peach cobbler, which I now need to try.
TB injects her normal style and humour into another good read. Well done again.

[Cissa Rego · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot has so much potential, and the characters are cute and likeable. Unfortunately, the prose was definitely not for me. It felt at times that it lacked reviewing and editing. In one scene, Liam is at Val's restaurant with Hanna and Shelby, talking about a car bed. The next scene, Shelby is asking Hanna how does she know Liam wants a car bed. On one scene, Val is relentlessly supporting Shelby and telling her she should go with Hannah. On the next, she's asking her if she is sure she should go. Anyways, a lot of potential was wasted on a very weak prose.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many of Ms. Markinson's books, you have difficulty putting it down after you start reading. I found the characters charming and well developed. The story was week written and had a good pace.

The only thing I would mention is that some of the transitions between the chapters could have been smoother (example chapter 19 into capter20). However, this is only a very small suggestion.

The enjoyment that I received from reading this book far out weighs and little rough spots. I highly recommend picking up this book for a pleasant weekend read.

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I fell in love with this book. T.B. solo still got it. This story is quite beautiful, the heartbreaking parts are so worth it, the determination of the main characters were exceptional their own emotional rollercoaster was written in so much depth you felt their pain. Their journey to be together was a like a beautiful song, heartbreaking but filled with hope and love, I highly recommend this epic book a must-read congratulations

[AGC · Rating 4 out of 5]

TB Markinson never disappoints. A Song in Her Heart is another hit. Disenchanted musician is one of my favorite tropes and this one is done really well. The two MC are adorable and the antagonists are very dislikable. The story isn’t necessarily new, but it’s got its own take on the trope. While the author has partnered with other authors to write many terrific books, I think she does fantastic on her own.

[Kady · Rating 4 out of 5]

For once a wlw romance has me befuddled on how to rate it. On one hand I did like the plot and the "twist" part, but I didn't feel the chemistry at all. I related to Shelby with how much anxiety she had with making decisions but her part of the 80 percent breakup felt like it came from nowhere. And then the conflicts all seemed to resolve so fast that it just felt off. All to say I am giving this four stars.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful story

We all know what an amazing author TB is, this book is just another example of that.
I did guess the secret before it became too obvious…but the circumstances behind it, nope not a clue but….damn! Evil, twisted person alert!
Apart from the above mentioned evil character…I loved every single one of the characters. The book had me smiling almost all the way through.

[Jackie D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best from this author

Beginning was good. To many time jumps started happening because of that you didn’t actually see the relationship grow. Shelby’s character was a hard dislike around 70% mark. Hannah deserved better. They never actually talked about being together then boom at the end they are married. Definitely a lot better options from this author available. Go with any of them before this