Breaking Measures

by Emma Raveling

A life built on lies…

On the fast track to international success, acclaimed concert pianist Leila Cates is close to achieving her dreams. But her path to certain stardom comes to a crashing halt when the body of her boyfriend, a world-renowned conductor, is discovered on the eve of her New York debut. When rumors about their relationship surface, Leila quickly becomes the primary suspect.

A past with the power to shatter the future…

Desperate to clear her name, Leila sets out to uncover the truth. Enlisting the reluctant help of Orion Frazier, the lead detective on the case, their investigation soon entangles her in a world of secrets and lies.

With everything on the line, can Leila find the strength to face what she finds?

A taut suspense thriller of dark secrets and even darker ambitions, Breaking Measures is a stand-alone prequel novella to A Woven Silence.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Novella, Crime, Thriller, Contemporary, Romance

Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2015

About the author

Emma Raveling resides in Honolulu with her husband and German shepherd.

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Emma’s writing in her YA fantasy, the Ondine Quartet, I was instantly swept away in her enchanting ability to immerse you in such a magical world with it’s captivating inhabitants. Reading Breaking Measures was a completely different experience, and even though there was no magic in the storyline, it still felt weaved throughout the entire story. The writing was hauntingly beautiful, every description was cultivated with such care. The music and it’s instruments felt like living, breathing beings, luring you in with their seductive siren’s song. I felt as if I were right there with Leila watching her perfectly crafted world shatter around her piece by structured piece. The mystery was fantastic! I loved the scramble for the next clue and getting knocked upside the head with each shocking twist and turn. This was a fabulous prequel and I can’t wait to see what awaits Leila next in A Woven Silence!

  I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Something remains in the silence after a performance.
It echoes between the seats, winding through aisles and rows, whispering as it returns to the front of the hall.
The stage remembers.
Its polished floor pulses with the heartbeat of every musician who has crossed it and holds within its infinite memory that which murmurs endlessly in silence.
Power.
The same power pulsating in the thick blood now flowing across the pale wood and pooling around the podium. This sacred ground siphons away an artist's life, ingesting ambition and arrogance, and devouring countless dreams of immortality so that it can satiate a voracious audience.
The stage demands to be fed.
When you step on it, you become the willing sacrifice.'

Poignant and edgy, Breaking Measures takes contemporary fiction to the next level.

Emma Raveling's writing has always been a stunning example of how an author can reel in their readers from the very first word. And Breaking Measures is no exception. In fact, it builds on Raveling's ability to entertain readers by adding a bundle of mystery and suspense that will keep readers on the edge of their seat...and looking over their shoulders to check that a mass murderer hasn't snuck into their houses!

Sprinkled with delicious descriptions of the main protagonist Leila Cates' music career and her love for her art, this novel is utterly captivating from start to finish. Examples of these beautifully crafted descriptions include:

'Leila retreated to the piano, hands trembling at the life spinning out of their control. She pushed the metronome, the precise tick reminding her of measures and boundaries.
Now that Orion was gone, the frantic presto pulse no longer seemed right. She adjusted the speed, reducing it to an ominous adagio that boomed like thunder in her chest.'

And another one of my faves:

'People wanted to see her triumph over grief and become the bloodied gladiator standing alone in the arena. The stage demanded a moving display of grit and tenacity, a story about an inspiring comeback despite tragic suffering.
Leila was now the headliner in a performance selling the American Dream.
The only way to extinguish the sordidness of murder was with a spectacular performance that would be remembered for the ages, a concert that would become an immortal part of her legacy.'

This book is highly recommended for readers who love to read well-written books.

Love books where it feels like every word, every sentence, has been chosen and put together with the utmost care and attention? Do you love books that make you feel invested in their mysterious events, and that urge you to join in on the journey to discover the truth?

Then Breaking Measures is most definitely for you!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*
Watch the Trailer!


As soon as I heard Emma Raveling was releasing a prequel to another work in the making, I got extremely excited.

She is one of those rare writers that have an incredible talent with words that simply sweep you away with their lyrical descriptions. When I found out this was to be a contemporary novel, I was in two minds. Mostly because I was afraid that there would be a lack of imaginative story telling and leave me wanting.Could it really live up to her other work?

Any fears are completely unfounded though. Whilst Breaking Measures is indeed contemporary and has a completely different feel from her Ondine Quartet work, it still managed to completely capture me.

Breaking Measures follows a young woman, Leila Cates. An up and coming Pianist who's striving to reach the expectations of her parents and the world around her. Though when one by one the steady parts in her life break, she comes to realize there is more going on behind the scenes then she has allowed herself to see. Pinned with the murder of her supposed boyfriend Carlo she desperately tries to unravel the knots and come to terms with the implications of what she uncovers.

"It was the lie of the American Dream -work hard and you'll win, that poisonous mantra poured down the throat of every child, every teacher, every adult who wondered why they were still stuck in the same place after forty years of overtime, with nothing to show but bone-weary exhaustion, shitty health, and a pile of bills."

“Fast food, fast money, shallow thinking, shallow interpretations. This is now what I deal with everyday. Art was meant to be about freedom, about having the courage to explore what it means to be human.”

The artistic descriptions of the experiences Leila goes through really pull you in and I was very intrigued to find out exactly what was going on. I must admit that I also never saw the culprit coming. Just like OQ it had me completely guessing and second guessing throughout the mystery.

"The lush opening unfurled, narrating an epic saga of passion and yearning. Rene's tempo was moderate, not he grand slow pomposity Carlo favoured or the passionate drive Leila wanted. it was safe, an acceptable and pleasing interpretation that wouldn't ruffle anyone's feathers. It was also terrible, as bland and forgettable as the new music scores she'd dismissed."

I also really liked Orion as well. He brought a stark contrast to Leila's life and I am quite excited to be reading more about them in A Woven Silence. Now just to wait... ARGGhh

Overall, this prequel is a great prospect of what is to come and an awesome story on it's own as well.

Would I recommend it?
Yes! I will recommend this to all of my family and friends that have turned their noses up reading fantasy. I can finally share what they have been missing out on and who knows, they might even pick OQ up once they know what they are missing out on.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Everyone! I was given an ARC of Breaking Measures and asked for an honest review.

I fell in love with Emma Raveling's style of writing in her YA series, Ondine Quartet, that features a certain kick-ass heroine who always tries to do the right thing. Breaking Measures is Emma's first adult novella and she did such a wonderful job! The words flow smoothly and I swear I could feel the same emotions that music stirs inside of you when you listen to it which only increased what emotions I felt when reading the story. The mystery and twists in this book are great and definitely kept me guessing on who it could possibly be.

So all in all a great first adult novella by Emma Raveling. I'm so excited for A Woven Silence where we can read about what happens with Leila next!

Breaking Measures is out September 24th!
Told from 3rd person POV

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC, and asked for my honest opinion, knowing that this is Emma Raveling's first crack at writing an adult novella, I was excited to begin with. I am very pleased to say that it doesn't disappoint, it was a thrilling mystery that had me guessing until the door was opened. What I can say is that if you enjoy a mystery/suspense novel this is for you!

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the perfect example that sometimes, less is more. Less than 175 pages, it's the prequel to a book titled A Woven Silence (which I hope will be published real soon as I can't find more info about it).

Meet Leila Cates. A rich, pretty and successful concert pianist on the eve of her NY debut who after finding her boyfriend, the conductor, dead, is the principal suspect.

Leila has dedicated her entire life to music, and she is on the verge of losing it too. Teaming up with the police detective in charge of her case, she will find out not only who killed her boyfriend, but some things about herself that would have better been left alone.

Leila is a compelling character, smart and easy. She's a girl that has her world turned upside down and manages to survive and get stronger. So, when will we see her in a new book?

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[E.J. Mellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gritty whirlwind story that matches the tempo of the city it's set in. Emma Raveling does it again! This prequel novella to A Woven Silence left me as all her works do—greedy for more.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review posted here...http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery filled with suspense? Well that’s exactly what you are getting with Breaking Measures…. And it’s soooo good!
We have an extremely talented pianist in our heroine – Leila Cates – and she is on the verge of huge success. Unfortunately she stumbles across her boyfriend in the act of the ultimate betrayal and it sends her into a tail spin. What should be the most important week of her life turns out to be the worst when after a very public spat with her boyfriend….. hours later, she finds him dead! Murdered in fact and Leila immediately becomes the prime suspect. Determined to find out the truth about Carlos and why someone would want him dead, she sets about looking for clues but ends up in danger herself when the murderer sets their sights on her.
This is a little different from what I’m used to from this author but her writing skills are evident as she captivates us with an edge of the seat thriller this time. I can’t say that I am totally in the know about all of the dealings of classical music, concerts, recitals and the business of running those things but I appreciated how it was used in the story. I thought Leila’s character was very likable and she seemed very genuine in a world where people’s egos are on show everyday. She was very dedicated to her art and had a very driven nature. She had an innocence about her and came across as a tad naïve for her age – possibly to do with her overbearing parents.
The story was very intriguing and as I mentioned – who doesn’t love a good whodunit? The story was set up really well before the murder when the public spat showed that more than one person could have motive for what was to happen. As Leila starts looking for clues, she uncovers more than she bargained for and her world is turned upside down and even though she finds one ally, she has to keep it together because as the saying goes – the show must go on. Obviously we aren’t going to find the culprit until the very end and the final showdown but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a line of suspects throughout the story, I was constantly trying to work out who it was an accused everyone she came into contact with. When Leila finds herself on the killers radar, there became a danger and urgency to solve the case that came across very well to the reader and really kept me on my toes. She did seem to share a connection to one of the policemen investigating Carlos’s murder, so I wonder if that would evolve into something – but there wasn’t any romance to be had.
When we finally have the reveal, there are a few twists and turns in Leila’s life too, bringing out many a skeleton from her closet and making her doubt everyone and this definitely gave the ending a bigger impact.
The story definitely had me intrigued all of the way through, trying to work out what was going on, who did it, what was the motive etc. I really didn’t see any of the reveals coming and thought it was a great mystery set against an interesting background of the professional classical music/musician/business. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it all in one go, I couldn’t put it down until I knew who did it and why. It would also make a very cool movie.

Thank you to Emma Raveling for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fictionophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the tender age of three, Leila has known that she was destined to be pianist. Born to wealthy and influential parents she is guided every step of the way toward what she feels is her hard sought for destiny - to be a star solo pianist. Practicing eight hours per day she feels she deserves everything she has attained. A recent graduate of the infamous Juilliard School of Music and in a three year relationship with Carlo, a star Italian conductor, Leila's life is a bed of roses... or is it? When she learns of Carlo's unfaithfulness, she goes to confront him only to find his dead body on the stage where he once reigned a star. Subsequently, she is under suspicion for his murder.

The investigation into Carlo's murder brings Leila into contact with a young homicide detective, Orion Frazier. He seems to believe in her innocence and is working with her to bring the truth to light.

But what if everything she believed is not true? If her whole life has been orchestrated like the music she plays? Are focus, dedication, and practice not enough? It is time for Leila to face some hard truths and become independent in both body and spirit.

In this prequel novella to Emma Raveling's novel "A Woven Silence", the author introduces us to concert pianist Leila Cates and homicide detective Orion Frazier and gives us the background we need to enjoy the series in which these characters feature. That being said, this novella can be read with equal enjoyment as a stand-alone. A suspense story that will be especially appreciated by those who enjoy the world of classical music, but is written in such a way that it can be relished by all.

I enjoyed this story. It was a fast read and I liked the atmosphere. However, I wasn't invested in the characters enough to continue on with the series.

3 stars

Thanks to Mandorla Publishing via NetGalley for furnishing me with a digital copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leila Cates, a concert pianist about to make her big break, ends up being the prime suspect in her boy-friend's murder and sets out to prove her innocence with the unlikely aid of Orion Frazier, one of the detectives on the case.
Breaking Measures is the prequel novella to Emma Raveling's forthcoming novel A Woven Silence. As such, it was a very quick read, but provided an excellent introduction to Leila Cates and her privileged upbringing and messed up family. I found the setting in the classical music scene quite unique. This was my first book by Emma Raveling. Her writing style is very descriptive and lyrical and suited the setting.
Her protagonist, Leila, came across as slightly naive, which - to a degree - is understandable due to her seriously overbearing parents and the isolated way in which she grew up. Although I was pretty sure who the killer was from early on, I just couldn't work out the motive, so that left plenty of mystery and suspense to keep me engaged throughout. I enjoyed the ending and actually felt some empathy for Leila in the end, which I had failed to feel throughout the rest of the book. It'll be interesting to see what Leila's life will be like in A Woven Silence.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Raveling]

Yay - Breaking Measures is now available!

Amazon —> http://smarturl.it/bmAZ?IQid=fb

Barnes & Noble —> http://smarturl.it/bmBN?IQid=fb

iBookstore —> http://smarturl.it/bmIB?IQid=fb

Kobo —> http://smarturl.it/bmKB?IQid=fb

[Jennifer D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I ever read anything by Emma Raveling was while she was just at the beginning stages of her Ondine Quartet series (pretty sure it was book 1). Little did I know, Ondine Quartet would become one of my all time favorite series. You know, the ones where no matter what you’ll always come back to and re-read because the story is just that amazing! When Ondine Quartet ended, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was a wreck, an emotional hot mess…you name it, that was me.

When Emma decided to delve into something that didn’t hinge on YA fantasy dare I say…I was slightly skeptical.



Everything that I have known about Emma’s writing has been filled with fantasy. There was always some sort of magical element that held you in suspense.

Let me tell you, I had nothing to worry about.



Breaking Measures is one of those books that sucks you in and doesn’t want to let you out. Such brilliant writing from beginning to end. The magic was there, hidden beneath the suspenseful and amazingly intricate story line. Everything about Breaking Measures was in such perfect detail, with poor Leila and the life that she knew being ripped away from her and watching her stumble and find the courage to do what needs to be done. Quite honestly just the sheer amount of betrayal in this novella was staggering.

A Woven Silence is up next for Emma, and I can’t wait. I loved every second of Breaking Measures.





**Confession Time: I horded all my weekly emails from Emma that contained the chapters for Breaking Measures. I knew after I read the first chapter that there was NO FREAKING WAY I was going to be able to wait a whole week for another chapter…or in some cases only a half of a chapter! So this review probably should have been out a few days ago, but I was too busy trying to get my child to sit down for longer than 5 minutes so Mommy could read!**

[Rachel Jeffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start out by saying this isn't my "usual" type of novel. I enjoy character development which you don't tend to get in stories of this length - that was not the case with Breaking Measures though.

I particularly like mysteries where you just cannot predict the ending ahead of time and, in that regard, I was not disappointed. I never would have guessed the killer ahead of time - they weren't even on my list of mental suspects!

I felt that Leila's character was well developed and the story kept a nice pace. I'm left wanting to know more about several characters and relationships - especially Leila and Orion but also some of the other minor characters as well. Even though the plot was closed up well and doesn't feel unfinished, I still find myself wanting more and can't wait for A Woven Silence.

I listened to the audio version of this book and feel that the narration by Rebecca Roberts was great - she did accents for some of the characters and the tones that she used really brought characters to life and it was easy to differentiate who was speaking at all times.

***I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It had me on the edge of my seat at some times and at other times, I was going thru my head wondering who done it! This book is well written and holds lots of thrills, suspense and drama. This turned out to be a great mystery in my opinion. I was glad to see a happy ending too.

The author, Emma Raveling did a great job writing this book. The material is original. As hard as I tried to guess who the killer was, I was wrong every time. The main character Leila Cates was in lots of danger too. The narrator, Rebecca Roberts did a great job delivering the story to us. I felt she delivered the book clearly and smoothly. I loved the different voices she used. Even the accents are believable! Good job ladies!

I received this audiobook as a gift so I could review it.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"She had to follow the music."
Still only 23, Leila is on the verge of international fame and success as a solo pianist, something for which she has worked and dreamed for twenty years. Practicing for eight hours daily, she still lived in her wealthy parental home, sometimes visiting her boyfriend, the acclaimed conductor Carlo Balandini, at his studio apartment. It was he who was to conduct her forthcoming concert. Then, just before she was to achieve everything she'd aspired to, on the same day she discovers Carlo in bed with another musician, then, in the evening, Carlo murdered, head bashed in by a music stand. Not only is her concert at risk, she becomes prime suspect.

Beautifully written, with atmospheric swirling prose, Leila seeks to find the truth about the death and her own position within it. She had worked so hard to gain her success, but now reality seems to be shifting. The character of Leila is well developed, the naivety she demonstrates understandable given her life so far, and although the other protagonists are little more than shadows, they do exhibit a reality in occasional flashes. Narrator, Rebecca Roberts, helps breath extra life into them with a fine reading and differentiated voices for all. well performed, despite her inability to give sufficient depth to make speakers, and her prose reading was flawless.

My thanks to the rights holder of Breaking Measures, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via F.A.F.Y. This was a quick and easily to read murder mystery which was so much more: not just a who-dun-it? but also a peek into numerous psychological aspects impacting on life's dreams. A definite recommendation to all who enjoy well crafted writing to accompany their murder mystery. Don't question, just sit back and enjoy.

[Aziza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another captivating book written by Emma :)

Full of mystery, you won't be able to put it down!