Publisher: Celadon

Publication Date: March 3, 2026

Length: 326 pages

Elle Harlow lives with her family in the Appalachian Mountains. When her father is drafted to serve in the war, leaving them for an indeterminate time, Elle begins caring for her family. Life is difficult, and there are many struggles. Elle begins shadowing the local healer, Merry, helping where she can. Merry shows Elle the full spectrum of life, from tragedy to joy. Elle enjoys feeling useful and soaks up all that Merry teaches. After Merry’s death, Elle is devastated. She mourns Merry in the only way she knows how – by writing songs about her. With the encouragement of her mother, Elle decides to travel to Nashville, hoping to find an audience who appreciates her music.

Even in the early days of country music, Nashville was a difficult place to be discovered. Elle works hard. She finds a record company willing to work with her, but she has to record their songs, not her own. While this is upsetting, Elle believes she will be able to get back to her songs once she is established. When Elle is finally able to record the songs she has written, she becomes a sensation because of her unique, haunting songs. Suddenly, Elle disappears. Where is she? Dead? Sick of fame? Her disappearance is a true mystery.

Marijohn Shaw lives in a small town. Her father owns the local gas station. She is quiet, shy, and has only one friend. Her father’s obsession with folk singer Elle Harlow has shaped her world. Marijohn has an old mandolin that she has learned to play. She loves music, but being self-taught, she doubts her talent. Marijohn and her friend, Laz, spend their free time writing songs. Her style is complementary to Elle’s, and her songs have that yearning and haunting quality. Nashville music producers hear one of Marijohn’s songs. Laz wants her to step forward and use the opportunity for a recording deal. Marijohn is terrified of failing. Marijohn’s simple, small-town life is leading her to a tangled and complex future.

Amy Jo Burns is a lyrical author. Her words transport you to each scene. You feel the places she describes. The lyrics she created for this book fit the characters, scenes, and emotions perfectly. You feel the longing Elle writes about. Marijohn’s sadness at being abandoned is tangible. The love and respect she had for her two main characters are evident in her deeply emotional storyline. This novel speaks with tremendous heart and captivates with the turn of each page. The lives of Elle and Marijohn deeply touch me, and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, Celadon and Amy Jo Burns, for the advanced readers’ copy. What a joy and delight!

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5