Echoes of the Dance

by Marcia Willett Narrated by June Barrie

Overview

Roly Carradine has found refuge in Cornwall, in the mellow stone house of his childhood. A broken marriage made Roly remove himself from his busy London life, and here in Cornwall he welcomes Kate, also seeking refuge from the grief of losing her husband, and young Daisy Quin, a dancer recovering from a back injury. Roly's son Nat, a garden designer with his own secret burden to bear, lives not far away and is plagued by the unsympathetic visits of his mother Monica, Roly's ex-wife. Roly, Kate, Daisy, and Nat all try to find resolution in the beauty and peace of the Cornish countryside.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

For her latest warmhearted take on love, change and relationships, Willett brings back Kate Webster (First Friends; A Friend of the Family), now a newly widowed grandmother living in Cornwall not far from Roly Carradine, a retired London photographer. While trying to persuade grieving Kate to adopt his newest stray dog, Floss, Roly agrees to take in a stray person, Daisy Quin, who, like Roly's sister, Mim, years before, has just suffered an accident that threatens to end her dancing career. Mim became a successful and beloved dancing instructor and wants to help Daisy follow her example, but Daisy is not ready to face that she may never dance again, or that the man she's in love with is not all he seems. Likewise, Roly's manipulative ex-wife, Monica, still pines for him; Roly retains a guilty secret; and Roly and Monica ignore the fact that their son, Nat, has secrets of his own. Chez Willett, friends help friends when they get "wumbled" (worried and jumbled) while courtship and marriage just wumble things up. Willett gets a bit wumbled herself, overexplaining the psychology of her characters and avoiding a happily-ever-after ending by substituting stagy sentimentality. Appealing, durable, human characters like Kate, Roly, Mim and Daisy deserve better. (Apr.)

Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

From the Publisher

Praise for Marcia Willett

“Deservedly compared to Binchy and Pilcher, Willett is an equally gifted storyteller.”

- Booklist on The Birdcage

“With an agile mastery of multiple story lines and an uncanny knack for creating sympathetic characters, Willett winsomely creates congenial worlds that welcome loyal fans and new readers with ease.”

- Booklist on Echoes of the Dance

“Tender and moving, Willett’s tale expertly weaves a family’s past and present together to illustrate the strength of familial bonds . . . a memorable and emotional read to be savored.”

- Romantic Times on The Children’s Hour

DEC 07/JAN 08 - AudioFile

Fans of English family sagas and Willett's earlier series will not be disappointed by her latest endeavor. Willett reintroduces Kate Webster, recently widowed and struggling to regain her balance in life. She is joined by her friend, Roly Carradine, a retired London photographer now living in Cornwall. June Barrie's gravelly, thoroughly English voice conveys character depth and is easy to listen to. She moves gracefully between the generations, distinguishing characters with slight adjustments in tone, accent, and energy. The story's only drawback is Willett's tendency to overanalyze her characters though Barrie's delivery keeps the narrative upbeat and, for the most part, interesting. Listeners will likely find this story as enjoyable and cozy as a cup of tea. D.J.P. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169834659
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2007
Edition description:	Unabridged

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