Heartstrings in B-flat Minor


Fiction - General
206 Pages
Reviewed on 10/02/2018
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Scott Johnson, a voice-over actor with an earlier history in broadcast journalism, has covered historic events ranging from William Kunstler’s performance in the Butler-Robideau AIM Trial, to documenting the tragedy at Love Canal. He’s been in on gritty stakeouts and overnight-hour drug busts; and has swooped into tornado alleys reporting back from devastated towns that all was not well.

His plan was to learn about what goes on in the world to build a solid foundation for writing novels. The plan seemed to be working. However, there was more to learn about life than what the cesspools of crime and politics could teach him. Like how to raise his two children as a single dad. He says that their surviving his flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants parenting has been his biggest accomplishment.

In 2014, Scott was nominated as a Finalist for “Outstanding Commercial Demo Reel, Best Male Voice,” by the Society of Voice Arts & Sciences (SOVAS). The NYC Voice Arts Awards gala was a night for him to remember. As Scott likes to point out, he shared billing with James Earl Jones, the evening’s Lifetime Achievement honoree. Scott adds that his own nomination was as good as a win.

Flash forward to Present Day’s publication of "Heartstrings in B-flat Minor." Scott's debut novel has garnered amazing reviews, including a "Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review" in the "2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest."

    Book Review

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Heartstrings in B-flat Minor by Scott Johnson follows the distressing story of Sheryl when she first arrives home from Cairo. Waiting for her is Sterling, a skillful conman who learned his cunning ways from his uncle. Sterling is a master manipulator, having perfected his ability to hypnotize, and Sheryl innocently falls into his trap, thinking she has found the man of her dreams. What follows is a heart-breaking trail of events as Sterling swindles Sheryl into complete financial and emotional ruin. Despite being aware of his schemes, Sheryl continues to stick with him, financing his lifestyle and nonexistent company. He causes her continuous heartbreak but the spell he has over her seems too hard to break. Sheryl’s career takes a sharp plunge as she tries to please him while Sterling persists in his mission to destroy her.

Scott Johnson delivers a powerful lesson in Heartstrings in B-flat Minor. From the outside looking in, I could not help but wonder why Sheryl stuck with this conman for all those years. Certainly, from the inside, it seems it is not so easy to get out. Reading the book allowed me to look at the situation from the victim’s view and try to understand what held her to him for so long. I got to see Sterling's tactics closely, from the reassuring words to shifting blame and always making Sheryl view him as the victim. Despite being disturbing, Heartstrings in B-flat Minor offers incredible insight inside the relationship of a master con artist and his victim. The warning contained is adeptly delivered and the story is eye-opening.