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A Marine's Heart #4
Dal Segno
On the verge of turning 40, former Marine Cameron ‘Cam’ Warren didn’t expect to be walking onto a community college campus to spend a year playing music. Instead of enjoying her career, Cam is still mourning the tragic death of her partner and fellow Marine Sharon. Five years have now passed but she is no further forward in dealing with her grief. Cam knows she needs to change so she can heal. Will taking a sabbatical to play the drums allow her to live fully again, connecting her to emotions in ways her autism has always prevented?
Jazz pianist and teacher Laura Clark has had enough of city life on the east coast and yearns for the quiet beauty of Colorado. When a faculty position opens at a small community college in Ft. Collins, she jumps at the chance to start a new life. However, what she couldn’t predict was that one of her star students was about to walk back into her life, 20 years later.
When Cam is introduced to the new jazz ensemble director she is shocked to see her high school music teacher, a thousand miles away from the small town where Ms. Clark first introduced her to jazz. But Cam is no longer a kid and, as their chemistry grows stronger, Cam has to choose which path her life will take - will she choose love or will she choose fear?
Dal Segno is a lesbian romance that shows the power of revisiting the past to create a completely different result. Everything changes the second time around….
62,400 words
Jazz pianist and teacher Laura Clark has had enough of city life on the east coast and yearns for the quiet beauty of Colorado. When a faculty position opens at a small community college in Ft. Collins, she jumps at the chance to start a new life. However, what she couldn’t predict was that one of her star students was about to walk back into her life, 20 years later.
When Cam is introduced to the new jazz ensemble director she is shocked to see her high school music teacher, a thousand miles away from the small town where Ms. Clark first introduced her to jazz. But Cam is no longer a kid and, as their chemistry grows stronger, Cam has to choose which path her life will take - will she choose love or will she choose fear?
Dal Segno is a lesbian romance that shows the power of revisiting the past to create a completely different result. Everything changes the second time around….
62,400 words
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
126 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 7, 2021
There is room for both.
Somebody told me Jax Meyer is articulate and now I have to agree. It took me a while to get used to the writing style because it is so contemplative but once I got the hang of it, damn.
This is one of the most well-written books that moved me to tears. What sets this book apart from others is how much Cam was willing to face her own issues head-on in her own way in order to move forward. Cam is fasinating to get to know. She's ex-Marine, autistic and had been coping with the sudden loss of her long-term partner. Cam frequently dreams of Sharon and rationalises her feelings a lot in her head and what goes on inside is often far deeper than what she actually verbalises because communication isn't her strongest point.
Cam and Sharon's life as Marines dictated by DADT is distinctively different from Cam's life with Laura which is surrounded by music. Laura is the high school music teacher whom Cam reunites with at the community college she attends. Their relationship is gentle and companionate and this feels right because of their age (Cam is 40, Laura is 52) and what Cam has been through. I love how understanding and patient Laura is and how Cam in return, lets her in and shares her past with her.
It makes a difference knowing there's a prequel with Sharon in it because it becomes even more beautiful when Cam finally realises that she doesn't need to forget Sharon and there can be room in her heart for both.
I'm glad I listened to the audiobook. I got used to Stephanie Murphy and I like listening to her.
This audiobook was given to me for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Somebody told me Jax Meyer is articulate and now I have to agree. It took me a while to get used to the writing style because it is so contemplative but once I got the hang of it, damn.
This is one of the most well-written books that moved me to tears. What sets this book apart from others is how much Cam was willing to face her own issues head-on in her own way in order to move forward. Cam is fasinating to get to know. She's ex-Marine, autistic and had been coping with the sudden loss of her long-term partner. Cam frequently dreams of Sharon and rationalises her feelings a lot in her head and what goes on inside is often far deeper than what she actually verbalises because communication isn't her strongest point.
Cam and Sharon's life as Marines dictated by DADT is distinctively different from Cam's life with Laura which is surrounded by music. Laura is the high school music teacher whom Cam reunites with at the community college she attends. Their relationship is gentle and companionate and this feels right because of their age (Cam is 40, Laura is 52) and what Cam has been through. I love how understanding and patient Laura is and how Cam in return, lets her in and shares her past with her.
It makes a difference knowing there's a prequel with Sharon in it because it becomes even more beautiful when Cam finally realises that she doesn't need to forget Sharon and there can be room in her heart for both.
I'm glad I listened to the audiobook. I got used to Stephanie Murphy and I like listening to her.
This audiobook was given to me for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2019
A few months before her 40th birthday, Cam is ready for the next part of her life. She takes a sabbatical to take music classes at the local college. One of her teachers happens to be her former high school teacher, Laura.
Two things make this slow burn romance different from most I’ve read so far. One is not so rare: Cam is a widow, still mourning the death of the woman who shared most of her adult life with her. The other difference is Cam’s autism. Sometimes in romances, I feel like shaking the MCs so they will see what’s happening, or communicate better etc. In this novel (Jax Meyer’s debut), it all makes sense.
While it’s definitely a romance, the main interest of the book resides in that it’s told from Cam’s POV, with all the ways her POV differs from most people’s. Jax Meyer did a great job on that. The narration was really good too, despite some of the silences being a tad too long for my taste. But I completely forgot about them after a while and simply enjoyed the story. My only complaint is that I wish I could have heard the music…
Two things make this slow burn romance different from most I’ve read so far. One is not so rare: Cam is a widow, still mourning the death of the woman who shared most of her adult life with her. The other difference is Cam’s autism. Sometimes in romances, I feel like shaking the MCs so they will see what’s happening, or communicate better etc. In this novel (Jax Meyer’s debut), it all makes sense.
While it’s definitely a romance, the main interest of the book resides in that it’s told from Cam’s POV, with all the ways her POV differs from most people’s. Jax Meyer did a great job on that. The narration was really good too, despite some of the silences being a tad too long for my taste. But I completely forgot about them after a while and simply enjoyed the story. My only complaint is that I wish I could have heard the music…
March 5, 2019
I just knew I would love this book when I read the synopsis. Then I could not stop smiling when Jax gave me this book. I was a bit scared that I won't like it because I had such high expectations but this book more than met them. This book was wonderful, I enjoyed every page. The plotline, pacing, the characters, the love were all on point. I found myself really feeling Cams emotions throughout the book. The love between Cam and Laura was not rushed and I think it made it much more nicer to read.
I would definitely recommend this book
I would definitely recommend this book
January 4, 2020
wah .. waaaah
I really think it's a good thing when a book turns me into a waaah person.
it's definitely a good point.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a perfect match for me despite the 5 stars.
The story rythm didn't always felt right. The cast is too small. There are some elements that went completely over my head (stones and energy). And I have to confess... I have an inherited-from-childhood aversion to jazz .
But ...
I think it's pretty cool the writer made a playlist available. I wish more thought of it when rambling on specific tracks on their books. I even listen to one track and found myself wondering if I am adult enough to give it a chance and listen to the whole playlist 😅
And the story is freakishly good and well written. And those two main are just waaah !
And that last sentence ? it wad perfect and left me .... waaaaah.
I really think it's a good thing when a book turns me into a waaah person.
it's definitely a good point.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a perfect match for me despite the 5 stars.
The story rythm didn't always felt right. The cast is too small. There are some elements that went completely over my head (stones and energy). And I have to confess... I have an inherited-from-childhood aversion to jazz .
But ...
I think it's pretty cool the writer made a playlist available. I wish more thought of it when rambling on specific tracks on their books. I even listen to one track and found myself wondering if I am adult enough to give it a chance and listen to the whole playlist 😅
And the story is freakishly good and well written. And those two main are just waaah !
And that last sentence ? it wad perfect and left me .... waaaaah.
October 15, 2018
Simply wonderful, moving and very authentic feeling story. I am torn between giving it 4 or 5 stars. I initially settled on 4 because there were so many elements that I wished had been covered more. And that makes me wonder if I'm being too hard on it. So I'm going to bump it to 5-stars, because I don't think it's fair to take away a star because I loved the story and characters so much I wanted more, more, more. :) I wanted more of Cam's life before Colorado and with Sharon. I wanted more of Cam and Laura working out how to move forward after Cam's sabbatical. I wanted more of their outdoor adventures.
It's definitely one of the better KindleUnlimited books I've read.
It's definitely one of the better KindleUnlimited books I've read.
September 8, 2018
Dal Segno brings music, love and lesbian romance together and they mix perfectly.
Jax Meyer has written a second chance romance without following the usual formula. Cameron Warren takes a sabbatical from her career to dig into her emotions and to reconnect with her neglected musical talent. At forty, she's struggling with the impacts of her autism and with her recovery from five years spent grieving the death of her long-term partner. Cam is set adrift in a tidal wave of conflicted feelings. She met Sharon Rodriguez after she joined the Marines. They were assigned to the same training program in the military. Still teenagers and deeply closeted due to don't ask/don't tell prohibitions, they formed an unshakable bond.
Laura Clark was Cam's music teacher twenty years ago back in high school. Their paths cross again when Cam signs up for music classes and Laura teaches at the same junior college. They pursue a casual friendship and musical collaboration, but the spark of attraction and the power of music pull them much closer. Cam tends to over think the emotional side of her life and she seeks helpful insight both inside and outside herself.
Dal Segno is a truly impressive first novel. Meyer discusses the original inspiration in the afterword, but the book speaks eloquently for itself. I enjoyed it so much more than any book that I've recently read. The story, characters and writing made it hard to accept when it came to an end. Having caught the "writing bug," the author promises future publications. I really hope that happens. I can't hesitate to recommend Dal Segno to anyone interested in very well written and heartfelt lesfic.
Jax Meyer has written a second chance romance without following the usual formula. Cameron Warren takes a sabbatical from her career to dig into her emotions and to reconnect with her neglected musical talent. At forty, she's struggling with the impacts of her autism and with her recovery from five years spent grieving the death of her long-term partner. Cam is set adrift in a tidal wave of conflicted feelings. She met Sharon Rodriguez after she joined the Marines. They were assigned to the same training program in the military. Still teenagers and deeply closeted due to don't ask/don't tell prohibitions, they formed an unshakable bond.
Laura Clark was Cam's music teacher twenty years ago back in high school. Their paths cross again when Cam signs up for music classes and Laura teaches at the same junior college. They pursue a casual friendship and musical collaboration, but the spark of attraction and the power of music pull them much closer. Cam tends to over think the emotional side of her life and she seeks helpful insight both inside and outside herself.
Dal Segno is a truly impressive first novel. Meyer discusses the original inspiration in the afterword, but the book speaks eloquently for itself. I enjoyed it so much more than any book that I've recently read. The story, characters and writing made it hard to accept when it came to an end. Having caught the "writing bug," the author promises future publications. I really hope that happens. I can't hesitate to recommend Dal Segno to anyone interested in very well written and heartfelt lesfic.
May 25, 2019
Heart big enough for two
Dal Segno is a sweet age gap romance.
Cam is an ex marine that is trying to redefine her life after the death of her partner. She decides to take music classes at the local college to get back into drumming.
She meets Laura, a teacher, who also happens to be her high school teacher from 20 years ago. She starts developing feelings but has reservations about them because of her dead partner, fears of trouble Laura could get into for being involved with a student and fear of what their hometown people and family would think.
All of this is a great premise for a book. But it ended up a little less than average for me. There simply was not enough conflict/drama/angst for me. I was expecting so much more and did not get the payoff I desired.
I thought it was weird that the most important intimate scene was fade to black. Then another one right after was the same. But a random quick romp was explicit.
And one of the characters directly refers to the other as 'lover.' It's like nails on a chalkboard for me.
Overall. Just OK.
I recommend to those who like to read about romance, age gap, fluff, no angst, loss, marines, jazz, and Dr. Who.
Dal Segno is a sweet age gap romance.
Cam is an ex marine that is trying to redefine her life after the death of her partner. She decides to take music classes at the local college to get back into drumming.
She meets Laura, a teacher, who also happens to be her high school teacher from 20 years ago. She starts developing feelings but has reservations about them because of her dead partner, fears of trouble Laura could get into for being involved with a student and fear of what their hometown people and family would think.
All of this is a great premise for a book. But it ended up a little less than average for me. There simply was not enough conflict/drama/angst for me. I was expecting so much more and did not get the payoff I desired.
I thought it was weird that the most important intimate scene was fade to black. Then another one right after was the same. But a random quick romp was explicit.
And one of the characters directly refers to the other as 'lover.' It's like nails on a chalkboard for me.
Overall. Just OK.
I recommend to those who like to read about romance, age gap, fluff, no angst, loss, marines, jazz, and Dr. Who.
January 10, 2019
Dal Segno, the debut novel of Jax Meyer was centered around music teacher and jazz pianist Laura Clark and ex-marine turned scientist Cameron (Cam) Warren. I’m not going to rehash the plot, the blurb is explaining all. The novel is of the slow burn variety type courtship lacking the usual angst at the 80% mark. It was nice enough but also a bit on the tame side.
A lot of time was spent on Cam’s inner world. Being on the spectrum she has a lot of problems getting in touch with her emotions. So we see her meditate a lot to get a better handle on that. She also has dreams where her dead partner Sharon is visiting her. Before she can give her heart to Laura, Cam has to find a way to let go of some lingering hurt from the past. Music will help both women to find a future together.
The novel had no real sub-plot other than the two women making music and coming closer, so don’t expect a raging torrent… more a babbling brook.
f/f a mix between fade to black and somewhat explicit but not overtly so
Themes: age gap, jazz music, drums, piano, sabbatical, meditation, nature hikes, astronomy, autism, dreamscape ghost visits.
3.4 stars
A lot of time was spent on Cam’s inner world. Being on the spectrum she has a lot of problems getting in touch with her emotions. So we see her meditate a lot to get a better handle on that. She also has dreams where her dead partner Sharon is visiting her. Before she can give her heart to Laura, Cam has to find a way to let go of some lingering hurt from the past. Music will help both women to find a future together.
The novel had no real sub-plot other than the two women making music and coming closer, so don’t expect a raging torrent… more a babbling brook.
f/f a mix between fade to black and somewhat explicit but not overtly so
Themes: age gap, jazz music, drums, piano, sabbatical, meditation, nature hikes, astronomy, autism, dreamscape ghost visits.
3.4 stars
September 29, 2022
Entertaining & thoughtful - outside my comfort zone - Timelords, dreams and jazz - but well worth the effort. Book 4 now in the series, was book 1, so missed a proper farewell for Sharon (it’s on the cover!) And where was Gunny & Lane? Bah.
September 30, 2018
A touching story!
Older characters, age gap, love and loss, former marine, teacher, Colorado, autism spectrum, a jazz trio and as a bonus an amazing playlist on YouTube. I absolutely loved the plotline and the characters. Cam and Laura hold me captivated from page one. The story was well executed and written from the heart. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next book of this author.
Older characters, age gap, love and loss, former marine, teacher, Colorado, autism spectrum, a jazz trio and as a bonus an amazing playlist on YouTube. I absolutely loved the plotline and the characters. Cam and Laura hold me captivated from page one. The story was well executed and written from the heart. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next book of this author.
February 11, 2022
"Dal Segno" is a story about the terrible loss of a partner and a new love and the beautiful realization that there is room for both.
Ex Marine Cam is on a healing journey after suffering the tragic loss of her longterm partner Sharon. She's taking a sabbatical from work to take music classes in Colorado. That's where she meets the jazz pianist and teacher Laura who happens to be her former high school teacher.
Cam was so kind, loving and determined to heal and get better. I appreciated her self-awareness and that she faced her problems even though it was hard.
Laura was very patient and understanding. Their relationship was compassionate and beautiful and I think they were a great couple.
Now I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
Ex Marine Cam is on a healing journey after suffering the tragic loss of her longterm partner Sharon. She's taking a sabbatical from work to take music classes in Colorado. That's where she meets the jazz pianist and teacher Laura who happens to be her former high school teacher.
Cam was so kind, loving and determined to heal and get better. I appreciated her self-awareness and that she faced her problems even though it was hard.
Laura was very patient and understanding. Their relationship was compassionate and beautiful and I think they were a great couple.
Now I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
Read
January 11, 2020DNF AT 30%. Too much telling, not enough showing.
October 16, 2018
Two big reasons why I stopped my ku browsing and picked Dal Segno to read. One reason is that both characters are basically 40 and over and the other is that it featured a teacher/student romance. The funny part to me is that this age gap story is about Cam who is just entering middle age at 40 while Laura is in her early 50’s. Yes, for you younger folks, that’s an age gap story. This is new in my reading and I savored it.
Cam is a former Marine turned engineer who is taking a year of sabbatical to recharge and reimagine the next chapter of her life. The hitch is that she always believed that she would have her fellow Marine, her partner, Sharon, by her side as she grew older. Not to be and now it’s 5 years later and Cam still grieves as profoundly as if Sharon had just died.
Part of this sabbatical involves Cam going back to college to study music again. There, she reunites with her favorite high school music teacher who is leading the jazz ensemble. Friendship, then more as the two spend their time together.
But in many important ways, that romance is not the story. It’s Cam’s spiritual journey and struggle to confront her pain, then to finally rise above it that make up the heart of the book.
There’s a love of music and the Colorado outdoors that create a beautiful backdrop as well.
Very good book but a tough one to read at times. Cam is funny and thoughtful. Laura is patient and warm. And in the end, you want them to soar.
Cam is a former Marine turned engineer who is taking a year of sabbatical to recharge and reimagine the next chapter of her life. The hitch is that she always believed that she would have her fellow Marine, her partner, Sharon, by her side as she grew older. Not to be and now it’s 5 years later and Cam still grieves as profoundly as if Sharon had just died.
Part of this sabbatical involves Cam going back to college to study music again. There, she reunites with her favorite high school music teacher who is leading the jazz ensemble. Friendship, then more as the two spend their time together.
But in many important ways, that romance is not the story. It’s Cam’s spiritual journey and struggle to confront her pain, then to finally rise above it that make up the heart of the book.
There’s a love of music and the Colorado outdoors that create a beautiful backdrop as well.
Very good book but a tough one to read at times. Cam is funny and thoughtful. Laura is patient and warm. And in the end, you want them to soar.
June 6, 2020
I have a deep love for slow burn romances and this one was an excellent book reiterating that fact albeit with something new in it.
Painful in the story's portrayal of a woman's journey moving on after the death of the love of her life, Ms. Meyer made sure to give positive glimpses of closure throughout the book. It took a long time and while she eventually figured out that her heart is big enough for her past and present love, I felt I was right along with the MCs going through it all. They each had individual hang ups but the mature way they went about treating each other and themselves was so refreshing to read. Very very likable MCs.
Ultimately it's a heartwarming story about two people finding love when they were really not looking for it. The kind of love they'd lost hope on.
Painful in the story's portrayal of a woman's journey moving on after the death of the love of her life, Ms. Meyer made sure to give positive glimpses of closure throughout the book. It took a long time and while she eventually figured out that her heart is big enough for her past and present love, I felt I was right along with the MCs going through it all. They each had individual hang ups but the mature way they went about treating each other and themselves was so refreshing to read. Very very likable MCs.
Ultimately it's a heartwarming story about two people finding love when they were really not looking for it. The kind of love they'd lost hope on.
September 15, 2018
Great debut novel. A very emotional story with charming, believable characters. Made me cry a couple of times :) (yes, that is a good thing).
January 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book.
Focusing on a relationship between Cam, an ex-marine who plays drums, and Laura an old acquaintance in form of a teacher Cam had years ago, made for a very interesting topic.
Cam was a great character and the story focused well on her being autistic but in a positive spin that really shone through in her interactions. She was uncertain at times but so was Laura. A lot had to be considered even though they were still student and teacher, Cam is a mature student compared to her peers, and the bond between them is born more from a blossoming friendship now, rather than following a typical route of Cam having a crush when she was younger. This was very refreshing.
I also loved Cam’s backstory and how she dealt with all the trauma of what happened to Sharon. This was a great way to explore character feelings, and for her to work through the challenges she faced in beginning a relationship with Laura.
A really well put together story, with a lot of good influences to really draw in the reader and get you thinking, and a very surprising ending, that I just loved!
Would highly recommend this book.
Focusing on a relationship between Cam, an ex-marine who plays drums, and Laura an old acquaintance in form of a teacher Cam had years ago, made for a very interesting topic.
Cam was a great character and the story focused well on her being autistic but in a positive spin that really shone through in her interactions. She was uncertain at times but so was Laura. A lot had to be considered even though they were still student and teacher, Cam is a mature student compared to her peers, and the bond between them is born more from a blossoming friendship now, rather than following a typical route of Cam having a crush when she was younger. This was very refreshing.
I also loved Cam’s backstory and how she dealt with all the trauma of what happened to Sharon. This was a great way to explore character feelings, and for her to work through the challenges she faced in beginning a relationship with Laura.
A really well put together story, with a lot of good influences to really draw in the reader and get you thinking, and a very surprising ending, that I just loved!
Would highly recommend this book.
February 27, 2020
It took a while for me to get into the book, but I liked it.
May 2, 2022
Amazon says this is book 1 in this series Goodreads says it’s book 4. I started here because the blurb says it’s a prequel and maybe that was a mistake.
Marine Awakening piqued interest a while back and has been on my TBR for what seems like ages. I am finally getting around to all these books on my TBR and I don’t know how to feel about this one. My kindle put this as the first book to read in the series and I didn’t like it too much. It’s not like you are missing information it just all felt a little too convenient and perfectly slotted into place. Even though it handles some pretty tough subjects. Finding love again, dealing with being on the autism spectrum, coming out (later in life), loss, DADT to some extent. It just didn’t click for me.
As said Marine Awakening is what caught my attention from the blurb of that book, but this first book/ prequel might prevent me from ever reading it.
The writing style and the story just didn’t click for me.
Marine Awakening piqued interest a while back and has been on my TBR for what seems like ages. I am finally getting around to all these books on my TBR and I don’t know how to feel about this one. My kindle put this as the first book to read in the series and I didn’t like it too much. It’s not like you are missing information it just all felt a little too convenient and perfectly slotted into place. Even though it handles some pretty tough subjects. Finding love again, dealing with being on the autism spectrum, coming out (later in life), loss, DADT to some extent. It just didn’t click for me.
As said Marine Awakening is what caught my attention from the blurb of that book, but this first book/ prequel might prevent me from ever reading it.
The writing style and the story just didn’t click for me.
Read
December 16, 2020Ever heard the phrase - “I’m a bit rusty”. Generally, it means that it takes a bit to get going, that the first movements in the skill you used to have and you’re trying to demonstrate now are staccato in nature. They’re faltering.
Dal Segno is the epitome of the “I’m a bit rusty” saying. Let me qualify that. The book isn’t rusty. Oh no. The main character, Cam…she’s rusty, because life has conspired to make her this way. Her long-term partner died and she’s locked down her emotions because of the grief involved in that event. She finished with the Marines and came away still locked down from ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. She is rusty in relating to people due to her autism and social awkwardness.
In Dal Segno, we meet Cam just before she turns 40, and watch as she starts to shake off the rust, and move forward into living again. She does this when she enrols in community college and reconnects with her old music teacher from high school, Laura. Then, of course, even though she didn’t see it happening, she starts to fall for her.
Here’s the clever trick. Cam plays the drums. She has let her technique and skill level slide over the years, so she’s enrolled in a music subject at college to re-awaken her love for the instrument and sharpen her rusty skills. See where I’m going with this? Jax Meyer did it on purpose.
Playing the drums after a period of absence is very staccato in nature. It’s not entirely smooth. In Dal Segno, the prose in the first third of the book is written in quite a stilted manner. It matches Cam’s formal mannerisms and speech pattern, and travels alongside her relationship that she’s re-establishing with percussion.
Then, like all musical instruments, we start to like what we hear because it’s smoother, more fluid and more comfortable. We see Cam and Laura slide into their relationship, we see Cam open up to her grief, and we get to settle into the prose of the book.
Like a great piece of music with a solid bass line, you want to move with it, to bop along, almost cheer as it hits its stride. Believe me when I say that I was bopping along and waving pompoms for Cam by the end of the book.
Jax also made me cry, which is awfully unfair of her. I don’t cry in novels. I cry at insurance ads and the ones where Labrador puppies unroll toilet paper. But, oh gosh, the part where the music that is Dal Segno reaches the last note and we see Cam take a deep breath, oh gees.
Read this book. It’s really good.
Dal Segno is the epitome of the “I’m a bit rusty” saying. Let me qualify that. The book isn’t rusty. Oh no. The main character, Cam…she’s rusty, because life has conspired to make her this way. Her long-term partner died and she’s locked down her emotions because of the grief involved in that event. She finished with the Marines and came away still locked down from ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. She is rusty in relating to people due to her autism and social awkwardness.
In Dal Segno, we meet Cam just before she turns 40, and watch as she starts to shake off the rust, and move forward into living again. She does this when she enrols in community college and reconnects with her old music teacher from high school, Laura. Then, of course, even though she didn’t see it happening, she starts to fall for her.
Here’s the clever trick. Cam plays the drums. She has let her technique and skill level slide over the years, so she’s enrolled in a music subject at college to re-awaken her love for the instrument and sharpen her rusty skills. See where I’m going with this? Jax Meyer did it on purpose.
Playing the drums after a period of absence is very staccato in nature. It’s not entirely smooth. In Dal Segno, the prose in the first third of the book is written in quite a stilted manner. It matches Cam’s formal mannerisms and speech pattern, and travels alongside her relationship that she’s re-establishing with percussion.
Then, like all musical instruments, we start to like what we hear because it’s smoother, more fluid and more comfortable. We see Cam and Laura slide into their relationship, we see Cam open up to her grief, and we get to settle into the prose of the book.
Like a great piece of music with a solid bass line, you want to move with it, to bop along, almost cheer as it hits its stride. Believe me when I say that I was bopping along and waving pompoms for Cam by the end of the book.
Jax also made me cry, which is awfully unfair of her. I don’t cry in novels. I cry at insurance ads and the ones where Labrador puppies unroll toilet paper. But, oh gosh, the part where the music that is Dal Segno reaches the last note and we see Cam take a deep breath, oh gees.
Read this book. It’s really good.
December 11, 2022
3.75* A nice romance between Cam, a former Marine, and her former high school music teacher, now jazz ensemble director, Laura. They met again when Cam, taking a sabbatical, enrolled at the university Laura is working at. Now, I'm usually leery of teacher-student romances, but since both characters are mature adults, this is not an issue. I am also admittedly musically ignorant (beyond listening to music), so all the musical references are over my head. But, this does not detract from liking the story. Finally, going into this book, I was unaware that this is part of a series. However, this can be read as a stand-alone. Undoubtedly, it probably would be better if I had read the previous books and better understand Cam's character, but ultimately not really an issue at all.
July 13, 2020
Second love
Cam is a drummer and wound up with her old music teacher is an extraordinary circumstance. This book is about their love affair her and how it developed and was a very wonderful and emotional book. I like the plot where it followed the two women and the problem is they had to overcome to become lovers. I highly recommend this book and the author.
Cam is a drummer and wound up with her old music teacher is an extraordinary circumstance. This book is about their love affair her and how it developed and was a very wonderful and emotional book. I like the plot where it followed the two women and the problem is they had to overcome to become lovers. I highly recommend this book and the author.
May 30, 2021
I didn't fully connect with Laura and Cam's age gap romance as I did with the Sharon and Cam Love story. It was Ok and I liked seeing Cam's greefy for Sharon and how she was able to make room in her heart for another woman. Overall it was okay.
January 10, 2019
It is a nice change to read a book with older characters. I enjoyed the story line and instantly took to Laura. With Cam it took me a couple chapters to get to like her but as the story progressed I thought they made a good couple.
Would recommend giving it a read.
Would recommend giving it a read.
June 21, 2022
Must love jazz?
I love jazz but couldn’t really get into this book for some reason. My only real suggestion is I would prefer more explicit sex scenes, but I’ve read and enjoyed many books without them. I’m not sure why I wasn’t crazy about this book but I would leave it up to the reader to make their own call. I liked the characters and the story but there was something missing.
I love jazz but couldn’t really get into this book for some reason. My only real suggestion is I would prefer more explicit sex scenes, but I’ve read and enjoyed many books without them. I’m not sure why I wasn’t crazy about this book but I would leave it up to the reader to make their own call. I liked the characters and the story but there was something missing.
October 18, 2018
This had elements to be a great story but the writing was a little off kilter for my tastes, I was “told” too much. Also a few editing glitches that caught my eye. I think there’s potential there for the author though, some good moments with good dialogue.
December 21, 2018
I was intrigued when I heard about Dal Segno by Jax Meyer. There are not many lesfic novels that focus on overcoming a lost loved one. This book was heartfelt and moving. I couldn’t wait to delve deeper into the process with Cam as she explored her past making room for new love in her heart.
Dal Segno is not your traditional romance novel. It is about overcoming the loss of a spouse. Cam Warren lost her partner in a freak accident and this book is her finding a way to overcome that loss and find love with someone else. Cam and Laura have a bit of a different history. Laura was Cam’s high school teacher. Normally I’m not all about student teacher relationships because I find the power dynamic a little creepy. That is not the case at all with this book. Cam is an adult college student who has gone back to college to enhance her musical abilities and the power dynamic never comes into play.
Cam is a great character. I liked how multifaceted she is. Cam is butch which is something I don’t tend to see in a lot of lesbian fiction. Also, there is something incredibly sexy about a butch marine. One of the most interesting aspects for me was how Cam’s autism affected her social interactions with Laura and others. It was nice to see her reasoning for her actions and what made her uncomfortable in certain situations.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in love after loss type of romance novel.
Dal Segno is not your traditional romance novel. It is about overcoming the loss of a spouse. Cam Warren lost her partner in a freak accident and this book is her finding a way to overcome that loss and find love with someone else. Cam and Laura have a bit of a different history. Laura was Cam’s high school teacher. Normally I’m not all about student teacher relationships because I find the power dynamic a little creepy. That is not the case at all with this book. Cam is an adult college student who has gone back to college to enhance her musical abilities and the power dynamic never comes into play.
Cam is a great character. I liked how multifaceted she is. Cam is butch which is something I don’t tend to see in a lot of lesbian fiction. Also, there is something incredibly sexy about a butch marine. One of the most interesting aspects for me was how Cam’s autism affected her social interactions with Laura and others. It was nice to see her reasoning for her actions and what made her uncomfortable in certain situations.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in love after loss type of romance novel.
June 24, 2021
This was a wonderful book. It made me adapt my reading habits to it somewhat, because there were moments where I felt the emotions so perfectly communicated from the book to me that I needed to set it aside or risk being overwhelmed by whichever emotion predominated at that point in the book. As somebody who studied music when I finished high school, I found myself imagining this as an alternate-universe version of my own life, what I could have lived with a few different choices and a few different characteristics. And it felt so real.
Cam felt so real to me as well as her relationships, both past and present, both friendships and romances. And the way Colorado was described makes me wish I had a bucket list, so I could add a visit there to it. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Jax Meyer!
Cam felt so real to me as well as her relationships, both past and present, both friendships and romances. And the way Colorado was described makes me wish I had a bucket list, so I could add a visit there to it. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Jax Meyer!
September 6, 2018
Wow.
Well what can I say. A grow up book about real people and real feelings. This makes you feel and think and laugh and cry. So many books are the same but not this this is for keeping and 're reading.Thank you for sharing some of yourself in this if you wanted us to get completely lost in the story and come out the other end thinking you more than succeeded. Thank you for a brilliant book. Do yourself a favour and read this you will love it.
Well what can I say. A grow up book about real people and real feelings. This makes you feel and think and laugh and cry. So many books are the same but not this this is for keeping and 're reading.Thank you for sharing some of yourself in this if you wanted us to get completely lost in the story and come out the other end thinking you more than succeeded. Thank you for a brilliant book. Do yourself a favour and read this you will love it.
October 5, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and learnt so many things along the way. I enjoyed the age gap, the music, the way Jax handled grief and Aspergers. I listened to jazz and learnt about Dr Who, all wrapped into a romance. Some books turn into a delight and this book did for me.
March 1, 2021
Great read!
Told from Cam’s POV, an autistic former-marine mourning the death of her former partner. She wants to reconnect with music to ground herself and meets a former teacher and falls in love. The emotional journey she goes through to accept these feelings was so well written!
Told from Cam’s POV, an autistic former-marine mourning the death of her former partner. She wants to reconnect with music to ground herself and meets a former teacher and falls in love. The emotional journey she goes through to accept these feelings was so well written!
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