Higher Octave

Heavy Influence #2.5

by Ann Marie Frohoff

A modern day "Walk the Line" love story through the ages.
Jake Masters has fallen from musical grace. His inner demons didn’t care about the awards, the multi-platinum records, the legions of fans around the world, nor his undying love for Alyssa. When Jake comes through fray, blurry about his future, he meets an unlikely inspiration, reigniting his passion and reason for living.

Genres: Young Adult

ebook

First published February 22, 2015

About the author

Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast. She settled in Hollywood at 19 working in film and TV. Soon her itch to keep moving took over again, taking her to Hawaii for a time and then back to LA.

She’s now settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with her family. Her wanderlust and propensity to live life out loud has brought her many life experiences she shares through her character(s).

Her Heavy Influence Series is out now! Available in paperback & everywhere eBooks are sold: SKID OUT (A Prequel Novella), FIRST KISS (#1), FEVER PITCH (A Novella #1.5), BROKEN NOTES (#2), HIGHER OCTAVE (A Novella #2.5) and LOVE AMPLIFIED (#3) ~ Now a new spin-off novel will be coming in 2020 - RHYTHM.

The series is a story of young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship. An original soundtrack has been written and recorded for this series, of which the lyrics appear in the pages of the books. (Alternative Rock Genre).

Annie has now delved into the supernatural fantasy world, drawing inspiration from song lyrics, friends and travel; building realms of vastly complex characters and plot lines; weaving history, fantasy and heavy doses of romance together. You will be kept turning the pages of “The Zodiac Wars" and “Precious Metal: The Prince and the Gypsy” book series in the future. Both series of books are currently in development.

Reviews

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm beginning to think that Frohoff is deliberately trying to kill me slowly. I have such a love/hate relationship with this story and mostly with Jake and Aly. Even though I adore both of them, there are times when I'd just like to shake them like crazy. I'm stoked the final book will be releasing soon because I feel like I've been left hanging off of a cliff with a very weak rope.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Higher Octave it is Jake's POV. Jake is struggling to move on with his life without his one true love standing next to him. Aly has moved on and not looking back because of all the lies and betrayal that Jake has put her through.
I am going crazy wondering (and hoping) if Aly and Jake find their way back to one another or if the lies and betrayal is enough to keep them apart. I can not wait to read more of their story and find out the conclusion!!! I love the Heavy Influence books!!! These books will tear at your heartstrings that's for sure. Five stars, hands down!!!

[Leslie Penrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your seriously killing me here !!!! Is it wrong that I totally hate Nathan and Grace ??? I need more Jake and Ally Asap !!! .......side bar I really like this novella and can't wait to see what's next

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just read the 1st few chapters and I'm hooked!!! I have a feeling this will be so much better then 'Broken notes' x x

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higher Octave by Ann Marie Frohoff a sublime five-star read. This is a novella that comes as 2.5 in the Heavy Influence series, even though its 2.5 it’s the fifth book. This has been the most amazing series, we have seen Jake Masters as he has risen to fame and also his down fall. We have watched as he fell in love with the girl next door Alyssa Montgomery, Aly as everyone knowns her, his Aly Cat. Watched the relationship develop and grow and then descend it chaos and heart-break.
Jake has been through a lot in his short years, and after a stay in rehab we watch him come out the other side, he has decided he still can’t give up on his Aly Cat, she may have a ring on her finger but until she says I do, he feels there is still hope. But over the years he has grown up and realises that he can’t always have what he wants. Will he ever get his Aly Cat? Or will someone else come along and catch his eye, give him the inspiration he needs to reignite his passion for living?
I have loved this series so hard, I have had to make an effort not to read the books one after the other as I don’t want it ever to end. Just when I start to think that I want Jake and Aly to get their happily ever after, he makes another douche move and I think she deserves happiness elsewhere. In this book they both start another journey to happiness, only time will tell if that happiness is together, alone or with other people.

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake has spent the last few years digging himself out out of rock bottom. He's lost his band, his mates and the woman he loves. Things haven't been easy on him, mostly his own doing, but he's managed to get himself together. He's got some new songs he wants to try out,too.

Running into Aly at a mutual friend's wedding give him some hope too, that maybe, just maybe it isn't over between them. It's a long shot, but he's isn't giving up on having the love of his life, just yet. With a new friend and his career revived, he might have what he needs to get Aly back.

But a tell-all book threatens to expose all of Jake's past mistakes, and some shady characters lurking in the periphery had me wondering what was coming next.

I love this story of Jake and Aly, and Higher Octave might be my favorite book in this series.I really loved seeing how Jake has grown over the course of this series. I'm not sure that Aly deserves him.

That's the charm of this series, seeing how these two characters mature and change as they experience life's ups and downs. Higher Octave painted a wonderful picture of Jake's recovery and re-entry into the world that had me turning the pages and feeling happy for him at the end.

Can't wait for the next book in the series to find out whether Aly and Jake can find a way back to each other.

This review appears on my blog at:
http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2015/02/reviewhigher-octave-heavy-influence-by.html

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free download. This was a quick read to cover the years inbetween books. Jake is finally clean and trying to live his life but the past always comes back and he still can't get over Alyssa. Even though she is now with Nathan, Jake isn't sure whether to give up or try to fight for her.
I have to say I find Alyssa to be a bit of a hypocrite and Nathan is a poor excuse of a man considering how quickly she walked away from him when Jake came back in book 2. He must know that she will always feel strongly for Jake regardless. Alyssa gave up on Jake and refused his proposal but now she's wearing Nathan's ring, talk about confusing. I love Jake as a character and I find him real, he has dealt with so much in his young life and come out the other end, but will he win back Aly or will he let her go and move forward. The story keeps you up to date without dragging on. It's a must read if you're reading this series.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. I was given this to reviews, but I'm bias because I just am in love with these characters. I know he's has messed up a lot but that what it means to grow up but I also understand allys point she wants to be independent but loves him too. this book shows the story of his recovery and trying to find himself again with his music and himself .He meet a older women he can talk to that is great because he needs friends ,but he also loves ally still and he's dealing with all the past that's coming up .I can't wait for more of this story I love the journey that Ann Marie frohoff takes me on please give me more . plus I wish this would be a movie I pay and watch over and over.

[Nicole Karagiannidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! That was just a tease!! Lol.
Absolutly loved it though. I'm enjoying this series so much love each character and appreciate how their story has spanned over the years not like a regular wham bam like most romance series.
Cannot wait to see how these two characters come back to each other( I'll be devastated if they don't!!!)

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I was hooked in the first few pages. I am on pins and needles to see if jake and Aly are going to get their hea. It has been a great and sad and sometimes frustrating journey, but I can't wait to see how it ends!

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever get a feeling,

That maybe this series may just not end the way everyone thought it was suppose to. I felt the novella was stronger then the last novel. The last book I think is going to change everything. But got to love the series.

[Heather Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book. I am so happy with this series. I have enjoyed every one of them so far. These books draw you into the story. I feel like I am in the book with the characters. I hope Jake and Aly find true happiness. Ann Marie Frohoff you seriously are awesome.

[Angela Quesada · Rating 5 out of 5]

book 3 please come faster!!!!!

[Kaitlynn Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher Octave – Ann Marie Frohoff

4 Stars Review

Higher Octave by Ann Marie Frohoff is novella 2.5 in her Heavy Influence series. This was the first book I read in the series and I would advise not reading it first. While it was easy to follow there were bits and pieces of information that would have been easier to put together had I read the series in order. That being said I really enjoyed it, it had a super interesting storyline with lots of characters intertwined within it with their own stories.

This novella follows Jake after his time in rehab. This is his new coming out as he has written new music and is starting his solo career, no longer making music with Rita’s Revolt. Still completely in love with Alyssa he plans to never stop trying to get her to forgive him and to hopefully move forward in a relationship. Though it’s harder then it seems as she has moved on and wants nothing to do with him. Throughout his journey in his solo career he meets Grace. Jake is completely enamored by her and feels a strong need to get to know her. Neither knows what they want but they decide on a friendship…for now.

This novella is a to be continued, and I definitely plan on starting from the beginning of the series in order to fully appreciate Love Amplified (#3). Even though I hadn’t read the other books I quickly got caught up in this story, there was so much going on and I so badly wanted to know if Alyssa and Jake would get there happily ever after or if too much has happened in the past for them to move on. I am very much so looking forward to continuing with the series and would recommend it even having not yet read the rest of the series.

[Kelli Delp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher Octave is the Novella number 2.5 in the Heavy Influence series by Ann Marie Frohoff. You do need to read the series in order to grasp all events and understand who the characters are. Told in Jake’s point of view, it picks up where the second book in the series, Broken Notes, leaves off with the continuation of Jake and Aly’s story.

Fresh out of rehab and sober, Jake is ready to get back out there and play music for the fans of his band, Rita’s Revolt. But, for the first time, he finds himself uninspired. He feels he owes his success to Aly and will always love her, but unexpectedly, a new woman has caught his attention.

“Though my notebooks were filled with lyrics and my head was filled with melodies, I’d yet to touch a guitar to string anything together.”

Can Grace, a raven haired beauty just trying to get through life, help Jake find the inspiration he needs to pick his guitar back up?

“I’m a recovering addict. I’m such a mess…”

Can he have the same kind of relationship with Grace as he had with Aly? Or is surviving life’s ups and downs the only thing that Jake truly has in common with the other woman? Can Jake stay sober now that he’s out of rehab?

I would recommend Higher Octave to anyone who has read the other Heavy Influence novels. For me, this was the most thought provoking, the most grown up Jake has been, and the deepest of the entire series thus far. Prepare yourself for a major cliffhanger at the end. I’m not sure what direction that Frohoff is going with the new plot twist, but I’m curious to find out in the next novel, Love Amplified!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake is finally out of rehab and is ready to get his life back on track but he has lost a lot throughout the years when he hit rock bottom his band , friends and the one person he loves more than anything his Aly Cat he wants her back but she's now engaged to Nathan at first Jake wonders if its worth the fight if its to late but then he figures until she say the words 'I DO' he still has a shot. It's never simple though for him his past mistakes keep coming back to haunt him and people try and get in the way causing more problems when all Jake want is to have his life back on track and the love of his life in his arms but is it all to late? Can he win Aly back or will she marry Nathan if though we know deep down she's still harbouring feelings for Jake... Wow I have loved this series so far there has been so much drama between Aly and Jake that has kept me hooked and always left wanting more. I love Jake hes been through the years and most is down to him making stupid mistakes but that's what made him more real for me he's not perfect but he's now owning up to his bad choices and trying to make things right. Aly I sometimes find her frustrating at times but I do also understand she's been hurt a lot and is just settling now with Nathan because deep down you know she still love Jake. I highly recommend this series is definelty a page turner and has you gripping the edge of you seat throughout so be prepared for a rocky journey...Happy reading!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher Octave is a novella within the Heavy Influence series by Ann Marie Frohoff. This book is meant to be read along with the series, and is definitely not a stand alone. I enjoyed this book, and thought it to be a great supplement to the story. I would give it a 4 star. I loved this book because it allowed us to see into Jake's mind, and his feelings about his past and current situations. He hit rock bottom in book 2, lands himself in rehab, and is now finally sober and trying to figure his life out, one day at a time. This book had me torn, making me question everything I thought from the previous books. Up to this point, I was rooting for Aly and Jake, even with all the drama, ups and downs, and everything in between. I want them to be able to work it out and be happy together, finally. However, this story enters new characters that has me questioning that. Jake begins spending a lot of time with Grace, a widowed mother, with a small child, while Aly continues seeing Nathan. Aly and Jake's relationship never has been healthy, so maybe this is a good thing, but part of me still wants them to work it out. I cannot wait to keep reading the series and see how it finally ends. Ann Marie Frohoff has written an amazing series that has me hooked, but these book endings are driving me nuts!

[Lynn Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher Octave
by: Ann Marie Frohoff
4 Stars
This is book 2.5 of the series and I urge you to read the first two to know what is going on and to learn about the characters and the events that lead up to Jake's fall from grace.
Jake lost his band mates, and the woman he loves. Without Ally in his life he also lost the ability or will to write music. He knows what he needs to do but just cannot stop wallowing in self pity to see the light of day. As Jake starts to pick up the pieces of his life he learns that Ally is engaged to Nathan. He wants to change his image, change people's perception of him. He has so many things he needs to make up for, repairing friendships is one, but trying to win Ally back is at the top of his list. He still hopes he can repair their relationship and find their happily ever after. They run into each other at a friend's wedding and it gives him hope that all is not lost between them.
Jake thinks about his life and the events that led up to him falling flat on his face. He finds inspiration with a fan and her little boy who loves his music. He feels connected to her and finds that for now that is inspiration enough to work on his music again.
Again this is a must read series that takes you on a journey of first love and all they insured on their journey.

[Lauren Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higher Octave, book 2.5, is A Heavy Influence Novella by Author Ann Marie Frohoff. In this installment we get to see more from Jake on his journey through life.
Jake has finally found his way to the right side of sobriety and now has nothing holding him back. He finally feels free to do what he wants to with his life, but is freedom everything it has cracked up to be?
When he gets inspiration from a new source, will it make him see his life in a new way or will it lead him back to what he lost in the past?
I honestly thought I knew where she was going to go with this series, but she completely threw me with this book. I am very curious where she takes this. I feel it can go so many ways and any of them will be great! I like the way she did not just gloss over the problems with addiction, but instead with this series has shown just how much it can cost you in life and how it can take what you thought your life would be and turn it completely on its side! This is a series I highly recommend to everyone, it is a great read about the multiple levels a relationship can take going from friendship as kids to later in life and the tribulations along the way!

[Natalie Hanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higher Octave is a novella in the Heavy Influence series.
Jake Masters had it all, glittering career, multi-platinum records, numerous awards, fans worldwide and a girlfriend who he loved deeply. He let his inner demons take over and succumbed to the temptations of a rock star life leading to him losing everything. Months later, leaving rehab and starting again from the bottom seems like his only option while he obsesses about trying to win the love of his life back. A chance meeting at one of his comeback gigs gives him a new muse and inspires him to write again. Not at all what he was looking for, will this lady heal the scars or is she simply the inspiration he needs to get back on track?
This novella definitely left me wanting more. I felt like there was enough content & story for it to have been a novel. I would have liked it to fill out the back story and the conclusion a lot more. I felt like just as I got to know a bit about the characters and started to invest in them, the book was over. Look forward to following the story of Jake in the rest of the series of Novellas. Recommended for people who want a quick fix of romance and fun.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Higher Octave” by Ann Marie Frohoff is a novella (# 2.5) in the Heavy Influence series and gives readers a glimpse into Jake’s heart as he rebuilds his life.

Jake Masters is slowly putting his life back together, but picking yourself up from rock bottom is not easy. A chance encounter fills Jake with inspiration and shows him that music will always be his salvation. Sometimes you must start small to make life big again.

I enjoyed how this novella is all about Jake. Other characters make an appearance, but the focus is Jake and the emotions he experiences trying to recover. The author excels at tugging on the emotional heartstrings and that is one of the reasons I’m in love with this series. I enjoyed seeing a more human side to this flawed character.

Don’t be dismayed by the novellas in this series. They do a great job of tying the books together without bogging anything down with too much detail. It keeps the pace and allows a deeper glimpse into the characters. The books in this series should be read in order and is 4 stars all the way!

[Ebbie ~Author Groupies · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 stars
Higher Octave is told from Jake’s point of view. Jake has fallen from musical grace and lost his one true love, Aly. He is struggling to make it without her. Aly has moved on and is not looking back at this point because of all of the lies and deceit that Jake has put her through, Jake is battling his own demons and they don’t care about awards, platinum records, fans, or his undying love for Aly.

This book was hard to read and cope with at times. I was feeling so many emotions all at once that it was at times overwhelming. I have this love/hate relationship with Jake in this installment. It was hard to watch him throw away everything he had worked so hard for, including his relationship with Aly. I felt so sorry for both of them knowing how hurt they both were. I only hope that they get their HEA in Love Amplified.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higher Octave - A Novella #2.5 of the Heavy Influence Series by Ann Marie Frohoff – 4 stars

***This is not a standalone – please read the series in order so you can fully appreciate Jake in this story***

This is the fast moving, time jumping story of Jake right after rehab. He’s willing to make amends with his past so he can successfully move on to his future. He knows that his life is that of an episode of E! True Hollywood Story or VH1’s Behind the Music. He owns the part that he played and he looks forward to having a fresh start at age 25.

I devoured this book in about 1 hour. It’s been a little bit since I read Broken Notes but it took me no time at all to settle right into the story.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the next chapter of Jake’s life plays out.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higher Octave is book 2.5 a heavy influence novella by Ann Marie Frohoff and is a 5 star read.
It's been 3 years since things went seriously wrong for Jake, his record company dumped the band and Alyssa finally left for good, she's now engaged to Nathan and Jake is trying to figure out where he wants his life to go. While in rehab he wrote a lot of songs and has decided to try a solo career, on the night he's showcasing the new material he meets Grace, a single mother who gets the pain of what his music is about. Still running into Alyssa occasionally, Jake wonders if he should try to get her back or finally let her go.
This is the fourth book in the series and it's just as addictive as the others.

[I Dont Get Sundays · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave the characters some life. They are growing up. They are finding themselves. Aly is moving forward even if she looks back every once in a while. This one gave some hope that maybe they would find their way back to each other.

[Book Addict *D* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one without knowing it was connected to series. It was actually okey as a stand-alone as the past events were explained and there wasn't a big cliffhanger at the end.
I'll probably give attention to the series as well.

[Bewaji · Rating 1 out of 5]

In His Head?

I hate to be in Jake's head. Reading this you will see how this guy thinks sleeping naked with a woman is not really having sex with her. In whose world? He just can't keep it his pants with a woman he is swooning over. To me cheating is abhorrent. Period. End of story.

[Donna Clouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars