This was such a moving story of redemption and second chances. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, especially Ernestine—the wise, Haitian nanny/housekeeper. I also loved that the setting is in south Alabama which made it even more relatable. The proverbs at the beginning of each chapter added to the richness of the story which was inspired by the story of King David’s daughter Tamar. The writing was both compelling and poetic—I just loved it! Highly recommended (but trigger warning for domestic abuse and rape).

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I am leading a weekly Bible study called Faith And Fiction. My group studies a story in the Bible and an accompanying novel that is a re-telling or is inspired by the scripture. While it was easy to find novel from the Biblical fiction genre, I wanted to include a variety of genres to show how scripture is timeless and to give those in the study a wide variety of reading experiences. I hit a home run when I chose How Sweet The Sound by Amy Sorrells. While not a strict re-telling of 2 Samuel 13, it was inspired by the heart-breaking events that took place between Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom. If you are not familiar with this tragic time in David’s family, then get out your Bible and dig in. Then get Sorrells novel. It provides a different slant — one with the hope that God can give to the crushed and broken-hearted.

How Sweet The Sound is set in a small South Alabama town; a town where everyone knows everybody and their business. But not always their secrets. The Harlans are a leading family with a very prosperous pecan business and matriarch Princella who rules her family and the social scene of Bay Spring. But a family tragedy that cannot be hushed up explodes, with tragic consequences.

How Sweet The Sound is told from two different first person points of view — young teenager, Anniston, who is trying to make sense out of the tragic circumstances of her life and Comfort, a young woman whose voice remains silent to almost everyone around her. The two characters are instrumental at describing the true nature of the other characters and their relationships. The shocking topics of incest and sexual abuse are explored in an honest, yet careful way. Nothing is sensationalized, but truths are exposed to the light of day. While most of the story revolves around the Harlan family, I loved how Sorrells revealed the abusive stories of others in Bay Spring. Beautifully written, the novel is hard to read because of the topic, but also wonderful to read as it develops the hope that God promises to those who most need it. That was what our group liked most. The Biblical record of Tamar’s tragic life left us unsatisfied. Yet Sorrells’ novel showed that even in the depths of depression, despair, and desolation, God’s power shines through. It is was our hope that Tamar also was able to communicate with her Abba.

While the novel revolves around an uncomfortable and weighty subject, it was a wonderful reading experience. How Sweet The Sound was first published in 2014, but has been re-released this Fall. It is an amazing debut from an accomplished author. I am looking forward to reading the other books by Sorrells that are available.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

From a distance, the Harlans appear to be the perfect Southern family, but wealth and local fame mask the drama and dysfunction going on in the family.

It's Thanksgiving, in 1979, and 13 year old Anniston thought that she had seen it all, but a tragedy explodes and brings together three generations of the family on their pecan plantation in Bay Spring, Alabama. Just as Anniston is dealing with the possibility of being in love for the first time, she must also deal with loneliness and grief.

This was a gripping story, with well drawn characters, and the author used great sensitivity with dealing with some delicate subject matter. The story is told mostly from Anniston's point of view, with some parts of the story told by Comfort, her beloved aunt.

This story is also partially based on the biblical story of Tamar; I was not familiar with that story before reading this novel, but it was easy to find it on Google. ( )

Title: How Sweet the Sound
Author: Amy Sorrells
Pages: 384
Year: 2014
Publisher: David C Cook
Have you ever read the story of Tamar in the Old Testament? Tamar lived in ancient Israel centuries ago. She was the daughter of a king and certainly blessings and treasures were experienced. However, Tamar also was a woman who was victimized by her half-brother the result of which devastated Tamar. To fully appreciate the author’s take in her fictional work, I highly recommend reading the account of Tamar in 1 Samuel 13 in order to fully appreciate the novel.
The matriarch in the Harlan family is a hard woman who demands the highest level of respect even though she gives none to anyone else, especially her only daughter, Comfort. Cole the oldest brother of Comfort and Rey is a harsh character who lives a life filled with deceit until one day he mentally snaps and his actions cause repercussions in many lives. Cole’s reaction one night causes deep pain, shock and turmoil the Harlan matriarch has fought for years to keep from surfacing due to her own shame.
From there, the story unfolds of how God’s love, grace and mercy can be experienced even after the darkest of nights. The author shows the reaching out to all of us that God the Father does, and how we each must choose to walk the path to Him and to our healing from traumatic scarring events. In the characters’ daily activities, we read how they work through the pain and grief, toiling to uncover the secrets that have bound the family for years.
At the beginning of each chapter, a quote is shared that didn’t add anything to the novel as a whole in my opinion. Most of the quotes and people quoted are unknown to me, so after a few chapters I just continued reading without paying any mind to them. The story shows raw emotion, desperation and hopelessness that happen when life tends to side swipe us and turn our world upside down. It is equally true that the way God is portrayed as loving and speaking to the deepest inner recesses of our soul is very touching. I was constantly reminded of Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie who always reminded Corrie that no matter how deep humans wound humans; God’s love is deeper still.
I believe that the novel has the potential to help many victimized women to come to understand the hope, healing and restoration work that God does. There is also the challenge to walk the long road of healing with the strength of the Lord and a call for the Body of Christ to be His arms, hands and feet to those who are broken.
My rating is 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

The story of a young girl whose life is filled with horrors and their aftermath. Things no child should have to go through. My heart went out to Anniston and her friend, Jed. Though the grandmother had gone through similar things when younger I found it hard to sympathize with her. That old cliche is true...hurting people hurt people.

I like how the book ended...giving hope to a young girl whose life had none. A talented writer with a wonderfully written book. 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )