I really enjoyed the first book of the Songbird Series, and I love Rachel's writing, so I knew I needed to check this one out.
Let's begin with the summary:
Jade has moved from her past toward a bright future. But then the man she loves most destroys her trust.
Jade Fitzgerald's hope for a perfect marriage shatters when her husband confesses he has an illegitimate son. What's more, he wants to raise the boy in their home.
Hurting and confused, Jade embarks on a road trip to Iowa to take her sick mother to her childhood home. In the comfort of the old homeplace, Jade struggles with her fears and the tug of her first love. With the help of her family and her faith, she comes to understand her future doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's mercy.
And now, my review:
I found a lot of the world in this book. So often, in Christian fiction you’re protected from the harsher side of recurring infidelity, selfish living, deception, temptation, even the frightening aspects of mental illness. This book dives deeply into those areas, without apology. It’s definitely not the usual read. It reads as very real.
But against the backdrop of darkness and the heroine’s troubled life, we find the name of Jesus over and over. We see His grace. We watch Him break in with redemption. His light is brighter in their darkness. Loved this quote: “Jade was learning to be at home with Jesus. No matter what her circumstances.” Great takeaway. The title's referenced hymn worked very well in the storyline. Rachel Hauck has her own way of incorporating spiritual elements (the Jesus factor) into her novels, which I love. Well done.
This novel was very engaging. Readers will have a hard time putting it down. I was hooked from page one through the end. If you’re interested in reading something well-written, but a little raw in terms of emotions and situations, you’ll enjoy this outside-the-box book. I look forward to the final book in the Songbird Series: Love Lifted Me.
