**Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant's father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman's portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.
The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?
Fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women's independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era--and now.
Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, and A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her online at www.jdpstories.com.
While I have only had the chance to read a few other books by Joanna Davidson Politano, one thing was very clear to me even after the first one--- she is quite the amazing talent, with a way or telling stories that is beautiful and almost lyrical. When I saw the title of this book, I couldn't help but think it would be quite fitting... and it absolutely was that!
I think anytime I read a book about an asylum, they tend to be quite heavy... and that is particularly true for those taking place during this time in history. It is haunted to think about--- and read about--- what these patients suffered through and that can certainly lead to a darker read that so often weigh heavier on my heart. As such, I cannot always say that books such as this one are the easiest or even most enjoyable to read... but it was still a beautiful story that will pull at your heartstrings and stay with the reader long beyond the final pages.
If you enjoy historical fiction, this is one certainly worth experiencing for yourself.
0 Comments