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The Song in My Heart
Fame and money rained down on Dess Hampton like a monsoon. She couldn’t imagine needing more—until her golden voice was silenced. Now her quiet days are filled with her guitar and she savors every sunrise. Curious, and as a favor to a friend, she emerges to hear a rumored superstar in the making.
Music pours out of Erika Alvarez through her voice and her fingertips. She’s awed that the reclusive Dess Hampton wants to hear her sing, and then blown away when Dess agrees to sit in for a few gigs.
Dess can tell that Erika is destined for the life that she once had and wants no part of, ever again. But can the magic of the music they make together, and the growing love between them, trump Erika’s ambition and Dess’s fears? How much are they willing to sacrifice for it—and for each other?
Music pours out of Erika Alvarez through her voice and her fingertips. She’s awed that the reclusive Dess Hampton wants to hear her sing, and then blown away when Dess agrees to sit in for a few gigs.
Dess can tell that Erika is destined for the life that she once had and wants no part of, ever again. But can the magic of the music they make together, and the growing love between them, trump Erika’s ambition and Dess’s fears? How much are they willing to sacrifice for it—and for each other?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2015
About the author
Tracey Richardson
30 books274 followersI'm the author of several lesbian romance novels published by Bella Books, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists "Last Salute" and "No Rules of Engagement". I'm a voracious reader, even more so now that I've retired from a 27-year career as a daily newspaper journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 30, 2015
I'll start off by noting that it is possible that I might have been able to rate this one higher if I hadn't already read a lesbian themed book* involving music. Heck, they both had superstar musicians who, for one reason or another, have been out of the spotlight for 6 or 7 years. One because of cancer, this one, the other because the woman's life fell apart due to the actions of others - her druggy band mates, death of abusive girlfriend, motorcycle accident, etc. And then both get talked into going back on tour. Both hiding who they were when they started. Both taking a smaller role on stage, though they had had a larger one in the past.
And so . . .. Without that vaguely similar other book that I read recently, this or last month, I might have rated this one higher. Maybe.
Right. So. Harder to do a review now. I kind of accidentally read too many books at once there (which is another thing to consider when looking at my rating).
This is my second book by Richardson, and the second one I thought was solid, but not outstanding. A solid 3 and a half star book. I will, more than likely, try another.
Let's see. Erika Alvarez is an up and coming new talent. Of Texas origin. Second generation Mexican immigrant. Parents pushed her to study piano and wished her to go into a professional concert pianist career. And saw/see singing, popular music in general it is assumed, though specifically singing (so potentially including opera) to be on the level of trash. Of a prostitute. Naturally this created a conflict between Erika and her family.
And so. She's going on tour of "little" concert festivals around the country. And she, apparently, has no band. Though many youtube videos. I say that she has no band because she's just about to start the tour and has only herself. And a drummer. Who is only her drummer because she, the drummer, lost a bet. I've a strong belief that I recall the drummer's name as being something like Sloane. But I could be wrong. This drummer is a high ranking, go-to drummer that top names call up to back them up. So Erika is starting off with at least one top talent behind her. But still needs a guitar player.
Which is where Dess Hampton comes into the picture. Sloane badgers, strongly desires that Dess 'help' Erika. By going on this summer tour. As her guitar player. Dess, as I vaguely noted in the opening paragraph, was a fabulously successfully singer/songwriter who had been at the top of her game, with many many music awards, when she suddenly exited the industry. Mostly because of cancer. Or, depending on the time of day, mostly because her agent, Dayna, was a bitch and dumped her when the cancer took Dess's singing voice. Right when Dess needed support the most. Which hurt even more since Dayna was also Dess' girlfriend. So, Dess is deeply deeply scarred, emotionally and mentally (initially put scared there meaning to include an extra r, I fixed, but note that she was also scared, scared of going back on stage, scared of being ridiculed, scared of . . . everything, including life in general). Naturally she is reluctant to go out on tour in this hair brain scheme.
One thing or another, including Erika's fabulous breasts, or was it the fabulous singing talent? Dess saw several of Erika's youtube videos after being badgered by Sloane to do so. Well, to look at one video. One video lead to another and . . ..
I probably would have been quite happy to have enjoyed this book better if it had gone a different direction at one specific point. I forget if it was at the half way mark or not. But somewhere around there. Lovely little story and then . . . Dayna returns to the picture. I could have done without that whole turn to the story. Cannot really say more without using spoiler tags. But I will say that if the story had continued down the road it had been on, I probably could have given this closer to 4.5 stars. The whole Dayna diversion probably did not, on itself, cost the book 1 whole star. But it certainly didn't help.
*
ETA: well, if I'm going to put the other book under spoiler tags, I might as well expand a little and use spoiler tags for this Dayna diversion. Don't read until/unless already read book. I suppose. Though, by that point, the Dayna plot point would not need to be explained. hmms.
And so . . .. Without that vaguely similar other book that I read recently, this or last month, I might have rated this one higher. Maybe.
Right. So. Harder to do a review now. I kind of accidentally read too many books at once there (which is another thing to consider when looking at my rating).
This is my second book by Richardson, and the second one I thought was solid, but not outstanding. A solid 3 and a half star book. I will, more than likely, try another.
Let's see. Erika Alvarez is an up and coming new talent. Of Texas origin. Second generation Mexican immigrant. Parents pushed her to study piano and wished her to go into a professional concert pianist career. And saw/see singing, popular music in general it is assumed, though specifically singing (so potentially including opera) to be on the level of trash. Of a prostitute. Naturally this created a conflict between Erika and her family.
And so. She's going on tour of "little" concert festivals around the country. And she, apparently, has no band. Though many youtube videos. I say that she has no band because she's just about to start the tour and has only herself. And a drummer. Who is only her drummer because she, the drummer, lost a bet. I've a strong belief that I recall the drummer's name as being something like Sloane. But I could be wrong. This drummer is a high ranking, go-to drummer that top names call up to back them up. So Erika is starting off with at least one top talent behind her. But still needs a guitar player.
Which is where Dess Hampton comes into the picture. Sloane badgers, strongly desires that Dess 'help' Erika. By going on this summer tour. As her guitar player. Dess, as I vaguely noted in the opening paragraph, was a fabulously successfully singer/songwriter who had been at the top of her game, with many many music awards, when she suddenly exited the industry. Mostly because of cancer. Or, depending on the time of day, mostly because her agent, Dayna, was a bitch and dumped her when the cancer took Dess's singing voice. Right when Dess needed support the most. Which hurt even more since Dayna was also Dess' girlfriend. So, Dess is deeply deeply scarred, emotionally and mentally (initially put scared there meaning to include an extra r, I fixed, but note that she was also scared, scared of going back on stage, scared of being ridiculed, scared of . . . everything, including life in general). Naturally she is reluctant to go out on tour in this hair brain scheme.
One thing or another, including Erika's fabulous breasts, or was it the fabulous singing talent? Dess saw several of Erika's youtube videos after being badgered by Sloane to do so. Well, to look at one video. One video lead to another and . . ..
I probably would have been quite happy to have enjoyed this book better if it had gone a different direction at one specific point. I forget if it was at the half way mark or not. But somewhere around there. Lovely little story and then . . . Dayna returns to the picture. I could have done without that whole turn to the story. Cannot really say more without using spoiler tags. But I will say that if the story had continued down the road it had been on, I probably could have given this closer to 4.5 stars. The whole Dayna diversion probably did not, on itself, cost the book 1 whole star. But it certainly didn't help.
*
ETA: well, if I'm going to put the other book under spoiler tags, I might as well expand a little and use spoiler tags for this Dayna diversion. Don't read until/unless already read book. I suppose. Though, by that point, the Dayna plot point would not need to be explained. hmms.
July 18, 2016
This could have been a better book, but it misses a lot of marks. It starts out ok, although the instantaneous attraction from both leads was a bit over the top, as were the descriptions of how said attraction manifested.
Once the leads start spending time together they fall for each other very quickly, Erika especially. Dess has been burned in the past, and even though she hasn't been in a relationship for years, she still gives into her feelings for Erika and sleeps with her but can't tell her she loves her. This happens over and over for multiple chapters, and gets boring very quickly.
Since Dess is hiding her identity, of course something happens that reveals it, and then we came to the bit that literally had me saying 'wtf' out loud. Seriously, the whole Dayna contract thing beggared belief. I sincerely doubt such a thing could actually happen in real life. This of course leads to the usual lesfic contrived breakup at the 3/4 mark.
Then there's a stupid resolution to the ridiculously contrived problem, followed by a soppy epilogue. I usually like Tracey Richardson stories, but this one was a disappointment.
Once the leads start spending time together they fall for each other very quickly, Erika especially. Dess has been burned in the past, and even though she hasn't been in a relationship for years, she still gives into her feelings for Erika and sleeps with her but can't tell her she loves her. This happens over and over for multiple chapters, and gets boring very quickly.
Since Dess is hiding her identity, of course something happens that reveals it, and then we came to the bit that literally had me saying 'wtf' out loud. Seriously, the whole Dayna contract thing beggared belief. I sincerely doubt such a thing could actually happen in real life. This of course leads to the usual lesfic contrived breakup at the 3/4 mark.
Then there's a stupid resolution to the ridiculously contrived problem, followed by a soppy epilogue. I usually like Tracey Richardson stories, but this one was a disappointment.
June 4, 2015
Love, music, an amazingly combination.
I do not know how I can describe this story, I can't find words that indicate what my feelings are for this book. One thing I know for sure, it is written with love. This is absolutely romance and this story remains in my heart for a very long time. For me, an award winning story.
I do not know how I can describe this story, I can't find words that indicate what my feelings are for this book. One thing I know for sure, it is written with love. This is absolutely romance and this story remains in my heart for a very long time. For me, an award winning story.
February 18, 2024
2 stars
Eh. It was a book. About characters. They were singers. They did stuff. They messed up. They made up. The end.
...
I was bored af
At least there weren't grammar or spelling mistakes.
Eh. It was a book. About characters. They were singers. They did stuff. They messed up. They made up. The end.
...
I was bored af
At least there weren't grammar or spelling mistakes.
December 22, 2023
It is about the love story between two singers. Dess is decade older and world famous and Erika is up and coming new talent, their age gap and Dess's ice queen cool and self isolation and Erika's sincerity and courage make this book a very enjoyable read. The characters are jump out of page vivid and very likable, the story interesting without too much angsts. Tracey Richardson is a master story teller and this book is a delightful read.
April 26, 2016
I had high hopes for this book but in the end it was too rushed and the connection between the main characters too shallow. The story is somewhat interesting, yet i don't think it was properly executed.
May 7, 2015
A straightforward novel set in the world of music and musicians. All in all a pleasant reading.
August 24, 2018
Whoops, sorry people, I missed the memo which said this wasn't a good book. I loved it. So bite me!
Read
July 24, 2019I am not rating this book because I stopped reading about 75% into it, for reasons that may, or may not, have had anything to do with the book. I did come back to finish it, but the break diminished my appreciation for the story and I don't want to give it a rating that isn't based on the writing itself.
October 6, 2015
Dess Hampton is a 40 something recluse. She was one a super star musician, money, fame, the whole nine yards. Then she was diagnosed with throat cancer, and lost her ability to sing. Her friend, Sloane talks her into mentoring a young female singer who is on the precipice of making it big. Enter Erika Alvarez, young, hot, a voice on an angel…you get the drift. Dess begrudgingly agrees to work with Erika and play lead guitar in disguise on her upcoming summer tour. This in when we go from 0 to 60, with very little substance in the romance department. All of the sudden they are in love. A lot more happens, but I won’t go into more details, you will need to read the book.
I will say I have read other novels by Tracey Richardson and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one is not one of those favorites. It starts slow. The book was just hard to really get into. I felt like I got to know one character really well, what her background was, why she behaved the way she did. The other lead character on the other hand, never really clicked to me. Also, a personal pet peeve is that they fall into bed together pretty early on in the book.. I prefer the romance to be drawn out, though like I said this is a 100% a personal preference. I felt like there was a good story in here it just got lost somewhere along the way
https://theromanticreaderblog.wordpre...
I will say I have read other novels by Tracey Richardson and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one is not one of those favorites. It starts slow. The book was just hard to really get into. I felt like I got to know one character really well, what her background was, why she behaved the way she did. The other lead character on the other hand, never really clicked to me. Also, a personal pet peeve is that they fall into bed together pretty early on in the book.. I prefer the romance to be drawn out, though like I said this is a 100% a personal preference. I felt like there was a good story in here it just got lost somewhere along the way
https://theromanticreaderblog.wordpre...
January 11, 2015
Beautiful story, I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. A wonderful read
July 26, 2015
When a story can fill my heart with longing, then the author deserves to know she has touched a life.
April 10, 2015
Detailed score: 3.75
Comforting as cheesecake, this book was no more or less than what I thought it would be. A comfortable romance, with obligatory mini angst and a villain of the piece to keep things interesting.
If you're a fan of the 'love life of a famous person' lesfic genre then this would be a pleasing addition to your bookshelf. If you're not, then probably avoid as there's nothing new or exciting here to make it worth your while.
It took me less than no time to read and I probably won't rush back to read it anytime soon but with likeable leads (one famous but angst ridden, one young up and comer but naive), well-edited prose it was definitely an enjoyable way to pass a Sunday evening.
Comforting as cheesecake, this book was no more or less than what I thought it would be. A comfortable romance, with obligatory mini angst and a villain of the piece to keep things interesting.
If you're a fan of the 'love life of a famous person' lesfic genre then this would be a pleasing addition to your bookshelf. If you're not, then probably avoid as there's nothing new or exciting here to make it worth your while.
It took me less than no time to read and I probably won't rush back to read it anytime soon but with likeable leads (one famous but angst ridden, one young up and comer but naive), well-edited prose it was definitely an enjoyable way to pass a Sunday evening.
May 6, 2015
Im still confused as to why i've always skipped this one on my shelve. It's totally the style that i like and i'm confused about what set me off it. I'm totally regretting not going with my first impression, which was to read it right away.
November 17, 2022
I so wish I hadn't started reading this.
It was actually fine... until right around the 70% mark when the author went completely apeshit with the wildest, most insane, most laughably bad plot twist I have ever encountered in fiction... ever.
So obviously the ex reappears, and she also used to be the protagonist's manager (because the ex is always the antagonist)... and she's COMMICALLY evil, like literally: completely and irredeemably evil. Why they were in a relationship for multiple years is unfathomable to me, that's how insanely evil she is.
But that's the not the point... oh no, it's so much worse: she reappears, and magically, multiple years earlier she put something (a deus ex machina, if you will) in their contract that coincidentally PERFECTLY fits the situation: if she reappears on stage and collaborates with somebody who isn't already under contract with somebody, she immediately gains the right to manage this artist... without the consent of said artist. What kind of absolute bullshit is this? I'm going to write a contract with a buddy of mine now: if they burp, I immediately gain the right to be the manager of Lady Gaga; if she refuses, I can just sue for a percentage of her earnings - because clearly, that's how that works...
They then visit "the best lawyer in the industry", who basically tells them that Erika has to employ Dess's ex or she will be sued and her career will be over.
WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK!? How did neither the author, nor a test reader, nor a lector catch how mind bogglingly dumb this is?
Besides, after her manager comically fucked her over 6 years ago and left her to die from cancer she didn't think of canceling their fucking contract and making sure she doesn't have anything on her!? HOW!?
This is comically bad... and so disappointing, because up to this point it was actually an okay story. Not mind blowing or anything, but it was readable.
I have never read a plot twist so stupid in my life.
EDIT: and because it wasn't bad enough, the main love interest starts sleeping with somebody else at like the 80% mark... but it's okay, because she thinks of Dess the whole time (wat?) Why do you hate your readers so much? Why would anybody want them to get back together now? Erika has clearly moved on, story over.
It was actually fine... until right around the 70% mark when the author went completely apeshit with the wildest, most insane, most laughably bad plot twist I have ever encountered in fiction... ever.
So obviously the ex reappears, and she also used to be the protagonist's manager (because the ex is always the antagonist)... and she's COMMICALLY evil, like literally: completely and irredeemably evil. Why they were in a relationship for multiple years is unfathomable to me, that's how insanely evil she is.
But that's the not the point... oh no, it's so much worse: she reappears, and magically, multiple years earlier she put something (a deus ex machina, if you will) in their contract that coincidentally PERFECTLY fits the situation: if she reappears on stage and collaborates with somebody who isn't already under contract with somebody, she immediately gains the right to manage this artist... without the consent of said artist. What kind of absolute bullshit is this? I'm going to write a contract with a buddy of mine now: if they burp, I immediately gain the right to be the manager of Lady Gaga; if she refuses, I can just sue for a percentage of her earnings - because clearly, that's how that works...
They then visit "the best lawyer in the industry", who basically tells them that Erika has to employ Dess's ex or she will be sued and her career will be over.
WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK!? How did neither the author, nor a test reader, nor a lector catch how mind bogglingly dumb this is?
Besides, after her manager comically fucked her over 6 years ago and left her to die from cancer she didn't think of canceling their fucking contract and making sure she doesn't have anything on her!? HOW!?
This is comically bad... and so disappointing, because up to this point it was actually an okay story. Not mind blowing or anything, but it was readable.
I have never read a plot twist so stupid in my life.
EDIT: and because it wasn't bad enough, the main love interest starts sleeping with somebody else at like the 80% mark... but it's okay, because she thinks of Dess the whole time (wat?) Why do you hate your readers so much? Why would anybody want them to get back together now? Erika has clearly moved on, story over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2024
Well, this was a solid five stars until the big dramatic moment. But let me not start there. The characters were great, and the setup really worked — how Erika didn’t want anything to do with songwriting, but then Dess grew on her. How Dess didn’t want anything to do with touring, but then the stage grew on her. How they overcame their issues and their differences and everything was going amazingly well. The song they wrote together was fun, the performances were fun… it was all just going swimmingly well.
And then stuff happened that I just had a real tough time with… I mean, it came together in the end but the drama just felt too manufactured, and one of the characters too willing to self-inflict absurd levels of pain in the name of… avoiding pain. It’s not like there should never be issues to work through, but this just felt like it went a bit too far for me.
So in the end, it was a wonderful story dragged down a bit for me by the late drama, but overall still a fun read.
And then stuff happened that I just had a real tough time with… I mean, it came together in the end but the drama just felt too manufactured, and one of the characters too willing to self-inflict absurd levels of pain in the name of… avoiding pain. It’s not like there should never be issues to work through, but this just felt like it went a bit too far for me.
So in the end, it was a wonderful story dragged down a bit for me by the late drama, but overall still a fun read.
November 22, 2025
Listen. I get it. We love a sapphic novel. We love a smutty sapphic novel. But what we don't like is a shallow smutty sapphic novel. I love women. I've been there - feeling like it's a whirlwind and the libido shooting off the charts. However, so many sapphic novels leave me feeling like they're missing such a big piece of WLW relationships. The romantic bond with women is unlike any I've had with men. It's so much easier to deeply connect with a woman, who has likely faced many of the same challenges you've also faced in life from being a woman. I don't even know how to explain it in words, besides it being purely magical. It does get intense quickly, which is why there's the U-Haul stereotype. So I don't mind the 'insta love' connection as much. However..... we get that Erika and Dess want to rip each other's clothes off, but I rarely felt any of the love connection, only lust. Which is fine, if that's what you're going for, but in this book they're meant to love each other and I just didn't feel that at all. All I felt between them was lust, jealousy, and lack of communication. The use of pet names every three seconds was also annoying AF.
January 1, 2020
So much better than the reviews and rating suggests. Solid writing with good characters. Story maybe a little predictable but it’s a romance so if they didn’t eventually, after a bit of angst, get together for a happy ending I’d be complaining.
I recommend you read it.
I recommend you read it.
June 25, 2017
Excellent book.
I loved The Song in My Heart. Absolutely the sweetest story. Musically themed love story. Retired rock star meets young up and coming singer. Great book.
I loved The Song in My Heart. Absolutely the sweetest story. Musically themed love story. Retired rock star meets young up and coming singer. Great book.
July 7, 2018
Absolutely amazing read. No surprise here, since Tracey is one of my fav writers and each book is better than the previous one.
November 11, 2015
Simply truly great!
Wow, a beautiful heart touching story of when true love hit. A story that will keep you reading to the very last page. You won't want to put it down.
Wow, a beautiful heart touching story of when true love hit. A story that will keep you reading to the very last page. You won't want to put it down.
March 4, 2016
Lovely story
This was a lovely story!! I liked the way Dess and Erika's love story evolved. It was sweet and poignant. Very well done!!!
This was a lovely story!! I liked the way Dess and Erika's love story evolved. It was sweet and poignant. Very well done!!!
April 21, 2015
31/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews