How Sweet the Sound by Amy Sorrells

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.


My thoughts:

Subjects like those contained in the pages of this book are not the easiest to write with dignity and grace, especially in Christian literature, but I found that the author did a wonderful job balancing the extremes.

Sometimes haunting and sometimes refreshing, the story shares indignities suffered in silence in the Harlan family as well as the family's ability to find joy in the simplest of things. I especially like how the story and song of Jacob's Ladder weaves through the pages, showing how God sends down small miracles in seemingly unexpected ways.

How Sweet the Sound is a compelling debut from Amy Sorrells, with deep emotive characters and a rich and penetrating theme. It will tug at your heart strings as you turn the pages and leave you with a sense of satisfaction of a coming of age story well written.

** A heads up for those who prefer not to have profanity in the books they read - there were a couple of mild profanities in this book (H---, D---). **

My sincerest thanks to CFBA and David C Cook Publishing for generously providing a copy for review.

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