A Secret Melody

The Rules Series, Book 4

By: Hanleigh Bradley

Narrated by: Stacy Hill

When she comes into view, I'm awestruck. In this moment, sitting at a grand piano, she's never looked more alive.

A Secret Melody is the fourth book in international best-selling author Hanleigh Bradley's debut series.

My name is Melody Peters and I'm dead. Gosh, that sounds dramatic doesn't it - except I guess you don't get more dramatic than dead. I have been awhile now. I've gotten used to it. I'm well past the acceptance stage.

I died when I was 16. A car crash. A drunk driver, I think.

I'd been on my way home from boarding school with my best friend Abby. But then I'd died. I don't think I was ready to die. I had too many things left to do. F*ck, I hadn't even written a bucket list yet.

The one thing I had done? I'd fallen in love. His name was Zach. Zach Mulligan.

He wasn't my first boyfriend. Hell, he wasn't even the first boy my big brother caught trying to climb out my bedroom window. Although, he was only the second. I wasn't a complete slag. But he was the first and only boy I ever fell in love with.

A Secret Melody is a companion novella to The Rules Series but can be heard as a stand-alone.

©2018 Hanleigh Bradley (P)2020 Hanleigh Bradley

beautiful bittersweet story

This is a beautiful bittersweet story that will give you a glimpse of the beloved sister that everyone misses. Even though we know how it end, it will still break your heart for Zac. I listen to this and the narrator does a beautiful job

Bittersweet young love story

It was nice to get this glimpse into Landon’s little sister, who died so tragically. This is a very sweet and touching young love story. Melody and Zach seem to be perfect for each other. They compliment and bring out the best in each other, and their story moves at a really good pace. I especially enjoyed the overprotective brothers when they went home during a school holiday - that was hilarious, and a nice break in the story. Knowing that it had such a sad ending, and though it at least wasn’t a shock, it still added a note of melancholy. But it was a lovely story, and I’m glad we got a peek into Landon’s little sister’s life. The epilogue was especially touching.

Beautifully poignant!

A Secret Melody brings the past into the present and tells the story of Melody Peters, the late sister of Brandon and Aiden. She is mentioned through the entire series as the one painful experience that Landon can't seem to shake. His baby sister haunts his memory each time he sees her beautiful photo or remembers how wonderfully she played the piano. There were so many times that they shared their love for music at that piano. Since we already know the ending, it's her life that is celebrated. At 16, Melody meets a boy, Zach Mulligan, who is the undeniable love of her short life. In a short time, they came to love each other and really don't want to spend their summer break away from one another. As they say goodbye for 6 weeks, little do they know it's forever. I was filled with sadness, but then I read the epilogue. It's bittersweet and yet so perfect in the circle of life.The narration is wonderfully done by Stacy Hill, bringing the characters to life and giving them a strong, dynamic voice.

Love Cut Short

Love Cut Short

Even if you haven't read or listened to the first three books in the Rules series, you're told at the beginning that Melody loses her life in an accident at the young age of 16 so there's no surprise there. Of course, when the accident occurred, I still felt the heartbreak.

The story occurs mostly before that accident. It is a sweet story. Sure, there's some teenage angst in there and a bully or two but the building of the relationship between Melody and Zach is the focus. I really enjoyed it. While I like that it was on the shorter side, I also dislike that there wasn't more time with them. I know. There's just no pleasing some people. 😉

Another thing I liked is that we got to see her brothers go into "Protective Big Brother" mode. It's charming, hilarious, and a tad over-the-top. 

I mentioned the prior books in the series. If you're only going to enjoy this book in the series, the only place that the other books are handy is the epilogue but even that's not required. If you do read the other books, they have to be read in order.

The narrator, Stacy Hill, does a good job.

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars

Wonderful story

I have enjoyed this wonderful heartfelt story of the short life of Melody and her love of Zach.