From the bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a haunting and lyrical novel about the promises we make and the forgiveness we need when we break them.One tragic twist of fate destroyed Braden Healey’s hands, his musical career, and his family. Now, unable to play, adrift in an alcoholic daze, and with only fragmented memories of his past, Braden wants desperately to escape the darkness of … escape the darkness of the last eleven years.
When his ex-wife and son are killed in a car accident, Braden returns home, hoping to forge a relationship with his troubled seventeen-year-old daughter, Allie. But how can he hope to rescue her from the curse that seems to shadow his family?
Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee, granddaughter of the eccentric old man who sold Braden his cello, believes the curse is real. She swore an oath to her dying grandfather that she would ensure Braden plays the cello as long as he lives. But he can’t play, and as the shadows deepen and Phee finds herself falling for Braden, she’ll do anything to save him. It will take a miracle of forgiveness and love to bring all three of them back to the healing power of music.
more
Kerry Anne King has written a book that will stay with you long after you’ve read the final page. Her insight into human nature and her knowledge of music makes this an unforgettable reading experience. Enjoy!
About 30% into this book, a storyline that I did not see coming is introduced. I read the next several chapters with my heart in my throat. It was appropriate to the overall story but a difficult subject which was handled beautifully. A well written book full of passion, trust and support of friends and family. I loved this book.
This beautifully written novel had my attention from the first page. The life of gifted musician, Braden Healey, is in tatters due to an accident that caused damage to his hands. His marriage was a failure due to his love of music and “obsession” with the cello his mother purchased for him as a teen. This is no ordinary cello according to Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee aka. Phee. Having acquired the music shop that she basically grew up in, from her grandfather, Phee believes a curse is on the cello. Having signed a contract that Phee’s grandfather gave him on the day he purchased the cello, Braden swore he would play the cello or return it back to the music shop. If he broke the oath then the curse would come into effect, which is what Phee believes has happened. Braden’s ex wife and son are tragically killed in a car accident. Allie, Braden’s seventeen year old daughter is the only child he has left. Determined to step up to his role as a father, Braden gives up the alcohol and moves in with Allie. Full of hurt and anger, Allie only wants him there until she turns eighteen, only six months from now. Being a straight laced student, Allie wanted to follow in her dad’s footsteps as a musician but after the death of her mother and brother, Allie goes down a self destructive path. Can Braden save his daughter before it’s too late? Will he be able to have his memory return so he can get the answers that he needs? Will there be a happily ever after for Phee, Braden, and Allie? Author Kerry Anne King continues to astound me with her beautiful talent. I highly recommend this novel!
Everything You Are is a gripping and powerful read which weaves the characters around a musical promise given to family members that must be fulfilled. The plot is interesting & keeps the reader engaged until the very end with a twist of fate.
A beautifully written story about loss, love and forgiveness. Braden is a brilliant cellist, who’s hands are damaged in a tragic accident, leaving him unable to play, and sending him into the world of alcoholism. He leaves his family and his beloved cello, but still has a spiritual connection to it, as he stumbles through binges and hangovers.
His ex wife and son die in another tragic accident, leaving 17 yr old Allie alone, until Braden shows up, to reluctantly sober up and provide parental support until she’s 18.
Kerry Ann King is a gifted writer, with well developed characters and a deep, insightful style. I could hear the music, which is an integral part of this story, as that haunted cello drew the characters together, with their shared love of music.
Although I’m not a fan of fantasy, this novel did intrigue me, and I’m happy that the genre didn’t dissuade me. I received an ARC for my honest review, and honestly, I liked it. My thanks to #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for the opportunity.
Ophelia (Phee) MacPhee has received an amazing gift from her granddad for her eighteenth birthday. He has gifted her his business, MacPhee Fine Instruments. She is amazed he has chosen her to carry on the family business and is delighted at the opportunity. What she does not realize is that there is a lot more to this gift than what first meets the eye!
Braden Healey is an amazing cellist, but has fallen on hard times and has not played for years. His ex wife and son are killed in a tragic accident leaving his daughter Allie needing her dad, who she has not seen in eleven years, now more than ever. Ahhh if it were only that easy!
Allie is a tough, stubborn, angry, grieving seventeen-year-old. She is far from willing to accept her dad back into her life with open arms. I can’t really blame her, imagine your father making a sudden appearance back into your life after over a decade. That would be difficult for just about anyone!
Allie and Braden are two lost souls, both denying their common bond – the cello. The cello needs them, just as much as they need it. Braden has his personal demons waiting at the bottom of a bottle. He desperately does not want to drink, but it is so much easier than facing real life. Allie is heading down a very dangerous path, with a boy who does not have her best interest at heart. They both desperately need to turn their lives around before it is too late!
This is a beautifully written story about love, loss, and the music within!
“At the center of the music, he is whole. All of his confusion, his anger, his grief, his guilt turns to gold, a process of alchemy,” I absolutely loved this book! Starting with the breathtakingly beautiful cover, to the wonderfully musical writing style, to the very interesting and refreshing storyline! This was such a great surprise & I can’t wait to delve into more of Kerry Anne King’s books. I have absolutely no musical talent with instruments so when I saw this story was based around a cello I was hesitant, but this book is so much more then that…human relationships, self-preservation, love. I strongly recommended this to everyone!
This beautifully written, lyrical novel is about music and family and forgiveness with a touch of magical realism. It’s one of those books that you want to get to the end to see how it ends but you find yourself reading slower because you don’t want it to end and you don’t want to say goodbye to the characters.
This book covers a range of topics along with the curse – it talks with compassion about alcoholism, infidelity, suicide and pain and most importantly forgiveness. The author shows the importance of love and forgiveness no matter what happens in life. Plus the entire novel is all wrapped up in beautiful music. This is an incredibly beautiful novel and I highly recommend it
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
From the very first page of this beautiful, haunting book, I was completely immersed in the story and its broken, troubled characters. This is a novel that worked its way into my heart and soul utterly and completely….the rest of the world drifted away as I became immersed in the lives of Phee, Braden, and Allie. The author’s lyrical writing held me captivated—I read through my own tears, my heart in my throat, holding out hope for these wounded people to be healed and whole. Music is an intricate part of this book, weaving its way in an out of the story, tearing the characters apart and bringing them back together. This poignant novel addresses the issues of grief, loss, guilt, alcoholism, suicide, pain and rage with compassion, empathy and honesty. I felt the emotions of this book deep inside, my love for these characters was overwhelming, and I will hold this story in my heart for a very long time.
Bravo! Kerry Anne King, Author of “Everything You Are” has orchestrated such an intense, captivating, fascinating, unique, emotional, symbolic and thought-provoking and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Folklore with a Musical Background. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The author has vividly described her setting and characters leading to a certain pattern. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, flawed and stressed.
Can you imagine a musical instrument choosing YOU to caress it, take care of it, and play it? Phee MacPhee has not only inherited her Grandfather’s Musical shop, but also some dark secrets and unusual promises. Phee’s grandfather claims that he re-built many instruments after World War Two, and they consist of terrible memories during that time. The instruments have a soul, just as music has a soul. It is Phee’s job to ensure that certain people who did sign a contract for an instrument continue to play it, or there could be a devastating effect.
Braden Healey was chosen by a cello from Phee’s grandfather shop. Braden had a successful musical career until there was a terrible accident. Braden claims he can’t play the cello anymore. His daughter Allie now plays it. Unfortunately, tragedy occurs, where Phee has to find Braden immediately.
Kerry Anne’s vivid descriptions remind me of “Peter and the Wolf”,(Serge Prokofiev) where the instruments tell a story. I can almost choose an instrument for each character, in this story. There is such a magical and mystical feel to this story. There is so much symbolism in this story!!
Kerry Anne King describes the importance of facing your problems, seeking help, the importance of family, friends, forgiveness, communication, love, and hope. I highly recommend this thought-provoking story.
I absolutely loved this book! The main character in this story is a Cello. This is a beautifully written story of how music fills the soul. I highly recommend this book. You will fall in the love with the characters and find yourself rooting for Phee.
Everything You Are by Kerry Anne King is beautifully told tale on the power of music and the relationship with an instrument. The magic of music is lifting the veil on PTSD to see just how it controls and damages. A well-told story that draws you in. Read it.