6.27.2022

Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen // I Read with Audra Tour, Review, and Giveaway


About the book:


Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.


After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, threatens to throw her well-balanced world out of control.


Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around?


When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim--a name her family has never heard before—a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives—and Rosie’s—forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.


Click here to read an excerpt.


Review: A resurfaced memory, a painful past relationship, can they move forward?


A powerful story about love, redemption, and forgiveness. A story told in the present day with glimpses into a past of forbidden love and lost hopes. I loved that this story picks up with familiar characters from the previous book, but could also be read as a standalone. 


A beautifully told story, well written, with effortless transitions. I think that my favorite part of the book was Ephraim and Rosie's story set in the 1950's and how the author vividly brought that time to life in a realistic and conscious way. 


Compelling storytelling, with strong themes of faith throughout. I thought that the author did an excellent job of showing the heartbreak of Alzheimer's disease, the loss and heartbreak, as well as the bright moments. Lauren and Carter are likable protagonists, flawed, vulnerable, with past regrets that they are still overcoming.


Overall, a memorable read, compelling, engaging,  and well written, dealing deftly with difficult topics. Definitely recommend!


 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


What Others Are Saying


“A reading experience both heartfelt and heart-tugging, a timeless exploration of young and enduring love and the grace found in second chances. Amanda Wen is a rare and remarkable storyteller, and this is a novel I will not soon forget.” –Amanda Barratt, Christy Award-winning author of The White Rose Resists


“A stunning journey of loss, love, and yearning. . . . Past and present are deftly woven together in this dual-timeline narrative that will leave readers flying through the pages.” – Amanda Cox, author of the 2021 Christy Award Book of the Year, The Edge of Belonging



About the author:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist.
 
Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been.
 
In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.
 
To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).



 

 


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