Book Review: Ellie and the Harpmaker

I'm a sucker for books that sing a love song to music. Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and Rise & Shine Benedict Stone, provides this enticing endorsement: "A beautiful love song of a story, wonderfully told with a warm heart and much hope. Hazel Prior's writing is a lyrical delight." Ellie and the Harpmaker is an outstanding debut novel. It provides a sweet story and the even sweeter lure of dazzling music.

When Ellie Jacobs stumbles upon the Harp Barn in the middle of the countryside, it is like finding a hidden cache of diamonds. Inside, she meets owner Dan Hollis, and attempts to explain the serendipity of her find, since playing the harp is on her bucket list. Dan is not merely a harp maker, he is an impulsive eccentric. She cannot believe her good fortune when he gives her one of his stunning creations and encourages her to come to the barn whenever she wants to practice the instrument. The wrinkle in the plan comes in the form of her discouraging and jealous husband. But what he doesn't know can't hurt him, right?

This was a quick and easy read. The only thing that would have made it better is if I could have listened in audio form and heard a Celtic harp introduction to each chapter (hopefully they incorporated music into the audio version). Still, my brain imagined on its own. While I've never added "play a harp" to my bucket list, I loved watching Ellie chase her dream.