Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Christopher and Jaime: Pianos & Promises: A Novella Series, Book One is a contemporary romance novella by Jennifer Peel. Jaime was devastated at the thought that she’d only get to be with her little daughter half of the time from that moment on, even more so in many ways than the thought that her long friendship and recent marriage to Christopher were really over. They had been friends for 25 years; ever since she began taking piano lessons with Christopher’s grandmother, and the two pals would always play together afterwards. Through high school, they were best friends, and while they always dated other people, there was still that special closeness the two shared. And there was that kiss at the prom, even though they had come with other dates -- that kiss had rocked both their worlds. Things all changed when graduation day came. Christopher went on to college, but Jaime decided to take an au pair job with a family in France. She wanted to see the world and experience life before she tackled college and the inevitable commitment to adulthood and student loan debt. When they finally did get married, it was his second and her first, and it was grand until it wasn’t. Things had changed yet again. He seemed more married to the job than to her, and he wasn’t willing to commit to having another child.

Jennifer Peel’s contemporary romance novella, Christopher and Jaime, is a thoughtful and sweet story about lovers and best friends. Scattered throughout the work is music; it’s what Jaime lives for, her raison d’etre, and the musical selections Peel uses to illustrate that passion are perfect. While Jaime is the narrator, and we see the situation through her perspective, Peel uses Christopher’s journal as a way to present the other side of the conflict which threatens the couple’s marriage and relationship. Christopher and Jaime is a well-written and enjoyable tale that addresses issues that affect many couples' lives, including parenting and expectations over having children, communication, and establishing a healthy work/home balance. Christopher and Jaime: Pianos & Promises: A Novella Series, Book One is highly recommended for romance readers.