The Love Song of Sawyer Bell

As a longtime fan of Avon Gale, I’m glad I gave her female/female romance, The Love Song of Sawyer Bell a try. No surprise here, my faith in Ms. Gale’s skills as an author is well deserved. This novel is filled with strong, interesting characters, clever and witty banter, and a story which held my attention throughout. A combo of sweet and sexy romance and incredibly fun band scenes, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Taking a break from the demands of Julliard, violinist Sawyer Bell answers a call to audition for an indie alt-rock band. The bandmates can’t believe their luck, not only is Sawyer’s fiddle playing amazing, she’s also a great fit for their band. Added bonus? This is Sawyer’s dream come true: performing with her high-school crush, Victoria “Vix” Vincent. It doesn’t take long for the attraction to spark between Vix and Sawyer. What starts as purely physical soon becomes a promising friendship, and finally grows into a deep and very compelling connection. I don’t have to tell Avon Gale fans that she writes a scintillating sex scene, and the physical relationship between Sawyer and Vix is scorching. Add in Sawyer’s complete lack of experience, and Vix’s gentle guidance… well, Sawyer’s induction into the world of lesbian sex is spectacular. A good portion of The Love Song of Sawyer Bell is centered around Vix’s band. The behind the scenes drama is lively, and the settings of the band performing are very entertaining. Anyone who enjoys watching live music, especially fans of alt-indie bands, are going to enjoy this part of the novel. Avon Gale’s trademark humor and wit come through loud and clear in the interactions between the bandmates. Their squabbles had me laughing, and details of their past history add entertaining insight to the dynamic between the band members. It was a treat to experience The Love Song of Sawyer Bell as an audiobook. Performed by Ariela Crow and Lauren Sweet, they do a marvelous job of infusing emotion as the characters process everything that happens. I’m glad this one was done with two narrators, as Vix and Sawyer are vibrant ladies, total opposites and I enjoyed how the narrators brought them to life. As a devout fan of Avon Gale, I hope she plans to revisit this genre soon. Her light and funny romances are just as compelling as her darker stories, and now that I’ve finally given The Love Song of Sawyer Bell a go, I hope I don’t have to wait long for more!