It Started with a Whisper by: Shannon McCrimmon

by Shannon McCrimmon
Genres: Young Adult
Goodreads

It Started with a Whisper
by Shannon McCrimmon

Genre: YA Contemporary

Release Date: June 1st 2016

Five simple words: That’s all it takes to change the course of 18-year-old Josie Graham’s life in the summer of 1989.

Josie is a musical prodigy: She can sing, play guitar and is a natural on the piano. Instead of spending her last summer before college traveling the country with her rock star father, she’s made a last minute decision to spend it working at her Aunt Bernie’s inn, in Ambler’s Fork, North Carolina. But what could have turned her life-long passion for music into a hatred for an industry she’s worked so hard to get into?

Her aunt’s inn seems like the perfect place to escape, to clear her head and figure things out, but on her first day there, she almost drowns before Chic Hobbs saves her.

Chic wants nothing more in life than to leave Ambler’s Fork and his sordid past behind—at least not until that day Josie Graham swims into his life. The problem is, Chic’s got a secret. It’s a secret he’s keeping from Josie, and he’s worried if it gets out, it’ll ruin everything, and she’ll judge him for his past mistakes the way everyone else in town has.

Josie is carrying a burden of her own. One that made her run to Ambler’s Fork – away from her family and everything she’s ever known.

Chic saved Josie once. Can he save her again? Or will Josie rescue him this time?

It’s difficult to choose favorites when there are so many songs and bands from that era that I love. It’s the memory the music from that time gives me. I can relate songs to specific details of my life: where I was, what I was doing, who I was with. Music has the power to do that to you. It makes you feel, think, and remember.

Here are some 1980s songs and bands that resonate with me:

Depeche Mode – specifically “Strange Love” and “Never Let Me Down Again.” Actually, the entire Music for the Masses CD is pretty darn awesome.

New Order – All songs – is it lame to say that? Truly, New Order is The band for me from that decade. I guess that’s why I made them Chic’s favorite band. I wanted them to be part of him.

When In Rome – “The Promise” Love this song. The lyrics are heart tugging.

Alphaville – “Forever Young” There are many versions of this song, but this, by far, is the best!

Berlin – “Take My Breath Away” one of my favorite songs of all time.

Cyndi Lauper – “Time After Time” I remember watching this video (back when MTV showed videos) and crying.

Eric Carmen – “Hungry Eyes” because it’s Dirty Dancing, nuff said.

Olivia Newton John – I was obsessed with her when I was a little girl. I had a roller skating routine to her song “Magic.”

Tears For Fears – so many songs, too many to name.

Billy Idol – he’s Billy Idol, what else can I say? “Flesh For Fantasy,” “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without A Face…” the list goes on.

OMD – “If You Leave,” and “Dreaming” are two of my favorites

Spandau Ballet – “True”

Belinda Carlisle – “Circle In The Sand.”

Many, many more… I could go on forever.

Don’t judge, but Lionel Richie – yep, Lionel Richie. I love all of his music. I’m Shannon McCrimmon, and I love Lionel Richie. Now it’s out there for the world to know!

Shannon McCrimmon was born and raised in Central Florida. She attended Rollins College and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling. In 2008, she moved to the upstate of South Carolina. It was the move that inspired her to write her first novel. She currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and toy poodle. She’d love to hear from you! Connect with her at shannonmccrimmon.com