The author combines the strong dynamics of family relationships, a young love that blooms, an abusive father, and a gifted musician. This is a story that puts life into perspective with a strong theme of forgiveness. You will surrender your heart to the endearing characters, and the writer’s style is simply inviting and superb.

Had I known this was a YA book, I wouldn’t have downloaded it to my Kindle. However, I’m so glad I did. This is a beautiful and touching story that musicians will especially love. This is the story of Aria, an accomplished pianist, who is accepted into Julliard, and perseveres young love, loss, and sadness. Just superb! ( )

This is the story of a tormented teenage girl, Aria, who loses her mother early in life and is being brought up by her drunken, brutal father. His worst offense is to keep from her any knowledge of the musical mother whom she takes after. Without close friends, Aria plays piano whenever and wherever she can (not at home) and waits to graduate and move out on her own. Love and loss come to her in her hometown and again at Julliard, her mother's alma mater. Aria appears destined for greatness. Complications are skillfully interwoven to make for a fast-paced and satisfying story, whose ending is not a surprise but not a foregone conclusion either.

The characters are nicely developed, clearly delineated, and not at all stereotypical. It looked at first like the father would be a one-dimensional ogre, but the edge is taken off him by the end -- without him being piously "redeemed." After finishing my enjoyable read, I learned a bit about the background of some of the materials incorporated and appreciate how skillfully fact and fiction have been joined. The narration is lyrical and the dialog is solid. The novel rings true in every way. One caveat: while I enjoy classical music, I am anything but adept. I never felt lost in the allusions and discussions, but wish I'd taken time to Google some of the major compositions and listened to at least snippets. ( )

This book is SO BEAUTIFULLY written!
Tender and loving!
Sometimes harsh, but always hopeful!
A book you will not want to put down!

Aria has a hard life.

Her mother has passed away, her father is abusive after he has been drinking, and she has been forbidden to play the piano...one of her only true loves in life.

She had run away...

to her secret hiding place from her father...

when she first meets Thomas.

He becomes her life-line...even encouraging her to pursue her dream of going to Julliard.

She will have to keep it from her father...but she will find a way...because she has the love of Thomas.

Yet once again her heart is ripped open when Thomas disappears with no explanation.

Everyone tells her she is 'stronger than she thinks she is.'

Can she really go on...alone...playing her 'porcelain keys?'

OR...

Is it true that 'only one person can help Aria find the right notes?'

A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL love story! ( )