From Ashes to Song    by Hilary Hauck Order:  USA  Can Milford House Press, 2021 (2021) Softcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Carrol Wolverton A Story from a Wonderful Developing Author ... This is Pietro's story, or is it? It's set in the early 1900s, when a young man leaves the vineyards of Italy to emigrate to the United States, the rumored wonderful land of milk and honey. Sadly, New York is filthy, accommodations on his minimal cash deplorable. Three men to a cot? He was supposed to be in the middle. His special gift is music and the ability to play the clarinet beautifully. Music saves him. Not only is New York bad, but the coal mines of Pennsylvania are far, far worse. He found the address on a piece of scrap paper and went there for no other reason than he had no place else to go. Remember, he doesn't speak English. Earnest, Pennsylvania coal mines were anything but earnest. They are deadly widow makers, as they are called. A lonely Pietro worships from afar the wife of another miner. He is too much of a gentleman to let his admiration be known. Assunta is the woman, blessed with children from her soon to be late husband, Nandy. This man makes Pietro promise to care for his family should he be killed in the mine. Nandy is killed. Pietro struggles with mixed feeling but does what he can to help Assunta and basically substitutes for Nandy. It isn't love, but necessity, driving their relationship. His music is the salve that carries them all along. His mood dictates what he hears and plays. The locals call him Maestro. Eventually, love does develop for the pair and they marry. Their Italian ways permeate the novel and their lifestyle. The mines also claim Petro with diseased lungs, but he dies quite satisfied with his life. The story is excellent. Were I to fault this novel, it would be for what the author did not do with action. I should hear mines crumbling, hear god-awful sounds, have nightmares, and feel pain. I'm told about death; I should feel death. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews