Hope Beyond the Desperate ~ How Sweet the Sound by Amy Sorrells ~ Review

“How Sweet the Sound” wasn’t the easiest read, and nor should it be. It’s not intended to give the reader a stomach of warm fuzzies, but meant to cleanse the evil that has cloaked these characters and give them a hope beyond the desperate depths they have fallen into.

        

   It’s not pleasant, it’s not comfortable, but I don’t want to talk about what the book is not. I want to say what the book is. Because it offers hope. Redemption. Love. Grace. Forgiveness. The opening of a flower to the glow of God’s love and warmth.

            The story documents much what is happening in the inner workings of our main characters. I thought the pace was a bit sluggish, because so much of the story took place in the character’s retrospect, but there is much for how God plumbs the depth of our hearts, even into the darkest, most secret places we attempt to hide from His light.

            Overall, I would recommend the novel to fans of Gina Holmes and lovers of emotional evoking women’s fiction.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.

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More about the novel...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing How Sweet the Sound David C. Cook (March 1, 2014) by Amy K. Sorrells

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An Indianapolis native and graduate of DePauw University, Amy lives with her husband, three boys and a gaggle of golden retrievers in central Indiana. After writing and editing for her college newspaper, she combined a nursing degree with journalism and creative writing, which led to publishing and editing a wide array of medical and nursing writing and multimedia projects over the past 21 years, a position as director of communications of her church’s children’s ministry, as well as a weekly column for a local newspaper which ran from 2009-2012. She has been a two-time semi-finalist for the ACFW Genesis awards, and was the winner of the 2011 Women of Faith writing contest.

When she’s not reading or writing, Amy loves spending time with her three sons; spicy lunches and art gallery walks with her husband; digging in her garden sans gloves; walking her dogs; up-cycling old furniture and junk; photography; and friends.



ABOUT THE BOOK

From a distance, the Harlans appear to be the perfect Southern family. Wealth and local fame mask the drama and dysfunction swirling through their family line. But as the summer heats up, a flood tide of long hidden secrets surface.

Devastation from a rape followed by the murder of two family members brings three generations of the Harlans together on their pecan plantation in Bay Spring, Alabama. Chief among them is Anniston, who by the time she turned thirteen thought she’d seen it all. But as her heart awakens to the possibility of love, she begins to deal with her loneliness and grief.

This tender coming-of-age tale, inspired by the story of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13, shows how true healing and hope comes only from God. Though our earthly family can wound and disappoint, our heavenly Father brings freedom to those long held captive through His mercy and grace.

If you would like to read the first chapter of How Sweet the Sound, go HERE.