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Kirkus Reviews: "Marianne Mandeville and her husband,
Charles, enjoy a contented life on their vast estate, Winthrope.
Loving, compassionate Marianne's free-spirited ways charm her
husband but vex her parents and mother-in-law, who wish that she
were more formal and less generous with the Roma people who
live on the estate. A talented pianist, Marianne is enchanted by a
partially completed composition that she discovered on a trip to
the village. When Charles dies in a horse-riding accident,
Marianne is bereft. Devastated, she goes horseback riding in a
storm in an attempt to end her life. After she's thrown from her
steed and knocked unconscious, she wakes to find a tiny miracle:
a baby girl, the sole survivor of a tragic carriage accident. The
only clue to the infant's identity is a piece of music found in a
nearby trunk. Titled "Georgiana," the completed composition
matches the partial one from the town. Marianne raises the girl,
now named Georgiana, as her daughter, but as she gets older,
the youngster wants to learn more about her family. The search
leads them both on a remarkable journey to reunite a composer
with his precious legacy. Inspired by the musical pieces
"Algonquin Trails" and "Stormy Sunday" by composer Hennie
Bekker, Kennedy's novel is a keenly observed meditation on the
love of a parent for a child and the healing power of music.
Marianne is a beguiling heroine who's shown to be committed to
treating everyone, from her husband to her servants to the Roma
living nearby, with compassion and dignity. Although he has a
limited role, Marianne's husband, Charles, provides an equal
amount of love and understanding, and their scenes together are
playful and passionate. In many respects, however, the novel is as
much Georgiana's story as Marianne's, especially in the sections
in which they search for Georgiana's surviving family. The
narrative moves at a steady pace throughout, with the
composition "Georgiana" playing a key role. The strong
supporting cast also includes Molly Bickers, Marianne's beloved
governess. A charming Victorian-era tale of love, loss, and family
connections."