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The Love Theme
"I don't imagine the great Damian St. Clair will be thrown by a fashion plate - or will he? They say he's not unobservant of women", Siri told her aunt as she prepared for the audition with the great conductor, which to her aunt sounded the understatement of the year. — Damian St. Clair was reported to be notoriously attractive to women and equally notorious for sidestepping the issue of marriage. For Siri, it was important to succeed at the audition. How would she make out with the famous Damian as a singer -- and as a woman? And even if -- as it turned out -- she did make an impression on him as a woman, how long would it last?
- GenresHarlequin RomanceRomance
191 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Way
613 books162 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 15, 2018
This is more the story of the coming-of-age of a young, Australian opera singer than it is a romance.
The world-building is effective. Though MW usually sets her stories in glorious Australian semi-kingdoms in the middle of the outback, she does create a plausible and vivid cast of characters for her opera romance.
We have the necessary diva rival antics, the artistic temperaments, the gossip and glittery social set, the highs and lows of trying to achieve pure perfection demanded by classical composers, severe critics, and a fickle public.
But the so-called romance between an unapologetically manwhoring, cold, aloof, music conductor hero who will always put his art first and the desperately besotted, much younger, vulnerable opera starlet ended more on an HFN than an HE A.
Love, there may be between the two, as long as they can successfully collaborate as artists. But the hero was quite adamant that neither marriage or really any type of monogamous, long-term arrangement was in the cards.
He didn't even apologize for two-timing the heroine with one of his other opera stars, instead turning the tables on her by accusing her of being childish. Even the heroine's normally protective aunt buttresses hero's contention that these types of light flirtations and fleeting affairs just sort of happen all the time in the theater and don't mean a lot, so heroine better just put up with it.
If you weren't sure where his priorities are, the hero allows the psychotic bitch who threw a paperweight at the heroine's head in a jealous rage, almost killing her, to reprise her role on stage under his direction without even thinking of pressing charges. The Show Must Go On. Well, shiiiiiit...
The heroine achieved her dream of a triumphant debut at the Sidney opera house and can look forward to about two decades of a rigid, military-like, demanding career before her instrument gives out from sheer exhaustion or nerves. It's one of those situations where you have to accept that she is happy with her lot, and just be happy for her.
The world-building is effective. Though MW usually sets her stories in glorious Australian semi-kingdoms in the middle of the outback, she does create a plausible and vivid cast of characters for her opera romance.
We have the necessary diva rival antics, the artistic temperaments, the gossip and glittery social set, the highs and lows of trying to achieve pure perfection demanded by classical composers, severe critics, and a fickle public.
But the so-called romance between an unapologetically manwhoring, cold, aloof, music conductor hero who will always put his art first and the desperately besotted, much younger, vulnerable opera starlet ended more on an HFN than an HE A.
Love, there may be between the two, as long as they can successfully collaborate as artists. But the hero was quite adamant that neither marriage or really any type of monogamous, long-term arrangement was in the cards.
He didn't even apologize for two-timing the heroine with one of his other opera stars, instead turning the tables on her by accusing her of being childish. Even the heroine's normally protective aunt buttresses hero's contention that these types of light flirtations and fleeting affairs just sort of happen all the time in the theater and don't mean a lot, so heroine better just put up with it.
If you weren't sure where his priorities are, the hero allows the psychotic bitch who threw a paperweight at the heroine's head in a jealous rage, almost killing her, to reprise her role on stage under his direction without even thinking of pressing charges. The Show Must Go On. Well, shiiiiiit...
The heroine achieved her dream of a triumphant debut at the Sidney opera house and can look forward to about two decades of a rigid, military-like, demanding career before her instrument gives out from sheer exhaustion or nerves. It's one of those situations where you have to accept that she is happy with her lot, and just be happy for her.
June 8, 2018
Did not like this story at all. Not a fan of Opera but that didn't make any difference to my feelings about the story. Damian is a horrible character. The beginning of the story had me worried when it told her age - just 17 - and his age -30 - then jump ahead 5 years, she is now 22 but still being treated like a child. You don't passionately kiss someone and then shove them away and tell them they are a child and need to grow up. I got so sick of his treatment of Siri (Serena). Forever calling her child. Arrogant doesn't even describe him. I love Margaret Way books but this one will go to the back of the shelf.
May 23, 2014
Take a famous, sophisticated, slightly cruel hero and a talented, innocent heroine, throw them into the world of opera and you get the premise of this book.
While I enjoyed the setting, the writing and the characters (for the most part, anyway), the romance didn't quite deliver, the HEA being just a trifle anticlimactic.
While I enjoyed the setting, the writing and the characters (for the most part, anyway), the romance didn't quite deliver, the HEA being just a trifle anticlimactic.
January 28, 2020
لم احبها كانت ممله
December 27, 2017
209 - أنشودة الحب
روايات عبير الجديدة
لا اتخيل داميان سانت كلير العظيم سيرمي بصحن التغيير. او انه لن يفعل؟ يقولون انه غير متيقظآ مع النساء. اخبرت سيري عمتها حين تحضرت للمقابة مع المؤلف العظيم الذي هو بالنسبة لعمتها حديث السنة.
داميان سانت كلير اعلن عنه بأنه جذاب جدآ للنساء و يكره فكرة الزواج. بالنسة لسيري كان مهمآ لها ان تنجح في المقابلة. كيف ستنجح مع داميان الشهير كمغنية. و كأمرأة؟ و اذا اثرت عليه كامرأة الى متى سيدوم هذا التأثير.
The Love Theme
1974
say he's not unobservant of women", Siri told her aunt as she prepared for the audition with the great conductor, which to her aunt sounded the understatement of the year. Damian St. Clair was reported to be notoriously attractive to women and equally notorious for sidestepping the issue of marriage. For Siri, it was important to succeed at the audition.
How would she make out with the famous Damian as a singer - and as a woman? And even if - as it turned out - she did make an impression on him as a woman, how long would it last?
روايات عبير الجديدة
لا اتخيل داميان سانت كلير العظيم سيرمي بصحن التغيير. او انه لن يفعل؟ يقولون انه غير متيقظآ مع النساء. اخبرت سيري عمتها حين تحضرت للمقابة مع المؤلف العظيم الذي هو بالنسبة لعمتها حديث السنة.
داميان سانت كلير اعلن عنه بأنه جذاب جدآ للنساء و يكره فكرة الزواج. بالنسة لسيري كان مهمآ لها ان تنجح في المقابلة. كيف ستنجح مع داميان الشهير كمغنية. و كأمرأة؟ و اذا اثرت عليه كامرأة الى متى سيدوم هذا التأثير.
The Love Theme
1974
say he's not unobservant of women", Siri told her aunt as she prepared for the audition with the great conductor, which to her aunt sounded the understatement of the year. Damian St. Clair was reported to be notoriously attractive to women and equally notorious for sidestepping the issue of marriage. For Siri, it was important to succeed at the audition.
How would she make out with the famous Damian as a singer - and as a woman? And even if - as it turned out - she did make an impression on him as a woman, how long would it last?
June 7, 2020
Yikes, that was not very romantic. The leading romantic conductor male was verbally and somewhat physically abusive to his young singer protege and love interest with a 13-year age gap. I hope not all these Harlequin romance books are like this!
April 18, 2021
The theme of this story is about excelling at opera. If you have a beautiful voice you get to sing the same songs over and over again for the rest of your career. It is important to see the value of this and not to let life get in the way.
The heroes life is opera and the heroine has been strictly trained to feel same way. But she loves the driven man and was willing to accept any crumbs from his ego As he put it she is under his thumb.
Best part of the story was the ending where the audience was thrilled to acknowledge a new talent off Australian origin who could compete with the best in the world.
The heroes life is opera and the heroine has been strictly trained to feel same way. But she loves the driven man and was willing to accept any crumbs from his ego As he put it she is under his thumb.
Best part of the story was the ending where the audience was thrilled to acknowledge a new talent off Australian origin who could compete with the best in the world.
September 15, 2025
Heroine is an aspiring pianist. Hero is a famous conductor. He's 30, she's 17 when they meet. She doesn't have enough of a hand span to be a great pianist, but she has a powerful voice. So hero arranges for her to study voice for 5 years.
They meet again and now the hero shows his sexual interest. Heroine has a milquetoast OM. Hero has crazy OWs. But they manage to find their HEA amidst all the drama on stage and off.
The romance was typical Margaret Way, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and on-stage triumph at the end. It reminded me of Mary Burchell's opera novels.
They meet again and now the hero shows his sexual interest. Heroine has a milquetoast OM. Hero has crazy OWs. But they manage to find their HEA amidst all the drama on stage and off.
The romance was typical Margaret Way, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and on-stage triumph at the end. It reminded me of Mary Burchell's opera novels.
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December 12, 2022عن حب شخصين وطاقة الحب المحفزة قصيرة ولم تستحوذ على إعجابي
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April 17, 2024Trapaceiro porco. Sem romance.
December 9, 2019
- لا يوجد شيء أتحدث عنه هنا، من الروايات التي تبدأ وتنتهي دون أن تستمتع بها أو حتى تأخذ فائدة جانبية منها.
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- رواية قصيرة، بدأت بداية جيدة، وانتهت بلا شيء، لا يوجد شيء يتسحق الثناء، الفكرة عن فتاة تحاول الحصول على فرصة للإنضمام للأوبرا، فتنطلق معها قصة لا أعلم هل تستحق أن أطلق عليها قصة رومانسية أو لا؟!
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- لا انصح بها.
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- رواية قصيرة، بدأت بداية جيدة، وانتهت بلا شيء، لا يوجد شيء يتسحق الثناء، الفكرة عن فتاة تحاول الحصول على فرصة للإنضمام للأوبرا، فتنطلق معها قصة لا أعلم هل تستحق أن أطلق عليها قصة رومانسية أو لا؟!
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- لا انصح بها.
March 25, 2016
I give this story four stars for the colorful way it portrayed the world of the opera. The hero was too ridiculously condescending for my taste.
August 11, 2019
مش عارفة اقول ايه بس فعلا معجبتنيش
ممكن يبقي عيب ترجمة أو يمكن القصص الرومانسية مش لايقة عليا 😂. كنت بحاول اقرأ رومانسي وشكلي اخترت الكتاب الغلط 🤦♀️
ممكن يبقي عيب ترجمة أو يمكن القصص الرومانسية مش لايقة عليا 😂. كنت بحاول اقرأ رومانسي وشكلي اخترت الكتاب الغلط 🤦♀️
September 2, 2019
لم أكملها
September 9, 2019
لم أجد في الرواية شيء مميز
قصة حب ومراهقة فقط ... ما #حبيت
قصة حب ومراهقة فقط ... ما #حبيت
November 30, 2019
رواية جيدة
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews