It all began in 1927, in the small town of Rudell, Mississippi, after the sudden and tragic death of Cora Harvey's parents. She has nothing left except her burning desire to become a singer. But her dream will never come true in Rudell, especially if she marries the man she adores, Dr. David Mackey. So when she sets out for Chicago, everyone in the close knit community, including David believes that the next time they see Cora, her name will be in lights. However, it's not long before Cora finds herself back in Rudell and back in David's arms harboring a secret she dare not reveal. . .A secret that will cause her daughter, Emma to flee Rudell with no intention of ever looking back. And even when Emma finds the perfect man and happiness at last, she is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her family's shameful past at bay. Then the dream that began with Cora comes full circle with her beloved granddaughter Parris whose melodic voice fills the dimly lit nightclubs of New York City. Yet, when tragedy strikes, opening a door to the past, Parris discovers the hidden truths that have ripped the family apart---but which may ultimately bind them together at last. From the dusty roads of the Delta to the pulsing metropolis of New York City, Rhythms is a rich, unforgettable tale about loss and healing, redemption and love. This gripping family saga about three generations of women begins with Cora, the protected and pampered daughter of the town's Baptist preacher, dreaming of life away from the small rural town. She heads to Chicago to pursue her desire for a singing career. That dream is thwarted, and she returns home to live in shame and isolation from the town that once held her in high regard. Her daughter, Emma, conceived from a rape, also wants a life away from the small town and its whispers, so she heads off to New York to pass herself off as white. After her child is born, she takes the baby back home to her mother to raise so that her secret will not be revealed. Cora lavishes on her grandchildren all the love and attention that she was unable to give her daughter. But the grandchild has her grandmother's wanderlust, so eventually she journeys to New York to pursue her career as a singer. Hill's novel makes dramatic reading. Lillian Lewis Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved ". . .leaves you breathless. . .a story that snatches you up in it's midst..." -- Margaret Johnson-Hodge, author of Butterscotch Blues "An Outstanding Read! are the only words to describe Donna hill's foray into mainstream fiction." -- Romantic Times - 4 1/2 Gold Stars "Donna Hill has crafted a warm hearted and inspiring family saga about strength, pride and forgiveness. . .proof of the indomitable spirit of black men and women." -- Sandra Kitt, author of Close Encounters "Donna Hill's Rhythms will garner broad audience appeal with this engrossing, captivating, and compelling read." -- Emma J. Wisdom, Times Courier "Hill. . .offers a moving saga of three generations of Black women. . .a richly detailed saga." -- Essence magazine "Readers are in for [an]...emotional rollercoaster ride...Hill...has stretched her wings and cast her net wide to satsify her many fans with a smoothly written and entertaining read...Donna Hill's Rhythms will garner broad audience appeal with this engrossing, captivating, and compelling read." -- Emma J. Wisdom, Times Courier "Richly imagined and skillfully written, RHYTHMS is a powerful novel of three women linked by blood, heartache, and ultimately triumph as they struggle to live with the hard choices they've had to make to survive." -- Francis Ray author of The Turning Point "The words are lyrical and sweet and the story so succinctly written it dares you to look away. . ." -- Timm McCann, author of Until. . . and Always Donna Hill has created a glorious historical saga exploring the complex theme of love, race, identity and choice with intelligence, insight and imagination." -- Robert Fleming, author of The Wisdom of the Elders and The African American Writer's Handbook Donna Hill has created a glorious historical saga exploring the complex theme of love, race, identity and choice with intelligence, insight and imagination. . . grand in scope. . .[an] impassioned book to be savored, considered and read, again and again." -- Robert Fleming, author of The Wisdom of the Elders and The African American Writer's Handbook Donna Hill has fifteen published novels to her credit and has been featured in Essence, The Daily News, USA Today, Today's Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others. She has appeared on numerous radio and television station across the country and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists. She works full time as a Public Relations Associate for the Queens Borough Public Library system, and organizes author-centered events and workshops through her promotions and management company ImageNOIR.org.