FROM AMAZON: Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when they were kids. As adults they've been estranged for years, until circumstances force them to come together to protect Rose's daughter.

Ten-year-old Antoinette has a severe form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness: She can heal things with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor's tremors disappear, and changes the normal course of nature on the Kentucky flower farm where she and her mother live. Antoinette's gift, though, puts her own life in danger, as each healing comes with an increasingly deadly price.

As Rose - the center of her daughter's life - struggles with her own failing health and Lily confronts her anguished past, they, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe.

Many thanks to Goodreads and Algonquin Books for the advance copy they provided in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a lovely, mesmerizing novel that was hard to put down.

This is a story of dedication to family, loyalty and of forgiveness and acceptance . The character of Antoinette is simply lovely; she embodies all that is good and hopeful, and Knipper does an incredible job of portraying all the limitations and affects of her autism, while showing the beautiful soul trapped inside her body. Rose’s relationship with her daughter was beautifully drawn.

There were so many elements that I find fascinating: the language of flowers, the magical realism, the complicated relationship between the sisters, Lily and Rose.

And of course, it pretty much ripped my heart from my chest. I mentioned the tissues, right? It was a beautiful book that I will read again and again. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will find a kindred spirit in Stephanie Knipper. ( )

Some books are plot-driven, some character-driven. This one, I think, is emotionally-driven. The story is poignant, heartfelt, and meant to stir up all sorts of feelings. In that, for me, it definitely succeeds.

When we choose to start families, few of us stop to consider what it might mean to have a disabled child. Could we be good parents in this situation? What long-term effects would it have on our lives, our relationships? If we even stopped to consider these questions, it’s unlikely we’d be able to comprehend all the challenges ahead.

This story places us within a family in crisis. I loved all the characters, but Antoinette stole my heart. I felt her frustration at not being able to communicate, her anger at being treated as unintelligent simply because she’s different, and her fear of losing the one person who loves her unconditionally.

The magical realism element of the story adds an extra layer of intrigue and complexity.

I listened to this on audio and, for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed the narration. However, I wish it had been only the one voice throughout. Rose’s journal sections are read by a second narrator, with a much different, more heavily accented, and older voice. Consequently, it sounded strange to hear Rose’s entries from her youth read in a totally different voice than what we hear throughout the bulk of the book. Also within these sections are dialogue from others that Rose included in her journals, so the voices are nothing like those same character voices in the rest of the book. I felt this was an unnecessary distraction, though both narrators are quite good. ( )

This was such a fascinating story! I loved how much depth and meaning there was on just about every page of this book, it really added something wonderful to the story.

The events of the story itself are somewhat predictable, but I still found myself enjoying this story overall. I was very invested in the characters' lives and wanted to know what would happen to them. The love interests did become slightly annoying to me at various times, but again, I still enjoyed it overall.

Knipper has a very eloquent and captivating tone that I loved and makes me certain that I will continue to look for her books. I've given this book four stars! ( )

I had a hard time getting into this book and put it down several times. It's not a bad book but it just didn't keep me interested. ( )