Annie Trimble lives in a solitary world that no one enters or understands. As delicate and beautiful as the tender blossoms of the Oregon spring, she is shunned by a town that misinterprets her affliction. But cruelty cannot destroy the love Annie holds in her heart.
Alex Montgomery is horrified to learn his wild younger brother forced himself on a helpless “idiot girl.” Tormented by guilt, Alex agrees to marry her and raise the babe she carries as his own. But he never dreams he will grow to cherish his lovely, mute, misjudged Annie, her childlike innocence, her womanly charms and the wondrous way she views her world. And he becomes determined to break through the wall of silence surrounding her; to heal…and to healed by Annie’s sweet song of love.
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I can’t seem to find the words to convey just how wonderful this book is and others have written far more eloquent reviews than I ever could. So here’s my little tribute to a book that will be treasured and re-read many times.
”The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”– Helen Keller
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She had done nothing wrong, nothing. Yet the way they looked at her made her feel as though she had. Here, in the darkness, she didn’t have to endure the accusing expressions on their faces. She took a shuddering breath and held it trapped at the base of her throat to prevent herself from sobbing.
Maybe it was the gentleness with which he touched her or the remorse she read in his eyes, or perhaps she was just tired of feeling afraid. At this point, she was too weak from hunger and too heartsore from being abandoned by her parents to analyse her reasons. She only knew that warmth of his strong fingers on her skin made her feel safe. Wonderfully safe.
Crazy, so crazy…But it was how she felt.
This was his dance. His wife. He felt like a man who had accidently stumbled upon a rainbow.
No, not a rainbow, he thought nonsensically. More like a beautiful butterfly emerging almost magically, from its chrysalis. In that moment, that was how he saw Annie. He didn’t analyse the feeling. He had unveiled something precious, immeasurably lovely, and completely unexpected. When God saw fit to bestow such a gift, a man with any sense didn’t ask questions.
Annie lowered the flute to her lap and reverently stroked the keys. Alex had given her a wedding gift, after all, she thought. Something no one else had ever even thought to give her. Music…Beautiful music, wrapped in magic.
VERDICT: SO HEARTBREAKING BUT SO UPLIFTING
RATING: STELLAR ★★★★★
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