Return of the Song (Rockwater Suite, #1)

by Phyllis Clark Nichols

Caroline Carlyle's dreams were crushed when her fiance died six weeks before their wedding. For years she wrestled with aching loss and shattered faith, struggling to find the inspiration that once came so easily. Abandoning her half-finished piano compositions, Caroline trades her old ambitions for the comfort and familiarity of life as the town's piano teacher.

But Caroline's world turns upside down when a mysterious stranger enters her life. Filled with courage and fresh purpose, Caroline embarks on a quest to track down the beloved, rare piano she played as a child. Her search leads her to Rockwater, the Kentucky estate of a wealthy gentleman, where Caroline finds her heart may be composing a surprising new song.

• ISBN13: 9781432862282
• Publish Date: 27 March 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 20 December 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Cengage Learning, Inc
• Imprint: Cengage Gale
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 619
• Language: English

Reviews

[phyllish]

Poetry in prose

Like a lovely melody, the words of this story lilted through my mind. It is poetry in prose. Return of the Song is such a rich, emotionally rewarding journey as Caroline finds her music again after six years of grief. There is a soft, comforting, yet melancholic, feel that had me basking in the experience. I was so hopeful through the story that things would work out well for everyone involved.

I was struck by the way so many of the characters had such deep love for one another. Sam and Angel are in their eighties, and after fifty-plus years of marriage are still deeply enamored with each other. They basically adopted Caroline and shower her with the rich kind of love and care that is rare even in families.

Ned and Fred, the bachelor twins, are a riot. With their Southern manners and small-town ways, they were simply charming. Though they can’t boast genius IQs, their hearts are so noble and heroic. And their conversations are always amusing.

There is a mystery at the beginning of the story – its resolution rocks Caroline’s world. Music and pain bind her with an unexpected new friend and their relationship changes the direction of her life.

The search for the piano she had as a child leads her in a surprising direction that just might give her back her music.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads


I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.