The Melody of Secrets by Jeffrey Stepakoff takes place in 1960 with flashbacks of World War II in Germany. Maria who was born and raised in Germany had lived a quiet life with her father, but as the war was coming to an end, the bombings from American pilots and their allies shook her world up. Sadly, her father did not survive the bombings, so Maria went on with her life living in their small cabin playing her violin. She was an artist of music, and could have been a professional violin player, but now she's lost and may have no future if the bombings continue.

One night while alone playing her violin, her door slams opens to one downed American pilot James Cooper. He seeks refuge with Maria in the tiny cabin and his stay becomes longer they fall in love and lust blooms, but there comes a time when James must leave the cabin to escape death and return to his American buddies who are looking for him. Before he leaves, a low life German soldier tries to rape Maria and James saves her life or does she save his?

Fifteen years pass and Maria is married to a Scientist with a child living in America. Her husband works for the space program, at a time when Russia sends the first satellite into space. The race is on and Maria hardly ever sees her husband. She has a few close friends, some American and a few German/Americans. Her life is simple and she enjoyes her friends company, but one day someone walks back into her life and it's James Cooper! What will she do now that her true love is back in her life now. Her husband is never home for he's working for the space program 24/7 and her son has been sent to a boarding school with her husband's blessings. Will Maria's love for her husband keep her marriage together or will she and James seek out each other?

What a wonderful read filled with lies, secrets, love, lust and one heck of a great violinist that being Maria! THE MELODY OF SECRETS is a recommended read! Enjoy for there is much to enjoy in this story!