No. 1 New York Times best-selling YA author Kate enters the adult arena with a story set in 1700s Venice featuring star-crossed lovers Violetta, an aspiring singer living at the Hospital of the Incurables, the city's famous music school and orphanage, and Mino, a violinist at the school's boys' hall.

Orphaned since birth, Violetta has spent her whole life in Venice's Hospital of the Incurables, training to join the ranks of the church's coro. Late one night, she sees a woman abandon her son at the gates of the hospital and is as moved by the love she sees as she is by the desperate mother's song. Years later, hiding out on the roof, she meets Mino, a young man whose gift for the violin is equal to Violetta's exquisite singing voice. Violetta is drawn to the gaiety of Venice's carnevale, and her occasional clandestine explorations of Venetian nightlife soon lead to a regular singing engagement in one of the city's most famous casinos, La Sirena, and a relationship with its owner, the mysterious and older Federico. Violetta's thoughts still stray toward Mino and his lifelong quest to find his mother, and when she discovers a clue to her identity, it changes both of their lives. VERDICT Kate, best known for her YA fantasy novels, brings the romance of 18th-century Venice to life in this light historical. While some of the twists are predictable, it's an engaging read with likable characters and an emotionally potent plot. [See Prepub Alert, 12/17/18.]—Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL

Set in 18th-century Venice, this delightful historical from Kate (Fallen) follows Violetta and Mino, two orphans being raised at the Hospital of the Incurables, which is equal parts orphanage, hospital, and music school. Sixteen-year-old Violetta, who dreams of singing in the Incurables's chorus, and Mino first meet on the Incurables' rooftop. Violetta has escaped from making Confession, and Mino comes to the roof to play his violin in secret to escape the orphanage's prohibition against males learning music. As they continue to meet on the rooftop, they become drawn to each other over their love of music. Despite their mutual affection, Violetta's ambition and Mino's desire to find his birth mother force them apart. After Violetta joins the chorus, Mino, who was dropped off at the orphanage when he was three, discovers that Violetta, then five years old, witnessed his mother bringing him to the orphanage and heard a peculiar song Mino's mother had been singing. After escaping the hospital to find her, Mino struggles to survive and becomes a luthier; meanwhile, Violetta, now bound by oath to sing only at the Incurables, sneaks out to clandestinely perform in the streets of Venice at night. Soon, Violetta and Mino's mutual love for music draws them to each other—and to the secret of Mino's origins. Kate's enchanting story brings the canals and backchannels of Venice to vivid life and will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Chadwick. (June)