Poetry in prose

Like a lovely melody, the words of this story lilted through my mind. It is poetry in prose. Return of the Song is such a rich, emotionally rewarding journey as Caroline finds her music again after six years of grief. There is a soft, comforting, yet melancholic, feel that had me basking in the experience. I was so hopeful through the story that things would work out well for everyone involved.

I was struck by the way so many of the characters had such deep love for one another. Sam and Angel are in their eighties, and after fifty-plus years of marriage are still deeply enamored with each other. They basically adopted Caroline and shower her with the rich kind of love and care that is rare even in families.

Ned and Fred, the bachelor twins, are a riot. With their Southern manners and small-town ways, they were simply charming. Though they can’t boast genius IQs, their hearts are so noble and heroic. And their conversations are always amusing.

There is a mystery at the beginning of the story – its resolution rocks Caroline’s world. Music and pain bind her with an unexpected new friend and their relationship changes the direction of her life.

The search for the piano she had as a child leads her in a surprising direction that just might give her back her music.


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I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m a music lover, so that interested me when I read the blurb. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet those expectations. However, I did enjoy the descriptions (scenery and food).

Caroline is a piano teacher trying to go on with her life after losing her fiancé, David. She has three goals in life: to finish her song for David, to find her childhood piano, and to discover her purpose.

Generally, when I read a book with a romance angle, that begins somewhat early in the story. That wasn’t the case with this book. The reader learns more about Caroline’s neighbors, and even her job as a piano teacher, than they do about her relationship with Roderick. At times, Caroline makes decisions that shouldn’t have been hers to make (particularly regarding Gretchen and Bella). The characters were a bit too nice at times, as well. (I’m not from the South, so maybe that’s really how people are there. It just stuck out to me in the story.) There is a bit of a mystery to the story, and that was enjoyable. The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped/expected. Granted, there is another book coming in 2019. I’m used to a bit more closure, or more of a cliffhanger, in a series book. That wasn’t the case here. The prologue was a bit unnecessary, as the information is largely told throughout the story. The story line, in general, unfolds at a slower pace than I prefer. As a result, I found it hard to stay engaged.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Caroline is the piano teacher in the small town of Moss Point where everyone knows your business, not always a bad thing. Six years ago, Caroline was engaged to be married in six weeks when her fiance' died in a mudslide in Guatemala. A part of Caroline is now missing, although she smiles on the outside to hide all the hurt on the inside. She rents a small cottage on Sam and Angel's property and they are like family to one another.
Caroline has a bucket list and on that list is to find the baby grand piano she played on in her parents home until it was sold to pay her college expenses. She has looked up the value of the piano and the $45,000 price tag is something she knows she could never afford on her income, but she desires to find it and play it once more.
Also, on her list is to finish 'David's song,' a song she began writing for her fiance', but has never finished. The other item on her list is to find her goal.
One evening, she hears someone inside her home playing David's Song on her piano, stopping at the same point Caroline always stops at, as she hasn't completed the song. The intruder gets away before she can discover who it is. Nothing in her home has been taken or disrupted. Its seems only the piano was touched. Also, discovered, is that someone has been hiding outside a window at night listening to Caroline play.
It is finally discovered to be Bella, a child who lives with her grandparents nearby. Bella proves to be a mystery with her musical abilities. Caroline grows close to both Bella, as well as her grandmother.
Caroline eventually tracks down the antique piano from her childhood in Kentucky, belonging to Roderick Adair. She contacts him and is invited to his home to play a concert for his friends. Caroline's dull life is about to become much more exciting!
When I completed reading this book, my first thought was, 'What a delightful story!' I had not heard of the author, Phyllis Clark, before. I most certainly look forward to reading the sequel to this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gilead Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had a song in my heart when I finished this beautiful book! Although, my first impressions were of what a great creative writer the author is, I soon became engrossed in the story, as well as the beautiful music I could hear in my head (It might help that I'm a concert pianist, myself). Clean with nothing objectionable, I love finding books I can recommend to family members!

When life does not run a straight path

With "Return of the Song" Gilead Publishing presents the first contemporary novel of the "Rockwater Suite", written by Phyllis Clark Nichols. The story is a southern fiction with some romance and mystery woven together. It presents the reader with beautiful and realistic characters but also with profound human questions. The story takes mainly place in Moss Point which is located in the proximity of Atlanta, Georgia.
Caroline Carlyle's fiances passed away six years ago in Guatemala. Now she is 29 years old, has it seemingly all together and is over her grief. In reality she is still dealing with the loss. She is a pianist, composer, and piano teacher who did not finish the piece, "David's song", that was supposed to be her wedding gift to David. Despair and loneliness rule her life. Her relationship with her friends and close neighbors, Angel and Sam, sustain her in her difficult times. She even lives in a studio on their property.
An interesting prowler disturbs her life and the search for her childhood piano which her parents had to sell in order to pay for Caroline's college studies leads to surprising contacts and events. Caroline has to decide if she leaves Moss Point in order to enroll in the doctoral studies that she is offered at the university of Georgia in Athens or if she lets the unexpected twists lead her differently.

This was the first book by this author. That I am looking forward to read more books from Phyllis Clark Nichols and can recommend the book to to her readers who are looking for a clean novel that offers some romance but also some surprises. It is important to note that the book does not have a typic "cliff-hanger ending", but the story continues in the second book of the series which is entitled "Freedom of Song" and is supposed to be published in 2019.

The electronic advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
#RockwaterStuite #NetGalley

Caroline knew it was another anniversary without David. He was gone and she was alone again and she asks God why he couldn’t have held out the thunderstorm for another hour or even a few minutes. She regrettably hadn’t went with Davis when he had asked her to. But she had said no. But if she had said yes at least she wouldn’t be here alone.. David died coming down a mountain in Guatemala. Caroline had been writing a song for the wedding but never finished it. Now she is the town’s piano teacher and living in the studio on Sam’s and Angela’s property. Caroline wondered why she kept up the act trying to make everyone believe she was fine and no longer grieving for Davis after six years. . That her music and students were enough but they don’t know the music isn’t music anymore. What would it help if they knew her ordered predictable life made Caroline feel safe but not alive. This is her life still and quiet. One night she came upon an intruder playing her piano but the intruder escaped. Carolina has three goals 1- finish David’s song 2- play the piano again she grew up on 3- to find her purpose. Caroline is trying to find her childhood piano which had been an antique concert piano her parents had sold it to pay for Caroline going to college and she traces the stranger who bought it- Roderick Adair. He offers to bring her to his Kentucky home to play a recital for his friends. She goes to a home which is a mansion and she finds out she is to play for a large group but she does find peace there. Caroline meets Bella who is an autistic mute child who plays the piano by hearing the song played which was a unique gift. Caroline takes Bella under her wing.
I had mixed feelings about this book. My heart went out to Carolina when David died and she was still grieving six years later and the music had basically died for her. After the first few pages this dragged for me but I kept reading. About halfway through this started coming alive again. Then I didn’t want to put it down as I wanted to see what would happen next. I didn’t like how Carolina went ahead and did what she wanted without asking Gretchin what she wanted for her grand daughter Bella. Caroline overstepped the boundaries as far as I am concerned. I think roderick should have been brought into the story a lot sooner then he was - almost at the end. I did love how the author described things like the scenery, food and musical pieces. So as I said I had mixed feelings on this book. But I also hate cliffhangers and this ended in one.

The author gives us a book that begins in tragedy and ends with hope, but we are reading the in between, and it kept me page turning.
The main character has a heart for her fellow man, and has been given the gift of making awesome music by way of her piano.
Add in a plethora of other characters that will warm your heart, and some will make you laugh, all to support a wonderful read.
There was a time in the book that I was hoping that the break in was David, but that was not to be and it opened a whole new dimension to this read.
When Caroline moves out of the studio, I would love to move in, the descriptions of this place are awesome, and the couple who own it were wonderful!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gilead and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review "Return of the Song." All opinions expressed are solely my own.
When I started reading "Return of the Song" the first few pages intrigued me and caught my interest. I was thinking this is going to be a good book. But, sorry to say, I was pretty disappointed that the story line just seemed to go on and on and on, but, not really going anywhere interesting. I started to skip pages, telling myself this is going to get better.
I did enjoy parts of the book but it was a struggle to get through to the end. I felt like the romance aspect between the main character, Caroline and Roderick should have started a lot earlier then it did......
"Return of the Song" just wasn't for me.

I was very disappointed with this book as a romance, the main characters did not even meet until almost the end. That and the book ended on a cliffhanger; which apparently continues in the next book. It might just be me, but I'm not fond of cliffhangers in any sense. I much prefer to have a satisfying ending, even if the story continues in another book. The book takes place in the south, but found the Southern accent fake and overly sweet. I have a lot of family in the south and have never heard any of them or other's that I have met talk like that. The story focuses more on a child named Belle instead of on the main characters.

Reminiscent of Jan Karon's Mitford series, Phyllis Clark Nichols has woven a beautiful story with remarkable depth, gorgeous scenery and food description, and a small town filled with lovable, zany characters. While there is a romantic thread throughout the story, the main focus is the character development and the issues that Caroline deals with in the small town of Moss Point, Georgia. I would greatly recommend this book for readers of the Mitford series, as well as readers of Debbie Macomber and Southern fiction.

Please note, I received an ARC of this book and was not required to leave a positive review.

A brilliant read with a brilliant storyline and characters and I will look forward to reading more from you from this author thank you for my arc

This is the first time I’ve read a novel by Phyllis Clark Nichols and I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the musical pieces included throughout this novel. One could almost hear the beautiful restrains as they read. The description of the life of a music teacher was well done as well.
The opening prologue is gripping and tells the story of the last few minutes of Caroline Carlyle’s fiance’s life. However, I found myself wondering if this should have been included at all since Caroline does recall details throughout the novel of his death or at least of what she was told about it. The novel would work just as well without it.
There’s much time during the first half of the novel spent on routine items in Caroline’s life. It’s not until the mid-way through the first half that things start to pick up and the story grows interesting. The plot was dull for the first quarter of the book and I pushed myself to read through, since the prologue had been so gripping.
The story is about a grieving piano teacher/musician who lost more than just her fiancé, she lost music too. It’s a story of finding oneself again, grief, and discovering joy once again.
The story takes a bizarre turn with the introduction of Caroline’s new love interest. It’s a rather strange set up and unrealistic but it seems to work for this particular story. One of Caroline’s dreams is to find the piano she learned to play on and she tracks it down. She’s offered a trip to Kentucky to play it again. Of course, the man who owns it is already on his way to falling in love with her.
Caroline also encounters a musical savant whom she decides to take under wing.
There are heavy topics (death, abusive marriage) tackled in this novel and I wondered why some of the characters who knew what was going on did nothing to help the situation(s). It was frustrating at times to read their conversations and then watch them do nothing when they could have great influence (i.e. the local judge).
Some parts I enjoyed reading and other parts I skimmed over (more so in the first half of the book). I would have liked to have seen the focus stay on Caroline’s search for her piano OR on her work with Bella, the musical savant.
I received an ecopy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Caroline Carlyle was waiting for her fiance to return from Guatemala when she got the news of his death. She had been in the process of writing a song for their wedding and the interest in the song just went away. She lives in a small town in Georgia, teaching piano to the children of the townspeople. Her best friends in town are her landlords--Sam and Angel--they have rented her Angel's studio as an apartment to live in.

Caroline has three goals on her bucket list--to finish David's Song, to play on the piano she grew up with, and to find her purpose. Her childhood piano is an antique concert grand that is worth more than $40,000. All she knows is that her parents sold it to pay for her college degree.

She launches a search to find out who owns the piano now and meets up with Roderick Adair. He offers to arrange for her to come to his Kentucky home and play a recital for his friends. When she gets to his place--a mansion in Kentucky, she finds out she will be playing for a large group of people. But, she also finds peace she has been searching for since David died.

Phyllis Clark Nichols has added one more significant plot element to the story--a non-communicative autistic girl who can play piano just by hearing the song played. Caroline sees more in Bella than most people would.

Return of the Song is such a tender book, well written, and leaves the reader waiting excitedly for the next book in the series.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a song written just for you.

My thanks to Gilead Publishing for allowing me to read this book through NetGalley.com

Return of the Song, the first to The Rockwater Suite series and my first introduction to Phyllis Clark Nichols' writing. It was just okay and give it 3 stars.

This book is so much more than just a book about Caroline trying to finish writing her song. It will stir your heart and make you keep turning the pages to see what happens next. This is the first book by Phyllis Clark Nichols I've read, but it won't be the last. Thank you Gilead Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. I highly recommend this book to everybody. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was my first book by this author and I have mixed feeling about it.

I struggled with it, I was even contemplating to dnf it but I’ve continued reading anyway.

At 44 % of the book, I was angry because the main characters haven’t even met yet. Later on, I noticed that the whole book focuses on the mysterious intruder and the woman and a girl, who has a unique gift. I like my romances to focus on the MCs and not so much on other people but in this story, this wasn’t it. We get a clear view on Caroline’s life in the neighboorhood, the old couple, who are like family to her and her job as a piano teacher.

I don’t want to spoil the book, but I think it’s necessary to say Caroline and Roderick met at around 90 % of the story, which is for me waaaaaay too late. But they did talk over the phone.

The second, actually a little weird thing in this book is that she always has a phone at home. Doesn’t she take it with her? Or is this phone the kind we had in 90-00’s? With the wire and all?

The third thing that bothered me is Caroline taking charge and assuming people would want what she wants. I mean, I get it she wanted the best for the girl, but does she really think Gretchen (girl’s grandma) would want her granddaughter on a national TV, newspapers, just because the girl has a unique gift? It seemed to me that Caroline would just want publicity on her town. She took the decision out of Gretchen’s hands and I hated her for that.

The next thing that bothered me was the language. I’m all for sugar and sweet, but this was too sweet for me. Greetings, hugging, giving food and such, oh c’mon. There are people that are that nice to everybody? I mean everybody? I have to say I’m not fluent in English and I’m not familiar with accents in the USA but the southern language was so annoying to read. No offence but I just couldn’t read ”Why, Gretchen,…” ”Why, Caroline, …” at the beginning of almost every sentence. From time to time would be enough but please not the whole book.

The fifth thing was the conversation between Gretchen and Caroline. Gretchen had a lot to tell but she would always start the story and then said something like ”It’s a very long story and I’ll tell more about it someday”. Ummm, if you start, why not finish the story, huh?

This was a very clean romance (and I mean very – because the MCs didn’t even kiss (!)), which is so not my cup of tea and I would probably even read it if I knew that. This is why I thought of it as a Christian Romance. It also mentions God a lot, which is fine by me because I’m Christian too but again, it is just not my cup of tea. I like a little drama between the main couple. According to Urban Dictionary, Christian Romance is ”when a woman/man holds off any type of sex until marriage and bound by faith rather than love of their significant other”. Now, I have to say that I don’t know if she even had sex with her fiancé because it is not mentioned but I am putting this as Christian because of the mention of God and romance being very clean (so don’t be angry with me if you think otherwise). I did, however, felt that Caroline and Roderick had some feelings for each other but there weren’t any I love yous or something like that like in other romances I’ve read.

Apparently, the story progresses in the second book (coming in 2019) which is again something I didn’t know before otherwise, I’d probably never begin reading it. It doesn’t have some dramatic cliffhanger, because the ending is very open (Practically, we can say there’s no ending), which is again not my thing. I’d more likely prefer a cliffhanger than this open ending. Ugh.

Other people would give this book more stars, and I would too, but since this is not my cup of tea (the slow-burn, focusing on other topics and people rather than MCs and almost no touching between the main characters), I am giving it 3 stars.

"Return Of The Song" I believe that Phyllis Clark Nichols has created a great story line including love, loss and "the mystery of the musical savant". The reader will be both inspired and find himself\herself pulled into the mystery of a "lost" baby grand piano , the loss of a loved one and Bella's exceptional talent . . A prodigy. I recommend this book. The reader will not be disappointed. Publication is set for September 2018.

RETURN OF THE SONG by PHYLLIS CLARK NICHOLS is one of those books that really "stays with you"! It is a beautiful story, told with great sensitivity, and the characters are unforgettable. There is also sound Christian content running throughout and a feeling of God's hand being upon His children even when, like Caroline, they seem to have lost their faith.
I love the descriptions of life in the small town of Moss Point where Sam, the retired judge and his wife Angel, are the self appointed guardians of Caroline Carlyle, the musician who lives in their studio apartment. There are also the town busy bodies like the florist and the hairdresser who make it their business to know everything that is going on, and the twins, Ned and Fred, who are such lovable characters.
When Caroline finds an intruder playing a song on her piano that is known to no one but herself, and also when she makes enquiries about the whereabouts of her childhood piano, her well ordered and quiet life takes some new turns!
It is a truly memorable book and I am looking forward to the sequel.
I received a free copy of the book from Gilead Publishing through NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Gilead Publishing for the ARC.

This is a feelgood novel filled with kindness and goodwill. If only real life was this sweet. But a girl can dream right?

Caroline is a smalltown piano teacher living in the guesthouse on Sam and Angel's property. Life is relatively calm and quite predictable while she's getting over the loss of her fiancee David.
Then one night she comes home to find an intruder playing her piano, running out before she has a chance to catch the person. Mystery one is introduced.
Meanwhile Caroline has been after her childhood piano, and traces the stranger who purchased it. He invites her over for a recital. But who is this man? Can he be trusted? Another mystery to keep the reader entertained. The two eventually come together and make a wonderful story that gave me some enjoyable hours surrounded by tender care and gorgious music.

"Return of the Song" is a pleasant read filled with lovely characters, family dynamics and the small adventures that occur in ordinary life. I enjoyed the romance and am intrigued by the prodigy child. The book has an open ending with a follow up scheduled for 2019.