im going to be honest, i took like many months break inbetween reading this book, so the details are a little fuzzy, but i know i really liked the setting and the backdrop of the country music scene in nashville. basically it is about this girl who's grandfather just died that gets swept away to nashville to pursue a country music career with this dude who works for his father. and while there she wants answers to her mysterious grandfather.

i loved how supportive he was of her. but her kind of cheating on her fiancé even if he was a not great person wasn’t very yeehaw of her. her fiancé and dad were very big haters.

*Rifts and Refrains* by Tiye is a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, love, and the healing power of music. Set against the dual backdrops of Atlanta’s soulful blues scene and the glittering allure of Nashville, this story is as much about uncovering family secrets as it is about finding one’s voice—both literally and figuratively.

Amara Johnson is a protagonist brimming with talent and vulnerability. Her passion for music, stifled by a father who blames it for fracturing their family, is central to her identity, making her journey relatable and emotionally resonant. When she stumbles upon letters, journals, and a photograph after her estranged grandfather’s death, the mystery of her family’s past becomes an irresistible thread that ties her personal growth to her musical awakening.

Jake Barnes, a member of a legendary country star’s management team, serves as both a catalyst for Amara’s exploration of her talent and a love interest whose own conflicts add depth to the narrative. Their chemistry is palpable, and their relationship evolves naturally amidst shared moments of music, vulnerability, and mutual support. The push and pull between Jake’s loyalty to Evelyn Hart and his growing feelings for Amara creates tension that keeps readers invested.

The novel shines in its portrayal of music as a transformative force. Tiye’s descriptions of performances, songwriting, and the emotional resonance of music are beautifully written, transporting readers into Amara’s world. The exploration of themes like family expectations, grief, and the pursuit of dreams lends the story a layered, thoughtful quality.

However, while the plot is engaging, the pacing can feel uneven at times. The resolution of the family mystery is satisfying but somewhat rushed, leaving a desire for deeper exploration of the revelations. Similarly, the conflict between Jake and Amara could have been more thoroughly developed, adding more emotional weight to their eventual reconciliation.

*Rifts and Refrains* is a moving and richly atmospheric story that will resonate with readers who appreciate tales of love, family, and the enduring power of music. Tiye delivers a beautiful melody of heartache and hope, making this novel a captivating and memorable read.

This audiobook was a joy to listen to! Amara and Jake’s story was so sweet and such a slow burn 💕 One of my favorite things about reading this book is that there’s so much more to it than just a love story. Learning the history of Amara’s family had me in my feelings. Uncovering her family’s musical legacy, why her grandfather chose to keep everything a secret, and learning to trust herself were such important parts of the story. Tiye beautifully wrote about Amara’s insecurities as a Black country music artist in a predominantly Caucasian space. Additionally, the love that grows between Jake and Amara was the icing on the cake. I didn’t love the fatphobia surrounding Amara’s body. As a reader, we hear her internal monologue about her body insecurities, but we also see it from Jake’s perspective. The story was a bit predictable but good overall!

The narrators were perfect for this story! Benjamin Charles played a perfect Jake Barnes. When listening, you could feel his emotions. Similarly, iiKane matched Amara’s energy so well. I will be looking up more audiobooks featuring these two narrators.

A good story with a lovely narration, I enjoyed the music scene and build up in their love story. I was rooting for the FMC to achieve her dreams.

Powerful and gripping story. I was intrigued right from the start and the audio book was very well done. I recommend to fans of Nashville and Elsie Silver.

3.5
Born and raised in Atlanta by a father who blames the family rift on music, Amara Johnson’s talent for guitar and passion for poetry have always been just that: talent and passion that she channels into her work as a music teacher. When her estranged grandfather—a man known as much for his raspy, soulful blues songs as his perplexing personality—passes away, Amara discovers a collection of old letters, journals, and a tattered photo that offer more questions than answers.

Such a great story 🥰 The narrator was amazing as well!!!

Being “discovered” at a funeral is probably not what Amara was thinking when she was asked to sing. Nor did she think it would lead her down a road to discovering her roots and reconnecting with her family through music. As she explores her talent, she confronts the ghosts of her grandfather’s battles and discovers how far she wants to go for her own music.

As much as the blurb reads as if Rifts and Refrains is a romance - it really isn’t. It is about a woman’s journey to her dreams and her life choices. While at the same time unraveling the mystery of her grandfather’s legacy to her. There is some sex and romance thrown in, but it seems more like soap filling (chuckle). The family mystery is actually pretty good. We get a glimpse into the music business and woman growing stronger in this long-winded tale.

The narration by Benjamin Charles and iiKane is good. They are entertaining and keep the reader engaged. I like the cover as that is what sold me on the story.

Rifts and Refrains has some good poetry in it too. If you are in a mood to take a musical ride with a woman and a dream then this one's for you.

This was a refreshing story of love and passion for music in my opinion. Amara as an aspiring country musician felt so authentic in how she was written.

She’s nervous, she’s coy, she’s motivated and she’s born with natural talent and a family legacy to uphold. Her somewhat self absorbed boyfriend isn’t extremely encouraging but not a terrible guy. Life as she knows it is flipped upon meeting Jake who sees her potential and DOES encourage her.

I found her relationships to be realistic as she’s not willing to throw away what she has but doesn’t completely avoid being swept up in time and creativity with Jake. She’s open with her boyfriend and seems genuinely focused on improving her skills and learning the ropes form Jake.

There’s an entire subplot diving into her family history and I was as absorbed in that as the rest of Amara’s story.

This was a sexy romp through the country music scene with both tall tales, squabbles and hearts in need of direction.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read this book as an audiobook!

Key Points:
-Phenomenal narration voices!
-Country vibes (Nashville)
-SUPER slow burn
-Workplace (forbidden) romance
-Spiceeeeee

I felt like we really got to know these characters. The development was well done and the growth in their journey was very evident by the ending of the book.

Something that did not sit well with me, was the fact that Amara was having a bit of what I would call an “emotional affair” with Jake while she was still in a relationship. This was the only really glaring thing that I did not like about this book. The rest of it was a very captivating and engaging read.

Rifts & Refrains by Tiye
Narrated by Benjamin Charles & liKane

Rifts & Refrains follows Amara Johnson’s story as she discovers family secrets, her love for performing, and learning who will truly support her in her life. I really enjoyed the story line. It is a love story but not just between two people, it is a love story with music and with healing family trauma. I loved that Amara kept pushing for what she wanted and didn’t give into her family doubts and misunderstandings.
The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. They evoked emotions in their performance and it felt like they were made for these characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the performance!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars! Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC.
This is my first time reading something from this author, and it will not be my last.

I really enjoyed the love story that was created between Amara and Jake, and also the obstacles that they had to face along the way. The story has family secrets, love, and also shows how you may find love under circumstances that are out of your control when you least expect it.

If you don’t like the cheating trope, this book might not work for you, but I really enjoyed the story and also the narration. Definitely recommend!

Like the Black Country Queen Linda Martell said on cowboy carter “Genre’s are a funny little concept, aren’t they?” Tiye shows that in her latest release “Rifts & Refrains” by creating a story the expands beyond the romance to include self discovery journey and connecting to your roots. As much as I enjoyed the romance elements of this story, I loved seeing her connect with her grandfather's legacy just as much.

This felt very cozy and down home. Jake and Amara’s attraction is a strong as a double shot of whiskey! (And I gulped it down just as fast) Although the plot twist was predictable, it only helped feed into the feeling of comfort in knowing what to expect in the story.

I really enjoyed the story and it’s narrators. However the editors chopped it up a little too much. It wasn’t enough to take away from the story but it was noticeable. Outside of that this was an enjoyable listen experience for me! I'm happy to hear that this is being adapted into a film because I will be checking out more from this author.

This as such a beautiful story!! This book gave me ALL the feels, I was laughing, cheesing, upset, and clutching my pearls….lol. This is a story about finding your roots, discovering who you are and following your dreams despite having the support of the people you want it from the most. I just read that this is going to made into a a show and it’s going to EP by Kennedy Ryan, so happy for the author and hopefully we can get this in a physical as well!

I really enjoyed how Time weaved the real history of corruption in the music industry and how Black folk are often written out of history. This serves as an amazingly complicated backdrop to the romance at the center of the book. I enjoyed watching the characters grow apart and together as they navigated complex situations in the journey toward community, goal attainment and self-discovery.

Loved the concept of this because I love a music romance, but the audiobook narrator was robotic and static that it made me wonder if it was AI. Very hard to follow, i feel like it just needs some better inflection and emotional without the awkward pauses in the middle of sentences.

What a great book this has love, loss, and revenge but it also has hope and dreams. I instantly fell in love with Amara and could feel her hopes and dreams coming through in the story. The connection she and Jake had was instant and I loved that everyone could see it, it wasn’t a surprise. I feel this story was such an important story to be told.

This was an enjoyable story.

I liked following Amara and watching her fight for her dreams. Jake came along and helped her realize she settled. I liked the way her journey was written.

IiKane did an incredible job with the narration.

This was such a fun listen. The characters were great. If you love country music and Tennessee then listen to this!! It’s a good story line about following your heart even against all the odds. It’s about family love and forgiveness. I loved how FMC stayed strong and true. Enjoy!!

Characters 8/10
Atmosphere 7/10
Writing 8/10
Plot 8/10
Intrigue 8/10
Logic 7/10
Enjoyment 8/10

Rifts and Refrains follows Amara after her estranged grandfather passed away. Her life changes when she runs into a music producer, Jake, while singing at the funeral and he plans to make her a star. This chance interaction changes Amara, recently engaged, and Jake's lives forever. But what will happen when drama begins to stir between Jake's stepfather and him? What happens when Amara's fiancee isn't down with her career and life changes?

I truly enjoyed the way music seemed intertwined into this story and their lives. I found the romance believable and felt like I was sitting on the edge of my seat to find out if they'd give in. I loved seeing how Jake supported Amara as she found her dream. This just made me feel all warm inside. Great feel good story that touches on the realities of the music business and following your dream.

I ended up not finishing this book at about 40% in.
It was leaning too much into the cheating trope, in my opinion and I didn't love the narration.
I did enjoy the family lore part of the story. I just wish the FMC was single. The fact that she was in a crappy relationship didn't do much to add to the angst; honestly, just took away from it.