Symphony of Salvation

Timber Creek Academy

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Music teacher Niles Edwidge gets the shock of his life when Maestro Augustus Castellanos, a world-renowned musician and composer, shows up at Timber Creek Academy. Not only has the maestro been asked to guest teach alongside Niles, but he’s brought his prodigy daughter and enrolled her as a student.

Niles has been waiting for the day the academy decided to replace him. His educational background falls short of the school’s usual demands, but a revered maestro? It doesn’t make sense. Why would such a prominent figure want to teach high school music?

Fearing for his job and envious of the other man’s career, Niles doesn’t give the maestro a warm welcome, but their feud doesn’t last when Niles learns the respectable musician is struggling with a mountain of problems and would prefer to be anywhere but Timber Creek.

As the truth about August’s troubled life surfaces, so too does a secret he has carried for decades. As a self-proclaimed repressed bisexual, August rarely allows himself the freedom to explore his sexuality, but an undeniable attraction to Timber Creek’s music teacher threatens to test his resolve. He can’t afford to fall for Niles. He has a life and responsibilities outside Timber Creek.

The minute his obligations are fulfilled, he’s out the door.
Unless he finds a reason to stay…

©2024 Nicky James (P)2025 Nicky James

Brilliant

Story: A touching and emotional story of change and new challenges. The narration filled with music was incredibly poetic and gave the book even more depth. Brilliant book.
Narration: very good performance and great voice acting.

Hits just right

Oof - this one hit me HARD. I love Niles & August’s slow burn, and the mix of single new dad angst. They were so REAL and painful, how could you not love them?? The ending had me tearing up. 🥹

Loved even more after listening

Story:
Wow! Nicky James knows how to take you on an emotional ride. The second story within the Timber Creek Academy is a good example of this. Her ability to tell a story with such amazing detail is phenomenal. The way she describes both of these music lovers allows the reader to really feel their love and obsession. There were times I become frustrated with August, but I think that was meant as Niles has to overcome both his own and August's approach to a relationship. Love the inclusion of August's daughter and how that adds to the story. Lovely story all in all.

Audio:
HOLY COW!! Nick Russo's voice is lovely as is. But love the accent for August and even for Chloe. It brings so much to the story. I think I loved this story even more after listening to it. Nick Russo brings it up another level.

Loved the book and Nick

Wow. Nick did a wonderful job with his narration of Niles and Augustus. He kept me engaged with the story and brought me into the book. Nice job Nick.

I am so happy that Nicky went back to Timber Creek Academy so that Niles could get his HEA.

As we learned in Koa book, Niles is the Music teacher at the academy and a wonderful musician. He loves hard. My heart hurt for him for what he feels is a shortcoming of not having his PHD and the way his family treats him. He doesn’t take it so likely when he learns Augustus will be in his classroom teaching

Augustus is a famous maestro and more. He has lived a life that he has been told not wanted. He has been repressing his feelings for lots of years. He is very critical of music and that sets Niles off.

I will say I feel Constance was a star of the book. She was the one thing in common (although they have a lot more than you think) that bound them together. I adored her.

This is a slow burn, students father, older men finding love.

I highly recommend this book and the first one too

another stellar performance

So happy to be back at Timber Creek Academy.
We met Niles in Promises of Forever. Niles was Koa's ex, but most importantly, his best friend.
Niles loves with whole heart, and that was his undoing with Koa.
What happens when he falls for the father of a student whose stay has an expiration date?

Symphony of Salvation is so beautifully written.
I will not cry!! Lies, I told myself while reading this book. It's heartfelt and heartbreaking.
My heart broke for not only Niles and August, but also Constance.

Get the tissues ready.

As expected, Nick J Russo did a fantastic job voicing the characters. His August was swoon worthy. The heartbreak and angst that the characters felt were evident in Nick's narration.
Congratulations on another outstanding Nicky and Nick collaboration.

🎧5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧

I loved it! This was a slow burn that I didn’t know I needed. Niles and August have that undeniable attraction to each other, but August isn’t ready for what Niles makes him feel.

August is dedicated to his daughter, focusing on improving her quality of life since assuming the role of her sole parent. Constance is mad, hurt, and just all-around angry at the situation. She didn’t want to move let alone move in with her father who hasn’t really been a father for most of her life, but with circumstances as they are, she has to learn to trust him.
Constance doesn’t make it easy either she is voluntarily mute because of a tumor on her larynx she has a prosthesis she can talk she just chooses not to. And August's refusal to learn ASL is a big contention between the two.

Niles is tasked with the art of being Constance’s teacher and co-teacher with August isn’t without its challenges.

I can’t even describe how much I loved this book once everyone opens up and learns to trust it is utterly beautiful. I need more stories like these heartfelt and hard-won. Makes it all the sweeter in the end.
I felt like Nick J. Russo did an incredible job with all the characters.