“An especially compelling read that successfully captures the nuances, influences, and cultural and social turmoil of the Vietnam era.” ~ Midwest Book Review ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer

"The central characters are bold and courageous as they seek out their place in the world. Beautifully written, not easily forgotten." --Readers' Favorite
Contemporary Women's Fiction 
Publish Date: March 13, 2018
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Read the First Chapter

Night Music
1968 - 1971
 
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Parsons is devastated over losing her brother in the Vietnam War. Wanting to learn more about the war, she joins a group of college women who send letters to soldiers and befriends Joseph Russo, a young soldier. But a few months after they begin corresponding, his letters stop coming, and Char moves on, still confused as to why so many young lives are being lost so far away from home.
 
Two years later, Char begins college in her small Illinois town of Grand Falls. She’s been dating her brother’s long-time best friend, Deke Masterson, who is a senior in college and is deep into the anti-war movement. Char is still trying to come to terms with her brother’s death and is unsure of how she feels about the war. Then a stranger comes to town and changes everything.
 
Joseph Russo did his duty and served in the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart for his injury as well as a life-long limp. He’s ready to put the war behind him. While in Vietnam, he’d corresponded with a girl from Grand Falls and he enjoyed reading about her idyllic life. For a boy from the Bronx with a tough father and a delinquent younger brother, Grand Falls sounded like heaven. When he’s discharged, he moves there to attend college. And when he meets Charlotte in person, he’s taken with her sweetness, intelligence, and beauty.
 
The battle lines are drawn as Deke resents Joe’s presence around Char. What started out as a well-deserved escape to a small town for Joe soon turns into a battle of wills between him and the idealistic Deke. And there stands Charlotte, right in the middle.
 
Night Music is a story about a moment in time when the world was chaotic and nothing was completely clear. In the midst of all the chaos, can Char and Joe find enough middle ground to fall in love?
 
What readers are saying:

--“Sletten has crafted an emotional story centered with conflict that brings the characters to life.” ~ Write-Read-Life 

--"Characters who feel three-dimensional, a setting that is almost its own character, and a story that entertains while also challenging us to think." Melissa at Bibliotica

--"All the characters seemed so real..." Comfy Reading

--“It was refreshing to read a story based on the late 1960’s…” Sara at Chick Lit Central

-- "A wonderful job of capturing both the turmoil and the love of that time." Susan at The Book Bag