Book Description from Thomas Nelson Publishers:
Multi Platninum recording artist Sara Evans offers her hand at a redemptive fiction story with The Sweet By and By. Written with Rachel Hauck, Jade Fitzgerald left the pain of her past in the dust when she headed out for college a decade ago. Now she's thriving in her career and glowing in the light of Max Benson's love.
But then Jade's hippie mother, Beryl Hill, arrives in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, for Jade's wedding along with Willow, her wild younger sister. Their arrival forces Jade to throw open the dark closets of her past--the insecurity of living with a restless, wandering mother, the silence of her absent father, and the heart-ripping pain of first-love's rejection.
Turns out Beryl has a secret of her own. She needs reconcilation with her oldest daughter before illness takes her life. In the final days leading to her wedding, Jade meets the One who shows her the past has no hold on her future. With a little grace, they'll meet in the middle, maybe even before that sweet by and by.
I confess I'm more of a Rachel Hauck fan than a Sara Evan's fan. Not only am I familiar with Rachel Hauck's work, I have her how to book From the Inside Out with Susan May Warren. Reading The Sweet By and By left me with the impression this was definitely Sara's work. She is noted for her storytelling skills through song, and this read like a country song. There is definitely a redemptive story here and a lot of woundedness for Jade and her mom to work through, but it was almost like the old country songs I joked about with my dad---one sob story after another.
There is a bright spot in Jade's fiance, Max, but even from the writing lessons I've read from Rachel Hauck, Max is written without flaw. This is what great country music is made of, the knight in shining armor who says and does the right thing. For avid writers/readers, even the heroes have a quirk or flaw.
I think it's worth a read because Jade's pain is real and I believe many of her situations are relatable. I believe Sara Evans' fans will see the similarity between her music and her fiction, and have another means to appreciate her talent.
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I received this complimentary book for review from Thomas Nelson Publishers.