I haven’t teared up so much while reading a book. This is such a touching story about a woman who puts her affluent past behind her to teach deaf children in a rural mountain town. Some of the townspeople ridicule her for trying to help. When you meet Davey, you understand why she perseveres. And Sam is the perfect romantic interest. Maribelle’s perspective and voice seem accurate for this time period and setting.

I read this book based on the description of the plot, which sounded especially appealing to someone with family in Tennessee. I really wanted to like it, but some major points just didn’t work for me. The timeline seemed compressed, as if everything happened much too quickly, and the writing was overly simplistic. Characters changed and developed feelings on that same compressed timeline, making it hard to believe the depth or sincerity of the descriptions. The main character’s inner monologue also felt incredibly naive at times. It’s a sweet story and I’m sure will be to some readers’ tastes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.